Photovoltaic Characterization and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Analysis of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Composite TiO2–MWCNT Photoelectrodes

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) use the effect of light on dye molecules to generate electricity through a photoelectrochemical mechanism. The aim of this study is to synthesize nanostructured DSSCs based on titania–multiwalled carbon nanotube (TiO₂–MWCNT) composite photoelectrodes and improve their performance and efficiency. DSSCs were fabricated based on single-layer TiO₂–MWCNT photoelectrodes with various weight percentages of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and bilayer TiO₂/TiO₂–2%MWCNT photoelectrodes. The microstructure and thickness of the anodic layers were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy. Also, to compare the conversion efficiency and determine the electron behavior in the electrical equivalent circuit of these cells, photovoltaic characterization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis were used. The DSSC based on a single-layer TiO₂–2%MWCNT electrode, compared with other single-layer DSSCs in this study, had the highest conversion efficiency of 3.9% (for anodic layer thickness of 9 μm). The efficiency of the solar cell with the bilayer TiO₂/TiO₂–2%MWCNT photoelectrode, in comparison with the single-layer solar cell with the TiO₂–2%MWCNT electrode, showed a 23% increase from 4.33% to 5.35% (for anodic layer thickness of 18 μm). EIS analysis indicated that the charge-transport resistance of the DSSC based on the bilayer photoelectrode, in comparison with the single-layer TiO₂ and TiO₂–2%MWCNT solar cells, was decreased by 68% and 57%, respectively.     

Low-rate channel coding scheme for Replica MT-CDMA communication system

In this paper, we analyze bit error rate performance of a special case of multitone CDMA systems that is Replica MT-CDMA system. It is shown that with the same bandwidth, the Replica MT-CDMA outperforms the conventional system that we name it S/P MT-CDMA. We also propose a low-rate bandwidth efficient channel coding scheme for Replica MT-CDMA that by using it, the coded Replica MT-CDMA system needs the same bandwidth as the uncoded one. In this paper, we compare the proposed low-rate coded and uncoded Replica MT-CDMA systems with S/P MT-CDMA system over uplink Rayleigh fading channel. Our results show that with the same bandwidth, the performance of the coded Replica MT-CDMA system with the proposed channel coding scheme is considerably better than that of both uncoded MT-CDMA systems.     

Nanoparticle-functionalized nucleic acids: A strategy for amplified electrochemical detection of some single-base mismatches

In this study, nanoparticle-functionalized nucleic acids were employed to improve the sensitivity of electrochemical DNA biosensors that make capable them to detect different types of single-base mismatches (SBMs), including thermodynamically stable ones. The present biosensor was constructed by the immobilization of platinum nanoparticles (Pt-NPs) on the surface of a carbon paste electrode (CPE) via SH-functionalized DNA. A redox probe of 2-mercapto-1-methyl imidazole (MMI), which has different electrochemical behavior on Pt-NP and CPE, was used. This behavior helps to overcome the pinhole effect in DNA hybridization biosensors. Additionally, in the present biosensor, the positioning of the redox probe under the SBM in DNA, which decreases the sensitivity of most DNA biosensors, did not contribute to the observed electrochemical signal.     

The effect of slip casting and spark plasma sintering (SPS) temperature on the transparency of MgAl2O4 spinel

MgAl₂O₄ bulk samples were fabricated by two different approaches to investigate the effect of slip casting and sintering temperature on their transparency. Three MgAl₂O₄ samples containing 1 wt% LiF, as the sintering aid, were prepared by the spark plasma sintering process (SPS) at 1400 °C and 1500 °C, under 100 MPa, for 15 min. Also, another MgAl₂O₄ sample was prepared by slip casting followed by SPS under similar conditions. It was observed that utilizing slip casting led to more transparency (10% in the visible region and 20% in the IR region) due to the more homogeneous structure. It was also observed that by reducing the SPS temperature from 1500 °C to 1400 °C, the transparency increased (20% in the IR region) because of the lower grain growth rate at the lower temperature.     

RF probe influence study in millimeter‐wave antenna pattern measurements

A Radio Frequency (RF) probe has been fully modeled, and radiation pattern and realized gain of this probe at mm‐wave frequencies have been extracted. Simulation results prove that the probe radiates with a pattern like a dipole showing a realized gain of around ?8 dBi at 60 GHz, which is a huge leakage from a probe. The radiation pattern and the realized gain of the probe at 60 GHz have also been measured, confirming the simulation results. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2011.     

Tribological properties of Al6061–Al2O3 nanocomposite prepared by milling and hot pressing

Tribological properties of bulk Al6061–Al₂O₃ nanocomposite prepared by mechanical milling and hot pressing were investigated. Al6061 chips were milled for 30 h to achieve a homogenous nanostructured powder. A 3 vol.% Al₂O₃ nanoparticles (∼30 nm) were added to the Al6061 after 15 and 30 h from the beginning of milling. The milling times with Al₂O₃ in these two samples were then 15 h and 30 min, respectively. Additionally, 3 vol.% Al₂O₃ (1 μm and 60 μm) was added to the Al6061 after 15 h of milling; where, the micron size Al₂O₃ in these two samples, was milled 15 h with the matrix. Hot pressing of milled samples was executed at 400 °C under 128 MPa pressure in a uniaxial die. The hot pressed samples were characterized by micro-hardness test, bulk density measurements, pin on disc wear test, and finally scanning electron microscopy observations. Fifteen hour-milled nanocomposite with nanoscale Al₂O₃, showed improvement in wear resistance and bulk density compared with that of 30 min-milled nanocomposites due to better dispersion of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles, improved surface quality of nanocomposite particles before pressing and more grain refinement of Al matrix. Moreover, increasing the reinforcement size increased the wear rate because of reduction in relative density, hardness and inter-particle spacing.     

The effect of Ti addition on alloying and formation of nanocrystalline structure in Fe–Al system

In this work, the effect of Ti addition on alloying and formation of nanocrystalline structure in Fe–Al system was studied by utilizing mechanical alloying (MA) process. Structural and morphological evolutions of powder particles were studied by X-ray diffractometry, microhardness measurements, and scanning electron microscopy. In both Fe₇₅Al₂₅ and Fe₅₀Al₂₅Ti₂₅ systems MA led to the formation of Fe-based solid solution which transformed to the corresponding intermetallic compounds after longer milling times. The results indicated that the Ti addition in Fe–Al system affects the phase transition during mechanical alloying, the final crystallite size, the mean powder particle size, the hardness value and ordering of DO₃ structure after annealing. The crystallite size of Fe₃Al and (Fe,Ti)₃Al phases after 100 h of milling time were 35 and 12 nm, respectively. The Fe₃Al intermetallic compound exhibited the hardness value of 700 Hv which is significantly smaller than 1050 Hv obtained for (Fe,Ti)₃Al intermetallic compound.     

Fabrication and characterization of nanostructured Ti6Al4V powder from machining scraps

In recent years researches on properties of nanocrystalline materials in comparison with coarse-grained materials has attracted a great deal of attention. The present investigation has been based on production of nanocrystalline Ti6Al4V powder by means of high energy mechanical milling. In this regard, Ti6Al4V powder was produced by ball milling of machining scraps of Ti6Al4V. The structural and morphological changes of powders were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and microhardness measurements. The results revealed that ball milling process reduced the size of the coherent-scattering region of Ti6Al4V to approximately 20 nm. Also a remarkable change in morphology and particle size was occurred during ball milling. Moreover, phase evolution during milling was taken into consideration. The as-milled Ti6Al4V powder exhibited higher microhardness comparing to the original samples.