National Institute Of Materials Physics - Romania

Publications

5781 articles found

2021. Strain-induced modification of trap parameters due to the stopped ions in Bi-irradiated Si

Authors: Ciurea, ML; Lazanu, S; Slav, A; Palade, C

Published: NOV 2014, EPL, 108, DOI: 10.1209/0295-5075/108/36004

By implanting Bi in Si, a strong strain field due to the bigger atomic mass and size of stopped Bi ions than Si lattice ones is produced, together with irradiation defects. The controlled doping of Si with Bi leads to modern applications such as quantum information processing. Here we show that the parameters of trapping centres are modified under the strain field. In the literature there are no reports on this subject. We irradiated Si wafers with Bi6+ ions of 28MeV kinetic energy, 3 degrees off [100] axis orientation. The depth distributions of stopped ions and of primary defects were simulated. The traps produced by irradiation were investigated using the thermally stimulated currents method without bias. We recorded and modelled the discharge current curves. The strain field was modelled as a permanent and temperature-independent electric field. The traps of V-2, VO/CiCs, and CiOi and other two not assigned were evidenced. We have found that all trapping levels are broadened, and all capture cross-sections are temperature dependent which we attribute to the strong strain field produced by Bi. These results are important and must be taken into account in designing and manufacturing microelectronic devices incorporating strain, including the topical spin qubit ones. Copyright (C) EPLA, 2014

2022. Magnetism in the new full-Heusler compound, Zr2CoAl: A first-principles study

Authors: Birsan, A

Published: NOV 2014, CURRENT APPLIED PHYSICS, 14, 1436, DOI: 10.1016/j.cap.2014.08.009

The electronic structure and magnetic properties of Zr2CoAl bulk material were investigated within the Density Functional Theory (DFT) framework. The material, basically a complete spin polarized half-metallic ferromagnet in the ground state, crystallizes in the ordered full-Heusler inverse structure (Hg2CuTi-type structure). The energy band gap, localized in minority spin channel is 0.48 eV at equilibrium lattice parameter, 6.54 angstrom. The total magnetic moment calculated, equal to 2 mu(B)/f.u., is an integral, in agreement with the Slater-Pauling curve for full-Heusler alloys. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

2023. Effects of the ionic association-dissociation and adsorption-desorption on the space charge polarization: A new theoretical approach

Authors: Ganea, CP

Published: OCT 28 2014, EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL PLUS, 129, DOI: 10.1140/epjp/i2014-14238-4

A case where the electrode polarization occurs in dielectric spectroscopy measurements carried out on a liquid crystal cell in which there are paired ions with different transport properties in the presence of generation-recombination processes is discussed. The processes of adsorption/desorption take place at blocking electrode surfaces with different features. The theoretical approach consists in introducing new independent variables with simple significance and in reformulating the fundamental equation for the concentrations of charge carriers and Poisson equation for the electric field. The main purpose of the present mathematical method is to obtain a more convenient analytical expression of admittance and complex permittivity in a form that is easy to use for the interpretation of the experimental data. The expression of the admittance allows suggesting an equivalent electrical circuit according to the processes occurring in the sample volume and at the surface electrodes. The analytical form of the admittance highlights a distinctive term that is proportional to one adimensional parameter which estimates the relative effects of the bulk process in comparison with the interfaces process. Several cases are analyzed and for each an analytical expression is found. In some cases the formulas are available in a simple form.

2024. Design of Antimicrobial Membrane Based on Polymer Colloids/Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes Hybrid Material with Silver Nanoparticles

Authors: Rusen, E; Mocanu, A; Nistor, LC; Dinescu, A; Calinescu, L; Mustatea, G; Voicu, SI; Andronescu, C; Diacon, A

Published: OCT 22 2014, ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES, 6, 17393, DOI: 10.1021/am505024p

The aim of this study was to obtain membranes with antimicrobial activity presenting a complex sandwich-type structure. The outer layers are comprised of poly(methyl methacrylate) membranes, whereas the inner active layer consists of a modified commercial membrane to achieve antimicrobial properties. This activity arises due to the presence of silver nanoparticles in a material with a hybrid composition deposited on a commercial membrane. This hybrid material consists of polymer colloids and multiwall carbon nanotubes used for both the stabilization of the active layer by the interconnections of the polymer particles and as active component. The filtration tests revealed a good stability of the materials and an increased hydrophilicity of the hybrid membranes. The antimicrobial properties have been evaluated using Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and have been correlated with the content and migration rate of silver ions.

2025. Physical properties of AlxIn1-xN thin film alloys sputtered at low temperature

Authors: Besleaga, C; Galca, AC; Miclea, CF; Mercioniu, I; Enculescu, M; Stan, GE; Mateescu, AO; Dumitru, V; Costea, S

Published: OCT 21 2014, JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS, 116, DOI: 10.1063/1.4898565

In this paper, we report on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of a wide compositional range of AlxIn1-xN thin layers deposited on glass and polyethylene terephthalate substrates. AlxIn1-xN layers of controlled composition were obtained by a simple reactive magnetron co-sputtering protocol, using a single aluminium target with indium insets, by varying the Al/In target surface area ratio, and the composition of the deposition atmosphere. The relevant physical properties were investigated and discussed. It is shown that the texture of the thin films is dependent on the cation ratio, while the bowing parameters of lattice constants and band gap values are larger than those of epitaxial layers. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

2026. Trapped magnetic field in a (NdFeB)-(MgB2) pair-type bulk magnet

Authors: Aldica, G; Burdusel, M; Badica, P

Published: OCT 15 2014, PHYSICA C-SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND ITS APPLICATIONS, 505, 23, DOI: 10.1016/j.physc.2014.07.001

Superconducting bulk discs, S, of 20 mm in diameter and 3.5 or 3.3 mm thickness of MgB2 (pristine or added with cubic BN, respectively) with density above 97% were prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering. Discs were combined in a pair-type sandwich-like arrangement with a permanent NdFeB axially magnetised magnet, PM (similar to 0.5 T). Measurement of the trapped field, B-tr, with temperature, time, and the reduction rate of the applied magnetic field was performed using a Hall sensor positioned at the centre between the superconductor and the permanent magnet. It is shown that the permanent magnet with certain polarity favors higher trapped field of the superconductor owing to suppression of flux jumps specific for high density MgB2 samples. The B-tr of the PM-S pair was 2.45 T (20 K) and 3.3 T (12 K). (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

2027. Systematic investigation and in vitro biocompatibility studies on mesoporous europium doped hydroxyapatite

Authors: Popa, CL; Ciobanu, CS; Iconaru, SL; Stan, M; Dinischiotu, A; Negrila, CC; Motelica-Heino, M; Guegan, R; Predoi, D

Published: OCT 2014, CENTRAL EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY, 12, 1046, DOI: 10.2478/s11532-014-0554-y

This paper reports the systematic investigation of europium doped hydroxyapatite (Eu:HAp). A set of complementary techniques, namely Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) technique were used towards attaining a detailed understanding of Eu:HAp. The XPS analysis confirmed the substitution of Ca ions by Eu ions in the Eu:HAp samples. Secondly, Eu:HAp and pure HAp present type IV isotherms with a hysteresis loop at a relative pressure (P/P-0) between 0.4 and 1.0, indicating the presence of mesopores. Finally, the in vitro biological effects of Eu:HAp nanoparticles were evaluated by focusing on the F-actin filament pattern and heat shock proteins (Hsp) expression in HEK293 human kidney cell line. Fluorescence microscopy studies of the actin protein revealed no changes of the immunolabelling profile in the renal cells cultured in the presence of Eu:HAp nanoparticles. Hsp60, Hsp70 and Hsp90 expressions measured by Western blot analysis were not affected after 24 and 48 hours exposure. Taken together, these results confirmed the lack of toxicity and the biocompatibility of the Eu:HAp nanoparticles. Consequently, the possibility of using these nanoparticles for medical purposes without affecting the renal function can be envisaged.

2028. Nitrogen-doped and gold-loaded TiO2 photocatalysts synthesized by sequential reactive pulsed laser deposition

Authors: Duta, L; Popescu, C; Popescu, A; Motoc, M; Logofatu, C; Enesca, A; Duta, A; Gyorgy, E

Published: OCT 2014, APPLIED PHYSICS A-MATERIALS SCIENCE & PROCESSING, 117, 101, DOI: 10.1007/s00339-013-8220-3

Nitrogen-doped titanium oxide thin films covered by gold metal nanoparticles were grown on (001) SiO2 quartz substrates by pulsed laser deposition. A KrF* excimer laser source (lambda = 248 nm, tau (FWHM) a parts per thousand currency sign 25 ns, nu = 10 Hz) was used for the irradiation of TiO2 and gold metal targets. The experiments were performed in controlled reactive oxygen or nitrogen atmosphere. The layers were grown for photocatalytic applications. Evaluation of photocatalytic activity was performed by photodegradation of methyl orange under near-UV light irradiation. Our results show that nitrogen doping and addition of gold nanoparticles have complementary effects, photoactivity being significantly improved as compared to that of pure titanium oxide.

2029. Graphenes in the absence of metals as carbocatalysts for selective acetylene hydrogenation and alkene hydrogenation

Authors: Primo, A; Neatu, F; Florea, M; Parvulescu, V; Garcia, H

Published: OCT 2014, , DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6291

2030. On the Steady State Correlation Functions of Open Interacting Systems

Authors: Cornean, HD; Moldoveanu, V; Pillet, CA

Published: OCT 2014, COMMUNICATIONS IN MATHEMATICAL PHYSICS, 331, 295, DOI: 10.1007/s00220-014-1925-0

We address the existence of steady state Green-Keldysh correlation functions of interacting fermions in mesoscopic systems for both the partitioning and partition-free scenarios. Under some spectral assumptions on the non-interacting model and for sufficiently small interaction strength, we show that the system evolves to a NESS which does not depend on the profile of the time-dependent coupling strength/bias. For the partitioned setting we also show that the steady state is independent of the initial state of the inner sample. Closed formulae for the NESS two-point correlation functions (Green-Keldysh functions), in the form of a convergent expansion, are derived. In the partitioning approach, we show that the 0(th) order term in the interaction strength of the charge current leads to the Landauer-Buttiker formula, while the 1(st) order correction contains the mean-field (Hartree-Fock) results.