National Institute Of Materials Physics - Romania

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860 articles found

441. MAPLE prepared heterostructures with arylene based polymer active layer for photovoltaic applications

Authors: Stanculescu, F; Rasoga, O; Catargiu, AM; Vacareanu, L; Socol, M; Breazu, C; Preda, N; Socol, G; Stanculescu, A

Published: MAY 1 2015, APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE, 336, 248, DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2014.11.146

This paper presents some studies about the preparation by matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique of heterostructures with single layer of arylene based polymer, poly[N-(2-ethylhexy1)2.7-carbazoly1 vinylene]/AMC16 and poly[N-(2-ethylhexy1)2.7-carbazolyl 1.4-phenylene ethynylene]/AMC22, and with layers of these polymers mixed with Buckminsterfullerene/C-60 in the weight ratio of 1:2 (AMC16: C60) and 1:3 (AMC22: C60). The deposited layers have been characterized by spectroscopic (UV-Vis-NIR, PL, FTIR) and microscopic (SEM, AFM) methods. The effect of the polymer particularities on the optical and electrical properties of the structures based on polymer and polymer: C-60 mixed layer has been analyzed. The study of the electrical properties has revealed typical solar cell behavior for the heterostructure prepared by MAPLE on glass/ITO/PEDOT-PSS with AMC16, AMC22 and AMC22: C-60 layer, confirming that this method is adequate for the preparation of polymeric and mixed active layers for solar cells applications. The highest photovoltaic effect was shown by the solar cell structure realized with single layer of AMC16 polymer: g1a55/ITO/PEDOT-PSSIA1VIC16/A1. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

442. Electrical manipulation of edge states in graphene and the effect on quantum Hall transport

Authors: Ostahie, B; Nita, M; Aldea, A

Published: APR 9 2015, PHYSICAL REVIEW B, 91, DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.91.155409

We investigate the properties of Dirac electrons in a finite graphene sample under a perpendicular magnetic field that emerge when an in-plane electric bias is also applied. The numerical analysis of the Hofstadter spectrum and of the edge-type wave functions evidence the presence of shortcut edge states that appear under the influence of the electric field. The states are characterized by a specific spatial distribution, which follows only partially the perimeter, and exhibit ridges that connect opposite sides of the graphene plaquette. Two kinds of such states have been found in different regions of the spectrum, and their particular spatial localization is shown along with the diamagnetic moments that reveal their chirality. By simulating a four-lead Hall device, we investigate the transport properties and observe unconventional plateaus of the integer quantum Hall effect that are associated with the presence of the shortcut edge states. We show the contributions of the novel states to the conductance matrix that determine the new transport properties. The shortcut edge states resulting from the splitting of the n = 0 Landau level represent a special case, giving rise to nontrivial transverse and longitudinal resistance.

443. Ceramics and amorphous thin films based on gallium sulphide doped by rare-earth sulphides

Authors: Popescu, M; Sava, F; Lorinczi, A; Velea, A; Simandan, ID; Badica, P; Burdusel, M; Galca, AC; Matei, E; Preda, N; Secu, M; Socol, G; Jipa, F; Zamfirescu, M; Balan, A

Published: APR 2015, SEMICONDUCTOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 30, DOI: 10.1088/0268-1242/30/4/044001

Bulk ceramics of Ga2S3 and rare-earth sulfides (EuS, Gd2S3, Er2S3) as well as combinations thereof have been prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The disk-shaped ceramics were used as targets for pulsed laser deposition (PLD) experiments to obtain amorphous thin films. The properties of these new bulks and amorphous thin films have been investigated by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), optical transmission spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). In order to test the photoexpansion effect in Gd2S3 and the possibility to create planar arrays of microlenses, the film was irradiated with femtosecond laser pulses at different powers. For low laser power pulses (up to 100mW power per pulse) a photoexpansion effect was observed, which leads to formation of hillocks with a height of 40-50 nm. EuS doped Gd2S3 thin film shows luminescence properties, which recommend them for optoelectronic applications.

444. Fabrication of magnetite-based core-shell coated nanoparticles with antibacterial properties

Authors: Grumezescu, AM; Cristescu, R; Chifiriuc, MC; Dorcioman, G; Socol, G; Mihailescu, IN; Mihaiescu, DE; Ficai, A; Vasile, OR; Enculescu, M; Chrisey, DB

Published: MAR 2015, BIOFABRICATION, 7, DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/7/1/015014

We report the fabrication of biofunctionalized magnetite core/sodium lauryl sulfate shell/antibiotic adsorption-shell nanoparticles assembled thin coatings by matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation for antibacterial drug-targeted delivery. Magnetite nanoparticles have been synthesized and subsequently characterized by transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction. The obtained thin coatings have been investigated by FTIR and scanning electron microscope, and tested by in vitro biological assays, for their influence on in vitro bacterial biofilm development and cytotoxicity on human epidermoid carcinoma (HEp2) cells.

445. Ferromagnetic behaviour of bismuth germanate oxides glass-ceramic materials

Authors: Polosan, S; Negrea, R; Ciobotaru, IC; Schinteie, G; Kuncser, V

Published: FEB 25 2015, JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS, 623, 196, DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2014.10.104

The content of defects in Bi4Ge3O12 (BGO) glass-ceramic materials together with their ordering during crystallization induces ferromagnetic behaviours in these materials. The observed ferromagnetism has to be associated strictly with the GeO4 related defects in the atypical amorphous phase. The photoluminescence of BGO glass-ceramic materials can give useful information about the nature of defects, especially the oxygen vacancies from the GeO4 tetrahedra and Bi4Ge3O12 cubic structures. The concentration of these defects depends on annealing between 600 degrees C and 700 degrees C where orthorhombic and cubic phases coexist. The magnetization at saturation is higher in the samples dominated by the amorphous phase and the strength of the exchange interaction is higher in the samples dominated by the cubic phase, obtained over 700 degrees C, when the GeO4 tetrahedra are rearranged during crystallization together with their oxygen vacancies. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

446. Electrical properties of single CdTe nanowires

Authors: Matei, E; Florica, C; Costas, A; Toimil-Molares, ME; Enculescu, I

Published: FEB 12 2015, BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY, 6, 450, DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.6.45

Ion track, nanoporous membranes were employed as templates for the preparation of CdTe nanowires. For this purpose, electrochemical deposition from a bath containing Cd and Te ions was employed. This process leads to high aspect ratio CdTe nanowires, which were harvested and placed on a substrate with lithographically patterned, interdigitated electrodes. Focused ion beam-induced metallization was used to produce individual nanowires with electrical contacts and electrical measurements were performed on these individual nanowires. The influence of a bottom gate was investigated and it was found that surface passivation leads to improved transport properties.

447. Ge-Added MgB2 Superconductor Obtained by Ex Situ Spark Plasma Sintering

Authors: Batalu, D; Aldica, G; Burdusel, M; Popa, S; Enculescu, M; Pasuk, I; Miu, D; Badica, P

Published: FEB 2015, JOURNAL OF SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND NOVEL MAGNETISM, 28, 534, DOI: 10.1007/s10948-014-2705-y

Spark plasma sintering (SPS) was applied for fabrication of dense (relative density > 97 %) bulk MgB2 samples added with Ge. Mixtures of MgB2 and Ge powders with starting compositions (MgB2) Ge (x) , x=0.005, 0.01, and 0.03 were used. Added samples show enhancement of the critical current density at high magnetic fields when compared to a pristine reference sample. The optimum composition is for x=0.005 and for this sample J (c)(20 K) =10(2)A/cm (2) is obtained at 5 T, while for the reference sample is obtained at 3.9 T. Ge does not substitute in the crystal lattice of MgB2 and T (c,onset) or T (c,midpoint) from magnetization measurements scatter within 0.15 or 0.3 K, respectively.

448. Conformational changes and metastable states induced in proteins by green light

Authors: Comorosan, S; Popescu, I; Polosan, S; Pirvu, C; Ionescu, E; Paslaru, L; Apostol, M

Published: JAN 8 2015, EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL B, 88, DOI: 10.1140/epjb/e2014-50717-8

In this paper we report conformational changes recorded on a protein molecule (alpha-amylase) under green light irradiation. In order to explain the experimental results we advanced the hypothesis that green light induces electric dipoles in the protein, which interact with each other, generating conformational modifications toward a more compact design, with different physical properties. The experiments were carried out with un-polarized light (lambda = 520 nm) from a light-emitting-diode (1000 lm, 20 W, 105 mW on the target). In view of the character of our hypothesis, and corroborated with all our experimental results, we suggest that this phenomenon may be more extended and general, specific for a larger class of proteins, occurring on the protein macromolecules under the green light. The effects of a-amylase protein irradiation were revealed by circular dichroism, fluorescence, Raman and FTIR-spectroscopies, zeta potential, cyclic voltammetry, electric impedance spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Tentatively, we term the novel conformations as P* (polarized) proteins.

449. Zinc oxide electroless deposition on electrospun PMMA fiber mats

Authors: Preda, N; Evanghelidis, A; Enculescu, M; Florica, C; Enculescu, I

Published: JAN 1 2015, MATERIALS LETTERS, 138, 242, DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2014.10.021

ZnO crystallites were grown by electroless deposition on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) fiber mats prepared by an electrospinning technique. The electroless deposition involves three steps: sensitization, activation and deposition, which were performed by subsequently dipping the PMMA fiber mats in the appropriate solutions. After the deposition the PMMA fibers are uniformly coated with ZnO prisms which show hexagonal wurtzite structure and optical signatures (band-gap value and emission bands) typical for this semiconductor. By combining electroless deposition and electrospinning, different semiconductor coated polymer fibers can be obtained for a wide range of applications. Both methods are appropriate for large scale production, being scalable, cheap, efficient and suitable for large-area covering techniques. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

450. ELECTROSPRAYING OF ZnO MICROSTRUCTURES FOR ELECTRICAL CONTACTING

Authors: Costas, A; Florica, C; Evanghelidis, A; Enculescu, M; Preda, N; Enculescu, I

Published: OCT-DEC 2015, DIGEST JOURNAL OF NANOMATERIALS AND BIOSTRUCTURES, 10, 1188, DOI:

ZnO complex microstructures were deposited onto interdigitated metallic electrodes by electrospraying. Simple methods, such as wet chemical precipitation and optical lithography, were used for the synthesis of flower-like and snowflake-like ZnO structures and for the preparation of interdigitated metallic electrodes, respectively. The electrosprayed ZnO particles preserve the structural, optical and morphological properties of the chemically synthesized ZnO powders. During the electrospraying process, the ZnO microstructures form bridges between the interdigitated metallic electrodes leading to electrical contacting. Changes in the electron transport through the ZnO microstructures are evidenced by their exposure to ammonia or their passivation with poly(methyl methacrylate). Merging such easy-scalable and low-cost techniques, devices based on electrosprayed complex ZnO structures can be designed.