Electronic and junction properties of poly(2,5-dimethoxyaniline)-polyethylene oxide blend/metal Schottky diodes

Schottky barrier diode devices were fabricated in a sandwich configuration with a blend film consisting of a conducting polymer, poly(2,5-dimethoxyaniline), PDMA in an insulating matrix, polyethylene oxide (PEO). The influence of two different dopants, sulphate anion (SA) or methane sulfonate anion (MSA), in the electronic properties of the device was followed using the devices: ITO/PDMA (SA)-PEO/Al and ITO/PDMA (MSA)-PEO/Al. Current (I)-Voltage (V) characteristics were recorded for making a comparative evaluation of the electronic and junction properties of the devices. The junction and electronic parameters were analyzed and compared in the light of differences in the electronic state, morphology and transport of carriers. The device turn on voltage was found to be higher for Al/ PEO-PDMA (MSA)/ITO (∼3.0 V) in comparison to Al/ PEO-PDMA (SA)/ITO (∼2.85 V). The electronic states of PDMA doped with SA or MSA dopant were ascertained by optical UV-Visible spectroscopy. AC-impedance measurements were made for the devices and the values of bulk resistance (R_c), depletion resistance (R_d) and depletion layer width (W) were deduced through a proposed equivalent circuit. W for the device with PEO-PDMA (MSA) is more (∼24 nm) than the device with PEO-PDMA (SA) (∼8.5 nm). The observed higher Φ_B for PDMA-PEO (MSA) is consistent with this observation.     

Methods of measuring and characterising the surface geometry of road stones

Methods of measuring and characterising random rough surfaces have always been of interest in the field of engineering. Measurement and analysis of finer scales of texture of a surface are now mainly effected by the use of a stylus instrument.Because of the finite radius of the tip of the stylus, this instrument cannot sense all the scales of texture on a surface. Evaluation of scales of texture finer than that sensed by the stylus instrument is of interest in many fields of engineering and in the prediction of hysteretic friction and of abrasion of rubber in particular. Two new methods which meet this demand to a great extent are described and their application is illustrated by actual measurements on stone surfaces. A scanning electron microscope is used in one method and an optical microscope in the other. Numerical methods of solution using electronic computers are adopted for the evaluation of texture parameters in both methods.     

Two 1-Server n-Unit Systems with Preventive Maintenance and Repair

This paper deals with the availability and reliability analysis of two different 1-server n-unit systems with preventive maintenance and repair. Initially, one unit operates and the remaining n - 1 units are kept as cold standbys. In the first system the time to failure and the time to preventive maintenance of a unit are arbitrarily distributed. In the second system, each unit consists of 2 components connected in series. When a unit fails, the failed component is taken up for repair while the other waits for preventive maintenance. Explicit expressions for the Laplace transform of the mean down-time of the system in [0, t] and for the mean time to system failure are obtained. Steady-state availability of the system is also discussed. A few special cases have been studied.     

Semitransparent poly(styrene‐r‐maleic anhydride)/alumina nanocomposites for optical applications

This article presents the development and characterization of transparent poly(styrene‐r‐maleic anhydride) (SMA)/alumina nanocomposites for potential use in optical applications. Chemically treated spherical alumina nanoparticles were dispersed in an SMA matrix polymer via the solution and melt‐compounding methods to produce 2 wt % nanocomposites. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the nanoparticle dispersion. When the solution method was used, nanoparticle reagglomeration occurred, despite the fairly good polymer wetting. However, through the coating of the alumina nanoparticles with a thin layer (ca. 20 nm) of low‐molecular‐weight SMA, reagglomeration was absent in the melt‐compounded samples, and this resulted in excellent nanoparticle dispersion. The resultant nanocomposites were semitransparent to visible light at a 2‐mm thickness with improved UV‐barrier properties. Their impact strengths, tensile strengths, and strains at break were slightly reduced compared with those of their neat resin counterpart, whereas a small enhancement in their moduli was achieved. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Integrated electro-optic lens/scanner in a LiTaO3 single crystal

We report what we believe to be the first stand-alone integrated electro-optic lens and scanner fabricated on a single crystal of Z-cut LiTaO(3). The independently controlled lens and scanner components consist of lithographically defined domain-inverted regions extending through the thickness of the crystal. A lens power of 0.233 cm(-1) kV(-1) and a deflection angle of 12.68 mrad kV(-1) were observed at the output of the device.     

Analyses of Two Different 1-Server Systems

In this paper, the availability and the reliability of two 1-server systems with redundancy have been obtained. System 1 consists of n subsystems in series; each subsystem consists of two redundant i.i.d. components in `parallel' (cold standby) and one server. The times to failure of the components are exponentially distributed; their repair time distributions are arbitrary and different. System 2 consists of n dissimilar units and one server. The times to failure of the units are arbitrarily distributed; the repair rates are constant but all different. Explicit expressions for the Laplace transform of the mean down-time of the system in (0, t) and for the mean time to system failure have been obtained. A few particular cases are discussed.     

Changes in the glaciers of Chandra–Bhaga basin,Himachal Himalaya,India, between 1980 and 2010 measured using remote sensing

This study reports the glacier changes of Chandra–Bhaga basin, northwest Himalaya, India, from 1980 to 2010. Satellite remote-sensing data from the Landsat Multispectral Scanner (MSS) and Thematic Mapper (TM), the Linear Imaging Self Scanning Sensor (LISS) and Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS) of the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) series, and the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation model (DEM) were used to study the changes in glacier parameters such as glacier area, length, snout elevation, and the impact of glacier topographical parameters (glacier slope, aspect, and altitude range) on the glacier changes. It was found that the total glaciated area had shrunk to 368.2 km² in 2010 from 377.6 km² in 1980, a loss of 2.5%. The average position of glacier terminuses retreated by 465.5 ± 169.1 m from 1980 to 2010 with an average rate of 15.5 ± 5.6 m year^?1. The decadal scale analysis showed that the average rate of retreat had increased the most in the recent decade. A moraine-dammed lake located in the study region was found to have expanded in area from (0.65 ± 0.01) km² in 1980 to (1.26 ± 0.03) km² in 2010. Glaciers with steep slope and less altitude range have lost more area than the glaciers having gentle slope and greater altitude range.     

Polarization measurements on single-step co-fired solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs)

Anode-supported planar solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) were successfully fabricated by a single step co-firing process. The cells comprised of a Ni + yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) anode, a YSZ or scandia-stabilized zirconia (ScSZ) electrolyte, a (La_0.85Ca_0.15)_0.97MnO₃ (LCM) + YSZ cathode active layer, and an LCM cathode current collector layer. The fabrication process involved tape casting of the anode, screen printing of the electrolyte and the cathode, and single step co-firing of the green-state cells in the temperature range of 1300–1330 °C for 2 h. Cells were tested in the temperature range of 700–800 °C with humidified hydrogen as fuel and air as oxidant. Cell test results and polarization modeling showed that the polarization losses were dominated by the ohmic loss associated with the electrodes and the activation polarization of the cathode, and that the ohmic loss due to the ionic resistance of the electrolyte and the activation polarization of the anode were relatively insignificant. Ohmic resistance associated with the electrode was lowered by improving the electrical contact between the electrode and the current collector. Activation polarization of the cathode was reduced by the improvement of the microstructure of the cathode active layer and lowering the cell sintering temperature. The cell performance was further improved by increasing the porosity in the anode. As a result, the maximum power density of 1.5 W cm⁻² was achieved at 800 °C with humidified hydrogen and air.     

Higher moments in cost-benefit analysis

This paper deals with the cost-benefit analysis of one-server two-unit hot standby system with imperfect switch where the repair densities depend upon the type of items (unit/standby/switch) waiting for repair. Initially one unit is put to operation (switch is working at t = 0) and the other unit is kept as a hot standby. The revenue as well as the cost of repair are arbitrary functions of time. Explicit expressions are obtained for expected net gain in [0,t] from which other characteristics like expected busy period due to repair of unit/standby/switch, expected up-time, expected number of repairs completed of unit/standby/switch etc. can be obtained.