Effect of ZnO/K2O ratio on the crystallization sequence and microstructure of lithium disilicate glass-ceramics

The effect of ZnO/K₂O (Z/K) ratio on the crystallization sequence and microstructure of lithium disilicate (Li₂Si₂O₅: LS2) glass-ceramics was carefully investigated for the SiO₂-Li₂O-K₂O-ZnO-P₂O₅ system. The Z/K ratios of precursor glasses were varied from 0 to 3.5 while the nucleating agent of P₂O₅ and glass modifiers of ZnO plus K₂O were fixed to have 1.5 and 4.5 mol% relative to LS2, respectively. For the samples prepared by two-stage heat treatments of 500 °C for 1 h and 800 °C for 2 h in air, the LS2 nucleation rate was increased with increasing the Z/K ratio due to the variation in crystallization sequence from type II (Li₂SiO₃: LS) to type I (LS + LS2) in addition to an amorphous phase separation in base glass. Consequently, with increasing the Z/K ratio, the LS2 crystalline phase within the glass matrix continuously changed from larger acicular ones to smaller equiaxed ones.     

A novel electrolytic process using a Cu cathode for the production of Mg metal from MgO

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry - An environmentally friendly and effective molten salt electrolysis process using a copper (Cu) cathode was developed for producing magnesium (Mg) metal from...     

A study on traffic signal control at signalized intersections in vehicular ad hoc networks

The Seoul metropolitan government has been operating a traffic signal control system with the name of COSMOS (Cycle, Offset, Split MOdel for Seoul) since 2001. COSMOS analyzes the degrees of saturation and congestion which are calculated by installing loop detectors. At present, subterranean inductive loop detectors are generally used for detecting vehicles but their maintenance is inconvenient and costly. In addition, the estimated queue length might be influenced by errors in measuring speed, because the detectors only consider the speed of passing vehicles. Instead, we proposed a traffic signal control algorithm which enables smooth traffic flow at intersections. The proposed algorithm assigns vehicles to the group of each lane and calculates traffic volume and congestion degree using the traffic information of each group through inter-vehicle communication in Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (VANETs). This does not require the installation of additional devices such as cameras, sensors or image processing units. In this paper, the algorithm we suggest is verified for AJWT (Average Junction Waiting Time) and TQL (Total Queue Length) under a single intersection model based on the GLD (Green Light District) simulator. The results are better than random control method and best-first control method. For a generalization of the real-time control method with VANETs, this research suggests that the technology of traffic control in signalized intersections using wireless communication will be highly useful.     

The fabrication of front electrodes of Si solar cell by dispensing printing

The dispensing printing was applied to fabricate the front electrodes of silicon solar cell. In this method, a micro channel nozzle and normal Ag paste were employed. The aspect ratio and line width of electrodes could be controlled by the process variables such as the inner diameter of nozzle, dispensing speed, discharge pressure, and the gap between wafer and nozzle. For the nozzle with the inner diameter of 50 μm, the line width and aspect ratio of electrode were under 90 μm and more than ∼0.2, respectively. When comparing the efficiency of solar cell prepared by conventional screen printing and the dispensing printing, the latter exhibited 19.1%, which is 0.8% absolute higher than the former even with the same Ag paste. This is because the electrode by dispensing printing has uniform aspect ratio and narrow line width over the length of electrode.