Giovanni Meloni

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Prior to joining New York Tech in 2023, Meloni was a tenured full professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry at the University of San Francisco. His research interests range from high-temperature physical chemistry to spectroscopic characterization of reaction intermediates. More recently, his research group performed experiments at the Advanced Light Source of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory using multiplex photoionization mass spectrometry and at the Swiss Light Source in Villigen, Switzerland, using photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy to gain insights into the complex chemistry occurring during the combustion of biofuels and biofuels additives, and atmospheric reactions. This knowledge is crucial for optimizing biofuel combustion processes, improving efficiency, reducing pollutants emissions, and developing more sustainable energy sources.

Selected Publications

• "Photoionization of Two Potential Biofuel Additives: Gamma-Valerolactone and Methyl Butyrate," Andrea Giustini (graduate student), Matthew Winfough (graduate student), Joseph Czekner (graduate student), Balint Sztáray, Giovanni Meloni, and Andras Bodi, J. Phys. Chem. A 125, 10711–10724 (2021).
• "Theoretical and experimental study on the O(3P) + 2,5-dimethylfuran reaction in the gas phase," Andrea Giustini (graduate student), Massimiliano Aschi, Heejune Park (graduate student), and Giovanni Meloni*, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 23, 19424–19434 (2021).
• "Study of the Synchrotron Photoionization Oxidation of Alpha-Angelica Lactone (AAL) Initiated by O(3P) at 298, 550, and 700 K," Golbon Rezaei (graduate student) and Giovanni Meloni*, Molecules 26, 4070 (2021) – Special Issue: Experimental and Computational Studies of Oxidation Reactions in Atmospheric and Combustion Chemistry."
• "CO2 Activation Within a Superalkali-Doped Fullerene," Giovanni Meloni*, Andrea Giustini (graduate student), and Heejune Park (graduate student), Front. Chem. 9, 712960 (2021).
• "Synchrotron Photoionization Study of the Diisopropyl Ether Oxidation," Andrea Giustini (graduate student) and Giovanni Meloni*, ChemPhysChem 21, 927–937 (2020).
• "Reducing Properties of Superalkalis on Pyridinic Graphene Surfaces: a Computational Study," Fabio Ramondo, Ilenia Leonzi (undergraduate), and Giovanni Meloni*, ChemPhysChem 20, 3251–3258 (2019).
• "Peroxy Self-Reaction Leading to the Formation of Furfural," Audrey Smith (graduate student), Simone di Muzio (undergraduate student), Fabio Ramondo, and Giovanni Meloni*, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 21, 10228–10237 (2019).
• "Computational Investigation of LiF Containing Hypersalts," Chelsea Price (graduate student), Matthew Winfough (graduate student), Heejune Park (graduate student), and Giovanni Meloni*, Dalton Trans. 47, 13204–13213 (2018).
• "Investigation of Oxidation Reaction Products of 2-Phenylethanol Using Synchrotron Photoionization," Adam Otten (graduate student), Magaly Wooten (graduate student), Anthony Medrano (undergraduate student), Yasmin Fathi (graduate student), and Giovanni Meloni*, J. Phys. Chem. A 122, 6789–6798 (2018).
• "Study of Methylidyne (CH and CD) Reaction with 2,5-Dimethylfuran Using Multiplexed Synchrotron Photoionization Mass Spectrometry," Erica Carrasco (graduate student) and Giovanni Meloni*, J. Phys. Chem. A 122, 6118–6133 (2018).
• "Capturing volatile organic compounds employing a superalkali," Heejune Park (graduate student) and Giovanni Meloni*, ChemPhysChem 19, 2266–2271 (2018).
• "Stability of lithium substituted silyls superalkali species," Adam Otten (graduate student) and Giovanni Meloni*, Chem. Phys. Lett. 692, 214–223 (2018).
• "Study of low temperature chlorine atom initiated oxidation of methyl and ethyl butyrate using synchrotron photoionization TOF-mass spectrometry," Joseph Czekner (graduate student), Craig A. Taatjes, David L. Osborn, and Giovanni Meloni*, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 20, 5785–5794 (2018).
• "Synchrotron Photoionization Study of Furan and 2-Methylfuran Reactions with Methylidyne Radical (CH) at 298 K," Erica Carrasco (graduate student), Kenneth Smith (graduate student), and Giovanni Meloni*, J. Phys. Chem. A 122, 280–291 (2018).
• "Ab initio analysis on potential superbases of several hyperlithiated species: Li3F2O and Li3F2(OH)n (n = 1,2)," Matthew Winfough (graduate student) and Giovanni Meloni*, Dalton Trans. 47, 159–168 (2018).
• "Activation of dinitrogen (N2) with a superalkali species, Li3F2," Heejune Park (graduate student) and Giovanni Meloni*, ChemPhysChem 19, 256–260 (2018).
• "Investigation on the Absolute and Relative Photoionization Cross Sections of Three Potential Propargylic Fuels," Matthew Winfough (graduate student) and Giovanni Meloni*, J. Mass. Spec. 52, 799–808 (2017).
• "Study of the Synchrotron Photoionization Oxidation Initiated by O(3P) of 2-Methylfuran (2MF) under Low-Temperature Conditions at 550 and 650 K," Yasmin Fathi (graduate student) and Giovanni Meloni*, J. Phys. Chem. A 121, 6966–6980 (2017).
• "Reduction of Carbon Dioxide with Superalkali," Heejune Park (graduate student) and Giovanni Meloni*, Dalton Trans. 46, 11942–11949 (2017).
• "Furfural: The Unimolecular Dissociative Photoionization Mechanism of the Simplest Furanic Aldehyde," Matthew Winfough (graduate student), Krisztina Voronova, Giel Muller (graduate student), Gabrielle Laguisma (undergraduate student), Balint Sztaray, Andras Bodi, and Giovanni Meloni*, J. Phys. Chem. A 121, 3401–3410 (2017).
• "Low-Temperature Synchrotron Photoionization Study of 2-Methyl-3-buten-2-ol (MBO) Oxidation Initiated by O(3P) Atoms in the 298-650 K range," Yasmin Fathi (graduate student), Chelsea Price (graduate student), and Giovanni Meloni*, J. Phys. Chem. A 121, 2936–2950 (2017).
• "Absolute Photoionization Cross Sections of two Cyclic Ketones: Cylopentanone & Cyclohexanone," Chelsea Price (graduate student), Yasmin Fathi (graduate student), and Giovanni Meloni*, J. Mass. Spec. 52, 259–270 (2017).
• "Synchrotron Photoionization Investigation of the Oxidation of Ethyl tert-Butyl Ether," Matthew Winfough (graduate student), Rong Yao (graduate student), Katherine Catani (undergraduate student), and Giovanni Meloni*, J. Phys. Chem. A 121, 1460–1469 (2017).

Courses Taught at New York Tech

• General Chemistry II
• Engineering Chemistry

Contact Info

• gmeloni@nyit.edu