Development of Catalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Media

The looming threat of climate change and its consequences make it imperative for humankind to find alternatives to conventional energy sources. Green hydrogen, produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy, is one way to address this problem. However, the high cost and low energy efficiency of conventional water electrolysis methods continue to restrict the widespread adoption of green hydrogen. In this work, we develop novel catalysts, investigate their structur...

Rational Integration of Nanomagnetism and Biocatalysis for Sustainable Circular Polymer Systems

The thesis advances a holistic framework for circular polymer processing by integrating enzymatic catalysis, magnetic nanoparticles-based immobilization and functionalized bioplastic interfaces. The resulting approach aspires to contribute to next-generation technologies by developing sustainable and efficient solutions for biocatalytic processes and polymer material management, both during synthesis and in a recycling-oriented perspective, where biocatalysis and nanomagnetism operate in harm...

Elastomers for Photonic Applications

This PhD Thesis investigates the design, fabrication, and characterization of mechanically tunable photonic structures, with particular emphasis on stretchable Distributed Bragg Reflectors (DBRs) and planar microcavities. The research explores how elastic photonic architectures can be integrated with responsive molecular systems to create multifunctional optical devices for sensing applications, particularly within the field of Structural Health Monitoring. The work begins with an introduc...

Study on the organic components in the Hot-injection method: a useful approach for (nano)crystal synthesis

This thesis explores the synthesis and advanced properties of semiconductor nanocrystals, focusing on lead halide perovskites and emerging chalcohalide materials. It highlights the importance of monodisperse nanocrystals and the versatility of colloidal synthesis, particularly the hot-injection method. Sustainable synthetic strategies were investigated using green solvents such as limonene and pinene to produce CsPbX₃ (X = Cl, Br, I) nanocrystals with controlled morphology. The work also addr...

Electrospun polysaccharidic nanofibers with bacteria and nanoparticles for cleaning and disinfection of Cultural Heritage

Power Measurements and Saving Techniques in Beyond 5G Networks

The rise of 5G systems and Beyond 5G (B5G), along with state-of-the-art cloud and software engineering solutions, have brought to a radical shift of networking technologies with respect to the previous generations. However, the increased performance and flexibility have come at the cost of reduced sustainability, mainly from an environmental standpoint. Infrastructure owners can introduce power management solutions in their datacenters, but the improvement is negligible unless tenants op...

Il razzismo fascista visto dall’estero. Dibattito pubblico e reazioni politico-diplomatiche in Germania, Gran Bretagna e nell’Europa sud-orientale (1938-1940)

The official implementation of state racism in Fascist Italy from July 1938 constituted not only a decisive moment for the regime and the minorities it persecuted across Italy and its colonies, but also a political event of international significance that profoundly reshaped Italian foreign policy, bilateral relations with other states, and Italy's image on the world stage. Drawing on an interdisciplinary approach encompassing media, cultural, and political history, and focusing on Germany, ...

IoT solutions for e-Health applications for care’s continuity at home

Bone Marrow-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Carry RNAs Shaping The Tumor Microenvironment in High-Risk Neuroblastoma Patients

Background Despite the intensive treatment, the survival rate of high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB) patients remains low. Over 10% of patients have tumors that lack the expression of GD2, a NB-associated ganglioside, making them ineligible for anti-GD2 antibody immunotherapy. Therefore, the development of novel therapeutic strategies to enhance immunotherapy efficacy and mitigate side effects is urgently needed. Circulating small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) can contribute to tumor progression...