http://hdl.handle.net/10498/6743 2026-05-10T00:48:21Z 2026-05-10T00:48:21Z Hafirassou, Anissa Zohra Ayachi, Ahmed Abdelhakim Merouane, Fateh Ortega Ponce, Daniel Teran, Francisco Jose Alcázar Fuoli, Laura http://hdl.handle.net/10498/39404 2026-04-24T23:01:52Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Candida species and Olea europaea leaves’ single and biphasic Fe2O3 nanoparticles antifungal potentiality for clinical purposes Hafirassou, Anissa Zohra; Ayachi, Ahmed Abdelhakim; Merouane, Fateh; Ortega Ponce, Daniel; Teran, Francisco Jose; Alcázar Fuoli, Laura In recent years, the candidiasis escalating unveils a serious public health concern necessitating innovative strategies development, such as nanotechnology, to combat increasingly resistant fungal species. This study works towards evaluating the antifungal potentiality of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) using green synthesis. Olea europaea leaf extracts are employed as capping and stabilizing agents using water (EXT1) and a methanol/water mixture (EXT2) as solvents. Both extracts’ phenolic compounds quantification is performed using colorimetric methods where EXT2 exhibits a higher phenolic compound concentration compared to EXT1. The analysis reveals that extract choice significantly influences the composition, size, and magnetic nanoparticles’ properties. Specifically, EXT2 synthesized nanoparticles form biphasic α/γ-Fe2O3 with a smaller size and higher saturation magnetization, whereas those derived from EXT1 consist of monophasic α-Fe2O3 and exhibit a larger average size. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherm analysis confirms the mesoporous texture of the synthesized nanoparticles. Antifungal and antibiofilm activities are evaluated through five Candida specie s. Biofilm inhibition assays have revealed antifungal potential of both particles against pathogenic Candida species. C. albicans have showed the highest sensitivity to both particles at the lowest concentration. Accordingly, these NPs can accomplish promising applications for surface treatment, especially in clinical environments, due to their prospects in mitigating the increasing challenge of antifungal resistance.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Ballester, Manuel Marquez, Almudena P. Blanco Ollero, Eduardo Mánuel, José M. Rodriguez-Tapiador, Maria I. Fernandez, Susana M. Willomitzer, Florian Katsaggelos, Aggelos K. Márquez Navarro, Emilio José http://hdl.handle.net/10498/39343 2026-04-22T23:03:18Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Comprehensive Optoelectronic Study of Copper Nitride: Dielectric Function and Bandgap Energies Ballester, Manuel; Marquez, Almudena P.; Blanco Ollero, Eduardo; Mánuel, José M.; Rodriguez-Tapiador, Maria I.; Fernandez, Susana M.; Willomitzer, Florian; Katsaggelos, Aggelos K.; Márquez Navarro, Emilio José Copper nitride (Cu3N) is gaining attention as an eco-friendly thin-film semiconductor in a myriad of applications, including storage devices, microelectronic components, photodetectors, and photovoltaic cells. This work presents a detailed optoelectronic study of Cu3N thin films grown by reactive RF-magnetron sputtering under pure N2. An overview of the state-of-the-art literature on this material and its potential applications is also provided. The studied films consist of Cu3N polycrystals with a cubic anti-ReO3 type structure exhibiting a preferential (100) orientation. Their optical properties across the UV-Vis-NIR spectral range were investigated using a combination of multi-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry, broadband transmission, and reflection measurements. Our model employs a stratified geometrical approach, primarily to capture the depth-dependent compositional variations of the Cu3N film while also accounting for surface roughness and the underlying glass substrate. The complex dielectric function of the film material is precisely determined through an advanced dispersion model that combines multiple oscillators. By integrating the Tauc–Lorentz, Gaussian, and Drude models, this approach captures the distinct electronic transitions of this polycrystal. This customized optical model allowed us to accurate extract both the indirect (1.83–1.85 eV) and direct (2.38–2.39 eV) bandgaps. Our multifaceted characterization provides one of the most extensive studies of Cu3N thin films to date, paving the way for optimized device applications and broader utilization of this promising binary semiconductor, and showing its particular potential for photovoltaic given its adequate bandgap energies for solar applications.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Ruiz-Clavijo, Alejandra Bahrami, Amin Charvot, Jaroslav Lehmann, Sebastian Julin, Jaakko Wolf, Daniel Giebeler, Lars Wrzesińska Lashkova, Angelika Pieck, Fabian Outón Porras, Javier Tonner-Zech, Ralf Bureš, Filip Vaynzof, Yana Blanco Ollero, Eduardo Nielsch, Kornelius http://hdl.handle.net/10498/39317 2026-04-21T23:06:26Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Thickness-Driven Modulation of Electronic Transport in SnSe2-grown Films by Low-Temperature Atomic Layer Deposition Ruiz-Clavijo, Alejandra; Bahrami, Amin; Charvot, Jaroslav; Lehmann, Sebastian; Julin, Jaakko; Wolf, Daniel; Giebeler, Lars; Wrzesińska Lashkova, Angelika; Pieck, Fabian; Outón Porras, Javier; Tonner-Zech, Ralf; Bureš, Filip; Vaynzof, Yana; Blanco Ollero, Eduardo; Nielsch, Kornelius Low-temperature atomic layer deposition (ALD) is increasingly important for the integration of layered metal dichalcogenides such as tin diselenide (SnSe2) into advanced nanoelectronic devices, where compatibility with temperature-sensitive substrates and precise thickness control are essential. Using a novel and highly reactive selenium precursor, namely, bis(trimethylstannyl)selenide or Se(SnMe3)2, SnSe2 films are deposited at reduced temperatures. As-deposited films are initially amorphous, however, post-deposition annealing at 250°C induces crystallization. Structural analysis reveals a clear evolution in crystallinity: ultrathin films (∼25 nm) exhibit nearly single-crystalline, defect-free domains, while thicker films (∼100 nm) transition to a polycrystalline structure. This controlled variation in crystal quality directly influences the electronic transport properties, demonstrating the potential of low-temperature ALD combined with mild annealing for scalable fabrication of high-performance, thickness-engineered SnSe2-based devices.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Ming, Liyan Lifante, José Lifante Pedrola, Ginés Ortega Ponce, Daniel Zabala Gutierrez, Irene Rubio-Retama, Jorge Ximendes, Erving C. Marin, Riccardo Ramiro Bargueño, Julio Jaque, Daniel http://hdl.handle.net/10498/39303 2026-04-20T23:01:44Z 2025-11-06T00:00:00Z

Near-Infrared Lifetime Nanothermometry Detects Microwave-Induced Brain Heating Ming, Liyan; Lifante, José; Lifante Pedrola, Ginés; Ortega Ponce, Daniel; Zabala Gutierrez, Irene; Rubio-Retama, Jorge; Ximendes, Erving C.; Marin, Riccardo; Ramiro Bargueño, Julio; Jaque, Daniel In modern environments, the brain is continuously exposed to numerous external stimuli, including the microwave radiation used in telecommunication technologies. It has been suggested that the absorption of this radiation by brain tissue can induce local heating. Because brain temperature influences neural activity, metabolism, and overall brain function, microwave-induced heating raises concerns over the safety of such technologies. Proper evaluation of the risks associated with microwave-based technologies thus requires accurate quantification of heating in deep organs without disrupting their physiology. This study, demonstrates that microwave-induced brain heating can be remotely monitored in vivo via luminescence thermometry using near-infrared luminescent silver sulfide (Ag2S) nanoparticles. Their temperature-dependent luminescence lifetime is a reliable thermometric parameter for the measurement of absolute brain temperature. The in vivo results offer direct, real-time evidence of brain heating (up to 4 °C) under telecom exposure conditions (3 GHz). Moreover, they establish lifetime thermometry as a reliable, minimally invasive approach for investigating thermoregulation in deep tissues even under external electromagnetic stimulation.

2025-11-06T00:00:00Z