Design and development of smart and innovative multifunctional materials for sustainable applications

Nanotechnologies are recently turning towards the development of hybrid nanomaterials and functional nanocomposites, characterized by the presence of functional nanometric components or nanofillers dispersed in a polymeric matrix, thus resulting in increased properties compared to those featured by both starting component. The innovative idea consists in the design of an advanced nanohybrid or nanocomposite material, suitable as surface coating or as it is for different sustainable applications, thanks to their improved properties, such as: 1)antivegetative or antibacterial; 2)flame-retardant; 3)drug-release; 4)sensing; 5)mechanical resistance; 6)absorption and degradation of pollutants . In particular, the inclusion of sensing functions into fabric textiles is a powerful approach towards the development of the so-called, "smart textiles", allowing the development of wearable sensors, i.e. new systems still characterized by main textiles features such as flexibility, biocompatibility, comfort, together with mechanical resistance, able to react and adapt to specific external environment stimuli from their surroundings. This work will show the design, synthesis and characterization of hybrid nanomaterials and multifunctional smart and innovative nanocomposites, based on functional nanoparticles and nanofillers, dispersed in polymeric matrices and/or in combination with appropriate dopants, used as they are or as coatings of different substrates, for applications in optoelectronics, sensors, catalysis, cultural heritage, environmental remediation and biomedicine, construction, textiles and naval sectors. The key-step for sustainability comes from the setting of completely green and eco-friendly synthesis protocols, starting from natural substances or wastes, which lead to the obtainment of functional materials that can also be recycled.