Cyanex272 impregnated on Amberlite XAD-2 for separation and preconcentration of U(VI) from uranmicrolite (leachates) ore tailings

An organanophosphinic acid extractant Cyanex272 was impregnated on a macroporus polymeric solid support Amberlite XAD-2 and packed in a column to study sorption and desorption of U(VI) in HNO₃ media. Various physio-chemical parameters such as influence of HNO₃ concentration, amount of Cyanex272, nature of eluents, sample and eluent flow rates were studied systematically to optimize conditions for sorption and desorption of U(VI). The breakthrough volume for U(VI) was >1000 mL and column reusability was more than 50 cycles. U(VI) was selectively separated from some commonly associated rare earth elements and certain d-block elements in binary and synthetic mixtures. The method developed for U(VI) was applied for its recovery from uranmicrolite (leachate) ore tailings and an industrial effluent sample.     

Three Flavor Neutrino Mixing and Dark Energy Above GUT Scale

Neutrino mixing lead to a non zero contribution to the dark energy of the universe. We assume that the neutrino masses and mixing arise through physics at a scale intermediate between Planck Scale and the electroweak scale. The mechanism of neutrino mixing is a possible candidate to contribute the cosmological dark energy. Quantum gravitational (Planck scale) effects lead to an effective SU(2) _L ×U(1) invariant dimension-5 Lagrangian involving neutrino and Higgs fields, which gives rise to additional terms in neutrino mass matrix. There additional term can be considered to be perturbation of the GUT scale bi-maximal neutrino mass matrix. We assume that the gravitational interaction is flavor. In this paper, we discuss the three flavor neutrino mixing and cosmological dark energy contributes due to Planck scale effects.     

Piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties of lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) ceramics prepared by sol gel derived nano powders

Lanthanum modified PZT (PLZT) ceramics were prepared with nano powders obtained by the sol gel method and its piezoelectric and pyroelectric behaviour was studied. The piezoelectric properties of the sol gel derived ceramics were compared with the ones prepared by the conventional oxide route. It was found that although the figures of merit of the sol gel derived ones were slightly better (10–15% increase), because of its higher density with respect to conventional ones. The pyroelectric properties of PLZT needs special mention because of its high detectivity and low noise levels. The results are tabulated in the paper and it indicates great figures of merit.     

Capped semiconductor nanocrystals for device applications

For device purpose, our main aim is to synthesise material which is chemically and thermally stable, as well as enhancement in luminescence properties followed with matching lattice parameters. This can be achieved by precisely controlling the size of semiconductor nanocrystals which can create an opportunity for producing functional materials with new properties. Here we showed advantages of using both organic and inorganic capping agents. We reported two synthesis routes, one will lead to nanocomposites and other to Core/Shell nanostructures. Our mechanism consists of two stages: core nanoparticle formation and shell growth. Gibbs free energy of hydration of Zn+2 gives more clarity for shell growth over core rather than ion displacement from core. Colloidal films comprising of nanocrystalline CdS/ZnS were fabricated by the dip coating method. A blue shift in energy level at the nanoscale is demonstrated by optical absorption. Electron microscopy studies with an SEM and TEM show a particle size of 10 nm and diffraction patterns show a crystalline nature. Absence of lattice mismatching is one of the important parameter for device fabrication, which is confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. Overall reduction in optical absorption due to blue shift is expected to result in higher performance, especially in short-circuit currents in CdS/CdTe solar cells.     

Subnatural linewidth in a strongly-driven degenerate two-level system

We observe linewidths below the natural linewidth for a probe laser on a degenerate two-level F → F′ transition, when the same transition is driven by a strong control laser. We take advantage of the fact that each level of the transition is made of multiple magnetic sublevels, and use the phenomenon of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) or absorption (EIA) in multilevel systems. Optical pumping by the control laser redistributes the population so that only a few sublevels contribute to the probe absorption, an explanation which is verified by a density-matrix analysis of the relevant sublevels. We observe more than a factor of 3 reduction in linewidth in the D₂ line of Rb in room-temperature vapor. Such subnatural features vastly increase the scope of applications of EIT, such as high-resolution spectroscopy and tighter locking of lasers to atomic transitions, since it is not always possible to find a suitable third level.     

Sensing of LPG with nanostructured zinc oxide thin films grown by spray pyrolysis technique

Nanostructured zinc oxide thin films were prepared by spray pyrolysis technique using Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O as the precursor solution. The resulting films were investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy to know crystal structure, size of crystallites and surface morphology. The films have been found to be polycrystalline zinc oxide, possessing hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure and nanocrystallite with grain size of approximately 30-35 nm. The LPG sensing performance of the films has been investigated at various concentrations of LPG in air at operating temperatures varying from 225 to 400 °C. At 325 °C the maximum responses of 46.3% and 48.9% have been observed, respectively, for concentrations of 0.8 and 1 vol% of LPG in air (1 vol% of LPG in air corresponds to 50% LEL of LPG in air). The recovery time has been found to be less than the response time for all concentrations of LPG. A possible reaction mechanism of LPG sensing has been proposed.     

Absence of morphotropic phase boundary effects in BiFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–PbTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> thin films grown via a chemical multilayer deposition method

We report an unusual behavior observed in (BiFeO₃)_1−x –(PbTiO₃) _x (BF–xPT) thin films prepared using a multilayer chemical solution deposition method. Films of different compositions were grown by depositing several bilayers of BF and PT precursors of varying BF and PT layer thicknesses followed by heat treatment in air. X-ray diffraction showed that samples of all compositions show mixing of two compounds resulting in a single-phase mixture, also confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. In contrast to bulk compositions, samples show a monoclinic (M_A-type) structure suggesting disappearance of the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) at x=0.30 as observed in the bulk. This is accompanied by the lack of any enhancement of the remanent polarization at the MPB, as shown by the ferroelectric measurements. Magnetic measurements showed an increase in the magnetization of the samples with increasing BF content. Significant magnetization in the samples indicates melting of spin spirals in the BF–xPT films, arising from a random distribution of iron atoms. Absence of Fe²⁺ ions was corroborated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. The results illustrate that thin film processing methodology significantly changes the structural evolution, in contrast to predictions from the equilibrium phase diagram, besides modifying the functional characteristics of the BP-xPT system dramatically.     

Co-Culture of Microalgae, Cyanobacteria, and Macromycetes for Exopolysaccharides Production: Process Preliminary Optimization and Partial Characterization

In this study, the biomass and exopolysaccharides (EPS) production in co-cultures of microalgae/cyanobacteria and macromycetes was evaluated as a technology for producing new polysaccharides for medical and/or industrial application. Based on biomass and EPS productivity of monocultures, two algae and two fungi were selected and cultured in different co-culture arrangements. The hydrosoluble EPS fractions from mono- and co-cultures were characterized by 13C NMR spectroscopy and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and compared. It was found that co-cultures resulted in the production of an EPS different from those produced by monocultures, showing fungal predominance with microalgal/cyanobacterial traces. Co-cultures conditions were screened (temperature, agitation speed, fungal and microalgae inoculation rate, initial pH, illumination rate, and glucose concentration) in order to achieve maximum biomass and EPS production, resulting in an increase of 33 and 61% in exopolysaccharides and biomass productions, respectively (patent pending).     

Structural and electrical studies of Ba5RTi3V7O30 (R=Ho,Gd, La) compounds

The ferroelectric ceramics Ba₅RTi₃V₇O₃₀ (R=Ho, Gd, La) have been synthesized by solid-state reaction technique. Preliminary X-ray structural analysis confirmed a single-phase formation of the compound in orthorhombic structure. Surface morphology of the compounds was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Detailed studies of electrical properties (i.e., dielectric constant, loss tangent, ac conductivity) as a function of temperature (RT-773 K) and at four different frequencies (1 kHz, 10 kHz, 100 kHz and 1 MHz) show ferroelectric–paraelectric phase transition of the compounds of diffuse-type. The activation energy has been evaluated from ac conductivity following Arrhenius equation. The conductivity pattern shows that it is strongly frequency dependent and obeys Jonscher's power relation.