Search

This paper reports a review about microelectromechanical system (MEMS) microphones. The focus of this review is to identify the issues in MEMS microphone designs and thoroughly discuss the state-of-the-art solutions that have been presented by the researchers to improve performance. Considerable research work has been carried out in capacitive MEMS microphones, and this field has attracted the research community because these designs have high sensitivity, flat frequency response, and low noise level. A detailed overview of the omnidirectional microphones used in the applications of an audio frequency range has been presented. Since the microphone membrane is made of a thin film, it has residual stress that degrades the microphone performance. An in-depth detailed review of research articles containing solutions to relieve these stresses has been presented. The comparative analysis of fabrication processes of single- and dual-chip omnidirectional microphones, in which the membranes are made up of single-crystal silicon, polysilicon, and silicon nitride, has been done, and articles containing the improved performance in these two fabrication processes have been explained. This review will serve as a starting guide for new researchers in the field of capacitive MEMS microphones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, organo-lead halide is one of the most interesting materials for perovskite solar cells. This is because of its ease of fabrication, long absorption wavelength region, and long diffusion length. In this study, we investigated the bandgap tuning of hybrid mixed-halide perovskite films. The films were prepared by sequential two-step deposition technique, using 5-ammonium valeric acid iodide (5-AVAI), PbI2, and a mixture of CH3NH3I and CH3NH3Br as precursor solutions. The results confirmed the formation of 2D perovskites in the presence of 5-AVAI. The obtained films had higher moisture resistance, better surface coverage, and smaller grain size, compared to the films without 5-AVAI. With the introduction of Br− ions, the change in the lattice parameter was observed. The bandgap was also found to increase with increasing Br− content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three single reinforcement concrete (RC) frames, including 1 reference specimen and 2 specimens strengthened with shear walls, were fabricated and subjected to low cyclic loadings, in order to evaluate seismic performances of strengthened single frame structures with exterior cantilevers. Through comparison and analysis of failure mode, hysteretic behavior, skeleton curve, energy dissipation, strength, and stiffness degradation of the tested frames, the validity of the shear wall-based reinforcement method for single frames was verified. Test results indicate that the stiffness and load-bearing capacities of strengthened frames increased considerably in comparison with the reference frame. A "strong column-weak beam" failure pattern was observed on the cantilever side, and the failure of the shear wall was always prior to the column, which can increase the structural redundancy and improve the failure mechanism and seismic performance of an existing single frame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospinning has received increasing interest and attention in recent years for fabricating micro/nanofibers of various materials; this is due to its versatility and capability of multiple field applications, including filtration, biosensors, tissue engineering, wound dressings, drug delivery, and composites. Nonetheless, the optimization of the electrospinning process is based on a time-consuming trial-and-error procedure. An empirical study, in conformity with the Taguchi orthogonal matrix design, was carried out to investigate the influence of various processing variables on the electrospinning of resorbable poly(D,L)-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA). Three different solvents, hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP), dichloromethane (DCM), and trichloromethane (TCM), were employed. Five variables were selected for evaluation, including PLGA concentration, the solution's flow rate from the nozzle, the distance between the nozzle and ground collection, the voltage, and the type of solvents. After electrospinning, we performed a morphological analysis of nanofibers by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and measured the fiber size by the evaluation of SEM images. Among the variables selected, the type of solvent and the applied voltage were found to be the principal variables influencing the diameter distribution of electrospun PLGA fibers. Nanofibers with the smallest fiber size (466.25±158.38 nm) could be obtained with HFIP solvent and an applied voltage of 15 kV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we report a new method for continuous fabrication of dry adhesives composed of microstructures with mushroom-shaped ends. Conventional mushroom microstructure fabrication is performed with a simple molding technique using a reversed phase master. In a typical fabrication process, thin- and wide-tip portions may be ripped during demolding, making it difficult to use in a continuous process. It is also difficult to apply the mushroom structure master to a continuous process system in roll form. Here, a continuous fabrication process was developed by applying the method of fabricating a wide tip using a tip inking method after forming a micropillar. Through the continuous process, the dry adhesive was successfully fabricated and the durability was measured with a reasonable pull-off strength (13 N/cm2). In addition to the reasonable adhesion, high durability is guaranteed, and fabricated dry adhesives are expected to be used in various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precast concrete walls become increasingly utilized due to the rapid needs of inexpensive fabricated house especially as traditional construction cost continues to climb, and also, particularly at damaged area due to natural disasters when the requirement of a lot of fast-constructed and cost-efficient houses are paramount. However, the performance of precast walls under lateral load such as earthquake or strong wind is still not comprehensively understood due to various types of reinforcements and connections. Additionally, the massive and solid wall elements also enlarge the building total weight and hence increase the impact of earthquake significantly. Therefore, the precast polystyrene-reinforced concrete walls which offer light weight and easy installment became the focus of this investigation. The laboratory test on two reinforced concrete wall specimens using EPS (expanded polystyrene) panel and wire mesh reinforcement has been conducted. Quasi-static load in the form of displacement controlled cyclic tests were undertaken until reaching peak load. At each discrete loading step, lateral load-deflection behaviour, crack propagation, and collapse mechanism were measured which then were compared with theoretical analysis. The findings showed that precast polystyrene-reinforced concrete walls gave considerable seismic performance for the low-to-moderate seismic region reaching up to 1% drift at 20% drop of peak load. However, it might not be sufficient for high seismic regions, at which double-panel wall type can be more suitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we fabricated a PMMA sandwiched Bi2Te3 self-assembly layer as a saturable absorber device, which was used as a passive mode locker for ultrafast pulse generation at the telecommunication band. Nanosheets of Bi2Te3 as a bulk topological insulator were successfully synthesized through a solvothermal treatment and self-assemble method to form a thin film at a water-air interface. In order to transfer the Bi2Te3 self-assembly layer to the optical fiber end, we design a construction of two PMMA layers sandwiched self-assembly layer. By incorporating this saturable absorber into an erbium-doped fiber laser, femtosecond mode-locking operation was experimentally demonstrated. The output pulse width is about 505 fs. Our results indicate that PMMA sandwiched topological insulator layer structure could be an improvement technology in traditional PMMA transfer method and could be used as a long-term stable saturable absorber for the passively mode locking lasers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formic acid (FA) electro-oxidation (FAO) was investigated at a binary catalyst composed of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) and copper oxide nanowires (CuOxNWs) and assembled onto a glassy carbon (GC) electrode. The deposition sequence of PdNPs and CuOxNWs was properly adjusted in such a way that could improve the electrocatalytic activity and stability of the electrode toward FAO. Several techniques including cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction were all combined to report the catalyst's activity and to evaluate its morphology, composition, and structure. The highest catalytic activity and stability were obtained at the CuOx/Pd/GC electrode (with PdNPs directly deposited onto the GC electrode followed by CuOxNWs with a surface coverage, Г, of ca. 49%). Such enhancement was inferred from the increase in the peak current of direct FAO (by ca. 1.5 fold) which associated a favorable negative shift in its onset potential (by ca. 30 mV). The enhanced electrocatalytic activity and stability (decreasing the loss of active material by ca. 1.5-fold) of the CuOx/Pd/GC electrode was believed originating both from facilitating the direct oxidation (decreasing the time needed to oxidize a complete monolayer of FA, increasing turnover frequency, by ca. 2.5-fold) and minimizing the poisoning impact (by ca. 71.5%) at the electrode surface during FAO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) structures on the transparent conductivity of their network films have been investigated. SWCNTs with different average tube diameters of 1.3 nm, 1.7 nm, and 2.0 nm were processed at the same conditions. Then unit structure characterization was performed by determining the tube diameter, length, bundle thickness, and so on, before the fabrication of SWCNT network films by the filtration and transfer method using the dispersions. The result of the transparent conductivity measurements clearly showed better performance with a decrease in the tube diameter: that is, narrower SWCNTs form narrow bundles, and their dense network results in an increase in the total length of conduction pathways in the SWCNT network films with high transparency. Furthermore, the figure of merit and the percolation exponent for the transparent conductivity obtained by using the data fitting of the percolation model were also discussed in terms of the tube diameter and length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is composed of distinct reviews on various fabrication technologies of the CMOS family and the characterization of MOS capacitors. The initial part of the article essentially presents a systemic review on an already conducted work on different fabrication technologies such as Si MOSFET, SiGe HBT, and InP HBT. Device and circuit-level performance for broadband and tuned millimetre-wave applications is discussed in detail relative to the underlying CMOS technologies. The comparison is made for various performance metrics for 180 nm, 130 nm, and 90 nm n-MOSFET devices for SiGe and InP HBTs. In the latter part of the study, a comprehensive review on a previously conducted research on electrical and physical characterization of metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitors fabricated on a 2.5 μm epitaxial germanium layer grown on (100) silicon substrate is undertaken. The focus and crux of the study is the influence of germanium surface preparation on MOS electrical characteristics. It is observed that predielectric (HfO) deposition annealing in NH3 ambience results in the performance upgradation in critical and key parameters such as equivalent oxide thickness and the gate leakage current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precast concrete structure is the building industrialization of the sure route. It can realize the construction process of low energy consumption and low emission and effectively meet the green development requirements of the construction industry. Based on prestressing technique, the connections of the precast concrete structure obtain prestress producing integrate joints and continuous frames, which improve the seismic safety and are applied widely in the earthquake area. To study seismic behavior of prestressed fabricated concrete frame structure, the experiments on the concrete frame under dynamic loading and low reversed cyclic loading were carried out. The single-span three-story prestressed fabricated concrete frame can accurately represent the load-carrying capability and the failure mechanism of multistory frame. Results of the study show that experimental specimens have good behaviors such as full hysteresis curves, proper displacement restoring capacity, and energy dissipation; the maximum interlayer drift ratio arrives 0.27% which has no damage to the frame in small earthquakes subjected to the 102 gal peak ground acceleration; the frame is repairable in moderate earthquakes when the maximal interlayer drift ratio arrives 0.73% subjected to the 204 gal peak ground acceleration; plastic hinges appeared at the ends of beam under low reversed cyclic loading firstly where the section curvature ductility factor ranges from 3.64 to 5.62; biaxial compression is acquired at beam-column joints with the help of column axial force and horizontal prestressing force; the beam fails before the column in the prestressed fabricated concrete frame at interlayer drift ratio between 1.56% and 2.56%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physico-mechanical properties of variable rubber blends including epoxide natural rubber (ENR), polybutadiene rubber (BR), and solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) filled with silanized silica and carbon black mixtures were explored. The tensile, hardness, resilience, abrasion, and fatigue behavior were investigated. An optimized composition involving 30 phr of ENR and 70 phr SBR filled with mixtures of carbon blacks and silanized silica was proposed to be a suitable composition for the future development of green passenger truck tires, with low rolling resistance (fuel saving ability), high wear resistance, and desired fatigue failure properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers a repeated duopoly game of prefabrication contractors in mega infrastructure projects and assumes the contractors exhibit bounded rationality. Based on the theory of bifurcation of dynamical systems, a dynamic price competition model is constructed considering different competition strategies. Accordingly, the stability of the equilibrium point of the system is discussed considering different initial market capacities, and numerical simulation is performed. The results show the system has a unique equilibrium solution when initial capacity is high and the parameters meet certain conditions. The contractors’ price adjustment strategy has an important influence on system stability. However, an overly aggressive competition strategy is not conducive to system stability. Moreover, the system is sensitive to initial parameter values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) layers with nano-sized pores have been used as shadow masks for the fabrication of two-dimensional (2D) metal nanodot arrays (NDAs). However, the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of size-controlled NDAs fabricated using AAO masks has not been much studied. In this study, we report on the improved preparation method and utilization of an ultrathin AAO mask for the fabrication of 2D plasmonic metal NDAs. The greatest challenge in preparing an AAO mask is to control the pore diameter and to make it reproducible. AAO masks with size-controlled pores were reproducibly prepared using a two-step chemical wet etching method. Ag NDAs with different dot diameters (42, 60, and 80 nm) and Ag, Cu, and Au NDAs with dot a diameter of 80 ± 5 nm were fabricated on indium tin oxide glass substrates using AAO masks. The wavelengths corresponding to LSPR of 2D metal NDAs were investigated using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. Our results show that AAO masks with tunable pores can be used as shadow masks for the fabrication of 2D plasmonic NDAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microelectronic fabrication of Si typically involves high-temperature or high-energy processes. For instance, wafer fabrication, transistor fabrication, and silicidation are all above 500°C. Contrary to that tradition, we believe low-energy processes constitute a better alternative to enable the industrial application of single-molecule devices based on 2D materials. The present work addresses the postsynthesis processing of graphene at unconventional low temperature, low energy, and low pressure in the poly methyl-methacrylate- (PMMA-) assisted transfer of graphene to oxide wafer, in the electron-beam lithography with PMMA, and in the plasma patterning of graphene with a PMMA ribbon mask. During the exposure to the oxygen plasma, unprotected areas of graphene are converted to graphene oxide. The exposure time required to produce the ribbon patterns on graphene is 2 minutes. We produce graphene ribbon patterns with ∼50 nm width and integrate them into solid state and liquid gated transistor devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile, green, and high-output hydrothermal synthesis was proposed for the fabrication of highly fluorescent nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-doped CDs). The nitrogen content in N-doped CDs reached 19.2% and demonstrated strong blue fluorescence emission was obtained with fluorescence quantum yield (QY) of up to 32.9%, which exhibit high fluorescence quantum yield, high photostability, and excellent biocompatibility. The N-doped CDs possess high photostability, low toxicity, and excellent biocompatibility, based on which the N-doped CDs were successfully applied as a fluorescence probe for cell imaging. Moreover, it was then successfully demonstrated for sensitive and selective detection of Fe3+ in serum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer in a traditional way is diagnosed using mammography, computer tomography, ultrasounds, biopsy, and finally, histopathological analysis. Histopathological analysis is a gold standard in breast cancer diagnostics; however, it is time consuming and prone to the human interpretations. That is why new methods based on optical properties of analyzed human tissue samples are needed to be introduced to the clinical practice objective, costless and fast diagnostic protocols. Nowadays, Raman spectroscopy-based methods are gaining more and more importance. Raman spectroscopy and imaging allow to characterize human tissue samples using an electromagnetic radiation from a safe range, and simultaneously, a minimal sample preparation is required. During measurements, a natural differentiation in tissues components’ scattering cross sections is used to build 2D and 3D maps of the chemical component distribution. The paper presents the application of SERS (surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy) measurements for analysis of human breast cancer (adenocarcinoma). The advantages of SERS application in cancer diagnostics are also discussed. Moreover, the detailed chemical composition of human breast cancer tissue based on Raman bands of DNA/RNA, amino acids, lipids, and proteins which are significantly enhanced is presented. Three different methods of NP preparation are presented, and the effectiveness of Raman signal enhancement of Ag nanoparticles synthetized by these methods is compared. The enhancement effect of NPs synthetized by reduction of silver nitrate with sodium borohydride (method no. 1) and silver nitrate-hydroxylamine hydrochloride reduction (method no. 2) was stronger when compared with the polyol method (method no. 3). Presented SERS results confirmed that the clearly resolved and high-intensity Raman spectra of cancer human breast tissue can be recorded using integration times of the order of fractional seconds and one milliwatt of the excitation laser power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beam capture efficiency (BCE) is one key factor of the overall efficiency for a microwave power transmission (MPT) system, while sparsification of a large-scale transmitting array has a practical significance. If all elements of the transmitting array are excited uniformly, the fabrication, maintenance, and feed network design would be greatly simplified. This paper describes the synthesis method of the sparse uniform-amplitude transmitting array with concentric ring layout using particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm while keeping a higher BCE. Based on this method, uniform exciting strategy, reduced number of elements, and a higher BCE are achieved simultaneously for optimal MPT. The numerical results of the sparse uniform-amplitude concentric ring arrays (SUACRAs) optimized by the proposed method are compared with those of the random-located uniform-amplitude array (RLUAA) and the stepped-amplitude array (SAA), both being reported in the literatures for the maximum BCE. Compared to the RLUAA, the SUACRA saves 32% elements with a 1.1% higher BCE. While compared to the SAA, the SUACRA saves 29.1% elements with a bit higher BCE. The proposed SUACRAs have higher BCEs, simple array arrangement and feed network, and could be used as the transmitting array for a large-scale MPT system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: There is an increased interest for essential oil nanoemulsions as natural food preservatives. We utilized sugar‐based surfactants including Quillaja Saponin (QS), Sucrose Monopalmitate (SMP), and Octyl Modified Starch (OMS). The outcomes presented that nanoemulsions could be successfully formed. Whereas oregano emulsions stabilized by SMP exposed to salt and acidic pH were highly unstable, QS could form more stable colloidal systems. Oregano nanoemulsions containing a very low amount of sunflower oil (SO) were not susceptible to Ostwald ripening during 60 days of storage at 20 °C. The optimization of the production process through response surface methodology revealed that incorporation of only 6.9 wt % SO at a microfluidization pressure of 73.5 MPa was sufficient to form a long‐term stable nanoemulsion with no changes in antibacterial activity. This work gives valuable and practical information to produce a natural antimicrobial agent potentially applicable in food and beverage, as well as cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. Practical applications: Recently, there has been a great demand by not only food consumers but also manufacturers for products containing natural ingredients. In this study, a promising nanoemulsion delivery system for oregano as an essential oil model with long‐term stability using a biosurfactant (Quillaja Saponin) was successfully produced by microfluidization. We optimized the formulation in terms of energy requirement and costs, which are important factors from an industry point of view. The fabricated colloidal dispersions have antimicrobial as well as flavoring and potential antioxidant applications in different products including food and beverages, as well as pharmaceutical and beauty products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic-organic mesoscopic solar cells become a promising alternative for conventional solar cells. We describe a CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite-sensitized solid-state solar cells with the use of different polymer hole transport materials such as 2,2′,7,7′-tetrakis-(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenyl-amine)-9,9′-spirobifluorene (spiro-OMeTAD), poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT), and poly[[4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl][3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4-b]thiophenediyl]] (PTB7). The device with a spiro-OMeTAD-based hole transport layer showed the highest efficiency of 6.9%. Interestingly, the PTB7 polymer, which is considered an electron donor material, showed dominant hole transport behaviors in the perovskite solar cell. A 200 nm thin layer of PTB7 showed comparatively good efficiency (5.5%) value to the conventional spiro-OMeTAD-based device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bifunctional films of Keggin-type polyoxometalates H3PW12O40 (PW12), H4SiW12O40 (SiW12), H3PMo12O40 (PMo12), and TiO2 were successfully built on Fe3O4@SiO2 microspheres using a layer-by-layer method. The characterization by field emission scan electronic microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) shows that TiO2 nanoparticles and polyoxometalate (POM) anions are successfully assembled. The photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) was used to test the photocatalytic efficiency of magnetic catalysts under UV irradiation. For MO decomposition, multilayer films that combine PW12 and SiW12 with TiO2 show high efficiency, which can be attributed to the synergistic effect between POMs and TiO2. The degradation of the model contaminant was also systematically checked under different conditions such as bilayer number deposited on magnetic microspheres, catalyst concentration, inorganic oxidants, and salts. The oxidation process of MO follows an apparent first-order reaction. Furthermore, the composite catalysts deposited on Fe3O4@SiO2 magnetic microspheres can be conveniently, quickly, and efficiently separated by an external magnet from a solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along the twentieth century, the electronic properties of bismuth have been widely studied, especially in relation with its magnetoresistive and thermoelectric responses. In this context, a particular emphasis has been made on electronic confinement effects in bismuth nanostructures (or nanobismuth). In the recent years, the optical properties of bismuth nanostructures are focusing a growing interest. An increasing number of reports point at the potential of such nanostructures to support plentiful optical resonances over an ultrabroad spectral range: “interband plasmonic” resonances in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared; dielectric Mie resonances in mid- and far-infrared; and conventional free-carrier plasmonic resonances in the far-infrared and terahertz. With the aim to provide a comprehensive basis for exploiting the full optical potential of bismuth nanostructures, we review the current progress in their controlled fabrication, the trends reported (from theoretical calculations and experimental observations) for their optical and plasmonic response, and their emerging applications, including photocatalysis and switchable metamaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a novel method preparing nonspherical hollow silica particles (HSP) using a micron-sized granule self-assembled from partially oxidized PE wax. The morphology of the granule was closely investigated in terms of concentration and acid value of PE wax and cooling rate. Due to the oxidized unit in PE wax, magnetic nanoparticle was incorporated into the granule during the self-assembly, and silica was coated on the granule surface via the self-assembly. Silica-coating condition was studied by varying water content and reaction time. After the PE wax was removed by calcination, nonspherical HSP or magnetic HSP was obtained. This cost-effective HSP is expected to be useful for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofluids have been receiving great attention in recent years due to their potential usage, not only as an enhanced thermophysical heat transfer fluid but also because of their great importance in applications such as drug delivery and oil recovery. Nevertheless, there are some challenges that need to be solved before nanofluids can become commercially acceptable. The main challenges of nanofluids are their stability and operational performance. Nanofluids stability is significantly important in order to maintain their thermophysical properties after fabrication for a long period of time. Therefore, enhancing nanofluids stability and understanding nanofluid behaviour are part of the chain needed to commercialise such type of advanced fluids. In this context, the aim of this article is to summarise the current progress on the study of nanofluids, such as the fabrication procedures, stability evaluation mechanism, stability enhancement procedures, nanofluids thermophysical properties, and current commercialisation challenges. Finally, the article identifies some possible opportunities for future research that can bridge the gap between in-lab research and commercialisation of nanofluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene has attracted much attention in biosensing applications due to its unique properties. In this paper, the monolayer graphene was grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. Using the graphene as the electric channel, we have fabricated a graphene field-effect transistor (G-FET) biosensor that can be used for label-free detection of RNA. Compared with conventional method, the G-FET RNA biosensor can be run in low cost, be time-saving, and be miniaturized for RNA measurement. The sensors show high performance and achieve the RNA detection sensitivity as low as 0.1 fM, which is two orders of magnitude lower than the previously reports. Moreover, the G-FET biosensor can readily distinguish target RNA from noncomplementary RNA, showing high selectivity for RNA detection. The developed G-FET RNA biosensor with high sensitivity, fast analysis speed, and simple operation may provide a new feasible direction for RNA research and biosensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible antennas offer many advantages for communication, radar, RF identification, and energy harvesting applications. A review on the material selection and fabrication process of flexible antennas is presented since these aspects are critical to the antenna’s overall electrical and mechanical performance. A number of different material and fabrication techniques are reviewed in detail for different types of antennas. In addition, experimental results are also discussed for these antennas, which further underlines the importance of material selection and the various fabrication processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study designed an efficient one-step method for synthesizing carbon-based nanofluids (CBNFs). The method employs the vortex trap method (VTM) and an oxygen-acetylene flame, serving as a carbon source, in a manufacturing system of the VTM (MSVTM). The flow rate ratio of O2 and C2H2 was adjusted to form suitable combustion conditions for the reduced flame. Four flow rate ratios of O2 and C2H2 were used: 1.5 : 2.5 (V1), 1.0 : 2.5 (V2), 0.5 : 2.5 (V3), and 0 : 2.5 (V4). The morphology, structure, particle size, stability, and basic physicochemical characteristics of the obtained carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNMs) and CBNFs were investigated using transmission electron microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectrometry, ultraviolet–visible–near-infrared spectrophotometry, and a particle size-zeta potential analyzer. The static positioning method was utilized to evaluate the stability of the CBNFs with added EP dispersants. The evaluation results revealed the morphologies, compositions, and concentrations of the CBNFs obtained using various process parameters, and the relation between processing time and production rate was determined. Among the CBNMs synthesized, those obtained using the V4-0 flow rate ratio had the highest stability when no EP dispersant was added. Moreover, the maximum enhancement ratios of the viscosity and thermal conductivity were also obtained for V4-0: 4.65% and 1.29%, respectively. Different types and concentrations of dispersants should be considered in future research to enhance the stability of CBNFs for further application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this paper, the fabrication of novel burnable absorber fuel concepts with oxide pellets, containing either a lumped Gd2O3 rod, a mini‐pellet, or a spherical particle in the centerline of the oxide pellet, is investigated to propose the lumped Gd2O3 burnable absorber fuel concept to improve nuclear fuel performance with longer fuel cycle lengths and better fuel utilization. The unique characteristic of the lumped Gd2O3 burnable absorber fuel is its high spatial self‐shielding factor that reduces its burnout rate and, therefore, improves the reactivity control. Oxide pellets containing lumped Gd2O3 were fabricated by using a combination of cold isostatic pressing and microwave sintering at 1500°C to understand the potential technical issues in the fabrication of duplex burnable absorber fuel. The effect of the sintering temperature on the densification and phase transformation of 8 wt.% yttria‐stabilized zirconia, a surrogate for UO2, was investigated. Spherical Gd2O3 particles were fabricated by the drip casting of a Gd2O3‐based Na alginate solution. The fabrication of duplex oxide pellets by using presintered Gd2O3 mini‐pellets resulted in internal cracks at the interface between the Gd2O3 and 8 wt.% yttria‐stabilized zirconia layers because of the mismatch of their densification. However, the formation of interfacial cracks was eliminated by controlling the initial sintered density of the lumped Gd2O3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical inertness and poor wetting properties of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) hindered their applications. In this work, BNNTs have been functionalized with aniline groups by reacting with diazonium salt and the graft content of aniline component was calculated as high as 71.4 wt.%. The chemical structure, composition, and morphology of functionalized BNNTs were carefully characterized to illustrate the modification. The anilinocarbocation generated by decomposition of diazonium salt reacted not only with NH2 sites, but also with B-OH sites on the surface of BNNTs. Meanwhile, the reaction applied a hot strong acid environment, which would help to open parts of B-N bonds to produce more reactive sites and enrich the functional groups grafted on the surface of BNNTs. Consequently, the functionalized BNNTs exhibited significantly improved dispersion stability in chloroform compared with pristine BNNTs. Amino surface functionalization of BNNTs offered more possibilities for surface chemical design of boron nitride and its practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spline tooth of ASTM 1045 was fabricated by high-speed cold roll-beating (HSCRB) process at room temperature. Microhardness of the spline tooth was examined by a nanoindenter. The grains and misorientation angle distributions were measured by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The results showed that the microhardness was improved up to 1280 μm deep from the surface of the spine tooth. The microhardness and the grain sizes gradually decreased in the direction away from the surface. On the surface, the fraction of ultrafine grains increased up to about 90%, and the average grain diameter (which was ∼0.56 µm) decreased by 71.4%. The model of grain evolution during HSCRB process is proposed in this work. New grains appear first on the boundaries of the elongated grains within numerous subgrains. The elongated grains are refined as a result of subgrain rotation. By analyzing the HSCRB technical principle, we concluded that the process parameters affect the refinement degree of studied steel by determining beating pass, beating pass interval time, and strain rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of metallic fluorescent materials, π-conjugated molecular systems with high-efficiency generation of blue light, and new ways to fabricate metallic/organic luminescent materials plays an important role in the fields of large-scale flat panel displays and soft optical devices. Herein, different fluorescent films have been fabricated by low vacuum physical vapor deposition method (LVPVDM), including single/two-component films. Compared with raw materials, all films show novel fluorescent behaviors, which means potential application in the fields of multicolor luminescence and thickness-optical response sensors. Meanwhile, the speculation is demonstrated in many ways that the maximum emission (λemmax) at 406 nm and 426 nm of pristine 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (26NCA) is caused by the crystal structure, while the shoulder peak at 445 nm is caused by the self-structure of 26NCA molecule. Significantly, this speculation may afford new insight into the relationship between not only crystal structure and luminescence, but also molecular self-structure and luminescence, which means a new strategy to tune the fluorescent behaviors based on molecular self-structure by LVPVDM. Therefore, this work provides a facile way to fabricate single/multicomponent metallic/organic film materials with tunable blue luminescence properties, which have potential application in the fields of next generation of photofunctional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct growth of uniform wafer-scale two-dimensional (2D) layered materials using a universal method is of vital importance for utilizing 2D layers into practical applications. Here, we report on the structural and transport properties of large-scale few-layer MoS2 back-gated field effect transistors (FETs), fabricated using conventional pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy results confirmed that the obtained MoS2 layers on SiO2/Si substrate are multilayers. The FETs devices exhibit a relative high on/off ratio of 5 × 102 and mobility of 0.124 cm2V−1S−1. Our results suggest that the PLD would be a suitable pathway to grow 2D layers for future industrial device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate an ability of chitin nanocrystals to be used as stabilizing components for fabrication of poly(L,L-lactide) microparticles via the Pickering oil/water emulsion solvent evaporation technique. The anisometric chitin nanocrystals were extracted from two different samples of crab shell chitin via acetic hydrolysis and analyzed using atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and FTIR spectroscopy. The extracted nanocrystals showed no difference in the chemical structure but possessed different morphology and aspect ratios as a function of raw chitin used. The effect of chitin nanocrystals characteristics and concentration in the aqueous phase on the total yield, size distribution, and shape and surface morphology of the prepared polylactide microparticles was evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are two different types of cruciform members used in practice. Flanged cruciform sections are typically fabricated from two hot-rolled WT sections welded to the web of a standard hot-rolled I section, whereas plain cruciform sections are typically fabricated from two symmetric rectangular plates welded in the form of a cross. Cruciform members that are subjected to combined compression and bending are typically limited by torsional buckling unlike conventional compression members (such as W-shapes) that are typically limited by flexural (Euler) buckling about their local weak axis of bending. Detailed guidance on the analysis of flanged and plain cruciform members is scarce in literature. Hence, this paper presents numerical studies on the strength capacities of both flanged and plain cruciform members that are subjected to combined compression and bending effects. Analysis results show the ability of flanged and plain cruciform to resist lateral-torsional buckling over longer unbraced lengths, allowing development of efficient plastic resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we demonstrate first report on fabrication, characterization, and adsorptive appraisal of graphene/cellulose nanofibers (GO/CNFs) monolith for methylene blue (MB) dye. Series of hybrid monolith (GO/CNFs) were assembled via urea assisted self-assembly method. Hybrid materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction patterns, Raman spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric curve analysis, specific surface area, surface charge density measurement, and compressional mechanical analysis. It was proposed that strong chemical interaction (mainly hydrogen bonding) was responsible for the formation of hybrid assembly. GO/CNFs monolith showed mechanically robust architecture with tunable pore structure and surface properties. GO/CNFs adsorbent could completely remove trace to moderate concentrations of MB dye and follow pseudo-second-order kinetics model. Adsorption isotherm behaviors were found in the following order: Langmuir isotherm > Freundlich isotherm > Temkin isotherm model. Maximum adsorption capacity of 227.27 mg g−1 was achieved which is much higher than reported graphene based monoliths and magnetic adsorbent. Incorporation of nanocellulose follows exponential relationship with dye uptake capacities. High surface charge density and specific surface area were main dye adsorptive mechanism. Regeneration and recycling efficiency was achieved up to four consecutive cycles with cost-effective recollection and zero recontamination of treated water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the fabrication of interdigitated back contact (IBC) solar cells, it is very important to choose the right size of contact to achieve the maximum efficiency. Line contacts and point contacts are the two possibilities, which are being chosen for IBC structure. It is expected that the point contacts would give better results because of the reduced recombination rate. In this work, we are simulating the effect of contact size on the performance of IBC solar cells. Simulations were done in three dimension using Quokka, which numerically solves the charge carrier transport. Our simulation results show that around 10% of contact ratio is able to achieve optimum cell efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Famotidine as H2 receptor has antagonistic effects on gastric secretion. Unfortunately, its hydrophobic nature contributes to its variable and poor oral bioavailability. In the current study efforts are being made to fabricate famotidine loaded solid lipid nanoparticles with narrow size distribution. Prepared nanoformulations were pharmaceutically evaluated to confirm the desired boosted oral bioavailability. Famotidine loaded nanoformulation (FFSe-4) showed particle size 111.9±1.3 nm, polydispersity index 0.464±0.03, zeta potential −33.46±2 mV, entrapment efficiency 84±2.7%, and drug loading capacity 2.709±0.13%. Drug-excipients compatibility was confirmed by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed spherical shaped, nanosized particles. Differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffractometry confirmed the change in crystalline nature. Prepared nanoformulation was more stable at refrigerated temperature. In vitro study showed that drug release time is proportional to drug pay load and followed zero order kinetics. Release exponent (n>0.5) confirmed non-Fickian-diffusion mechanism for drug release. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies showed 2.06-fold increase in oral bioavailability of famotidine dispersed in solid lipid nanoparticles compared to commercial product. These results authenticate solid lipid nanoparticles as drug delivery system and propose prolonged release with improved oral bioavailability for famotidine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various types of wireless sensor systems are used for structural health monitoring. Especially, chipless wireless sensors are useful in harsh environmental conditions of high temperature and toxic chemicals. This paper reports a chipless passive structural health monitoring sensor made with frequency-selective surface (FSS) array for detecting damage location. FSS is a kind of microwave meta-material antenna that is selective by its electromagnetic characteristics associated with geometrical shape and electrical impedance. An FSS-array-based wireless sensor was made on a flexible substrate that can be easily attached to arbitrary structures. When microwaves are applied to the FSS via a single horn antenna, the sensor senses its reflection changes, and by scanning the horn antenna, the location of damage is detected. Design, fabrication, and characterization of cross-type FSS array are carried out, and a computer simulation is performed for comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used the Electric Spark Discharge Method (ESDM) to prepare nano-Ti colloid. The results showed that the process efficiency increased according to the current and selecting different discharge periods (TON-TOFF). The preparation process is pollution-free and very contributive to using TiO2 for photocatalytic reaction to degrade organic compounds. This study used 99.9% pure Ti metal to examine the effects of different discharge parameter settings on the photocatalysis of methylene blue. The experimental results showed that the discharge period (TON-TOFF) has an effect on the characteristics of the prepared nano-Ti colloid but affects its concentration. The nano-Ti colloid, as prepared under different parameters, has poor photocatalytic reaction with methylene blue at the concentration of 50 mg/L. The nano-Ti colloid does not have favorable effect on degrading methylene blue above 50 mg/L. For degrading methylene blue at a low concentration of 10 mg/L, the 100-100 nano-Ti parameter is preferable. For degrading methylene blue at a high concentration of 30 mg/L, nano-Ti colloid with TON exceeding 100 and TOFF fixed at 100 is better. As the nano-Ti colloid prepared by ESDM was free of chemical agents, when TiO2 was used in photocatalytic reaction to degrade organic compounds, there was no secondary pollution to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improvement effect of a new strengthening strategy on dynamic action of masonry structure, by installing prefabricated concrete walls on the outer facades, is validated by shaking table test presented in this paper. We carried out dynamic tests of two geometrically identical five-story reduced scaled models, including an unstrengthened and a strengthened masonry model. The experimental analysis encompasses seismic performances such as cracking patterns, failure mechanisms, amplification factors of acceleration, and displacements. The results show that the strengthened masonry structure shows much more excellent seismic capacity when compared with the unstrengthened one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An X-band dual-polarized Vivaldi antenna with high isolation is proposed. The procedure of this antenna design includes the conventional Vivaldi antenna with regular slot edge (RSE), the dual-polarized Vivaldi antenna with two Vivaldi antennas which have different feeding point positions in a cross-shaped form, and the two Vivaldi antennas with a galvanic contact in soldering point. By applying the RSE, it reduced the dimensions of the Vivaldi antenna and improved its radiation performance. The modified antenna is fabricated and measured. The measured results show that S11<-10 dB at the entire X-band for the two Vivaldi antennas. The isolation (S21) between the two feeding ports, which has been improved by applying the different feeding point positions and the galvanic contact in soldering point, is better than 34 dB at X-band. In addition, the cross-polarized discrimination is better than 21 dB for the two Vivaldi antennas, and the measured results also include the gain of two Vivaldi antennas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation aims to fabricate the core-shell microparticles composed of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and chitosan (PLGA-CS MPs) using electrospinning. The challenge of using electrospinning is that it has many parameters which change product outcome if any single parameter is changed. However, the advantage of this system is that we can fabricate either micro/nanofibers or micro/nanoparticles. To learn about the effect of liquid concentration, the electrospinning parameters (voltage, needle sizes, distance from needle to collector, and ejection speed) were fixed while the concentration of PLGA or chitosan was varied. The results showed that PLGA microparticles can be fabricated successfully when the concentration of PLGA is smaller than 10 wt%. Presence of the chitosan shell was confirmed by zeta potential measurements, FT-IR, optical observation, and fluorescence observation. Thickness of the chitosan shell can be controlled by changing the concentration of chitosan and measured by fluorescamine labeling method. Moreover, SEM observation showed that concentration of chitosan affected the size of PLGA-CS microparticles. The MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay test showed that PLGA-CS microparticles possess excellent biocompatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymerization of functional organics into covalently cross-linked nanostructures via bottom-up approach on solid surfaces has attracted tremendous interest recently, due to its appealing potentials in fabricating novel and artificial low dimensional nanomaterials. While there are various synthetic approaches being proposed and explored, this paper reviews the recent progress of on-surface coupling strategies towards the synthesis of low dimensional nanostructures ranging from 1D nanowire to 2D network and describes their advantages and drawbacks during on-surface process and phase transformations, for example, from molecular self-assembly to on-surface polymerization. Specifically, Ullmann reaction is discussed in detail and the mechanism governing nanostructures’ transforming effect by surface treatment is exploited. In the end, it is summarized that the hierarchical polymerization combined with Ullmann coupling makes it possible to realize the selection of different synthetic pathways and phase transformations and obtain novel organometallic nanowire with metalorganic bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, polylactic acid (PLA) biocomposites reinforced with short coir fibers were fabricated using a corotating twin-screw extruder and injection molding machine. Short coir fibers were treated by mixed solution including hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide to improve the adhesion between fibers and PLA matrix. The effects of treated coir fiber content (1, 3, 5, and 7 wt%) on tensile, impact, thermal properties, and surface morphology of PLA biocomposites were investigated. The best impact strength results were obtained for 3 wt% PLA/treated coir fiber biocomposites, where the impact strength was increased by approximately 28% compared to the neat PLA. The tensile modulus of PLA biocomposites was increased by increasing the treated coir fiber content. These results were confirmed by morphological structure analysis. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results demonstrated a minor effect of the treated coir fiber on thermal behavior of PLA resin. Thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) demonstrated that the thermal stability of the PLA/treated coir fiber biocomposites was reduced by the incorporation of treated coir fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) are deposited on the turbine blade to reduce the temperature of underlying substrate, as well as providing protection against the oxidation and hot corrosion from high temperature gas. Optimal ceramic top-coat thickness distribution on the blade can improve the performance and efficiency of the coatings. Design of the coatings thickness is a multiobjective optimization problem due to the conflicts among objectives of high thermal insulation performance, long operation durability, and low fabrication cost. This work developed a procedure for designing the TBCs thickness distribution for the gas turbine blade. Three-dimensional finite element models were built and analyzed, and weighted-sum approach was employed to solve the multiobjective optimization problem herein. Suitable multiregion top-coat thickness distribution scheme was designed with the considerations of manufacturing accuracy, productivity, and fabrication cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The layered MoS2 films have been prepared by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, which shows numerous MoS2 convex flakes (i.e., MoS2 nanosheets) on SiO2/Si substrates. The convex flake islands form a uniform layered film and the single flake corresponds to one small piece of monolayer MoS2 film; they show a strong photoluminescence (PL) radiation as a whole. The thickness of the layered MoS2 films increases with the increases of growth time, the effect of diverse growth time on the properties of layered MoS2 films has been discussed, and the PL enhancement effect is due to the PL intensity accumulation from each of the convex flakes. The strong PL radiation has been found by annealing the samples and the reason has been analyzed. The layered MoS2 films could provide more photon energy than both the monolayer MoS2 film and the bulk MoS2. This work provides a fundamental study about the device fabrication based on layered MoS2 films. The optoelectronic devices based on this study will be more energy efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was carried out to fabricate and evaluate the efficiency of a hybrid fish smoking kiln that uses propane gas as source of heat in combination with three biomasses namely: iron tree, rice husk and saw dust. Maximum recommended smoking temperature of 120C was reached in 2 h when 1 kg of each biomass was used in combination with propane gas and dropped to 60C in 1 h when the propane gas was switched off. There were no significant differences in utilizable temperature, weight loss, proximate composition, smoke density, phenol content and sensory qualities of the smoked fish when the three biomasses were used. The phenol and protein contents of smoked fish ranged between 0.14 and 0.18 g/cm3 and 66.45-67.14%, respectively. Organoleptically, catfish smoked in hybrid kiln were generally acceptable. The hybrid kiln yielded quality smoked fish in term of phenol content, biomass utilization, reduced smoking time and uniform product. Practical Applications A hybrid fish smoking kiln that uses propane gas in combination with biomass (saw dust, rice husk and wood) was successfully designed and fabricated and found to be more efficient than similar smoking kiln fuel that use biomass only. The study has revealed innovative mean of smoking fish for efficiency, quality and profitability in term of reduction in the cost of production (low wood consumption, smoke dusting and drying rate). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new-type of fabricated beam-column connections with end plates. The joint details are as follows: the concrete beams are connected to column by end plates and six high strength long bolts passing through the core area. In addition, in order to increase the stiffness and shear strength, stirrups are replaced by the steel plate hoop in the core zone. To examine the fail behavior of the fabricated beam-column connection specimens, a quasi-static test is conducted for nine full-scale models to obtain the hysteresis curves, skeleton curves, ductility, energy dissipation capacity, and other seismic indicators. The experimental results show that all specimens failed in bending in a malleable way with a beam plastic hinge and the hysteresis curves are excellently plump for the end plate connections. From the seismic indexes, the fabricated connection specimens exhibit better seismic performance, which can provide reference for the application of prefabricated frame structure in the earthquake area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the optimization of flexible PDMS-based normal pressure capacitive microsensors dedicated to wearable applications. The operating principle and the fabrication process of such microsensors are presented. Then, the deformations under local pressure of PDMS thin films of thicknesses ranging from 100 μm to 10 mm are studied by means of numerical simulations in order to foresee the sensitivity of the considered microsensors. The study points out that, for a given PDMS type, the sensor form ratio plays a major role in its sensitivity. Indeed, for a given PDMS film, the expected capacitance change under a 10 N load applied on a 1.7 mm radius electrode varies from a few percent to almost 40% according to the initial PDMS film thickness. These observations are validated by experimental characterizations carried out on PDMS film samples of various thicknesses (10 μm to 10 mm) and on actual microsensors. Further computations enable generalized sensor design rules to be highlighted. Considering practical limitations in the fabrication and in the implementation of the actual microsensors, design rules based on computed form ratio optimization lead to the elaboration of flexible pressure microsensors exhibiting a sensitivity which reaches up to 10%/N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a simple and effective technique for fabricating a hybrid nanostructure of graphene-silver nanoparticles. The structure was prepared by stacking method with polyvinylpyrrolidone as a stabilizer. The chemical linking of G-PVP-Ag is possible through PVP-based ligand chemistry. The resulting hybrid film exhibited 87% transparency. The electrical properties under UV light increased compared with only one material. The conversion efficiency of a solar cell fabricated with the hybrid structure also increased approximately by 1.5% compared with that of solar cell fabricated without the hybrid film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]