Determination of rare earth elements in Gd2O3 by ICP-OES

Summary Rare earth impurities in high-purity Gd₂O₃ have been determined by ICP-OES. HREE except Ho were analysed by directly nebulising 1 mg/ml of the matrix solution and the LREE were analysed after separation on an anionexchange Dowex 1×8 resin. The recovery studies show nearly 100% separation. The determination of 30 ppm of HREE in gadolinium oxide is possible.     

Layered LiCo1?xMgxO2 (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5) cathode materials for lithium-ion rechargeable batteries

Layered LiCo_1−x Mg _x O₂ (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5) oxide materials were synthesized using LiNO₃, Co(NO₃)₂, Mg(NO₃)₂ as the precursors, and the effect of the dopants on the electrochemical properties was investigated. thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis was carried out to observe the phase transformations of LiCo_0.9Mg_0.1O₂. The phase purity and cation environment of the synthesized oxides were characterized using X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The particle size, nature, morphological properties and composition of the synthesized oxides were examined by TEM and SEM with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic analysis. Finally, the electrochemical behavior of the prepared layered materials was studied using cyclic voltammetry and charge–discharge cycling. LiCo_0.8Mg_0.2O₂ has good cycling results when compare to other doped and undoped materials. These results have been also supported by cyclic voltammograms.     

Quantum Chemical Calculations on 4-[2-(Tert-Butylamino)-1-Hydroxyethyl]-2-(Hydroxymethyl)Phenol by Density Functional Theory

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been carried out for the compound 4-[2-(tert-butylamino)-1-hydroxyethyl]-2-hydroxymethyl) phenol (4BAHEHMP) by using the B3LYP method at the 6-311++G (d,p) basis set level. The electric dipole moment (μ) and the first hyperpolarizability (α) values of the investigated molecule were computed. Total and partial density of state (TDOS and PDOS) and also overlap population density of state (COOP or OPDOS) diagrams analysis were presented. HOMO and LUMO energies confirm that charge transfer occurs within the molecule. In addition Molecular Electrostatic Potential (MEP), Natural Bond Orbital analysis (NBO) and Non- Linear Optical (NLO) properties are studied.     

Nuclear and related techniques in the characterisation of materials for electronics industry

Compositional characterisation aspects of materials of interest to the electronics industry are briefly reviewed based on the work carried out in car laboratory.     

Proconcentration of trace elements from high-purity thorium and uranium on Chelex-100 and determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with Zeeman-effect background correction

Preconcentration of trace impurities form large-sized samples of uranium metal and thorium oxide using a small column of Chelex-100 followed by their determination using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) is reported. A 0.5–10-g amount of the sample (uranium metal or thorium oxide) was dissolved, complexed with ammonium carbonate and subjected to the ion-exchange procedure. The retained analytes were eluted with 2–4 M nitric acid and brought to a small volume for a final dilution to 10-25 ml for their determination using GFAAS. The validity of the separation procedure and recoveries at μg kg⁻¹ levels was checked by standard addition; the recoveries were> 95%.     

σ versus π-radical: Tuning the electronic nature of neutral carbon (I) compounds with three non-bonding electrons

The bonding and reactivity of the hypo-coordinated compounds with one, two, and four non-bonding electrons namely, carbon-centered free radical, carbenes, and carbones were well earlier established. Here, we report stability, bonding and reactivity of compounds RCL, where R is one-electron donor group (R =  CH₃ ( a ),  CHO ( b ), and  NO₂ ( c )) and L is two-electron donor ligand (L = cAAC ( 1 ), CO ( 2 ), NHC ( 3 ) and PMe₃ ( 4 )), having three non-bonding electrons. The ground states of molecules exist in a doublet with a lone pair of electrons and an unpaired electron at the central carbon atom (C1). The spin hops over from π- to σ-type orbitals is observed as the π-acceptor strength of the donor ligand increases. The replacement of the methyl group by  CHO and  NO₂ indicate that the cAAC and  CHO substituted compounds gives a σ-radical except in compound 2c . These molecules show very high proton affinity and exothermic reaction energy for the hydrogen atom addition indicating dual reactivity namely, radical and lone pair reactivity.     

Neutron activation analysis of lithium niobate

A radiochemical neutron activation analysis procedure for the determination of Ta, W, Ir, Pt, Au, Cu, Cr, Co and Zn in lithium niobate has been developed. The method involves a one-step removal of radioactive nuclides of Nb, Ta and W representing the dominating radioactivity of the irradiated sample. After irradiation, the sample is fused with inactive carriers and Na₂O₂ in a nickel crucible. The fused cake is dissolved in HCl–H₂O₂ and Nb, Ta and W are homogeneously precipitated. The impurities are separated by combinations of precipitation and ion-exchange separations for precise -ray measurements with an overall chemical yield of 70% to 90%. The results are discussed.     

Residual stress relaxation in cleaved fibers

The relaxation of intrinsic stress, in particular, the frozen-in stress in the vicinity of the cleaved end of optical fibers is studied. Stress distribution is measured at many cross sections along the fiber using a conventional polariscopic stress measurement technique. Fibers drawn with different tensions are used to study the dependence of stress release on the draw tension. From the measured frozen-in stress, the frozen-in viscoelastic stress is studied through the calculation of mean axial stress. The dependence of the release of viscoelastic stress on the draw tension is established. Though the presence of residual stress shows a sudden decline as a consequence of cleaving, it is not completely released at the cleaved end and is explained by the frozen-in viscoelastic stress in the optical fiber. The study shows that the relaxation of frozen-in viscoelastic stress near the cleaved fiber end is only a fraction of the amount of total residual stress in the optical fiber.