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The formation of grains in the interstellar medium, i.e., at low temperature, has been proposed as a possibility to solve the lifetime problem of cosmic dust. This process lacks a firm experimental basis, which is the goal of this study. We…
The formation and growth of refractory matter on pre-existing interstellar dust grain surfaces was studied experimentally by annealing neon-ice matrices in which potential precursors of silicate grains (Mg and Fe atoms, SiO and SiO$_2$…
Reactions of SiO molecules have been postulated to initiate efficient formation of silicate dust particles in outflows around dying (AGB) stars. Both OH radicals and H$_2$O molecules can be present in these environments and their reactions…
We report the growth of Si nanostructures, either as thin films or nanoparticles, on graphene substrates. The Si nanostructures are shown to be single crystalline, air stable and oxidation resistive, as indicated by the observation of a…
Highly oriented pyrolitic graphite (HOPG) is an inert substrate with a structural honeycomb lattice, well suited for the growth of two-dimensional (2D) silicene layer. It was reported that when Si atoms are deposited on HOPG surface at room…
Here we develop a class off face centred cubic structure of metallic silver nanocrystals, to enable high ORR activity process. Silver nanoparticles deposited within different carbon supports: carboxylated-graphene, SiO2-doted reduced-…
Ni(OH)2 nanocrystals grown on graphene sheets with various degrees of oxidation are investigated as electrochemical pseudocapacitor materials for potential energy storage applications. Single-crystalline Ni(OH)2 hexagonal nanoplates…
The exceptional conducting nature of graphene makes it a viable candidate for enhancing the effectiveness of photocatalytic and biomedical nanomaterials. Herein, the immobilization of monodispersed silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles on…
Silicon is present in interstellar dust grains, meteorites and asteroids, and to date thirteen silicon-bearing molecules have been detected in the gas-phase towards late-type stars or molecular clouds, including silane and silane…
In the interstellar medium, carbon (nano-)grains are a major component of interstellar dust. This solid phase is more vulnerable to processing and destruction than its silicate counterpart. It exhibits a complex, size-dependent evolution…
The dense Galactic environment is a large reservoir of interstellar dust. Therefore, this region represents a perfect laboratory to study the properties of the cosmic dust grains. X-rays are the most direct way to detect the interaction of…
Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) of silicon dioxide (SiO$_2$) is widely used for low-temperature fabrication of dielectric thin films, yet its atomic-scale growth mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In this work, we…
The condensation of complex silicates with pyroxene and olivine composition at conditions prevailing in molecular clouds has been experimentally studied. For this purpose, molecular species comprising refractory elements were forced to…
We have reviewed the characteristics of the extended red emission (ERE) as observed in many dusty astronomical environments, in particular, the diffuse interstellar medium of the Galaxy. The spectral nature and the photon conversion…
Silicate minerals belong to the most abundant solids in space. Their formation becomes difficult at the transition from the oxygen rich chemistry of M-stars to the carbon rich chemistry of C-stars. In the intermediate type S-stars oxygen…
Nanoporous thin-films are an important class of materials, offering a way to observe fundamental surface and bulk processes with particles larger than individual atoms, but small enough to interact significantly with each other through…
Aims. Interstellar dust grains, because of their catalytic properties, are crucial to the formation of H2, the most abundant molecule in the Universe. The formation of molecular hydrogen strongly depends on the ability of H atoms to stick…
Nanometre- to micrometre-sized solid dust particles play a vital role in star and planet formations. Despite of their importance, however, our understanding of physical and chemical properties of dust particles is still provisional. We have…
We present results from an experimental study on the interaction of atomic deuterium with Mg-rich amorphous enstatite and forsterite type silicates. Infrared spectroscopy was used to examine the process. During D atom exposure, deuteroxyl…
Dust particles play a major role in the formation, evolution and chemistry of interstellar clouds, stars and planetary systems. Commonly identified forms include amorphous and crystalline carbon-rich particles and silicates. Also present in…