Radio frequency plasma assisted surface modification of Fe3O4 nanoparticles using polyaniline/polypyrrole for bioimaging and magnetic hyperthermia applications.

Surface modification of superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles using polymers (polyaniline/polypyrrole) was done by radio frequency (r.f.) plasma polymerization technique and characterized by XRD, TEM, TG/DTA and VSM. Surface-passivated Fe3O4 nanoparticles with polymers were having spherical/rod-shaped structures with superparamagnetic properties. Broad visible photoluminescence emission bands were observed at 445 and 580 nm for polyaniline-coated Fe3O4 and at 488 nm for polypyrrole-coated Fe3O4. These samples exhibit good fluorescence emissions with L929 cellular assay and were non-toxic. Magnetic hyperthermia response of Fe3O4 and polymer (polyaniline/polypyrrole)-coated Fe3O4 was evaluated and all the samples exhibit hyperthermia activity in the range of 42-45 °C. Specific loss power (SLP) values of polyaniline and polypyrrole-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (5 and 10 mg/ml) exhibit a controlled heat generation with an increase in the magnetic field.

Fabrication of antireflective silver-capped tin oxide nano-obelisk arrays as high sensitive SERS substrate.

Hybrid noble metal-semiconductor oxide nanostructures often provide unique and synergetic functionalities that are highly desirable in various practical applications. However, the fabrication of such systems with desired functionalities using cost-effective techniques is still a great challenge. In this work, we report a facile route for the preparation of novel Ag/SnO2 nano-obelisk arrayed thin films on silicon substrates by spray pyrolysis and thermal evaporation techniques. The prepared samples exhibited broadband antireflectance in both UV and visible regions attributed to the refractive index gradient and scattering provided by the nano-obelisk arrays. The localised surface plasmon resonance of silver nanocaps further enhanced the light absorption contributing to the antireflective property of the hybrid system. Ag/SnO2 nano-obelisk arrayed thin film exhibited excellent SERS performance with an enhancement factor of 1.13 × 108 with a limit of detection value of 10-12 M for the trace detection of R6G dye. In addition, Ag/SnO2 nano-obelisk arrayed thin film based SERS substrate exhibited good homogeneity across the measured spots and outstanding stability which are essential for quantitative field analysis. The results indicate that the Ag/SnO2 nano-obelisk arrayed thin films are efficient SERS substrates with the merits of having the ease of production, high sensitivity and stability for various practical sensing applications.

High-pressure Raman investigation of high index facets bounded α-Fe2O3 pseudocubic crystals.

High index facet bounded α-Fe2O3 pseudocubic crystals has gained the attention of the scientific community due to its promising electrochemical sensing response towards aqueous ammonia. The structural stability of α-Fe2O3 pseudocubic crystals is investigated through high-pressure Raman spectroscopy up to 22.2 GPa, and those results are compared with our ab initio theoretical calculations. The symmetry of the experimental Raman-active modes has been assigned by comparison with theoretical data. In addition to the Raman-active modes, two additional Raman features are also detected, whose intensity increases with compression. The origin of these two additional peaks addressed in this study, reveals a strong dependence on the geometry and the low dimensionality as the most plausible explanation.

Pressure-induced phase transition in hydrothermally grown ZnO nanoflowers investigated by Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy.

This paper reports the pressure-dependent photoluminescence and Raman spectral investigation of hydrothermally synthesized ZnO nanoflowers at room temperature. Intrinsic near-band-edge UV emission from ZnO nanoflowers is monotonously blue-shifted under pressures up to 13.8 GPa with a pressure coefficient of 26 meV GPa(-1), and this pressure value is nearly 5 GPa above the transition pressure from the wurtzite to the rock salt phase for bulk ZnO. The Raman band corresponds to the wurtzite phase, the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] modes were observed up to about 11 GPa from the spectra. The apparent discrepancy in the transition pressures as determined from photoluminescence and Raman studies suggests that it is a consequence of the gradual phase transition, in which the smallest nanoparticles are expected to remain in the wurtzite phase up to 13-15 GPa.

FT-IR and FT-Raman study of Nasicon type phosphates, ASnFe(PO4)3 [A=Na2, Ca, Cd].

FT-Raman and FT-IR spectra of ASnFe(PO4)3 [A=Na2, Ca, Cd] were recorded and analyzed. The bands were assigned in terms of the vibrational group frequencies of SnO6 octahedral and PO4 tetrahedral. The spectral analysis shows that the symmetry of corner shared octahedral (SnO6) and the tetrahedral (PO4) are lowered from their free ion symmetry state. The presence of Fe3+ ions disrupts the S-N-O-S-N chain in the structure. This causes distortion of SnO6 and PO4 in the structure of all the compounds. Also it is seen that there are two distinct PO4 tetrahedra of different P-O bond lengths. One of these tetrahedra is linearly distorted in all the title compounds. The PO4 frequencies and bond lengths are calculated theoretically and are in agreement with the experimental values. The presence of PO4 polyanion in the structure can reduce the redox energy and hence reduce the metal oxygen covalency strength in the structure.

Characterization and FTIR spectral studies of human urinary stones from Southern India.

Urinary stones resected from urinary bladders of patients hailing from Kollam district of Kerala State, India were analyzed by SEM, XRD and by thermal analysis techniques. The analytical results indicate that, stones have different composition, i.e., calcium phosphate, calcium phosphate hydroxide and sodium calcium carbonate. Infrared spectral studies also reveal the presence of phosphates or carbonates in these samples. Further, IR spectral investigations have revealed that amorphous carbonated species are occupied in PO(4) sites in calcium phosphate type stone and OH sites in calcium phosphate hydroxide sample. Thermal studies of these samples also reveal that, carbon dioxide is released from carbonated samples upon heating which is related to amount of carbon content and bond strength. Crystals with defects and irregular morphology are grown inside the urinary bladder due to variation in crystal growth conditions.

Spectroscopic properties of guanidinium zinc sulphate [C(NH2)3]2Zn(SO4)2 and ab initio calculations of [C(NH2)3]2 and HC(NH2)3.

Raman and FTIR spectra of guanidinium zinc sulphate [C(NH(2))(3)](2)Zn(SO(4))(2) are recorded and the spectral bands assignment is carried out in terms of the fundamental modes of vibration of the guanidinium cations and sulphate anions. The analysis of the spectrum reveals distorted SO(4)(2-) tetrahedra with distinct S-O bonds. The distortion of the sulphate tetrahedra is attributed to Zn-O-S-O-Zn bridging in the structure as well as hydrogen bonding. The CN(3) group is planar which is expressed in the twofold symmetry along the C-N (1) vector. Spectral studies also reveal the presence of hydrogen bonds in the sample. The vibrational frequencies of [C(NH(2))(3)](2) and HC(NH(2))(3) are computed using Gaussian 03 with HF/6-31G* as basis set.