Author Archives: Daniele Pontiroli

Platinum carbonyl clusters decomposition on defective graphene surface

Having single atoms or small clusters docked onto a single layer graphene represents a charming feature for energy-storage and catalysis. Unfortunately, the large cohesion energy of transition metals often prevents the isolation of nanoscopic clusters, which invariably tend to aggregate. … Continue reading

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Degassing and phase transitions with temperature in melanophlogite

Melanophlogite (type I clathrate) has a microporous framework of corner sharing SiO4 tetrahedra, which can host guest gases. Here, a multi–analytical approach has been employed to understand the phase transitions with temperature and the degassing behaviour of a melanophlogite sample, which … Continue reading

Posted in Crystallography, Energy Storage | Leave a comment

Super-activated biochar from poultry litter for high-performance supercapacitors

We report on the preparation of a novel hierarchically-porous super-activated carbon originating from organic waste with specific surface area exceeding 3000 m2/g, obtained starting from biochar derived by the pyrolysis of poultry litter. The chemical activation process proved to be efficient … Continue reading

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Pressure tuning of light-induced superconductivity in K3C60

Optical excitation at terahertz frequencies has emerged as an effective means to dynamically manipulate complex materials. In the molecular solid K3C60, short mid-infrared pulses transform the high-temperature metal into a non-equilibrium state with the optical properties of a superconductor. Here … Continue reading

Posted in Fullerenes, Superconductivity | Leave a comment

Electrochemical intercalation of fullerene and hydrofullerene with sodium

We report on the ability of fullerene C60 and hydrogenated fullerene C60Hx (x∼39) to operate as negative electrodes in novel Na-ion batteries. Building upon the known solubility of C60 in common organic electrolytes used in batteries, we developed a suitably … Continue reading

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Effect of Ni-nanoparticles decoration on graphene to enable high capacity sodium-ion battery negative electrodes

Modification of graphene has been undertaken in many research contexts in order to improve its properties. In this study, we examine Ni-nanoparticles decoration on graphene and its effect on sodiumion battery performance. A definite trend is observed on the relationship … Continue reading

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Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Reactor for Redox Transformation of Mercury Dichloride

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) possessing a confined inner space protected by chemically resistant shells are promising for delivery, storage, and desorption of various compounds, as well as carrying out specific reactions. Here, we show that SWCNTs interact with molten mercury … Continue reading

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Mott Transition in the A15 Phase of Cs3C60: Absence of a Pseudogap and Charge Order

We present a detailed NMR study of the insulator-to-metal transition induced by an applied pressure p in the A15 phase of Cs3C60. We evidence that the insulating antiferromagnetic (AFM) and superconducting (SC) phases coexist only in a narrow p range. … Continue reading

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Extending the hydrogen storage limit in fullerene

Li6C60 has been chosen as the most representative system to study the hydrogenation mechanism in alkali-cluster intercalated fullerides. We present a muon spin relaxation (μSR) experiment that hints the chance to achieve a higher storage capacity on fullerene with respect … Continue reading

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Molecular and Ionic Dynamics in NaxLi6−xC60

We report on the C60, Na, and Li dynamics in NaxLi6−xC60 fullerides (x = 0, 1, 5, and 6) in the temperature range  80−550 K by using 13C, 23Na, and 7Li solid state NMR. The results show that the C60 … Continue reading

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