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Crystals
Special Issues
Structural and Optical Properties of Cultural Heritage Crystalline Materials
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Structural and Optical Properties of Cultural Heritage Crystalline Materials

A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Inorganic Crystalline Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2020) | Viewed by 7894

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Daniele Chiriu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Physics, University of Cagliari, sp 8, km 0.700, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Interests: applied physics; cultural heritage; optical properties; photonics; advanced materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is with pleasure that I present this Special Issue of the journal Crystals. The purpose of this issue is to show how the optical and structural properties of crystalline materials can be exploited, in the field of cultural heritage, to characterize ancient artefacts. It also explores how physicochemical processes, analysed through spectroscopic techniques, make it possible to understand the manufacturing procedures, conservation state and ageing of the materials used.

Crystalline materials find applications in many fields of cultural heritage, ranging from pigments to jewels, from ceramics to sculptures. Optical properties of crystalline dielectrics and semiconductors permit an extreme variety of colours, which are often susceptible to degradation processes. However, the photochemical stability of some crystalline materials makes them good candidates for restoration and conservation. Therefore, optical and structural characterizations of appropriate materials are fundamental to address long-standing problems related to cultural heritage.

In recent years, traditional spectroscopy, as well as innovative applications of optical techniques, have assumed a key role in cultural heritage, with progress towards a new generation of imaging, stratigraphy and compositional tools. Structural analysis, on the other hand, has provided solid foundations for assessing the crystal structure and composition of investigated materials—essential information for authenticity and tracing purposes.

The aim of this Special Issue is to bring together expertise and competencies from different fields of structural characterization and optical spectroscopy, as applied to cultural heritage. This will provide readers with an overview of the hot topics and state of the art regarding the properties of crystalline materials and of the physical-chemical investigation techniques applied in the cultural heritage field.

Dr. Daniele Chiriu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Crystals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Cultural heritage
  • Crystalline materials
  • Structural characterization
  • Optical properties
  • Spectroscopy
  • Ageing and degradation
  • Conservation and restoration
  • Imaging and diagnostic
  • Archaeometry

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 2560 KiB  
Article
Fresco Paintings: Development of an Aging Model from 1064 nm Excited Raman Spectra
by Francesca Assunta Pisu, Carlo Maria Carbonaro, Riccardo Corpino, Pier Carlo Ricci and Daniele Chiriu
Crystals 2021, 11(3), 257; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst11030257 - 05 Mar 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2311
Abstract
In this study, we proposed a preliminary kinetic model applied to the carbonation process of fresh lime with the intention to realize a diagnostic tool for aged fresco paintings. The model can be useful, in particular, in the fields of conservation and restoration [...] Read more.
In this study, we proposed a preliminary kinetic model applied to the carbonation process of fresh lime with the intention to realize a diagnostic tool for aged fresco paintings. The model can be useful, in particular, in the fields of conservation and restoration of ancient lime wall paintings. The dating procedure was achieved through the analysis of 1064 nm excited Raman spectra collected on artificially aged lime samples in addition to ancient samples taken from literature and covering a period of two thousand years. The kinetic model was developed monitoring the concentration of emitting defective centers related to the intensity of 780 cm−1 calcium hydroxide band as a function of the time and depth. This preliminary model shows how Raman spectroscopy, especially NIR micro-Raman, is advantageous for diagnostics and conservation in the cultural heritage field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structural and Optical Properties of Cultural Heritage Crystalline Materials)
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18 pages, 4013 KiB  
Article
How Microanalysis Can Be Discriminant on Black Pompeian Wares
by Laura Medeghini, Silvano Mignardi, Giorgia Di Fusco, Michela Botticelli, Fulvio Coletti and Caterina De Vito
Crystals 2020, 10(10), 879; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst10100879 - 28 Sep 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2334
Abstract
In the present work the advantages of punctual approaches are discussed in the discrimination of black wares from the Sanctuary of Venus Fisica (Pompeii, Italy), dated between the 2nd and 1st century BC. Black-gloss ware and "bucchero" samples are analyzed by a multi-analytical [...] Read more.
In the present work the advantages of punctual approaches are discussed in the discrimination of black wares from the Sanctuary of Venus Fisica (Pompeii, Italy), dated between the 2nd and 1st century BC. Black-gloss ware and "bucchero" samples are analyzed by a multi-analytical approach including optical microscopy (OM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) to investigate the mineralogical and petrographic features of these artefacts. Grain size, firing conditions and potter’s expertise influenced the final appearance of the superficial decorative black layer. In addition, punctual chemical analysis was fundamental to verify the archaeological indication of specific production sites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structural and Optical Properties of Cultural Heritage Crystalline Materials)
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14 pages, 7272 KiB  
Article
Multi-Approach Study Applied to Restoration Monitoring of a 16th Century Wooden Paste Sculpture
by Auxiliadora Gómez-Morón, Pilar Ortiz, Rocio Ortiz, Francesco Colao, Roberta Fantoni, Jacques Castaing and Javier Becerra
Crystals 2020, 10(8), 708; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst10080708 - 17 Aug 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2835
Abstract
A multi-approach study has been designed to evaluate the mannerist-style masterpiece of the Christ of the Expiration (Museum Brotherhood, Seville, Spain), a polychrome wooden paste sculpture of the 16th Century that was restored in the Andalusian Historical Heritage Institute (IAPH). During its intervention, [...] Read more.
A multi-approach study has been designed to evaluate the mannerist-style masterpiece of the Christ of the Expiration (Museum Brotherhood, Seville, Spain), a polychrome wooden paste sculpture of the 16th Century that was restored in the Andalusian Historical Heritage Institute (IAPH). During its intervention, a combination of two non-destructive prototypes were used to evaluate the different color in its feet regarding its legs and torso and its cause. A portable equipment that combined X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was employed to analyze chemical composition and mineralogical characterization of pigments. This equipment allowed obtaining simultaneously XRF and XRD at the same point without sampling. X-ray techniques identified cerussite, hydrocerussite and barite in different layers. The presence of zinc oxide from a recent restoration was also detected. Additionally, laser induced fluorescence (LIF) was employed to assess the presence of different fluorescent compounds on the surface. This technique showed the use of acrylic products in the feet, loincloth and torso of Christ from previous restoration and allowed to detect spectral difference on the feet and a high ration of the acrylic product on feet, both could be the cause of the differential degradation between the feet and torso. This multi-approach study based on portable and non-destructive techniques allowed restoration monitoring and helped restorers to take decisions without sampling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structural and Optical Properties of Cultural Heritage Crystalline Materials)
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