Quenching of fluorescence of aromatic molecules by graphene due to electron transfer

Investigations on the fluorescence quenching of graphene have been carried out with two organic donor molecules, pyrene butanaoic acid succinimidyl ester (PyBS, I) and oligo(p-phenylenevinylene) methyl ester (OPV-ester, II). Absorption and photoluminescence spectra of I and II recorded in mixture with increasing the concentrations of graphene showed no change in the former, but remarkable quenching of fluorescence. The property of graphene to quench fluorescence of these aromatic molecules is shown to be associated with photo-induced electron transfer, on the basis of fluorescence decay and time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopic measurements.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figure

Charge order suppression and antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic switch over in Pr_0.5Ca_0.5MnO_3 nanowires

We have prepared crystalline nanowires (diameter ~ 50 nm, length ~ a few microns) of the charge ordering manganite Pr_0.5Ca_0.5Mn_O3 using a low reaction temperature hydrothermal method and characterized them using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, SQUID magnetometry and electron magnetic resonance measurements. While the bulk sample shows a charge ordering transition at 245 K and an antiferromagnetic transition at 175 K, SQUID magnetometry and electron magnetic resonance experiments reveal that in the nanowires phase, a ferromagnetic transition occurs at ~ 105 K. Further, the antiferromagnetic transition disappears and the charge ordering transition is suppressed. This result is particularly significant since the charge order in Pr_0.5Ca_0.5MnO_3 is known to be very robust, magnetic fields as high as 27 T being needed to melt it.Comment: 12 pages including 4 figures. submitted to Applied Physics Letter

Low radio frequency signatures of ram pressure stripping in Virgo spiral NGC 4254

We report the detection of extended low radio frequency continuum emission beyond the optical disk of the spiral galaxy NGC 4254 using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope. NGC 4254, which has an almost face-on orientation, is located in the outskirts of the Virgo cluster. Since such extended emission is uncommon in low inclination galaxies, we believe it is a signature of magnetised plasma pushed out of the disk by ram pressure of the intracluster medium as NGC 4254 falls into the Virgo cluster. The detailed spectral index distribution across NGC 4254 shows that the steepest spectrum alpha < -1 (S propto nu^{alpha}) arises in the gas beyond the optical disk. This lends support to the ram pressure scenario by indicating that the extended emission is not from the disk gas but from matter which has been stripped by ram pressure. The steeper spectrum of the extended emission is reminiscent of haloes in edge-on galaxies. The sharp fall in intensity and enhanced polarization in the south of the galaxy, in addition to enhanced star formation reported by others provide evidence towards the efficacy of ram pressure on this galaxy. HI 21cm observations show that the gas in the north lags in rotation and hence is likely the atomic gas which is carried along with the wind. NGC 4254 is a particularly strong radio emitter with a power of 7x10^{22} Watts/Hz at 240 MHz. We find that the integrated spectrum of the galaxy flattens at lower frequencies and is well explained by an injection spectrum with alpha_0=-0.45+-0.12. We end by comparing published simulation results with our data and conclude that ram pressure stripping is likely to be a significant contributor to evolution of galaxies residing in X-ray poor groups and cluster outskirts.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures (figures 1,2 and 4 are in jpg format) and 2 tables; Accepted for publication in MNRA

Novel magnetic properties of graphene: Presence of both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic features and other aspects

Investigations of the magnetic properties of graphenes prepared by different methods reveal that dominant ferromagnetic interactions coexist along with antiferromagnetic interactions in all the samples. Thus, all the graphene samples exhibit room-temperature magnetic hysteresis. The magnetic properties depend on the number of layers and the sample area, small values of both favoring larger magnetization. Molecular charge-transfer affects the magnetic properties of graphene, interaction with a donor molecule such as tetrathiafulvalene having greater effect than an electron-withdrawing molecule such as tetracyanoethyleneComment: 16 pges, 5 figure

Femtosecond carrier dynamics and saturable absorption in graphene suspensions

Nonlinear optical properties and carrier relaxation dynamics in graphene, suspended in three different solvents, are investigated using femtosecond (80 fs pulses) Z-scan and degenerate pumpprobe spectroscopy at 790 nm. The results demonstrate saturable absorption property of graphene with a nonlinear absorption coefficient, $beta$, of ~2 to 9x10^-8 cm/W. Two distinct time scales associated with the relaxation of photoexcited carriers, a fast one in the range of 130-330 fs (related to carrier-carrier scattering) followed by a slower one in 3.5-4.9 ps range (associated with carrier-phonon scattering) are observed.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures, 2 table

The performance of modified jatropha-based nanofluid during turning process

The industry's extensive use of petroleum-based metalworking fluid (MWF) harms the environment and humans. The production of bio-based MWF, especially from crude jatropha oil (CJO), has therefore taken numerous initiatives. This aimed to formulate newly modified jatropha oil (MJO) with the addition of 0.05wt.% hBN and 0.05wt.% MoS2 as the nanofluid for MWF. The performance of the nanofluids was determined through the turning process in terms of cutting temperature, workpiece surface roughness, tool life and tool wear of the tool lubricated by the nanofluids. The performance of the nanofluid samples was compared with the synthetic ester (SE). From the results, after conducted 100mm axial cutting length MJO+hBN+MoS2 recorded the lowest in cutting temperature and surface roughness compared to all samples. The result shows that MJO+hBN+MoS2 has longer tool life (6500mm) compared to SE (6000mm). Abrasion and adhesion were observed as the dominant tool wear mechanism. In conclusion, MJO+hBN+MoS2 shows better machining performance and has the potential to be an environmentally friendly metalworking fluid

Multi component one pot synthesis and characterization of derivatives of 2-amino-7,7- dimethyl-5-oxo-4-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile and study of anti-microbial activity

An efficient and convenient procedure has been described for one-pot multi-component synthesisof tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyrans known as 2-amino-7,7-dimethyl-5-oxo-4-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile which can be obtained from the reaction of substituted aromatic aldehydes, dimedone, malonitrile, in the presence of base such as potassium tertiary butoxide and THF in methanol as solvent at RT condition. All the compounds were examined by advanced spectroscopic data (1H NMR, 13C NMR and LCMS) and the structural determination was evaluated by elemental analysis. In addition to this, all the newly synthesized compounds were examined for their antibacterial activities and antifungal activity by disc diffusion method against the organism of Aspergillus niger and Candida ablicans L.               KEY WORDS: Aromatic aldehydes, Dimedone, Malonitrile, Potasium tertiary butoxide, 2-Amino-7,7-dimethyl-5-oxo-4-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile, Anti-microbial activity Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2018, 32(1), 133-138DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v32i1.1