Morphological and electrochemical characterization of electrodeposited Zn-Ag nanoparticle composite coatings

Silver nanoparticles with an average size of 23 nm were chemically synthesized and used to fabricate Zn-Ag composite coatings. The Zn-Ag composite coatings were generated by electrodeposition method using a simple sulfate plating bath dispersed with 0.5, land 1.5 g/l of Ag nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and texture co-efficient calculations revealed that Ag nanoparticles appreciably influenced the morphology, micro-structure and texture of the deposit. It was also noticed that agglomerates of Ag nanopartides, in the case of high bath load conditions, produced defects and dislocations on the deposit surface. Ag nanoparticles altered the corrosion resistance property of Zn-Ag composite coatings as observed from Tafel polarization, electrochemical impedance analysis and an immersion test. Reduction in corrosion rate with increased charge transfer resistance was observed for Zn-Ag composite coatings when compared to a pure Zn coating. However, the particle concentration in the plating bath and their agglomeration state directly influenced the surface morphology and the subsequent corrosion behavior of the deposits. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Magneto acoustical emission in nanocrystalline Mn-Zn ferrites

Mn0.4Zn0.6Fe2O4 powders were prepared by microwave hydrothermal method. The powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope. The powders were sintered at different temperatures 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900 degrees C/30 min using microwave sintering method. The grain size was estimated by scanning electron microscope. The room temperature dielectric and magnetic properties were studied in the frequency range (100 kHz-1.8 GHz). The magnetization properties were measured upto 1.5 T. The acoustic emission has been measured along the hysteresis loops from 80 K to Curie temperature. It is found that the magneto-acoustic emission (MAE) activity along hysteresis loop is proportional to the hysteresis losses during the same loop. This law has been verified on series of polycrystalline ferrites and found that the law is valid whatever the composition, the grain size and temperature. It is also found that the domain wall creation/or annihilation processes are the origin of the MAE. (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Preparation of zinc oxide coatings by using newly designed metal-organic complexes of Zn: Effect of molecular structure of the precursor and surfactant over the crystallization, growth and luminescence

We report large scale deposition of tapered zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods on Si(100) substrate by using newly designed metal-organic complex of zinc (Zn) as the precursor, and microwave irradiation assisted chemical synthesis as a process. The coatings are uniform and high density ZnO nanorods (similar to 1.5 mu m length) grow over the entire area (625 mm(2)) of the substrate within 1-5 min of microwave irradiation. ZnO coatings obtained by solution phase deposition yield strong UV emission. Variation of the molecular structure/molecular weight of the precursors and surfactants influence the crystallinity, morphology, and optical properties of ZnO coatings. The precursors in addition with the surfactant and the solvent are widely used to obtain desired coating on any substrate. The growth mechanism and the schematics of the growth process of ZnO coatings on Si(100) are discussed. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Purifying water containing both anionic and cationic species using a (Zn, Cu)O, ZnO, and Cobalt Ferrite based multiphase adsorbent system

For the purpose of water purification, novel and low-cost adsorbents which are promising replacements for activated carbon are being actively pursued. However, a single-phase material that adsorbs both cationic and anionic species remains elusive. Hence, a low-cost, multiphase adsorbent bed that purifies water containing both anionic and cationic pollutants is a desirable alternative. We choose anionic (Congo red, Orange G) and cationic (methylene blue, malachite green) dyes as model pollutants. These dyes are chosen since they are widely found in effluents from textile, leather, fishery, and pharmaceutical industries, and their carcinogenic, mutagenic, genotoxic, and cytotoxic impact on mammalian cells is well-established. We show that ZnO, (Zn0.24Cu0.76)O and cobalt ferrite based multiphase fixed adsorbent bed efficiently adsorbs model anionic (Congo red, Orange G) and cationic (methylene blue and malachite green) pollutants, and their complex mixtures. All adsorbent phases are synthesized using room-temperature, high-yield (similar to 96-100%), green chemical processes. The nanoadsorbents are characterized by using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, and zeta potential measurements. The constituent nanophases are deliberately chosen to be beyond 50 nm, in order to avoid the nanotoxic size regime of oxides. Adsorption characteristics of each of the phases are examined. Isotherm based analysis shows that adsorption is both spontaneous and highly favorable. zeta potential measurements indicate that electrostatic interactions are the primary driving force for the observed adsorption behavior. The isotherms obtained are best described using a composite Langmuir-Freundlich model. Pseudo-first-order, rapid kinetics is observed (with adsorption rate constants as high as 0.1-0.2 min(-1) in some cases). Film diffusion is shown to be the primary mechanism of adsorption.

Effect of Zn substitution on the structural and magnetic properties of Ni-Co ferrites

A series of ferrite samples with the compositional formula, Ni0.5Co0.5-xZnxFe2O4 (0 <= x <= 0.5), was prepared using the citrate based sol gel method for the better understanding of zinc doping on the structural and magnetic properties. The Rietveld-refined X-ray diffraction data revealed that the samples are having cubic structure with the Fd-3m space group. The lattice parameter increased linearly with increasing Zn content. The surface morphology and stoichiometric ratio of the compositional elements were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). EDS showed that the elemental ratios were stoichiometric. An examination of the magnetic properties revealed an increase in saturation magnetization with increasing Zn concentration up to x=0.3 and a decrease thereafter. These results could be explained using Neel's collinear two-sub-lattice model and three-sub-lattice non-collinear model suggested by Yafet and Kittel. The magnetic cubic anisotropy constant determined by the law of approach to saturation decreased with increasing Zn content. The underlying mechanism behind observed behavior was discussed qualitatively. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.

Trm1p, a Zn(II)(2)Cys(6)-type transcription factor, is essential for the transcriptional activation of genes of methanol utilization pathway, in Pichia pastoris

The zinc finger transcription factors Mxr1p and Rop are key regulators of methanol metabolism in the methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris, while Trm1p and Trm2p regulate methanol metabolism in Candida boidinii. Here, we demonstrate that Trm1p is essential for the expression of genes of methanol utilization (mut) pathway in P. pastoris as well. Expression of AOXI and other genes of mut pathway is severely compromised in P. pastoris Delta Trm1 strain resulting in impaired growth on media containing methanol as the sole source of carbon. Trm1p localizes to the nucleus of cells cultured on glucose or methanol. The zinc finger domain of Mxr1p but not Trm1p binds to AOXI promoter sequences in vitro, indicating that these two positive regulators act by different mechanisms. We conclude that both Trm1p and Mxr1p are essential for the expression of genes of mut pathway in P. pastoris and the mechanism of transcriptional regulation of mut pathway may be similar in P. pastoris and C. boidinii. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Thermoelectric properties of Zn doped Cu2SnSe3

Zn doped ternary compounds Cu2ZnxSn1-xSe3 (x = 0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.075) were prepared by solid state synthesis. The undoped compound showed a monoclinic crystal structure as a major phase, while the doped compounds showed a cubic crystal structure confirmed by powder XRD (X-Ray Diffraction). The surface morphology and elemental composition analysis for all the samples were studied by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and EPMA (Electron Probe Micro Analyzer), respectively. SEM micrographs of the hot pressed samples showed the presence of continuous and homogeneous grains confirming sufficient densification. Elemental composition of all the samples revealed an off-stoichiometry, which was determined by EPMA. Transport properties were measured between 324 K and 773 K. The electrical resistivity decreased up to the samples with Zn content x = 0.05 in Cu2ZnxSn1-xSe3, and slightly increased in the sample Cu2Zn0.075Sn0.925Se3. This behavior is consistent with the changes in the carrier concentration confirmed by room temperature Hall coefficient data. Temperature dependent electrical resistivity of all samples showed heavily doped semiconductor behavior. All the samples exhibit positive Seebeck coefficient (S) and Hall coefficient indicating that the majority of the carriers are holes. A linear increase in Seebeck coefficient with increase in temperature indicates the degenerate semiconductor behavior. The total thermal conductivity of the doped samples increased with a higher amount of doping, due to the increase in the carrier contribution. The total and lattice thermal conductivity of all samples showed 1/1 dependence, which points toward the dominance of phonon scattering at high temperatures. The maximum 1/TZF = 0.48 at 773 K was obtained for the sample Cu2SnSe3 due to a low thermal conductivity compared to the doped samples. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrochemical behavior of Zn-graphene composite coatings

A Zn-graphene composite coating was electrodeposited on mild steel. The graphene was synthesized by electrochemical exfoliation of graphite. Electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques were used to characterize the coatings. Compared to a pure Zn coating, the Zn-graphene coating exhibited reduced grain size, reduced surface defects, hillock structures over the coating surface and an altered texture. The corrosion behavior of the coatings was examined by Tafel polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic methods. A significant improvement in the corrosion resistance in terms of reduction in corrosion current and corrosion rate and increase in polarization resistance was noted in the case of the Zn coating containing graphene.

Effect of Sm3+-Gd3+ on structural, electrical and magnetic properties of Mn-Zn ferrites synthesized via combustion route

Nanocrystalline Mn0.4Zn0.6SmxGdyFe2-(x+y)O4 (x = y = 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04 and 0.05) were synthesized by combustion route. The detailed structural studies were carried out through X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results confirms the formation of mixed spine phase with cubic structure due to the distortion created with co-dopants substitution at Fe site in Mn-Zn ferrite lattice. Further, the crystallite size increases with an increase of Sm3+-Gd3+ ions concentration while lattice parameter and lattice strain decreases. Furthermore, the effect of Sm-Gd co-doping in Mn-Zn ferrite on the room temperature electrical (dielectric studies) studies were carried out in the wide frequency range 1 GHz-5 GHz. The magnetic studies were carried out using vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) under applied magnetic field of 1.5T and also room temperature electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra's were recorded. From the results of dielectric studies, it shows that the real and imaginary part of permittivities are increasing with variation of Gd3+ and Sm3+ concentration. The magnetic studies reveal the decrease of remnant, saturation magnetization and coercivity with increasing of Sm3+-Gd3+ ion concentration. The g-value, peak-to-peak line width and spin concentration evaluated from EPR spectra correlated with cations occupancy. The electromagnetic properties clearly indicate that these materials are the good candidates which are useful at L and C band frequency. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Instability in an amorphous In-Ga-Zn-O field effect transistor upon water exposure

The instability of an amorphous indium-gallium-zinc oxide (IGZO) field effect transistor is investigated upon water treatment. Electrical characteristics are measured before, immediately after and a few days after water treatment in ambient as well as in vacuum conditions. It is observed that after a few days of water exposure an IGZO field effect transistor (FET) shows relatively more stable behaviour as compared to before exposure. Transfer characteristics are found to shift negatively after immediate water exposure and in vacuum. More interestingly, after water exposure the off current is found to decrease by 1-2 orders of magnitude and remains stable even after 15 d of water exposure in ambient as well as in vacuum, whereas the on current more or less remains the same. An x-ray photoelectron spectroscopic study is carried out to investigate the qualitative and quantitative analysis of IGZO upon water exposure. The changes in the FET parameters are evaluated and attributed to the formation of excess oxygen vacancies and changes in the electronic structure of the IGZO bulk channel and at the IGZO/SiO2 interface, which can further lead to the formation of subgap states. An attempt is made to distinguish which parameters of the FET are affected by the changes in the electronic structure of the IGZO bulk channel and at the IGZO/SiO2 interface separately.

Multiple emissive triarylborane-A(2)H(2) and triarylborane-Zn-A(2)H(2) porphyrin conjugates

Triarylborane-A(2)H(2) (1) and triarylborane-Zn-A(2)H(2) porphyrins (2) have been synthesized by acid catalyzed condensation of 4-dimesitylboryl-benzaldehyde and dipyrromethane under ambient conditions. Compounds 1 and 2 showed multiple emission bands upon excitation at the triarylborane dominated absorption region (350 nm). Detailed experimental and computational studies show that the multiple emission features of 1 and 2 arise as a result of a partial energy transfer from the donor (triarylborane) to the acceptor (porphyrin) moieties. Compounds 1 and 2 showed very high selectivities towards fluoride ions compared to other competing anions.