I. Banerjee

Study of Drug Transport Phenomenon of Acrylic IPNs Embedded with Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) are formed involving hydrophobic poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) and hydrophilic poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA) in presence of superparamagnetic ferric oxide nanoparticles (<30 nm) through free radical polymerization. Ferric oxide (Fe3O4) particles are synthesized using thermal arc plasma technique. IPNs are prepared by taking the two acrylates, PBA/PHEA in blend ratios of 60:40, 50:50, and 40:60 (w/w). The samples are characterized in terms of swelling, FTIR, DSC, TGA, and SEM. Bactericidal effect on IPNs is checked by cell growth study of E. coli. Drug diffusion phenomenon of multi drug-loaded samples is compared with respect to the PBA/PHEA blend ratio (w/w).

Graphene oxide thin films for resistive memory switches

Dr Indrani Banerjee is grateful to Commonwealth Association, UK for funding the present research work under the fellowship placement scheme (grant reference INCF-2014-66)

Study of the effect of plasma-striking atmosphere on Fe-oxidation in thermal dc arc-plasma processing

The effect of plasma-striking atmosphere: air and air+Ar-gas on the crystallization of Fe-oxide phases was studied using dc thermal arc-plasma processing route. The powders were characterized by x-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometry, transmission electron microscopy, and Mossbauer spectroscopy techniques. At room temperature and O2 rich atmosphere, arc-evaporated Fe2+ ions oxidize into either γ-Fe2O3 or Fe3O4 depending upon the combining ratio of Fe with molecular O2. Fe/O ratio could be adjusted using proper flow rate of Ar gas to crystallize the pure γ-Fe2O3.The effect of plasma-striking atmosphere: air and air+Ar-gas on the crystallization of Fe-oxide phases was studied using dc thermal arc-plasma processing route. The powders were characterized by x-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometry, transmission electron microscopy, and Mossbauer spectroscopy techniques. At room temperature and O2 rich atmosphere, arc-evaporated Fe2+ ions oxidize into either γ-Fe2O3 or Fe3O4 depending upon the combining ratio of Fe with molecular O2. Fe/O ratio could be adjusted using proper flow rate of Ar gas to crystallize the pure γ-Fe2O3.

Paschen curve approach to investigate electron density and deposition rate of Cu in magnetron sputtering system

ABSTRACT In this work, Paschen curve for argon gas was obtained during copper deposition using a DC magnetron sputtering system. Five process parameters of Paschen curve were used to obtain the electron density and deposition rate of the deposited nanostructured thin films. Plasma parameter such as electron density was correlated with the deposition rate. It is observed that a minimum deposition rate was obtained for the plasma process parameter corresponding to the Paschen minimum. This investigation helps to understand and optimize the quality of nanostructured thin films depending on the process parameters.