This review focuses on in situ functionalization of gallium nitride (GaN) with different adsorbates in the presence of an etchant. The low-temperature aqueous nature of this process provides a safe, environmentally friendly technique for tailoring the semiconductor's properties for various applications. Surface binding to GaN relies on a native oxide layer or direct attachment to the metal center present on the etched surface. The specifics of the binding mechanism are based on the functional groups present on the adsorbate. The effects of the GaN surface polarity and quality on the modification approach are analyzed. The review summarizes the alteration of GaN properties after the in situ treatment. Quantitative data until now have shown changes in morphological, surface chemical, optical, electronic, and aqueous stability properties. The review concludes with a short outlook on future studies associated with this surface modification approach.
We report the fabrication of a composite containing nanostructured GaOOH and Matrigel with tunable radiosensitizing and stiffness properties. Composite characterization was done with microscopy and rheology. The utility of the interface was tested in vitro using fibroblasts. Cell viability and reactive oxygen species assays quantified the effects of radiation dosages and GaOOH concentrations. Fibroblasts' viability decreased with increasing concentration of GaOOH and composite stiffness. During ionizing radiation experiments the presence of the scintillating GaOOH triggered a different cellular response. Reactive oxygen species data demonstrated that one can reduce the amount of radiation needed to modulate the behavior of cells on interfaces with different stiffness containing a radiosensitizing material.
Composites of nanostructured aluminum and gallium oxyhydroxide (AlOOH and GaOOH) and L-lysine were synthesized using an environmentally friendly approach. These composites were investigated to determine the effects of the functionalization on the aqueous stability and leaching of aluminum and gallium. The organic and inorganic components present in the samples were assessed with X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transformed-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). In the GaOOH-lysine composite, XPS provided evidence of both the presence of gallium and lysine. Crystallographic information was gathered using X-Ray diffraction (XRD). The FT-IR and XRD spectra of the composite materials were dominated by peaks related to lysine, due to the nature of these samples. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) data were collected of the functionalized and nonfunctionalized samples left in solution for periods of 1 day, 5 days and 7 days. This provided evidence of improved aqueous stability of the AlOOH-lysine composite with no effect seen in the GaOOH-lysine composite. The findings of this study will be used in determining the importance of lysine functionalization for future biomolecule-nanomaterial composites.
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