Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Colliex

Publications and source records attributed to C Colliex.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Co-doped (La, Sr)TiO(3-delta) : a high Curie temperature diluted magnetic system with large spin polarization.

We report on tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) experiments that demonstrate the existence of a significant spin polarization in Co-doped (La, Sr)TiO(3-delta) (Co-LSTO), a ferromagnetic diluted magnetic oxide system (DMOS) with high Curie temperature. These TMR experiments have been performed on magnetic tunnel junctions associating Co-LSTO and Co electrodes. Extensive structural analysis of Co-LSTO combining high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy excluded the presence of Co clusters in the Co-LSTO layer and thus, the measured ferromagnetism and high spin polarization are intrinsic properties of this DMOS. Our results argue for the DMOS approach with complex oxide materials in spintronics.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Dynamics of polymorphic nanostructures: from growth to collapse.

The deposition of preformed clusters on surfaces offers new possibilities to build complex artificial nanostructures, the shape of which depends on the cluster size. We describe routes for generating unusual polymorphic nanoislands, which constitute unique platforms for exploring instabilities. As coverage increases, the constraints accumulated in such nanostructures induce spectacular flattening collapse processes, which are not observed when the constraints are imposed by the substrate.

Computer Simulation↗
PubMed2006

Defective structure of BN nanotubes: from single vacancies to dislocation lines.

A combination of electron microscopy and theoretical calculations provides new insights into the structure, electronics, and energetics of point defects and vacancy lines in BN single-wall nanotubes (SWNT). We show that the point defects forming under electron irradiation in the BN SWNTs are primarily divacancies. Due to the partially ionic character of the BN bonding, divacancies behave like an associated Schottky pair, with a dissociation energy of around 8 eV. Clustering of multiple vacancies is energetically favorable and leads to extended defects which locally change the nanotube diameter and chirality. Nevertheless these defects do not alter significantly the band gap energy, and all of them have electronic structure similar to that of BN divacancies. We thus conclude that under irradiation BN SWNT may have a very stable alteration of its electronic and optical properties.

Boron Compounds↗
PubMed2005

Electron energy loss spectroscopy measurement of the optical gaps on individual boron nitride single-walled and multiwalled nanotubes.

Spatially resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy experiments have been performed in an electron microscope on several individual boron nitride (BN) single-, double-, and triple-walled nanotubes, whose diameters and number of shells have been carefully measured. In the low-loss region (from 2 to 50 eV) the spectra have been analyzed within the framework of the continuum dielectric theory, leading to the conclusion of a weak influence of out-of-plane contribution to the dielectric response of the tubes. The gap has been measured to be independent of the nanotubes geometry, and close to the in-plane gap value of hexagonal BN (5.8+/-0.2 eV).

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

A public software for energy filtering transmission electron tomography (EFTET-J): application to the study of granular inclusions in bacteria from Riftia pachyptila.

Energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) allows the determination of elemental distributions out of a sequence of energy filtered images. Combined with electron tomography, EFTEM is a powerful tool to obtain three-dimensional chemical maps from sub-cellular structures. However, there is no existing software in the public-domain for the computation and analysis of 3D-chemical maps. Here, we present a Java-based program to compute 3D-elemental distribution. This program is available as a set of plug-ins for the public-domain Java image processing program Image J inspired by NIH Image. Its implemented algorithms have been successfully applied to the three-dimensional localization of iron granules in semi thin (200 nm) epon sections from the vent worm Riftia pachyptalia.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2003

Improving energy resolution of EELS spectra: an alternative to the monochromator solution.

In this paper, we propose a numerical method which can routinely improve the energy resolution down to 0.2-0.3eV of electron energy-loss spectra acquired in a transmission electron microscope. The method involves measurement of the point-spread function (PSF) corresponding to the spectrometer aberration and to the incident energy spread, and then an inversion of this PSF so as to restore the spectrum. The chosen algorithm is based on an iterative calculation of the maximum likelihood solution known to be very robust against small errors in the PSF used. Restorations have been performed on diamond and graphite C-K edges acquired with an initial energy resolution of around 1eV. After reconstruction, the sharp core exciton lines become clearly visible for both compounds and the final energy resolution is estimated to be about 200-300meV. In the case of graphite, restorations involving both energy resolution and angular resolution have been successfully conducted. Finally, restorations of Fe L(2,3) and O-K edges measured for various iron oxides will be shown.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Instability driven fragmentation of nanoscale fractal islands.

Formation and evolution of fragmentation instabilities in fractal islands, obtained by deposition of silver clusters on graphite, are studied. The fragmentation dynamics and subsequent relaxation to the equilibrium shapes are controlled by the deposition conditions and cluster composition. Sharing common features with other materials' breakup phenomena, the fragmentation instability is governed by the length-to-width ratio of the fractal arms.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Cross-linked nano-onions of carbon nitride in the solid phase: existence of a novel C(48)N(12) aza-fullerene.

We report a new fullerenelike material consisting of cross-linked nano-onions of C and N. Growth of the onion shells takes place atom by atom on a substrate surface and yields thin solid films during magnetron sputter deposition. Electron microscopy and energy loss spectroscopy show that the core shell contains up to 20 at. % N corresponding to C(48)N(12) aza-fullerene composition. Nanoindentation of this nanostructured material gives high resilience with hardness 7 GPa, Young's modulus 37 GPa, and complete elastic recovery after loading with 0.5 mN to a depth of 75 nm. Total energy calculations show the stability of C(60-2n)N(2n) aza-fullerenes and suggest the existence of a novel C(48)N(12) molecule.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Experimental evidence of surface-plasmon coupling in anisotropic hollow nanoparticles.

We report on the investigation of surface-plasmon excitation of anisotropic WS(2) hollow nanoparticles in a near-field geometry by means of a scanning transmission electron microscope. The shell thickness influence on the electron-energy-loss-spectroscopy spectra is experimentally observed and is analyzed within a classical dielectric formalism. As for the isotropic case, we evidence one symmetric (tangential) and one antisymmetric (radial) mode. We point out the intriguing fact that, for the anisotropic case, one can relate these modes to the interband transition of the in-plane component of the dielectric tensor and to the bulk-plasmon energy of the out-of-plane component.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Element-selective single atom imaging.

Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) is widely used to identify elemental compositions of materials studied by microscopy. We demonstrate that the sensitivity and spatial resolution of EELS can be extended to the single-atom limit. A chemical map for gadolinium (Gd) clearly reveals the distribution of Gd atoms inside a single chain of metallofullerene molecules (Gd@C82) generated within a single-wall carbon nanotube. This characterization technique thus provides the "eyes" to see and identify individual atoms in nanostructures. It is likely to find broad application in nanoscale science and technology research.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Coaxial nanocable: silicon carbide and silicon oxide sheathed with boron nitride and carbon

Multielement nanotubes comprising multiple phases, with diameters of a few tens of nanometers and lengths up to 50 micrometers, were successfully synthesized by means of reactive laser ablation. The experimentally determined structure consists of a beta-phase silicon carbide core, an amorphous silicon oxide intermediate layer, and graphitic outer shells made of boron nitride and carbon layers separated in the radial direction. The structure resembles a coaxial nanocable with a semiconductor-insulator-metal (or semiconductor-insulator-semiconductor) geometry and suggests applications in nanoscale electronic devices that take advantage of this self-organization mechanism for multielement nanotube formation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Scanning transmission electron microscopy of biological structures.

The design of the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) has been conceived to optimize its detection efficiency of the different elastic and inelastic signals resulting from the interaction of the high energy primary electrons with the specimen. Its potential use to visualize and measure biological objects was recognized from the first studies by Crewe and coworkers in the seventies. Later the real applications have not followed the initial hopes. The purpose of the present paper is to describe how the instrument has practically evolved and recently begun to demonstrate all its potentialities for quantitative electron microscopy of a wide range of biological specimens, from freeze-dried isolated macromolecules to unstained cryosections. Emphasis will be put on the mass-mapping, multi-signal and elemental mapping modes which are unique features of the STEM instruments.

Bacteriophage T4↗
PubMed1993

Application of scanning transmission electron microscopy to the study of biological structure.

The scanning transmission electron microscope provides structural and chemical information of a specimen at atomic-scale resolution and complements conventional transmission electron microscopy techniques. Mass measurements can now be performed routinely on a wide range of molecular and supramolecular structures using elastically scattered electrons. Recent progress in the acquisition and analysis of electron energy-loss spectroscopy data indicates that the scanning transmission electron microscope is an efficient tool for mapping the chemical composition of biological samples.

Biotechnology↗