National Institute Of Materials Physics - Romania

We report on the successful laser transfer of biocompatible composite coatings based on polyaniline (PANI) embedded with magnetite (PANI-Fe3O4) and Lincomycin hydrochloride (PANI-Lincomycin) or Lincomycin-functionalized magnetite (PANI-Fe3O4@Lincomycin) by matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique. The physico-chemical investigations revealed relevant data regarding the stoichiometric deposition, morphology and topography of the as-deposited coatings. Regarding the MAPLE coatings, the FTIR studies evidenced the vibrational bands characteristic to pristine PANI material, while the SEM investigations unveiled a preferential particulate morphology (with aggregates shape and size depending on the deposited material). Additionally, the AFM measurements indicated variations of RMS value, following the Lincomycin and magnetite incorporation. The wettability measurements displayed a hydrophilic behavior of the synthesized coatings, while the electrochemical studies emphasized an enhanced resistance against corrosion in simulated body fluid when compared with bare Ti. Cellular viability, immunofluorescence and SEM results proved that the MAPLE coatings were suitable materials for beneficial adhesion, spreading and proliferation of osteoblast-like cells (MG-63). Moreover, an increased efficiency was evidenced against Staphylococcus aureus biofilm development. The multifunctional properties of the laser processed composite coatings - confirmed by cumulative biocompatible, antimicrobial and anticorrosive behaviors - recommend them as promising solutions for biomedical applications.

Magnesium (Mg) alloys are very promising biocompatible materials for biodegradable biomedical implants, however, the main problem in using them is their fast degradation in the conditions of human body. In this work, we coated Mg-Ca (calcium) alloy substrate with hydroxyapatite (HA) to improve its resistance to corrosion and to control the in vitro degradation. Pulsed Laser Deposition technique was applied to deposit HA coatings. Their properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, Vickers microhardness, and Tafel plot electrochemical technique. The substrate temperature was ranged in the interval from room up to 400 degrees C. According to the obtained results, the recommended substrate temperatures are 200-300 degrees C, since higher ones lead to the HA decomposition. Furthermore, the HA films deposited at 200 and 300 degrees C show good corrosion resistance in Simulated Body Fluid. The obtained coatings are promising for a perspective use in biomedical implant applications.

In this study, we compared the structural, morphological, and optical properties of a series of Zn1-xFexO (x = 0.00, 0.01, and 0.03) powders synthesized via a hydrothermal route with and without cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a cationic surfactant. Our results highlighted the critical effects of the surfactant and the iron concentration on the structure, morphology, and optical properties of ZnO. X-ray diffraction, Mossbauer spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses indicated the presence of a single phase comprising ZnO with a hexagonal wurtzite structure in all samples and a single oxidation state (+3) for the iron (Fe3+) that replaced Zn2+ in the ZnO structure. Morphological investigations by scanning electron microscopy showed that the surfactant and Fe3+ dopant greatly affected the shape of the ZnO grains, which varied between sheets and rod-like flowers. We found that the morphological and photocatalytic properties of the two series of samples comprising iron-doped ZnO with and without the surfactant were in opposition. We propose a possible growth mechanism for the ZnO polycrystalline grains in the presence of the Fe dopant and/or surfactant. The photocatalytic properties increased for the samples prepared with surfactant as the iron content increased, which was confirmed by ultraviolet-visible reflection measurements. The photocatalytic activities of the samples prepared without surfactant decreased in both the ultraviolet and visible spectral regions as the iron content increased in the samples.

Arrays of Ni submicron wires surrounded by poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) submicron tubes were prepared via solution-processed polymer and Ni electrodeposition into anodic aluminum oxide template. The PVDF solution was filtered in vacuum through the template and the resulting dried structure was used for the electrodeposition of Ni wires. The obtained core-shell submicron wire structure consists of a metallic magnetic nanowire core of about 50 mu m in length and about 300 nm diameter surrounded by a polymer tube shell with thickness less than 10 nm. The specific ferroelectric beta-phase of the polymer was obtained whereas the magnetic behavior of the Ni-cores was proven to be specific to an array of ferromagnetic Ni cylindrical wires (about 0.62 mu(B)/Ni atom) with magnetization reversal mechanisms dominated by dipolar interactions and domain wall displacements. No significant differences of the magnetization reversal mechanism were observed in case of Ni submicron wires surrounded by PVDF tubes and similar Ni wires without PVDF shell, suggesting that magneto-coupling effects in such systems might be observed only by measuring the perturbation of the electric state of the polymer shell under a magnetic excitation of the Ni cores.

A series of liquid crystals with various lanthanide ions (Eu-III, Sm-III, and Tb-III) was designed and prepared starting from the corresponding lanthanide nitrates and N-alkylated 4-pyridone derivatives bearing mesogenic 3,4,5-tris(alkyloxy)-benzyl moieties (alkyl=hexyl, octyl, decyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, or hexadecyl). These new lanthanidomesogens were investigated for their mesogenic properties by a combination of differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy, and temperature-dependent powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). Their thermal stability was assessed by thermogravimetric analysis. All of these complexes show enantiotropic liquid-crystalline behavior with lamellar (SmA) phases in the case of shorter-chain complexes (C-6 and C-8) or hexagonal columnar phases (Col(h)) for complexes with longer alkyl chains (C-12, C-14, and C-16), which were assigned on the basis of their characteristic textures and XRD studies. For complexes with an intermediate number of carbon atoms in the side chains (C-10), both a lamellar phase at lower temperatures and a Col(h) phase at higher temperatures were evidenced. In the solid state, all these complexes show characteristic emissions assigned to the corresponding lanthanide ion. In addition, the luminescence decay curves showed single-exponential decays with characteristic times in the millisecond range (0.75-0.90 ms for Eu-III, 0.045-0.060 ms for Sm-III, and 0.75-1.05 ms for Tb-III).

Co-doped CeO2 thin films were grown from a bulk target with starting composition Ce0.95Yb0.04Er0.01O2 by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on a p(+)-n-n(+) single crystal silicon diode. The PLD laser fluence was varied between 1.7 J/cm(2) and 3.7 J/cm(2). The device with the film grown for a laser fluence of 2.3 J/cm(2) delivers the highest performance taking advantage of the up conversion (UC) effect provided by this film. Namely, the increase in the relative power conversion efficiency of the device is 12.1% and 39.2% for illumination under 1 and 2.1 sun, respectively, and its relative external quantum efficiency is 8.2% when illuminated with 980 nm light. The film grown for the optimum 2.3 J/cm(2) fluence shows good target-film composition transfer and a granular morphology with a low roughness. The UC mechanism consists of efficient energy transfer between spatially separated Yb3+ and Er3+ ions, i.e. the absorption of infrared light photons by the Yb3+ ions (F-2(7/2) -> F-2(5/2) transition) is followed by a two-step energy transfer process to neighboring Er3+ ions and by their characteristic luminescent emissions ((H-2(11/2), S-4(3/2)) -> I-4(15/2)) and (F-4(9/2) -> I-4(15/2)).

Organic heterostructures based on zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) were deposited by matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique on conductive flexible substrate (ITO/PET) in three configurations: ZnPc/PTCDA (stacked layers), ZnPc:PTCDA (blend) and ZnPc/ZnPc:PTCDA/PTCDA. The effect of the configuration on the optical and electrical properties of the obtained heterostructures was investigated. For all heterostructures was observed an improved optical absorption in visible domain. The I-V characteristics recorded under illumination, revealed higher short circuit current (I (SC)) values for the ZnPc:PTCDA and ZnPc/ZnPc:PTCDA/PTCDA structures in comparison with that of the ZnPc/PTCDA structure. The results proved that by MAPLE can be obtained flexible organic heterostructures (in different configurations) with properties adequate for applications in flexible electronics and solar cell fields.

This work involves the synthesis and characterization of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) layers. The films were prepared on ITO/glass substrate by ecofriendly and simple single-step electrodeposition method followed by sulfurization and annealing at 500 degrees C under Argon flow. By using two different complexing agents, the electrodeposition process can give better results. Therefore, the effect of combining the trisodium citrate - TC to multiple cornplexing agents (cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide - CTAB, ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid - EDTA, Boric Acid - BA, Glutamic Acid - GA and Tartaric Acid - TA) is investigated. The characterization of the absorber films was done by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Raman spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Diffuse Reflectivity. The combination of TC and CTAB is suggested to be the best pair of complexing agents within the combinations used in this work.

We have prepared Eu2+ (1%) doped BaCl2 nanopowders by using a hybrid sol-gel/thermal decomposition route using barium acetate and trichloracetic acid as in situ chlorination agent. Structural and thermal analysis data have shown that orthorhombic BaCl2 phase crystallization occurs at 260 degrees C. BaCl2:Eu2+ nanocrystals of about 100-200 nm in size were produced after annealing (in air) at 500 degrees C and they displayed Eu2+ d -> f type luminescence at 396 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated the presence of both Eu2+, Eu3+ ions species and a BaO passivating layer at the surface of the nanocrystals. A polymer nanocomposite (PVP@BaCl2:Eu2+) was also processed and its optical response under x-ray irradiation was found to be similar to that of the nanopowder. X-ray excited luminescence showed Eu2+ luminescence at 396 nm, whereas the thermoluminescence peak at 130 degrees C was assigned to the F(Cl)-center recombination with Eu2+ related hole centers.

This work is focused on the use of multilayer transparent conductive electrode (TCE) based on ZnO/Ag/ZnO in the fabrication of the organic heterostructures. The ZnO/Ag/ZnO obtained combining sputtering/thermal evaporation/sputtering techniques is featured by a good optical transmittance, a low electrical resistivity and a reduced roughness. All these characteristics recommend it as a viable alternative to indium tin oxide (ITO) for different applications. The organic materials, N,N' - diphenyl N,N' - bis (1 - aphthyl) 1,1' - biphenyl 4,4' - diamine (alpha-NPD), 5,12-Dihydro-5-12-dimethylquino [2,3-b]acridine-7,14dione (DMQA) and 4,7 diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (BPhen) were deposited by vacuum thermal evaporation (VTE) method, the properties of the obtained layers being investigated by FTIR, UV-VIS and PL) spectroscopy. The I-V characteristic (recorded in dark) of the organic heterostructure fabricated on the ZnO/Ag/ZriO electrode shows diode behavior, revealing its potential applications in the organic light emitting devices (OLED).