The MIAMI* facility at the University of Huddersfield is one of a number of facilities worldwide that permit the ion irradiation of thin foils in-situ in a transmission electron microscope. MIAMI has been developed with a particular focus on enabling the in-situ implantation of helium and hydrogen into thin electron transparent foils, necessitating ion energies in the range 1 – 10 keV. In addition, however, ions of a variety of species can be provided at energies of up to 100 keV (for singly charged ions), enabling studies to focus on the build up of radiation damage in the absence or presence of implanted gas.

This paper reports on a number of ongoing studies being carried out at MIAMI, and also at JANNuS (Orsay, France) and the IVEM / Ion Accelerator Facility (Argonne National Lab, US). This includes recent work on He bubbles in SiC and Cu; the former work concerned with modification to bubble populations by ion and electron beams and the latter project concerned with the formation of bubble super-lattices in metals.

A study is also presented consisting of experiments aimed at shedding light on the origins of the dimensional changes known to occur in nuclear graphite under irradiation with either neutrons or ions. Single crystal graphite foils have been irradiated with 60 keV Xe ions in order to create a non-uniform damage profile throughout the foil thickness. This gives rise to varying basal-plane contraction throughout the foil resulting in almost macroscopic (micron scale) deformation of the graphite. These observations are presented and discussed with a view to reconciling them with current understanding of point defect behavior in graphite.

*Microscope and Ion Accelerator for Materials Investigations

In this study, we have investigated various approaches to improve CIGS solar cells after thin film deposition. CIGS devices have been fabricated by a hydrazine solution based process. Post-deposition treatments by sulfurization were studied with focuses on the change of material structures and physical properties. Sulfurization has shown to increase grain size and band gap of the absorber layers at higher temperatures. This property change has shown a direct impact on open circuit voltage of the solar cell devices. Through these post-deposition processes, improved quality of CIGS materials can be obtained and the associated solar cell devices show better performance.

In this paper, the effect of phosphorus diffusion and hydrogen passivation on the material properties of laser crystallised silicon on glass is investigated. Photoluminescence imaging, as well as Hall effect and Suns-Voc techniques are applied for the characterisation of laser crystallized silicon thin-film material properties. Hall effect as well as Suns-Voc measurements supports the photoluminescence imaging results; phosphorus diffusion and hydrogen passivation of laser crystallized films improves the overall material quality. Hydrogen passivation is more effective at improving the electronic properties of the laser crystallized films than phosphorus diffusion. Hydrogen passivated samples improved the photoluminescence intensity even further by a factor of 3. In addition, a correlation between photoluminescence intensity and open-circuit voltage is demonstrated: samples with highest photoluminescence intensity (1678 counts/s), gave the highest voltage (530 mV). Hall effect measurement shows a significant improvement in the bulk material, with carrier mobility increasing from 208 cm2/Vs to 488 cm2/Vs.

Study on oxidizing cellulose scaffold to dialdehyde cellulose by sodium periodate (NaIO4) was carried out. Concentration of sodium periodate and the reaction time were effected for aldehyde introduction to cellulose scaffolds. Cellulose powder was dissolved in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, an ionic liquid, at 100°C and maintained at room temperature for 7 days, providing flexible cellulose scaffold. The cellulose scaffold was oxidized using periodate oxidation (Malaprade oxidation), which oxidizes carbohydrate by glycol cleavage to provide dialdehyde. Aldehyde groups introduced into cellulose were quantified by simple iodometry. Oxidized cellulose scaffold was degraded in the amino acid solution triggered by the reaction between aldehyde groups and amino groups. During immersion of the cellulose scaffolds in the amino acid solution, the mass loss of the scaffolds was evaluated by measuring of weight of oxidized cellulose scaffold before and after degradation.

Crystal plasticity finite element method is a useful tool to investigate the anisotropic mechanical behaviors as well as the microstructure evolution of metallic materials and it is widely used on single crystals and polycrystalline materials. However, grain boundary involved mechanisms are barely included in the polycrystalline models, and modeling the interaction between the dislocation and the grain boundaries in polycrystalline materials in a physically consisstent way is still a long-standing, unsolved problem. In our analysis, a dislocation density based crystal plasticity finite element model is proposed, and the interaction between the dislocation density and the grain boundaries is included in the model kinematically. The model is then applied to Al bicrystals under 10% compression to investigate the effects of grain boundary character, e.g. grain boundary misorientation and grain boundary normal, on the stress state and the microstructure evolution. The modeling results suggest a reasonable correspondence with the experimental result and the grain boundary character plays a crucial role in the stress concentration and dislocation patterning.

A Joule heating based self-alignment method for solution-processable insulator structures has been modeled for the passivation of metal grid lines, for example for organic light emitting diodes or photovoltaic cells. To minimize overhang of the passivation layer from line edges, we have studied the Joule heating approach using solution-processable, cross-linkable polymer insulator films. Finite element simulations were performed to investigate the heating of the sample using glass and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) substrates. The sample was at room temperature and the current was selected to induce a temperature of 410 K at the conductor. It was found that the selection of substrate material is crucial for the localization of cross-linking. For a PET substrate, the temperature gradient at the edge of the conductor is approximately twice the gradient for glass. As a result, using a glass substrate demands high selectivity from the polymer cross-linking, thus making PET a more suitable substrate material for our application. A flexible PET substrate is, in addition, compatible with roll-to-roll mass-manufacturing processes.

Laser processing of thin-film silicon is a promising approach for the realization of polycrystalline silicon for large area electronics and solar cell applications. In this study we investigate the material modification of amorphous hydrogenated silicon (a-Si:H) with different hydrogen content (30%, 13% and <1%) by means of femtosecond (fs) laser pulses. Depending on the peak fluence applied, hydrogen diffusion/effusion, layer crystallization or material ablation can be achieved. Despite the low absorption coefficient of a-Si:H at the center wavelength of an amplified Titanium Sapphire laser at 790 nm a high local energy deposition close to the surface of the a-Si:H layer is observed, which can be attributed to a nonlinear absorption process.

Remora fish are capable of fast, reversible and reliable adhesion to a wide variety of both natural and artificial marine hosts through a uniquely evolved dorsal pad. This adhesion is partially attributed to suction, which requires a robust seal between the pad interior and the ambient environment. Understanding the behavior of remora adhesion based on measurable surface parameters and material properties is a critical step when creating artificial, bio-inspired devices. In this work, structural and fluid finite element models (FEM) based on a simplified “unit cell” geometry were developed to predict the behavior of the seal with respect to host/remora surface topology and tissue material properties.

We confirmed a specific detection of immunoglobulin E(IgE) by using an aptamer immobilized reduced graphene oxide(rGo) field effect transistor(FET). A detection limit and dynamic range were estimated 8.1 ng/ml and 10000 respectively. These characteristics are comparable with current fluorescent markers. Although a mobility of rGo FET was around 5 cm2/V.sec, and this is two to three orders lower than mechanically exfoliated pristine graphene FET, a sensitivity of it was only one order lower than using pristine graphene.

Natural metamict mineral found as large (1-3 cm in size) homogeneous grains (as assumed, former single crystals), was investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (pXRD), high-temperature pXRD, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron microprobe analysis (EMPA). The average chemical composition obtained by EMPA is (wt. %): Nb2O5 – 42.6; Ta2O5 – 4.4; TiO2 – 9.2; UO3 – 4.4; ThO2 – 1.0; MnO – 1.3; FeO – 19.4; Y2O3 – 16.6.

The untreated (original) sample is X-ray amorphous. The sample remained amorphous after annealing at 400 °C for 1 hour. The sample became almost fully crystalline after annealing at 700 °C for 1 hour with an X-ray diffraction pattern similar to that of Fe-columbite (ICCD: 01-074-7356). Further annealing at 1000 °C and higher temperatures caused changes in the phase composition of the sample. It was proposed that under self-irradiation a single-phase U-Th-bearing solid solution, based on monocrystalline Y-niobate, became metamict but remained homogeneous without evidence of solid solution destruction. However, this metamict solid solution is unstable under thermal treatment and recrystallization.

In the current paper we present a continuum theory of dislocations based on the second-order alignment tensor in conjunction with the classical dislocation density tensor (Kröner-Nye-tensor) and a scalar dislocation curvature measure. The second-order alignment tensor is a symmetric second order tensor characterizing the orientation distribution of dislocations in elliptic form. It is closely connected to total densities of screw and edge dislocations introduced in the literature. The scalar dislocation curvature density is a conserved quantity the integral of which represents the total number of dislocations in the system. The presented evolution equations of these dislocation density measures partly parallel earlier developed theories based on screw-edge decompositions but handle line length changes and segment reorientation consistently. We demonstrate that the presented equations allow predicting the evolution of a single dislocation loop in a non-trivial velocity field.

Metastatic tumors can spread via release of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) into the bloodstream. Early detection of these CTCs could greatly improve cancer survival rates by enabling diagnosis, and therefore treatment, before secondary tumors arise. However, tumor cells are typically present in very low concentrations, making them difficult to detect in a fluid dominated by red blood cells (RBCs), leukocytes and serum proteins. Separation of CTCs from blood plasma, leukocytes and RBCs is predicted to improve cell capture via antibody-based methods and reduce interference in capture/detection assays. Previously, members of our team have demonstrated microfluidic, size-based separation of blood components, but have yet to integrate this sorting capability with an affinity-based detection technology. To this end, we have developed a microfluidic platform to separate CTCs from mouse blood and detect them using grating coupled surface plasmon resonance (GCSPR). We have implemented a size-based sorting array, which separates objects based upon their diameter, within a microfluidic channel. Separation of beads (2 μm, 6 μm, 10 μm) has been demonstrated, as well as separation of white blood cells and CTCs from blood. The resulting stream of large blood cells (including CTCs) is then directed onto an integrated SPR grating for affinity based capture and detection. Using GCSPR vs. conventional SPR enables detection of multiple cell types across the grating in an array-based format. We have demonstrated differential capture and detection of cells on GCSPR gratings following size-based separation of blood. Using capture antibodies specific to unique CTC surface proteins enables identification of cell types and may provide prognostic capability, beyond the diagnostic capacity of this system.

The formation of nickel germanide has been examined over a range of low temperatures (200-400 °C) in an attempt to minimize the thermal budget for the process. Cross-sectional Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) was used to determine the texture of the germanide layer and the morphology and constituent composition of the Ge/NiGe interface. The onset and completion of reaction between Ni and Ge were identified by means of a heated stage in combination with in-situ x-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The stages of reaction were also monitored using measurements of sheet resistance of the germanides by the Van der Pauw technique. The results have shown that the minimum temperature for the initiation of reaction of Ni and Ge to form NiGe was 225 °C. However, an annealing temperature > 275 °C was necessary for the extensive (and practical) formation of NiGe. Between 200 and 300 °C, the duration of annealing required for the formation of NiGe was significantly longer than at higher temperatures. The stoichiometry of the germanide was very close to NiGe (1:1) as determined using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS).

Soft lithographic printing techniques can be used to print nanoparticle dispersions with relative ease while allowing for a measureable degree of controllability of printed feature size. In this study, a Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamp was used to print multi-layered, porous, nanoparticle dispersions of titanium dioxide (TiO2), for use in a dye-sensitized solar cell application. The gelled patterns were then sintered and the surface of the printed sample was chemically analyzed.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to determine the surface constituents of the printed sample. The presence of a secondary peak feature located approximately 2.8 eV above the high resolution O1s core level binding energy peak was attributed to a contamination layer. Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) of the printed sample revealed the presence of vibrational modes characteristic of the asymmetric bond stretching of silica, located at approximate wavenumbers of 1260 and 1030 cm-1.

Soft lithographic techniques are a viable manufacturing technique in a number of disciplines and sintered nano-oxide dispersions are readily used as reaction centers in a number of technologies. The presence of a residual, bonded silicate contamination layer may preclude the soft lithographic printing of chemically active oxide surfaces.

Uranium dioxide (UO2) microspheres were fabricated by two sol-gel processes. First used was a classical process variant, as developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, consisting of (1) reduction of commercial uranyl to U(IV) nitrate; (2) preparation of a sol by precipitation of uranium hydroxide, its peptization, and solvent extraction of nitrates; and (3) gelation to microspheres by extraction of water through addition of a dewatered 2-ethyl-1-hexanol emulsion. Substantial improvement in microsphere production was achieved by application of a sol-gel process in which ascorbic acid was used as strong complexing agent. In this method, the reduction step was omitted and uranyl (VI) ascorbate sols/hydroxyl sols were formed from a suspension of either a uranium trioxide or a uranyl nitrate solution. Gelation through water extraction yielded perfect microspheres. Other metals can be easy added to these sols. Thermal treatment of the UO2 microspheres by calcination and reduction in hydrogen atmosphere was designed on the basis of differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis.

Recently, flexible electronics is attracting growing attention due to its various properties such as lightness and flexibility, which cannot be replaced by rigid electronics. In this study, we investigate flexible ink-jet printed Cu/CuxO/Ag capacitor-like structure that exhibits bipolar resistive switching behavior under direct current voltage sweeps. A vaccum-free and low temperature process is used to fabricate this ReRAM memory device, which allows straightforward fabrication and a structure for characterization of the possible use of CuxO as an insulating layer in these devices. Our device displays a resistive switching ratio greater than 30 between the high resistance and low resistance state at room temperature. The devices exhibit metallic behavior in the low resistance state and a semiconductor behavior is found in the initial and high resistance states as observed in temperature dependent resistance measurements. The resistive switching mechanism of the fabricated structures is explained by the formation and rupture of conductive filament paths.

Graphitic and amorphous C-dots share common characteristics in their photoluminescence behavior. However, the graphitic dots have a lead as electrocatalyst for fuel cells, sensitizers, and electron acceptors for solar cells.

The emergence of carbogenic nanoparticles (C-dots) as a new class of photoluminescent (PL) nanoemitters is directly related to their economical preparation, nontoxic nature, versatility, and tunability. C-dots are typically prepared by pyrolytic or oxidative treatment of suitable precursors. While the surface functionalities critically affect the dispersibility and the emission intensity of C-dots in a given environment, it is the nature of the carbogenic core that actually imparts certain intrinsic properties. Depending on the synthetic approach and the starting materials, the structure of the carbogenic core can vary from highly graphitic all the way to completely amorphous. This critical review focuses on correlating the functions of C-dots with the graphitic or amorphous nature of their carbogenic cores. The systematic classification on that basis can provide insights on the origins of their intriguing photophysical behavior and can contribute in realizing their full potential in challenging applications.

The plasticity of micro-pillar deformation has widely been studied by discrete dislocation dynamics simulations to explain the so-called size effect. In this study the role of glissile junctions forming during plastic deformation under various loading scenarios is in the center of interest. The activity of these naturally forming dislocation sources is followed in detail. Surprisingly these junctions are rather active sources and not just another obstacle as often assumed. Their relative contribution to the overall dislocation density for the simulated specimens reaches often values of 20% or even more. The formation of such a glissile junction is often correlated to stress drops or the end of a stress drop. It is therefore suggested – at least for the sample sizes considered – that this dislocation multiplication mechanism should be take into account in continuum models such as crystal plasticity of higher order dislocation continuum theories.

Fe2SiS4 and Fe2GeS4 crystalline materials posses direct bandgaps of ∼1.55 and ∼1.4 eV respectively and an absorption coefficient larger than 105 cm–1; their theoretical potential as solar photovoltaic absorbers has been demonstrated. However, no solar devices that employ either Fe2SiS4 or Fe2GeS4 have been reported to date. In the presented work, nanoprecursors to Fe2SiS4 and Fe2GeS4 have been fabricated and employed to build ultra-thin-film layers via spray coating and rod coating methods. Temperature-dependent X-Ray diffraction analyses of nanoprecursors coatings show an unprecedented low temperature for forming crystalline Fe2SiS4 and Fe2GeS4. Fabricating of ultra-thin-film photovoltaic devices utilizing Fe2SiS4 and Fe2GeS4 as solar absorber material is presented.

Due to the rapid advance of the emergence of resistant microorganisms to different antibiotics, there is a need to create new antimicrobial agents. It is possible that Nanotechnology has a great impact in this area since the nanoparticles can improve the antimicrobial effect of the antibiotics. In this study we used three different metal oxides nanoparticles, the MgO, ZnO and CuO. These nanoparticles were selected because their interactions leading to cell death and their optical properties. The aim of this study is to develop new methods that are more effective against resistance bacteria, developing antibacterial agents using different nanoparticles against Escherichia coli (ATCC 10536), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 10145), and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC BAA-1026). This study was conducted to evaluate the antibacterial effects of a combination of nanoparticles together with different concentrations of three antibiotics, Gentamicin, Cephalexin and Co-Trimoxazole. The results showed that some nanoparticles are effective to inhibit growth in these microorganisms by increasing the effectiveness of the antibiotic. Therefore, the present study indicates that the combination of the nanoparticles with antibiotics may be applicable as a new antimicrobial agent.