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The effects of target thickness on the shape of the bremsstrahlung energy spectrum in Pb for 89Sr beta particles are studied in the photon energy region of 1–100 keV. The thicknesses of the Pb targets chosen for present study are 53, 223, 552, 677, 908 and 1352 mg/cm2. The bremsstrahlung energy spectrum, only at target thickness of 677 mg/cm2 is found to be closer to the Avdonina and Pratt (1999) theory for total bremsstrahlung with the variation of +3%, −2%, +2%, −13%, −39% and 69% at 1, 4, 10, 30, 60 and 100 keV, respectively. The polarization bremsstrahlung is limited up to a particular target thickness at low-energy region, suppressing the bremsstrahlung at high-energy region.

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) are the promising low-cost solar cells to convert solar energy into electric energy. In this study, TiO2 based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell is fabricated. TiO2 paste is prepared by using ethanol as a solvent. A thin layer of TiO2 paste is coated on ITO conducting glass, which acts as a working electrode. The counter electrode is prepared by pencil graphite paste using ethanol as a solvent and coated on ITO conducting glass. The dye solution is prepared by adding commercially available methylene blue dye to ethanol and deionized water. From XRD studies, the average crystallite size of TiO2 powder is found to be 88.46 nm. This indicates that the nanostructure of the TiO2 having a large surface to volume ratio playing a vital role in the absorption of solar radiations by the material. J-V characteristics of fabricated DSSC were studied to evaluate its performance in terms of a short circuit current, open-circuit voltage, and fill factor. The performance of DSSC may be enhanced by decreasing the crystallite size of TiO2.

In present communication, gamma and neutron shielding ability of CRT panel (CRT-P), CRT funnel (CRT-F), LCD, and commercial borosilicate (BS) waste glasses has been studied in terms of energy exposure build up factors and fast neutron removal cross-section. The energy exposure build up factors of aforesaid waste glasses for the energy range of 0.015 MeV to 15 MeV and for penetration depth upto 40 mfp have been calculated directly using simple Log Interpolation Method without using multistep G.P. fitting method. On the basis of obtained results, it has been reported that these waste glasses possess satisfactory shielding characteristics and can be used as aggregate for making high density concrete storage facilities for safe disposal of nuclear waste.

Absorption jump factors and jump ratios parameters are required in many areas of industries. Lanthanum is utilized in picture industry and for studio lighting and projection. Due to this reason it is important to calculate the absorption jump factor (J) and jump ratios(r) of lanthanum compounds to explore the potential applications of these compounds. The jump factors and jump series have been calculated using mass attenuation coefficient. The theoretical values of mass attenuation coefficient were obtained by using WinXCom, based on the mixture rule. The jump ratios (r1,2,3) and jump factors (J1,2,3), of Lanthanum compounds have been calculated for the first time. These different compounds have different jump ratios and jump factors for Lanthanum compounds near edges. It is expected that mass attenuation coefficient for Lanthanum compounds will vary near edge. It is found value of jump ratios for K, L1, L2, L3 vary from 1.653 to 5.853, vary from 1.069 to 1.153, vary from 1.2 to 1.351 and vary from 1.316 to 2.814 respectively. It is also seen that value of jump factor for K, L1, L2, L3 vary from 0.395 to 0.829, vary from 0.065 to 0.133, vary from 0.116 to 0.26 and vary from 0.240 to 0.647 respectively. No experimental or theoretical values of these parameters are available in literature for comparison.

2 D materials show fascinating properties for their applications in advanced technology. Tungsten Diselenide (WSe2), a family of transition-metal dichalcogenides, has greatly inspired researchers to take up challenges in energy storage, optoelectronic and electronic applications. We have synthesized WSe2 using hydrothermal technique via the reaction of sodium tungstate and selenium power with the assistance of sodium borohydride, a reducing agent and N, N- dimethylformamide (DMF) and deionized water have been utilized as double solvent. The structural and the surface morphological properties of WSe2 have been studied using X-ray diffraction and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) which approve the high crystallinity and reveal the most thermodynamically stable Hexagonal phase of WSe2. The successful synthesis of this new class of 2D material motivated us to perform ion beam bombardment experiments for modifying its properties especially for energy applications.

Zirconia (ZrO2) has a unique property of changing the crystalline phase from monoclinic to cubic at a higher temperature. This leads to its versatile applications in the fields of nuclear reactors, oxygen detectors, solid oxide fuel cells etc. Yttria doped zirconia has been studied extensively for transformation and stabilization of its cubic phase at room temperature. Whereas, the reports on such accounts with calcium doping are rare. In present study, the crystalline structure of Ca-doped zirconia (8 mol % Ca) as prepared by the solid-state reaction technique and sintered at 1000 °C in air, is compared with that of pure zirconia. From the X-ray diffractometer patterns recorded in θ-2θ geometry, it is evident that the pure zirconia exists only in the monoclinic phase. Further, the XRD of Ca-doped zirconia and its Rietveld refinement revealed the stabilization of zirconia in the monoclinic and cubic phase. The cubic phase stabilization in zirconia at room temperature with calcium doping opened up the possibilities of tailoring its properties more precisely via ion implantation.