Influence of Biofield Treatment on Physical and Structural Characteristics of Barium Oxide and Zinc Sulfide

Metal oxides and sulfides are considered as one of interesting class of ceramics due to their versatile applications [1-5]. Zinc sulfide (ZnS) and barium oxide (BaO) gain attention among the researchers due to their unique optical and electrical properties and wide applications in electrical industries. ZnS exist as zinc blend structure (wurtzite crystal structure), whereas BaO exists as rock salt type. Recently, researchers had developed the self-cleaning techniques using barium oxide, in which coal gas provides the power directly to solid oxide fuel cells [6]. This is a cleaner and efficient way to generate electricity from coal reserves. Further, the BaO is hygroscopic in nature which enables it to use for chemical reactions on anode surface [1]. ZnS possess a particular place due to its application as wide band gap semiconductors, blue light emitting diodes (LEDs), and electroluminescent devices [7-9]. It also become promising material for various other fields such as solar cell, phosphor etc. Currently, there are several methods of producing the metal oxides and sulfides powder such as sol gel chemical bath deposition technique, pulsed-laser deposition vacuum arc deposition and chemical vapor deposition [10-14]. Furthermore, it is well known that electrical, magnetic, and optical properties of ceramics are directly related to its density, crystal structure, crystallite size, and physical parameters [15-17]. After considering the applications and properties of BaO and ZnS, authors wanted to investigate an alternative and economically viable approach that could be beneficial to modify the physical and structural properties of these powders.


Introduction
Metal oxides and sulfides are considered as one of interesting class of ceramics due to their versatile applications [1][2][3][4][5]. Zinc sulfide (ZnS) and barium oxide (BaO) gain attention among the researchers due to their unique optical and electrical properties and wide applications in electrical industries. ZnS exist as zinc blend structure (wurtzite crystal structure), whereas BaO exists as rock salt type. Recently, researchers had developed the self-cleaning techniques using barium oxide, in which coal gas provides the power directly to solid oxide fuel cells [6]. This is a cleaner and efficient way to generate electricity from coal reserves. Further, the BaO is hygroscopic in nature which enables it to use for chemical reactions on anode surface [1]. ZnS possess a particular place due to its application as wide band gap semiconductors, blue light emitting diodes (LEDs), and electroluminescent devices [7][8][9]. It also become promising material for various other fields such as solar cell, phosphor etc. Currently, there are several methods of producing the metal oxides and sulfides powder such as sol gel chemical bath deposition technique, pulsed-laser deposition vacuum arc deposition and chemical vapor deposition [10][11][12][13][14]. Furthermore, it is well known that electrical, magnetic, and optical properties of ceramics are directly related to its density, crystal structure, crystallite size, and physical parameters [15][16][17]. After considering the applications and properties of BaO and ZnS, authors wanted to investigate an alternative and economically viable approach that could be beneficial to modify the physical and structural properties of these powders.
Research converging from many fields of investigation indicates that the human body is a complex energy system. It has been demonstrated that short lived electrical events or action potential exist in several type of mammalian cells such as neurons, muscle cells, and endocrine cells [18]. For instance, the cells present in central nervous system of human body communicate with another by means of electrical signals that travel along the nerve processes. Thus, human has ability to harness the energy from environment or universe and can transmit into any living or nonliving object around the Globe. The object(s) always receive the energy and responds in a useful way that is called biofield energy and this process is termed as biofield treatment. Mr. Trivedi's unique biofield treatment is known as The Trivedi Effect ® . Mr. Trivedi's biofield treatment has significantly transform the characteristics of various living and non-living things using his biofield treatment. Biofield treatment has substantially altered the atomic, crystalline, physical properties in various metals and ceramics [19][20][21][22][23][24]. In addition, biofield treatment has also transform the molecular and cellular characteristics microbiology [25][26][27], biotechnology [28,29], and agriculture [30][31][32]. In metals and ceramics the biofield treatment has shown the excellent results at physical, thermal, and atomic level. In addition, the biofield treatment had increased the particle size by six fold and enhanced the crystallite size by two fold in zinc powder [19]. Based on the outstanding results achieved by biofield treatment on different materials and considering the industrial significance of BaO and ZnS, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of biofield treatment on physical and structural properties of BaO and ZnS.

Experiment
The BaO and ZnS powders used in present experiment were

Abstract
Barium oxide (BaO) and zinc sulfide (ZnS) are well known for their applications in electrical, optical and chemical industries. The present study was aimed to evaluate the impact of biofield treatment on the structural and physical properties of BaO and ZnS powder. The study was carried out in two groups, one was set to control, and another group was subjected to Mr. Trivedi's biofield treatment. Control and treated samples of BaO and ZnS were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and surface area analyzer. XRD data showed that lattice parameter and unit cell volume of BaO powder were reduced upto 0.42% and 1.26%, respectively as compared to control. Whereas, density of treated BaO was increased upto 1.27% as compared to control. Besides, the unit cell volume was changed in treated ZnS from -0.55 to 0.24% as compared to control that led to change in density from -0.24 to 0.55% after biofield treatment. However, the crystallite size was substantially increased upto 40.5% and 71.4% in treated BaO and ZnS, respectively as compared to control. FT-IR data exhibited that absorption peaks at wavenumber 862/cm (control) was shifted to 858/cm in treated BaO. Upward shifting of absorption peaks corresponding to Zn-S stretching bond was observed in treated (617/cm) as compared to control (592/cm). Furthermore, surface area result showed that it was reduced by 4.32% and 2.1% in treated BaO and ZnS powder, respectively as compared to control. Hence, these, findings suggest that biofield treatment has altered the structural and physical properties of BaO and ZnS powders.
obtained from Sigma-Aldrich. Each powder samples were divided into two groups, referred as control and treatment. Control group was remained as untreated and treatment group received Mr. Trivedi's biofield treatment.

Biofield treatment
The treatment group was handed over in sealed pack to Mr. Trivedi for biofield treatment under standard laboratory condition. Mr. Trivedi provided this treatment through his energy transmission process to the treatment group without touching the samples. After that, both control and treated samples were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Surface area analyzer.

X-ray diffraction study
XRD analysis of control and treated samples were performed using Phillips, Holland PW 1710 XRD diffractometer, which had a copper anode with nickel filter. The wavelength of X-ray radiation used 1⋅54056 Å. Data obtained from the XRD was in chart form of intensity vs.2θ°, with a detailed Table 1 containing d value (Å), number of peaks, peak width 2θ°, peak count, relative intensity of peaks, etc. Further, lattice parameter and unit cell volume were computed using PowderX software. Weight of the unit cell was calculated as, atomic weight multiplied by the number of atoms present in a unit cell. Density of the unit cell was computed as follows: Density=Weight of unit Cell

Volume of Unit Cell
Crystallite size (G) was calculated as follow: Where, λ is the wavelength of X-ray (=1⋅54056 Å) and k is the equipment constant (=0.94).
Besides, the percent change in the lattice parameter was calculated using following equation: % Change in lattice parameter=__________________ × 100 A control Where A Control and A Treated are the lattice parameter of control and treated sample respectively. Similarly, the percent change in all other parameters such as unit cell volume, density, and crystallite size were calculated.

FT-IR analysis
FT-IR analysis of BaO and ZnS samples were performed on Shimadzu, Japan, FT-IR Spectrometer with frequency range of 400-4000/cm.

Surface area analysis
The surface area was measured by the Surface area analyzer, Smart SORB 90 based on Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), which had a detection range of 0⋅2-1000 m 2 /g. Percent change in surface area was calculated using following equations: Where, S Control and S Treated are the surface area of control and treated samples respectively.

Results and Discussion
X-ray diffraction study XRD Table 1. Moreover, the percent change in lattice parameter; unit cell volume, density, and crystallite size as compared to control are illustrated in Figures 3-6. Data exhibited that the lattice parameter in treated BaO was significantly reduced by 0.42, 0.42, 0.41, and 0.32% in T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively, as compared to control (Figure 3). This reduction of lattice parameter led to decrease the unit cell volume of treated BaO by 1.26, 1.26, 1.22, and 0.98% in T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively, as compared to control (Figure 4). Furthermore, this reduction in unit cell volume resulted into increase in density by 1.27, 1.27, 1.23, and 0.98% in T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively, as compared to control ( Figure 5). It is well known fact that the density is inversely proportional to volume of a substance for a given mass. The reduction in volume of unit cell and increase in density suggest that BaO lattice was contracted after biofield treatment. It is previously reported that internal strain in ceramics can be produced through high temperature,      doping, and milling [33,34]. In addition, it is also reported that some material respond to electric and magnetic field in form of strain such as piezoelectric material [35]. Thus, it is hypothesized that biofield treatment might transfer the energy in form of electromagnetic waves, which consist of electric and magnetic field and that field may push the positive barium ion and negative oxygen towards each other. Hence, the movement of both ions toward each other may lead to reduced lattice parameter. XRD data of ZnS showed that the percent change in lattice parameter was -0.08 and 0.18% in T2 and T4 respectively, whereas no change was found in T1 and T3, as compared to control. Percent change in unit cell volume of treated ZnS was 0.24 and -0.55 in T2 and T4 respectively, as compared to control. This change in unit cell volume led to change the density by -0.24 and 0.552% in T2 and T4 respectively, as compared to control. These changes in lattice parameter suggest that both kind of stress: compressive and tensile possibly applied through biofield treatment. In addition, result also indicated that the permanent lattice strain probably induced in BaO and ZnS crystals through biofield treatment. Furthermore, data exhibited that crystallite size was change from 66.5 nm (control) to 35.9, 93.4, 93.4, and 93.4 nm in treated BaO samples T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. Percent change in crystallite size of treated BaO was -46% in T1 and 40.5% in T2, T3 and T4 as compared to control ( Figure 6). This indicates that crystallite size of treated BaO was increased in three out of four sample tested. Nevertheless, the crystallite size in treated ZnS was substantially increased from 35.6 nm (control) to 61, 42.7, 61, and 47.4 nm in T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively (Table 1), as compared to control. It indicates that crystallite size was increased by 71.4, 20, 71.4, and 33.4% in T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively, as compared to control ( Figure 6). Overall data suggest that crystallite size was increased in both BaO and ZnS powder after biofield treatment. Similar results of increase in crystallite size in silicon dioxide and antimony had been reported by our group in previous studies [36,37]. Furthermore, it is well known that the crystallite size of ceramics powder increased with increase in        temperature [38]. Furthermore, it is assumed that internal strains present in treated powder made dislocations to move unhindered that results into reorient the planes on either side of the crystallite boundaries. Further, this reorientation of neighboring planes into same planes may lead to increase crystallite size. Moreover, it is also reported that alteration in crystallite size in ZnS leads to change the energy band gap [39]. Hence it is assumed that band gap in treated ZnS sample may be changed after biofield treatment. Moreover, based on the above findings in XRD analysis, control, T1 and T2 were analyzed using FT-IR.

FT-IR analysis
FT-IR spectra of control and treated BaO samples are presented in Figure 7. IR spectra showed the peaks at wavenumber 3497, 3580, and 3576/cm in control, T1, and T2 respectively, which could be due to O-H stretching vibrations. Peaks observed at 1683, 1683, and 1672/cm in control, T1 and T2 respectively can be assigned to O-H bending vibrations. The emergence of peaks corresponding to O-H stretching and bending could be due to moisture absorption by BaO powder. Furthermore, absorption band observed at wavenumber 862/cm (control), 740-970 cm -1 (T1), and 507, 661, 769, 858/cm (T2) that could be due to Ba-O bonding vibrations [40]. Data suggest that number of peaks and intensity corresponding to BaO vibration were changed in T1 and T2 after biofield treatment. The absorption peaks found at 1398, 1425, and 1444/cm in control, T1, and T2 respectively, could be due to formation of BaCO 3 after CO 2 absorption by BaO sample from atmosphere [41]. Besides, IR spectra of ZnS powder is illustrated in Figure 8, in which absorption peaks observed at 592/ cm (control), 617/cm (T1) and 590/cm (T2) that were assigned to Zn-S stretching vibrations [42,43]. It indicates that absorption peaks were changed in treated sample as compared to control, which could be due to alteration in Zn-S bond length after biofield treatment. Absorption peaks observed in range of 3000-3500/cm in control, T1 and T2 could be due to O-H stretching vibrations. The O-H bending peaks were observed at 1618, 1616, and 1608/cm in control, T1 and T2 respectively. The emergence of peaks corresponding to O-H stretching and bending could be due to moisture absorption by ZnS powder. In addition, the peaks observed at wavenumber 1114, 1116, and 1234/cm in control, T1 and T2, respectively, are possibly the characteristic peaks for ZnS particles [44,45]. Recently, our group reported that the biofield treatment has changed the bond length in ceramic nano oxides (ZnO, Fe 3 O 4 ) [46]. Thus, based on current data, it is assumed that biofield treatment may alter the bonding properties in BaO and ZnS, that possibly resulted into alteration in IR peaks in treated as compared to control.

Surface area analysis
Surface area analysis in term of percent change of BaO and ZnS powder are shown in Figure 9. Data showed that the surface area was reduced by 4.32% and 2.1% in BaO and ZnS, respectively as compared to control (Table 2). It is possible that biofield energy transferred through treatment, which might induce energy milling. Due to which BaO and ZnS powder particles might be agglomerated after biofield treatment and increased particle size. Further, this increase in particle size probably reduced surface area in treated samples as compared to control.

Conclusion
Overall, the biofield treatment has significantly altered the physical  and structural properties of both BaO and ZnS samples. XRD result showed that density of treated BaO and ZnS powder was increased upto 1.27% and 0.55% as compared to control. It could be due to reduction of lattice parameter in unit cell after biofield treatment. In addition, crystallite size was significantly increased by 40.5% and 71.4% in BaO and ZnS, respectively as compared to control. FT-IR data showed the shifting of absorption peaks in treated BaO and ZnS corresponding to Ba-O and Zn-S stretching vibrations, respectively, as compared to control. Thus, it is hypothesized that bond length of Zn-S and Ba-O, possibly altered after biofield treatment. Besides, the surface area was reduced by 4.32% and 2.1% in treated BaO and ZnS powder, respectively as compared to control. Thus, based on the alteration found in density, crystallite size, surface area, and bond length in treated BaO and ZnS, it is assumed that biofield treatment could alter the optoelectronics characteristics in ceramics.