Defect-induced ultimately fast volume phonon-polaritons in the wurtzite Zn0.74Mg0.26Se mixed crystal.

Volume-phonon-polaritons (VPP's) propagating at a light-in-vacuum-like speed are identified in the wurtzite-type Zn0.74Mg0.26Se mixed crystal by near-forward Raman scattering. Their detection is selective to both the laser energy and the laser polarization, depending on whether the ordinary (n0) or extraordinary (ne) refractive index is addressed. Yet, no significant linear birefringence (n0 [Formula: see text] ne) is observed by ellipsometry. The current access to ultrafast VPP's is attributed to the quasi-resonant Raman probing of an anomalous dispersion of n0 due to impurity levels created deep in the optical band gap by oriented structural defects. The resonance conditions are evidenced by a dramatic enhancement of the Raman signals due to the polar modes. Hence, this work reveals a capacity for the lattice defects' engineering to "accelerate" the VPP's of a mixed crystal up to light-in-vacuum-like speeds. This is attractive for ultrafast signal processing in the terahertz range. On the fundamental side we provide an insight into the VPP's created by alloying ultimately close to the center of the Brillouin zone.

Mammalian cell defence mechanisms against the cytotoxicity of NaYF4:(Er,Yb,Gd) nanoparticles.

Water-soluble upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), based on polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated NaYF4:Er3+,Yb3+,Gd3+, with various concentrations of Gd3+ ions and relatively high upconversion efficiencies, were synthesized. The internalization and cytotoxicity of the thus obtained UCNPs were evaluated in three cell lines (HeLa, HEK293 and astrocytes). No cytotoxicity was observed even at concentrations of UCNPs up to 50 µg ml-1. The fate of the UCNPs within the cells was studied by examining their upconversion emission spectra with confocal microscopy and confirming these observations with transmission electron microscopy. It was found that the cellular uptake of the UCNPs occurred primarily by clathrin-mediated endocytosis, whereas they were secreted from the cells via lysosomal exocytosis. The results of this study, focused on the mechanisms of the cellular uptake, localization and secretion of UCNPs, demonstrate, for the first time, the co-localization of UCNPs within discrete cell organelles.

Abundant Acceptor Emission from Nitrogen-Doped ZnO Films Prepared by Atomic Layer Deposition under Oxygen-Rich Conditions.

Nitrogen-doped and undoped ZnO films were grown by thermal atomic layer deposition (ALD) under oxygen-rich conditions. Low-temperature photoluminescence spectra reveal a dominant donor-related emission at 3.36 eV and characteristic acceptor-related emissions at 3.302 and 3.318 eV. Annealing at 800 °C in oxygen atmosphere leads to conversion of conductivity from n- to p-type, which is reflected in photoluminescence spectra. Annealing does not increase any acceptor-related emission in the undoped sample, while in the ZnO:N it leads to a considerable enhancement of the photoluminescence at 3.302 eV. The high resolution cathodoluminescence cross-section images show different spatial distribution of the donor-related and the acceptor-related emissions, which complementarily contribute to the overall luminescence of the annealed ZnO:N material. Similar area of both emissions indicates that the acceptor luminescence comes neither from the grain boundaries nor from stacking faults. Moreover, in ZnO:N the acceptor-emission regions are located along the columns of growth, which shows a perspective to achieve a ZnO:N material with homogeneous acceptor conductivity at least at the micrometer scale.

Pressure-induced phonon freezing in the ZnSeS II-VI mixed crystal: phonon-polaritons and ab initio calculations.

Near-forward Raman scattering combined with ab initio phonon and bond length calculations is used to study the 'phonon-polariton' transverse optical modes (with mixed electrical-mechanical character) of the II-VI ZnSe1-x S x mixed crystal under pressure. The goal of the study is to determine the pressure dependence of the poorly-resolved percolation-type Zn-S Raman doublet of the three oscillator [1 × (Zn-Se), 2 × (Zn-S)] ZnSe0.68S0.32 mixed crystal, which exhibits a phase transition at approximately the same pressure as its two end compounds (~14 GPa, zincblende → rocksalt), as determined by high-pressure x-ray diffraction. We find that the intensity of the lower Zn-S sub-mode of ZnSe0.68S0.32, due to Zn-S bonds vibrating in their own (S-like) environment, decreases under pressure (Raman scattering), whereas its frequency progressively converges onto that of the upper Zn-S sub-mode, due to Zn-S vibrations in the foreign (Se-like) environment (ab initio calculations). Ultimately, only the latter sub-mode survives. A similar 'phonon freezing' was earlier evidenced with the well-resolved percolation-type Be-Se doublet of Zn1-x Be x Se (Pradhan et al 2010 Phys. Rev. B 81 115207), that exhibits a large contrast in the pressure-induced structural transitions of its end compounds. We deduce that the above collapse/convergence process is intrinsic to the percolation doublet of a short bond under pressure, at least in a ZnSe-based mixed crystal, and not due to any pressure-induced structural transition.

The onset of ferromagnetism and superconductivity in [La0.7Sr0.3MnO3(n u.c.)/YBa2Cu3O7(2 u.c.)]20 superlattices.

With the aim of studying the interface magnetism, the onset of ferromagnetism and the onset of the transition to the superconducting state a series of [La0.7Sr0.3MnO3(n u.c.)/YBa2Cu3O7(2 u.c.)]20 (LSMO/YBCO) superlattices with nominally varying layer thickness of the LSMO from one to four unit cells (u.c.) was prepared and characterized by x-ray diffraction, electronic transport, magnetization and ferromagnetic resonance measurements. Spontaneous magnetization was observed for a superlattice with four u.c. LSMO layer thickness in a multilayer structure. Superlattices with 3 u.c. of LSMO and lower layer thicknesses did not show a signature of ferromagnetism. The onset of superconductivity was observed for superlattices with one and two LSMO layer u.c. thickness.

Novel ZnO/MgO/Fe2O3 composite optomagnetic nanoparticles.

A facile sol-gel synthesis of novel ZnO/MgO/Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) is reported and their performance is compared to that of ZnO/MgO. Powder x-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns reveal the crystal structure of the prepared samples. The average particle size of the sample was found to be 4.8 nm. The optical properties were determined by UV-vis absorption and fluorescence measurements. The NPs are stable in biologically relevant solutions (phosphate buffered saline (PBS), 20 mM, pH = 7.0) contrary to ZnO/MgO NPs which degrade in the presence of inorganic phosphate. Superparamagnetic properties were determined with a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). Biocompatible and stable in PBS ZnO/MgO/Fe2O3 core/shell composite nanocrystals show luminescent and magnetic properties confined to a single NP at room temperature (19-24 ° C), which may render the material to be potentially useful for biomedical applications.