A new route to obtain shape-controlled gold nanoparticles from Au(III)-beta-diketonates

Ligands with a beta-diketone skeleton have been employed for the first time as reductant to produce ligand stabilized gold nanoparticles of different shapes from aqueous HAuCl(4) solution. Evolution of stable gold nanoparticles follows first order (k approximately equal to 10(-2) min(-1)) kinetics with respect to Au(0) concentration. Growth of particles of different shapes (spherical or triangular or hexagonal) goes hand in hand under the influence of different beta-diketones, which have excellent capping and reducing properties. Chlorine insertion was observed to take place in the beta-diketone skeleton.     

Size-selective synthesis and stabilization of gold organosol in C(n)TAC: enhanced molecular fluorescence from gold-bound fluorophores

Gold nanoparticles of variable sizes have been synthesized in toluene employing two-phase (water-toluene) extraction of AuCl4- followed by its reduction with sodium borohydride in the presence of a series of cationic surfactants of a homologous series having the general formula C(n)TAC. The solubility features of the gold particles in the organic solvent have been accounted qualitatively by calculating the van der Waals interaction potential between the particles. The effect of thermal energy and medium dielectric constant on the stability of metal particles has been studied by measuring the surface plasmon resonance. The stabilization of surfactant-mediated gold particles as hydrosol or organosol has been elucidated by considering the double-layer interaction as a function of the dielectric constant of the solvent medium. The influence of the counterion of the phase transfer reagent and stabilizing ligand on the photochemical stability of the gold colloids has been investigated. The fluorescence probe 1-methylaminopyrene (MAP) was considered for the surface functionalization of the gold particles, and it has been found that there is an enhancement of molecular fluorescence from the gold-probe assembly.     

Ultrasonic and conductometric studies of NaCl solutions and study of ionicity of the liquid solution through the Walden plot and various ultrasonic parameters

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In this paper, the thermo-physical and hydrodynamic properties of heat transfer nanofluids containing metal nanoparticles-decorated multi-wall carbon...     

High spin states in120Xe

High spin states in ¹²⁰Xe, populated via¹⁰⁷Ag(¹⁶O, p2n) and¹⁰⁸Pd(¹⁶O, 4n)reactions have been studied using γ-ray spectroscopic techniques. 21 new transitions have been added to extend the level scheme. Two S-bands are extended upto 26⁺ and 22⁺;these bands are found to cross the g. s band at hΩ=0. 39 and 0. 47 MeV. The band structures have been discussed within the framework of CSM.     

Rotational structures in the 125Cs nucleus

The collective band structures of the ¹²⁵Cs nucleus have been investigated by in-beam γ-ray spectroscopic techniques following the ¹¹⁰Pd ( ¹⁹F, 4n) reaction at 75MeV. The previously known level scheme, with rotational bands built on πg_7/2, πg_9/2 and πh_11/2 orbitals, has been extended and evolves into bands involving rotationally aligned ν(h_11/2)² and π(h_11/2)² quasiparticles. A strongly coupled band has been reassigned a high-K πh_11/2 ⊗ νg_7/2 ⊗ νh_11/2 three-quasiparticle configuration and a new side band likely to be its chiral partner has been identified. Configurations assigned to various bands are discussed in the framework of Principal/Tilted Axis Cranking (PAC/TAC) model calculations.     

Collective band structure in 66Zn

The collective nature of states in ⁶⁶Zn has been studied by carrying out a deformed configuration mixing shell model calculation in $\text{(1}\text{p}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>3</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{0}\text{f}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>5</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{1}\text{p}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{0}\text{g}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>9</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{)}$ model space. An effective interaction obtained for this space by Kuo has been used. The collective structure for 2 positive-parity bands and 5 negative-parity bands is identified. A qualitative understanding of the backbending at the J = 6⁺ state in the yrast positive-parity band is given in terms of the band crossing of the ground-state band and the more deformed excited band arising from 2p2h excitation to the $\text{g}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>9</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ orbit. Several high-spin members of the observed bands as well as in-band E2 transition strengths have been predicted.     

Effect of γ-irradiation and semiconducting oxide (tio2) on the thermal decomposition of mgc2o4: A comparative study

The simultaneous rising temperature (DTA-TG) technique and the gas evolution method are adopted for studying the thermal decomposition of unirradiated and irradiated MgC₂O₄ and MgC₂O₄ + TiO₂ mixtures. The data are applied to theories of different solid state reaction models and the best fit is obtained for the Avrami-Erofeev mechanism (n=2) suggesting that both the nucleation and growth processes occur at the reactant product interface in a two dimensional chain branching manner. Low irradiation doses decrease the rate of reaction remarkably whereas the reverse phenomenon takes place at higher doses. The n-type semiconducting oxide, TiO₂ (5-40 mol%) enhances the rate of decomposition which increases with increasing concentration of the catalyst. The influence of n -irradiation is explained in the light of defects, dislocations and electron-hole (e^?, h⁺) pairs generated in the lattice, whereas the influence of TiO₂ is understood on the basis of electron transfer process involved in the reaction.     

Influence of γ-irradiation on the non-isothermal decomposition of calcium-gadolinium oxalate

Thermal decomposition of co-precipitated unirradiated and irradiated Ca-Gd oxalate has been studied by adopting differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetric (TG) techniques. The reaction occurs through two stages corresponding to the decomposition of gadolinium oxalate (Gd-Ox) followed by that of calcium oxalate (Ca-Ox). The kinetic parameters for both the stages are calculated by using solid state reaction models and Coats-Redfern's equation. The co-precipitation as well as irradiation alter the DTA peak temperatures and the kinetic parameters of Ca-Ox. The decomposition of Gd-Ox follows the two dimensional Contracting area ( R 2 ) mechanism, while that of Ca-Ox follows the Avrami-Erofeev ( A 2 ) mechanism ( n =2), which are also exhibited by the co-precipitated and irradiated samples. Co-precipitation decreases the energy of activation and the pre-exponential factor of the individual components but the reverse phenomenon takes place upon irradiation of the co-precipitate. The mechanisms underlying the phenomena are explored.     

Layer-by-layer deposition of bimetallic nanoshells on functionalized polystyrene beads

Bimetallic nanoshells on functionalized polystyrene beads have been fabricated through a layer-by-layer deposition technique exploiting electrostatic interaction. The synthesis has been achieved through the immobilization and successive reduction of the corresponding precursor ions. It has been shown that the thickness of the shell can be controlled by a number of cyclic depositions of respective metals onto the surface of the polystyrene beads.