Towards Realization of Magnetocaloric and Magnetoelectric Applications based on Bulk and Thin film forms of Sodium substituted Lanthanum Manganites

The present thesis work focuses on hole doped lanthanum manganites and their thin film forms. Hole doped lanthanum manganites with higher substitutions of sodium are seldom reported in literature. Such high sodium substituted lanthanum manganites are synthesized and a detailed investigation on their structural and magnetic properties is carried out. Magnetic nature of these materials near room temperature is investigated explicitly. Magneto caloric application potential of these materials are also investigated. After a thorough investigation of the bulk samples, thin films of the bulk counterparts are also investigated. A magnetoelectric composite with ferroelectric and ferromagnetic components is developed using pulsed laser deposition and the variation in the magnetic and electric properties are investigated. It is established that such a composite could be realized as a potential field effect device. The central theme of this thesis is also on manganites and is with the twin objectives of a material study leading to the demonstration of a device. This is taken up for investigation. Sincere efforts are made to synthesize phase pure compounds. Their structural evaluation, compositional verification and evaluation of ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties are also taken up. Thus the focus of this investigation is related to the investigation of a magnetoelectric and magnetocaloric application potentials of doped lanthanum manganites with sodium substitution. Bulk samples of sodium substituted lanthanum manganites. Bulk samples of sodium substituted lanthanum manganites with Na substitution ranging from 50 percent to 90 percent were synthesized using a modified citrate gel method and were found to be orthorhombic in structure belonging to a pbnm spacegroup. The variation in lattice parameters and unit cell volume with sodium concentration were also dealt with. Magnetic measurements revealed that magnetization decreased with increase in sodium concentrations.

Modification of Polypropylene/High Density Polyethylene Blend Using Nanokaolinite Clay and E-Glass Fibre: Preparation, Characterization and Micromechanical Modelling

Upgrading two widely used standard plastics, polypropylene (PP) and high density polyethylene (HDPE), and generating a variety of useful engineering materials based on these blends have been the main objective of this study. Upgradation was effected by using nanomodifiers and/or fibrous modifiers. PP and HDPE were selected for modification due to their attractive inherent properties and wide spectrum of use. Blending is the engineered method of producing new materials with tailor made properties. It has the advantages of both the materials. PP has high tensile and flexural strength and the HDPE acts as an impact modifier in the resultant blend. Hence an optimized blend of PP and HDPE was selected as the matrix material for upgradation. Nanokaolinite clay and E-glass fibre were chosen for modifying PP/HDPE blend. As the first stage of the work, the mechanical, thermal, morphological, rheological, dynamic mechanical and crystallization characteristics of the polymer nanocomposites prepared with PP/HDPE blend and different surface modified nanokaolinite clay were analyzed. As the second stage of the work, the effect of simultaneous inclusion of nanokaolinite clay (both N100A and N100) and short glass fibres are investigated. The presence of nanofiller has increased the properties of hybrid composites to a greater extent than micro composites. As the last stage, micromechanical modeling of both nano and hybrid A composite is carried out to analyze the behavior of the composite under load bearing conditions. These theoretical analyses indicate that the polymer-nanoclay interfacial characteristics partially converge to a state of perfect interfacial bonding (Takayanagi model) with an iso-stress (Reuss IROM) response. In the case of hybrid composites the experimental data follows the trend of Halpin-Tsai model. This implies that matrix and filler experience varying amount of strain and interfacial adhesion between filler and matrix and also between the two fillers which play a vital role in determining the modulus of the hybrid composites.A significant observation from this study is that the requirement of higher fibre loading for efficient reinforcement of polymers can be substantially reduced by the presence of nanofiller together with much lower fibre content in the composite. Hybrid composites with both nanokaolinite clay and micron sized E-glass fibre as reinforcements in PP/HDPE matrix will generate a novel class of high performance, cost effective engineering material.

Bioactive Metabolites and Biomarkers from Rhizophoraceae mangroves- A Chemotaxonomic Approach

Mangroves are specialised ecosystems developed along estuarine sea coasts and river mouths in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, mainly in the intertidal zone. Hence, the ecosystem and its biological components is under the influence of both marine and freshwater conditions and has developed a set of physiological adaptations to overcome problems of anoxia, salinity and frequent tidal inundations. This has led to the assemblage of a wide variety of plant and animal species of special adaptations suited to the ecosystem. The path of photosynthesis in mangroves is different from other glycophytes. There are modifications or alterations in other physiological processes such as carbohydrate metabolism or polyphenol synthesis. As they survive under extreme conditions of salinity, temperature, tides and anoxic soil conditions they may have chemical compounds, which protect them from these destructive elements. Mangroves are necessarily tolerant of high salt levels and have mechanisms to take up water despite strong osmotic potentials. Some also take up salts, but excrete them through specialised glands in the leaves. Others transfer salts into senescent leaves or store them in the bark or the wood. Still others simply become increasingly conservative in their water use as water salinity increases. A usual transportation or biosynthetic path as other plants cannot be expected in mangrove plants. In India, the states like West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra, and Gujarat occupy vast area of mangroves. Kerala has only 6 km2 total mangrove area with Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Bruguiera cylindrica, Avicennia officinalis, Sonneratia caseolaris, Sonneratia apetala and Kandelia candal, as the important species present, most of which belong to the family Rhizophoraceae.Rhizophoraceae mangroves are ranked as “major elements of mangroves” as they give the real shape of this unique and interesting ecosystem and these mangrove species most productive and typical characteristic ecosystem of World renowned. It was found that the Rhizophoraceae mangrove extracts exhibit several bioactive properties. Various parts of these mangroves are used in ethnomedicinal practices. Even though extracts from these mangroves possess therapeutic activity against humans, animal and plant pathogens, the specific metabolites responsible for these bioactivities remains to be elucidated. Various parts of these mangroves are used in ethnomedicinal practices. There is a gap of information towards the chemistry of Rhizophoraceae mangroves from Kerala. Thorough phytochemical investigation can achieve the validity of ethnomedicines as well as apply the use of mangrove plants in the development of new drugs. Such studies can pave a firm base for their use in biomarker and chemotaxonomic studies as well as for the better management of the existing mangrove ecosystem. In this study, the various chemical parameters including minerals, biochemical components, bioactive and biomarker molecules were used to classify and assess the possible potentials of the mangrove plants of the true mangrove family Rhizophoraceae from Kochi.

Photophysical Properties of Bipolar Substituted Spirobifluorenes

Die Arbeit enthält Untersuchungen an bipolar substituierten Spirobifluorenderivaten mittels stationärer und zeitaufgelöster Fluoreszenz- und Phosphoreszenzspektrokopie und elektrochemischer Analysemethoden.

Synthesis and characterisation of novel nitrogen and fluorine containing spirobifluorene derivatives for electronic applications and crystal engineering

Among organic materials, spirobifluorene derivatives represent a very attractive class of materials for electronic devices. These compounds have high melting points, glass transitions temperatures and morphological stability, which makes these materials suitable for organic electronic applications. In addition, some of spirobifluorenes can form porous supramolecular associations with significant volumes available for the inclusion of guests. These molecular associations based on the spirobifluorenes are noteworthy because they are purely molecular analogues of zeolites and other microporous solids, with potential applications in separation, catalysis, sensing and other areas.

Optical amplification and stability of spiroquaterphenyl compounds and blends

In this contribution, we present a systematic investigation on a series of spiroquaterphenyl compounds optimised for solid state lasing in the near ultraviolet (UV). Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) thresholds in the order of 1 μJ/cm2 are obtained in neat (undiluted) films and blends, with emission peaks at 390 1 nm for unsubstituted and meta-substituted quaterphenyls and 400 4 nm for para-ether substituted quaterphenyls. Mixing with a transparent matrix retains a low threshold, shifts the emission to lower wavelengths and allows a better access to modes having their intensity maximum deeper in the film. Chemical design and blending allow an independent tuning of optical and processing properties such as the glass transition.

Compositional data analysis of archaeological glass: problems and possible solutions

Presentation in CODAWORK'03, session 4: Applications to archeometry

hour glass

hour glass

Three substituted 4-pyrazolylbenzoates: hydrogen-bonded supramolecular structures in one, two and three dimensions

The molecules of ethyl 4-(5-amino-3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-1yl) benzoate, C13H15N3O2, are linked by two independent N-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds into a chain of edge-fused and alternating R-4(2)(8) and R-2(2)(20) rings. A combination of N-H center dot center dot center dot N and N-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds links the molecules of methyl 4-(5-amino-3-tert-butyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl) benzoate, C15H19N3O2, into sheets of alternating R-2(2)(20) and R-6(6)(32) rings. In 4-(5-amino-3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl) benzoic acid monohydrate, C11H11N3O2 center dot H2O, the molecular components are linked into a three-dimensional framework structure by a combination of five independent hydrogen bonds, two of O-H center dot center dot center dot N type and one each of O-H center dot center dot center dot O, N-H center dot center dot center dot O and N-H center dot center dot center dot N types

Glass?

Este recurso presenta a los jóvenes de una manera muy visual la idea del proceso de reciclaje del vidrio: clasificación, clasificación por el color, triturado, limpieza moldeo, nuevos productos. Conduce al lector en un viaje para la localización de los residuos, y cómo son reciclados, desde el principio hasta el acabado del nuevo producto. Tiene glosario, bibliografía y sitios web.

El lenguaje del absurdo en la obra de Lewis Carroll (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. A Puffin book, Harmondsworth, 1962).

Se analiza la obra del autor inglés Lewis Carroll, en su obra titulada Alicia en el País de las Maravillas. Se considera que se trata no sólo de un maravilloso cuento para niños sino también de una obra maestra del lenguaje del absurdo. El libro describe las aventuras de una niña pequeña, Alicia. Para describir estas aventuras, Lewis Carroll usa un inglés sencillo, pero con un dominio tal de la lengua que no sólo consigue presentar situaciones absurdas, sino que logra no significar nada en absoluto. Se ponen como ejemplo varias situaciones y pasajes del libro. En definitiva el contenido es un puro absurdo, ya que en el poema las palabras, aunque estructuralmente en perfecto orden, son en gran parte creación suya, pero sin ningún significado. Aquí más que en ninguna otra ocasión, se revela la mente matemática del autor fuera de toda dimensión conocida. Una especie de lenguaje cifrado cuya clave sólo Carroll conocería. Lo esencial de este poema es esto precisamente: la invención de palabras que aunque no son propias del idioma inglés merecerían serlo. Finalmente, todo este lenguaje absurdo de la obra de Lewis Carroll es un perfecto ejemplo del sentimiento de fantasía que subyace en ambos cuentos. Leerlos no es solamente trasladarnos por unos momentos al mundo de lo maravilloso, sino también un ejercicio mental de primera categoría.

Electronic and vibrational contributions to first hyperpolarizability of donor-acceptor-substituted azobenzene

In this study we report on the electronic and vibrational (hyper)polarizabilities of donor–acceptorsubstituted azobenzene. It is observed that both electronic and vibrational contributions to the electric dipole first hyperpolarizability of investigated photoactive molecule substantially depend on the conformation. The contributions to the nuclear relaxation first hyperpolarizability are found to be quite important in the case of two considered isomers (cis and trans). Although the double-harmonic term is found to be the largest in terms of magnitude, it is shown that the total value of the nuclear relaxation contribution to vibrational first hyperpolarizability is a result of subtle interplay of higher-order contributions. As a part of the study, we also assess the performance of long-range-corrected density functional theory in determining vibrational contributions to electric dipole (hyper)polarizabilities. In most cases, the applied long-range-corrected exchange correlation potentials amend the drawbacks of their conventional counterparts

Efectos en los mercados financieros internacionales de la derogatoria en 1999 de la Ley Glass Steagall de los EE.UU. (Tema Central)

Actualmente la profunda crisis del sistema financiero internacional, similar a la que vivió Estados Unidos en los años treinta, es el punto más importante de discusión en todo el mundo. Por ello, se consideró importante realizar un análisis de la Ley Glass Steagall Act, promulgada en el año 1933, justamente como una salida a la crisis financiera estadounidense, de aquella época, precisando cuáles son sus principales características, y sobre todo los efectos que su derogatoria (en 1999) trajo consigo en el sistema financiero mundial, pues como veremos, para muchos la actual crisis es producto de la inadecuada mezcla de regulación y libertad que se produjo con la promulgación de la Ley Gramm Leach Bliley Act, mediante la cual los bancos comerciales empezaron a incursionar en operaciones bursátiles, actividades que anteriormente estaban vetadas, y por tanto existían garantías suficientes para los depositantes.