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The objective of the research carried out in this paper highlights the critical sustainability parameter of reusability of waste materials in the construction sector of India. This paper followed firstly the intense literature survey to identify the waste materials for the replacement in the concrete mix, hereafter Paper Pulp (P.P) and Crusher Dust (C.D) indicates the similar nature like cement and sand respectively. Secondly, an assumed proportion of replacement of P.P by 2.5%, 5%,7.5%,10%, and 12.5% by cement, and 10%, 20%, and 30% replacement of C.D by sand is adopted in M20 mix design by volume method. Thirdly, the casting of 48 sample cubes size of 150 mm × 150 mm × 150 mm is performed for Average Compressive Strength test, and casting of 48 cylindrical cubes of 150 mm in diameter and 300 mm long for Split Tensile Strength. Fourthly, the results are carried out for 7th day testing along with 28th day testing for both tests along with slump variation of different samples. It is observed after the experimental analysis that the elite results compared to normal M20 mix are exhibited when the replacement variation of P.P is 5% along with 10% variation of C.D for both Average Compressive Strength and Split Tensile test. In addition to it, the highest slump is obtained for replacement variation of 12.5% P.P and 10%C.D.

An industry compatible chemo-refining approach was tested for preparation of micro-nanofibrillated cellulose (MNFC) from bleached softwood pulp using sodium meta-periodate and sodium chlorite as oxidizers followed by refining in Valley beater. SEM and FTIR analyses confirmed micro-nano scale fibrillation and chemical functional group modification in laboratory prepared MNFC, respectively. The water retention value, carboxyl content and viscosity of MNFC were found comparable with imported NFC as reference (R-NFC). To evaluate MNFC as strength enhancer for paper properties, 5% MNFC addition to bleached mixed hardwood pulp showed 6% reduction in bulk with 36%, 24% and 97% increment in breaking length, burst index and double fold of the handsheets, respectively without affecting tear index and optical properties than the control. Surface properties were also improved. Pulp drainability (37°SR) after MNFC addition was found suitable for papermaking. These laboratory results confirmed the potential of MNFC as a suitable strength additive for paper quality improvement.

A superhydrophobic paper with excellent robustness was fabricated by roll coating with modified nano-TiO2. First, nano-TiO2 particles were hydrophobically modified by γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (POTS). Then the paper coating composed of modified nano-TiO2 particles as pigments and epoxy resin (EP) as adhesives was coated on a paper surface to create the desired surface morphology and surface energy. Compared with the uncoated filter paper, the prepared paper showed an improved rough surface morphology owing to the uniform layer of TiO2 microclusters deposited on the fiber network. The superhydrophobic paper exhibited water contact angles (WCA) about 153° ± 1.5°, and water sliding angles (WSA) about 3.5° ± 0.5°, low surface adhesion and excellent bounce ability. The superhydrophobic paper can withstand a variety of wear and tear, such as tape stripping and knife scraping. The as-prepared superhydrophobic paper showed mechanical durability even after 20 wear cycles with sandpaper,thus sustaining excellent superhydrophobicity on the filter paper surface. Moreover, it remains fully functional even in environments with high concentrations of acid and alkali for 96 h. The superhydrophobicity was not affected after storage for 6 months in a natural environment. It was confirmed that the superhydrophobic paper surface exhibited excellent chemical stability, long-term stability and self-cleaning properties. The entire production process was operated under normal environment, without complex equipment; and, as such, has the possibility for large-scale production and application in industry.

The study describes the preparation of pulp and nanocellulose from non-wood plant materials, as well as an improved properties of paper and cardboard for mass production. The pulps from wheat straw, kenaf and flax fibers were prepared by the environmentally friendly organosolv method—cooking in a solution of isobutanol or peracetic acid. The organosolv pulps used to prepare nanocellulose had traces of lignin and mineral substances. The process of hydrolysis of the investigated organosolv pulps was optimal when carried out under the following conditions: 43% sulfuric acid, temperature 60 °C, hydrolysis time 90 min and ultrasonic treatment 60 min. Using the methods of SEM, XRD, TEM, AFM and TGA, the structure and properties of organosolv pulps and nanocellulose were studied. The use of nanocellulose in bulk and on the surface of mass types of paper and cardboard—paper for corrugation, offset paper, recycled containerboard and cardboard for flat layers of corrugated cardboard were investigated. We established the positive effect of nanocellulose application on the physical and mechanical properties of paper and cardboard. Low consumption of nanocellulose allows production of the paper and cardboard with properties that meet the requirements to appropriate standards and replacement of synthetic reinforcing materials.

With the aim to explore the use of tree pruning waste as replacement material in papermaking, a study was conducted to investigate the effect of soda pulping concentration on the tear resistance and surface morphology of the fabricated papers. By varying the sodium hydroxide concentration from 5% to 25%, tree pruning waste papers with different tear resistance and surface morphology were fabricated. The tree pruning waste papers with the optimum tear resistance (73049.68 mN) was produced when the pulping medium was prepared at 20% sodium hydroxide concentration. As confirmed by the morphology study, the pulp fibres with improved interlocking surface morphology was produced at 20% sodium hydroxide concentration. Beyond that, fibre fibrillation had took place and exerted negative impact on the tear resistance of the papers. The present study confirms the use of tree pruning waste as an alternative in papermaking. Nonetheless, the soda pulping concentration must be properly regulated in order to maximize the performance of the fabricated paper products.

Valorization of industrial low-value side-streams are of great interest, contributing to boosts in the circular economy. In this context, lignin side-streams of the pulp and paper industry were oxypropylated to produce biobased polyols and tested in the synthesis of rigid polyurethane (RPU) foams. E. globulus lignins, namely a lignin isolated from an industrial Kraft black liquor and depolymerized lignins obtained as by-products of an oxidation process, were used. RPU foams, synthesized with 100% lignin-based polyols and using a 1.1 NCO/OH ratio, were characterized concerning apparent density, morphology, thermal conductivity, thermal stability, and heat release rate (HRR). Foams containing the lignin-based polyols presented densities varying from 44.7 to 112.2 kg/m3 and thermal conductivity in the range of 37.2–49.0 mW/mK. For the reference foam (sample produced with 100% wt. Daltofoam TP 32015 polyol), values of 70.9 kg/m3 and 41.1 mW/mK were obtained, respectively. The achieved results point out the viability of using the generated lignin-based polyols at 100% content in RPU foams, mainly when depolymerized lignins are used. Moreover, fire retardancy was favored when the lignin-based polyols were introduced. The proposed strategies can contribute to establishing the integrated pulp and paper biorefinery concept where material synthesis (polyols and RPU foams) can be combined with chemical production (vanillin and syringaldehyde). Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Program PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020), and to UIDB/50020/2020 of the Associate Laboratory LSRE-LCM—funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC); national funding by FCT, PI, through the institutional scientific employment program contract for Isabel P. Fernandes. This work was carried out under the Project No. 33969 Bioblocks—Design of biobased products from renewable lignocellulosic sources as precursors for the bioindustry of chemical synthesis and biomaterials—financed by FEDER through the Operational Program for Competitiveness Factors (POFC) and QREN. To COST Action LignoCOST (CA17128) supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Smart fluid manipulation with automatically controlled paper valves will enable automated and multi-step immunoassays on paper-based microfluidic devices. In this work, we present an integrated paper-based microfluidic platform with shape-memory polymer (SMP)-actuated fluid valves capable of automated colorimetric enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). A single-layer microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) was designed to store all the reagents on the chip, and sequentially transfer reagents to a paper test zone following a specific ELISA protocol through automatic fluidic flow control by the multiple SMP-actuated valves. The actuation of a paper valve was based on the thermally responsive, duel-state shape transformation of a SMP sheet attached to the root of a paper cantilever beam for driving a hydrophilic paper bridge to connect and disconnect two paper channels. A portable colorimetric reader was developed to control the on-chip valve operations, quantify the colorimetric signal output, display the assay result, and wirelessly transmit the data to a smart phone for the application of telemedicine. Reliable operations of the paper valve and the entire μPAD were demonstrated with success rates of 97% and 93%, respectively. A detection mechanism for valve malfunction was designed and confirmed effective to identify any mal-operation of individual valves, thus rendering our platform reliable in real assays. For device calibration, we conducted direct ELISAs of rabbit IgG in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and achieved a low limit of detection (LOD) of 27 pM (comparable to that of standard and paper-based ELISAs). In order to demonstrate the clinical application of our multi-step immunoassay platform, we also conducted sandwich ELISAs to quantify the protein level of an inflammatory cytokine, namely tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, in surgically injured laryngeal tissues of rats. The protein levels of TNF-α were shown similar between the conventional and μPAD ELISAs., Microfluidics: Paper valves open doors to new designs Researchers in Canada have improved the design of paper-based analytical devices by developing paper valves which make it possible to carry out fully-automated multi-step analyses. Previous efforts to incorporate valves have been based on electromagnets or compressed sponges, making them too cumbersome or complicated for reliable use in paper-based analytical devices. To overcome this, a team led by Xinyu Liu of the University of Toronto turned to polymers that reversibly change shape in response to temperature. They combined these with a heating element to produce thermally-activated paper valves. Test devices designed to carry out a multi-step ELISA analysis produced results comparable to a standard commercial ELISA kit. The valve design can be used to create devices for other multi-step diagnostic assays which can be used in contexts where lab equipment and skilled personnel are unavailable.

Carbonization of biomasses is an effective and important approach to recycle biomass waste. The tissue papers are one of the most common household trash and waste lots of natural resources and energies. Herein, the one-step carbonization and activation treatment was applied on two kinds of tissue papers to transform them into porous carbons. It was found the precursor structure and composition as well as the calcination temperatures play key roles to control the pore structures. As the active materials of supercapacitor electrodes, the resultant porous carbons obtained from different paper precursors and calcination temperatures (700–900 °C) presented different electrochemical performances. The microporous carbons derived from the 700 °C calcination of the tissue paper using the wood pulp as the raw material showed high capacitance up to ~ 200 F/g, providing a simple but effective way to recycle biomasses.

Paper based sensor is the new technology to fabricate a simple, portable, and low cost device that exhibits the comparable properties and functions with those fabricated using complex fabrication process. Paper based sensor is usually applied in environmental monitoring, health diagnostics, and food quality control. This research is focusing on the paper based sensor that will contribute to the development of Ultraviolet (UV) sensor. The fabrication of the sensor was done by using different grade of pencil, namely 6B and 2B on different type of paper. The different grade of pencil corresponds to different percentage of graphite and clay. As for the type of paper, A4 printing paper and Whatman filter paper were used. UV sensing operation was analyzed from the measurement of current-voltage (I-V) characteristics under the exposure of UV light. Zinc oxide (ZnO) was coated on the sensor to facilitate the detection in the presence of UV. The sample fabricated using 6B pencil grade on A4 printing paper and with ZnO coating showed a better UV sensing performance compared to other samples. This is due to the high conduction of 6B pencil grade and smooth surface of A4 printing paper. The ZnO coating increased the sensor sensitivity and response towards the UV light. These findings provide valuable information which can be used in fabricating a low-cost and simple UV paper sensor.

Synthetic styrene-butadiene (SB) and styrene-acrylic (SA) latex binders used in paper coating formulations are common and based on unsustainable petroleum sources. Today's papermaking industry turns towards sustainable substitutes that do not compromise quality, and reduce carbon emission, toxic substance release and waste disposal concerns related to fossil fuel sources. In this study, colloidal starch-based latex nanoparticles that do not require cooking were used for pigment coating and coated on the paper surfaces. The effects of these new biobased binders on the structural and mechanical strength properties, liquid absorption, wetting and surface topography of the paper were investigated and compared with the properties of coated paper that SB latex was used as a coating binder. The results demonstrated that the biobased latex decreases the grammage of paper while maintaining an identical thickness relative to the SB latex samples. The porosity, permeability and roughness of biobased latex are found higher than the SB latex. The biobased latex successfully replaced SB latex at 1:1 ratio and enabled an equivalent of bursting, tear, tensile strength and structural properties.

This Editorial introduces a Special Issue of papers from the SEE International Conference RADAR 2019, which took place in Toulon, France, 23–27 September 2019. The papers are expanded versions of ones that were judged in the reviewing process to be of the highest quality and relevance. Benefitting from the unique location of the conference centre on the French Riviera, the conference was given the theme ‘Sensing from sea to space’, attracting nearly 400 attendees from 26 countries from all over the world (Figure 1). Engineers and researchers coming from private or public sector (universities and laboratories) shared their knowledge and experience on radar topics of common interests from physics to signal processing, from sensor validation to system design, and also on emerging technologies based on artificial intelligence; all topics being supported by 200 papers presented either in oral (150 papers in 36 sessions), or poster sessions (50 papers). Figure 2 shows the range of topics of the papers. 1 FIGURE Conference attendees by country 2 FIGURE Conference paper topics

Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) multilayer sheets were synthesized using waste paper pulp as carbon source. Formation of RGO was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. RGO was mixed with cement at different concentrations (0.001, 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1% w/w) to obtain graphene cement composites (GCC). RGO is supposed to impart hydrophobicity to cement; hence, the capillary test was conducted. Hydrophobic property of GCC was found to be dependent on time, concentration and temperature. Antimicrobial property of GCC was checked which included antibacterial and antifungal studies. GCC showed better antibacterial performance (90%) against gram positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis) than the gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, 85%). Gram negative bacteria possess structurally more complex cell membranes than gram positive bacteria; hence, it was more resistant to GCC. Our finding supports the concept of involvement of membrane bound macromolecules in antibacterial performance of RGO. GCC was also found to be effective (88% inhibition) against fungal strain (Aspergillus niger).

The papers in this special issue were submitted to all the conferences organized by IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society (TEMS) in a given calendar year. In 2017, IEEE TEMS initiated its flagship conference TEMSCON (held in Silicon Valley), which serves as rebranding from its original International Technology Management Conferences (ITMC). Following that, in 2018, two more conferences were initiated globally, one in Asia known as IEEE TEMS International Symposium on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ISIE), and one in Europe as IEEE TEMS International Conference on Technology and Entrepreneurship (ICTE). For this special issue, we invited authors attending any of the three aforementioned conferences in 2018 to submit full manuscripts for reviews, and the present special issue with eleven papers is the result of a careful selection following our usual rigid double-blinded peer-review process.

Paper electronics is an emerging technology to implement flexible and wearable electronics devices via ink printing process. This paper evaluates the feasibility of using conventional printing paper for coating process with graphene/cellulose ink. 4 different types of regularly used conventional printing papers were used as substrates in this work. The conductive graphene ink was prepared through exfoliation of graphite in cellulose solution. The paper substrates surface morphology and sheet resistance of the drop-casted conductive ink on each paper were analyzed and discussed. Glossy paper was found to be suitable paper substrate for the printing of the formulated ink due to its low surface roughness of 16 nm. The value of sheet resistance of the graphene/cellulose thin film can be lowered to 4.11 kΩ/sq by applying multiple drops. This work suggests that conventional printing paper may offer solution for highly scalable and low-cost paper electronics.

As a part of our research in the field of thermochemical energy storage, this study aims to investigate the potential of three fly ash samples derived from the fluidized bed reactors of three different pulp and paper plants in Austria for their use as thermochemical energy (TCES) and CO2 storage materials. The selected samples were analyzed by different physical and chemical analytical techniques such as X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), particle size distribution (PSD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and simultaneous thermal analysis (STA) under different atmospheres (N2, CO2, and H2O/CO2). To evaluate the environmental impact, leaching tests were also performed. The amount of CaO as a promising candidate for TCES was verified by XRF analysis, which was in the range of 25–63% (w/w). XRD results indicate that the CaO lies as free lime (3–32%), calcite (21–29%), and silicate in all fly ash samples. The results of STA show that all fly ash samples could fulfill the requirements for TCES (i.e., charging and discharging). A cycling stability test of three cycles was demonstrated for all samples which indicates a reduction of conversion in the first three reaction cycles. The energy content of the examined samples was up to 504 kJ/kg according to the STA results. More energy (~1090 kJ/kg) in the first discharging step in the CO2/H2O atmosphere could be released through two kinds of fly ash samples due to the already existing free lime (CaO) in those samples. The CO2 storage capacity of these fly ash samples ranged between 18 and 110 kg per ton of fly ash, based on the direct and dry method. The leaching tests showed that all heavy metals were below the limit values of the Austrian landfill ordinance. It is viable to say that the valorization of fly ash from the pulp and paper industries via TCES and CO2 storage is plausible. However, further investigations such as cycling stability improvement, system integration and a life cycle assessment (LCA) still need to be conducted.

Valorisation involves conversion of toxic compounds into value added products. The present study has tried to evaluate the potential of vermicomposting in management of different types of toxic paper mill wastes such as primary waste (VCP) and secondary waste (VCS) using Eisenia fetida for 60 days. The procedure was performed using sundried samples of paper mill wastes, cow dung and straw in different trial sets using different ratios. The study had revealed that the trial sets (VCP1 and VCS1) using ratio of paper mill waste: Cow dung: Straw (5:4:1) were effective in maintaining physiochemical parameters and different population attributes of earthworm. The present study had also demonstrated the enzymatic enrichment of vermicompost in terms of 19 enzymes such as α-Glucosidase, lipase, leucine aminopeptidase etc. in maintenance of C/N ratio of the compost. A significant reduction of heavy metals were noticed in vermicomposting of primary waste (VCP1) as Zn (40%) ​> ​Pb (36%) ​> ​Cr (28%) ​> ​Cu (25%) and secondary waste (VCS1) as Zn (44%) ​> ​Pb (41%) ​> ​Cu (19%) ​> ​Cr (13%). Such reduction of heavy metal was highly correlated with the reduction of C/N ratio of the vermicompost. The process of bioremediation was further manifested through the regular monitoring of bioaccumulation factor (BAF) among earthworm population in vermicomposting of primary waste (VCP1) as Zn (0.40) ​> ​Cu (0.23) ​> ​Cr (0.18) ​> ​Pb (0.11) and secondary waste (VCS1) as Zn (0.47) ​> ​Cu (0.25) ​> ​Cr (0.21) ​> ​Pb (0.14). Therefore, the study concludes that the ratio of paper mill waste, cow dung and straw (5:4:1) can be an efficient formulation in qualitative enrichment of different toxic organic paper mill wastes through vermicomposting.

The International Technology Roadmap for Wide-Bandgap Power Semiconductors (ITRW) has four distinct technical working groups, each providing its own perspective on the technology and industrial drivers for the adoption of wide-bandgap (WBG) power semiconductors in power electronics. This article summarizes the progress toward an initial roadmap for the packaging and integration working group of the ITRW.

The new analysis of the previously published data on the nanocrystalline CaYTiNbO7:Eu indicates an occurrence of the size-induced structural phase transition like in other nanocrystalline phosphors of pyrochlore structure.

A high quality graphene paper has been fabricated using drop-casting of a custom developed stable ink mixture. The graphene/ethyl cellulose mixture can produce graphene paper coating on Kapton substrate at fairly large scales by finely adjusting the viscosity of the ethyl cellulose solvent blend. It was possible to produce a morphologically intact 300 nm-thick stacked structures of high purity graphene platelets after annealing at 300 °C, as characterized by SEM, Raman Spectroscopy and AFM. The electrical resistivity of a large batch of samples was measured and the results thoroughly evaluated, using a design of experiments approach. The resistivity values achieved were found to be lower or comparable to the best results reported in the literature. As expected, resistivity is inherently related to the concentration of the as-prepared ink and subsequent annealing conditions. However, prolonged annealing time can deteriorate mechanical properties as determined by cyclic bending and shear tests. It is anticipated that the present graphene paper has potential use in flexible electronics applications since the lowest resistivity and structure achieved were generally unaffected by the range of mechanical loadings studied.

Frequency Domain Spectroscopy (FDS) is proposed as a suitable diagnostic method in this paper for implementation on energized oil-paper insulation systems. In present FDS tests, the measurement method is only designed for offline applications. To overcome the deficiencies with the offline testing, this work investigates the feasibility of performing FDS measurements on energized transformers with the view to developing an online diagnostic tool using neutral connections as injection and measurement paths. In the proposed technique, a low-pass filter system is designed to remove the high frequency noise as well as the power frequency signals present in the measured neutral currents. The technique has been successfully applied in a laboratory environment on transformers with oil-paper insulation systems with different operational ages and is feasible for single-phase as well as 3-phase transformers with the accessible neutral points. Compared with the conventional FDS results, a nonlinear dielectric phenomenon is observed from the energized insulation systems as higher dissipation factor Tanδ values primarily due to the increased losses under power frequency voltage excitation. The degree of the nonlinearity is found to correlate well with the degradation status of insulation systems under test.

The increasing demands to further electrify and digitalize our society set demands for a green electrical energy storage technology that can be scaled between very small, and heavily distributed electrical energy sources, to very large volumes. Such technology must be compatible with fast-throughput, large-volume and low-cost fabrication processes, such as using printing and coating techniques. Here, we demonstrate a sequential production protocol to fabricate supercapacitors including electrodes based on cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and the conducting polymer PEDOT:PSS. Thin and lightweight paper electrodes, carbon adhesion layers and the gel electrolyte are fabricated using spray coating, screen printing, and bar coating, respectively. These all solid-state supercapacitors are flexible, mechanically robust and exhibit a low equivalent series resistance (0.22 ohm), thus resulting in a high power density (similar to 10(4)W/kg) energy technology. The supercapacitors are combined and connected to a power management circuit to demonstrate a smart packaging application. This work shows that operational and embedded supercapacitors can be manufactured in a manner to allow for the integration with, for instance smart packaging solutions, thus enabling powered, active internet-of-things (IoT) devices in a highly distributed application. Funding Agencies|Swedish foundation for strategic researchSwedish Foundation for Strategic Research; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (Wallenberg Wood Science Center); Onnesjo foundation; Linkoping University

Aging of transformer paper insulation is commonly investigated through indirect measurements conducted in the oil, e.g. furanic compounds. In addition to the conventional indicators, recent investigations showed that alcohols like methanol and ethanol in oil could be used as paper aging indicators. This paper focuses on the applicability of these new paper aging indicators in a novel, gas-to-liquid (GTL) technology based transformer oil through an accelerated laboratory aging experiment. The experiment was conducted at 120 °C for up to 280 days. A conventional mineral oil was also tested as a reference. Kraft paper aged in both oil types showed similar reductions in degree of polymerization (DP) and tensile strength (TS). Amount of methanol in oil is higher than that of 2-FAL in oil when DP is over 375, confirming the promise of using methanol as an early paper aging indicator. Both the new paper aging indicator, methanol and the conventional paper aging indicator, 2-FAL are applicable for the GTL oil without any modifications. In addition, oil only aging experiments showed that oil does produce methanol but it is negligible compared with oil paper aging experiment; however the amount of ethanol measured in the present oil paper aging experiment is believed to be originated from oil oxidation rather than from paper aging.

The eight papers in this special section were presented at the IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC)that was held in San Francisco, California, from February 16 to February 20, 2020.

Silver nanowires (AgNWs) have inspired many research interests due to their better properties in optical, electric, and flexible applications. One such exploitable use is as the electrical conductive fillers for print electronics. In this paper, AgNWs with mean a diameter of 80 nm and mean length of 13.49 &mu, m were synthesized using the polyol solvothermal method. A sonication-induced scission process was used to obtain AgNWs with a length range of 7.64&ndash, 11.21 &mu, m. Further AgNWs inks were prepared with the as-synthesized AgNWs as conductive fillers in anhydrous ethanol. The conductive inks were coated on resin coated photographic paper substrate using the knife coating process and dried at room temperature. The effects of the number of layers of AgNWs coating, the concentration of AgNWs, and the length of AgNWs on the microstructure and electrical properties of samples were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and using the four-point probe method. The results show that the conductivity of the AgNWs coating increases with the increase in the number of layers in the AgNWs coating, concentration and length of the AgNWs.

We synthesized a flexible lithium-ion battery (LIB) anode with a flower-like CuCo2O4 nanostructure grown on the surface of conductively-treated filter paper. The filter paper, made of cotton fibers, has good flexibility, but its poor conductivity limits its application in flexible electrodes. An Ni coating by magnetron sputtering can significantly improve its conductivity, which enables it to be used as a substrate for flexible electrodes. The flower-like CuCo2O4 nanostructure is assembled from CuCo2O4 nanowires with a diameter of 50 nm, while the CuCo2O4 nanowires are assembled from CuCo2O4 nanoparticles with a size of 10–20 nm. The gap between the stacked CuCo2O4 nanoparticles causes the porous structure of the CuCo2O4 nanowires. The high theoretical capacity of CuCo2O4, the porous structure of the CuCo2O4 nanowires, and the tiny CuCo2O4 nanoparticles lead to the excellent electrochemical performance of the CuCo2O4 flower-like nanostructure. It maintains capacity very well during cycling and delivers a high capacity of 989 mAh g−1 at a current density of 100 mA g−1. As a flexible LIB anode, the composite with the flower-like CuCo2O4 nanostructure grown on the surface of conductively-treated filter paper delivers a stable capacity of 544 mAh g−1 at a current density of 100 mA g−1 and a capacity of 304 mAh g−1 at a high current density of 2000 mA g−1. The conductively-treated filter paper substrate can significantly improve the battery property of the hydrothermally-fabricated CuCo2O4.

Toxic and nontoxic volatile organic compound (VOC) gases are emitted into the atmosphere from certain solids and liquids as a consequence of wastage and some common daily activities. Inhalation of toxic VOCs has an adverse effect on human health, so it is necessary to monitor their concentration in the atmosphere. In this work, we report on the fabrication of inorganic nanotube (INT)-tungsten disulfide, paper-based graphene–PEDOT:PSS sheet and WS2 nanotube-modified conductive paper-based chemiresistors for VOC gas sensing. The WS2 nanotubes were fabricated by a two-step reaction, that is oxide reduction and sulfurization, carried out at 900 °C. The synthesized nanotubes were characterized by FE-SEM, EDS, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and TEM. The synthesized nanotubes were 206–267 nm in diameter. The FE-SEM results show the length of the nanotubes to be 4.5–8 µm. The graphene–PEDOT:PSS hybrid conductive paper sheet was fabricated by a continuous coating process. Then, WS2 nanotubes were drop-cast onto conductive paper for fabrication of the chemiresistors. The feasibility and sensitivity of the WS2 nanotube-modified paper-based chemiresistor were tested in four VOC gases at different concentrations at room temperature (RT). Experimental results show the proposed sensor to be more sensitive to butanol gas when the concentration ranges from 50 to 1000 ppm. The limit of detection (LOD) of this chemiresistor for butanol gas was 44.92 ppm. The WS2 nanotube-modified paper-based chemiresistor exhibits good potential as a VOC sensor with the advantages of flexibility, easy fabrication, and low fabrication cost.

The 2019 International Conference on Modeling and Analysis of Semiconductor Manufacturing (MASM 2019) was part of the 2019 Winter Simulation Conference (WSC) that was held December 8–11 in National Harbor, MD, USA. The MASM conferences provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and industrial innovations between researchers and practitioners from around the world involved in modeling and analysis of complex high-tech manufacturing systems. While the papers from MASM conferences are of high quality and are often cited in journal papers, they are limited in size. As a premier journal for topics covered in the MASM conferences, IEEE T ransactions on S emiconductor M anufacturing , agreed to consider extended article submissions based on the 21 papers accepted and presented at the MASM 2019 conference for a Special Section of an upcoming issue of the journal. were sessions on Scheduling and Dispatching, Fab Scheduling, Maintenance and Engineering, Capacity and Production Planning, Qualification and Wafer-to-Order Allocation, Semiconductor Manufacturing Models, and Semiconductor Modeling Representations. Dr. Sabine Herlitschka, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer of Infineon Technologies Austria AG, gave an excellent keynote talk titled “A European View on Future Semiconductor Industry Needs for MASM.” An archive of the MASM 2019 papers can be found at https://informs-sim.org/wsc19papers/by_area.html .

This Special Issue is assembled from a selection of highly-rated technical papers presented at the 4th IEEE Electron Devices Technology and Manufacturing Conference 2020, EDTM 2020. It took place during April 6-21, 2020 and signified the 1st of its kind as a virtual conference financially-sponsored by the Electron Devices Society (EDS). The original EDTM 2020 was planned as a full three-day event at the Hotel Equatorial , Penang, Malaysia from March 16 to 18, 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, EDTM 2020 was held as a virtual event .

A key challenge in prevention of global warming is how to increase energy efficiency, to be able to deal with increased fossil CO2 emissions from rising energy usage. Increasing energy efficiency will decrease energy usage and is in a key role in emission mitigation. The focus is the pulp and paper industry, which is energy-intensive. Development of industrial energy efficiency has been studied before but the role of industrial transformation is still mostly unknown. The knowledge must be improved, to be able to predict future developments in the most effective way. In this research, impact of various production unit closures and start-ups on energy efficiency of the Finnish pulp and paper industry were studied utilizing statistical analysis. Results indicate that about 20% of the Finnish pulp and paper industry energy efficiency improvement between 2011 and 2017 is caused by the major structural changes. The rest, 80% of the progress, was mainly due to improved technology and more optimal operational modes. Additional findings suggest that modern mill start-ups have a significantly greater potential to reduce energy consumption than old mill closures.

Zeolite nanostructures were used as hosts for dyes normally used in some bioassays (pH and protein), and applied on microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (PADs). The obtained dye nanomaterials were characterized by several techniques (structural (FTIR and XRD), surface (SEM/EDX), textural (N2 adsorption) analyses and dye loading determination by TGA analysis), to confirm the stability of both host and guest. After their deposition on the papers surface, the color change was studied by analyzing the RGB values, taking into account the lifetime and the results stability of the PADs. These results confirmed that both the lifetime and the color change of the modified devices were stable over one week. It was also demonstrated that the choice of the paper for the PAD as well as the zeolite nanostructures properties influences the colorimetric response. This strategy by encapsulating dyes into zeolites solve current challenges in colorimetric sensors in where long-term stability of the colorimetric results is an issue. The results obtained were promising for the studied assays, and the strategy could also be extended to other bioassays., A.R.B. thanks for the ERASMUS+ program to her grant. This work has been developed under the scope of the projects: BioTecNorte (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004), AIProcMat@N2020 (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000006), projects supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This work also has been funded by ERDF through COMPETE2020–Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI), Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006984, Associate Laboratory LSRE-LCM and by national funds through FCT, Fundacão para a Ciência e a Tecnologia for project PTDC/AAGTEC/5269/2014 and Centre of Chemistry (UID/QUI/00686/2013 and UID/QUI/0686/2016). The support from the Oslofjordfondet project, «Touchsensor for enklere og raskere urinprøvetaking og analyse (no. 234972)» and NSFC project no. 61650410655 is also acknowledged., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

At present, the insulation performances of electrical apparatus under lightning impulse voltages are always evaluated by the withstand test of standard lightning impulse voltage (1.2/50 µs), which is recommended by IEC Standard. However, the actual time parameters of transformer invading lightning impulse voltage present an obvious dispersibility characteristics. The standard wave shape is only representative of one particular class of lightning waves, which is far from satisfactory to act as the guidance waveform in the design of power equipment insulation. On the basis of the above research background, the relationship between breakdown characteristics of oil paper insulation and time parameters of applied lightning impulse voltage was investigated in this study. The 50% breakdown voltage characteristics of oil paper insulation under lightning impulse voltage with different time parameters were determined. The test results indicate that a short wave front time could lead to relatively low 50% breakdown voltage, while when the wave tail time varied, the 50% breakdown voltage of oil paper insulation barely changed. At last the simulation model of oil paper insulation was developed, and the current flowing through the oil paper insulating system under lightning impulse voltage was calculated. On the basis of the simulating results, the relationship between current and time parameters was analysed.

Millimeter-wave imaging may be used to assist in\ud the problem of wastepaper recognition during the sorting and\ud recycling process. Currently, there are a variety of techniques,\ud which are used within materials recovery facilities to sort waste\ud paper and card; however, improvements in sorting capability can\ud be realized using a multiple sensors to provide complementary\ud (orthogonal) data. This paper discusses the issues related to\ud the processes, which are currently used for sorting of recycled\ud wastepaper and the phenomenology for millimeter-wave imaging\ud of a wastepaper material. Experimental measurements and\ud images in the millimeter wave band are presented, which support\ud the proposed application.

Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controller tuning is an area of interest for researchers in many areas of science and engineering. This paper presents a new algorithm for PID controller tuning based on a combination of bacteria foraging and particle swarm optimization. BFO algorithm has recently emerged as a very powerful technique for real parameter optimization. To overcome delay in an optimization, combine the features of BFOA and PSO for tuning the PID controller. This new algorithm is proposed to combine both the algorithms to get better optimization values. The real time prototype model of paper machine is designed and controlled by using PIC microcontroller embedded with the programming in C language.

This paper presents the design, manufacturing and measurements of antennas on paper, realized using ink-jetprinting of conductive inks based on nano-silver particles (nSPs). The extraction of the substrate characteristicssuch as the dielectric constant and dielectric loss is performed using a printed ring resonator technique. Thecharacterization of the nSPs conductive inks assesses different parameters as sintering time and temperature.Two antennas are realized corresponding to the most common needs for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) inTrains Environment. The first one is a patch antenna characterized by a broadside radiation pattern and suitedfor operation on metallic structures. The second one is a quasi-yagi antenna, with an end fire radiation patternand higher directivity, without requiring a metallic ground plane. Both antennas present a good matching (S11 < -20 dB and S11 < -30 dB, respectively) and acceptable efficiency (55 % and 45 %, respectively) for the papersubstrate used at the center frequency of 2.4 GHz, corresponding to the first channel of the IEEE 802.15.4 band.

The work on a great number of research projects began from the very establishment of the Institute of Architecture and Urban & Spatial Planning of Serbia (IAUS) as an independent scientific research organization. On the basis of an insight into the archival materials, this paper will present the first seven Scientific Research Papers (SRP). This paper will give the basic data for each SRP project (title of the theme, names of authors of the project and their collaborators, project orderer, research project duration), titles of papers published in journals, titles of monographs with the scientific projects results and the list of archival numbers of boxes containing the existing documentation.

Transformer oil, insulating paper, high voltage direct current (HVDC) bushings and on-load tap changer (OLTC) are essential parts of converter transformers. When the power flow of the HVDC system is reversed or a sudden outrage occurs, the charge field will deform the dielectric internal electric field, thus easily leading to the occurrence of discharge or insulation damage. In this case, it is necessary to carry out the characterization of the oil–paper interface to avoid these consequences. This paper analyses the interface charge accumulation and dissipation characteristics of an oil–paper insulation system under DC and polarity reversal voltages. In this paper, induced electrification was used to charge the composite oil–paper insulation. The amplitude of DC and polarity reversal voltages applied in this paper was 4 kV, and paper with thicknesses of 0.08 and 0.13 mm was used. This research offers a theoretical exploration to optimize the transformer oil– paper insulation structure and prevent damage to its insulation systems. From the research on different layers and thicknesses of paper, it can be concluded that the decay is fast in the initial period and then becomes slower with the lapse of time until finally the decay curve tends to become flat. With an increase in the number of the paper layers, the interface charge density decreases. So in real life multilayer paper is used to avoid failures owing to its structural weakness. Regarding the DC polarity reversal effect, increasing the thickness of the paper is equivalent to adding paper layers. The dissipation rate of the positive interface charge is quicker than that of the negative one. In the polarity reversal test, the dissipation rate becomes smaller as the reversal time gets longer.

Разработан способ производства упаковочной бумаги повышенной непрозрачности, белизны и прочности. Он заключается в изготовлении бумаги из волокон сульфатной беленой целлюлозы из хвойной и лиственной древесины с добавлением тонкоизмельченных волокон целлюлозы, диоксида титана и поливинилового спирта. Это позволяет повысить разрывную длину бумаги, белизну, непрозрачность, цветовосприятие и устойчивость печати, снизить линейную деформацию бумаги, The study presents results of the design of a paper wrapping material, which simultaneously possesses high functional (strength and opacity), aesthetic (whiteness), and technological properties (color acceptance and print sharpness). The latter is a particularly important element in the marketing strategy of food manufacturers because it enables creation of the packaging that is attractive to consumer and thus may increase sales.According to results of the conducted study, it was found that the set of proposed activities could increase discontinuous paper length to over than 5000 m and opacity to 92 %, while the linear deformation is reduced by 2–2.5 times in comparison with the analogue. The introduction of titanium dioxide as a filler to the paper pulp provides a whiteness level of 88 %. The use of polyvinyl alcohol fiber enhances color acceptance and print stability. This is due to the creation of resistance to the plucking of fibers and particles of the filler by paint during printing and friction. The results are confirmed by the uniform mass indicators per 1 m2 and humidity in 8 points.It is advisable to use results of the study performed in the production of wrapping paper, as well as when selecting packing material for one or another food product, which is especially important at present – in the context of European integration and production of goods that meet international standards, Розроблено спосіб виробництва пакувального паперу підвищеної непрозорості, білості та міцності. Він полягає у виготовленні паперу з волокон сульфатної біленої целюлози з хвойної і листяної деревини з додаванням тонкоподрібнених волокон целюлози, діоксиду титану і полівінілового спирту. Це дозволяє підвищити розривну довжину паперу, білість, непрозорість, фарбосприйняття та стійкість друку, знизити лінійну деформацію пеперу

The capacity of Ag nanoparticles to destroy various micro-organisms makes it one of the most powerful antimicrobial agents, an attractive feature against antibiotic resistant bacteria. Here, a simple method to develop coating of colloidal silver on paper using a biological method is presented. The coated paper was studied by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction technique and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The antibacterial activity of the coated paper against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was measured by agar diffusion method. This study shows the potential use of the coated paper as a food antimicrobial packing material for longer shelf life.

I would like to introduce three wonderful papers to all our readers. Q. Xu and Y. Zhao from the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China; X. Shen and K. Chen from the Nanjing Rongce Testing Technology Ltd, China; and Y. Huang from the University of Liverpool, U. K., authored the first paper "Absorption Cross Section Measurement of a Vehicle in Reverberation Chamber for Quick Estimation of Field Strength". For electromagnetic immunity testing of a vehicle, a reverberation chamber (RC) loaded with the vehicle-under-test has to be calibrated so that the necessary input power to generate the required field strength can be determined. In this paper, the average absorption cross section (ACS) of a vehicle in the frequency range of 80 MHz — 24 GHz is measured so that the required electric field strength in the RC loaded with a car can be estimated before the RC is constructed. Once the typical ACS of a car is known, one only needs to measure the Q factor of an unloaded RC and the Q factor of the RC loaded with a car can be predicted. This is very useful before the RC is constructed, as once the RC is built the unloaded Q factor cannot be increased.

Research, design, fabrication and results of various screen printed capacitive humidity sensors is presented in this paper. Two types of capacitive humidity sensors have been designed and fabricated via screen printing on recycled paper and cardboard, obtained from the regional paper and cardboard industry. As printing ink, commercially available silver nanoparticle-based conductive ink was used. A considerable amount of work has been devoted to the humidity measurement methods using paper as a dielectric material. Performances of different structures have been tested in a humidity chamber. Relative humidity in the chamber was varied in the range of 35%–80% relative humidity (RH) at a constant temperature of 23 °C. Parameters of interest were capacitance and conductance of each sensor material, as well as long term behaviour. Process reversibility has also been considered. The results obtained show a mainly logarithmic response of the paper sensors, with the only exception being cardboard-based sensors. Recycled paper-based sensors exhibit a change in value of three orders of magnitude, whereas cardboard-based sensors have a change in value of few 10s over the entire scope of relative humidity range (RH 35%–90%). Two different types of capacitor sensors have been investigated: lateral (comb) type sensors and modified, perforated flat plate type sensors. The objective of the present work was to identify the most important factors affecting the material performances with humidity, and to contribute to the development of a sensor system supported with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip directly on the material, for use in smart packaging applications. Therefore, the authors built a passive and a battery-supported wireless module based on SL900A smart sensory tag’s IC to achieve UHF-RFID functionality with data logging capability.

Many papers have been written about the phenomenon of arc flash, the causes of arc flash, how to mitigate specific arc flash problems, and how to design arc flash issues out from the beginning. This paper will discuss the overall process of completing an engineering incident energy analysis and remediation project in a pulp and paper mill. Most mills are not fortunate enough to receive sufficient funding to do the whole study and a remediation process all at once. This paper explores how a Midwestern pulp and paper mill worked over several years to get through the process of the study, remediation efforts, and the establishment of an overall electrical safety program.

This work demonstrates a stand-alone power source that integrates a paper-based hydrogen fuel cell with a customized chemical heater that produces hydrogen in-situ upon the addition of a liquid. The presented approach operates by capillary action and takes advantage of the hydrogen released as a by-product of an exothermic reaction used in point-of-care diagnostics. The paper-based fuel cell produces a maximum power of 25.8 mW (103.2 mW cm−2), which is suitable for powering a diversity of electrical devices such as commercially available digital pregnancy tests and glucometers. While device shape and dimensions can be customized, here it is shown that the fuel cell can be designed in a compact form factor and footprint comparable to a lateral flow test while providing a remarkable power output. This approach holds great promise for powering portable diagnostics, as the generated electric power could enable device functionalities required for advanced assays, such as device timing, actuation, and signal quantification. Part of the same liquid sample that is to be analyzed (urine, saliva, water, etc) could be used to trigger the hydrogen generation and start the fuel cell operation., J.P. Esquivel acknowledges support from Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship (APPOCS - GA.328144) within the 7th European Community Framework Programme. J. Buser and P. Yager were supported by a grant from DARPA DSO/BTO--HR0011-11-2-0007, awarded to Yager at the University of Washington. P. Yager was supported in part by funds from the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Washington. S. Rojas acknowledges financial support from project ENE2013-42322R. N. Sabaté would like to thank financial support received from ERC Consolidator Grant (SUPERCELL - GA.648518).

Printing of electronics is pursued as a low-cost alternative to conventional manufacturing processes. In addition, owing to relatively low process temperatures, flexible substrates can be used enabling novel applications. Among flexible substrates, paper was found to be a particularly interesting candidate, since it has an order of magnitude lower price than low-cost polymer alternatives, and is biodegradable. As ink materials, organic and metal-oxide semiconductors are thoroughly being investigated; however, they lack in electric performance compared to silicon in terms of device mobility, reliability, and energy efficiency. In recent years, liquid precursors for silicon were found and used to create polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si). However, fabrication of transistors on top of low-cost flexible substrates such as paper has remained an outstanding challenge. Here we demonstrate both p-channel and n-channel poly-Si thin-film transistors (TFTs) fabricated directly on top of paper with field-effect mobilities of 6.2 and 2.0 cm2/V s, respectively. Many fabrication challenges have been overcome by limiting the maximum process temperature to approximately 100 °C, and avoiding liquid chemicals commonly used for etching and cleaning. Patterning of poly-Si has been achieved by additive selective crystallization of the precursor film using an excimer laser. This work serves as a proof of concept, and has the potential to further improve device performance. Owing to the low-cost, biodegradable nature of paper, and the high performance, reliability, and energy efficiency of poly-Si TFTs, this work opens a pathway toward truly low-cost, low-power, recyclable applications including smart packages, biodegradable health monitoring units, flexible displays, and disposable sensor nodes.