The integration of high uniformity, conformal and compact transparent conductive layers into next generation indium tin oxide (ITO)-free optoelectronics, including wearable and bendable structures, is a huge challenge. In this study, we demonstrate the transparent and conductive functionality of aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin films deposited on glass as well as on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) flexible substrates by using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique. AZO thin films possess high optical transmittance at visible and near-infrared spectral range and electrical properties competitive to commercial ITO layers. AZO layers deposited on flexible PET substrates demonstrate stable sheet resistance over 1000 bending cycles. Based on the performed optical and electrical characterizations, several applications of ALD AZO as transparent conductive layers are shown—AZO/glass-supported liquid crystal (LC) display and AZO/PET-based flexible polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) devices.
Human red blood cells (RBCs) are unique cells with the remarkable ability to deform, which is crucial for their oxygen transport function, and which can be significantly altered under pathophysiological conditions. Here we performed ultrastructural analysis of RBCs as a peripheral cell model, looking for specific signatures of the neurodegenerative pathologies (NDDs)—Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), utilizing atomic force (AFM) and conventional optical (OM) microscopy. We found significant differences in the morphology and stiffness of RBCs isolated from patients with the selected NDDs and those from healthy individuals. Neurodegenerative pathologies' RBCs are characterized by a reduced abundance of biconcave discoid shape, lower surface roughness and a higher Young’s modulus, compared to healthy cells. Although reduced, the biconcave is still the predominant shape in ALS and AD cells, while the morphology of PD is dominated by crenate cells. The features of RBCs underwent a marked aging-induced transformation, which followed different aging pathways for NDDs and normal healthy states. It was found that the diameter, height and volume of the different cell shape types have different values for NDDs and healthy cells. Common and specific morphological signatures of the NDDs were identified.
The possibility for tuned excitation of surface plasmon resonance in Ag-In and Ag-Sb films with different compositions and thicknesses was studied in terms of preparation and microstructural and optical properties. The analyses show that plasmon excitation can be achieved both by changing the thickness of the deposited bimetallic films and by varying their composition. The imaginary ε'' part of the complex permittivity of the thin films has a maximum due to the transverse oscillations of free electrons in the range of 1 eV to 3.5 eV. The films’ applicability as amplifying substrates in surface-enhanced fluorescence was tested. Tryptophan and Cu (II)-phthalocyanine (CuPc) dye were used to analyze the efficiency of the localized surface plasmon resonance excitation in the ultraviolet spectral region. Amplification enhancing coefficient of 4.17 times was obtained in the case of CuPc dye.
We employ two approaches to tune the properties of concurrently inscribed volume polarization and surface relief gratings in nanocomposite thin films containing the azopolymer PAZO (poly[1-4-(3-carboxy-4-hydrophenylazo)benzensulfonamido]-1,2-ethanediyl, sodium salt]) and goethite (α-FeOOH) nanorods. The first one is applied on the stage of sample preparation by varying the concentration of the goethite nanorods from 0% to 15%. Then, different angles between the recording beams are set in the holographic scheme, which allow us to obtain gratings with spatial periods in the range from 0.86 to 2.51 µm. Surface relief modulation close to 300 nm is achieved as well as total diffraction efficiency in the ±1 diffracted orders of more than 50%. The influence of the incorporated goethite nanorods on the properties of both volume birefringence and the surface relief grating are discussed.
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