Applying Computational Spectroscopy Methods to Raman Spectra of Dicationic, Imidazolium-Based, Ionic Liquids.

Studying ionic liquids (ILs) through computational methods is one of the ways to accelerate progress in the design of novel and potentially green materials optimized for task-specific applications. Therefore, it is essential to develop simple and cost-effective computational procedures that are able to replicate and predict experimental data. Among these, spectroscopic measurements are of particular relevance since they are often implicated in structure-property relationships, especially in the infrared spectral region, where characteristic absorption and scattering processes due to molecular vibrations are ultimately influenced by the surrounding environment in the condensed phase.

Nanodiamond Effects on Cancer Cell Radiosensitivity: The Interplay between Their Chemical/Physical Characteristics and the Irradiation Energy.

Nanoparticles are being increasingly studied to enhance radiation effects. Among them, nanodiamonds (NDs) are taken into great consideration due to their low toxicity, inertness, chemical stability, and the possibility of surface functionalization. The objective of this study is to explore the influence of the chemical/physical properties of NDs on cellular radiosensitivity to combined treatments with radiation beams of different energies.

On the Morphology of Nanostructured TiO for Energy Applications: The Shape of the Ubiquitous Nanomaterial.

Nanostructured titania is one of the most commonly encountered constituents of nanotechnology devices for use in energy-related applications, due to its intrinsic functional properties as a semiconductor and to other favorable characteristics such as ease of production, low toxicity and chemical stability, among others. Notwithstanding this diffusion, the quest for improved understanding of the physical and chemical mechanisms governing the material properties and thus its performance in devices is still active, as testified by the large number of dedicated papers that continue to be published. In this framework, we consider and analyze here the effects of the material morphology and structure in determining the energy transport phenomena as cross-cutting properties in some of the most important nanophase titania applications in the energy field, namely photovoltaic conversion, hydrogen generation by photoelectrochemical water splitting and thermal management by nanofluids.

Hard Carbons for Use as Electrodes in Li-S and Li-ion Batteries.

Activated hard carbons, obtained from the pyrolysis of various waste biomasses, were prepared and characterized for use as the active material for the fabrication of battery electrodes. The preparation consisted of a pyrolysis process, followed by an activation with KOH and a further high-temperature thermal process. TG and DTA were used to discriminate the steps of the activation process, while SEM, XRD, and Raman characterization were employed to evaluate the effects of activation.

Microplastics in Talitrus saltator (Crustacea, Amphipoda): new evidence of ingestion from natural contexts.

Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) measurements and comparing the spectrum peaks (range 4000-600 cm) with reference spectra database and instrument libraries, we observed new evidence of the ingestion of microplastic particles analyzing the digestive tracts of Talitrus saltator. Specimens, sampled in central Italy, probably ingested the particles with natural detritus. Since worldwide many species of invertebrates and vertebrates (e.

Microplastic pollution in the surface waters of Italian Subalpine Lakes.

Plastic debris incidence in marine environment was already highlighted in the early 1970s. Over the last decade, microplastic pollution in the environment has received increasing attention and is now an emerging research area. Many studies have focused on quantifying microplastic abundance in the marine environment, while there are relatively few data on microplastic occurrence in freshwater environment.

Experimental determination of the light-trapping-induced absorption enhancement factor in DSSC photoanodes.

For dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC), the fundamental process that determines the maximum short-circuit current is the absorption of light. In such devices, this is produced by the concurrent phenomena of light absorption by dye molecules and light trapping in the mesoporous, titania photoanode structure. The decoupling of these two phenomena is important for device characterization and the design of novel photoelectrode geometries with increased optical performance.