National Institute Of Materials Physics - Romania

Publications

873 articles found

371. Cu-based composites as thermal barrier materials in DEMO divertor components

Authors: Galatanu, M; Enculescu, M; Ruiu, G; Popescu, B; Galatanu, A

Published: NOV 2017, FUSION ENGINEERING AND DESIGN, 124, 1134, DOI: 10.1016/j.fusengdes.2017.02.031

For DEMO fusion reactor an expected heat flux of about 10MW/m(2) should be extracted by the divertor which will have, most likely, an armour part made of W and a following heat sink part made of Cu, or ODS Cu alloy. Unfortunately, for these materials the optimum operating temperature windows do not overlap. Thermal barrier materials are interface materials included in such components, aiming to keep the temperatures of both armour and heat sink parts in the corresponding operating windows, and to mitigate the effects of their different thermomechanical properties. Here we propose a simple spark plasma sintering route to create Cu-based composites with a high content (10-40 vol%) of various dispersed materials (Al or Y oxides, C, SiC), allowing a fine tuning of the content and a large pool of predefined shapes and dimensions. The resulting specimens can be further joined to armour and heatsink components via a similar electrical field assisted technology. Micro-structural and thermal properties are investigated for these materials allowing to select the most suited materials in view of their thermal conductivity and thermal expansion coefficients. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

372. Production of Se-82 enriched Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) crystals for the study of neutrinoless double beta decay

Authors: Dafinei, I; Nagorny, S; Pirro, S; Cardani, L; Clemenza, M; Ferroni, F; Laubenstein, M; Nisi, S; Pattavina, L; Schaeffner, K; Di Vacri, ML; Boyarintsev, A; Breslavskii, I; Galkin, S; Lalayants, A; Rybalka, I; Zvereva, V; Enculescu, M

Published: OCT 1 2017, JOURNAL OF CRYSTAL GROWTH, 475, 170, DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2017.06.013

High purity Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) crystals are produced starting from elemental Zn and Se to be used for the search of the neutrinoless double beta decay (0vDBD) of Se-82. In order to increase the number of emitting nuclides, enriched Se-82 is used. Dedicated production lines for the synthesis and conditioning of the (ZnSe)-Se-82 powder in order to make it suitable for crystal growth were assembled compliant with radiopurity constraints specific to rare event physics experiments. Besides routine check of impurities concentration, high sensitivity measurements are made for radio-isotope concentrations in raw materials, reactants, consumables, ancillaries and intermediary products used for ZnSe crystals production. Indications are given on the crystals perfection and how it is achieved. Since very expensive isotopically enriched material (Se-82) is used, a special attention is given for acquiring the maximum yield in the mass balance of all production stages. Production and certification protocols are presented and resulting ready-to-use (ZnSe)-Se-82 crystals are described. (C) 2017 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

373. Antimicrobial polycaprolactone/polyethylene glycol embedded lysozyme coatings of Ti implants for osteoblast functional properties in tissue engineering

Authors: Visan, A; Cristescu, R; Stefan, N; Miroiu, M; Nita, C; Socol, M; Florica, C; Rasoga, O; Zgura, I; Sima, LE; Chiritoiu, M; Chifiriuc, MC; Holban, AM; Mihailescu, IN; Socol, G

Published: SEP 30 2017, APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE, 417, 243, DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2016.11.129

In this study, coatings based on lysozyme embedded into a matrix of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polycaprolactone (PCL) were fabricated by two different methods (Matrix Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation -MAPLE and Dip Coating) for obtaining antimicrobial coatings envisaged for long term medical applications. Coatings with different PEG: PCL compositions (3: 1; 1: 1; 1: 3) were synthesized in order to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of lysozyme embedded into the polymeric matrix. The main surface features, such as roughness and wettability, with impact on the microbial adhesion as well as on the eukaryote cell function were measured. The obtained composite coatings exhibited a significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus strains. As well, specific blended coatings showed appropriate viability, good spreading and normal cell morphology of SaOs2 human osteoblasts and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). These investigations highlight the suitability of biodegradable composites as implant coatings for decreasing the risk of bacterial contamination associated with prosthetic procedures. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

374. MAPLE prepared heterostructures with oligoazomethine: Fullerene derivative mixed layer for photovoltaic applications

Authors: Stanculescu, A; Rasoga, O; Socol, M; Vacareanu, L; Grigoras, M; Socol, G; Stanculescu, F; Breazu, C; Matei, E; Preda, N; Girtan, M

Published: SEP 30 2017, APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE, 417, 195, DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2017.03.053

Mixed layers of azomethine oligomers containing 2,5-diamino-3,4-dicyanothiophene as central unit and triphenylamine (LV5) or carbazol (LV4) at both ends as donor and fullerene derivative, [6,6]-phenylC61 butyric acid butyl ester ([C60] PCB-C4) as acceptor, have been prepared by Matrix Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation (MAPLE) on glass/ITO and Si substrates. The effect of weight ratio between donor and acceptor (1: 1; 1: 2) and solvent type (chloroform, dimethylsulphoxide) on the optical (UV-vis transmission/absorption, photoluminescence) and morphological properties of LV4 (LV5): [C60] PCB-C4 mixed layers has been evidenced. Dark and under illumination I-V characteristics of the heterostructures realized with these mixed layers sandwiched between ITO and Al electrodes have revealed a solar cell behavior for the heterostructures prepared with both LV4 and LV5 using chloroform as matrix solvent. The solar cell structure realized with oligomer LV5, glass/ITO/LV5: [C60] PCB-C4 (1: 1) has shown the best parameters. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

375. Organic heterostructures deposited by MAPLE on AZO substrate

Authors: Socol, M; Preda, N; Stanculescu, A; Breazu, C; Florica, C; Stanculescu, F; Iftimie, S; Girtan, M; Popescu-Pelin, G; Socol, G

Published: SEP 30 2017, APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE, 417, 203, DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2017.02.260

Organic heterostructures based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and fullerene (C60) as blends or multilayer were deposited on Al:ZnO (AZO) by Matrix-Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation (MAPLE) technique. The AZO layers were obtained by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) on glass substrate, the high quality of the films being reflected by the calculated figure of merit. The organic heterostructures were investigated from morphological, optical and electrical point of view by atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) and current-voltage (I-V) measurements, respectively. The increase of the C60 content in the blend heterostructure has as result a high roughness. Compared with the multilayer heterostructure, those based on blends present an improvement in the electrical properties. Under illumination, the highest current value was recorded for the heterostructure based on the blend with the higher C60 amount. The obtained results showed that MAPLE is a useful technique for the deposition of the organic heterostructures on AZO as transparent conductor electrode. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

376. Crystallisation of bismuth germanate glasses below their glass transition temperature

Authors: Polosan, S

Published: SEP 15 2017, JOURNAL OF NON-CRYSTALLINE SOLIDS, 472, 60, DOI: 10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2017.07.010

Dielectric measurements of bismuth germanate oxides reveal significant changes in the amorphous phase, between 200 and 350 degrees C, where the crystallisation processes start below the glass transition temperature. The capacitive and loss measurements versus temperature and frequency suggest an incipient glass transition below 350 degrees C associated with an increase in the clusters, mainly those formed by GeO4 tetrahedra, responsible for the dipolar orientation effects. An increase in the capacitive parameter versus temperature at lower frequencies, especially over 250 degrees C has been associated with the increase in mobility of the clusters. The physical meaning of those processes has been associated with the formation of a highly viscous layer enriched in GeO4 which is formed during crystallisation. This layer acts as a diffusion barrier and hinders further crystal growth. A higher frequency is required in the crystallisation processes to compensate for the thermal disorder in the amorphous materials. The crystallisation process is identified by the decrease in the dielectric constant despite the increase in temperature.

377. Crystallization kinetics mechanism investigation of sol-gel-derived NaYF4:(Yb,Er) up-converting phosphors

Authors: Bartha, C; Secu, CE; Matei, E; Secu, M

Published: SEP 14 2017, CRYSTENGCOMM, 19, 5000, DOI: 10.1039/c7ce01265a

The crystallization mechanism of sol-gel-derived NaYF4:(Yb, Er) up-converting phosphors has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry analysis using both model-free and model fitting approaches. Structural and optical data have shown that the hexagonal NaYF4:(Yb, Er) phase crystallization process occurs at around 315 degrees C as a result of the thermal decomposition of the metal trifluoroacetates. As the annealing temperature increases, sphere-like microcrystals of about 1-2 mu m size (at 300 degrees C) break up into smaller ones (400-500 nm size) and finally collapse at higher temperatures (600 degrees C); the up-conversion luminescence signal intensity increases due to the crystallinity improvement and dehydration process. The crystallization process can be described as an autocatalytic-type reaction where the accompanying cubic NaYF4 phase played a catalytic role by reducing the energy barrier against the crystallization of the hexagonal NaYF4 phase, causing its fast self-accelerated crystallization. The energy resulting from the disintegration process of the initial NaYF4 microcrystals contributed to the growth and agglomeration processes and finally the collapse of the crystalline fragments with increasing temperature.

378. Tungsten nanoparticles with controlled shape and crystallinity obtained by magnetron sputtering and gas aggregation

Authors: Acsente, T; Negrea, RF; Nistor, LC; Matei, E; Grisolia, C; Birjega, R; Dinescu, G

Published: AUG 1 2017, MATERIALS LETTERS, 200, 124, DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2017.04.105

We report the synthesis of tungsten nanoparticles with two distinct shapes, concave hexapods and faceted cube-octahedral nanocrystals. These types of nanoparticles were obtained with a cluster source based on magnetron sputtering and gas aggregation, by supplying the magnetron discharge with continuous or pulsed wave radiofrequency power. Detailed morphological and microstructural studies were performed. The hexapod particles present a dendritic growth while the faceted ones have a single crystal structure. The alpha-W and beta-w crystalline phases are present in both types of nanoparticles; nevertheless, the beta-W structure is dominant for the hexapod ones. Although the beta-w phase is usually metastable, we observed its unexpected long term preservation in hexapod nanoparticles. The results, added to previously reported nanoflower-like particles, point out the ability to control the shape and structure of the tungsten nanoparticles using the magnetron sputtering gas aggregation technique. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

379. Effect of heavy ions irradiation on the properties of benzil crystals

Authors: Stanculescu, F; Socol, M; Matei, E; Stanculescu, A

Published: AUG 2017, CRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, 52, DOI: 10.1002/crat.201700047

Thick slices mechanically polished cut from a pure benzil ingot grown from melt in a modified Bridgman-Stockbarger configuration were irradiated with Ni ions having a specific energy of 11.4 MeV/u at different fluences. The effect of radiation on the properties of bulk benzil has been investigated. The chemical structure was not substantially affected as shown by infrared spectrum. The changes induced on the disorder degree have been evaluated from the Urbach law and X Ray Diffraction measurements. The morphology and surface topography have been analyzed emphasising a decrease in the size of granules and an increase in the surface roughness by irradiation. No effect of irradiation on the photoluminescence emission and optical nonlinear properties has been evidenced. These results recommend benzil as candidate for applications in space technology.

380. Ultrasound studies on magnetic fluids based on maghemite nanoparticles

Authors: Predoi, D; Popa, CL; Predoi, MV

Published: JUN 2017, POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE, 57, 490, DOI: 10.1002/pen.24501

In the last decades, the study of magnetic fluids with different biomedical applications such as targeted delivery of a chemotherapeutic solution to the tumor site has been of high interest. For this purpose, ultrasonic and antimicrobial studies were used to characterize the aqueous solutions based on maghemite nanoparticles. The maghemite (-Fe2O3) and dextran-coated maghemite nanoparticles (DMNp) were synthesized by coprecipitation method. The spherical shape of the nanoparticles and uniform size with an average diameter around 9.5 +/- 0.5nm for -Fe2O3 were observed in transmission electron microscopy micrographs. Dynamic light scattering was used to determine the hydrodynamic size of -Fe2O3 nanoparticles and DMNp in suspensions. The hydrodynamic diameter obtained of -Fe2O3 and DMNp was 17 and 21nm, respectively. Moreover, a noninvasive method based on ultrasounds was used to characterize the aqueous solutions. The preliminary results showed the attainable accuracy in determining acoustic wave velocity and attenuation in various solutions. These data could be correlated with particle density and size. More than that, velocity and attenuation can be used as characteristic parameters of a given solution. A finite element model of the dispersed particles, correlated with measured velocity, allowed to solve for the elastic properties of the particles. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:485-490, 2017. (c) 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers