National Institute Of Materials Physics - Romania

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839 articles found

301. Tb3+-doped alkaline-earth aluminates: Synthesis, characterization and optical properties

Authors: Mindru, I; Gingasu, D; Patron, L; Marinescu, G; Calderon-Moreno, JM; Diamandescu, L; Secu, M; Oprea, O

Published: JAN 2017, MATERIALS RESEARCH BULLETIN, 85, 248, DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2016.09.024

Un-doped and Tb3+-doped calcium and strontium aluminates (CaAl2O4, CaAl2O4:Tb3+, SrAl2O4, SrAl2O4: Tb3+) were synthesized by a new soft chemical method the precursor route via the thermal decomposition of tartarate compounds. The complex precursors have been characterized by elemental chemical analysis, infrared spectroScopy (IR), luminescence spectroscopy and thermal analysis. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), IR and Raman spectroscopy (RS) were used for the structural and morphological characterization of un-doped and doped alkaline-earth aluminate powders. Photoluminescence (PL) and Thermoluminescence (TL) properties of the aluminates were also investigated. The XRD patterns confirmed the formation of low-temperature structures: hexagonal structure for CaAl2O4 and monoclinic structure for SrAl2O4, with average crystallite size of 64 nm and 46 nm for CaAl2O4 and SrAl2O4, respectively. Microstructural analysis by SEM showed the homogeneous microstructure and fine particle size of the powder obtained by precursor method. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

302. WETTABILITY BY WATER CONTACT ANGLE UPON THE SURFACE OF WOOL FABRICS COVERED WITH OXIDE NANOPARTICLES

Authors: Birzu, M; Frunza, L; Zgura, I; Cotorobai, VF; Ganea, CP; Preda, N; Enculescu, M

Published: JUL-SEP 2017, DIGEST JOURNAL OF NANOMATERIALS AND BIOSTRUCTURES, 12, 931, DOI:

Wetting properties of wool textiles were studied either for the raw samples or for those functionalized via covering them at low temperature with nanoparticles of titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Oxygen plasma pretreatment was performed before deposition. Characterization used optical examination, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction. Wetting properties were tested under static conditions by estimating the water contact angle. The sessile drop method was applied. The deposited matter represents 3 to 8 wt%, covering rather uniformly the fiber surface. Treated samples show mostly lower values of contact angle than the pristine ones. Cassie-Baxter model is discussed in relation to the equilibrium contact angle of the support.

303. MEASUREMENT OF CHARGE CARRIER MOBILITY IN PEROVSKITE NANOWIRE FILMS BY PHOTO-CELIV METHOD

Authors: Aukstuolis, A; Girtan, M; Mousdis, GA; Mallet, R; Socol, M; Rasheed, M; Stanculescu, A

Published: JAN-MAR 2017, PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROMANIAN ACADEMY SERIES A-MATHEMATICS PHYSICS TECHNICAL SCIENCES INFORMATION SCIENCE, 18, 41, DOI:

In this paper the holes' mobility for the configuration FTO/TiO2/CH3NH3PbI3/SpiroMeOTAD/Au was measured for the first time by the Photo-CELIV method. The TiO2 dense film was deposited by reactive sputtering at room temperature on FTO glass substrates. High crystalized perovskite films were deposited from solutions in one step by spin coating. Spiro-MeOTAD molecular glass was used as holes transporting layer. The highest holes' mobility from TiO2 thin film through the perovskite and Spiro MeOTAD film to the top gold electrode was of Order 8.5x10(-7) cm(2)/Vs.

304. PHOTOACTIVITY OF HEMATITE ELECTRODE PREPARED VIA ANODIC ELECTRODEPOSITION ON FTO AND FTO/TiO2 SUBSTRATES

Authors: Sima, M; Vasile, E; Sima, MA

Published: JUL-SEP 2017, DIGEST JOURNAL OF NANOMATERIALS AND BIOSTRUCTURES, 12, 758, DOI:

The hematite films were prepared via anodic electrodeposition on FTO and FTO/mesoporous TiO2 substrates. The hematite photoanodes were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The performance of the prepared hematite photoanodes was assessed based on photocurrent-voltage curves and electrochemical impedance spectra. The modification of the hematite surface with nickel oxide nanoparticles improved the performance of the hematite photoanode while phosphorous doped hematite photoanode shows poor photoactivity. The onset of water oxidation photocurrent was cathodically shifted for hematite photoanodes prepared on FTO/TiO2 substrate.

305. MAPLE DEPOSITION OF PLGA MICROSPHERES FOR MEDICAL APPLICATIONS

Authors: Fufa, O; Socol, M; Preda, N; Grigorescu, S; Croitoru, S; Socol, G

Published: JAN-MAR 2017, DIGEST JOURNAL OF NANOMATERIALS AND BIOSTRUCTURES, 12, 80, DOI:

The aim of our study was to synthesize and evaluate the physicochemical and biological properties of composite films based on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) copolymer and quercetin (PLGA/Q) microspheres. During our experiments, we firstly synthesized the PLGA/Q microspheres by using an oil-in-water emulsion-diffusion-evaporation method. Subsequently, the as-prepared composite material was subjected to the matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique, in order to obtain the PLGA/Q coatings. Relevant compositional and microstructural features of the synthesized samples were obtained by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and AFM (atomic force microscopy). The long-term biocompatibility of the synthesized films was in vitro evaluated by cellular viability and immunofluorescence assays.

306. UPCONVERSION AVALANCHE IN THE Yb3+/Ho3+ DOPED SiO2-LiYF4 NANO-GLASS CERAMIC

Authors: Secu, M

Published: OCT-DEC 2017, DIGEST JOURNAL OF NANOMATERIALS AND BIOSTRUCTURES, 12, 1080, DOI:

The "avalanche" up-conversion properties of the glass-ceramics containing (Ho3+, Yb3+)doped LiYF4 nanocrystals have been studied by comparison to the corresponding nanocrystals and polycrystalline powder samples. Under 810 nm laser light pumping, all the samples showed "green" ((H-2(11/2), 4S(3/2)) -> I-4(15/2)) up-conversion luminescence. The pump power threshold for the avalanche mechanism is about 75mW for the nanocrystalline or polycrystalline powder samples indicating a weak influence of the nanosize related effects is but smaller of about 43mW for the nano-glass ceramic due to the high "local" Yb3+ concentrations.

307. Infrared dichroism studies and anisotropic photoluminescence properties of poly(para-phenylene vinylene) functionalized reduced graphene oxide

Authors: Baibarac, M; Ilie, M; Baltog, I; Lefrant, S; Humbert, B

Published: 2017, RSC ADVANCES, 7, 6942, DOI: 10.1039/c6ra26445j

Two methods were used for the synthesis of composites based on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and poly(para-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) in un-doped and doped state, respectively, i.e. the annealing conversion (AC) of the PPV precursor solution (PS) at 300 degrees C and the electropolymerization (E) of alpha, alpha, alpha', alpha'-tetrabromo-p-xylene. In the case of the E method, a decrease in the distyrylbenzene (DSB) weight onto the RGO sheet surface in favor of PPV in doped state is demonstrated by the s and p polarized IR spectroscopy. The change of the orientation angle of the transition dipole moment vector for the IR bands at 835 and 964 cm(-1), in the case of the AC of the PPV PS, is a result of the p-p* interactions between the phenyl groups of PPV and the RGO sheets. The photoluminescence (PL) bands at 2.42 and 2.26 eV indicate the formation of PPV macromolecular chains (MCs) with lengths of 5 and 710 repeating units (RUs), respectively. The anisotropic PL studies performed on the composites RGO/PPV in un-doped and doped state, respectively, highlight an increase of the wrapping angle of RGO sheets with PPV MCs with lengths of 5 RUs, when graphene concentration increases.

308. Fabrication of periodical surface structures by picosecond laser irradiation of carbon thin films: transformation of amorphous carbon in nanographite

Authors: Popescu, C; Dorcioman, G; Bita, B; Besleaga, C; Zgura, I; Himcinschi, C; Popescu, AC

Published: DEC 30 2016, APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE, 390, 243, DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2016.08.029

Thin films of carbon were synthesized by ns pulsed laser deposition in vacuum on silicon substrates, starting from graphite targets. Further on, the films were irradiated with a picosecond laser source emitting in visible at 532 nm. After tuning of laser parameters, we obtained a film surface covered by laser induced periodical surface structures (LIPSS). They were investigated by optical, scanning electron and atomic force microscopy. It was observed that changing the irradiation angle influences the LIPSS covered area. At high magnification it was revealed that the LIPSS pattern was quite complex, being composed of other small LIPSS islands, interconnected by bridges of nanoparticles. Raman spectra for the non-irradiated carbon films were typical for a-C type of diamond-like carbon, while the LIPSS spectra were characteristic to nano-graphite. The pristine carbon film was hydrophilic, while the LIPSS covered film surface was hydrophobic. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

309. Fabrication of antimicrobial silver-doped carbon structures by combinatorial pulsed laser deposition

Authors: Mihailescu, IN; Bociaga, D; Socol, G; Stan, GE; Chifiriuc, MC; Bleotu, C; Husanu, MA; Popescu-Pelin, G; Duta, L; Luculescu, CR; Negut, I; Hapenciuc, C; Besleaga, C; Zgura, I; Miculescu, F

Published: DEC 30 2016, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS, 515, 606, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2016.10.041

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.

310. Iodine Migration and Degradation of Perovskite Solar Cells Enhanced by Metallic Electrodes

Authors: Besleaga, C; Abramiuc, LE; Stancu, V; Tomulescu, AG; Sima, M; Trinca, L; Plugaru, N; Pintilie, L; Nemnes, GA; Iliescu, M; Svavarsson, HG; Manolescu, A; Pintilie, I

Published: DEC 15 2016, JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS, 7, 5175, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.6b02375

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.