Effect of substrate bias voltage on the physical properties of dc reactive magnetron sputtered NiO thin films

Nickel oxide (NiO) thin films were prepared on glass substrates at various bias voltages using dc reactive magnetron sputtering technique. The influence of substrate bias voltage on structural, optical and electrical properties was systematically investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM, EDS, spectrophotometer and Hall effect studies. The NiO films are crystalline with preferential growth along (2 0 0) plane. The NiO films exhibit optical transmittance of 55% and direct band gap of 3.78 eV at the substrate bias voltage of −75 V. The electrical resistivity decreases as substrate bias voltage increases from 0 to −75 V thereafter it was slightly increased.     

A robust and high precision optimal explicit guidance scheme for solid motor propelled launch vehicles with thrust and drag uncertainty

A new nonlinear optimal and explicit guidance law is presented in this paper for launch vehicles propelled by solid motors. It can ensure very high terminal precision despite not having the exact knowledge of the thrust–time curve apriori. This was motivated from using it for a carrier launch vehicle in a hypersonic mission, which demands an extremely narrow terminal accuracy window for the launch vehicle for successful initiation of operation of the hypersonic vehicle. The proposed explicit guidance scheme, which computes the optimal guidance command online, ensures the required stringent final conditions with high precision at the injection point. A key feature of the proposed guidance law is an innovative extension of the recently developed model predictive static programming guidance with flexible final time. A penalty function approach is also followed to meet the input and output inequality constraints throughout the vehicle trajectory. In this paper, the guidance law has been successfully validated from nonlinear six degree-of-freedom simulation studies by designing an inner-loop autopilot as well, which enhances confidence of its usefulness significantly. In addition to excellent nominal results, the proposed guidance has been found to have good robustness for perturbed cases as well.     

Influence of structure of organic modifiers and polyurethane on the clay dispersion in nanocomposites via in situ polymerization

Influence of polyurethane (PU) structure on the nature of PU/clay nanocomposite was studied using varying amounts of trimethylol propane (TMP) as branching agent. The effect of hydroxyl groups in the modifier of organoclays on the structure of PU/clay nanocomposites was studied. Nanocomposites were characterized using wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction measurements (WAXD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that formation of completely exfoliated and well dispersed polyurethane/clay nanocomposites via in situ polymerization, is facilitated by the presence of tethering groups on the clay surface and an ability to form branched and crosslinked structures. Incorporation of long alkyl chains in addition to tethering hydroxyl groups in the modifier structure of the clay did not significantly improve the compatibility of linear PU with the clay. Intercalated thermoplastic polyurethane/clay nanocomposites, prepared using poly(caprolactone diol) as soft segment and isophorone diisocyanate and 1,4‐butanediol as hard segments show increase in storage tensile moduli at temperatures before glass transition temperature when functional groups capable of chemically reacting with the growing polymer chains are present in the clay modifier. This is indicative of improved interaction of the polymer with the clay surface when the modifier has larger number of hydroxyl groups. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Tri‐band and quad‐band dual L‐slot coupled circularly polarized dielectric resonator antennas

In this paper, two Dielectric Resonator Antenna (DRA) models fed through a pair of diagonally coupled asymmetric L‐slots are incorporated on the ground plane of size 44 X 44 mm² with a strip line feed underneath the substrate are presented. The proposed DRA‐1 is a triband antenna, resonates at 5.2GHz, 6.7GHz and 9.85GHz with a gain of 5.6dBi, 5.66dBi and 9.8dBi respectively. The bandwidth offered at Circularly Polarized (CP) band by DRA‐1 is 1.95 GHz (6‐7.95 GHz). The proposed second model DRA‐2 operates at 5 GHz, 6.4 GHz, 7.8 GHz and 10.3 GHz with a peak gain of 5.5dBi, 5dBi, 6.1dBi and 7.8dBi respectively. The quad‐band DRA‐2 offers two CP bands with bandwidths of 1.3GHz (7‐8.3 GHz) and 1.2 GHz (9.8‐11 GHz). The multiple operating bands of the proposed DRAs are appropriate for different wireless applications such as WLAN, C‐Band and X‐Band range of frequencies.     

Isolation of a free radical‐scavenging antioxidant from water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk)

Ipomoea aquatica Forsk, a green leafy vegetable that is a rich source of vitamins and amino acids with many health benefits, has been explored for the isolation and identification of its bioactive compounds. Activity‐guided repeated fractionation of a methanol extract on a silica gel column followed by an XAD column yielded a compound that exhibited antioxidant activity with an EC₅₀ value of 83 ± 1.02 µg ml^?1 reaction mixture. It also showed very strong lipid peroxidation‐inhibitory activity in a liposome model system with an EC₅₀ value of 72.2 ± 0.9 µg ml^?1. However, it showed negligible metal‐chelating activity. Based on UV, 2D nuclear magnetic resonance and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry studies, the compound was tentatively identified to be 7‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐dihydroquercetin‐3‐O‐α‐D ‐glucopyranoside. This is the first report on the antioxidant properties of I aquatica leaf extracts. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Diethyl ether as an ignition improver for biogas homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) operation - An experimental investigation

This paper deals with experimental investigations of a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine using biogas as a primary fuel and diethyl ether (DEE) as an ignition improver. The biogas is inducted and DEE is injected into a single-cylinder engine. For each load condition, best brake thermal efficiency DEE flow rate is determined. The results obtained in this study are also compared with those of the available biogas-diesel dual-fuel and biogas spark ignition (SI) modes. From the results, it is found that biogas-DEE HCCI mode shows wider operating load range and higher brake thermal efficiency (BTE) at all loads as compared to those of biogas-diesel dual-fuel and biogas SI modes. In HCCI mode, at 4.52 bar BMEP, as compared to dual-fuel and SI modes, BTE shows an improvement of about 3.48 and 9.21% respectively. Also, nitric oxide (NO) and smoke emissions are extremely low, and carbon monoxide (CO) emission is below 0.4% by volume at best brake thermal efficiency points. Also, in general, in HCCI mode, hydrocarbon (HC) emissions are lower than that of biogas SI mode. Therefore, it is beneficial to use biogas-DEE HCCI mode while using biogas in internal combustion engines.     

Chemical reaction effects on magnetohydrodynamic convective flow past a vertical absorbent plate with ramped wall temperature and concentration

The numerical analysis is conducted to evaluate the heat generating as well as Soret–Dufour influences on magnetohydrodynamic unsteady chemically reacting fluid. It is owing to an exponentially stimulating perpendicular porous plate entrenched in the absorbent medium by considering ramped surface temperatures and concentrations in the endurance of thermal radiating. The fundamental governing set of equations of the fluid dynamics in the flow is converted into dimensionless form by inserting suitable dimensionless parameters and variables, and the resulting equations are numerically solved by the efficient Crank–Nicolson implicit finite difference method. The influence of several important substantial parameters into the model on the velocity, temperature, and concentration of the fluid, in addition to the skin-frictions coefficient, Nusselt's number along with Sherwood's number for both thermal conditions has been studied and explored intensely by making use of graphs and tables. It is discovered that, with mounting values of Dufour, heat generating as well as thermal radiating parameters, the fluid temperatures, and velocity enhanced. Likewise, it is noticed that increasing the Soret parameter causes escalated fluid velocity and concentration, whereas the reverse result is noted with the chemical reaction parameter.     

Numerical and linear regression analysis on MHD two-phase flow in an asymmetric nonuniform channel

The flow through asymmetric nonuniform (convergent) channels with the effect of the magnetic field have a pronounced impact in engineering and biological fields such as chemical and food industries, blood flow through capillaries, and arteries, and so forth. With this motivation, the present study focuses on convective hydromagnetic particulate suspension flow in an asymmetric convergent channel under the heat generation effect. The numerical method is applied to solve the nondimensionalized equations governing the transport process of fluid and particle flow and its heat. To check the convergence of the computational results, a grid independence test has been performed. A comparison test has been made to validate the results and an admirable agreement is noticed with published results. Computation results are reported for the influence of emerging parameters on the fluid as well as particle velocity and temperature profiles through graphs and tables. A method of slope linear regression through data points is presented to study the impact of various parameters on skin friction and Nusselt number. The study pioneers the investigation on the significance of the combined influence of cross-flow Reynolds number and magnetic field on fluid and particle in the convergent channel and also reports its importance on drag coefficient and rate of heat transfer at the walls. It is perceived that a reduction in fluid velocity takes place with an increment in Magnetic parameter, Grashof number, and Reynolds number. An augmentation in fluid temperature is noted with an increment in Prandtl number and heat source parameter.     

Design of Tri-Band MIMO Antenna with Improved Isolation using DGS and Vias

Wireless Personal Communications - An antenna which is used for multipurpose like WiMAX, RADAR altimeter and X-band applications proposed. A tri-band multiple-input–multiple-output antenna...     

Lead adsorption study on combustion derived <Emphasis Type=Italic>γ</Emphasis>-Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> surface

New combustion synthetic route for the synthesis of nanosized γ-Fe₂O₃ by microwave-assisted route is reported. X-ray density, tap density and powder density of prepared γ-Fe₂O₃ are calculated. Adsorption study of Pb²⁺ on combustion derived nanosized γ-Fe₂O₃ is studied by dynamic method. The γ-Fe₂O₃ structure and lead adsorbed γ-Fe₂O₃ (Pb-γ-Fe₂O₃) are studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Additional lead peaks in Pb-γ-Fe₂O₃ sample pattern confirm the lead adsorption. Morphology of as prepared γ-Fe₂O₃ and Pb-γ-Fe₂O₃ is studied by scanning electron micrograph (SEM) technique. Varied morphology for Pb-γ-Fe₂O₃ compared to its γ-Fe₂O₃ is observed. Variation of bonding in Pb-γ-Fe₂O₃ sample due to lead adsorption is viewed by infrared spectroscopic (IR) technique. Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX) is scanned for the lead adsorbed γ-Fe₂O₃ to know the presence of lead on γ-Fe₂O₃ surface. The eluent lead solution is characterized by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and solution conductivity (SC). Reduction in the concentration and increase in conductance of eluent lead solution is observed. The potential use of solid adsorbents for the adsorption of heavy metal pollutants is envisaged in the present work.