One of the most important obstacles for the application of surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is the poor reproducibility of SERS active substrates: SERS intensity can be varied from one substrate to another and moreover along the one substrate surface. Reproducible SERS substrate can be prepared through introduction of highly ordered metal array, where light focusing is achieved through excitation of surface plasmon-polaritons (SPPs). In this work, excimer laser patterning of poly­(methyl methacrylate) followed by silver evaporation is proposed as an effective way for the creation of reproducible and effective surface plasmon-polaritons (SPP)-based SERS substrate. Detailed theoretical and experimental studies were performed to optimize structure parameter for effective SPP excitation. It was found that the narrow range of grating periodicity and metal thickness exist, where SPPs can be most efficiently excited. Despite the fact that SERS response was almost always achieved, the enhancement factor was found to vary more with the effectivity of SPP excitation. When the real structure parameters were set to optimal for SPP excitation, a SERS enhancement factor was achieved up to four times.

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The first method of plasmon-induced nitroxide-mediated polymerization on periodical gold gratings has been developed.

The systematic study of structures with gold and silver nanoparticles (MeNPs) of various shapes and dielectric functions immobilized onto the silver grating is performed. The structures may serve as double resonance SERS (surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy) systems with coupling between surface plasmon polariton (SPP) supported by the silver grating and localized surface plasmons (LSPs) excited on the grafted metal nanoparticles (MeNPs). The silver grating supports SPP excitation under the 785 nm wavelength illumination. Spherical silver and gold nanoparticles, triangular silver nanoprisms and gold nanorods are prepared and used with the aim to gradually cover the LSP excitation in the 400–850 nm wavelength range. MeNPs are grafted through the 4,4′-biphenyldithiol (BFDT) linkers. Rhodamine 6G (R6G) molecules are added onto SERS substrates and located above and between the MeNPs. Several wavelengths (470, 532, and 785 nm) are applied to probe the SERS response. Depending on the nanoparticles type and excitation wavelength a significant SERS signal is produced by R6G or BFDT molecules. Properties of the prepared structures are simulated using the Finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD). The measured and simulated SERS data are in reasonable agreement, the measured values being lower than those calculated.

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Atomic layer deposition (ALD) provides a promising route for depositing uniform thin-film electrodes for Li-ion batteries. In this work, bis(methylcyclopentadienyl) nickel(II) (Ni(MeCp) 2 ) and bis(cyclopentadienyl) nickel(II) (NiCp 2 ) were used as precursors for NiO ALD. Oxygen plasma was used as a counter-reactant. The films were studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray reflectometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results show that the optimal temperature for the deposition for NiCp 2 was 200-300 • C, but the optimal Ni(MeCp) 2 growth per ALD cycle was 0.011-0.012 nm for both precursors at 250-300 • C. The films deposited using NiCp 2 and oxygen plasma at 300 • C using optimal ALD condition consisted mainly of stoichiometric polycrystalline NiO with high density (6.6 g/cm 3 ) and low roughness (0.34 nm). However, the films contain carbon impurities. The NiO films (thickness 28-30 nm) deposited on stainless steel showed a specific capacity above 1300 mAh/g, which is significantly more than the theoretical capacity of bulk NiO (718 mAh/g) because it includes the capacity of the NiO film and the pseudo-capacity of the gel-like solid electrolyte interface film. The presence of pseudo-capacity and its increase during cycling is discussed based on a detailed analysis of cyclic voltammograms and charge-discharge curves (U(C)).NiO nanofilms are produced using various methods [12] such as thermal spraying, pulsed laser deposition, sol-gel, spin-coating, dip-coating, chemical vapor deposition, and atomic layer deposition (ALD). ALD is the most promising technology because it provides control over the thickness and purity of coatings with high precision, and can deposit uniform surface coatings on of complex shape and even porous and high aspect ratio substrates [13][14][15]. This method could be a crucial factor for transition from 2D to 3D solid-state batteries (SSB), which are structured on 3D substrates with high aspect ratio instead of planar substrates. It could increase the energy density of SSB with the same thickness of the electrode to maintain the required conductivity of the layers [16]. ALD is based on a realization of the sequence of chemical reactions between gaseous reagents and the surface species of the substrate, separated in time by purges with an inert gas to prevent uncontrolled reactions between the reactants and the reaction products. Because of the self-limiting nature, this method allows the deposition of films in a layer-by-layer fashion and the control of the thickness with high precision [13].When selecting the deposition conditions via ALD, it is necessary to consider the stability and reactivity of the precursors. Many precursors have been tested for ALD NiO so far, but the most frequently used are shown in Table 1: nickel(II) acetylacetonate (Ni(acac) 2 ), bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptane-3,5dionate)nickel(II) (Ni(thd) 2 ), bis(cyclopentadienyl) nickel(II) (NiCp 2 ), and NiCp 2 -based compounds such as ...

A switchable material with a smart antimicrobial dual‐action functionality, which is based on a highly stretchable silicon polymer gradiently doped with polyyrrole, is proposed. The material exhibits superhydrophobic and self‐cleaning properties, high aerophilicity as well as the possibility of smart, electrically triggerable release of an incorporated drug. During the immersion of the material in water, an air gap is formed on its surface which prevents a formation of biofouling, attachment of microorganisms, and burst release of the incorporated drug. An application of external electric field switches the surface properties from the superhydrophobic to highly hydrophilic state that enables a wetting of the material surface and electrically triggered release of a loaded drug. After the electric field switching off and sample drying, the material surface returns to its intrinsic superhydrophobic state with the original self‐cleaning properties so that the material surface can be simply cleaned, removing the bacteria. High flexibility and stretchability are additional favorable properties of the proposed smart antimicrobial material, making it a suitable candidate for a range of medical and related applications.

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