Synthesis,characterization and photovoltaic properties of phase pure Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>SnSe<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanostructures using molecular precursors

Phase pure Cu₂SnSe₃ (CTSe) nanostructures have been synthesized using metal selenolates, [Me₂Sn{SeC₅H₃(Me-3)N}₂] (molecular structure of [Me₂Sn{SeC₅H₃(Me-3)N}₂] has been established by single crystal X-ray analysis) and [Cu{SeC₅H₃(Me-3)N}]₄ as molecular precursors in oleylamine (OLA) and tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO). The effect of temperature on final composition of nanostructures has also been investigated. Powder X-ray diffraction, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to investigate the crystal structure, phase purity and homogeneity of the nanostructures while the electron microscopy revealed the morphology of the nanostructures. Superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) measurements of CTSe nanostructures showed weak magnetic ordering at low temperature (below 50 K) attributed to the presence of some defect centres in the sample. The CTSe nanostructure possess an optical band gap of 1.7 eV deduced from diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and showed photo response which makes them promising candidate for alternative low cost photon absorber material.     

An approach to expert control of interactive software systems

Expert problem-solving strategies in many domains require the use of detailed mathematical techniques coupled with experiential knowledge about how and when to use the appropriate techniques. In many of these domains, such techniques are made available to experts in large software packages. In attempting to build expert systems for these domains, we wish to make use of these packages, and are therefore faced with an important problem: how to integrate the existing software, and knowledge about its use, into a practical expert system. The expert knowledge is used, in dynamic selection and interpretation of appropriate programs and parameters, to reach a successful goal in the problem solving. We describe the framework of a hybrid expert system for representing problem-solving knowledge in these domains. This hybrid system may be characterized as consisting of a production system and mathematical methods. The software package is reorganized as necessary to map it into the mathematical-method representation of a hybrid system. This approach has evolved out of an effort to build an expert system for performing well-log analysis, ELAS (expert log analysis system).     

Oxygen incorporation duringin situ growth of YBCO films on both sides of substrates

Oxygen out-diffusion during cooling and heating ofin situ grown {ie685-1} (YBCO) films in low oxygen pressure used during growth by pulsed laser deposition was studied in the temperature range 700−450°C usingin situ resistance measurements. Results indicate that irrespective of the number of cooling and heating cycles seen by the films, full oxygenation of the films can be realized by the final cooling from the growth temperature in 500 torr oxygen pressure. This result has been successfully used to sequentially grow high quality YBCO films on both sides of LaAlO₃ substrates. These films have been used for the fabrication of X-band microstrip resonators with superconducting ground plane.     

Volatile organic compounds in small- and medium-sized commercial buildings in California

While small- and medium-sized commercial buildings (SMCBs) make up 96% of the commercial buildings in the U.S., serving a large variety of uses, little information is available on indoor air quality (IAQ) in SMCBs. This study investigated 37 SMCBs distributed across different sizes, ages, uses, and regions of California. We report indoor concentrations and whole building emission rates of a suite of 30 VOCs and aldehydes in these buildings. There was a considerable range in the concentrations for each of the contaminants, especially for formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, d-limonene, 2-butoxyethanol, toluene, 2,2,4-trimethylpentanediol diisobutyrate, and diethylphthalate. The cause of higher concentrations in some building categories generally corresponded to expected sources, for example, chloroform was higher in restaurants and grocery stores, and formaldehyde was higher in retail stores and offices. Factor analysis suggests sources in SMCBs include automobile/traffic, cleaning products, occupant sources, wood products/coating, and plasticizers. The comparison to health guidelines showed that formaldehyde concentrations were above the chronic RELs required by the OEHHA (9 μg/m3) in 86% of the buildings. Data collected in this study begins to fill the knowledge gap for IAQ in SMCBs and helps us understand the indoor sources of VOCs to further improve indoor air quality in SMCBs.     

Evaluation of complex and dynamic safety tasks in human learning using the ACT-R and SOAR skill acquisition theories

This paper provides a human-centered analytical approach to learning dynamic and complex tasks using the Adaptive Control of Thought-Rational (ACT-R) and the State, Operator And Result (SOAR) models by comparing the task times of the model and the subjects. Twenty-one full time assembly line workers at a local computer company (14 men and 7 women) from ages 18-32 (Mean = 19.86 years, SD = 0.96 years) were randomly selected for this analysis. The task involved the placement of printed circuit board (PCB) components on the flow line of the desktop computer mother board manufacturing process. The overall timed performance of the subjects indicated that the match between the model and the subjects was good, resulting in an R² - value of 0.94. At the unit task level performance, and R² - value of 0.96 for placing the PCBs on the flow line. For tasks involving picking and searching of PCBs, the obtained R² - value was 0.76 and R² of 0.68 at the keystroke level. Findings revealed that the model already started out with a complete strategy of performing the task, whereas the human participants had to acquire additional learning information during the trials. Efforts will be made in the future to determine how the performance of the human subjects could be enhanced to meet or the same level as the model performance.     

Silver doping: A potential means to grow high quality YBa2Cu3O7?x thin films on bare sapphire

High qualityAg-doped YBa₂Cu₃O_7–x (YBCO) thin films have been grown by laser ablation on ¯1012 bare sapphire. This work demonstrates thatAg-doping can be used as very convenient means to realize good quality YBCO films on highly coveted sapphire substrates for microwave applications of highT _c thin films.     

Correlation of trap generation to charge-to-breakdown (Qbd): a physical-damage model of dielectric breakdown

Ultrathin gate and tunnel oxides in MOS devices are subjected to high-field stress during device operation, which degrades the oxide and eventually causes dielectric breakdown. Oxide reliability, therefore, is a key concern in technology scaling for ultra-large scale integration (ULSI). Here we provide critical new insight into oxide degradation (and consequently, reliability) by a systematic study of five technologically relevant parameters, namely, stress-current density, oxide thickness, stress temperature, charge-injection polarity (gate versus substrate), and nitridation of pure oxide. For all five parameters, a strong correlation has been observed between oxide degradation and the generation of new traps (distinct from the filling of intrinsic traps). Further, we observe that this correlation is independent of the trap polarity (positive versus negative). Based on this correlation, and based on the fundamental link between electronic properties and atomic structure, a physical-damage model of dielectric breakdown has been proposed. The concept of the physical-damage model is that the oxide suffers dielectric breakdown when physical damage due to broken bonds forms a defect-filled filamentary path in the oxide, that conducts excessive current. A good monitor of this physical damage is trap generation, which we believe is caused by physical bond breaking in the oxide and at the interface. The model has been quantified empirically by the correlation between trap generation and Q_bd     

能源效率:半导体21世纪的挑战

全球能源需求量的增长率已经远远高于传统能源的供应,但是,半导体行业能够帮助改善能源生产、输送以及消耗环节的效率。从远古时代开始,能源就已经成为文明进步的主要推动力。