Silicon detector technology development in India for the participation in international experiments

A specific research and development program has been carried out by BARC in India to develop the technology for large area silicon strip detectors for application in nuclear and high energy physics experiments. These strip detectors will be used as pre-shower detector in the CMS experiment at LHC, CERN for π ⁰/λ rejection. The fabrication technology to produce silicon strip detectors with very good uniformity over a large area of ∼40 cm², low leakage currents of the order of 10 nA/cm² per strip and high breakdown voltage of >500 V has been developed by BARC. The production of detectors is already under way to deliver 1000 detector modules for the CMS and 90% production is completed. In this paper, research and development work carried out to develop the detector fabrication technology is briefly described. The performance of the silicon strip detectors produced in India is presented. The present status of the detector technology is discussed.      

Gas-phase Raman spectra of hot bands of fundamentals and combinations associated with the torsional vibration of s-trans-1,3-butadiene and its deuterated isotopologues

The gas-phase Raman spectra of 1,3-butadiene and its 2,3-d₂, 1,1,4,4-d₄, and d₆ isotopologues have been recorded with high sensitivity and resolution of 0.7 cm⁻¹. Hot band series of fundamentals and combinations involving the ν₁₃ torsional vibration of the s-trans rotamer have been observed for each of the isotopologues. Modes studied were ν₁₀ (CH wag), ν₁₂ (CH₂ twist), ν₁₀ + ν₁₂, ν₁₅ (CH₂ wag) + ν₁₆ (CH₂ twist), and ν₂₃ (CH₂ rock) + ν₂₄ (CCC deformation). The spacings of the quantum states of the torsional contribution were found to decrease with additional excitation of this mode (ν₁₃) in the upper vibrational states except for the ν₂₃ + ν₂₄ combination state.     

Vibrational spectra, structure, and theoretical calculations of 2-fluoro- and 3-fluoropyridine

The infrared and Raman spectra of liquid and vapor-phase 2-fluoropyridine and 3-fluoropyridine have been recorded and assigned. Ab initio and DFT calculations were carried out to compute the molecular structures and to verify the vibrational assignments. The observed and calculated spectra agree extremely well. The ring bond distances of the fluoropyridines are very similar to those of pyridine except for a shortening of the C-N(F) bond in 2-fluoropyridine. The C-F bond stretching frequencies are similar to that in fluorobenzene reflecting the influence of the ring π bonding.     

Efficient Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting from a Discrete Hybrid Bismuth Bromide Ferroelectric Templated by Phosphonium Cation

Bismuth containing hybrid molecular ferroelectrics are receiving tremendous attention in recent years owing to their stable and non-toxic composition. However, these perovskite-like structures are primarily limited to ammonium cations. Herein, we report a new phosphonium based discrete perovskite-like hybrid ferroelectric with a formula [Me(Ph)₃P]₃[Bi₂Br₉] ( MTPBB ) and its mechanical energy harvesting capability. The Polarization-Electric field (P-E) measurements resulted in a well-defined ferroelectric hysteresis loop with a remnant polarization value of 2.1 μC cm⁻². Piezoresponse force microscopy experiments enabled visualization of the ferroelectric domain structure and evaluation of the piezoelectric strain coefficient (d₃₃) for an MTPBB single crystal and thin film sample. Furthermore, flexible devices incorporating MTPBB in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix at various concentrations were fabricated and explored for their mechanical energy harvesting properties. The champion device with 20 wt % of MTPBB in PDMS rendered a maximum peak-to-peak open-circuit voltage of 22.9 V and a maximum power density of 7 μW cm⁻² at an optimal load of 4 MΩ. Moreover, the potential of MTPBB -based devices in low power electronics was demonstrated by storing the harvested energy in various electrolytic capacitors.     

Intensification of proton conductivity through polymer electrolytic membrane using novel electrode pattern

The performance of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is contingent on the focal property of the protonic conductivity to accelerate the electrochemical reaction based on the membrane activity or on the uniform and even distribution of the reactants. For the even distribution, novel Flow Fields (FF) of the electrode pattern are obligatory to maintain the distribution for a long period for the conversion of protons from the anode reactant. In this study, a novel X Flow Field (XFF) electrode pattern is developed and compared with the conventional serpentine Flow Field (SFF) electrode pattern numerically and experimentally. The performance of the cell through the XFF electrode pattern has shown an improvement of 14.89% numerically and 14.61% experimentally as it distributes the reactants evenly to accelerate the electrochemical reaction, and induce a lower pressure drop and lower water saturation. The effect of pressure and Mass Flow Rate (MFR) of the reactants on the cell performance is discussed and it is found that the increment in Power Density (PD) of the cell is proportional to the increment of the MFR and the pressure because of the even distribution of the reactants, better membrane protonic conductivity, enhancement of the electrode kinetics and improvement in the mass transfer.     

2,5-Bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)phenyl-tethered 1,3,4-Oxadiazoles Derivatives: Synthesis,In Silico Studies,and Biological Assessment as Potential Candidates for Anti-Cancer and Anti-Diabetic Agent

In the present work, a series of new 1-{5-[2,5-bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)phenyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazol-3-acetyl-2-aryl-2H/methyl derivatives were synthesized through a multistep reaction sequence. The compounds were synthesized by the condensation of various aldehydes and acetophenones with the laboratory-synthesized acid hydrazide, which afforded the Schiff’s bases. Cyclization of the Schiff bases yielded 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives. By spectral analysis, the structures of the newly synthesized compounds were elucidated, and further, their anti-cancer and anti-diabetic properties were investigated. To examine the dynamic behavior of the candidates at the binding site of the protein, molecular docking experiments on the synthesized compounds were performed, followed by a molecular dynamic simulation. ADMET (chemical absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) prediction revealed that most of the synthesized compounds follow Lipinski’s rule of 5. The results were further correlated with biological studies. Using a cytotoxic assay, the newly synthesized 1,3,4-Oxadiazoles were screened for their in vitro cytotoxic efficacy against the LN229 Glioblastoma cell line. From the cytotoxic assay, the compounds 5b, 5d, and 5m were taken for colony formation assay and tunnel assay have shown significant cell apoptosis by damaging the DNA of cancer cells. The in vivo studies using a genetically modified diabetic model, Drosophila melanogaster, indicated that compounds 5d and 5f have better anti-diabetic activity among the different synthesized compounds. These compounds lowered the glucose levels significantly in the tested model.     

Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting from a Ferroelectric Hybrid Salt [Ph3MeP]4[Ni(NCS)6] Embedded in a Polymer Matrix

Organic–inorganic hybrid ferroelectrics are an exciting class of molecular materials with promising applications in the area of energy and electronics. The synthesis, ferroelectric and piezoelectric energy harvesting behavior of a 3d metal ion‐containing A₄BX₆ type organic–inorganic hybrid salt [Ph₃MeP]₄[Ni(NCS)₆] ( 1 ) is now presented. P‐E hysteresis loop studies on 1 show a remnant ferroelectric polarization value of 18.71 μC cm^?2, at room temperature. Composite thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) devices with 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt % compositions of 1 were prepared and employed for piezoelectric energy harvesting studies. A maximum output voltage of 19.29 V and a calculated power density value of 2.51 mW cm^?3 were observed for the 15 wt % 1 ‐TPU device. The capacitor charging experiments on the 15 wt % 1 ‐TPU composite device shows an excellent energy storage performance with the highest stored energies and measured charges of 198.8 μJ and 600 μC, respectively.     

A Flexible Composite Mechanical Energy Harvester from a Ferroelectric Organoamino Phosphonium Salt

A new binary organic salt diphenyl diisopropylamino phosphonium hexaflurophosphate (DPDP?PF₆) was shown to exhibit a good ferroelectric response and employed for mechanical energy harvesting application. The phosphonium salt crystallizes in the monoclinic noncentrosymmetric space group Cc and exhibits an H‐bonded 1D chain structure due to N?H???F interactions. Ferroelectric measurements on the single crystals of DPDP?PF₆ gave a well‐saturated rectangular hysteresis loop with a remnant (P_r) polarization value of 6 μC cm^?2. Further, composite devices based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films for various weight percentages (3, 5, 7, 10 and 20 wt %) of DPDP?PF₆ were prepared and examined for power generation by using an impact test setup. A maximum output peak‐to‐peak voltage (V_PP) of 8.5 V and an output peak‐to‐peak current (I_PP) of 0.5 μA was obtained for the non‐poled composite film with 10 wt % of DPDP?PF₆. These results show the efficacy of organic ferroelectric substances as potential micropower generators.     

Gas-phase Raman spectra of s-trans- and s-gauche-1,3-butadiene and their deuterated isotopologues

The gas-phase Raman spectra of 1,3-butadiene and its 2,3-d(2),1,1,4,4-d(4) and d(6) isotopologues have been recorded using intense (6 W) green laser excitation and sensitive CCD detection. Hundreds of bands have been observed and assigned for each isotopologue. These spectra provide the best data to date for the s-trans conformer and also provide the first direct observation of the gas-phase Raman bands of the s-gauche conformer. Spectra recorded at elevated temperatures up to 250 °C for the d(0) and d(6) species help confirm the assignment of bands for the gauche rotamer. DFT computations were utilized to complement the studies. For the most part, the observed gas-phase gauche bands are in good agreement with previous matrix isolation studies. A best set of frequencies are reported for the fundamentals of the gauche rotamer of the d(0) and d(6) species.