Publications

Dielectric materials (HfO2, A1(2)O(3), SiO2 and Ta2O5) processed as thin films have been studied extensively for applications in microelectronics, biology, medicine, etc. In the last decade, antireflection coatings based on these types of materials have received considerable attention for applications in the field of high power laser optics. In this paper we report on multi-layers from materials with low and high refractive indices deposited on quartz substrates by laser ablation. Damage tests performed with a Ti-Sapphire laser (775 nm wavelength, 220 fs pulse duration) evidenced higher threshold values for hafnia based heterostructures than for the others heterostructures.

In this chapter we discuss the capabilities of X-ray photoemission and absorption spectroscopies for the investigation of the electronic, magnetic and electric properties of multiferroic materials and heterostructures. As complementary techniques providing element selective information on both occupied and empty states, their combination delivers a comprehensive picture of the chemical state of individual species, magnetic moments, bulk and surface band structure, and local atomic environment at the interface between dissimilar materials. By directly probing the electronic structure at the atomic level, unique insights can be learned about the mechanisms responsible for the magnetoelectric couplings in this fascinating class of materials.

Local atomic configuration, phase composition and atomic intermixing in Fe-rich Fe1-xCrx and Fe1-xMox ribbons (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15), of potential interest for high-temperature applications and nuclear devices, are investigated in this study in relation to specific processing and annealing routes. The Fe-based thin ribbons have been prepared by induction melting, followed by melt spinning and further annealed in He at temperatures up to 1250 degrees C. The complex structural, compositional and atomic configuration characterisation has been performed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission Mossbauer spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC). The XRD analysis indicates the formation of the desired solid solutions with body-centred cubic (bcc) structure in the as-quenched state. The Mossbauer spectroscopy results have been analysed in terms of the two-shell model. The distribution of Cr/Mo atoms in the first two coordination spheres is not homogeneous, especially after annealing, as supported by the short-range order parameters. In addition, high-temperature annealing treatments give rise to oxidation of Fe (to haematite, maghemite and magnetite) at the surface of the ribbons. Fe1-xCrx alloys are structurally more stable than the Mo counterpart under annealing at 700 degrees C. Annealing at 1250 degrees C in He enhances drastically the Cr clustering around Fe nuclei.

The research regarding the properties of thin films of hydroxyapatite doped with various ions such as zinc elaborated by spin-coating technique have rarely been fabricated and studies in recent years. In the present study Zn doped hydroxyapatite (ZrHAp) synthesized by a sol-gel method were coated on Ti substrates using a spin-coating technique. The thin films was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy (GDOES). The structural characterizations of ZnHAp thin films showed the presence of Zn and apatitic structure. The GD depth profiles revealed the successful embedding of the Zn ions in HAp structure. In addition, in vitro evaluation of the antifungal properties of ZnHAp demonstrated the potential antifungal effect of ZnHAp thin films against Staphylococcus aureus 0364 biofilm.

Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystals (PDLC) are composite materials consisting of small liquid crystal (LC) droplets surrounded by a polymer matrix. Due to their relatively easy preparation and processing, the PDLC devices found many applications such as displays, architectural windows, energy control devices, projection displays, spatial light modulators, polarizers. Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have excellent mobility and are suitable as doping nanoparticles in order to improve the electrically-controlled orientation of LC. This paper presents the methods of preparation of PDLC doped with CNT. Experimental results are presented for the films obtained by solvent induced polymerization method, using polymethyl methacrylate and a nematic LC, E7. The obtained films are characterized by polarized optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and electro-optical transmission.

Because of the unique properties of the ferroelectric perovskite particles with a well-defined anisotropic form like shape-and size dependent at low dimensions they have all the attention of the scientific world. Extensive morphostructural techniques will be used to characterize the piezoelectric material.

We identify new lasing regimes of high-beta nanolasers with extended gain media. There, coherent emission can occur after the typical threshold non-linearity in the I-O-curve due to increased spontaneous emission. As an example for this device-regime, we present room temperature lasing in III-nitride nanobeam cavities.

The effect of room temperature hydrogen plasma treatment on the photoconductive properties of the SiO2 matrix containing SiGe nanoparticles is investigated. A considerable increase in photocurrent intensity is observed after plasma treatment. The increase is partly attributed to neutralization of dangling bonds around the nanoparticles and partly to passivation of non-radiative centers and defects in the matrix and at the nanoparticles-matrix interfaces.

Ferromagnetic shape memory alloys (FSMA) have attained strong interest over the last years and Fe-Pd alloys seems to be more suited for engineering and medical applications, due to their improved ductility and biocompatibility compared to the well-known Ni2MnGa alloy. The shape memory effect in disordered Fe-Pd (30 at.% Pd) is associated with FCC-FCT thermoelastic martensitic transformation. The melt-spinning technique enables to get ribbons with the FCC meta-stable structure preventing the precipitation of undesirable BCT irreversible phase and subsequent proper thermal treatments could improve the characteristic parameters of the martensitic transformation. The present work reports the effect of the rapid solidification (via melt-spinning technique) and the different thermal treatments on the microstructure, martensitic transformation and magnetic properties of the Fe69.4Pd30.6 ribbons. The samples were investigated by calorimetry, X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy and magnetometry. Two different structures induced by the distinct thermal treatments and responsible for the characteristic behavior of the martensitic transformation, were noticed and discussed in details. The high temperature treatment for short time stabilized the FCC phase and slightly decrease the martensitic transformation temperature, while the annealing at low temperature for longer time promotes the reduction of the amount of transforming FCC phase by its partial decomposition in the stable phases, causing the fall of the heat of transformation.

Trilayer MOS capacitors gate HfO2 / floating gate of Ge nanocrystals in HfO2 / tunnel HfO2 / Si substrate were prepared in the aim to be used for the detection of ionizing radiation. Magnetron sputtering and rapid thermal annealing were used for their fabrication. Capacitance-voltage measurements showed that Ge nanocrystals are the most important charge storage centres in our structure. The possibility to use these trilayer MOS capacitors as dosimeters was investigated, and the sensitivity to alpha particle irradiation was extracted.