National Institute Of Materials Physics - Romania

Publications

839 articles found

441. Surface free energy of smooth and dehydroxylated fused quartz from contact angle measurements using some particular organics as probe liquids

Authors: Zgura, I; Moldovan, R; Negrila, CC; Frunza, S; Cotorobai, VF; Frunza, L

Published: JUL-AUG 2013, JOURNAL OF OPTOELECTRONICS AND ADVANCED MATERIALS, 15, 634, DOI:

The dispersion and the polar independent contributions to the surface free energy in the case of fused quartz plates were evaluated by contact angle measurements against a series of liquids like water, glycerol, ethylene glycol, dimethyl sulfoxide and a nematic mixture NP5 of azoxybenzene type compounds. The smooth fused quartz plates were thermally pretreated at 240 degrees C and 1000 degrees C to decrease the number of surface hydroxyl groups; their surface was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The contact angle data were further processed applying either the approach of Owens-Wendt with geometric mean or the Wu's approach of harmonic mean of nonpolar and polar interactions. The liquids were chosen thus to fulfill Della Volpe and Siboni's criterion namely that these have the condition number of system matrix low enough. The values obtained for the components of surface free energy were discussed in comparison with the results obtained in literature for crystalline quartz or for other silica forms as bulk or films. The study has shown a decrease of the polar component of the surface tension by increase of the pretreatment temperature.

442. Broadband near-infrared emission of chromium-doped sulfide glass-ceramics containing Ga2S3 nanocrystals

Authors: Ren, J; Li, B; Yang, G; Xu, WN; Zhang, ZH; Secu, M; Bercu, V; Zeng, HD; Chen, GR

Published: DEC 15 2012, OPTICS LETTERS, 37, 5045, DOI: 10.1364/OL.37.005043

Upon 808 nm excitation, an intense broadband near-infrared emission from Cr4+ has been observed in 80GeS(2)-20Ga(2)S(3) chalcogenide glass-ceramics (GCs) containing Ga2S3 nanocrystals. The emission band peaking at 1250 nm covers the O, E, S bands (1000-1500 nm). The formation of Ga2S3 nanocrystals (similar to 20 nm) increases the emission intensity of Cr4+ by more than three times. The quantum efficiency of the present GCs is as great as 36% at room temperature. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America

443. Abnormal Anti-Stokes Raman Emission and Infrared Dichroism Studies on Poly(p-phenylenevinylene)/Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Composites

Authors: Baibarac, M; Baltog, I; Wery, J; Lefrant, S; Mevellec, JY

Published: DEC 6 2012, JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C, 116, 25545, DOI: 10.1021/jp3070008

Using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in the grazing angle incident reflection geometry, new data concerning the abnormal anti-Stokes Raman emission (AASRE) and the molecular orientation of poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) deposited on metallic supports of Ag and Au are reported. The particular dependencies of the anti-Stokes Raman intensity on the Raman shift, the sample thickness, and the incident pump intensity are highlighted in this paper. In the spectral range of 800-1000 cm(-1), the FTIR spectra of PPV films deposited on Ag and Au supports show a dichroism similar to that reported for the free-standing PPV film. Significant differences are reported in the spectral range of 1400-1700 cm(-1) for the s- and p-polarized FTIR spectra of PPV films deposited on Au and Ag supports. The annealing treatment at 110 degrees C of the PPV precursor solution in the presence of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) induces a noncovalent functionalization of carbon nanotubes with the polymer molecules, as evidenced by a decrease of the radial breathing mode intensity and a decrease in the strength of AASRE. The process of noncovalent functionalization of SWNTs with PPV induces a change of the orientation angle of the transition dipole moment vector for the absorption band at 835 cm(-1). This fact is explained on the basis of the pi-pi* interaction between the phenyl group of PPV and the sidewall of the nanotubes.

444. Pulsed laser deposition of transparent conductive oxide thin films on flexible substrates

Authors: Socol, G; Socol, M; Stefan, N; Axente, E; Popescu-Pelin, G; Craciun, D; Duta, L; Mihailescu, CN; Mihailescu, IN; Stanculescu, A; Visan, D; Sava, V; Galca, AC; Luculescu, CR; Craciun, V

Published: NOV 1 2012, APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE, 260, 46, DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2012.02.148

The influence of target-substrate distance during pulsed laser deposition of indium zinc oxide (IZO), indium tin oxide (ITO) and aluminium-doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin films grown on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates was investigated. It was found that the properties of such flexible transparent conductive oxide (TCO)/PET electrodes critically depend on this parameter. The TCO films that were deposited at distances of 6 and 8 cm exhibited an optical transmittance higher than 90% in the visible range and electrical resistivities around 5 x 10(-4) Omega cm. In addition to these excellent electrical and optical characteristics the films grown at 8 cm distance were homogenous, smooth, adherent, and without cracks or any other extended defects, being suitable for opto-electronic device applications. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

445. Possible mechanisms of switching in amorphous chalcogenides

Authors: Popescu, M; Velea, A

Published: OCT 2012, PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI B-BASIC SOLID STATE PHYSICS, 249, 1971, DOI: 10.1002/pssb.201200351

A new description of the switching phenomenon is given. The switching is regarded as due to the formation and breaking of the links between the dendrites of crystalline nuclei in bulk materials, as a consequence of the energy pumped by an electrical field. This mechanism explains the very short switching time (<20?ns), the possibility to get smart memories based on multisteps of resistivity and the high number of cycles supported by the cell (1016). A cellular automaton mechanism was created on the basis of this model for switching. Multistage memory in chalcogenide materials has also been explained by this mechanism.

446. Matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation of Mn-12(Propionate) thin films

Authors: Pervolaraki, M; Sima, F; Socol, G; Teodorescu, CM; Gheorghe, NG; Socol, M; Mihailescu, IN; Moushi, EE; Tasiopoulos, AJ; Athanasopoulos, GI; Viskadourakis, Z; Giapintzakis, J

Published: SEP 15 2012, APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE, 258, 9474, DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2011.10.136

Single molecule magnets are of great interest due to a multitude of potential applications for some of which thin films are required. Traditional physical vapor deposition techniques are not suitable for the deposition of these fragile materials with low decomposition temperatures. Matrix Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation technique has been employed for the growth of thin films of the single molecule magnet Mn-12(Propionate) on Si and glass substrates. In this paper we report on the appropriate growth conditions and also the morphology, chemical composition and magnetic behavior of the films. Continuous Mn-12(Propionate) films with properties similar to bulk materials have been obtained. (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

447. Morphological, optical and electrical properties of samarium oxide thin films

Authors: Constantinescu, C; Ion, V; Galca, AC; Dinescu, M

Published: AUG 1 2012, THIN SOLID FILMS, 520, 6397, DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2012.06.049

We present here results on samarium oxide thin films, obtained by pulsed laser deposition and by radio frequency assisted pulsed laser deposition. Three different substrate types were used: silicon, platinum covered silicon and titanium covered silicon. The influence of the deposition parameters (oxygen pressure and laser fluence) on the structure and morphology of the thin films was studied. The substrate-thin film interface zone was investigated; the optical and electrical properties (the losses, dielectric constant and leakage currents) were also determined. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

448. Spectroscopic ellipsometry investigations of Eu-doped oxy-fluoride glass and glass-ceramics

Authors: Galca, AC; Preda, N; Secu, CE; Luculescu, CR; Secu, M

Published: JUN 2012, OPTICAL MATERIALS, 34, 1496, DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2012.03.015

Oxyfluoride glass-ceramics in the system SiO2-Al2O3-CaF2-EuF3 containing Eu3+-doped CaF2 nanocrystals were produced by using controlled crystallization of melt-quenched glass. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy data have revealed the formation of CaF2 nanocrystals of about 50 nm size. The Eu3+-dopant ions act as the nucleating agent necessary to initiate the crystallization process. The refractive index is higher in the glass ceramics than in the initial glass and varies as the annealing time increases. Two competitive processes are responsible for this behavior, the crystallization of the CaF2 phase and the decrease of the glass ceramic mass density. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

449. Preparation of nanostructured ZnO nanorods in a hydrothermal-electrochemical process

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

Published: MAY 1 2012, THIN SOLID FILMS, 520, 4636, DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2011.10.116

An array of ZnO nanorods, each nanorod being covered with a shell of porous ZnO was prepared in two steps by hydrothermal-electrochemical processes. The growth of ZnO nanorods was achieved in a zinc nitrate and hexamethylenetetramine aqueous solution on fluorine-doped tin oxide film. The porous ZnO shell was grown from a similar solution in the presence of eosin Y as nanostructuring agent. A dye-sensitized solar cell was assembled using as photoanode an eosin Y sensitized ZnO nanorod/shell layer. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

450. Raman scattering and anti-Stokes luminescence in poly-paraphenylene vinylene/carbon nanotubes composites

Authors: Baibarac, M; Massuyeau, F; Wery, J; Baltog, I; Lefrant, S

Published: APR 15 2012, JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS, 111, DOI: 10.1063/1.4705403

In this paper, we present Raman scattering and luminescence of poly-paraphenylene vinylene/single-walled carbon nanotubes composites, focused on data recorded in the anti-Stokes branch. We demonstrate that, when the excitation energy is in the long wavelength tail of the fundamental absorption edge, an anti-Stokes signal is generated, whose origin is a photon absorption accompanied by a phonon process from lower to upper vibronic states. The efficiency of this anti-Stokes photo-luminescence is increased when composites films are deposited onto an Au rough surface acting as a surface enhanced Raman scattering substrate. This mechanism is explained by a coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering-like process, as observed in other nano-structured materials. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4705403]