Metallic Nanowire Coupled CsPbBr3 Quantum Dots Plasmonic Nanolaser

Plasmonic nanolasers provide a valuable opportunity for expanding sub-wavelength applications. Due to the potential of on-chip integration, semiconductor nanowire (NW)-based plasmonic nanolasers that support the waveguide mode attract a high level of interest. To date, perovskite quantum dots (QDs) based plasmonic lasers, especially nanolasers that support plasmonic-waveguide mode, are still a challenge and remain unexplored. Here, metallic NW coupled CsPbBr₃ QDs plasmonic-waveguide lasers are reported. By embedding Ag NWs in QDs film, an evolution from amplified spontaneous emission with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 6.6 nm to localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) supported random lasing is observed. When the pump light is focused on a single Ag NW, a QD-NW coupled plasmonic-waveguide laser with a much narrower emission peak (FWHM = 0.4 nm) is realized on a single Ag NW with the uniform polyvinylpyrrolidone layer. The QDs serve as the gain medium while the Ag NW serves as a resonant cavity and propagating plasmonic lasing modes. Furthermore, by pumping two Ag NWs with different directions, a dual-wavelength lasing switch is realized. The demonstration of metallic NW coupled QDs plasmonic nanolaser would provide an alternative approach for ultrasmall light sources as well as fundamental studies of light matter interactions.     

Anomaly detection in particulate matter sensor using hypothesis pruning generative adversarial network

The World Health Organization provides guidelines for managing the particulate matter (PM) level because a higher PM level represents a threat to human health. To manage the PM level, a procedure for measuring the PM value is first needed. We use a PM sensor that collects the PM level by laser-based light scattering (LLS) method because it is more cost effective than a beta attenuation monitor-based sensor or tapered element oscillating microbalance-based sensor. However, an LLS-based sensor has a higher probability of malfunctioning than the higher cost sensors. In this paper, we regard the overall malfunctioning, including strange value collection or missing collection data as anomalies, and we aim to detect anomalies for the maintenance of PM measuring sensors. We propose a novel architecture for solving the above aim that we call the hypothesis pruning generative adversarial network (HP-GAN). Through comparative experiments, we achieve AUROC and AUPRC values of 0.948 and 0.967, respectively, in the detection of anomalies in LLS-based PM measuring sensors. We conclude that our HP-GAN is a cutting-edge model for anomaly detection.     

CdSe-sensitized inorganic–organic heterojunction solar cells: The effect of molecular dipole interface modification and surface passivation

CdSe-sensitized heterojunction solar cells composed of mesoscopic TiO₂/CdSe/P3HT (poly-3-hexylthiophene) were constructed, and the negative molecular dipole of 4-methoxybenzenethiol (MBT) and the ZnS passivation layer were used as interface modifiers to improve device performance. Through the interface modification between TiO₂/CdSe and P3HT using MBT and by ZnS surface passivation, the power conversion efficiency of the modified solar cell was greatly enhanced from 1.02% to 1.62% under 1 sun illumination.     

InGaP//GaAs//c‐Si 3‐junction solar cells employing spectrum‐splitting system

In this work, we practically demonstrated spectrum‐splitting approach for advances in efficiency of photovoltaic cells. Firstly, a‐Si:H//c‐Si 2‐junction configuration was designed, which exhibited 24.4% efficiency with the spectrum splitting at 620 nm. Then, we improved the top cell property by employing InGaP cells instead of the a‐Si:H, resulting in an achievement of efficiency about 28.8%. In addition, we constructed 3‐junction spectrum‐splitting system with two optical splitters, and GaAs solar cells as middle cell. This InGaP//GaAs//c‐Si architecture was found to deliver 30.9% conversion efficiency. Our splitting system includes convex lenses for light concentration about 10 suns, which provided concentrated efficiency exceeding 33.0%. These results suggest that our demonstration of 3‐junction spectrum‐splitting approach can be a promising candidate for highly efficient photovoltaic technologies. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sensitivity analysis of ion implanted silicon wafers after rapid thermal annealing

In this study, we have investigated sensitivities of the ion implanted silicon wafers processed by rapid thermal annealing (RTA), which can reveal the variation of sheet resistance as a function of annealing temperature as well as implantation parameters. All the wafers were sequentially implanted by the arsenic or phosphorous implantations at 40, 80, and 100 keV with the dose level of 10¹⁴ to 2 × 10¹⁶ ions/cm². Rapid thermal annealing was carried out for 10 s by the infrared irradiation at a temperature between 850 and 1150°C in the nitrogen ambient. The activated wafer was characterized by the measurements of the sheet resistance and its uniformity mapping. The values of sensitivities are determined from the curve fitting of the experimental data to the fitting equation of correlation between the sheet resistance and process variables. From the sensitivity values and the deviation of sheet resistance, the optimum process conditions minimizing the effects of straggle in process parameters are obtained. As a result, a strong dependence of the sensitivity on the process variables, especially annealing temperatures and dose levels is also found. From the sensitivity analysis of the 10 s RTA process, the optimum values for the implant dose and annealing temperature are found to be in the range of 10¹⁶ ions/cm² and 1050-1100°C, respectively. The sensitivity analysis of sheet resistance will provide valuable data for accurate activation process, offering a guideline for dose monitoring and calibration of ion implantation process.     

Text-line extraction in handwritten Chinese documents based on an energy minimization framework

Text-line extraction in unconstrained handwritten documents remains a challenging problem due to nonuniform character scale, spatially varying text orientation, and the interference between text lines. In order to address these problems, we propose a new cost function that considers the interactions between text lines and the curvilinearity of each text line. Precisely, we achieve this goal by introducing normalized measures for them, which are based on an estimated line spacing. We also present an optimization method that exploits the properties of our cost function. Experimental results on a database consisting of 853 handwritten Chinese document images have shown that our method achieves a detection rate of 99.52% and an error rate of 0.32%, which outperforms conventional methods.     

Photoelectric properties of In/In<Subscript>2</Subscript>Se<Subscript>3</Subscript> structures

The hexagonal modification of In₂Se₃ single crystal is grown by planar crystallization from nearly stoichiometric melt and by the vapor-phase method. For the first time, the Schottky barriers In/n-In₂Se₃, which are photosensitive in a wide incident-photon energy range of 1–3.8 eV at 300 K, are obtained. The nature of the interband photoactive absorption is studied. The energy-barrier height and interband optical-transition energy are estimated. It is concluded that the grown crystals can be used in broadband optical-radiation converters.     

Low‐Power 512‐Bit EEPROM Designed for UHF RFID Tag Chip

In this paper, the design of a low‐power 512‐bit synchronous EEPROM for a passive UHF RFID tag chip is presented. We apply low‐power schemes, such as dual power supply voltage (VDD=1.5 V and VDDP=2.5 V), clocked inverter sensing, voltage‐up converter, I/O interface, and Dickson charge pump using Schottky diode. An EEPROM is fabricated with the 0.25 μm EEPROM process. Power dissipation is 32.78 μW in the read cycle and 78.05 μW in the write cycle. The layout size is 449.3 μm × 480.67 μm.     

A Critical Review on Functionalization of Air‐Cathodes for Nonaqueous Li–O2 Batteries

This review reports on the most updated technological aspects of Li–air battery cathode materials. It provides the reader with recent developments, alongside critical views. The requirements for air‐cathodes, as well as the classification and characterization of carbon‐based and carbon‐free air cathodes, are listed. The effects of two major substituent groups of materials, namely carbon and advanced materials (metals, metal‐oxides, metal‐carbides, and metal‐nitrides) aimed at replacing carbon, are discussed in terms of their chemical and electrochemical stability. The report covers aspects of surface chemistry and structure influence on the electrolyte and discharge products stability. The review also reports on the efforts to suppress side reactions and deterioration of the polymeric binders (if a composite electrode is being considered). This is recognized as a means to enhance Li–air battery performance. The report concludes with an outlook and perspective, providing the readers with some insight on other factors and their impact on the long road toward a viable air‐cathode suitable for Li–air battery operations.     

Poly(cyclodextrin)‐Polydrug Nanocomplexes as Synthetic Oncolytic Virus for Locoregional Melanoma Chemoimmunotherapy

Despite the approval of oncolytic virus (OV) therapy for advanced melanoma, its intrinsic limitations that include the risk of persistent viral infection and cost‐intensive manufacturing motivate the development of analogous approaches that are free from the disadvantages of virus‐based therapies. Herein, reported is a nanoassembly comprised of multivalent host–guest interactions between polymerized paclitaxel (pPTX) and nitric oxide‐incorporated polymerized β‐cyclodextrin (pCD‐pSNO) that through its bioactive components and when used locoregionally recapitulates the therapeutic effects of OV. The resultant pPTX/pCD‐pSNO exhibits significantly enhanced cytotoxicity, immunogenic cell death, dendritic cell (DC) activation, and T cell expansion in vitro compared to free agents alone or in combination. In vivo, intratumoral administration of pPTX/pCD‐pSNO results in activation and expansion of DCs systemically, but with a corresponding expansion of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells and suppression of CD8⁺ T cell expansion. When combined with antibody targeting cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen‐4 that blunts this molecule's signaling effects on T cells, intratumoral pPTX/pCD‐pSNO treatment elicits potent anticancer effects that significantly prolong animal survival. This formulation thus leverages the chemo‐ and immunotherapeutic synergies of PTX and nitric oxide and suggests the potential for virus‐free nanoformulations to mimic the therapeutic action and benefits of OVs.