Daniela GHICA

Daniela GHICA is a Senior Researcher II at the National Institute of Materials Physics in Romania, working within the Laboratory of Atomic Structures and Defects in Advanced Materials (LASDAM). She holds a Ph.D. in Physics (Solid State Physics) from the University of Bucharest, earned in 2006 with research focused on magnetic resonance study of radiolysis products in chlorinated SrCl₂:Fe crystals.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Physics (Solid State Physics), University of Bucharest, Romania (2006)

Daniela GHICA's research interests center on solid state physics with emphasis on point defects in materials, particularly using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) techniques. Her work spans semiconductor nanomaterials (especially ZnO and ZnS), gas sensors, photocatalysis, and the fundamental study of defect structures in crystalline materials. She has developed expertise in production and characterization of paramagnetic point defects induced by doping and irradiation in single crystals and nanostructures, multi-frequency EPR spectroscopy, computational analysis of EPR spectra, and thin film processing using pulsed laser deposition.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a strong focus on nanomaterials for sensing applications, particularly gas sensors based on metal oxides like NiO and SnO₂. Her research also extends to photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceuticals using modified TiO₂, fundamental studies of defect structures in various materials, and applications of nanomaterials in biomedicine. The work consistently employs advanced characterization techniques, especially EPR spectroscopy, to understand material properties at the atomic level.

Her notable scientific achievements include:

• Ion Agarbiceanu, '1st place' award for the best contribution to the National Physics Conference CNF 2005, Bucharest, Romania
• Physica Status Solidi Young Researcher Award for the best contribution to the 10th Europhysical Conference on Defects in Insulating Materials - EURODIM 2006, Milano, Italy
• Stefan Procopiu award granted by the Romanian Academy in 2008

Dr. GHICA has supervised numerous researchers and students, evident from her extensive publication record with multiple co-authors across various institutions. She has led significant research projects including 'Distribution and dynamics of paramagnetic impurities in nanostructured ZnO for advanced applications in spintronics, opto- and nanoelectronics' (2015-2017) and 'Sechestrarea CO2 prin legare chimica in compusi minerali utili in scopul reducerii emisiilor de gaze cu efect de sera' (2011). Her work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary collaboration across physics, materials science, and engineering disciplines.

She leads research activities in the Laboratory of Atomic Structures and Defects in Advanced Materials, where her team focuses on advanced characterization of nanomaterials using EPR and other spectroscopic techniques, development of new sensor materials, and fundamental studies of defect structures in semiconductors and insulators.