Electrical and optical investigation on doping of II–VI compounds using radioactive isotopes

Using radioactive isotopes of shallow dopants (Ag, As, Rb) as well as of native or isoelectronic elements (Se, Te, Cd, Sr) which were incorporated as host atoms and then transmuted into relevant dopants (transmutation doping) we investigated doping phenomena occurring in the wide band gap II–VI compounds CdTe, ZnTe, ZnSe and SrS by the classical methods of semiconductor physics: Hall effect, C–V and photoluminescence measurements. Thus, we could assign unambiguously defect features in electrical and photoluminescence measurements to extrinsic dopants by means of the half lives of radioactive decay. In As doped ZnSe samples we observed two states: a metastable effective mass like state and a deep state. The occurrence of the latter state is always linked with the high resistivity of As doped ZnSe crystals. The transmutation doping experiments reveal that the so-called self-compensation typical for wide band gab II–VI compounds can be overcome when the thermal treatment for dopant incorporation is time separated from its electrical activation, achieved using transmutation at room temperature. Under these conditions we found an almost one-to-one doping efficiency relative to the implanted dose. Thus, these investigations are a contribution to understanding compensation phenomena occurring due to interactions between dopants and native defects during conventional doping treatments

Surface Characterization and Copper Release of a-C:H:Cu Coatings for Medical Applications

This paper focuses on the surface properties of a-C:H:Cu composite coatings for medical devices and how the release of Cu2+ ions from such coatings can be controlled. The released Cu ions have the potential to act as a bactericidal agent and inhibit bacterial colonization. A PVD⁻PECVD hybrid process was used to deposit a-C:H:Cu composite coatings onto Ti6Al4V substrates. We examine the layer surface properties using atomic force microscopy and static contact angle measurements. An increasing surface roughness and increasing contact angle of Ringer’s solution was measured with increasing copper mole fraction (XCu) in the coatings. The contact angle decreased when a supplementary bias voltage of −50 V was used during the a-C:H:Cu deposition. These findings are in line with earlier published results regarding these types of coatings. The release of Cu2+ ions from a-C:H:Cu coatings in Ringer’s solution was measured by anodic stripping voltammetry. Different layer structures were examined to control the time-resolved Cu release. It was found that the Cu release depends on the overall XCu in the a-C:H:Cu coatings and that an additional a-C:H barrier layer on top of the a-C:H:Cu layer effectively delays the release of Cu ions

Interactive Effects of Copper-Doped Urological Implants with Tissue in the Urinary Tract for the Inhibition of Cell Adhesion and Encrustation in the Animal Model Rat

The insertion of a ureteral stent provides acute care by restoring urine flow and alleviating urinary retention or dysfunction. The problems of encrustation, bacterial colonization and biofilm formation become increasingly important when ureteral stents are left in place for a longer period of time. One way to reduce encrustation and bacterial adherence is to modify the stent surface with a diamond-like carbon coating, in combination with copper doping. The biocompatibilities of the Elastollan® base material and the a-C:H/Cu-mulitilayer coating were tested in synthetic urine. The copper content in bladder tissue was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy and in blood and in urine by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Encrustations on the materials were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. A therapeutic window for copper ions of 0.5–1.0 mM was determined to kill bacteria without affecting human urothelial cells. In the rat animal model, it was found that copper release did not reach toxic concentrations in the affecting tissue of the urinary tract or in the blood. The encrustation behavior of the surfaces showed that the roughness of the amorphous carbon layer with the copper doping is probably the causal factor for the higher encrustation