Review of reliability issues of metal-semiconductor-metal and avalanche photodiode photonic detectors

In this paper, we present a brief review of the principal mechanisms that influence the reliability of metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) interdigitated photodetectors and avalanche photodiodes (APD). The most important mechanism influencing reliability in these devices is the dark current. However, other mechanisms such as edge and microplasmic breakdown and electrode degradation, can also affect device reliability. In this study, we describe numerical simulation techniques that can be utilized to understand the workings of some of these mechanisms and illustrate their usage in a few representative devices. Specifically, we discuss how advanced drift-diffusion and hydrodynamic simulation techniques can be used to study the dark current as well as the location of breakdown in MSM and APD devices.     

Estimating Bounds on Fracture Stresses Determined from Mirror Size Measurements

Statistical techniques are used to derive closed-form, approximate solutions for estimating a standard deviation on the fracture stress determined from mirror size measurements. The estimated coefficient of variation of fracture stress is noted to be twice as sensitive to the variation of the mirror constant, A _j , as to the variation in the measured boundary radius, r _j . This allows the hackle radius to be reasonably estimated and bounded from the mirror and branch radii when it cannot be clearly delineated.     

Use of the acute cardiac ischemia time-insensitive predictive instrument (ACI-TIPI) to assist with triage of patients with chest pain or other symptoms suggestive of acute cardiac ischemia. A multicenter, controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Approximately 6 million U.S. patients present to emergency departments annually with symptoms suggesting acute cardiac ischemia. Triage decisions for these patients are important but remain difficult. OBJECTIVE: To test whether computerized prediction of the probability of acute ischemia, used with electrocardiography, improves the accuracy of triage decisions. DESIGN: Controlled clinical trial. SETTING: 10 hospital emergency departments in the midwestern, southeastern, and northeastern United States. PATIENTS: 10689 patients with chest pain or other symptoms suggestive of acute cardiac ischemia. INTERVENTION: The probability of acute ischemia predicted by the acute cardiac ischemia time-insensitive predictive instrument (ACI-TIPI), either automatically printed or not printed on patients' electrocardiograms. MEASUREMENTS: Emergency department triage to a coronary care unit (CCU), telemetry unit, ward, or home. Other measurements were the bed capacity of the CCU relative to that of the telemetry unit; training or supervision status of the triaging physician; and patient diagnoses and outcomes based on clinical, electrocardiographic, and creatine kinase data. RESULTS: For patients without cardiac ischemia, in hospitals with high-capacity CCUs and relatively low-capacity cardiac telemetry units, use of ACI-TIPI was associated with a reduction in CCU admissions from 15% to 12%, a change of -16% (95% CI, -30% to 0%), and an increase in emergency department discharges to home from 49% to 52%, a change of 6% (CI, 0% to 14%; overall P=0.09). Across all hospitals, for patients evaluated by unsupervised residents, use of ACI-TIPI was associated with a reduction in CCU admissions from 14% to 10%, a change of -32% (CI, -55% to 3%); a reduction in telemetry unit admissions from 39% to 31%, a change of -20% (CI, -34% to -2%); and an increase in discharges to home from 45% to 56%, a change of 25% (CI, 8% to 45%; overall P=0.008). Among patients with stable angina, in hospitals with high-capacity CCUs, use of ACI-TIPI was associated with a reduction in CCU admissions from 26% to 13%, a change of -50% (CI, -70% to -17%), and an increase in discharges to home from 20% to 22%, a change of 10% (CI, -29% to 71%; overall P=0.02). At hospitals with high-capacity telemetry units, use of ACI-TIPI was associated with a reduction in telemetry unit admissions from 68% to 59%, a change of -14% (CI, -27% to 1%), and an increase in emergency department discharges to home from 10% to 21%, a change of 100% (CI, 22% to 230%; overall P=0.02). Among patients with acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina, use of ACI-TIPI did not change appropriate admission (96%) to the CCU or telemetry unit at hospitals with high-capacity CCUs or telemetry units. CONCLUSIONS: Use of ACI-TIPI was associated with reduced hospitalization among emergency department patients without acute cardiac ischemia. This result varied as expected according to the CCU and cardiac telemetry unit capacities and physician supervision at individual hospitals. Appropriate admission for unstable angina or acute infarction was not affected. If ACI-TIPI is used widely in the United States, its potential incremental impact may be more than 200000 fewer unnecessary hospitalizations and more than 100000 fewer unnecessary CCU admissions.     

Dielectric properties of poly(vinyl chloride) in tetrahydrofuran and cyclohexanone

The dielectric absorption and dispersion of poly(vinyl chloride), M M_v = 49 000, in THF and in cyclohexanone have been studied over a frequency range of 120 kHz to 11·0 MHz, at temperatures from ?22·5 to 35°C, and at concentrations ranging from 4 to 12·0(w/v)% PVC/THF and from 2 to 8·0(w/v)% PVC/cyclohexanone. The viscosities of the two systems have also been measured at temperatures from 20 to 50°C. A single relaxation time was found (β = 0·8–1·0), which indicates that relaxation occurs by segmental rotation. The dielectric and viscous activation energies have been calculated. The dipole moment associated with the relaxation process has also been calculated. The relaxation time, dielectric and viscous activation energies and the dipole moment were found to be dependent on the type of solvent. The dipole moment also showed a molecular weight dependence. The influence of the concentration and temperature on the apparent dipole moment and on the relaxation time is discussed.     

Structural and optical properties of Co-doped ZnS nanoparticles synthesized by a capping agent

Cobalt-doped Zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles were prepared by a simple chemical method using alkyl hydroxyl ethyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (YH) as capping agent. The structural and optical properties of prepared cobalt-doped ZnS nanoparticles have been characterized. X-ray diffraction patterns and transmission electron microscope images reveal pure cubic ZnS phase with size of about 5–2 nm for all cobalt-doped ZnS nanoparticles. The lattice constant of the samples decreases slightly by the introduction of Co²⁺ The absorption edge of the ZnS:Co²⁺ nanoparticles is blue-shifted as compared with that of bulk ZnS, indicating the quantum confinement effect. The photoluminescence emission band exhibits a blue shift for Co-doped ZnS nanoparticles as compared to the ZnS nanoparticles.     

Hierarchical TiO2/ZnO Nanostructure as Novel Non-precious Electrocatalyst for Ethanol Electrooxidation

Metal oxides have a higher chemical stability in comparison to metals,so they can be utilized as electrocatalysts if the activity could be enhanced.Besides the composition,the morphology of the nanostructures has a considerable impact on the electrocatalytic activity.In this work,zinc oxide nano branches-attached titanium dioxide nanofibers were investigated as an economic and stable catalyst for ethanol electrooxidation in the alkaline media.The introduced material has been synthesized by electrospinning process followed by hydrothermal technique.Briefly,electrospinning of colloidal solution consisting of titanium isopropoxide,poly(vinyl acetate) and zinc nanoparticles was performed to produce nanofibers embedding solid nanoparticles.In order to produce TiO_2 nanofibers containing ZnO nanoparticles,the obtained electrospun nanofiber mats were calcined in air at 600 °C.The formed ZnO nanoparticles were exploited as seeds to outgrow ZnO branches around the TiO_2 nanofibers using the hydrothermal technique at sub-critical water conditions in the presence of zinc nitrate and bis-hexamethylene triamine.The morphology of the final product,as well as the electrochemical measurements indicated that zinc nanoparticles content in the original electrospun nanofibers has a significant influence on the electrocatalytic activity as the best performance was observed with the nanofibers synthesized from electrospun solution containing 0.1 g Zn,and the corresponding current density was 37 mA/cm~2.Overall,this study paves a way to titanium dioxide to be exploited to synthesize effective and stable metal oxide-based electrocatalysts.     

Evaluation of the underground soil thermal storage properties in Libya

Experimental investigation was conducted of temperature distribution through the underground soil of Tripoli (Capital of Libya). The aim of the experiment is to monitor the temperature variation of the underground soil under a depth of 4 m and around the year, in order to know the thermal capacity ability of the soil to be used as a seasonal thermal storage. The measurements covered two types of systems: the first one is dry soil and the second is dry soil covered by a glass sheet. The measurements indicate that, at a depth of 4 m, the average temperatures for the dry and dry-glass covered systems are 21, 46 °C, with maximum temperatures of 21.5 and 47 °C during December and January, and the minimum temperatures occurred in May and June, are reached values of 19, 44 °C, respectively. The temperatures for the two systems were almost constant through the year and fluctuating with a monthly period of 2π/12. Results show that, the underground thermal capacity can be used as a source of heating and cooling of buildings leading to reduce the energy consumption in this application. Furthermore, for industrial and domestic heating processes, one can utilize the dry-glass covered system to cover a significant part of the heating load. Anyhow, the experimental study may not applicable everywhere, so an analytical presentation for the system will be necessary to save money and efforts. The first step to put the analytical model in reality is to get the thermal properties of the underground soil, and this is the aim of the present study.The paper described the followed procedure during theoretical-heat transfer approach. The thermal properties were presented as a function of the ground depth, furthermore, the paper presented the measured temperatures of the two systems for Tripoli underground soil.     

Effect of mixed solvents on PCDTBT:PC70BM based solar cells

We investigated the effect of solvents on the morphology, charge transport and device performance of poly[N-9″-hepta-decanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(4′,7′-di-2-thienyl-2′,1′,3′-benzothiadiazole)] (PCDTBT) and [6,6]-phenyl C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₀BM) based solar cells. To carry out this investigation, chloroform and 1,2-dichlorobenzene were chosen as good solvents of the two compounds. Films prepared with chloroform exhibit larger domains than those prepared with 1,2-dichlorobenzene and their size increases with the amount of PC₇₀BM. Fine tuning of the domain size was realized by using a solvent of mixed chloroform and 1,2-dichlorobenzene. At a mixing ratio of 50%:50%, a power conversion efficiency of 6.1% was achieved on PCDTBT:PC₇₀BM (1:3) devices with an active area of 1 cm², under air mass 1.5 global (AM 1.5 G) irradiation at 100 mW/cm².