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The electrothermal behavior of gallium nitride (GaN) HEMTs has been simulated by using a hybrid approach in which the problem is solved by coupling together an effective model (for the electrical part) and a 3-D finite element model (for the thermal part). The effective model relies on the estimation of the channel current at different temperatures in the absence of thermal gradients. This regime occurs in real devices only during the very initial stage of bias pulses, when self-heating effects are not yet developed, for time intervals shorter than 1 ns. Virtual output electrical characteristic, in which self-heating effects are negligible, have been derived from pulsed measurements of the electrical output characteristics and electrothermal transient simulations. The maximum temperature because of self-heating evaluated by using the virtual output characteristic are substantially higher than those obtained using the short time-pulsed measurements directly. The results have been validated by a comparison with temperature measurements obtained using Raman thermography. This approach has proven to be numerically very efficient and fast, allowing the analysis of realistic complex structures and circuits.

Alessandro Paolini,1 Giulia Battafarano,1 Valentina D’Oria,1 Francesco Mura,2 Simona Sennato,3 Valentina Mussi,4 Roberta Risoluti,5 Stefano Materazzi,5 Andrea Del Fattore,1 Andrea Masotti1 1Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Research Laboratories, Rome 00146, Italy; 2Center for Nanotechnology for Engineering (CNIS), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy; 3CNR-ISC UOS Sapienza and Physics Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy; 4National Research Council, Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems IMM-CNR, Roma 00133, Italy; 5Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, ItalyCorrespondence: Andrea MasottiBambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Research Laboratories, Gene Expression-Microarrays Laboratory, Viale di San Paolo 15, Rome 00146, ItalyTel +39-06-68592650Fax +39-0668592904Email andrea.masotti@opbg.netBackground: The advent of 3D printing technology allowed the realization of custom devices that can be used not only in the everyday life but also in the nanotechnology and biomedical fields. In nanotechnology, the use of bi-dimensional nanostructures based on carbon nanotubes, generally referred as buckypapers, have received considerable attention for their versatility and potential application in many biomedical fields. Unfortunately, buckypapers are extremely hydrophobic and cannot be used in aqueous media to culture cells.Methods: A polymeric device able to accommodate buckypapers and facilitate cell growth was fabricated by using 3D printing technology. We imparted hydrophilicity to buckypapers by coating them with polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers.Results: We found that by using novel techniques such as polymer coating the buckypaper hydrophilicity increased, whereas the use of 3D printing technology allowed us to obtain custom devices that have been used to culture cells on buckypapers for many days. We characterized in details the morphology of these structures and studied for the first time the kinetic of cell proliferation. We found that these scaffolds, if properly functionalized, are suitable materials to grow cells for long time and potentially employable in the biomedical field.Conclusion: Although these materials are cytotoxic under certain circumstances, we have found a suitable coating and specific experimental conditions that encourage using buckypapers as novel scaffolds for cell growth and for potential applications in tissue repair and regeneration.Keywords: 3D printing, buckypaper, PAMAM dendrimer, cell proliferation, tissue regeneration, transfection

Background Bond strength of orthodontic composite is strongly influenced by molecular and structural mechanisms. Aim of this in vitro study was to compare bond strength of light-cure orthodontic composites by measuring debonding forces and evaluating locations of bond failure. Investigations on chemical compositions clarified adhesive behaviors and abilities, exploring effects of ageing processes in this junction materials. Methods Twelve enamel discs, from human premolars, were randomly coupled to one orthodontic adhesive system (Transbond XT™ 3 M UNITEK, USA, Light-Cure Orthodontic Paste, LEONE, Italy and Bisco Ortho Bracket Paste LC, BISCO, Illinois) and underwent to Shear Bond Strength test. Metallic brackets were bonded to twenty-seven human premolar, with one of the adhesive systems, to quantify, at FE-SEM magnifications, after debonding, the residual material on enamel and bracket base surfaces. Raman Spectroscopy analysis was performed on eight discs of each composites to investigate on chemical compositions, before and after accelerated aging procedures in human saliva and sugary drink. Results Orthodontic adhesive systems showed similar strength of adhesion to enamel. The breakage of adhesive-adherent bond occurs in TXT at enamel-adhesive interface while in Bisco and Leone at adhesive-bracket interface. Accelerated in vitro aging demonstrated good physical–chemical stability for all composites, Bisco only, was weakly contaminated with respect to the other materials. Conclusion A similar, clinically adequate and acceptable bond strength to enamel for debonding maneuvers was recorded in all orthodontic adhesive systems under examination. No significant chemical alterations are recorded, even in highly critical situations, not altering the initial mechanical properties of materials.

We report the self-assembly of core–shell GeTe/Sb2Te3 nanowires (NWs) on Si (100), and SiO2/Si substrates by metalorganic chemical vapour deposition, coupled to the vapour–liquid–solid mechanism, catalyzed by Au nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, micro-Raman mapping, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and electron energy loss spectroscopy were employed to investigate the morphology, structure, and composition of the obtained core and core–shell NWs. A single crystalline GeTe core and a polycrystalline Sb2Te3 shell formed the NWs, having core and core–shell diameters in the range of 50–130 nm and an average length up to 7 µm.

Laboratory-synthesized CaCO3 nanoparticles and their nanodispersion in 1,4-butanediol as a working medium have been first characterized and then tested on the surface of Pietraforte stone that forms the cladding of the bell tower of San Lorenzo. Both CaCO3 nanoparticles and their nanodispersion in 1,4-butanediol were characterized in the church in Florence, Italy by X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, Raman, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy/EDX spectroscopy. The Pietraforte sample surface, before and after CaCO3 nanodispersion treatments, was characterized by comparison of the porosity and specific surface area, capillary absorption, and surface hardness. An ultrastructural morphological investigation by SEM was also carried out, confirming and implementing the effective dynamics of the nanodispersion action. Lastly, differences in stone optical appearance before and after treatment were evaluated by colorimetric measurements. Considering the obtained results of the study, we conclude that CaCO3 nanodispersion in 1,4-butanediol is an effective restorative agent that prevents water infiltration in the stone, reduces stone disruption, and promotes its consolidation without altering its appearance. Finally, the long-lasting stability of the CaCO3 nanodispersion at ambient conditions makes it suitable for production and commercialization.

Semiconductor nanowires (NWs) often present different structural and opto-electronic properties than their thin film counterparts. The thinner they are, the larger these differences are. Here, we present femtosecond transient absorbance measurements on ${\mathrm{GaAs}}_{0.8}{\mathrm{P}}_{0.2}$ NWs of two different diameters, 36 and 51 nm. The results show that thinner NWs sustain a higher carrier temperature for longer times than thicker NWs. This observation suggests that, in thinner NWs, the buildup of a hot-phonon bottleneck is easier than in thicker NWs because of the increased phonon scattering at the NW sidewalls, which facilitates the buildup of a large phonon density. Moreover, the important observation that the carrier temperature in thin NWs is higher than in thick NWs already at the beginning of the hot carrier regime suggests that the phonon-mediated scattering processes in the nonthermal regime play a major role at least for the carrier densities investigated here $(8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{18} \mathrm{to} 4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{19}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{c}{\mathrm{m}}^{\text{--}3}$). Our results also suggest that the phonon scattering at crystal defects is negligible compared with the phonon scattering at the NW sidewalls.

In this chapter we describe: (1) the procedure for the synthesis of four single chain bolaamphiphiles, displaying chains of 12, 16, 20 and 30 methylene units and triphenylphosphonium moieties as headgroups (TPP1-TPP4); (2) the methods used to characterize TPP1-TPP4 spontaneous aggregation in aqueous solution. We illustrate the determination of Krafft point and cac by conductivity measurements and the procedures used to investigate dimensions, morphology, and stability by dynamic and dielectrophoretic laser light scattering, dialysis, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy measurements.

Glycated albumin (GA) is rapidly emerging as a robust biomarker for screening and monitoring of diabetes. To facilitate its rapid, point-of-care measurements, a label-free surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensing platform is reported that leverages the specificity of molecular vibrations and signal amplification on silver-coated silicon nanowires (Ag/SiNWs) for highly sensitive and reproducible quantification of GA. The simulations and experimental measurements demonstrate that the disordered orientation of the nanowires coupled with the wicking of the analyte molecules during the process of solvent evaporation facilitates molecular trapping at the generated plasmonic hotspots. Highly sensitive detection of glycated albumin is shown with the ability to visually detect spectral features at as low as 500 × 10-9 m, significantly below the physiological range of GA in body fluids. Combined with chemometric regression models, the spectral data recorded on the Ag/SiNWs also allow accurate prediction of glycated concentration in mixtures of glycated and non-glycated albumin in proportions that reflect those in the bloodstream.

Hypothesis Bolaamphiphiles are characterized by wide polymorphism of their aggregates, due to the connection of the headgroups that renders their investigation very intriguing in several technological applications. Some bolaamphiphiles displaying the triphenylphosphonium motif (TPP-bolaamphiphiles) were previously explored for their ability in crossing the mitochondrial membranes but their colloidal features, which are crucial for the potential development of an effective drug delivery system, were never investigated. Experiments Single chain TPP-bolaamphiphiles, featuring chains of 12, 16, 20 and 30 methylene units, were synthesized and their aggregation features (Krafft point, cac, dimensions, morphology, stability) were investigated by conductivity, dialysis, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, dynamic and dielectrophoretic laser light scattering measurements. Findings All the TPP-bolaamphiphiles spontaneously self-assemble into vesicles, independently of the chain length. The bolaamphipile with the longest chain forms monodispersed vesicles whereas for the other bolaamphiphiles two distinct populations of vesicles are observed. All vesicles are not equilibrium systems, in particular vesicles formed by the bolaamphiphiles featuring 20 and 30 methylene units result notably stable to dilution thanks to both the tightening of molecular packing at increasing chain length and the progressive reduction of the monomer percentage in U-shaped conformation. These features make these TPP-bolaamphiphiles very attractive as minor components for the development of novel mitochondriotropic liposomes.

We report on the formation of Zn nanoparticles induced by Ga+ focused ion beam on single crystal ZnO. The irradiated materials have been studied as a function of the ion dose by means of atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy, evidencing the presence of Zn nanoparticles with size of the order of 5–30 nm. The nanoparticles are found to be embedded in a shallow amorphous ZnO matrix few tens of nanometers thick. Results reveal that ion beam induced Zn clustering occurs producing crystalline particles with the same hexagonal lattice and orientation of the substrate, and could explain the alteration of optical and electrical properties found for FIB fabricated and processed ZnO based devices.

We investigated 30 kV Ga+ ions treatments on (0001) single crystal ZnO in order to assess the potentiality of ion beam based device fabrication on such material. A multi-technique approach combining atomic force microscopy, Raman and energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopies, and transmission electron microscopy was used to study morphological and structural properties of ZnO upon varying the ion dose. At low doses a shallow defective layer develops showing an increasing defect density as the dose is increased. At higher dose a thinner defective layer with an amorphous layer on top is produced. The ion beam damaged layer on high resistivity ZnO shows enhanced conductivity. KOH based etching removed selectively the damaged ZnO and was found to dissolve rapidly the Ga-rich amorphous layer. The defective layer has an etch rate which depends on the ion dose, and even for prolonged etching processes it was not completely removed. However, conductivity measurements on ion beam fabricated pillars showed that the residual defects do not give a detectable electrical response. These findings indicate that electronic devices and micro-structures with pristine electrical properties of the ZnO crystal can be reliably fabricated by focused ion beam, provided the damaged surface layer is removed by proper etching procedures. Keywords: Zinc oxide, Focused ion beam, Raman spectroscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, Defects

Aim of this in vitro study was to analyze structural properties of two different polymeric orthodontic aligners, Exceed30 (EX30) and Smart Track (LD30), before and after use. Forty patterns of aligners were randomly selected: 20 LD30 and 20 EX30, worn intra-orally for 14±3 days, 22 h/day. From each aligner, 10 specimens were prepared from buccal surfaces of the incisor region by the cutting of samples 5×5 mm under a stereomicroscope. All samples were subjected to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, tensile and indentation strength test. LD30 appeared more homogeneous, with a crystalline fraction lower than EX30 and exhibited a higher elastic behavior and a lower tendency to warp after use than EX30. LD30 demonstrated better adaptability to the dental arch and greater consistency of application of orthodontic forces than produced with EX30. However, both materials showed structural modifications that resulted in increased sample hardness and hyper-plasticity. © 2018, Japanese Society for Dental Materials and Devices. All rights reserved.

We apply photo-acoustic (PA) technique to examine plasmonic properties of 2D periodic arrays of nanoholes etched in gold/chromium layer upon a glass substrate. The pitch of these arrays lies in the near IR, and this, under appropriate wave vector matching conditions in the visible region, allows for the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) guided along a dielectric - metal surface. SPP offered new approaches in light guiding and local field intensity enhancement, but their detection is often difficult due to the problematic discrimination of their contribution from the overall scattering. Here PA measures the energy absorbed due to the non-radiative decay of SPPs. We report on the absorption enhancement by presenting the spatial mapping of absorption under the incidence angles and wavelength that correspond to the efficient excitation of SPPs. Moreover, a comparison with optical transmission measurements is carried out, underlining the applicability and sensitivity of PA technique.

We report on highly disordered array of Au coated silicon nanowires (Au/SiNWs) as surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) probe combined with electrochemical detection for biosensing applications. SiNWs, few microns long, were grown by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition on common microscope slides and covered by Au evaporated film, 150 nm thick. The capability of the resulting composite structure to act as SERS biosensor was studied via the biotin-avidin interaction: the Raman signal obtained from this structure allowed to follow each surface modification step as well as to detect efficiently avidin molecules over a broad range of concentrations from micromolar down to the nanomolar values. The metallic coverage wrapping SiNWs was exploited also to obtain a dual detection of the same bioanalyte by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Indeed, the SERS signal and impedance modifications induced by the biomolecule perturbations on the metalized surface of the NWs were monitored on the very same three-electrode device with the Au/SiNWs acting as both working electrode and SERS probe.

In this work we examine the properties of surface plasmon polaritons that are being formed in a 2D periodic array of nanoholes etched in gold/chromium layer upon a glass substrate. We apply very simple and accurate photo-acoustic technique to measure the absorption of the periodic structure. The experimental results are in a good agreement with the simulations. In order to better understand the confinement of electrical field and the existence of SPPs in the sample, we proceed with Raman spectroscopy measurements. The ability to control and tailor the optical response of structures like these could lead to high performance optical and plasmonic circuits.

Principal component analysis is applied to analyse the Raman maps collected on carbon nanotubes at different degrees of oxidation and functionalization with dye labeling molecules. The results are used to demonstrate that the technique is extremely effective in clustering data and comparing preparation protocols, so that it enables drawing of a fast and reliable classification of the molecule propensity to interact with pristine and oxidized carbon nanotubes. The spectral findings are supported and elucidated by several experimental techniques, thermogravimetry and steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements, and by computational modeling, showing that the proposed methodology could represent a powerful and routine test for the rational design of functional nanostructures.

Planar active waveguides were produced in lithium fluoride crystals by implantation with 1.5 MeV He + ions at several doses. The colored samples have been characterized by optical absorption, photoluminescence and m-line spectroscopy. By comparing the measured guided-mode effective indices with the ones calculated by means of the Chandler–Lama approach, the depth profile of refractive index was derived, showing that there are two competitive physical mechanisms, associated with different processes of energy deposition along the ion track, responsible for positive and negative modifications of the refractive index in the irradiated volume.

The advent of scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) has augmented at a microscopic level the usefulness of optical spectroscopy in the region between 300 nm and 10 mum. Two-dimensional imaging of chemical constituents makes this a very attractive and powerful new approach. In this paper we show SNOM results obtained in several geometrical configurations on boron clusters in silicon, Li clusters embedded in a LiF sample and BN growth on silicon. We also show some results on the wavelength dependence of the reflectivity (R) in the near infrared (IR) of biological cells in liquid environment with the observation of the local fluorescence. The SNOM images revealed features that were not present in the corresponding shear-force (SF) images and which were due to localized changes in the bulk properties of the sample. The size of the smallest detected features clearly demonstrated that near-field conditions were reached both in the visible and infrared region. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In the last years, nanopore technology has been increasingly exploited for biomolecule detection and analysis. Recently, the main focus of the research has moved from the study of nucleic acids to the analysis of proteins and DNA-protein complexes. In this paper, chemically functionalized solid-state nanopore has been used to recognize Nuclear Factor-kappa B proteins (NF-κB), that are involved in several disorders and inflammation processes, so that their identification is of crucial importance for prognostic applications. In particular, we show that it is possible to electrically detect the specific interaction between p50, a protein belonging to the NF-κB family, and dsLNA probe molecules covalently attached to the surface of a FIB fabricated SiN pore. The obtained results have been compared with those related to BSA protein, which does not interact with the used probes. Finally, the potential of the device has been further tested by analyzing a whole cell extract. In this case, three principal peaks in the distribution of electrical event duration can be identified, corresponding to different interacting NF-κB complexes, so that the methodology appears to be effective also to study biological samples of considerable complexity. Ultimately, the presented data emphasize the selectivity and versatility of the functionalized nanopore device, demonstrating its applicability in bioanalytics and advanced diagnostics.

Aims: Sensitivity, selectivity and tunability are keywords to develop effective and reliable diagnostic and bioanalytical tools. In this context, micro and nanofluidic devices constitute a powerful and versatile answer to the growing and urgent demand for innovative solutions. Nevertheless, a precise control of size and functionality of such structures is necessary for ensuring advanced manipulation and sensing capabilities, up to single molecule level. Methods: We report here on different strategies for the development of micro and nanofluidic platforms for advanced diagnostics based on the exploitation of the elastic properties of deformable materials, and on surface chemical functionalization processes. Results: We demonstrated that applying a macroscopic mechanical compression to elastomeric nanostructures it is possible to increase their confining power and vary the dynamics of DNA translocation process, while the use of the chemical functionalization allows to tune both the size and the functionality of the biosensor. Conclusion: We believe that a smart integration of these two approaches would allow a significant step forward for the fabrication of next-generation lab-on-chip devices for biomedical diagnostic applications.

A broad range hyper-spectroscopic microscope fed by a supercontinuum laser source and equipped with an almost achromatic optical layout is illustrated with detailed explanations of the design, implementation and data. The real novelty of this instrument, a confocal spectroscopic microscope capable of recording high resolution reflectance data in the VIS-IR spectral range from about 500 nm to 2.5 μm wavelengths, is the possibility of acquiring spectral data at every physical point as defined by lateral coordinates, X and Y, as well as at a depth coordinate, Z, as obtained by the confocal optical sectioning advantage. With this apparatus we collect each single scanning point as a whole spectrum by combining two linear spectral detector arrays, one CCD for the visible range, and one InGaAs infrared array, simultaneously available at the sensor output channel of the home made instrument. This microscope has been developed for biomedical analysis of human skin and other similar applications. Results are shown illustrating the technical performances of the instrument and the capability in extracting information about the composition and the structure of different parts or compartments in biological samples as well as in solid statematter. A complete spectroscopic fingerprinting of samples at microscopic level is shown possible by using statistical analysis on raw data or analytical reflectance models based on Abelés matrix transfer methods.

Among the optical techniques used for exploring the properties of cells and tissues, those based on hyperspectral label-free analysis are particularly interesting due to their non-invasive character and their ability to fast collect a huge number of information on the different sample constituents and their spatial distribution. Here we present results obtained with a novel hyperspectral reflectance confocal microscope of label-free discrimination of cells undergoing apoptosis. Our data, analyzed by means of a powerful statistical method, enable to obtain information on the biological status at a single cell level through the local measurement of reflectivity. Furthermore, an optical model of the local dielectric response gives an additional insight of the parameters linking the optical responsivity to the biological status.

Several strategies have been developed for the control of DNA translocation in nanopores and nanochannels. However, the possibility to reduce the molecule speed is still challenging for applications in the field of single molecule analysis, such as ultra-rapid sequencing. This paper demonstrates the possibility to alter the DNA translocation process through an elastomeric nanochannel device by dynamically changing its cross section. More in detail, nanochannel deformation is induced by a macroscopic mechanical compression of the polymeric device. This nanochannel squeezing allows slowing down the DNA molecule passage inside it. This simple and low cost method is based on the exploitation of the elastomeric nature of the device, can be coupled with different sensing techniques, is applicable in many research fields, such as DNA detection and manipulation, and is promising for further development in sequencing technology.

The solvent-free, microwave-assisted 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of carbonyl ylides, generated from a series of oxiranes, to SWCNTs (single-walled carbon nanotubes) is described. The procedure is extremely fast and repeatable. The reaction of SWCNTs with benzylidenmalononitrile epoxide afforded a gem-dicyano derivative that is well-suited to further transformation into esters or amides through the Pinner reaction.

a b s t r a c t Interaction between transcription factors and DNA are essential for regulating gene transcription. The Nuclear factor-B (NF-B) is a ubiquitous transcription factor involved in cell signalling and its failure is a principal cause of several autoimmune and auto-inflammatory disorders. In this paper we have developed an atomic force microscopy (AFM) method to quantitatively charac- terise the interaction force between NF-B and DNA or LNA (locked nucleic acid) double strand molecules containing the NF responsive elements (RE). This process allows the simple testing and selection of LNA based decoy molecules to be used in NF-B modulation decoy strategies. Furthermore the proposed methodology is also suitable for testing drug efficacy on the modulation of NF-B binding to its nucleic acid target sequence. A biological AFM based sensor is therefore considered appropriate for characterising transcription factors and selecting molecules to modulate their activity. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In the present work a macroporous brushite bone cement for use either as an injected or mouldable paste, or in the shape of preformed grafts, has been investigated. Macropores have been introduced by adding to the powder single crystals of mannitol which worked as a porogen. The size of the crystals was in the range of 250-500microm in diameter, suitable for cell infiltration, with a shape ratio between 3 and 6. From compression tests on cylindrical samples an elastic modulus in the range 2.5-4.2GPa and a compressive strength in the range 17.5-32.6MPa were obtained for a volume fraction of macropores varying between 15 and 0%. Thus the compressive strength exceeded in all tests the maximum value currently attributed to cancellous bone.

We demonstrate that a combination of ion sputtering and soft lithography is an alternative and effective way of nanostructuring soft matter. We create self-organized nanoscale structures on a glass template by irradiating the surface with a defocused, low energy Ar ion beam. Capillary force lithography is then used to transfer the pattern, exploiting the glass transition of polymeric layers. In particular, we demonstrate the pattern transfer of a periodic 150 nm ripple structure onto an organic compound. This new, unconventional combination is then a low-cost strategy that opens the way to a variety of applications in the field of organic-based devices.

Scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) makes it routinely possible to overcome the fundamental diffraction limit of standard (far-field) microscopy. Recently, aperture-based infrared SNOM performed in the spectroscopic mode, using the Vanderbilt University free electron laser, started delivering spatially-resolved information on the distribution of chemical species and on other laterally-fluctuating properties. The practical examples presented here show the great potential of this new technique both in materials science and in life sciences. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The measured room-temperature absorption spectra of LiF crystals implanted with 1.5 MeV He+ ions at different ion doses are presented. The application of a theoretical model allowed us to give an estimation of the band intensities associated with various kinds of electronic defects and to study their dependence on the ion dose. The model also considers the contribution due to narrometric lithium colloids, whose formation starts in the dose range at which the production of colour centres saturates.

We present first results concerning stable formation of primary electronic defects and lithium nanometer sized clusters in LiF thin films grown by ion-assisted thermal deposition. The optical and morphological properties of the as grown LiF films, dependent on the deposition conditions, such as ion-beam energy and ion species (Xe, Ar), are reported. The experimental results show a larger efficiency of low-energy Xe ions in inducing the formation of lithium nano-clusters. To analyse the role of the deposition conditions, a preliminary interpretation of the lithium nano-cluster formation mechanism based on the spherical and/or cylindrical spike thermal model is given. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An elementary derivation is given for the propagator of a particle in an infinitely deep well. The time evolution of the wavefunction is illustrated through some examples, and certain general properties of the propagator are discussed. The connection with the Talbot effect and other phenomena is outlined.

The advanced optical and electronic characterization of primary F-defects and metallic lithium colloids in lithium fluoride thin films produced by ion-assisted thermal deposition with Xe low-energy ions (< 200 eV) on transparent amorphous substrates is presented and discussed. The volume concentrations of defects and Li nano-clusters have been estimated by applying a best-fit procedure based on a comprehensive theoretical modelling to the spectro-photometric measurements. The appreciable presence of Li metal at the film surface was clearly demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectra. Advanced optical microscopy confirms the negligible formation of other types of more complex luminescent colour centres.

We present data concerning the electrical properties of a class of biosensor devices based on bio-functionalized solid state nanopores able to detect different kinds of interactions between probe molecules, chemically attached to the pore surface, and target molecules present in solution and electrophoretically drawn through the nanometric channel. The great potentiality of this approach resides in the fact that the functionalization of a quite large pore (up to 50-60 nm) allows a sufficient diameter reduction for the attainment of a single molecule sensing dimension and selective activation, without the need for further material deposition, such as metal or oxides, or localized surface modification. The results indicate that it will be possible, in the near future, to conceive and design devices for parallel analysis of biological samples made of arrays of nanopores differently functionalized, fabricated by standard lithographic techniques, with important applications in the field of molecular diagnosis.

Ge-rich Ge–Sb–Te compounds are attractive materials for future phase change memories due to their greater crystallization temperature as it provides a wide range of applications. Herein, we report the self-assembled Ge-rich Ge–Sb–Te/Sb2Te3 core-shell nanowires grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. The core Ge-rich Ge–Sb–Te nanowires were self-assembled through the vapor–liquid–solid mechanism, catalyzed by Au nanoparticles on Si (100) and SiO2/Si substrates; conformal overgrowth of the Sb2Te3 shell was subsequently performed at room temperature to realize the core-shell heterostructures. Both Ge-rich Ge–Sb–Te core and Ge-rich Ge–Sb–Te/Sb2Te3 core-shell nanowires were extensively characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman microspectroscopy, and electron energy loss spectroscopy to analyze the surface morphology, crystalline structure, vibrational properties, and elemental composition.

The morphological, structural, and electrical properties of as-grown and annealed Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) layers, deposited by RF-sputtering on flexible polyimide, were studied by means of optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and electrical characterization. The X-ray diffraction annealing experiments showed the structural transformation of GST layers from the as-grown amorphous state into their crystalline cubic and trigonal phases. The onset of crystallization of the GST films was inferred at about 140 °C. The vibrational properties of the crystalline GST layers were investigated via Raman spectroscopy with mode assignment in agreement with previous works on GST films grown on rigid substrates. The electrical characterization revealed a good homogeneity of the amorphous and crystalline trigonal GST with an electrical resistance contrast of 8 × 106.