Free surface transition and momentum augmentation of liquid flow in Micro/Nano-scale channels with hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces

We propose a novel micro/nano-scale nozzle structure, featuring an interfacial line between the hydrophilic and the hydrophobic surfaces for a jetting system, such as an inkjet head or electrospray devices. This research will investigate the impact of the interfacial line on flow instability and momentum augmentation as the liquid meniscus moves across the line. The research methods used in this paper, in respect to micro-and nano-scale channels, are computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (MD), respectively. With the growing interest in micro/nano electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS), many studies have been conducted to develop an advanced micro/nanofluidic system. However, until now, there have been few in-depth studies on passive flow control in micro and nano nozzles using the hydrophilic and hydrophobic surface characteristics. In this research, the sequential arrangement of hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces in the nozzle is presented along with an investigation into how flow instability and momentum augmentation are going to be applied to an efficient micro/nano jetting system. When a liquid meniscus arrives at the interfacial line between hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces, the meniscus shape changes from concave to convex and the fluid motion near the wall stops until the concave shape is fully converted. Because the momentum should be conserved, the lost momentum near the wall transfers to the center region, and therefore the liquid at the center region is accelerated as it crosses the line. If we use this nozzle structure and the augmentation of the momentum near the center, a tiny droplet can be easily generated. This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Associate Editor Haecheon Choi Doyoung Byun received the B.S., M.S, and Ph.D. degrees in school of mechanical and aerospace engineering from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Taejon, Korea, in 1994, 1996, and 2000, respectively. From 2000 to 2002, he was in the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation and Planning as a Senior Researcher. In 2003, he joined the faculty of the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea. His current research topics are development of electrohydrodynamic inkjet head, microfluidic devices, and biomimetic robot systems. His research interests include microfluidics, MEMS, and biomimetics.     

Color change of V2O5 thin films upon exposure to organic vapors

The reaction of amorphous V₂O₅ thin films with various organic vapors is investigated using in-situ optical transmission and in-situ Raman spectroscopic measurements. When V₂O₅ thin films are exposed to vapors of methanol, ethanol, acetone, and isopropanol, changes in the Raman spectrum are observed. These changes are similar to those due to alkali ion intercalation and most pronounced for methanol and ethanol. The optical transmission also increases when the thin films are exposed to methanol and ethanol vapors. Depositing a thin catalyst layer of palladium does not promote the reaction. This result has implications for using this material in hydrogen sensor applications, as extended exposure to organic vapors may not be differentiated from the presence of hydrogen.     

Influence of the silicon surface treatment by plasma etching and scratching on the nucleation of diamond grown in HFCVD - a comparative study

A comparative study for the nucleation of diamond was carried out using surface treatment like (i) surface scratching with 1 μm diamond paste and (ii) surface etching using chlorine plasma at different RF powers (50, 100 and 150 W). Atomic force microscopic study shows variation in roughness from 31 nm to 110 nm. Scratching results in random scratches, whereas plasma etches a surface uniformly. Scanning electron microscopic observations show well faceted crystallites with a predominance of angular shaped grains corresponding to 〈100〉 and 〈110〉 crystallite surfaces for the scratched as well as plasma etched substrate. Surface etching at 150 W plasma power results in a better growth in comparison with 50 and 100 W plasma powers. Chlorine-radical is found responsible for the changes in the growth morphology. Raman spectroscopy shows a sharp peak at 1,332 cm⁻¹ and a peak at ∼1,580 cm⁻¹ for both samples.     

Tetraphenylimidazole‐Based Excited‐State Intramolecular Proton‐Transfer Molecules for Highly Efficient Blue Electroluminescence

Aiming for highly efficient blue electroluminescence, we have designed and synthesized a novel class of tetraphenylimidazole‐ based excited‐state intramolecular proton‐transfer (ESIPT) molecules with covalently linked charge‐transporting functional groups (carbazole‐ and oxadiazole‐functionalized hydroxyl‐substituted tetraphenylimidazole (HPI), i.e., HPI‐Cbz and HPI‐Oxd, respectively). High T_g (ca. 130 °C) amorphous films of HPI‐Cbz and HPI‐Oxd showed intense and ideal blue‐light emission (λ_max = 462 and 468 nm, Φ_PL = 0.44 and 0.38) with a large Stokes shift of over 160 nm and a narrow full width at half‐maximum of less than 65 nm. Organic light‐emitting devices using HPI‐Cbz and HPI‐Oxd as the emitting layer generated an efficient blue electroluminescence (EL) emission peaking at around 460 nm with excellent CIE coordinates of (x, y) = (0.15, 0.11). A maximum external quantum efficiency of 2.94%, and a maximum brightness of 1 229 cd m⁻² at 100 mA cm⁻², as well as a low turn‐on voltage of 4.8 V were achieved in this work.     

Market Efficiency Analysis between Facility‐Based and Service‐Based Competition

Facility‐based competition (FBC) in the telecommunications market is considered to have lower static efficiency in the short term and higher dynamic efficiency in the long term. Under service‐based competition (SBC), the entrant can reduce its setup costs by leasing network facilities from the incumbent, which makes the entrant viable, pushes the market price down and promotes static efficiency. This paper attempts to measure static efficiency by comparing the profits of the incumbent and entrant in terms of consumer surplus and social welfare under each competition type by extending the Stackelberg model. The results, assuming a linear demand function and variation in regulatory level, show that FBC results in higher social welfare than SBC on the whole. However, SBC accompanied by strong regulation is also shown to have the potential to be superior over FBC. It is also revealed that FBC exhibits a higher producer surplus (particularly, the incumbent's producer surplus) and is, therefore, more desirable in terms of dynamic efficiency. When the entrant's cost is high in FBC, social welfare is shown to be lowered, implying that cost competitiveness is a necessary condition for social welfare.     

I-V characteristics of a methanol sensor for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) as a function of deposited platinum (Pt) thickness

We have fabricated methanol sensor for monitoring the methanol concentration in direct methanol fuel cells. A thin composite nafion membrane was used as an electrolyte. We have analyzed the I-V characteristic of the fabricated methanol sensor as functions of methanol concentration, catalyst electrode and platinum (Pt) thickness. When we measured the sensor with 10 nm Pt and at 1 V, the current value was 1.30×10⁻⁶, 1.96×10⁻⁶, and 2.80×10⁻⁶ A for three methanol concentration of 1, 2, and 3 M, respectively. And when the methanol concentration was fixed at 2 M, the current value of the fabricated device with Pt of 5, 10 and 15 nm was 3.06×10⁻⁶, 1.96×10⁻⁶, and 1.00×10⁻⁶ A, respectively.     

Channel width dependence of hot electron injection program/hot hole erase cycling behavior in silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) memories

The channel width dependence of hot electron injection program/hot hole erase cycling behavior in silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) memories is investigated. While the trapped charge profile-dependent overerasure is observed in 10-μm-wide device, it is suppressed in 0.22-μm-wide device. Both the overerasure suppression and gradual positive threshold voltage shift in narrow device are explained as an elevated hot hole injection efficiency followed by more pronounced redistribution of the hole profile in the channel-center and the suppression of the lateral migration of injected holes in the channel-edge, by combining the measured endurance characteristics and TCAD simulation results. Main physical mechanisms are three-dimensional distribution of the electric field by gate/drain voltage, increasing interface states, and their trapped charge with cycling in the channel-edge.     

Optical Interconnection Platform Composed of Fiber-Embedded Board, 90$^{circ}$-Bent Fiber Block, and 10-Gb/s Optical Module

An architecture of a passively assembled optical platform is suggested for a chip-to-chip optical interconnection system. The platform is constructed using all-fiber media for the optical paths: a fiber-embedded optical printed-circuit board (OPCB) and 90-bent fiber connector. The passive assembling was achieved by employing the guide pins/holes of commercialized ferrules in the optical link between the OPCB, 90-bent fiber connector, and the transmitter/receiver (Tx/Rx) module. From this interconnection scheme, a low total optical loss of was obtained. From an assembled platform with 10 Gb/s/ch 4 ch Tx/Rx modules, a 7-Gb/s/ch data transmission was demonstrated with a bit error rate below , involving the optical and electrical crosstalk arisen in the whole channel operation.