Eugeniu Balaur

Wetting behaviour of layers of TiO2 nanotubes with different diameters

In the present work we investigate the wetting behaviour of nanotubular TiO2 layers (π-TiO2) grown by electrochemical anodization of Ti. As-prepared π-TiO2 layers show a super-hydrophilic behaviour while π-TiO2 layers covered by octadecylphosphonic acid (C18H37PO(OH)2) monolayer show super-hydrophobic behaviour. We demonstrated that the wetting properties significantly depend on the nanotube diameter.

Nanopatterning of Si(111) surfaces by atomic force microscope scratching of an organic monolayer

Abstract In this work, we demonstrate selective electroless deposition of Cu into nanoscratches produced on n-type Si(1xa01xa01) surfaces covered with an organic monolayer. The organic layer (undecylenic acid) was covalently attached to a hydrogen-terminated Si surface. The nanosize scratches were produced with an atomic force microscope (AFM) in contact mode using a diamond-coated tip. Copper was deposited in the scratched regions with an electroless (immersion plating) approach using a 0.05 M CuSO 4 xa0+xa01% HF electrolyte. The results show clearly that the organic layer can be used as a mask for the deposition of Cu. Optimization of the electrochemical parameters, leads to a very high selectivity and uniform and well-defined nanostructures. This process represents a novel approach for a direct patterning of Si surfaces using an immersion plating reaction.

Direct immobilization of DNA on diamond-like carbon nanodots

We report an alternative technique for the immobilization of biological species in the sub-100 nm range. The feasibility of attaching DNA to electron-beam-deposited diamond-like carbon nanodots has been demonstrated. The key point of this approach is that direct patterning of a glass substrate is combined with a resist-free technique. Compared with conventional writing approaches, the high-resolution method presented here is simple, flexible, and compatible with the manipulation of a wide range of biological species.