Publications

We report on the fabrication of n+3C/n-4H SiC heterojunction diodes (HJDs) potentially promising the ultimate thermal stability of the junction. The diodes were systematically analyzed by TEM, X-ray diffraction, AFM, and secondary ion mass spectroscopy, indicating the formation of epitaxial 3C-SiC crystal on top of 4H-SiC substrate with continuous interface, low surface roughness, and up to similar to 7 x 10(17) cm(-3) dopant impurity concentration. The conduction band off-set is about 1 V as extracted from CV measurements, while the valence bands of both SiC polytypes are aligned. The HJDs feature opening voltage of 1.65 V, consistent with the barrier height of about 1.5 eV extracted from CV measurement. We finally compare the electrical results of the n+3C/n-4H SiC heterojunction diodes with those featuring Si and Ge doped anodes in order to evaluate current challenges involved in the fabrication of such devices. (C) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC.

Mesoporous carbon aerogels (CAs) impregnated with (Pt-Ru) nanoparticles were prepared, incorporated into carbon paste electrodes (CPEs) and investigated as electrocatalysts for CH3OH electro-oxidation. The sol gel method, followed by supercritical drying with liquid CO2 and thermal pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere, was used to obtain high mesoporous CAs. (Pt-Ru)/CAs nanocomposites with various (Pt-Ru) loading were prepared by using Ru(AcAc)(3) and H2PtCl6 as metal precursors and the impregnation method. The morpho-structural peculiarities of the so prepared (Pt-Ru)/CAs electrocatalysts were examined by using elemental analysis, N2 adsorption -desorption isotherms, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Cyclic voltammetry measurements, carried out at (Pt-Ru)/CA-CPEs incorporating nanocomposites with various Pt-Ru loading and different specific surface areas, showed that CA with the highest specific surface area (843 m(2)/g) and impregnated with 6% (w/w) (Pt Ru) nanoparticles exhibit the best CH3OH electro-oxidation efficiency. The Michaelis Menten formalism was used to describe the dependence of the oxidation peak current on the CH3OH concentration, allowing the estimation of the modified electrodes sensitivities. Thus, for (Pt-Ru, 10%)/CA(535)-CPE was observed the highest sensitivity (12.5 +/- 0.8 mA/M) and, at the same time, the highest maximum current density ever reported (153.1 mA/cm(2) for 2 M CH3OH and an applied potential of 600 mV vs. SHE). (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

This study investigated the mechanism of iron monosulfide (FeS) oxidation by dissolved oxygen (O-2(aq)). Synthetic FeS was reacted with O-2(aq) for 6 days and at 25 degrees C. We have characterized the initial and reacted FeS surface using Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDX) analysis, Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). It was found that during the aqueous oxidation of FeS new solid phases (disulfide, polysulfide, elemental sulfur, ferric oxyhydroxides and Fe3O4) develop on the mineral surface. The results of potentiodynamic polarization experiments show that after 2 days of FeS electrode immersion in oxygen bearing solution (OBS) at initial pH 5.1 and 25 degrees C the modulus of cathodic Tafel slopes dramatically decreases, from 393 mV/dec to 86 mV/dec. This decrease is ascribed to the change of the mechanism of electron transfer from cathodic sites to O-2 (mechanism of cathodic process). The oxidation current densities (j(ox)) indicate that mineral oxidative dissolution is not inhibited by pH increase up to 6.7. Another conclusion, which emerges from the analysis of j(ox), is that the dissolved Fe3+ does not intermediate the aqueous oxidation of FeS. The results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) show that after 2 days of contact between electrode and OBS the properties of FeS/water interface change. From the analysis of the EIS, FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and SEM/EDX data we can conclude that the change of FeS/water interface properties accompanies the formation of new solid phases on the mineral surface. The new characteristics of the surface layer and FeS/water interface do not cause the inhibition of mineral oxidation. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

In melt-spun FePtB-based ribbons, the addition of Ag has been proven to decrease the temperature of phase transformation from the A1 fcc FePt phase to the hard magnetic tetragonal L1(0) phase. Alloys with 6 and 9 at.% Ag added to the initial FePtB have been synthesized by rapid solidification from the melt. The samples have been laser irradiated and submitted to nitriding procedure. This procedure has been proven beneficial for inducing complete transformation of A1 to L1(0) phase and a strong (001) texturing. Ag segregation combined to mechanisms of creation of vacancies and diffusion of N give rise to the formation of an intergranular disordered region and due to an improved interfacial coupling between FePt grains, enhanced coercivity and two-phase magnetic behavior is obtained.

Thin films of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 (Bi-2212) with the non-c-axis (117) orientation were grown by MOCVD on (110) LaAlO3 single crystal substrate. XRD theta - 2 theta scans show that films contain also (119) and (011) Bi-2212 impurity grains. We propose and report characterization of the non-c-axis films by XRD phi-psi scans. By this approach, the assumed theoretical film-substrate relationship of the (117) Bi-2212 grains is demonstrated experimentally. The result also confirms twinning in the span rooflike (117) Bi-2212 grains. The impurity (119) and (011) Bi-2212 grains are also rooflike and in-plane aligned according to film-substrate relation and AFM images so that the film can be considered in-plane epitaxial.

By means of a combination of surface-science spectroscopies and theory, we investigate the mechanisms ruling the catalytic role of epitaxial graphene (Gr) grown on transition-metal substrates for the production of hydrogen from water. Water decomposition at the Gr/metal interface at room temperature provides a hydrogenated Gr sheet, which is buckled and decoupled from the metal substrate. We evaluate the performance of Gr/metal interface as a hydrogen storage medium, with a storage density in the Gr sheet comparable with state-of-the-art materials (1.42 wt %). Moreover, thermal programmed reaction experiments show that molecular hydrogen can be released upon heating the water-exposed Gr/metal interface above 400 K. The Gr hydro/dehydrogenation process might be exploited for an effective and eco-friendly device to produce (and store) hydrogen from water, i.e., starting from an almost unlimited source.

Dense bulk samples, with relative density of 88-99%, of MgB2 added with Ge2C6H10O7 were obtained by ex situ Spark Plasma Sintering. The critical current density of the added samples is improved at high magnetic fields when compared to a pristine reference sample. The optimum composition was found for MgB2(Ge2C6H10O7)(0.0014), where J(c)(20 K) = 10(2) A/cm(2) is obtained at 5.8 T, versus 3.9 T for the reference sample. This sample has also the highest product J(c0) center dot H-irr among the added samples, and values are similar to those for the pristine MgB2 sample. There is no significant Ge substitution in the crystal lattice of MgB2, while C substitutes for B. Pinningmechanism shifts from point to grain boundary type with increasing of addition amount. The pinning shift tendency is higher at lower temperatures (5 K).

Modern medicine is still struggling to find new and more effective methods for fighting off viruses, bacteria and fungi. Among the most dangerous and at times life-threatening fungi is Candida albicans. Our work is focused on surface and structural characterization of hydroxyapatite, silver doped hydroxyapatite and zinc doped hydroxyapatite deposited on a titanium substrate previously coated with polydimethylsiloxane (HAp-PDMS, Ag:HAp-PDMS, Zn:HAp-PDMS) by different techniques:Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy (GDOES) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The morphological studies revealed that the use of the PDMS polymer as an interlayer improves the quality of the coatings. The structural characterizations of the thin films revealed the basic constituents of both apatitic and PDMS structure. In addition, the GD depth profiles indicated the formation of a composite material as well as the successful embedding of the HAp, Zn:HAp and Ag:HAp into the polymer. On the other hand, in vitro evaluation of the antifungal properties of Ag:HAp-PDMS and Zn:HAp-PDMS demonstrated the fungicidal effects of Ag:HAp-PDMS and the potential antifungal effect of Zn:HAp-PDMS composite layers against C. albicans biofilm. The results acquired in this research complete previous research on the potential use of new complex materials produced by nanotechnology in biomedicine.

The distribution and interaction of isolated Mn2+ impurity ions incorporated in 2.9 nm average diameter cubic ZnS quantum dots (QDs), prepared by surfactant-assisted liquid-liquid synthesis with initial impurity concentrations in the 20-50,000 ppm range, has been investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The well resolved spectra, observed in the whole investigated concentration range, reflect the localization of the Mn2+ ions in the core and on the surface of the cZnS: Mn QDs at isolated sites. According to the analysis of the dependences of the concentration of incorporated isolated Mn2+ ions vs. initial impurity concentration and of the core localized Mn2+ ions spectra line-width vs. actual concentration, the isolated Mn2+ ions remain in the whole concentrations range in a diluted paramagnetic state characterized by dipolar magnetic interactions. Pulse EPR measurements of the spinespin dipolar interaction for the incorporated Mn2+ ions confirm their diluted distribution, which excludes these ions as a possible source of collective magnetism properties. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.