High temperature annealing effect on structural and magnetic properties of Ti/Ni multilayers

High temperature annealing effect on structural and magnetic properties of Ti/Ni multilayer (ML) up to 600 °C have been studied and reported in this paper. Ti/Ni multilayer samples having constant layer thicknesses of 50 Å each are deposited on float glass and Si(1 1 1) substrates using electron-beam evaporation technique under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions at room temperatures. The micro-structural parameters and their evolution with temperature for as-deposited as well as annealed multilayer samples up to 600 °C in a step of 100 °C for 1 h are determined by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and grazing incidence X-ray reflectivity techniques. The X-ray diffraction pattern recorded at 300 °C annealed multilayer sample shows interesting structural transformation (from crystalline to amorphous) because of the solid-state reaction (SSR) and subsequent re-crystallization at higher temperatures of annealing, particularly at ≥400 °C due to the formation of TiNi₃ and Ti₂Ni alloy phases. Sample quality and surface morphology are examined by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique for both as-deposited as well as annealed multilayer samples. In addition to this, a temperature dependent dc resistivity measurement is also used to study the structural transformation and subsequent alloy phase formation due to annealing treatment. The corresponding magnetization behavior of multilayer samples after each stage of annealing has been investigated by using Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect (MOKE) technique and results are interpreted in terms of observed micro-structural changes.     

Microwave-assisted Sinthesis of Thymyl Ethers and Esters in Aqueous Medium

Various thymyl ethers and esters have been synthesized by reactions of thymol with alkyl halides and acid chlorides, respectively, in aqueous medium under environmentally benign conditions using micro-wave irradiation. The products are important as potent pest managing agents.     

Simple preparation of alpha-diazo esters

[reaction: see text] The TiCl4-mediated reaction of an ester with benzoyl chloride results in high yields of the alpha-benzoylated ester. Diazo transfer of the benzoylated ester utilizing p-acetoamidobenzenesulfonyl azide affords the alpha-diazo ester in good yield. Using this simplified procedure, it is easy to prepare gram quantities of alpha-diazo esters.     

Anion recognition by bisimidazolium and bisbenzimidazolium cholapods

Bile acid-based acyclic receptors bearing two imidazole and benzimidazole moieties have been synthesized. Anion binding studies using ¹H NMR revealed that imidazolium receptor exhibits high selectivity for chloride ion while benzimidazolium receptor showed selectivity for Y-shaped acetate ion through hydrogen bond interactions involving imidazolium C-2 and acetyl methylene hydrogens.     

Fluorescence Lifetime Spectroscopy of Glioblastoma Multiforme¶

Fluorescence spectroscopy of the endogenous emission of brain tumors has been researched as a potentially important method for the intraoperative localization of brain tumor margins. We investigated the use of time‐resolved, laser‐induced fluorescence spectroscopy for demarcation of primary brain tumors by studying the time‐resolved spectra of gliomas. The fluorescence of human brain samples (glioblastoma multiforme, cortex and white matter: six patients, 23 sites) was induced ex vivo with a pulsed nitrogen laser (337 nm, 3 ns). The time‐resolved spectra were detected in a 360–550 nm wavelength range using a fast digitizer and gated detection. Parameters derived from both the spectral‐ (intensities from narrow spectral bands) and the time domain (average lifetime) measured at 390 and 460 nm were used for tissue characterization. We determined that high‐grade gliomas are characterized by fluorescence lifetimes that varied with the emission wavelength (>3 ns at 390 nm, <1 ns at 460 nm) and their emission is overall longer than that of normal brain tissue. Our study demonstrates that the use of fluorescence lifetime not only improves the specificity of fluorescence measurements but also allows a more robust evaluation of data collected from brain tissue. Combined information from both the spectraland the time domain can enhance the ability of fluorescencebased techniques to diagnose and detect brain tumor margins intraoperatively.     

Electron impact induced fragmentation of some 1,2,4-triazole derivatives

The mass spectra of eight 1,2,4-triazole derivaties have been recorded and found tao reveal extensive hydrogen and skeletal migrations. The structures of the fragments have been confirmed by deuterium labelling and exact mass measurement. The compounds revealed striking differences in their spectra depending on the nature of the substituents.     

Synthesis, characterisation and evaluation of polydithiocarbamate resin supported on macroreticular styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer for the removal of trace and heavy metal ions

A new chelating resin was synthesised by the modification of styrene-divinylbenzene (2%) copolymer and incorporation of dithiocarbamate groups. The polydithiocarbamate resin was characterised by elemental analysis, thermal studies and IR studies. The analytical characteristics of the sorbent were established and optimum sorption conditions for Cu, Ni, Pb, Fe, As and Mn determined. The total sorption capacity of the resin was 37 mg g⁻¹ for Ni(II), 35 mg g⁻¹ for Cu(II), 29 mg g⁻¹ for Fe(III) and 23 mg g⁻¹ for Pb(II). The optimum pH for the removal of metal ions was 3-5 for Ni(II), 5 for Cu(II), 4 for Fe(III) and 4-5 for Pb(II). High sorption capacity was observed when compared with other conventional chelating polymers. The sorption kinetics was fairly rapid, as apparent from the loading half time t_1/2 values, indicating a better accessibility of the chelating sites.     

Cooling Characteristics During Bath Quenching of Test Probe Using Inverse Heat Transfer

It is of engineering importance to accurately predict the surface cooling characteristics in bath quenching of metals and alloys. In this investigation, the surface cooling characteristics in quenching of Wolfson probe are estimated with reasonable accuracy by solving an inverse heat conduction problem. Regularization method is used for smoothening the input temperature measurements at probe center, for superior inversion estimates. The reverse pool-boiling curve is captured on bath quenching characteristic, plotted as cooling velocity versus surface temperature. The prime advantage is the bypassing of convection coefficients, which are uncertain in pool boiling.