A metastable phase of Bi2Se3 with orthorhombic structure has been obtained by potentiostatic electrodeposition onto Si(100) substrate. The ideal stoichiometry and single orthorhombic phase could be obtained only within a restricted potential window, where mutual underpotential codeposition is assumed to occur. Optical and electrical characterization indicates a bandgap of 1.25 eV, close to the maximum efficiency in the Shockley-Queisser limit, and n-type semiconducting behavior with moderate electrical resistivity. Theoretical calculations using density functional theory were used to support the structural and optical results. Due to the favorable set of properties with respect to isomorphic compounds such as Bi2S3, Sb2S3 and Sb2Se3 this material could lead to efficient and low-cost new thin film-based photovoltaic devices.

In this work in vivo experiments were conducted in order to characterize the biocompatibility of polyurethane nanoparticles (PU-NPs) after intraperitoneal (i.p.) and oral administration. Additionally, ex vivo assays were performed to assess human blood compatibility as well as in vitro assays to assess protein binding. Our results indicated that administration of three different concentrations of PU-NPs induced a significant increase in visceral fat accumulation after oral dosing. In addition, fat tissue of mice intraperitoneally treated with the highest concentration of nanoparticles showed diffuse mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate in the fat tissue. Histopathological assessment showed inflammatory infiltrate and hepatocyte vacuolization in the liver, inflammatory infiltration and vascular congestion in the lung and glomerular necrosis in the kidney. Hepatic enzymes related with liver function were significantly increased in both groups of mice treated with PU-NPs. The PU-NPs did not affect the human blood cells number as well as coagulation time but showed a susceptibility to bind in proteins commonly found in the blood stream. In addition, increased amounts of pro inflammatory cytokines in vivo, as well as ex vivo in human cells were observed. Further studies to establish the consequences of long-term exposure to PU-NPs are warranted.

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Revealing the crystalline structure of predominantly grown anatase TiO2films.