Versatile transmission ellipsometry to study linear ferrofluid magneto-optics

Linear birefringence and dichroism of magnetite ferrofluids are studied simultaneously using spectroscopic ellipsometry in transmission mode. It is shown that this versatile technique enables highly accurate characterisation of magneto-optical phenomena. Magnetic field-dependent linear birefringence and dichroism as well as the spectral dependence are shown to be in line with previous results. Despite the qualitative agreement with established models for magneto-optical phenomena, these fail to provide an accurate, quantitative description of our experimental results using the bulk dielectric function of magnetite. We discuss the results in relation to these models, and indicate how the modified dielectric function of the magnetite nanoparticles can be obtained.\ud \u

Optical Anisotropy and Porosity of Anodic Aluminum Oxide Characterized by Spectroscopic Ellipsometry

Anodic oxidation of aluminum results in a mesoporous oxide film. The thin-film geometry of our samples enables straightforward optical modeling of ellipsometry spectra of fully anodized films, using only three physically relevant parameters. The system of randomly distributed, but aligned cylindrical pores gives rise to an optical anisotropy, which is incorporated using the original work of Bruggeman. The optically determined film thickness and cylinder porosity only agree with electron microscopy results when the oxide is considered as a nanoporous matrix. Upon chemical etching, the cylinder porosity increases with time from 10 to 80%, while the aluminum oxide nanoporosity of 33% hardly change

Structural and optical characterization of porous anodic aluminium oxide

Spectroscopic ellipsometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) experiments are employed to characterize porous aluminum oxide obtained by anodization of thin aluminum films. Rutherford backscattering spectra and x-ray diffraction experiments provide information on the composition and the structure of the samples. Results on our thin film samples with a well-defined geometry show that anodization of aluminum is reproducible and results in a porous aluminum oxide network with randomly distributed, but perfectly aligned cylindrical pores perpendicular to the substrate. The ellipsometry spectra are analyzed using an anisotropic optical model, partly based on the original work by Bruggeman. The model adequately describes the optical response of the anodized film in terms of three physically relevant parameters: the film thickness, the cylinder fraction, and the nanoporosity of the aluminum oxide matrix. Values of the first two quantities, obtained from fitting the spectra, are in perfect agreement with SEM results, when the nanoporosity of the aluminum oxide matrix is taken into account. The validity of our optical model was verified over a large range of cylinder fractions, by widening of the pores through chemical etching in phosphoric acid. While the cylinder fraction increases significantly with etch time and etchant concentration, the nanoporosity remains almost unchanged. Additionally, based on a simple model considering a linear etch rate, the concentration dependence of the etch rate was determined

InN Based Water Condensation Sensors on Glass and Flexible Plastic Substrates

In this paper, we report the realization and characterization of a condensation sensor based on indium nitride (InN) layers deposited by magnetron sputtering on glass and flexible plastic substrates, having fast response and using potentially low cost fabrication technology. The InN devices work as open gate thin film sensitive transistors. Condensed water droplets, formed on the open gate region of the sensors, deplete the electron accumulation layer on the surface of InN film, thus decreasing the current of the sensor. The current increases back to its initial value when water droplets evaporate from the exposed InN film surface. The response time is as low as 2 s

Gamma irradiation effects on the properties of indium zinc oxide thin films

International audienc

Ferroelectric and dielectric multilayer heterostructures based on KTa0.65Nb0.35O3 and Bi1.5-xZn0.92-yNb1.5O6.92-1.5x-y grown by pulsed laser deposition and chemical solution deposition for high frequency tunable devices

International audienceEpitaxial growth of Bi1.5â€"xZn0.92â€"yNb1.5O6.92â€"1.5xâ€"y (BZN) thin films was achieved on (100)pc LaAlO3 substrate by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and by chemical solution deposition based on Pechini process. Effect of bismuth and zinc deficiency on the BZN thin films obtained by PLD was discussed, in relation with the starting target composition. Dielectric permittivity and bandgap values were determined from electrical and spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements performed on randomly oriented films grown on Pt/Si substrate. BZN thin films obtained by PLD exhibit, at 100 kHz, a dielectric constant of εr = 203 and quite low dielectric losses of tanÎ' = 5 Ã-- 10âˆ' 2. Epitaxial ferroelectric âˆ' dielectric KTa0.65Nb0.35O3 (KTN) âˆ' Bi1.5â€"xZn0.92â€"yNb1.5O6.92â€"1.5xâ€"y (KTN on BZN and BZN on KTN) bilayers were obtained by PLD on (100)pc LaAlO3 with the insertion of a suitable buffer layer of KNbO3 in the case of KTN on BZN. Such multilayer heterostructures with an epitaxial growth control of each layer are promising candidates for potential integration in microwave devices

One-Pot Enzymatic Production of Lignin-Composites

A novel and efficient one-pot system for green production of artificial lignin bio-composites has been developed. Monolignols such as sinapyl (SA) and coniferyl (CA) alcohols were linked together with caffeic acid (CafAc) affording a polymeric network similar with natural lignin. The interaction of the dissolved SA/CA with CafAc already bound on a solid support (SC2/SC6-CafAc) allowed the attachment of the polymeric product direct on the support surface (SC2/SC6-CafAc-L1 and SC2/SC6-CafAc-L2, from CA and SA, respectively). Accordingly, this procedure offers the advantage of a simultaneous polymer production and deposition. Chemically, oxi-copolymerization of phenolic derivatives (SA/CA and CAfAc) was performed with H2O2 as oxidation reagent using peroxidase enzyme (2-1B mutant of versatile peroxidase from Pleurotus eryngii) as catalyst. The system performance reached a maximum of conversion for SA and CA of 71.1 and 49.8%, respectively. The conversion is affected by the system polarity as resulted from the addition of a co-solvent (e.g., MeOH, EtOH, or THF). The chemical structure, morphology, and properties of the bio-composites surface were investigated using different techniques, e.g., FTIR, TPD-NH3, TGA, contact angle, and SEM. Thus, it was demonstrated that the SA monolignol favored bio-composites with a dense polymeric surface, high acidity, and low hydrophobicity, while CA allowed the production of thinner polymeric layers with high hydrophobicity

Image2_One-Pot Enzymatic Production of Lignin-Composites.tif

<p>A novel and efficient one-pot system for green production of artificial lignin bio-composites has been developed. Monolignols such as sinapyl (SA) and coniferyl (CA) alcohols were linked together with caffeic acid (CafAc) affording a polymeric network similar with natural lignin. The interaction of the dissolved SA/CA with CafAc already bound on a solid support (S_C2/S_C6-CafAc) allowed the attachment of the polymeric product direct on the support surface (S_C2/S_C6-CafAc-L₁ and S_C2/S_C6-CafAc-L₂, from CA and SA, respectively). Accordingly, this procedure offers the advantage of a simultaneous polymer production and deposition. Chemically, oxi-copolymerization of phenolic derivatives (SA/CA and CAfAc) was performed with H₂O₂ as oxidation reagent using peroxidase enzyme (2-1B mutant of versatile peroxidase from Pleurotus eryngii) as catalyst. The system performance reached a maximum of conversion for SA and CA of 71.1 and 49.8%, respectively. The conversion is affected by the system polarity as resulted from the addition of a co-solvent (e.g., MeOH, EtOH, or THF). The chemical structure, morphology, and properties of the bio-composites surface were investigated using different techniques, e.g., FTIR, TPD-NH₃, TGA, contact angle, and SEM. Thus, it was demonstrated that the SA monolignol favored bio-composites with a dense polymeric surface, high acidity, and low hydrophobicity, while CA allowed the production of thinner polymeric layers with high hydrophobicity.</p

Image3_One-Pot Enzymatic Production of Lignin-Composites.tif

<p>A novel and efficient one-pot system for green production of artificial lignin bio-composites has been developed. Monolignols such as sinapyl (SA) and coniferyl (CA) alcohols were linked together with caffeic acid (CafAc) affording a polymeric network similar with natural lignin. The interaction of the dissolved SA/CA with CafAc already bound on a solid support (S_C2/S_C6-CafAc) allowed the attachment of the polymeric product direct on the support surface (S_C2/S_C6-CafAc-L₁ and S_C2/S_C6-CafAc-L₂, from CA and SA, respectively). Accordingly, this procedure offers the advantage of a simultaneous polymer production and deposition. Chemically, oxi-copolymerization of phenolic derivatives (SA/CA and CAfAc) was performed with H₂O₂ as oxidation reagent using peroxidase enzyme (2-1B mutant of versatile peroxidase from Pleurotus eryngii) as catalyst. The system performance reached a maximum of conversion for SA and CA of 71.1 and 49.8%, respectively. The conversion is affected by the system polarity as resulted from the addition of a co-solvent (e.g., MeOH, EtOH, or THF). The chemical structure, morphology, and properties of the bio-composites surface were investigated using different techniques, e.g., FTIR, TPD-NH₃, TGA, contact angle, and SEM. Thus, it was demonstrated that the SA monolignol favored bio-composites with a dense polymeric surface, high acidity, and low hydrophobicity, while CA allowed the production of thinner polymeric layers with high hydrophobicity.</p