National Institute Of Materials Physics - Romania

We have grown, by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD), a large number of YBa2Cu3O7 films with artificial pinning centers, with various impurities, various architectures and thickness, and various techniques of nano-scale pinning engineering: substrate decoration, BaZrO3 (BZO) nano-inclusions, and (quasi) multilayer architecture. Here we will present the results regarding vortex matter, dynamics, and pinning, in some of our best samples. Magnetic relaxation studies with magnetic field perpendicular to the film show that in both cases the splayed defects and/or nanoscale inclusions help reduce the dissipation in certain field-temperature range, by inhibiting the detrimental double vortex-kink formation. The response of the vortex system to AC excitation is rather complex but extremely useful for the characterization of the vortex dynamics. We have measured AC susceptibility in various DC fields, with various AC fields and frequencies and found that the effective vortex activation energy U-eff has a logarithmic dependence on the AC-field-induced current density J. Synergetic pinning centers assured a low anisotropy of the critical current for various field orientations, a property desired in coil/solenoid applications.

We have measured the two-dimensional image potential states (IPS) of a germanene layer synthesized on a Ge2Pt crystal using scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy. The IPS spectrum of germanene exhibits several differences as compared to the IPS spectrum of pristine Ge(001). First, then = 1peak of the Rydberg series of the IPS spectrum of germanene has two contributions, labelledn = 1(-)andn = 1(+), respectively. The peak at the lower energy side is weaker and is associated to the mirror-symmetric state with opposite parity. The appearance of this peak indicates that the interaction between the germanene layer and the substrate is very weak. Second, the work function of germanene is about 0.75 eV lower in energy than the work function of Ge(001). This large difference in work function of germanene and pristine Ge(001) is in agreement with first-principles calculations.

This work is focused on investigation of thermal, structural, optical, magnetic, and magneto-optical properties of novel titanium phosphate-tellurite glass applied as Faraday rotators. The glass belonging to the system 35Li(2)O-10Al(2)O(3)-5TiO(2)-45P(2)O(5)-5TeO(2) was prepared by a nonconventional wet route of raw materials processing, followed by melting-quenching-annealing steps. Some important physical properties of the investigated glass have been measured and calculated, providing knowledge related to glass compactness, electronic structure, glass forming capability, etc. XRD analysis evidenced an amorphous network structure of the investigated glass. The optical absorption in the Vis domain is mainly due to Ti3+ ions and Te-2 clusters formed during the glass melting process. A relatively low optical absorption is noticed over 600 nm that activates a significant Faraday magneto-optical effect. Photoluminescence bands in the blue, red, and infrared domains are observed, caused by Te-2 clusters formed during the glass melting process. The magnetization in dependency on applied magnetic field reveals a complex behavior of the glass, depending on temperature. Thus, it is found a ferromagnetic behavior up to 2000 Oe, a paramagnetic component up to 40 000 Oe, followed by a diamagnetic one over 40 000 Oe. Faraday rotation angle and Verdet constant values in the visible domain are correlated with the reduced TeO2 content of the glass.

Magnetic nanoscale materials exhibiting the L1(0)tetragonal phase such as FePt or ternary alloys derived from FePt show most promising magnetic properties as a novel class of rare earth free permanent magnets with high operating temperature. A granular alloy derived from binary FePt with low Pt content and the addition of Mn with the nominal composition Fe(57)Mn(8)Pt(35)has been synthesized in the shape of melt-spun ribbons and subsequently annealed at 600 degrees C and 700 degrees C for promoting the formation of single phase, L1(0)tetragonal, hard magnetic phase. Proton-induced X-ray emission spectroscopy PIXE has been utilized for checking the compositional effect of Mn addition. Structural properties were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and diffractograms were analyzed using full profile Rietveld-type analysis with MAUD (Materials Analysis Using Diffraction) software. By using temperature-dependent synchrotron X-ray diffraction, the disorder-order phase transformation and the stability of the hard magnetic L1(0)phase were monitored over a large temperature range (50-800 degrees C). A large interval of structural stability of the L1(0)phase was observed and this stability was interpreted in terms of higher ordering of the L1(0)phase promoted by the Mn addition. It was moreover found that both crystal growth and unit cell expansion are inhibited, up to the highest temperature investigated (800 degrees C), proving thus that the Mn addition stabilizes the formed L1(0)structure further. Magnetic hysteresis loops confirmed structural data, revealing a strong coercive field for a sample wherein single phase, hard, magnetic tetragonal L1(0)exists. These findings open good perspectives for use as nanocomposite, rare earth free magnets, working in extreme operation conditions.

In this study, we report on the structural, magnetic, and optical properties of Tb3+-doped CeF(3)nanocrystals prepared via a polyol-assisted route, followed by calcination. X-ray diffraction analysis and electron microscopy investigations have shown the formation of a dominant Ce(0.75)F(3)nanocrystalline phase (of about 99%), with a relatively uniform distribution of nanocrystals about 15 nm in size. Magnetization curves showed typical paramagnetic properties related to the presence of Ce(3+)and Tb(3+)ions. The magnetic susceptibility showed a weak inflexion at about 150 K, assigned to the cerium ions' crystal field splitting. Under UV light excitation of the Ce(3+)ions, we observed Tb(3+)green luminescence with a quantum yield of about 20%.

Specific functional characteristics of the ferromagnetic shape memory alloy Fe67.5Pd30.5Ga2 prepared as ribbons by rapid quenching technique are reported. The shift of the martensitic transformation temperature induced by the applied magnetic field was determined from the thermomagnetic measurements at various fields up to 5T being proved to be in good agreement with the result obtained from calorimetric data via the Clapeyron - Claussius relation. Magnetostriction measurements reveal a pure spin rotation mechanism under low applied magnetic fields, allowed by the reduced magnetic anisotropy. In high magnetic fields and at temperatures close to martensitic transformation, the magnetostriction has a linear increase up to the maximum considered magnetic induction of 3T. This behavior has been discussed in connection with the forced magnetostiction aspects.

Bulk discs (20 mm diameter and 4.3 mm thickness) of MgB2 added with Ge2C6H10O7 were obtained by Spark Plasma Sintering. Six samples with composition Mg B 2 (Ge2C6H10O7)(0.0014) and one undoped sample were fabricated under similar conditions and were magnetically characterized in order to determine the scattering of properties and reproducibility. The main source of the scattering of the properties is the decomposition of the additive due to elimination of the organic part in gas form, which occurs stepwise with intensive vacuum drops at around similar to 560 and similar to 740 degrees C. A third drop, which is sometimes not well resolved being part of the second peak at 740 degrees C, occurs at similar to 820 degrees C. The critical temperature at the midpoint of the transition, T-C, shows only a relatively small variation between 37.4 and 38 K, and the irreversibility field at a low temperature of 5 K takes values between 8 and 10 T. The pinning force and pinning force related parameters do not correlate with the carbon substituting for boron in MgB2 and suggest a synergetic influence of the microstructural details and carbon. Overall, despite the superconducting properties scattering, the samples are of high quality. Stacked into a column of six samples, they can trap at the center and on the surface of the column a magnetic field of 6.78 and 5.19 Tat 12 K, 5.20 and 3.98 Tat 20 K and 2.39, and 1.96 Tat 30 K. These promising values, combined with facile fabrication of the samples with relatively high quality and reproducibility, show the feasibility of their use in building complex and large compound arrangements for bulk magnets and other applications.

Issues related to the optimization of heat transfer mechanisms dominated by superparamagnetic relaxation are considered in the case of AC (alternating current) magnetic field hyperthermia procedures. The key role in the conversion of electromagnetic energy to the thermal one via the superparamagnetic relaxation mechanism is played by the magnetic anisotropy of nanoparticles, easily to be controlled via the shape anisotropy component. The optimization process has been discussed in the case of magnetite (Fe3O4) ellipsoidal nanoparticles with dominant shape anisotropy dispersed in different media. Nanoparticles of different sizes and aspect ratios have been considered in correlation with those specific parameters of the actuating AC magnetic field which respect an established biological safely criterion. It has been proven that the dissipated power can be maximized for a given set of biological compatible RF (radiofrequency) field parameters (frequency and field amplitude at the sample space) only for specific pairs of particle sizes and aspect ratios. For instance, it has been shown that ellipsoidal magnetite nanoparticles with 10 nm equatorial size and aspect ratio of 2 are optimal for a maximum transferred power under radiofrequency excitations of 250 kHz and field amplitude of 20 kA/m, if high viscosity dispersion media are used. The methodology for deriving the optimal shape (geometrical) parameters of a specific type of nanoparticles in conditions of using available radiofrequency excitations, or vice versa, for deriving the optimal radiofrequency working parameters in the case of ferrofluids with specific nanoparticles (type and geometry) is described and discussed in detail.

In this work, new optical properties of composites based on polystyrene (PS) microspheres and graphene oxide (GO) are reported. The radical polymerization of styrene in the presence of benzoyl peroxide, pentane and GO induces the appearance of new ester groups in the PS macromolecular chains remarked through an increase in the absorbance of the infrared (IR) band at 1743 cm(-1). The decrease in the GO concentration in the PS/GO composites mass from 5 wt.% to 0.5 wt.% induces a diminution in the intensities of the D and G Raman bands of GO simultaneous with a down-shift of the D band from 1351 to 1322 cm(-1). These variations correlated with the covalent functionalization of the GO layers with PS. For the first time, the photoluminescent (PL) properties of PS/GO composites are reported. The PS microspheres are characterized by a PL band at 397 nm. Through increasing the GO sheets' concentration in the PS/GO composite mass from 0.5 wt.% to 5 wt.%, a PS PL quenching process is reported. In addition, in the presence of ultraviolet A (UVA) light, a photo-degradation process of the PS/GO composite having the GO concentration equal to 5 wt.% is demonstrated by the PL studies.

This work involves the synthesis and characterization of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) layers. The films were prepared on Mo/glass substrates by single-step electrodeposition method followed by sulfurization at 500 degrees C under argon flow. The effect of boric acid concentration on the crystallographic structure, compositional and morphological properties of CZTS films was investigated, with the objective to understand the growth behavior and to enhance the film properties. Cyclic Voltammetry was used in order to estimate the adequate deposition potential for the CZT alloy. The x-ray diffraction analysis showed the formation of the kesterite phase in all the samples. The Raman and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies confirmed the existence of the CZTS phase. The scanning electron microscopy was employed to inspect the films structure. The results indicated that increasing the concentration of boric acid affects the physico-chemical properties of the films.