• P U Sastry

Articles written in Pramana – Journal of Physics

• Phase transition in triglycine family of hydrogen bonded ferroelectrics: An interpretation based on structural studies

Using the crystal structure, a comprehensive interpretation of the origin of ferroelectricity in the hydrogen bonded triglycine family of crystals is given. Our detailed analysis showed that the instability of nitrogen double well potential plays a driving role in the mechanism of the ferroelectric transitions in these crystals.

• Zinc (tris) thiourea sulphate (ZTS): A single crystal neutron diffraction study

The crystal structure of ZTS has been determined by neutron diffraction with a finalR-value of 0.026. Using the structural parameters, the contributions from the structural groups to the linear optical susceptibility and linear electro-optic coefficients have been evaluated. Results showed a significant contribution from the hydrogen bonds in the structure.

• Electro-optical properties of tetragonal KNbO3

Linear electro-optical tensor coefficients and optical susceptibility of tetragonal KNbO3 are calculated using a formalism based on bond charge theory. Results are in close agreement with the experimental data. The covalent Nb–O bonding network comprising the distorted NbO6 octahedral groups in the structure is found to be a major contributor to the electro-optic coefficients making these groups more sensitive to these properties than the KO12 groups. The orientations of the chemical bonds play an important role in determining these properties.

• Structural behaviour of AgNO3 at low temperatures by neutron diffraction

Structural behaviour of silver nitrate (AgNO3) at low temperatures has been investigated by neutron powder diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Analysis showed abnormal changes in the rotations of nitrate (NO3) anions and thermal displacement parameters of the atoms near 220 K and 125 K. However, the basic lattice is compatible with the orthorhombic symmetry (space group Pbca) till 12 K. The fine, small-scale structural anomalies probably originate from freezing of reorientation of NO3 ions from high-temperature disordered phase.

• Studies on pore morphology of titanium and its oxide by small angle neutron scattering

Titanium metal bodies have been prepared from the sintered powder compacts of TiO2 by a novel molten salt electrochemical approach, known as FFC Cambridge process. The phase and compositional characterizations of both Ti and TiO2 have been carried out by X-ray diffraction. The pore morphologies of sintered TiO2 pellet and the metallic Ti pellet, obtained after electrochemical reduction have been studied by SANS over a scattering wave vector q range of $0.003–3.5$ nm-1 using a double crystal diffractometer and a pin-hole collimated SANS instrument. In the case of reduced metal pellet, average pore size was found to be larger than that of the oxide pellet as the voids left behind after the oxygen atoms left the oxide matrix, could not coalesce.

• Small angle neutron scattering study of pore microstructure in ceria compacts

Ceria powders were prepared by gel combustion process using cerium nitrate and hitherto unexplored amino acids such as aspartic acid, arginine and valine as fuels. The powders have been characterized by X-ray and laser diffraction. Cold pressed compacts of these powders have been sintered at 1250°C for 2 h. Internal pore microstructure of the sintered compacts has been investigated by small angle neutron scattering (SANS) over a scattering wave vector 𝑞 range of 0.003–0.17 nm-1. The SANS profiles indicate surface fractal morphology of the pore space with fractal dimensionality lying between 2.70 and 2.76.

• Small angle neutron scattering and small angle X-ray scattering studies of platinum-loaded carbon foams

The morphology of carbon nanofoam samples comprising platinum nanoparticles dispersed in the matrix was characterized by small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques. Results show that the structure of pores of carbon matrix exhibits a mass (pore) fractal nature and the average radius of the platinum particles is about 2.5 nm. The fractal dimension as well as the size distribution parameters of platinum particles varies markedly with the platinum content and annealing temperature. Transmission electron micrographs of the samples corroborate the SANS and SAXS results.

• # Pramana – Journal of Physics

Current Issue
Volume 93 | Issue 6
December 2019

• # Editorial Note on Continuous Article Publication

Posted on July 25, 2019