DESCRIPTION
This project aims at the development of a new-generation nuclear battery, based on the scintillation properties of colloidal perovskite nanocrystals, which exploits the scintillation mechanism for the conversion of the nuclear energy produced by a radioisotope to electricity, by coupling a scintillating material with a photovoltaic cell.
This approach allows to produce a stable, persistent, and long-lived green energy source, and to develop an efficient battery with a flexible design, which can be easily integrated in more structured devices. The scintillating nuclear battery can be coupled to low-powered sensors to obtain experimental data and to monitor and control in real-time high-impact infrastructures installed in remote and harsh environments, like submarine cable systems for the transport of energy, deep subsoil, deep space exploration and areas with high radioactivity risk.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Prototype of scintillating nuclear battery based on lead halide perovskite nanocrystals
TEAM
Francesca Cova, Matteo Zaffalon, Francesco Carulli, Sergio Brovelli, and Anna Vedda
CONTACTS
info@u4i.it
STATUS
In progress
UPDATE
PROJECT DURATION
18 months
GRANTS
45.000 €
YEAR OF ACTIVITY (IPF)
2021
DESCRIPTION
Soil is a non-renewable resource and therefore its conservation is essential for a sustainable future. In fact, contaminated soil represents a threat to both ecosystems and human health and cannot be exploited unless it is properly remediated. The remediation of contaminated soils can be carried out through traditional physico-chemical strategies or through more sustainable biological treatments from an environmental and economic point of view.
The e-Cube project proposes the design and implementation of bioelectrochemical systems on an industrial scale for the biological remediation of soils contaminated by hydrocarbons. The e-Cube system will be developed as a modular bioreactor integrated with electrodes. The e-Cube system is based on the properties of some microorganisms to degrade pollutants and to use the electrodes as electron acceptors, also generating an electric current. The e-Cube system will increase the efficiency of classic biological treatments, improving the treatment performance in terms of reducing treatment times, volumes to be treated and operating costs. Furthermore, thanks to the modular design of the bioreactors, it will be possible to apply this new technology on-site, limiting the movement and transport of polluted soil.
Specifically, the project has allowed the development of the design concept on a laboratory scale for the identification of the most relevant variables of the system, and on a pilot scale in a soil treatment plant.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Development of a new technology for the biological remediation of soil
TEAM
Anna Espinoza, Francesca Formicola, Andrea Franzetti, Luigi Righini, Tatiana Stella, Valentino Suagher
CONTACTS
info@u4i.it
STATUS
Ongoing
UPDATE
Through a collaboration with the spin-off company of the University of Milano-Bicocca, M3R S.r.l., the eCube has been proposed to possible stakeholders, for its commercialization in bioremediation projects.
PROJECT DURATION
24 months
GRANTS
60.000 €
YEAR OF ACTIVITY (IPF)
2019
DESCRIPTION
NanOcApps aims at developing a robust and high throughput method for the preparation of crosslinked nanocapsules in the kg range, at low cost and having flexible payload. The application spectrum for such formulations is vast and includes controlled release, selective delivery, catalysis and cosmetics. Capsules production is based on an original modification of the mini emulsion solvent evaporation method, while crosslinking is realized through a facile and fully scalable approach: the prefunctionalization of cellulose (a cheap, renewable raw material) with a curing agent. Such an approach allows to encapsulate every water insoluble material, including liquids. An additional advantage of the process deals with the possibility to recover the nanocapsulses as reversible aggregates by coagulation. Such a process makes it possible to proceed by standard filtration instead of centrifuging. The process is batch and designed to provide samples in the kg range, continuous production is under development.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Nanoencapsulation of active compounds
TEAM
Luca Beverina, Sara Mattiello, Mauro Sassi
CONTACTS
info@u4i.it
STATUS
Concluded. Seeking funding.
UPDATE
The project currently pursues two possible exploitation paths:
- Selling of the technology
- Joint development with partners
PROJECT DURATION
24 months
GRANTS
63.000 €
YEAR OF ACTIVITY (IPF)
2018
DESCRIPTION
The project is a scaling-up innovation of a filtering system (patent pending; P06972 IT) suitable for any indoor air filtration application for the retention of all particulate matter (inorganic, organic and biological) with a size (diameter) greater than 4 nm with a filtration efficiency >99.99%; the system allows the inactivation of COVID-19 and the self-healing and a final biocide action against all other biological elements. The system is based on a heat treatment for the inactivation of COVID-19 and for the combustion of all the particulate matter collected on a filter resulting in a completely biocide and self-healing eliminating the production of special waste. The system is designed to be independent from all possible variants of COVID-19 and any future pandemic biota, being the system based on a universal (thermal) method of inactivation (possible choice of any temperature) and destruction of any biological structure based on carbon chemistry
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Filtering system
TEAM
Luca Ferrero, Ezio Bolzacchini, Giulio Ceppi, Chiara Rostagno, Marco Zoppo Vigna
CONTACTS
info@u4i.it
STATUS
Ongoing
UPDATE
The SAMANTA system is at the initial stage of market analysis
PROJECT DURATION
18 months
GRANTS
70.000 €
YEAR OF ACTIVITY (IPF)
2021
