Optical Characterization of rf-Magnetron Sputtered Nanostructured SnO2 Thin Films

Tin oxide （Sn02 ） thin films are deposited by rf-magnetron sputtering and annealed at various temperatures in the range of 100-500 ℃ for 15 min. Raman spectra of the annealed films depict the formation of a small amount of SnO phase in the tetragonal Sn02 matrix, which is verified by x-ray diffraction. The average particle size is found to be about 20-30 nm, as calculated from x-ray peak broadening and SEM images. Various optical parameters such as optical band gap energy, refractive index, optical conductivity, carrier mobility, carrier concentration etc. are determined from the optical transmittance and reflectance data recorded in the wavelength range 250-2500 nm. The results are analyzed and compared with the data in the literature.     

Effect of particle size and alloying with different metals on 57Fe Mössbauer spectra

Iron nanoparticles of various sizes have been synthesized using the chemical route which involves the preparation of iron bipyridine complexes in presence of different capping agents followed by thermal decomposition at 450°C in inert atmosphere. The bimetallic nanoalloys of Fe with Mg and Pd have also been prepared by following the same route. The resulting nanoparticles have been characterized by EDX-RF, XRD, AFM and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. The appearance of quadrupole doublets in the Mössbauer spectra of Fe nanoparticles indicates the absence of magnetic interaction and variation in parameters is due to the varying particle size. The Mössbauer spectrum of Fe–Mg₂ bimetallic nanoalloy shows two doublets indicating the presence of superparamagnetism. The two doublets can be attributed to change in s-electron density of iron resulting from its two neighboring magnesium atoms. Fe–Pd nanoalloy Mössbauer spectrum is characterized by having a superparamagnetic doublet and a ferromagnetic sextet.     

Crystallographic report: Polymeric [3‐(triphenylgermyl)‐3‐o‐methoxyphenylpropionato]trimethyltin(IV)

The polymeric chains of [Sn(CH₃)₃(C₂₈H₂₅O₃Ge)]_n contain trimethyltin moieties bridging two neighboring 3‐(triphenylgermyl)‐3‐o‐methoxypropionate ligands via carboxyl groups. The germanium atom has a distorted tetrahedral geometry and the tin atom has a distorted trigonal‐bipyramidal geometry, the latter with three methyl groups in the equatorial plane and oxygen atoms defining the axial positions. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Suppression of methane formation during Fisher-Tropsch synthesis using manganese-cobalt oxide supported on H-5A zeolite as a catalyst

In Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction, methane formation is one of the side reactions which must be suppressed in order to get better catalytic selectivity for light olefins. In the present study, we have modified cobalt based Fischer-Tropsch catalyst and developed a process to minimize methane production, consequently to produce maximum yield of light olefins. Manganese-cobalt oxide supported on H-5A zeolite catalyst was synthesized using modified H-5A zeolite, to increase its surface acid sites. Increased acidity of zeolite plays a major part in the suppression of methane formation during the Fischer-Tropsch reaction. The modified zeolite results in the electronic modification of catalyst surface by creating new active catalytic sites. The results are compared with other supported catalysts along with unmodified zeolite. Appreciable reduction in methane formation is achieved on modified zeolite supported catalyst in comparison with unsupported catalyst.     

Synthesis, characterization and variable temperature NMR studies on coordination geometry of dimethytin(IV) S(+)-2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propanoate

Dimethytin(IV) S(+)-2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propanoate was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and IR and variable temperature NMR spectroscopy. Variable temperature NMR analysis was performed to see the effect of temperature on coordination geometry of organotin complexes in non-coordinating solvent. Spectral data has shown that temperature change does not alter the coordination geometry of the complex, and that it remains greater than four at variable temperatures as well as at room temperature in solution state. This text was submitted by the authors in English.