Antonio Rinaldi

The Clash of Mechanical and Electrical Size-Effects in ZnO Nanowires and a Double Power Law Approach to Elastic Strain Engineering of Piezoelectric and Piezotronic Devices

The piezoelectric performance of ultra-strength ZnO nanowires (NWs) depends on the subtle interplay between electrical and mechanical size-effects. Size-dependent modeling of compressed NWs illustrates why experimentally observed mechanical stiffening can indeed collide with electrical size-effects when the size shrinks, thereby lowering the actual piezoelectric function from bulk estimates. Smaller is not necessarily better in nanotechnology.

Effects of dislocation density and sample-size on plastic yielding at the nanoscale: a Weibull-like framework

Micro-compression tests have demonstrated that plastic yielding in nanoscale pillars is the result of the fine interplay between the sample-size (chiefly the diameter D) and the density of bulk dislocations ρ. The power-law scaling typical of the nanoscale stems from a source-limited regime, which depends on both these sample parameters. Based on the experimental and theoretical results available in the literature, this paper offers a perspective about the joint effect of D and ρ on the yield stress in any plastic regime, promoting also a schematic graphical map of it. In the sample-size dependent regime, such dependence is cast mathematically into a first order Weibull-type theory, where the power-law scaling the power exponent β and the modulus m of an approximate (unimodal) Weibull distribution of source-strengths can be related by a simple inverse proportionality. As a corollary, the scaling exponent β may not be a universal number, as speculated in the literature. In this context, the discussion opens the alternative possibility of more general (multimodal) source-strength distributions, which could produce more complex and realistic strengthening patterns than the single power-law usually assumed. The paper re-examines our own experimental data, as well as results of Bei et al. (2008) on Mo-alloy pillars, especially for the sake of emphasizing the significance of a sudden increase in sample response scatter as a warning signal of an incipient source-limited regime.

Radio frequency sputtered Al:ZnO-Ag transparent conductor: A plasmonic nanostructure with enhanced optical and electrical properties

Optimization of metal-based transparent conductors (MTCs) made of silver and aluminium-doped zinc oxide (AZO) prepared by radio-frequency (r.f.) sputtering has been carried out through tuning of metal film properties. The influence of morphology and related plasmonic features of AZO/Ag/AZO MTCs on their optical and electrical performance is demonstrated and it is shown that the nominal thickness of the silver layer itself is not the most crucial value determining the MTC performance. The MTC performance has been optimized by a search of deposition conditions ensuring fractal-type metal layer formation up to a certain coalescence state that enables full gaining from silver optical properties, including its plasmonic features. For 150 W- and 200 W-deposited silver, MTCs with maximum transmittance as high as 83.6% have been obtained. These coatings have a figure of merit as good as 0.01u2009Ω−1 and a remarkably wide spectral transparency region: transmittance higher than 70% down to 1200u2009nm for 200W-samples. Modelling of the MTC coatings is proposed additionally, based on variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometric measurements, which takes into account the variation of the optical properties of silver when deposited in various conditions and embedded in a semiconductor stack.

Development of nanocomposites for conservation of artistic stones

Properties of consolidant and protective materials modified with nanoparticles were analysed in this study following their application onto marble samples. For this purpose, different solutions of an acrylic resin with dispersed SiO2 and TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared. The relative durability of Paraloid B72, an acrylic resin used as consolidant and modified by nanoparticles, was evaluated comparatively by means of diverse diagnostic techniques, namely, scanning electron microscopy, laser-induced fluorescence, ultrasonic sound, colorimetry, total immersion water absorption and contact angle. The results demonstrate that nanoparticles enhance the effectiveness of consolidant and protective material because they induce substantial changes of surface morphology of the coating layer.

Solutions for critical raw materials under extreme conditions: A review

In Europe, many technologies with high socio-economic benefits face materials requirements that are often affected by demand-supply disruption. This paper offers an overview of critical raw materials in high value alloys and metal-matrix composites used in critical applications, such as energy, transportation and machinery manufacturing associated with extreme working conditions in terms of temperature, loading, friction, wear and corrosion. The goal is to provide perspectives about the reduction and/or substitution of selected critical raw materials: Co, W, Cr, Nb and Mg.

Performance of nanocomposites for preservation of artistic stones

In this work, the effectiveness of nanocomposite surface treatments as protective systems for artistic stones was evaluated. Pyrolitic silica and titania nanoparticles were dispersed in a commercial silicon-based polymer and applied on marble and travertine samples. Artificial aging processes, both in climatic chamber and in solar box, were carried out to simulate real degradation processes in terms of photo-thermal effects and physical-chemical damage. The performances of the nanocomposites used as consolidant were evaluated comparatively by means of diverse diagnostic techniques, namely: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), laser induced fluorescence (LIF), ultrasonic technique, colorimetry, total immersion water absorption and contact angle. The results show that some properties of conservation materials can be improved by the presences of nanoparticles because they induce substantial changes of surface morphology of the coating layer and counter the physical damage observed during artificial weathering.

Mechanical properties of “two generations” of teeth aligners: Change analysis during oral permanence

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.

Analysis of Polycaprolactone Microfibers as Biofilm Carriers for Biotechnologically Relevant Bacteria

Polymeric electrospun fibers are becoming popular in microbial biotechnology because of their exceptional physicochemical characteristics, biodegradability, surface-to-volume ratio, and compatibility with biological systems, which give them a great potential as microbial supports to be used in production processes or environmental applications. In this work, we analyzed and compared the ability of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida, Brevundimonas diminuta, and Sphingobium fuliginis to develop biofilms on different types of polycaprolactone (PCL) microfibers. These bacterial species are relevant in the production of biobased chemicals, enzymes, and proteins for therapeutic use and bioremediation. The obtained results demonstrated that all selected species were able to attach efficiently to the PCL microfibers. Also, the ability of pure cultures of S. fuliginis (former Flavobacterium sp. ATCC 27551, a very relevant strain in the bioremediation of organophosphorus compounds) to form dense biofilms was observed for the first time, opening the possibility of new applications for this microorganism. This material showed to have a high microbial loading capacity, regardless of the mesh density and fiber diameter. A comparative analysis between PCL and polylactic acid (PLA) electrospun microfibers indicated that both surfaces have a similar bacterial loading capacity, but the former material showed higher resistance to microbial degradation than PLA.

Colonization of Electrospun Polycaprolactone Fibers by Relevant Pathogenic Bacterial Strains

Electrospun biodegradable polymers have emerged as promising materials for their applications in several fields, including biomedicine and food industry. For this reason, the susceptibility of these materials to be colonized by different pathogens is a critical issue for public health, and their study can provide future knowledge to develop new strategies against bacterial infections. In this work, the ability of three pathogenic bacterial species ( Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Listeria monocytogenes) to adhere and form biofilm in electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) microfibrous meshes was investigated. Bacterial attachment was analyzed in meshes with different microstructure, and comparisons with other materials (borosilicate glass and electrospun polylactic acid (PLA)) fibers were assessed. Analysis included colony forming unit (CFU) counts, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and crystal violet (CV) staining. All the obtained data suggest that PCL meshes, regardless of their microstructure, are highly susceptible to be colonized by the pathogenic relevant bacteria used in this study, so a pretreatment or a functionalization with compounds that present some antimicrobial activity or antibiofilm properties is highly recommended before their application. Moreover, an experiment designed to simulate a chronic wound environment was used to demonstrate the ability of these meshes to detach biofilms from the substratum where they have developed, thus making them promising candidates to be used in wound cleaning and disinfection.

Thermoelectric characterization of piezoelectric ZnO nanowires

ZnO is receiving a considerable attention for the development of novel cost-effective one-dimensional nanostructures with outstanding functional properties for applications in electronics and energy. We propose a fully-coupled thermo-mechanical-electric scheme to study the current-voltage characteristic of piezoelectric ZnO NWs under a purely vertical compressive/tensile strain. Our results confirm that the thermal transport processes deeply affect the behavior of devices for piezoelectric-piezotronic applications and provides remarkable insights into the underlying physics.