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The autonomy of next generation Electric Vehicles relies on the development of high energy density automotive batteries. LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 (spinel structure) is a promising active cathode material in terms of charge rate capability, theoretical capacity, cost and sustainability being a cobalt-free material. In the current study pristine and doped (Fe, Al, Mg) LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 particles were synthesized by an Aerosol Spray Pyrolysis pilot scale unit in a production rate of 100 gr. h−1 and were evaluated for their electrochemical activity in Half Coin Cell form. The doped particles were characterized in terms of their surface area, particle size distribution, crystallite size, morphology and ion insertion of the doping element into the LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 lattice by Raman spectroscopy. The mixed oxide particles had homogeneous composition which is an inert characteristic of aerosol spray pyrolysis synthesis. The electrochemical activity of the material is attributed both to the nanoscale structure, by successful dopant ion insertion into the spinel lattice as well as to optimization of carbon and spinel particle interface contact in the microscale for increase of electrode conductivity.

The massive accumulation of plastics over the decades in the aquatic environment has led to the dispersion of plastic components in aquatic ecosystems, invading the food webs. Plastics fragmented into microplastics can be bioaccumulated by fishes via different exposure routes, causing several adverse effects. In the present study, the dose-dependent cytotoxicity of 8–10 μm polypropylene microplastics (PP-MPs), at concentrations of 1 mg/g (low dose) and 10 mg/g dry food (high dose), was evaluated in the liver and gill tissues of two fish species, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) and the freshwater perch (Perca fluviatilis). According to our results, the inclusion of PP-MPs in the feed of D. rerio and P. fluviatilis hampered the cellular function of the gills and hepatic cells by lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, protein ubiquitination, apoptosis, autophagy, and changes in metabolite concentration, providing evidence that the toxicity of PP-MPs is dose dependent. With regard to the individual assays tested in the present study, the biggest impact was observed in DNA damage, which exhibited a maximum increase of 18.34-fold in the liver of D. rerio. The sensitivity of the two fish species studied differed, while no clear tissue specificity in both fish species was observed. The metabolome of both tissues was altered in both treatments, while tryptophan and nicotinic acid exhibited the greatest decrease among all metabolites in all treatments in comparison to the control. The battery of biomarkers used in the present study as well as metabolomic changes could be suggested as early-warning signals for the assessment of the aquatic environment quality against MPs. In addition, our results contribute to the elucidation of the mechanism induced by nanomaterials on tissues of aquatic organisms, since comprehending the magnitude of their impact on aquatic ecosystems is of great importance.

Η παρούσα διατριβή ερευνά το σχεδιασμό και τη σύνθεση πορωδών σωματιδίων για εφαρμογήστον έλεγχο εκπομπής ρύπων ντίζελ. Για τις παραπάνω διεργασίες είναι επιθυμητή η χρήσηπορωδών σωματιδίων διαφόρων δομών και για αυτό το σκοπό αναπτύχθηκαν οι παρακάτωμορφολογίες σε διαφορετικές συνθήκες: πορώδη σωματίδια ομοιόμορφης δομής (uniformlyporous particles), σωματίδια συμπαγούς πυρήνα και πορώδους κελύφους (solid core porous shellparticles), πορώδη σωματίδια με επιφανειακά νανοσωματίδια (surface decorated porous particles),πορώδη σωματίδια με ενσωματωμένα νανοσωματίδια (porous particles with subsurface inclusions)τα οποία συντέθηκαν με την τεχνική πυρολύσεως νέφους αερολύματος (Aerosol Spray Pyrolysis –ASP) υπό διαφορετικές συστάσεις και συνθήκες σύνθεσης. Τα πορώδη σωματίδια περιέχουνκαταλυτικά νανοσωματίδια των οποίων η θέση και η διασπορά ποικίλει ανάλογα με τη μορφολογίατων σωματιδίων, έτσι ώστε να επιτρέπεται η μέγιστη (πρακτικά πλήρης) πρόσβαση στον καταλύτητων αντιδρώντων όταν τα νανοσωματίδια βρίσκονται στην επιφάνεια του σωματιδίου ήπεριορισμένη/ελεγχόμενη πρόσβαση όταν βρίσκονται στον πυρήνα ενός πορώδους κελύφους ήδιεσπαρμένα σε ολόκληρη την εσωτερική πορώδη επιφάνεια του σωματιδίου.Ο σχεδιασμός των τεσσάρων μορφολογιών προέρχεται από τις ανάγκες του ελέγχου εκπομπήςρύπων κινητήρων ντίζελ και πιο συγκεκριμένα από την οξείδωση της αιθάλης στο σωματιδιακόφίλτρο αιθάλης (DPF) και των υδρογονανθράκων, του μονοξειδίου του αζώτου (ΝΟ) και τουμονοξειδίου του άνθρακα (CO) στον οξειδωτικό καταλύτη ντίζελ (DOC). Ο σκοπός είναι η σύνθεσηκαταλυτών με μεγάλη ειδική επιφάνεια βασιζόμενων σε νανοδομημένα πορώδη σωματίδια για τηναντίδραση με σωματιδιακούς και αέριους ρύπους.Η εύκολη πρόσβαση του των σωματιδιακών ρύπων στα επιφανειακά καταλυτικά νανοσωματίδιαπορωδών σωματιδίων καθιστά αυτή τη δομή κατάλληλη για την οξείδωση της αιθάλης, καθώς καιτο πορώδες του σωματιδίου μπορεί να χρησιμοποιηθεί για επεξεργασία αερίων ρύπων. Η σύστασητων καταλυτικών νανοσωματιδίων βασίστηκε σε προηγούμενη μελέτη μικτών οξειδίων δημητρίου.Τα πορώδη σωματίδια με επιφανειακά νανοσωματίδια συντέθηκαν υπό διαφορετικές συστάσειςκαι συνθήκες σύνθεσης και αξιολογήθηκαν από θερμοβαρυμετρική ανάλυση για την αξιολόγησητης δραστικότητάς τους για την οξείδωση της αιθάλης, οδηγώντας στο συμπέρασμα ότι ταπολυκρυσταλλικά νανοσωματίδια δημητρίου ενισχύουνε την καταλυτική οξειδωτική δράση.Οι μεγάλες ειδικές επιφάνειες ενδείκνυνται για την οξείδωση αερίων, επομένως η μορφολογίαενός πορώδους υποστρώματος (support) με διεσπαρμένα καταλυτικά νανοσωματίδια μέσα στοπορώδες δίκτυο θα ικανοποιούσε από τη μία τις ανάγκες για επεξεργασία αερίων και από την άλληθα απέτρεπε την πυροσυσσωμάτωση των καταλυτικών νανοσωματιδίων σε υψηλές θερμοκρασίες. Προσμίξεις πλατίνας, δημητρίας και νατρίου διαφορετικής αναλογίας mole μελετήθηκαν για τηνεπίδρασή τους στο σχηματισμό πορώδης πυριτίας και αλουμίνας, δείχνοντας ότι το δημήτριο σεαντίθεση με το νάτριο προάγει το σχηματισμό πόρων. Τα καταλυτικά πορώδη σωματίδιααξιολογήθηκαν για τη δραστικότητά τους σε αντιδραστήρα σταθερής κλίνης, όπου τα σωματίδια μετη βέλτιστη πορώδη δομή (Ce-Pt) παρουσιάζουν την υψηλότερη δραστικότητα. Η οξείδωση τουμονοξειδίου του αζώτου και των υδρογονανθράκων στα ενεργά καταλυτικά κέντρα αξιολογήθηκεαπό μία θεωρητική ανάλυση, η οποία περιλαμβάνει την κινητική των αντιδράσεων καθώς και έναπαράγοντα περιορισμού μεταφοράς μάζας που σχετίζεται με την πορώδη δομή του σωματιδίου.Τέλος, πορώδη σωματίδια με ενσωματωμένα νανοσωματίδια εναποτέθηκαν σε δύο διαφορετικάυποστρώματα DOC και DPF, τα οποία διέθεταν ίδια καταλυτική επιφάνια και καταλύτη καιμελετήθηκαν κάτω από παρόμοιες πειραματικές συνθήκες με σκοπό να αξιολογηθεί ηδραστικότητά τους στην οξείδωση του μονοξείδιο του αζώτου παρουσία και απουσία μονοξειδίουτου άνθρακα (CO) και υδρογονανθράκων (HC) καθώς και την αξιολόγησή τους ως προς τηνοξείδωση του CO και HC, δείχοντας ότι το DOC έχει υψηλότερη δραστικότητα από το DPF λόγω τηςμεγαλύτερης αέριας χωρικής ταχύτητας στα κανάλια του.

The built up of microplastic (MPs) remains is shaping a new aquatic habitat and imposes the necessity for research of the effects that these relatively new pollutants exert on organisms, environment, and human health. The purpose of the present study was to verify if there is a particle-size dependence of fish response to MPs. Thus, we exposed two freshwater fish species, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) and perch (Perca fluviatilis) for 21 days to polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) sized 10-45 μm and 106-125 μm. Thereafter, in the liver and gills tissues, biochemical and molecular parameters and the metabolic profile were examined. Ex-vivo characterization by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy exhibited increased concentration of 10-45 μm PE-MPs in the liver of the two fish species while 106-125 μm PE-MPs mostly concentrated in fish gills. The penetration of PE-MPs to fish and the induced oxidative stress triggered changes in lipid peroxidation, DNA damage and ubiquitination and furthermore stimulated signal transduction pathways leading to autophagy and apoptosis. The smaller PE-MPs were more potent in inducing alterations to all the latter parameters measured than the larger ones. Tissue response in both fish seems to depend on the parameter measured and does not seem to follow a specific pattern. Our results showed that there is no clear sensitivity of one fish species versus the other, against both sizes of PE-MPs they were exposed. In perch the metabolic changes in gills were distinct to the ones observed in liver, following a size dependent pattern, indicating that stress conditions are generated through different mechanisms. All the parameters employed can be suggested further as biomarkers in biomonitoring studies against PE-MPs.

The goal of the present study was to examine the effects of ZnO NPs and CuO NPs on Cornu aspersum land snail, enlightening their cytotoxic profile. ZnO NPs and CuO NPs were synthesized and thoroughly characterized. Α series of concentrations of either ZnO NPs or CuO NPs were administered in the feed of snails for 20 days. Thereafter, neutral red retention assay was conducted, in order to estimate NRRT50 values. Subsequently, snails were fed with NPs concentrations slightly lower than the concentrations that were corresponding to the NRRT50 values, i.e. 3 mg·L−1 ZnO NPs and 6 mg·L−1 CuO NPs, for 1, 5, 10 and 20 days. Both NPs agglomerates were detected in hemocytes by Transmission Electron Microscopy. Moreover, both effectors resulted to toxicity in the snails' hemocytes. The latter was shown by changes in the NRRT50 values, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, lipid peroxidation, DNA integrity loss, protein carbonyl content, ubiquitin conjugates and cleaved caspases conjugates levels compared to the untreated animals. Although ZnO NPs exhibited higher toxicity, as indicated by the NRRT50 values, both NPs affected similarly a wide range of the cellular parameters mentioned above. The latter parameters could constitute sensitive biomarkers in biomonitoring studies of terrestrial environment against nanoparticles.

Stringent regulation is endorsed to restrict global gaseous and particulate vehicle emissions by adapting advanced catalytic systems on the exhaust, incorporating costly platinum group metals (PGM) for oxidation catalysis. Porous silica and alumina particles are synthesized in the present work via a one-step aerosol spray route. The particles are doped with Pt, Ce and Na and are evaluated with respect to their pore size distribution, exhibiting surface areas between 6-269 m2/gr. The particles have been evaluated in a packed bed reactor with respect to NO oxidation in presence or absence of hydrocarbons (C2H4) in order to study the hydrocarbon inhibition effect on oxidation kinetics, showing higher conversion curves for higher surface area samples. The current work studies also the correlation between reactant accessibility to the in-pore Pt nanoparticles and catalytic activity by reaction kinetic model.

The present work relates to the synthesis of iron and iron oxide based particles via Aerosol Spray Pyrolysis; a continuous and scalable aerosol synthesis method. Different process parameters included the temperature of reactor synthesis, flow rate/type of carrier gas and post treatment temperature as well as precursor solution chemistry, concentration, solvent and reactant type and such parameters are evaluated with respect to their effect on the synthesized particles crystallinity, morphology, iron oxidation state and mean particle diameter of produced powders. Three different iron precursor sources are employed: chloride, nitrate and a dispersible gel derived from a steel industry byproduct. Iron nitrate and chloride aqueous solutions were sprayed at four different concentrations in order to evaluate the effect of the nature of the iron precursor salt on the main attributes of the particle synthesized. Particle diameter was calculated theoretically based on models from the literature describing nucleation at the droplet level, while mean diameter of the synthesized particles was experimentally measured on line at the exit of the reactor. Ex situ TEM characterization provided the necessary morphological data to elaborate on the mechanisms of produced particles formation and explain observed deviations from the theoretically calculated mean particle diameter values.

In the present study the effects of sublethal concentrations of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on zebrafish were evaluated at multiple levels, related to fish activity and oxidative stress, metabolic changes and contraction parameters in the heart tissue. Zebrafish were fed for 21 days food enriched with PS-MPs (particle sizes 3–12 µm) and a battery of stress indices like DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, autophagy, ubiquitin levels, caspases activation, metabolite adjustments, frequency and force of ventricular contraction were measured in fish heart, parallel to fish swimming velocity. In particular, exposure to PS-MPs caused significant decrease in heart function and swimming competence, while enhanced levels of oxidative stress indices and metabolic adjustments were observed in the heart of challenged species. Among stress indices, DNA damage was more vulnerable to the effect of PS-MPs. Our results provide evidence on the multiplicity of the PS-MPs effects on cellular function, physiology and metabolic pathways and heart rate of adult fish and subsequent effects on fish activity and fish fitness thus enlightening MPs characterization as a potent environmental pollutant.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type-1 (SCA1) is caused by an abnormally expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in ataxin-1. These expansions are responsible for protein misfolding and self-assembly into intranuclear inclusion bodies (IIBs) that are somehow linked to neuronal death. However, owing to lack of a suitable cellular model, the downstream consequences of IIB formation are yet to be resolved. Here, we describe a nuclear protein aggregation model of pathogenic human ataxin-1 and characterize IIB effects. Using an inducible Sleeping Beauty transposon system, we overexpressed the ATXN1(Q82) gene in human mesenchymal stem cells that are resistant to the early cytotoxic effects caused by the expression of the mutant protein. We characterized the structure and the protein composition of insoluble polyQ IIBs which gradually occupy the nuclei and are responsible for the generation of reactive oxygen species. In response to their formation, our transcriptome analysis reveals a cerebellum-specific perturbed protein interaction network, primarily affecting protein synthesis. We propose that insoluble polyQ IIBs cause oxidative and nucleolar stress and affect the assembly of the ribosome by capturing or down-regulating essential components. The inducible cell system can be utilized to decipher the cellular consequences of polyQ protein aggregation. Our strategy provides a broadly applicable methodology for studying polyQ diseases.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO

Among pollutants, nanoparticles (NPs) consist a potential environmental hazard, as they could possibly harm the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems while having unpredictable repercussions on human health. Since monitoring the impact of NPs on aquatic and terrestrial life is challenging, due to the differential sensitivities of organisms to a given nanomaterial, the present study examines magnetite nanoparticles' mediated toxicity in different animal models, representing distinctive environments (terrestrial and aquatic). Oxidative, proteolytic and genotoxic effects were evaluated on the hemocytes of the snail Cornu aspersum; in addition to those, apoptotic effects were measured in gills and liver of the zebrafish Danio rerio, and the prussian carp Carassius gibelio. All biochemical parameters studied increased significantly in animals after 8 days exposure to NPs. Inter-species and inter-tissues differences in responses were evident. Our results suggest a common toxicity response mechanism functioning in the tissues of the three animals studied that is triggered by magnetite NPs. The simultaneous use of these parameters could be established after further investigation as a reliable multi-parameter approach for biomonitoring of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems against magnetite nanoparticles. Additionally, the results of our study could contribute to the design of studies for the production and rational utilization of nanoparticles.

Considering that the extensive biomedical, pharmaceutics, cosmetic and other industrial applications of biomaterials (BMs) is of great concern nowadays, regarding their environmental risk, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of four BMs, poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(butylene succinate) (PBSu), chitosan (CS) and modified chitosan (succinic acid grafted chitosan) (CS-Suc) in the form of microplastics (particle sizes less than 1 mm) on biochemical parameters of snails Cornu aspersum hemocytes. Due to the absence of knowledge about the environmentally relevant concentrations of BMs, snails were initially treated through their food with a wide range of nominal concentrations of each BM to define the half maximal effective concentration (NRRT50), according to the destabilization degree of hemocytes’ lysosomal membranes (by mean of neutral red retention time/NRRT assay). Thereafter, snails were treated with each BM, at concentrations lower than the estimated NRRT50 values in all cases, for periods up to 15 days. After the end of the exposure period, a battery of stress indices were measured in hemocytes of challenged snails. According to the results, all parameters tested in BMs-treated snails statistically differed from those measured in BMs-free snails, thus indicating the pro-oxidant potential of BMs, as well as their ability to affect animals’ physiology. The most considerable effect in most cases seems to be caused by modified chitosan and PCL, while chitosan appears to be the least toxic. A common response mechanism of snails’ blood cells against the 4 BMs used in the present study was shown. After exposure to each of the studied BMs a significant augmentation in protein carbonyls, MDA equivalents and DNA damage, while a significant reduction in NRRT values was determined in the snails hemocytes, in relation to the unexposed animals. From the biochemical parameters examined, MDA equivalents and DNA damage seem to be more susceptible than the other parameters studied, to respond to BMs effect, with MDA to react with more sensitivity to PCL and CS, while DNA damage to CS-Suc and PBSu. Our results could suggest the simultaneous use of the latter biomarkers in biomonitoring studies of terrestrial ecosystems against the specific BMs.

Nanoparticles (NPs), due to their increased application and production, are being released into the environment with unpredictable impact on the physiology of marine organisms, as well as on entire ecosystems and upcoming effects on human health. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the oxidative responses of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis after exposure to iron oxide NPs and to iron oxide NPs incorporated into zeolite for 1, 3 and 7 days. Our results showed that both effectors induced changes on animal physiology by causing oxidative stress in hemocytes of exposed mussels compared to control animals. This was shown by the significant increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, protein carbonylation, lipid peroxidation, ubiquitin conjugates and DNA damage. In addition an increase in prooxidant levels as measured by the prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) assay was observed in exposed mussels' hemolymph. The results show that ROS, DNA damage, protein and lipid oxidation, ubiquitin conjugates and PAB could constitute, after further investigation, reliable biomarkers for the evaluation of pollution or other environmental stressors. In addition, more studies are needed in order to ensure the safety of these NPs on various biomedical applications, since it is critical to design NPs that they meet the demands of application without causing cellular toxicity.

Catalysts for direct soot oxidation in catalyzed diesel particulate filters (CDPFs) consist typically of various mixed oxide compositions (frequently with CeO2 as the dominant component) that assist soot oxidation by enhancing the supply of oxygen from the catalyst to the soot. Apart from the composition, the material morphological characteristics may also contribute to the catalytic activity and this is the motivation for the present study. Different CeO2 nanoparticle catalysts have been obtained employing aerosol-based synthesis (ABS) and sol–gel methods. The obtained catalyst particles have been characterized with respect to their physical and morphological properties as well as with respect to their catalytic soot oxidation activity. The results have been analyzed with the aid of a multi-population kinetics model where soot is found to consist of three fractions reacting with different activation energies, namely 120, 180, and 240 kJ/mol. The occurrence of these three fractions is attributed to the formation of distinct families of surface oxygen complexes (SOCs) on the carbon surface which are subsequently gasified and hence cause soot oxidation, in agreement with accepted mechanisms of soot oxidation in the literature. The CeO2 nanoparticles oxidize catalytically all three fractions of soot, but with different “enhancement factors,” while the activation energies during catalytic oxidation remain the same. A comparison of the catalytic pre-exponentials to those of plain soot shows, in most cases, enhancements, which for some catalysts, can be up to ∼4.5, 6.5, and 2 times larger than those of plain soot, reflecting the relative capacity of the catalyst to generate more of the respective SOCs. The developed approach provides a more detailed but tractable way to describe soot oxidation (plain and catalytic), which can be readily incorporated into simulations of actual emission control systems to increase their reliability.

The use of manufactured nanoparticles (NPs) is spreading rapidly across technology and medicine fields, posing concerns about their consequence on ecosystems and human health. The present study aims to assess the biological responses triggered by iron oxide NPs (IONPs) and iron oxide NPs incorporated into zeolite (IONPZ) in relation to oxidative stress on the land snail Helix aspersa in order to investigate its use as a biomarker for terrestrial environments. Morphology and structure of both NPs were characterized. Snail food was supplemented with a range of concentrations of IONPs and IONPZ and values of the hemocyte lysosomal membranes' destabilization by 50% were estimated by the neutral red retention (NRRT50) assay. Subsequently, snails were fed with NPs concentrations equal to half of the NRRT50 values, 0.05 mg L-1 for IONPs and 1 mg L-1 for IONPZ, for 1, 5, 10 and 20 days. Both effectors induced oxidative stress in snails' hemocytes compared to untreated animals. The latter was detected by NRRT changes, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, lipid peroxidation estimation, DNA integrity loss, measurement of protein carbonyl content by an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA), determination of ubiquitin conjugates and cleaved caspases conjugates levels. The results showed that the simultaneous use of the parameters tested could constitute possible reliable biomarkers for the evaluation of NPs toxicity. However, more research is required in order to enlighten the disposal and toxic impact of iron oxide NPs on the environment to ensure their safe use in the future.

The increasing need for controlled diesel engine emissions and the strict regulations in the abatement of diesel exhaust products lead to an ever increasing use of Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) in OEM applications. The periodic regeneration of DPFs (oxidation of soot particles) demands temperatures that rarely appear during engine operation. It is therefore necessary to employ direct or indirect catalytic measures. In the present work, the development and synthesis via aerosol-based routes, of nanostructured base metal oxides for direct soot oxidation, along with their characterization and their evaluation in engine exhaust is described. The synthesized powders were characterized with respect to their phase composition and morphology. XRD, SEM and TEM analysis have shown the nanostructured character of the powders, while Raman spectroscopy was employed for the preliminary characterization of the materials surface chemistry. The catalytic activity of the materials on soot oxidation was evaluated via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It was found that they have increased soot oxidation activity at lower temperatures than materials synthesized through a liquid phase route (Liquid Phase Self-propagating High temperature Synthesis, LPSHS). Powders with best catalytic activities were deposited on porous filter structures and were subsequently tested on an engine bench for the evaluation of their catalytic activity under realistic conditions.

Georgia Kastrinaki,1,* Christos Samsouris,2,* Efstratios K Kosmidis,3 Eleni Papaioannou,1 Athanasios G Konstandopoulos,1,4 George Theophilidis2 1Aerosol and Particle Technology Laboratory (APTL), CERTH/CPERI, Thessaloniki, Greece; 2Laboratory of Animal Physiology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece; 3Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece; 4Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece *These authors contributed equally tothis work Abstract: The axonal translocation of two commonly used nanoparticles in medicine, namely CeO2 and SiO2, is investigated. The study was conducted on frog sciatic nerve fibers in an exvivo preparation. Nanoparticles were applied at the proximal end of the excised nerve. A nerve stimulation protocol was followed for over 35 hours. Nerve vitality curve comparison between control and exposed nerves showed that CeO2 has no neurotoxic effect at the concentrations tested. After exposure, specimens were fixed and then screen scanned every 1mm along their length for nanoparticle presence by means of Fourier transform infrared microscopy. We demonstrated that both nanoparticles translocate within the nerve by formation of narrow bands in the Fourier transform infrared spectrum. For the CeO2, we also demonstrated that the translocation depends on both axonal integrity and electrical activity. The speed of translocation for the two species was estimated in the range of 0.45–0.58 mm/h, close to slow axonal transportation rate. Transmission electron microscopy provided direct evidence for the presence of SiO2 in the treated nerves. Keywords: CeO2, SiO2, FTIR, nanoparticles, ex vivo electrophysiology, frog sciatic nerve, translocation

Synthesis of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO), a promising cathode material for next generation lithium-ion batteries, was performed via Liquid Phase Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis (LPSHS) and Aerosol Spray Pyrolysis (ASP) techniques. In the case of the LPSHS technique, the effect of the “fuel” quantity of the precursor solution on the structure, morphology and electrochemical performance of the materials was studied, while in the case of the ASP technique the effect of eight different calcination profiles on the structure, morphology, crystalline phase and electrochemical performance of the material. Structural characterization was performed through XRD, SEM, TEM, BET and Raman spectroscopy, while the electrochemical activity was evaluated via charge/discharge galvanostatic characterization. The results showed that the optimal LPSHS material was obtained for a molar ratio of metal ions/fuel = 3:1 exhibiting stable specific capacity over the cycles even by increasing the C-rate. Τhe optimal ASP material was identified in the case of calcination at 850°C. Both materials had the disordered Fd-3m structure of the LNMO spinel

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