Mariana STEFAN

Dr. Mariana STEFAN is a Scientific Researcher II at the National Institute of Materials Physics (NIMP), working in the Laboratory of Atomic Structures and Defects in Advanced Materials (LASDAM). She also serves as the responsible person for the EPR facility from the Romanian partner NIMP within the Central European Research Facility Consortium (CERIC). With expertise in electron paramagnetic resonance techniques, her work bridges fundamental materials science and practical applications in energy, sensing, and environmental technologies.

Dr. STEFAN's educational background includes:

• PhD in Physics (Condensed State Physics), University of Bucharest, Romania (2002)
• Thesis title: Paramagnetic point defects in ionic crystals with structural phase transitions
• PhD supervisor: Prof. Dr. Sergiu V. Nistor
• BSc Physics (Electronic and Electrotechnical Materials and Components), Faculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, Romania (1991)

Her research focuses on characterizing point defects in wide band gap semiconductors and insulating crystalline materials. She specializes in EPR probing of structural and chemical transformations, with particular expertise in multifrequency EPR analysis and computational interpretation of spectra. Her work extends to EPR investigations of nanostructured materials for applications in electronics, (photo)catalysis, and gas sensing, where she has made significant contributions to understanding defect structures and their impact on material properties. Her technical proficiency also includes single crystal growth using Czochralski and Bridgman techniques.

Dr. STEFAN's publication record demonstrates consistent high-impact research across multiple domains of materials science. Her work shows a clear trajectory from fundamental studies of defect structures in semiconductor nanoparticles to applied research on energy storage devices, gas sensors, and photocatalytic materials. The integration of EPR with complementary techniques like XRD, STEM, and XPS in her research provides comprehensive materials characterization that has advanced understanding in multiple subfields.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Dragomir Hurmuzescu award of the Romanian Academy (2001)

Dr. STEFAN has contributed to numerous collaborative research projects through CERIC and has co-authored multiple book chapters on semiconductor nanoparticles and defect structures. Her work with Research ID G-4068-2011 and ORCID ID 0000-0001-5272-4770 demonstrates sustained research productivity, with recent publications focusing on supercapacitor materials, gas sensing applications, and advanced EPR methodologies for nanomaterial characterization.

As part of LASDAM at NIMP, Dr. STEFAN operates advanced EPR facilities that support both fundamental research on defect structures and applied research on materials for energy, sensing, and environmental applications. Her laboratory contributes significantly to the Romanian and European materials science communities through the CERIC consortium, providing specialized characterization capabilities for researchers across multiple disciplines.