National Institute Of Materials Physics - Romania

Publications

847 articles found

411. AMMONIA SENSING WITH 5 MOL% LANTHANUM DOPED BARIUM STRONTIUM TITANATE UNDER HUMID AIR BACKGROUND

Authors: Simion, CE; Stanoiu, A; Teodorescu, VS; Rusti, CF; Piticescu, RM; Vasile, E; Vasile, E; Tudor, IA

Published: FEB 2016, REVUE ROUMAINE DE CHIMIE, 61, +, DOI:

Nanostructured Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3 (BST) with 5 molar % of Lanthanum (La) have been synthesized using a high pressure hydrothermal chemical route. The structural and morphological investigations were performed. Termogravimetry/differential scanning calorimetry and Raman investigations have been also employed to analyse the as-prepared material. The gas sensing investigations have indicated the ability of La doped BST to detect ammonia, when operated at room temperature in humid background. The obtained results were discussed with respect to the possible gas-sill-face interaction mechanism. In addition, the said material showed low cross-sensitivity to other possible interfering gases: methane, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide.

412. Study of GeSn based heterostructures: towards optimized group IV MQW LEDs

Authors: Stange, D; von den Driesch, N; Rainko, D; Schulte-Braucks, C; Wirths, S; Mussler, G; Tiedemann, AT; Stoica, T; Hartmann, JM; Ikonic, Z; Mantl, S; Grutzmacher, D; Buca, D

Published: JAN 25 2016, OPTICS EXPRESS, 24, 1367, DOI: 10.1364/OE.24.001358

We present results on CVD growth and electro-optical characterization of Ge0.92Sn0.08/Ge p-i-n heterostructure diodes. The suitability of Ge as barriers for direct bandgap GeSn active layers in different LED geometries, such as double heterostructures and multi quantum wells is discussed based on electroluminescence data. Theoretical calculations by effective mass and 6 band k center dot p method reveal low barrier heights for this specific structure. Best configurations offer only a maximum barrier height for electrons of about 40 meV at the Gamma point at room temperature (e.g. 300 K), evidently insufficient for proper light emitting devices. An alternative solution using SiGeSn as barrier material is introduced, which provides appropriate band alignment for both electrons and holes resulting in efficient confinement in direct bandgap GeSn wells. Finally, epitaxial growth of such a complete SiGeSn/GeSn/SiGeSn double heterostructure including doping is shown. (C)2016 Optical Society of America

413. Multiscale investigation of USPIO nanoparticles in atherosclerotic plaques and their catabolism and storage in vivo

Authors: Maraloiu, VA; Appaix, F; Broisat, A; Le Guellec, D; Teodorescu, VS; Ghezzi, C; van der Sanden, B; Blanchin, MG

Published: JAN 2016, NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, 12, 200, DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2015.08.005

The storage and catabolism of Ultrasmall SuperParamagnetic Iron Oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles were analyzed through a multiscale approach combining Two Photon Laser Scanning Microscopy (TPLSM) and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) at different times after intravenous injection in an atherosclerotic ApoE(-/-) mouse model. The atherosclerotic plaque features and the USPIO heterogeneous biodistribution were revealed down from organ's scale to subcellular level. The biotransformation of the nanoparticle iron oxide (maghemite) core into ferritin, the non-toxic form of iron storage, was demonstrated for the first time ex vivo in atherosclerotic plaques as well as in spleen, the iron storage organ. These results rely on an innovative spatial and structural investigation of USPIO's catabolism in cellular phagolysosomes. This study showed that these nanoparticles were stored as non-toxic iron compounds: maghemite oxide or ferritin, which is promising for MRI detection of atherosclerotic plaques in clinics using these USPIOs. From the Clinical Editor: Advance in nanotechnology has brought new contrast agents for clinical imaging. In this article, the authors investigated the use and biotransformation of Ultrasmall Super-paramagnetic Iron Oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles for analysis of atherosclerotic plagues in Two Photon Laser Scanning Microscopy (TPLSM) and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM). The biophysical data generated from this study could enable the possible use of these nanoparticles for the benefits of clinical patients. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

414. Dielectric characterization of BaxSr1-xFe12O19 (x=0.05-0.35) ceramics

Authors: Cernea, M; Negrea, RF; Ciuchi, IV; Baldisserri, C; Trusca, R; Galassi, C

Published: JAN 2016, CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL, 42, 1056, DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2015.09.029

BaxSr1-xFe12O19 (x=0.05, 0.15, 0.25, 0.35) ferrites were prepared by both the sol gel and conventional solid state reaction techniques. The structural characteristics and dielectric properties of these ferrites were investigated and compared. BaxSr1-xFe12O19 ceramics obtained by the sol gel method show homogeneous morphology and single crystalline phase while those prepared by solid state reaction route exhibit less homogeneous morphology, being accompanied by a secondary crystalline phase (BaFe2O4). The size of the grains varies in the range 200-300 nm for x=0.05-0.35 when the powders are prepared by sol gel method and, 600-700 nm for the powders prepared by solid state reaction. For the same value of x, the BaxSr1-xFe12O19 ferrites obtained via sol-gel display higher permittivity and lower dielectric losses compared to those prepared by solid state reaction route. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.

415. LTCC-based Ceramic Microsystems with Integrated Fluidic Elements and Sensors

Authors: Belavic, D; Hodnik, M; Santo, M; Bolado, P; Ursic, H; Bradesko, A; Malic, B; Mercioniu, IF; Bencan, A; Makarovic, K; Ciobanu, RC; Schreiner, C

Published: 2016, PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2016 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND EXPOSITION ON ELECTRICAL AND POWER ENGINEERING (EPE 2016), 46, DOI: 10.1109/ICEPE.2016.7781299

In this contribution the design and fabrication of ceramic microsystems with integrated different microfluidic elements and sensors will be presented. Ceramic microsystems are based on unconventional application of low-temperature co-fired ceramic technology and materials. This unconventional application is related to three-dimensional ceramic structures, such as cantilevers, ledges, bridges, diaphragms, valleys, channels, holes and cavities, valves, mixers, diffusors, distributors, collectors, flow limiters, sensors, and actuators.

416. INVESTIGATIONS ON THE PROPERTIES OF A TWO-DIMENSIONAL NANOPATTERNED METALLIC FILM

Authors: Breazu, C; Preda, N; Socol, M; Stanculescu, F; Matei, E; Stavarache, I; Iordache, G; Girtan, M; Rasoga, O; Stanculescu, A

Published: OCT-DEC 2016, Digest Journal of Nanomaterials and Biostructures, 11, 1229, DOI:

This paper presents some investigations of the effect of nanopatterning on the properties of aluminum layer deposited by sputtering. UV-Nanoimprint Lithography technique has been used for the realization of a 2D array of nanostructures (pillars) in aluminum film characterized by cylindrical shape and the following structural parameters: diameter between 400 nm and 490 nm, depth between 320 nm and 420 nm and periodicity of 1.1 mu m, which have been revealed by SEM and AFM measurements. The UV-Vis transmission, reflection and photoluminescence measurements have evidenced the effect of the nanopatterning on the optical properties of the A1 layer.

417. MOSSBAUER AND MAGNETIC INVESTIGATION OF IRON NITRIDE WITH MARTENSITE STRUCTURE SYNTHESISED FROM OXY-HYDROXIDE TYPE PRECURSOR

Authors: Palade, P; Plapcianu, C; Mercioniu, I; Comanescu, CC; Schinteie, G

Published: JAN-MAR 2016, DIGEST JOURNAL OF NANOMATERIALS AND BIOSTRUCTURES, 11, 63, DOI:

Fe16N2 fine particles were prepared by reduction in 5% H-2/Ar gas mixture flow, starting from goethite or hematite precursors, followed by nitridation in ammonia gas flow. Small amounts of metallic iron and iron oxide are present besides the main phase which is an ordered iron nitride having martensite structure (alpha''-Fe16N2) as revealed by Mossbauer spectroscopy measurements. However, X-ray diffraction data do not show any traces of oxides due to their high degree of amorphization. When nitridation is performed at about 150 C-0, Fe4N phase begins to form and its presence deteriorates the magnetic properties. The samples prepared by nitridation of goethite present better magnetic properties compared to those obtained by nitridation of hematite. Magnetic and Mossbauer measurements performed at ambient temperature were corroborated in order to extract the magnetization at saturation value for each phase which occurs in the obtained samples. The corresponding values are 226 emu/g for Fe16N2 and 198 emu/g for metallic iron contained in the prepared powders.

418. Nano and Microtechnology for Monitoring Stem Cell Differentiation

Authors: Cheran, LE; Cheran, A; Lupu, AR; Popescu, T

Published: 2016, STEM CELLS BETWEEN REGENERATION AND TUMORIGENESIS, 320, DOI:

This chapter gives an overview of the new micro- and nano-technologies designed to monitor SC differentiation in the context of their potential applications in disease modeling, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, as well as drug screening and toxicology. Representative examples of such applications are presented and the crucial importance of the differentiation processes for the safety of SC therapies is discussed. The roles of the main factors that influence SC differentiation are briefly summarized and the vital need to control and monitor the differentiation process using non-invasive methods is emphasized. The basic principles of new micro- and nano-technologies for monitoring SC differentiation are presented, with special focus on the use of acoustic vibrational fields to characterize SC. Literature studies on SC differentiation, involving methods based on Impedance Sensing (IS), Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy ( SERS), Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Microelectrode Array (MEA) sensors, Light-addressable Potentiometric Sensors (LAPS), Field-effect Transistors ( FET), Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM), are briefly described.

419. FTDT investigations for fabrication of sub-wavelength metal wire-grid polarizes and quarter waveplate

Authors: Cotirlan-Simiontuc, C; Logofatu, C; Iordache, G; Rizea, A; Ursu, DV

Published: NOV-DEC 2016, JOURNAL OF OPTOELECTRONICS AND ADVANCED MATERIALS, 18, 927, DOI:

Ultracompact polarization components modeled and analyzed with Finite Difference Time Domain Photonics Simulation Software (FTDT) are: a wire-grid linear polarizer and a quarter waveplate for infrared (IR) domain. They will be integrated into a polarization state analyzer (PSA). The components will be manufactured with metamaterials (MTMs). These are composite materials consisting of artificial meta-atoms, i.e. conductive nano- or micro-structures regularly arranged in a dielectric or semiconductor matrix. These conductive structures are made-up smaller than the wavelength of the radiation work. MTMs show extraordinary electromagnetic properties, typically not found in nature, such as negative refractive index. They increase the interaction between radiation and matter. The use of optical polarization components in IR imaging systems dedicated to difficult conditions of visibility is a must, as it allows improving performance and reducing the dimension of optoelectronic devices used in air, car and naval navigation. We will focus on developing the components for applications of imaging polarimetry in long-wave infrared (LWIR) range.

420. Structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric effects in epitaxial La0.67Ba0.33Ti0.02Mn0.98O3 ferromagnetic thin films grown on 001-oriented SrTiO3 substrates

Authors: Oumezzine, M; Galca, AC; Pasuk, I; Chirila, CF; Leca, A; Kuncser, V; Tanase, LC; Kuncser, A; Ghica, C; Oumezzine, M

Published: 2016, DALTON TRANSACTIONS, 45, 15040, DOI: 10.1039/c6dt01914e

Epitaxial La0.67Ba0.33Ti0.02Mn0.98O3 (denoted as LBTMO hereafter) thin films of approximately 95 nm thickness were deposited by a pulsed laser deposition technique onto SrTiO3 (STO) (001) substrates. High-resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations revealed that the films are epilayers with a four-fold symmetry around the [001] direction. Cross-sectional TEM and the presence of Pendellosung fringes in the XRD profiles demonstrate smooth interfaces. The STO substrate induces an in-plane compressive strain, which leads to a slight tetragonality of the film structure. The epilayers exhibit paramagnetic-to-ferromagnetic phase transitions at the Curie temperature T-C (286 K), close to room temperature. The magnetization easy axis lies in the film plane along the [100] direction of the (001) substrate. The magnetic entropy change (Delta S-M) associated with the second-order magnetic phase transition was determined via magnetization measurements in the temperature range between 210 and 350 K under different magnetic fields. The relative cooling power (RCP) of this film is about 220 J kg(-1), somewhat lower than that of bulk Gd (410 J kg(-1)) for a 50 kOe field change, making the LBTMO ferromagnetic thin films a promising candidate for micro/nanomagnetic refrigeration around room temperature. The proposed universal curve provides a simple method for extrapolating Delta S-M in a wide range of fields and temperatures, thus confirming the order of the magnetic transition in this system. The magnetic entropy (Delta S-M)(max) around T-C is proportional to (mu H-0/T-C)(2/3) in agreement with the mean-field theory, indicating the existence of long-range ferromagnetic interactions in epitaxial LBTMO thin films.