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Electronic coherence signatures can be directly identified in the time-frequency maps measured in 2 dimensional spectroscopy (2DES). We demonstrate the theory and discuss the advantages of this approach by a detailed application to the fast femtosecond beatings of a wide variety of electronic coherences in dimers of size-dispersed (8%) 3nm quantum dots (QDs). The observed and computed results can be consistently characterized directly in the time-frequency domain by probing the polarization in a 2DES set-up. Experimental and computed time-frequency maps are found in very good agreement and several electronic coherences are characterized at room temperature in solution before extensive dephasing due to the size-dispersion kicks in. As compared to the frequency-frequency maps that are commonly used in 2DES, the time-frequency maps allow for exploiting electronic coherences without additional post processing and with fewer 2DES measurements. Towards quantum technology applications, we also report on the modeling of the time-frequency photocurrent response of these electronic coherences, which opens the way to integrating QD devices with classical architectures thereby enhancing the quantum advantage of such technologies for parallel information processing at room temperature.

The advantages of the directly measured time-frequency maps are discussed as a useful representation of the coherent output in a 2 dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES). We demonstrate the theory by a detailed application to the fast femtosecond beatings of a wide variety of electronic coherences in dimers of size-dispersed (9%) 3nm quantum dots (QDs). The observed and computed results can be consistently characterized directly in the time-frequency domain by probing the polarization in a 2DES set-up. Experimental and computed time-frequency maps are found in very good agreement and several electronic coherences are characterized at room temperature in solution before extensive dephasing due to the size-dispersion kicks in. As compared to the frequency-frequency maps that are commonly used in 2DES, the time-frequency maps allow for exploiting electronic coherences without additional post processing and with fewer 2DES measurements of polarization. Towards quantum technology applications, we also report on the modeling of the time-frequency photocurrent response of these electronic coherences, which opens the way to integrating QD devices with classical architectures thereby enhancing the quantum advantage of such technologies for parallel information processing at room temperature.

Room temperature ligand-assisted reprecipitation syntheses of CsPbBr3 nanoparticles (NPs) under open air conditions and with non-polar solvents have recently emerged as viable strategies for large-scale production of highly emissive NPs.

Novel hybrid nanocomposites formed of 1-Pyrene Carboxylic Acid (PCA) functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO) sheets, surface decorated with UV–Vis–NIR light-harvester PbS nanocrystals (NCs), are prepared by means of an in situ colloidal chemistry approach, using oleic acid (OLEA) as a surfactant. PCA molecules anchored onto the RGO sheets feature carboxyl groups that serve as coordinating sites for the PbS NCs heteronucleation. Here, the mechanism underlying the NCs decoration of RGO is investigated and the interplay between the concentration of PCA and OLEA and the Pb precursor:OLEA molar ratio are demonstrated able to careful control NCs morphology and size distribution, governing also RGO covering density. Remarkably, PCA-RGO/PbS NCs modified Indium Thin Oxide (ITO) electrodes show an electrochemical specific capacitance much higher than that characterizing the single components of the nanocomposite, that can be further enhanced under illumination in the NIR. The nanocomposite modified electrodes demonstrate to behave as (photo)electrochemical supercapacitors, chemically stable, able to work both as (photo)charging and blocking electrodes, exhibiting a photocathodic behavior. The investigation of the NIR-light enhanced photocapacitive characteristics of the hybrid (photo)cathodes provides useful insights on their future integration in devices, including electrochemical photocapacitors and photoelectrochemical (bio)sensors.

In this work, the synthesis and characterization of two new trityl radicals bearing two p-brominated positions, i. e. the 2,2 '-((perchlorophenyl)methylene)bis(1,3,5-tribromobenzene) radical and the 6,6 '-((perchlorophenyl)methylene)bis(3-bromo-1,2,4,5-tetrafluorobenzene) radical, are presented. Slightly modifying the strategy typically used for the synthesis of non-symmetric mixed-halide trityl radicals, we were able to considerably increase the reaction yield for the radical precursors. In addition, for the first time the electro-optical properties of a highly fluorinated trityl radical were studied, achieving the most blue-shifted emission for a trityl radical reported up to now. Quantum-chemical calculations carried out to supplement the experimental investigation support the electrochemical and spectroscopic data as well as rationalize the observed blue shift of the highly fluorinated species.

Carbon dots (CDs) are a family of fluorescent nanoparticles displaying a wide range of interesting properties, which make them attractive for potential applications in different fields like bioimaging, photocatalysis, and many others. However, despite many years of dedicated studies, wide variations exist in the literature concerning the reported photostability of CDs, and even the photoluminescence mechanism is still unclear. Furthermore, an increasing number of recent studies have highlighted the photobleaching (PB) of CDs under intense UV or visible light beams. PB phenomena need to be fully addressed to optimize practical uses of CDs and can also provide information on the fundamental mechanism underlying their fluorescence. Moreover, the lack of systematic studies comparing several types of CDs displaying different fluorescence properties represents another gap in the literature. In this study, we explored the optical properties of a full palette of CDs displaying a range from blue to red emissions, synthesized using different routes and varying precursors. We investigated the photostability of different CDs by observing in situ their time-resolved fluorescence degradation or optical absorption changes under equivalent experimental conditions and laser irradiation. The results about different PB kinetics clearly indicate that even CDs showing comparable emission properties may exhibit radically different resistances to PB, suggesting systematic connections between the resistance to PB, the characteristic spectral range of emission, and CD quantum yields. To exploit the PB dynamics as a powerful tool to investigate CD photophysics, we also carried out dedicated experiments in a partial illumination geometry, allowing us to analyze the recovery of the fluorescence due to diffusion. Based on the experimental results, we conclude that the nature of the CD fluorescence cannot be solely ascribable to small optically active molecules free diffusing in solution, contributing to shed light on one of the most debated issues in the photophysics of CDs.

Cu2−xS nanocrystals (NCs) have been recently exploited in several fields, ranging from energy conversion to biomedical applications, due to their intriguing geometry and phase-dependent semiconductor and near-infrared plasmonic properties. Although advances have been made in their synthesis by hot-injection at the present stage of research, the unexpected sizes and shapes of the Cu2−xS NCs and broad polydispersity still represent critical issues that must be avoided, as they are responsible for the unpredictable optical response and undesirable broadening of the spectroscopic feature. This study intends to explore the influence that the reactants used in the Cu2−xS NC synthesis have in the modulation of size, shape and phase. Furthermore, we aim to provide an effective toolbox for a judicious choice of synthetic conditions towards the production of monodispersed and uniform NCs. The way how, the precursor nature, tied up with the composition of amphiphilic molecules, controls the final NC geometry (e.g., size, shape and size/shape distribution), phase and plasmonic properties, is discussed on the basis of the Hard-Soft Acid-Base theory. In this regard, Cu2−xS NCs prepared by means of various typically used reactants (CuCl, CuCl2, Cu(acetylacetonate)2, Cu(acetate)2, S8, tert-dodecanthiol (tDT) or dibuthyldisulfide (DBDS)) and amphiphilic molecules (oleic acid and oleylamine) are, in this work, extensively investigated. The valence of copper ions, copper counterion, molar ratio of copper to sulphur precursors, and coordinating agents demonstrate the essential factors to achieve a qualitative estimation of the nucleation and growth rate, and an effective elucidation of the NC growth mode and hence of the final NC plasmonic behavior.

Efforts are made to perform an early and accurate detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by simultaneous exploiting multiple clinically non-invasive imaging modalities. Original nanostructures derived from the combination of different inorganic domains can be used as efficient contrast agents in multimodal imaging. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and Au nanoparticles (NPs) possess well-established contrasting features in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray computed tomography (CT), respectively. HCC can be targeted by using specific carbohydrates able to recognize asialoglycoprotein receptor 1 (ASGPR1) overexpressed in hepatocytes. Here, two different thiocarbohydrate ligands were purposely designed and alternatively conjugated to the surface of Au-speckled silica-coated SPIONs NPs, to achieve two original nanostructures that could be potentially used for dual mode targeted imaging of HCC. The results indicated that the two thiocarbohydrate decorated nanostructures possess convenient plasmonic/superparamagnetic properties, well-controlled size and morphology and good selectivity for targeting ASGPR1 receptor.

CsPbBr

CsPbBr3 nanocrystals (NCs) passivated by conventional lipophilic capping ligands suffer from colloidal and optical instability under ambient conditions, commonly due to the surface rearrangements induced by the polar solvents used for the NC purification steps. To avoid onerous postsynthetic approaches, ascertained as the only viable stability-improvement strategy, the surface passivation paradigms of as-prepared CsPbBr3 NCs should be revisited. In this work, the addition of an extra halide source (8-bromooctanoic acid) to the typical CsPbBr3 synthesis precursors and surfactants leads to the in situ formation of a zwitterionic ligand already before cesium injection. As a result, CsPbBr3 NCs become insoluble in nonpolar hexane, with which they can be washed and purified, and form stable colloidal solutions in a relatively polar medium (dichloromethane), even when longly exposed to ambient conditions. The improved NC stability stems from the effective bidentate adsorption of the zwitterionic ligand on the perovskite surfaces, as supported by theoretical investigations. Furthermore, the bidentate functionalization of the zwitterionic ligand enables the obtainment of blue-emitting perovskite NCs with high PLQYs by UV-irradiation in dichloromethane, functioning as the photoinduced chlorine source. publishedVersion

A wide variety of photoinduced electronic coherences are shown to be robust with respect to dephasing in ensembles of quasi-homodimers assembled with sub-nm ligands from colloidal 3 nm CdSe quantum dots (QDs) with controlled 9% size dispersion, both in solution and in solid-state. Coherence periods ranging from 40 to 300 fs are consistently characterized by multi-dimensional electronic spectroscopy in the Vis range in solution and solid-state samples. A theoretical model that includes size dispersion, spin orbit coupling, and crystal field splitting supports the assignment of electronic coherences. Further, this model provides a guide for optimizing the coherences by tuning the interplay between dimer electronic delocalization, optical activity and size dispersion. The experimental persistence of many QD electronic coherences at the level of the size dispersed ensemble in the solid-state and in solution opens the way for building versatile bottom-up materials well suited to quantum technology applications.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can independently replicate in the central nervous system (CNS) causing neurocognitive impairment even in subjects with suppressed plasma viral load. The antiretroviral drug darunavir (DRV) has been approved for therapy of HIV-infected patients, but its efficacy in the treatment of HIV-associated neurological disorders (HAND) is limited due to the low penetration through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Therefore, innovations in DRV formulations, based on its encapsulation in optically traceable nanoparticles (NPs), may improve its transport through the BBB, providing, at the same time, optical monitoring of drug delivery within the CNS. The aim of this study was to synthesize biodegradable polymeric NPs loaded with DRV and luminescent, nontoxic carbon dots (C-Dots) and investigate their ability to permeate through an artificial BBB and to inhibit

The ongoing interest in all-inorganic cesium lead bromide perovskite nanocrystals (CsPbBr3 NCs) is mainly due to their optical properties, in particular their high photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs). Three-precursor synthetic methods, in which the sources of the three elements (cesium, lead and bromine) constituting the perovskite scaffold are chemically independent, often succeed in the achievement of near-unity PLQY perovskite NCs. However, this class of synthetic approaches precludes the accessibility to crystal morphologies different from the traditional cuboidal ones. In order to upgrade three-precursor synthetic schemes to obtain more sophisticated morphologies - such as rods - we propose a conceptually original synthetic methodology, in which a potentially controllable stage of the reaction anticipates the fast crystallization promoted by cesium injection. To this purpose, lead oxide, 1-bromohexane (at different molar ratios with respect to lead) and the ligands (oleic acid and a suitable amine) in 1-octadecene are reacted at 160 °C for an incubation period of 30 min before cesium injection. During this stage and at high C6H13Br/PbO molar ratios, the bromide release from reactions between the ligands and 1-bromohexane promotes the evolution of [PbBr(2+n)]n- species as well as of two-dimensional [(RNH3)2(PbBr4)]n structures with a rod-like shape (aspect ratios ∼10). These structures act as the templating agents for the subsequent crystallization promoted by cesium injection, ensuring the formation of near-unity PLQY nanorods in the presence of decylamine. Conversely, the pronounced decomposition of the preformed [(RNH3)2(PbBr4)]n structures preludes to the formation of near-unity PLQY nanocubes in the presence of hexylamine. The amine choice exerts also an important role in the emission stability of the corresponding NCs, since the nanocubes prepared in the presence of hexylamine maintain their near-unity PLQYs up to 90 days under ambient conditions. In addition to the long-term PLQY stability, the nanorods prepared with decylamine also exhibit a remarkable resistance to the presence of water, due to the compact and hydrophobic organic shell passivating the NC surface. These findings can contribute to the development of innovative synthetic methodologies for controlling the shape and stability of near-unity PLQY perovskite NCs.

A facile in situ colloidal approach is reported to synthesize a novel hybrid nanocomposite formed of 3,4-dimethylbenzenethiol (DMBT)-capped Au NPs, decorating flakes of 1-pyrene-carboxylic acid (PCA) functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO). In the nanocomposite, the Au NPs and RGO sheets are anchored by means of the aromatic PCA linker and the DMBT capping ligand, both ensuring electronic coupling due to particle/RGO and interparticle π-π interactions, respectively. The short aromatic thiol has been selected to i. yield additional binding sites for the NPs to the PCA-RGO surface, ii. potentially enhance electron conductivity and promote charge transfers, and iii. enable dispersibility in organic solvents. The role of the synthetic parameters on the resulting Au NPs morphology and on their organization onto the PCA-RGO sheets has been comprehensively investigated in order to elucidate the mechanism underlying the in situ NPs formation. Organic dispersions of the PCA-RGO flakes, densely and uniformly decorated with a multilayer network of DMBT-coated Au NPs, 2–3 nm in size, have been achieved, thus overcoming limitations previously reported for similar hybrid materials. The prepared nanostructures are attractive functional platforms for future FETs and (photo)electrochemical (bio)sensors, (photo)catalysis, photodetectors, memory devices and solar cells.

Plasma Treated Water Solutions (PTWS) recently emerged as a novel tool for the generation of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species (ROS and RNS) in liquids. The presence of ROS with a strong oxidative power, like hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), has been proposed as the main effector for the cancer-killing properties of PTWS. A protective role has been postulated for RNS, with nitric oxide (NO) being involved in the activation of antioxidant responses and cell survival. However, recent evidences proved that NO-derivatives in proper mixtures with ROS in PTWS could enhance rather than reduce the selectivity of PTWS-induced cancer cell death through the inhibition of specific antioxidant cancer defenses. In this paper we discuss the formation of RNS in different liquids with a Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD), to show that NO is absent in PTWS of complex composition like plasma treated (PT)-cell culture media used for in vitro experiments, as well as its supposed protective role. Nitrite anions (NO2-) instead, present in our PTWS, were found to improve the selective death of Saos2 cancer cells compared to EA.hy926 cells by decreasing the cytotoxic threshold of H2O2 to non-toxic values for the endothelial cell line.

Stable cesium lead bromide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) showing a near-unity photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), narrow emission profile, and tunable fluorescence peak in the green region can be considered the ideal class of nanomaterials for optoelectronic applications. However, a general route for ensuring the desired features of the perovskite NCs is still missing. In this paper, we propose a synthetic protocol for obtaining near-unity PLQY perovskite nanocubes, ensuring their size control and, consequently, a narrow and intense emission through the modification of the reaction temperature and the suitable combination ratio of the perovskite constituting elements. The peculiarity of this protocol is represented by the dissolution of the lead precursor (PbBr2) as a consequence of the exclusive complexation with the bromide anions released by the in situ SN2 reaction between oleylamine (the only surfactant introduced in the reaction mixture) and 1-bromohexane. The obtained CsPbBr3 nanocubes exhibit variable size (ranging from 6.7 ± 0.7 nm to 15.2 ± 1.2 nm), PL maxima between 505 and 517 nm, and near-unity PLQY with a narrow emission profile (fwhm of 17–19 nm). Additionally, the NCs synthesized with this approach preserve their high PLQYs even after 90 days of storage under ambient conditions, thus displaying a remarkable optical stability. Through the rationalization of the obtained results, the proposed synthetic protocol provides a new ground for the direct preparation of differently structured perovskite NCs without resorting to any additional post-synthetic treatment for improving their emission efficiency and stability.

The elucidation of the structure–property correlation in 2D metal halide perovskite is a key issue to understand the dependence of optical properties on structural distortions and to design novel tailored materials. To extend the actual knowledge on this kind of correlation for lead-free materials, here we report four novel 2D germanium bromide perovskites, namely A2GeBr4with A = phenylethylammonium, PEA, Br-phenylethylammonium, BrPEA, F-phenylethylammonium, FPEA, and benzylammonium BZA. A dependence of the band gap value and emission characteristics in terms of Stokes shift and peak width has been highlighted and correlated with the octahedral distortion parameters. In addition, by comparing the actual results with previous data on analogous Sn- and Pb-based materials, we observed an intrinsic increased distortion induced by germanium, particularly on the octahedral bond elongation and bond angle variance, and less on the Ge–Br–Ge bond angle. The structural and optical investigation, together with density functional theory simulations, clarified the role of different structural distortion parameters on the optical properties for a series of 2D Ge-containing perovskites, thus providing novel clues for the future design of layered lead-free materials.

Carbon dots (CDs) have been progressively attracting interest as novel environmentally friendly and cost-effective luminescent nanoparticles, for implementation in light-emitting devices, solar cells, photocatalytic devices and biosensors. Here, starting from a cost-effective bottom-up synthetic approach, based on a suitable amphiphilic molecule as carbon precursor, namely cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), green-emitting CDs have been prepared at room temperature, upon treatment of CPC with concentrated NaOH solutions. The investigated method allows the obtaining, in one-pot, of both water-dispersible (W-CDs) and oil-dispersible green-emitting CDs (O-CDs). The study provides original insights into the chemical reactions involved in the process of the carbonization of CPC, proposing a reliable mechanism for the formation of the O-CDs in an aqueous system. The ability to discriminate the contribution of different species, including molecular fluorophores, allows one to properly single out the O-CDs emission. In addition, a mild heating of the reaction mixture, at 70 &deg, C, has demonstrated the ability to dramatically decrease the very long reaction time (i.e. from tens of hours to days) at room temperature, allowing us to synthesize O-CDs in a few tens of minutes while preserving their morphological and optical properties.

A novel hybrid nanocomposite formed by RGO flakes, surface functionalized by 1-pyrene carboxylic acid (PCA), densely and uniformly in situ decorated by Au NPs, that are concomitantly coordinated by the PCA carboxylic group, and by an aromatic thiol used as the reducing agent in the synthesis, both ensuring, at the same time, a stable non-covalent NPs anchorage to the RGO flakes, and an efficient interparticle electron coupling along the NP network onto the RGO, is reported. The obtained solution processable hybrid material is used to modify Screen-Printed Carbon Electrodes (SPCEs). The hybrid modified SPCEs, functionalized with a thiolated DNA capture probe, are tested in a streptavidin-alkaline-phosphatase catalyzed assay, for the detection of the biotinylated miRNA-221, and for its determination in spiked human blood serum samples. The proposed genosensor demonstrates a high sensitivity (LOD of 0.7 pM), attesting for a performance comparable with the most effective reported sensors. The enhanced sensitivity is explained in terms of the very fast heterogeneous electron transfer kinetics, the concomitant decrease of the electron transfer resistance at the electrode/electrolyte interface, the high electroactivity and the high surface area of the nanostructured hybrid modified SPCEs that provide a convenient platform for nucleic acid biosensing.

The adsorption at cell surfaces and cell internalization of two drug delivery lipid based nanovectors has been investigated by means of Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) operating at low beam voltage on two different colon carcinoma cell lines, CaCo-2 and CoLo-205, that were compared with the M14 melanoma cell line, as a reference. The cells were incubated with the investigated multifunctional nanovectors, based on liposomes and magnetic micelles loaded with 5-fluorouracil, as a chemotherapeutic agent, and a FE-SEM systematic investigation was performed, enabling a detailed imaging of any morphological changes of the drug exposed cells as a function of time. The results of the FE-SEM investigation were validated by MTS assay and immunofluorescence staining of the Ki-67 protein performed on the investigated cell lines at different times. The two nanoformulations resulted in a comparable effect on CaCo-2 and M14 cell lines, while for CoLo 205 cells, the liposomes provided an cytotoxic activity higher than that observed in the case of the micelles. The study highlighted the high potential of FE-SEM as a valuable complementary technique for imaging and monitoring in time the drug effects on the selected cells exposed to the two different nanoformulations.

Efforts are made to perform an early and accurate detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by simultaneous exploiting multiple clinically non-invasive imaging modalities. Original nanostructures derived from the combination of different inorganic domains can be used as efficient contrast agents in multimodal imaging. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and Au nanoparticles (NPs) possess well-established contrasting features in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray computed tomography (CT), respectively. HCC can be targeted by using specific carbohydrates able to recognize asialoglycoprotein receptor 1 (ASGPR1) overexpressed in hepatocytes. Here, two different thiocarbohydrate ligands were purposely designed and alternatively conjugated to the surface of Au-speckled silica-coated SPIONs NPs, to achieve two original nanostructures that could be potentially used for dual mode targeted imaging of HCC. The results indicated that the two thiocarbohydrate decorated nanostructures possess convenient plasmonic/superparamagnetic properties, well-controlled size and morphology and good selectivity for targeting ASGPR1 receptor.

Hydrophobic PbS nanocrystals (NCs) emitting in the near infrared spectral region were encapsulated in the core of micelles and in the bilayer of liposomes, respectively, to form polyethylene glycol (PEG)-grafted phospholipids. The phospholipid-based functionalization process of PbS NCs required the replacement of the pristine capping ligand at the NC surface with thiol molecules. The procedures carried out for two systems, micelles and liposomes, using PEG-modified phospholipids were carefully monitored by optical, morphological and structural investigations. The hydrodynamic diameter and the colloidal stability of both micelles and liposomes loaded with PbS NCs were evaluated using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and ζ-potential experiments, and both were satisfactorily stable in physiological media. The cytotoxicity of the resulting PbS NC-loaded nanovectors was assessed by the in vitro investigation on Saos-2 cells, indicating that the toxicity of the PbS NC loaded liposomes was lower than that of the micelles with the same NC cargo, which is reasonable due to the different overall composition of the two prepared nanocarriers. Finally, the cellular uptake in the Saos-2 cells of both the NC containing systems was evaluated by means of confocal microscopy studies by exploiting a visible fluorescent phospholipid and demonstrating the ability of both luminescent nanovectors to be internalized. The obtained results show the great potential of the prepared emitting nanoprobes for imaging applications in the second biological window.

In this work, organic capped CdSe and (CdSe)ZnS core shell colloidal nanocrystals (NCs), prepared by means of thermolysis of organometallic precursors and with high control on size and size dispersion, were dispersed into a transparent and thermoplastic cyclic olefin copolymer, namely TOPAS, by using toluene as common solvent. The obtained nanocomposite material was deposited by spin coating in thin films that were investigated by UV–vis spectroscopy as well as by TEM analysis. A preliminary comparison of the luminescence properties of CdSe core and (CdSe)ZnS core shell NCs in polymer was carried out. The effect of NC concentration, time and temperature on the optical properties of the composites was determined with the aim of a potential use of these materials for permanent photonic applications. The incorporation of luminescent (CdSe)ZnS NCs in the TOPAS copolymer can be potentially effective for the fabrication of novel optical devices by nanoimprint lithography.

The modification of a UV–vis light curable hybrid methacrylic–siloxane resin with organic coated TiO2 nanorods (NRs) has been carried out, in order to fabricate a functional coating for protection of stone artefacts of artistic and cultural relevance. The nanocomposite, formulated without using any harmful and high volatile monomer components, has been deposited onto the surface of stone samples made of a porous carbonate stone, namely Lecce stone. Such a building material, specifically selected as a relevant example of porous and light coloured stone, is widely used in monuments and constructions of cultural and historic interest of the Apulia region (Italy). The protective ability of the nanocomposite against the water vapour capillarity absorption and its self-cleaning properties have been investigated as a function of the TiO2 NR loading, the applied amount of the formulation and the curing conditions. A reliable protocol for the application of the nanocomposite has been implemented, and, remarkably, a single UV–vis light curing step has resulted in a uniform and hydrophobic coating layer, able to preserve the water vapour permeability, the pristine colour and surface morphology of the stone samples. Moreover, the nanocomposite coated stone surface has demonstrated self-cleaning ability when tested for the degradation of an organic molecule, used as a model compound, under both solar light simulated and real sun irradiation. The achieved nanocomposite has ultimately proven to be technologically advantageous as a functional coating, suited to protect surfaces of artistic, archaeological monuments of historical interest, also under outdoor conditions.