Cyclotriphosphazene hydrazides as efficient multisite coordination ligands. eta(3)-fac-non-geminal-N(3) coordination of spiro-N(3)P(3)[O(2)C(12)H(8)][N(Me)NH(2)](4) (L) in L(2)CoCl(3) and L(2)M(NO(3))(2) (M = Ni, Zn, Cd)

The cyclophosphazene tetrahydrazide spiro-N(3)P(3)[O(2)C(12)H(8)][N(Me)NH(2)](4) (L) functions as a multisite coordination ligand and affords L(2)CoCl(3).2CH(3)OH (4), L(2)Ni(NO(3))(2).2CHCl(3).2.5H(2)O (5), L(2)Zn(NO(3))(2).2CH(3)CN.2H(2)O (6), and L(2)Cd(NO(3))(2) (7). Each of the cyclophosphazene ligands that is involved in coordination to the metal functions as a non-geminal-N(3) donor coordinating through one ring nitrogen atom and two non-geminal-NH(2) nitrogen atoms. The coordination geometry around the metal ion in 4-6 is approximately octahedral while it is severely distorted in the case of 7.     

Pseudoguaianolides from the Flowers of Parthenium hysterophorus

Two new pseudoguaianolide‐type sesquiterpene lactones, named deacetyltetraneurin A ( 3 ) and hysterone E ( 4 ), were isolated from flowers of the plant Parthenium hysterophorus L., along with the seven known compounds parthenin ( 1 ), coronopilin, tetraneurin A, 8‐β‐hydroxycoronopilin, scopoletin, hysterone D, and conchasin A ( 2 ). The structures of all the compounds were deduced by means of elemental analysis and extensive spectroscopic (1D and 2D NMR) studies, and confirmed for 3 and 4 by X‐ray crystallographic analysis.     

Alstobrogaline,an unusual pentacyclic monoterpenoid indole alkaloid with aldimine and aldimine-N-oxide moieties from Alstonia scholaris

Alstobrogaline (1), an unusual monoterpenoid indole alkaloid incorporating a third N atom and possessing two aldimine functions, with one being in the form of N-oxide, was isolated from the leaves of Alstonia scholaris. Its structure and relative configuration were determined by extensive NMR spectroscopic analysis, while its absolute configuration was established by X-ray diffraction analysis. A possible biogenetic pathway to 1 was proposed. Compound 1 displayed weak cytotoxic effects against MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 breast cancer cells.     

Effect of γ irradiation on non-isothermal decomposition kinetics,X-ray diffraction pattern,infrared spectrum and antibacterial property of tris(1,2-diaminoethane)nickel(II)oxalate

Thermal decomposition, X-ray diffraction pattern, infrared (IR) spectrum and antibacterial property of tris(1,2-diaminoethane)nickel(II)oxalate were studied before and after γ-irradiation. Irradiation enhanced thermal decomposition. From X-ray diffraction studies, unirradiated and irradiated samples of the complex are found to be tetragonal. A change in lattice parameters was observed upon irradiation. Position and intensity of IR bands of –NH₂ and >C=O group were found to be changed upon irradiation. Antibacterial studies showed that irradiation induced activity towards B. cereus.     

Synthesis of garnet structured Li7+x La3Y x Zr2-x O12 (x = 0–0.4) by modified sol–gel method

Preparation of lithium garnet Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ (LLZ) in cubic phase by solid state method requires high temperature sintering around 1,200 °C for 36 h in Al₂O₃ crucible with intermittent grinding. Synthesis of LLZ in cubic phase at lower temperatures by wet chemical methods was reported earlier, however that decompose at high temperature around 850 °C. In this work we report the systematic studies on synthesis of garnet structured electrolytes by modified sol–gel method by the simultaneous substitution of Li⁺ and Y³⁺ for Zr⁴⁺ according to the formulae Li_7+x La₃Y _x Zr_2-x O₁₂ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4). The present investigation revealed that the cubic garnet phase is obtained at much lower temperature for Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ and the simultaneous increase of both Li⁺ and Y³⁺ in Li_7+x La₃Y _x Zr_2-x O₁₂ requires slightly higher sintering temperatures for the formation of cubic garnet phase. SEM micrographs of the Li_7+x La₃Y _x Zr_2-x O₁₂ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4) annealed at minimum sintering temperature required for the formation of cubic garnet phase revealed the increase in grain size and relatively dense structure with increase of x in Li_7+x La₃Y _x Zr_2-x O₁₂.     

Biomass seaweed-derived nitrogen self-doped porous carbon anodes for sodium-ion batteries:Insights into the structure and electrochemical activity

Sustainable transformation and efficient utilization of biomasses and their derived materials are environmentally as well as economically compliant strategies.Biomass seaweed-derived nitrogen self-doped porous carbon with tailored surface area and pore structures are prepared through carbonization and activation.The influence of carbonization temperature on morphology,surface area,and heteroatom dopants are investigated to optimize sodium-ion storage capability.Seaweed-derived nitrogen selfdoped...     

High index contrast Er:Ta2O5 waveguide amplifier on oxidised silicon

We report a high index contrast erbium doped tantalum pentoxide waveguide amplifier. 2.3 cm long waveguides with erbium concentration of 2.7 × 10²⁰ cm^? 3 were fabricated by magnetron sputtering of Er-doped tantalum pentoxide on oxidised silicon substrates and Ar-ion milling with photolithographically defined mask. A net on-chip optical gain of ~ 2.25 dB/cm at 1531.5 nm was achieved with 20 mW of pump power at 977 nm launched into the waveguide. The pump threshold for transparency was 4.5 mW.     

Improving the signal amplitude of meandering coil EMATs by using ribbon soft magnetic flux concentrators (MFC)

This paper presents a new method of improving the ultrasonic signal amplitude from a meander line EMAT by using soft magnetic alloy ribbon (Fe₆₀Ni₁₀V₁₀B₂₀) as a magnetic flux concentrator (MFC). The flux concentrator is a thin soft amorphous magnetic material (Fe₆₀Ni₁₀V₁₀B₂₀) which is very sensitive to a small flux change. The MFC is used with the EMAT to improve the signal amplitude and it was observed that the peak signal amplitude increases by a factor of two compared to the signal without MFC. Two dimensional numerical models have been developed for the EMAT with MFC to quantify the improvement of the received signal amplitudes. Model calculations and experiments have been carried out for a wide range of ultrasonic frequencies (500 kHz-1 MHz) in different materials.     

Geometries, electronic structures and vibrational spectral studies of 4-aminophthalonitrile using quantum chemical calculations for dye sensitized solar cells

The geometries, electronic structures, polarizabilities, and hyperpolarizabilities of organic dye sensitizer 4-Aminophthalonitrile were studied based on Hartee-Fock (HF) and Density Functional Theory (DFT) using the hybrid functional B3LYP. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrum was investigated by Time Dependent DFT (TD-DFT). Features of the electronic absorption spectrum in the visible and near-UV regions were assigned based on TD-DFT calculations. The absorption bands have been assigned to n → π* transitions. Calculated results suggest that the three excited states with the lowest excited energies in 4-Aminophthalonitrile is due to photoinduced electron transfer processes. The interfacial electron transfer between semiconductor TiO₂ electrode and dye sensitizer is due to an electron injection process from excited dye to the semiconductor’s conduction band. The role of cyanide and amine group in 4-Aminophthalonitrile geometries, electronic structures, and vibrational spectra were compared with experimental values and in view of these results, it was concluded that 4-Aminophthalonitrile used in Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC) gives a good conversion efficiency.     

Solvability of hyperbolic fractional partial differential equations

The main purpose of this paper is to study the existence and uniqueness of solutions for the hyperbolic fractional differential equations with integral conditions. Under suitable assumptions, the results are established by using an energy integral method which is based on constructing an appropriate multiplier. Further we find the solution of the hyperbolic fractional differential equations using Adomian decomposition method. Examples are provided to illustrate the theory.