Lateral trench oxide Schottky rectifier on SOI for power integrated circuits

In this paper, a Lateral Trench Oxide Schottky (LTOS) rectifier on silicon-on-insulator suitable for power integrated circuits is presented. The proposed structure utilizes a surface Schottky contact with vertical field-plate placed in a trench filled with oxide. The field-plate reduces the electric field on the Schottky contact and suppresses the barrier lowering effect leading to significant improvement in the device performance. Further, the proposed structure folds the drift region in vertical and horizontal directions resulting substantial reduction in pitch length of the device. Two-dimensional numerical simulations have been performed to analyse and optimize the performance of proposed device and results are compared with that of the conventional lateral Schottky rectifier. The LTOS rectifier provides 60 % improvement in breakdown voltage and 50 % reduction in pitch length as compared to the conventional device while maintaining low forward voltage drop and low reverse leakage current.     

Synergy of combining sonolysis and photocatalysis in the degradation and mineralization of chlorinated aromatic compounds

Merits of using advanced oxidation processes such as sonolysis and photocatalysis as well as a combination of the two have been explored using model herbicides such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid and 2,4-dichlorophenoxypropionic acid and the chlorinated phenols 2,4-dichlorophenol and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol. Whereas sonolysis is quite effective in the initial degradation of chlorinated aromatic molecules, complete mineralization is difficult to achieve. Photocatalysis is selective toward the degradation of polar compounds but causes the build up of undesirable chemical intermediates. In contrast to sonolytic degradation, photocatalysis is very effective toward achieving complete mineralization. By simultaneously carrying out high-frequency sonolysis and photocatalysis we have succeeded in achieving faster and complete mineralization with no build up of toxic intermediates even at very low catalyst loadings. The synergy of combining the two advanced oxidation processes is discussed.     

Impact of Soret and Dufour on MHD mixed convective flow of non-Newtonian fluid over a coagulated surface

In the present study, we investigated the steady, two-dimensional mixed convective stagnation point flow of an electrically conducting micropolar fluid due to stretching of a variable thicked surface in the attendance of viscous dissipation. The flow is incompressible and laminar. The combined heat and mass transfer features are investigated. Convective and diffusion conditions are considered. The nonlinear thermal radiation, thermo-diffusion, and diffusion thermal effects are considered. The governing partial differential equations are converted to ordinary differential equations by using the appropriate similarity transformations. The obtained nonlinear and coupled ordinary differential equations are elucidated numerically using the fourth-order Runge–Kutta based shooting technique. The influence of various nondimensional parameters on the flow field like velocity, microrotation, temperature, and concentration is examined with the assistance of graphs. Results indicate that the Dufour number has a proclivity to increase the distributions of concentration and temperature correspondingly. Also, fluid temperature and concentration enhance for increasing values of the wall thickness parameter.     

Direct numerical simulation of laminar flame–wall interaction for a novel H2-selective membrane/injector configuration

Direct numerical simulations are performed to investigate the transient processes of laminar flame–wall interaction and quenching near a porous, permeable wall and compared against a reference case of a non-porous impermeable wall. A boundary condition formulation that models species (hydrogen in this case) transport through a permeable wall, driven by the fuel species partial pressure difference between the feed and the permeate side of a selective membrane, has been implemented in a high-order finite difference direct numerical simulation code for reactive flows (S3D) by Chen et al. (2009) [1]. The present results are obtained for lean, stoichiometric and rich initial mixture conditions on the permeate side of the permeable wall and indicate that the characteristic parameters of the flame–wall interaction (wall heat flux, quenching distance) are affected to a large extent by the presence of the membrane hydrogen flux. Concurrently, the hydrogen flux through the membrane is also strongly affected by the presence of the flame during the transient flame–wall interaction process, finally resulting in a strong feedback mechanism between the membrane hydrogen flux and the flame that greatly increases boundary layer flashback speeds at fuel lean conditions.     

On the behavior of thin walled composite beams with stochastic properties under matrix cracking damage

Thin walled composite beam structures are prone to damage which results in change in the performance of these structures. The change in the performance due to damage may get confused with the variation in the performance due uncertainties in the properties of these structures. Here, the performances of the thin walled composite beam under matrix cracking damage having material uncertainties are studied. The cross-sectional stiffness properties are obtained using thin walled beam formulation, which is based on a mixed force and displacement method. The stochastic behaviors of material properties are obtained from previous experimental and analytical studies. The effects of matrix cracking are introduced through the changes in the extension, extension–bending and bending matrices of composites. The effects of matrix cracking on out-of-plane bending, inplane bending and torsion cross-sectional properties are studied at different crack densities for stochastic material properties. Further, the effects of matrix cracking and uncertainties on measurable properties such as deflections and frequencies are studied. Results show that the beam responses at different crack densities get mixed due to the material uncertainties. The estimates of variance obtained for observable system properties due to uncertainty can be used for developing more robust damage detection algorithms.     

Multi-dimensional Evaluation of Recent Neighbourhood Renewal Projects in Beijing: Case Studies on Shichahai and Jinyuchi Neighbourhoods

Most of Chinese cities have experienced a great wave of large-scale neighbourhood renewal in recent years. However, only a few research works have been done in giving assessment after the completion of renewal projects. Aimed at such a circumstance, this paper, by referencing the experience of European countries, establishes a multi-dimensional evaluation framework to analyze the primary data drawn from recent household surveys of Shichahai and Jinyuchi neighbourhoods in Beijing, and puts forward some suggestions based on the conclusions drawn from the surveys.     

Laboratory-Scale Investigations of Algal Toxin Removal by Water Treatment

The paper describes some water-treatment processes which have been investigated on a laboratory and pilot-plant scale for their effectiveness in removing toxic algal cells and the dissolved toxins microcystin-LR and anatoxin-a. Oxidation with ozone or potassium permanganate, or treatment by biological activated carbon, were found to be the most effective processes for removal of the dissolved toxins. Chlorination was effective only for the removal of microcystin-LR. Toxins, contained within algal cells, could be removed effectively by coagulation, clarification and filtration under suitable conditions. Consideration of the structure and properties of micro-cystin variants suggests that treatments which are suitable for removal of microcystin-LR and anatoxin-a should be suitable for removal of other microcystins.     

Ecological Restoration Options for the Lymington/Keyhaven Saltmarshes

The paper describes the conservation importance and rationale for examining ecological restoration options for the Lymington/Keyhaven saltmarshes in Southern England. Physical process studies have established why this coastal habitat is under pressure and have quantified the rate of erosion. A vegetation survey of the saltmarshes suggested that (a) wave attack, (b) ship wash, (c) poor drainage, (d) deferential sedimentation, and (e) relative sea-level rise are contributing to the loss of saltmarsh quality and quantity. Saltmarsh re-creation is not a viable option for this site; instead, a combination of rehabilitation techniques is proposed.     

Normally Oriented Adhesion versus Friction Forces in Bacterial Adhesion to Polymer‐Brush Functionalized Surfaces Under Fluid Flow

Bacterial adhesion is problematic in many diverse applications. Coatings of hydrophilic polymer chains in a brush configuration reduce bacterial adhesion by orders of magnitude, but not to zero. Here, the mechanism by which polymer‐brush functionalized surfaces reduce bacterial adhesion from a flowing carrier fluid by relating bacterial adhesion with normally oriented adhesion and friction forces on polymer (PEG)‐brush coatings of different softness is studied. Softer brush coatings deform more than rigid ones, which yields extensive bond‐maturation and strong, normally oriented adhesion forces, accompanied by irreversible adhesion of bacteria. On rigid brushes, normally oriented adhesion forces remain small, allowing desorption and accordingly lower numbers of adhering bacteria result. Friction forces, generated by fluid flow and normally oriented adhesion forces, are required to oppose fluid shear forces and cause immobile adhesion. Summarizing, inclusion of friction forces and substratum softness provides a more complete mechanism of bacterial adhesion from flowing carrier fluids than available hitherto.