Nonlinear optical characteristics of self-assembled films of ZnO

In the present work, we have investigated the nonlinear optical properties of self-assembled films formed from ZnO colloidal spheres by z-scan technique. The sign of the nonlinear component of refractive index of the material remains the same; however, a switching from reverse saturable absorption to saturable absorption has been observed as the material changes from colloid to self-assembled film. These different nonlinear characteristics can be mainly attributed to ZnO defect states and electronic effects when the colloidal solution is transformed into self-assembled monolayers. We investigated the intensity, wavelength and size dependence of saturable and reverse saturable absorption of ZnO self-assembled films and colloids. Values of the imaginary part of third-order susceptibility are calculated for particles of size in the range 20–300 nm at different intensity levels ranging from 40 to 325MW/cm2 within the wavelength range of 450–650 nm.

Investigations on The Finite Size Effects of Some Inverse Spinels and Studies on Their Composites Based on Nitrile Rubber

Magnetism and magnetic materials have been an ever-attractive subject area for engineers and scientists alike because of its versatility in finding applications in useful devices. They find applications in a host of devices ranging from rudimentary devices like loud speakers to sophisticated gadgets like waveguides and Magnetic Random Access Memories (MRAM).The one and only material in the realm of magnetism that has been at the centre stage of applications is ferrites and in that spinel ferrites received the lions share as far as practical applications are concerned.It has been the endeavour of scientists and engineers to remove obsolescence and improve upon the existing so as to save energy and integrate in to various other systems. This has been the hallmark of material scientists and this has led to new materials and new technologies.In the field of ferrites too there has been considerable interest to devise new materials based on iron oxides and other compounds. This means synthesising ultra fine particles and tuning its properties to device new materials. There are various preparation techniques ranging from top- down to bottom-up approaches. This includes synthesising at molecular level, self assembling,gas based condensation. Iow temperature eo-precipitation, solgel process and high energy ball milling. Among these methods sol-gel process allows good control of the properties of ceramic materials. The advantage of this method includes processing at low temperature. mixing at the molecular level and fabrication of novel materials for various devices.Composites are materials. which combine the good qualities of one or more components. They can be prepared in situ or by mechanical means by the incorporation of fine particles in appropriate matrixes. The size of the magnetic powders as well as the nature of matrix affect the processability and other physical properties of the final product. These plastic/rubber magnets can in turn be useful for various applications in different devices. In applications involving ferrites at high frequencies, it is essential that the material possesses an appropriate dielectric permittivity and suitable magnetic permeability. This can be achieved by synthesizing rubber ferrite composites (RFC's). RFCs are very useful materials for microwave absorptions. Hence the synthesis of ferrites in the nanoregirne.investigations on their size effects on the structural, magnetic, and electrical properties and the incorporation of these ferrites into polymer matrixes assume significance.In the present study, nano particles of NiFe204, Li(!5Fe2S04 and Col-e-O, are prepared by sol gel method. By appropriate heat treatments, particles of different grain sizes are obtained. The structural, magnetic and electrical measurements are evaluated as a function of grain size and temperature. NiFel04 prepared in the ultrafine regime are then incorporated in nitrile rubber matrix. The incorporation was carried out according to a specific recipe and for various loadings of magnetic fillers. The cure characteristics, magnetic properties, electrical properties and mechanical properties of these elastomer blends are carried out. The electrical permittivity of all the rubber samples in the X - band are also conducted.

Novel Melt Transurethane Process for Cycloaliphatic Polyurethanes and Their Self-Organization for Nano-Materials

In this introduction part, importance has been given to the elastomeric properties of polyurethanes. Emphasis has been laid to this property based on microphase separation and how this could be modified by modifying the segment lengths, as well as the structure of the segments. Implication was also made on the mechanical and thermal properties of these copolymers based on various analytical methods usually used for characterization of polymers. A brief overview of the challenges faced by the polyurethane chemistry was also done, pointing to the fact that though polyurethane industry is more than 75 years old, still a lot of questions remain unanswered, that too mostly in the synthesis of polyurethanes. A major challenge in this industry is the utilization of more environmental friendly “Green Chemistry Routes” for the synthesis of polyurethanes which are devoid of any isocyanates or harsh solvents.The research work in this thesis was focused to develop non-isocyanate green chemical process for polyurethanes and also self-organize the resultant novel polymers into nano-materials. The thesis was focused on the following three major aspects:(i) Design and development of novel melt transurethane process for polyurethanes under non-isocyanate and solvent free melt condition. (ii) Solvent induced self-organization of the novel cycloaliphatic polyurethanes prepared by the melt transurethane process into microporous templates and nano-sized polymeric hexagons and spheres. (iii) Novel polyurethane-oligophenylenevinylene random block copolymer nano-materials and their photoluminescence properties. The second chapter of the thesis gives an elaborate discussion on the “Novel Melt Transurethane Process ” for the synthesis of polyurethanes under non-isocyanate and solvent free melt condition. The polycondensation reaction was carried out between equimolar amounts of a di-urethane monomer and a diol in the presence of a catalyst under melt condition to produce polyurethanes followed by the removal of low boiling alcohol from equilibrium. The polymers synthesized through this green chemical route were found to be soluble (devoid of any cross links), thermally stable and free from any isocyanate entities. The polymerization reaction was confirmed by various analytical techniques with specific references to the extent of reaction which is the main watchful point for any successful polymerization reaction. The mechanistic aspects of the reaction were another point of consideration for the novel polymerization route which was successfully dealt with by performing various model reactions. Since this route was successful enough in synthesizing polyurethanes with novel structures, they were employed for the solvent induced self-organization which is an important area of research in the polymer world in the present scenario. Chapter three mesmerizes the reader with multitudes of morphologies depending upon the chemical backbone structure of the polyurethane as well as on the nature and amount of various solvents employed for the self-organization tactics. The rationale towards these morphologies-“Hydrogen Bonding ” have been systematically probed by various techniques. These polyurethanes were then tagged with luminescent 0ligo(phenylene vinylene) units and the effects of these OPV blocks on the morphology of the polyurethanes were analyzed in chapter four. These blocks have resulted in the formation of novel “Blue Luminescent Balls” which could find various applications in optoelectronic devices as well as delivery vehicles.