XRD Patterns Research Articles

Domain switching and shear-mode piezoelectric response induced by cross-poling in polycrystalline ferroelectrics

The mechanisms contributing to the electromechanical response of piezoelectric ceramics in the shear mode have been investigated using high-energy synchrotron x-ray diffraction. Soft lead zirconate titanate ceramic specimens were subjected to an electric field in the range 0.2–3.0 MV m−1, perpendicular to that of the initial poling direction, while XRD patterns were recorded in transmission. At low electric field levels, the axial strains remained close to zero, but a significant shear strain occurred due to the reversible shear-mode piezoelectric coefficient. Both the axial and shear strains increased substantially at higher field levels due to irreversible ferroelectric domain switching. Eventually, the shear strain decreased again as the average remanent polarization became oriented toward the electric field direction. The lattice strain and domain orientation distributions follow the form of the total strain tensor, enabling the domain switching processes to be monitored by the rotation of the principal strain axis. Reorientation of this axis toward the electric field direction occurred progressively above 0.6 MV m−1, while the angle of rotation increased from 0° to approximately 80° at the maximum field of 3.0 MV m−1. A strong correlation was established between the effective strains associated with different crystallographic directions, which was attributed to the effects of elastic coupling between grains in the polycrystal.

Biofabrication and Characterisation of Ni‐Doped SnO2 Nanoparticles With Enhanced Cytotoxicity, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Photocatalytic Activities

ABSTRACTThe present work focuses on Annona muricata leaf extract–mediated green synthesis of pure and nickel‐doped tin oxide nanoparticles for 3%, 5% and 7% concentrations. The properties of the obtained nanoparticles were investigated through XRD, FTIR, XPS, HRTEM–SAED, SEM–EDX and UV–visible spectroscopy techniques. The XRD pattern reveals all samples have tetragonal structures with high crystallinity. The Sn–O stretching vibration has been confirmed through FTIR spectra. The XPS results demonstrate that Sn0.93Ni0.07O2 nanoparticles have Sn3d, Ni2p and O1s oxidation states. EDX spectra contain Ni, Sn and O elements, which indicate the purity of the samples. UV–visible absorption spectrum shows decreases in optical energy bandgap with increases in nickel dopant concentration. The samples exhibit notable antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. Also, Sn0.93Ni0.07O2 nanoparticle has higher antifungal activity against A. niger than against C. albicans. Moreover, SnO2 nanoparticles have considerable antioxidant activity in DPPH scavenging compared to Sn0.93Ni0.07O2 nanoparticles. Furthermore, SnO2 nanoparticles have a better cytotoxic effect for L929 normal fibroblast cell lines with an LD50 value of 146.42 μg/mL. Additionally, the photocatalytic activity of SnO2 and Sn0.93Ni0.07O2 nanoparticles was done against methylene blue dye under direct sunlight irradiation. Overall, environmentally friendly synthetic pure and Ni‐doped SnO2 nanoparticles can be used in wastewater filter technologies as well as in medical aids due to their better cytotoxic, antioxidant and antimicrobial effects.

Optimizing Na2EDTA Concentration for Enhanced Properties of SILAR - Deposited CTS Thin Films

Abstract This study investigates the impact of varying Na2EDTA concentrations on the properties of copper tin sulfide (CTS) thin films deposited on soda lime glass substrates using the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. The aim is to optimize CTS thin film growth for photovoltaic technology applications. CTS thin films were prepared using SILAR with Na2EDTA concentrations of 0.01M, 0.04M, and 0.07M, resulting in samples CTS01, CTS04, and CTS07. Characterization techniques included XRD, SEM, EDAX, FTIR, I-V curves, transmittance spectra, and Tauc plots. The results reveal significant variations in film properties with changing Na2EDTA concentration. XRD patterns indicate polycrystalline films with an orthorhombic CTS phase. SEM images show smooth, dense films with localized clusters. FTIR spectra detect hydrocarbon chains, aromatic rings, and hydroxyl or ether groups. The I-V curves of three samples (CTS01, CTS04, and CTS07) show a voltage-dependent transition from semiconducting to ohmic behavior. The CTS01 exhibits superior conductivity (3.13x10-5/Ωm), while the samples' resistance and conductivity values show an inverse relationship. Transmittance curves display low UV transmittance and high visible transmittance,suggests that the samples are highly absorptive in the UV range and become more transparent in the visible range, indicating potential applications in optical filtering and photovoltaic devices. Tauc plots estimate band gap energies of 3.66, 3.89, and 3.23 eV, indicating high band gap energies suitable for buffer layers in solar cells. The correlation between band gap energy and crystallite size as a function of Na2EDTA concentration is also observed. The study demonstrates the importance of optimizing Na2EDTA concentration for achieving high-quality CTS thin films with desirable properties for photovoltaic applications. The findings highlight the potential of CTS thin films for solar cells, optical filtering, and photonic devices.

Fabrication of amorphous lamellar freestanding poly(N‐dodecyl acrylamide) films and their mechanical properties

AbstractAn amorphous lamellar freestanding film composed of poly(N‐dodecyl acrylamide) (pDDA) was prepared by annealing a micrometer‐thick film under humid conditions (humid‐annealing). pDDA was blade‐coated onto a glass substrate, and its lamellar formation was studied by XRD and polarized optical microscopy (POM). The XRD pattern indicates that pDDA formed a highly oriented lamellar structure by humid‐annealing at 80 °C for 6 h. Moreover, the POM image of the cross‐section of the film indicates that lamellar formation started at the polymer–substrate interface, and the amorphous lamella covered the entire film area without randomly oriented regions. In contrast, the open Nicol microscopic image exhibited large cracks in the highly oriented film owing to shrinkage of the film. A crack‐free film was prepared using water‐saturated chloroform as the solvent for blade coating. Water is thought to adsorb to an amide moiety to induce a ‘pre‐lamellar’ structure in the solution. The formation of pre‐lamellae and the decrease in the humid‐annealing temperature reduced the shrinkage of the film by lamellar formation to form a crack‐free film. The mechanical properties of the crack‐free, freestanding pDDA films were studied using a simple tensile test. The film became increasingly stronger with the formation of an amorphous lamellar structure. These results indicate that the mechanical properties of polymer films can be improved without crystallization. © 2024 The Author(s). Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Microwave dielectric properties of Na2O–Ln2O3–MoO3–TiO2 (Ln = Nd, La and Ce) system with low‐sintering temperature

AbstractThis study examines the low‐loss and temperature‐stable Na2O–Ln2O3–MoO3–TiO2 (Ln = Nd, La and Ce) system, synthesized via a solid‐state process at low‐sintering temperatures ranging from 840°C to 900°C The structure, microstructure and microwave properties of the Na0.5Ln0.5MoO4–TiO2 (Ln = Nd, La and Ce) ceramics as a function of the sintering temperature were studied. The results of XRD patterns and microstructure characterization showed that the main phase in compositions belong to tetragonal scheelite and tetragonal structure. The ceramic composition Na0.5Ln0.5MoO4–TiO2 (Ln = Nd, La and Ce), sintered at 840°C–900°C for 2 hours, demonstrated excellent microwave dielectric properties, exhibiting relative dielectric constant (εr) of 13.9–14.4, Q × f value of about 31 100 (at 9.66 GHz) – 48 600 GHz (at 9.33 GHz), and temperature coefficient of –8.1 to –1 ppm/°C. Our work designs temperature‐stable microwave dielectric ceramics with low‐sintering temperature for LTCC technology applications.

Removal of As(V) and Cr(VI) using quinoxaline chitosan schiff base: synthesis, characterization and adsorption mechanism.

Elevated Arsenic and Chromium levels in surface and ground waters are a significant health concern in several parts of the world. Chitosan quinoxaline Schiff base (CsQ) and cross-linked chitosan quinoxaline Schiff base (CsQG) were prepared to adsorb both Arsenate [As(V)] and Chromium [Cr(VI)] ions. The thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to investigate the prepared Schiff bases (CsQ) and (CsQG). The UV-VIS spectra showed a shift in the wavelength area of the modified polymer, indicating the reaction occurrence, besides the variation of the shape and intensity of the peaks. The XRD patterns showed the incensement of the amorphous characteristic. On the other hand, the thermal stability of the modified polymers is better according to TGA studies; also, the morphology of the modified chitosan was investigated before and after crosslinking (CsQ and CsQG) using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) where the surface was fall of wrinkles and pores, which then were decreased after cross-linking. Contact time, temperature, pH, and initial metal ion concentration were all studied as factors influencing metal ion uptake behavior. The Langmuir, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich, and Freundlich isotherm models were used to describe the equilibrium data using metal concentrations of 10-1000 mg/L at pH = 7 and 1 g of adsorbent. The pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic parameters were evaluated. The experimental data revealed that the adsorption kinetics follow the mechanism of the pseudo-second-order equation with R2 values (0.9969, 0.9061) in case of using CsQ and R2 values (0.9989, 0.9999) in case of using CsQG, demonstrating chemical sorption is the rate-limiting step of the adsorption mechanism. Comparing the adsorption efficiency of the synthesized Schiff base and the cross-linked one, it was found that CsQ is a better adsorbent than CsQG in both cases of As(V) and Cr(VI) removal. This means that cross-linking doesn't enhance the efficiency as expected, but on the contrary, in some cases, it decreases the removal. In addition, the newly modified chitosan polymers work better in As(V) removal than Cr(VI); the removal is 22.33% for Cr(VI) and 98.36% for As(V) using CsQ polymer, whereas using CsQG, the values are 6.20% and 91.75% respectively. On the other hand, the maximum adsorption capacity (Qm) for As(V) and Cr(VI) are 8.811 and 3.003 mg/g, respectively, using CsQ, while in the case of using CsQG, the Qm value reaches 31.95 mg/g for As(V), and 103.09 mg/g for Cr(VI).

Diffusion kinetics of borided of low entropy soft magnetic FeCo alloy

Abstract The growth kinetics of boride layers were investigated by boronizing the FeCo low entropy alloy produced by arc melting reverse vacuum system with the pack boriding method at temperatures of 1173 K, 1223 K, 1273 K and for 2, 4, 6 h. FeCo alloy has a single-phase FCC crystal structure and there are linear cracks and homogeneously distributed point voids in its microstructure. The hardness of FeCo alloy is between 170 HV0.05 and 265 HV0.05. The boride layer appearance has a sawtooth appearance, and the layer thickness varies between 62 µm and 172 µm depending on temperature and time. According to the XRD pattern, (CoFe)B and (CoFe)B2 triple phases are present on the boride layer surface. With pack boriding, the hardness of the boride layer increased up to 2262 HV0.05, and the surface hardness of the alloy improved by 8–10 times. The boride layer activation energy of the FeCo alloy boronized with pack boriding was calculated as 89.065 kJ mol−1.

Effect of roasting on physicochemical, functional, thermal, pasting, and structural properties of tamarind seed powder

The impact of different roasting conditions on the nutritional profile, physical, functional, thermal, pasting properties, morphology, crystallinity, and functional groups of tamarind seed powder (TSP) was investigated. Roasting treatment enhanced ash, carbohydrate, fat, and flavonoid content (2.21 to 11.93 mg QE/g) while significantly reduced protein, fiber, phenol content, tannin (2.72 to 1.36 mg TAE/g), antioxidant activity, and physical characteristics like bulk density, tap density. The concentrations of minerals like Mg, K, Ca, and P (3006.00, 8313.85, 482.44, 2723.78 mg/kg) and essential and non-essential amino acids were significantly enhanced by roasting. The roasted TSP exhibited a significant difference in pasting and functional properties compared to the control powder. The proportion of crystallinity in the roasted powder decreased according to the XRD patterns. The SEM micrographs revealed slight modifications in the morphology of TSP after roasting. According to our outcomes, the enhanced nutritional content of roasted TSP has excellent potential for usage as a food ingredient with added value.

Tecoma stans intermediated green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles, its characterization, paracetamol degradation and biological activities

The main objective of the present research work is to green synthesize copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) and to study its potential against various enmities to safeguard our environment and health. Based on this approach, preparation of CuO NPs was accomplished using four different volumes (10, 25, 40, and 50 mL of leaves extract) of Tecoma stansleaves extract. Moreover, all the synthesized CuO NPs were characterized using XRD, UV–visible, FTIR, and SEM with EDS analysis. From the XRD pattern, the structures of all the synthesized CuO NPs were found to be monoclinic in phase. According to the UV–visible studies, the calculated band gap energy values for all the prepared CuO NPs were higher compared to bulk CuO, which was 1.2 eV. Further, the FTIR results showed the presence of CuO bond and SEM with EDS analysis revealed the surface morphology of CuO NPs andthe presence of elements showing the purity of synthesized CuO NPs, respectively. The optimized condition for the preparation of CuO NPs were 50 mL of leaves extract mixed with 50 mL of double distilled water (CuO4 NPs) showed a spheroidal morphology as evident from the HRTEM images. XPS analysis used to find the oxidation state of detected elements especially for copper and oxygen. The predicted BET and Langmuir surface area of CuO4 NPs were calculated to be 40.305 m2/g and 5074.12 m2/g respectively. Photocatalytic degradation of paracetamol (PCM) using CuO4 NPs was investigated, and the effect of parameters such as pH, initial concentration of PCM solution, and catalyst dosage were studied under UV light irradiation. The highest removal of 95.15 % had been achieved at 120 min under optimized reaction conditions. Additionally, CuO4 NPs also exhibited exemplary antibacterial activity against bacillus subtilis bacteria with a zone of inhibition of 26 mm. Further, in vitro cytotoxic behaviour of CuO4 NPs was estimated using A549 cancer cells by MTT assay. Thus, the green synthesis of CuO NPs using Tecoma stans leaves extract has the capacity to participate in photocatalytic and biological activities.

An experimental assessment of fracture parameters and microstructure of concrete exposed to calcium leaching

This study delves into the intricate dynamics of calcium leaching in concrete, employing a comprehensive approach to evaluate its impact on structural durability. Accelerated calcium leaching tests, conducted in NH4NO3 solution with a constant pH under controlled conditions, simulate real-world scenarios. Using methods based on degraded thickness and calcium ion concentration, the study determines the acceleration factor, revealing the material's susceptibility to leaching. The chemical composition of the concrete is analyzed using SEM-EDX and XRD patterns with an energy spectrometer. A detailed examination of 145 concrete beams through Three-Point Bending tests over 150 days demonstrates a proportional decline in fracture toughness and tensile strength by 46.6 % and 44.2 %, respectively. A significant correlation emerges between calcium leaching and the reduction in fracture energy, with a 57.5 % decrease observed after 150 days, while compressive strength decreases by up to 38.57 %. This study introduces novel formulations for fracture parameters of leached concrete by employing the boundary effect method (BEM) to connect with concrete microstructure. This represents a pioneering advancement in fracture mechanics and provides a fresh perspective on understanding and addressing the structural effects of calcium leaching in concrete structures.

Structural and optical features improvement of Tm3+–doped B2O3 – BaSO4 – TeO2 – Na2O glasses

Highly transparent sodium-telluro-sulphate-borate glasses doped with thulium (Tm3+) were useful for variety of purposes. Thus, a new type of glass system composed of (57- x)B2O3 – 20BaSO4 – 13TeO2 – 10Na2O – (x)Tm2O3 (x = 0.2 to 0.8 mol%) was produced via standard melt-quenching route. The impacts of different Tm3+ contents on the glasses’ physical and optical characteristics were ascertained for the first time. The amorphous nature of the samples was validated by their XRD patterns, and Raman analysis revealed the presence of various chemical functional groups. These samples exhibited Urbach energy, direct band gap and indirect band gap between 0.088 – 0.262 eV, 2.458 – 2.545 eV and 2.098 – 2.425 eV respectively. UV-Vis-NIR absorbance displayed six prominent peaks at 464, 657, 686, 795, 1210 and 1680 nm characteristics to various electronic transitions of Tm3+. The prepared glass composition could be effective in the production of solid-state lasers with a narrow wavelength range.

Novel Mo: CoFe2O4 nanoparticles combustion synthesis for opto-magneto-electrochemical applications: A systematic analysis

In current work, various concentrations (0.0 wt%, 0.10 wt%, 0.25 wt%, 0.50 %,0.75 wt%, and 1 wt%) of Molybdenum (Mo) - doped cobalt ferrite (CFO) nanoparticles (Mo:CFO NPs) were synthesized using the flash combustion approach. The structural analysis of the prepared Mo:CFO was examined by the XRD patterns, and the obtained crystallite size 48.64, 46.72, 22.81, 21.05, 18.03, and 19.31 nm for 0.0 wt%, 0.10 wt%, 0.25 wt%, 0.50 wt%, 0.75 wt%, and 1 wt% Mo:CFO NPs, respectively. The presence of stoichiometry and homogeneity of the prepared Mo:CFO NPs was confirmed by the EDX analysis. The five phonon modes of the prepared Mo:CFO NPs were recorded by FT-Raman spectra, and the phonon modes were observed around 220, 312, 479, 624, and 685 cm−1 that corresponded o T2g(2), Eg, T2g(1), A1g(2), and A1g(1) symmetries, respectively. The grain sizes of the pure CFO and Mo:CFO NPs were evaluated using the images of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and obtained in the range of 39–61 nm, respectively. The presence of valence states Co (2p), Fe (2p), O (1 s), and Mo (3d) in the prepared 1 wt% Mo:CFO NPs were examined XPS spectra. The particle sizes ~26.4 nm and ~ 16.7 nm were obtained for pure CFO and 1 wt% Mo:CFO NPs using lognormal function fitting. The emission peaks at 445 ± 3, 521 ± 3, and 620 ± 2 nm in the PL spectra were observed by PL spectroscopy. The decrease in saturation magnetization Ms. (70.80–66.54 emu/g) and reduced remanent magnetization Mr. (24.22–18.64 emu/g) of prepared Mo: CFO NPs was observed in the MH analysis by SQUID analysis. The electrochemical study of Mo: CFO NPs (0.0 %, 0.25 %, 0.50 %, and 1.0 %) was done in a three-electrode assembly cell. The capacitance of values 650.0 Fg−1, 800.0 Fg-1, and 810.0 Fg−1 for pure CFO, 0.25 % Mo: CFO, and 0.50 % Mo: CFO were recorded in electrochemical analysis. The highest capacitance of 840.0 Fg−1 was observed for the electrode with 1.0 % Mo: CFO NPs. It was analyzed that the increase in CFO electrodes enhances their performance, and therefore, it can be utilized for multifunctional devices.

Enhancing corrosion resistance of Al alloy sheets with potential gradient by arc-sprayed Zn coatings

To improve the corrosion resistance and wide the application of Al alloy sheet in the engineering production, a corrosion potential gradient along the thickness of the Al alloy sheet was fabricated using the sprayed Zn layer. The process of arc spraying was employed to obtain the Zn coating with optimizing the parameters. Electrochemical testing was conducted on the surface of Al alloy sprayed with Zn layers at different depths. As the depth in the thickness direction increases, the content of Zn alloy elements gradually decreases and the potential gradually increases. This exhibits a gradual decrease in corrosion tendency. The results of electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) revealed the existence of pitting corrosion on the surface of the Al alloy. This even extended to the underlying substrate material. In contrast, the Zn coating, when exposed to a corrosive environment, demonstrated the beneficial cathodic effect as a sacrificial anode and the protective function of a passivating film, thus mitigating corrosion. The gradual increase in charge transfer resistance in the impedance spectrum suggested that the corrosion resistance of the sample is increasingly improved. Therefore, it exhibited remarkable resistance to corrosion. Additionally, the SEM surface morphology and XRD pattern were utilized to further explain the corrosion mechanism of the arc-sprayed Zn coating. The Zn coating can provide sacrificial protection to the Al layer due to its higher negative potential and localized corrosion reactivity. This is attributed to the micro-galvanic couples formed between the Zn and Al layer, thus increasing the corrosion resistance of the sheets.

Multifunctional lanthanum oxide-doped carboxymethyl cellulose nanocomposites: A promising approach for antimicrobial and targeted anticancer applications

This study presents the synthesis and characterization of lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃)-doped carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) nanocomposites via a solution casting method, designed to offer an eco-friendly, multifunctional material with significant potential in biomedical applications. Structural analysis using FTIR, XRD, and EDX confirmed successful La₂O₃ integration, with FTIR spectra indicating a distinctive LaO stretching peak at 628.2 cm−1, XRD patterns revealing enhanced crystallinity with notable peaks at 16.6°, 27.6°, and 49.8°, and EDX showing a uniform lanthanum distribution with a 10.41 mass% concentration. These enhancements in structural stability and crystalline properties underscore the composite's functional robustness. Biological assessments revealed the composite's substantial antimicrobial efficacy, demonstrating inhibition zones up to 31 mm against pathogenic strains such as E. coli, S. aureus, E. faecalis, K. pneumoniae, and C. albicans at a 15 wt% La₂O₃ concentration—surpassing conventional antimicrobial agents. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests supported these findings, showing MIC values as low as 7.82 μg/mL, further validating the composite's heightened antimicrobial potency compared to pure CMC. In vitro cytotoxicity assays indicated selective anticancer effects of the La₂O₃/CMC nanocomposites, with IC₅₀ values of 327.7 μg/mL and 189.8 μg/mL against PC-3 prostate and A549 lung cancer cells, respectively. Remarkably, the composite showed minimal impact on normal lung fibroblasts (Wi-38), with an IC₅₀ value of 956.8 μg/mL, emphasizing its selectivity towards cancer cells. Collectively, these results highlight the La₂O₃/CMC composite as a biocompatible and multifunctional material suitable for both antimicrobial and targeted anticancer applications, aligning with the growing demand for safe, effective biomedical solutions.

Synthesis and Characterization of Polyaniline/TiO2 Nanocomposite based Ammonia Gas Sensor

Pure TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized using the sol-gel method and polyaniline (PANI), while PANI/TiO2 (content TiO2:25% and 50%) nanocomposites were synthesized by using in-situ chemical oxidative polymerization method. X-RD, FTIR spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used for the structural analysis, elemental composition, and surface morphology. The XRD patterns of PANI/TiO2(25%,50%) composites reveals that the relative intensity of diffracted peaks increases with increasing the content of TiO2 indicating an increase of crystallinity in such case. FTIR confirmed the presence of functional groups in the nanocomposite. In SEM surface morphology observed that highly porous nanograins are formed. The average particle sizes of PANI/TiO2(25%) 339 nm and PANI/TiO2(50%) 196 nm were obtained. The resistance change response of nanocomposite material were done by using a static two-probe unit by exposure to ammonia (NH3) gas. The maximum sensitivity of PANI/TiO2(50%) nanocomposite was achieved on 500 ppm (parts per million) of ammonia gas at 40°C. The fast response time (20 sec.), and recovery time (28 sec.) has obtained.

Gas‐Phase Photocatalytic Degradation of a Mixture of VOCs on Ag NPs Decorated ZnO

AbstractIn this research, silver was loaded onto ZnO using the photoreduction method to enhance the photocatalytic activity of ZnO in the visible region. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO and Ag/ZnO was investigated for the gas‐phase degradation of volatile organic compounds such as ethyl acetate, ethanol, and toluene under visible light irradiation. The Ag/ZnO effectively decomposed ethyl acetate, toluene, and ethanol separately and in a mixed state. The characteristics of Ag/ZnO and ZnO were studied using XRD, SEM, EDAX, XPS, BET, UV–vis DRS, and PL analyses. The XRD pattern confirmed the formation of metallic silver in the Ag/ZnO photocatalyst. The PL results showed that the loading of Ag on the ZnO significantly reduces the photoelectron‐hole pairs recombination in Ag/ZnO.

Adjustable Emission Color by Gadolinium Tungstate Phosphor for Multiple Applications

Crystalline monoclinic structure Gd2(WO4)3 phosphors were prepared by calcining a co-precipitated precursor at 800°C. The XRD patterns exhibited strong signals at the (-221) and (023) planes. The UV-vis absorption spectrum showed strong absorbance in the UV range, with an estimated bandgap energy of about 4 eV. When excited the synthesized phosphors emitted green (Tb3+), red (Eu3+), yellow (Dy3+), and reddish orange (Sm3+), respectively. Utilizing these luminescent properties, flexible composite sheets were fabricated by mixing the phosphors with PDMS. When applied to UV-LED chips. The composites could be molded into various shapes figures. Under normal light, the composites appeared white, but under UV light, they displayed distinct colors, demonstrating their potential for anti-counterfeiting applications. Additionally, when the synthesized phosphor powder was sprinkled onto a glass substrate with fingerprints and illuminated with a UV lamp, the unique features of the fingerprints were clearly visible, indicating potential use in forensic fingerprint analysis.

Green Synthesis, Characterization and Pharmaceutical Applications of Biocompatible Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Heliotropium rariflorum Stocks

Background: Zinc oxide nanoparticles are safe, non-toxic, and biocompatible. These NPs are used in food packaging materials, self-cleaning glass, ceramics, deodorants, sunscreens, paints, coatings, ointments, lotions, and as preservatives. This study explored the biological potential of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized using H. rariflorum. Methods: In vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Candida albicans, Penicillium notatum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus solani were determined. Antioxidant activity was explored using the DPPH radical scavenging method. In vivo analgesic, antipyretic and sedative potential of synthesized nanoparticles was investigated using a mouse model. Results: SEM with various magnification powers showed that some particles were spherical while some were aggregated, flake-shaped, and hexagonal with rough and irregular surfaces. The EDX analysis revealed Zn (12.63%), O (22.83%) and C (63.11%) with trace quantities of Si (0.40%), Ca (0.54%) and P (0.49%). The XRD pattern indicated an amorphous state, with no peaks observed throughout the spectrum. The UV–visible spectrophotometry revealed a characteristic absorption peak at 375 nm, indicating the presence of ZnO nanoparticles. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) displayed several small peaks between 1793 and 2370 cm−1, providing evidence of the presence of different kinds of organic compounds with different functional groups. ZnO-NPs showed dose-dependent antibacterial and antifungal potential against all strains. Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans were the most susceptible strains. The nanoparticles exhibited a maximum antioxidant effect of 85.28% at 100 μg/mL. In this study, the acute toxicity test showed no mortality, and normal behavior was observed in mice at ZnO-NP doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg. For analgesic and antipyretic activities, a two-way ANOVA revealed that dose, time, and the interaction between dose and time were significant. In contrast, the samples had a non-significant effect on sedative activity. Conclusions: This innovative study suggests a potential use of plant resources for managing microbes and treating various diseases, providing a scientific basis for the traditional use of H. rariflorum.

Synthesis and Characterization of ZnO/Cu<sub>2</sub>O and Co co-doped Ag-ZnO/Cu<sub>2</sub>O Nanoparticles with Possible Photovoltaic Applications

The Photovoltaics phenomenon is one of the major turning points in the battle against the depletion of fossil fuels. Sunlight is the main resource in photovoltaics, but there remains a quest to harvest it efficiently to generate electricity. This study is focused on designing basic, cost-effective prototype solar cells using ZnO/Cu2O nanoparticles (NPs) and Co(cobalt) co-doped Ag-ZnO/Cu2O NPs under normal university laboratory conditions. ITO-coated glass was used as the substrate of the solar cell and a modified low-temperature chemical bath deposition method was used for fabrication. Both ZnO and Cu2O NPs were synthesized by aqueous precipitation methods and the fabrication was performed successfully using ZnO and Cu2O NPs. However, the fabrication with Co co-doped Ag-ZnO and Cu2O NPs requires more research since the Co co-doped Ag-ZnO NPs were synthesized by solvothermal method, and it appeared as a fine powder which was not thick enough to hold onto the Cu2O layer. The UV-spectroscopic analysis confirmed the characteristic band of ZnO NPs at 367.5 nm, Cu2O NPs at 360 nm, and Co co-doped Ag-ZnO NPs at 378 nm. The FTIR spectrum showed sharp peaks at 460 cm-1 and 606 cm-1 for the corresponding Zn-O bond and Cu-O bond, respectively with a broad peak at 1329 cm-1 for Cu2O FTIR, due to the chemisorbed and/or physiosorbed H2O and CO2 molecules on the surface of the nanostructure. The EDX analysis showed the presence of slight carbon impurity in ZnO NPs which resulted in a deviated XRD pattern while Cu2O NPs showed the characteristic XRD pattern. The solar cell illuminated under three different lux conditions, had the characteristic J-V plot when measured through Gamry Potentiostat.

Study of Structural, Thermal and Electrical Properties of Sr-Doped CaMnO<sub>3</sub>

Sr-doped CaMnO3 materials have wide applications due to their thermal and electrical properties. The importance of the synthesis of Sr-doped CaMnO3 material for various applications encourages researchers to evaluate and refine the synthesis process. In this study, Ca1-xSrxMnO3 (x = 0; 0.05; 0.1; 0.15; 0.2) system has been prepared by sol-gel method followed by conventional sintering process at 850°C for 8 hr. A thorough discussion has been made on the outcomes derived from the investigation on the structural, electrical, and thermal properties of Sr-doped CaMnO3 system using powder x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, DC fourprobe method, thermal expansion studies, and thermoelectric power analyses. The XRD patterns of all prepared samples exhibited single phase with orthorhombic crystal structure (space group Pnma). Rietveld refinements were performed for all the patterns by using Fullprof software to extract the structural properties. The values of unit cell volume of samples tend to increase with the increment of dopant concentration, whereas the crystallite size values were decreased with dopant concentration. The microstructures of all the samples were studied using SEM, and elemental compositions were confirmed from the EDS results. Linear thermal expansion coefficients of all the samples were found to have moderate values in the temperature range from 30°C to 800°C. The electrical properties of all the system of samples were studied in the temperature range from 30°C to 400°C using DC fourprobe conductivity setup. It was found that all the samples exhibited semiconductor nature. Sr-content on the A-site suppress the electrical resistivity up to 10% of concentration and 5% dopant content exhibited the lowest electrical resistivity. The values of Seebeck coefficient found to vary from -160 µV/K to -124 µV/K with the increase of dopant content in the parent compound.