This experiment was based on colloidal coere-shell particles with empty core and small ( 8-9nm) silver particles adsorbed on particle surface. After deposition of particles using LbL method sample was illuminated by Xenon lamp radiation for 30 min with irradiation power density of 50 mW/cm^2. Small silever particles should warm up after illumination due to the localized surface plasmon resonance and burn polyelectrolyte shell. Bigger particles schould be build.
Detection of this reaction should be visible as the shift of the LSPR wavelength. Unforunathely this has been not observed yet.

EMF measuremnt for third constant ratio of Al/Zn of molar fraction, when amount of lithium was changed from 0.1 to 0.9. Calculation of the partial excess thermodynamic properties from EMF measurement and using CAPLHAD method.
Investigation magnetic field induced strain effect (MFIS) in single crystals of Ni-Mn-Ga Heusler alloys. XMCD (and simultaneously XAFS) measurements will be performed at K edges of Ni, Ga (and Mn if possible) in order to track individual response of the elements to the external field.

June was month of samples preparation for the calorimetric analysis to determine thermal stability of coatings in the temperature range from-50oC to +50oC. Similar heat treated specimens were analyzed on scanning electron microscope to assess if any changes in surface morphology took place. This month I participated in AMT 2013 conference and gave a talk about chemical control of polyelectrolyte film properties for an effective cardiovascular implants endothelialization, during session dedicated to young scientists. I also took part in the confocal microscopy workshop. During the course I listened to lectures about methods dedicated to cellular adhesion and migration in vivo observations. Practical part of workshop was divided into three sessions. I get more familiar with cell movement analysis by the resonance scanning confocal system, calcium ions flow investigations by spinning disc microscopy and methods of image processing by deconvolution and 3D reconstruction.

Last month I took part in two international conferences:

- XX Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science Conference: Advanced Materials and Technologies – AMT 2013 in Kudowa-Zdrój, where I was given an opportunity to give a speech during Young scientists session, which was entitled: “Characterization of reaction products of liquid Al and Mg3N2”

- 17th International Conference on Composite Structures in Porto, were I also gave a talk, but this time on “Effects of heat treatment on microstructure and microhardness of ball milled/hot pressed Al 7475/AlN nano-composites”

My activities in June:

During this month I have prepared publication entitled: Structural investigation of Mg-3Ca, Mg-3Zn-1Ca and Mg-3Zn-3Ca wt.% as cast alloys.

Here you have an abstract:

Magnesium alloys from Mg-Zn-Ca system are interesting, because of possible application as bioresorbable cardiovascular stents or temporary orthopaedic implants. Avoidance of removal surgery is an undeniable advantage of using biodegradable materials.
Alloys of nominal composition Mg-3Ca, Mg-3Zn-1Ca and Mg-3Zn-3Ca (in wt.%) have been prepared by resistance melting and casting into graphite mould under protective argon atmosphere. All investigated alloys have revealed (Mg) dendritic microstructures with intermetallic phases distributed in interdendritic spacing. Except a(Mg), hexagonal ternary phase Ca2Mg6Zn3 has been detected for the Mg-3Zn-1Ca alloy and Mg-3Zn-3Ca (Ca2Mg6Zn3 phase belongs to the space group P63/mmc, with lattice parameters depending on the chemical composition). It was calculated that the unit cell parameters for the ternary phase change - a: from 9.912 to 9.945 Å, c: from 10.351 to 10.378 Å, if compare Mg-3Zn-1Ca to Mg-3Zn-3Ca. The Mg-3Ca alloy contain only Mg2Ca (hexagonal crystal structure; space group P63/mmc, with lattice parameters a = 6.239 Å and c =10.146 Å). The same binary phase has been identified in Mg-3Zn-3Ca alloy, but with slightly changed parameters:
a = 6.2152 Å and c = 10.0699 Å. The hardness of all alloys have been measured. The highest value: 68 HV has been observed for Mg-3Zn-3Ca alloy whereas hardness of alloy containing only calcium was significantly lower: 49 HV. Both existing in materials intermetallic phases segregate on the grain boundaries and harden alloys.