Nonlinear optical absorption studies of sol–gel derived Yttrium Iron Garnet (Y3Fe5O12) nanoparticles by Z-scan technique

Sol–gel synthesized Yttrium Iron Garnet (Y₃Fe₅O₁₂) nanoparticles were subjected to open aperture Z-scan studies in order to investigate the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of these materials. The investigations were carried out using a Q-switched resonant Nd:YAG laser at a wavelength of 532 nm with different laser powers. Strong reverse saturable absorption (RSA) has been found when the sample is irradiated by the laser pulse of 10 Hz. The studies show that the material is highly nonlinear, which makes it useful for optical limiting applications.     

Deposition of titanium/titanium oxide clusters produced by magnetron sputtering

Titanium clusters of nanometer sizes are produced by magnetron sputtering with subsequent aggregation in an argon gas flow. The produced Ti clusters are directed and deposited on a silicon substrate. Deposited films are analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in order to obtain the chemical composition and by atomic force microscopy and X-ray reflection methods to obtain information about the film structure. Experiments were carried out at different temperatures of the walls of the magnetron chamber. The size and the flux of clusters from the magnetron chamber are obtained by the analysis of the substrate surface with deposited clusters. It is found that the cluster parameters strongly depend on the temperature of the magnetron chamber walls. Molecules of titanium oxides may be nuclei of condensation and accelerate the nucleation process. A theoretical analysis based on experimental results is presented. It allows us to describe various stages of cluster evolution from their formation up to the deposition on the substrate and provides estimations for parameters of the processes involving clusters.     

Removal and recovery of phosphate ions from aqueous solutions by amine functionalized epichlorohydrin-grafted cellulose

A novel cellulose grafted epichlorohydrin functionalized polyethylenimine (Cell-g-E/PEI) graft copolymer was synthesized using cellulose, epichlorohydrin and polyethylenimine in the presence of azetobis isobutyro nitrile (AIBN) as the initiator and N,N′-Methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) as the crosslinking agent. The graft copolymer, Cell-g-E/PEI was characterized using TGA/DTG, XRD, FTIR, and SEM-EDS to evaluate the structural and morphological characteristics of the graft copolymer. The effectiveness of the Cell-g-E/PEI, as adsorbent for the removal and recovery of phosphate ions from aqueous media was studied. The effects of pH, contact time, and initial sorbate concentration were studied to optimize the conditions for maximum adsorption. The adsorption process, which was pH dependent, shows maximum removal (> 99.0%) at pH 4.5. Kinetic study showed that 180 min of contact at 100 mg/L could adsorb about 99.6% of phosphate onto Cell-g-E/PEI. A pseudo-second-order kinetic model described successfully the kinetics of sorption of phosphate. Adsorption equilibrium data were correlated with the Langmuir, Freundlich and Redlich–Peterson isotherm models. The best fit was obtained with Freundlich model. Desorption of phosphate was studied by using 0.1 M HCl. Adsorption/desorption for more than six cycles showed the possibility of repeated use of this graft copolymer for the removal and recovery of phosphate from aqueous solutions.     

Eco-friendly thermal insulation material from cellulose nanofibre

Nano cellulose is a material of current interest that has attracted considerable attention from researchers due to its interesting properties such as low toxicity, availability, natural abundance, biodegradability, and flexible surface chemistry. Cellulose fiber, usually derived from wood, plant walls or cotton is an eco-friendly thermal insulation material. The cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) described in this work were derived from cotton via sulfuric acid hydrolysis followed by ultrasonication. The formation of CNF and its morphology were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The thermooptic parameters of the prepared sample, which to the author's knowledge has not been reported so far, were studied by the dual beam mode-matched thermal lens technique. Thermal diffusivity (2.61 × 10⁻⁸ m²/s) and thermal conductivity (0.108 W/mK) values of the prepared CNFs clearly point to the application potential of the material. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48272.     

Poly(acrylic acid‐co‐acrylamide‐co‐2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanesulfonic acid)‐grafted nanocellulose/poly(vinyl alcohol) composite for the in vitro gastrointestinal release of amoxicillin

Superabsorbent polymer composites (SAPCs) are very promising and versatile materials for biomedical applications. This study concentrates on the development of novel cellulose‐based SAPC, Poly(acrylic acid‐co‐acrylamide‐co?2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanesulfonic acid)‐grafted nanocellulose/poly(vinyl alcohol) composite, P(AA‐co‐AAm‐co‐AMPS)‐g‐NC/PVA, as a potential drug delivery vehicle. Amoxicillin was selected as a model drug, which is used for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori induced peptic and duodenal ulcers. P(AA‐co‐AAm‐co‐AMPS)‐g‐NC/PVA was synthesized by graft copolymerization reaction, and FTIR, XRD, SEM, and DLS analyses were performed for its characterization. Equilibrium swelling studies were conducted to evaluate the stimuli‐response behavior of the SAPC and found that equilibrium swelling was dependent on pH, contact time, temperature, ionic strength, concentration of crosslinker and PVA. Maximum drug encapsulation efficiency was found out by using different concentrations of amoxicillin. Drug release studies were carried out at simulated gastric and intestinal fluids and the release % was observed as maximum in intestinal fluids within 4 h. The drug release kinetics was investigated using Peppas' potential equation and follows non‐Fickian mechanism at pH 7.4. Thus, the drug release experiments indicate that P(AA‐co‐AAm‐co‐AMPS)‐g‐NC/PVA would be a fascinating vehicle for the in vitro administration of amoxicillin into the gastrointestinal tract. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40699.