Molecular systems specifically designed to convert dynamic functions at the molecular scale into a response visible to the naked eye in multifunctional smart materials: is it still science fiction?

The development of novel materials is the driving force of the incoming energy transition. Catalysis plays a fundamental role, being involved in more than 90% of the industrial chemical processes. Most catalysts are based on noble and critical materials, raising severe problems of availability and overall sustainability. In the last decade research attempted to develop a new family of catalysts, named Single Atom Catalysts. These systems are made by transition metal atoms atomically dispersed to some solid matrices.

The detection of ionising radiation is critical for a wide range of technological and scientific applications, from medical diagnostics, nuclear monitoring and national security to high energy physics.

In the last years, the research on quantum technologies has grown dramatically targeting the development of novel computer architectures outclassing the current binary calculators.