Role of tellurium addition on the linear and non-linear optical,structural, morphological properties of Ag60-xSe40Tex thin films for nonlinear applications

The tellurium (Te)-doped Ag_60-xSe₄₀Te_x (x = 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%) thin films of thickness ∼800 nm were prepared from the bulk sample by thermal evaporation method on a glass substrate. The X-ray diffraction study revealed the amorphous nature of the films whereas the change in vibrational modes was noticed from the Raman spectroscopy. The composition of the films was verified by energy dispersive X-ray analysis and the surface morphology pictures were taken by field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscope. The changes in optical properties (linear and non-linear) with Te addition were studied from UV-Visible spectroscopy data and related empirical formulas. The addition of Te reduced the bandgap values significantly and the reduction in transmission resulted in the increase of the linear refractive index. The decrease in optical bandgap is due to an increase in disorder while the width of the tail in the gap increased with Te%. The optical density, dispersion energy, extinction coefficient, carrier concentration, dielectric constant, oscillator wavelength increased while the oscillator energy, oscillator strength, optical electronegativity decreased with Te content. The electrical susceptibility increased with Te content. The non-linear susceptibilities and the non-linear refractive index increased which is good for the nonlinear photonic devices.     

Linker Independent Regioselective Protonation Triggered Detoxification of Sulfur Mustards with Smart Porous Organic Photopolymer

The development of efficient metal-free photocatalysts for the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) for sulfur mustard (HD) decontamination can play a vital role against the stockpiling of chemical warfare agents (CWAs). Herein, one novel concept is conceived by smartly choosing a specific ionic monomer and a donor tritopic aldehyde, which can trigger linker-independent regioselective protonation/deprotonation in the polymeric backbone. In this context, the newly developed vinylene-linked ionic polymers (TPA/TPD-Ionic) are further explored for visible-light-assisted detoxification of HD simulants. Time-resolved-photoluminescence (TRPL) study reveals the protonation effect in the polymeric backbone by significantly enhancing the life span of photoexcited electrons. In terms of catalytic performance, TPA-Ionic outperformed TPD-Ionic because of its enhanced excitons formation and charge carrier abilities caused by the donor-acceptor (D-A) backbone and protonation effects. Moreover, the formation of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) species is confirmed via in-situ Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) analysis, which explained the crucial role of solvents in the reaction medium to regulate the (¹O₂) formation. This study creates a new avenue for developing novel porous photocatalysts and highlights the crucial roles of sacrificial electron donors and solvents in the reaction medium to establish the structure-activity relationship.     

Effect of Stabilized Ortho Silicic Acid on Pre and Post-Harvest Quality Attributes of Plant and Ratoon Sugarcane

Silicon - India is the second largest producer and consumer of sugar in the world. Lower cane yields coupled with post harvest losses are key factors limiting sustainability of Indian sugar...     

3-D Analytical Modeling of Triple Metal Tri-Gate Graded Channel High-k SON TFET for Improved Performance

Silicon - In this paper, three dimensional analytical paradigm for triple metal graded channel high-k silicon-on-nothing tunnel field effect transistor (TM-TG GC-High-k SON TFET) is deduced in...     

Interface Trap Charge Induced Threshold Voltage Modeling of WFE High-K SOI MOSFET

Silicon - The present endeavor attempts to develop an explicit threshold voltage model of linearly graded work function engineered Silicon-On-Insulator MOSFET considering the effects of localized...     

Structural and electrical properties of Ba(Sb<Subscript>1/2</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>1/2</Subscript>)O<Subscript>3</Subscript> ceramic

Lead-free perovskite Ba(Sb_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃ was prepared by conventional ceramic fabrication technique at 1200 °C/5 h in air atmosphere. The crystal symmetry, space group and unit cell dimensions were determined from the experimental results using FullProf software whereas crystallite size and lattice strain were estimated from Williamson–Hall approach. XRD analysis of the compound indicated the formation of a single-phase monoclinic structure with the space group P2/m. EDAX and SEM studies were carried out to evaluate the quality and purity of the compound. Dielectric study revealed the frequency-dependent dielectric anomaly. To find a correlation between the response of the real system and idealized model circuit composed of discrete electrical components, the model fittings were presented using the impedance data. Complex impedance analyses suggested the dielectric relaxation to be of non-Debye type. The correlated barrier hopping model was employed to successfully explain the mechanism of charge transport in Ba(Sb_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃. The ac conductivity data were used to evaluate the density of states at Fermi level, minimum hopping length and apparent activation energy of the compound.     

Amelioration of nutritional properties of bakery fat using omega-3 fatty acid-rich edible oils: a review

Bakery products have gained prominence in modern diets due to their convenience and accessibility, often serving as staple meals across diverse regions. However, the fats used in these products are rich in saturated fatty acids and often comprise trans fatty acids, which are considered as a major biomarker for non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular disorders, obesity and diabetes. Additionally, these fats lack the essential omega-3 fatty acids, which are widely known for their therapeutic benefits. They play a major role in lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes. Thus, there is need for incorporating these essential fatty acids into bakery fats. Nevertheless, fortifying food products with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) poses several challenges due to their high susceptibility to oxidation. This oxidative deterioration leads to not only the formation of undesirable flavors, but also a loss of nutritional value in the final products. This review focuses on the development of healthier trans-fat-free bakery fat enriched with omega-3 fatty acids and its effect on the physicochemical, functional, sensory and nutritional properties of bakery fats and products. Further, the role of various technologies like physical blending, enzymatic interesterification and encapsulation to improve the stability of PUFA-rich bakery fat is discussed, where microencapsulation emerged as a novel and effective technology to enhance the stability and shelf life. By preventing deteriorative changes, microencapsulation ensures that the nutritional, physicochemical and sensory properties of food products remain intact. Novel modification methods like interesterification and microencapsulation used for developing PUFA-rich bakery fats have a potential to address the health risks occurring due to consumption of bakery fat having higher amount of saturated and trans fatty acids. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.     

Biomolecules in Metal and Semiconductor Nanoparticle Growth

Exerting control over the size, morphology, and complexity of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles and nanostructures is a requisite for exploring novel phenomena, and the potential applications of these nanomaterials. Bottom-up colloidal chemistry syntheses can benefit from using biomolecules as active elements to influence the formation of inorganic nanoparticles. In this review, we will discuss how three main biomolecule types, (namely DNA; amino acids, peptides, and proteins; and enzymes), can affect the growth of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles. We will present and discuss the templating and non-templating roles of those biomolecules, featuring key aspects and prospects of biomolecule-assisted metal and semiconductor nanoparticle growth.