Atul Khanna

Gamma-ray attenuation coefficients in bismuth borate glasses

Abstract Mass attenuation coefficients of glasses in the system: xBi2O3(1−x)B2O3 (x=0.30, 0.35, 0.40, 0.45 and 0.55) were determined at 356, 662, 1173 and 1332 keV photon energies using a narrow beam transmission method. Appreciable variations were observed in these coefficients due to changes in the chemical composition of glasses. These coefficients were then used to determine effective atomic numbers of glass samples, which were found to be constant with bismuth concentration and energy.

CuO-doped SnO2 thin films as hydrogen sulfide gas sensor

CuO-loaded SnO2 element was earlier identified as a highly sensitive and selective H2S gas sensor. A number of techniques have been used by different authors for preparing thick and thin films of SnO2 doped with CuO, which among various metal oxides has outstanding promoter action for the sensitive detection of H2S by SnO2. Here we report the growth and characterization of CuO-doped SnO2 thin films by a thermal evaporation technique. These thin films show an extremely high sensitivity of ∼106 to few parts per million levels of H2S gas in air. The gas sensor is characterized at four operating temperatures and its long-term stability in response to H2S gas is tested over a period of 3 years.

Gamma-ray attenuation coefficients in some heavy metal oxide borate glasses at 662 keV

Abstract The linear attenuation coefficient (μ) and mass attenuation coefficients ( μ ϱ ) of glasses in three systems: xPbO(1 − x)B2O3, 0.25PbO · xCdO(0.75 − x)B2O3 and xBi2O3(1 − x)B2O3 were measured at 662 keV. Appreciable variations were noted in the attenuation coefficients due to changes in the chemical composition of glasses. In addition to this, absorption cross-sections per atom were also calculated. A comparison of shielding properties of these glasses with standard shielding materials like lead, lead glass and concrete has proven that these glasses have a potential application as transparent radiation shielding.

CuO–SnO2 element as hydrogen sulfide gas sensor prepared by a sequential electron beam evaporation technique

CuO–SnO2 thin film elements were prepared by sequential evaporation of Sn and Cu metals in high vacuum conditions by an electron beam evaporation technique and subsequent oxidation of the metallic bilayer under flowing oxygen conditions. The electrical properties of the thin film element were studied by a two probe method in the temperature range 110–220°C. On exposing the CuO–SnO2 thin films to a H2S–air mixture, it is observed that the resistance decreases by several thousand times. The H2S sensitivity of the thin film element was measured at three sensor operating temperatures. While the sensitivity decreased with an increase in temperature, both the response and recovery times improved with increasing temperature. The sensor element was selective to H2S gas and did not show any sensitivity to hydrogen and ethanol. The extraordinarily high sensitivity to H2S gas is attributed to the outstanding promoter action of CuO along with the unique porous structure of the thin film element as revealed by scanning electron microscopy studies.

Optical, thermal, and structural properties of Nb2O5–TeO2 and WO3–TeO2 glasses

Glass samples from two systems, Nb2O5–TeO2 and WO3–TeO2, were prepared at two melt quenching rates and characterized by density, DSC, UV-visible, and Raman spectroscopy. Addition of Nb2O5 decreased the density while increase in the WO3 concentration increased the density. Glasses prepared at higher quenching rates had smaller densities than glasses of the same composition prepared at lower quenching rate although the short-range structure of both glasses were identical, as revealed by Raman spectroscopy. Optical studies found an intense absorption band just below the absorption edge in both the glass series. This band was attributed to electronic transitions of Nb5+ and W6+ ions and a lone pair of electrons on Te atoms. Glass transition temperature increased with increase in Nb2O5 and WO3 mol% due to the increase in average bond strength in the glass network. Raman spectroscopy showed that the concentration of TeO4 units decreased with the increase in Nb2O5 and WO3 concentrations.

Effects of melt ageing on the density, elastic modulus and glass transition temperature of bismuth borate glasses

Disc shaped samples of the glass composition: 0.40Bi2O3–0.60B2O3 were prepared by a melt quenching technique by keeping the quenching rate constant but gradually increasing the melt annealing or ageing time from 15 to 220 min at a temperature of 850 °C. A total of five glass samples were prepared. Density, ultrasonic velocity and glass transition temperature measurements showed significant changes in the final glass properties. X-ray fluorescence studies confirmed that the glass composition does not change with the heat treatment of the melt. Our findings challenge the conventional theories of liquids and glass formation which predict that structural changes in a low viscosity melt occur almost instantaneously and a liquid is in its internal equilibrium state above the melting point. We report some unusually slow structural relaxations in bismuth borate glass melts even at elevated temperatures of 850 °C, due to which the melt transforms from a thermodynamically fragile, high density amorphous state to a low density amorphous state which is kinetically stronger. Our findings indicate that bismuth borate melts are metastable liquids and strong candidates for the phenomenon of liquid state polyamorphism.

Structure–property correlations in lead silicate glasses and crystalline phases

Lead silicate glasses containing 40–65 mol% of PbO were prepared at two melt-quenching rates and characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy, density, microhardness, thermo-mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and Raman scattering studies. On increasing the PbO concentration, density increases, glass transition temperature decreases and the optical absorption edge shifts towards longer wavelength. An intense optical absorption band was observed just below the absorption edge in glasses with 55 mol% and higher concentration of PbO. Dilatometric measurements show an unusual property that glasses do not show any abrupt increase in volume near the glass transition temperature but transform directly into the liquid state. Raman spectroscopy confirmed that the concentration of SiO4 tetrahedra containing one or more NBOs increase with PbO mol%. Devitrification studies on lead silicate glasses found that samples with 40–45 mol% of PbO do not crystallize, whereas samples with higher PbO concentration produce multiple crystalline phases like PbSiO3, Pb33Si24O81, Pb2SiO4 and Pb3Si2O7 on heat treatment.

Devitrification properties of lead borate glasses

Lead borate glasses containing 30 to 60 mol% PbO were prepared by melt quenching technique and devitrified by long duration heat treament in the supercooled region. Glasses crystallized on heating above their glass transition temperature, and the crystalline phases produced on devitrification were characterized by XRD and DSC analyses. Glass with 30 mol% PbO slowly formed a solid solution of Pb6B10O21 and Pb5B8O17 crystalline phases, while glasses with 40 and 50 mol% PbO formed a mixture of Pb6B10O21, Pb5B8O17 and the remanent glassy phase. Glasses with higher PbO concentration of 56 to 60 mol% devitrified completely and produced only Pb5B8O17 crystalline phase. Lead borate glasses with PbO concentration of 40 to 50 mol% showed maximum thermal stability against devitrification, the ease of crystallization of glasses was correlated with the fraction of tetrahedral borons in them.

Preparation and characterization of boro-tellurite glasses

Glass samples of the system: xB2O3−(100−x) TeO2; x= 15, 20, 25 and 30 mol% were prepared by melt quenching and characterized by X-ray diffraction, density measurements, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and FTIR spectroscopy. XRD confirmed the amorphous structure of all samples. Density of glasses decreased with increase in B2O3 concentration due to the replacement of heavier TeO2 with lighter B2O3 whereas the glass transition temperature increased from 339°C to 366°C; the later effect was due to increase in the concentration of stronger B-O bonds in the glass network. FTIR studies found that BO4 units convert into BO3 with the addition of B2O3.

Structural and thermal properties of vanadium tellurite glasses

V2O5-TeO2 glasses containing 10 to 50 mol% V2O5 were prepared by melt quenching and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), density, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Raman studies.XRD confirmed the amorphous nature of vanadium tellurite samples. The density of the glasses decreases and the molar volume increases on increasing the concentration of V2O5. The thermal properties, such as glass transition temperature Tg, crystallization temperature Tc, and the melting temperature Tm were measured. Tg decreases from a value of 288°C to 232°C. The changes in Tg were correlated with the number of bonds per unit volume, and the average stretching force constant. Raman spectra were used to elucidate the short-range structure of vanadium tellurite glasses.V2O5-TeO2 glasses containing 10 to 50 mol% V2O5 were prepared by melt quenching and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), density, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Raman studies.XRD confirmed the amorphous nature of vanadium tellurite samples. The density of the glasses decreases and the molar volume increases on increasing the concentration of V2O5. The thermal properties, such as glass transition temperature Tg, crystallization temperature Tc, and the melting temperature Tm were measured. Tg decreases from a value of 288°C to 232°C. The changes in Tg were correlated with the number of bonds per unit volume, and the average stretching force constant. Raman spectra were used to elucidate the short-range structure of vanadium tellurite glasses.