Nanostructured lead-free ferroelectric Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-BaTiO3 whiskers: synthesis mechanism and structure

Nanostructured lead-free ferroelectric Na(0.5)Bi(0.5)TiO(3)-BaTiO(3) (NBTBT) whiskers with a high aspect ratio were synthesized topochemically using Na(2)Ti(6)O(13) (NTO) as a host structure for the first time. High energy X-ray diffraction coupled with an atomic pair distribution function (PDF) and Raman scattering analyses were used to confirm the average structure of the lead-free NBTBT whiskers, which was found to be rhombohedral, i.e. a ferroelectric enabling type. High resolution transmission electron microscopic (HRTEM) analysis revealed local monoclinic-type structural distortions, indicating a modulated structure at the nanoscale in the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) composition of the lead-free NBTBT whiskers. The structural rearrangement during the synthesis of the lead-free NBTBT whiskers was found to occur via translation of the edge shared octahedra of NTO into a corner sharing coordination. High temperature morphological changes that depict the disintegration of the isolated whiskers into their individual grains due to the higher grain boundary energy have been found to occur in close analogy with Rayleigh-type instability.     

Cure characterization of rubber modified epoxy novolacs

A new type of toughened epoxy polymer based on epoxy cresol novolac resin (ECN) and carboxy terminated polybutadiene (CTPB) liquid functional rubber has been studied. ECN has been synthesized in the laboratory and CTPB used was also of indigenised origin. Rubber modified epoxies were characterized with the help of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques.     

Stabilization of ZnMnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> phase from sol–gel synthesized nitrate precursors

The stabilization and analysis of pure ZnMnO₃ phase may help to understand the solubility limits of Mn in ZnO in wurtzite and cubic structures. In this report, synthesis and characterization of stable ZnMnO₃ phase is discussed which is extracted from sol–gel synthesis of zinc and manganese nitrate precursors. The reflections at higher diffraction angles for this known cubic system with space group Fd3 m were calculated with the help of JADE 8.0 program. The reliability factor for ZnMnO₃ calculated from Rietveld refinement was 2%. A narrow phase pure ZnMnO₃ stabilization region was identified with the help of energy dispersive spectroscopy mapping. High resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements of Mn^3p position of ZnMnO₃ compared with ZnMn₂O₄ showed a higher binding energy shift ~0.85 eV indicating Mn⁴⁺ valence state in ZnMnO₃.     

Role of polyester resin on the epoxy matrix system

Interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) as a polymer blend matrix was prepared using different ratios of polyester (PE) to epoxy (E) resins. It was observed that 11.33 wt % PE in the blend provides maximum mechanical properties, particularly the modulus for the casting, and such a blend is referred to as “optimum casting” (OC). The density of the blends containing up to 11.33% PE, especially of OC, was found to have increased by the presence of PE in the E network significantly more than would have been estimated from the calculation based on the rule of additivity. The thermal expansion coefficient parameter (Δα_i) of the OC was found to be 2.68 × 10^?4K^?1. The scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the fracture surface of OC only showed a glass-like smooth surface. The change in the mechanical properties due to the varying proportions of PE in the blend was studied critically on the basis of failure mechanisms and morphological features. The differential thermogravimetric analysis (DTGA) of OC indicated only one peak in spite of the presence of two resin constituents, whereas castings with an excess of PE in the blend showed multiple peaks. Interestingly, as far as the DTGA is concerned, a domain of seemingly OC origin was found to remain, even in the blends containing PE resin above its optimum level (> 11.33 wt %). ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Microwave and flow syntheses of Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) and analogues

Expedient syntheses of Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) and related structural analogues using microwave and flow methods are reported.     

Investigation of the interface trap density and series resistance of a high-k HfO2-based MOS capacitor: before and after 50 MeV Li3+ ion irradiation

This is the first investigation on the effects of 50 MeV Li³⁺ ions on interface trap density (D _it) and series resistance (R _s), which reveal the improvement of the dielectric properties of RF-sputtered HfO₂-metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) capacitors. The samples were irradiated and characterized at room temperature. The D _it and R _s were determined from the capacitance–voltage (C–V) and conduction–voltage (G–V) characteristics at 1 MHz. The measured capacitance and conductance were corrected for series resistance. It is found that the series resistance of Al/HfO₂/p? Si MOS capacitors increases with ion fluence, calculated at a strong accumulation region before and after irradiation. The interface state density of MOS devices before and after irradiation is found to decrease with increasing ion fluence.     

Volume-of-fluid algorithm with different modified dynamic material ordering methods and their comparisons

Volume-of-fluid (VOF) interface reconstruction methods are used to define material interfaces to separate different materials in a mixed cell. These material interfaces are then used to evaluate transport flux at each cell edges in multi-material hydrodynamic calculations. Most of the VOF interface reconstruction methods and volume transport schemes rely on an accurate material order unique to each computational cell. Similarly, to achieve overshoot-free volume fractions, a non-intersecting interface reconstruction procedure has to be performed with the help of a ‘material-order list’ determined prior to interface reconstruction. It is, however, the least explored area of VOF technique especially for ‘onion-skin’ or ‘layered’ model. Also, important technical details how to prevent intersection among different material interfaces are missing in many literature. Here, we present an efficient VOF interface tracking algorithm along with modified ‘material order’ methods and different interface reconstruction methods. The relative accuracy of different methods are evaluated for sample problems. Finally, a convergence study with respect to mesh-size is performed.     

Mineralization of monodispersed CdS nanoparticles on polyelectrolyte superstructure forming an electroluminescent "necklace-of-beads"

We report a nonmicellar method to synthesize monodisperse semiconducting nanoparticles templated on polymer chains dissolved in solution at high yield. The monodispersity is achieved due to the beaded necklace morphology of the polyelectrolyte chains in solution where the beads are nanometer-scale nodules in the polymer chain. The resultant structure is a nanoparticles studded necklace where the particles are imbedded in the beads. Multiple cycles of synthesis on the polymer template yield nanoparticles of identical size, resulting in a nanocomposite with high particle fraction. The resultant nanocomposite has beaded-fibrilar morphology with imbedded nanoparticles and can be solution-casted to make electroluminescent thin film device.     

Etch Pattern of Gel-grown Single Crystal of Ammonium Tartrate

Using optical techniques, a study was carried out of the etch patterns produced, by diluted oxalic acid and sodium hydroxide solution, at 30°C. Point bottomed and flat bottomed rectangular etch pits nucleated at the sites of dislocations parallel to ‘C’ axis of the crystal are observed. Mostly they are isolated, and randomly distributed. Further, on prolonged etching they penetrate deeper and their eccentricity can be attributed to the inclined nature of dislocations.     

Discovery of Novel Coumarin Derivatives as Potential Dual Inhibitors against α-Glucosidase and α-Amylase for the Management of Post-Prandial Hyperglycemia via Molecular Modelling Approaches

Coumarin derivatives are proven for their therapeutic uses in several human diseases and disorders such as inflammation, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, fertility, and microbial infections. Coumarin derivatives and coumarin-based scaffolds gained renewed attention for treating diabetes mellitus. The current decade witnessed the inhibiting potential of coumarin derivatives and coumarin-based scaffolds against α-glucosidase and α-amylase for the management of postprandial hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia is a condition where an excessive amount of glucose circulates in the bloodstream. It occurs when the body lacks enough insulin or is unable to correctly utilize it. With open-source and free in silico tools, we have investigated novel 80 coumarin derivatives for their inhibitory potential against α-glucosidase and α-amylase and identified a coumarin derivative, CD-59, as a potential dual inhibitor. The ligand-based 3D pharmacophore detection and search is utilized to discover diverse coumarin-like compounds and new chemical scaffolds for the dual inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase. In this regard, four novel coumarin-like compounds from the ZINC database have been discovered as the potential dual inhibitors of α-glucosidase and α-amylase (ZINC02789441 and ZINC40949448 with scaffold thiophenyl chromene carboxamide, ZINC13496808 with triazino indol thio phenylacetamide, and ZINC09781623 with chromenyl thiazole). To summarize, we propose that a coumarin derivative, CD-59, and ZINC02789441 from the ZINC database will serve as potential lead molecules with dual inhibition activity against α-glucosidase and α-amylase, thereby discovering new drugs for the effective management of postprandial hyperglycemia. From the reported scaffold, the synthesis of several novel compounds can also be performed, which can be used for drug discovery.