Enhanced photovoltaic performance of a dye sensitized solar cell with Cu/N Co-doped TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticles

Pure and Copper/Nitrogen (Cu/N)-codoped TiO₂ photoanodes with various Cu concentrations are prepared via sol–gel route for the photoanode application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). All the prepared samples are characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), UV–Vis spectroscopy (UV–VIS) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). Addition of suitable amount of Cu and N content in TiO₂ can alter its optical and electrical properties by extending absorption in the visible region and band gap reduction. The results show that some of the Ti sites are replaced by Cu atoms while O sites are occupied by N atoms. Upon adequate addition of Cu/N could lead to smaller particle size, higher specific surface area, increased dye adsorption and retarded charge carrier recombination. A significant improvement in the power conversion efficiency is observed in case of optimized 0.3 mol% Cu/N-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) based DSSC. This optimized 0.3 mol% Cu/N-doped photoanode accomplished a best power conversion efficiency of 11.70% with a short circuit current density of 23.41 mA cm^?2 which is 41% higher than that of the pure TiO₂ photoanode based DSSC (6.82%).     

Efficient 2D thermo-mechanical analysis of composites and sandwich laminates

The static behavior of composites and sandwich plates in thermo-mechanical environment is investigated by a two dimensional (2D) FE model. An efficient higher-order zig-zag theory (HOZT) considering actual through-thickness temperature profile and a least square error (LSE) method to accurately predict the inter-laminar stresses is implemented in this model. The in-plane displacement field is obtained by superposing a cubically varying global displacement field on a zig-zag displacement field having different slopes at each layer. This plate theory represents parabolic through thickness variation of transverse shear stresses, which satisfy the inter-laminar continuity at the layer interfaces and zero transverse shear stress conditions at the top and bottom of the plate. In the present 2D finite element (FE) model, the first derivatives of transverse displacement have been treated as independent variables to circumvent the problem of C¹ continuity associated with the above plate theory (HOZT). The accurate through-thickness distribution of temperature is obtained by using a linear zig-zag thermal lamination theory proposed by the authors by using the thermal conduction properties of different constituent layers in the thickness direction. The LSE method is applied at the postprocessing stage to accurately calculate the inter-laminar stresses by the 3D equilibrium equations of the plate problem, after in-plane stresses are calculated. The proposed combined FE model (HOZT+LSE) is implemented to analyze the static behavior of laminated composites and sandwich plates subjected to thermo-mechanical loadings. Many new results are also presented that should be useful for the future reference.     

1174: futuristic trends and innovations in multimedia systems using big data,IoT and cloud technologies (FTIMS)

Multimedia Tools and Applications -     

Kinetics of absorption of HCl in terpenes and isoamylene

The kinetics of reaction between HCl gas and terpenes (α-pinene, myrcene, camphene, Δ³-carene) and isoamylene (2-methyl-2-butene) were studied,The reactions of HCl with α-pinene and Δ³-carene were found to be zero order with respect to HCl and second order with respect to the olefin. TThe reactions between HCl and myrcene (in the presence of CuCl as a catalyst) and camphene were found to be first order with respect to HCl as well asThe absorption of HCl in 2-methyl-2-butene was found to be second order with respect to HCl and first order with respect to 2-methyl-2-butene. The valu     

Influence of Slurry Characteristics on Porosity and Mechanical Properties of Alumina Foams

Alumina foams with porosity ranging between 50% and 92% were fabricated by foaming followed by coagulation of ovalbumin based aqueous slurries. Different combinations of ovalbumin–water mix and alumina loading provided a means to vary slurry viscosity over a wide range. Slurry viscosity influenced the foaming behavior leading to variation in microstructure and mechanical properties of alumina foams. Controlling the slurry viscosity resulted in controlled the total porosity, microstructures and mechanical properties. Mechanical properties were correlated with different micro-mechanical models. Both microstructure and mechanical properties agreed well as closed cell alumina foam due to presence of low percent area of interconnections.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ab initio</Emphasis> studies on [bmim][PF<Subscript>6</Subscript>]-CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> mixture and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> clusters

Ab initio molecular dynamics studies have been carried out on the room temperature ionic liquid, 1,n-butyl,3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF₆]) and supercritical carbon dioxide mixture at room temperature and experimental density. Partial radial distribution functions (RDF) for different sites have been computed to see the organization of CO₂ molecules around the ionic liquid. Several partial RDFs around the carbon atom of CO₂ molecule are compared to find out that the CO₂ has specific interaction with a carbon atom present in the imidazolium ring. The CO₂ is also found to be very well organized around the terminal carbon atom of the butyl chain. The partial RDFs for the oxygen atoms around oxygen and carbon atoms of the CO₂ suggests that there is very good organization of CO₂ molecules around themselves even in the [bmim][PF₆]-CO₂ mixture. The instantaneous quadrupole moment tensor has been calculated for the anion and the cation. The ensemble average of diagonal components of quadrupole moment tensor of the cation have finite values, whereas the off-diagonal components of the cation and both the diagonal and off-diagonal components of the anion have the value of zero with a large standard deviation. The CPMD studies performed on CO₂ clusters reveals the greater tendency of the clusters with more CO₂ units, to deviate from the linear geometry.     

Effect of balconies on ventilation inducing aeromotive force on low-rise buildings

Data on mean wind pressure distribution on opposite walls of a five storey building model with smooth surface and also with balconies mounted thereon have been presented, and the effect of balconies on ventilation inducing wind forces has been discussed. It is shown that provision of balconies alters wind pressure distribution on windward wall but does not introduce significant change in it on the leeward side. Ventilative force across openings located centrally on opposite walls also remains almost unchanged due to the balconies. However, the ventilative forces across windows located at different heights on the windward wall only, get diminished at all the floors near the upstream end for obliquely incident wind, and over the entire wall width at the intermediate floors for the wind incidence at 90 ° angle on the wall. Enhancement in the ventilation inducing wind forces is caused at the top floors on the downstream side for obliquely incident wind, and near the ends of the wall at the ground and top floors for the wind impinging at right angle on the wall.     

Finite element analysis of the superplastic forming of thick sheet using the incremental flow formulation

The paper discusses the finite element analysis of the superplastic forming of thick sheet components. The incremental formulation proposed is based on a geometrical approximation of the flow type of constitutive equations that describe the behaviour of the alloy during forming. The spatial discretization is achieved using eight-noded finite elements. An algorithm capable of predicting the correct forming pressure is also presented in a form consistent with the incremental flow formulation. Some experimental validation of these techniques will be shown together with a number of more realistic applications which will illustrate the generality of these techniques and their ability to simulate the forming of complex components. Most of the material in this section is standard but has been included for the purpose of completeness and to introduce the reader to the notation used in the paper. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of variance in spectroscopic imaging data from human tissues

The analysis of cell types and disease using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic imaging is promising. The approach lacks an appreciation of the limits of performance for the technology, however, which limits both researcher efforts in improving the approach and acceptance by practitioners. One factor limiting performance is the variance in data arising from biological diversity, measurement noise or from other sources. Here we identify the sources of variation by first employing a high throughout sampling platform of tissue microarrays (TMAs) to record a sufficiently large and diverse set data. Next, a comprehensive set of analysis of variance (ANOVA) models is employed to analyze the data. Estimating the portions of explained variation, we quantify the primary sources of variation, find the most discriminating spectral metrics, and recognize the aspects of the technology to improve. The study provides a framework for the development of protocols for clinical translation and provides guidelines to design statistically valid studies in the spectroscopic analysis of tissue.     

Highly stable and active Ni-mesoporous alumina catalysts for dry reforming of methane

Nanostructured Ni-incorporated mesoporous alumina (MAl) materials with different Ni loading (7, 10 and 15 wt %) were prepared by a template assisted hydrothermal synthesis method and tested as catalysts for CO₂ reforming of methane under different conditions (nickel loading, gas hourly space velocity (GHSV), reaction temperature and time-on-stream (TOS)). The most active catalyst tested (Ni(10 wt%)-MAl) showed a very high stability over 200 h compared to a Ni(10 wt%)/γ-Al₂O₃ prepared using a co-precipitation method which had a significant loss in activity after only ∼4 h of testing. The high stability of the Ni-MAl materials prepared by the template assisted method was due to the Ni nanoparticles in these catalysts being highly stable towards migration/sintering under the reaction conditions used (800 °C, 52,000 mL h⁻¹ g⁻¹). The low susceptibility of the Ni nanoparticles in these catalysts to migration/sintering was most likely due to a strong Ni-support interaction and/or active metal particles being confined to the mesoporous channels of the support. The Ni-MAl catalysts also had significantly lower amounts of carbon deposited compared to the catalyst prepared using the co-precipitation method.