Study of dielectric and ac impedance properties of citrate-gel synthesized Li0.35Zn0.3Fe2.35O4 ferrite

Nano-crystals of Li_0.35Zn_0.3Fe_2.35O₄ ferrite have been synthesized using citrate precursor method. The sample synthesized was sintered at different temperatures in order to vary their crystallite size. The average crystallite size was found in the range 24?C57?nm by varying the temperature from 300 to 1,100?°C. X-ray diffraction measurements confirmed the formation of cubic spinel structure at all the sintering temperatures in this work. The high frequency performance of the ferrite samples were estimated by measuring the frequency dispersion of the dielectric constant, dielectric loss and ac electrical conductivity. The dielectric constant has been observed to show normal behavior with frequency and decreases with the decrease in crystallite size. It is also observed that decrease in dielectric constant depends on sintering temperature because of lithium evaporation at higher temperature. A low value of dielectric constant and dielectric loss has been found, which makes them applicable for high frequency applications by decreasing the skin effect. The impedance spectroscopy technique has been used to study the effect of grain and grain boundary on the electrical properties of Li_0.35Zn_0.3Fe_2.35O₄ ferrite. The analysis of data shows only one semi-circle corresponding to the grain boundary volume suggesting that the conduction mechanism takes place predominantly through grain boundary volume in the prepared samples.     

Aza‐BODIPY Derivatives: Enhanced Quantum Yields of Triplet Excited States and the Generation of Singlet Oxygen and their Role as Facile Sustainable Photooxygenation Catalysts

A new series of aza‐BODIPY derivatives ( 4 a – 4 c , 5 a , c , and 6 b , c ) were synthesized and their excited‐state properties, such as their triplet excited state and the yield of singlet‐oxygen generation, were tuned by substituting with heavy atoms, such as bromine and iodine. The effect of substitution has been studied in detail by varying the position of halogenation. The core‐substituted dyes showed high yields of the triplet excited state and high efficiencies of singlet‐oxygen generation when compared to the peripheral‐substituted systems. The dye 6 c , which was substituted with six iodine atoms on the core and peripheral phenyl ring, showed the highest quantum yields of the triplet excited state (Φ_T=0.86) and of the efficiency of singlet‐oxygen generation (Φ_Δ=0.80). Interestingly, these dyes were highly efficient as photooxygenation catalysts under artificial light, as well as under normal sunlight conditions. The uniqueness of these aza‐BODIPY systems is that they are stable under irradiation conditions, possess strong red‐light absorption (620–680 nm), exhibit high yields of singlet‐oxygen generation, and act as efficient and sustainable catalysts for photooxygenation reactions.     

Prediction and realisation of high mobility and degenerate p-type conductivity in CaCuP thin films

Phosphides are interesting candidates for hole transport materials and p-type transparent conducting applications, capable of achieving greater valence band dispersion than their oxide counterparts due to the higher lying energy and increased size of the P 3p orbital. After computational identification of the indirect-gap semiconductor CaCuP as a promising candidate, we now report reactive sputter deposition of phase-pure p-type CaCuP thin films. Their intrinsic hole concentration and hole mobility exceed 1 × 10²⁰ cm⁻³ and 35 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ at room temperature, respectively. Transport calculations indicate potential for even higher mobilities. Copper vacancies are identified as the main source of conductivity, displaying markedly different behaviour compared to typical p-type transparent conductors, leading to improved electronic properties. The optical transparency of CaCuP films is lower than expected from first principles calculations of phonon-mediated indirect transitions. This discrepancy could be partly attributed to crystalline imperfections within the films, increasing the strength of indirect transitions. We determine the transparent conductor figure of merit of CaCuP films as a function of composition, revealing links between stoichiometry, crystalline quality, and opto-electronic properties. These findings provide a promising initial assessment of the viability of CaCuP as a p-type transparent contact.

We synthesize air-stable, p-type CaCuP thin films with high hole concentration and high hole mobility as potential p-type transparent conductors. We study their optoelectronic properties in detail by advanced experimental and computational methods.     

Exergy and energy performance for wavy fin radiator with a new coolant of various shape nanoparticle-based hybrid nanofluids

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Energetic and exergetic performance for an automotive radiator with wavy fin configuration has been investigated and compared for water-based 1% vol....     

Harmonics of Daily Variations in Cosmic-Ray Intensity

The high/low amplitude anisotropic wave-train events (HAE/LAE) in cosmic-ray intensity have been investigated during the period 1991-94, using the neutron monitor data for different latitudes. In all, 16 HAE and 13 LAE cases have been studied. An inter-comparison of the first three harmonics during these events has been made so as to understand the basic reason causing the occurrence of these types of events. It has been observed that the phase of diurnal anisotropy shifts towards earlier hours for HAEs; similarly, it shifts towards earlier hour as compared to 18-Hr direction for LAEs. For semi-diurnal anisotropy phase remains statistically the same for both HAE as well as for LAE. Further in case of tri-diurnal anisotropy phase is evenly distributed for both types of events. The interplanetary magnetic field and solar-wind plasma parameters during these events are also investigated. It has been also observed that HAE/LAEs are weakly dependent on solar-wind velocity.     

Metal–thiosemicarbazone interactions. Synthesis of an iodo-bridged dinuclear [diiodobis(pyrrole-2-carbaldehydethiosemicarbazone)dicopper(I)] complex

Reaction of copper(I) iodide with pyrrole-2-carbaldehydethiosemicarbazone (Hptsc) in a 1:1 mole ratio in MeCN, followed by addition of one mole of Ph₃P, yielded a complex of empirical formula, CuI(Hptsc)(Ph₃P), whose X-ray structure determination has shown that it exists as an iodo-bridged dinuclear copper(I) complex, [Cu₂(-I)₂( ¹-S-Hptsc)₂(PPh₃)₂](1). The central kernel, Cu(-I)₂Cu forms a parallelogram with unequal Cu—I distances {Cu—I, 2.644(2), 2.707(2)Å} and bond angles {Cu—I—Cu, 70.72(7), I—Cu—I, 109.28(7)°}. Each Cu atom is further bonded to one S atom of Hptsc and one P atom of Ph₃P, thus completing tetracoordination. The Cu...Cu separation of 3.097(4)Å is close to the sum of the van der Waals radius of the Cu atom, 2.80 Å. Compound (1) involves relatively strong inter-dimer hydrogen bonding via hydrazinic and pyrrole ring hydrogens with sulfur and iodine atoms respectively of the adjacent dimer {N(1)H...S^#2, 2.50 Å; N(4)H...I^#3, 2.91 Å}. The complex represents the first report of a copper(I) dimer with a thiosemicarbazone.     

Structural rationalization of a large difference in RNA affinity despite a small difference in chemistry between two 2'-O-modified nucleic acid analogues

Chemical modification of nucleic acids at the 2'-position of ribose has generated antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) with a range of desirable properties. Electron-withdrawing substituents such as 2'-O-[2-(methoxy)ethyl] (MOE) confer enhanced RNA affinity relative to that of DNA by conformationally preorganizing an AON for pairing with the RNA target and by improving backbone hydration. 2'-Substitution of the ribose has also been shown to increase nuclease resistance and cellular uptake via changes in lipophilicity. Interestingly, incorporation of either 2'-O-[2-(methylamino)-2-oxoethyl]- (NMA) or 2'-O-(N-methylcarbamate)-modified (NMC) residues into AONs has divergent effects on RNA affinity. Incorporation of 2'-O-NMA-T considerably improves RNA affinity while incorporation of 2'-O-NMC-T drastically reduces RNA affinity. Crystal structures at high resolution of A-form DNA duplexes containing either 2'-O-NMA-T or 2'-O-NMC-T shed light on the structural origins of the surprisingly large difference in stability given the relatively minor difference in chemistry between NMA and NMC. NMA substituents adopt an extended conformation and use either their carbonyl oxygen or amino nitrogen to trap water molecules between phosphate group and sugar. The conformational properties of NMA and the observed hydration patterns are reminiscent of those found in the structures of 2'-O-MOE-modified RNA. Conversely, the carbonyl oxygen of NMC and O2 of T are in close contact, providing evidence that an unfavorable electrostatic interaction and the absence of a stable water structure are the main reasons for the loss in thermodynamic stability as a result of incorporation of 2'-O-NMC-modified residues.     

Cover Image

A hybrid computational method coupling the lattice-Boltzmann (LB) method and a Langevin-dynamics (LD) method is developed to simulate nanoscale particle and polymer (NPP) suspensions in the presence of both thermal fluctuation and long-range many-body hydrodynamic interactions (HIs). Brownian motion of the NPP is explicitly captured by a stochastic forcing term in the LD method. The LD method is two-way coupled to the nonfluctuating LB fluid through a discrete LB forcing source distribution to capture the long-range HI. To ensure intrinsically linear scalability with respect to the number of particles, a Eulerian-host algorithm for short-distance particle neighbor search and interaction is developed and embedded to LB-LD framework. The validity and accuracy of the LB-LD approach are demonstrated through several sample problems. The simulation results show good agreements with theory and experiment. The LB-LD approach can be favorably incorporated into complex multiscale computational frameworks for efficiently simulating multiscale multicomponent particulate suspension systems such as complex blood suspensions.     

Promiscuous Candida antarctica lipase B-catalyzed synthesis of β-amino esters via aza-Michael addition of amines to acrylates

An efficient protocol for the regioselective aza-Michael addition of amines with acrylates using CaL B as a biocatalyst at 60 °C has been developed. The reaction is applicable to a wide variety of primary and secondary amines with different acrylates to synthesize the corresponding β-amino esters with good yields. An alternative route for the synthesis of higher β-amino esters through the additional transesterification step is also studied and was found effective.     

Prospecting Exopolysaccharides Produced by Selected Bacteria Associated with Marine Organisms for Biotechnological Applications

In this study, bacteria associated with marine organisms were screened for the production of exopolysaccharides(EPSs) on MY media containing sea salts(2.5%-10%). Three selected isolates were identified as Alteromonas sp. PRIM-21, Nitratireductor sp. PRIM-24 and Enterobacter sp. PRIM-26 using 16 S r RNA gene sequencing. Optimization of the growth and EPS production kinetics in relation to incubation time were assessed. The purified EPS yield was 590, 650 and 540 mg·L-1 culture media respectively in Alteromonas sp. PRIM-21, Nitratireductor sp. PRIM-24 and Enterobacter sp. PRIM-26. Biochemical and FTIR analyses revealed the presence of biologically important functional groups in the EPS produced by all the three isolates. The EPS produced by Nitratireductor sp. PRIM-24 and Alteromonas sp. PRIM-21 showed 2.0% sulfate content. These bacterial EPS also showed antioxidant and emulsifying activities and the EPS produced by Enterobacter sp.PRIM-26 showed significantly higher antioxidant activities in terms of superoxide(IC50 0.33 mg·mL -1) and DPPH(IC50 0.44 mg·mL -1) radical scavenging. It also showed higher emulsifying activities against selected hydrophobic substrates with EI24 values above 60%. From the results of the study, it can be concluded that the isolated bacteria produce EPS that can be investigated in detail for biotechnological applications.