Abstract: Methods for producing lithium iron phosphate or lithium manganese phosphate or lithium iron manganese phosphate, by colloidal synthesis are provided. Such methods include the operation of reacting a lithium salt, an iron(II) halide (and/or a manganese(II) halide) and a phosphorus compound, which, under the reaction conditions, is capable of releasing the phosphate ion, in the presence of an organic surfactant or a mixture of organic surfactants including an alkylamine or alkenylamine, in which the surfactant or mixture of surfactants is capable of dissolving the lithium salt and the iron halide (and/or the manganese halide), where used, in an organic solvent, which is liquid at room temperature, in which the surfactant or mixture of surfactants is soluble, the reaction being performed at a temperature not lower than 250° C.

Abstract: An optical and atomic force microscopy measurement integrated system is described. The system has an atomic force microscope having a first probe configured to interact with a sample to be analysed, an optical tweezer, a second probe configured to be held in the focus of the optical tweezer, movement means for moving the two probes, measurement means for measuring the variations of position of the two probes and processing means configured to receive, as an input, the measurement signals of the two probes to generate an output signal representative of the sample.

Abstract: Methods of making iron-based ferrite nanocrystals are provided. In such methods the ferrite may include iron oxides and iron/cobalt or iron/manganese mixed salts. The method may include thermal decomposition of one or more precursors of the ferrite, consisting of an organic salt of the metal or metals constituting the ferrite of interest, comprising the operation of heating a solution comprising said precursor(s) in the presence of a surfactant and of a non-aqueous organic solvent comprising an ether, at temperature sufficient to cause thermal decomposition of said precursor, wherein the solvent may further comprise a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon, liquid at temperatures above 45° C. and having a boiling point above the boiling point of the ethereal solvent.

Abstract: A composite material for the production of a medical device having an antiseptic action includes a matrix of alginate in which the complex of iodopovidone is dispersed. The composite material is used particularly for the production of films, micro-capsules, and suture threads with iodine controlled release.

Abstract: A method for preparing a colloid solution of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in a solution of acrylic resin in organic solvent includes mixing titanium dioxide nanoparticles with a solution of acrylic resin in organic solvent, so as to obtain the colloid solution. The colloid solution is subjected to a stabilization treatment suitable for preventing or reducing nanoparticle aggregation, the treatment includes irradiating the colloid solution with pulsed coherent light having a wavelength substantially comprised in the ultraviolet absorption band of the titanium dioxide nanoparticles.

Abstract: This invention relates to the controlled realization of ordered superstructures of octapod-shaped colloidal nanocrystals, formed either in the liquid phase or on a solid substrate. These structures can be applied in many fields of technology.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing branched gold nanoparticles is described, starting from an aqueous solution of gold nanoparticle spherical seeds, which is subjected to a growth treatment with an aqueous solution comprising hydroxylamine or a salt thereof as a reducing agent and 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) as an agent that directs the shape of the nanostructure, and by subsequent addition of an aqueous solution of chloroauric acid (HAuCl4). The structural features and the properties of the branched gold nanoparticles obtained by the method of the invention are also described.

Abstract: Magnetic actuators are provided having a substrate, a membrane layer directly or indirectly applied on a surface of the substrate, in which the membrane layer consists of a matrix of elastic polymer material, in which nanoparticles of magnetic material, capable of undergoing a dynamic effect under the action of a magnetic field, are dispersed, and at least one magnetic field generator suitable to generate a magnetic field acting on the membrane layer, in which the magnetic field generator is directly or indirectly arranged on the surface of the substrate, or within the substrate.

Abstract: Process for treating a fibrous material, to make said material hydrophobic and/or water-repellent, comprising the operation of impregnating said material with a suspension comprising nanoparticles of a hydrophobic material and a cyanoacrylate in an organic solvent and causing the crosslinking of said cyanoacrylate; the process uses an amount of cyanoacrylate and a weight ratio with the nanoparticles such as to produce complete or partial coating of the fibrous material with a matrix of crosslinked cyanoacrylate in which said nanoparticles are dispersed.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing branched gold nanoparticles is described, starting from an aqueous solution of gold nanoparticle spherical seeds, which is subjected to a growth treatment with an aqueous solution comprising hydroxylamine or a salt thereof as a reducing agent and 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) as an agent that directs the shape of the nanostructure, and by subsequent addition of an aqueous solution of chloroauric acid (HAuCl4). The structural features and the properties of the branched gold nanoparticles obtained by the method of the invention are also described.

Abstract: Optical logic gate having a second-harmonic generator element that receives a first and a second optical input signal respectively having a first and a second angular frequency and respectively having a first and a second polarization, and which provides a second-harmonic optical signal having a third angular frequency and a third polarization. The third angular frequency is equal to the sum of the first and the second angular frequency. The third polarization is a function of the first and the second polarization. The second-harmonic generator element includes a second-harmonic generator layer in a material having a non-null second-order optical tensor.

Abstract: A device for controlling fluid motion in a micro/nanofluidic structure of channels by means of surface acoustic waves is described. The device comprises a structured volume of material bearing a predetermined configuration of micro/nanofluidic channels for holding and transferring amounts of fluids adapted to define at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet and presenting a hydrophobic behaviour for the fluids to be handled and a substrate made of material with piezoelectric properties coupled to the micro/nanofluidic channels.

Abstract: This invention relates to the controlled growth of uniform octapod-shaped colloidal nanocrystals and use thereof. These octapod-shaped nanocrystals can be applied in many fields of technology. This represents the first approach reported so far for the predictable and controlled fabrication of octapod-shaped nanocrystals. The synthesis approach is applicable to a broad range of materials, such as group II-VI semiconductor nanocrystals but is not limited to these materials. Using several cation exchange and oxidation procedures, we also demonstrate in this application that extremely uniform octapod-shaped nanocrystals of other materials can be synthesized, including various semiconductors, metals and insulators.

Abstract: A method for preparing a colloid solution of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in a solution of acrylic resin in organic solvent includes mixing titanium dioxide nanoparticles with a solution of acrylic resin in organic solvent, so as to obtain the colloid solution. The colloid solution is subjected to a stabilization treatment suitable for preventing or reducing nanoparticle aggregation, the treatment includes irradiating the colloid solution with pulsed coherent light having a wavelength substantially comprised in the ultraviolet absorption band of the titanium dioxide nanoparticles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an industrial applicable process for the preparation of materials with nanometric dimensions and controlled shape, based on titanium dioxide. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of titanium dioxide nanorods with anatase phase composition, which are highly suitable for applications involving photovoltaic cells, particularly Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC), photoelectrolysis cells and tandem cells for the conversion of solar energy and the production of hydrogen.

Abstract: Optical logic gate having a second-harmonic generator element that receives a first and a second optical input signal respectively having a first and a second angular frequency and respectively having a first and a second polarization, and which provides a second-harmonic optical signal having a third angular frequency and a third polarization. The third angular frequency is equal to the sum of the first and the second angular frequency. The third polarization is a function of the first and the second polarization. The second-harmonic generator element includes a second-harmonic generator layer in a material having a non-null second-order optical tensor.

Abstract: A method of identifying target analytes in a sample, particularly a biological sample, comprising the steps of putting a plurality of target analytes, bound to a common luminescent marker, in contact with a plurality of molecular probes immobilized on a support, each of said molecular probes being capable of complementary binding to a respective target analyte, if said target analyte is present in the sample, providing to said support an excitation radiation and detecting an emission radiation coming from said support as a result of at least one complementary binding event, characterized by the fact that: said support comprises a plurality of photonic crystal resonators, at least two of said resonators being characterized by different resonance wavelengths; each of said molecular probes being fixed to a respective resonator; and by the fact that the identification of at least one target analyte is carried out through the analysis of the total emission spectrum coming from said plurality of photonic crystal

Abstract: The present invention relates to an industrial applicable process for the preparation of materials with nanometric dimensions and controlled shape, based on titanium dioxide. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of titanium dioxide nanorods with anatase phase composition, which are highly suitable for applications involving photovoltaic cells, particularly Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC), photoelectrolysis cells and tandem cells for the conversion of solar energy and the production of hydrogen.

Abstract: Herein described is a device for controlling fluid motion in a micro/nanofluidic structure of channels, comprising: a structured volume of material (30), bearing a predetermined configuration of micro/nanofluidic channels (C) for holding and transferring amounts of fluids, adapted to define at least one fluid inlet (IN) and at least one fluid outlet (OUT), and presenting a hydrophobic behaviour for the fluids to be handled; and a substrate (31) made of material with piezoelectric properties, coupled to the abovementioned configuration of micro/nanofluidic channels, bearing means for active control of the motion of an amount of fluid, including transducer means (T1-T6) which comprise at least one pair of interdigitated electrodes applied on the substrate (31), which are arranged to selectively generate a surface acoustic wave adapted to propagate on the substrate (31) and interact with the amount of fluid.

Abstract: A method of identifying target analytes in a sample, particularly a biological sample, comprising the steps of putting a plurality of target analytes, bound to a common luminescent marker, in contact with a plurality of molecular probes immobilized on a support, each of said molecular probes being capable of complementary binding to a respective target analyte, if said target analyte is present in the sample, providing to said support an excitation radiation and detecting an emission radiation coming from said support as a result of at least one complementary binding event, characterized by the fact that: said support comprises a plurality of photonic crystal resonators, at least two of said resonators being characterized by different resonance wavelengths; each of said molecular probes being fixed to a respective resonator; and by the fact that the identification of at least one target analyte is carried out through the analysis of the total emission spectrum coming from said plurality of photonic crystal