Dielectric relaxation and ac conduction in multiferroic Bi0.8Gd0.1Pb0.1Fe0.9Ti0.1O3 ceramics: impedance spectroscopy analysis

ABSTRACT

The solid solutions of Bi_0.8Gd_0.1Pb_0.1Fe_0.9Ti_0.1O₃ have been prepared by the solid-state reaction method. The preliminary structural studies were carried out by X-ray diffraction technique showing the formation of polycrystalline sample with ABO₃ type of perovskite structure with hexagonal symmetry for the Bi_0.8Gd_0.1Pb_0.1Fe_0.9Ti_0.1O₃ ceramic system at room temperature. Dielectric properties and impedance study of this ceramic have been characterized in the temperature range room temperature to 375 °C and frequency range 100 Hz–1 MHz. The maximum ferroelectric transition temperature (T_c) of this system was in the range 200 °C–260 °C with the dielectric constant of peak to be ～30,170 at 1 kHz. The complex impedance plot exhibited one impedance semicircle observed at low temperature, whereas two semicircles above 80 °C and the centres of the semicircles lie below the real axis, which indicates that the material is non-Debye type. Single semicircle is explained by the grain effect of the bulk and double semicircle is due to the bulk and grain boundary effect. The bulk resistance and grain boundary resistance of the materials decrease with the increasing temperature, showing negative temperature and a typical semiconducting property, i.e. negative temperature coefficient of resistance behaviour.     

First total synthesis and reassignment of absolute configuration of diosniponol A and B

Enantioselective first total synthesis of diosniponol A and B has been achieved starting from commercially available vanillin. Wittig reaction, Keck allylation, and Prins cyclization reactions are the key steps involved in the target synthesis.     

Recent observational constraints on EoS parameters of a class of emergent Universe

New Sr-based Y-type nanocrystalline hexagonal ferrites with a nominal chemical composition of Sr ₂Mg ₂Fe ₁₂ O ₂₂ (Sr ₂Y) were prepared by autocombustion from mixtures of Sr(NO ₃) ₂, Mg(NO ₃) ₂?6H ₂O and Fe(NO ₃) ₃?9H ₂O. The newly prepared Sr ₂Y nanocrystalline particles were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). A well crystalline phase of Sr ₂Y with hexagonal crystal structure was observed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies revealed the information about the positions of the ions and their bonds within the lattice structure of the Sr ₂Y. The chemical elements and their oxidation states in the Sr ₂Y hexaferrites were determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XRD, FTIR and XPS studies confirmed the formation of Sr ₂Mg ₂Fe ₁₂ O ₂₂ hexaferrites. The morphology and porosity of the prepared Sr ₂Y nanocrystalline Sr ₂Y hexaferrite particles were studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy. The magnetic properties of Sr ₂Y hexaferrites showed dependence on the methods of preparation conditions and calcination treatments. The values of coercivity, saturation magnetization and retentivity were in the range of 21.33–19.66 kA m ^?1, 42.44– 38.72 emu g ^?1 and 10.05–13.19 emu g ^?1 respectively.     

Effect of proton irradiation on electrical properties of a-As2S3

This paper reports the effect of proton irradiation on the electrical properties of a-As₂S₃ in the temperature range of 323–418 K and frequency range 0.1–100 kHz. The variation of transport property is studied with proton irradiation dose (1 × 10¹³ ions/cm² and 1 × 10¹⁵ ions/cm²). It has been observed that proton irradiation changes the dc conductivity (σ_dc), dc activation energy (ΔE_dc) and ac conductivity (σ_ac(ω)). The σ_dc and σ_ac(ω) increases with dose of proton irradiation. The value of frequency exponent (s) decreases with the temperature and irradiation dose. These results are explained in terms of change in density of defect states in these glasses.     

Synthesis and study of mesomorphic properties in rod-like chalconyl compounds

In order to investigate the influence of the central linking group and effect on flexibility on mesophase behavior of liquid crystal we have synthesized newly homologous series viz. 3-(4-Octyloxyphenyl)-1-(4′-n-alkoxy phenyl) prop-2-en-1-one (Series-l) consists of thirteen homologues (C₁ to C₈, C₁₀, C₁₂, C₁₄, C₁₆, C₁₈). Textures of a nematic phases are threaded or Schlieren type. The textures of smectic and nematic phase are directly judged from the heating and cooling condition. Group efficiency order for mesophases is derived on the basis of thermal stabilities from the comparative study of thermometric data determined from structurally analogous series. A transition curve as depicted in a phase diagram behaves in normal manner. Structural and conformational characterization of these new compounds had achieved by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, and elemental analysis.     

Thermal analysis of water and magnesium hydroxide content in commercial pharmaceutical suspensions milk of magnesia

A standard protocol was developed to determine the water content by thermal analysis of milk of magnesia (MoM). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG) were used in a novel manner for examining the physical characteristics of the commercial pharmaceutical suspensions. Moisture analyzer and oven-dry methods validate the proposed protocol. MoM consists primarily of water and magnesium hydroxide [Mg(OH)₂]. Experimental design of the thermal analysis parameters were considered including sample size, flowing atmosphere, sample pan, and heating rate for both DSC and TG. The results established the optimum conditions for minimizing heat and mass transfer effect. Sample sizes used were: (5?C15?mg) for DSC and (30?C50?mg) for TG. DSC analysis used crimped crucibles with a pinhole, which allowed maximum resolution and gave well-defined mass (water) loss. TG analysis used a heating rate of 10?°C/min^?1 in an atmosphere of nitrogen. The heat of crystallization, heat of fusion, and heat of vaporization of unbound water are 334, 334, and 2,257?Jg^?1, respectively (Mitra et al. Proc NATAS Annu Conf Therm Anal Appl 30:203?C208, 2002). The DSC average water content of (MoM) was 80?wt% for name brand and 89.5?wt% for generic brand, based on the relative crystallization, melting and vaporization heats/Jg^?1 of distilled water in the recently purchased (2011) MoM samples. The TG showed a two-step process, losing water at 80?C135?°C for unbound water and bound water (MgO·H₂O) at 376?C404?°C, yielding a total average water loss of 91.9?% for name brand and 90.7?% for generic brand by mass. The difference between the high-temperature TG and the lower-temperature DSC can be attributed for the decomposition of magnesium hydroxide or MgO·H₂O. Therefore in performing this new approach to water analysis by heating to a high temperature decomposed the magnesium hydroxide residue. It was determined that the TG method was the most accurate for determining bound and unbound water.     

Photophysical and photodynamical study of fluoroquinolone drug molecule in bile salt aggregates

Photophysical properties of two widely used antibiotic fluoroquinolone drugs, namely Norfloxacin (NOR) and Ofloxacin (OFL) have been investigated in biomimicking environments formed by bile salts. Experimental results demonstrate that photophysical enhancement and fall of a particular prototropic species are sensitive to the excitation wavelength in bile salt aggregates. Excitation at shorter wavelengths reveals quenching of fluorescence of these fluoroquinolone with addition of sodium deoxycholate (NaDC), sodium taurocholate (NaTC) and sodium glycodeoxycholate (NaGDC). On the contrary, we observe a steady increase in the fluorescence intensity with a continuous redshift upon excitation at longer wavelength. The experimental results were rationalized in terms of the fact that, neutral and zwitterionic species of fluoroquinolone molecules in bile salt aggregates are selectively excited at shorter wavelength while the cationic form of fluoroquinolone molecules are excited at longer wavelength. The excess hydronium ions in the hydrophilic surface of bile salt aggregates convert the neutral species of NOR and OFL into cationic species causing an enhancement in the emission intensity. We found that NaGDC and NaTC because of the conjugate head group are more effective in converting the neutral species of fluoroquinolones into a cationic species than NaDC. The quenching order is in accordance with hydrophobicity indices of bile salt.