National Institute Of Materials Physics - Romania

Electrospun nanofibres based on poly(styrene sulfonate) doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT:PSS) were fabricated using a straightforward procedure which combines electrospinning, sputtering deposition and electrochemical synthesis. In general, electrospun fibre meshes based on conducting polymers are prepared by mixing the conducting polymer with a carrier polymer or chemically coverage of the fibres. In contrast, freestanding nylon 6/6 nanofibre webs were prepared through electrospinning and were coated by sputtering with gold in order to make them conductive. Further, a PEDOT:PSS layer was electrochemically deposited onto the metalized nanofibre meshes and the synthesis parameters were chosen in such a way to preserve the high active area of the fibres. The prepared material was morphologically characterized and the formation of PEDOT:PSS was also demonstrated. The PEDOT:PSS coated nanofibres revealed remarkable electrical properties (sheet resistance of about 3.5 Omega cm(-2)), similar to those of metalized nanofibres (sheet resistance around 3 Omega cm2). The in vitro studies using L929 fibroblast mouse cells showed that the bioactive material has no cytotoxic effect and allows proliferation. Moreover, after 72 h of incubation, the fibroblasts shrunk their nuclei and spread suggesting that a differentiation in myofibroblast occurs without application of any kind of external stimuli. These results will be helpful for developing efficient materials for wound healing applications that work without energy consumption.

The paper describes the chemical modification of the graphene oxide (GO) surface with glucosamine, which was conjugated to GO via a carbodiimide-mediated amidation-type reaction. The efficiency of the reaction was confirmed by FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The elaborated functionalization significantly reduces the agglomeration of graphene oxide platelets. The interactions at the interface of GO and two types of ceramic nanoparticles (ZrO2 and Al2O3 with particle sizes of 58 nm and 158 nm, respectively) were examined by zeta potential measurements at different pH values. The viscosity of ZrO2 suspensions (35 vol% of solid loading) at 1.5 s- 1 increases from 24.8 Pas to 170.7 Pas and 142.7 Pas with the addition of GO and f-GO, respectively. The interfaces at ceramic-graphene heterostructures obtained by slip casting method have been analyzed by SEM. The investigations revealed the presence of multilayer graphene oxide and flexible single-layer f-GO within the ceramic matrix.

THz radiation emitted by ferromagnetic/non-magnetic bilayers is a new emergent field in ultra-fast spin physics phenomena with a lot of potential for technological applications in the terahertz (THz) region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The role of antiferromagnetic layers in the THz emission process is being heavily investigated at the moment. In this work, we fabricate trilayers in the form of Co/CoO/Pt and Ni/NiO/Pt with the aim of studying the magnetic properties and probing the role of very thin antiferromagnetic interlayers like NiO and CoO in transporting ultrafast spin current. First, we reveal the static magnetic properties of the samples by using temperature-dependent Squid magnetometry and then we quantify the dynamic properties with the help of ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy. We show magnetization reversal that has large exchange bias values and we extract enhanced damping values for the trilayers. THz time-domain spectroscopy examines the influence of the antiferromagnetic interlayer in the THz emission, showing that the NiO interlayer in particular is able to transport spin current.

For the development of memory devices for the continuous advancement of IT engineering, a good understanding of the charging-discharging mechanisms in nanocrystalline floating gate memories is crucial to overcoming the current limitations. The charging-discharging mechanism in Al2O3/Ge/Al2O3 trilayer memory structures obtained by magnetron sputtering deposition is investigated as a function of the postdeposition annealing temperature, up to 900 degrees C. The change by annealing of C-V hysteresis curves from a clockwise type at low temperatures to counterclockwise one in a sample annealed within the intermediary temperature range of 550 to 650 degrees C, and then, a return to a clockwise type for annealing within the higher temperature range of 800-900 degrees C was observed. Up to 700 degrees C, memory performances are constantly improved reaching for 600 degrees C annealed samples, a memory window of 5.6 V for voltage sweep in the range -1 to +15 V, and good retention characteristics for 650 degrees C annealed structures, in which the charge loss is only similar to 2% after 10(8) s. When the annealing temperature was increased above 700 degrees C, a rapid decrease in the memory performance takes place. The annealing-induced changes are explained based on the Ge fast diffusion and nanocrystallization process, in correlation with morphological and structural high-resolution transmission electron microscopy results.

Undoped and Sm3+doped 45P2O5-45Na2O-2Al2O3-8BaO glasses were synthesized by the melt-quenching technique. The glass structure and luminescence properties were investigated by using Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), spectroscopic ellipsometry, Judd-Ofelt theory and photoluminescence. Electron microscopy showed the homogeneity of samples. Raman spectroscopy revealed that the overall struc-ture of the glass was unaffected by the doping of Sm3+ and ellipsometry was used to measure the optical constants. Judd-Ofelt (JO) analysis was performed on the absorption bands of Sm3+ (4f5) and the three phenomenological parameters (omega 2, omega 4, and omega 6) were computed and then used to determine radiative properties such as the radiative transition probability (Ar), the fluorescent branching ratio (beta r), the stimulated emission cross-section (sigma e) and the radiative lifetime (tau rad). Photoluminescence (PL) spectrum showed the typical four transitions of Sm3+ at wavelengths of 564, 600, 645 and 703 nm corresponding to 4G5/2 -> 6H5/2, 6H7/2, 6H9/2 and 6H11/2, respectively. The spectroscopic quality factors omega 4/omega 6, the predicted lifetime (tau rad) calculated using the JO method and the experimentally lifetime (tau exp) for the 4G5/2level were calculated and discussed. The glass color purity is as high as 98%, which makes it a potential candidate for laser emission.

In order to develop the building blocks for future biosensing and spintronic applications, an engraving technique using electron beam lithography is employed in order to develop nanomagnetic pre-patterned structures with logic potential. The paper describes the realization and morphological and magnetic characterization of potentially logic-conditioned substrates, a building block to be further used as an integration platform upon which nanodevices, such as magnetic wires, or various geometrical shapes, circles, triangles, can be considered as pre-requisite for full integration into logic devices. As a proof of concept, regular arrays of FePt circles or magnetic dots were devised and structural characterization by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy proved the occurrence of the tetragonal L1(0) phase. Moreover, the magnetic characterization provided more insight into the potential of such arrays of magnetic devices as the hysteresis provided good values of magnetic coercivity, remanent and saturation magnetization. These findings show good potential for developing regular arrays of uniformly shaped magnetic entities with encouraging magnetic performances in view of potential applications in various applications.

In this work, electrochemical deposition techniques (galvanostatic and potentiostatic) were used to obtain coatings of a new composite polymer, 3-methylpyrrole-sodium dodecyl sulfate/poly 2-methythiophene (P3MPY-SDS/P2MT), on cobalt-based alloy samples for anti-corrosion safety. The use of sodium dodecyl sulfate as a dopant ion in electrosynthesis can have a relevant effect on the anticorrosive property of the composite polymer layer by blocking the entry of corrosive ions. The cobalt alloy specimen had an important impact on the electrochemical performance of the composite coating and this together with the presence of the polymeric layer was achieved by simultaneously constitution of a complex oxides film and polymeric layers. The polymeric coatings were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry (CV) methods. The corrosion protection of the P3MPY-SDS/P2MT-covered cobalt-based alloy was explored using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization procedures in a 1 M HCl solution. The corrosion speed of the P3MPY-SDS/P2MT-covered cobalt-based alloy was observed to be similar to 10 times less than an uncovered specimen, and the effectiveness of the composite layers of this coating is greater than 91%. This superior efficaciousness was obtained by the electropolymerization of P3MPY-SDS/P2MT at current densities of 1 mA/cm(2) and 0.5 mA/cm(2), applied potentials of 0.9 V and 1.0 V, and a molar ratio of 5:1. Corrosion test results indicate that the P3MPY-SDS/P2MT coatings provide a good result: protection against the corrosion of a cobalt-based alloy in aggressive solutions.

Recent progress concerning the development of counter electrode material (CE) from the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and the electrode material (EM) within supercapacitors is reviewed. From composites based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and conducting polymers (CPs) to their biggest competitor, namely composites based on graphene or graphene derivate (GD) and CPs, there are many methods of synthesis that influence the morphology and the functionalization inside the composite, making them valuable candidates for EM both inside DSSCs and in supercapacitors devices. From the combination of CPs with carbon-based materials, such as CNT and graphene or GD, the perfect network is created, and so the charge transfer takes place faster and more easily. Inside composites, between the functional groups of the components, different functionalizations are formed, namely covalent or non-covalent, which further provide the so-called synergic effect. Inside CPs/CNTs, CNTs could play the role of template but could also be wrapped in a CP film due to pi-pi coupling enhancing the composite conductivity. Active in regenerating the redox couple I-/I3-, the weakly bound electrons play a key role inside CPs/GD composites.

In the present study, we report the development and characterization of composite layers (by spin coating) based on magnesium-doped hydroxyapatite in a chitosan matrix, containing human osteosarcoma MG63 cells anchored. Studies regarding the biocompatibility of the composite layers were performed with the aid of a MTT (3-4,5-Dimethylthiazol 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The data determined that the composite layers did not inhibit the growth and adhesion of MG63 cells to their surfaces exhibiting good biocompatibility properties. Furthermore, the attachment and development of MG63 cells on the surface of MgHApCh composite layers were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM topographical maps emphasized that the HApCh and 8MgHApCh composite layers surface promoted the attachment and proliferation of MG63 cells on their surface. Meanwhile, in the case of 30MgHApCh layers incubated for 48 h, a slight modification of the morphological features of the MG63 cells. In addition, the effects of the composite layers against Candida albicans ATCC 10231 were also evaluated. The data results from the in vitro antifungal assay depicted that the composite layers successfully inhibited the growth of the fungal cells onto their surface. Morphological and fractal analyses unveil cancer cell surfaces on Mg-containing composite layers with intricate 3D patterns, driven by highfrequency components. Their remarkable complexity and roughness arises from a strong multifractal nature, supporting more effective vertical growth compared to Si and HApCh surfaces. The cell viability reduced of uncoated Si surface is highlighted by its less intense 3D pattern growth. Our results show that the uncoated Si surface promotes lower viability of MG63 cancer cells, with less rough and complex 3D spatial patterns.

The new magnesium-doped hydroxyapatite in dextran matrix (10MgHApD) nanocomposites were synthesized using coprecipitation technique. A spherical morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization results show hydroxyapatite hexagonal phase formation. The element map scanning during the EDS analysis revealed homogenous distribution of constituent elements of calcium, phosphor, oxygen and magnesium. The presence of dextran in the sample was revealed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity of the 10MgHAPD nanocomposites was assessed by in vitro assays using Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175, Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC 33277 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 microbial strains. The results of the antimicrobial assays highlighted that the 10MgHApD nanocomposites presented excellent antimicrobial activity against all the tested microorganisms and for all the tested time intervals. Furthermore, the biocompatibility assays determined that the 10MgHApD nanocomposites did not exhibit any toxicity towards Human gingival fibroblast (HGF-1) cells.