Chemical research at the University of Bergamo

The Chemistry group of the INSTM-Research Unit of the University of Bergamo carries out research activities in the following main areas: • The synthesis and characterization of aromatic homo- and heterocyclic helicized compounds, with a particular interest on azahelicenes. These systems, which possess intrinsic chirality and extended p electron delocalization, exhibit interesting properties, such as very long lifetime of the triplet state, very high (> 5000°) [α]D and polarized circular luminescence of the isolated enantiomers. Mono- di- and tetraazahelicenes constituted by five condensed aromatic rings have been synthesized and their behavior is being studied. The preparation of helicenes with more than five aromatic rings is presently under study, in order to realize more enantiomerically stable chiral systems. All these systems are candidates for the preparation of complexes with transition metal ions, whose properties may be exploited in the fields of non-linear optics and OLEDs. Moreover, functionalization of these systems is being explored, both as quaternarization of the nitrogen(s) with formation of N-alkylazahelicenium salts and as attack of an alkyl moiety onto a carbon atom of the system, which on the other hand yields neutral species. The prospective applications of these new materials may range from chiral ionic liquids to surface functionalization to liquid crystals and electrorheological fluids. • The study of the interaction between organic molecules and TiO2 for innovative applications in areas ranging from photocatalytic covering materials to water depollution. • Synthesis and characterization of advanced ceramic materials for application in fuel cells. It is believed that (Sr,Mg)-doped lanthanum gallate (LSGM) has high potential as electrolyte in intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells for highly stable, low cost and low emission power generation. The main activities are the synthesis through citrate melts of nanostructured powders, the processing and characterization of thin/thick films, the functional characterization of electroceramics materials.