Microstructural and chemical characterisation techniques for nanostructured and amorphous coatings

A full characterization of amorphous or nanostructured coatings at the microstructural level has some intrinsic difficulties associated with the lack of long range order and reference compounds, which often make difficult their study. Only by the combination of different characterization techniques is possible in many cases to achieve valuable chemical and structural information. In this…

Microstructural and chemical characterisation techniques for nanostructured and amorphous coatings

A full characterization of amorphous or nanostructured coatings at the microstructural level has some intrinsic difficulties associated with the lack of long range order and reference compounds, which often make difficult their study. Only by the combination of different characterization techniques is possible in many cases to achieve valuable chemical and structural information. In this…

Response of nanoparticle-based one-dimensional photonic crystals to ambient vapor pressure

Herein we report an analysis of the variation of the optical properties of different nanoparticle-based one-dimensional photonic crystal architectures versus changes in the ambient vapor pressure. Gradual shift of the optical response provides us with information on the sorption properties of these structures and allow us to measure precise adsorption isotherms of these porous multilayers.…

Ar+NO microwave plasmas for Escherichia coli sterilization

Ar + NO microwave discharges are used for sterilization and the results are compared with additional experiments with Ar, O(2) and N(2)-O(2) plasma mixtures. The NO* species produced in the Ar – NO mixtures remain up to long distances from the source, thus improving the sterilization efficiency of the process. E. coli individuals exposed to…

Influence of the chemical and electronic structure on the electrical behavior of zirconium oxynitride films

This work is devoted to the investigation of decorative zirconium oxynitride, ZrOxNy, films prepared by dc reactive magnetron sputtering, using a 17:3 nitrogen-to-oxygen-ratio gas mixture. The color of the films changed from metallic-like, very bright yellow pale, and golden yellow, for low gas mixture flows [from 0 to about 9 SCCM (SCCM denotes cubic centimeter…

Sorption properties of mesoporous multilayer thin films

The vapor sorption properties of multilayers made of ordered mesoporous thin films with tailored composition and mesostructure are herein investigated. Optical reflectance measurements versus partial pressure of several vapors are performed to analyze the interplay between the affinity to and the accessibility of the different types of layers in the structure. We find that the…

Plasmas de nitrógeno para funcionalizacion superficial de materiales (PLASNITRO)

En el proyecto PlasNitro se aborda la caracterización de plasmas de nitrógeno en di-versas aplicaciones tecnológicas relacionadas con técnicas de deposición y funcionalización de materiales, reformado y procesos de esterilización que involucran a la Tecnología de Plasma. Se pondrán a punto diferentes procedimientos para medir propiedades de los plasmas, usados en dopado, deposición, funcionalización y…