Biogenic Synthesis of CuO,ZnO, and CuO–ZnO Nanoparticles Using Leaf Extracts of Dovyalis caffra and Their Biological Properties

Biogenic metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a useful tool in biology due to their biocompatibility properties with most biological systems. In this study, we report the synthesis of copper oxide (CuO), zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs), and their nanocomposite (CuO–ZnO) prepared using the phytochemical extracts from the leaves of Dovyalis caffra (kei apple). The physicochemical properties of these nanomaterials were established using some characterization techniques including X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The XRD result confirmed the presence of a monoclinic CuO (Tenorite), and a hexagonal ZnO (Zincite) nanoparticles phase, which were both confirmed in the CuO–ZnO composite. The electron microscopy of the CuO–ZnO, CuO, and ZnO NPs showed a mixture of nano-scale sizes and spherical/short-rod morphologies, with some agglomeration. In the constituent’s analysis (EDX), no unwanted peak was found, which showed the absence of impurities. Antioxidant properties of the nanoparticles was studied, which confirmed that CuO–ZnO nanocomposite exhibited better scavenging potential than the individual metal oxide nanoparticles (CuO, and ZnO), and ascorbic acid with respect to their minimum inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values. Similarly, the in vitro anticancer studies using MCF7 breast cancer cell lines indicated a concentration-dependent profile with the CuO–ZnO nanocomposite having the best activity over the respective metal oxides, but slightly lower than the standard 5-Fluorouracil drug.     

Critical currents and the critical state in superconductors with magnetic ions

The critical state model is used to derive equations that relate the additional magnetic moment (ΔM) produced by the flux pinning to the critical current density (J_c) measured in transport measurements. The equations derived for conventional superconductors can be used for superconductors that contain magnetic ions, if ΔM is replaced by ΔM/(1 + χ′(H)) where χ′(H) is the differential susceptibility. In the critical state, the field gradient has contributions from both the macroscopic supercurrents and the Amperian currents from the magnetic ions. Magnetic measurements are sensitive to both contributions. Transport measurements only characterise the macroscopic supercurrents. For superconductors which contain rare-earth elements, the J_c values calculated using hysteretic magnetisation measurements without including the term χ′(H), can be in error by factors of 7.     

Compensation for depolarisation by a fibre coil in the presence of self-phase modulation

We report on the dependence of the degree of polarisation of an 80 fs pulsed laser beam propagating through a length of a single-mode birefringent fibre on the illumination power. Due to the birefringence and the nonlinear effect of self-phase modulation, the measured depolarisation dependence is oscillatory. It is, however, demonstrated that the oscillatory depolarisation can be compensated for by introducing a loop into the fibre geometry, which maintains the degree of polarisation of the pulsed beam as high as 90%.     

ESR study of some solvent effects of the Cu(II)-aspirinate complex

Powder ESR spectra of the [Cu₂(Asp)₄](H₂O)₂ complex show the existence of Cu(II) acetate like dimers characterized by a strong antiferromagnetic exchange interaction (J=?288 cm^?1). In pyridine-dimethylformamide solutions the monomeric species prevail. Two different monomeric species, the Cu(DMF)₄ of planar-distorted tetrahedral (T_d) symmetry and the Cu(Asp)₂(DMF)₂ with elongated tetrahedral-octahedral symmetry were evidenced in DMF solution adsorbed on NaY zeolite. In 40 % Py+60 % DMF solution two monomeric species were also identified. These are Cu(Asp)₂(DMF)₂ and Cu(Asp)₂(Py)₂, the last species having a CuN₂O₂ chromophore in atrans squareplanar arrangement. In pyridine Cu(II)-aspirinate solution only the Cu(Py)₄ monomeric species of CuN₄ chromophore was evidenced.     

Organotin(IV) complexes derived from N-ethyl-N-phenyldithiocarbamate: Synthesis,characterization and thermal studies

Organotin(IV) dithiocarbamate complexes, RSnClL₂ and R₂SnL₂ (R = Me, Bu, Ph, and L = N-ethyl-N-phenyldithiocarbamate), have been synthesized by the reaction of mono- and disubstituted organotin(IV) with ammonium dithiocarbamate. The complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, and spectroscopic techniques (¹H, ¹³C NMR and FTIR). The structures of Me₂SnL₂ and Bu₂SnL₂ were further established by single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The crystal structure analysis showed that both complexes (Me₂SnL₂ and Bu₂SnL₂) exist as monomers. One of the dithiocarbamate ligands formed a chelate, while the other dithiocarbamate bonded to the central tin atom through one of the sulfur atoms and the second sulfur atom existed as a pendant to form distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry. The thermal stability of all the complexes was studied using simultaneous thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The TG-DSC results showed that Me₂SnL₂, BuSnClL₂, Bu₂SnL₂, and PhSnClL₂ displayed similar decomposition pathway via isothiocyanate intermediate, while MeSnClL₂ and Ph₂SnL₂ showed decomposition pathways different from the rest of the complexes. All the complexes resulted in SnS as the final product of the thermal decomposition process.     

Syntheses and characterization of nickel(II) dithiocarbamate complexes containing NiS4 and NiS2PN moieties: Nickel sulphide nanoparticles from a single source precursor

In this study, ammonium N-benzyldithiocarbamate was synthesized and used to prepare homoleptic Ni(II) bis(N-benzyldithiocarbamate) (1) and heteroleptic Ni(II) complexes involving isocyanate (2) and cyanide (3) ions. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR), and NMR (¹H and ¹³C) spectroscopic techniques. Complex 2 was further characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The FTIR showed bidentate co-ordination for all the complexes as the v(CN) stretching frequency were in the 980–1050 cm^?1 region without any splitting. Thermal decomposition profile of the complexes showed decomposition resulting in the formation of nickel sulphides. The homoleptic complex 1 was utilized as single source precursor (SSP) to prepare Nickel sulphide nanoparticles. The synthesis of the nanoparticles was conducted using different capping molecules (with various alkyl chain lengths), and at different reaction temperature and time. Pure phase Heazlewoodite (Ni₃S₂) nanoparticles were obtained from the X-ray diffraction study. The TEM analysis showed that the type of capping agent, reaction temperature, and time of reaction have significant effect on the morphology and size of the nanoparticles. The optical properties of the nanoparticles were studied using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies, and they displayed evidence of quantum confinement effect.     

Thermogravimetric investigations of new γ-γ′ cobalt-based superalloys

The aim of the study is characterization of high-temperature oxidation behavior of new Co-based superalloys by thermogravimetry (TG). The following alloys have been taken into account: Co–9Al–9W, Co–20–Ni–7Al–7W, Co–10Al–5Mo–2Nb and Co–20Ni–10Al–5Mo–2Nb (at.%). The thermogravimetric analysis was carried out in the temperature range 40–1200 °C of heating rate 5° min^?1. The investigation was performed using the thermal analyzer NETZSCH STA 449 F3 Jupiter. TG–DTG plots showed oxidation behavior up to 1200 °C and indicated the temperatures of further isothermal oxidation examinations. The oxidation behavior of basic Co–9Al–9W (at.%) alloy was compared to W-free Co–10Al–5Mo–2Nb and Co–20Ni–10Al–5Mo–2Nb (at.%) alloys. The obtained data showed different oxidation behavior dependably on the type of alloying elements. Moreover, the effect of Ni addition on oxidation performance was determined. The scales grown on Co-base superalloys after thermogravimetry were evaluated by means of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy.     

ESR investigation of gamma-irradiated Aspirin

Electron spin resonance spectroscopy was used to investigate the radiation damage in a powder of 2-acetoxybenzoic acid (Aspirin). Three types of radicals occur by -irradiation of Aspirin at room temperature. Two of them are the result of hydrogen abstraction while the third is produced by hydrogen addition at one of the carbon atoms of the ring. The relative yielding of the free radicals as a function of absorbed dose in the range of 2.4 kGy to 160 kGy is also discussed.     

Theoretical analysis of the terahertz spectrum of the high explosive PETN.

The experimental solid-state terahertz (THz) spectrum (3 to 120 cm(-1)) of the high explosive pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN, C(5)H(6)N(4)O(12)) has been modeled using solid-state density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Solid-state DFT, employing the BP density functional, is in best qualitative agreement with the features in the previously reported THz spectrum. The crystal environment of PETN includes numerous intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions that contribute to large (up to 80 cm(-1)) calculated shifts in molecular normal-mode positions in the solid state. Comparison of the isolated-molecule and solid-state normal-mode calculations for a series of density functionals reveals the extent to which the inclusion of crystal-packing interactions and the relative motions between molecules are required for correctly reproducing the vibrational structure of solid-state THz spectra. The THz structure below 120 cm(-1) is a combination of both intermolecular (relative rotations and translations) and intramolecular (torsions, large amplitude motions) vibrational motions. Vibrational-mode analyses indicate that the first major feature (67.2 cm(-1)) in the PETN THz spectrum contains all of the optical rotational and translational cell modes and no internal (molecular) vibrational modes.