Effect of 60Co γ-irradiation on structural and optical properties of thin films of Ga10Se80Hg10

Thin films of Ga₁₀Se₈₀Hg₁₀ have been deposited onto a chemically cleaned Al₂O₃ substrates by thermal evaporation technique under vacuum. The investigated thin films are irradiated by ⁶⁰Co γ-rays in the dose range of 50–150 kGy. X-ray diffraction patterns of the investigated thin films confirm the preferred crystallite growth occurs in the tetragonal phase structure. It also shows, the average crystallite size increases after γ-exposure, which indicates the crystallinity of the material increases after γ-irradiation. These results were further supported by surface morphological analysis carried out by scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope which also shows the crystallinity of the material increases with increasing the γ-irradiation dose. The optical transmission spectra of the thin films at normal incidence were investigated in the spectral range from 190 to 1100 nm. Using the transmission spectra, the optical constants like refractive index (n) and extinction coefficient (k) were calculated based on Swanepoel’s method. The optical band gap (E_g) was also estimated using Tauc’s extrapolation procedure. The optical analysis shows: the value of optical band gap of investigated thin films decreases and the corresponding absorption coefficient increases continuously with increasing dose of γ-irradiation.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Properties of Single-Walled Carbon Nanohorns

Single-walled nanohorns (SWNHs) have been prepared by sub-merged arc discharge of graphite electrodes in liquid nitrogen. The samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Nitrogen and boron doped SWNHs have been prepared by the sub-merged arc discharge method using melamine and elemental boron as precursors. Intensification of Raman D-band and stiffening of G-band has been observed in the doped samples. The electrical resistance of the SWNHs varies in opposite directions with nitrogen and boron doping. Functionalization of SWNHs through amidation has been carried out for solubilizing them in non-polar solvents. Water-soluble SWNHs have been produced by acid treatment and non-covalent functionalization with a coronene salt. SWNHs have been decorated with nanoparticles of Au, Ag and Pt. Interaction of electron donor (tetrathiafulvalene, TTF) and acceptor molecules (tetracyanoethylene, TCNE) with SWNHs has been investigated by Raman spectroscopy. Progressive softening and stiffening of Raman G-band has been observed respectively with increase in the concentration of TTF and TCNE.     

Stability-Indicating Densitometric High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatographic Method for the Quantitative Analysis of Biomarker Naringin in the Leaves and Stems of Rumex vesicarius L.

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - A simple, sensitive, and stability-indicating high-performance thinlayer chromatography (HPTLC)-densitometric method was developed...     

Polysaccharide‐Based Oleogels Prepared with an Emulsion‐Templated Approach

The preparation and characterization of oleogels structured by using a combination of a surface‐active and a non‐surface‐active polysaccharide through an emulsion‐templated approach is reported. Specifically, the oleogels were prepared by first formulating a concentrated oil‐in‐water emulsion, stabilized with a combination of cellulose derivatives and xanthan gum, followed by the selective evaporation of the continuous water phase to drive the network formation, resulting in an oleogel with a unique microstructure and interesting rheological properties, including a high gel strength, G′>4000 Pa, shear sensitivity, good thixotropic recovery, and good thermostability.     

Miniaturization of GPS patch antennas based on novel dielectric ceramics Zn(1−x)MgxAl2O4 by sol–gel method

The need for miniaturization and weight reduction of GPS patch antennas has prompted the search for new microwave dielectric materials. In this study, a sol–gel method was used to prepare Zn_(1?x)Mg_xAl₂O₄ thin films and fabricate GPS patch antennas at a low annealing temperature (700 °C). X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, field emission scanning electron microscopy images, Fourier transform infrared spectra, and optical band gap analyses confirmed the nanostructure of (Mg/Zn)Al₂O₄. The XRD patterns displayed the characteristic peaks of (Mg/Zn)Al₂O₄ with a face-centered cubic structure. Mg addition decreased the crystallite size, surface morphology, and lattice parameters of the resultant films, evidently affecting their density and dielectric constant (? _r ). Based on the material investigated and microwave antenna theory, GPS patch antennas were fabricated using Zn_(1?x)Mg_xAl₂O₄ and then studied using a PNA series network analyzer. The fabricated patch antennas with different ? _r ceramics decreased in size from 12.5 to 10.8 cm². The patch antennas resonated at a frequency of 1.570 GHz and provided a return loss bandwidth between ?16.6 and ?20.0 dB; their bandwidth also improved from 90 to 255 MHz. The GPS patch antenna fabricated from Zn_0.70Mg_0.30Al₂O₄ showed an excellent combination of return loss (?20.0 dB), small size (10.8 cm²), and wide bandwidth (255 MHz). Therefore, addition of Mg improves antenna performance and decreases the dimensions of the device.     

Mononuclear High-spin Octahedral Cobalt(II) Complex with Positive Axial Magnetic Anisotropy: Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and DFT Studies

This article outlines the magnetic features of a new six–coordinate high-spin cobalt(II) complex cis-[Co^II(tmphen)₂(NCS)₂] ( 1 ) achieved via the reactions of cobalt(II) thiocyanate with 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline. The complex 1 was thoroughly characterized by different analytical and spectroscopic techniques and further confirmed by single X-ray crystal diffraction pattern. Complex 1 is a neutral molecule and adopt highly distorted six-coordinate CoN₆ octahedral coordination sphere surrounded by two thiocyanate N atoms in cis locations and the equatorial plane is occupied by two imine N atoms from the two tmphen ligand while the remaining two imine N atoms reside in the axial positions. Magnetic susceptibility data of complex 1 revealed that the χ_ΜT values decrease significantly to a value of 1.49 cm³ · K · mol^–1 at 2.0 K on decreasing temperatures below 100 K, mainly ascribed to the significant spin–orbit coupling (SOC) of six-coordinate Co^II ions. Furthermore, a field-dependence measurement was performed at 2 K, which shows a positive curvature up to 27 kOe, while it becomes linear up to 2.01 Nμ_B, which authenticated the fact that only the lowest Kramers doublet of ground state is appreciably populated.     

Synthesis and antidiabetic activity of novel triazole derivatives containing amino acids

New series of triazole derivatives coupled with amino acids 1a-h were obtained via multicomponent reaction of 2-hydroxy benzaldehyde or 2-hydroxy acetophenone with thiosemicarbazide and different amino acids. The obtained compounds were reacted with p-toluinesulfonyl chloride 2 to give the corresponding sulfonamides 3a-h . Compound 1b was allowed to react with different aromatic aldehydes or cyclic ketone under alkaline conditions to afford the expected imino compounds 4a-d and 6a-c , respectively. These compounds were allowed to react with ethyl glycolate to yield the expected thiazolidinone derivatives 5a-d or 7a-c , respectively. Structures of the newly synthesized compounds were found to be in accordance with their elemental analyses and spectral data. The obtained compounds exhibited very prominent in vitro and in vivo antihyperglycemic effect at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight compared to the standard drug gliclazide and control. The antidiabetic effect was investigated using oral glucose tolerance test in normal and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in STZ-rat model. Compounds 3a - h , 5b , 5c , 5d , 7a , 7b , and 7c showed significant activity in lowering blood glucose (more than 80%) compared to the NIDDM control.     

N-methylferrocenyl-N-ethylhydroxy ammonium nitrate: synthesis,characterization, and sensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells

Transition Metal Chemistry - A new ferrocene-containing hydronitrate salt with formula N-methylferrocenyl-N-ethylhydroxy ammonium nitrate has been synthesized and characterized using microanalyses,...     

Catalytic activity of Mn(III) and Co(III) complexes: evaluation of catechol oxidase enzymatic and photodegradation properties

We have synthesized two mononuclear complexes, Mn-hq and Co-hq, to serve as sustainable catalysts (for degrading dyes from organic pollutant) and as biocatalysts (for promoting oxidation of catechol to quinone). The two complexes have been characterized by various spectroscopic tools, and with the assistance of single-crystal X-ray diffraction data, their molecular structures were established. The present complexes were exploited for the catalytic activity, i.e., enzymatic activity and photocatalytic property. In methanolic solution, Mn-hq and Co-hq were examined for catecholase-like activity and Mn-hq particularly catalyzes the oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butyl catechol to analogous quinone with a K_cat value of 835.2 h^?1. Additionally, Mn-hq and Co-hq demonstrated remarkable photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) in the aqueous medium beneath visible light. Co-hq shows excellent stability and recyclability toward MB. Further, trapping experiment along with degradation pathways is also explored. Thus, the present research throws light on the excellent catalytic properties of simply designed complexes and this activity can be tuned for desired efficiencies in future prospects.