Browsing by Author "Versace, Carlo"

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Across Scales Approach Based on Exciton-Plasmon Coupling for Low Loss Optical Metamaterials
(2015-12-15) Dhama, Rakesh; Bartolino, Roberto; Versace, Carlo; De Luca, Antonio
Advanced Materials (Ceramics in particular) for Structural Applications
(2015-12-15) Koduru, Hari Krishna; Bartolino, Roberto; Versace, Carlo; Scaramuzza, Nicola
The study of ‘Intrinsic and Metal nano particles doped polymer thin films for soft matter applications and nanostructured Hyperbolic metamaterials’ is an challenging and dynamic field of research with significant implications in the development of novel technologies, like gas sensors, bio-medical application and engineering of spontaneous emission of florescent molecules. In the present investigation, we presented research work in two directions. We prepared Polymer thin films by homemade Cold Plasma Polymerization technique and studied their Microstructural, Optical and dielectric responses as a function of thin film growth parameters, in view of gas sensor applications. In other direction, we fabricated lamellar structured Hyperbolic Metamaterials by employing physical and chemical vapour thin film deposition techniques and employed them as effective substrates to engineer the life time of florescent dye molecules. The first part of this thesis is devoted to preparing Polypyrrole (PPy) thin films of nano sized thickness, by Cold plasma polymerization technique and analyzing the influence of Plasma power on Microstructural, Optical, wetting and dielectric properties of grown PPy films. Fabricating layered structures of “PVA/AgNPs/PVA” thin films to investigate the influence of rate of distribution of AgNPs on dielectric responses of PVA matrix to employ them as a gas sensor applications, whose study is still open and is getting substantial interest in industrial and academic environments. Enhancement of spontaneous emission is a dynamic and challenging fundamental quantum phenomenon in optics and in nutshell it opens new avenues for spectrum of futuristic applications. Metamaterials are artificially designed nanocomposite materials, in which bulk electromagnetic properties arise due to underlying structural resonances and near field coupling between the designed sub-wavelength building blocks. Metamaterials promise to alleviate the classical limitations of optics and led to exotic applications such as negative refraction, sub-wavelength resolution imaging, invisibility devices and perfect absorbers. In the second part of this thesis, we fabricated Hyperbolic metamaterials and proposed new grating coupled hyperbolic metamaterial (GCHMM) configuration for the enhancement of spontaneous emission rate of dye molecules by exploiting the unique property of a hypergrating to outcouple and extract the non-radiative plasmonic modes.
Atomic forcemicroscopy of corneal biomechanics
(2014-11-28) Labate, Cristina; Bartolino, Roberto; Versace, Carlo; Barberi, Riccardo; De Santo, Maria P.
Behavior and effects of additives in liquid crystal compounds
(2011-11-03) Vivacqua, Marco; Bartolino, Roberto; Versace, Carlo; Nicoletta, Fiore P.
Characterization of thin transparent polymeric films obtained by plasma polymerization technique and their application to liquid crystal cells
(2008-10-17) Nicastro, Gaetano; Scaramuzza, Nicola; Versace, Carlo
The aim of this work Although liquid crystal displays (LCD) are quite ubiquitous in the modern world, there is still a great run for better and cheaper LCD. The main physical phenomenon that makes LCD as valuable consists in the particular way polarized light propagates through anisotropic media in general and liquid crystals in particular. Different from solid anisotropic media, the actual anisotropy of liquid crystals is imposed by surface interactions. The concepts of aligning layer and anchoring have been coined. Normally, a thin lightly dielectric polyimide film separates the liquid crystal from conducting transparent electrodes. An applied electric field between these electrodes can reorient the liquid crystal inside (the bulk) and change the transmittance of the cell. An electric field can rather easily do so such that the response time to the applied film, τon, is normally less than 1 ms. Switching off the field, liquid crystal relaxes to the initial state, the only “driving force” now, in the absence of the electric field, remains the anchoring of the liquid crystal to the surface. If this anchoring is not very strong the relaxation time, τoff, can be as large as seconds, a unsuitable value for practical purposes. Much stronger anchoring overwhelms this shortcut by the expense of using thin film transistors, difficult to insert and quite costly. Not long ago, a “fast switching response” has been observed using conducting polymers. [1] as aligning films. Conducting electro active polymers such as polypyrrole (PPyr), Polyaniline (PAn), polythiophene (PTh), or poly-o-anisidine (PoA) are complex dynamic structures that captivate the imagination of those involved in intelligent materials research [2]. Although promising response times, τoff 1. The chemical nature of the substance used, for instance polyaniline, or polypyrrole; , of 1-2 ms, even 0.5 ms, have been observed, the rate of defected samples is unacceptable high. Therefore, there is a strong incentive to carry on investigation in the field. There are many parameters that should be considered; among them we quote: 2. The way of inducing the polymerization process, either chemically, electrelectro-chemically, by DC or Rf plasma reactor; 3. the nature and number of doping or included ions; 4. Their mobility 5. Possible red-ox reactions at ITO/polymer and/or polymer/liquid crystal interfaces; 6. Thickness of the aligning films 7. Roughness or porosity of the film In this thesis we will present all the results obtained with these films about “the fast switching response”, a characterization study made with various instruments like SEM, AFM ecc. on these films and other measurements like current curves on the LC cells made with these films, all realized for better understand the properties of these films deposited via DC plasma polymerization
Dense Hyflon® AD membranes for gas separation: influence of the solvent and determination of local free volume
(2007-11-30) Macchione, Marialuigia; Longeri, Marcello; Versace, Carlo; Yampolskii, Yuri
Dielectric characterization of different mesogenic substances and a mixture with non-conventional gold nanoparticles
(2012-11-28) Marino, Lucia; Versace, Carlo; Bertolini, Roberto; Scaramuzza, Nicola
The study of liquid-crystalline matter and nano-structured materials is an important and vast field of research with potential implications in the development of new technologies, like sensors and displays. In this work we have analyzed and characterized different systems by dielectric spectroscopy. The first part of this thesis is devoted to the characterization of an orthoconic liquid-crystalline mixture, W-129, with ferroelectric properties. The analysis of the dielectric response of this material has revealed a plurality of ferroelectric smectic C* subphases; they represent smectic intermediate variants situated between the ferroelectric phase and the antiferroelettric one, known like antiferrielectric phases (SmCFI*, SmCFII*, ... ), whose study is still open and is collecting a lot of interest in academic environments. The same liquid crystalline mixture was then doped with unconventional gold nanoparticles. These nanoparticles are functionalized with a hydrophilic polymer which becomes hydrophobic exceeded 40°C. The nano-composite material obtained by the dispersion of the gold nanoparticles presents interesting characteristics, such as an enhancement of dielectric increments (or strengths) probably due to the molecular interactions between the ferroelectric liquid crystal and the gold nanoparticles, which translates into an increase of the order of the liquid crystal host, in a stabilization of the smectic subphases and in an enhanced memory effect already seen in the pure liquid-crystalline mixture. The third and last part is devoted to the characterization of a new "banana-shaped" liquid crystal, which exhibits some unusual physical properties during the nematic phase, in particular, the presence of regions of more ordered molecules, organized in a smectic C phase inside a nematic one. The dielectric spectra acquired during the nematic phase show the presence of a relaxation response between 10 and 20 Hz which, with the addition of relatively large values of permittivity, may suggest the presence of a ferroelectric response due to the existence of cybotactic clusters.
Hybrid nanostructured fillers for polymer electrolytes in the PEM Fuel Cells
(2012-11-30) Angjeli, Kristina; Versace, Carlo; Nicotera, Isabella; Bartolino, Roberto
The present thesis is focused on the development of novel nancomposite membranes, prepared by the incorporation of two-dimensional inorganic layered structures such as (i) smectite clays (synthetic and natural), (ii) graphene oxide (GO), and (iii) layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with different compositions into the polymer matrix of Nafion, for use as electrolytes in Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells. The characteristics of the membranes were studied mainly, in terms of transport properties by NMR spectroscopy, in order to study the water dynamics inside the electrolyte membranes. For this purpose the Pulse-Field-Gradient Spin-Echo NMR (PFGSENMR) method was employed to obtain a direct measurement of water self-diffusion coefficients on the water-swelled membranes in a wide temperature range (25-140 °C). This technique together with the 1H-NMR spectral analysis and NMR spin-lattice relaxation times (T1) conducted under variable temperature. Furthermore, both pristine materials (fillers and Nafion) as well as the resulted nanocomposite membranes were characterized by a combination of X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, thermal analysis (DTA/TGA), Raman spectroscopies and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM).
Hydrophilic Ir(III) complexes suitable for the construction of functional mesoporous materials
(2012-11-27) Yadav, Yogesh Jivajirao; Versace, Carlo; Ghedini, Mauro; Bartolino, Roberto
Nowadays, intensive efforts have been carried out on the design of novel advanced molecular materials, which can self-assemble in a strong, directional and reversible way to construct supramolecular materials with specific properties. The rational design and preparation of supramolecular assemblies through the coordination of metal ions with organic ligands has attracted attention for developing novel crystalline materials with interesting structural topologies and promising applications, and has evolved as an interesting research. The metals used in these complexes can serve as structural components and/or as a source of properties (e.g., magnetic, catalytic, optoelectronic, etc). Cyclometallated Ir(III) octahedral complexes possess fascinating properties used in various applications such as luminescent and electrochemiluminescent labeling reagents for biological substrates1, sensors2, or electronic devices3,4. Recently, the interest in ionic Ir(III) complexes is growing rapidly because not only high internal quantum efficiency (~100%) can be achieved in principle, but also tunable emission wavelengths over the entire visible spectrum can be successfully obtained through ingenious modification of ligands. In particular, Ir(III) complexes based on the chelating ligand 2,2’-bipyridine (bpy) have been successfully applied in light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) and sensors.5 The theoretically calculated phosphorescence yield (Fp) of the Ir(III) complexes are close to unity in solution.6 The solution investigations have made great contributions to the fundamental understanding of luminescence processes at molecular level. The conclusions drawn from the dilute solution data, however, cannot commonly be extended to the concentrated solutions. Indeed, many Ir(III) complexes show very different light-emitting behaviors in dilute and concentrated solutions and respectively in the solid state. The luminescence is often weakened or quenched at high concentrations, a phenomenon widely known as “concentration quenching”. A main cause for the quenching process is mechanistically associated with the “formation of aggregates”, which is probably why the concentration quenching effect has frequently been referred to as “aggregationcaused quenching” (ACQ). On the other hand “aggregation-induced phosphorescent emission” (AIPE) is an unusual phenomenon existing also in transition metal complexes, which have no emission in solution but enhanced emission in the solid state.7 There are some examples of AIPE, most of them in neutral Ir(III) complexes.8, 9, 10, 11, 12 The main strategies to avoid unpleasant quenching phenomena are based on the dispersion of the chromophore. Mainly, two strategies are employed: engineering at molecular level by introducing functionalities able to electronically disconnect the chromophores (bulky groups or functionalities capable to construct hard crystalline or soft dynamic supramolecular assemblies) or isolating the active molecules in different host matrices (host-guest systems).13 In particular, the dispersion of a chromophore into mesoporous materials not only prevents the aggregation phenomena but also provides increased thermal, chemical and mechanical stability to the final materials. Mesoporous materials are ordered porous materials with periodic distribution of pores, high surface area, controllable large pore sizes in the range of 2 – 50 nm and variable topology of the pores. The inorganic matrixes may be made up of SiO2, TIO2, ZrO2, Al2O3, Nb2O5 etc. Basically, the synthesis of ordered functional mesoporous materials is based on the condensation of an inorganic scaffold on the organised structure formed in water by surfactant molecules. Two different strategies may be employed, the cooperative self-assembly mechanism (CSA) and the true liquid crystal templating’ (TLCT) mechanism.14 The functionalization of the mesoporous material may be done in both cases by inserting the chromophore into the primarily water solution. Therefore, water soluble chromophores may guarantee a better compatibility with the surfactant/water system, whereas a proper functionalization on the molecular structure of the chromophore that permit the self-assembly into supramolecular ordered water assemblies, will allow to use the chromophores directly as structure directing agents (SDAs). Since the photophysical properties of the ionic complexes are influenced profoundly by the surroundings of the molecule both in solution and in condensed states, it is fundamental to study the behavior of such complexes in these different states, in order to achieve a fine tuning of the properties as a function of their structure and order in the final material. The knowledge gained in the assembling of supramolecular materials using non-covalent bonds may be used for the construction of ordered systems in water. This strategy will permit the one-step synthesis of functional mesoporous materials, and to control the order of the final material controlling the order in water of the functional Ir(III) complexes. In particular, the molecular fragments that one can change to achieve the desired properties in the final ionic Ir(III) complexes are the cyclometallating or coordinating ligands, and respectively the counterion. My research therefore is focused on the design and synthesis of hydrophilic ionic Ir(III) complexes with flexible or rigid ancillary ligands and use of different counterions, all suitable for controlling the supramolecular assembly in the solid state, and to transfer the knowledge gained into obtaining ordered structures in water, or water-surfactant systems, necessary for the synthesis of mesoporous materials with defined properties. The ionic octahedral Ir(III) complexes synthesised during this thesis and their classification in different classes are presented in the figure S1
Laser action in liquid crystals: from random to periodic syatems
(2007) Ferjani, Sameh; Strangi, Giuseppe; Versace, Carlo
Micro raman spectroscopic investigations on soft matter systems
(2012-12-04) Fasanella, Angela; Versace, Carlo; Bertolini, Roberto; Cazzanelli, Enzo
University of Calabria
Modellization of optical radiation - Liquid crystal interaction in complex geometries
(2007-11-30) Pezzi, Luigia; Blinov, Lev; Versace, Carlo
Nanostructured Soft Matter: Mirror-less Lase
(2008) Matranga, Mario Ariosto; Versace, Carlo; Barberi, Riccardo
New hybrid solar cell (СNT – RUTHENIUM DYE)
(2012-12-06) Siprova, Svetlana; Versace, Carlo; De Filpo, Giovanni; Bartolino, Roberto
Negli ultimi anni le applicazioni dei nanotubi di carbonio nel settore microelettronico sono notevolmente aumentate date le proprieta’ uniche. In particolare la conducibilita’ dei nanotubi fa si che essi trovino interessanti utilizzi nel settore fotovoltaico. Questo lavoro si concentra sulla progettazione di una cella solare ibrida a base di nanotubi di carbonio e dye di Rutenio. Nella prima parte sono stati studiati diversi metodi di realizzazione dello starto omogeneo di nanotubi come starto conduttivo della cella. E’ stata proposta la molecola 1-Pyrenemethanol che contiene i gruppi pirenico e ossidrilico, per creare il contatto tra i nanotubi ed il dye. Nella seconda parte del lavoro lo starto di nanotubi e’ stato formato mediante elettroforesi per single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) e metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) per multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs). Entrambi i metodi hanno dato la possibilita’ di creare campioni con ampia area superficiale, dai quali sono state fabbricate le celle solari. Sono state studiate determinate le dipendenze tra i fattori dei metodi e le proprieta’ delle celle prodotte.
New methods for characterization and dating in material of cultural heritage
(2014-11-03) Bosco, Stefania; Versace, Carlo; Chidichimo, Giuseppe
Novel organic optoelectronic materials
(2012-11-28) Cospito, Sante; Versace, Carlo; De Simone, Bruna Carla; Bartolino, Roberto
Il presente lavoro di Tesi di Dottorato di Ricerca (Scuola di Dottorato in Scienza e Tecnica "Bernardino Telesio") dal titolo "Novel Organic Optoelectronic Materials" è stato svolto all'interno dei laboratori di "Organic Optoelectronic Materials" e "New Syntheses via Organometallic Catalysis" del Dipartimento di Chimica dell'Università della Calabria. Nuovi semiconduttori organici potenzialmente impiegabili in dispositivi optoelettronici quali OLEDs, celle solari, transitors ed elettrocromici sono state progettate, sintetizzate e caratterizzate. La prima parte del lavoro ha riguardato la sintesi e la caratterizzazione di derivati di triarilammine, molecole elettron-donatrici (anodiche), da impiegare in dispositivi elettrocromici ("smart windows") per l'attenuazione della radiazione solare nel vicino infrarosso (NIR). L'intensa ed estesa banda di assorbimento nel NIR prodotta delle specie mono-ossidate ha suggerito l'impiego di queste triarilammine in dispositivi "complementari" in cui vengono utilizzate insieme a molecole elettron-accetrici (catodiche) elettrocromiche nel visibile, per un'ampia modulazione dello spettro solare. Tali sistemi sono stati dispersi all'interno di matrici polimeriche al fine di realizzare dei gel elettrocromici le cui prestazioni sono state ampiamente studiate. La risposta elettrocromica del gel è stata inoltre provata in un dispositivo plastico, dimostrandone le potenziali applicazioni campo dell'elettronica flessibile. La seconda parte del lavoro invece, ha riguardato la sintesi e lo studio delle proprietà di cristalli liquidi semiconduttori di tipo "n" (elettron-accetori) da impiegare in celle solari organiche "bulk heterojunction". Tali molecole, appartenenti alla famiglia dei viologeni estesi, hanno mostrato interessantissime proprietà mesomorfiche fortemente influenzate dalla lunghezza delle catene alchiliche ( a 9, 10 e 11 atomi di carbonio) e dell'anione utilizzato, la bis(triflimmide). Le proprietà elettrochimiche di questi composti sono state investigate sia in soluzione che nelle mesofasi. Un'efficace elettrocromismo dovuta (i) al doppio strato elettrico creato all'elettrodo degli anioni presenti e (ii) all'elevata sovrapposizione degli orbitali di frontiera dell'esteso sistema π- coniugato è stato osservato nelle fasi colonnari e smettiche in cui le molecole si sono auto-assemblate. Infine, le proprietà elettrocromiche di questi composti sono state studiate all'interno di film plastici utilizzabili in dispositivi quali i displays.
Optical systems for diagnostics: Near-Infrared Imaging technique for detection of dental demineralisation
(2012-11-30) Salsone, Silvia; Versace, Carlo; Lombardo, Giuseppe; Zakian, Christian; Bartolino, Roberto
In dentistry, a correct detection of caries severity is still a challenging descision-making task that crucially a ects the choice for the best treatment plan. The challenge is to nd both the most objective parameters to detect caries at di erent stages (from an early reversibile stage to a severe one) and the most reliable method(s) that should be used to distinguish these stages. Currently, methods used in clinics are visual inspection, aided with light probe and pick inspection tools, and radiography. The main issue rising by the use of these methods is that both of them are subjective, with possibility for intra- and inter-examiner variability. For this reason, radiography needs an extreme care of interpretation especially when assessing occlusal caries. Visual methods, instead, are a ected by confounding factors, such as stain or uorosis, a ecting the accurate assessment of early caries lesions. Radiography, moreover, should be performed with care considering that the emission of ionising radiation may cause malignant change in tissues, especially for young age patients and are counter-indicated during pregnancy. They are also inadequate for the detection of initial caries and to locate the lesions looking at the superimposition of the tooth along its buccal-lingual axis. The aim of this study was to overcome the limits of the current detection techniques, o ering a non-invasive, objective method for the detection of caries at any stage of the demineralisation process. The proposed method measures the near-infrared (NIR) re ectance response of the tooth at three speci c wavelengths. It is then possible to investigate properties of the sample at the surface and in depth and get an image that maps the lesions on the occlusal view of the sample when combining these wavelengths. Due to the properties of the NIR light, this method is non-invasive, non-contact and allows for detection both at the enamel and at the dentine level. The NIR method o ers objective supporting information to quantify and detect dental caries and is especially suitable for areas a ected by confounding factors, such as stain. The objective of the study was to design and implement a NIR multispetral imaging system, developing e cient image analysis algorithms. In order to prove this objective, an in vitro validation of the technique against gold standard histology was performed together with a comparison to other detection methods - International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS - clinical visual inspection), bre optic transillumination method (FOTI - visual inspection with light probe), radiography and Quantitative Light-induced Fluorescence method (QLF), used in clinics or in research. A total of 112 teeh, molars and premolars, with di erent lesion severities were used for this study. Histologcal sections were obtained to con rm the lesion severities and used as a gold standard to compare the sensitivity and speci cty among techniques. Visual inspection methods recorded the highest values of sensitivity (ICDAS: >99%, FOTI: 93%) and speci city to dental caries (FOTI: >99%, ICDAS: 90%). However, these methods could have been highly facilitated by the in-vitro viewing of the samples. Sensitivity to dental caries was higher for NIR (91%) than for QLF (88%) and radiography (63%) while speci city was higher for radiography (81%) than for NIR (73%) and QLF (63%). The results from this study suggest that the NIR method has the ability to detect dental caries when other methods fail, providing an alternative to assist in the decision-making process with the further advantage of removing the confounding e ect of stain. This method can enhance patient communication and o ers an objective and safe alternative to ionising radiation methods.
Optical trapping and manipulation exploiting liquid crystalline systems
(2012-11-30) Hernandez, Raul Josue; Versace, Carlo; Cipparrone, Gabriella
This thesis and all the research contained within, pretends to develop new ideas and concepts on liquid crystals (LC) and optical trapping and manipulation. The combination between optical tweezers and LC systems promises unique and exciting results. The content on the thesis is presented for those with some experience in the elds of liquid crystal and optical manipulation, and for those who are interested in begin to learn about these matters, proposing an overview of much existing work and a correlation between di erent science branches like soft matter, photonics and optical control. Two main research lines has been developed involving liquid crystalline systems and polarized optical tweezers. In the rst part, nematic LC droplets in water have been adopted to study the mechanical properties of light elds with a polarization gradient, i.e. optical tweez- ers based on polarization holographic techniques with non conventional trapping in an extended interferometric optical trap. For this purpose, LC emulsions in wa- ter were prepared, obtaining droplets with radial or bipolar director con guration, which result in optically isotropic or anisotropic particles. Exploiting the vecto- rial nature of the light and its interaction with LC droplets, an unconventional opto-hydrodynamical control and trapping has been demonstrated. The planned experiments shown that a hydrodynamic force, known as Magnus force, never con- sidered in optical micromanipulation experiments, can play an important role in the optical micromanipulation and should be considered whenever particles are forced to spin and dragged in a uid. In the second part, the study was mainly focused into developing an innovative and versatile soft matter object, namely chiral-solid microspheres. They were created by combining very simple self-assembling and photoinduced processes of the soft mat- ter, i.e. photopolymerizing cholesteric LC droplets in water emulsion. The ability to control the internal helical geometry using chemical agents in the precursor LC emulsion enables to obtain solid microspheres with radial, conical, or cylindrical con gurations of the helical structures that exhibit unique optical properties. Their exclusive capabilities were demonstrated by optical manipulation experiments in- volving optical tweezers. A unique and dichotomous behavior has been revealed by polarized circularly polarized tweezers: an attractive or repulsive optical force is ex- erted by varying the light polarization. Moreover, the application of the chiral-solid microspheres as optical microresonators for creating microlasers was also demon- strated. The high performance as well as the novel and exclusive properties make these chiral microparticles good candidates for developing new concepts in colloidal materials science, microphotonics, microlasers, optical trapping and manipulation, micro- and opto uidics and microsensors.
Organic semiconductors for molecular electronics: Columnar mesophases & Organic Photovoltaics with Low Molecular Weight compounds
(2011-11-03) Pandey, Upendra Kumar; Golemme, Attilio; Versace, Carlo
Properties of biomolecules at the interfaces: studies and characterization of chromonic mesogens, from the basis to applications
(2013-11-28) Tone, Caterina; Bartolino, Roberto; Versace, Carlo; Ciuchi, Federica
The study of the interaction between molecules, in particular biological molecules and liquid crystals (LC), has experienced a huge growth in the recent years because of the development in devices engineering applied not only in photonics but also in the biomedical eld. In order to design more e cient LC devices, it is rst necessary to understand the behavior and properties of newly-synthesized liquid crystals and to garner a more indepth understanding of currently-existing LCs in order to answer pending questions about them. The aim of this thesis work, is to better understand the interactions involved at the interface between liquid crystals and other materials, whatever is their nature, i.e. polymeric or biological. We started studying the e ect of di erent con ning surfaces on the alignment of a special class of lyotropic liquid crystals, called \chromonics", which, in addition of LC properties, are biocompatible. Di erently from the most common liquid crystals, i.e. thermotropic LC, the mesogens that constitute the chromonic LC phases are not amphiphilic, but they are \plan-like" aromatic compound. This class of molecules embraces not only dyes and drugs, but also DNA and its bases. Using the knowledge acquired with chromonic mesogen, we tried to understand a more complicate system, such as the phenomena involved at the biomolecules decorated-liquid crystals lms interfaces. More speci cally, it is possible to divide the work in two macro-parts. The rst part concerns the alignment of a chromonic molecule, \disodium cromoglycate" (DSCG). The study of chromonic LC behaviour in con ned geometries and its physical properties, could be a model for more complex biological assemblies. Hence, we demonstrated the role of alignment layer's surface energy in the alignment of nematic phase of DSCG, achieving both alignments and for the rst time, a stable-in-time homeotropic anchoring of this LC solution. With the knowledge acquired from DSCG, we were able to align also DNA bases liquid crystal solutions. In particular, guanosine monophosphate in pre-cholesteric and cholesteric liquid crystals phases were perfectly aligned homeotropically without means of external elds, as was done until now, and partially planar aligned. Moreover, we observed that if ionic and/or silver doped solutions are added to the LC guanosine phases, it is possible to control the pitch of the cholesteric phase, modifying the helix structure. Instead, varying the nature of the con ning surfaces, in such conditions, it is possible to obtain guanosine vesicles. Other studies have been carried out on new chromonic complexes, synthesized at Chemistry Department of UNICAL, with possible application as anticancer drugs. A complete characterization of these compounds were done (XRD, phase diagrams, etc) and also for these compounds, we developed a\route"to drive the alignment, particularly important for future application in biophotonic devices. The second part of the work is focused on LC based biosensors. From the biotechnological and biomedical applications point of view, the studies on interactions of proteins with lipids are an area of fundamental interest, due to enormous biological importance. In fact, studies on biosensor devices are tremendously increased in recent years, focusing the attention also on nding low cost raw materials with high e ciency: liquid crystals, thanks to their high sensitivity to the external conditions, represent the best candidate. It has been demonstrated that aqueous interface of LC has an instantaneous response when exposed to phospholipids. This is a good base to study the interaction between biomolecules using LC as probe. Starting from the results found in literature, we studied the e ect of phospholipids on protein decoratede-liquid crystal interfaces by means of optical microscopy and FT-IR measurements. The rst technique allowed us to observe the response of decorated LC lm when exposed to phospholipids vesicles, while the second, gave us insight on conformational changes involved in secondary structure of the protein in function of the time of interaction between protein and LC, and the pH of the surrounding environment. The results obtained show a new methods to report speci c binding of vesicles on protein decorated interfaces.