Parametric analysis of the steady state and dynamic performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell models

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are devices that attract the interest for a variety of applications including portable devices, transportation and stationary power. Several models are available in the literature concerning PEMFCs with different modelling approaches. In this paper, two representative dynamic models are examined, one using an electrical equivalent and one based on semi-empirical equations. Moreover, an enhanced model based on semi – empirical equations and a simplified transfer function representation for the dynamic response is proposed. All models can be easily incorporated in power system simulation software. Scope of this paper is to present a parametric analysis method in order to determine the ability of each model to represent accurately the steady – state as well as the slow and fast dynamics of a PEMFC. The influence of each specific parameter is investigated and the tuning procedure is described. Finally, simulation results are presented and the adaptability of all models is evaluated.     

A downlink beamforming assisted by locally positioned communication devices

Recently, multiple cell types with overlapping coverage have been deployed simultaneously to increase cellular network capacity. Cross‐tier interference is one of the key technical challenges in the use of this method. A simple and practical beamforming scheme assisted by locally positioned communication devices for the downlink of a multi‐cell wireless hierarchical cell structure system is proposed in this paper to maximize the capacity of the embedded small cell and simultaneously ensure minimal impact on the performance of existing macrocells. The locally positioned communication devices can be implemented with low complexity and at low cost and can continuously provide helpful and accurate information to base stations for the proper configuration of geographical cell coverage, allowing neighboring cells to cooperate effectively with each other. Simulation results verify that the proposed scheme can provide a significant gain over conventional systems not using the proposed algorithm. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of solar cells by thermal transient testing

The current paper deals with the application of thermal transient testing as a characterization tool for solar modules. Based on the measurement of different samples (concentrator solar cell, single junction silicon solar cell) we prove the applicability of this measurement technique and address some specific issues of the characterization of solar cells by the thermal transient method.From the measurement metrics such as junction-to-base plate thermal resistance and thermal capacitance(s) can be derived and can serve as a basis of a multi domain solar cell model. The used technique also enables us to verify the quality of attachment layers in a solar module allowing fair quality control and reliability analysis of these devices. Finally a method is proposed to regain the data that is covered by the initial electric transient following the power step. This initial electric transient can be high in large surface devices like solar cells, and covers valuable data describing the structure near to the p–n junction. To eliminate this, simulated transients were fitted to the part of the actual measured thermal transient where the electric transient already decayed. This way the part of the thermal transient that was covered by the electric transient can be reconstructed.     

Effect of annealing on photovoltaic properties and microstructure of conventional and inverted organic solar cells using active bilayer based on liquid‐crystal semiconducting polymer and fullerene

Conventional and inverted organic solar cells of poly[9,9‐dioctyl‐fluorene‐co‐bithiophene] (F8T2) as liquid‐crystal semiconducting polymer and fullerene as electron acceptor were fabricated and characterized. An effect of thermal treatment of the films on annealing condition near glass transition was investigated for tuning optimization and improving the photovoltaic and optical properties. Annealing treatment below the glass transition improved the photovoltaic performance and carrier diffusion in crystal growth of active layer. The X‐ray diffraction patterns indicate a crystalline structure with molecular order of F8T2 in crystal index, 100 as a layer distance between sheets of F8T2 chains. The photovoltaic properties were based on molecular interactions with molecular ordering in active layer at crystal state. As the photovoltaic mechanisms, the F8T2 thin film as p‐type semiconducting polymer worked for electron‐donor layer to support light‐induced generation, carrier diffusion and charge transfer near interface in active layer. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electricity generation and microbial community structure of air-cathode microbial fuel cells powered with the organic fraction of municipal solid waste and inoculated with different seeds

The organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), normally exceeding 60% of the waste stream in developing countries, could constitute a valuable source of feed for microbial fuel cells (MFCs). This study tested the start-up of two sets of OFMSW-fed air-cathode MFCs inoculated with wastewater sludge or cattle manure. The maximum power density obtained was 123 ± 41 mW m⁻² in the manure-seeded MFCs and 116 ± 29 mW m⁻² in the wastewater-seeded MFCs. Coulombic efficiencies ranged between 24 ± 5% (manure-seeded MFCs) and 23 ± 2% (wastewater-seeded MFCs). Chemical oxygen demand removal was >86% in all the MFCs and carbohydrate removal >98%. Microbial community analysis using 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing demonstrated the dominance of the phylum Firmicutes (67%) on the anode suggesting the possible role of members of this phylum in electricity generation. Principal coordinate analysis showed that the microbial community structure in replicate MFCs converged regardless of the inoculum source. This study demonstrates efficient electricity production coupled with organic treatment in OFMSW-fueled MFCs inoculated with manure or wastewater.     

Operando infrared spectroscopy of the fuel cell membrane electrode assembly Nafion–platinum interface

The Nafion–Pt interfaces in membrane electrode assemblies of operating fuel cells were studied by operando infrared spectroscopy. The potential dependence of atop adsorbed CO peak frequencies were measured over the potential range of 0–600 mV (vs. NHE) at 60 °C. Complex Stark tuning of peak frequencies arise from a combination of potential dependent coverage effects, and changes in the extent of back-donation from the metal d-band to the renormalized 2π^∗ MO of CO_ads. The Nafion–Pt interface was studied at higher potentials (initiating at open circuit) by examining platinum reflectivity as a function of electrode potential. The oxygen reduction onset-current is coincident with the observance of a 2% step-increase in Pt reflectivity and emergence of Nafion–Pt interface spectra.     

A multifunctional ribonuclease A-conjugated carbon dot cluster nanosystem for synchronous cancer imaging and therapy

Carbon dots exhibit great potential in applications such as molecular imaging and in vivo molecular tracking. However, how to enhance fluorescence intensity of carbon dots has become a great challenge. Herein, we report for the first time a new strategy to synthesize fluorescent carbon dots (C-dots) with high quantum yields by using ribonuclease A (RNase A) as a biomolecular templating agent under microwave irradiation. The synthesized RNase A-conjugated carbon dots (RNase A@C-dots) exhibited quantum yields of 24.20%. The fluorescent color of the RNase A@C-dots can easily be adjusted by varying the microwave reaction time and microwave power. Moreover, the emission wavelength and intensity of RNase A@C-dots displayed a marked excitation wavelength-dependent character. As the excitation wavelength alters from 300 to 500 nm, the photoluminescence (PL) peak exhibits gradually redshifts from 450 to 550 nm, and the intensity reaches its maximum at an excitation wavelength of 380 nm. Its Stokes shift is about 80 nm. Notably, the PL intensity is gradually decreasing as the pH increases, almost linearly dependent, and it reaches the maximum at a pH = 2 condition; the emission peaks also show clearly a redshift, which may be caused by the high activity and perfective dispersion of RNase A in a lower pH solution. In high pH solution, RNase A tends to form RNase A warped carbon dot nanoclusters. Cell imaging confirmed that the RNase A@C-dots could enter into the cytoplasm through cell endocytosis. 3D confocal imaging and transmission electron microscopy observation confirmed partial RNase A@C-dots located inside the nucleus. MTT and real-time cell electronic sensing (RT-CES) analysis showed that the RNase A@C-dots could effectively inhibit the growth of MGC-803 cells. Intra-tumor injection test of RNase A@C-dots showed that RNase A@C-dots could be used for imaging in vivo gastric cancer cells. In conclusion, the as-prepared RNase A@C-dots are suitable for simultaneous therapy and in vivo fluorescence imaging of nude mice loaded with gastric cancer or other tumors.     

Influence of oligothiophene-functionalized co-sensitizer on the electron injection efficiency for multiple dye-TiO2 interface

Co-sensitizer has been employed in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to enhance light harvesting at organic/inorganic heterogeneous. Here, the multiple dyes@TiO₂ interface has been investigated by density functional theory simulations, to explore the role of varied oligothiophene-functionalized co-sensitizers on the electron injection efficiency. In presence of co-sensitizers, the simulated absorption spectra broaden with the increasing of the number of thiophene from 0, 1, to 2. Meanwhile, the co-sensitizer modifies the energy alignment of interface, and influences the electronic coupling between dye and TiO₂. Critically, the ratio of electron-hole recombination and electron injection rates k_rec/k_inj based on Marcus theory for both dye and co-sensitizer decrease significantly with increasing of the number of oligothiophene, resulting in the improved electron injection efficiency. Our result implies that the electron injection efficiency depends on the number of thiophene in co-sensitizer largely, and appropriate number plays an active role in tuning the electronic properties of hybrid heterostructure.     

Enhancing oxygen surface exchange coefficients of strontium-doped lanthanum manganates with electrolytes

Electrolyte effects on the oxygen surface exchange coefficients of strontium-doped lanthanum manganates (LSM) are investigated using electrical conductivity relaxation technique. Introducing electrolytes can significantly reduce the re-equilibration time, demonstrating the substantial promotion in the surface exchange kinetics. The coefficient at 1000 °C increases from 9.00 × 10⁻⁵ cm s⁻¹ for pure LSM to 2.45 × 10⁻⁴ cm s⁻¹ for LSM coated with yttria-stabilized zirconia, and further increases to 7.92 × 10⁻⁴ cm s⁻¹ for LSM with samaria-doped ceria. The nearly one order of magnitude increase in the coefficient demonstrates that introducing electrolytes can effectively increase the electrochemical performance of solid-oxide-fuel-cell cathodes by enhancing the surface exchange reaction in addition to extending the reaction sites.