http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/1761 2026-04-08T10:27:16Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/4843 Title: MAX Phase Ternary Carbide Derived 2-D Ceramic Nanostructures [CDCN] as Chemically Interactive Functional Fillers for Damage Tolerant Epoxy Polymer Nanocomposites Authors: Vaisakh, S S; Mahesh, K V; Balanand, S; Metz, R; Hassanzadeh, M; Ananthakumar, S Abstract: A 2-dimensional ceramic nanostructure was successfully processed out of nanolamellar 312 MAX phase ternary carbide, titanium silicon carbide, Ti3SiC2 (TSC), via a simple shear-induced delamination technique. It has been explored as a functional nanofiller for obtaining chemically homogeneous, lowfriction, self-lubricating epoxy nanocomposites. The structural characterization of the MAX phase Carbide Derived Ceramic Nanostructure (CDCN) was carried out using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis. Subsequently, CDCN was mixed with Araldite CY 225 (DGEBA) at different percentages and thermally cured using Aradur HY 925 hardener at 130 C to make epoxy–Ti3SiC2 nanocomposites. The effect of CDCN-nanofiller was studied on epoxy rheology, glass transition temperature (Tg), thermal stability, flexural and compressive strengths, microhardness, dry sliding wear and friction properties. It was found that, unlike other ceramic fillers, CDCN chemically interacts with epoxy and readily dispersed in a polymer matrix without any deleterious structural defects. It resulted in the formation of physicochemically homogeneous microstructures. Epoxy composites prepared with CDCN filler attained 50% more mechanical strength and hardness. Wear analysis trends indicate Ti3SiC2 nano reinforcement possibly formed a lubricating tribo-chemical film that decreases the wear rate and coefficient of friction. This work is significant in such a way that a novel nanofiller has been identified from MAX phase carbide family which offers a self-lubricating interface and produces mechanically reliable, damage tolerant epoxy composite for state-of-the-art engineering applications. 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/4842 Title: Microwave Accelerated Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoplates and their Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity Under UV and Solar Illuminations Authors: Anas, S; Rahul, S; Babitha, K B; Mangalaraja, R V; Ananthakumar, S Abstract: Photoactive zinc based nanoplates were developed through a rapid microwave synthesis. A low temperature thermolysis reaction in a surfactant medium was initially performed for producing microwave active zinc based polar precursors. Using these precursors, the zinc oxide nanopowder having platelet morphologies were prepared. The nanoplatelets exhibited random growth with non-polar (1 0 1) surface as the major growth plane. The structural and functional features ofthe resultant zinc oxide samples were monitored using XRD, FTIR, TEM and PL. The photocatalytic activities of the samples were investigated through the standard photoreduction kinetics using the methylene blue dye. The catalytic efficiencies of the samples were checked both under UV and sunlight. A comparative study was also performed with the standard TiO2 sample. The analyses revealed that the microwave derived zinc oxide have higher catalytic efficiency, than the standard titania samples, both under UV and sunlight illuminations. The unique nature of the zinc oxide non-polar surfaces can be attributed due to the presence of more active two dimensional open surfaces and the higher content of oxygen defect concentrations. 2015-11-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/4841 Title: Microwave Assisted Aqueous Synthesis of Organosilane Treated Mesoporous Si@ZnO Nano Architectures as Dual-functional, Photocatalysts Authors: Babitha, K B; Linsha, V; Anas, S; Mohamed, A P; Kiran, M; Ananthakumar, S Abstract: A facile aqueous synthesis has been reported for the preparation of organosilane treated ZnO nano architectures (Si@ZnO) via microwave strategy. An in-situ addition of 3-aminopropyl trimethoxy silane (APTMS) resulted in the formation of polysiloxane network that effectively controlled the exaggerated growth of ZnO finally produced high surface area, mesoporous Si@ZnO nano clusters. The formation of a polysiloxane network was confirmed from the FTIR analysis. Reduction in the crystallite size was verified from the powder X-ray diffraction and TEM analyses. Silane treated ZnO shows highly stable dispersion, in aqueous medium. The quantum confinement effect of size controlled Si@ZnO was confirmed from the blue shift in UV–vis absorption spectra. As a function of APTMS concentration both surface charge and surface area was found to enhance from ( 12) to (+35.5) mV and 18 to 80 m2 g 1 , respectively. Such positively charged Si@ZnO nano architectures showed property highly receptive to anionic dyes for the adsorption as well as photodegradation. In this study, size controlled, surface engineered, dual-functional photoactive adsorbent is successfully designed which is potentially useful for the recovery and recycling of dye contaminated water. 2015-06-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/4840 Title: Monoclinic LaGa1-xMnxGe2O7: a New Blue Chromophore based on Mn3+ in the Trigonal Bipyramidal Coordination with Longer Apical Bond Lengths Authors: Saraswathy, D; Rao, P P; Sameera, S; James, V; Raj, A K V Abstract: New blue inorganic oxide materials LaGa1−xMnxGe2O7 are developed by a solid state reaction method. Substitution of Mn3+ in LaGaGe2O7 changes the color from white (x = 0) to blue (x = 0.1–0.4). The blue color is due to the absorption in the energy region of 1.7–2.5 eV. 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z