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This paper accounts for a methodology to address the management of forest bioresidue in western Himalayan region of India. The genesis of the paper lies in cause and effect relationship, where one of the authors of this paper has seen numerous forest fires during the course of his careers as a natural resource manager. The methodology tackles linkages between forest and it’s users by involving them in hazardous forest bioresidue waste management. Though the methodology is self evolutionary in nature but during the course of it’s evolution two major findings come forth. Traces of social entrepreneurship among the villagers and the requirement for an appropriate machine to handle the forest bioresidue were largely seen during the study. Both the above mentioned facts lead to an Innovation of eco friendly bioresidue briquetting machine. The paper in addition equally deals with the complete innovation cycle in addition to the methodological context of forest bioresidue resource utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the present work, we report the formation of SiGe nanoparticles embedded in SiO2 film by atom beam sputtering method in conjunction with Rapid Thermal Annealing (RTA). Crystalline SiGe nanoparticles in the co-sputtered films are formed after rapid thermal annealing at 900 °C and 1000 °C for 1 min in N2 gas ambient. These nanoparticles were characterized using UV–vis absorption, GXRD, FTIR and Raman measurements. UV–vis spectra show blue shift of absorption edge with the increase in annealing temperature. GXRD pattern shows that particles formed are crystalline. The average size of the nanoparticle estimated from GXRD is 15 nm to 30 nm for the films annealed at temperatures 800 °C and 1000 °C respectively. FTIR spectra show the phase separation between SiGe nanoparticles and SiO2 matrix after RTA. Raman spectra show that SiGe phase is formed with c-Ge as core and c-SiGe as shell in the SiO2 matrix. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Using atom beam co-sputtering of SiO2, Ge and Si targets, composite films containing Si, Ge and SiOx at different compositions were prepared and annealed at different temperatures. The influence of annealing temperatures on phase formation in the composite films was studied. The films were characterized using UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, FTIR, and GXRD. GXRD plots show diffraction peaks due to SiGe alloy nanoparticles and no peaks due to elemental Si or Ge. The nanoparticle size estimated from GXRD is 4.7 nm. UV–visible spectra show the red shift in absorption edge as the annealing temperature is increased. FTIR spectra reveal phase separation of SiGe alloy from SiOx matrix, upon annealing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Si and Ge nanocrystals embedded in SiO2 have attracted much attention due to their possible application in integrated optoelectronic devices. Ion beam mixing of Ge film into fused silica to form Ge nanoparticles is one of the possible methods to controllably produce embedded nanoclusters. In this work, Ge nanocrystals in fused silica were formed by defect induced nucleation and ion beam mixing. In our experiment, we have created defects in fused silica using 200 keV Ar ions with different fluences ranging from 1×1015 to 2×1016 ions/cm2 (pre-mixing irradiation). Ge film (20 nm) was then deposited on it and ion beam mixed using 230 keV Ar ions at a fluence of 2×1016 ions /cm2. The Ge–SiO2 composite films were characterized using UV–visible and Micro-Raman spectroscopy. UV–visible spectra showed variation in absorption band gap with ion beam fluence used for pre-mixing irradiation. Micro-Raman spectra showed formation of Ge nanoparticles in SiO2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Pine needles are a major cause of forest fires in the western region of the Himalayas in India. There is a need to explore avenues for utilizing this forest bio residue. Pine needles in the form of briquettes are an important source of renewable energy as it has low carbon emissions, low-cost technological interventions, easy accessibility and direct community benefits. The purpose of this paper is to list, classify and rank the enablers supporting energy generation using briquettes made from dried pine needles. This study ranks the enablers by using the fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process which is a multi-criteria decision-making approach. This paper finds that technological enablers are key to such interventions using dried and fallen pine needles for energy generation. The second category is environment-related enablers that directly impact the environment, followed by the market-related factors including good demand for the bio briquettes by the industry, viable fuel linkage, and a sense of business approach among the main actors. Economic enablers are next in importance, including factors such as employment generation, additional income, and self-sufficiency making such initiatives attractive enough to be adopted by people. Government and lastly, social and community-related enablers are next in priority for such projects. This is the first research that recognized, classified as well as ranked these enablers to pine needle-based energy generation in Uttarakhand in achieving United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 such as climate action and affordable and clean energy. • To categorize and assess the major enabling factors supporting energy generation using Pine needles. • AHP with Fuzzy logic approach used for prioritization of barriers. • Managerial and practical implications for these enablers. • Technology related enablers are key to pine needle based energy generation. • Low maintenance of machinery has topmost global ranking as enabler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustained energy access to remote hilly regions is a challenge. Governments have made efforts to implement renewable energy solutions in these areas, but the acceptance of such technologies by local communities has not been easy. An action research was conducted to introduce a renewable energy technology for energy generation through pine needles to rural communities of Himalayan region. Based on the theoretical underpinning of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology this empirical study explored the determinants of behavioural intentions to adopt the specifically designed briquetting machine. Results show that in addition to effort expectancy and performance expectancy, local leader's influence also affects the community's intention to use the technology. However, perceived effort expectancy and performance expectancy mediate the relationship between the leader's influence and behavioural intention. Age was also found to be a moderating variable. This modified model of technology adoption has significance in policy making and implementation of similar renewable energy based development projects for mountainous community. • Forest bio residue based energy technology can provide sustainable solution to the energy needs of mountainous regions. • Unified theory of acceptance and use of technology was used to explain intention to use renewable energy technology. • Local leaders influence community's perception of performance efficiency of the machine and efforts required to operate it. • Local leaders influence the technology adoption intentions of the community. • Age significantly moderates the local leaders influence but gender does not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present work is to get insights into the mechanistic origin of the reinforcement effects of nanoclay on a segmented polybutadiene polyurethane-urea system. To this end, a convergent analysis of the hard domain morphology and conformational state of soft segment in the nanocomposites was carried out by using a combination of complementary characterization techniques, namely, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, small angle neutron scattering, transmission electron microscopy, modulated differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis. Analysis of small angle neutron scattering data by a combination of Percus–Yevick hard sphere and Zernike-Ornstein model coupled with direct visualization of the dispersed hard domain morphology from transmission electron microscopy provided insight on clay induced changes in the hard domain morphology. A monotonic decrease in the domain size as well as the average interdomain distance was observed with increasing nanoclay content in the polymer matrix. Analysis of the carbonyl stretching region from FTIR showed increased degree of hydrogen bonding for the urethane carbonyl groups of the nanocomposites compared to the neat matrix. A combination of calorimetric and dynamic mechanical analysis revealed the existence of a constrained amorphous region; quantified to be ≈ 16% at the highest clay content experimented. The manifestation of these morphological and conformational changes on the nano -, micro - and macro scale reinforcements in the nanocomposites was investigated by mechanical properties at these length scales using nanoindentation, DMA and tensile testing, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest fires due to pine needles in the northwestern Himalayas during summers are a very common phenomenon every year causing major harm to flora and fauna. They are a major contributor to climate change as forest fires destroy hectares of land covered by forest and emit greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. One possible solution to this problem is to generate energy from the bio residue of pine tree. This paper intends to identify, categorize and prioritize the major factors that hinders and are barriers to energy generation using pine needles in the state of Uttarakhand, India. This paper adopts a multi-criteria decision-making approach based on the technique of fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process. Sensitivity analysis is also used to test the robustness of this technique. The study finds that Legal and regulatory factors are the most critical and categorized as major influences of such renewable energy generation project, which includes government policy, project guidelines, financial support, technical support, and government clearances. The second barrier is economic which majorly includes cost factor associated with the development and sustenance of such energy generation projects. Technological and market related factors are next on the priority to energy generation using pine needles through limitations such as topography, hilly terrain, seasonal availability, supply chain, poor marketing. Human resource barriers stands at the fifth place and has less influence on such energy generation initiatives. This paper will help the policy makers to understand the priorities while solving energy generation issues to reduce forest fires and contribute to mitigate climate change. • To categorize the major factors negatively affecting energy generation using Pine needles. • To assess and prioritize these barriers. • To deliver managerial and practical implications for these barriers. • Legal and regulatory most critical barrier to pine needle based energy generation. • Lack of proper marketing has topmost global ranking as barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microstructures of gallium oxide with diverse morphologies are synthesized using vapor phase transport route. Structural and micro structural investigations using XRD, SEM and micro Raman technique confirm formation of single phase β-Ga 2 O 3. Morphology and structural quality of the crystal growth is observed to improve with respect to growth temperature. Based on observations suitable growth mechanism is proposed to explain diverse morphologies governed by the growth temperatures. From Field Emission (FE) investigations, the structural defects associated with the crystal growth are claimed to affect the FE properties. Adequate field emission followed by steady current recorded over a long period of time for micron sized sheets of β-Ga 2 O 3 (specimen synthesized at 1000 °C) looks favorable for various FE applications. The results are very promising looking at the possibilities to fabricate uniform, homogeneous layers of the active material, retaining excellent FE properties observed during various nano-forms of β-Ga 2 O 3 otherwise. • Growth of gallium oxide microstructures using vapor phase transport route. • The β-Ga 2 O 3 morphological changes are reported as a function of growth temperature. • Deformation and stress produced in crystals is observed to be a function of growth temperature. • Based on observations suitable growth mechanism is proposed herewith. • Adequate field emission followed by steady current is observed from micron sized sheets of β-Ga 2 O 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]