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State-of-the-Art Microscale and Nanoscale Researches in Italy
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State-of-the-Art Microscale and Nanoscale Researches in Italy

A special issue of Micro (ISSN 2673-8023). This special issue belongs to the section "Microscale Materials Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 23833

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Carlo Santulli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Science and Technology, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Interests: mechanical properties; damage; composite laminates; low speed impact; defects; natural fibers; acoustic emission; infrared thermography
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Investigation at the micro and nanoscale on material does represent an important sector in the Italian context, which is inherently multidisciplinary, involving possible studies on ceramics, polymers, and natural materials, among others. This includes also studies on the application of coatings in conferring specific properties to the materials e.g., hardness or improved resistance to corrosion. Apart from physical, chemical, and structural characterization of materials and structures, the research would involve the possible production via micro/nanofabrication and manufacturing techniques for application of micro/nanostructures, devices and microsystems into electronics, photonics, energy, environment, chemistry and life sciences. Special attention will be given to study about the sustainability of micro-nano reinforcements for materials and their application.

More specifically, two large subthemes would be considered, which would include:

  1. Characterization and functionalization of the materials at micro and nanoscale. This would include, but is not limited, to studies on:
  • Graphene and carbon-based 2-D materials
  • Nanocellulose
  • Nanolignin
  • Nano keratin
  • Hydrogels
  • Drug delivery materials
  • Nanoclay
  • Hybrid combinations of nanoreinforcements
  1. Processes of micro- and nanofabrication, including, but not limited to:
  • Optical lithography
  • Electron beam lithography
  • Focused ion beam technique
  • X-ray lithography
  • Etching and replication techniques
  • Alternative materials for micro- and nanofabrication

The only requirement for the aforementioned studies is that the authors would include Italian researchers and a substantial part of the research has been hosted in Italy.

Prof. Dr. Carlo Santulli
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Micro is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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34 pages, 18268 KiB  
Article
The New Italian Standard on the Life Assessment of Martensitic Steels—First Results of the Experimental Validation Activity of XRD by Testing P91 and P92 Samples from Interrupted Uniaxial Creep Tests
by Andrea Tonti and Pietro De Blasi
Micro 2023, 3(1), 274-307; https://doi.org/10.3390/micro3010020 - 2 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1995
Abstract
The Italian Thermotechnical Committee is drafting a new standard for the life assessment of creep-operated pressure equipment, including modern steam boilers. For the evaluation of the spent life ratio several methods are available, even if each of them is not exhaustive. It should [...] Read more.
The Italian Thermotechnical Committee is drafting a new standard for the life assessment of creep-operated pressure equipment, including modern steam boilers. For the evaluation of the spent life ratio several methods are available, even if each of them is not exhaustive. It should be noted that the methods described must be considered in combination with NDTs and other kinds of tests, e.g., hardness tests. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is one of the methods that could be used to assess material evolution under creep conditions. The method allows for the study of phase transitions involving structural variations. It is possible to operate on both massive samples and powders. In this paper, work done with XRD, in the frame of a wider project regarding the study of the high-temperature behavior of welded martensitic steels, is presented. The results of the XRD analysis were compared with the results of the extraction replicas. This work concerns the controls of eight failed crept specimens submitted to XRD examinations. Eight XRD diagrams were produced and subsequently compared with 12 replicas for each specimen; that is, 96 extraction replicas were produced for this work. Then, around 5000 precipitates were analyzed for each specimen; therefore, for this work, around 40,000 precipitates were characterized with their chemical compositions. The average size of the precipitates was around 97 nm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Microscale and Nanoscale Researches in Italy)
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15 pages, 4130 KiB  
Article
Microstructural Evolution of T91 in High Temperature Conditions and under Combined Effect of Stress and Temperature
by Andrea Tonti, Daniela Lega, Alessandra Antonini, Antonello Alvino, Loriana Ricciardi and Luana Campanile
Micro 2022, 2(4), 605-619; https://doi.org/10.3390/micro2040040 - 27 Oct 2022
Viewed by 2120
Abstract
ASTM A213 T91 steel is widely used in power plants and petrochemical industry for long-term service components. Due to its high resistance to creep, thermomechanical fatigue and corrosion, the use of grade 91 steel allows usual plant service parameters to be raised up [...] Read more.
ASTM A213 T91 steel is widely used in power plants and petrochemical industry for long-term service components. Due to its high resistance to creep, thermomechanical fatigue and corrosion, the use of grade 91 steel allows usual plant service parameters to be raised up to ultra-supercritical conditions (600 °C, 300 bar) so that performances are remarkably increased. The strongest factors that affect performances are the time of exposure, the temperature and the applied stress: such parameters can dramatically decrease the service life of a plant component. The improved mechanical properties of grade 91 are strictly related to its specific microstructure: a tempered martensite matrix with fine precipitates embedded in. Two typologies of secondary phases are present: M23C6 carbides (where M = Cr/Fe/Mo/Mn) and finely dispersed MX-type carbonitrides (where M = V/Nb and X = C/N). This study is focused on the microstructure evolution of grade 91 steel under creep conditions. First, three sets of laboratory-aged specimens heated in oven at 550 °C, 600 °C and 650 °C were examined; the exposure time was up to 50,000 h. Furthermore, the influence of stress on the microstructure in two sets of samples was evaluated: a first batch of specimens cut from an ex-service tube of a petrochemical plant (over 100,000 h of service at 580 °C and 19–25 bar) and a second set of samples coming from another ex-service tube under ultra-supercritical conditions (605 °C, 252 bar) in a power plant. The microstructures were characterized by optical, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy and the results were compared to the literature. Some interesting trends were evidenced, in terms of secondary phases precipitation and coarsening, as well as martensite recovery. Furthermore, the applied stress seems to influence size and number of Laves phase particles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Microscale and Nanoscale Researches in Italy)
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17 pages, 7905 KiB  
Article
Rheological and Aesthetical Properties of Polyolefin Composites for Flame Retardant Cables with High Loading of Mineral Fillers
by Sara Haveriku, Michela Meucci, Marco Badalassi, Camillo Cardelli and Andrea Pucci
Micro 2022, 2(3), 524-540; https://doi.org/10.3390/micro2030034 - 2 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2307
Abstract
It was found that the use of natural magnesium hydroxide (n–MDH) as mineral filler in EVA based composites provided mechanical and rheological properties that did not completely comply with the halogen-free flame-retardant (HFFR) cables parameters. Moreover, the use of n–MDH mostly gave a [...] Read more.
It was found that the use of natural magnesium hydroxide (n–MDH) as mineral filler in EVA based composites provided mechanical and rheological properties that did not completely comply with the halogen-free flame-retardant (HFFR) cables parameters. Moreover, the use of n–MDH mostly gave a rough grey surface in the compound extruded by rheometry capillary. In contrast, with the use of synthetic material (s–MDH), a combination of better outcomes was observed. Mechanical and rheological properties were more aligned with the application, and the aesthetics were also improved, i.e., the surface was smooth and whiter. Therefore, with the aim of obtaining good aesthetical quality on the extrudate, we studied formulations by varying the type of polymer matrix and using a mixture of the natural magnesium hydroxide combined with other kind of fillers (in a 3:1 ratio using as main filler n–MDH). On this account, we found a synergistic effect in the mechanical, rheological, and aesthetic properties for the filler blend system containing n–MDH in combination with s–MDH or Böhmite AlO(OH), or using a secondary polymer belonging to the polybutene family combined with EVA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Microscale and Nanoscale Researches in Italy)
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17 pages, 3851 KiB  
Article
Preparation of Non-Toxic Fluorescent Peptide-Coated Silica/PEG Nanoparticles from Peptide-Block Copolymer Conjugates
by Federica Santino, Pasquale Stavole, Tingting He, Silvia Pieraccini, Mayra Paolillo, Luca Prodi, Enrico Rampazzo and Luca Gentilucci
Micro 2022, 2(2), 240-256; https://doi.org/10.3390/micro2020016 - 24 Apr 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2279
Abstract
Peptide-decorated nanosystems have demonstrated higher stability and improved cellular uptake as compared to bare NPs and appear highly promising in diagnostics and theranostics of cancer. Herein, we discuss the preparation and structural characterization of peptide-functionalized silica/PEG NPs, starting from peptide–block copolymers, prepared in [...] Read more.
Peptide-decorated nanosystems have demonstrated higher stability and improved cellular uptake as compared to bare NPs and appear highly promising in diagnostics and theranostics of cancer. Herein, we discuss the preparation and structural characterization of peptide-functionalized silica/PEG NPs, starting from peptide–block copolymers, prepared in turn by conjugation of the peptides to block copolymers before NP formation. This synthetic design allowed full control of density and composition of peptide surface coverage. Preliminary experiments support the low toxicity of the fluorescent peptide–NPs and their ability of cell internalization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Microscale and Nanoscale Researches in Italy)
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Review

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17 pages, 3062 KiB  
Review
Probing Italy: A Scanning Probe Microscopy Storyline
by Franco Dinelli, Marco Brucale, Francesco Valle, Cesare Ascoli, Bruno Samorì, Marco Sartore, Manuela Adami, Riccardo Galletti, Stefano Prato, Barbara Troian and Cristiano Albonetti
Micro 2023, 3(2), 549-565; https://doi.org/10.3390/micro3020037 - 18 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2353
Abstract
Starting from the late 1980’s, scanning probe microscopy has progressively diffused in Italy until today. In this paper, we provide a brief account of the main historical events and a current picture of the distribution of the active groups. A survey was prepared [...] Read more.
Starting from the late 1980’s, scanning probe microscopy has progressively diffused in Italy until today. In this paper, we provide a brief account of the main historical events and a current picture of the distribution of the active groups. A survey was prepared by LimeSurvey, made of six sections asking for personal and institutional data, human resources, equipment available, fields of interest, research projects, educational/dissemination activities, and two relevant publications in the last six years. It turns out that the Italian community includes more than seventy groups and two companies. It is widely diffused, although mostly concentrated near large academic and research institutions, often in locations where prominent Italian researchers have operated. This community is active in many scientific fields and can produce research of high international quality. It shows a wide competence, as proven by the list of research works published in journals ranked within the top 20% class. The diffusion of SPM microscopes in industry is still sporadic, possibly due to extensive collaborations between the research institutions and industries themselves. The authors hope that this work might be useful to the community and beyond, and that it might stimulate the formation of a more structured network. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Microscale and Nanoscale Researches in Italy)
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13 pages, 1241 KiB  
Review
Characterization and Functionalization Approaches for the Study of Polymeric Nanoparticles: The State of the Art in Italian Research
by Biagio Todaro and Melissa Santi
Micro 2023, 3(1), 9-21; https://doi.org/10.3390/micro3010002 - 26 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4410
Abstract
Polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) are a group of nanocarriers employed in a wide range of applications. Characterization is a fundamental step in PNPs formulation and many basic techniques are available to provide chemical-physical information such as dimensions, surface potential, stability and solubility. Recently, these [...] Read more.
Polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) are a group of nanocarriers employed in a wide range of applications. Characterization is a fundamental step in PNPs formulation and many basic techniques are available to provide chemical-physical information such as dimensions, surface potential, stability and solubility. Recently, these techniques have been implemented with more innovative ones to obtain more precise knowledge of the nanomaterials. In this review we analyzed the state of the art in the field of polymeric nanoparticles produced by Italian laboratories. We described all methods available for PNPs characterization with their applications as drug delivery systems. We also reported the different types of molecules that were recently used for PNPs functionalization, a fundamental step in delivering drugs specifically to their targets and then resulting in reduced side effects in patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Microscale and Nanoscale Researches in Italy)
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49 pages, 14121 KiB  
Review
Methods for the Synthesis of Phase Change Material Microcapsules with Enhanced Thermophysical Properties—A State-of-the-Art Review
by Refat Al-Shannaq, Mohammed M. Farid and Charles A. Ikutegbe
Micro 2022, 2(3), 426-474; https://doi.org/10.3390/micro2030028 - 9 Jul 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 7030
Abstract
Thermal energy storage (TES) has been identified by many researchers as one of the cost-effective solutions for not only storing excess or/wasted energy, but also improving systems’ reliability and thermal efficiency. Among TES, phase change materials (PCMs) are gaining more attention due to [...] Read more.
Thermal energy storage (TES) has been identified by many researchers as one of the cost-effective solutions for not only storing excess or/wasted energy, but also improving systems’ reliability and thermal efficiency. Among TES, phase change materials (PCMs) are gaining more attention due to their ability to store a reasonably large quantity of heat within small temperature differences. Encapsulation is the cornerstone in expanding the applicability of the PCMs. Microencapsulation is a proven, viable method for containment and retention of PCMs in tiny shells. Currently, there are numerous methods available for synthesis of mPCMs, each of which has its own advantages and limitations. This review aims to discuss, up to date, the different manufacturing approaches to preparing PCM microcapsules (mPCMs). The review also highlights the different potential approaches used for the enhancement of their thermophysical properties, including heat transfer enhancement, supercooling suppression, and shell mechanical strength. This article will help researchers and end users to better understand the current microencapsulation technologies and provide critical guidance for selecting the proper synthesis method and materials based on the required final product specifications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Microscale and Nanoscale Researches in Italy)
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