Single step synthesis and organization of gold colloids assisted by copolymer templates

We report here an original single-step process for synthesis and self-organization of gold colloids by simply incorporating gold salts into a solution prepared with Polystyrene (PS) - Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) copolymer, thiolated PS and Propylene Glycol Methyl Ether Acetate (PGMEA) as solvent. The spin-coating and annealing of this solution allows then the formation of PS domains. Depending on the polymer concentration of the as-prepared solution, there can be either one or several gold nanoparticles (NPs) per PS domains. For high concentration of gold nanoparticles in PS domains, the coupling between plasmonic nanoparticles leads to the observation of second peak in the optical extinction spectrum. Such collective effect could be relevant for the development of optical strain sensors in the next future.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

Distinguishing different stackings in layered materials via luminescence spectroscopy

Despite its simple crystal structure, layered boron nitride features a surprisingly complex variety of phonon-assisted luminescence peaks. We present a combined experimental and theoretical study on ultraviolet-light emission in hexagonal and rhombohedral bulk boron nitride crystals. Emission spectra of high-quality samples are measured via cathodoluminescence spectroscopy, displaying characteristic differences between the two polytypes. These differences are explained using a fully first-principles computational technique that takes into account radiative emission from ``indirect'', finite-momentum, excitons via coupling to finite-momentum phonons. We show that the differences in peak positions, number of peaks and relative intensities can be qualitatively and quantitatively explained, once a full integration over all relevant momenta of excitons and phonons is performed.Comment: Main: 6 pages and 4 figures, Supplementary: 6 pages and 7 figure

Distinguishing Different Stackings in Layered Materials via Luminescence Spectroscopy

peer reviewedDespite its simple crystal structure, layered boron nitride features a surprisingly complex variety of phonon-assisted luminescence peaks. We present a combined experimental and theoretical study on ultraviolet-light emission in hexagonal and rhombohedral bulk boron nitride crystals. Emission spectra of high-quality samples are measured via cathodoluminescence spectroscopy, displaying characteristic differences between the two polytypes. These differences are explained using a fully first-principles computational technique that takes into account radiative emission from “indirect,” finite-momentum excitons via coupling to finite-momentum phonons.We show that the differences in peak positions, number of peaks, and relative intensities can be qualitatively and quantitatively explained, once a full integration over all relevant momenta of excitons and phonons is performed

Excitons in lamellar boron nitride : study of the hexagonal and rhombohedral phases and of 2D heterostructures.

Le nitrure de bore hexagonal (hBN) est un semiconducteur lamellaire possédant une large bande interdite de type indirect (> 6 eV). L’autre structure lamellaire du nitrure de bore est rhomboédrique (rBN), mais beaucoup moins connue et étudiée. L’objectif de cette thèse est l’étude des excitons à l’origine de la luminescence de ces deux phases mais aussi d’hétérostructures 2D, où le hBN est utilisé en combinaison d’autres matériaux 2D dans des empilements verticaux.L’étude des propriétés des excitons dans hBN est réalisée sur un cristal de référence synthétisé par haute pression et haute température au Japon. L’énergie de liaison des excitons ainsi que le rendement quantique interne du hBN sont quantitativement évalués par spectroscopie de cathodoluminescence. L’anomalie observée entre absorption et luminescence est résolue avec l’identification du rôle respectif des excitons directs et indirects. À forte excitation, l’efficacité de luminescence de hBN décroit, limitée par une annihilation entre excitons, particulièrement efficace dans ce matériau.Associées à une caractérisation structurale, les signatures spectroscopiques de luminescence et Raman de la phase rhomboédrique sont identifiées. Elles ont permis d’analyser les propriétés de couches minces synthétisées par voie chimique (CVD).La dernière partie de cette thèse porte sur l’étude d’hétérostructures 2D de type hBN/MoX2/hBN où X = S ou Se. Une caractérisation exhaustive des propriétés de luminescence, vibrationnelles et structurales est menée sur l’ensemble des matériaux constituants. Les analyses sont menées à la fois en vue plane et en section transverse grâce à la découpe de lames minces par faisceau d’ions focalisés. Des résultats préliminaires sur la diffusion des excitons et sur les excitons d’interface y sont présentés.Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is a lamellar wide indirect bandgap semiconductor (> 6 eV). The other lamellar boron nitride phase is rhombohedral (rBN), but much less known and studied. The goal of this thesis is the study of the excitons source of the luminescence of both phases and of 2D heterostructures, where hBN is used in combination with other 2D materials in vertical stacks.The study of hBN excitons properties is performed on a reference sample synthesized by high pressure and high temperature in Japan. Excitons binding energy as well as hBN internal quantum yield are quantitatively assessed by cathodoluminescence spectroscopy. The observed anomaly between absorption and luminescence is resolved thanks to the identification of the role of direct and indirect excitons respectively. At high excitation, hBN luminescence efficiency decreases limited by exciton-exciton annihilation. This phenomenon is especially efficient in this material.Combined with a structural characterization, the Raman and luminescence spectroscopic signature of the rhombohedral phase are identified. This allowed the analysis of the properties of chemically synthesized thin films (CVD).The last part of this thesis is devoted to the study of a 2D heterostructure hBN/MoX2/hBN where X = S or Se. An exhaustive characterization of the luminescence, vibrational and structural properties is carried out on all the components. Analyses are performed in both flat view and cross-section thanks to the cutting of a thin lamella by focused ion beam. Preliminary results on excitons diffusion and interface excitons are presented

Excitons dans le nitrure de bore lamellaire : étude des phases hexagonale, rhomboédrique et d’hétérostructures 2D.

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is a lamellar wide indirect bandgap semiconductor (> 6 eV). The other lamellar boron nitride phase is rhombohedral (rBN), but much less known and studied. The goal of this thesis is the study of the excitons source of the luminescence of both phases and of 2D heterostructures, where hBN is used in combination with other 2D materials in vertical stacks.The study of hBN excitons properties is performed on a reference sample synthesized by high pressure and high temperature in Japan. Excitons binding energy as well as hBN internal quantum yield are quantitatively assessed by cathodoluminescence spectroscopy. The observed anomaly between absorption and luminescence is resolved thanks to the identification of the role of direct and indirect excitons respectively. At high excitation, hBN luminescence efficiency decreases limited by exciton-exciton annihilation. This phenomenon is especially efficient in this material.Combined with a structural characterization, the Raman and luminescence spectroscopic signature of the rhombohedral phase are identified. This allowed the analysis of the properties of chemically synthesized thin films (CVD).The last part of this thesis is devoted to the study of a 2D heterostructure hBN/MoX2/hBN where X = S or Se. An exhaustive characterization of the luminescence, vibrational and structural properties is carried out on all the components. Analyses are performed in both flat view and cross-section thanks to the cutting of a thin lamella by focused ion beam. Preliminary results on excitons diffusion and interface excitons are presented.Le nitrure de bore hexagonal (hBN) est un semiconducteur lamellaire possédant une large bande interdite de type indirect (> 6 eV). L’autre structure lamellaire du nitrure de bore est rhomboédrique (rBN), mais beaucoup moins connue et étudiée. L’objectif de cette thèse est l’étude des excitons à l’origine de la luminescence de ces deux phases mais aussi d’hétérostructures 2D, où le hBN est utilisé en combinaison d’autres matériaux 2D dans des empilements verticaux.L’étude des propriétés des excitons dans hBN est réalisée sur un cristal de référence synthétisé par haute pression et haute température au Japon. L’énergie de liaison des excitons ainsi que le rendement quantique interne du hBN sont quantitativement évalués par spectroscopie de cathodoluminescence. L’anomalie observée entre absorption et luminescence est résolue avec l’identification du rôle respectif des excitons directs et indirects. À forte excitation, l’efficacité de luminescence de hBN décroit, limitée par une annihilation entre excitons, particulièrement efficace dans ce matériau.Associées à une caractérisation structurale, les signatures spectroscopiques de luminescence et Raman de la phase rhomboédrique sont identifiées. Elles ont permis d’analyser les propriétés de couches minces synthétisées par voie chimique (CVD).La dernière partie de cette thèse porte sur l’étude d’hétérostructures 2D de type hBN/MoX2/hBN où X = S ou Se. Une caractérisation exhaustive des propriétés de luminescence, vibrationnelles et structurales est menée sur l’ensemble des matériaux constituants. Les analyses sont menées à la fois en vue plane et en section transverse grâce à la découpe de lames minces par faisceau d’ions focalisés. Des résultats préliminaires sur la diffusion des excitons et sur les excitons d’interface y sont présentés

'Chronomics' in ICU: circadian aspects of immune response and therapeutic perspectives in the critically ill

International audienceComplex interrelations exist between the master central clock, located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus, and several peripheral clocks, such as those found in different immune cells of the body. Moreover, external factors that are called 'timekeepers', such as light/dark and sleep/wake cycles, interact with internal clocks by synchronizing their different oscillation phases. Chronobiology is the science that studies biologic rhythms exhibiting recurrent cyclic behavior. Circadian rhythms have a duration of approximately 24 h and can be assessed through chronobiologic analysis of time series of melatonin, cortisol, and temperature. Critically ill patients experience severe circadian deregulation due to not only the lack of effective timekeepers in the intensive care unit (ICU) environment but also systemic inflammation. The latter has been found in both animal and human studies to disrupt circadian rhythmicity of all measured biomarkers. The aims of this article are to describe circadian physiology during acute stress and to discuss the effects of ICU milieu upon circadian rhythms, in order to emphasize the value of considering circadian-immune disturbance as a potential tool for personalized treatment. Thus, besides neoplastic processes, critical illness could be linked to what has been referred as 'chronomics': timing and rhythm. In addition, different therapeutic perspectives will be presented in association with environmental approaches that could restore circadian connection and hasten physical recovery

'Chronomics' in ICU: circadian aspects of immune response and therapeutic perspectives in the critically ill.

Complex interrelations exist between the master central clock, located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus, and several peripheral clocks, such as those found in different immune cells of the body. Moreover, external factors that are called 'timekeepers', such as light/dark and sleep/wake cycles, interact with internal clocks by synchronizing their different oscillation phases. Chronobiology is the science that studies biologic rhythms exhibiting recurrent cyclic behavior. Circadian rhythms have a duration of approximately 24 h and can be assessed through chronobiologic analysis of time series of melatonin, cortisol, and temperature. Critically ill patients experience severe circadian deregulation due to not only the lack of effective timekeepers in the intensive care unit (ICU) environment but also systemic inflammation. The latter has been found in both animal and human studies to disrupt circadian rhythmicity of all measured biomarkers. The aims of this article are to describe circadian physiology during acute stress and to discuss the effects of ICU milieu upon circadian rhythms, in order to emphasize the value of considering circadian-immune disturbance as a potential tool for personalized treatment. Thus, besides neoplastic processes, critical illness could be linked to what has been referred as 'chronomics': timing and rhythm. In addition, different therapeutic perspectives will be presented in association with environmental approaches that could restore circadian connection and hasten physical recovery

Momentum resolved spectroscopy of the dielectric response by TEM

International audienceConsidering dielectric properties of 2D materials, specific questions arise among the screening effects of charge carriers or effects induced by the substrate and highlight the necessity of studying these properties on free standing pristine layers. This can be done using electron energy loss spectroscopy in the low loss energy range (Low-EELS) related to interband and plasmons excitations. Furthermore, in contrast to standard optical spectroscopies, the transfer momentum dependence of the excitations is accessible from the measured loss function provided to operate an angular resolved EELS. Measuring the q dependence of the loss function needs to build a data cube in the diffraction space relying energy losses and q vectors in the diffraction plane. In this work, this is operated employing an electron energy spectroscopic set up in a Libra 200 TEM equipped with an electrostatic monochromator operated in the 40-80 kV range, an in-column corrected omega filter and a CCD camera thanks to which a spectral resolution below 100 meV can be achieved at 40 kV. This set-up provides high quality energy-loss spectra in the form of ω-q maps obtained by selecting a q direction thanks to a slit implemented at the entrance of the omega filter and allows also for the imaging of energy-filtered diffraction patterns. These two acquisition modes provide complementary pieces of information, offering a global view of excitations in reciprocal space. We present here the capabilities of this setup through the study of various 2D layered materials. The Figure 1 displays low losses spectra of pristine mechanically exfoliated phosphorene flakes showing a clear energy upshift of the excitation onset upon thickness decreasing. Optical gaps deduced from these spectra indicate values varying from 1 eV to 1.9 eV between the 3L and the monolayer, which are very close to theoretical predictions. In the same way a blue shift from 1.4 to 1.8 eV of the optical gap has been measured in MoS2 between multilayers and the monolayer.Figures 2 and 3 summarize measures of the low losses associated with interband and /or plasmon excitations performed on hexagonal boron nitride single crystals cut along different directions of the Brillouin zone. First, energy filtered patterns in the basal plane reveal the symmetries of the dipole matrix elements involved in the observed transitions and reveal the direct and indirect nature of the excitations observed for the low losses at 8 and 12 eV respectively. Moreover, by comparing these patterns with our specific ab initio calculations, we show that we are able to relate the range of applicability of ab initio calculations to the anisotropy of the sample and assess the level of approximation required for a proper simulation. Second, intensity profiles extracted from ω-q maps recorded along different directions of the Brillouin zone allow to illustrate that our method provides results which quality is comparable to that obtained from non resonant x-ray inelastic scattering but with advantageous specificities such as an enhanced sensitivity at low q and a much greater simplicity and versatility that make it well adapted to the study of two-dimensional materials and related heterostructures

Exciton-exciton annihilation in hBN

Known as a prominent recombination path at high excitation densities, exciton-exciton annihilation (EEA) is evidenced in bulk hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) by cathodoluminescence at low temperature. Thanks to a careful tune of the the exciton density by varying either the current or the focus of the incident electron beam, we could estimate an EEA rate of 2$\times$10$^{-6}$ cm$^{3}$.s$^{-1}$ at $T=10$ K, the highest reported so far for a bulk semiconductor. Expected to be even stronger in nanotubes or atomic layers, EEA probablly contributes to the luminescence quenching observed in low-dimensionality BN materials

Self-organization of Au colloids assisted by copolymer templates

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