Selected Area Electron Diffraction Research Articles

Exploring the complementary potential of DVT-Grown InxMo1-xS2 (x = 0.05 & 0.1) for enhanced photoelectrochemical photodetectors and dye degradation

The platform used in this work, InxMo1-xS2 (x = 0.05 & 0.1) nanosheets, allows for exploration of two crucial areas: remediation of the environment and optoelectronic applications. The sonochemical exfoliation approach generated the MoS2 nanosheets. The exfoliated MoS2 has a 2H-hexagonal lattice structure and a P63/mmc space group. The MoS2 nanosheets' lateral shape was observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and their extremely crystalline nature was verified by selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The absorption spectra of MoS₂ nanosheets show unique A and B excitonic resonances. It investigates pulse photo-response characteristics associated with dye degradation methods, emphasizing InxMo1-xS2 (x = 0.05 & 0.1) efficiency in destroying dyes and enabling photocatalytic degradation, particularly with methylene blue (MB) solutions. After 120 min of exposure to light, these nanosheets are effective, breaking down organic pigments. The work also indicates a distinct pulse photoresponse in InxMo1-xS2 (x = 0.05 & 0.1) Nanosheets, increasing their potential as ultrafast photodetectors for optoelectronics. Built-in electrodes produce noticeable photocurrents under 8 mV bias and polychromatic light, demonstrating a strong photovoltaic effect. The In0.05Mo0.95S2 nanosheet-based working electrodes are significantly photovoltaic, with a photocurrent of 3.427 mA under an 8 mV bias and 100 mW/cm2 of polychromatic light. These electrodes have a remarkable peak photoresponsivity of 2.715 A/W under optimum conditions. In the end, this work demonstrates the potential of InxMo1-xS2 (x = 0.05 & 0.1) nanosheets in improving optoelectronic devices and environmentally friendly solutions by revealing when dye degradation and pulse photo-response interact with one another.

Effect of the deposition temperature on ZnCd(SSe)2 for enhance the efficiency of solar cell application

The photoelectrochemical efficiency of ZnCd(SSe)2 thin films shows a notable enhancement, increasing from 0.08 % to 0.28 %, when deposited at different temperatures (room temperature, 40 °C, 50 °C, and 60 °C). This study aims to develop ZnCd(SSe)2 thin films using a cost-effective single-step process called the Arrested Precipitation Technique (APT). This study demonstrates that varying the deposition temperatures significantly impacts the optical, structural, and morphological properties of the resulting thin films. Optical analysis shows a reduction in the optical energy band gap from 1.92 to 1.63 eV as the bath temperature increases. X-ray diffraction confirms the formation of nanocrystalline thin film samples with improved crystallinity, as indicated by the increased intensity of the (100) diffraction peak. Scanning electron microscopy reveals changes in surface morphology corresponding to different deposition temperatures. The thin films exhibit polycrystalline characteristics, as verified by transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction pattern analysis. Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy analysis identifies the presence of Cd, Zn, S, and Se elements with near-ideal stoichiometry, suggesting a favorable composition. Importantly, the photoelectrochemical performance increases significantly from 0.08 % to 0.28 % with rising deposition temperature, marking a substantial improvement with potential for further investigation and development in the field.

Crystal Structure, Optical, Photoluminescence, Raman, and Magnetic properties for Sm-doped Cr-Mg-Bi Ferrites using sensor

The current work,A series of rare earth Sm3+ ion substituted Cr-Mg-Bi ferrites Cr0.7Mg0.2Bi0.1SmxFe2-xO4 (x = 0.00, 0.02, 0.04, and 0.06) have beensynthesized by thesol-gel auto-combustion method. The XRD, FESEM, HRTEM,UV-Vis, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, Photo Luminesce and Magnetic Properties analysis have been used to investigate structural, morphological, optical, Raman spectroscopy, Photo Luminesce and Magnetic Properties. Every sample contains a single-phase spinel structure, as confirmed by XRD.The substitution of Sm3+ ions is found to increase the lattice parameter from 8.258–8.248Å.A monotone diffraction peak (311) is visible near small angles of degrees (35.33 to 35.13). The Debye-Scherrer equation, the nanoparticles' crystallite size ranges from 35.357–54.778 nm.FE-SEMs reveal a spherical grain that groups and has a porous form, with particles 38.13 to 53.28 nmin size.HR-TEM micrographs illustrate spherical morphology and their average particle size decreases from 55.32 to 65.42 nm. The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern confirms the crystal planes which were revealed from XRD calculations.The spinel structure was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy, which found 414 cm-1 and 516 cm-1 vibrational band at the octahedral and tetrahedral sites.As the concentration of Sm3+ rises, the direct and indirect band gap energy values determined from UV-Vis show an increase and decrease.The generated NPs' semiconducting nature is confirmed by the strong correlation between the g-value and particle size change.Photoluminescence (PL) investigation shows that all processed samples have four bands.(i) peak centered at 412 nm, which is near-band edge emission and corresponds to the ultraviolet (UV) band,(ii) The violet band has a high-intensity peak at 434 nm,(iii) The blue band is related to a low-intensity, sharp peak located at 466 nm, and (iv) A broad peak at 502 nm with a very low intensity distinguishes the green band.The Raman spectroscopy investigation revealed that the CMBSF nanoparticles had a mixed spinel structure. The magnetic investigation shows that when the Sm content of ferrites increases, saturation magnetization drops from 39.86 to 33.16 emu/g.The sample's coercivity (Hc) increases from 16.06 to 21.90 KOe with Sm substitution.

Synthesis and field emission characterization of La-doped SiC nanowires using graphite powder as carbon source

Lanthanum (La)-doped SiC nanowires (NMs) were synthesized via a carbon thermal reduction process using different graphite powders, while milled Si-SiO2 mixed powders were employed as the silicon source. The identification of the products as β-SiC were supported by Select-area electron diffraction (SAED) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The field emission results demonstrated that the turn-on field reached a minimum value of approximately 2.3 V/μm when the graphite content ranged from 2.5 g–3 g. The product exhibited higher density at this stage, accompanied by an increase in nanowire diameter and a tendency toward straightness. The energy spectrum analysis revealed a significant increase in the lanthanum content within the nanowires, with the atomic percentage rising from 0.05 to 0.26–0.27. The synergistic effect of morphology and La improved the field emission performance of the product. The findings may offer valuable insights for enhancing the field emission performance of one-dimensional nanomaterials.

TEM investigation of the interface formation during transfer of 3C-SiC(001) layer onto 6H-SiC(0001) wafer

At present, intensive research is underway in the field of vacuum-sublimation growth of 3C-SiC. Transfer of a thin (001)3C-SiC layer onto a 6H-SiC wafer is a promising way to fabricate a 3C-SiC/6H-SiC substrate for growing device-quality homoepitaxial films of low defect density. The article presents the results of the structural characterization of an interface formed during the transfer of a 3C-SiC layer onto a 6H-SiC(0001) wafer, performed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A 3C-SiC film with a thickness of about 10 μm, grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on a Si(001) substrate, was utilized in the study. Silicon acted as a bonding material in the transfer process. The morphology and microstructure of the interface between a 6H-SiC substrate and a 3C-SiC (001)-oriented layer are under consideration. TEM investigation reveals an effect of “self”-orientation of the layer with respect to the wafer during the transfer process: an interaction between the molten silicon layer and silicon carbide throughout crystallization results in the generation of defined orientation relationships with respect to substrate axes. An analysis of selected area electron diffraction patterns taken from interfaces showed the relationships to be 3C-SiC{001}‖ 6H-SiC(0001) and 3C-SiC⟨11¯0⟩∼‖ 6H-SiC⟨112¯0⟩.

Myco-Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles, Optimization, Characterization, and In Silico Anticancer Activities by Molecular Docking Approach against Hepatic and Breast Cancer.

This study explored the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the extracellular filtrate of Fusarium oxysporum as a reducing agent and evaluated their antitumor potential through in vitro and in silico approaches. The biosynthesis of AgNPs was monitored by visual observation of the color change and confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, revealing a characteristic peak at 418 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses showed spherical nanoparticles ranging from 6.53 to 21.84 nm in size, with stable colloidal behavior and a negative zeta potential of -15.5 mV. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) confirmed the crystalline nature of the AgNPs, whereas energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) indicated the presence of elemental silver at 34.35%. A face-centered central composite design (FCCD) was employed to optimize the biosynthesis process, yielding a maximum AgNPs yield of 96.77 µg/mL under the optimized conditions. The antitumor efficacy of AgNPs against MCF-7 and HepG2 cancer cell lines was assessed, with IC50 values of 35.4 µg/mL and 7.6 µg/mL, respectively. Molecular docking revealed interactions between Ag metal and key amino acids of BCL-2 (B-cell lymphoma-2) and FGF19 (fibroblast growth factor 19), consistent with in vitro data. These findings highlight the potential of biologically derived AgNPs as promising therapeutic agents for cancer treatment and demonstrate the utility of these methods for understanding the reaction mechanisms and optimizing nanomaterial synthesis.

Mineralogical characterization of magnesium-based nanoparticles recovered from a swirl-stabilized magnesium flame by analytical and scanning/transmission electron microscopy

Abstract. The current climate emergency and the related energy transition require the development of technology producing zero-carbon energy. One viable option entails the utilization of recyclable metal fuels. The primary energy stored by the reduction in metal oxides can be transported and later released by metal combustion. Mg is among the most promising metal as a regenerable energetic vector, having an energy density of 25 MJ kg−1. The exploitation of the Mg oxidation and reduction loop has recently been demonstrated, and the loop combustion products are made of metal oxides. The mineralogical characterization of the MgO crystals generated by the Mg combustion is of utter importance for the optimization of the particle trapping capacity in the combustion system during the closed oxidation and reduction loop. In this paper we characterize MgO particles generated in a swirl-stabilized Mg flame by using powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction, and atomic-resolution microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and dual-electron energy-loss spectroscopy. The MgO combustion products were chemically homogeneous at this level of investigation. Three representative morphologies (cubic, truncated octahedron, and spherical) and two isostructural phases were identified in the MgO combustion product. These findings may contribute to the optimization of system development, particularly in terms of the collection efficiency of the combustion end product.

Microstructural, dielectric, electrical, electromagnetic, and magnetic property enhancements in GdIG /TrIG/ Mn0.2Co0.3Zn0.5Fe2O4 ferrites composites for electronic devices application

Gadolinium garnet ferrite (GdIG) and terbium garnet ferrite (TrIG), known for their favourable magnetic and dielectric characteristics, were combined with doped zinc spinel ferrite (GdIG)x-(TrIG)y/Mn0.2Co0.3Zn0.5Fe2O4(1-x-y) (at x=1 y=0, x=0 y=1, x=y=0.5, x=y=0.25, x=y=0) to achieve improved permittivity, permeability and magnetic properties with reduced magneto-dielectric losses. Our study details the synthesis process and the resulting enhancements in structural, magnetic, and dielectric properties of the prepared samples. Analysis of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the presence of a crystalline structure characterized by both cubic spinel and cubic garnet phases in the composites. The microstructures of the composites were analysed with field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), revealing the variation in a grain size from 0.11 μm to 0.96 μm at x =y=0.5. A thorough link between the crystal structure and XRD spectra, transmission electron microscope (TEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns have all been investigated in order to enhance the characterisation of the samples. At 1KHz, the composites exhibit highest electrical resistivity values of 5.9×106 Ωm and 2.6×106 Ωm. With the incorporation of spinel ferrites in garnet ferrite composite (x=y=0.25) the highest value of dielectric constant (885.2) and low value of dielectric loss (0.07) at 100 KHz has been obtained. Permeability values, derived from permittivity data, showed an increase in real permeability values of from 1.4×1012 to 9.2×1017 for x=y=0.5 to x=y=0.25 composite. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) further confirm that the composite x=y=0.25 has highest magnetic saturation (148.8 emu/g), coercivity (502 Oe) and microwave operating frequency (33.6 GHz). The observed high dielectric constant, low loss values, switching field distribution and good magnetic properties suggest the potential suitability of these samples for various electronic devices like: high frequency devices, antennas, switching devices and magnetic recording devices.

Influence of annealing on the physicochemical properties of 2L ferrihydrite synthesized by radiation-chemical method from iron (III) nitrate

In this study, ferrihydrite (Fhy) nanoparticles (NPles) synthesized by the radiation chemical method (RCM) from an iron nitrate alcohol solution were annealed in air at temperatures ranging from 100 to 1200 ºC. The effects of annealing temperature on the phase transformation and basic physicochemical properties of the annealed Fhy nanopowders (NPs) were investigated. Fhy NPles annealed at 400 ºC and above can be converted to hematite NPles. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the RCM-synthesized product corresponded to two-line (2 L) Fhy NPles, with no additional peaks, confirming their chemical purity. Up to 200 ºC, no significant phase transformation of Fhy NPles was observed; at 300 ºC, Fhy transformed into maghemite, which further transformed into hematite at 400 ºC. TEM/HRTEM analysis showed the formation of mesoporous agglomerates consisting of amorphous-crystalline NPles approximately 2 nm in size in the Fhy S95 sample annealed at 95 ºC. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) images indicated the presence of two crystalline phases in sample S95: FeO and zero-valence Fe. The specific surface area (SSA) of mesoporous Fhy NPles varied non-monotonically between 100 and 500 ºC, peaking at 53.2 m2/g at 300 ºC. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis revealed a minor nitrogen impurity, likely from the initial iron nitrate precursor, and a significant amount of adsorbed carbon on the developed porous surface of Fhy NPles. The phase composition of annealed Fhy samples correlated with their photoluminescent (PL) spectra. In samples S400 and S500 containing hematite, a small ferromagnetic contribution emerged, disrupting the linear magnetization-field dependence observed in samples S0-S200. Thus, the properties of 2 L Fhy nanoparticles produced by the radiation chemical method can be modified through thermal annealing while maintaining their potential biomedical applications as nanocontainers for drug delivery and contrast agents.

Effect of Ta/Ni dual-interlayer on the microstructure and properties of high strength titanium alloy and steel composite plate

The combination of ultra-high-strength Ti-6Al-4V (TC4) titanium alloy and 30CrNiMoNb (6211) steel was achieved by adding Ta/Ni dual-interlayer and rolling at 950 °C through welding a symmetrical blank sleeve with a vacuum electron beam. In order to unveil the metallurgical bonding mechanism and the interfacial structure, SEM, XRD, and compression-shear performance tests were used. The results revealed the presence of thin-film brittle TiC, TiFe, and TiFe2 compounds at the TC4/6211 interface, resulting in an increased risk of interface mismatch and brittle fracture along the matrix phase interface, and the average interfacial bonding strength was tested at 323 MPa.In contrast, the TC4-Ta interface and the 6211-Ni interface in the TC4/Ta/Ni/6211 composite plate displayed good solid solution formation. The strengthening mechanism of the Ta/Ni dual-interlayer interfacial bonding was analyzed using selected area electron diffraction (SAED), revealing that the Ta-Ni diffusion region consisted of Ni3Ta and Ni2Ta. The addition of the Ta/Ni dual-interlayer prevented the aggregation of Ti and Fe atoms to form Ti-Fe compounds. The malleable intermetallic compounds of Ni3Ta and Ni2Ta effectively coordinated deformation, leading to an average interfacial bonding strength of 469 MPa, which was 45.2 % higher than the composite plate without Ta/Ni dual-interlayer.

FeVO4 nanoparticles for N-Alkylation of acetamides under blue light irradiation: Mechanistic insights and product characterization

This study aimed to synthesize FeVO4 nanoparticles using a wet-chemical approach. The nanoparticles were characterized and confirmed using various techniques. XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) confirmed the triclinic crystal system of the nanoparticles, and the crystallite size was calculated to be 33.5 nm. FE-SEM (Field Emission Scanning Electron) and HR-TEM (High- Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy) confirmed the spherical nature of FeVO4 with particle size of 41.8 nm. Further SAED (Selected Area Electron Diffraction) confirmed the crystallinity nature of the nanoparticles. Optical studies and EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) revealed their photocatalytic behavior. The pore volume and diameter of the FeVO4 nanoparticles were 0.024 and 2.102 nm, respectively. The obtained nanoparticles were employed as photocatalysts for the N-alkylation of N-phenyl and N-pyridinyl acetamides under blue LED light. The reaction progressed well in approximately 8–12 h with a yield of 60–90 %. The photocatalytic evaluation was optimized under various conditions and provided with mechanistic investigations. The novel N-alkylated analogues were verified by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS. The present work explores a novel approach to N-alkylation using FeVO4 nanoparticles in an effective manner. This may lead to new advancements in FeVO4 based photocatalysts for numerous organic transformations.

Selenophosphate Pb2P2Se6 Single Crystals Growth by Chemical Vapor Transport (CVT) Method for Radiation Detection.

The heavy metal selenophosphate Pb2P2Se6 emerges as a promising room-temperature X-ray/γ-ray detectors due to its high resistivity, robust radiation-blocking capability, and outstanding carrier mobility-lifetime product, etc. However, the high activity of phosphides poses significant impediment to the synthesis and single crystal growth. In this work, we have prepared high-quality Pb2P2Se6 single crystals with using the chemical vapor transport (CVT) method. The XRD analysis combined with EDS result confirmed the uniform composition of the resulting as-grown single crystals, while UV-Vis-NIR transmittance spectra revealed the bandgap of 1.89 eV. Selected area electron diffraction patterns indicated the crystal belonged to the P21/c(14) space group. Additionally, the Au/Pb2P2Se6/Au device is fabricated, which exhibits a robust X-ray response with a sensitivity of 648.61 μC Gy-1 cm-2 at 400 V mm-1 under 50 kVp. Notably, the device also excels in alpha particle detection, boasting a resolution of ~14.48 % under a bias of 400 V bias. The hole mobility-lifetime product (μτ)h of Pb2P2Se6 is estimated to be ~2.58×10-5 cm2 V-1. The results underscore potential applications of Pb2P2Se6 crystal is in the field of the semiconductor radiation detectors.

Construction of ZnCo2O4/Ag3PO4 composite photocatalyst for enhanced photocatalytic performance

AbstractIn this study, ZnCo2O4/Ag3PO4 composite catalyst was prepared by the precipitation method, and their performance in the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) was studied. The catalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, selected area electron diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV‐Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The results indicate that the 0.1 ZnCo2O4/Ag3PO4 composite system has good photocatalytic activity in the degradation of methyl orange. Under simulated sunlight conditions, the degradation rate can reach 94% after 30 min. The maximum reaction rate constant of 0.1 ZnCo2O4/Ag3PO4 was 0.05301 min−1, which is 3 times and 52 times the rate constant of pure Ag3PO4 and pure ZnCo2O4, respectively. In catalyst recycling experiments, 0.1 ZnCo2O4/Ag3PO4 still degraded methyl orange at a rate of 84.4% after three cycles. Trapping experiments showed that holes and superoxide radicals mostly contributed to the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange by the catalyst, while hydroxyl radicals played a partial role. The energy level structure of ZnCo2O4/Ag3PO4 is conducive to the effective separation of photogenerated electrons and holes, improving the lifespan of photogenerated charges. In the investigated catalyst series, 0.1 ZnCo2O4/Ag3PO4 demonstrated the best photocatalytic performance.

Synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of antibacterial and antifungal activities of CuO-ZnO-Co3O4 nanocomposites

The co-precipitation method was used to prepare CuO, ZnO, Co3O4 nanoparticles and CuO-ZnO-Co3O4 nanocomposite. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the prepared samples were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and zeta potential. XRD analysis revealed that the crystal structures of CuO, ZnO, and Co3O4 nanoparticles are monoclinic, hexagonal, and cubic, with average crystallite sizes of 30.8 nm, 31.8 nm, and 32.8 nm, respectively. For CuO-ZnO-Co3O4 nanocomposites, the corresponding sizes were 24.9 nm, 13.6 nm, and 16.1 nm. The optical bandgaps of CuO, ZnO, Co3O4 nanoparticles, and CuO-ZnO-Co3O4 nanocomposites were 1.5 eV, 3.14 eV, 1.2 eV, and 1.3 eV, respectively. In this study, the antibacterial activity of CuO-ZnO-Co3O4 nanocomposite against Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli, Klebsiella, pseudomonas, and Salmonella) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) was investigated and compared with the antibiotic Azithromycin. In addition, the effect of the nanocomposite on fungi was studied and compared with the antifungal Mystatin.

Biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Senna auriculata flower extract for antibacterial activities.

In this study, biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Senna auriculata flower extract for antibacterial activities was reported. The silver spectra compared to the plant extract show a rightward shift in AgNP peaks, indicating successful nanoparticle formation. The absorption band at 302 nm and the disappearance or shift of other peaks further confirm the synthesis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that the AgNPs synthesized with S. auriculata extract have an average crystallite size of 25 nm. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results exhibited a polydispersed, spherical shape with sizes ranging from 70 nm, in clear contrast to the electron microscope image that showed their spherical shape. When examining the selected area electron diffraction (SAED) image, a specific set of lattice planes was correlated with a specific spot. A histogram of AgNP particle size distribution can be seen. AgNPs were tested against four different strains of bacteria for their antibacterial effectiveness, including gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus), as well as gram positive bacteria (S. aureus, d. Bacillus subtilis), at various concentrations of AgNP. The results of in vitro experiments indicate that AgNPs containing S. auriculata flowers inhibit amylase well. At two concentrations, ~16.03% and ~70.99%, AgNPs inhibit the reaction at low and high concentrations, respectively.

A new rhombohedral phase and its 48 variants in β titanium alloy

A new rhombohedral phase (termed R′) in a solution−aging-treated titanium alloy (Ti−4.5Al−6.5Mo−2Cr− 2Nb−1V−1Sn−1Zr, wt.%) was identified. Its accurate Bravais lattice parameters were determined by a novel unit cell reconstruction method based on conventional selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) technique. The orientation relationship between R′ phase and BCC phase was revealed. The results show that the R′ phase is found to have 48 crystallographically equivalent variants, resulting in rather complicated SAED patterns with high-order reflections. A series of in-situ SAED patterns were taken along both low- and high-index zone axes, and all weak and strong reflections arising from the 48 variants were properly explained and directly assigned with self-consistent Miller indices, confirming the presence of the rhombohedral phase. Additionally, some criteria were also proposed for evaluating the indexed results, which together with the Bravais lattice reconstruction method shed light on the microstructure characterization of even unknown phases in other alloys.

Fracture strain improving via structural austenitic stainless steel-coated 22MnB5 plates

A total of 316 austenitic stainless steel (ASS) coatings were deposited on 22MnB5 press-hardening steel plates by varying the substrate bias voltages using a magnetron sputtering technique and quenched in a flat mold with cooling water. The substrate bias current and ion-bombardment energy densities increased up to 0.5 mA/mm2 and 50 J/mm2 at a high voltage of −100 V, and, therefore, the variations in the coatings’ morphologies were owing to the increases in the ion bombardment. The porous bulk pattern appeared in the quenched ASS coating at −100 V, clearly different from the porous columnar structure of the others at −50 and −75 V. The γ-Fe and α-Fe phases were observed from the diffraction peaks, presented the ASS coating and 22MnB5 substrate, respectively. There was no intermetallic compound (IMC) peak detected. In addition, the diffusion layer of the quenched ASS-coated plate was observed, in which its morphology was different from the quenched martensite (M) plate, and proved to be the α-Fe microstructure by the very low α-Fe peak at the standard (110) position. The bright image of TEM and the select area electron diffraction pattern indicated the nanostructure of the quenched ASS coating. The nanohardness of the ASS coating, diffusion layer, and M plate (7.36, 3.60, and 6.25 GPa, respectively) was detected, indirectly proving an α-Fe structure of the diffusion layer. The fracture angles of the 316-coated plates significantly improved from 51.82° at −50 V, 53.77° at −75 V to 57.38° at −100 V, as the ASS structure changed to be porous bulk pattern. The clearance of IMC, coating’s porous bulk pattern, and the low hardness α-Fe diffusion layer benefited for the fracture strain by lengthening the pathway of the crack’s development and blocking the further crack’s propagation, respectively.

Powder metallurgical processing of novel Al0.5CoCrFeNiNb0.5-Si0.1 high entropy alloys: Phase evolution and nanomechanical properties

In this research, the high entropy alloy (HEA) of Al0.5CoCrFeNiNb0.5-Si0.1 was successfully synthesized through mechanical alloying utilizing a high-energy planetary ball mill. The synthesized HEA powder was subsequently pressed and sintered at 1400 °C with varying holding times. The phase evolution was investigated using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) technique. Furthermore, the microstructural, morphological, and compositional characteristics of the powders were examined using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) with Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED), as well as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) in conjunction with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). The nano-mechanical properties of the HEA compact were evaluated through nanoindentation to determine nano-hardness and elastic modulus.The mechanical alloying process was conducted for a duration of 30 h, resulting in the formation of a single-phase BCC solid solution, as confirmed by XRD and SAED analyses. The study investigated the criteria for phase stability based on the minimum Gibbs free energy and Hume-Rothery rules, which were consistent with the observed microstructural characteristics. Furthermore, the sintering process resulted in porosity levels of 6.01 % and 4.71 %, with corresponding densities of 6.96 g/cm³ and 7.12 g/cm³ for holding times of 3 and 4 h, respectively. It was noted that extended holding times improved the mechanical properties, with the alloy achieving a maximum hardness of 546 HV, nano-hardness of 5.57 GPa, elastic modulus of 265.47 GPa, and yield stress of 1.89 GPa after a holding time of 4 h.

Anticancer efficacy of magnetite nanoparticles synthesized using aqueous extract of brown seaweed Rosenvingea intricata, South Andaman, India

Cancer is a global issue and hence various efforts are being made. Iron oxide is considered a significant biochemical agent in the biomedical arena for cancer treatment. Marine macroalgae-mediated iron oxides especially, magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NPs) are a prospective alternative to diagnose and treat cancer owing to their fluorescent and magnetic properties. We intend to appraise the usability of the aqueous extract of Rosenvingea intricata (R. intricata) in Fe3O4 NPs synthesis and to study their cytotoxic effects against human hepatocarcinoma (Hep3B) and pancreatic (PANC1) cancer cells. In the present study, R. intricata were collected from the coastal region of South Andaman, India. Aqueous extracts of R. intricata were utilized to synthesize Fe3O4 NPs via the co-precipitation method. Phycosynthesized Fe3O4 NPs exhibited wide peak at 400–600 nm from ultraviolet–visible diffused reflectance spectroscopic analysis which validated the formation of NPs. Band edge emission peak at 660 nm in fluorescent spectra confirmed the quantum confinement in Fe3O4 NPs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the role of R. intricata as a capping and reducing agent with functional groups such as O–H, C–H, C=O, N=O, C=C, C–O, C–N, and C–S arising from amino acids, polysaccharides, aliphatic hydrocarbons, esters, amides, lignins, alkanes, aliphatic amines, and sulfates. Physicochemical properties such as crystallite size (14.36 nm), hydrodynamic size (84.6 nm), irregular morphology, elemental composition, particle size (125 nm), crystallinity, and saturation magnetization (0.90007 emu/g) were obtained from x-ray diffractometer, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction and vibrating sample magnetometer techniques, respectively. The cell viability showed dose-dependent cytotoxic effects and enhanced the apoptosis against Hep3B and PANC1 cancer cells. R. intricata extract capped Fe3O4 NPs could be the most appropriate and effective nanomaterial for cancer treatment and management.

One-step synthesis of Pt@(CrMnFeCoNi)3O4 high entropy oxide catalysts through flame spray pyrolysis

High entropy oxides (HEOs) show great prospects in catalysis owing to their widely tunable component structures and ease of combination with active metals. However, the development of HEO catalysts is limited by the lack of efficient synthesis methods due to the difficulty of homogeneously mixing at least five elements. In this work, flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) is successfully employed to synthesize (CrMnFeCoNi)3O4 HEO with a single phase spinel structure in one step, which is verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Taking CO catalytic oxidation as a probe reaction, the Pt@(CrMnFeCoNi)3O4 HEO catalyst synthesized by FSP in one step is compared with the catalyst whose Pt is impregnated on (CrMnFeCoNi)3O4 HEO support. The FSP-made catalysts have a higher catalytic reaction rate and better redox ability, which lowers the temperature of complete CO conversion by nearly 100 °C. Furthermore, it can be observed that the flame parameters can be optimized to modify the particle size and oxygen vacancies of the HEO nanoparticles, thus enhancing the catalytic performances. This work demonstrates that FSP is an effective method for the one-step synthesis of HEO catalysts with excellent catalytic performance, providing a new perspective for the synthesis of HEO-based materials.