Here, we report a new synthetic protocol based on microwave-assisted synthesis (MAS) for the preparation of higher yields of zinc and copper in MOFs based on different bis(pyrazolyl)-tagged ligands ([M(BPZ)]_n where M = Zn(II), Cu(II), H₂BPZ = 4,4′-bipyrazole, [M(BPZ-NH₂)]_n where M = Zn(II), Cu(II); H₂BPZ-NH₂ = 3-amino-4,4′-bipyrazole, and [M_x(Me₄BPZPh)] where M = Zn(II), x = 1; Cu(II), x = 2; H₂Me₄BPZPh = bis-4′-(3′,5′-dimethyl)-pyrazolylbenzene) and, for the first time, a detailed study of their antibacterial activity, tested against Gram-negative (E. coli) and Gram-positive (S. aureus) bacteria, as representative agents of infections. The results show that all MOFs exert a broad-spectrum activity and strong efficiency in bacterial growth inhibition, with a mechanism of action based on the surface contact of MOF particles with bacterial cells through the so-called “chelation effect” and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, without a significant release of Zn(II) and Cu(II) ions. In addition, morphological changes were elucidated by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and bacterial cell damage was further confirmed by a confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) test.

Here we report a new synthetic protocol based on Microwave- Assisted Synthesis (MAS) for the preparation in higher yields of zinc and copper MOFs based on different bis(pyrazolyl)-tagged ligands ([M(BPZ)]n where M = Zn(II), Cu(II), H2BPZ = 4,4′-bipyrazole, [M(BPZ-NH2)]n where M = Zn(II), Cu(II); H2BPZ-NH2 = 3-amino-4,4’-bipyrazole, and [Mx(Me4BPZPh)] where M = Zn(II), x = 1; Cu(II), x = 2; H2Me4BPZPh = bis-4′-(3′,5′-dimethyl)- pyrazolylbenzene) and a detailed study of their antibacterial activity, tested against Gram-negative (E. coli) and Gram-positive (S. aureus) bacteria, as representative agents of infections. The results show that all MOFs exert a broad-spectrum activity and strong efficiency in bacterial growth inhibition, with a mechanism of action based on surface contact of MOFs particles with bacterial cells through the so-called “chelation effect” and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, without a significant release of Zn(II) and Cu(II) ions. In addition, morphological changes were elucidated by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and bacterial cell damage was further confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) test.

A comprehensive methodology is proposed for the quantitative analysis of microporosity in HC for SIBs anodes. SAXS coupled with the Ruland–Smarsly approach enables the detection of closed pores and accurate estimation of surface area and pore‐size distribution beyond BET limitations. Two representative materials, a petroleum‐based and a biowaste‐derived HC, were compared to correlate nanostructural features with electrochemical behavior. Complementary XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and SEM support the SAXS interpretation by revealing differences in crystallinity and morphology. The results show that sustainable biowaste‐derived carbons achieve performance comparable to commercial ones. This SAXS‐based framework provides a reproducible route to probe nanoscale disorder in carbon anodes and guides the rational design of efficient and low‐impact materials for next‐generation SIBs.

The exploitation into new materials of even the smallest scraps of textiles would contribute to their possible success in sectors such as the automotive industry. In this work, alkaline treatment with low sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentrations was applied to flax and hemp textile residues, aiming to determine the most suitable process conditions as a function of the quality of the treated fibres. Several parameters were considered: the temperature and the concentration of the alkaline solution and the immersion time in the alkaline solution and, eventually, in distilled water during the neutralization phase. Drying tests were carried out under controlled temperature conditions to assess the effects of the various treatment parameters. The effects of the various procedures were elucidated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) to assess crystallinity, atomic force microscopy (AFM) to characterize surface roughness, and nitrogen absorption/desorption cycles to determine how microporosity develops with treatment. It is suggested that only the 1.5 wt./vol.% treatment produced some worthwhile modifications of the fibres to prepare them for their use in composites, more evidently in flax than in hemp, though care needs to be taken about fibre embrittlement and potential water permeability.

The growing demand for sustainable and high-performance energy storage systems has intensified research into cost-effective alternatives to lithium-ion batteries. Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) represent a promising option due to the abundance and low cost of sodium, although its larger ionic radius and mass limits the achievable energy density. To overcome this limitation, the development of anode-less architecture offers a viable strategy to improve energy density by reducing cell weight and simplifying electrodes design. However, issues such as non-uniform sodium deposition, dendrite formation, and instability of the solid-electrolyte interphase remain major challenges for long-term operation. In this work, we conducted a systematic study to elucidate the influence of metal-center selection, ligand modification, electrolyte formulation, current density, and electrode porosity on sodium plating and stripping behavior. Coordination polymers were investigated as low-cost and scalable sodiophilic current collectors, capable of promoting uniform sodium nucleation and growth. Among the synthesized materials, Zn-based polymers exhibited the most stable electrochemical performance, attributed to the strong sodiophilic nature of zinc, and annealing-induced ligand modification further enhanced Lewis’s acid-base interactions with sodium, drastically improving interface stability. When tested in full cells with Prussian blue cathodes, the optimized configuration demonstrated excellent cycling stability and nearly 100% coulombic efficiency over 1000 cycles, highlighting the high potential of this approach for next-generation, high-efficiency SIBs.

The exploitation in new materials of even the smallest scraps of textiles would contribute to their success in fields, such as the automotive industry. In this work, alkaline treatment with low tenors of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was applied on flax and hemp fabric textile residues, trying to recover the most suitable process conditions as the function of the quality of treated fibres. Several parameters have been considered, the temperature and the concentration of the alkaline solution, the immersion time in it, and finally the immersion time in distilled water during the neutralization phase. Drying tests were carried out at a controlled temperature to verify the effects of the various treatment parameters. The effect of the various procedures was elucidated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) so to measure crystallinity, atomic force microscopy (AFM) to elucidate the variation of roughness, and nitrogen absorption/desorption cycles to how microporosities develop with treatment. It is suggested that only the 1.5 wt./vol.% treatment did produce some worthwhile modification of the fibres to prepare them for their use in composites, more evidently in flax than in hemp, though care needs to be taken about fibre embrittlement and potential permeability to water.