Anisotropic electrical resistance in mesoscopic LaAlO3/SrTiO3 devices with individual domain walls.

The crystal structure of bulk SrTiO3(STO) transitions from cubic to tetragonal at around 105 K. Recent local scanning probe measurements of LaAlO3/SrTiO3 (LAO/STO) interfaces indicated the existence of spatially inhomogeneous electrical current paths and electrostatic potential associated with the structural domain formation in the tetragonal phase of STO. Here we report a study of temperature dependent electronic transport in combination with the polarized light microscopy of structural domains in mesoscopic LAO/STO devices. By reducing the size of the conductive interface to be comparable to that of a single tetragonal domain of STO, the anisotropy of interfacial electron conduction in relationship to the domain wall and its direction was characterized between T = 10-300 K. It was found that the four-point resistance measured with current parallel to the domain wall is larger than the resistance measured perpendicular to the domain wall. This observation is qualitatively consistent with the current diverting effect from a more conductive domain wall within the sample. Among all the samples studied, the maximum resistance ratio found is at least 10 and could be as large as 105 at T = 10 K. This electronic anisotropy may have implications on other oxide hetero-interfaces and the further understanding of electronic/magnetic phenomena found in LAO/STO.

Fluorescent nanodiamonds as a relevant tag for the assessment of alum adjuvant particle biodisposition.

BACKGROUND: Aluminum oxyhydroxide (alum) is a crystalline compound widely used as an immunologic adjuvant of vaccines. Concerns linked to alum particles have emerged following recognition of their causative role in the so-called macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) lesion in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis, revealing an unexpectedly long-lasting biopersistence of alum within immune cells and a fundamental misconception of its biodisposition. Evidence that aluminum-coated particles phagocytozed in the injected muscle and its draining lymph nodes can disseminate within phagocytes throughout the body and slowly accumulate in the brain further suggested that alum safety should be evaluated in the long term. However, lack of specific staining makes difficult the assessment of low quantities of bona fide alum adjuvant particles in tissues. METHODS: We explored the feasibility of using fluorescent functionalized nanodiamonds (mfNDs) as a permanent label of alum (Alhydrogel(®)). mfNDs have a specific and perfectly photostable fluorescence based on the presence within the diamond lattice of nitrogen-vacancy centers (NV centers). As the NV center does not bleach, it allows the microspectrometric detection of mfNDs at very low levels and in the long-term. We thus developed fluorescent nanodiamonds functionalized by hyperbranched polyglycerol (mfNDs) allowing good coupling and stability of alum:mfNDs (AluDia) complexes. Specificities of AluDia complexes were comparable to the whole reference vaccine (anti-hepatitis B vaccine) in terms of particle size and zeta potential. RESULTS: In vivo, AluDia injection was followed by prompt phagocytosis and AluDia particles remained easily detectable by the specific signal of the fND particles in the injected muscle, draining lymph nodes, spleen, liver and brain. In vitro, mfNDs had low toxicity on THP-1 cells and AluDia showed cell toxicity similar to alum alone. Expectedly, AluDia elicited autophagy, and allowed highly specific detection of small amounts of alum in autophagosomes. CONCLUSIONS: The fluorescent nanodiamond technology is able to overcome the limitations of previously used organic fluorophores, thus appearing as a choice methodology for studying distribution, persistence and long-term neurotoxicity of alum adjuvants and beyond of other types of nanoparticles.

Wet chemical synthesis and self-assembly of SnS2 nanoparticles on TiO2 for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells.

SnS2 nanoparticles were synthesized through a simple wet chemical process at room temperature. The SnS2 nanoparticles were approximately spherical in shape and had diameter about 3-4 nm. SnS2-sensitized TiO2 electrodes were fabricated by the immersion of chemically modified TiO2 to well-dispersed SnS2 solution for 72 h (i.e., self-assembly method.) SnS2-sensitized TiO2 electrodes were applied in quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs). Under AM1.5 irradiation with 100 mW/cm2 light intensity (at 1 sun), the short-circuit current density (J(sc)), the open-circuit voltage (V(oc)), the fill factor (FF), and the energy conversion efficiency (eta) were 0.47 mA/cm2, 0.29 V, 0.58 and 0.081%, respectively.

Synthesis of SnS nanoparticles by SILAR method for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells.

SnS-sensitized TiO2 electrodes were applied in quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) which are environmentally more favorable than conventional Cd or Pb-chalcogenide-sensitized electrodes. SnS nanoparticles were well-distributed over the surface of TiO2 nanoparticles by the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. Deposited SnS nanoparticles had diameter about 3 nm. Under AM1.5 irradiation with 100 mW/cm2 light intensity (at 1 sun), the energy conversion efficiency of obtained cells reached a value of 0.21% (0.25 cm2) at SILAR coating cycles of 5. In addition, the photovoltaic performance was improved by additional ZnS coating on the surface of SnS-sensitized TiO2 electrodes.

Novel heteroleptic heterobimetallic alkoxide complexes as facile single-source precursors for Ta(5+) doped TiO(2)-SnO(2) nanoparticles.

The nanometric mixed tin-titanium oxide doped with a M(5+) cation was recently shown as a promising thermoelectric material. We report here synthesis of novel molecular precursors for above material using a convenient approach of reacting a metal chloride with a metal alkoxide. Heterometallic complexes with simple addition formula [(EtOH)(2)(OEt)(2)Ti(µ-OEt)(2)SnCl(4)] (1·EtOH) and [(EtOH)(OEt)(3)Ta(µ-OEt)(2)SnCl(4)] (2) were isolated in quantitative yield, which on recrystallization from isopropanol afforded mixed-alkoxide complexes [(Pr(i)OH)(2)(OPr(i))(2)Ti(µ-OEt)(2)SnCl(4)] (3) and [(Pr(i)OH)(OPr(i))(3)Ta(µ-OEt)(2)SnCl(4)] (4), respectively, thus indicating the robustness of the heterometallic M(µ-OEt)(2)Sn core in the solution phase. Facile conversion of these precursors to halide-free spinodal form of Ta(5+)-doped TiO(2)-SnO(2) as a potential thermoelectric material is reported.

Non-equilibrium nitrogen DC-arc plasma treatment of TiO2 nanopowder.

Non-equilibrium nitrogen DC-arc plasma treatment of a commercial TiO2 anatase nanopowder was examined to obtain nitrogen-doped TiO2. By using a non-thermal discharge at low current (150 mA) and high voltage (1200 V) using pure N2 gas, light yellowish-gray TiO2 powder was successfully obtained within a short period of 5-10 min. XPS and TEM-EELS studies confirmed the existence of doped nitrogen. Due to the relatively mild conditions (plasma power of 180 W), metastable anatase structure and fine crystallite size of TiO2 (ca. 10 nm) were maintained after the plasma treatment. The in-flight powder treatment system used in this study is promising for various type of powder treatment.