Banasthali Vidyapith (Banasthali University) is a university located in the Tonk district of the Rajasthan state in India. It is a deemed university offering programs at the secondary, senior secondary, undergraduate, and postgraduate degree levels.
This study presents the synthesis of Nickel-substituted Cobalt-Zinc ferrites with the chemical formula CoyNixZn(1-y-x)Fe2O4 (y=0.2; x ranging from 0.1 to 0.7) using the sol-gel technique. The primary objective was to examine the effect of Ni2+ incorporation on the structural, optical and electrical characteristics of the materials. X-ray diffraction examination confirmed the establishment of a single-phase cubic spinel structure, with a reduction in lattice parameters attributed to the smaller ionic radius of Ni2+ associated with Zn2+. Crystallographic stability across all compositions was further verified through Rietveld refinement. FE-SEM micrographs revealed uniformly distributed, nearly spherical nanograins, while FTIR and Raman analyses identified characteristic spinel vibrational modes, confirming the preservation of structural integrity following nickel substitution. The analysis by UV-Vis showed a reduction in the optical band gap from 1.53eV to 1.26eV, which indicated electronic transitions in the enhanced state. Dielectric and impedance studies demonstrated frequency-dependent responses, with Ni2+ doping improving electrical conductivity through facilitated electron hopping. These results demonstrate that Ni2+ substitution effectively tunes the structural and functional properties, making these nanoferrites promising for EMI shielding, sensors and high-frequency device applications.
Laser-induced graphene (LIG) has garnered substantial consideration in applications based on energy storage owing to its economical nature and exceptional performance as a flexible electrode material. This work presents a straightforward method for synthesising phosphorus-doped laser-induced graphene (PLIG). The synthesis comprised the formation of pure LIG, subsequent dispersion of phosphoric acid via the drop-casting technique, and re-irradiation. The multilayer structure of PLIG was confirmed via the ratio of intensities of 2D and G bands in the Raman spectrum (I2D/IG = 0.8). The presence of a peak at 2 theta similar to 26.07 degrees in X-ray diffraction spectra confirms the formation of graphene. The morphological analysis was done through field emission scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The occurrence of P-O and P-C in the P 2p peak's core level spectra in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms the existence of phosphorus in LIG. Furthermore, the fabricated electrode of PLIG-2 unveiled a remarkable specific capacitance (Cs) of 105 mF cm-2 at a 2 mV s-1 scan rate, employing a three-electrode system. Moreover, the symmetric supercapacitor device (Swagelok cell) obtained a Cs of 18.6 mF cm-2 at 0.011 mA cm-2 current density, and the pouch cell offers 21 mF cm-2Cs at 0.05 mA cm-2 current density, demonstrating its application as an energy storage device.
Bismuth-based halide perovskites (HPs) have emerged as a promising lead-free alternative to toxic lead-based HPs owing to their excellent stability. Herein, we present structural and optical investigations of pristine and Ag-substituted Cs3Bi2I9. Structural analysis confirms that both Cs3Bi2I9 and Cs2.5Ag0.5Bi2I9 possess a hexagonal phase with the P6(3)/mmc space group. Optical studies reveal that Ag substitution modulates the bandgap of Cs3Bi2I9 from 1.78 to 1.7 eV and enhances the photoluminescence intensity by 3-fold. We compared the photodetection responses of the photodetectors made using Cs3Bi2I9 and Cs2.5Ag0.5Bi2I9 active layers. Since the role of plasmonic NPs on photodetection characteristics has largely remained unexplored in lead-free systems, we also explored the effect of plasmonic AgNPs integration on the photodetection performance. Compared to the pristine Cs3Bi2I9, photodetectors based on Cs2.5Ag0.5Bi2I9 and Cs3Bi2I9 + AgNPs exhibit substantial enhancement in the photocurrent. The peak responsivity and specific detectivity of Cs3Bi2I9 + AgNPs, Cs2.5Ag0.5Bi2I9, and Cs3Bi2I9-based devices were found to be 2.1 mA/W and 1.73 & times; 10(10) Jones, 1.3 mA/W and 1.03 & times; 10(10) Jones, and 0.67 mA/W and 7.51 & times; 10(9) Jones at 400 nm, respectively. The results of these investigations suggest that both Ag substitution and plasmonic AgNPs incorporation can be used to enhance the photodetection response of the lead-free photodetectors.
Humans are exposed to various metal(loid)s through consuming contaminated vegetables, cereals, and other food products grown in polluted soil. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the presence of metal(loid)s in industrially contaminated soils and assess their effect on two edible plants, Spinacia oleracea L. (spinach) and Triticum aestivum L. (wheat). Soil samples were collected from various industrial sites in three districts of Uttar Pradesh, India. The effects on physiology, nutrient levels, and metal(loid) bioaccumulation were analyzed in both plant species. The accumulation of metal(loid)s in industrial samples significantly reduced growth parameters and nutrient contents in plant species compared to the control (p < 0.05). The soil with the highest toxicity was from the leather industry (S4), so it was excluded from plant analysis. The results showed that the presence of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) in industrial soil reduced the uptake of micronutrients, including iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn), in spinach shoots. Deficiencies in mineral nutrients were correlated with decreases in the contents of chlorophyll, proline, protein, polyphenols, and total carbohydrates in both species. However, these effects were less pronounced in wheat than in spinach. This study demonstrated the presence of metal(loid)s in edible plants and their effect on physiology and nutrients, without visible symptoms of damage, may pose a risk to human health.
Soil contamination with heavy metals, particularly lead (Pb), has become a critical environmental issue due to rapid urbanization and industrial activities. This study was undertaken to evaluate the tolerance, physiological responses, and Pb accumulation behaviour of Verbesina encelioides under increasing Pb stress, in order to assess its potential for phytoremediation, particularly phytostabilization, in contaminated soils. To achieve this, a controlled pot experiment was conducted using graded Pb concentrations (0–500 mg kg−1 soil), and plant responses were evaluated at different growth stages. Lead stress adversely affected the growth and physiological performance of V. encelioides. Lead stress impaired the growth and physiological functions of V. encelioides. Exposure to 500 mg kg−1 Pb reduced shoot length and dry weight by approximately 45 and 60
