Scientific Papers in SCI

MoS₂ nanosheets belong to an emerging family of nanomaterials named bidimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDCs). The use of such promising materials, featuring outstanding chemical and physical properties, is expected to increase in several fields of science and technology, with an enhanced risk of environmental dispersion and associated wildlife and human exposures. In this framework, the assessment of MoS₂ nanosheets toxicity is instrumental to safe industrial developments. Currently, the impact of the nanomaterial on the nervous tissue is unexplored. In this work, we use as in vivo experimental model the early-stage zebrafish, to investigate whether mechano-chemically exfoliated MoS₂ nanosheets reach and affect, when added in the behavioral ambient, the nervous system. By high throughput screening of zebrafish larvae locomotor behavioral changes upon exposure to MoS₂ nanosheets and whole organism live imaging of spinal neuronal and glial cell calcium activity, we report that sub-acute and prolonged ambient exposures to MoS₂ nanosheets elicit locomotor abnormalities, dependent on dose and observation time. While 25 μg mL⁻¹ concentration treatments exerted transient effects, 50 μg mL⁻¹ ones induced long-lasting changes, correlated to neuroinflammation-driven alterations in the spinal cord, such as astrogliosis, glial intracellular calcium dysregulation, neuronal hyperactivity and motor axons retraction. By combining integrated technological approaches to zebrafish, we described that MoS₂ 2D nanomaterials can reach, upon water (i.e. ambient) exposure, the nervous system of larvae, resulting in a direct neurological damage.

Surface defects engineered nano-Cu/TiO₂ photocatalysts are synthesized through an easy and cost-effective microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis, mixing commercial P25 titania (TiO₂) and oxalic acid (Ox), followed by 2.0 wt% Cu co-catalyst (labeled as Cu_2.0) loading through in situ photodeposition during reaction. The hydrothermal treatment does not affect the catalyst crystalline structure, morphology, nor the surface area. However, depending on the Ox/TiO₂ molar ratio used an influence on the optical properties and on the reactivity of the system is detected. The presence of surface defects leads to intraband states formation between valence band and conduction band of bare titania, inducing an important enhancement in the photoactivity. Thus, Cu_2.0/gOx/P25 200 (where g is the weight of Ox and 200 the temperature in Celsius degrees used during the synthesis) have been successfully tested as efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen production through methanol (MeOH) reforming under UV light in a MeOH/ H₂O solution (10% v/v) by fluxing the system with N₂, showing an increased reactivity compared to the bare Cu_2.0/P25 system.

In this work, alkali-activated composites using electric arc furnace slag (50 wt%) and biomass bottom ash (50 wt%) were manufactured, adding olive-pruning fibres as reinforcement. The objective of adding fibres is to improve the flexural strength of composites, as well as to prevent the expansion of cracks as a result of shrinkage. For this reason, composites reinforced with olive-pruning fibres (0.5-2 wt%) untreated and treated with three different solutions to improve matrix-fibre adhesion were manufactured. Treatments developed over fibres were a 10 wt% Na2SiO3 solution, 3 wt% CaCl2 solution and 5 wt% NaOH solution. Mechanical properties, physical properties, thermal properties and the microstructure of composites by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were studied to demonstrate the improvement. Alkaline treatment degraded fibre surface, increasing the matrix-fibre adhesion, and as a consequence, flexural strength increased up to 20% at 90 days of curing. Optimal results were obtained with composites reinforced with 1 wt% of olive-pruning fibre treated by a 10 wt% Na2SiO3 solution. Higher quantity of olive-pruning fibre leads to local agglomeration, which weakens the matrix-fibre adhesion. The effect on the compressive strength is less evident, since the addition of fibres produces an admissible decrease (between 0 and 9% using 0.5 or 1 wt% of fibres), except in composites that use olive pruning treated with 10 wt% Na2SiO3 solution, where values remain stable, similar or better to control paste. A greater ductility of the matrix in all composites was observed. Furthermore, the alkali-activated cement matrix was bonded to olive-pruning fibre better than untreated fibre, as it is shown in SEM images. Thus, the results showed that olive-pruning fibres could be used as reinforcement in the manufacturing of alkali-activated materials when they are treated with alkali solutions.

Yttrium-doped BaZrO₃ is a promising electrolyte for intermediate-temperature protonic ceramic fuel cells. In the anode-supported configuration, a slurry containing the electrolyte is deposited on the surface of a calcined porous anode and sintered. Differences in sintering behaviour and thermal expansion coefficients for the anode and electrolyte result in elastic residual stresses that can impact the long-term stability of the cell during cyclic operation. Half-cells using BaZr_0.8Y_0.2O_3-δ as the electrolyte were fabricated using the solid-state reaction sintering method under various sintering conditions. Comprehensive microstructure and residual stress analyses as a function of processing parameters were performed using two-dimensional X-ray diffraction, Rietveld refinement, and scanning electron microscopy, before and after the half-cells were reduced under hydrogen, giving a complete picture of phase, microstructure, and stress evolution under thermal and reduction cycles like the actual operation of the cell. Our results reveal that a temperature of 1400 °C and shorter soaking times might be advantageous for obtaining phase-pure and thin yttrium-doped BaZrO₃ electrolytes with improved microstructure and the presence of compressive residual stress. These findings offer valuable insights into optimising the fabrication process of BaZrO₃-based electrolytes, leading to enhanced performance and long-term stability of anode-supported protonic ceramic fuel cells operating at intermediate temperatures.