Reports

Reporting the activities in Phase I:

A1: The first materials were synthesized using chemical methods and, at the same time, the first composite materials (RE: MO NCs) based on zinc oxide (ZnO) doped with La in various concentrations (La: ZnO) were synthesized using chemical preparation methods.

A2: All materials (including those resulted from the necessary optimization attempts) were carefully investigated using a multitude of techniques such as optical microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM/EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and UV-VIS spectroscopy. Additionally, we got the first experimental data for a range of composite materials (RE: MO NCs) based on nanostructured zinc oxide ZnO doped with different concentrations of lanthanum, La: ZnO. These data will be integrated into the experimental database, which will subsequently be used for activities within A3. Devices and processing/testing methodology for laboratory conditions have been set up for further performing electrical and electromagnetic screening measurements.

A3: A number of bibliographic references were analysed and considered, the physics of the involved phenomena was analysed and the conditions for generating the first theoretical modelswere determined. Additionally, documentation was carried out and studies were conducted on geometric modelling representative volumes of pure ZnO and also on matrix models for the calculation of pure ZnO properties. Since the distribution and the concentration are variables, multiple types of elementary volumes will be considered and integrated both statistically and by using the characterization results.

A4: Management, administration, project promotion and dissemination of the results:

  • Procurement of equipment and initiation of consumables procurement procedure.
  • The project was presented to the specialized audience by Prof. Koudoumas within the workshop AdvPhotoCat EE2023 in Heraklion, Greece (https://photocatalysis-workshop.eu/)  through an invited presentation titled Development of novel nanocomposite materials with tunable conductivity.
  • Dr. Titus Sandu had a poster presentation in Poster Session 2, titled  „Extracting physical parameters from dielectric spectra of doped ZnO/graphene nanocomposites”, focusing on preliminary results in project A3 (https://photocatalysis-workshop.eu/program-timezone-athens-gmt3-25th-of-july-final-version/)
  • The webpage of the project was designed and published (www.pnrrcf23.ro). This is to be improved and periodically updated.
  • A new project proposal was submitted for evaluation in the second call, under the coordination of Prof.  Stelios Couris from the University of Patras, Greece. He has agreed to join the IMT team as the Project Coordinator if the project is funded.
  • Dissemination: Invited talk of Prof Koudoumas at Opening of 5th Edition of the International Symposium, CIMEE’23  https://cimee-science.org/index.php/5th-international-symposium-cimee23/. It included a brief presentation of his new affiliation at IMT Bucharest, Romania, as well as a short overview of the project, together with the visual identity elements of the financing authority according to the visual identity rules.
  • Organizing a job competition for 5 vacant positions in the project resulted in recruiting 4 new team members. (One position remained unfilled)https://www.imt.ro/jobs.htm.

The deliverables outlined in the activity plan for this phase have been completed to over 100%.

Reporting the activities in Phase II:

A1:Various growths were conducted for optimisation of the synthesis method as well as for calibrating newly installed equipment. Using the electrospinning-calcination method, composite materials (RE: MO NCs) based on zinc oxide (ZnO) doped with lanthanum at various concentrations (La: ZnO) have been synthesized.

A2: All materials (including those resulted from the optimization attempts) have been carefully investigated using a range of techniques such as optical microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM/EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and UV-VIS spectroscopy. Furthermore, the first experimental data were obtained for the composite materials (RE:MO NCs) for a range of composite materials (RE:MO NCs) based on nanostructured zinc oxide ZnO doped with different concentrations of lanthanum, La:ZnO.These data will be integrated into the experimental database, which will subsequently be used for activities within A3. Devices and processing/testing methodology for laboratory conditions have been set up for further performing electrical and electromagnetic screening measurements.

A3:A number of bibliographic references were analysed and considered, the physics of the involved phenomena was analysed and the conditions for generating the first theoretical models have been verified in terms of generating the geometric models established in the previous phase.

 The first models have been generated. In addition, preliminary results, which underpinned the idea of the current project, were used for theoretical simulations of the material behaviour in the electromagnetic field, correlating it with the structure/composition. These led to the first models with disseminable outcomes. Drafting of a scientific paper was started.It will be submitted to a high-impact factor journal in the next phase.

A4: Management, administration, project promotion and dissemination of the results:

  • Project results were presented to a specialized audience within The 15th International Conference on Physics of Advanced Materials (ICPAM-15) and 6th Autumn School on Physics of Advanced Materials (PAMS-6)  https://icpams.com/main/which took place between  19 – 26 of  November 2023 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egipt by Dr. Petronela Pascariu – invited, dr Cristina Pachiu and dr Titus Sandu in oral presentations and Dr. Mirela Suchea – short presentation https://icpams.com/main/wp-content/uploads/BoA-ICPAM15-131123-v2.pdf.
  • Young scientists hired as doctoral and postdoctoral researchers in the project (Postdoc Roxana Marinescu, PhD StudentsDumitru Manica,Andreea Popescu, Marina Manica and Florian Pistritu) were admitted to the international school PAMs without paying the fee. They had the opportunity to present, within PAMs, the results of their previous or additional research activities in the project during their doctoral studies. They also thanked the project for this opportunity to increase the visibility of their scientific activity and professional development https://icpams.com/main/wp-content/uploads/BoA-PAMS6-131123.pdf .
  • Dr. Cristina Pachiu was awarded „Augustin Maior Prize (200 EUR) offered by SRF Cluj-Napoca for the oral presentation entitled: Nanocomposite RE:ZnO/graphene with enhanced electrical and dielectric properties” https://icpams.com/main/awards/
  • The webpage of the project (www.pnrrcf23.ro) was updated.
  • The planned acquisitions in the project were continued.
  • The project proposal in the second call, under the coordination Prof.  Stelios Couris from the University of Patras, Greece, submitted and reported in Phase I, was scored 84.7 in the evaluation, ranking at position 25 in the final list. https://www.mcid.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rezultate-finale-PSE.pdf
  • Project presentation (by an oral presentation) by Prof. Koudoumas within International Semiconductor ConferenceCAS 2023, an IEEEevent which took place on October  11-13th 2023 at Hotel Sinaia in Sinaia, Romania, https://www.imt.ro/cas/index.php
  • Project presentation by Dr. Titus Sandu (by an oral presentation) within the 6th Edition EMERGEMAT International Conference, 9-10thof November 2023, Bucharest, Romaniahttps://imnr.ro/wp/en/6th-international-conference-emergemat/
  • The participation (partly sponsored by the organizer) of Mr. Dumitru Manica (Ph.D student in the project) in the professional development stage within the NET4Air School on Environmental Sensors which took place in Sinaia, Romania on October the 14th 2023;https://net4air.eu/home/index.php/2023/10/14/net4air-school-on-environmental-sensors-2/
  • Organization in IMT Bucharest of two seminars in the framework of the project:
  • Invited seminar jointly organized with ApelLaser company: Short Seminary Monday 9th of October 2023 12:30-13:20; Host Prof E Koudoumas, Coordinator of project PNRR/2022/C9/MCID/I8 CF 23/14.11.2022

Program

12:30-12:45 – INTRODUCTION AND PRESENTATION OF APEL LASER SOLUTIONS FOR SEMICONDUCTORS – Dr. ALIN ENACHE

12:45-13:05 – PRESENTATION DRIVE AFM AND ALPHACEN NANOSURF – Dr. GOETZ HOFFMANN

13:05-13:20 – ONLINE streaming DEMONSTRATION FROM BASEL

  • Seminar addressed to young researchers and beginners in scientific research with the topic: ”How we read and write a scientific article” Wednesday 13th of December 2023, 12:00-13:30, Prof E Koudoumas, Coordinator of the project.
  • Furthermore, the Project Coordinator and the Project Team are engaged in a series of interactions with various partners and collaborators from EU countries to form consortia and jointly submit project proposals in the upcoming calls of Horizon Europe as follows: (a) Discussions with laboratories in Europe (Italy, Sweden, Greece, Germany, etc.) to prepare a joint project application on the topic of new electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries. (b) Discussions with laboratories in Europe (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Germany, etc.) to prepare a joint project application on the topic of new types of sensors for monitoring soil properties.

In conclusion, the deliverables outlined in the activity plan for this phase have been achieved to 100% in terms of scientific and dissemination aspects, some of them surpassing the expected proportion.

Reporting the activities in Phase III

Phase III -January 1st – June 30th 2024

A1: Optimization enhancements for the synthesis method and calibration of newly installed equipment were continued. Composite materials (RE:MO NCs) based on zinc oxide (ZnO) doped with Sm and Er at various dopant concentrations (Sm and Er) were synthesized using the electrospinning-calcination preparation method.

A2: All materials (including optimization trials) were thoroughly investigated using multiple techniques: optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and UV-VIS spectroscopy. Initial experimental data for composite materials (RE:MO NCs) consisting of a series of nanostructured zinc oxide-based materials (ZnO) doped with various concentrations of Samarium (Sm) and Erbium (Er), were obtained. These data will be integrated into the experimental database for future activities in A3. Devices and methodologies for processing and testing samples in laboratory conditions to conduct electrical measurements and electromagnetic shielding were prepared.

A3: Multiple bibliographic references were continued to be analyzed and considered, establishing the physics of the involved phenomena, and setting conditions for generating the first theoretical models. Calculations for the shielding properties of nanocomposites composed of graphene and rare-earth-doped ZnO: La, Sm, Eu, were performed. Preliminary experimental data were used to calculate the complex refractive indices over the frequency range measured and a broader range. The shielding properties of ZG, ZLG, ZEG, and ZSG were assessed, noting an increase in SET with rare-earth doping. Numerical calculations for determining the complex effective permittivity and effective conductivity through finite element simulation for undoped ZnO in spherical agglomerates for specific density and frequency ranges were conducted. Calculations of shielding properties for nanocomposites of graphene and rare-earth-doped ZnO: La, Sm, Eu, were continued. UV-Vis spectrometer measurements of compounds formed with pure ZnO or doped with La at concentrations of 0.2%, 1.0%, 2.0%, and 4.0% were analyzed. The forbidden bands using the modified Tauc formula considering absorbance at energies lower than the forbidden band’s were determined. A computational model for La-doped ZnO to evaluate the variation in dielectric constant with La-induced height modification, based on SEM characterization results for La concentrations between 0-5%, was developed. Trainee researchers participated in training courses and further studied the use of software programs used in the project’s research: COMSOL Multiphysics, Origin, Matlab, and microelectronic design optimization techniques.

A4: Management, Administration, Project Promotion, and Dissemination:

  • No consumables were purchased according to the acquisition plan due to financial difficulties caused by payment delays.
  • A competition (with an interview on April 2, 2024) for a postdoctoral position within the project (https://www.imt.ro/jobs.htm) was held.
  • Stage II and midterm Stage III (May) were reported.
  • Under the guidance and collaboration with Dr. M. Suchea, Ph.D. candidate Marina Manica, employed in November, completed the characterization of samples as part of her doctoral thesis, fabricated prior to her project employment, and co-authored the first ISI scientific article with the team from the Faculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, published in Nanomaterials (IF 5.3, CiteScore 7.4), including acknowledgments to the project (https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14060535).
  • Several PED-type projects were submitted in the National Call (https://uefiscdi.gov.ro/proiect-experimental-demonstrativ) by E. Koudoumas, O. T. Nedelcu, C. Pachiu, R. Marinescu, M. Suchea.
  • Three seminars within the project were organized:
    • SEMINAR 3: “The ABCs of Innovation” – January 23, 2024, 12:00-13:30, Prof. E. Koudoumas.
    • SEMINAR 4: “Progress on Modeling the RF Dielectric Spectra of Rare Earths and Graphene Doped ZnO Nanocomposites” – February 28, 2024, 13:30-14:30, Dr. Titus Sandu.
    • SEMINAR 5: “From Raw Data to Advanced Data Analysis: An Introduction to OriginPro Software” – March 11, 2024, 14:00-16:00, Dr. Pericle Varasteanu, IMT Bucharest.
  • An ISI article titled “Lanthanum Doping Effects on Microstructure and Optical Properties of Nanostructured ZnO” was submitted to Materials (Q1 IF 3.1, Q2 CiteScore 5.8) based on project results so far.
  • Contributions were presented at two international conferences: INTERM2024 in Turkey (April, invited presentation by Dr. Pachiu and poster by Dr. Sandu) and EMRS Spring 2024 in France (May, poster presentations by Dr. Suchea and Dr. Sandu).
    • INTERM2024: “12th International Congress on Microscopy & Spectroscopy (INTERM)” – April 8-14, 2025, Convention Centre of the Liberty Hotels Lykia/Oludeniz in Mugla, Turkey.
      • C. Pachiu et al., “Carbon Nanomaterials With Performance In EMI Shielding: Growth, Structuring, and Characterization of Materials” (invited).
      • T. Sandu et al., “Dielectric Spectroscopy of Composite Materials Made of Rare Earth-Doped ZnO Mixed with Graphene” (poster).
    • EMRS Spring 2024: “The 2024 Spring Meeting of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS), Convention & Exhibition Centre of Strasbourg, France.”
      • M.P. Suchea et al., “Tuning the Bandgap of Nanostructured Nanocomposite ZnO-based Semiconductors Using Rare Earth Elements and Graphene Dopants” (oral presentation).
      • T. Sandu et al., “Modeling the RF Dielectric Response of Rare-Earth Doped ZnO/Graphene Nanocomposites” (poster).
  • An application for an M-ERA Net 2024 project with partners from Spain and Slovakia for evaluation in May was submitted.
  • The project website: www.pnrrcf23.ro was updated, with plans for further improvements and periodic updates.
  • Additionally, five contributions were presented at The 13th Virtual Nanotechnology Poster Conference (April 15-21, 2024), including results from the doctoral and post-doctoral works:
    • D. Manica et al., “Al, Cr, La, Fe, and Sm Dopants Impact on the Band Gap of ZnO Thin Films” (NP2024-014).
    • M. Manica et al., “Study of La-doped ZnO Thin Films Properties Made by Spray Pyrolysis for Gas Sensors Applications” (NP2024-013).
    • F. Pistritu et al., “Study on the Influence Generated by the Assembly Model of the Elastomeric Substrate on the Response of a Flexible Piezoresistive Sensor” (NP2024-016).
    • A. Popescu et al., “Investigating the Effect of Molybdenum and Chromium Doping on WO3 Thin Films Made by Spray-Pyrolysis” (NP2024-012).
    • M.-R. Marinescu et al., “The Connectivity of Biomedical Devices with Traditional Communication Networks” (NP2024-017).
  • Invited contributions to the international conference ROCAM Romania (July 15-18, 2024), accepted as oral contributions by Prof. E. Koudoumas and Dr. M. Suchea, were submitted.
  • Three contributions for evaluation for presentation at the international conference CAS2024 Romania (October 2024) were submitted.
  • Under the guidance and collaboration with the project team, Ph.D. candidate Andreea Popescu completed the characterization of WO3 samples as part of her doctoral thesis, fabricated prior to her project employment, and co-authored a scientific article submitted to Nanomaterials (Q2 IF 4.4, Q1 CiteScore 8.3), currently under review.
  • Ph.D. candidate Florian Pistritu, under the guidance of the project team, completed the development of sensors containing TiO2 and carbon materials as part of his doctoral thesis and published an article in Micromachines (Q2 IF 3, Q2 CiteScore 5.2) with acknowledgments to the project (https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/15/7/847).

The deliverables in the activity plan for this stage have been completed over 100%.

Reporting of Activities in Stage IV Midterm – July 1 – September 30, 2024:

A1: The production of Er:ZnO and Sm:ZnO was continued to ensure a sufficient quantity for measurements. Optimization of the synthesis method and calibration of equipment for the new material were performed. Composite materials (RE NCs) based on zinc oxide (ZnO) doped with Erbium Er – ZnO doped with 2.5% and 5% Er and ZnO doped with 1% La – graphene were synthesized by the electrospinning method followed by calcination. Thin powder layers were attempted and optimized for deposition on various inert substrates for EMI shielding (paper, cardboard, acetorphan, and glass) for electromagnetic radiation shielding measurements.

A2: All materials (including the trials necessary for optimizations) were carefully investigated using multiple techniques such as optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and UV-VIS spectroscopy. Experimental data on composite materials (RE NCs) consisting of a series of nanostructured materials based on zinc oxide ZnO doped with varying concentrations of Erbium Er were also obtained. These data were integrated into the experimental database, which will later be used for activities in A3. The methodology for processing and testing samples under laboratory conditions for conducting electrical and electromagnetic shielding measurements was improved. The database was completed, and the data selection platform for use in A3 continued to be developed.

A3: The calculation of shielding properties of the nanocomposite formed from graphene and ZnO doped with rare earths: La, Sm, Eu continued. The measurements made on the UV-Vis spectrometer of the compounds formed with pure or doped ZnO with Er and Sm in various concentrations were analyzed. From these spectra, the bandgaps were determined using the modified Tauc formula, where absorbance occurring at energies lower than those of the forbidden band is also considered. Design and finite element simulation: In this stage, microscopic modeling of the optical response for a ZnO nanoparticle assembly was performed. The investigated configurations are based on SEM characterization results of the samples. Researchers in training participated in training courses and continued studying the use of software programs employed in the project research, including COMSOL Multiphysics, Origin, Matlab, Optimization techniques in microelectronics design, and Advanced materials for electrospinning.

A4: Management, administration, project promotion, and dissemination of results:

  • The review process of the ISI article submitted for publication in the journal Materials (Q1 IF 3.1 Q2 CiteScore 5.8), sent in Stage III with the title „Lanthanum doping effects on microstructure and optical properties of nanostructured ZnO”, Authors: Petronela Pascariu1,2, Oana Nedelcu1, Titus Sandu1, Cosmin Romanitan1, Oana Brincoveanu1, Cristina Pachiu1, Dumitru Manica1, Marina Manica13, Andreea Popescu14, Stefan Antohe3, Octavian Narcis Ionescu1, Mirela Petruta Suchea15*, and Emmanouel Koudoumas15* was continued with the aim of publishing in the journal.
  • A presentation article for the project was developed and published, “Top Story” in the Market Watch journal, September 2024 issue, page 12 link.
  • In accordance with the workplan, 5 contributions  were presented at the international conference The 16th International Conference on Physics of Advanced Materials (ICPAM-16) and 7th Autumn School on Physics of Advanced Materials (PAMS-7), held on September 7–15, 2024, at Akdeniz University in Antalya, Turkey, and online: Dr. Suchea – plenary presentation; Dr. Pachiu, Dr. Romanitan, and Dr. Pascariu – invited presentations at ICPAM-16, and Ph.D. candidate A. G. M. Popescu – poster presentation at PAMS-7. ICPAM-16 link PAMS-7 link. Ph.D. candidate A. G. M. Popescu was the recipient of the „ICPAMS Award (150 EUR)” offered by the Association ICPAMS for the poster presentation delivered by Andreea Gabriela Marina Popescu, entitled: WO3 Thin Films for Potential Use in Gas Sensors: Effect of Mo and Cr Doping. Awards link.
  • Work was carried out on an application for a Horizon Europe 2024 project (with 17 partners from Greece, Poland, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom), which will be submitted for evaluation by October 10, 2024.
  • The project’s website was updated: www.pnrrcf23.ro, which will continue to be improved and updated regularly.

In addition to the initial activity plan, the following deliverables were also completed:

  • On July 15–18, 2024, two invited contributions were presented at the international ROCAM conference in Romania (http://rocam.fizica.net/ROCAM/Main.php) – Prof. Koudoumas and Dr. Suchea, as well as an oral contribution by Dr. C. Romanitan, were presented according to the program of this event.
  • Under the guidance and in collaboration with the project team, Ph.D. candidate Marina Manica, who joined the project in November (currently at CMCC), completed the characterization of WO₃ samples, part of her doctoral work, produced prior to joining the project alongside researchers from Greece and in collaboration with the team from the Doctoral School of the Faculty of Physics at the University of Bucharest, as well as other collaborators. A scientific article was written and submitted to Scientific Reports journal, which is currently under review.
  • Following his doctoral internship in the project, Ph.D. candidate Florian Pistritu, who joined the project in November and remained until May 2024, completed, and defended his doctoral thesis within the doctoral school of UNPB.
  • The M-ERA Net 2024 project (with partners from Spain and Slovakia), submitted for evaluation in May, was rejected during the evaluation process.
  • The project’s website (www.pnrrcf23.ro) was updated and will continue to be improved and updated periodically.

Moreover, the Project Coordinator and the Project Team continue to engage in a series of interactions with various partners and collaborators from EU countries to form consortia and jointly submit project proposals in the upcoming Horizon Europe calls, as follows:

  • (a) electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries, post-Li-ion technologies, reducing the size and weight of the cell and battery system packaging. The discussions involve laboratories from Sweden, Italy, Spain, Greece, Germany, etc.
  • (b) Development of innovative nanomaterial-polymer composites with high electrical breakdown resistance and low dielectric constant values for use in high-voltage insulation.
  • (c) Development of special materials for defense, together with the Military Technical Academy and companies from Romania, for the application of an EDA project in the next call.

In conclusion, the deliverables foreseen in the activity plan for this stage have been 100% achieved on the scientific and dissemination side, with some of them even exceeding expectations.