119Sn magic angle spinning NMR of nanocrystalline SnO2

Nanocrystalline SnO2 samples of different grain sizes, prepared by inert gas condensation technique (IGCT) and chemical precipitation method and conforming to the tetragonal phase, have been studied by variable speed (3-10 kHz) 119Sn MAS NMR at 11.74 Tesla field. 119Sn solid-state NMR results show that the IGCT prepared samples have good crystallinity and phase purity compared to the samples prepared by the chemical method. The determination of 119Sn chemical shielding parameters (delta iso, delta delta and eta) from slow MAS spectra shows that the 119Sn isotropic chemical shift (delta iso) is strongly influenced at smaller grain sizes, attributable to the change in the O2- local symmetry for the surface 119Sn ions at smaller grain sizes. The observed line widths in MAS spectra are significantly larger than the life-time broadening due to spin-lattice (T1) and spin-spin (T2) relaxation. The 119Sn MAS NMR spectra are thus inhomogeneously broadened by a distribution of isotropic chemical shifts, the line broadening increasing with decrease in grain size.     

Green synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles prepared from Phyllanthus niruri leaf extract for dye adsorption and their isotherm and kinetic studies

Herein, the green synthesis of TiO₂ nanoparticles using Phyllanthus niruri leaf extract was accomplished by the sol‐gel method. The structure and particle size of the synthesised TiO₂ nanoparticles were characterised by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and the size was found to be 20 nm. The Fourier‐transform infrared spectra determined the existence of carboxyl and hydroxyl functional groups. The images from SEM analysis recommended a porous and heterogeneous surface. The methyl orange (MO) dye removal was examined using different parameters such as pH, time, dose, temperature and dye concentration. Maximum dye elimination percentage was achieved at pH 6.0 and 0.02 g as the optimum adsorbent dose. The kinetic analysis suggested that the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model finely defines adsorption dynamics. Langmuir adsorption isotherm studies revealed endothermic monolayer adsorption of the methyl Orange dye. The negative value of ∆G° and positive value of ∆H° showed the spontaneous and endothermic adsorption method.     

Extraction and Characterization of Calotropis gigantea Bast Fibers as Novel Reinforcement for Composites Materials

The aim of this study is to scrutinize the use of Calotropis gigantea bast fibers as potential reinforcement in polymer composites. The bast fibers were extracted from the Calotropis gigantea plant bark and some of them were treated with alkali (5 wt.%) solution. The chemical composition, physico-chemical structural properties of the untreated and the alkali treated Calotropis bast fibers were studied. The results of chemical composition analysis indicated that alkali treatment removed most of the non-cellulose materials as confirmed by the FTIR analysis. The X-ray diffraction results exhibited that the crystallinity index of the alkali treated fibers increased in comparison with the untreated fibers, which agrees with the results obtained in the mechanical tests. The tensile strength and modulus of the alkali treated fibers were found to be higher whereas the elongation at break was lower than the untreated fibers. Thermal stability of alkali treated fibers was lower than that of the untreated fiber. Scanning electron micrographs showed roughening of the surface of the fiber due to the removal of the surface impurities and non-cellulosic components on alkali treatment.It can be concluded that alkali treatment is an effective method to improve the surface and mechanical properties of Calotropis bast fibers to be used in composite materials.     

The growth of benzophenone crystals by Sankaranarayanan–Ramasamy (SR) method and slow evaporation solution technique (SEST): A comparative investigation

Longest unidirectional〈1 0 0〉 benzophenone (BP) crystal having dimension of 1060 mm length and 55 mm diameter was grown by Sankaranarayanan–Ramasamy method. The growth rate was measured by monitoring the elevation of the crystal–solution interface at different temperatures. The high resolution X-ray diffraction and etching measurements indicate that the unidirectional grown benzophenone crystal has good crystalline perfection and less density of defects. The optical damage threshold of SEST and SR grown BP crystals has been investigated and found that the SR grown benzophenone crystal has higher laser damage threshold value than the conventional method grown crystal. Microhardness measurement shows that crystals grown by SR method have a higher mechanical stability than the crystals grown by SEST method. Dielectric permittivity and birefringence are high in SR grown crystal compared to SEST grown BP crystal. The UV–vis-NIR results show that SR method grown crystal exhibits 7% higher transmittance as against crystals grown by conventional method.     

Nitrogen-doped ZnO shells: Studies on optical transparency and electrical conductivity

Studies on optical and electrical conductivity in nitrogen (N)-doped ZnO shells are explored. On incorporating low levels of nitrogen, the (0 0 2) X-ray diffraction (XRD) peak was found to be intensified significantly. Closely packed spherical crystallites of ZnO were transformed into flat-flakes during 0.1–0.3 M nitrogen doping and finally to shells, flattered at the center and tapered at ends, at 0.4 M. Both pristine and N-doped ZnO films show hydrophilic character. It was also found that the degree of transparency and the nature of conductivity as estimated by optical absorbance and Hall measurement, respectively, were strongly influenced by the levels of N-doping. Higher nitrogen doping led to decline in electrical resistivity and mobility due to an enhancement of free charge carriers. Presence of both (N₂)_O donor and (N)_O acceptor peaks in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy could be responsible for the formation of higher carrier concentration in ZnO films.     

Synthesis, characterization, and antimicrobial activity of nano-hydroxyapatite-zinc for bone tissue engineering applications

The bone implants used in tissue repair are susceptible to infections caused by staphylococci, specifically Staphylococcus aureus. Hence, the development of better biological materials that provide antimicrobial activity in bone tissue engineering is required. The nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite (nHAp) and nHAp dopped with Zn (nHAp-Zn) were prepared by the wet chemical method and the ion exchange method, respectively. They were characterized using SEM, AFM, FTIR and XRD. The antibacterial activity of nHAp and nHAp-Zn was determined with Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains. The results indicated that nHAp alone was acting as an inert matrix and when substituted with Zn, it showed better antibacterial activity. The nHAp-Zn was found to be non-toxic to osteoprogenitor cells. Thus, due to the antimicrobial property of nHAp-Zn nanoparticles, we suggest that they would have potential applications towards bone tissue engineering.     

Lie group analysis for the effects of temperature-dependent fluid viscosity and chemical reaction on MHD free convective heat and mass transfer with variable stream conditions

This paper concerns with a steady two-dimensional flow of an electrically conducting incompressible fluid over a vertical stretching surface. The flow is permeated by a uniform transverse magnetic field. The fluid viscosity is assumed to vary as a linear function of temperature. A scaling group of transformations is applied to the governing equations. The system remains invariant due to some relations among the parameters of the transformations. After finding three absolute invariants a third-order ordinary differential equation corresponding to the momentum equation and two second-order ordinary differential equation corresponding to energy and diffusion equations are derived. The equations along with the boundary conditions are solved numerically. It is found that the decrease in the temperature-dependent fluid viscosity makes the velocity to decrease with the increasing distance of the stretching sheet. At a particular point of the sheet the fluid velocity decreases with the decreasing viscosity but the temperature increases in this case. It is found that with the increase of magnetic field intensity the fluid velocity decreases but the temperature increases at a particular point of the heated stretching surface. Impact of chemical reaction in the presence of thermal radiation plays an important role on the concentration boundary layer. The results thus obtained are presented graphically and discussed.     

Modelling Corrosion Behavior of Friction Stir Processed Aluminium Alloy 5083 Using Polynomial: Radial Basis Function

Aluminium alloy 5083, widely used in marine applications, undergoes accelerated corrosion in sea water due to the aggressive reaction of chloride ions with the secondary phase particles and other intermetallics present in the alloy matrix. The corrosion rate of the alloy is also influenced by the temperature difference between the alloy and its environment. Friction stir processing (FSP) is a recent solid state processing technique for improving the surface properties of metals and alloys. In this study, an attempt has been made to explore the possibility of improving the corrosion resistance of AA5083 by FSP. FSP trials were performed by varying the tool rotation speed, tool traverse speed and shoulder diameter of the tool, as per face centered central composite design. The corrosion potential and the corrosion rate of friction stir processed AA5083 was studied using potentiodynamic polarization studies, at three different temperatures. Mathematical models based on polynomial—radial basis function were developed and used to study the effect of process parameters on the corrosion potential and the corrosion rate of friction stir processed AA5083. FSP resulted in refinement of the grain structure, dispersion and partial dissolution of secondary phase particles in the matrix, which increased the corrosion resistance of the alloy.     

Variation Of Airflow Pattern Through Dissimilar Valve Lift In A Spark Ignition Engine

Abstract

Bi-fuel conversions are a common alternative fuelling option for mono-fuel gasoline SI vehicles because of the minor vehicle modifications required. In Malaysia, most bi-fuel vehicles are fuelled with compressed natural gas (CNG) and gasoline. However, CNG flame speed is lower than gasoline reducing the power and range of the vehicle when operating on CNG. This situation can be improved by increasing the flame speed via higher swirl generation. A Computational fluid dynamics model is used to analyse swirl generated by dissimilar valve lift (DVL) profiles on the intake valve. A three-dimensional engine simulation shows differences in swirl motion and turbulence between the original symmetric valve lift profile and the DVL. The higher swirl number reduces the turbulence kinetic energy level slightly. The best case profile is selected for further experimental testing.     

Liquid-phase synthesized mesoporous electrochemical supercapacitors of nickel hydroxide

Electrochemical supercapacitive (ES) properties of liquid-phase synthesized mesoporous (pore size distribution centered ∼12 nm) and of 120 m²/g surface area nickel hydroxide film electrodes onto tin-doped indium oxide substrate are discussed. The amounts of inner and outer charges are calculated to investigate the contribution of mesoporous structure on charge storage where relatively higher contribution of inner charge infers good ion diffusion into matrix of nickel hydroxide. Effect of different electrolytes, electrolyte concentrations, deposit mass and scan rates on the current-voltage profile in terms of the shape and enclosed area is investigated. Specific capacitance of ∼85 F/g at a constant current density of 0.03 A/g is obtained from the discharge curve.