TiO₂ aerogels doped with Ni, Co, Cu, and Fe were prepared, and their structure and photocatalytic activity during the decomposition of a model pollutant, acid orange (AO7), were studied. After calcination at 500 °C and 900 °C, the structure and composition of the doped aerogels were evaluated and analyzed. XRD analysis revealed the presence of anatase/brookite and rutile phases in the aerogels along with other oxide phases from the dopants. SEM and TEM microscopy showed the nanostructure of the aerogels, and BET analysis showed their mesoporosity and high specific surface area of 130 to 160 m²·g⁻¹. SEM–EDS, STEM–EDS, XPS, EPR methods and FTIR analysis evaluated the presence of dopants and their chemical state. The concentration of doped metals in aerogels varied from 1 to 5 wt.%. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated using UV spectrophotometry and photodegradation of the AO7 pollutant. Ni–TiO₂ and Cu–TiO₂ aerogels calcined at 500 °C showed higher photoactivity coefficients (k_aap) than aerogels calcined at 900 °C, which were ten times less active due to the transformation of anatase and brookite to the rutile phase and the loss of textural properties of the aerogels.

Dense multi-cationic Sm-Co-O, Sm-Ni-O, Al-Co-O, Al-Ni-O, and Al-Ni-Co-O oxide aerogels were prepared by epoxide-driven sol–gel synthesis. Catalysts for dry reformation of methane, Sm₂O₃/Co, Sm₂O₃/Ni, Al₂O₃/Co, Al₂O₃/Ni, Al₂O₃/Co, and Ni were prepared by reduction of aerogels with hydrogen and their catalytic activities and C-deposition during dry reformation of methane were tested. Catalytic tests showed high methane conversion (93–98%) and C-deposition (0.01–4.35 mg C/g_cat^.h). The highest content of C-deposits after catalytic tests was determined for Al₂O₃/Co and Al₂O₃/Ni catalysts, which was related to the formation of Al alloys with Co and Ni. A uniform distribution of Co⁰ and Ni⁰ nanoparticles (in the form of a CoNi alloy) was found only for the Al₂O₃/Co and Ni catalysts, which showed the highest activity as well as low C deposition.

This study explores the development of low-friction, water-based coatings tailored for industrial applications in pharmaceutical glass packaging. The study focuses on scalable deposition strategies to obtain durable low-friction coatings suitable for industrial implementation. To balance mechanical performance and application efficiency, two different application approaches based on a two-component coating (aminosilane primer and lubricant) were investigated. In the first case, the coating is deposited in two steps, while in the second, a single deposition step is used. Characterization through contact-angle measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed successful deposition of the primer on the glass surface. Scratch resistance tests revealed an increase in the critical load for fracture initiation from 4.5 N for uncoated glass to 6.5 N for the best-performing coating, indicating improved resistance to surface damage. Friction performance was assessed via tribological tests, which demonstrated that the primer–lubricant coatings achieved the lowest coefficient of friction (approximately 0.2), compared with uncoated glass (stabilizing at approximately 0.3 after an initial value of 0.5) and lubricant-only coatings (approximately 0.4–0.5), confirming the beneficial role of the primer in the coating system. Representative profilometry measurements indicated sub-micrometric coating thicknesses, while UV–Vis measurements confirmed that the coatings preserved the high optical transparency of the glass substrate, with average visible transmittance values above 90%. Furthermore, the successful implementation of the coating using an automated spray system demonstrates its potential for scalable industrial production. These findings support the potential of environmentally sustainable water-based coatings for pharmaceutical glass packaging by combining improved mechanical performance with preserved optical transparency and compatibility with scalable spray deposition.