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The ability to create and optimise new interfaces is essential to develop and optimise materials for use in sustainable energy storage and conversion technologies. In this thesis, the solution-deposition of coatings from molecular precursors is explored as a promising approach towards this end. First, a facile method for the deposition of electrocatalytically active zirconium-based films for photoelectrochemical water oxidation is developed. The films were derived from three novel alkoxy cage compounds containing Zr and a first-row transition metal (Co, Fe or Cu). The deposition of a Co-doped ZrO₂ coating onto the BiVO₄ photoanode lowers its onset potential by 0.12 V to 0.21 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and increases the maximum photocurrent density by ∼50% to 2.41 mA cm⁻² compared to the uncoated BiVO₄. In the next chapter, a new solution deposition method to coat the Li-ion battery cathode LiNi₀.₈Mn₀.₁Co₀.₁O₂ (NMC811) with Al₂O₃ using aluminium isopropoxide (AIP) is developed. High-field solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SSNMR) probes the formation of γ-LiAlO₂ at 600 °C and doping of aluminium into NMC811 starting at 500-600 °C. NMC811 coated with amorphous Al₂O₃ (200-400 °C) had a capacity retention comparable to pristine NMC811, while higher annealing temperatures led to more crystalline coatings and surface Al-doping which were found to increase the rate of degradation of NMC811 upon cycling. Finally, LiAlO₂ coatings are deposited onto NMC811 using heterobimetallic alkoxides: LiAl[(OCH₂Ph)₄], LiAl[(OⁱPr)₄] and LiAl[(O^tBu)₄]. The later showing the most promise as a coating precursor due to its high solubility in tetrahydrofuran (THF), low temperature decomposition (283 °C) and reaction with hydroxyl groups present on the surface of NMC811. This coating was tested on polycrystalline NMC811 (PC-NMC811) and Al₂O₃ coated single-crystal NMC811 (Al₂O₃/SC-NMC811). Significant improvements in capacity retention (17.2% more C/2 capacity retained after 107 cycles vs. Al₂O₃/SC-NMC811) were seen in the LiAlO₂/Al₂O₃/SC-NMC811 system. Furthermore, coating PC-NMC811 that was previously degraded by soaking in water improved the capacity retention (50.1% more capacity retention at C/2 after 215 cycles vs. uncoated PC-NMC811 soaked in water and annealed at 400 °C) suggesting that the combination of a LiAlO₂ coating and subsequent annealing step can recover NMC811 surfaces that have been previously degraded by soaking in water.

Esta investigación tiene como objetivo comprender las razones que motivan la brecha existente entre la actitud favorable hacia la moda sostenible y la falta de comportamiento correspondiente por parte del consumidor en España. Para ello, esta investigación ha abordado de manera holística, por un lado, el consumo de moda sostenible, considerando no solo la adquisición de productos de moda sostenible, sino también la apuesta por parte de los consumidores por nuevos modelos circulares, concretamente el Consumo Colaborativo de Moda, y la participación en la filosofía Slow Fashion. Por otro lado, también se ha abordado de forma holística la brecha actitud-comportamiento al analizar, no solo la influencia de rasgos psicológicos del consumidor, sino también de atributos de los productos y variables situacionales. Metodológicamente esta tesis adopta un enfoque mixto en el que se combinan técnicas de investigación cualitativas y cuantitativas. La investigación se llevó a cabo en tres fases. La primera fase consistió en una revisión sistemática de la literatura concerniente a la brecha actitud-comportamiento en el consumo de moda sostenible. La segunda fase se llevó a cabo a través de tres grupos focales (n=23) en los que participaron consumidores de moda sostenible y consumidores comunes de diferentes edades con el objetivo de comprender las diferencias entre ambos tipos de consumidores y entre generaciones. Los resultados se analizaron a través de Análisis de Contenido y Means-Ends Chain Analysis, lo que sirvió para revelar el vínculo subyacente entre los atributos de los productos y los valores personales de los consumidores. La última fase consistió en una encuesta online (n=1'063) con el objetivo de triangular los datos recogidos en la fase anterior y adquirir representatividad. Para determinar las motivaciones y las barreras que contribuyen a la brecha entre actitud-comportamiento del consumidor, el análisis de datos se llevó a cabo a través de estadística descriptiva, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) bajo las premisas de la Teoría de la Acción Razonada, Choice-Based Conjoint Analysis y Cluster Analysis. Los resultados del Choice-Based Conjoint Analysis revelaron qué atributos son más importantes para los consumidores españoles en la toma de decisiones de compra de x moda, mientras que el Cluster Analysis sirvió para identificar y perfilar cuatro tipos diferentes de consumidores. El resultado de esta tesis contribuye a la comprensión de la brecha entre la actitud y el comportamiento y del consumo y los consumidores de moda sostenible en España. Especialmente, mediante el uso de investigación aplicada (Choice-Based Conjoint Analysis) con parámetros reales de mercado, ofrece una mejor aproximación al comportamiento real de los consumidores en el marco, poco investigado, del mercado de la moda en España.

This research identifies and portrays the under-researched segment of sustainable fashion consumers, drawing a comparison with the average consumers in Spain, and defines the drivers and barriers for sustainable fashion consumption, further contributing to the attitude-behaviour gap literature. Based on a sample of 1,063 respondents and 23 focus group participants, and following the Theory of Planned Behaviour, the results indicate that lack of trust in fashion companies and their sustainable statements is the main reason preventing consumers from buying sustainable products or doing it more often, followed by higher prices. It appears that the more sustainably conscious consumers are, the less they buy brand-new, preferring alternatives such as second-hand (mainly) and renting. Sustainable fashion consumers demonstrate greater fashion consciousness, environmental concern, perceived consumer effectiveness, and a higher subjective norm than average consumers. Conversely, price is still a critical purchasing driver for the average consumer.

A 35-year-old man was referred for cardiac check-up because of suspected reflex syncope. He underwent a tilt-test challenge without syncope provocation. The electrocardiography (ECG) showed sinus rhythm with polymorphic premature ventricular contractions (PVC), with right bundle branch block morphology

The perinatal period is a critical window for neurodevelopment, during which the brain is especially vulnerable to environmental factors that can disrupt typical developmental processes. It is understood that maternal infection is an environmental factor that can contribute to altered brain development in the offspring, which can result in developmental abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), as well as an inhibition of sensorimotor abilities. Another environmental factor that may disrupt brain development is exposure to phthalates, which are endocrine-disrupting plasticizing agents that we absorb from several sources in our environment. While both environmental factors have been shown to alter development of the PFC, evidence suggests that phthalates can influence and interact with the immune response, perhaps exacerbating the effects of either exposure alone. The present research aimed to measure the combined effects of maternal infection via lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and exposure to an environmentally relevant mixture of phthalates on the number of neurons and glia in the rat medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), mPFC volume, and performance on a sensorimotor test. While we did not see an effect of treatments on sensorimotor gating behavior, there were multiple neuroanatomical effects. Stereological analysis of offspring’s brain tissue revealed that at P10, LPS decreased neuron density in the mPFC. At P60, LPS reduced mPFC volume, cortical thickness, the number of neurons, and the volume of white matter volume. Phthalates reduced the density, but not total number of mPFC neurons. Additionally, we found a significant interaction between LPS and phthalates on the number of glial cells in young adulthood. These results have important implications for psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and ADHD.