3. Francesca Pignatelli

Francesca Pignatelli

Senior Technician

Research Lines

Bioinspired Soft Robotics

Center

CMBR@SSSA Pisa

Contacts

V.le Piaggio, 34
+39 050 883014

About

 

Francesca Pignatelli graduated in Physics in 1999, at the University of Florence in Italy, studing “Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling in Josephson Junctions”. From 2000 to 2004 she accomplished her PhD studies in Physics, at the “Physikalisches Institüt III der Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg” in Germany, in Prof. A. V. Ustinov’s group, over a EC predoc in the European Commission research and training network, LocNet . She obtained her PhD in January 2004 with a work on “Broken-Symmetry States in Josephson Cells”. In 2004-2006 she worked at the “Laboratorio di Sanità Pubblica” ASL 10 of Florence, as responsible for the definition of the sampling strategies and of the general evaluation of the results for the physical risk factors, in the regional project Indoor, investigation of the school environments.

Since 2006 she jointed the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) in Genova, working first on the set-up and development of the nanophysics facility. At present, she has a research technologist position in the Material Science group of the Department of Nanophysics. Her work is mainly devoted on the optimization and study of “smart” materials by them structural and optical characterization.

Her specific research experience ranges from superconductivity, Josephson tunnel junctions and Josephson junctions arrays as model systems for studying localized excitations in nonlinear lattices to polymeric nanocomposites-development & characterization. In this last activity her field of interest is the tailoring of material properties such as optical, electrical, superficial and thermal, with particular care to the assembly of the nanofillers in the polymeric matrix.

Selected Publications

  1. G. C. Anyfantis, M. Scotto, A. Scarpellini, F. Pignatelli, S. M. Toussi, R. Ruffilli, L. Martiradonna, A. Athanassiou “Synergistic Action of Alginate Chemical Reduction and Laser Irradiation for the Formation of Au Nanoparticles with Controlled Dimensions” Particles & Particle Systems Characterization 32 (2015) 389-397.
  2. Bayer, S. Guzman-Puyol, J. A. Heredia-Guerrero, L. Ceseracciu, F. Pignatelli, R. Ruffilli, R. Cingolani, A. Athanassiou “Direct transformation of edible vegetable waste into bioplastics” Macromolecules 47 (2014) 5135-5143.
  3. R. Carzino, F. Pignatelli, D. Farina, B. Torre, M. Scotto, L. Marini, G. Bertoni, G. Caputo, P. D. Cozzoli, A. Diaspro and A. Athanassiou “Laser-induced disaggregation of TiO2 nanofillers for uniform nanocomposites” Nanotechnology 25 (2014) 125702.
  4. G. N. Abdelrasoul, R. Cingolani, A. Diaspro, A. Athanassiou, F. Pignatelli “Photochemical synthesis: effect of UV irradiation on gold nanorods morphology” Journal of Photochemistry & Photobiology, A: Chemistry 275C (2014) 7-11.
  5. E. Samoylova, W. Dallari, M. Allione, F. Pignatelli, L. Marini, R. Cingolani, A. Diaspro, and A. Athanassiou  “Characterization of fatigue resistance in photochromic composite materials for 3D rewritable optical memory applications” Materials Science and Engineering B,178 (2013) 730-735.
  6. G. N. Abdelrasoul, M. Scotto, R. Cingolani, A. Diaspro, A. Athanassiou, F. Pignatelli “Effect of precursor solution dark incubation on gold nanorods morphology” Journal of Crystal Growth 361 (2012) 159-165.
  7. N. Patra, M. Salerno, P. D. Cozzoli, A. C. Barone, L. Ceseracciu, F. Pignatelli, R. Carzino, L. Marini, A. Athanassiou, “Thermal and mechanical characterization of poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites filled with TiO2 nanorods” Composites: Part B 43 (2012) 3114-3119.
  8. W. Dallari, M. Scotto, M. Allione, E. Samoylova, F. Pignatelli, R. Cingolani, A. Athanassiou, A. Diaspro, “Three-dimensional optical data storage through multi-photon confocal microscopy and imaging” Microelectronic Engineering 88 (2011) 3466-3469.
  9. W. Dallari, M. Scotto, M. Allione, E. Samoylova, F. Pignatelli, R. Cingolani, A. Athanassiou, A. Diaspro, “Optical data storage in photochromic compounds” proceedings SPIE 7935 (2011) 793510.
  10. F. Pignatelli, R. Carzino, M. Salerno, M. Scotto, C. Canale, M. Distaso, F. Rizzi, G. Caputo, P. D. Cozzoli, R. Cingolani, A. Athanassiou, ‘Directional enhancement of refractive index and tunable wettability of polymeric coatings due to preferential dispersion of colloidal TiO2 nanorods towards their surface’, Thin Solid Films, Elsevier 518 (2010) 4425-4431.
  11. D. Fragouli, L. Persano, G. Paladini, D. Pisignano, R. Carzino, F. Pignatelli, R. Cingolani and A.Athanassiou, ‘Reversible diffraction efficiency of photochromic-polymer gratings related to photoinduced dimensional changes’, Advanced Functional Materials 18 (2008) 1617-1623.
  12. M.C. Aprea, E. Balocchini, L. Miligi, A. Benvenuti, V. Bianchimani, P. Cercenà, R. La Vecchia, C. Cassinelli, G. Sciarra, I. Pinto, M. Vincentini, F. Corsi, C. Delicius, V. Calafiore, F. Pignatelli, S. Alberghini Maltoni, F. Barghini, M.T. Maurello, atti del 25° Congresso Nazionale AIDII (2007).
  13. F. Pignatelli, L. Bertuzzi, P. Lenzuni, “Semplici Considerazioni sulla Comprensibilità del Linguaggio nelle Aule Scolastiche”, atti del XXXIII convegno nazionale dell’associazione italiana di acustica (AIA), Ischia (2006).
  14. F. Pignatelli, Broken-Symmetry States in Josephson Cells,  Mesoscopic Structures and Superconductivity 4, Verlag: Lehrstuhl für Mikrocharakterisierung Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, ISBN 3-932392-49-3 (2004).
  15. M. Schuster, F. Pignatelli and A. V. Ustinov, “Spontaneous Creation of Discrete Breathers in Josephson Arrays”, Phys. Rev. B 69 (2004) 094507.
  16. F. Pignatelli and A. V. Ustinov, “Observation of Breather-Like States and Resonances in a Single Josephson Cell”, Proceedings of the third conference on “Localization and Energy Transfer in Nonlinear Systems” June 17-21, 2002, San Lorenzo de El Escorial Madrid, Spain, eds. L. Velazques, R. S. Mac Kay, M. P. Zorzano (World Scientific 2003), p. 339-341.
  17. F. Pignatelli and A. V. Ustinov, “Observation of Breatherlike States in a Single Josephson Cell”, Phys. Rev. E, 67 (2003) 036607.
  18. P. Moretti, D. Mugnai, F. Pignatelli, A. Ranfagni, “Josephson junction coupled to a trasmission line: another look to the problem”, Phys. Lett. A 271 (2000) 139-144.
  19. P. Fabeni, D. Mugnai, G. P. Pazzi, F. Pignatelli, A. Ranfagni, R. Cristiano, L. Frunzio, L. S. Schulman, “Traversal Time in Josephson Junctions”, Journal of Superconductivity, 12 (1999) 829-833.

IIT Publications

  • 2019
  • Gagliardi M., Pignatelli F.iit, Mattoli V.iit
    DOI

    Light-induced capacitance switching in spiropyran-based capacitors

    Sensors and Actuators A-Physical
  • Liakos I.L.iit, Menager C., Guigo N., Holban A.M., Iordache F., Pignatelli F.iit, Grumezescu A.M., Mazzolai B.iit, Sbirrazzuoli N.
    DOI

    Suberin/ trans-Cinnamaldehyde Oil Nanoparticles with Antimicrobial Activity and Anticancer Properties When Loaded with Paclitaxel

    ACS Applied Bio Materials, vol. 2, (no. 8), pp. 3484-3497
  • 2018
  • Abdelrasoul G.N.iit, Pignatelli F.iit, Liakos I.iit, Cingolani R.iit, Athanassiou A.iit
    DOI

    Plasmonic polyaniline/gold nanorods hybrid composites for selective NIR photodetection: Synthesis and characterization

    Composites Part B: Engineering, vol. 149, pp. 178-187
  • Barsotti J.iit, Hirata I.iit, Pignatelli F.iit, Caironi M.iit, Greco F.iit, Mattoli V.iit
    DOI

    Ultraconformable Freestanding Capacitors Based on Ultrathin Polyvinyl Formal Films

    Advanced Electronic Materials, vol. 4, (no. 11)
  • 2017
  • Alu S., Bramowicz M., Kulesza S., Pignatelli F.iit, Salerno M.iit
    DOI

    Surface morphology analysis of composite thin films based on titanium-dioxide nanoparticles

    Acta Physica Polonica A, vol. 131, (no. 6), pp. 1529-1533
  • Gagliardi M.iit, Pignatelli F.iit, Mattoli V.iit
    DOI

    Time- and Solvent-Dependent Self-Assembly of Photochromic Crystallites

    Journal of Physical Chemistry C, vol. 121, (no. 43), pp. 24245-24251
  • 2016
  • Papadopoulou E.L.iit, Pignatelli F.iit, Marras S.iit, Marini L.iit, Davis A.iit, Athanassiou A.iit, Bayer I.S.iit
    DOI

    Nylon 6,6/graphene nanoplatelet composite films obtained from a new solvent

    RSC Advances, vol. 6, (no. 8), pp. 6823-6831
  • Genchi G.G.iit, Ceseracciu L.iit, Marino A.iit, Labardi M., Marras S.iit, Pignatelli F.iit, Bruschini L., Mattoli V.iit, Ciofani G.iit
    DOI

    P(VDF-TrFE)/BaTiO3 Nanoparticle Composite Films Mediate Piezoelectric Stimulation and Promote Differentiation of SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells

    Advanced healthcare materials, vol. 5, (no. 14), pp. 1808-1820
  • 2015
  • Oropesa-Nunez R.iit, Fragouli D.iit, Pignatelli F.iit, Scarpellini A.iit, Gigliotti E., Samoylova E., Athanassiou A.
    DOI

    Erratum: Spontaneous Formation of Photochromic Coatings Made of Reversible Microfibrils and Nanofibrils on an Elastomer Substrate (Langmuir (2014) 30:43 (13058-13064) DOI: 10.1021/la5035068)

    Langmuir, vol. 31, (no. 27), pp. 7695-7695
  • Anyfantis G.C.iit, Scotto M.iit, Scarpellini A.iit, Pignatelli F.iit, Toussi S.M.iit, Ruffilli R.iit, Martiradonna L.iit, Athanassiou A.iit
    DOI

    Synergistic action of alginate chemical reduction and laser irradiation for the formation of au nanoparticles with controlled dimensions

    Particle and Particle Systems Characterization, vol. 32, (no. 3), pp. 389-397
  • Toussi S.M.iit, Zanella M.iit, Abdelrasoul G.N.iit, Athanassiou A.iit, Pignatelli F.iit
    DOI

    Twofold role of Hexadecyltrimethylammonium Bromide in photochemical synthesis of gold nanorods

    Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, vol. 311, pp. 76-84
  • 2014
  • Bayer I.S.iit, Guzman-Puyol S.iit, Heredia-Guerrero J.A.iit, Ceseracciu L.iit, Pignatelli F.iit, Ruffilli R.iit, Cingolani R.iit, Athanassiou A.iit
    DOI

    Direct transformation of edible vegetable waste into bioplastics

    Macromolecules, vol. 47, (no. 15), pp. 5135-5143
  • Carzino R.iit, Pignatelli F.iit, Farina D.iit, Torre B.iit, Scotto M.iit, Marini L.iit, Bertoni G.iit, Caputo G., Cozzoli P.D., Diaspro A.iit, Athanassiou A.iit
    DOI

    Laser-induced disaggregation of TiO2nanofillers for uniform nanocomposites

    Nanotechnology, vol. 25, (no. 12)
  • Abdelrasoul G.N.iit, Cingolani R.iit, Diaspro A.iit, Athanassiou A.iit, Pignatelli F.iit
    DOI

    Photochemical synthesis: Effect of UV irradiation on gold nanorods morphology

    Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, vol. 275, pp. 7-11
  • Oropesa-Nunez R.iit, Fragouli D.iit, Pignatelli F.iit, Scarpellini A.iit, Gigliotti E.iit, Samoylova E.iit, Athanassiou A.iit
    DOI

    Spontaneous formation of photochromic coatings made of reversible microfibrils and nanofibrils on an elastomer substrate

    Langmuir, vol. 30, (no. 43), pp. 13058-13064
  • 2013
  • Samoylova E.iit, Dallari W.iit, Allione M.iit, Pignatelli F.iit, Marini L.iit, Cingolani R.iit, Diaspro A.iit, Athanassiou A.iit
    DOI

    Characterization of fatigue resistance in photochromic composite materials for 3D rewritable optical memory applications

    Materials Science & Engineering B: Solid-State Materials for Advanced Technology, vol. 178, (no. 10), pp. 730-735
  • 2012
  • Abdelrasoul G.N.iit, Scotto M.iit, Cingolani R.iit, Diaspro A.iit, Athanassiou A.iit, Pignatelli F.iit
    DOI

    Effect of precursor solution dark incubation on gold nanorods morphology

    Journal of Crystal Growth, vol. 361, (no. 1), pp. 159-165
  • Patra N.iit, Salerno M.iit, Cozzoli P.D., Barone A.C., Ceseracciu L.iit, Pignatelli F., Carzino R., Marini L., Athanassiou A.
    DOI

    Thermal and mechanical characterization of poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites filled with TiO 2 nanorods

    Composites Part B: Engineering, vol. 43, (no. 8), pp. 3114-3119
  • 2011
  • Dallari W.iit, Scotto D'Abbusco M.iit, Samoylova E.iit, Pignatelli F.iit, Athanassiou A.iit, Cingolani R.iit, Diaspro A.iit, Allione M.iit
    DOI

    Optical data storage in photochromic compounds

    Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 7935
  • Dallari W.iit, Scotto M.iit, Allione M.iit, Samoylova E.iit, Pignatelli F.iit, Cingolani R.iit, Athanassiou A.iit, Diaspro A.iit
    DOI

    Three-dimensional optical data storage through multi-photon confocal microscopy and imaging

    Microelectronic Engineering, vol. 88, (no. 12), pp. 3466-3469
  • 2010
  • Pignatelli F.iit, Carzino R.iit, Salerno M.iit, Scotto M.iit, Canale C.iit, Distaso M.iit, Rizzi F.iit, Caputo G., Cozzoli P.D., Cingolani R.iit, Athanassiou A.iit
    DOI

    Directional enhancement of refractive index and tunable wettability of polymeric coatings due to preferential dispersion of colloidal TiO2 nanorods towards their surface

    Thin Solid Films, vol. 518, (no. 15), pp. 4425-4431
  • 2008
  • Fragouli D., Persano L., Paladini G., Pisignano D.iit, Carzino R.iit, Pignatelli F.iit, Cingolani R.iit, Athanassiou A.iit
    DOI

    Reversible diffraction efficiency of photochromic polymer gratings related to photoinduced dimensional changes

    Advanced Functional Materials, vol. 18, (no. 11), pp. 1617-1623
  • 2004
  • Schuster M., Pignatelli F., Ustinov A.V.
    DOI

    Spontaneous creation of discrete breathers in Josephson arrays

    Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, vol. 69, (no. 9)
  • 2003
  • Pignatelli F., Ustinov A.V.
    DOI

    Observation of breatherlike states in a single Josephson cell

    Physical Review E, vol. 67, (no. 3)
  • 1999
  • Fabeni P., Mugnai D., Pazzi G.P., Pignatelli F., Ranfagni A., Cristiano R., Frunzio L., Schulman L.S.
    DOI

    Traversal Time in Josephson Junctions

    Journal of Superconductivity, vol. 12, (no. 6), pp. 829-833