1. Cost-effective Green Synthesis of Boron rich Carbide Coatings for IR Windows and Night Vision OpticsMohanachandran Nair Sindhu Swapna, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: The increasing demand for infrared (IR) window materials for various applications in optical imaging systems necessitates the development of cost-effective green techniques. Herein, the synthesis of refractory boron carbide (BC) using castor oil, as carbon precursor, and the preparation of IR transparent films by thermal vapor deposition technique is reported. Films are prepared with 1:3, 1:4, and 1:5 ratios of boric acid and castor oil, respectively. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform IR (FTIR) analyses reveal the structure of films prepared to be BC. The morphology of the films is analyzed by the atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique, and its dependence on precursor’s ratio is also studied. The spectroscopic characterization by the ultraviolet–visible–near IR (UV–vis–NIR) transmittance study reveals the potential of the films for IR window applications. The bandgap energy of the BC films determined from the Tauc plot yields a value of 2.33 eV. The absorption coefficient, extinction coefficient, refractive index, dissipation factor, and optical conductivity are also studied from the reflectance and transmittance data.
Keywords: Green Synthesis, Boron rich Carbide, coatings, IR Windows
Published in RUNG: 05.07.2022; Views: 1561; Downloads: 0
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2. Boron carbide Nanowires from castor oil for optronic applications: A low-temperature greener approachMohanachandran Nair Sindhu Swapna, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: The development of one-dimensional nanostructures has revolutionized electronic and photonic industries because of their unique properties. The present paper reports the low-temperature green synthesis of boron carbide nanowires, of diameter 14 nm and length 2 lm, by the condensation method using castor oil as the carbon precursor. The nanowires synthesized exhibit beaded chain morphology, and bandgap energy of 2.08 eV revealed through the Tauc plot analysis. The structure of boron carbide nanowires is revealed by micro-Raman, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic, and X-ray diffraction analyses. The thermogravimetric analysis of the sample reveals the excellent thermal stability. The photoluminescence study reveals the nanowire’s blue light emission capability under ultraviolet excitation, which is substantiated by the CIE plot suggesting its potential in photonic applications.
Keywords: Boron carbide, Nanowires, castor oil, green synthesis
Published in RUNG: 04.07.2022; Views: 1668; Downloads: 0
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3. Boron‑rich boron carbide from soot : a low-temperature green synthesis approachMohanachandran Nair Sindhu Swapna, H. V. Saritha Devi, Sankaranarayana Iyer Sankararaman, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Boron carbide is a promising super-hard semiconducting material for refractory applications ranging from the nuclear industry to spacecraft. The present work is the frst report of not only turning futile soot, containing carbon allotropes in varying
composition, into boron-rich boron carbide (BC), but also developing it by a low-cost, low-temperature, and green synthesis
method. The BC synthesised from gingelly oil soot is subjected to structural, morphological, and optical characterisations.
The feld emission scanning electron microscope shows beautiful fower-like morphology, and the thermogravimetric analysis reveals the high-temperature stability of the sample synthesised. The Tauc plot of the sample indicates a 2.38 eV direct
bandgap. The formation of BC and boron-rich carbide evidenced by X-ray difraction studies is confrmed through Raman
and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic signatures of B–C and C–B–C bonds. The fuorescence, power spectrum, and
CIE analyses carried out suggest the blue light emission for excitation at 350 nm
Keywords: boron carbide, soot, carbon nanoparticle, refractory, allotropes, green synthesis
Published in RUNG: 30.06.2022; Views: 1847; Downloads: 0
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4. Synthesis, Structure and Antimicrobial Property of Green Composites from Cellulose, Wool, Hair and Chicken FeatherChieu Tran, Franja Prosenc, Mladen Franko, Gerald Benzi, 2016, original scientific article Abstract: Novel composites between cellulose (CEL) and keratin (KER) from three different sources (wool, hair and chicken feather) were successfully synthesized in a simple one-step
process in which butylmethylimidazolium chloride (BMIm+Cl-), an ionic liquid, was used as the sole solvent. The method is green and recyclable because [BMIm+Cl-] used was recovered for reuse. Spectroscopy (FTIR, XRD) and imaging (SEM) results confirm that CEL and KER remain chemically intact and homogeneously distributed in the composites. KER retains some of its secondary structure in the composites. Interestingly, the minor differences in the structure of
KER in wool, hair and feather produced pronounced differences in the conformation of their corresponding composites with wool has the highest α-helix content and feather has the lowest content. These results correlate well with mechanical and antimicrobial properties of the composites. Specifically, adding CEL into KER substantially improves mechanical strength of [CEL+KER] composites made from all three different sources, wool, hair and chicken feathers (i.e., [CEL+wool], [CEL+hair] and [CEL+feather]. Since mechanical strength is due to CEL, and CEL has only random structure, [CEL+feather] has, expectedly, the strongest mechanical property because feather has the lowest content of α-helix. Conversely, [CEL+wool] composite
has the weakest mechanical strength because wool has the highest α-helix content. All three composites exhibit antibacterial activity against methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The antibacterial property is due not to CEL but to the protein and strongly depends on the type of the
keratin, namely, the bactericidal effect is strongest for feather and weakest for wool. These results together with our previous finding that [CEL+KER] composites can control release of drug such as ciprofloxacin clearly indicate that these composites can potentially be used as wound dressing.
Keywords: Green synthesis, Ionic liquid, Keratin, Antibacteria, Wound dressing
Published in RUNG: 08.06.2016; Views: 5029; Downloads: 0
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