Progress towards blue emitting MgO-ZnO-Ga2O3 nanocomposites synthesized by bio mediated route.

MgO-ZnO-Ga2O3 nanocomposites are synthesized by solution combustion method using Aloe Vera gel as a reducing agent to increase the efficiency of blue emission. The appearance of Bragg reflections corresponding to MgO, ZnO and Ga2O3 clearly indicates the formation of nanocomposites. The surface morphology consists irregular shape and sized NPs. The Energy dispersive X-ray analysis confirms the purity of the sample. The band energy gap was tuned to 3.1 eV. The Photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra was discussed and compared it with emission spectra of individual oxides as well as with other reported blue emitted nanophosphors. Further, the chromaticity coordinates and Color correlated temperature coordinates clearly confirms their warm blue emission. Further, the powder dusting method was employed to collect the latent fingerprints on the pores and non-pores surfaces. The synthesized MgO-ZnO-Ga2O3 nanocomposites exhibits well-resolved ridge patterns that can be used to identify latent finger prints with clarity. From all these results, the present synthesized MgO-ZnO-Ga2O3 nanocomposite might find an application in display technology as a blue nanophosphor material and for latent finger print detection in crime investigation.

Red emission of copper aluminate synthesized via chemical and bio-mediated routes.

For the first time, copper aluminate nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized by a combustion method using urea as a fuel (CAOU) and Ocimum sanctum (tulsi) extract as a reducing agent (CAOT). The Bragg reflections of the as-formed product confirm the formation of a cubic phase with Fd3̄m space group. The crystallite size, crystallinity and other structural parameters are discussed. The surface morphology of CAOU is agglomerated in nature whereas that of CAOT is hexagonal in shape. The smaller crystallite size CAOT NPs show a higher energy band gap. The photoluminescence (PL) analysis excited at 302 nm shows that the CIE coordinates fall in the red region. The oxygen defects are mainly responsible for the PL emission. The CCT coordinates confirm that both CAOU and CAOT NPs can find an application in warm light emitting diodes.

Effect of Eu3+ doping on structural and optical properties of zirconium titanate.

The Europium activated (1-9 mol %) Zirconium Titanate nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized by the green solution combustion method using Aloe Vera gel extract as a reducing agent, followed by the calcination at 720 °C for 3hrs. All the synthesized samples crystallize in a pure orthorhombic crystal structure with the space group of Pbcn. The surface and bulk morphology were analyzed. The crystallite size increases, whereas the direct energy band gap was found to decrease with an increase in dopant concentration. Further, the effect of dopant concentration on the photoluminescence properties was studied. The presence of Eu3+ ion in the trivalent state in the host lattice was confirmed by its characteristic emission at 610 nm due to 5D0→7F2 (λex = 464 nm). The CIE coordinates were found in the red region of the CIE 1931 diagram. The CCT coordinates lie in the range 6288-7125 K. The Judd-Ofelt parameters and derived quantities were analyzed. This theory confirms the high symmetry of Eu3+ ions in the host lattice. These findings imply that ZTO:Eu3+ can be employed as a nanopowder material in a red-emitting phosphor material.

Photoluminescence, antibacterial, X-ray/gamma ray absorption, supercapacitor and sensor applications of ZrTiO4 nanorods.

In the present communication, ZrTiO4 nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized by the solution combustion method using urea (ZTOU) and oxalyl dihydrazide (ODH) (ZTODH) as fuel and calcined at 700 °C. The synthesized samples were characterized with different techniques. Powder X-ray diffraction studies show the presence of diffraction peaks corresponding to ZrTiO4. In addition to these peaks, a few additional peaks corresponding to the monoclinic and cubic phases of ZrO2 and the rutile phase of TiO2 are observed. The surface morphology of ZTOU and ZTODH consists of nanorods with different lengths. The TEM and HRTEM images confirm the formation of nanorods along with NPs, and the estimated crystallite size matches well with that of PXRD. The direct energy band gap was calculated using Wood and Tauc's relation and was found to be 2.7 and 3.2 eV for ZTOU and ZTODH respectively. The photoluminescence emission peaks (λ = 350 nm), CIE and CCT of ZTOU and ZTODH clearly confirm that the present nanophosphor might be a good nanophosphor material for blue or aqua green light emitting diodes. Furthermore, antibacterial activity and a viability test were conducted on two food borne pathogens. The X-ray/gamma ray absorption properties are also studied, which clearly show the ZrTiO4 might be a good absorbing material. Furthermore, cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis of ZTOU nanorods shows very good redox peaks compared to that of ZTODH. From the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements, the charge-transfer resistances for prepared nanorods ZTOU and ZTODH are found to be 151.6 Ω, and 184.5 Ω respectively. The modified graphite electrode with ZTOU shows good sensing activity for both paracetamol and ascorbic acid, compared to ZTODH.

Gamma, X-ray and neutron shielding parameters for the Al-based glassy alloys.

The X-ray and gamma radiation shielding parameters (mass attenuation coefficient, mean free path, half value layer, tenth value layer, effective atomic numbers, electron density, exposure buildup factors, relative dose, dose rate and specific gamma ray constant) have been studied for the Al-based glassy alloys Al86Y7Ni5Co1Fe0.5Pd0.5, Al85Y8Ni5Co1Fe0.5Pd0.5, Al84Y9Ni4Co1.5Fe0.5Pd1, Al80Y13Ni5Co1Fe0.5Pd0.5, Al70Y23Ni5Co1Fe0.5Pd0.5 and Al60Y33Ni5Co1Fe0.5Pd0.5. For the same alloys, the neutron shielding parameters (coherent neutron scattering length, incoherent neutron scattering lengths, coherent neutron scattering cross section, incoherent neutron scattering cross sections, total neutron scattering cross section and neutron absorption cross sections) have also been explored. Al60Y33Ni5Co1Fe0.5Pd0.5 was found to be a good shielding material for the X-ray/gamma radiation, while Al86Y7Ni5Co1Fe0.5Pd0.5 is a good shielding material for neutrons.

Dose assessment of bremsstrahlung induced by beta-emitting radioisotopes of uranium-238 series and lead in human tissues.

In the natural uranium-238 decay series, pure beta isotopes such as (234)Th, (234)Pa, (214)Pb, (214)Bi, (210)Pb and (210)Bi are released. The few lead isotopes such as (211)Pb, (212)Pb, (213)Pb and (215)Pb are good beta emitters. In certain nuclear reactions of reactor these isotopes are released. These beta isotopes have maximum beta energies, which induce the bremsstrahlung radiation. The bremsstrahlung component of these beta isotopes has been traditionally ignored in dosimetry calculations. The shapes of bremsstrahlung spectra are a basic ingredient in the understanding and quantification of beta-ray dosimetry. The bremsstrahlung spectra produced by these high-energy isotopes such as (234)Th, (234)Pa, (214)Pb, (214)Bi, (210)Pb, (210)Bi, (211)Pb, (212)Pb, (213)Pb and (215)Pb in bone, muscle and teeth are studied, and the computed spectral distributions are presented. The spectral shapes are primarily responsible for variations in the shapes of depth-dose distributions. They are intended to provide a quick and convenient reference for spectral shapes and to give an indication of the wide variation in these shapes. The evaluated beta bremsstrahlung dose as a function distance for the studied nuclides is also presented. The efficiency, intensity and dose rate of bremsstrahlung induced by beta isotopes of natural uranium-238 decay series and beta-emitting lead isotopes in human tissues such as brain, breast, heart, kidney, liver, muscle, pancreas and bone have also been studied in the present investigation. The values of bremsstrahlung dosimetric parameters are low for pancreas, but they are high for bone. For all studied tissues these parameters are high for (234)Pa, but low for (210)Pb.

Bremsstrahlung dose of 165Dy in radiosynovectomy.

There has been an increased interest in 165Dy radiossynovectomy, which emits relatively high-energy (> 1 MeV) beta rays. The production of in vivo bremsstrachlung radiation hazards warrants evaluation. The bremsstrahlung component of the decay scheme of 165Dy has been traditionally ignored in internal dosimetry calculations. We have estimated the bremsstrahlung dose of 165Dy distributed in muscle and bone to body by various internal organs (adrenals, brain, breasts, gallbladder wall, LLI wall, small intestine, stomach, ULI wall, heart wall, kidneys, liver, lungs, muscle, ovaries, pancreas, red marrow, bone surfaces, skin, spleen, testes, thymus, thyroid, urine bladder wall, uterus, fetus, placenta, and total body) during radiosynovictomy. In the present study, muscle and bone are considered to be source organs. These estimated values show that the bremsstrahlung radiation absorbed dose contribution from an organ to itself is very small compared to that originating from the beta source. However, contribution to other organs is not always negligible, especially when large amounts of 165Dy may be involved, such as in therapy applications. Hence the component of the total dose due to bremsstrahlung dose should be considered in radiosynovictomy or other therapy applications.

A dosimetric study of Beta induced bremsstrahlung in bone.

A dosimetric study of beta-induced bremsstrahlung in bone is important in the field of radiation protection. The beta-induced bremsstrahlung spectra produced by 113 pure beta nuclides in the bone are computed. The spectral shapes are primarily responsible for variations in the shapes by depth-dose distributions. They are intended to provide a quick and convenient reference for spectral shapes and to give an indication of the wide variation in these shapes. The computed bremsstrahlung spectrum is used in the evaluation of bremsstrahlung dose in bone. The evaluated beta bremsstrahlung dose as a function of distance for the studied nuclides is also presented. The beta bremsstrahlung dose decreases with the increase in distance. Present work also estimates the dosimetric parameters of bremsstrahlung such as yield, intensity and dose rate of bremsstrahlung by various pure beta nuclides in tissues of human skeleton such as cortical bone, red marrow, yellow marrow, spongiosa and cartilage. The yield, intensity and dose rate of bremsstrahlung in the cortical bone are higher than that of red marrow, yellow marrow, spongiosa and cartilage. Hence cortical bone is more beta/bremsstrahlung radiosensitive than that of other tissues of human skeleton. The estimated bremsstrahlung efficiency, intensity, photon spectra and photon track-length distributions determine the quality and quantity of the radiation. Precise estimation of this source term is very important in planning for radiotherapy and diagnosis.

A study of photon interaction parameters in lung tissue substitutes.

The study of photon interaction with different composite materials has become a topic of prime importance for radiation physicists. Some parameters of dosimetric interest are the mass attenuation coefficient, effective atomic number, and electron density; these help in the basic understanding of photon interactions with composite materials. The photon interaction parameters such as mass attenuation coefficient (µ/ρ), effective atomic number (Zeff), and effective electron density (N el) must be identical for the phantom material and their tissue. In the present study, we have evaluated the photon interaction parameters such as (µ/ρ), Z eff and N el of 13 lung tissue substitutes. The variations of these parameters of lung tissue substitutes with photon energy are graphically represented. The photon interaction parameters of lung tissue substitutes are compared with that of lung tissue. The variation of photon interaction parameters of the studied lung tissue substitutes is similar that of the lung. Logically, it can be shown that Alderson lung is good substitute for lung than the other substitutes.

Comparison of photon interaction parameters of some tissues and their substitutes.

The photon interaction parameters such as mass attenuation coefficient (µ/ρ), effective atomic number (Z eff) and effective electron density (N el) must be identical for the phantom material and their tissue. In the present study, the µ/ρ, Z eff, and N el for muscle, breast, lung tissue have been computed, and their substitutes such as Griffith muscle, Griffith breast, Griffith lung, Alderson muscle A, Alderson muscle, and Alderson lung. Also compared were µ/ρ, Z eff, and N el for muscle, breast, lung tissue, and their substitutes. It can be shown that Alderson muscle B is better substitute for muscle than Griffith muscle and Alderson muscle A. Similarly, the photon interaction parameters of tissue substitutes of lung and breast with their original tissue were also compared.

Bremsstrahlung dose of therapeutic beta nuclides in bone and muscle.

In the nuclear medicine, beta nuclides are released during the treatment. This beta interacts with bone and muscle and produces external Bremsstrahlung (EB) radiation. Present work formulated a new method to evaluate the EB spectrum and hence the Bremsstrahlung dose of therapeutic beta nuclides (Lu-177, Sr-90, Sm-153, I-153, Cs-137, Au-201, Dy-165, Mo-99, Sr-89, Fe-59, P-32, Ho-166, Sr-92, Re-188, Y-90, Pr-147, Co-60, K-42) in bone and muscle. The Bremsstrahlung yields of these beta nuclides are also estimated. Bremsstrahlung production is higher in bone than that of muscle. Presented data provides a quick and convenient reference for radiation protection and it can be quickly employed to give a first pass dose estimate prior to a more detailed experimental study.

Study of effective atomic number and electron density for tissues from human organs in the energy range of 1 keV-100 GeV.

Effective atomic numbers' (Z(eff)) effective electron density (N(el)) for human organs and tissues have been computed in the energy region of 1 keV to 100 GeV using WinXCOM. The computed data of Z(eff) and N(el) are tabulated. The computed values are compared with previous results. The computed data of Z(eff)and N(el)for almost all tissues (34 tissues of different human organs) in the given energy range are not available in literature and find application in radiotherapy and dosimetry.

Photon interaction parameters of dosimetric interest in bone.

The effective atomic numbers (Z(eff)) and electron densities (N(el)) of cortical and compact bone have been computed for total and partial photon interactions (photoelectric absorption, coherent scattering, incoherent scattering, pair production in a nuclear field, pair production in an electronic field, and sum of non-coherent scattering) by computing the molecular, atomic, and electronic cross section in the wide energy range of 1 keV-100 GeV using WinXCom. The variations of effective atomic number and electron density with energy are shown graphically for all photon interactions. The effective atomic numbers (ZPEA(eff)) for photon energy absorption are also calculated from mass energy absorption coefficients in the energy range 1 keV-20 MeV. The kerma values of bone relative to air are also computed. Additionally, computed tomography (CT) numbers of bone for photon interaction and energy absorption are also computed. The computed Z(eff) and N(el) may be useful in choosing a substitute composite material in place of bone. The estimated mass energy absorption coefficient may be used to evaluate dose and determine the surviving fraction (S) for bone. The usefulness of computed data in the simulation of tissue substitutes is also discussed.

Computation of CT-number and Z(eff) in teeth.

Computerized tomography (CT) number (it is a normalized value of the x ray absorption coefficient of a pixel in a computed tomogram) and the effective atomic number (Z(eff)) of teeth [enamel outer surface (EOS), enamel middle (EM), enamel dentin junction towards enamel (EDJE), enamel dentin junction towards dentin (EDJD), dentin middle (DM), and dentin inner surface (DIS)] have been calculated for photon interactions by a direct method in the energy range of 1 keV-100 GeV using the computer program, WinXCOM. The sum of the computed values are tabulated. The estimated CT numbers are tabulated. All of the selected materials show an almost constant Z(eff) value in the energy range 500 keV to 1.5 MeV. Also, it is expected that the computed CT numbers are useful in medical diagnosis. Dosimetric implication of mass attenuation coefficient in teeth has also been discussed.

Beta induced Bremsstrahlung exposure in DNA and RNA.

The Bremsstrahlung exposure induced by some of the therapeutic beta nuclides ((90)Y, (143)Pm, (169)Er, (204)Tl, (210)Bi, (89)Sr, (45)Ca and (131)I) in DNA and RNA has been calculated by extending the national council for radiation protection model. It has estimated the specific Bremsstrahlung constant (Γ(Br)), Probability of energy loss by beta during Bremsstrahlung emission (P(Br)) and Bremsstrahlung activity (A(release))(Br). The estimated Bremsstrahlung activities of pure beta nuclides in DNA and RNA are extremely large (10(2) GBq-10(6) GBq). The patients receiving such nuclides would never receive that much activity because of prohibitive radiation toxicity (few 100 MBq). Thus the patients receiving these pure beta emitting nuclides do not have to be hospitalized for radiation precautions. It is also estimated the Bremsstrahlung yield (I(Br)) for wide energy range (0.01 MeV-100 MeV) using the tabulated values given for elements by Lucien pages. The variation of I(Br) as a function of incident electron energy is shown graphically. This data may be useful in the analysis of Bremsstrahlung dose where beta emitting nuclide is involved in medical therapy.

Study of Zeff for DNA, RNA and retina by numerical methods.

The effective atomic number of a biomolecule for photon interaction present in DNA, RNA and retina has been estimated in the energy range 0.001-20 MeV using two different numerical methods. The significant variation of Zeff with photon energy is reported. This shows that Zeff is not constant with energy for photon interaction in DNA, RNA and retinal.

Theoretical data of external Bremsstrahlung radiation cross-section of bone.

Theoretical data of external Bremsstrahlung (EB) radiation cross section of bone is estimated using tabulated results of EB cross section given for various elements at various photon and electron energies. This data may be useful in the analysis of Bremsstrahlung imaging which is the technique applied in medical therapy.