National Institute Of Materials Physics - Romania

Direct current (DC) and radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering methods were selected for conducting the deposition of structural materials, namely ceramic and metallic co-depositions. A total of six configurations were deposited: single thin layers of oxides (Cr2O3, SiO2) and co-deposition configurations (50:50 wt.%) as structural materials (W, Be)-(Cr2O3, SiO2), all deposited on 304L stainless steel (SS). A comprehensive evaluation such as surface topology, thermal desorption outgassing, and structural/chemical state was performed. Moreover, mechanical characterization evaluating properties such as adherence, nano indentation hardness, indentation modulus, and deformation relative to yielding, was performed. Experimental results show that, contrary to SiO2 matrix, the composite layers of Cr2O3 with Be and W exhibit surface smoothing with mitigation of artifacts, thus presenting a uniform and compact state with the best microstructure. These results are relevant in order to develop future dense coatings to be used in the fusion domain.

This is the first report regarding the effect of gamma irradiation on chitosan-coated magnesium-doped hydroxyapatite (x(Mg) = 0.1; 10 MgHApCh) layers prepared by the spin-coating process. The stability of the resulting 10 MgHApCh gel suspension used to obtain the layers has been shown by ultrasound measurements. The presence of magnesium and the effect of the irradiation process on the studied samples were shown by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XPS results obtained for irradiated 10 MgHApCh layers suggested that the magnesium and calcium contained in the surface layer are from tricalcium phosphate (TCP; Ca-3(PO4)(2)) and hydroxyapatite (HAp). The XPS analysis has also highlighted that the amount of TCP in the surface layer increased with the irradiation dose. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) evaluation showed that the calcium decreases with the increase in the irradiation dose. In addition, a decrease in crystallinity and crystallite size was highlighted after irradiation. By atomic force microscopy (AFM) we have obtained images suggesting a good homogeneity of the surface of the non-irradiated and irradiated layers. The AFM results were also sustained by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images obtained for the studied samples. The effect of gamma-ray doses on the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) spectra of 10 MgHApCh composite layers was also evaluated. The in vitro antifungal assays proved that 10 MgHApCh composite layers presented a strong antifungal effect, correlated with the irradiation dose and incubation time. The study of the stability of the 10 MgHApCh gel allowed us to achieve uniform and homogeneous layers that could be used in different biomedical applications.

Gallium telluride (GaTe) is a van der Waals semiconductor, currently adopted for photonic and optoelectronic devices. However, the rapid degradation of GaTe in air, promoted by Te vacancies, is detrimental for device applications. Here, it is demonstrate that the surface oxidation of GaTe can be unexpectedly exploited for expanding the breadth of applications of GaTe. Specifically, the formation of a nanoscale sub-stoichiometric wide-band-gap Ga2O3 skin, promoted by Te vacancies, over narrow-band-gap GaTex upon air exposure is beneficial for electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and gas sensing . In particular, the Heyrovsky step (H-ads + H+ + e(-) -> H-2) of hydrogen evolution reaction in an acidic medium is barrier-free for the sub-stoichiometric gallium-oxide/gallium-telluride heterostructure, which also enables a significant reduction of costs with respect to state-of-the-art Pt/C electrodes. In the photocatalytic process, the photo-generated electrons migrate from GaTe to Ga2Ox skin, which acts as the chemically active side of the interface. Moreover, the Ga2O3/GaTe heterostructure is a suitable platform for sensing of H2O, NH3, and NO2 at operational temperatures extended up to 600 degrees C (useful for gas detection in combustion processes), mainly due to the increased area of charge redistribution after adsorption achieved upon oxidation of GaTe.

Electrospun polymeric fibers present an emerging alternative for the development of flexible electronics, enabling applications in wearable sensors and biosensors for continuous monitoring, and actuators for tissue engineering. The possibility to prepare sub-micrometric polymeric scaffolds, their processing for increasing the conductivity, their modification with different materials, conductive polymers and biomolecules in order to obtain functional flexible electrodes, allows the development of innovative devices for healthcare, and biomedical applications. In this review, the impact of metallized electrospun polymeric fibers in electrochemical (bio)sensors and actuators is discussed. A relation between their structure and functionality is provided, alongside with an overview of the different methods to obtain functional conductive fibers.

The paper presents fabrication and characterization of spark plasma sintered textured (001) MgB2 with a record degree of orientation of about 40% and 16% by high-energy ultra-sonication and slip casting in high magnetic field (12 T) and 0 T magnetic field, respectively. Structural characterization was performed by X-ray diffraction, and electron microscopy. The analysis revealed unexpected preferred orientation also in the MgO secondary phase due to the epitaxial growth of (111) MgO on (001) MgB2. The influence of oriented microstructure on the superconducting characteristics expressed by critical current density (Jc), irreversibility field ( H irr), and on the pinning properties were assessed. High anisotropy versus sample orientation in applied magnetic field, H , was observed for Jc, Hirr, pinning activation energy ( U *) extracted from relaxation measurements. The zero-field critical current, Jc0 and Fp,maxare weakly or not dependent on the direction of H , while the other indicated parameters are significantly influenced. Results enable control of superconducting parameters by further optimization of microstructure through MgB2 texturing as a novel and viable strategy for development of bulk MgB2 with enhanced properties when taking advantage of its anisotropy.(c) 2021 Chongqing University. Publishing services provided by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co. Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ) Peer review under responsibility of Chongqing University

ZnO nanostructures were electrochemically synthesized on Cu and on chemical vapor deposited (CVD)-graphene/Cu electrodes. The deposition was performed at different electrode potentials ranging from -0.8 to -1.2 V, employing a zinc nitrate bath, and using voltametric and chronoamperometric techniques. The effects of the electrode nature and of the working electrode potential on the structural, morphological, and optical properties of the ZnO structures were investigated. It was found that all the samples crystallize in hexagonal wurtzite structure with a preferential orientation along the c-axis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirm that the presence of a graphene covered electrode led to the formation of ZnO nanowires with a smaller diameter compared with the deposition directly on copper surface. The photoluminescence (PL) measurements revealed that the ZnO nanowires grown on graphene/Cu exhibit stronger emission compared to the nanowires grown on Cu. The obtained results add another possibility of tailoring the properties of such nanostructured films according to the specific functionality required.

Special attention has recently been paid to surface-defective titanium dioxide and black TiO2 with advanced optical, electrical, and photocatalytic properties. Synthesis of these materials for photodegradation and mineralization of persistent organic pollutants in water, especially under visible radiation, presents interest from scientific and application points of view. Chemical reduction by heating a TiO2 and NaBH4 mixture at 350 degrees C successfully introduced Ti3+ defects and oxygen vacancies at the surface of TiO2, with an increase in the photocatalytic degradation of amoxicillin-an antibiotic that is present in wastewater due to its intense use in human and animal medicine. Three TiO2 samples were prepared at different annealing temperatures to control the ratio between anatase and rutile and were subjected to chemical reduction. Electron paramagnetic resonance investigations showed that the formation of surface Ti3+ defects in a high concentration occurred mainly in the anatase sample annealed at 400 degrees C, contributing to the bandgap reduction from 3.32 eV to 2.92 eV. The reduced band gap enhances visible light absorption and the efficiency of photocatalysis. The nanoparticles of similar to 90 m(2)/g specific surface area and 12 nm average size exhibit similar to 100% efficiency in the degradation of amoxicillin under simulated solar irradiation compared with pristine TiO2. Mineralization of amoxicillin and by-products was over 75% after 48 h irradiation for the anatase sample, where the Ti3+ defects were present in a higher concentration at the catalyst's surface.

Melanoma is a skin cancer characterized by rapid growth and spread for which current therapies produce both resistance and increased risk of infection. To develop new anti-melanoma biocompatible species, the series of complexes Cu(N-N)(bzac)(X)center dot nH(2)O (N-N: 1,10-phenanthroline/2,2 '-bipyridine, Hbzac: 1-phenyl-1,3-butanedione, X: NO3/ClO4, and n = 0, 1) was studied. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed a mononuclear structure for all complexes. The ability of the complexes to scavenge or trap reactive oxygen species such as O-2 center dot(-) and HO center dot was proved by EPR spectroscopy experiments. All complexes inhibited B16 murine melanoma cells in a dose-dependent and nanomolar range, but the complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline were more active. Moreover, comparative activity on B16 and healthy BJ cells revealed a therapeutic index of 1.27-2.24. Bioinformatic methods were used to calculate the drug-likeness, pharmacokinetic, pharmacogenomic, and pharmacodynamic profiles of the compounds. The results showed that all compounds exhibit drug-likeness features, as well as promising absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties, and no toxicity. The pharmacodynamics results showed that the neutral species appear to be good candidates for antitumor molecular targets (Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1, DNA-(apurinic or apyrimidinic site) lyase or Kruppel-like factor 5). Furthermore, the pharmacogenomic results showed a good affinity of the copper(II) complexes for the human cytochrome. These results recommend complexes bearing 1,10-phenanthroline as good candidates for developing drugs to melanoma alternative treatment.