Dye Sensitized solar cells, also known as Grätzel cells, are devices used to directly convert solar light into electricity. In 1991 O'Regan and Grätzel realized the first prototype of solar cell with good efficiency using low-cost materials if compared to silicon solar cell. DSSC (Dye Sensitized Solar Cell) are made of multilayer materials with selected band gap that allow photon adsorption and electron injection in the conduction band of the anodic material to produce electric energy. Heart ...

Polycrystalline YAG (Y3Al5O12) doped with rare earth elements (REE) is a strategic functional material as laser source for high power Diode Pumped Solid State Lasers(DPSSL). Compared to the more commonly used single crystals, transparent YAG ceramic can widen the laser applications: It can be highly doped It is faster to produce It can be shaped in complex architectures.

The regeneration of hard connective tissues (e.g. bone, teeth) is activated by the presence of specific chemical and morphological signals inducing new bone formation and organization. In this respect hydroxyapatite phases presenting bone-like composition (i.e. multiple ionic substitutions such as Mg2+, CO32-, Na+, K+, SiO44-, Sr2+), nanosized microstructure and low crystal order can be synthesized by wet methods at room temperature. These new phases closely mimic the inorganic part of bone and ...

The regeneration of critical-size bone defects requires the implantation of porous scaffolds exchanging suitable chemical, morphological and mechanical signals with cells so as to activate new bone formation and colonization of the whole scaffold. Pore size and morphology must be designed to achieve cell penetration and the establishment of a suitable vascular network to sustain the bone metabolism. The mechanical strength of the scaffolds should be sufficient for early physical stabilization ...

Hydroxyapatite (HA: Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) is a widely used biomaterial for the repair and regeneration of bone defects; however HA is also recognized as a very interesting material for environmental purification due to its ability to easily absorb a number of inorganic compounds as well as different organic substances such as proteins and bacteria. In this respect, specific ion substitutions in the lattice of HA can enable specific functionality so to open the way to multi-functional and ...

Bioactive hydroxyapatite nano-phases endowed with intrinsic superparamagnetism, designed to act as new stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems or to enhance cell homing and colonization of bone and osteochondral scaffolds thus enhancing tissue regeneration. The recent development of new intrinsically superparamagnetic hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (Fe-HA) was achieved through controlled substitution of Ca2+ ions with Fe2+/3+ ions, with specific Fe/Ca and Fe2+/Fe3+ ratios. Due to the bioactivity, ...

Collagen based complex polymeric matrixes are prepared to be used for soft tissue regeneration such as heart, tendons/ligaments, meniscus and endocrine organs (thymus, thyroid gland). Biologically inspired processes of pH induced self-assembling and self-organization are applied to various polymeric blends of natural and/or bio-erodible polymers (collagen, cellulose, alginate, chitosan, PLLA, PCL, PGA PEG) to obtain 2-D and 3-D construct with high affinity with soft tissues. Collagen based ...

Gas separation membranes are electrochemical devices that allows the separation of specific components contained in gas streams at high temperatures (500-800°C). These systems can be classified on the bases of the materials used as : Oxygen separation membranes; Hydrogen separation membranes. These devices are ceramics or ceramic-metallic bilayers constituted of a supporting element and an active layer. Separation membranes are produced at ISTEC starting from commercial or synthesized ...

Food allergies can provoke clinical reactions whose most severe is anaphylaxis, with respiratory and/or cardiovascular problems that might result in death. They are common in 1-2% of adults and up to 8% of children, corresponding to a serious public health problem that affects over 15 million people in Europe from infants to the elderly and its prevalence is increasing. The skin prick test is the most commonly used test for allergy diagnostics. However, this test has its limitation in patients ...

The introduction of inorganic natural or artificial pigments permit to obtain colored geopolymers can be used in the restoartion field. The mechanical and physical characteristics are able to use the obtained products for realising musive tesserae. At the present, briquettes of different colors are realised. the obtained tesseare can also be used to realise modern mosaics as altenartive solutions to resin tesserae.

To mitigate the impact of fossil energy on pollution and greenhouse effect, the current technologies need to be improved for achieving limited environmental impact and high sustainability (zero emission). When CO2 sorbents are used in granular or structured forms, high superficial area and well developed open porosity are prerequisites for an effective process. A typical continuous process also requires the sorbent to be mechanically resistant, regenerable and easily available. ISTEC has tested ...

Wool-geopolymer composite pots were produced as an alternative to commonly used peat ones. Already grown plants and seeds were studied over a period of 6 weeks. First results outlined that wool-geopolymer pots promote the earlier growth of seeds comparing to the reference ones. The alkaline environment of the geopolymer is indeed able to partially degrade the keratin structure of the wool (but preserving the fibers' nature), making most nutrients readily available for the sprouts. Moreover, the ...

Solar thermal technology is a safe sustainable and cost-effective energy supply. Presently, the maximum operating temperature of a solar power plant is

ISTEC activities mainly deal with the study and optimization of those ceramic processes cheap and easily scalable able to produce the abovementioned ceramic devices in an easy and environmental friendly way. ISTEC exploits the most common techniques used in the traditional ceramic industry: tape casting, die pressing, screen printing, powder wet spray, to optimize the production of the three generations of planar SOFC: electrolyte-supported cells, electrode-supported cells, ...

New generation thrusters demand always increasing severe combustion conditions, in terms of temperature and pressure, in order to enhance their performances. Materials based on carbides of the early transition metals, such as zirconium, hafnium and tantalum, are promising systems for these applications, combining physical properties of ceramics and electronic properties of metals: high melting points (> 3900°C), high hardness and modulus, high thermal conductivity especially at elevated ...

Besides the process technologies used, the successful production of high efficient ceramics is strictly related to the chemical-physical characteristics of the starting powders. For this objective, ISTEC has implemented conventional synthesis method applying innovative heating systems (i.e. microwaves, infrared) for the production of ceria-based powders with high chemical-physical reactivity and high purity and morphological control (in Figure). These systems have been exploited for catalytic ...

ZEBRA batteries (Zero Emission Battery Research Activities), due to their high energy and power density, are one of the best solutions to the actual energy storage demand for stationary application and to the sustainable mobility with electric and hybrid cars. These systems are based on nickel-sodium chloride cells operating at high temperatures (about 270°C-350 °C), enclosed in a thermal container and uses a ceramic tube or planar membrane of Na-β"-alumina as solid electrolyte. The ...

The potential field of application of porous ceramics is increasing; the porosity is a functional property, so that 3D porous ceramics with interconnected and distributed open pores are designed for the specific application. Water-based freeze casting, "ice-templating", is a novel technique to fabricate porous ceramic 3D structures with main unidirectional oriented pores, a high open porosity and the final components resulting in a lamellar or laminate-like structure. In details, the final ...

Evaluation of the biocompatibility and biofunctionality of novel biomaterials for regenerative medicine after trauma or degenerative diseases (e.g. osteoarthritis, osteoporosis). The in vitro studies investigate cytotoxicity, biocompatibility, biofunctionality, bioactivity of biological and synthetic materials. A novel research topic is dedicated to magnetic materials, using innovative magnetic nanoparticles HA-based (patented by our lab) we can magnetize cells and guide them in a specific site ...

Anche il Dipartimento di progettazione molecolare del Cnr contribuisce, con progetti condotti dall'Istituto di cristallografia di Roma, allo studio delle possibili alterazioni dello stato di salute degli equipaggi coinvolti nella missione spaziale simulata e nel volo verso la Stazione spaziale internazionale, previsto ad aprile 2011 Si arricchisce di un altro importante tassello il contributo che il Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche svolge a supporto della missione 'Mars 500', l'esperimento ...

Although research has successfully produced UHTCs with flexural strength up to 1 GPa, fracture toughness and thermal shock resistance still represent major concerns for the application of these ceramics in aerospace or in highly stressed environments. To address these issues, novel processing methods have been implemented to introduce elongated reinforcements (such C or SiC fibers) into UHTC-based matrices. Short fiber reinforced composites: A simple technology is applied to obtain reinforced ...

The characterization of ceramics at nanoscale level is of fundamental importance, especially when the interfaces between two different phases play the major role in determining the efficacy of toughening mechanisms. In this framework lies the activity of microstructural characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) combined with other analytical techniques, such as electron diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). The main ...

The need to produce materials with more and more demanding technological performance addressed the interest of scientists towards the engineering of the synthesis of starting solid phase. For this reason, a fundamental part of the ceramic process is now reserved to the processes of powders synthesis and functionalization. A strict control of the chemical-physical evolution of forming species is been possible through the introduction of the so-called chemical routes. These chemical routes are ...

Photovoltaic solar cell are used to convert solar light into electricity. In 1991 O'Regan and Graetzel realized a prototypes solar cell with good efficiency with materials at low-cost in respect to silicon solar cell. DSSC (Dye Sensitized Solar Cell) are made of multilayer materials with selected band gap that allow photon adsorption and electron injection in the conduction band of the anodic material to produce electric energy. The Materials and process for energy applications group of ...

The transport and energy industry it is more and more in need of complex ceramic parts with high level of accuracy (blades, rotors, turbines, etc...) able to stand harsh operating conditions while retaining the shape. This can be accomplished if the ceramic bodies can be produced in an easy and economic way. Gel-casting can be a valid alternative to injection molding for the production of large, complex-shaped components requiring highly uniform properties. This highly reproducible forming ...

Semicrystalline polymers have a metastable nanophase structure, which is determined by a competition among self-organization, crystallization and vitrification, and is established during material processing. Early investigations of semicrystalline polymers based their description on a two-phase model, where the two phases, an amorphous and a crystalline one, have nanometer dimensions in one or more directions. More detailed analyses revealed that an intermediate fraction is present at the ...

PVD coatings are gradually replacing the traditional methods based on electrolytic deposition. In this context an important role is represented by nanostructured coatings, in which the film is formed by a biphasic system with a microstructure designed to prevent formation, movement and growth of dislocations and microfractures. Thanks to biphasic system, formed by nanocrystals of a hard material with particles of ca.10 nm embedded in the matrix, a nanocomposite material with a hardness 4-6 times ...

E' stato sviluppato un processo di trasformazione in cinque steps per ottenere sostituti ossei in idrossiapatite a partire da sostanze lignee naturali, mantenendo la loro originale struttura porosa. Lo scopo di questa attività riguarda lo sviluppo di sostituti ossei bioattivi in grado di esibire una morfologia estremamente complessa, simile a quella tipica dell'osso corticale, impossibile da riprodurre anche con le più avanzate tecnologie tuttora disponibili. L' ottenimento di morfologie ...

Sono stati ottenuti materiali a base di idrossiapatite (HA) rinforzata con silicati di calcio bioattivi. Lo scopo di questa attività è nello sviluppo di sostituti ossei caratterizzati da proprietà meccaniche tali da sopportare in vivo il carico biomeccanico dopo impianto, minimizzando il ricorso alla fissazione esterna della protesi, con notevoli vantaggi da un punto di vista clinico, economico e del benessere del paziente. I materiali compositi sono stati ottenuti mediante tecniche di ...

L'organizzazione della porosità micro-ultramacro, pur avendo un generale carattere anisotropo (lunghi canali interconnesi da micro e macro pori) avviene secondo gerarchie diverse in funzione della tipologia della sospensione di partenza: concentrazione della fase solida e sue caratteristiche compositive, chimico-fisico-morfologiche e di solubilità, in quanto influiscono sulla stabilità della sospensione e sul processo di congelamento. Apatiti o altri calcio fosfati, diversamente ...