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Ultrafast highly nonlinear processes in diamond
Zukerstein, Martin ; Trojánek, František (advisor) ; Kloz, Miroslav (referee) ; Kužel, Petr (referee)
Intense few-cycle laser pulses can significantly affect the properties of transparent solids during the interaction. These processes take place on femtosecond time scales and they can be studied using ultrafast spectroscopic methods. This dissertation deals with highly nonlinear processes in diamond. In the interaction with a crystalline diamond, we observed a strong nonlinear broadening of the spectrum due to self-phase modulation effect, which allowed us to create a simple technique for compression of pulses from laser oscillator. At the same time, strongly nonlinear five-photon absorption was observed, in which we found a significant anisotropy and dependence on the polarization state. With two-beam pump and probe experiments we present a study of anharmonic phenomena in the dynamics of coherent phonons in diamond, additionally we created a new detection technique of lattice vibrations using multiphoton absorption. Finally, the high time resolution of the experiments revealed that the sub-picosecond electron dynamics strongly depends on the composition and morphology of the polycrystalline diamond thin films. The experimental results of this work provide comprehensive research into the interaction of diamond with few-cycle laser pulses and the development of new spectroscopic methods.
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Spectroscopy of semiconductors with ultra-high time resolution
Hanák, Martin ; Trojánek, František (advisor) ; Kozák, Martin (referee)
This thesis is aimed at building and optimization of a new experiment setup for measuring time-resolved transmittance using a pump-probe method. Test measurements were then conducted on a sample of SiV centers in diamond. The theoretical part contains a general description of luminescence of color centers. It then specifically focuses on SiV centers in diamond and describes their structure, electronic and spectral properties in detail. The description of our setup and its optimization is given at the beginning of the experimental part. The dependencies of differential transmittance of SiV centers in diamond on excitation intensity and wavelength were measured and the lifetime of SiV centers was then determined from our measurement results. 1
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Dynamics of modified diamond nanocrystals in living cells
Majer, Jan ; Libusová, Lenka (advisor) ; Fišer, Radovan (referee)
Nanodiamonds (NDs) are an interesting platform in biological applications and disease treatment. Because of their photoluminescence properties and modifiable surface, they have been investigated as potential carriers for drugs and nucleic acids as well as fluorescent probes. In order to design NDs meeting specifically desired parameters, which would succeed in clinical trials and in medicinal therapy, understanding the mechanism of uptake and intracellular fate of NDs is crucial. The diploma thesis is focused on mechanistic investigation of ND-based nanoparticles delivering nucleic acids to human cells. First, NDs coated with a novel cationic co-polymer were prepared. NDs were then complexed with siRNA in order to transfect siRNA inside U-2 OS cells. NDs proved to be biocompatible and effective transfection particles as observed by qPCR and colorimetric cytotoxicity and cell viability tests. To examine ND uptake by cells, we inhibited endocytosis by specific inhibitors. Obtained results implicated that ND uptake was clathrin- and caveolin dependent. Nonetheless, more than half of NDs was internalized by cells in a different fashion. Some NDs colocalized with early endosomes, lysosomes and caveolin-derived endosomes after internalization. Other NDs resided either in unknown cell structures or escaped from...
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Design and synthesis of surface architectures on fluorescent nanodiamonds
Havlík, Jan
anks to their unique properties and high biocompatibilities, fluorescent nanodiamonds are promising representatives of modern carbon nanomaterials with a broad range of applications. Nevertheless, their wider use is limited because of weak fluorescence intensity and low colloidal stability in the biological environment. e optimization of treatment procedures and development of new suitable surface designs is therefore critically needed. In this study, several key steps for fluorescent nanodiamond treatment have been optimized, leading to both a substantial increase in fluorescence intensity and to significantly lower surface damage caused by graphitization. Further, a new high-throughput irradiation technique was developed. e influence of surface chemistry on the fluorescence parameters was studied using partial fluorination of the functional groups on the nanodiamond surface. A novel method which significantly affects the interaction of nanodiamonds with biological systems by increasing of the homogeneity and circularity was developed. e potential of nanodiamonds for future medical and biological research was demonstrated on particles with complex surface architectures that enabled targeting and therapy of tumor cells. Moreover, a strong and highly selective affinity of fibroblast growth factors to diamond...
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Electronic effects at the interface between biomolecules, cells and diamond
Krátká, Marie ; Rezek, Bohuslav (advisor) ; Cifra, Michal (referee) ; Skládal, Petr (referee)
Understanding and control of interactions between biological environment (cells, proteins, tissues, membranes, electrolytes, etc.) and solid-state surfaces is fundamental for biomedical applications such as bio-sensors, bio-electronics, tissue engineering and implant materials as well as for environmental monitoring, security and other fields. Diamond can provide unique combination of semiconducting, chemical, optical, biocompatible and other properties for this purpose. In this thesis we characterize electronic properties of protein-diamond interface by employing a solution-gated field-effect transistor (SGFET) based on hydrogen-terminated diamond, surface of which is exposed to biological media. We elucidate the role of adsorbed protein layer on the electronic response of the diamond transistor. We investigate effects of cells (using mainly osteoblast cells as model) on diamond SGFETs transfer characteristics and gate currents. We employ nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) thin films of different grain sizes (80 - 250 nm) to characterize and discuss influence of grain boundaries and sp2 phase on bio- electronic function of SGFETs. We investigate effects of gamma irradiation on function and stability of hydrogen-terminated diamond SGFETs interfaced with proteins and cells, showing feasibility of...
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Design and synthesis of surface architectures on fluorescent nanodiamonds
Havlík, Jan ; Kotek, Jan (advisor) ; Lang, Kamil (referee) ; Štěpánek, František (referee)
anks to their unique properties and high biocompatibilities, fluorescent nanodiamonds are promising representatives of modern carbon nanomaterials with a broad range of applications. Nevertheless, their wider use is limited because of weak fluorescence intensity and low colloidal stability in the biological environment. e optimization of treatment procedures and development of new suitable surface designs is therefore critically needed. In this study, several key steps for fluorescent nanodiamond treatment have been optimized, leading to both a substantial increase in fluorescence intensity and to significantly lower surface damage caused by graphitization. Further, a new high-throughput irradiation technique was developed. e influence of surface chemistry on the fluorescence parameters was studied using partial fluorination of the functional groups on the nanodiamond surface. A novel method which significantly affects the interaction of nanodiamonds with biological systems by increasing of the homogeneity and circularity was developed. e potential of nanodiamonds for future medical and biological research was demonstrated on particles with complex surface architectures that enabled targeting and therapy of tumor cells. Moreover, a strong and highly selective affinity of fibroblast growth factors to diamond...
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Laser spectroscopy of crystalline and nanocrystalline diamond
Zukerstein, Martin ; Trojánek, František (advisor)
The aim of this thesis is a study of NV centres in crystalline and nanocrystalline diamond by laser spectroscopy methods. In the theoretical part we discuss the laser spectroscopy methods, the studied material - diamond and the NV colour centres. In the experimental part we discuss the influence of nanoparticle size on luminescence spectra. We measure the luminescence of samples at room and also at low temperatures depending on the intensity and wavelength of the excitation. We study the photo-conversion of negatively charged state of NV centres to the neutral in detail. We make the time resolved measurements of the luminescence on streak camera for characterization the dynamical properties of the studied samples. The result is the comparison of lifetimes of the states in NV centres in selected samples.
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Comparative study on functionalization of NCD films with amine groups
Artemenko, Anna ; Kozak, Halyna ; Stuchlík, Jiří ; Biederman, H. ; Kromka, Alexander
Two plasma-based processes for functionalization of oxygen or hydrogen terminated NCD surfaces with amino groups were compared. The first process was based on deposition of thin (8 nm) amine containing plasma polymer by RF magnetron sputtering of Nylon target in Ar/N-2 working gas mixture. RF plasma treatment in NH3 for 10 minutes was used in the second process. The properties of NCD films before and after amination were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wettability measurements, spectral ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and current-voltage (I-V) measurements. The presence of nitrogen (and thus amino groups) on the surface was confirmed by XPS measurements in both cases. The obtained results indicated that NCD surface functionalization from amine containing plasma polymer by RF magnetron sputtering is an alternative technological solution for successful functionalization of diamond surfaces for biosensor applications.
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Correlated microscopy of electronic and material properties of graphene grown on diamond thin films
Rezek, Bohuslav ; Čermák, Jan ; Varga, Marián ; Tulic, S. ; Skákalová, V. ; Waitz, T. ; Kromka, Alexander
In this work we compare growth of graphene on diamond thin films that enable large area processing. We use films with different crystal size and surface roughness to obtain deeper insight into formation and properties of GoD. The diamond films are coated by a nm thin sputtered Ni layer and heated to 900°C in a forming gas atmosphere (H2/Ar) to initiate catalytic thermal CVD process. The samples are cleaned from residual Ni after the growth process. We employ scanning electron microscopy, Raman micro-spectroscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy to correlate material, structural, and electronic properties of graphene on diamond. We show how grain size and grain boundaries influence graphene growth and material and electronic properties. For instance we show that the grain boundaries (with non-diamond carbon phases) in diamond films have an important role. They influence the electronic properties and they are beneficial for forming graphene on diamond higher quality.
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Spatially separated HOMO/LUMO at interface of polypyrrole physisorbed on oxidized nanodiamond facets
Matunová, Petra ; Jirásek, Vít ; Rezek, Bohuslav
Nanodiamond particles (NDs) have recently risen in popularity owing to their unique and perspective properties. Merging NDs with organic molecules, such as polypyrrole (PPy), into hybrid organic-semiconductor functional systems gives rise to potential applications in photovoltaics (PV), which is supported by prior experimentally observed charge transfer between bulk diamond and PPy. This work focuses on the most relevant (111) and (100) O-terminated ND facets with different coverage of surface terminating oxygens in ether, epoxide, ketone, and peroxide positions. We use density functional theory (DFT) computations employing B3LYP functional and 6-31G(d) basis set. Energetically the most favorable oxidized ND facets were further optimized with PPy in physisorbed configurations. Analysis of geometry, binding energy, HOMO-LUMO gap, and charge transfer was done on the relaxed PPy-ND structures. Multiple hydrogen bonds are formed between PPy amino groups and O atoms on ND surface.
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