Organic functional materials

Contact Persons

Gianluca Accorsi, Agostina Lina Capodilupo, Francesca Baldassarre, Antonio Maggiore, Vincenzo Maiorano, Marco Mazzeo

Keywords

Organic synthesis, Electrochromism, Molecular design, Drug delivery, Biopolymers, Photophysics and Photochemistry, TADF, RTP, singlet-triplet inverted materials, MCL (mechanochromic luminescence) for sensor, Photoinduced processes, Light-matter coherence, Polariton chemistry, Advanced ellipsometry

Synthesis and Photophysics of π-conjugated Organic Materials. The development of advanced organic materials, based on π-conjugated functional systems, represents the starting point for several application fields. We design and synthesize new molecular building blocks and explore their optoelectronic properties, in solution and the solid state, to make available new materials to be employed as optically active elements in the lighting, electrochromism, electrofluorochromism, field-effect transistor, fluorescent bioimaging, photovoltaics, and advanced photonics areas. Moreover, photochemical and photophysical characterization in the UV-VIS-NIR spectral windows, at low and room temperature, is performed to investigate photoinduced energy- and electron-transfer processes in organic and inorganic dyes. Kinetics from pico- to second timescale are also obtained for a full understanding of the photoinduced mechanisms in metal complexes, TADF (thermally activated delayed fluorescence), RTP (room temperature phosphorescence) and singlet-triplet inverted materials, and supramolecular systems.

Synthesis and Functionalization of Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery. This line of research is focused on nanomaterials synthesis and implementation which are aimed at the development of controlled release carriers for bioactive principles. The activities concern the development of i) synthesis methods both in batch and in-flow of nanostructured drug delivery systems and their characterization; ii) bioactive substances encapsulation methods of various nature and application. The Spray Dry technique was applied for the synthesis of nano-carriers based on CaCO3, carriers based on nano-cellulose fibers, and chitosan micro/nanocarriers. The surfaces of these carriers have been efficiently functionalized by grafting human albumin (HSA) and fluorophores, phospholipid, polyethylene glycol, and silane coatings to improve stability, bioavailability, cellular uptake, and targeting. Several synthetic and natural substances, anti-cancer drugs, and antimicrobial agents have been efficiently encapsulated. The application of the Ultrasonication process has allowed the achievement of nanometric drug colloids which are stable thanks to the contribution of suitable organic coatings such as chitosan, dextran, and protamine. These nano-materials and deriving systems are widely characterized by chemical, morphological/structural, and biological analyses.

Optochemistry. This research line is focused on the study of the: i) photoinduced processes in organic materials for several applications in technological and artistic fields; ii) chemical reactions kinetics and dynamics under vibrational light-matter strong coupling in cavity and plasmonic arrays; iii) light-matter interaction with solid-state molecular materials.

People

Gianluca Accorsi, Francesca Baldassarre, Agostina Lina Capodilupo, Giuseppe Ciccarella, Viviana Vergaro; Marco Mazzeo; Antonella Lorusso, Antonio Maggiore, Vincenzo Maiorano

Graphene and 2D materials

Contact Persons

Giuseppe Valerio Bianco, Giovanni Bruno

Keywords

Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), Graphene Growth, 2D-CVD Growth, Plasma Processing, Raman Spectroscopy, Ellipsometry, Electrical Characterization, TMD Intercalation and Exfoliation

Graphene Production is performed by CVD on copper, the CVD-graphene (large area growth up to 300 cm2), and by SiC sublimation, the Epitaxial-graphene (graphene on SiC wafer up to 1” diameter) on Si-face (mono and bilayer graphene) and on C-face (few layers graphene).

2D Layered Materials Synthesis. With an expertise of decades of research in the CVD technologies, we are working on the development of efficient processes for the growth of transition metal dichalcogenides (MoS2, WS2); the goal is the growth of single- and few- layer materials on graphene as well as on other epitaxial substrates (van der Waals growth) for the optoelectronic applications. We also manipulate single- and few-layer TMDs by mechanical exfoliation or molecules intercalation for nanophotonic and electro-optical devices.

Graphene Material Processing is on methodologies for graphene transferring on different substrates (glass, silicon and plastic) and on wet and dry procedures for doping and functionalization of single and multilayer graphene. Here, our expertise is on the plasma processing of graphene for chemical functionalization to produce graphane, fluorographene and graphene oxide, thus tailoring properties to explore new applications in optoelectronic, sensors, energy and biotechnology.

Graphene Characterization. Graphene-based materials are characterized and investigated at the nanoscale by optical spectroscopy (Raman, Ellipsometry) and electrical measurements (Van der Pauw, Hall).

The research activity at the Apulian Graphene Lab, have already achieved important breakthroughs within national and international. Examples are: the production of high quality graphene layers on large area with a sheet resistance lower than 20 Ω/cm and, reliable plasma-chemical methods designed for surface functionalization of graphene.

People

Giuseppe Valerio Bianco, Giovanni Bruno, Alberto Sacchetti, Michelaria Giangregorio, Anna Di Renzo, Luisa De Marco, Aurora Rizzo, Elena Dilonardo

Inorganic and Hybrid Semiconductors

Contact Persons

Vittorianna Tasco, Adriana Passaseo

Keywords

Semiconductors, Nitrides, Gallium Arsenide

This line of research includes the: Development of III-N and III-V heterostructures with epitaxial techniques. We study the inorganic semiconductors of the GaAs and GaN families, realized by means of epitaxial techniques, such as Molecular Beam Epitaxy and Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition, analyzing their optical, structural and electronic properties in view of their application in electronic and optoelectronic devices. 

People

Vittorianna Tasco, Iolena Tarantini, Massimo Cuscunà, Marco Esposito, David Maria Tobaldi, Daniela Simeone, Daniela Lorenzo, Adriana Passaseo

Colloidal inorganic nanocrystals

Contact Persons

Luigi Carbone, Concetta Nobile, Carlo Giansante, Riccardo Scarfiello

Keywords

Colloidal Inorganic Nanocrystals, Heterostuctured Nanocrystals, Solvothermal/Hydrothermal Synthesis, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning TEM, Energy-filtered TEM, Surface Chemistry, Coordination Chemistry, Charge Carrier Photodynamics

Colloidal Synthesis of Inorganic Nanostructures. The research activity aims at developing advanced breeds of colloidal inorganic nanocrystals, as both single material and heterostructured, made of plasmonic, magnetic, or semiconductor materials, with precisely engineered compositional, structural, and geometric features and predictable chemical-physical properties. It focuses on the: i) development of synthesis protocols to solution-processable organic-capped nanocrystals; ii) investigation of nanocrystal formation mechanisms; iii) atomic-level compositional characterization of the developed nanocrystals; iv) study of the correlation holding between composition, structure, and geometry of the as-synthesized nanocrystals, and their optical, magnetic and (photo)catalytic properties.

Morphological, Structural, and Compositional Characterization of Colloidal Nanocrystals, Single and/or Assembled in Thin Film. This research activity supports the nanocrystal synthesis research line. Understanding the structure-property correlation and its underlying mechanism is a fundamental step in the study of chemical-physical properties associated with nanostructured materials, either individual or organized in thin films. In this sense, the characterization of nanocrystal morphology, crystallographic structure, and chemical composition is performed by means of advanced high–resolution electron microscopy techniques, such as HRSEM/TEM, ADF HRSTEM, EFTEM, and XEDS.

Nanoscale Surfaces and Interfaces. The research program concerns the study of surfaces and interfaces at the nanoscopic size scale. To this aim, we use colloidal inorganic semiconductor nanocrystals as (soluble) frameworks and exploit their inherently large surface-to-volume ratio. Particular emphasis is put on the surface chemistry of colloidal nanocrystals as a means to subtly tune their optoelectronic properties and the inter-nanocrystal non-covalent bonding interactions. We ultimately pursue a thorough description towards the control of the ubiquitous interfaces in nanocrystal-based solids over multiple length scales.

People

Luigi Carbone, Carlo Giansante, Concetta Nobile, Alessandra Quarta, Riccardo Scarfiello

Complex fluids

Contact Persons

Riccardo Barbieri

Keywords

Liquid Crystals, Anisotropic Fluid Dynamics, Nanoparticles Self-Assembly

Their birefringence and their optical properties allow the LC employment in technological applications such as displays, sensors, lasers, gratings.

A special class of liquid crystal are biocompatible and then can be used in biological sensing.

Our work focuses on the Nanoconfinement of liquid crystals (LC) and anisotropic fluids dynamics and Defect pattern self-assembly and guided nanoparticle (NP) assembly in thin liquid crystal films.

People

Riccardo Barbieri, Federica Ciuchi, Michele Giocondo, Bruno Zappone, Carlo C. Versace

Sustainable Chemistry

Contact Persons

Clara Piccirillo, Cinzia Citti, Ornella Ursini, Ivan Colantoni

Keywords

Green Materials, Natural Template, Waste Valorization, Metabolomics, Liquid Chromatography, Mass Spectrometry, Hemp, Cannabis, Cannabinoids, Photocatalysis, Environmental Remediation

Green Chemistry Synthesis Approaches and Sustainable Processing Methods. This research line is focused on the development of materials and scaffolds following the principles of green chemistry, for applications in biomedicine and environment remediation. The themes explored are:

• Synthesis of scaffolds for tissue engineering applications using natural and sustainable templates (i.e. cork).
• Replacement of synthetic materials (i.e. carbon nanotubes) with more sustainable and natural ones.
• Valorisation of the by-products of the agro-food industry, and extraction of high added value compounds.
• Green plasma-assisted synthesis of organic molecules and nitrogen fixation.

Environmental Nanotechnology has been defined as “the application of nanotechnology to environmental remediation technologies” (Env. Sci. Pollut. Res (2016), 23, 13754-788). This definition includes different processes (e.g. photocatalytic degradation, adsorption, thermal decomposition of pollutants) exploiting nanomaterials to remediate contaminated air, water, or soil. We are focusing on main activities: the synthesis of photocatalysts with high chemical stability and photoactivity in the visible and UV spectral range (nanoTiO2, nanoWO3/WO3-x) for application in building and automotive industries, the chemical-physical characterization and the surface functionalization of nanomaterials to control the dispersibility and the adhesion to the substrates in photocatalytic reactors for wastewater treatment (Advanced Oxidation Processes) and to mediate the photocatalytic activity.

Development of Qualitative, Quantitative, and Metabolomic Analysis of Extracts from Plant Matrices and Biological Fluids. Metabolomics is a new analytical approach to the study of the chemical fingerprint that specific cellular metabolic processes leave behind. Metabolomics can be applied to both plant and animal biological samples. The main goal is to identify and analyze as many small molecules (metabolites) as possible present in a biological sample. To this end, techniques like ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) are applied exploiting the latest technology platforms which enable to access key information about the chemical structure of the metabolites with a high degree of accuracy and precision reaching high sensitivity levels. The metabolomics analysis is accompanied by a multivariate statistical analysis for the characterization of the analyzed samples. This research line applies such technologies to different fields spanning industrial hemp, in vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics studies of organic compounds, loading efficiency, and release kinetics of nano-encapsulated compounds.

People

Clara Piccirillo, Francesca Scalera, Cinzia Citti, Giuseppe Cannazza, Vincenzo Maiorano, Carlo Giansante, Luigi Carbone, Barbara Cortese, Eloisa Sardella, Paolo Stufano