Publications

The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the optical properties of PTCDA and Alq3 films, prepared by two steps, vacuum evaporation and deposition processes on platelets of glass, quartz, and indium-tin-oxide (ITO) coated glass. We have emphasised the bands structure of the absorption spectra with peaks situated at 358 nm, 374 nm, 475 nm and 552 nm in PTCDA, respectively 232 nm, 261 nm and 380 nm in Alq3 that confirms the dominant presence of Alq3 meridianal molecular isomer. For PTCDA films deposited on glass coated with ITO, the structure of the weak double peak at low wavelength is partially modified, but the positions of the two important absorption peaks situated at 2.25 eV and 2.61 eV are unchanged. The two different luminescence emission peaks obtained in Alq3 for different excitation wavelengths (gimel=360 nm and gimel=520 nm) suggest the existence of the facial isomer beside the meridianal one. We have evidenced a significant Stocks shift in the spectra (Delta E-PTCDA=0.40 eV; Delta E-Alq3=0.9 eV) and a large Frank-Condon shift (0.40-2.3 eV), suggesting important effect associated respectively with the solid state structure and important conformational differences between the ground and excited state.

Vibrational properties of composites based on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and conducting polymers of the type polyaniline (PANI) and poly (3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) are reported. For PANI-functionalized SWNTs, the intensity increase of the Raman band at 178 cm(-1) , associated with radial breathing modes of SWNTs bundles, indicates an additional roping of nanotubes due to the presence of the polymer. The interaction of this composite with NH4OH solution involves an internal redox reaction between PANI and SWNTs. Thus, the polymer chain undergoes a transition from the semi-oxidized state into a reduced one. The functionalization of SWNT side walls with PEDOT is invoked as well.

This paper discusses the growth of In(Ga)As quantum dots (QDs) and nanowires by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition and their application to optoelectronic devices. The performance characteristics of QD lasers and QD photodetectors as well as the selective area growth of QDs for integrated devices are reported.

A full vibronic spectrum has been measured for the first time by LNT Cathodoluminescence in HPHT c-BN amber-coloured microcrystalline samples. The related BN1 centre at 3.293 eV seems not created by electron irradiation in this case and the accurately determined phonon energy (141 +/- 3 meV) could be related to LO phonon at X point in Brillouin Zone (BZ) of c-BN, as determined by CL results obtained at indirect gap. Consequently, BN1 centre has not the full cubic symmetry of c-BN, as being due to N interstitials. The interpretation of the results is possibly twofold: either we are observing a vibronic spectrum with ZPL at BN1 centre, together with other two centres called PF-1 and PF-2 at 3.573 and at 3.412 eV, respectively, or, since all the 6 or 7 observed peaks are exactly equally spaced, the whole vibronic spectrum is related to a ZPL line at 3.573 eV. This new interpretation seems to be in better agreement with the general theory of colour centres. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A microscopic theory for the interaction of carriers with LO phonons is used to study ultrafast capture and relaxation dynamics in semiconductor quantum dots. Energy renormalization due to carrier-phonon interaction leads to quantum-dot polarons which are included in quantum-kinetic equations to describe scattering processes. Our results show efficient capture and relaxation processes. For an InGaN quantum-dot system the influence of the strong built-in electrostatic field on the carrier dynamics is investigated. (c) 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

A PZT-type material, doped with niobium and lithium was prepared by the ceramic technique. The microstructure of the sintered material at 1280 degrees C was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy and by X-ray diffraction. Dielectric and piezoelectric properties were measured. The good planar properties of the material made it possible to obtain ceramic disks with a strong radial mode. Two such disks, glued together, with opposed polarisation constitute a bimorf element, which successfully converts the radial mode into a flexural one. At the center of the bimorf a conical acoustical impedance adapter is fixed in order to increase the frontal acoustical emission of the device. This ultrasonic device provides a broad band, high acoustical emission, and is suitable to work as a high efficiency ultrasonic siren. It can be used in intruder alarm devices, ultrasonic telemeters.

Investigations on coupling coefficients in a stargeometry filter with defected ground are presented in this paper. The device is compact, requiring a surface area of more than 6 times smaller than the area needed for a conventional patch dual mode resonator.

In this paper we present a penetration depth study on the newly discovered superconductors Li2Pd3B and Li2Pt3B. Surprisingly, the low-temperature penetration depth lambda(T) demonstrates distinct behavior in these two isostructural compounds. In Li2Pd3B, lambda(T) follows an exponential decay and can be nicely fitted by a two-gap BCS superconducting model with a small gap Delta(1)=3.2K and a large gap Delta(2)=11.5K. However, linear temperature dependence of lambda(T) is observed in Li2Pt3B below 03T(c), giving evidence of line nodes in the energy gap.

Giant magnetoresistive (GMR) coatings on silicon, glass and Kapton were prepared by simultaneous thermionic vacuum are (TVA) discharges in high vacuum conditions. The magnetic metal or alloy (Fe, Co, Ni, Permalloy) together with the noble non magnetic metal were deposited on substrates having different positions relative to the discharges. Local magnetic interactions and Fe-phase composition were obtained by Mossbauer spectroscopy whereas the magnetoresistance effects were measured by a dc method using a four-point configuration with perpendicular to plane magnetic fields up to 0.8 T. The surface morphology of the coatings was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in contact mode.