In the production of commercial Li-ion batteries, the active materials slurries are generally prepared using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) as binder because of its good adhesion properties and electrochemical stability. Unfortunately, there are some disadvantages related to the use of PVdF: the most important is the use of toxic and environmentally unfriendly solvents, such as N-methyl-pyrrolidone (NMP), and the second is the high costs. In the light of these considerations, it seemed straightforward to investigate the suitability of some water-soluble, inexpensive, and eco-friendly materials to test as alternative binders (sodium alginate, chitosan tragacanth gum, gelatin). The rheological properties of these materials have been investigated in addition to the electrochemical characterization. Furthermore, graphite electrodes with PVdF, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) binders have been considered for sake of comparison. We found that some of these water-soluble binders, besides good electrochemical performances, showed a high adhesion to the current collector and a good electrochemical stability under the experimental conditions employed, which makes them interesting for the next generation of Li-ion batteries.

Six Mo/TiO2 samples (with 0, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10 wt % Mo nominal contents) were obtained by reverse micelle sol–gel synthesis, followed by calcination at 500 °C. The samples were characterized by means of powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), quantitative phase analysis as obtained by Rietveld refinement, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, N2 adsorption/desorption at −196 °C, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and diffuse reflectance (DR) UV–vis spectroscopy. As a whole, the adopted characterization techniques showed the inclusion of a sizeable Mo amount, without the segregation of any MoO x phase. Specifically, PXRD showed the occurrence of anatase and brookite with all the studied samples; notwithstanding the mild calcination temperature, the formation of rutile occurred at Mo wt % ≥2.5 likely due to the presence of brookite favoring, in turn, anatase to rutile transition. DR UV–vis and XP spectroscopies allowed determining the samples’ band gap energy (E g) and valence band energy, respectively, from which the conduction band energy was calculated; and the observed E g value increase at 10 wt % Mo was ascribed to the Moss–Burstein effect.

TiO2 nanoparticles containing 0.0, 1.0, 5.0, and 10.0 wt.% Mo were prepared by a reverse micelle template assisted sol–gel method allowing the dispersion of Mo atoms in the TiO2 matrix. Their textural and surface properties were characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction, micro-Raman spectroscopy, N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms at −196 °C, energy dispersive X-ray analysis coupled to field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance UV–Vis spectroscopy, and ζ-potential measurement. The photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (under visible light and low irradiance) in water was used as a test reaction as well. The ensemble of the obtained experimental results was analyzed in order to discover the actual state of Mo in the final materials, showing the occurrence of both bulk doping and Mo surface species, with progressive segregation of MoOx species occurring only at a higher Mo content.

Different sol-gel synthesis methods were used to obtain four nanostructured mesoporous TiO 2 samples for an efficient photocatalytic degradation of the emerging contaminant Nphenylurea under either simulated solar light (1 Sun) or UV light. Particularly, two TiO 2 samples were obtained by means of as many template-assisted syntheses, whereas other two TiO 2 samples were obtained by a greener template-free procedure, implying acidic conditions and, then, calcination at either 200°C or 600°C. In one case, anatase was obtained, whereas in the other three cases mixed crystalline phases were obtained. The four TiO 2 samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (followed by Rietveld analysis); Transmission Electron Microscopy; N 2 adsorption/desorption at À 196°C; Diffuse Reflectance UV/Vis spectroscopy and ζ-potential measurements. A commercial TiO 2 powder (i. e., Degussa P25) was used for comparison. Differences among the synthesized samples were observed not only in their quantitative phase composition, but also in their nanoparticles morphology (shape and size), specific surface area, pore size distribution and pH IEP (pH at isoelectric point), whereas the samples band-gap did not vary sizably. The samples showed different photocatalytic behavior in terms of N-phenylurea degradation, which are ascribed to their different physico-chemical properties and, especially, to their phase composition, stemming from the different synthesis conditions.

Co/SiO2 catalysts with two Co contents of 10 and 30 mol % were prepared and used in ethanol steam reforming. With the aim of tailoring the materials features by varying the synthesis parameters, two different sol-gel procedures were designed, namely a modified hydrolytic alkoxide sol-gel synthesis and a (non-ionic) surfactant assisted one.Effect of the synthesis procedure on the physico-chemical properties of the prepared catalysts is in the focus of the present investigation. The obtained Co/SiO2 catalysts were characterized by means of X-rays powder diffraction (XRPD); Diffuse Reflectance UV-Vis spectroscopy; N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms at -196°C; field emission scanning electron microscopy equipped with Energy Dispersive X-ray probe (FESEM-EDX); temperature-programmed reduction (TPR)and CO adsorption at nominal -196C° as followed by IR spectroscopy.The oxidation state of Co species within the SiO2 matrix was affected by the synthesis method. In particular, the non-ionic surfactant, acting both as pores template and as chelating agent of Co ions during the synthesis, prevented the formation of Co3O4 phase, leading to a higher dispersion, and higher temperature reducibility of Co species with respect to samples with same Co content synthesized without surfactant.The fine balance between Co dispersion and reducibility was the fundamental parameter governing the activity of the Co/SiO2 catalysts in terms of H2 production; CO/CO2 ratio and C balance during ethanol steam reforming.