Lithium-ion batteries designed for operation under harsh conditions require electrolytes that mitigate the volatility, flammability, and thermal instability of organic electrolytes. In this work, we study a high-temperature supported polymer electrolyte based on the tetrabutylphosphonium (trifluoromethylnonafluorobutylsulfonyl) imide (P4444IM14) ionic liquid with the LiTFSI salt, confined within polyacrylonitrile (PAN) membrane. Ion dynamics were studied using multinuclear NMR, combining diffusion and FFC-NMR on 1H, 19F, and 7Li, complemented by solid-state 13C NMR of the PAN host. PFG-NMR shows that LiTFSI reduces ionic self-diffusion in the liquid electrolyte, while incorporation into the PAN membrane does not further limit diffusion. Consistently, NMRD profiles remain essentially unchanged upon confinement with the polymer membrane, with no evidence of additional relaxation mechanisms associated with confinement, indicating weak dynamic coupling at the polymer–electrolyte interface. Thermal and electrochemical properties were also investigated confirming minimal influence of the PAN on electrolyte performance.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating autoimmune disease characterized by chronic synovial inflammation and progressive joint destruction. Methotrexate (MTX) remains the gold standard in RA therapy, yet systemic administration often provides suboptimal joint targeting and causes dose-limiting toxicity. This study investigates intra-articular (IA) administration of an MTX-loaded Microsponge (MTX-MSP) as a localized strategy to enhance drug retention while minimizing systemic exposure. MTX-MSP is synthesized using hyaluronic acid-based cross-linking and MTX loading. Drug release and carrier mass loss were evaluated in a pathological human synovial fluid (HSF), and rheological and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses assess viscoelastic behavior and drug-carrier interactions. Biocompatibility and anti-inflammatory activity are tested in primary RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes, while therapeutic efficacy is evaluated in a collagen-induced arthritis rat model. MTX-MSP provides sustained release in HSF for 14 days, minimizes burst effects, and preserves structural integrity. Rheological profiling confirms injectability and interaction with the pathological synovial fluid, enhancing the elastic response. In vitro, MTX-MSP reduces IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β expression at gene and protein levels, outperforming free MTX. In vivo, weekly IA injections improve histological scores in treated and contralateral joints, suggesting systemic immunomodulation. MTX-MSP thus achieves prolonged release, anti-inflammatory efficacy, and reduced systemic toxicity, representing a promising IA formulation for RA management.

Polyketone (PK)-based anion exchange membranes (AEMs) were developed and tailored through Paal-Knorr functionalization with 1-(3-aminopropyl)piperidine followed by quaternization using alkyl iodides of different chain lengths. The influence of crosslinker length and degree of crosslinking on thermal, mechanical, and electrochemical properties was systematically investigated. Thermal analysis confirmed sufficient stability for water electrolysis operation, while DSC and stress-strain tests revealed that crosslinking improves mechanical integrity despite the low molecular weight of the PK precursor. Water uptake and ion exchange capacity measurements highlighted the balance between hydrophobicity and charge density, with longer crosslinkers reducing hydration and lower crosslinking degrees increasing swelling. Oxidative and alkaline stability tests demonstrated that membranes crosslinked with longer alkyl chains (DIO, DID) showed improved resistance compared to those with shorter spacers. Conductivity measurements showed that fully crosslinked membranes with long alkyl spacers achieved chloride conductivities close to those of the commercial benchmark Fumasep FAA-3-PK-130, despite exhibiting lower IEC values. Electrochemical testing under alkaline conditions confirmed behavior consistent with AEM water electrolysis systems, indicating promising functional performance. Overall, these findings underscore the decisive role of crosslinker length and density in governing membrane properties and demonstrate that a rational design of PK-based AEMs can effectively balance conductivity, stability, and mechanical integrity, supporting their potential application in green hydrogen production.

Water contamination due to microbial proliferation remains a critical global challenge, especially with increasing urbanization, industrial activities, and the use of agrochemicals, and it requires the development of innovative methods for their purification that are not harmful to the environment and humans. In this study, innovative antibacterial nanocomposite coatings, composed of zirconia and silver nanocluster, were developed and deposited via eco-friendly co-sputtering physical vapor deposition (PVD) method onto electrospun polymeric membranes (PCL and PAN-PCL) for water filtration applications. Structural and morphological analyses, including XRD and UV-Vis spectroscopy, confirmed the deposition of a composite coating, consisting of an amorphous zirconia matrix embedding silver nanoclusters, homogeneously distributed on one side of the polymeric fibers. Wettability evaluations showed an increase in hydrophobicity after coating, particularly affecting the filtration performance of the PCL membranes. Antibacterial tests revealed strong inhibition against Staphylococcus epidermidis (Gram-positive) and partial efficacy against Escherichia coli (Gram-negative). Filtration tests of contaminated solutions revealed a 99% reduction in Bacillus subtilis, significant inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes, and limited effect on E. coli, with no bacterial proliferation observed on the coated membranes. These results underscore the effectiveness of ZrO2/Ag nanocomposites in enhancing microbial control and suggest a promising, scalable strategy for sustainable and safe water purification systems.

Developing efficient and durable anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) is essential for advancing electrochemical energy technologies such as water electrolyzers. This study presents a methodological approach for fabricating an AEM by electrospinning a polysulfone (PSU)-based nanofibrous matrix, followed by post-activation using an ionomer solution containing quaternary ammonium (QA) functional groups. Electrospinning is a promising and versatile technique for membrane fabrication, particularly in the context of green hydrogen production via AEM water electrolysis. Its ability to produce nanofibrous matrixes with tunable morphology and properties makes it an attractive alternative to conventional methods for research across various applications. This study demonstrated the feasibility of fabricating electrospun AEMs using polysulfone as a backbone material, suggesting its promise as a potentially scalable solution to manage the high-cost issue of commercial AEMs for future hydrogen production. The resulting composite membrane exhibited ionic conductivity and electrochemical performance comparable to a benchmark membrane fabricated by activating a commercial Celgard 3401 support via phase inversion. Although the mechanical strength of the electrospun membrane was lower than that of the commercial support, its good electrochemical characteristics—combined with the potential for roll-to-roll electrospinning—underscore the promise of this approach as a viable, economically scalable strategy for future hydrogen production WE technologies.

The advent of the lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has transformed the energy storage field, leading to significant advances in electronics and electric vehicles, which continuously demand more and more performant devices. However, commercial LIB systems are still far from satisfying applications operating in arduous conditions, such as temperatures exceeding 100 °C. For instance, safety issues, materials degradation, and toxic stem development, related to volatile, flammable organic electrolytes, and thermally unstable salts (LiPF6), limit the operative temperature of conventional lithium-ion batteries, which only occasionally can exceed 50-60 °C. To overcome this highly challenging drawback, the present study proposes advanced electrolyte technologies based on innovative, safer fluids such as ionic liquids (ILs). Among the IL families, we have selected ionic liquids based on tetrabutylphosphonium and 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium cations, coupled with per(fluoroalkylsulfonyl)imide anions, for standing out because of their remarkable thermal robustness. The thermal behaviour as well as the ion transport properties and electrochemical stability were investigated even in the presence of the lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide salt. Conductivity measurements revealed very interesting ion transport properties already at 50 °C, with ion conduction values ranging from 10-3 and 10-2 S cm-1 levelled at 100 °C. Thermal robustness exceeding 150 °C was detected, in combination with anodic stability above 4.5 V at 100 °C. Preliminary cycling tests run on Li/LiFePO4 cells at 100 °C revealed promising performance, i.e., more than 94% of the theoretical capacity was delivered at a current rate of 0.5C. The obtained results make these innovative electrolyte formulations very promising candidates for high-temperature LIB applications and advanced energy storage systems.

A novel self‐standing, edible polydopamine‐based alginate‐hydrogel electrode that intrinsically conducts ions and electrons is introduced, redefining the architecture of ingestible bioelectronics. The edible polydopamine‐based alginate‐hydrogel electrode are based on Ca 2 ⁺‐crosslinked alginate (3.5% w/v) plasticized with glycerol (5% w/v) and reinforced with polydopamine, silver nanoparticles, and food‐grade glucose oxidase. The optimized formulation exhibits an electroactive surface area of 1.99 ± 0.07 cm 2 , a double‐layer capacitance of 10.1 ± 0.3 µF, and a charge‐transfer resistance of 7.7 ± 0.6 kΩ. Structural characterization by SEM, TEM, AFM, WAXS, and FTIR confirms uniform dispersion of AgNPs, pDA domain formation, and stable enzyme incorporation, while rheology and DMA reveal enhanced viscoelasticity, tensile strength (14 MPa), and Young's modulus (65 MPa). Configured as a first‐generation glucose biosensor operating in USP simulated intestinal fluid (pH 6.8), the electrode displays a linear response from 50 µ m to 1.0 m m , a detection limit of 10.4 ± 0.8 µ m , and an apparent K M app of 0.35 ± 0.08 m m . The biosensor retains ≥95% activity during 20 h of continuous operation and 90% after 30 days storage, with negligible interference from physiological species. This edible platform establishes a robust route toward ingestible bioelectronics for non‐invasive glucose monitoring and personalized metabolic management.

Polybenzimidazole (PBI), a high-performance polymer known for its exceptional thermal stability and chemical resistance, was processed by solution electrospinning to manufacture fibrous non-woven membranes. The process was repeated under different conditions by adjusting four main settings: the polymer solution concentration, the flow rate, the voltage applied between the needle and the collector, and the separating distance. To clarify the interplay between process parameters and material properties, a Design of Experiment (DOE) approach was used to systematically analyze the effects of said parameters on microstructural properties, including fiber diameter, porosity, and air permeability, pointing out that the increase in viscosity improves fiber uniformity, while optimizing the applied voltage and the needle-collector distance enhances jet stability and solvent evaporation, crucial for defect-free fibrous microstructures. Post-processing via calendering further refined the membrane texture and properties, for example by reducing porosity and air permeability without significantly altering the fibrous morphology, particularly at low lamination ratios. Thermal and mechanical evaluations highlighted that the obtained electrospun PBI membranes exhibited enhanced flexibility, but lower tensile strength compared to cast films due to the underlying open pore microstructure. This integrated approach-combining experimental characterization, DOE-guided optimization, and post-processing via calendering-provides a systematic framework for tailoring PBI membranes for specific applications, such as filtration, fuel cells, and molecular sieving. The findings highlight the potential of PBI-based electrospun membranes as versatile materials, offering high thermal stability, chemical resistance, and tunable properties, thereby establishing a foundation for further innovation in advanced polymeric membrane design and applications for energy and sustainability.

The analysis carried out made it possible to evaluate the electrostatic field in an electrospinning device by means of a Comsol finite element model. The study focuses on the main factors affecting the generation of nanofibers and on the uniformity of the electrostatic field over the collector. In particular, the behaviour of the electrostatic field vector close to the needle and along the edges of the collector was assessed. Finally, the electric field at several points on the collector surface was computed in Comsol. The obtained data were processed in Matlab to assess the variation of the electric field along the $x$ ; -and $y$ -directions. The model results allow to explain interesting aspects arising from the use of the machine.

Developing cost-effective anion exchange membranes (AEMs) with boosted ionic conductivity, desired mechanical properties, and sufficient alkaline stability remains a significant challenge in manufacturing. We've made great progress in producing an intrinsic AEM by electrospinning with a blended polymeric solution of polysulphone and Fumion®FAA-3 (a commercial anion exchange ionomer solution from Fuma-Tech, Germany), followed by characterization tailored for water electrolyzer applications. Our results demonstrate significant potential for propelling the manufacturing of a novel breed of electrospun AEMs optimized for hydrogen production. The outcome represents a prominent improvement over our initial endeavor, which is a big step forward in our goal to make manufacturing easier and create top-notch AEMs for hydrogen production.

Exposure to high levels of radiation can cause acute, long-term health effects, such as acute radiation syndrome, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. This is an important occupational hazard in different fields, such as the aerospace and healthcare industry, as well as a crucial burden to overcome to boost space applications and exploration. Protective bulky equipment made of heavy metals is not suitable for many advanced purporses, such as mobile devices, wearable shields, and manned spacecrafts. In the latter case, the in-space manufacturing of protective shields is highly desirable and remains an unmet need. Composites made of polymers and high atomic number fillers are potential means for radiation protection due to their low weight, good flexibility, and good processability. In the present work, we developed electrospun composites based on polycaprolactone (polymer matrix) and tungsten powder for application as shielding materials. Electrospinning is a versatile technology that is easily scalable at an industrial level and allows obtaining very lightweight, flexible sheet materials for wearables. By controlling tungsten powder size, we engineered homogeneous, stable and processable suspensions to fabricate radiation composite shielding sheets. The shielding capability was assessed by an in vivo model on prototype composite sheets containing 80 w% of W filler in a polycaprolactone (PCL) fibrous matrix by means of irradiation tests (X-rays) on mice. The obtained results are promising; as expected, the shielding effectivity of the developed composite material increases with the thickness/number of stacked layers. It is worth noting that a thin barrier consisting of 24 layers of the innovative shielding material reduces the extent of apoptosis by 1.5 times compared to the non-shielded mice.

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to develop a novel nanotechnological slow-release drug delivery platform based on hyaluronic acid Microsponge (MSP) for the subcutaneous administration of methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation and damage, while MTX is a common disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), the conventional use of which is limited by adverse effects and the lack of release control. Methods: MSP were synthesized as freeze-dried powder to increase their stability and allow for a facile reconstitution prior to administration and precise MTX dosing. Results: A highly stable and rounded-shaped micrometric MSP, characterized by an open porosity inner structure, achieved both a high MTX loading efficiency and a slow release of MTX after injection. Our drug release assays indeed demonstrated a characteristic drug release profile consisting of a very limited burst release in the first few hours, followed by a slow release of MTX sustained for over a month. By means of a preclinical rat model of RA, the administration of MTX-loaded MSP proved to nearly double the therapeutic efficacy compared to sole MTX, according to a steep reduction in arthritic score compared to control groups. The preclinical study was replicated twice to confirm this improvement in performance and the safety profile of the MSP. Conclusions: This study suggests that the MSP drug delivery platform holds significant potential for clinical use in improving RA therapy by enabling the sustained slow release of MTX, thereby enhancing therapeutic outcomes and minimizing side effects associated with conventional burst-release drug administration.

Electrospinning is an advanced manufacturing strategy used to create innovative medical devices from continuous nanoscale fibers that is endowed with tunable biological, chemical, and physical properties. Innovative medical patches manufactured entirely by electrospinning are discussed in this paper, using a specific plant-derived formulation “1 Primary Wound Dressing©” (1-PWD) as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). 1-PWD is composed of neem oil (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) and the oily extracts of Hypericum perforatum (L.) flowers, according to the formulation patented by the ENEA of proven therapeutic efficacy as wound dressings. The goal of this work is to encapsulate this API and demonstrate that its slow release from an engineered electrospun patch can increase the therapeutic efficacy for wound healing. The prototyped patch is a three-layer core–shell membrane, with a core made of fibers from a 1-PWD-PEO blend, enveloped within two external layers made of medical-grade polycaprolactone (PCL), ensuring mechanical strength and integrity during manipulation. The system was characterized via electron microscopy (SEM) and chemical and contact angle tests. The encapsulation, release, and efficacy of the API were confirmed by FTIR and LC-HRMS and were validated via in vitro toxicology and scratch assays.

This study reports on the two-step manufacturing process of a filtration media obtained by first electrospinning a layer of polycaprolactone (PCL) non-woven fibers onto a paper filter backing and subsequently coating it by electrospraying with a second layer made of pure acidolysis lignin. The manufacturing of pure lignin coatings by solution electrospraying represents a novel development that requires fine control of the underlying electrodynamic processing. The effect of increasing deposition time on the lignin coating was investigated for electrospray time from 2.5 min to 120 min. Microstructural and physical characterization included SEM, surface roughness analysis, porosity tests, permeability tests by a Gurley densometer, ATR-FTIR analysis, and contact angle measurements vs. both water and oil. The results indicate that, from a functional viewpoint, such a natural coating endowed the membrane with an amphiphilic behavior that enabled modulating the nature of the bare PCL non-woven substrate. Accordingly, the intrinsic hydrophobic behavior of bare PCL electrospun fibers could be reduced, with a marked decrease already for a thin coating of less than 50 nm. Instead, the wettability of PCL vs. apolar liquids was altered in a less predictable manner, i.e., producing an initial increase of the oil contact angles (OCA) for thin lignin coating, followed by a steady decrease in OCA for higher densities of deposited lignin. To highlight the effect of the lignin type on the results, two grades of oak (AL-OA) of the Quercus cerris L. species and eucalyptus (AL-EU) of the Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh species were compared throughout the investigation. All grades of lignin yielded coatings with measurable antibacterial properties, which were investigated against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, yielding superior results for AL-EU. Remarkably, the lignin coatings did not change overall porosity but smoothed the surface roughness and allowed modulating air permeability, which is relevant for filtration applications. The findings are relevant for applications of this abundant biopolymer not only for filtration but also in biotechnology, health, packaging, and circular economy applications in general, where the reuse of such natural byproducts also brings a fundamental demanufacturing advantage.

Introduction The lithium-ion technology has revolutionized the energy storage market and the demand for highly performant devices is rapidly expanding, also capable of satisfying hard/challenging operative conditions required in many technological sectors. For instance, large-scale applications (particularly, deep-water drilling devices, gas/oil industry, but also stationary power sources and automotive) require batteries able of safely operating even at high temperatures (around or above 100 °C), while maintaining acceptable performance and cycle life without significant degradation [1,2]. However, commercial Li-ion batteries (LIBs) are temperature limited as they can only occasionally overcome 50-60 °C. The presence of volatile and flammable organic electrolyte solvents can lead to a dangerous chain of events such as overpressure, cell venting, burning and explosion, with rapid cell dismantling [3]. In addition, the LiPF6 salt (generally used in standard LIB electrolytes) is thermally unstable and, in the presence of even moisture and/or oxygen traces, is able of generating HF acid, thereby irreversibility ageing the electrochemical device and leading to cell performance decay [4-5]. In this scenario, an appealing approach for overcoming this drawback is the design of non-volatile, non-flammable, more thermally robust electrolyte formulations able of withstanding high temperatures [2]. Ionic liquids, molten salts below 100 °C (often at room temperature or below), were proposed as advanced electrolyte solvents for improving the safety and reliability of LIB devices [6] due to their appealing peculiarities (i.e., no measurable vapor pressure, marked flame retardant properties, fast ion transport properties, high chemical/electrochemical/thermal stability, good power solvent) [7]. Phosphonium-based ionic liquids are expected to exhibit higher thermal and electrochemical stability compared to those containing ammonium cations [8-12]. Experimental In the present work, the attention has been focused on the tetrabutylphosphonium (P4444)+ cation, which has been selected because the steric hindrance and the symmetry of its structure are expected of allowing high thermal and electrochemical stability (with respect to the reduction process) [8-12], although these factors do not favor the ion transport properties and the low melting temperature. The (P4444)+ cation, commercially available as bromine salt (easily handled and purified), was coupled with selected anions of the per(fluoroalkylsulfonyl)imide family for their appealing thermal/electrochemical stability and good transport properties [9,13]. The (P4444)+-based ionic liquids (PILs) were synthesized and purified according to an eco-friendly procedure, reported in detail elsewhere [7], which requires water as the only processing solvent. The quality control of the PIL materials was checked in terms of NMR, FT-IR, EDX and UV-Vis analysis where the physicochemical properties were studied through DSC and TGA techniques. The electrochemical characteristics were also examined in the presence of the LiTFSI salt (PIL:LiTFSI mole ratio = 4:1) in terms of ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability. Results The PIL materials were successfully synthesized with purity level overcoming 99.9 wt.%, i.e., in particular, the halide, moisture and lithium content was found below 5 ppm. The PIL electrolytes have exhibited very good thermal robustness (well above 250 °C) in conjunction with wide electrochemical stability window (close to 4.8 V vs the Li+/Li° redox couple). Fast ion transport properties (largely exceeding 10-3 S cm-1) were recorded at temperatures ranging from 80-120 °C. These results make the (P4444)+-based electrolytes rather appealing for high temperature lithium battery systems. The results are here presented and discussed. References [1] G.-T. Kim, et al., Ionic Liquid-Based Electrolyte Membranes for Medium-High Temperature Lithium Polymer Batteries, Membranes 2018, 8, 41 [2] D. R. Wright, et al., Review on high temperature secondary Li-ion batteries, Science Direct, Energy Procedia 151 (2018) 174–181. [3] S. Shahid, et al., Energy Conversion and Management: X 16 (2022). [4] S. Li, et al., Electrochim. Acta 129 (2014). [5] P. Murmann, et al., Electrochim Acta 114 (2013). [6] S. Passerini, et al., Lithium Polymer Batteries Based on Ionic Liquids in Polymers for Energy Storage and Conversion, Vikas Mittal editor, John Wiley and Scriverner Publishing, USA, 2013 [7] M. Montanino, et al.,Electrochim. Acta 96 (2013) 124-133. [8] K.J. Fraser, et al., Aust. J. Chem. 62 (2009) 309-321. [9] K. Tsunashima, et al., Electrochem. Commun. 9 (2007) 2353-2358. [10] P.J. Griffin, et al., J. Chem. Phys. 142 (2015) 084501. [11] P.J. Carvalho, et al., J. Chem. Phys. 140 (2014) 064505. [12] F. Chen, et al., J. Chem. Phys. 148 (2018) 193813-193819. [13] G.B. Appetecchi, et al., Electrochim. Acta 56 (2011) 1300-1307. Acknowledgements The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from the European Battery Innovation (EuBatIn) – IPCEI Project. E.D.S thanks the Electrical, Materials and Nanotechnology Engineering Doctoral Course of La Sapienza University of Rome for the financial support.

One of the main drawbacks of commercial lithium-ion batteries is the safety issue because of the hazardous organic electrolyte compounds, especially in case of electric and/or mechanical abuse. With the aim of overcoming this limitation, two synergic approaches have been followed: i) replacement of the organic solvents with innovative, non-volatile and non-flammable fluids (ionic liquids); ii) confinement of the ionic liquid electrolytes within suitable polymeric hosts for obtaining solid-state, ionically conducting membranes. In the present work, the attention has been focused on the N1114FSI, EMIFSI and PYR14TFSI ionic liquids (combined with the LiTFSI salt), and the electro-spun PSU, PAN/PCL and PAN/PCL-OLG polymer hosts. This study presents an explorative approach for developing innovative thin-layer, solvent-free, scalable polymer electrolyte technologies from the safety and engineering points of views.

The contamination of water by heavy metals poses an escalating risk to human health and the environment, underscoring the critical need for efficient removal methods to secure safe water resources. This study evaluated the performance of four cationic exchange materials (labeled “PS—DVB”, “PA—DVB”, “TFSA”, and “OGL”) in removing or harvesting metals such as copper, silver, lead, cobalt, and nickel from aqueous solutions, several of which are precious and/or classified as Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) due to their economic importance and supply risk. The objective was to screen and benchmark the four ion exchange materials for water treatment applications by investigating their metal sequestration capacities. Experiments were conducted using synthetic solutions with controlled metal concentrations, analyzed through ICP-OES, and supported by kinetic modeling. The adsorption capacities (qe) obtained experimentally were compared with those predicted by pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. This methodology enables high precision and reproducibility, validating its applicability for assessing ion exchange performance. The results indicated that PS—DVB and PA—DVB resins proved to be of “wide range”, exhibiting high efficacy for most of the metals tested, including CRM-designated ones, and suggesting their suitability for water purification. Additionally, the second-life Nafion-based “TFSA” material demonstrated commendable performance, highlighting its potential as a viable and technologically advanced alternative in water treatment. Lastly, the lignin-based material, “OGL”, representing the most innovative and sustainability apt option, offered relevant performance only in selected cases. The significant differences in performance among the resins underscore the impact of structural and compositional factors on adsorption efficiency. This study offers valuable insights for investigating and selecting new sustainable materials for treating contaminated water, opening new pathways for targeted and optimized solutions in environmental remediation.

Nanocrystalline W100-xAlx (x up to 20 at.%) powders obtained by mechanical alloying have been consolidated by spark plasma sintering (SPS). Alloying W with Al significantly improves the sinterability, allowing the fabrication of dense samples. The consolidation process keeps the nanocrystalline microstructure substantially unaffected, which contributes to the hardness of the final W-Al alloys. The room-temperature nano-and micro-hardness of dense W80Al20 alloy sintered at 1100 degrees C are as high as 18 and 14 GPa, respectively. These values are significantly higher than those previously reported for pure coarse-or submicron-grained W and may be ultimately ascribed to the grain boundary segregation of Al.

Electrospinning bears great potential for the manufacturing of scaffolds for tissue engineering, consisting of a porous mesh of ultrafine fibers that effectively mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) and aid in directing stem cell fate. However, for engineering purposes, there is a need to develop material-by-design approaches based on predictive models. In this methodological study, a rational methodology based on statistical design of experiments (DOE) is discussed in detail, yielding heuristic models that capture the linkage between process parameters (Xs) of the electrospinning and scaffold properties (Ys). Five scaffolds made of polycaprolactone are produced according to a 22-factorial combinatorial scheme where two Xs, i.e., flow rate and applied voltage, are varied between two given levels plus a center point. The scaffolds were characterized to measure a set of properties (Ys), i.e., fiber diameter distribution, porosity, wettability, Young’s modulus, and cell adhesion on murine myoblast C1C12 cells. Simple engineering DOE models were obtained for all Ys. Each Y, for example, the biological response, can be used as a driver for the design process, using the process-property model of interest for accurate interpolation within the design domain, enabling a material-by-design strategy and speeding up the product development cycle. The implications are also illustrated in the context of the design of multilayer scaffolds with microstructural gradients and controlled properties of each layer. The possibility of obtaining statistical models correlating between diverse output properties of the scaffolds is highlighted. Noteworthy, the featured DOE approach can be potentially merged with artificial intelligence tools to manage complexity and it is applicable to several fields including 3D printing.

Manufacturing cost-effective anion exchange membranes (AEMs) with high ionic conductivity, sufficient alkaline stability, and desired mechanical properties, is a new trend and still challenging. Here we represent the result of our trial to fabricate an intrinsic AEM by electrospinning mixed solution of polysulphone and Fumion® (a commercially available ionomer solution from Fuma-Tech, Germany) and its characterization for water electrolyzer application. The result is remarkable from a manufacturing perspective to create a new generation of active electrospun AEM for hydrogen production, although the ionic conductivity of these first prototypical samples will need to be improved in the future for end application, by increasing ionomer content.