Susanna Romano

In the flexible electronics field, the growing issue of electronic waste and the massive use of nonbiodegradable substrates have led research toward sustainable materials based on natural polymers such as starch. Nevertheless, it lacks the specific properties of a processable plastic material and has no appreciable conductivity. Therefore, the use of appropriate plasticizers is necessary. Dicationic ionic liquids (DILs), characterized by good conductivity and lower toxicity compared with monocationic ILs, may represent a valid suggestion. In addition, DILs show greater antibacterial efficacy, which is particularly suitable for the production of wearable devices. This work investigates the role of the cationic structure of DILs in the characteristics of flexible starch films with both conductive and antibacterial properties. Four 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium-based DILs with varying chain linkers were used to prepare starch films via solution casting. The study examined the impact of these plasticizers on the films' mechanical properties, thermal stability, wettability, electrical conductivity, and antimicrobial activity. The prepared films were tested as materials for making wearable strain sensors, suggesting potential applications in the field of flexible electronics.

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is a flame retardant widely added to polymer products. Successful isolation of target analytes from complex natural matrices relies on extraction materials that can selectively interact with the analytes. In this context, the use of magnetic nanostructured adsorbents, such as magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer systems (MMIPs), can play a key role in both selective matrix–analyte interactions and separation processes. Here, to achieve different TBBPA loadings, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) were coated with chitosan (CS) or (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES). Moreover, to further promote template–NP interactions and modulate the polymeric shell thickness of MMIPs, 3,4-dihydroxyhydrocinnamic acid (HC) was covalently bonded in different amounts to APTES-functionalized MNPs. Thermal, SEM, and elemental analyses showed a different coating degree of the nanocomposites (Fe₃O₄@CS-MIP size d = 77 nm and Fe₃O₄@APTES-MIP d = 20 nm). In addition, it was confirmed that the adsorption mechanism of TBBPA on Fe₃O₄@APTES-HCX-MIPs was due to specific interactions between the systems and the analyte, unlike non-imprinted analogs (MNIPs). Among the developed systems, the Fe3O4@APTES-HC0.7-MIP sample showed the best extraction efficiency (85%) associated with good discharge efficiency (70%). Furthermore, this nanocomposite displayed high selectivity towards TBBPA (ε > 1) and good extraction efficiency in three consecutive cycles (67%), demonstrating great potential in the environmental field.

Titanium is widely recognized as an interesting material for electrodes due to its excellent corrosion resistance, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility. However, further functionalization is often necessary to impart advanced interfacial properties, such as selective ion transport or stimuli responsiveness. In this context, the integration of smart polymers, such as poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA)—noted for its dual pH- and thermo-responsive behavior—has emerged as a promising approach to tailor surface properties for next-generation devices. This work compares two covalent immobilization strategies for PDMAEMA on titanium: the “graft-to” method, involving the attachment of pre-synthesized polymer chains, and the “graft-from” method, based on surface-initiated polymerization. The resulting materials were characterized with size exclusion chromatography (SEC) for molecular weight, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for chemical structure, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for surface morphology, and contact angle measurements for wettability. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and polarization studies were used to assess electrochemical performance. Both strategies yielded uniform and stable coatings, with the mode of grafting influencing both surface morphology and functional stability. These findings provide valuable insights into the development of adaptive, stimuli-responsive titanium-based interfaces in advanced electrochemical systems.

Over the past 15 years, ionic liquids (ILs) have gained increasing attention as potential replacements for traditional organic compounds. Thanks to their remarkable properties, such as non-volatility, chemical stability, low toxicity, solvation power, and the tunability of properties—due to different combinations of cations and anions—ILs are considered ideal in the processing of polymers. Indeed, they have been extensively studied for the dissolution, derivatization, and plasticization of biopolymers to address the growing issue of plastic pollution. The aim of this review is to investigate the recent years’ literature using ILs in starch plasticization. In particular, two major classes of ionic liquids were addressed, the imidazole-based ionic liquids and the choline-derived bioILs. Furthermore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms behind the interactions between ILs and starch and to study their effect on biopolymer properties.