Use of photoacoustic effect for the detection of phase transitions in liquid crystal mixtures

We report on a laser induced photoacoustic study of the nematic-to-isotropic transition in certain commercial nematic liquid crystal mixtures, namely BL001, BL002, BL032 and BL035. A simple analysis of the experimental data using the Rosencwaig–Gersho theory shows that the heat capacities of all these compounds exhibit a sharp peak as the temperature of the sample is varied across the transition region. Also, substantial differences in the photoacoustic signal amplitudes in nematic and isotropic phases have been noticed for all the mixtures. The increased light scattering property of the nematic phase may be the reason for the enhanced photoacoustic signal amplitude in this phase.

Phase transitions in lithium ammonium sulfate below room temperature: An ultrasonic study

A detailed ultrasonic study of the elastic properties of lithium ammonium sulfate ~LiNH4SO4! or LAS has been carried out below room temperature. The elastic constants of LAS at room temperature are reported. The discrepancy present in earlier elastic constant data associated with the different choice of axes for this orthorhombic system are clarified. The results of the temperature variation study down to 220 K confirm the ferroelastic phase transition at 285 K and establish a thermal hysteresis of about 2.5 K between the cooling and heating cycles. Results of the investigation on the suspected weak phase transition at 256 K suggest that this transition occurs at 242 K on cooling and at 256 K on heating, thus having a thermal hysteresis of about 14 K. However, since the observed elastic anomaly for this transition is very small, the nature of this transition still remains unclear

Elastic constant measurements of super ionic LiKSO4:Na single crystals

Elastic properties of sodium doped Lithium potassium sulphate, LiK0.9Na0.1SO4, crystal has been studied by ultrasonic Pulse Echo Overlap [PEO] technique and are reported for the first time. The controversy regarding the type of crystal found while growth is performed at 35 °C with equimolar fraction of Li2SO4H2O, K2SO4 and Na2SO4 has been resolved by studying the elastic properties. The importance of this crystal is that it exhibits pyroelectric, ferroelectric and electro optic properties. It is simultaneously ferroelastic and superionic. The elastic properties of LiK0.9Na0.1SO4 crystal are well studied by measuring ultrasonic velocity in the crystal in certain specified crystallographic directions and evaluating the elastic stiffness constants, compliance constants and Poisson’s ratios. The anisotropy in the elastic properties of the crystal are well explained by the pictorial representation of the surface plots of phase velocity, slowness and linear compressibility in a-b and a-c planes.

Material Characterisation and Electro-Optical Studies of a Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal

Department of Electronics, Cochin University of Science and Technology

Synthesis and crystal structure of cobalt(III) complex with a Schiff base and azide

The cobalt(III) complex, [Co(L)2(N3)2]2(ClO4)2, L being a Schiff base N-[phenyl(pyridin-2-yl)methylene]aniline has been synthesized and the crystal structure determined using X-ray crystallography. The complex crystallizes in triclinic system, space group P-1 with unit cell parameters a=10.9367(9) , b=18.0817(17) , c=20.1629(16) , α=111.341(2), β=91.622(2), γ=107.5030(10), V=3499.1(5) 3 and Z=2. It crystallizes with two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. The two cobalt atoms are hexa-coordinate and have a distorted octahedral geometry, satisfied by four nitrogen atoms from two molecules of the Schiff base and two nitrogen atoms from the monodentate azide group. The perchlorate ions are non-coordinating.

Copper(II) complexes of N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazones derived from pyridine-2-carbaldehyde: Crystal structure of a binuclear complex

Ten copper(II) complexes {[CuL1Cl] (1), [CuL1NO3]2 (2), [CuL1N3]2 · 2/3H2O (3), [CuL1]2(ClO4)2 · 2H2O (4), [CuL2Cl]2 (5), [CuL2N3] (6), [Cu(HL2)SO4]2 · 4H2O (7), [Cu(HL2)2] (ClO4)2 · 1/2EtOH (8), [CuL3Cl]2 (9), [CuL3NCS] · 1/2H2O (10)} of three NNS donor thiosemicarbazone ligands {pyridine-2-carbaldehyde-N(4)-p-methoxyphenyl thiosemicarbazone [HL1], pyridine-2-carbaldehyde-N(4)-2-phenethyl thiosemicarbazone [HL2] and pyridine-2-carbaldehyde N(4)-(methyl), N(4)-(phenyl) thiosemicarbazone [HL3]} were synthesized and physico-chemically characterized. The crystal structure of compound 9 has been determined by X-ray diffraction studies and is found that the dimer consists of two square pyramidal Cu(II) centers linked by two chlorine atoms.

Spectral studies and crystal structures of some transition metal complexes of N4-substituted semicarbazones

The present work is concentrated on the studies of two novel semicarbazones, di-2-pyridyl ketone-N4-phenyl-3-semicarbazone (HL1) and quinoline-2-carboxaldehyde-N4-phenyl-3-semicarbazone (HL2). The compositions of these semicarbazones were determined by the CHN analyses. For the characterization of these compounds we have used IR, UV and NMR spectral studies. The molecular structure of quinoline-2-carboxaldehyde-N4-phenyl-3- semicarbazone (HL2) was obtained by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Also, we have synthesized Zn(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Mn(II) complexes of these semicarbazones, HL1 and HL2. These complexes were characterized by various spectroscopic techniques, magnetic and conductivity studies. We could isolate single crystals of some Zn(II) and Cd(II) compounds suitable for X-ray diffraction studies. For other complexes we could not isolate single crystals of good quality for single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.

Possibility of waveguide formation on organic nonlinear crystal methyl para-hydroxy benzoate using high energy ion irradiation

Organic nonlinear optical single crystals of Methyl para-Hydroxy Benzoate (MHB) have been grown using gel-solution technique. These crystals are cut along z-axis and are bombarded with Ag14+ ions of energy 100 MeV. The results show an increase in refractive index at the ion irradiated region. The dielectric constant of the irradiated crystal is increased more than 15 times compared to that of a nonirradiated crystal. The result of these changes and comparative study of second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency before and after irradiation is discussed.

Lithium Containing Complex Metal Oxides and Metal phosphates:Investigations on their synthesis and various characterizations for rechargeable lithium battery applications

The work presented in the thesis is centered around two important types of cathode materials, the spinel structured LixMn204 (x =0.8to1.2) and the phospho -oIivine structured LiMP04 (M=Fe and Ni). The spinel system LixMn204, especially LiMn204 corresponding to x= 1 has been extensively investigated to understand its structural electrical and electrochemical properties and to analyse its suitability as a cathode material in rechargeable lithium batteries. However there is no reported work on the thermal and optical properties of this important cathode material. Thermal diffusivity is an important parameter as far as the operation of a rechargeable battery is concerned. In LixMn204, the electronic structure and phenomenon of Jahn-Teller distortion have already been established theoretically and experimentally. Part of the present work is an attempt to use the non-destructive technique (NDT) of photoacoustic spectroscopy to investigate the nature of the various electronic transitions and to unravel the mechanisms leading to the phenomenon of J.T distortion in LixMn204.The phospho-olivines LiMP04 (M=Fe, Ni, Mn, Co etc) are the newly identified, prospective cathode materials offering extremely high stability, quite high theoretical specific capacity, very good cycIability and long life. Inspite of all these advantages, most of the phospho - olivines especially LiFeP04 and LiNiP04 show poor electronic conductivity compared to LixMn204, leading to low rate capacity and energy density. In the present work attempts have been made to improve the electronic conductivity of LiFeP04 and LiNiP04 by adding different weight percentage MWNT .It is expected that the addition of MWNT will enhance the electronic conductivity of LiFeP04 and LiNiP04 with out causing any significant structural distortions, which is important in the working of the lithium ion battery.

Dynamics of two coupled chaotic multimode Nd:YAG lasers with intracavity frequency doubling crystal

The effect of coupling two chaotic Nd:YAG lasers with intracavity KTP crystal for frequency doubling is numerically studied for the case of the laser operating in three longitudinal modes. It is seen that the system goes from chaotic to periodic and then to steady state as the coupling constant is increased. The intensity time series and phase diagrams are drawn and the Lyapunov characteristic exponent is calculated to characterize the chaotic and periodic regions.

Transition metal complexes of some N4-phenylsemicarbazones: crystal structures and spectral studies

The unusual coordination modes of semicarbazones when bound to metals, the wide applications and structural diversity of metal complexes of semicarbazones provoked us to synthesize and characterize the tridentate ONO and NNO-donor semicarbazones and their transition metal complexes. This work is focused on the studies on complexes of three N4-phenylsemicarbazones synthesized by changing the carbonyl compounds. This work is concerned with the studies of two new semicarbazones, 2- formylpyridine-N4-phenylsemicarbazone (HL1) and 3-ethoxysalicylaldehyde- N4-phenylsemicarbazone (H2L2) and a reported semicarbazone 2-benzoylpyridine-N4-phenylsemicarbazone (HL3) [29]. The compositions of these semicarbazones were determined by the CHN analyses and IR, UV and NMR spectral studies were used for the characterization of these compounds. The molecular structure of 3-ethoxysalicylaldehyde-N4-phenylsemicarbazone (H2L2) was obtained by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Also, we have synthesized Cu(II), Cd(II), Zn(II) and Ni(II) complexes of these three semicarbazones. The complexes were characterized by various spectroscopic techniques, magnetic and conductivity studies. We could isolate single crystals of some complexes of all metals suitable for X-ray diffraction studies. This thesis is divided into six chapters.

Transition metal complexes derived from ketone based N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazones: Crystal structures and spectral studies

Thiosemicarbazones have recently attracted considerable attention due to their ability to form tridentate chelates with transition metal ions through either two nitrogen and sulfur atoms, N–N–S or oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms, O–N–S. Considerable interest in thiosemicarbazones and their transition metal complexes has also grown in the areas of biology and chemistry due to biological activities such as antitumoral, fungicidal, bactericidal, antiviral and nonlinear optical properties. They have been used for metal analyses, for device applications related to telecommunications, optical computing, storage and information processing.The versatile applications of metal complexes of thiosemicarbazones in various fields prompted us to synthesize the tridentate NNS-donor thiosemicarbazones and their metal complexes. As a part of our studies on transition metal complexes with these ligands, the researcher undertook the current work with the following objectives. 1. To synthesize and physico-chemically characterize the following thiosemicarbazone ligands: a. Di-2-pyridyl ketone-N(4)-methyl thiosemicarbazone (HDpyMeTsc) b. Di-2-pyridyl ketone-N(4)-ethyl thiosemicarbazone (HDpyETsc) 2. To synthesize oxovanadium(IV), manganese(II), nickel(II), copper(II), zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes using the synthesized thiosemicarbazones as principal ligands and some anionic coligands. 3. To study the coordination modes of the ligands in metal complexes by using different physicochemical methods like partial elemental analysis, thermogravimetry and by different spectroscopic techniques. 4. To establish the structure of compounds by single crystal XRD studies

Growth, optical characterization, and laser operation of a stoichiometric crystal KYb(WO4)(2)

We present our recent achievements in the growing and optical characterization of KYb(WO4)2 (hereafter KYbW) crystals and demonstrate laser operation in this stoichiometric material. Single crystals of KYbW with optimal crystalline quality have been grown by the top-seeded-solution growth slow-cooling method. The optical anisotropy of this monoclinic crystal has been characterized, locating the tensor of the optical indicatrix and measuring the dispersion of the principal values of the refractive indices as well as the thermo-optic coefficients. Sellmeier equations have been constructed valid in the visible and near-IR spectral range. Raman scattering has been used to determine the phonon energies of KYbW and a simple physical model is applied for classification of the lattice vibration modes. Spectroscopic studies (absorption and emission measurements at room and low temperature) have been carried out in the spectral region near 1 µm characteristic for the ytterbium transition. Energy positions of the Stark sublevels of the ground and the excited state manifolds have been determined and the vibronic substructure has been identified. The intrinsic lifetime of the upper laser level has been measured taking care to suppress the effect of reabsorption and the intrinsic quantum efficiency has been estimated. Lasing has been demonstrated near 1074 nm with 41% slope efficiency at room temperature using a 0.5 mm thin plate of KYbW. This laser material holds great promise for diode pumped high-power lasers, thin disk and waveguide designs as well as for ultrashort (ps/fs) pulse laser systems.

Magnetic properties and domain-wall motion in single-crystal BaFe10.2Sn0.74Co0.66O19

The magnetic properties of BaFe12O19 and BaFe10.2Sn0.74Co0.66O19 single crystals have been investigated in the temperature range (1.8 to 320 K) with a varying field from -5 to +5 T applied parallel and perpendicular to the c axis. Low-temperature magnetic relaxation, which is ascribed to the domain-wall motion, was performed between 1.8 and 15 K. The relaxation of magnetization exhibits a linear dependence on logarithmic time. The magnetic viscosity extracted from the relaxation data, decreases linearly as temperature goes down, which may correspond to the thermal depinning of domain walls. Below 2.5 K, the viscosity begins to deviate from the linear dependence on temperature, tending to be temperature independent. The near temperature independence of viscosity suggests the existence of quantum tunneling of antiferromagnetic domain wall in this temperature range.