Nanoflake bismuth ferrite thin film was synthesized by means of electrodeposition technique at room temperature. The morphology and phase evaluation of the synthesized electrode were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and surface wettability techniques. Specifically, the bismuth ferrite nanoflake electrode exhibited high specific capacitance of 72.2 F g -1 at a current density of 1 A g -1 , and high rate capability with 37 % retention of capacitance even up to 20A g -1 , and excellent cycling stability with 82.8 % retention of the initial capacitance after 1500 charge/discharge cycles, supporting that the bismuth ferrite thin-film electrode could be a potential candidate for supercapacitor application.

The influence of Bi(3+)-doping on the magnetic and Mössbauer properties of cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4), wherein the Fe(3+) ions are replaced by the Bi(3+) ions to form CoBixFe2-xO4 ferrites, where x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15 or 0.2, has been investigated. The structural and morphological properties of undoped and doped ferrites, synthesized chemically through a self-igniting sol-gel method, are initially screened using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements. The changes in magnetic moment of ions, their coupling with neighboring ions and cation exchange interactions are confirmed from the Mössbauer spectroscopy analysis. The effect of Bi(3+)-doping on the magnetic properties of CoFe2O4 ferrite is examined from the vibrating sample magnetometry spectra. Saturation magnetization and coercivity values are increased initially and then decreased, as result of Bi(3+)-doping. The obtained results with improved saturation magnetization (from 26.36 to 44.96 emu g(-1)), coercivity (from 1457 to 1863 Oe) and remanence magnetization (from 14.48 to 24.63 emu g(-1)) on 0.1-0.15 mol Bi(3+)-doping of CoBixFe2-xO4 demonstrate the usefulness for magnetic recording and memory devices.

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Presently most bacteria are becoming antibiotic resistant. Due to this there is a deficiency of potent antibiotics, therefore we have to preserve and improve the efficiency of existing antibiotics by mitigating the side effects. Enrofloxacin (EFX) is an important antimicrobial used in veterinary practice but it is known to exert immune suppression antioxidant stress. In the present study, we report on: (a) the biosynthesis of selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs), and (b) their protective effect in reducing adverse effects of EFX on broiler chicken. A potent bacterial strain, isolated from farm soil, has been identified as Pantoea agglomerans (GenBank: KU500622). It tolerates a high concentration of selenium dioxide (9 mM) and produces Se NPs under aerobic conditions. The obtained Se NPs are amorphous in structure and spherical in shape with sizes of less than 100 nm. The activity of cellular, humoral immune response and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, has significantly been decreased as a result of EFX treatment. We investigated that Se NP supplementation greatly restores these values towards the control, and to even higher than those of the control. Adverse effects of EFX are prevented by simultaneous exposure to Se NPs (0.6 mg per kg of feed) in the diet of poultry chicken.