A novel 4H-SiC MESFET by lateral insulator region to improve the DC and RF characteristics

In this paper, a novel recessed gate metal–semiconductor field-effect transistor (RG-MESFET) is presented by modifying the depletion region and the electric field. The proposed structure improves the breakdown voltage, drain current and high frequency characteristics by embedding a lateral insulator region between drain and gate while is placed laterally into the metal gate and a silicon well exactly under the insulator region. We called this new structure as modified recess gate MESFET (MRG-MESFET). The radio frequency and direct current (DC) characteristics of the proposed structure is studied using numerical simulations and compared with a conventional MESFET (C-MESFET). The breakdown voltage, drain current DC transconductance and maximum power density of the proposed structure increase by 27%, 16.5%, 15% and 48%, respectively, relative to the C-MESFET. Also, the gate-source capacitance and the minimum noise figure of the proposed structure improve relative to the C-MESFET. The proposed structure can be used for high breakdown voltage, high saturation drain current, high DC transconductance, high power, high frequency, and low noise applications.     

Advanced Bioresponsive Multitasking Hydrogels in the New Era of Biomedicine

Advanced forms of hydrogels have many inherently desirable properties and can be designed with different structures and functions. In particular, bioresponsive multifunctional hydrogels can carry out sophisticated biological functions. These include in situ single-cell approaches, capturing, analysis, and release of living cells, biomimetics of cell, tissue, and tumor-specific niches. They can allow in vivo cell manipulation and act as novel drug delivery systems, allowing diagnostic, therapeutic, vaccination, and immunotherapy methods. In the present review of multitasking hydrogels, new approaches and devices classified into point-of-care testing (POCT), microarrays, single-cell/rare cell approaches, artificial membranes, biomimetic modeling systems, nanodoctors, and microneedle patches are summarized. The potentials and application of each format are critically discussed, and some limitations are highlighted. Finally, how hydrogels can enable an “all-in-one platform” to play a key role in cancer therapy, regenerative medicine, and the treatment of inflammatory, degenerative, genetic, and metabolic diseases is being looked forward to.     

Design of all-optical simultaneous AND,NAND, OR,and NOR logic gates using phase-based control of three coupled waveguides

In this paper, we present a novel phase-based structure for implementing the all-optical multi-function logic gates. The proposed structure which is composed of three coupled waveguides allows us to simultaneously access OR/NOR and AND/NAND logic functions from different output ports. The phase of middle waveguide plays the role of control tool which defines the logical values of outputs. The output ports can be switched from OR/NOR to AND/NAND logic functions by changing the control phase from 24\(^{\circ }\) to 237\(^{\circ }\), respectively. Beam propagation method has been employed in order to accomplish the simulations of light propagation.     

Designing a nuclear battery based on the Mo-99 radioactive source soluble in water and aqua regia in order to use in early tests

Today, millions of electrocommunication, electric, medical, and industrial devices use battery. Batteries with long life and high energy density seem to be essential in medical, military, oil and mining, aerospace areas as well as conditions in which access is difficult and in situations where replacement or recharging of battery is costly.In this regard, the use of radiation energy resulting from radioactive materials and its conversion to electric energy can be effective in making batteries. In the present study,various Mo-99 radioisotope values with a half-life of 65.98 h were used as a soluble radioactive source in two materials of water and aqua regia. Then, by comparing the results of the Monte Carlo simulations program MCNPX for these two solutions, it was found that when the water is used instead of aqua regia(for idealization), the values of the superficial current of electrons, the volumetric flux of electrons, and the deposited energy in the volume containing the radioactive solution increased by 10.80, 4.10,and 13.80%, respectively. Also, the short-circuit current and energy conversion efficiency of this battery with a concentration of 0.01 molar, Mo-99 dissolved in the aqua regia are 0.79μA and 16.47%, respectively.     

Carbon/PbO2 asymmetric electrochemical capacitor based on methanesulfonic acid electrolyte

A new hybrid electrochemical capacitor based on an activated carbon negative electrode, lead dioxide thin film and nanowire array positive electrode with an electrolyte made of a lead salt dissolved in methanesulfonic acid was investigated. It is shown that the maximum energy density and specific capacity of the C/PbO₂ nanowire system increase during the first 50 cycles before reaching their maximum values, which are 29 Wh kg⁻¹ and 34 F g⁻¹, respectively, at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² and a depth of discharge (positive active electrode material) of 3.8%, that corresponds to a 22C rate. This is 7–8 times higher than the corresponding maximum values reached with a C/PbO₂ thin film cell operated in the same conditions. After an initial activation period, the performances of the C/PbO₂ nanowire system stay constant and do not show any sign of degradation during more than 5000 cycles. For comparison, the C/PbO₂ thin film system exhibits a 50% decrease of its performances in similar conditions.     

Synthesis of colloidal nanosilica from waste glass powder as a low cost precursor

Waste glass powder was used as a low cost precursor for production of colloidal nanosilica for the first time. The process includes production of wet silica gel and thermal peptization of the wet gel. Purification of the glass powder and wet gel production were initiated by acid washing. The obtained powder was reacted with sodium hydroxide to produce wet silica gel. Type of the applied acid was examined in one factor at a time route. Temperature of the alkaline step and concentrations of the applied acid and base were investigated using Taguchi design of experiments. After finding the best combination of the investigated factor levels in production of the wet gel, time of the stabilization in thermal peptization was studied. Characterizations of the wet gel and colloidal silica were performed by XRF, DLS, FESEM, TEM, FTIR and N₂ sorption evaluation. Accordingly pure and stable colloidal nanosilica (98.50%) with average particle size of 21.9?nm was produced from the glass powder successfully. Specific surface area of the dried porous optimum sample was 83.63?m²/g.     

Influence of Ni/Co binders and Mo2C on the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of (Ti0.93W0.07)C–based cermets

In this research, solid–solution powder of (Ti_0.93W_0.07)C was synthesized by high–energy ball mill method followed by carbothermal reduction process. Subsequently, the acquired powder was blended with Ni/Co and Mo₂C secondary carbide, and sintered under the optimized temperature (1510?°C) for 1?h to produce the modulated cermets. A typical core–rim structure formation with solid–solution phases was confirmed by backscattered electrons studies using a Field Emission electron scanning microscope. The hardness of the synthesized cermets was enhanced by increasing the specific amount of Mo₂C. The acquired results demonstrate that the binder type has a prominent influence on the microstructure and hardness of the prepared cermets. The hardness of (Ti_0.93W_0.07)C–xMo₂C–Ni cermet increased ~ 9%, when nickel was partially substituted by cobalt.     

Low Temperature Hall Effect Investigation of Conducting Polymer-Carbon Nanotubes Composite Network

Polypyrrole (PPy) and polypyrrole-carboxylic functionalized multi wall carbon nanotube composites (PPy/f-MWCNT) were synthesized by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole on the carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The structure of the resulting complex nanotubes was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The effects of f-MWCNT concentration on the electrical properties of the resulting composites were studied at temperatures between 100 K and 300 K. The Hall mobility and Hall coefficient of PPy and PPy/f-MWCNT composite samples with different concentrations of f-MWCNT were measured using the van der Pauw technique. The mobility decreased slightly with increasing temperature, while the conductivity was dominated by the gradually increasing carrier density.     

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of a Novel Spiral Micromixer with Sinusoidal Channel Walls

A novel spiral micromixer with sinusoidal channel walls was designed to enhance the mixing index in the low to intermediate Reynolds number range (1 < Re < 100). To analyze the fluid flow, a set of numerical simulations were performed using the finite-difference method. The microchip was fabricated from polydimethylsiloxane, employing the soft-lithography technique. The degree of mixing was increased by 99.11 % when using the proposed micromixer, compared to 59.44 % for a simple spiral micromixer. The introduced microchannel drastically reduced the mixing length, increasing the mixing index of a 0.5-loop spiral-sinusoidal microchannel compared to that of the simple spiral microchannel with 1.5 loops. The mixing index of the 3-loop mixer was higher than that of the microchannel with 1.5 loops, and its pressure drop was increased.