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.

Crystal Structures and Spectral Investigation of Aroylhydrazones and their Mixed Ligand Metal Chelates

Supra molecular architectures of coordination complexes of liydrazones through non covalent interactions have been explored. Molecular self—assernbly driven by weak interactions such as hydrogen— bonding, K '”T[, C-1-I‘ "TE, van der Waals interactions, and so forth are currently of tremendous research interest in the fields of molecule based materials. The directional properties of the hydrogembonding interaction associate discrete molecules into aggregate structures that are sufficiently stable to be considered as independent chemical species. Chemistry can borrow nature’s strategy to utilize hydrogen-bonding as Well as other noncovalent interactions as found in secondary and tertiary structures of proteins such as the double helix folding of DNA, hydrophobic selflorganization of phospholipids in cell membrane etc. In supramolecular chemistry hydrogen bonding plays an important role in forming a variety of architectures. Thus, the wise modulation and tuning of the complementary sites responsible for hydrogen—bond formation have led to its application in supramolecular electronics, host-guest chemistry, self-assembly of molecular capsules, nanotubes etc. The work presented in this thesis describes the synthesis and characterization of metal complexes derived from some substituted aroylhydrazones. The thesis is divided into seven chapters.

Influence of the pseudopotential on the properties of liquid rubidium at 315 K

The influence of the pseudopotential on both the structure and the self-diffusion of liquid rubidium at the melting point has been investigated by means of molecular-dynamics calculations. The model potential considered has been computed from the pseudopotential of Ashcroft, the dielectric function of Geldart and Vosko, and a Born-Mayer term. Four different values for the core radius which enters as input in the pseudopotential have been considered. In this way we have been able to observe and interpret the effect of this contribution on the properties of the liquid.

Crystal defects and spin tunneling in single crystals of Mn12 clusters

The question addressed in this paper is that of the influence of the density of dislocations on the spin tunneling in Mn12 clusters. We have determined the variation in the mosaicity of fresh and thermally treated single crystals of Mn12 by analyzing the widening of low angle x-ray diffraction peaks. It has also been well established from both isothermal magnetization and relaxation experiments that there is a broad distribution of tunneling rates which is shifted to higher rates when the density of dislocations increases.

Studies on polyurethane elastomers based on liquid natural rubber

In the present study, the photochemical depolymerisation of NR in toluene, in presence of H202 and a homogenizing solvent (Methanol/Tetrahydro— furan) so as to get hydroxyl terminated liquid natural rubber (HTNR) has been carried out. The copolymeri— sation of this product with butane 1,4 diol and toluene 2,4 diisocyanate in presence of a catalyst, dibutyl tin dilaurate, to produce polyurethanes with HTNR soft segments is also reported. The preparation of block copolymers based on poly(ethylene oxide) with varying molecular weights and HTNR are also discussed along with a detailed study on their thermal and mechanical properties

Crystal Structures and Spectral Aspects of Mixed Ligand Transition Metal Chelates Derived from Aldehyde based ONS Donor Thiosemicarbazones

Thiosemicarbazones have emerged as an important class of ligands over a period of time, for a variety of reasons, such as variable donor properties, structural diversity and biological applications. Interesting as the coordination chemistry may be, the driving force for the study of these ligands has undoubtedly been their biological properties and the majority of the 3000 or so publications on thiosemicarbazones since 2000 have alluded to this feature. Thiosemicarbazones with potential donor atoms in their structural skeleton fascinate coordination chemists with their versatile chelating behavior. The thiosemicarbazones of aromatic aldehydes and ketones form stable chelates with transition metal cations by utilizing both their sulfur and azomethine nitrogen as donor atoms. They have been shown to possess a diverse range of biological activities including anticancer, antitumor, antibacterial, antiviral, antimalarial and antifungal properties owing to their ability to diffuse through the semipermeable membrane of the cell lines. The enhanced effect may be attributed to the increased lipophilicity of the metal complexes compared to the ligand alone.

Acid-Base. Surface Electron Donatin6 &.Catai.Ytlc Properties Of Some Binary Mixed Oxides Containing Rare Earth Elements

Catalysis research underpins the science of modern chemical processing and fuel technologies. Catalysis is commercially one of the most important technologies in national economies. Solid state heterogeneous catalyst materials such as metal oxides and metal particles on ceramic oxide substrates are most common. They are typically used with commodity gases and liquid reactants. Selective oxidation catalysts of hydrocarbon feedstocks is the dominant process of converting them to key industrial chemicals, polymers and energy sources.[1] In the absence of a unique successfiil theory of heterogeneous catalysis, attempts are being made to correlate catalytic activity with some specific properties of the solid surface. Such correlations help to narrow down the search for a good catalyst for a given reaction. The heterogeneous catalytic performance of material depends on many factors such as [2] Crystal and surface structure of the catalyst. Thermodynamic stability of the catalyst and the reactant. Acid- base properties of the solid surface. Surface defect properties of the catalyst.Electronic and semiconducting properties and the band structure. Co-existence of dilferent types of ions or structures. Adsorption sites and adsorbed species such as oxygen.Preparation method of catalyst , surface area and nature of heat treatment. Molecular structure of the reactants. Many systematic investigations have been performed to correlate catalytic performances with the above mentioned properties. Many of these investigations remain isolated and further research is needed to bridge the gap in the present knowledge of the field.

Raman spectra of KTP crystal in an in situ electric field

Raman spectra of the KTP single crystal are recorded in electric fields (dc and ac) applied along the polar axis c. Spectra with the laser beam focused near the cathode end, anode end and the centre of the crystal are recorded. The cathode end of the crystal develops a spot ‘grey track’ where the laser beam is focused after a lapse of 5 h from the application of a dc electric field of 38 V/cm. The spectra recorded at the cathode end after the application of field show variations in intensity of bands. A new band appears at 177 cm21. Changes in band intensities are explained on the basis of changes in polarizability of the crystal due to the movement of K1 ions along the polar axis. K1 ions accumulate at the cathode end, where the ‘Grey track’ formation occurs. The intensity enhancement observed for almost all bands in the ac field is attributed to the improvement of crystalline quality.

Infrared and polarized Raman spectra of Cu(HSeO3)2 • H20 single crystal

Infrared and polarized Raman spectra of Cu(HSeO3) 2 - H20 single crystal have been recorded and analysed. The appearance of non-degenerate Se-OH stretching vibrations in the ~x: and ~y: polarizations of Raman spectra indicate distortion of the HSeO~- ion in the Cu(HSeO3)2 - H20 crystal. The low wavenumber values obtained for the symmetric and asymmetric stretching vibrations of the HSeO 3 ion are consistent with the strong hydrogen bonding and the influence of Jahn-Teller distortion as predicted in X-ray diffraction data. The shifting of the stretching and bending vibrations of the hydroxyl groups and water molecules from the free state values also confirms the strong hydrogen bonding in this crystal. Broad bands observed for both stretching and bending regions become sharp in the Raman spectrum recorded at 77 K. A doublet appears for the Se-OH stretching mode at this temperature indicating the settling of protons in an ordered position and the absence of intrabond proton tunnelling

Temperature dependent polarized Raman spectra of nonaaqualanthanoid (Pr) single crystal

Polarized Raman spectral changes with respect to temperature were investigated for Pr(BrO3)3·9H2O single crystals. FTIR spectra of hydrated and deuterated analogues were also recorded and analysed. Temperature dependent Raman spectral variation have been explained with the help of the thermograms recorded for the crystal. Factor group analysis could propose the appearance ofBrO3 ions at sites corresponding to C3v (4) and D3h (2). Analysis of the vibrational bands at room temperature confirms a distorted C3v symmetry for the BrO3 ion in the crystal. From the vibrations of water molecules, hydrogen bonds of varying strengths have also been identified in the crystal. The appearance υ1 mode of BrO3− anion at lower wavenumber region is attributed to the attachment of hydrogen atoms to the BrO3− anion. At high temperatures, structural rearrangement is taking place for bothH2Omolecule and BrO3 ions leading to the loss ofwater molecules and structural reorientation of bromate ions causing phase transition of the crystal at the temperature of 447 K.

Studies on fish waste management practices in Aroor Seafood Industrial Belt, Kerala and conversion of seafood waste into a liquid plant growth supplement

This study was materialized to analyze the management issues regarding the seafood processing waste generated including its impact on the coastal community in one of the important seafood hubs of India Aroor Seafood Industrial Belt Alappuzha District Kerala The area has witnessed serious pollution issues related to seafood waste and seldom has any action been implemented by either the polluters or the preventers Further this study is also intended to suggest a low cost eco friendly method for utilizing the bulk quantity of seafood solid waste generated in the area for the promotion of organic farming The high nutritional value of seafood enables the subsequent offal to be considered as an excellent source for plant nutrition The liquid silage accepted worldwide as the cheapest and practical solution for rendering fish waste in bulk for production of livestock feed is adopted in this study to develop foliar fertilizer formulations from various seafood waste The effect of seafood foliar sprays is demonstrated by field studies on two plant varieties such as Okra and Amaranthus