Toma STOICA

Dr. Toma STOICA is a Senior Researcher I at the National Institute of Materials Physics (NIMP), where he leads research at the Laboratory of Atomic Structures and Defects in Advanced Materials (LASDAM). He has maintained continuous research positions at NIMP since 1972 and held a Senior Researcher position since 1990. His international experience includes research at Forschungszentrum Julich in Germany (2001-2014) and Humboldt Research Fellowships.

His research spans semiconductor physics, solid state phenomena, and photonics, with particular expertise in amorphous semiconductors, quantum effects in low-dimensional structures, and optoelectronic applications. Dr. STOICA has made significant contributions to the understanding of transport phenomena, optical absorption, and photoelectric properties in semiconductor materials. His work has evolved to focus increasingly on nanoscale phenomena, including the growth and properties of nanowires, quantum dots, and nanocrystals for infrared detection and memory applications.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on short-wave infrared (SWIR) photodetection using Group IV semiconductor nanocrystals, particularly Ge, SiGe, and GeSn alloys embedded in various oxide matrices. His work demonstrates sophisticated understanding of how material composition, nanostructure formation, and interface engineering affect optoelectronic properties. The research shows progression from fundamental semiconductor physics toward practical device applications, especially in memory technologies and infrared photodetectors.

• Humboldt Research Fellowship (1992)
• Romanian Academy Prize for Physics, 'Constantin Miculescu' 1993 for studies on quantum SiGe structures
• Member of Humboldt Foundation Club

Dr. STOICA's research has been supported by multiple projects including 'Multifunctional optoelectrical sensor based on two-dimensional MoS2 atomically thin layers' (PED, 2022-2024), 'Nano-Structured GeSn Coatings for Photonics' (M-ERA.NET, 2016-2019), and 'Photo-Electric Capacitor Memory based on Ge-Nanocrystals' (PED, 2017-2018). His work bridges fundamental semiconductor physics with practical applications in photonics and memory technologies.

At LASDAM, he directs research on semiconductor nanostructures with applications in optoelectronics and memory devices. His laboratory utilizes advanced techniques including magnetron sputtering, rapid thermal annealing, and comprehensive characterization methods to develop and analyze novel semiconductor materials and devices.