The teaching is organized as follows:

Learning objectives

The course aims to provide students with the theoretical and experimental tools for the preparation, study, development and application of nanomaterials in the fields of Biotechnology and Green Chemistry, for industrial, agro-food and biomedical applications. Properly activated and functionalized inorganic based nanomaterials with specific properties, such as diagnostics and sensorial, energy conversion and storage, transport of materials or substances, catalytic activity for production processes and transformation of resources, will be considered, in a perspective of sustainability development. The course also includes some laboratory experiences to provide practical manual skills as well as complementary competences to further refine the critical and analytical abilities for an optimal design, preparation, chemico-physical characterization and application of functional inorganic based nanomaterials in the fields of Biotechnology and Green Chemistry

Program

THEORY
Nanomaterials: definition and peculiarities. Types of nanomaterials (organic, inorganic, organic-inorganic hybrids). 1D and 2D nanomaterials. Hierarchical nanostructures. Importance of the surface in nanomaterials. Phenomena influenced by the surface. Thermodynamic aspects of nanometric phases. Notes on band theory. Semiconductor nanomaterials and Quantum Dots: electronic and spectroscopic properties. Fluoride-based nanomaterials activated with luminescent lanthanide ions. Luminescent carbon dots. Noble metal nanoparticles and their plasmonic properties. Oxide-based nanomaterials for photocatalysis. Magnetic nanoparticles. Organic-inorganic nanocomposites. Multifunctional nanostructures activated by external stimuli for diagnostics, drug-delivery and curative treatments in nanomedicine. Synthesis of nanoparticles in solution with “green chemistry” methods (co-precipitation, sol-gel, solvothermal, inverse micelles and ionic liquids). Microwave-assisted synthesis. Strategies to obtain different porosities, sizes and morphologies (nanorods, core@shell) of nanoparticles. Surface functionalization of inorganic nanoparticles. Chemical-physical analysis of nanostructures (structural, morphological, colloidal). Spectroscopic investigation in the optical field (UV, visible and infrared) on luminescent nanoparticles. Investigation of the vibrational properties of nanoparticles with infrared spectroscopy. LABORATORY EXPERIENCES 1) Synthesis of metallic nanoparticles (Au, Ag) in solution and their spectroscopic characterization in the optical field (UV and visible). Investigation of the colloidal properties. 2) Preparation of magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4) in solution. Study of the colloidal properties. 3) Preparation of alkaline earth metal fluoride nanoparticles (CaF2 and SrF2) functionalized with luminescent lanthanide ions in aqueous medium and their coating with a silica shell by sol-gel technique. Colloidal characterization of the nanoparticles. Study of their emission properties in the visible following laser excitation in the near infrared.

Learning assessment procedures

The exam will be oral, including: - an exposition of a bibliographic work on a topic of the Teaching; - some questions on the various topics of the Teaching, both on the theoretical part and on the laboratory experiences. Particular attention will be paid to the mastery of the concepts, methods, tools and techniques used in the laboratory experiences. For both attending and non-attending students, the exam will cover all the topics of the theoretical part and the laboratory part. For the laboratory part, a written paper is required regarding the methods and results obtained during the experiences. This paper will be uploaded to the Moodle platform at the end of the laboratory experience. The oral exam can also be taken outside of the exam session, by appointment with the Course Teacher. The final grade will take into account both the oral exam and the reports on the laboratory experiences.