Dehydration kinetics of an Indian clay

Decomposition of clay from Garo Hills of Meghalaya (India) was studied by dynamic thermogravimetry. A fourteen kinetic equation procedure was applied for analysis of non-isothermal weight change upto a temperature of 1223 K. Two stages of decomposition were clearly distinguised i.e. the initial dehydration period at temperature 373 K to 673 K and the dehydroxylation period in the temperature range 723 K to 1073 K. First order decomposition mechanism was found to be applicable to both dehydration and dehydroxylation steps. Activation energies of 67 kJ/mol and 278 kJ/mol are estimated for the first and second steps with frequency factors of 16.3 s^–1 and 5.16×10⁶s^–1 respectively. The weight loss relating to the steps in TG curves allows determination of the contents of the basic mineral in the clay. Percentages of Al₂O₃.SiO₂ and total volatiles as calculated from weight loss data are in accordance with the results of classical chemical analysis.

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Zusammenfassung Mittels DTG wurde die thermische Zersetung von Ton aus der Garo-Hills-Gegend bei Meghalaya (Indien) untersucht. Zur Analyse der nicht-isothermen Gewichtsveränderungen bis zu einer Temperatur von 1223 K wurde ein Verfahren mit vierzehn kinetischen Gleichungen angewendet. Zwei Teilschritte der Zersetzung können eindeutig unterschieden werden, nämlich die anfängliche Dehydratationsperiode bei Temperaturen von 373 bis 673 K und die Dehydroxylierungsperiode bei Temperaturen zwischen 723 K un 1073 K. Für beide Vorgänge konnte als Reaktionsmechanismus eine Zersetzung erster Ordnung angewendet werden. Für den ersten un zweiten Teilschritt konnten Aktivierungsenergien von 67 kJ/mol bzw. 278 kJ/mol un Frequenzfaktoren von 16.3s^–1 bzw. 5.16×10⁶s^–1 ermittelt werden. Der aus den TG-Kurven hervorgehende Gewichtsverlust läßt auf den Gehalt des Tones an Basismineral schließen. Der prozentuelle Gehalt an Al₂O₃, SiO₂ und der gesamten flüchtigen Bestandteile, berechnet aus den Gewichtsverlusdaten, stimmt mit den Ergebnissen aus herkömmlichen chemischen Analysen überein.

     

Banana pulp extract mediated synthesis of Cu2O nanoparticles: An efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the ipso-hydroxylation of arylboronic acids

A green and facile novel procedure has been developed for the synthesis of Cu₂O nanoparticles within a very short reaction time using banana pulp extract as a reducing agent. The synthesized nanoparticles are well characterized by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope) and powder XRD (X-ray Diffraction) methods. An environmental benign and highly efficient protocol for the ipso-hydroxylation of aryl and hetero arylboronic acids using bio-fabricated Cu₂O nanoparticles as a catalyst and aqueous H₂O₂ as an oxidant has also been developed. The main advantages of this protocol are the base free reaction condition, reusable and heterogeneous catalytic system, and short reaction time with excellent yields.     

Holographic Dark Energy in Higher Derivative Gravity with Varying Gravitational Constant

In this paper we investigate the holographic dark energy scenario in higher derivative gravity with a varying gravitational constant. We introduce a kind of energy density from higher derivative gravity which has role of the same as holographic dark energy. We obtain the exact differential equation , which determine the evolution of the dark energy density based on varying gravitational constant G. We also find out a cosmological application of our work by evaluating a relation for the equation of state of dark energy for low redshifts containing varying G correction.     

Deviations from tri-bimaximal neutrino mixing using type II seesaw

We study the possibility of generating deviations from tri-bimaximal (TBM) neutrino mixing to explain the non-zero reactor mixing angle within the framework of both type I and type II seesaw mechanisms. The type I seesaw term gives rise to the μ–τ   symmetric TBM pattern of neutrino mass matrix as predicted by generic flavor symmetry models like _A4$A_4$ whereas the type II seesaw term gives rise to the required deviations from TBM pattern to explain the non-zero _θ13${\theta }_{13}$. Considering extremal values of Majorana CP phases such that the neutrino mass eigenvalues have the structure (_m1,−_m2,_m3)$(m_1,-m_2,m_3)$ and (_m1,_m2,_m3)$(m_1,m_2,m_3)$, we numerically fit the type I seesaw term by taking oscillation as well as cosmology data and then compute the predictions for neutrino parameters after the type II seesaw term is introduced. We consider a minimal structure of the type II seesaw term and check whether the predictions for neutrino parameters lie in the 3σ range. We also outline two possible flavor symmetry models to justify the minimal structure of the type II seesaw term considered in the analysis.     

Neutron powder diffraction studies in CaMn1‐xCuxO3 (x = 0, 0.2)

Neutron powder diffraction patterns were recorded on CaMn_1‐xCu_xO₃ (x = 0 and 0.20) compounds at different temperatures down to 11K. All the patterns were analyzed by employing Rietveld refinement technique and using the Fullprof program. The observed crystallographic peaks could be refined by using Pbnm space group and no structural transition has been observed down to 11K. An additional peak at 2θ = 16.7° has been observed with decrease in temperature below T_N and its intensity was found to increase with decrease in temperature. It could be indexed to magnetic (101) plane. The magnetic ordering is found to be G‐type antiferromagnetic behaviour. The magnetic moment at 11K for the samples x = 0.0 and 0.20 are found to be 2.69 and 2.42μ_B. The doped Cu ions are found to be in Cu²⁺ state and take part antiferromagnetic interactions with Mn ions. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Cu‐Based Nanoparticles as Emerging Environmental Catalysts

This account provides an overview of current research activities on nanoparticles containing the earth‐abundant and inexpensive element copper (Cu) and Cu‐based nanoparticles, especially in the field of environmental catalysis. The different synthetic strategies with possible modification of the chemical/ physical properties of these nanoparticles using such strategies and/or conditions to improve catalytic activity are presented. The design and development of support and/or bimetallic systems (e. g., alloys, intermetallic, etc.) are also included. Herein, we report synthetic approaches of Cu and Cu‐based nanoparticles (monometallic copper, bimetallic copper and copper (II) oxide nanoparticles/nanostructures) and impregnation of such nanoparticles onto support material (e. g., Co₃O₄ nanostructure), along with their applications as environmental catalyst for various oxidation and reduction reactions. Finally, this account provides necessary advances and perspectives of Cu‐based nanoparticles in the environmental catalysis.     

Direct Hydrogenation of Nitroaromatics at Room Temperature Catalyzed by Magnetically Recoverable Cu@Fe2O3 Nanoparticles

Metal embedded in metal oxide nanoparticles are active as catalyst in plethora of industrially important reactions. Herein, embedded Cu@Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles was synthesized via a one step hydrothermal strategy which selectively catalyzes the hydrogenation of diverse nitroaromatics in H₂O at room temperature. The remarkable catalytic performance is due to the successful hybridization of metallic Cu and Fe₂O₃ which in turn allows easy electroflipping between various oxidation states of Cu and Fe. Azo- and azoxy-compounds are not formed during the catalyzed process. This evidently establish that the hydrogenation of nitroaromatics proceeds via direct route with >99% selectivity to the corresponding anilines.     

Studies on electrophoretically deposited nanostructured barium titanate systems and carrier transport phenomena

We report on the development of nanostructured barium titanate (BaTiO₃, BT) films on ~200-μm-thick Ag substrates by employing a cathodic electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique, where solid-state-derived BT nanoparticles are used as the starting material. Structural, morphological and compositional analyses of the as-synthesized BT nanoparticles and films were performed by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy studies. The synthesized nano-BT system has an average crystallite size of ~8.1 nm and a tetragonality (c/a) value ~1.003. To reveal current transport mechanism, the BT films possessing microporous structures and surrounded by homogeneously grown islands were assessed in a metal–insulator–metal (MIM) conformation. The forward current conduction was observed to be purely thermionic up to respective voltages of ~1.4 and 2.2 V as for the fresh and 3-day aged samples. On the other hand, direct tunneling (DT)-mediated Ohmic feature was witnessed at a comparatively higher voltage, beyond which Fowler–Nordheim tunneling (FN) dominates in the respective MIM junctions. The magnitude of current accompanied by FN process was observed to be stronger in reverse biasing than that of forward biasing case. The use of microporous BT films can offer new insights as regards regulated tunneling events meant for miniaturized nanoelectronic elements/components.