Latest Academic Works
Piezoelectric polymer films made of polyl-lactic acid for biomedical use
In the field of biomedical materials, conventional approaches to tissue engineering and wound healing face limitations that encourage the exploration of innovative treatments. This work presents multifaceted exploration of piezoelectric polylactic acid (PLA) films intended for biomedical applications, from the optimization of the conditions for efficient film preparation to the …
Plastic pollution in the hyporheic zone: occurrence and its interaction with microorganisms
Plastic pollution is a global issue, yet our understanding of its impact on organisms and ecosystems remains limited. My PhD thesis explores the presence of microplastics (MP) in river ecosystems, their interaction with freshwater hyporheic biofilms and specifically, the response of hyporheic biofilms to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) pollution in the …
Surface modifications of cellulose nanomaterials: mechanisms, kinetics and their applications
Synthesized in green plants, cellulose is the most abundant natural biopolymer on the planet and is thus widely available, cheap and renewable. Furthermore, its hierarchical structure allows extraction of nanosized particles in the form of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), obtained with hydrolysis or cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), isolated through chemical, biological pretreatment …
Protection of biomedical alloys by thin films of alumina and hafnia prepared by atomic layer deposition
One of the most commonly used metal materials for the manufacture of biomedical implants are stainless steel and titanium-based alloys. Due to the specific conditions and complex environment in the human body, different strategies have been employed to protect them and improve their functionality in vivo. In this thesis, a …
Surfaces and interfaces in the growth of SrTiO3 on Si by pulsed laser deposition
SrTiO3 (STO) thin films are used as buffer layers that enable epitaxial integration of various functional oxides with silicon. When pulsed laser deposition (PLD) is used to grow STO on Si, a thin amorphous layer is formed at the STO-Si interface that limits the use of such heterostructures in certain …
Investigations and separation of various contributions to dielectric response of advanced ceramic and polymeric materials
Dielectric materials, used to control and store charges and electric energy, play a key role in modern electronics and electric power systems. Dielectric spectroscopy is a versatile method, well-suited for detection, separation and characterization of various contributions to dielectric response of advanced ceramic and polymeric materials, as it enables understanding …
Ion Beam Modification of Surfaces in the Nanoscale Domain
Ion beam sputtering induces morphological as well as compositional changes on the surfaces of ion-sputtered substrates. The surface undergoes kinetic processes, which lead to different morphological details: periodic ripples, substrate-defined etch pits or protuberant structures, roughening and smoothing are some possibilities for surface evolution. The aim of my doctoral dissertation …
Nonequilibrium Dynamics of Charge and Collective Modes in Charge Density Waves Compounds
This thesis presents studies of ultrafast carrier relaxation dynamics in charge density wave (CDW) materials by means of femtosecond time-resolved optical spectroscopy. In these experiments, a femtosecond pump pulse excites electrons via interband transitions, thereby changing the optical properties of the material. The dynamics of relaxation processes is then recorded …