Macromolecular Chemistry and Polymeric Materials Group

The general research topic of the group concerns the synthesis and characterization of innovative polymeric materials. In particular, in recent years the following research topics have been developed: • Frontal polymerization (FP). FP is based on the formation of a hot polymerization front capable of self-sustaining and self-propagating, gradually converting the monomer mixture into polymer. The advantages of FP include energy saving, short reaction times, simplicity of the protocol, high conversions. • Synthesis and characterization of high-performance polymeric nanocomposites. The introduction of nanofillers into the polymer matrix allows to obtain polymeric materials with mechanical, physical and chemical properties significantly superior to unfilled polymers. For example, nanocomposites containing graphene, cyclodextrins, nanocellulose, POSS have been studied. • Development of transparent wood. Transparent wood represents an innovative composite material, which is obtained by partial or total delignification and infiltration with polymers that have a refractive index similar to that of wood. The final material has mechanical properties significantly superior to those of wood, has a transparency similar to that of glass and is more biodegradable than glass or plastics; it represents a promising candidate for the replacement of glass in construction, but could also be used in electronics and optoelectronics. • Synthesis and characterization of hydrogels. Hydrogels are cross-linked hydrophilic polymers that have the ability to swell when immersed in water. Some of them can be stimulus-responsive (volume variation following the variation of parameters such as pH or temperature) or self-repairing (ability to repair mechanical damage by forming new chemical bonds activated by an external stimulus. • Synthesis and characterization of vitrimers. Vitrimers are polymers made of covalent adaptable networks (CANs) that bridge the gap between thermosets and thermoplastics, offering advantageous properties of both classes. They achieve this by incorporating dynamic covalent bonds within their structure, allowing for reprocessing and reshaping beyond a certain temperature while maintaining the strength and stability characteristics of thermosets below this temperature. These features account for their ease of recycling at the end of their life.

Alberto Mariani (martiani@uniss.it), Professore Ordinario, SSD CHEM-04/A, ORCID: 0000-0001-8973-4542, SCOPUS: 7102770695.

Daniele Nuvoli (dnuvoli@uniss.it), Ricercatore a tempo determinato di tipo b, SSD CHEM-04/A, ORCID: 0000-0001-5409 7600, SCOPUS: 24504317300

Mariella Rassu, assegnista di ricerca, SSD CHEM-04/A

Gaia Venusti, assegnista di ricerca, SSD CHEM-04/A

Lorenzo Manca, assegnista di ricerca, SSD CHEM-04/A

Alessia Cabras, assegnista di ricerca, SSD CHEM-04/A

Virginia Bianciotti, assegnista di ricerca, SSD CHEM-04/A

1) Mariani, A., & Malucelli, G. (2022). Transparent wood-based materials: Current state-of-the-art and future perspectives. Materials, 15(24), 9069.

 2) Alzari, V., Kamseu, E., Leonelli, C., Spinella, A., Malucelli, G., Bianco, G., ... & Mariani, A. (2021). Organic inorganic materials through first simultaneous frontal polymerization and frontal geopolymerization. Materials Letters, 295, 129808.

3) Nuvoli, D., Alzari, V., Pojman, J. A., Sanna, V., Ruiu, A., Sanna, D., ... & Mariani, A. (2015). Synthesis and characterization of functionally gradient materials obtained by frontal polymerization. ACS applied materials & interfaces, 7(6), 3600-3606.

4) Di Lisa L., Rea M., Nuvoli D., Focarete M. L., Albonetti C., Mariani A. (2024). Frontal polymerization of acrylamide/GelMA/gelatin hydrogels with controlled mechanical properties and inherent self-recovery. European Polymer Journal, 221, 113551.

5) Nuvoli, D., Valentini, L., Alzari, V., Scognamillo, S., Bon, S. B., Piccinini, M., ... & Mariani, A. (2011). High concentration few-layer graphene sheets obtained by liquid phase exfoliation of graphite in ionic liquid. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 21(10), 3428-3431.

Project PRIN PNRR 2022 linea sud. Title: “Smart wood: the ecosystem at work to preserve itself”. Principal Investigator: Daniele Nuvoli, Unit member: Alberto Mariani. Budget: 240000, in progress (expires February 2026).

Project HORIZON-CL4-2023-RESILIENCE-01. Title: “AI-driven multiscale methodology to develop Transparent Wood as sustainable functional material”, Unit Leading member: Alberto Mariani, Unit member: Daniele Nuvoli. Budget: 7 million €. In progress (expires December 2026). https://www.ai-transpwood-project.eu/

Project HORIZON- CL4-2024-TWIN-TRANSITION-01. Title: “Bio-intelligent manufacturing of multifunctional bio-based polymer systems”, Unit Leading member: Daniele Nuvoli, Unit member: Alberto Mariani. Budget: 5 million €. In progress (May 2028).

Development of new polymer systems by frontal polymerization or induction heating

Development of transparent wood composites

Synthesis and characterization of polymer hydrogels

Synthesis and characterization of polymer nanocomposites

Synthesis and characterization of vitimers