Veronika Podzemna

Electrochemical Infilling of CuInSe2 within TiO2 Nanotube Layers and Subsequent Photoelectrochemical Studies

Abstract Anodic self‐organized TiO2 nanotube layers (with different aspect ratios) were electrochemically infilled with CuInSe2 nanocrystals with the aim to prepare heterostructures with a photoelectrochemical response in the visible light. The resulting heterostructure assembly was confirmed by field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). High incident photon‐to‐electron conversion efficiency values exceeding 55% were obtained in the visible‐light region. The resulting heterostructures show promise as a candidate for solid‐state solar cells.

Crystal Growth Kinetics and Viscous Behavior in Ge2Sb2Se5 Undercooled Melt

Crystal growth, viscosity, and melting were studied in Ge2Sb2Se5 bulk samples. The crystals formed a compact layer on the surface of the sample and then continued to grow from the surface to the central part of the sample. The formed crystalline layer grew linearly with time, which suggests that the crystal growth is controlled by liquid-crystal interface kinetics. Combining the growth data with the measured viscosities and melting data, crystal growth could be described on the basis of standard crystal growth models. The screw dislocation growth model seems to be operative in describing the temperature dependence of the crystal growth rate in the studied material in a wide temperature range. A detailed discussion on the relation between the kinetic coefficient of crystal growth and viscosity (ukin ∝ η(-ξ)) is presented. The activation energy of crystal growth was found to be higher than the activation energy of crystallization obtained from differential scanning calorimetry, which covers the whole nucleation-growth process. This difference is considered and explained under the experimental conditions.

Advanced immunocapture of milk-borne Salmonella by microfluidic magnetically stabilized fluidized bed

The success of microfluidic immunocapture based on magnetic beads depends primarily on a sophisticated microscale separation system and on the quality of the magnetic immunosorbent. A microfluidic chip containing a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed (μMSFB), developed for the capture and on‐chip amplification of bacteria, was recently described by Pereiro et al.. The present work shows the thorough development of anti‐Salmonella magnetic immunosorbents with the optimal capture efficiency and selectivity. Based on the corresponding ISO standards, these parameters have to be high enough to capture even a few cells of bacteria in a proper aliquot of sample, e.g. milk. The selection of specific anti‐Salmonella IgG molecules and the conditions for covalent bonding were the key steps in preparing an immunosorbent of the desired quality. The protocol for immunocapturing was first thoroughly optimized and studied in a batchwise arrangement, and then the carrier was integrated into the μMSFB chip. The combination of the unique design of the chip (guaranteeing the collision of cells with magnetic beads) with the advanced immunosorbent led to a Salmonella cell capture efficiency of up to 99%. These high values were achieved repeatedly even in samples of milk differing in fat content. The rate of nonspecific capture of Escherichia coli (i.e. the negative control) was only 2%.

Multilevel resistive switching in Cu and Ag doped CBRAM device

A new type of memory device, based on Ag and Cu doped Ge2Se3 chalcogenide, was designed and investigated by a new method, referred to as “one pulse SET method”. The device shows multilevel resistance states. A resistance state between ON and OFF states was found with a wide range of bias. The multilevel resistance behavior could be caused by the formation and dissolution of Ag and Cu filaments. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping and scanning electron microscope results prove the distribution of Cu and Ag elements in the film.