This study undertakes a comparative analysis of the structural, morphological, electrical, and magnetic characteristics of Fe-doped LaMnO3 ceramics.

The ceramic Sr(NiNb)0.5O3, incorporating silver doping in the A site, was synthesized using a sol–gel route and subjected to comprehensive analysis through various experimental techniques. X-ray diffraction data analysis indicates a rhombohedral crystal structure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination reveals densely packed grains with minimal surface porosity. A thorough investigation of electrical properties, encompassing dielectric constant, loss tangent, electrical impedance, modulus, conductivity, etc., was conducted across a wide frequency range (103–106 Hz) and temperature range (260–340 K). This analysis provided valuable insights into structure–property relationships and conduction mechanisms. The discussion highlights the significance of interface effects, space charge polarization, and Maxwell–Wagner dielectric relaxation in achieving the material’s high dielectric constant at low frequencies and elevated temperatures. Examination of temperature dependence through Nyquist plots elucidates the contributions of grain behavior to the material’s resistive and capacitive properties. The dielectric permittivity, dissipation of energy, and electrical characteristics like impedance, modulus and conductivity are notably influenced by the frequency of the applied electric field and temperature. Overall, the material exhibits promising potential for industrial applications such as energy storage, given its intriguing properties.

Sensors are everywhere in the modern world, and every aspect of our lives, including security, domestic, and environmental factors, is being monitored. Improving the precision and quality of such analysis are highly valued if more sophisticated, intelligent, and capable systems are available. This paper discusses the practical use of polarimetric sensing on n-type porous silicon and porous alumina freestanding membranes (Whatman-anodic membranes with pore widths of 200 nm and thicknesses of 60 mu m). "In-plane and out-of-plane birefringence" is investigated for both types of free-standing membranes. With NaCl solution and a constant flow rate in flow -through mode, the sensing capability of these freestanding membranes, namely porous silicon freestanding membranes (15.54 mu m thick) and porous alumina freestanding membranes (60 mu m thick), was investigated. These two sensor systems have a sensitivity of 0.25 degrees/ %NaCl and 0.30 degrees/ %NaCl, respectively. Freestanding membranes have 8.32 degrees/RIU-mu m and 3.01 degrees/RIU-mu m sensitivity, respectively. Porous silicon and porous alumina freestanding membranes are used in conjunction with flow-through bovine serum albumin (BSA) sensor as the principal model system for LOC devices. The results support the increased sensitivity achieved in porous silicon membranes over porous alumina membranes.

Eighteen different accessions of Eleusine coracana were subjected to detailed morphological analysis of female reproductive parts along with the phasic embryological analysis of the pathways for the formation of female gametophyte for evaluating the reproductive diversity and strategy. In this investigation all the accession possessed Polygonum type of sexual embryo sac. But a few accessions were also showing the formation of Panicum type of aposporic embryo sacs in addition to sexual embryo sac, signifying the presence of facultative apomixis. The aposporic embryo sac initials for the formation of Panicum type of embryo sac differentiated in nucellus. The aposporic embryo sac initial enlarged greatly. Vacuolization soon started because of which the young embryo sac took up unipolar organization with a prominent nucleus at one pole. This nucleus divided mitotically into two which subsequently divided to produce four nuclei, occupying only one pole of the embryo sac. The four nuclei organized into a Panicum type embryo sac having an egg, two synergids and a polar nucleus. Apomixis is an asexual method of propagation through seed in which both meiosis and fertilization are bypassed for the development of an embryo. It is a fascinating method to produce large genetically uniform populations of crop species in which heterozygosity and hybrid vigour can be maintained in successive seed generations.

Co doped ZnS (Zn1-xCoxS) nanoparticles with a Co concentration of (x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15) were prepared by straight forward chemical route at low temperature. The influence of Co ion concentration on optical, structural and magnetic properties was studied. The X-ray diffractograms revealed that asprepared Zni_ x Co x S nanoparticles were crystalline in nature with three (111), (220) and (311) intense peaks matched with primary cubic zinc blende phase. No peak was observed corresponding to elemental Co or its related oxides, demonstrating that Co ions were successfully incorporated into ZnS host without altering its pristine crystal structure. Furthermore, a weak signature of ZnS corresponding to hexagonal wurtzite phase is observed. Optical measurements exhibited a blue shift of 260 meV in the band gap as a result of the quantum size effect. Room temperature M - H measurement and thermomagnetic irreversibility in ZFC and FC magnetization measurements conclusively proved the presence of ferromagnetism at room temperature in pure and Co doped ZnS nanopowder within the scope of bound magnetic polaron formation. However, the features observed in M - H loops and ZFC and FC measurement of doped ZnS suggest the incorporation of higher Co content (x > 0.05) in ZnS lattice adversely effect the magnetic interaction without clustering of Co ions. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thin films of insulating Ti_1− x Ni_xO_2 ( x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15) are synthesized by the spray pyrolysis technique. All the films are seen to crystallize into polycrystalline anatase phase of TiO_2. However, weak signature of the NiTiO_3 phase is also observed for the films having higher Ni ion concentration. Optical absorption analysis suggests nonmonotonous band gap decrease from 3.67 to 3.59 eV with respect to added concentration of Ni ions unto ‘ x ’ = 0.10 in the TiO_2 matrix. The presence of ferromagnetic ordering at room temperature in Ni incorporated TiO_2 films is revealed by M–H measurements. Calculated values of saturation magnetization indicate that the observed ferromagnetism is not due to the presence of Ni clusters or segregation of other ferromagnetic phase. Electrically insulating nature of the films suggests that the observed FM ordering is most probably due to the ferromagnetic interaction between bound magnetic polarons which formed due to the creation of oxygen vacancies or defects.