CuBr2‐induced charge screening on photoactive nanocolloidal polypyrrole:poly(styrene sulfonate) composite multilayer thin‐film counter electrodes for high‐efficiency dye‐sensitized solar cells

Nanocolloidal polypyrrole (PPy):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) particles were synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization using 15 wt% of PSS. The highly processable polymer composite (PPy:PSS) was spin‐coated at 4000 rpm on fluorine‐doped tin oxide glass and subsequently employed as a counter electrode (CE) for dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs). PPy:PSS multilayer (one, three, five) CEs were treated with CuBr₂ salt, which enhances the efficiency of the DSCs. Optical studies reveal that a bulkier counterion hinders interchain interactions of PPy which on salt treatment shows a moderate redshift in absorption maxima. Salt‐treated PPy:PSS films exhibit lower charge transfer resistance, higher surface roughness and better catalytic performance for the reduction of I₃^?, when compared with untreated films. The improved catalytic performance of salt‐treated PPy:PSS multilayer films is attributed to charge screening and conformational change of PPy, along with the removal of excess PSS. Under standard AM 1.5 sunlight illumination, salt treatment is shown to boost the efficiency of multilayer PPy:PSS composite film‐based DSCs, leading to enhanced power conversion efficiency of 6.18, 6.33 and 6.37% for one, three and five layers, respectively. These values are significantly higher (ca 50%) than those for corresponding devices without CuBr₂ salt treatment (3.48, 2.90 and 2.01%, respectively). © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

A way to predict parameters of image registration by estimating inter-frame deformation of local fragments

For the problem of image registration (binding), we examine whether it is possible to increase the prediction accuracy of binding parameters between two centers of local image fragments for which binding parameters have been determined. We study how to use linear and cubic polynomials, a Bezier curve, a bi-arc curve, and a rational Bezier curve for this purpose.     

Pseudogradient optimization of objective function in estimation of geometric interframe image deformations

An optimization criterion is suggested for the plan of counts in a local sample used to determine the pseudogradient of the objective function of estimation quality. The use of the criterion is considered in the case when the object functions are defined as the interframe difference mean square, the covariance, and the interframe correlation coefficient. The optimization is directed at increasing the convergence rate of estimates of the parameters of geometric interframe image deformations.     

Effect of Pasteurization and Retort Processing on Spectral Characteristics,Morphological, Thermal,Physico‐Mechanical,Barrier and Optical Properties of Nylon‐Based Food Packaging Materials

The effect of pasteurization and retort processing on spectral, morphological, thermal, physico‐mechanical, barrier and optical properties of three different packaging materials viz., PP/N6/PP, PET/N6/cPP and SiO_x‐PET/N6/cPP were studied. These packaging materials were packed with distilled water, which acted as a food simulant. Subsequently, these pouches were subjected to different thermal processing conditions such as pasteurization and retort processing. Both the processing techniques found to have retained the mechanical properties of all packaging materials. Water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) and oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of nylon‐based combinations were increased after processing. Gloss found to decrease invariably irrespective of the material and increases with the severity of the treatment. XRD diffractogram shows changes in crystal structure as a result of thermal processing, and SEM analysis shows the crystal fragmentation. Absorption of water by the amide group of nylon 6 was observed, which could be a reason for the increase in OTR and WVTR. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phase diagram of the Li2SO4–Na2SO4 system

The thermal analysis and X-ray powder diffraction studies of the Li₂SO₄–Na₂SO₄ system, including the high-temperature X-ray diffraction technique, have elucidated four phases of variable composition: three solid solutions based on the α-Li₂SO₄, α-Na₂SO₄, and α-LiNaSO₄ high-temperature polymorphs, and a low-temperature β-LiNaSO₄ phase. α-Na₂SO₄-Base solid solution disintegrates into two phases via a monotectoid phase transformation. It is quite probable that the monotectoid process is related to the conversion of the second-order phase transition to the first-order phase transition.     

Investigation of the features of integrating nonvolatile FRAM elements with CMOS technology

The results of the studies of the features of integrating the elements of nonvolatile ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) with CMOS technology are presented. The possibility and prospects of using their nanosized layers in the elements of nonvolatile FRAM are demonstrated.