Rehana Zia

Fabrication and properties of zinc oxide thin film prepared by sol-gel dip coating method

Abstract ZnO thin films were deposited on a glass substrate by dip coating technique using a solution of zinc acetate, ethanol and distilled water. Optical constants, such as refractive index n and extinction coefficient k. were determined from transmittance spectrum in the ultraviolet-visible-near infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) regions using envelope methods. The films were found to exhibit high transmittance, low absorbance and low reflectance in the visible regions. Absorption coefficient α and the thickness of the film t were calculated from interference of transmittance spectra. The direct optical band gap of the films was in the range of 3.98 to 3.54 eV and the thickness of the films was evaluated in the range of 173 to 323 nm, while the refractive index slightly varied in the range of 1.515 to 1.622 with an increase in withdrawal speed from 100 to 250 mm/s. The crystallographic structure of the films was analyzed with X-ray diffractometer. The films were amorphous in nature.

Effect of Ti(+4) on in vitro bioactivity and antibacterial activity of silicate glass-ceramics.

A novel glass-ceramic series in (48-x) SiO2-36 CaO-4 P2O5-12 Na2O-xTiO2 (where x=0, 3.5, 7, 10.5 and 14mol %) system was synthesized by crystallization of glass powders, obtained by melt quenching technique. The differential scanning calorimetric analysis (DSC) was used to study the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of the as prepared glasses. The crystallization behaviour of glasses was analyzed under non-isothermal conditions, and qualitative phase analysis of glass-ceramics was made by X-ray diffraction. The in vitro bioactivity of synthesized glass-ceramics was studied in stimulated body fluid at 37°C under static condition for 24days. The formation of hydroxyl-carbonated apatite layer; evident of bioactivity of the material, was elucidated by XRD, FTIR, AAS, SEM and EDX analysis. The result showed that partial substitution of TiO2 with SiO2 negatively influenced bioactivity; it decreased with increase in concentration of TiO2. As Ti(+4) having stronger field strength as compared to Si(+4) so its replacement became the cause for reduction in degradation that in turn improved the chemical stability. The compressive strength was also enhanced with progress addition of TiO2 in the system. The antibacterial properties were examined against Staphylococcus Epidermidis. Strong antibacterial efficacy was observed with the addition of TiO2 in the system.

In vitro evaluation of bioactivity of SiO2-CaO-P2O5-Na2O-CaF2-ZnO glass-ceramics

Zinc is an essential trace element that stimulates bone formation but it is also known as an inhibitor of apatite crystal growth. In this work addition of ZnO to SiO2-CaO-P2O5-Na2O-CaF2 glass-ceramic system was made by conventional melt-quenching technique. DSC curves showed that the addition of ZnO moved the endothermic and exothermic peaks to lower temperatures. X-ray diffraction analysis did not reveal any additional phase caused by ZnO addition and showed the presence of wollastonite and hydroxyapatite crystalline phases only in all the glass-ceramic samples. As bio-implant apatite forming ability is an essential condition, the surface reactivity of the prepared glass-ceramic specimens was studied in vitro in Kokubo’s simulated body fluid (SBF) [1] with ion concentration nearly equal to human blood plasma for 30 days at 37 °C under static condition. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was used to study the changes in element concentrations in soaking solutions and XRD, FT-IR and SEM were used to elucidate surface properties of prepared glass-ceramics, which confirmed the formation of HCAp on the surface of all glass-ceramics. It was found that the addition of ZnO had a positive effect on bioactivity of glass-ceramics and made it a potential candidate for restoration of damaged bones.

Effect of Cu-Doped Nickel Ferrites on Structural, Magnetic, and Dielectric Properties

NiCu ferrites with the general formula Ni1-xCuxFe2O4, where x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 have been synthesized by double sintering method. The single- phase spinel structure is confirmed by X-ray Diffractometer. This analysis showed the increasing behavior of lattice parameter due to the larger ionic radii of the Cu ion. Fourier transform infrared spectra confirmed the two prominent bands of spinel ferrites in the range (1000-400) cm-1. Magnetic properties are studied using Vibrating Sample Magnetometer. It is investigated that the saturation magnetization decreases linearly as the copper concentration increases. The surface morphology is carried out using Scanning Electron Microscopy. The dielectric properties have been investigated as a function of frequency. The dielectric constant is decreased and AC conductivity is increased at higher frequency.

Effects of Cr and Fe co-doping on structural, optical, electrical and magnetic properties of titanium dioxide (TiO2)

Abstract A series of Ti0.9Fe0.1-xCrxO2 (where x = 0.0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.6, 0.08, 0.10) was synthesized using the powder metallurgy route. The structural, morphological, magnetic, optical and electrical properties were investigated by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), UV-Vis spectroscopy and four probe technique, respectively. The rutile phase was confirmed by XRD analysis which was also verified by Raman spectroscopy. It was observed that the grain size increased as the concentration of Cr increased. M-H loops extracted from VSM analysis revealed anti-ferromagnetic, weak ferromagnetic and paramagnetic behaviors at room temperature. The band gap energy and resistivity measurements exhibited the semiconducting nature of Ti0.9Fe0.1-xCrxO2 based diluted magnetic semiconductors.

Dependence of optical, structural and electrical properties of ZnxCd1–xS thin films prepared by co-evaporation on the composition for x = 0 – 1

Abstract Thin films of zinc cadmium sulphide – a ternary compound intended to be used in solar cells – are prepared by co-evaporation. The films are prepared at room temperature, in a vacuum better than 10–5 Torr. The composition of these films is varied from x = 0 to x = 1 in the compound ZnxCd1–xS. The structural, optical and electrical properties have been investigated as a function of x. The direct band gap varies from 2.415 eV to 3.41 eV for x = 0 to x = 1 respectively. The crystal structure is found to be hexagonal (Wurtzite) for 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.8 and cubic zinc-blende for x > 0.8. The lattice constants decrease and the optical bandgap increases with the increase in the value of x. The resistivity of the ZnxCd1–xS films is found to decrease from 3.6 × 104 Ω cm for x = 0 to 69.5 Ω cm for x = 0.3 and again increases beyond this range to a value of 6.3 × 103 Ω cm for x = 1.0.

Investigation of Structural, Magnetic, and Optical Properties of ZnO Codoped with Co and Cd

Co and Cd have been codoped in ZnO using a simple solid state reaction technique to synthesize dilute magnetic oxide semiconductors of composition Zn0.9Co0.1−xCdxO ( with an increment of 0.02). Hexagonal wurtzite structure has been obtained for samples up to , using X-ray diffractometry. However, at and 0.1, secondary peak of CdO is observed. Raman spectra of the samples have been obtained in 200–800 cm−1 range. UV-VIS spectrophotometer is used to study the optical properties, which shows that band gap energy decreases with the increase in Cd concentration. A weak ferromagnetic behavior was evident which decreased further by adding Cd in the series. Room temperature resistivity measurements performed using four-point probe technique showed that their values lie in the semiconductor range. Structural morphology of the samples has been investigated by a scanning electron microscope and grain size has been determined. Raman spectra and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the successful incorporation of Co and Cd ions into the host ZnO lattice.

Synthesis, characterization of CaF2 doped silicate glass-ceramics

This paper reports the fabrication and characterization of silicate glass-ceramics doped with (0-12mol%) CaF2. TGA-DSC analysis was carried out to determine the crystallization temperature and stability of glass measured by two glass parameters; Hruby parameter KH=(Tx-Tg)/(TL-Tx) and Weinberg parameter KW=(Tc-Tg)/TL. It was found that with CaF2 doping improved sinterability at low temperature and provided stability to the glass. The XRD pattern exhibits a single phase of combeite and doping of CaF2 cause increase in crystallite size. Microstructure of samples was also improved with CaF2 addition, pores were significantly reduced. After 15days immersion in simulated body fluid all samples developed apatite layer onto its surface. Hence, the addition of CaF2 provided bioactive glass-ceramic material having a low processing temperature.

Substitutional effect of copper on the cation distribution in cobalt chromium ferrites and their structural and magnetic properties

Abstract A series of copper substituted cobalt chromium ferrites, CuxCo1 - xCr0.5Fe1.5O4 (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0) has been synthesized, by employing powder metallurgy method. Calcination of the samples has been carried out for 24 hours at 1100 °C. The resultant materials have been investigated by using a variety of techniques, including X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM)), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). The XRD patterns confirmed that all compositions had a cubic spinel structure with a single phase and the lattice parameter was found to increase with increasing copper concentration. FT-IR spectroscopy has been used for studying the chemical bonds in the spinel ferrite. Shifting of the bands ν1 and ν2 has been observed. It has been revealed from VSM analysis that saturation magnetization and coercivity decrease with rising the Cu+2 doping. Magnetic properties have been explained on the basis of cation distribution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been used to study the surface morphology of prepared samples. UV-Vis analysis revealed the optical absorption of the samples. An increase in band gaps has been observed with increasing copper concentration in the sample.

Synthesis of monophasic Ag doped hydroxyapatite and evaluation of antibacterial activity

The present study aims to synthesized biomaterial that has antibacterial properties. Currently the surgical implants associated infections are a major cause of implant failure. Synthesis of silver doped hydroxyapatite as an antibacterial agent has potential importance to overcome post-surgical infections in a variety of clinical applications. Five silver doped hydroxyapatite Ca10-xAgx(PO4)6(OH)2 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 M) samples were synthesized by precipitation method and sintered at 900 °C to obtain well crystallized structure. No minor phase developed with silver addition, hexagonal hydroxyapatite (JCPDS# 09-432) was the single phase identified in all silver doped hydroxyapatite samples. The lattice parameter a and c changed with increase in silver concentration. The results of in vitro bioactivity revealed the bone bonding ability of silver doped hydroxyapatite samples. The antibacterial test showed that silver doped hydroxyapatite was sensitive to Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Addition of silver significantly (P < 0.005) increased the antibacterial activity.