Dicationic cobalt(II) complexes of the type [Co(fterpy)2]c(X)2·nH2O·mCH3OH (fterpy = 4′-(2-furyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine; 1: X = PF6-, n = 1.5, m = 0; 2: X = ClO4-, n = 1, m = 1) have been isolated using self-assembly method and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. In crystalline states both compounds exhibit gradual and incomplete spin crossover (SCO) behaviour in the temperature range 2-320 K. Various spin states of cobalt(II) in 1 have been confirmed by crystallographic evidences at 150 K and 293 K. A variation in counter anions and solvent molecules from 1 to 2 substantially improves the cooperativity among the spin active metal centres and thereby changing the nature of SCO behaviour.

This manuscript aims at synthesizing Al2O3-de-ionized water nanofluid and constructing a practical design of self-cooling device that does not require any external power input. Crystalline phase of powder was confirmed by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) showed the various functional groups and absorption bands and average particle size was calculated to be 58.608 nm by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) annealed at 900K. Experimental investigations were carried out to determine the effect of volume fraction of Al2O3 nanoparticles in the nanofluid on the rate of heat transfer from heat load to heat sink. Temperature of heat load was taken as 80° C. According to our results, cooling by 15°C, 13°C and 12°C was attained when volume fraction of nanoparticles was 1.5%, 1% and 0.5% respectively. The thermal conductivity was also measured and found to be increasing with the concentration of nanoparticles in nanofluid. Hence, indicating the use of nanofluids with suitable concentration in various cooling applications.

In this study, feasibility of spark discharge technique to generate mixed metal nanoparticles is demonstrated. Two immiscible metals Au and Zn are selected to prepare AuZn mixed nanoparticles. Ignition of spark between Au and Zn electrodes under normal pressure, in the presence of carrier gas, leads to formation of mixed nanoparticles by condensation and nucleation. Online particle size-distribution is monitored by a scanning mobility particle sizer on changing carrier gas flow rate and capacitor charging current during co-sparking between Au and Zn electrodes. The technique provides flexibility to generate binary mixture of AuZn nanoparticles in the size range of 10-80 nm. Distribution of Au and Zn in the prepared mixed nanoparticles is mapped by scanning electron microscopy and high resolution electron microscopy.

The photostability of two glycine molecules has been investigated using quantum mechanical methods i.e. at CASSCF/NEVPT2 level theory. It is found that the molecule in water shows vast photostability as a comparison to vacuum. The energies are calculated around HOMO and LUMO orbital. The NEVPT2 computed energies are reasonably matched with experimental results. The study shows that the molecule returns from higher electronically excited states to ground state through CI and AC crossings and these crossings provide a minimum energy path along derivative coupling and gradient differences vector.

Conducting polymers namely polyaniline (PANI), polypyrrole (PPy) and their copolymer poly(Aniline-co-Pyrrole)(PAPY) were prepared via in-situ polymerization process. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), infra-red (IR)and field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) studies confirm the formation of polyaniline, polypyrrole and their copolymer with aniline and pyrrole. The XRD pattern of copolymer displayed an amorphous structure as compared to polycrystalline homopolymers. FE-SEM results of Poly (Ani-co-Py) shows the existence of agglomerated spherical structured particles in the copolymer matrix, while the polyaniline and polypyrrole exhibit the porous tubular and spherical structures, respectively. Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) shows that the copolymer is more stable as compared to their homopolymers at higher temperature. Four probe resistivity (FPR) studies indicate that copolymer has the lower conductivity and act as a diode. Vector network analyzer (VNA) measurements observe a significant shielding effectiveness (SE) for all the conducting polymers.

Lithium substituted magnesium ferrites (LixMg1-xFe2O4, where x = 0.1 to 0.5) were synthesized by solid state reaction method. Various characterization techniques viz. X - Ray Diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to study the effect of lithium substitution. Differences in particle size, crystallinity and magnetic parameters of the ferrites synthesized with difference in composition were observed. XRD patterns of the synthesized samples confirmed phase purity and showed that the lattice parameter decreases with increase in Li content in magnesium ferrite. Decrease in coercivity with increase in lithium concentration was observed from magnetic analysis (VSM). Through FTIR, it was observed that Li+ ions occupy B – sites. FTIR spectrum peaks obtained in the region 1620 – 1670 cm-1 supported water molecule dissociation. It is the required characteristic of the lithium substituted magnesium ferrite to be used in various applications like humidity sensor and hydroelectric cell.

Nano-sized BiFeO3 were synthesized by sol-gel auto combustion method and report the effect of different annealing temperature (400 °C, 500 °C, 600 °C) on phase formation, morphology, magnetic and dielectric properties of synthesized bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) nanoparticles. The phase formation of BFO nanoparticles were confirmed by X-ray diffraction pattern. Further, significant increment in particle size with increasing annealing temperature was estimated by field emission electron microscopy (FESEM). Magnetization curve showed the soft ferromagnetic behavior of the samples annealed at 400 OC and 500 OC that was explained on the basis of disturbance of spiral modulated long range antiferromagnetic order of bulk BFO. Dielectric response revealed decrease in dielectric constant with increasing annealing temperature. BFO is a room-temperature multiferroic material so it is potential candidate for various applications viz. Water waste treatment, gas sensors and photovoltaic cells in rural areas.

We report evolution of the surface and wetting behavior of Barium fluoride (BaF2) thin films under the effect of swift heavy ion (SHI) irradiation at different fluences. The analogy of this study may be used may be used for the development of dust resistant fabric technology for rural area. The ion irradiation has been performed at normal incidence on the films with Au ions having 100 MeV energy. Further, the wettability of irradiated surfaces is studied through contact angle of water droplet. The value of contact angle of droplet changes with irradiation, it increases from 111° to 123° with the increase in fluence from 5×1011 to 1×1013 ions/cm2. The mechanism of wettability of BaF2 is explained on the basis of increase in contact area of water droplet with surface. SHI irradiation deposits a huge amount of energy in materials due to extreme electronic excitation and it causes a large increase in the temperature of material around the ion track. Ion beam irradiation leads to the large ejection of atoms from the surface which is one of the major factors in increasing the roughness of the surface and thus for the change in contact angle.

Nano-patterned surfaces have potential applications in the development of efficient solar cells through multiple internal reflections and may be used to fulfil the energy demand of rural India. Therefore, the basic understanding of growth mechanism of patterns under ion irradiation is much required. Here, the ripple patterns are grown on Si (100) surfaces for two specific ion irradiation conditions. First, the two set of samples (namely set-A and set-B) of Si (100) are irradiated by 50 keVAr+ ion beam at oblique (60°) and normal incidence, respectively, using ion fluence of 5×1016 ions/ cm2. The aim of this first stage irradiation at two different angles is the creation of different depth locations of amorphous/crystalline (a/c) interface while keeping the free surface similar in surface features, which is a crucial parameter in surface growth. Further, the sequential second stage irradiation is carried out at 60° for the same energy of Ar beam for the fluences 3×1017 to 9×1017 ions/cm2 to see the evolution of ripple patterns. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) study shows that the ripple pattern ordering is better in set-A rather than set-B. Lateral correlation length of each ripple structure surface is computed by autocorrelation function while roughness exponent is measured with height-height correlation function. Fractals behaviors of patterned on Si (100) surface are found to be sensitive to the two stage irradiation approach. The understanding of the mechanism of nano-patterns formation may be useful to develop efficient solar systems for the needs of energy in rural India.