Nanostructured Boron Carbide And Its Composites For Photocatalysis And Boron Neutron Capture Therapy BNCT

Abstract

Boron carbide (B4C), a lightweight material having remarkable electrical and mechanical newlineproperties, is attaining much attention of the researchers. The properties of materials alter at newlinenano level and this is also true in the case of boron carbide. It shows extraordinary optical and newlineelectrical properties. Present study deals with the synthesis of nanostructured B4C. The soul of newlinethis work is simple and relatively low temperature synthesis route. B4C was synthesized by newlinesolvothermal method using different boron and carbon source in the presence of reducing newlineagent. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirm the hexagonal system of B4C which newlinepossess defects. These defect states play a significance role in use of B4C in photocatalysis. newlineThe morphological examinations (scanning/transmission electron microscopy) of synthesized newlinenanostructures showed that they have spherical morphology and particle size in nano range. newlineThe B4C and its composite with SnO2 have been studied for photocatalytic degradation of newlineindustrial pollutants such as methylene blue, synazol yellow, novacron red huntsman and newlinemethyl orange. The synthesized B4C showed fluorescent property which can be used for newlinedetection of tumors. Cytotoxicity studies on cancerous cell lines (HeLa) and normal cell line newline(human embryonic kidney, HEK-293) show that the synthesized nanostructures can be used newlinefor boron neutron capture therapy. The BNCT studies showed efficiency of B4C as boron based newlineagent for treatment of tumors. This presented work in the thesis is divided into six chapters. newlineThe first chapter covers the introductory part and brief literature review. It comprises the basis newlineof crystal structure, its phase diagram and various synthesis routes. The properties of B4C are newlinealso given. The applications of B4C (mainly photocatalysis and BNCT) has been discussed. newlineThe second chapter comprises the experimental work. This chapter gives detail about the experimental method to synthesize nanostructured B4C and its composite with SnO2. It also newlineprovide information about the chara