Sol-gel synthesis and characterization of adsorbent and photoluminescent nanocomposites of starch and silica

Using sol-gel method, mesoporous and photoluminescent silica nanocomposites of soluble starch have been synthesized and characterized. Different ratios of H₂O, TEOS and EtOH were used at fixed template (soluble starch) and catalyst (NH₄OH) concentrations to obtain materials of different performances in terms of heavy metal binding from a solution which has been monitored using Cd(II) as representative divalent heavy metal ion. Optimum material was obtained when H₂O, TEOS and EtOH were used in 14:1:2 ratio. This sample was not only an efficient metal ion adsorbent but also had an intense luminescence in ultra-violet region and potentially may be used in silicon-based UV-emitting devices. Metal binding by the material was further enhanced after calcination (at 800 °C in air) while its luminescence had a multipeak profile in UV-visible region. In a batch adsorption study, calcined hybrid composite (0.25 g/L) could remove 98.5% Cd(II) from 100 mg/L Cd(II) solution in 2 h. The chemical, structural and textural characteristics of the synthesized materials have been investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-rays Diffraction (XRD), Thermal Analysis (TGA/DTA), Photoluminescence (PL), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller Analysis (BET) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).     

Ultrasonic wave propagation in rare-earth monochalcogenides

The ultrasonic attenuation in thulium monochalcogenides TmX (X=S, Se and Te) has been studied theoretically with a modified Mason’s approach in the temperature and range 100 K to 300 K along 〈100〉, 〈110〉 〈111〉 crystallographic directions. The thulium monochalcogenides have attracted a lot of interest due to their complex physical and chemical characteristics. TmS, TmSe and TmTe are trivalent metal, mixed valence state, and divalent semiconductor, respectively. Coulomb and Born-Mayer potential is applied to evaluate the second- and third-order elastic constants. These elastic constants are used to compute ultrasonic parameters such as ultrasonic velocities, thermal relaxation time, and acoustic coupling constants that, in turn, are used to evaluate ultrasonic attenuation. A comparison of calculated ultrasonic parameters with available theoretical/experimental physical parameters gives information about classification of these materials.      

Ion- Beam Modification of Peo Based Polymer Electrolytes

In this paper, we report the ion beam interaction with a well explored ion conducting polymer electrolyte, viz., polyethylene oxide complexed with sodium iodide (PEO:NaI). Li³⁺ ions at 50 MeV were bombarded on the film at different flux. The conductivity modulation of the films has been reported due to interaction at different fluence. The increase in the total conductivity is explained in terms of the change in the number of charge carriers and the dielectric constant of the polymer electrolyte films.     

Evolution of subsequent yield surfaces and elastic constants with finite plastic deformation. Part II: A very high work hardening aluminum alloy (annealed 1100 Al)

Results are presented on the evolution of subsequent yield surfaces with finite deformation in a very high work hardening annealed 1100 aluminum alloy. In Part I [Khan, A.S., Kazmi, R., Stoughton, T., Pandey, A., 2009a. Evolution of subsequent yield surfaces and elastic constants with finite plastic deformation. Part 1: a very low work hardening aluminum alloy (Al-6061–T6511) 25, 1611–1625.] of this paper, similar results are presented for a very low work hardening aluminum alloy. Those results were very different from the present ones, and all the results were for proportional loading paths. The subsequent yield surfaces are determined in tension, free end torsion and combined tension–torsion proportional and non-proportional loading paths, using 10 με deviation from linearity definition of yield. Yield surfaces are also determined after linear, bi-linear, and non-linear unloading paths after finite deformation under tension, free end torsion, and combined tension–torsion loading. The initial yield surface is closer to the von-Mises surface and the subsequent yield surfaces show distortion, expansion, positive cross-effect, and “nose” in the loading direction. Additionally, the subsequent yield surfaces after non-proportional loading paths show shrinkage and compounded distortion. The yield surfaces after unloading depict strong anisotropy, positive cross-effect and exhibits different proportion of distortion in each loading conditions. The Young’s and shear modulus decrease with plastic deformation and this decrease is much less than those reported in the published literature.     

Development of mica-based porous polymeric membrane and their application

To develop porous polymeric membrane, we have used poly(vinylidene-co-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VdF-HFP)) as a host matrix and the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tosylate as salt for the source of charge carriers in the polymer electrolyte system. Appropriate weight of mica (muscovite) has been added to the highest conducting polymer–salt electrolyte. The composite membrane has been prepared by breath figure method through controlling evaporation time and then tested this membrane for water filtration. The composite polymeric membrane has been characterized by X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectrometry, SEM, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The pore volume in the mica-based film has been calculated, and it is found to be 64.3 % in the filler-dispersed membrane.     

MEMS-based adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy

We have developed a compact, robust adaptive optics (AO) scanning laser ophthalmoscope using a microelectromechanical (MEMS) deformable mirror (DM). Facilitated with a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor, the MEMS-DM-based AO operates a closed-loop modal wave aberration correction for the human eye and reduces wave aberrations in most eyes to below 0.1 microm rms. Lateral resolution is enhanced, and images reveal a clear cone mosaic near the foveal center. The significant increase in throughput allows for a confocal pinhole whose diameter is less than the Airy disc of the collection lens, thereby fully exploiting the axial resolution capabilities of the system.     

Eosin‐Y‐Catalyzed Photoredox C−S Bond Formation: Easy Access to Thioethers

An operationally simple Eosin Y catalyzed sulfenylation of hydrazones has been realized to afford a range of thioethers under visible light. The methodology provides high yields of thioethers under ambient conditions employing readily available and inexpensive starting materials. The reaction has broad substrate scope and is compatible with various functional groups.     

Effect of nickel doping concentration on structural and magnetic properties of ultrafine diluted magnetic semiconductor ZnO nanoparticles

The ZnO:Ni²⁺ nanoparticles of mean size 2-12 nm were synthesized at room temperature by the simple co-precipitation method. The crystallite structure, morphology and size were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The wurtzite structure of ZnO gradually degrades with the increasing Ni doping concentration and an additional NiO-associated diffraction peak was observed above 15% of Ni²⁺ doping. The change in magnetic behavior of the nanoparticles of ZnO with varying Ni²⁺ doping concentration was investigated using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Initially, these nanoparticles showed strong ferromagnetic behavior, however, at higher doping percentage of Ni²⁺, the ferromagnetic behavior was suppressed and paramagnetic nature was observed. The enhanced antiferromagnetic interaction between neighboring Ni-Ni ions suppressed the ferromagnetism at higher doping concentrations of Ni²⁺.     

Luminescence studies and formation mechanism of symmetrically dispersed ZnO quantum dots embedded in SiO2 matrix

Surface effects significantly influence the functionality of semiconductor nanocrystals. In the current work we present synthesis of ZnO quantum dots (QD) vis-a-vis symmetrically dispersed ZnO quantum dots embedded in SiO₂ matrix and discussed their optical properties to understand the role of the surface effects. These nanomaterials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), fourier transform infrared (FTIR), absorption (UV-visible) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. TEM studies confirm the formation of ZnO nanophosphors inside the SiO₂ matrix in highly symmetrical manner. These symmetrically dispersed ZnO@SiO₂ nanophosphors exhibited enhanced stable emission over uncoated sample and would permit the conjugation of the nanocrystals to biological entities after functionalization. Furthermore, the mechanism behind the formation of symmetrically dispersed ZnO quantum dots embedded in SiO₂ matrix was discussed in detail.     

Effect of curvature of the boundary on the modal dispersion of a single-mode dielectric waveguide of core cross-section bounded by involuted spirals

In this paper, we are presenting an analytical study of the effect of curvature of the spiral shape on the modal dispersion characteristics of the waveguide whose core cross-section is bounded by two involuted spirals of the form 1/r=ξθ, where ξ is a constant and represents the curvature of the spiral taken to design the waveguide into consideration. This study has been done under the weak guidance approximation. Analyzing the dispersion curves for different curvature we found that this waveguide supports only the single mode, and their cutoff value decreases as the the curvature of the spiral increases.