Effect of voltage sweep direction on the performance evaluation of P3HT : PCBM solar cells

Investigations on the effect of direction of voltage sweeps, on the current density–voltage (J–V) characteristics in polymer bulk‐heterojunction solar cells, based on the blend of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and phenyl [6,6] C₆₁ butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), are reported with time. On the freshly prepared device, the direction of the voltage sweep did not have any effect; however, as the device started degrading, the change in direction of the voltage sweep resulted into different characteristics. Analysis beyond complete degradation, when all the photovoltaic parameters reduced to zero, revealed some interesting results. The J–V characteristics, measured with voltage sweep from −ve to +ve voltage, both in the dark and under illumination, were observed to pass through the second quadrant. On the other hand, with the change in the direction of voltage sweep, viz. from +ve to −ve voltage, the characteristics both in the dark and under illumination passed through the fourth quadrant. These results have been explained on the basis of polarization of the degraded active layer due to applied external voltage. This is an important effect and is observed to depend on the applied voltages during performance evaluation and becomes more prominent with time. This effect puts a question mark on the correctness of the method for calculation of the parameters of a degraded device. Studies on degradation of P3HT : PCBM solar cells showed that both the short circuit current density (J_sc) and the power conversion efficiency (η) decay exponentially, whereas the open circuit voltage (V_oc) decays almost linearly with time. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crosstalk suppression in networked resistive sensor arrays using virtual ground technique

In 2D resistive sensor arrays, the interconnections are reduced considerably by sharing rows and columns among various sensor elements in such a way that one end of each sensor is connected to a row node and other end connected to a column node. This scheme results in total N?+?M interconnections for N?×?M array of sensors. Thus, it simplifies the interconnect complexity but suffers from the crosstalk problem among its elements. We experimentally demonstrate that this problem can be overcome by putting all the row nodes at virtually equal potential using virtual ground of high gain operational amplifiers in negative feedback. Although it requires large number of opamps, it solves the crosstalk problem to a large extent. Additionally, we get the response of all the sensors lying in a column simultaneously, resulting in a faster scanning capability. By performing lock-in-amplifier based measurements on a light dependent resistor at a randomly selected location in a 4?×?4 array of otherwise fixed valued resistors, we have shown that the technique can provide 86?dB crosstalk suppression even with a simple opamp. Finally, we demonstrate the circuit implementation of this technique for a 16?×?16 imaging array of light dependent resistors.     

High-gain microwatt composite cascode op amps

This article discusses the composite cascode stage, both single-ended and differential, operating in the weak inversion or moderate inversion region. The gain of the MOS composite cascode differential stage can exceed 100,000?V/V, a figure that has never been reported in the literature. For low-frequency applications, this configuration can be used to fabricate op amps that have high-gain, low-power and low-nonlinear distortion. Two different architectures, both having two gain stages are reported. The first op amp uses the Widlar architecture to achieve a gain of 117?dB, a power dissipation of 110?µW and uses a compensation capacitor of only 3.5?pF. The second op amp uses a class AB stage for the second and final stage and utilises the parasitic capacitance at the output of the first stage for compensation. This self-compensating op amp has a gain of 110?dB and a power dissipation of 21?µW.     

Coordinated control of TCSC and UPFC to aid damping oscillations in the power system

A valid damping of oscillations is an upcoming extensive challenge while maintaining the stability of the power system. This oscillation generally occurs due to the fluctuation raised, when two systems are interconnected. This paper addresses the oscillation occurred in the power system as the main challenge, which thus performs an effective simulation in 68-bus system. Here, it promotes a sufficient CC with two FACTS devices such as TCSC and UPFC, which are connected with PSS. Further, it adopts firefly algorithm to enable the CC among the FACTS devices. To the next of the simulation, this paper compares the performance of the FF- CC with conventional optimisations include GSO, PSO, GA and ABC algorithms to enable CC. Further, it provides a detailed analysis of the impact of PSS and loading effects on CC. As a result, the performance of FF-CC hands over the stable power system with powerful damping of oscillations, after comparing it with the existing methods.

Abbreviations: ABC, Artificial Bee Colony; ICA, Imperialist Competitive Algorithm; AVR, Automatic Voltage Regulators; NETS, New England test system; BFOA, Bacteria Foraging Optimization Algorithm; NYPS, New York power system; BSO, Bacterial Swarm Optimization; PSO, Particle Swarm Optimization; CC, Coordinated Control; PSS, Power System Stabilizers; COA, Chaotic Optimization Algorithm; STATCOM, Static Synchronous Compensator; CS, Cuckoo Search; SSSC, Static Synchronous Series Compensator; FACTS, Flexible Alternating Current Transmission System; SVC, Static Var Compensator; GA, Genetic Algorithm; TCSC, Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitor; GSO, Gravitational Search Algorithm; UPFC, Unified Power Flow Controller     

ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF FLOW INTERRUPTIONS ON FED-BATCH FERMENTATION FOR PHB PRODUCTION BY RALSTONIA EUTROPHA IN FINITELY DISPERSED BIOREACTORS

Unlike laboratory-scale bioreactors, large reactors have finite dispersion and are affected by unexpected interruptions in the feed streams. For the optimum level of dispersion determined earlier, the effects of interruptions in the inflow of the carbon (glucose) and nitrogen (NH₄Cl) substrates have been studied for fed-batch fermentation by Ralstonia eutropha to produce poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB). Optimum uninterrupted operation by neural control at dispersion corresponding to Pe = 20 was used as the reference. While glucose stoppage mainly affected cell growth, nitrogen flow suppressed polymer synthesis more strongly. The effects depended also on the time at which the interruptions occurred. These results are interpreted in a metabolic context, emphasizing the complexity of the system and the importance of ‘intelligent’ monitoring and control under disturbed conditions.     

Sputtered ferroelectric thin films for dynamic random access memory applications

Abstract

A low thermal budget (with 550°C annealing) process with Ti-compensation for sputtered ferroelectric PZT thin films has been developed. PZT films with a composition near the morphotrophic phase boundary (Zr/Ti = 53/47) annealed at 550°C for 1 hr in a N₂ ambient exhibits high charge storage density and low leakage current density, which are the important requirements of dielectric materials for ULSI DRAM cells. It was also found that Ti compensated films show good fatigue endurance in comparison with non-Ti compensated films.     

Stepping toward standard methods of small-signal parameterextraction for HBTs

An improved HBT small-signal parameter extraction procedure is presented in which all the equivalent circuit elements are extracted analytically without reference to numerical optimization. Approximations required for simplified formulae used in the extraction routine are revised, and it is shown that the present method has a wide range of applicability, which makes it appropriate for GaAs and InP-based single and double HBTs. Additionally, a new method is developed to extract the total delay time of HBTs at low frequencies, without the need to measure h₂₁ at very high frequencies and/or extrapolate it with -20 dB/dec roll-off. The existing methods of finding the forward transit time are also modified to improve the accuracy of this parameter and its components. The present technique of parameter extraction and delay time analysis is applied to an InGaP/GaAs DHBT and it is shown that: (1) variations of all the extracted parameters are physically justifiable; (2) the agreement between the measured and simulated S- and Z-parameters in the entire range of frequency is excellent; and (3) an optimization step following the analytical extraction procedure is not necessary. Therefore, we believe that the present technique can be used as a standard extraction routine applicable to various types of HBTs     

Nucleation and growth of a multicomponent metallic glass

The metallic glass samples of Fe ₆₇Co₁₈B₁₄Si₁ (2605CO), prepared by the melt spinning technique were procured from the Allied Corporation. The kinetics of crystallization of this multicomponent glassy alloy is studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The crystallization data have been examined in terms of modified Kissinger and Matusita equations for the nonisothermal crystallization. The results show enhanced bulk nucleation in general. At high heating rates added to it is surface induced abnormal grain growth resulting in fractal dimensionality. 5th IUMRS ICA98, October 1998, Bangalore.     

Studies on poly (hydroxy alkanoates)/(ethylcellulose) blends

Biodegradable polymers represent one of the most significant area of research today. Among these polymers, poly (β-hydroxy butyrate co β′-hydroxy valerate) i.e. PHBV have received special attention because of their unique combination of properties. They are perfectly biocompatible, biodegradable polymers and can be processed by any conventional technique. In the present study an attempt has been made to develop the biodegradable blends of PHBV by blending them with ethyl cellulose (EC). Ethyl cellulose has been selected to monitor the biodegradation rate of PHBV and also for making the blends cost effective. The blends are thoroughly characterized for their compatibility, by the measurement of viscosity of blends and through FT-IR. Various applications of PHBV/EC blend in agriculture and pharmaceutical industries are being explored. Paper presented at the 5th IUMRS ICA98, October 1998, Bangalore.     

CO2 emissions structure of Indian economy

This paper analyses carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions of the Indian economy by producing sectors and due to household final consumption. The analysis is based on an Input–Output (IO) table and Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) for the year 2003–04 that distinguishes 25 sectors and 10 household classes. Total emissions of the Indian economy in 2003–04 are estimated to be 1217 million tons (MT) of CO₂, of which 57% is due to the use of coal and lignite. The per capita emissions turn out to be about 1.14 tons. The highest direct emissions are due to electricity sector followed by manufacturing, steel and road transportation. Final demands for construction and manufacturing sectors account for the highest emissions considering both direct and indirect emissions as the outputs from almost all the energy-intensive sectors go into the production process of these two sectors. In terms of life style differences across income classes, the urban top 10% accounts for emissions of 3416 kg per year while rural bottom 10% class accounts for only 141 kg per year. The CO₂ emission embodied in the consumption basket of top 10% of the population in urban India is one-sixth of the per capita emission generated in the US.