Understanding the organic–inorganic interphases of hybrid materials allows structure and properties control for obtaining new advanced materials. Lately, the use of ionic liquids (ILs) and poly(ionic liquids) (PILs) allowed structure control from the first sol-gel reaction steps due to their anisotropy and multiple bonding capacity. They also act as multifunctional compatibilizing agents that a...

A protein matrix is necessary for the desired texture of fermented sausages suitable for slicing. The formation of this network is predominantly induced by myosin and actin proteins. A change in the structure of native muscle proteins results from different technological processes such as chopping, salting, and fermentation. During chopping with simultaneous release of meat proteins, the salt b...

We investigate the effect of the thickness of the silicon nitride (SiN x ) diffusion barrier on the structural and photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2 films obtained with different processes. We show that the structural and photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2 films produced using soft chemistry (sol-gel) and physical methods (reactive sputtering) are affected differentially by the intercalating SiN...

The research here described presents an investigation over the efficiency of nanostructured TiO2 films as photocatalysts either in air purification systems or to be integrated in light devices, based on the exploitation of UV or Vis irradiation to induce the degradation of hazardous chemical compounds. Gas pollutants (NO) and dyes (rhodamine B) will be considered as model reactants. Several oxi...

Knowledge of the transitions occurring during formation ion-conducting polymer films and membranes is crucial to optimize material performances. The use non-destructive scattering techniques that offer high spatio-temporal resolution essential investigating such structural transitions, especially when combined with complementary probing at different time spatial scales. Here, a simultaneous mul...

Sol-gel entrapment is an efficient immobilization technique that allows preparation of robust and highly stable biocatalysts. Lipase from Candida antarctica B was immobilized by sol-gel entrapment and by sol-gel entrapment combined with adsorption on Celite 545, using a ternary silane precursor system. After optimization of the immobilization protocol, the best enzyme loading was 17.4 mg/g supp...

The colonisation of clinical and industrial surfaces with microorganisms, including antibiotic-resistant strains, has promoted increased research into the development of effective antibacterial and antifouling coatings. This study describes the preparation of metal nitrate (Ag, Cu, Zn) doped methyltriethoxysilane (MTEOS) coatings and the rapid assessment of their antibacterial activity using po...

Sol-gel methodologies are advantageous in the preparation of hybrid materials in front of the conventional addition of nanoparticles, because of the fine dispersion of the inorganic phase that can be reached in epoxy matrices. In addition, the use of organoalkoxysilanes as coupling agents allows covalent linkage between organic and inorganic phases, which is the key point in the improvement of ...

Corrosion is constantly a major problem of the world economy in the field of metal products, metal processing and other areas that utilise metals. Previously used compounds utilizing hexavalent chromium were amongst the most effective materials for corrosion protection but regulations have been recently introduced that forbid their use. Consequently, there is a huge drive by engineers, technolo...

The effect of two poling processes on the ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of sol–gel and pulsedlaser-deposited Pb(Zr0 45Ti0 55)O3 (PZT) thin films has been investigated as a function of the poling field, poling temperature and poling time. In the case of dc-electric field poling at an elevated temperature (200 C), the remnant polarization and effective piezoelectric coefficient are f...