**About the Editors**

#### **Marinella Striccoli**

Dr. Marinella Striccoli is a senior researcher with the National Council of Researches—Institute for Physical and Chemical Processes (CNR IPCF) in Bari, Italy. Her expertise covers the optical and morphological characterization of colloidal nanomaterials and hybrid organic–inorganic nanostructures as well as nanocomposite materials to be used in optoelectronic and energy conversion applications. She has actively worked as a PI in several European Projects (H2020 FET, large 7FP EU Projects) and in several national and regional projects. In addition, she collaborated in research activities in the field of material science and nanostructures. She is the co-author of more than 160 peer-reviewed papers, 1 patent, and 7 book chapters.

#### **Annamaria Panniello**

Dr. Annamaria Panniello obtained her Ph.D. in the Chemistry of Innovative Materials at the University of Bari in 2010. Since December 2017, she has been a scientist at CNR-IPCF. Her scientific research is focused on material chemistry, aiming at the design and fabrication of oxide, semiconductor, and carbon-based nanoparticles (NPs) and on their post-synthesis processing by surface functionalization; immobilization onto proper substrates; and/or their incorporation in matrices, such as polymers, epoxy resists, and ionic liquids. Her expertise includes NP synthesis and their optical, morphological characterization; NPs' 2D self-organization; the preparation of nanocomposite materials for photonic, optoelectronic, and photo-catalytic applications; and energy storage. She is and has been actively involved in the research activities of EU projects (6th and 7th FP, and Horizon2020), bilateral programs, and Italian Projects (PRIN and PON). She has co-authored 30 papers, 2 book chapters, and several contributions to conferences.

#### **Roberto Comparelli**

Dr. Roberto Comparelli (Ph.D. in the Chemistry of Innovative Materials) is a senior researcher at CNR-IPCF. His expertise covers nanocrystal (NC) synthesis by wet chemistry (photoactive or magnetic oxides, II-VI semiconductors, and metals), characterization (TEM, SEM, AFM, FT-IR, UV-Vis-NIR, and PL), and their surface engineering. He is interested in NC incorporation in polymer matrices, applications in optoelectronic, self-assembly, and biological and environmental fields. In particular, he has a strong background in the application of photoactive NCs in the degradation of organic/inorganic pollutants in water and gas matrices and in the preparation and characterization of NC-based self-cleaning coatings. He has been involved in several EU and Italian projects. He has co-authored over 130 papers and more than 150 contributions to conferences with invited talks.
