Technologies

The  invention relates to the water purification sector; it refers to a phytodepuration module and to a plant including this module. The objective is decontamination and recovery of drinking water from contaminated springs and wells, thermal, rainwater, wastewater and industrial wastewater. Phytodepuration tanks are known which use ferns to decontaminate water, but have the limits of requiring large surfaces and / or long treatment times.

The technology concerns planar optical antennas composed of thin metal films and dielectric materials for the efficient direction of the light emitted by light sources, such as fluorescent molecules and bio-markers. They consist of a reflector layer, adjacent to the substrate, and a director, semi-reflective, between which the emitter is positioned, integrated into a homogeneous dielectric layer.

The proposed technology deals with the development of active SERS (Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering) substrates ad hoc designed for diagnostics of cultural heritage. The substrates are prepared starting from common commercial 'polishing film' sheets (lapping optical fibers) showing an intrinsic roughness (48- 1000 nm) that favors the SERS effect. A pattern of silver or gold nanoparticles are deposited on these films through Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD).

The instrument which is under development is a non-conventional portable Raman spectrometer. Raman spectrometers provide the molecular composition of the material surfaces, essential for their identification. The instrument peculiarity relies in the simultaneous acquisition of Raman spectra at imaged position and at different micrometric distances (offset) from the laser illumination area.

We developed an hybrid organic-inorganic composite consisting of a 2D perovskite and a copolymer. At room temperature the composite is highly transparent in the visible region with transmittance > 90%. At higher temperatures, the movement of the polymer chains releases the precursors, allowing the perovskite formation, which results in a colored film. The color changes according to the ‘n’ value of the PVK. PVK with n=1 starts coloring at 70°C, achieving a ∆T_max = 91.5% at 510 nm.

The invention is a synthetic method to prepare colloidal nanomaterials of V-VI-VII semiconductors that do not contain toxic elements. This is the first method for the synthesis of mixed anion nanomaterials without toxic elements at large, which permitted to obtain, among others, bismuth chalcohalide nanocrystals that are arguably considered as one of main candidates to be the next big thing for light energy conversion.

AIS aim is a robotized inclinometer measurement in standard inclinometer boreholes. The deep measurements have multiple applications, including: evaluating the rate of deep-seated ground deformation in landslide areas, evaluating the volume of deep-seated landslides and assessing landslide hazards. The AIS is composed by an electronic control manager, an inclinometer probe and an electric motor equipped with a high precision encoder for handling and continuous control of the probe in the borehole.

An interoperable and modular Digital Geospatial Ecosystem (DGE) is proposed, designed, implemented and tested in order to: collect in real time, manage and share geographic data; make usable tools and functionalities to support actions to prevent, monitor and mitigate impacts from extreme events as well as to prepare for and respond to emergency situations. The DGE is composed of the following modules:

The study of proteins is typically limited to notions, sometimes with the aid of virtual 3D models, obtained from visualization programs. A knowledge of this type, although useful, limits the ability to acquire a more direct knowledge, almost never leads to awareness of dimensions, and is particularly difficult for those who do not have a strong capacity for three-dimensional imagination.

The software is based on mathematical models able of simulating the time evolution of the different stages of a pest population starting from environmental data collected from weather stations located in an area of interest and information regarding the development stage of the host plant. The models are of two types: phenological, which provides information on the stages population as a function of time and demographic which also allows to know the abundance of each population stage.

Spark anemometry based on the analysis of an electrical discharge can be implemented in the automotive sector through measurements of the secondary circuit voltage. Actual applicability of this method is quite limited, given that it requires additional hardware that is not compatible with space requirements specific for production engines (e.g. fueled with gasoline, LPG or methane); furthermore, applying high voltage measurements is complex and entails increased cost.

The proposed technology is about the development of an innovative sunscreen obtained from cod fish bones, according to the principles of the circular economy. The sunscreen is a reddish powder, which is constituted of hydroxyapatite (a calcium phosphate main component of human bones) modified with iron. It is prepared with a simple and easily scalable process (treatment of the bones in Fe solution and successively at T = 700 oC) and could be adapted for bones of other fishes. 

Grape pomace, a by-product of wine-making, is rich in polyphenols, metals, organic acids and can become a functional ingredient in food and beverage. The stabilisation of the pomace has been optimised to preserve the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the molecules present. Isolated grape skins have been reused in purity or in blends with other plant components as a base for: 1) herbal teas, 2) ready-to-drink functional beverages, 3) freeze-dried products.

Electrochromism is an optoelectronic characteristic of particular interest because it can be exploited in the creation of technologies such as smart windows (Smart Windows) to promote energy efficiency, automotive, sensor or visualization devices. Electrochromic materials change their optoelectronic characteristics, showing different colors depending on the applied electric field.