Publications by authors named "Aurelie Habert"

Laser synthesis was used for one-step synthesis of titania/graphene composites (G-TiO (C)) from a suspension of 0.04 wt% commercial reduced graphene oxide (rGO) dispersed in liquid titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP). Reference titania sample (TiO(C)) was prepared by the same method without graphene addition.

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This work presents an original synthesis of TiO/graphene nanocomposites using laser pyrolysis for the demonstration of efficient and improved perovskite solar cells. This is a one-step and continuous process known for nanoparticle production, and it enables here the elaboration of TiO nanoparticles with controlled properties (stoichiometry, morphology, and crystallinity) directly grown on graphene materials. Using this process, a high quality of the TiO/graphene interface is achieved, leading to an intimate electronic contact between the two materials.

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Nanoparticles are defined as elementary particles with a size between 1 and 100 nm for at least 50% (in number). They can be made from natural materials, or manufactured. Due to their small sizes, novel toxicological issues are raised and thus determining the accurate size of these nanoparticles is a major challenge.

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Titanium dioxide nanoparticles were synthesized by laser pyrolysis, their surface and electronic properties were modified by gold and/or nitrogen. These materials were characterized by different techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Time resolved conductivity (TRMC) was used to study the charge separation of electron/hole pairs.

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Solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (ssDSSC) constitute a major approach to photovoltaic energy conversion with efficiencies over 8% reported thanks to the rational design of efficient porous metal oxide electrodes, organic chromophores, and hole transporters. Among the various strategies used to push the performance ahead, doping of the nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO₂) electrode is regularly proposed to extend the photo-activity of the materials into the visible range. However, although various beneficial effects for device performance have been observed in the literature, they remain strongly dependent on the method used for the production of the metal oxide, and the influence of nitrogen atoms on charge kinetics remains unclear.

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Article Synopsis
  • Titanium dioxide and copper oxide nanoparticles are increasingly used for their beneficial properties, but they may pose health risks, prompting a study of mouse macrophages' responses to these materials.
  • The research revealed that both copper ions and copper oxide nanoparticles caused DNA strand breaks in macrophages, while generally not impairing the cells' ability to engulf pathogens at non-toxic doses.
  • Proteomic analyses showed minor changes from titanium dioxide, but copper oxide influenced the macrophages by inducing heme oxygenase and increasing glutathione synthesis, which are essential for the cells to manage copper exposure.
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Two different zinc oxide nanoparticles, as well as zinc ions, are used to study the cellular responses of the RAW 264 macrophage cell line. A proteomic screen is used to provide a wide view of the molecular effects of zinc, and the most prominent results are cross-validated by targeted studies. Furthermore, the alteration of important macrophage functions (e.

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The molecular responses of macrophages to copper-based nanoparticles have been investigated via a combination of proteomic and biochemical approaches, using the RAW264.7 cell line as a model. Both metallic copper and copper oxide nanoparticles have been tested, with copper ion and zirconium oxide nanoparticles used as controls.

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