National Institute Of Materials Physics - Romania

We report the synthesis of a room temperature ferromagnetic Mn-Ge system obtained by simple deposition of manganese on Ge(001), heated at relatively high temperature (starting with 250 degrees C). The samples were characterized by low energy electron diffraction (LEED), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), and magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE). Samples deposited at relatively elevated temperature (350 degrees C) exhibited the formation of similar to 5-8 nm diameter Mn5Ge3 and Mn11Ge8 agglomerates by HRTEM, while XPS identified at least two Mn-containing phases: the agglomerates, together with a Ge-rich MnGe similar to 2.5 phase, or manganese diluted into the Ge(001) crystal. LEED revealed the persistence of long range order after a relatively high amount of Mn (100 nm) deposited on the single crystal substrate. STM probed the existence of dimer rows on the surface, slightly elongated as compared with Ge-Ge dimers on Ge(001). The films exhibited a clear ferromagnetism at room temperature, opening the possibility of forming a magnetic phase behind a nearly ideally terminated Ge surface, which could find applications in integration of magnetic functionalities on semiconductor bases. SQUID probed the co-existence of a superparamagnetic phase, with one phase which may be attributed to a diluted magnetic semiconductor. The hypothesis that the room temperature ferromagnetic phase might be the one with manganese diluted into the Ge crystal is formulated and discussed.

Thin films of Bi2Sr2CuO6 (Bi-2201) with (001) or (115) orientation were grown on SrTiO3 substrates. These films are expected to be useful as component films of heterostructures and devices (e.g. as insulators). We used two chemical routes, namely spin coating followed by thermal annealing and MOCVD. For both routes we demonstrated growth of c-axis and non-c axis thin films depending on the selected orientation of the SrTiO3 substrate. To our knowledge, films of (115) Bi2201 obtained by spin coating or MOCVD are reported for the first time.

Low dimensional nanostructures represent a hot scientific field nowadays due mainly to the tremendous potential for applications. Low dimensions open the possibilities for both ultra-miniaturization and increase in functionality. Numerous procedures were developed for fabricating such nanostructures. Template replication represents a highly effective method in fabricating metallic nanowires and nanotubes. The approach is characterized by the excellent control in obtaining nano objects with the desired shape and dimensions. A large variety of templates are available ranging from viruses and proteins to nanoporous membranes fabricated by using swift heavy ion accelerators. In the following chapter the main steps involved in employing the method for fabricating metalic nanowires and nanotubes by replicating ion track nanoporous membranes were described. The steps include here membrane fabrication and replication and involve track etching and electrochemical metal deposition. The influence of the process parameters on the properties of the nanoobjects prepared by this approach was reviewed. It was found that simple experimental parameters can be chosen in such a way that the functionality of the nanowires or nanotubes can be finely tuned.

One of the focal subjects in insulin delivery is the development of insulin formulations that protect the native insulin from degradation under acidic pH in the stomach. In this work we show, for the first time, that a graphene oxide (GO) based matrix can ensure the stability of insulin at low pH. GO and GO modified with 2-nitrodopamine coated magnetic particle (GO-MPdop) matrices loaded with insulin were prepared and the pH triggered release of the insulin was studied. The loading of insulin on the GO nanomaterials proved to be extremely high at pH < 5.4 with a loading capacity of 100 +/- 3% on GO and 88 +/- 3% on GO-MPdop. The insulin-containing GO matrices were stable at acidic pH, while insulin was released when exposed to basic solutions (pH = 9.2). Using Xenopus laevis oocytes as a model we showed that the meiotic resumption rate of GO and GO-MPdop remained unaltered when pre-treated in acidic conditions, while pre-incubated insulin (without GO nanomaterials) has lost almost entirely its maturation effect. These results suggest that GO based nanomatrices are promising systems for the protection of insulin.

Finite size effects and interfacial interactions as well as their influence on the magnetic properties of nanosized systems are discussed by starting from very basic principles of magnetism. Some preparation and subsequent processing tools for a proper engineering of the properties of such magnetic nanosized systems are introduced together with specific characterization tools. A summary of the most important technological applications related to size effects and interfacial interactions, with exemplifications starting from bio-medical applications of magnetic fluids to magnetoresitive multilayers for sensor applications are also provided.

Vortex pinning on natural and artificial defects is essential for large scale applications of superconducting materials. One of the most promising solutions for the creation of efficient pinning structures is to combine the strong pinning supplied by columnar defects (with the radius of the order of the superconducting coherence length) and the presence of random quenched disorder, which inhibits the detrimental vortex kink formation. A strong pinning is revealed by high values of the vortex activation energy in the magnetic relaxation process. We present a critical analysis of the interpretation of the relaxation data at long- and short time scales, by extracting the so called normalized vortex-creep activation energy. This allowed us to find the actual temperature interval for the characteristic vortex excitations in YBa2Cu3O7 films with embedded BaZrO3 nanorods 9preferentially oriented along the c axis), and to unambiguously determine the characteristic vortex pinning energy. The observed drastic change of magnetic relaxation at short time scales (attained in standard AC measurements) is attributed to a large contribution of the pinning enhanced viscosity to the vortex hopping activation energy.

Tetragonal alpha-FeSe flakes were fabricated by a simple method. Enhancement of superconductivity was observed in the quenched samples. The properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction, a superconductivity quantum interference device, and physical property measurement system. It is interesting that the superconducting transition temperature of the quenched samples is about 2 K higher than that of unquenched samples, but after reannealed, the enhancement of superconductivity disappeared. The reduction of the c/a ratio might be responsible for the enhancement of superconductivity in the quenched FeSe flakes.

Electric and magnetic properties of symmetric and asymmetric Pb(Zr-0.2 Ti-0.8)O-3-CoFe2O4 (PZT/CFO) heterostructures, grown by pulsed laser deposition on SrTiO3 (100) substrates with a 25 nm SrRuO3 (SRO) buffer layer as bottom electrode, were investigated by using hysteresis and capacitance measurements. X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy investigations reveal the high quality crystalline structure and the epitaxial relationship between SRO, PZT and CFO. The electric polarization-voltage hysteresis reveals that the remnant polarization and the coercive field are significantly affected by the CFO layer. The frequency dependence of capacitance suggests a Maxwell-Wagner type relaxation at low frequencies and is also affected by the presence of the PZT/CFO interface(s). The magnetic hysteresis measurements infer the possible presence of another spinel phase (Co3O4) in the CFO film, due to the lattice mismatch at the PZT/CFO interfaces, and with direct influence on the magnetic response of the structure. According to the electric and magnetic characterization, better room temperature multiferroic properties would be expected for the symmetric heterostructure. (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier B. V.