Pabitra Kumar Paul

Preparation of polystyrene–clay nanocomposite by solution intercalation technique

Polymer–clay nanocomposites of commercial polystyrene (PS) and clay laponite were prepared via solution intercalation technique. Laponite was modified suitably with the well known cationic surfactant cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide by ion-exchange reaction to render laponite miscible with hydrophobic PS. X-ray diffraction analysis in combination with scanning electron microscopy gives an idea of structural and morphological information of PS–laponite nanocomposite for different varying organo-laponite contents. Intercalation of PS chain occurs into the interlayer spacings of laponite for low organo-laponite concentration in the PS–O-laponite mixture. However, aggregation and agglomeration occur at higher clay concentration. The molecular bond vibrational profile of laponite as well as PS–laponite nanocomposite have been explored by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis along with differential scanning calorimetry results reveal the enhancement of both thermal stability and glass transition temperature of PS due to the incorporation of clay platelets.

Investigation of Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer between Fluorescein and Rhodamine 6G

Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer between two organic dyes Fluorescein and Rhodamine 6G was investigated in aqueous solution in presence and absence of synthetic clay laponite. Spectroscopic studies suggest that both the dyes were present mainly as monomer in solution. Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer occurred from Fluorescein to Rhodamine 6G in solutions. Energy transfer efficiency increases in presence of laponite and the maximum efficiency was 72.00% in aqueous laponite dispersion. Energy transfer efficiency was found to be pH sensitive. It has been demonstrated that with proper calibration it is possible to use the present system under investigation to sense pH over a wide range from 1.5 to 8.0.

Adsorption of Cationic Laser Dye onto Polymer/Surfactant Complex Film

Fabrication of complex molecular films of organic materials is one of the most important issues in modern nanoscience and nanotechnology. Soft materials with flexible properties have been given much attention and can be obtained through bottom up processing from functional molecules, where self-assembly based on supramolecular chemistry and designed assembly have become crucial processes and technologies. In this work, we report the successful incorporation of cationic laser dye rhodamine 6G abbreviated as R6G into the pre-assembled polyelectrolyte/surfactant complex film onto quartz substrate by electrostatic adsorption technique. Poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) was used as polycation and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) was used as anionic surfactant. UV-Vis absorption spectroscopic characterization reveals the formation of only H-type aggregates of R6G in their aqueous solution and both H- and J-type aggregates in PAH/SDS/R6G complex layer-by-layber films as well as the adsorption kinetics of R6G onto the complex films. The ratio of the absorbance intensity of two aggregated bands in PAH/SDS/R6G complex films is merely independent of the concentration range of the SDS solution used to fabricate PAH/SDS complex self-assembled films. Atomic force microscopy reveals the formation of R6G aggregates in PAH/SDS/R6G complex films.

Layer-by-layer films and colloidal dispersions of graphene oxide nanosheets for efficient control of the fluorescence and aggregation properties of the cationic dye acridine orange.

Chemically derived graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets have received great deal of interest for technological application such as optoelectronic and biosensors. Aqueous dispersions of GO become an efficient template to induce the association of cationic dye namely Acridine Orange (AO). Interactions of AO with colloidal GO was governed by both electrostatic and π-π stacking cooperative interactions. The type of dye aggregations was found to depend on the concentration of GO in the mixed ensemble. Spectroscopic calculations revealed the formation of both H and J-type dimers, but H-type aggregations were predominant. Preparation of layer-by-layer (LbL) electrostatic self-assembled films of AO and GO onto poly (allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) coated quartz substrate is also reported in this article. UV-Vis absorption, steady state and time resolve fluorescence and Raman spectroscopic techniques have been employed to explore the detail photophysical properties of pure AO, AO/GO mixed solution and AO/GO LbL films. Scanning electron microscopy was also used for visual evidence of the synthesized nanodimensional GO sheets. The fluorescence quenching of AO in the presence of GO in aqueous solution was due to the interfacial photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from photoexcited AO to GO i.e. GO acts as an efficient quenching agent for the fluorescence emission of AO. The quenching is found to be static in nature. Raman spectroscopic results also confirmed the interaction of AO with GO and the electron transfer. The formation of AO/GO complex via very fast excited state electron transfer mechanism may be proposed as to prepare GO-based fluorescence sensor for biomolecular detection without direct labeling the biomolecules by fluorescent probe.

Fabrication and characterization of next generation nano-structured organo-lead halide-based perovskite solar cell

AbstractGeneration of alternative source of energy is one of the talks of the present decade. In the present work, the focus has been given to produce energy from perovskite-based solar cells. For this purpose, a unique and novel nano-structured perovskite material ethyl ammonium lead chloride (C2H5NH3+PbCl3−) was prepared through a novel co-precipitation route using ethyl amine (C2H5NH2) and hydrochloric acid as the starting precursors with aqueous solution of Pb(CH3COO)23H2O. Finally acetic acid was added in the solution, and this solution was allowed to concentrate and cooled down at room temperature. Then the synthesized material was deposited over TiO2 film in order to fabricate the solar cell. Systematic study using XRD, SEM, UV, and photo conversion were conducted to properly analyze the structural, optical, and electrical properties of device. In the presence of light, this perovskite-based solar cell has shown energy conversion efficiency (η) of around 5.2% which is appreciably good. This result has depicted that this material is promising material for fabrication of highly efficient solar cells. This technology can be applied in industrial scale as substitute of the conventional energy in the future. Graphical abstractᅟ

PREPARATION OF ODA-CLAY HYBRID FILMS BY LANGMUIR–BLODGETT TECHNIQUE

Hybrid monolayers of clay minerals (hectorite) and Octadecyamine (ODA) were prepared using the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique. Surface pressure-area per molecule isotherm, FTIR and atomic force microscopy were used to confirm and analyze the ODA-hectorite hybrid films. The monolayer thickness is 2 nm and average height, length and width of individual clay platelets ranges between 1.5 to 2 nm, 500 to 1250 nm and 100 to 115 nm respectively. The surface coverage was more than 80%.

An overview of engineered porous material for energy applications: a mini-review

The ordered porous materials, developed using various templating materials, have generated huge interest among the electrochemist community due to their plenty of unique properties and functionalities that can be effectively applied in optoelectronic devices. Mesoporous materials possess excellent opportunities in energy storage and energy conversion applications due to their extraordinarily high surface area and large pore size. These properties may enhance the performance of porous materials in terms of lifetime and stability, energy and power density. In this review, we have tried to club the fields of optoelectronics and mesoporous materials. Also, we have summarised the primary methods for preparing mesoporous materials using various templates and described their applications as electrodes and catalysts in fuel cells, solar fuel production, dye-sensitised solar cells, perovskite, supercapacitors and rechargeable batteries. Finally, we have highlighted the research and development challenges of mesoporous materials those need to be overcome to enhance their contribution in renewable energy applications.

Effect of Zinc oxide nanoparticle on Fluorescence Resonance Energy transfer between Fluorescein and Rhodamine 6G

Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer between two dyes Fluorescein and Rhodamine 6G were investigated in solution in the presence and absence of Zinc oxide nanoparticle. Zinc oxide nanostructure is used as the fluorescence enhancing agent for the present study since donor (Fluorescein) fluorescence increase significantly in presence of nanoparticle. Accordingly, the energy transfer efficiency in the presence of nanoparticle increases. The maximum efficiency was 69% for acceptor (Rhodamine 6G) concentration of 0.75×10-5M. The energy transfer efficiency was found to be pH sensitive and it varies from 4.15% to 90.00% in mixed dye solution for a change in pH from 1.5 to 10.0. With proper calibration it is possible to use the present system under investigation to sense pH which is better with respect to our previous reported results [Spectrochim. Acta Part A. 149 (2015) 143-149] as it can sense a wide range of pH and with better sensitivity.

Adsorption characteristics of Cytochrome c/DNA complex Langmuir molecular assemblies at the air–water interface: a surface area-normalized isotherm study

We present the formation of a complex molecular network consisting of highly water soluble λ-DNA and a redox protein, Cytochrome c (Cyt c), at the air–water interface by Langmuir–Blodgett technique. Time dependent adsorption of these materials and the formation of a Cyt c/λ-DNA complex interfacial layer in the Langmuir trough were systematically studied by recording surface pressure versus trough area isotherms after various subphase incubation times. We have succeeded in separating two effects: one is the phase change of the monolayers and the other is the number of molecules participating in the monolayer formation with the change in incubation time using a normalized isotherm in units of critical surface area. The interaction in the complex monolayer was found to be same as that of single component λ-DNA during 3 h of subphase incubation. However, it was also similar to that of a single component Cyt c monolayer after 5 h incubation. The morphology and electrical polarizations of these interfacial films deposited onto a mica substrate were analyzed by Atomic Force Microscopy and electrostatic force microscopy respectively. It was found that Cyt c and λ-DNA immediately form the complex network at the air–water interface, and change to rod-like large aggregates with prolonged incubation.