Multiferroic BiFeO3 nanoparticles were synthesized using low temperature hydrothermal technique to assess their visible-light driven photocatalytic activity along with their applicability for the production of hydrogen via water splitting.

In this investigation, undoped BiFeO3, Gd doped Bi0.9Gd0.1FeO3, and Gd-Ti co-doped Bi0.9Gd0.1Fe1−xTixO3 (x = 0.10, 0.20) materials were synthesized to report their multiferroic properties. The structural analysis and phase identification of these multiferroic ceramics were performed using Rietveld refinement. The Rietveld analysis has confirmed the high phase purity of the 10% Gd-Ti co-doped Bi0.9Gd0.1Fe0.9Ti0.1O3 sample compared to that of other compositions under investigation. The major phase of this particular composition is of rhombohedral R3c type structure (wt% > 99%) with negligible amount of impurity phases. In terms of characterization, we address magnetic properties of this co-doped ceramic system by applying substantially higher magnetic fields than that applied in previously reported investigations. The dependence of temperature and maximum applied magnetic fields on their magnetization behavior have also been investigated. Additionally, the leakage current density has been measured to explore its effect on the ferroelectric properties of this multiferroic system. The outcome of this investigation suggests that the substitution of 10% Gd and Ti in place of Bi and Fe, respectively, in BiFeO3 significantly enhances its multiferroic properties. The improved properties of this specific composition is associated with homogeneous reduced grain size, significant suppression of impurity phases and reduction in leakage current density which is further asserted by polarization vs. electric field hysteresis loop measurements.

In this study, an experimental investigation has been performed to understand the electromagnetic interference-shielding effectiveness (EMI-SE) of glass fiber/epoxy laminated composites embedded with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Fe3O4 nanoparticles, reinforced with micro carbon fibers along the thickness direction. Micro carbon fibers were reinforced along the thickness direction between the laminates using an electro-flocking process and a vacuum infusion process used to fabricate the composites. The EMI-SE of the composites was measured in the X-band frequency range (8–12 GHz). The effect of carbon fibers of three different lengths (80 µm, 150 µm, and 350 µm) with two different fiber densities (1000 and 2000 fibers/mm2) and two different amounts of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (0.5 and 1 wt.%) on total SE, absorption, and reflection was investigated. Due to the synergetic effect of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, CNTs, and carbon fibers, the final EMI shielding of the composites was mainly dominated by the absorption process. The absorption was more pronounced in the composites of longer carbon fibers with improved electrical conductivity. The presence of Fe3O4 nanoparticles also enhanced total SE values with improved magnetic permeability. The composite with micro carbon fibers of 350 µm length and 2000 fibers/mm2 density with 1 wt.% of Fe3O4 nanoparticles showed the maximum value of total SE.

The field experiment was conducted at the Soil Science Field Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during Aman season of 2014 to study the influence of different levels of zinc applied from two sources on the yield and Zn uptake of BRRI dhan49. The soil was silt loam in texture having pH 6.8, organic matter 2.72%, total N 0.151 %, available P 4.00 mg kg-1, available K 0.08 cmol kg-1, available S 15.9 mg kg-1 and available Zn 0.90 mg kg-1. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. There were seven treatments with different rates of Zn viz. T1: Zn0, T2: Zn1 as ZnO, T3: Zn2 as ZnO, T4: Zn3 as ZnO, T5: Zn1 as ZnSO4, T6: Zn2 as ZnSO4, and T7: Zn3 as ZnSO4 where 0, 1, 2 and 3 represent the rate of Zn in kg ha-1. Recommended doses of N, P, K and S fertilizers were added to all plots and they were used in the form of urea, TSP, MoP and gypsum, respectively. Addition of Zn had significant effect on the grain and straw yields of BRRI dhan49. Application of ZnO at 3 kg ha-1 (T4) produced the highest grain (5294 kg ha-1) and straw (6567 kg ha-1) yields. The control treatment (Zn0) produced the lowest grain (3183 kg ha-1) and straw (3614 kg ha-1) yields. The other plant parameters such as panicle length, tillers hill-1 and grains panicle-1, but not plant height and 1000-grain weight were also influenced significantly by the application of zinc. Zn concentration and uptake by BRRI dhan49 were also influenced by the addition of Zn. The total Zn uptake by the BRRI dhan49 varied from 173 g ha-1 in control to 353 g ha-1 in T4. Thus, results suggest that application of ZnO @ 3 kg ha-1 along with NPKS at recommended rates needs to be applied for achieving higher yield of aman rice in Old Brahmaputra Floodplain Soil. Asian Australas. J. Biosci. Biotechnol. 2016, 1 (2), 230-234

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