Matteo Capone, a postdoctoral researcher at the CNR Institute of Nanoscience in Modena, has been awarded the 2024 Primo Levi Prize during the Merck Young Chemists’ Symposium held from 13 to 15 of November in Rimini. This national award, presented by the Italian Chemical Society (Società Chimica Italiana), recognizes the excellence and impact of research conducted by scientists under the age of 35.
Capone received the prize for a groundbreaking study published in Nature in 2023, conducted during his PhD at the University of L’Aquila, and titled The electron–proton bottleneck of photosynthetic oxygen evolution. In the study he explored the molecular details of the light-driven water oxidation reaction catalyzed by Photosystem II. This is a key process in photosynthesis that converts light energy into chemical energy but several details remain elusive due to its complexity. Using time-resolved infrared spectroscopy and quantum/classical molecular dynamics simulations, Matteo Capone described the critical role of hydrogen bond networks and proton pathways in the reaction’s rate-limiting step. These findings provide new scientific bases for advancing artificial photosynthesis for sustainable energy solutions.
Currently Matteo Capone continues his research on computational chemistry as a postdoctoral fellow, at Cnr Nano in Modena, where he works on the EnvELOP project led by Dr. Laura Zanetti Polzi. He focuses on studying rhodopsins—a family of proteins pivotal for optogenetics—through multiscale simulations. His research aims to uncover how protein dynamics and hydrogen bond heterogeneity influence kinetic rates and vibrational spectra.
In addition to his scientific endeavors, Capone is passionate about science communication. As the founder of the outreach project Il Chimico sulla Tavola, he uses social media and live events to engage the public in the beauty of everyday chemistry, challenging misconceptions about “natural” versus “artificial” substances.
Matteo Capone has also presented his award-winning research in an engaging video (in Italian), which can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7QH2uYhDiw.
Read the awaded Nature publication The electron–proton bottleneck of photosynthetic oxygen evolution
