National Institute Of Materials Physics - Romania

The thermal spike model which takes into account both ionization and nuclear energy loss processes of the projectile as distinct electronic and atomic heat sources is used to describe transient processes induced by ions in silicon. The time and space dependencies of the lattice and electron temperatures near the projectile trajectory are calculated. The contribution of the rise in temperature on defect formation and annealing is considered.

A growing need for eco-friendly energy sources have led recently to a frantic search of new compositional systems for photovoltaic applications. The nanocomposite titania-germanium (TiO2-Ge) systems represent a new viable family of optoelectronic materials. Their structural, optical and electronic properties can be easily tailored by customizing the density and size of Ge dots in the TiO2 matrix. Early studies on TiO2-Ge nanocomposites have shown promises for their use as an alternative in photovoltaic applications. In this study we report the TiO2-Ge films synthesis by reactive magnetron co-sputtering. Their properties were evaluated by compositional (EDS), structural (XRD, FTIR) and optical (UV-Vis) characterizations.

Iron/iron oxide-based nanocomposites were prepared by IR laser sensitized pyrolysis of Fe(CO)(5) and methylmethacrylate (MMA) mixtures. The morphology of nanopowder analyzed by TEM indicated that mainly core-shell structures were obtained. X-ray diffraction techniques evidence the cores as formedmainly by iron/iron oxide crystalline phases. A partially degraded (carbonized) polymeric matrix is suggested for the coverage of the metallic particles. The nanocomposite structure at the variation of the laser density and of the MMA flow was studied. The new materials prepared as thick films were tested for their potential for acting as gas sensors. The temporal variation of the electrical resistance in presence of NO2, CO, and CO2, in dry and humid air was recorded. Preliminary results show that the samples obtained at higher laser power density exhibit rather high sensitivity towards NO2 detection and NO2 selectivity relatively to CO and CO2. An optimum working temperature of 200 degrees C was found.

Electrochemical replication of nanoporous membranes represents a facile approach towards the fabrication of nanostructures with tailored properties. By the template method we prepared multisegment nanowires with tailored structure. The first step of the process was the fabrication of the nanoporous template by swift heavy ion irradiation and subsequent selective etching of the ion track. The next step was to fill the pores with the desired combination of materials. In this manner, by sequential electrodeposition steps of metal and semiconductor we prepared Ni - CdTe and Ni - ZnO - Ni nanowires.

Barium stearate multilayer samples have been deposited by the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. Carbon nanotubes have been added in the deposition solution. The structural properties have been studied. The effect of the doped multilayers has been tested against the solution of ammonium nitrate in water. The effect of (5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl)-porphinato manganese (III) chloride, (MnTPP)Cl, on the multilayer sample has been tested. The change of resistivity of the multilayer samples modified by manganese porphyrin, as a function of the ultraviolet radiation has been discovered and investigated. The increase of the resistance during irradiation is a reversible process, although a slow one. This effect could give a basis for applications in UV sensors and switches. Finally, a photo-resistive effect (induced by UV light) has been discovered in Barium stearate layers doped by silver nitrate.

CuIn1-xGaxS2 (CIGS2) thin-films for solar cells were prepared by rf-magnetron sputtering and were deposited on glass substrate. These films were prepared using a stepwise process consisting of succesive deposition of CuInGa (d = 1500 nm) and ZnS (d = 200 nm) layers. Each layer was structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy. The microstructural and optical properties of CIGS2 component films of the solar cell in comparison with those of ZnS and CuInGa films separately deposited onto glass substrates under the same conditions, were studied. Transmission spectra of our thin films are strongly influenced by deposition conditions and nature of the support material and they were recorded for each component film and CIGS2 solar cell.

The relaxation of the irreversible magnetization in optimally doped YBCO films with natural and artificial pinning centres was measured in zero-field cooling conditions using SQUID magnetometry. The external magnetic field H was oriented along the c axis. An appropriate method for the determination of the characteristic vortex pinning energy from the normalized vortex-creep activation energy is discussed. This is based on the existence of a crossover elastic (collective) vortex creep at low temperatures T - plastic vortex creep at high T, caused by the T dependent macroscopic currents induced in the sample during magnetization measurements.

Bioceramic composites were obtained by combining two biocompatible components (by example- in our studies - hydroxyapatite and iron oxide nanoparticles). The preparation method determines the particle size and shape, the size distribution, the surface chemistry of the iron oxide particles and consequently their magnetic properties. The samples were analysed by X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy. Their thermal behaviour was studied by thermogravimetric and thermodifferential analysis. These characterization techniques confirmed the presence of hydroxyapatite on the magnetite surface. Osteoblast cell cultures were used to determine cell proliferation, viability and cytotoxicity on interaction with the samples. The cultures displayed good in vitro behaviour.

Cobalt-doped vanadium oxide thin layers prepared by pulsed laser ablation are investigated from the following points of view: (1) the chemical states by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), (2) the local atomic order by X-ray absorption fine structure at both vanadium and cobalt K-edges, (3) the morphology of the films by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and (4) the magnetic properties by magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE). The chemical composition of the host matrix was found to be close to VO2 at the sample surface, with V2O3 in the bulk. Co ions are found near the surface in high ionisation states Co4+ (for the samples synthesised in a high vacuum condition, denoted by VO1), or with Co(4-)+ (for the samples synthesised in an oxygen atmosphere, denoted by VO2), whereas in the bulk, Co1.5+ is obtained for VO1 and Co2+ is obtained for VO2. The AFM revealed nanoparticles with sizes 10-25 nm for VO1 samples, whereas a few bigger nanoparticles are observed for VO2 samples. The VO1 samples presented high coercitive fields with a relatively low saturation magnetisation at room temperature, superposed with a superparamagnetic component attributed to the observed nanoparticles, whereas the VO2 samples presented double-loop hysteresis curves, indicating the co-existence of two kinds of magnetic moieties with antiparallel coupling at zero applied field. The proposed two magnetic phases are Co-doped V2O3 and VO2.

The way in which surface changes are transduced into a variation of an electrical parameter (often electrical resistance) depends on the surface oxidation level, material morphology its semiconductor behaviour, etc. Therefore, if one wants to understand more about the way in which gas-surface interactions affect the gas sensing properties of material, complex phenomenological and spectroscopic investigations are needed. Herein, by simultaneous DC and relative work function investigations we could explain the differences induced by the MOX semiconductor character (n and p-type) to the surface phenomena transduction mechanism.