Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2020) 135: 224
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-020-00253-7

Regular Article

Tuning the thermal diffusivity of the seed matter for enhanced biosynthesis: a thermal lens study

¹ Department of Optoelectronics, University of Kerala, Trivandrum, Kerala, 695581, India
² Department of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Kerala, Trivandrum, Kerala, 695581, India

^* e-mail: drssraman@gmail.com

Received: 13 December 2019
Accepted: 29 January 2020
Published online: 5 February 2020

Abstract

The thermodynamics of the seed matter after imbibition is highly significant as the growth and germination involve complex biochemical exergonic process. The germination of seed and compositional variation of the seed matter has always been a fascinating field of research. The present work unveils the thermodynamics associated with the changing thermal diffusivity of the seed matter through the green technology-based single-beam thermal lens technique. Investigations are carried out in Vigna radiata seeds, germinating in media with and without carbon allotropes, through various spectroscopic techniques. The morphology of the soot and carbon allotropes is understood from the field emission scanning electron microscope images. The thermal lens study throws light into the energy trapping nature of the seed matter of the seed growing in carbon allotropic media which facilitates biosynthesis. The observed increased rate of growth of the seed is substantiated through the ultraviolet–visible–near-infrared (NIR), Fourier transform infrared, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopic analyses. The NIR and PL studies also reveal the formation of chlorophyll molecule during germination. Thus, the study suggests a mechanism for tuning the thermal diffusivity of the seed matter as to trap the biochemical energy to facilitate the further biosynthesis and thereby to enhance the growth rate.