National Institute Of Materials Physics - Romania

Tungsten trioxide (WO3) is a widely studied material for electrochromic applications. The structure, morphology and optical properties of WO3 thin films, grown by matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) from monoclinic WO3 nano-sized particles, were investigated for their possible application as electrochromic layers. A KrF* excimer (lambda = 248 nm, .zeta(FWHM)=25 ns) laser source was used in all experiments. The MAPLE deposited WO3 thin films were studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM), grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Cyclic voltammetry measurements were also performed, and the coloring and bleaching were observed. The morpho-structural investigations disclosed the synthesis of single-phase monoclinic WO3 films consisting of crystalline nano-grains embedded in an amorphous matrix. All thin films showed good electrochromic properties, thus validating application of the MAPLE deposition technique for the further development of electrochromic devices.

Capacitance-voltage (C-V) hysteresis of metal-ferroelectric-semiconductor (MFS) structure based on a-In2GaZnO5.5 and Pb0.2Zr0.8TiO3 layers are recorded in the 350-470 K range. The structure is grown on FTO/glass to obtain a transparent MFS. The memory functionality of the heterostructure is proved through C-V and P-V characteristics. The memory window is dependent on the temperature, the largest value of 2.5 V being obtained at 470 K, where the contribution of the ferroelectric-semiconductor interface defect states is minimized. The direction of C-V hysteresis is clockwise at 350 K, and it turns counterclockwise at higher temperatures where the ferroelectric polarization has the main contribution.

We report on the selection by combinatorial pulsed laser deposition of Silver-doped Carbon structures with reliable physical-chemical characteristics and high efficiency against microbial biofilms. The investigation of the films was performed by scanning electron microscopy, high resolution atomic force microscopy, energy dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, bonding strength "pull-out" tests, and surface energy measurements. In vitro biological assays were carried out using a large spectrum of bacterial and fungal strains, i.e., Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans. The biocompatibility of the films obtained was evaluated on MG63 mammalian cell cultures. The optimal combination with reasonable physical-chemical properties, efficient protection against microbial colonization and beneficial effects on human cells was found for Silver-doped Carbon films containing 2 to 7 at.% silver. These mixtures can be used to fabricate safe and efficient coatings of metallic implants, with the goal to decrease the risk of implant associated biofilm infections which are difficult to treat and often responsible for implant failure. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

We monitored the evolution in time of pinhole-free structures based on FTO/TiO2/CH3NH3PbI2.6Cl0.4 layers, with and without spiro-OMeTAD and counter electrodes (Ag, Mo/Ag, and Au), aged at 24 degrees C in a dark nitrogen atmosphere. In the absence of electrodes, no degradation occurs. While devices with Au show only a 10% drop in power conversion efficiency, remaining stable after a further overheating at 70 degrees C, >90% is lost when using Ag, with the process being slower for Mo/Ag. We demonstrate that iodine is dislocated by the electric field between the electrodes, and this is an intrinsic cause for electromigration of I- from the perovskite until it reaches the anode. The iodine exhaustion in the perovskite layer is produced when using Ag electrodes, and AgI is formed. We hypothesize that in the presence of Au the iodine migration is limited due to the buildup of I- negative space charge accumulated at the perovskite-OMeTAD interface.

The effect of 1 and 2 mol % V addition on sintering conditions, structural and functional properties of NbeLi co-doped PZT ceramics, prepared by conventional ceramic method, was systematically studied, by different experimental techniques. The reported results show that the increasing amount of vanadium, as a substitute for niobium, decreases the optimal sintering temperature with 100-150 degrees C, but slightly reduces the piezoelectric, ferroelectric, and electromechanical properties of these ceramics. In addition, the presence of vanadium increases the lattice tetragonality and grain size, promoting a harder piezoelectric behaviour, mostly in the absence of niobium. EPR spectra exhibit well-defined hyperfine splitting characteristics for V4+ state, dispersed in the lattice as VO2+ ion. Additionally, complex paramagnetic defects (charged oxygen vacancies and associated defects) are evidenced for 2 mol % vanadium addition. The results were explained by assuming that vanadium promotes the B-site Li substitution, compensated by oxygen vacancies, while niobium facilitates the A-site Li substitution with lead vacancies formation and partial reduction of V5+ to V4+. Thus, indirect information about lithium location is provided. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

We present the conduction mechanisms of Ba2/3Sr1/3TiO3 thin films integrated in metal-insulatormetal (MIM) capacitors and the modelling of the frequency-dependent electrostrictive resonances (in the 100 MHz-10 GHz domain) induced in the devices upon applying different voltage biases. Au/BST/Ir MIM structures on MgO substrates have been fabricated and, depending on their specific polarization, we highlighted different conduction mechanisms in the devices. Depending on the dc bias polarity, the conduction current across the material shows a space-charge-limited-current behavior under negative polarization, whereas under positive bias, the conduction obeys an electrode-limited Schottky-type law at the Au/BST interface. The application of an electric field on the device induces the onset of acoustic resonances related to electrostrictive phenomena in the ferroelectric material. We modeled these acoustic resonances over a wide frequency range, by using a modified Lakin model, which takes into account the dispersions of acoustic properties near the lower electrode/thin film interface. Published by AIP Publishing.

Atomically clean lead zirco-titanate PbZr0.2Ti0.8O3 (001) layers exhibit a polarization oriented inwards P(-), visible by a band bending of all core levels towards lower binding energies, whereas as introduced layers exhibit P(+) polarization under air or in ultrahigh vacuum. The magnitude of the inwards polarization decreases when the temperature is increased at 700 K. CO adsorption on P(-) polarized surfaces saturates at about one quarter of a monolayer of carbon, and occurs in both molecular (oxidized) and dissociated (reduced) states of carbon, with a large majority of reduced state. The sticking of CO on the surface in ultrahigh vacuum is found to be directly related to the P(-) polarization state of the surface. A simple electrostatic mechanism is proposed to explain these dissociation processes and the sticking of carbon on P(-) polarized areas. Carbon desorbs also when the surface is irradiated with soft X-rays. Carbon desorption when the polarization is lost proceeds most probably in form of CO2. Upon carbon desorption cycles, the ferroelectric surface is depleted in oxygen and at some point reverses its polarization, owing to electrons provided by oxygen vacancies which are able to screen the depolarization field produced by positive fixed charges at the surface.

High density bulks (97%-99%) of MgB2 were prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) in nitrogen (N-2) atmosphere for different heating rates (10, 20 and 100 degrees C min(-1)) and compared with reference samples processed in vacuum and Ar. N-2 reacts with MgB2 and forms MgB9N along the MgB2 grain boundaries. The high-field critical current density is enhanced for the sample processed in N-2 with a heating rate of 100 degrees C min(-1). At 2-35 K, this sample shows the strongest contribution of the grain boundary pinning (GBP). All samples are in the point pinning (PP) limit and by increasing temperature the GBP contribution decreases.

Chitosan/biomimetic apatite thin films were grown in mild conditions of temperature and pressure by Combinatorial Matrix-Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation on Ti, Si or glass substrates. Compositional gradients were obtained by simultaneous laser vaporization of the two distinct material targets. A KrF* excimer (lambda = 248 nm, tau(FWHM) = 25 ns) laser source was used in all experiments. The nature and surface composition of deposited materials and the spatial distribution of constituents were studied by SEM, EDS, AFM, GIXRD, FTIR, micro-Raman, and XPS. The antimicrobial efficiency of the chitosan/biomimetic apatite layers against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli strains was interrogated by viable cell count assay. The obtained thin films were XRD amorphous and exhibited a morphology characteristic to the laser deposited structures composed of nanometric round shaped grains. The surface roughness has progressively increased with chitosan concentration. FTIR, EDS and XPS analyses indicated that the composition of the BmAp-CHT C-MAPLE composite films gradually modified from pure apatite to chitosan. The bioevaluation tests indicated that S. aureus biofilm is more susceptible to the action of chitosanrich areas of the films, whilst the E. coli biofilm proved more sensible to areas containing less chitosan. The best compromise should therefore go, in our opinion, to zones with intermediate-to-high chitosan concentration which can assure a large spectrum of antimicrobial protection concomitantly with a significant enhancement of osseointegration, favored by the presence of biomimetic hydroxyapatite. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thin films of amorphous and polycrystalline indium zinc oxide (IZO) having various In/(In + Zn) nominal compositions from 0.3 to 0.9 were grown by the pulsed laser deposition technique at room temperature or at 400 degrees C on oxidized Si and quartz substrates. After deposition, the films were gamma irradiated at doses of 10, 20 and 30 kGy under Ar atmosphere. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction investigations could not find measurable changes of the structure after irradiation. Simulations of the X-ray reflectivity (XRR) and diffuse scattering curves acquired from the films showed a small density decrease after irradiation, accompanied by an increase of the thickness and surface roughness. Spectroscopic ellipsometry investigations confirmed the increase of the IZO films' thickness after irradiation, being in agreement with the XRR results. Small changes in the refractive index, most probably caused by changes in the film density were also observed. Four point probe measurements showed very small resistivity increases after irradiation, with the films containing higher In concentration presenting negligible changes. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.