[
    {
        "text": "We report stress dependence of growth characteristics of epitaxial γ-Na0.7CoO2 films on various substrates deposited by pulsed laser deposition method. On the sapphire substrate, the γ-Na0.7CoO2 thin film exhibits spiral surface growth with multi-terraces and highly crystallized texture. For the γ-Na0.7CoO2 thin film grown on the (111) SrTiO3 substrate, the nano-islands of ∼30nm diameter on the hexagonal grains are observed. These islands indicate that the growth mode changes from step-flow growth mode to Stranski–Krastanow (SK) growth mode. On the (111) MgO substrate, the large grains formed by excess adatoms covering an aperture between hexagonal grains are observed. These experimental demonstrations and controllability could provide opportunities of strain effects of Na x CoO2, physical properties of thin films, and growth dynamics of heterogeneous epitaxial thin films.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Cell to module (CTM) conversion loss, during Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) module manufacturing, in terms of wattage losses, at critical process steps Tabbing and Stringing (T&S) and Lamination have been analyzed and a comprehensive electrical and optical model presented. The relation between efficiency of the starting cells and CTM loss has been established. The optimization criteria of the T&S process, in terms of ribbon dimensions and the cell parameters, has also been described. CTM conversion loss/gain for lamination process has been modeled using refractive index and thicknesses of various thin film layers on cell with and without lamination. A guideline for selecting these parameters for obtaining optimized efficiency for laminated cells has been presented. The effect of added electrical resistance due to junction box and change of optical property due to anti reflection coating (ARC) on cover glass have also been presented in brief for completeness. Indoor as well as outdoor test data have been used for modules with ARC on cover glass. During outdoor test, measurements have been carried out with varying intensity and angle of incident of the light. T&S and lamination models have been validated by experiments conducted on single cell coupons. The power loss due to junction box and power gain due to ARC on cover glass has been done on full 60 cell modules. The models described here have been successfully used by the author for minimizing CTM conversion loss for two types of cells with known cell process parameters.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Semiconducting molecular material of PcFe(CN)L1 and PcCo(CN)L1 (L1=1,8 dihydroxianthraquinone), PcFe(CN)L2 and PcCo(CN)L2 (L2=double potassium salt of 1,8 dihydroxianthraquinone) have been successfully used to prepare thin film and bulk sol–gel hybrid optical materials. These samples were developed according to the vacuum thermal evaporation technique and the catalyst-free sonogel route, respectively. Thin films samples were deposited on Corning glass substrates and crystalline silicon wafers and were characterized by infrared (FTIR), Raman and ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) spectroscopies. IR-spectroscopy and Raman studies unambiguously confirmed that the molecular material thin films exhibit the same intra-molecular bonds, which suggests that the thermal evaporation process does not alter these bonds significantly. These results show that it is possible to deposit molecular materials of PcFe(CN)L2 and PcCo(CN)L2 on Corning glass substrates and silicon wafers. From the UV–vis studies the optical band gap (E g) was evaluated. The effect of temperature on conductivity was also evaluated in these samples. Finally, the studied molecular systems dissolved at different concentrations in tetrahydrofuran (THF) were successfully embedded into a highly pure SiO2 sonogel network generated via sonochemical reactions to form several solid state, optically active sol–gel hybrid glasses. By this method, homogeneous and stable hybrid monoliths suitable for optical characterization can be produced. The linear optical properties of these amorphous bulk structures were determined by the Brewster angle method and by absorption-, Raman- and photoluminescent (PL)-spectroscopies, respectively.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The Netherlands is on track to become one of the first major industrialised countries to approve the Kyoto treaty, after its lower house of parliament unanimously supported the agreement, the Dutch government has said.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This article presents the fabrication of a homogeneous mirror-like Pt-counter electrodes and its utilization in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The homogeneous Pt-counter electrodes were fabricated through modified thermal decomposition method by adding a suitable amount of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) in a high concentration of Pt precursor solution. The micro-morphology of prepared Pt-counter electrodes was compared with those prepared by traditional thermal decomposition and electrochemical deposition methods. The different preparation methods showed obvious influence on the micro-morphologies of Pt-counter electrodes, which further influence the catalytic activity for iodide/tri-iodide redox reaction and hence the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs. A remarkable enhancement in the photovoltaic performance of the DSSCs was achieved by the application of the prepared Pt-counter electrodes through the modified thermal decomposition method. Moreover, an obvious improvement in the reflectance properties of the prepared Pt-counter electrodes was observed, which plays an important contribution in the enhancement of the photovoltaic performance of the DSSCs.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "México is a country with great potential for renewable-energy use for a number of very good reasons. First, it has good resources: high levels of solar radiation (an estimated national average of 5 kWh/m2-day), high potential for wind-power generation in several regions (estimated to be around 5,000 MW), hundreds of sites with hydro-power potential of 50 MW or less, and an undetermined but certainly high biomass-potential. Second, the country has a technological and industrial base that could design, assemble, install, and operate the potential renewable-energy systems that could be in place in México if renewable energy was more widely used. Third, it needs to diversify its energy portfolio due to its great dependance on fossil fuels (close to 90% of the national energy use comes from oil, gas and coal). And fourth, local and regional environmental concerns are pushing for a reduction of air and water pollution resulting from the extraction, transformation, transportation, and final combustion of those fuels. Odón de Buen R., M.S., General Director, Comisión Nacional para el Ahorro de Energía, México presents a view of current and potential developments for RE in the region.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► A model to predict in a reliable way the behavior of a GCPV system is presented. ► Radiation and temperature behavior were shaped with probability density functions. ► This probability density functions were made from real measurements. ► This model was verified for comparing their behavior with real measurements. ► It can be used in any electrical systems language which have programming routines.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Self-assembly monolayer (SAM) molecules were immobilized onto the surface of indium tin oxide (ITO) for the improvement of organic photovoltaic devices (OPVs). For bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells, several key factors were considered in the choice of molecules for the improvement of the anodic ITO as follows: effects of anchoring groups, dipole moments, and aromatic bulk to photovoltaic properties. In particular, improvements of power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 4.5-4.7 times were observed from unmodified ITO with the use of benzoic acid and 4-cyanobenzoic acid monolayers.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The electrical and photovoltaic properties of the Au/n-GaAs Schottky barrier diode have been investigated. From the current–voltage characteristics, the electrical parameters such as, ideality factor and barrier height of the Au/n-GaAs diode were obtained to be 1.95 and 0.86eV, respectively. The interface state distribution profile of the diode as a function of the bias voltage was extracted from the capacitance–voltage measurements. The interface state density D it of the diode was found to vary from 3.0×1011 eV−1 cm−2 at 0V to 4.26×1010 eV−1cm−2 at 0.5V. The diode shows a non-ideal current–voltage behavior with the ideality factor higher than unity due to the interfacial insulator layer and interface states. The diode under light illumination exhibits a good photovoltaic behavior. This behavior was explained in terms of minority carrier injection phenomenon. The photovoltaic parameters, such as open circuit voltage and short circuit current density were obtained to be 362mV and Jsc =28.3μA/cm2 under AM1, respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In archaeometry, one of the main concerns is to extract information from an art object, without damaging it. Raman spectroscopy is being applied in this research field with recent developments in mobile instrumentation facilitating more routine analysis. This research paper evaluates the performances of five mobile Raman instruments (Renishaw RA100, Renishaw Portable Raman Analyser RX210, Ocean Optics RSL-1, δ Nu Inspector Raman, Mobile Art Analyser - MArtA) in three different laboratories. A set of samples were collected, in order to obtain information on the spectral performances of the instruments including: spectral resolution, calibration, laser cut-off, the ability to record spectra of organic and inorganic pigments through varnish layers and on the possibilities to identify biomaterials. Spectra were recorded from predefined regions on a canvas painting to simulate the investigation of artworks and the capabilities to record spectra from hardly accessible areas was evaluated.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Microgrids – de-centralised electricity generation combined with on-site production of heat - bear the promise of substantial environmental benefits, brought about by higher energy efficiency and by facilitating the integration of renewable sources such as photovoltaic arrays or wind turbines. With the use of modern control technologies, microgrids can achieve a good match between generation and load, resulting in a low impact on the electricity network despite a potentially significant level of generation by intermittent energy sources. Tom Markvart, University of Southampton, UK reports.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Thermodynamic function of state refers to a mathematical interrelation between several variables of state, which describes a property of the system. The suitable manipulation of such functions provides useful information to the observer of a system. Generally, such functions are useful only where a system is at or very close to equilibrium, because only in these circumstances can a simple functional interrelation be anticipated. This chapter provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts of thermodynamics in the form of the four basic laws. The procedure is reasonably axiomatic, so that one can deal with the concept of temperature without initially having to refer to heat flow; the definition of energy as a function of state; and the derivation of the entropy function by use of Carathéodory's Theorem, rather than by generalization of performance characteristics of heat engines. A variety of functions of state are introduced and considerable emphasis is placed on systematically exploiting their mathematical properties. The important concept of homogeneous functions is used to provide a framework for analyzing the properties of open systems.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "For photovoltaic technologies dependent on rare elements, such as Te, In, or Ga, previous studies have come to widely different views as to whether or not the availability of these materials poses an issue for large-scale deployment. The present study reviews past work and takes a fresh look at the associated issues, identifying the differences noted above as arising largely from varying projections of future photovoltaic market size, the projected rates of technological evolution, and the neglect of economic issues in determining resource availability.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Nanowires TiO2 were successfully synthesized from layered titanate Na2Ti3O7 particles by a simple soft chemical process. Compared with other synthetic routes where some templates or reactants were introduced into reaction system, only raw material and dilute HCl were used in this simple method. The diameters of nanowires are ca. 20–100 nm and the length up to several hundred micrometers. Formation of brookite TiO2 phase in the nanowires was confirmed by XRD and TEM measurement. Based on our experimental results, an exfoliating-splitting model was proposed for formation of nanowire structure.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Cellular heterogeneity that arises from stochastic expression of genes, proteins and metabolites is a fundamental principle of cell biology, but single cell analysis has been beyond the capability of ‘omics’ technology. This is rapidly changing with the recent examples of single cell genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics. The rate of change is expected to accelerate owing to emerging technologies that range from micro/nanofluidics to microfabricated interfaces for mass spectrometry to third- and fourth-generation automated DNA sequencers. As described in this review, single cell analysis is the new frontier in omics, and single cell omics has the potential to transform systems biology through new discoveries derived from cellular heterogeneity.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The pulsed plasma deposition can increase the deposition rate of amorphous silicon (a-Si) without an increase in the particulate count in the plasma which is an important factor determining the yield of commercial products such as active matrix displays. In this paper, we report the deposition of a-Si at rates of up to 15Å/sec, using a modulation frequency in the range of 1–100kHz and the impact it has on solar cell conversion efficiency. The hot wire CVD deposition technique has attracted a considerable amount of interest because of the ability to produce a-Si at a high deposition rate and with low hydrogen concentration which could minimize the instability phenomena. Further, under suitable conditions, low temperature polycrystalline silicon can be produced. We present data of high deposition rates for a-Si (>15A/s) and polycrystalline Si and discuss their usefulness to photovoltaic applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We formulate a mathematical model of generation and propagation of seismo-electromagnetic (EM) signals in the basin of a marginal sea with an arbitrary 2D geological structure of the bottom, including the transfer of seismic and EM energy from lithosphere to hydrosphere and EM emission into atmosphere. In case of a model basin which is a 2D scheme of the central part of the basin of the Sea of Japan, the first magnetic signal is generated in the conductive (0.02 S/m) upper mantle layer M where weak seismic displacements (SD) are supposed to arise at the moment t = 0. The amplitude and duration of a SD were of order of a few centimetres and a few seconds and differ in different simulations. The primary signal from M with the amplitude about 50 pT reaches for the sea bottom at the moment t = 3.5 sec. Magnetic diffusion into the conductive sea water is too slow and thus EM signal in atmosphere originates due to geomagnetic field induction in the vertically moving water column Qs located above the area of the initial contact of the seismic P wave (from M) with the sea bottom. Because of the structure of the seismo-hydrodynamic field and the EM field conjugation conditions at the sea-atmosphere interface the horizontal component B2 of the seismo-hydrodynamic magnetic field is being generated, at first, in a thin water layer under the top of Q s at the sea surface, whereas the vertical component B 1 is being generated everywhere in Q s. After the spreading of the magnetic signals, B 1 is up to 250 and 150 pT at the sea surface and at the height of 10 km respectively at t = 10 sec Magnetic signals are represented by oscillations of the same low frequency range (0.1 to 10 Hz) as the SD. The computed long hydrodynamic wave's amplitude, caused by the SD, is not more then 20 cm. Therefore the waves transferring seismic energy can be discovered far from the coast by low-frequency EM observations.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, an embedded design for implementing a real-time photovoltaic (PV) system emulator with user-defined environmental conditions is proposed. The design implemented on a Sitara Cortex 9 ARM processor allows the evaluation of PV cells in a low-cost, portable and affordable system. This embedded PV emulation system uses an LCD screen to establish a human-system interface (HSI), and it contains an extensible database of commercial PV cells with their manufacturer’s datasheet parameters. Based on the accurate two-diode model, the proposed design allows the generation of high precision I – V , P – V characteristic curves with the embedded ARM, which represents an affordable and simple solution. Experimental results demonstrate the accuracy of the real-time embedded system for different solar cells and environmental conditions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thin film pi-conjugated poly(3,4ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulphonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as a hole transport layer on indium tin oxide is a key element in some of the most efficient organic photovoltaic and light emitting devices to date. Films are typically deposited by spincoating, which is not readily scalable. In this paper we investigate the critical parameters for both inkjet and ultrasonic spray deposition of PEDOT:PSS thin films on commercial indium tin oxide as a potentially scalable approach to contact formation. Inkjet parameters investigated include drop spacing and substrate temperature. Ultrasonic spray coating parameters investigated include substrate temperature and solution flow rate. We also show that the ink viscosity has a Newtonian character, making it well suited for inkjet printing. Films were characterized via optical profilometry, sheet resistance and atomic force microscopy. Optimized inkjet printed and ultrasonic sprayed PEDOT:PSS films were then compared to spincast layers in a prototypical bulk heterojunction photovoltaic device employing a poly(3-hexylthiophene) and [6,6]-PCBM (6,6-phenylC61-butric acid-methyl ester) blend as the absorber. Practically all three approaches produced devices of comparable efficiency. Efficiencies were 3.6%, 3.5% and 3.3% for spin, spray and inkjet depositions respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Nanostructured titania has been reported to be used in many applications in areas ranging from optics via solar energy to gas sensors. We report in this paper a low-cost method of producing nanostructured titania coatings. TiO2 films were spin-coated on silicon substrates via methylcellulose (MC) aided aqueous sol–gel route using Ti(Obu t )4–HAC–EtOH as starting materials. SEM, TGA, FTIR and XRD techniques were used to characterize the microstructure and properties of the composite films. It is shown that, relative dense, crack-free and transparent TiO2 composite films (∼0.9μm in thickness) were achieved via the MC assisted sol–gel and single-step deposition process at room temperature. TGA results showed the rapid decomposition of organic compounds in the composites at the range of 200–450°C. Remarkable changes in microstructure of the composite film were observed after being heated at 600°C for 15min, including formation of a nodular morphology of TiO2 particles (∼40nm in diameter) within the films, appearance of crevice in nanoscale on the surface of the coating, and shrinkage of the films in thickness. It is worthy to note that the film uniformity was retained upon the heating; no cracks and flaking off from the substrates were observed. The structural evaluation and crystallization behavior with thermal treatment up to 900°C are followed by FTIR and XRD.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In Italy, clean energy products company Acta SpA has signed an exclusive supply agreement with Girelli Bruni SpA, one of Italy's leading installers of filling station forecourt equipment, for the supply of photovoltaic installations and integrated hydrogen generators for the Italian service station sector.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report on solar cells consisting of a sintered active bilayer of CdSe and PbSe nanoparticles in the structure ITO/CdSe/interlayer/PbSe/Al, where an interlayer of LiF or Al2O3 was found necessary to prevent low shunt resistance from suppressing the photovoltaic behavior. We fabricated unoptimized solar cells with a short-circuit current of 6mA/cm2, an open-circuit voltage of 0.18V, and a fill factor of 41%. External quantum efficiency spectra revealed that photons from the infrared portion of the spectrum were not collected, suggesting that the low bandgap PbSe film did not contribute to the photocurrent of the structure despite exhibiting photoconductivity. Other measurements, however, showed that the PbSe film was indeed necessary to produce a photovoltage and transport electrons. Through sintering, the nanoparticle films acquired bandgaps similar to those of the corresponding bulk materials and became more conductive. Because the PbSe films were found to be considerably more conductive than the CdSe films, we suggest that the PbSe layer is effectively behaving like a low conductivity electrical contact; therefore, this solar cell architecture does not follow typical type-II heterojunction donor/acceptor models used to describe organic polymer solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Recent studies of thin-film CdS/CdTe photovoltaic (PV) devices have suggested that a significantly higher device performance will not be achieved unless recombination in the CdTe is reduced. Although some control of CdTe recombination has been achieved historically through the careful incorporation of oxygen, chlorine, and copper, we believe a more promising avenue to higher device performance is by controlling the defects in the as-deposited CdTe. This is supported by theoretical studies that suggest much of the improvement associated with oxygen, chlorine, and copper is due to the interaction of these species with intrinsic defects related to cadmium and tellurium vacancies, interstitials, and anti-sites in the bulk as well as within the grain boundary regions. Several research projects at NREL are currently focused on altering CdTe deposition and post-deposition processes to allow for enhanced control of the as-deposited intrinsic defects. This paper discusses initial results in which process changes expected to alter the as-deposited defects are also observed to affect junction evolution and device functionality.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Single-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with fullerenes as a hybrid additive in organic photovoltaics. ► Shortened single-walled carbon nanotubes allow for better diode formation and reduce shorted devices. ► The addition of carbon nanotubes or fullerene hybrids do not readily improve organic photovoltaic device efficiency. ► We conclude that pure semiconducting carbon nanotubes are required as the base additive material.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Photovoltaic panel associated with Unglazed Transpired Collector (PV/UTC) can convert solar energy into thermal and electrical energy. In the present paper, a UTC capable of combing with PV panels is designed, constructed and tested at Shahid Bahonar University in Kerman, Iran. The performance of the PV/UTC and UTC systems are evaluated based on the simple first law, first law defined as a function of electrical-to-thermal ratio number, and the second law efficiencies. The obtained results showed that mounting PV panel on the UTC can result in photovoltaic cooling, depending on the mass flow rate value of the air passed through the transpired plate. A critical radiation level based on the useful exergy gain is also presented and it is drawn that the greater number of PV panels would cause a decrease in critical radiation level. Also, the results show that the electrical-to-thermal rational and exergetic analyses are very important to design PV/UTC systems.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar sales in Kenya are among the highest per capita among developing countries. While this commercial success makes the Kenya market a global leader, product quality problems have been a persistent concern. In this paper, we report performance test results from 2004 to 2005 for five brands of amorphous silicon (a-Si) photovoltaic (PV) modules sold in the Kenya market. Three of the five brands performed well, but two performed well below their advertised levels. These results support previous work indicating that high-quality a-Si PV modules are a good economic value. The presence of the low performing brands, however, confirms a need for market institutions that ensure the quality of all products sold in the market. Prior work from 1999 indicated a similar quality pattern among brands. This confirms the persistent nature of the problem, and the need for vigilant, long-term approaches to quality assurance for solar markets in Kenya and elsewhere. Following the release of our 2004/2005 test results in Kenya, the Kenya Bureau of Standards moved to implement and enforce performance standards for both amorphous and crystalline silicon PV modules. This appears to represent a positive step towards the institutionalization of quality assurance for products in the Kenya solar market.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The behavior of dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE)/cholesterol/tetradecane and dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC)/cholesterol/tetradecane were examined using x-ray diffraction and the osmotic stress method. DOPE/tetradecane, with or without cholesterol, forms inverted hexagonal (HII) phases in excess water. DOPC/tetradecane forms lamellar phases without cholesterol at lower temperatures. With tetradecane, as little as 5 mol% cholesterol in DOPC induced the formation of HII phases of very large dimension. Increasing levels of cholesterol result in a systematic decrease in the HII lattice dimension for both DOPE and DOPC in excess water. Using osmotic pressure to control hydration, we applied a recent prescription to estimate the intrinsic curvature and bending modulus of the HII monolayers. The radii of the intrinsic curvature, RPO, at a pivotal plane of constant area within the monolayer were determined to be 29.4 A for DOPE/tetradecane at 22 degrees C, decreasing to 27 A at 30 mol% cholesterol. For DOPC/tetradecane at 32 degrees C, RPO decreased from 62.5 A to 40 A as its cholesterol content increased from 30 to 50 mol%. These data yielded an estimate of the intrinsic radius of curvature for pure DOPC of 87.3 A. The bending moduli kc of DOPE/tetradecane and DOPC/tetradecane, each with 30 mol% cholesterol, are 15 and 9 kT, respectively. Tetradecane itself was shown to have little effect on the bending modulus in the cases of DOPE and cholesterol/DOPE. Surprisingly, cholesterol effected only a modest increase in the kc of these monolayers, which is much smaller than estimated from its effect on the area compressibility modulus in bilayers. We discuss possible reasons for this difference.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Increasing energy consumption rates and concerns over environmental problems like global warming have led researchers to provide new energy supply solutions, one of which is the use of combined energy systems. Combining conventional fossil energy cycles with renewable cycles is one of the most effective ways to improve their performance and also help harvest green energy. To address this solution, in this paper, a hybrid novel energy system including a gas cycle, a steam cycle, two organic Rankine cycles (ORC), and a renewable cycle based on geothermal and solar energy sources using concentrating photovoltaic thermal panels (CPVT) is proposed. A comprehensive study has been conducted on this system from the perspective of energy, efficiency, economy, and the environment. Different fluids have been investigated for use in ORC subsystems in this study. Additionally, a parametric study has been conducted to determine how the cycle's overall performance is affected. Multi-objective optimization using the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm second version (NSGA-II) has been performed based on the objective variables of exergy efficiency and capital costs. In this paper, Engineering Equation Solver (EES) and MATLAB are used for modeling and optimization. The results show that the best fluids to use in ORC are R123 in the first cycle and Ammonia in the second cycle, which energy efficiency, exergy efficiency, exergy destruction rate, and generated power in the base state for the whole cycle are 50.59%, 25.44%, 1537.35 kW and 524.66 kW, respectively. Also, the amount of annual capital cost and the amount of carbon dioxide emission from energy and exergy are 107,034 dollars, 11,672, and 35,401 kg per month, respectively. The optimization results indicate a 0.25% improvement in exergy efficiency and a 500$ annual capital cost reduction at the optimal point.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "One of the most significant current discussions in world energy demand which is difficult to ignore is renewable energy. Recently, researchers have shown an increased interest in application of photovoltaic technology in this indispensable area. This paper has given an account of and the reasons for the widespread use of photovoltaic/thermal system. In this study, a photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) hybrid system is proposed by selecting heat pipe (thermosyphon type) to absorb isothermally the excessive heat from solar PV cells. The investigations on photovoltaic/thermal system were carried out in both spring and summer. In spring the systems were placed at 30° angle and methanol was used as working fluid for the thermosyphons. During the tests, the photovoltaic/thermal system generated an average of 5.67% electrical power more than the photovoltaic one. What is more, on average, the thermal efficiency of the photovoltaic/thermal system was 16.35% more. In summer the systems were positioned at 40° angle and acetone was used as working fluid. In the course of the tests, the photovoltaic/thermal system produced an average of 7.7% power more than the photovoltaic system and approximately, its thermal efficiency was 45.14%. Consequently, the proposed state-of-art resulted in a substantial temperature drop in the panel (up to 15°C) and more electrical power generation. The findings of this experimental study support the idea of incorporating heat pipe technology into photovoltaic electricity generation for the purpose of efficiency enhancement and thermal energy gain.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Liquid crystals are widely used in electro-optic devices because of their large broadband birefringence, dielectric anisotropy, and easy susceptibility to dc or low-frequency electric fields. This chapter presents the basic mechanisms of photoinduced space-charge field formation, director axis reorientation, and refractive index changes in fullerene C60- and dye-doped nematic liquid crystals films. These effects consist of transient and persistent components and can be modulated by the application of small ac and/or dc fields. Experimental observations of dynamic and high-resolution storage holographic grating formation, two beam coupling with gain of nearly 3000 cm–1, optical limiting action at nanowatt continuous-wave (cw) laser power, and incoherent–coherent image conversion at microwatt/cm2 light intensity level are discussed as well as some quantitative analyses of the underlying mechanisms. The chapter also reviews the basic mechanisms of space-charge field formation, director axis reorientation, refractive index change, and experimental observations of several interesting dynamic and storage wave mixing effects.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The effect of modified nano-SiO2 (MNS) on the performance of high-performance cementitious composites (HPCC) was investigated and the underlying mechanism was revealed by various microscopic analysis and testing methods. Results indicated that the fluidity of HPCC initially increased and then decreased with the increase of MNS content. Meanwhile, The HPCC with 0.8% MNS exhibited a 25% increase in compressive strength at the curing age of 3 days, while the HPCC with 0.8% nano-SiO2 showed a 10% increase. Compared with the reference mixture, the durability and autogenous shrinkage of HPCC with MNS were significantly improved, the chloride diffusion coefficient of HPCC with 0.8% MNS decreased by 25.9%. Furthermore, the quantitative analysis results of hydration process and hydration products show that the inclusion of nano-materials accelerated the hydration rate of cementitious composites, resulting in increased cumulative heat release. HPCC with MNS exhibited a higher generation of amorphous phases and greater consumption of calcium hydroxide compared with reference mixture. Moreover, the addition of MNS effectively refined the pore size of HPCC and converted some harmful pores into less harmful or harmless pores, enhancing the microstructure of HPCC with MNS and improving the interface transition zone. This optimization was mainly attributed to the effect of filling, nucleation of crystal and pozzolanic reactive of nano-materials, which further benefit from the good dispersion of MNS, resulting in excellent mechanical properties and durability of HPCC.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thin films with various thickness of 3-amino-2-[(2-nitrophenyl)diazinyl]-3-(piperidin-1-yl)acrylonitrile (ANPA) were produced by conventional thermal evaporation. The dependence of the optical, electrical, and photovoltaic properties on the film thickness was investigated. X-ray diffraction showed that the films have an amorphous structure. The optical properties were investigated in terms of transmittance and reflectance in the spectral range 200–2500nm. Spectral distribution analysis of the absorption coefficient revealed that the films have an indirect allowed electronic interband transition. The optical bandgap decreased from 2.47 to 2.1eV for an increase in film thickness from 105 to 265nm. The direct current electrical conductivity of the films was measured for sandwich-structured samples as a function of the heating temperature and film thickness. The films exhibited semiconductor behavior and electrical conduction was attributed to hopping of charge carriers in localized states. ANPA films of differing thickness were deposited on p-type Si single-crystal substrates. The influence of film thickness on the electrical and photovoltaic parameters of Au/ANPA/p-Si/Al heterojunction solar cells was investigated.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A new technique for producing thin single-crystal silicon solar cells has been developed. The new technology allows for large decreases in silicon usage by a factor of 12 (including kerf losses) compared to conventional crystalline silicon wafer technologies. The new Sliver® cell process uses a micromachining technique to form 60μm-thick solar cells, fully processed while they are still supported by the silicon substrate at the edge of the wafer. The Sliver® solar cells are capable of excellent performance due to their thickness and unique cell design with demonstrated efficiencies over 19.3% and open-circuit voltages of 683mV. In addition, the cells are bifacial (accepts light from either sides) and very flexible. Several prototype modules have been fabricated using a new design approach that introduces a diffuse reflector to the rear of a bi-glass module. To save expensive silicon material, a significant gap is kept between cells. The light striking between cells is scattered from the rear reflector and is directed onto the rear surface of the bifacial Sliver® cells. Module efficiency of 13% (AM1.5, 25C) has been demonstrated with a module presenting a 50% solar-cell coverage fraction, and 18.3% with a 100% Sliver® cell coverage fraction.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We describe a method for generating an amplitude modulated optical wave in the range of the telecommunication frequencies. The originality is to guaranty a tunability of the source up to 275 GHz with about 45 MHz spectral width. The principle is based on the optical heterodyne of two DFB laser sources emitting around 1550 nm. After describing various existing methods for optical wave modulation and for millimetric signal generation, we concentrate our interest on the heterodyne technique. We carry out a study concerning the spectral width influence on the spectral purity of the generated signal. Then, the experimental measurement set-up is described, as well as characterization of the spectral width of the lasers. Finally, we present the results obtained in reception of the beat of two identical lasers on a 25 GHz bandwidth photodiode.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Perovskite materials demonstrate excellent elastic and thermoelectric properties. We report for the first time theoretical investigation of CaPd3B4O12 (B = Ti, V) perovskite and perform the electronic calculations using full potential linear augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method within a framework of DFT approach. The transport properties were calculated using semi-local Boltzmann transport theory. As the Pd2+ occupied at A′-sites in perovskite their orbitals are very close to Fermi level and cause drastic changes in electronic band structure and transport properties of CaPd3B4O12 (B = Ti, V) perovskite. Both materials exhibit good elastic properties. The thermoelectric figure of merit for CaPd3Ti4O12 is (ZT = 0.8) so this material is good for cooling devices and thermoelectric applications. Our investigated results are in good agreement with experimental reported results.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Energy structures of molecular semiconductors are investigated under air on the basis of the Kelvin probe (KP) method; a critical examination of the applicability of this method for direct determination of work functions is performed. It is revealed that vacuum-sublimed films of three phthalocyanines (p-type), two porphyrins (p- and n-type) and a perylene derivative (n-type) in contact with metals form ideal Schottky barriers whose heights are simply determined by the difference in work function between a molecular solid film and a metal. Based on this finding (achievement of a Schottky–Mott rule), a common work function of 4.8±0.05 eV for p-type molecular semiconductors and 4.1–4.3 eV for n-type ones are deduced. On the other hand, work function values measured in air directly with the KP method (φ KP) are strongly dependent on the metal used as substrate. This metal dependence is ascribed to nonalignment of Fermi levels between a molecular solid and a contacting metal under the open-circuit situation of the KP configuration. Indeed, φ KP values of phthalocyanine films corrected for the Fermi energy difference at the metal/phthalocyanine junction become independent of the respective substrate metal, although they are still by 0.1–0.2 eV greater than the value of 4.8 eV evaluated from the Schottky–Mott rule. Possible reasons for the nonalignment of Fermi levels and the remaining discrepancies are discussed in connection with incorporation of O2 and/or H2O into molecular semiconductors. Influences of film thickness and illumination on φ KP are also examined in order to clarify junction properties at metal/molecular solid contacts. Based on these results, use of the Schottky–Mott rule is highly recommended for determination of work functions of molecular semiconductors exposed to air.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Lung infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Due to its ready adaptation to the dehydrated mucosa of CF airways, PA infections tend to become chronic, eventually killing the patient. Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) at ppb level has been reported to be a PA biomarker. For early PA detection in CF children not yet chronically lung infected a non-invasive Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)-based breath nanosensor is being developed. The triple bond between C and N in cyanide, with its characteristic band at ∼2133cm−1, is an excellent case for the SERS-based detection due to the infrequent occurrence of triple bonds in nature. For demonstration of direct HCN detection in the gas phase, a gold-coated silicon nanopillar substrate was exposed to 5ppm HCN in N2. Results showed that HCN adsorbed on the SERS substrate can be consistently detected under different experimental conditions and up to 9days after exposure. For detection of lower cyanide concentrations serial dilution experiments using potassium cyanide (KCN) demonstrated cyanide quantification down to 1μM in solution (corresponding to 18ppb). Lower KCN concentrations of 10 and 100nM (corresponding to 0.18 and 1.8ppb) produced SERS intensities that were relatively similar to the reference signal. Since HCN concentration in the breath of PA colonized CF children is reported to be ∼13.5ppb, the detection of cyanide is within the required range.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Life cycle was assessed for both concentrated solar power and photovoltaic systems. ► The PV plant has a higher environmental impact than the CSP plant. ► The Global Warming Potential is lower for the CSP than for the PV plant. ► The energy payback time is lower for the CSP than for the PV plant.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "MXene is a typical kind of 2D material with high specific surface, electrial conductivity, self-lubrication and abundant surface groups, which has received wide attention in the fields of electrochemistry, lubrication, sensors and electromagnetic shielding. In this work, MXene-containing polymer matrix composites (MHMA@ Ti3C2) are prepared to enhance the humidity response properties of conventional polyacrylate humidity sensitive materials. The result shows that the humidity response curve of MHMA@ Ti3C2 humidityfilm shows good linearity (R2 = 0.9992) in the relative humidity range of 30–90 %RH, with a high sensitivity of 63.7 kΩ/%RH. Meanwhile, the humidity response/recovery time of the MHMA@ Ti3C2 humidity film shortened from 310 s/312 s to 30 s/35 s, resulting in a much faster response speed. The wet hysteresis was reduced from 2.1 %RH to 0.34 %RH, and the lowest temperature change coefficient was reduced from 0.60 %RH/℃ to 0.44 %RH/℃ compared with MHMA. In the composites, MXene component significantly enhances the electronic migration capability during the humidity response, which improved the humidity-sensitive properties of the composites, and at the same time enhanced the response speed and temperature change resistance of the composites.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The growing concern over the global energy crisis strengthened the research on thermoelectricity. It would be logical to prepare practical thermoelectric device to effectively utilize various low-quality heat. In this study, the high-performance structure-adjustable 3D thermoelectric devices were fabricated by cold-press sintering and molding technologies. The thermoelectric figures of merit (ZT) of pressurized P and N–type materials reached the maximum of 1.09 and 0.5 at room temperature, respectively. The holes introduced by the binder and pressurization process reduced thermal conductivity and enhanced electrical properties. The in–depth influence on the thermoelectric devices was shown via simulation calculation. Fully-scaled thermoelectric devices suitable for various occasions were fabricated by one–time forming. The tandem of small and large arrayed thermoelectric devices respectively generated open–circuit voltages (V oc) of 584 mV and 573.8 mV and maximum output powers (P max) of 627.7 μW and 1.2 mW at 398.15 K. The V oc values of arched and annular thermoelectric devices were 265 mV and 332.1 mV at 398.15 K, respectively, and the P max values were 948.5 μW and 1.2 mW, respectively. On account of its good structure adjustability and high performance, thermoelectric devices fabricated will be broadly applied in solar–thermal conversion systems, automotive heat reclaimer and radioisotope thermoelectric generator.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Energy-exergy analysis performed for a new integrated membrane desalination system. • The global water recovery factor is enhanced by membrane distillation. • Energy of hypersaline brine is harvested by reverse electrodialysis. • 16.6% reduction in specific energy consumption is obtained for the best scenario.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The double perovskite oxide materials have various applications in light absorber, solid oxide fuel cells, electrode materials for electrochemical energy devices, solid state thermoelectric devices, etc. The calculations of electronic, optical and magnetic properties of Gd2NiMnO6 (GNMO) double perovskite are aimed in the present work. GNMO crystallizes in monoclinic structure with P21 /n (14) space group. Implementing first principles density functional theory, we have reported the spin-polarised electronic band structure, density of states (DOS), optical absorption property and magnetic moment of GNMO double perovskite. Furthermore, the effect of on-site d-d Coulomb interaction energy (Ueff) on the electronic and optical properties were investigated by applying a range of Hubbard parameters from 0 to 6 eV on Ni-3d and Mn-3d orbitals within the local spin density approximation (LSDA) and generalised gradient approximation (GGA). Interestingly, on applying Ueff in this range, band gap of GNMO enhanced progressively in both majority and minority spins and also for Ueff = 4 and 6 eV implemented on Ni-3d and Mn-3d orbits, respectively, we observe the band gap value 1.16 and 2.12 eV for the spin-up and spin-down states which is in good agreement with the previously reported experimental band gap value (1.5 eV). In this regard, the electronic structure and light absorption of GNMO have been analysed for Ueff = 4 and 6 eV implemented on Ni-3d and Mn-3d orbits, respectively. The calculations revealed suitable narrow band gap and large visible light absorption coefficient in GNMO, which are extremely desired for the high photovoltaic performance.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, we demonstrate an enhancement of thermoelectric properties by creating γ-SbTe/Sb2Te3 nanocomposite film, where γ-SbTe nanoinclusions are embedded in a nanocrystalline Sb2Te3 matrix. The two-phase nanocomposite was formed via solid-state phase transition using an amorphous Sb2Te3 electrodeposits as the starting materials. The crystallinity and crystal structure of intermediate states during the amorphous-crystalline solid-state transformation were characterized by sequentially annealing the sample. The formation of the γ-SbTe is attributed to the different enthalpy of mixing for the bonding structures available in the Sb–Te system. Room temperature measurement of electrical and thermoelectrical properties as a function of annealing temperature revealed that the two-phase system provided the carrier energy filtering effect at the interfaces between two phases, leading to enhanced Seebeck coefficient without affecting its electrical transport properties. The band bending at the two-phase interfaces was indirectly manifested by measuring their difference in the valence band, advocating the possibility of a strong energy-dependent charge scattering to the enhanced Seebeck coefficient.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this manuscript, we report high-performance polymer photovoltaic cells with P3HT:PCBM film prepared from polymer solution added with 1-dodecanethiol (P3HT and PCBM are poly(3-hexylthiophene) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester, respectively). The addition of 1-dodecanethiol into polymer solution resulted in remarkable enhancement in the energy conversion efficiency of polymer photovoltaic cells. The efficiency enhancement for the device with a P3HT:PCBM (1:2 w/w) film is more significant than for the device with a P3HT:PCBM (1:1 w/w) film. Devices with energy conversion efficiency as high as 4% were demonstrated with a thick P3HT:PCBM film prepared by a quick drying process.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices based on blends of a conjugated polymer poly (3-phenyl hydrazone thiophene) (PPHT) as electron donor and titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles as an electron acceptor (n-type wide band gap semiconductor) have been studied. The blend films were spin coated from a common solvent mixture. The absorption peak and shape of the absorption spectra of PPHT:TiO2 (40vol%) indicate that it is a superposition of the absorption of PPHT and TiO2. From the cyclic voltammetry measurements, we have estimated the values of levels of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) for PPHT. A strong fluorescence quenching indicates that the exciton dissociation and charge separation occurs successfully at PPHT:TiO2 interfaces formed in the bulk. This also enhances the possibility that the separated charges will reach the electrodes before recombining. Experimentally observed current–voltage characteristics of this device has been explained employing the metal–insulator–metal (MIM) model, where the intimate mixture of electron accepting and hole accepting materials is treated as a homogeneous intrinsic semiconductor. In this device, holes are solely transported along the pure donor phase and electrons transported along the paths of acceptor phase. Effect of TiO2 concentrations in the blend and thermal annealing of device has been described is detail. For low concentration of TiO2 below 20% the device performance is poor than that for pure PPHT, while for higher concentration of TiO2 significant improvement was obtained. The thermal annealing of the device also improves the photovoltaic response of the device, which may be due to the reduction in the recombination process.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The extraction of fuels and their conversion into power requires an extensive range of materials. Energy reserves are increasingly found deep underwater or far below the ground, and in severe locations. The containment and use of energy resources imposes further constraints on structural materials, from the subzero conditions of liquefied gas containers to the containment of gas plasmas at several thousand degrees in fusion reactors. Structural materials have been developed to meet many of these requirements, but cheaper and longer-lasting alternatives are needed. As intermittent distributed power becomes more common, new materials are needed for fuel cells, combined heat and power, wind and wave power, and energy storage. As well as offering higher efficiency, new materials will cut the cost of energy generation and storage. Fuel-efficient transport and low-energy electrical equipment will also call for new materials, as will renewable energy and the ‘hydrogen economy’. The possible reinvigoration of nuclear power and the development of fusion will also pose continuing challenges for materials science. Energy materials priorities are identified for each of these important technology areas.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The density functional theory calculations of structural phase transition, elastic constants and electronic structure of the CuAlX2 (X=S, Se, Te) have been reported using the full potential linear muffin-tin orbital (FP-LMTO). In this approach, the local density approximation is used for the exchange-correlation potential. Results are given for lattice constant, bulk modulus, and its pressure derivative, band structure, density of states and pressure dependence of energy gaps. We note that these compounds are semiconductors with direct energy gaps. The valence-band maximum and conduction-band minimum are located at Γ. Our results are compared with previous theoretical calculations and experimental data. The elastic constants at equilibrium in BCT structure are also determined.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Empty traps concentration, the sign of the dominant photocarriers and the effective electro-optic coefficient in chromium doped potassium niobate single crystal using steady-state beam coupling at 532 nm, have been measured. A density of 0.7×10−16 cm−3 of positive photocarriers, r eff=20 pm/V and 〈κ〉=0.25 are obtained. To explain these results, anisotropic photoexcitation cross section of mobile charge carriers has to be considered.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Particle packed beds find wide applications and existences in thermochemical heat storage, thermal insulation and 3D-printing, while their thermal conductance performance could importantly affect these applications. In this work, a coordination-number model for hybrid-particle packed beds was firstly established, and then the thermal conductivity model was further derived with statistical method by considering size distributions of particles in the bed. Comparisons between the model and available experiments turn out that the model could give sound predictions of coordination-number and thermal conductivities in both macro- and nano-particle packed beds. In nanoscale, influences of sizes of hybrid nanoparticles on thermal conductivity could be included by defining a special mean radius of particles, and a small mean radius of particles could cause a large space density of interparticle interfaces thus leasing to a small thermal conductivity. The model is expected to predict or understand the thermal conductivity of hybrid particle packed beds.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Porous, highly oriented ZnO nanowhisker films were prepared on substrate in a zinc nitrate–hexamethylenetetramine–polyethylenimine aqueous solution at low temperature via a simple two-step method. The effects of temperature and solution concentration on the morphology and transmittance of ZnO nanowhisker films were investigated in situ with the aid of pH changes. During the growth process, the pH value increased slowly with prolonged reaction time at 75 °C and 88 °C after reaching the lowest value. However, a constant pH was maintained for a long time at 65 °C. Porous and transparent ZnO nanowhisker films were produced at temperatures over 80 °C in the 0.025–0.05 M of solution. Concentrated solution resulted in ZnO nanowhisker films with a dense middle layer between the FTO and whiskers, and with bad transmittances in the visible range even at over 80 °C.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents a method examining static forces and moment of airfoil in steady solver. Aerodynamic stability is one subject that many scholars have begun to realize very crucial for design and daily operation. Fundamentals of aerodynamics were firstly scrutinized concerned about lift, drag and moment. Then steady simulation solver is set up instead of transient solver because we would like to examine airfoil without the effect of vortex motion, temporarily focus on static forces on airfoil. Dependent variable include cl, cd and cm of three airfoils, FLAT PLATE, NACA0012 and NACA23012 at TSR = 0, 2, 5 and 7. Stability is characterized by deviation and fluctuation at 360 degrees of azimuth position. We found that FLAT PLATE showed most deviation and fluctuation as an example of airfoil for VAWT. NACA0012 representing symmetric airfoil has more stable cm at whole time and cd just at TSR of 2 and 5. NACA23012 representing cambered airfoil has more stable cl all phases of running.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The objective of this work is to establish a spectral assignment of several communic acids. The most significant vibrational modes of three stereoisomers of communic acids [trans-, cis-, and iso- (or mirceo-)] are presented. They are showed throughout experimental Raman and IR spectra, and on the basis on calculations with Density Functional Theory (DFT) and the assignment of the spectral bands of different resins found in the literature. These three communic acids studied are the most important isomers present in the scaffold of the fossil resins Class I, as monomers or co-polymerized according to several authors. These kinds of terpenes are used as starting material, for example, for the synthesis of the fungicide and compounds bioactives. In a novel way, it is reported jointly the assignment of the experimental Infrared and Raman modes together with theoretical modes, since normally the authors tend to focus on one or another spectroscopic technique only. These results can be used as a reference for distinguishing amber from less matured resins as copal, determining the local origin of archaeological fossilized resins. Moreover, they will serve as help to differentiate between real and imitation ambers.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A hybrid design solution is proposed to improve the waste-to-energy process by hydrothermal treatment of sludge and plasma gasification of medical waste and combining it with waste heat recovery from a cement plant. In this integrated system, the cement kiln exhaust is fed into the SP and AQC, and the resulting steam is fed into a steam turbine and generates electricity. Thus, cement kiln exhaust gas can generate electricity through the steam cycle. At the same time, sewage sludge is hydrothermally treated to produce hydrochar in the cement kiln, which is used as part of the fuel. Medical waste is used as feedstock for the plasma gasification process. The syngas produce power from a gas turbine. The hybrid design was analyzed using energy, exergy, and economic analysis. The hybrid design achieves 84.03 % energy efficiency, up to 80.29 % exergy efficiency, and up to 26.61 % net electrical energy efficiency in the energy utilization. The proposed hybrid project has a dynamic payback period of 2.64 years and achieves a net present value of 477,165.22k$ over a 25-year lifetime. The article discusses the impact of sewage sludge water content and sewage sludge treatment allowance on the performance and economics of the hybrid system.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Energy efficiency has become one of the key issues for data center operators in recent years. Significant power and consequent cost savings are perceived to be attainable and are also considered to be mandatory due to environmental aspects and for sustainable development. Use of economizers and free cooling is currently one the most prominent ways to make data centers more efficient. Besides efficiency, solutions for green energy production are becoming more and more of a reality and while providing clean energy, intermittency is a considerable challenge, not least due to high reliability requirements in data centers. Solar energy, while currently being somewhat uneconomical solution, is ex–pected to increase in the future with improved and cost-effective photovoltaic systems and due to its significant potential surpassing all the other renewable sources combined. Solar energy also has to a certain extent, when compared with e.g. wind energy, a more predictable pattern. It also correlates with temperature, making it an attractive source for systems in which power consumption is temperature related, such as with data center cooling. Unfortunately, locations with high solar energy production potential are somewhat less optimal for economizers and free cooling. This paper investi–gates basic relationships between solar energy and air temperature and subsequent data center cooling requirements. Of particular interest is the optimal data center location in terms of free cooling and solar energy potential.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The thermodynamic and magnetic properties of quantum-dot structures subjected to an applied magnetic field were studied, including the longitudinal optical–phonon interaction and the Rashba spin–orbit effect. The Schrödinger equation was solved to determine the energy levels. The partition function was evaluated by summing the accessible energy levels and was then utilized to calculate the thermomagnetic functions. In this paper, we present magnetic properties by considering three interacting polarons. Our results indicated that at B = 0 T , the susceptibility exhibits diamagnetic behavior for all values of the Rashba spin–orbit parameter. However, the magnetic susceptibility increases with an applied magnetic field, and the system exhibits paramagnetic behavior under moderate magnetic fields. However, in situations with and without the polaron effect, the susceptibility is saturated at 0 ( m e V / T 2 ) under large magnetic fields. In this study, we showed that the Rashba spin–orbit interaction (SOI) strengthens the cutoff magnetic field B c (the B value at which the magnetic nature of the dot changes from diamagnetic to paramagnetic). Rashba SOIs reduce the mean energy of the system, including polaronic interactions. Under the polaron effect, the heat capacity curve shifts to lower temperatures. A quantitative description of the magnetocaloric effect ( Δ S ) as a function of the Wigner and Rashba spin–orbit parameters is presented.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The novel π-conjugated polymers, poly(N-(3,4-bis(decyloxy)phenyl)carbazolyl-2,7-vinylene) (PCzV) and poly[N-(3,4-bis(decyloxy)phenyl)carbazolyl-2,7-vinylene)-co-{2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene}] (PCzV-co-MEH-PPV) were synthesized by using the Gilch polymerization method and their photovoltaic properties were investigated. The newly designed and highly branched polymers, formed from PCzV and PCzV-co-MEH-PPV, are soluble in common organic solvents and easily spin-coated onto indium-tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates. The weight-average molecular weights (M w) and the polydispersity of the polymers were determined to be in the ranges of 3.86–7.9×104 and 1.60–2.05, respectively. Bulk-heterojunction solar cells, with ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymer:PC61BM/TiO x /Al configurations, were fabricated. The solar cell based on PCzV-co-MEH-PPV:PC61BM (1:6 wt/wt) displays a higher photovoltaic performance as compared to that produced from PCzV:PC61BM (1:6 wt/wt). The bulk-heterojunction solar cell with PCzV-co-MEH-PPV:PC61BM (1:6 wt/wt) has a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 2.31% (J sc =6.43mA/cm2, V oc =0.82V, FF=44%), measured using an AM 1.5 G solar simulator at 100mW/cm2 light illumination.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Computational simulations of horizontal ribbon growth on substrate (RGS), used for production of silicon wafers for photovoltaic applications, have been made based on FLUENT-based solutions of the fundamental governing equations of mass, momentum and energy. A conservation equation for the liquid volume fraction, along with a solidification model, is used in addition to find the phase distributions. Validations of both the melt flow and solidification components of the computational model are made by comparing with available data on Czochralski bulk process and vertical ribbon growth process, with good agreements for these components. This provides the basis for validity of the method for silicon melt flow and solidification processes, including the RGS. The pull speed and the heat extraction rates are varied to find the optimum production conditions during RGS. The pull speed can be directly input in the current model, and shows the effects of decreased residence time at high pull speeds. At intermediate heat extraction rates, the solidification dynamics can lead to disruptions in the melt flow on the substrate, leading to inhomogeneous solidification conditions. A test matrix involving the pull speed and the heat extraction rate shows that a pull speed of less than 0.1m/s and heat extraction rate of greater than 100W/cm2 are the necessary conditions for achieving complete and stable solidification over a length scale of 0.8m in the current configuration. These numbers translate to 2kJ/m2 as the minimum necessary enthalpy flux during stable RGS.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Bulk textured Ca2.5(RE)0.5Co4O9 (RE, rare-earth element=Pr, Nd, Eu, Dy and Yb) ceramics have been prepared using sinter-forging technique. Both sintered and sinter-forged samples have been prepared and characterized. We present the thermoelectric properties, structural and microstructural investigations of the samples which show a strong degree of crystallite orientation. In addition, the effect of the rare-earth substitution on the properties is discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This work presents, for the first time, a statistical model to forecast the electrical efficiency of concentrated photovoltaic-thermoelectric system (CPV-TE). The main objective of this work is to analyze the impact of the input factors (product of solar radiation and optical concentration, external load resistance, leg height of TE and ambient temperature) most affecting the electrical efficiency of CPV-TE system. An innovative and integrated approach based on a multi-physics numerical model coupling radiative, conductive and convective heat transfers Seebeck and photoelectrical conversion physical phenomena inside the CPV-TE collector and a response surface methodology (RSM) model was developed. COMSOL 5.4 Multiphysics software is used to perform the three-dimensional numerical study based on finite element method. Furthermore, results from the numerical model is then analysed using the statistical tool, response surface methodology. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) is conducted to develop the quadratic regression model and examine the statistical significance of each input factor. The results reveal that the obtained determination coefficient ( R 2 ) for electrical efficiency is 0.9945. An excellent fitting is achieved between forecast values obtained from the statistical model and the numerical data provided by the three-dimensional numerical model. The influence of the parameters in order of importance on the electrical efficiency are respectively: product of solar radiation and optical concentration, the height legs of TE, external electrical resistance load, and ambient temperature. A simple polynomial statistical model is created in this work to predict and maximize the electrical efficiency from the solar CPV-TE system based on the four investigated input parameters. The maximum electrical efficiency of the proposed CPVTE (17.448%) is obtained for optimum operating parameters at 229.698 W/m2 value of product of solar radiation and optical concentration, 303.353 K value of ambient temperature, 2.681Ω value of resistance electrical load and at 3.083 mm value of height of TE module.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The iron and steel industry relies significantly on primary energy, and is one of the largest energy consumers in the manufacturing sector. Simultaneously, numerous waste heat is lost and discharged directly into the environment in the process of steel production. Thus considering conservation of energy, energy-efficient improvement should be a holistic target for iron and steel industry. The research gap is that almost all the review studies focus on the primary energy saving measures in iron and steel industry whereas few work summarize the secondary energy saving technologies together with former methods. The objective of this paper is to develop the concept of mass-thermal network optimization in iron and steel industry, which unrolls a comprehensive map to consider current energy conservation technologies and low grade heat recovery technologies from an overall situation. By presenting an overarching energy consumption in the iron and steel industry, energy saving potentials are presented to identify suitable technologies by using mass-thermal network optimization. Case studies and demonstration projects around the world are also summarized. The general guideline is figured out for the energy optimization in iron and steel industry while the improved mathematical models are regarded as the future challenge.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thermoelectric power (Seebeck coefficient S) and dc conductivity of Li-Cu ferrite in chemical formula Li0.5-0.5xCuxFe2.5-.5xO4 (where x=0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 and1.0) were studied in a wide range of temperature from 300 up to 930K. On the basis of the sign of Seebeck coefficient all the compositions of 0≤ x≤0.9 are n-type semiconductors except the sample of x=1.0 (CuFe2O4) is p-type at room temperature. It was noticed that the sample of x=1.0 converted to n-type at 350K, but for the sample of x=0.9, it was expected to convert from n-type to p-type at 240K. The Fermi energy at absolute zero EF (0) and the density of charge carriers (n) or (p) were determined. From the obtained results, the conduction mechanism of Li-Cu ferrite was discussed. Also, an energy band scheme was suggested.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The possibility of a corrugated, atomically thin, honeycomb silicon sheet, theoretically envisaged in 1994, 10 years before the advent of graphene, has been experimentally demonstrated for the first time in 2012. The fascinating “flower pattern” observed in scanning tunneling microscopy upon epitaxial growth of Si on a silver (111) surface masked a unique honeycomb arrangement of silicon atoms. Initially guessed, this hidden atomic geometry has been supported by density functional theory calculations and photoemission measurements, while directly evidenced later by near-contact atomic force microscopy. The realization of silicene and the demonstration of its outstanding properties have further engendered a large filiation of Xenes, namely, elemental artificial two-dimensional cousins, from borophene to bismuthene. In this chapter we relate the birth of silicene and of its variants, penta-silicene and kagome silicene, from the initial concepts to the experimental realizations and to the most recent advances. We address topological aspects and develop tantalizing characteristics before envisaging game-changing prospects.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The Influence of crystal structure and surface coating on the photoelectric properties of TiO2 pigments was studied using the transient photo-EMF. Amorphous TiO2 did not show any photo-EMF signal showing that it is not a photoconductor. The crystalline TiO2 modifications, anatase and rutile, behave like n-type photoconductors. In comparison to rutile, the maximum photo-EMF of anatase was significantly larger. While the photo-EMF signal of the rutile changed under repetitive laser flash exposure, the signal of anatase did not depend on number of flashes. This shows that only rutile contains a small amount of very deep traps. So in rutile a small part of charge carriers live longer than in anatase. Coating anatase with the photoelectrically inert Ba(OH)2∗nH2O or BaCO3 reduced the photo-EMF signal. The epitaxial coating of rutile with SiO2 and Al2O3 resulted in a complex photo-EMF signal that displayed two negative maximum voltages. Such behaviour suggests that heterojunctions may exist in the substrate.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The prepared ZnO/PbS core/shell heterostructures demonstrate high-density and well-alignment. The synthesized products may have potential applications in solar cells. Highlights ► Highly-ordered ZnO/PbS core/shell heterostructures were successfully fabricated. ► The formation mechanism of the product was discussed systematically. ► ZnO/PbS core/shell heterostructures have preferable electronic transport properties. ► The obtained ZnO/PbS core/shell heterostructures may have potential applications in solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "ZnO nanoparticles which have diameter of 15nm were prepared by hydrothermal method. ZnO nanosheets were obtained by re-hydrothermal treatment of ZnO nanoparticles. The phase and morphology were investigated by using transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. Also, absorbance spectra were measured by using a UV–vis spectrophotometer. A fill factor of 0.55, short-circuit current of 2.059mA/cm2, open-circuit voltage of 0.593V and an overall light to electricity conversion efficiency of 1.55% for the solar cell based on ZnO nanosheets were obtained.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Thin films of SnS have been produced by a novel two-stage process. This involved the deposition of thin films of Sn onto glass substrates using d.c. magnetron sputtering followed by conversion of the metallic layers into the compound by annealing in the presence of elemental sulfur. All the layers synthesised were found to be polycrystalline, the grain size and crystallinity of the layers increasing with increasing annealing temperature. The precursor layers sulfurised at temperatures <300°C and >350°C, were found to be non-stoichiometric and X-ray diffraction data indicated the presence of a range of binary phases other than SnS. The best SnS layers were synthesised for annealing temperatures between 300 and 350°C. These layers were found to be stoichiomentric with a strong {111} preferred orientation. The stoichiometric SnS layers had resistivities of 1.5×102 Ωcm and Arrhenius plots of the resistivity gave an activation energy of 0.65 eV. The optical energy band gap of the layers was 1.35 eV. These p-type layers could find application as absorber layers in thin film solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Energy dispersive X-ray imaging can be used in several research fields and industrial applications. Elemental mapping through energy dispersive X-ray imaging technique has become a promising method to obtain positional distribution of specific elements in a non-destructive way. To obtain the elemental distribution of a sample it is necessary to use instruments capable of providing a precise positioning together with a good energy resolution. Polycapillary beams together with silicon drift chamber detectors are used in several commercial systems and are considered state-of-the-art spectrometers, however they are usually very costly. A new concept of large energy dispersive X-ray imaging systems based on gaseous radiation detectors emerged in the last years enabling a promising 2D elemental detection at a very reduced price. The main goal of this work is to analyze a contemporary Indian miniature with both X-ray fluorescence imaging systems, the one based on a gaseous detector 2D-THCOBRA and the state-of-the-art spectrometer M4 Tornado, from Bruker. The performance of both systems is compared and evaluated in the context of the sample's analysis.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We are presenting our results of comparison of thermal diffusion behavior of composite media of nanoparticles and nanorods of ZnO in a homogeneous solution of fluorescein dye, done using the dual beam, pump-probe thermal lens technique. It was observed that both nanorods and nanoparticles can be used to control the thermal diffusivity of the composite fluid by changing the relative volume fractions. It was also observed that there is an optimum value for this volume fraction in the two cases considered. We have also explained this behavior using theoretical approach taking into account the Unit cell model, Brownian motion and the near field effects. We expect that this work will enhance the understanding of the influence of particle size, shape and the thermal properties of this novel composite which can widely find application in thermoelectric coolers, high performance thermal transfer liquids and in random lasing.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Various methods have been proposed to determine the heat of adsorption indirectly from adsorption isotherms or directly through calorimeter, whereas authors rarely compared different models for calculating isosteric heat of methane adsorption on coal and seldom studied adsorption thermodynamics related to calorimetric heat flux. In this work, for better probing thermodynamics of adsorption of methane on coal, seeking a reliable model to describe adsorption heat, and predicting the adsorption heat at given temperatures and pressures from heat flow, isothermal adsorption experiments of methane on anthracite at temperatures of 298 K, 308 K and 318 K were conducted, with both calorimetric and volumetric method. The calorimetric results indicate that isosteric heat decreases with the increase of adsorption capacity and temperature. Then the calorimetric heat was compared with the isosteric heat using four adsorption models, in the fitness sequence of D-A > Toth > C–C > Virial. To be noted that the heat flux measured calorimetrically increases to the crest rapidly, then gradually decreases to the initial state. This tendency is proposed to be described by the exponential function with the fitting parameters estimated by empirical formulas proposed. The predicted heat flows were thus acquired, agreeing well with the experimental data except for the low coverage or pressure stage. Furthermore, it is revealed that the temperature evolution of adsorption can also be expressed by an exponential-like polynomial solution, induced from the proposed thermal flux prediction model based on the Tian’s equation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Firefighting activities regarding buildings normally require electric power to be disconnected before a water jet is used, in order to minimize the risk of electrocution. As for as concerns Photovoltaic Systems, during a fire event it is not possible to turn off the whole power system in order to guarantee that all the components are de-energized. The object of this paper is to estimate the safe distances to respect during firefighting involving PV Systems. To this end a series of experimental tests have been performed, in order to measure the current flowing through the water stream, under different conditions of nozzle design, jet shape, water pressure and stream length. Experimental results have been compared with data in literature. Moreover, the electrical conductivity of the water streams, which actually consists of water mixed with air, has been evaluated.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The necessity for energy conversion and storage has led us to find more efficient electrode materials applicable for advanced energy systems such as fuel cell, battery, supercapacitor, solar cell, thermoelectric, and sorption-based waste heat management systems. Together with innovation in materials fabrication techniques, proper characterization of those materials and the system level critical analysis are very essential for commercial success. In this chapter we present advanced techniques for characterization of electrode materials for efficient energy conversion and storage application including their theoretical and analytical aspects.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Until now, the only practical balloon systems proposed to explore the martian atmosphere have been superpressure balloons, which fly at a constant altitude, or short-lived helium balloons, which precariously drag a snake through all types of surface weather, or a day/night combination of the two. For the first time, two novel atmospheric balloon systems now appear quite viable for controlled balloon landings at selected martian surface locations. These balloons could softland payload packages, such as lightweight surface roving vehicles. The two balloon approaches and a land rover concept are described below, along with a combination of the two approaches. Solar Hot-Air Balloons: These “Montgolfiere” balloons are named after the 18th-century French brothers Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Etienne Mongolfier, who first flew hot-air balloons. Using entirely solar heat, they are ideal for landing at the martian poles during summer or for shorter flights at lower latitudes. Recent tests have already confirmed the ease of altitude deployment and filling of these solar hot-air balloons. Furthermore, actual landings and reascents of solar hot-air balloons have been recently demonstrated by JPL, using a novel, lightweight, top air vent that is radio controlled. One particularly useful application of these balloons is their use as a parachute to soft-land packages that are up to 50% of the total entry mass, which represents a fivefold improvement over present retrorocket landing systems. Variable-Emissivity Balloons: A second atmospheric balloon system uses a variable-emissivity superpressure helium balloon that can land at night at any martian latitude. These balloons would be gold-coated, superpressure helium balloons during both night and day. They could land at prescribed targets by exposing a section of the upper white balloon surface to the radiant cooling of deep space during the night. This reduces the temperature and pressure in the balloon to create negative buoyancy, thus causing descent, while replacement of the gold top cover causes reascent. Specific areas could be targeted for landings by using atmospheric currents at various altitudes, similar to techniques used by balloonists flying over the Earth. Inflatable Roving Vehicles: JPL has recently fabricated and tested a number of roving vehicles with large inflatable balloons that act as tires. One version, with 75-cm-diameter wheels, has already demonstrated the ability to make large traverses in JPL's simulated “Mars Yard.” A full-scale version, with 1.5-m-diameter wheels, should be capable of climbing large rocks (≤ 0.5 m), traveling reasonably fast (≈ 500 m/h) and far (≈ 10 km), and yet have very low mass (≈ 6 kg). Low-Cost Combined Atmospheric/Surface Mission: A simple, solar hot-air balloon would act as a parachute to land a 6-kg inflatable rover. The balloon would then rise to a 3-km altitude while carrying a 2-kg camera/magnetometer/communications package for the remainder of daylight hours. The entire package would then soft-land at dusk. Total Mars entry mass would be about 20 kg, and the mission could be flown to Mars at very low cost (≈ $5M total launch costs) via one of the CNES Ariane 5 GTO piggyback launches.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films have been successfully prepared by a novel synthesis process that involves a single step deposition of Cu2ZnSnS4 followed by a post-annealing treatment at 550°C for 60min in the atmosphere of N2+H2S (5%). The microstructure, morphology, composition and optical property of the film have been investigated in detail. It is found that the Na2S2O3 5H2O concentration in the solution has a significant effect on the Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films. X-ray diffraction data indicates that the annealed Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films have a kesterite structure with preferred orientation along the (112) plane. Uniform and compact topographies are observed in some annealed films. From the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis, it can be seen that Cu-poor and Zn-rich Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films have been obtained. The direct band gap energy of the film is about 1.5eV.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This thesis is aimed to initiate implementing sustainable building construction in the kingdom of Bahrain, i.e. Building-Integration PhotoVoltaic (BIPV) or Wind Energy (BIWE). It highlights the main constrains that discourage such modern concept in building and construction. Three groups have been questioned using a questionnaire. These are the policy and decision makers, the leading consultants and the contractors. The main constrains of the dissemination of BIVP and BIWE, according to the policy and decision makers, are: lack of knowledge and awareness of the public in sustainable technology, low cost of electricity, low cost of gas and oil and difficulty in applying local environmental taxes. The consultants had attributed the constrains to ignorance of life cycle cost of PV and Wind turbines systems, lack of education and knowledge in sustainable design, political system, shortage of markets importing sustainable technologies and client worries in profitability and pay-back period. The contractors are found to be very enthusiastic and ready to take over any sustainable building project and prefer to have a construction manger to coordinate between the design and contracting team. Design and Build is found the favorable procurement method in Bahrain for conducting BIPV or BIWE projects.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The 3000 plus islands of New England with their varying electrical needs and high electricity costs present an opportunity for renewable energy development. This paper summarizes the results of ongoing wind energy projects carried out by the University of Massachusetts for the development of renewable energy on several of these islands. In addition to technical–economic issues, the work has addressed potential environmental and political problems that might arise with the installation of such systems. Summaries of four selected case studies involving this work are given in this paper. The overall analysis method used to study each of these studies is described, and the example case studies present a status of the work to date on each of these projects.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report the effects of gas composition pressure (GCP) on the optical, structural and electrical properties of thin amorphous carbon (a-C) films grown on p-type silicon and quartz substrates by microwave surface wave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MW SWP CVD). The films, deposited at various GCPs ranging from 50 to 110 Pa, were studied by UV/VIS/NIR spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and current–voltage characteristics. The optical band gap of the a-C film was tailored to a relatively high range, 2.3–2.6 eV by manipulating GCPs from 50 to 110 Pa. Also, spin density strongly depended on the band gap of the a-C films. Raman spectra showed qualitative structured changes due to sp3/sp2 carbon bonding network. The surfaces of the films are found to be very smooth and uniform (RMS roughness<0.5 nm). The photovoltaic measurements under light illumination (AM 1.5, 100 mW/cm2) show that short-circuit current density, open-circuit voltage, fill factor and photo-conversion efficiency of the film deposited at 50 Pa were 6.4 μA/cm2, 126 mV, 0.164 and 1.4×10−4% respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Synthesis of apatites, Na1−x K x Pb4(PO4)3 0≤x≤1, with anion vacancy was carried out using solid state reactions. The solid solution of apatite-type structure crystallizes in the hexagonal system, space group P63/m (No 176). Rietveld refinements showed that 75% of Pb2+ cations are located in the (6h) sites; the ninefold coordination sites (4f) are equally occupied by the other 25% lead cations and the K+ and Na+ monovalent ions. The structure can be described as built up from [PO4]3− tetrahedra and Pb2+ of sixfold coordination cavities (6h positions), which delimit void hexagonal tunnels running along . These tunnels are connected by cations of mixed sites (4f) half occupied by Pb2+ and half by Na+/K+ mixed cations. The assignment of the observed frequencies in the Raman and infrared spectra is discussed on the basis of a unit cell group analysis and by comparison with other apatites. The Raman modes of all the compositions show some linear shifts of the frequencies as a function of the composition toward lower values due the substitutions of Na+ by K+ with a larger radius.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Semiconducting oxide glasses in the Fe2O3–MgO–TeO2 system are fabricated by a press-quenching of glass melts using Fe2O3, Mg, and TeO2 raw materials and the dc conduction is investigated. The glass formation region represented by batch composition is determined as follows: Fe2O3=0–20; Mg=0–40; and TeO2=55–100mol%. The glasses are n-type semiconducting. The dc conductivity gives 1.1×10−5 to 1.3×10−4 Scm−1 at 548K for different glass compositions. The conductivity increases with increasing Fe2O3 and Mg contents. A redox model in the glass melt is proposed, which makes possible to explain the fraction of reduced transition metal ion C for different compositions. The conduction is attributed to non-adiabatic hopping of small polarons. The small polaron coupling constant γ p is evaluated to be 21–33. For varying glass compositions hopping mobility and carrier density are estimated to be (1.1–5.8)×10−6 cm2 V−1 s−1 and 4.8×1019–1.5×1020 cm−3 at 548K, respectively.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, we developed an effective approach for the conversion of CO2 by incorporating the electrified combined reforming reactor (E-CRM). The process simulation and life cycle assessment (LCA) of the proposed process are conducted considering a variety of recycling ratios of the unreacted syngas to the main reformer using Aspen Plus software. The simulation results show that the electrification of the proposed reforming process can significantly improve the overall efficiency of the process compared to a reference process. The key factors such as hydrogen demand (88.4 % reduction), net electricity consumption (17 % reduction), thermal efficiency (16.7 % increase), and methanol production (7.5 % increase) are improved. Furthermore, the LCA of the proposed process is conducted using openLCA software and results are compared with those of the CO2 hydrogenation and conventional methanol production processes for various geographical locations in Canada. The LCA results showed that the E-CRM with 90 recycling of unreacted gases (E-CRM-90) is an environmentally attractive option with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions when the carbon intensity of the electricity is equal to or lower than that of the average value in Canada.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "As a potential counterpart to the toxic CH3NH3PbI3 for photovoltaic applications, a lead-free non-toxic perovskite, rubidium germanium iodide (RbGeI3) is analyzed to assess its structural, mechanical, elastic, optoelectronic, thermoelectric and thermodynamic properties using the Full-Potential Augmented Plane Wave (FP-LAPW) approach of the WIEN2k code using density functional theory. Though various exchange correlation functionals viz. the Perdew Burke Ernzerhof scheme of Generalized Gradient Approximation (PBE-GGA), PBEsol, and WC-GGA are used, the TB-mBJ exchange correlation potential coupled with GGA, provides enhanced results. The lattice constants a0, bulk modulus B and its pressure derivative Bp are estimated to be 11.619096 bohr, 19.34 GPa and 5.4303 respectively with TB-mBJ exchange correlation potential. The elastic constants, C11, C12 and C44, Young’s modulus E, Shear modulus G, Poisson’s ratio ν and Anisotropic ratio A are estimated to be 43.4 GPa, 7.3 GPa, 7.9 GPa, 27.93 GPa, 11.09 GPa, 0.26 and 0.07 respectively using the Elastic 1.0 package. The density of states (DOS) and band structure are plotted for various exchange correlation functionals. The energy band gap and the absorption coefficient of the material, 1.338 eV and 10−3 cm−1 respectively, are found to be suitable for photovoltaic applications. Various thermoelectric coefficients like Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity are also calculated. The thermodynamic properties like Debye temperature, heat capacity, entropy and thermal expansion coefficient are plotted as a function of temperature and pressure using Gibbs2 program. The study indicates that inorganic cubic RbGeI3 has all the characteristics required as an absorber material for perovskite solar cells. However, the phonon dispersion spectrum shows the presence of imaginary modes indicating an instability in the structure with rise in temperature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A new method for synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO2)-dye nanoparticles is reported. TiO2 nanocrystals were obtained at 150 and 200°C by using chemically bonded TiO2-sensitizer dye as a precursor. Titanium tetraisopropoxide was first modified with a dye molecule and then precipitated by dropping into acidic water. A strongly colored precipitate was obtained. Hydrothermal growth of a colloidal solution was carried out in a Teflon-lined stainless steel autoclave. Dye sensitized solar cell efficiencies obtained were comparable and fill factor values were close to the analogous cells prepared by the use of conventional TiO2 paste techniques. This method allows the use of different substrates together with nanocrystalline TiO2 for many technological applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Silicon carbide (SiC) is a material with very attractive properties for microsystems applications. Its mechanical strength, high thermal conductivity, ability to operate at high temperatures and extreme chemical inertness in several liquid electrolytes, make SiC an attractive candidate for MEMS applications, both as structural material and as coating layer. The recently reported progress in material growth and processing techniques has strengthened the potential of this material for MEMS, especially for applications requiring operation at high temperature or in severe environments. Examples of SiC microsensors and microstructures are given and interesting development in both material characteristics and micromachining processes are discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "To examine a change in unified efficiency of provincial power industry, this study proposes an approach which combines Data Envelopment Analysis-Discriminant Analysis (DEA-DA), DEA environmental assessment and a rank sum test. The proposed approach is designed to overcome the following difficulties: (a) how to classify various decision making units into different groups, (b) how to identify the existence of group heterogeneity, (c) how to measure unified efficiencies of power industry in different regions, (d) how to separate among various unified efficiencies, and (e) how to unify them into a single measure which expresses total efficiency. To document the practicality, this study applies the proposed approach to examine unified efficiency measures of Chinese provincial power industry from 2009 to 2015. We obtain three empirical findings. First, the unified efficiency measurement identifies an existence of heterogeneity between two groups of provinces. Second, profound differences were confirmed in unified efficiency at a provincial level. Special attention should be given to the provinces with poor performance under both natural and managerial disposability. Finally, under both DEA and DEA-DA frameworks, large differences were confirmed between natural and managerial disposability. These two concepts may assist in developing well-designed environmental policy.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper describes the development of a new type hybrid photovoltaic/thermal (PVT) solar collector. The test setup of the photovoltaic/thermal performance of the PVT solar collector filled with graphite was established to compare the conventional PV module and the PVT solar collector filled with graphite. The output power, backplane temperature, the inlet temperature, the outlet temperature and the tank temperature were tested in this study. The photovoltaic/thermal performance of the PVT solar collector filled with graphite was evaluated by the thermal efficiency, electrical efficiency and primary energy saving efficiency. The results show that the electrical efficiency of the PVT collector can be enhanced by cooling down to the backplane temperature. Lower inlet temperatures result in higher thermal efficiency. The inlet temperature increased with increased tank temperature. As the inlet temperature increased to some point, the outlet temperature gradually stabilized. The mean value of electrical efficiency of a PVT collector filled with graphite and conventional PV module were 6.46% and 5.15% between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The highest electrical efficiency of a PVT collector filled with graphite was 7.2%. The highest Primary Energy Saving efficiency of PVT collector filled with graphite was 48% at 10:35.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This study determines thermal behaviour and airflow characteristics inside multifunctional façade elements. The façade elements investigated were designed in course of the research project “Multifunctional Plug & Play Facade” . The integration of energy converting systems in a façade construction causes higher temperatures on the backside of the collectors impacting subjacent layers and the interior. Due to periphery openings, heat can partly be transferred to the exterior by the effects of natural ventilation. With the help of ‘steady state’ 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models of three different façade elements were investigated and compared. In particular this study presents a detailed analysis of airflow and the thermal behaviour of a photovoltaic module (PV), a solar thermal collector (ST) as well as a transparent single layer glass panel used as impact pane (TR) all integrated into the façade construction. Despite high temperatures in the solar thermal collector the lowest air temperatures inside the cavity were detected for the ST façade. The ventilation effects of the side openings were clearly identified in all façades. The numerical model includes the effects of heat transfer, buoyancy, radiation and the impact of solar radiation. Data from on-site measurement did largely match with the simulations’ outcome.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The interface crack problem in a layered thermoelectric or metal/thermoelectric material subjected to thermoelectric loadings is studied based on the nonlinear governing equations and complex variable method. The electric impermeable and heat semi-permeable crack boundary conditions are adopted. Explicit and closed-form solutions of temperature and electric potential on the interface crack surfaces, and crack tip thermoelectric fields are obtained. The influence of crack thickness to length ratio and thermal conductivity of air inside the crack on electric current density and heat flux intensity factors at crack tip is discussed. It is found that electric current density and heat flux intensity factors at the interface crack tip between metal interconnector and thermoelectric material are much bigger than those in homogenous or layered thermoelectric material. This explains why the failure (or microcrack initiation) of a thermoelectric generation/cooler element always appears at the interface between the metal electrode and thermoelectric material.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Divalent europium activated tristrontium dialuminum hexaoxide phosphor, (Sr1-x Eu x )3Al2O6, was obtained by solid state reaction. Crystal structure and luminescence properties of synthesized (Sr1-x Eu x )3Al2O6 were investigated. The major excitation band of (Sr1-x Eu x )3Al2O6 located in blue light region, the photoluminescence spectrum showed red light emission peaked at 618 nm which could be attributed to the d-f transition of the Eu2+. The influence of Ca2+ substitution for Sr2+ on structural and luminescence properties of Eu2+ doped Sr3Al2O6 was also studied. The photoluminescence peak position of (Sr1-y Ca y )2.94Eu0.06Al2O6 varied from 618 to 655 nm with increasing y value. The reason for redshift in the emission band of (Sr1-y Ca y )2.94Eu0.06Al2O6 phosphor was also discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "High-density antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) ceramics are prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS). In order to enhance the electrical conductivity of the ATO ceramics, a post-annealing process at 800°C for 100h in air was carried out. The results suggest that post-annealing is effective in increasing the carrier concentration and Hall mobility, which ultimately control the electrical conductivity. The electrical resistivity is reduced by approximately two orders of magnitude, to a value of 5.68×10−3 Ωcm.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of I 2 / LiI molar ratio (X) of electrolyte on photovoltaic properties of nanostructured dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by a electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) method. Different X ratios, up to X=2, were investigated. Semiconducting TiO2 layer was fabricated using Pechini based TiO2 nanoparticle paste. It was observed that open circuit voltage ( V o c ) decreases with X, while short circuit current density ( J s c ) , fill factor (FF) and conversion efficiency ( η ) first increase and then decrease with increasing X. It was explained that these variations were due to the effect of X on kinetic parameters such as; Nernstian diffusion impedance ( R d ) of I 3 − ions and impedances at TiO2/dye/electrolyte ( R T i O 2 ) and electrolyte/Pt ( R P t ) interfaces. R d and R T i O 2 decreased with X, but the curve of R P t versus X had a minimum.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Carbon-based nanoparticles have recently generated a great attention, as they could create polymer nanocomposites with enhanced transport properties, overcoming some limitations of electrically-conductive polymers for high demanding sectors. Particular importance has been given to the protection of electronic components from electromagnetic radiation emitted by other devices. This review considers the recent advances in carbon-based polymer nanocomposites for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. After a revision of the types of carbon-based nanoparticles and respective polymer nanocomposites and preparation methods, the review considers the theoretical models for predicting the EMI shielding, divided in those based on electrical conductivity, models based on the EMI shielding efficiency, on the so-called parallel resistor-capacitor model and those based on multiscale hybrids. Recent advances in the EMI shielding of carbon-based polymer nanocomposites are presented and related to structure and processing, focusing on the effects of nanoparticle’s aspect ratio and possible functionalization, dispersion and alignment during processing, as well as the use of nanohybrids and 3D reinforcements. Examples of these effects are presented for nanocomposites with carbon nanotubes/nanofibres and graphene-based materials. A final section is dedicated to cellular nanocomposites, focusing on how the resulting morphology and cellular structures may generate lightweight multifunctional nanocomposites with enhanced absorption-based EMI shielding properties.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The performance of a photovoltaic solar assisted heat pump (PV-SAHP) with variable-frequency compressor is reported in this paper. The system is a direct integration of photovoltaic/thermal solar collectors and heat pump. The solar collectors extract the required thermal energy from the heat pump and at the same time, the cooling effect of the refrigerant lowers the working temperature of the solar cells. So this combined system has a relatively high thermal performance with an improved photovoltaic efficiency. To adapt to the continuously changing solar radiation and ambient temperature conditions, the refrigerant mass flow rate should match the heat gain at the evaporator accordingly. A variable-frequency compressor and an electricity-operated expansion valve were used in the proposed system. Mathematical models were developed to evaluate the energy performance of the combined system based on the weather conditions of Tibet. The simulation results indicated that on a typical sunny winter day with light breeze, the average COP could reach 6.01, and the average electricity efficiency, thermal efficiency and overall efficiency were 0.135, 0.479 and 0.625 respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The consumption and disposal of rare and hazardous metals contained in electronics and emerging technologies such as photovoltaics increases the material complexity of the municipal waste stream. Developing effective waste policies and material recovery systems is required to inhibit landfilling of valuable and finite resources. This work developed a siting and waste infrastructure configuration model to inform the management and recovery of end-of-life photovoltaics. This model solves the siting and waste location-allocation problem for a New York State case study by combining multi-criteria decision methods with spatial tools, however this methodology is generalizable to any geographic area. For the case study, the results indicate that PV installations are spatially statistically significant (i.e., clustered). At least 9 sites, which are co-located with landfills and current MRFs, were ‘highly’ suitable for siting according to our criteria. After combining criteria in an average weighted sum, 86% of the study area was deemed unsuitable for siting while less than 5% is characterized as highly suitable. This method implicitly prioritized social and environmental concerns and therefore, these concerns accounted for the majority of siting decisions. As we increased the priority of economic criteria, the likelihood of siting near ecologically sensitive areas such as coastline or socially vulnerable areas such as urban centers increased. The sensitivity of infrastructure configurations to land use and waste policy are analyzed. The location allocation model results suggest current tip fees are insufficient to avoid landfilling of photovoltaics. Scenarios where tip fees were increased showed model results where facilities decide to adopt limited recycling technologies that bypass compositionally complex materials; a result with strong implications for global PV installations as well as other waste streams. We suggest a multi-pronged approach that lowers technology cost, imposes a minimum collection rate, and implements higher tip fees would encourage exhaustive material recovery for solar photovoltaic modules at end-of-life, beyond New York State. These results have important implications for policy makers and waste managers especially in locations where there is rapid adoption of renewable energy technologies.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) doped with poly(4-styrenesulphonate) (PSS) has been widely used in light-emitting devices as hole transport layer and in photovoltaic devices as hole-collecting layer. In the present study, various quantum chemical calculations were carried out for the investigation of low-lying excited states of ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT), and styrenesulphonic acid. The lowest adiabatic transition energies were calculated using configuration interaction singles method. The time-dependent density functional theory was also applied for the calculation of the vertical excitation energies. Differential self-consistent-field-based density functional theory method is well known to show good performance for the geometry of excited state and hence it was also applied to study of the first singlet excited state. In addition to the calculation of the monomer, the electronic properties of PEDOT were calculated by periodic density functional theory method and the result is in good agreement with the experimental observation.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Thermoelectric (TE) oxides are paid great attention due to their good thermal stability, but the high lattice thermal conductivity (κ L) largely impedes their further development. In this paper, a Hollandite-type structure and multiple dopants in K x Ti8O16-based oxides are studied to seek for an ultralow κ L. Benefited from the complex crystal structure, a relatively low κ L (2.13 W m−1 K−1 at 373 K) is obtained in K1.78Ti8O16. The Ba dopant can make the [TiO6] octahedra undistorted and increase the Ti3+ amount, leading to a doubled power factor. Meanwhile, the dual-doping effect of Ba and Nb dopants can further decrease the κ L to 0.85 W m−1 K−1. Thus, a competitive zT value of 0.18 is obtained in Ba1.15Ti7.2Nb0.8O16 at 1073 K. This work demonstrates that the TE performance of Hollandite-type oxides deserves to be further studied and a complex crystal structure can be designed to achieve a high zT value.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Recent progresses on the modification of photoanodes and electrolytes related to the concept of oriented nano-channels, and the fabrication of flexible cells aiming at practical application in dye-sensitized solar cells are reported. Some mechanisms of material preparation are analyzed, and perspectives are proposed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A fully automatic system has been designed for the accurate measurement of the DC magnetic properties of soft and hard ferromagnetic materials utilising discrete calibrated instruments in order to provide a traceable calibration route separate from the transfer of standard magnetic test samples. Custom written software is used to operate the system in one of three modes, constant dH/dt, variable dH/dt and a second quadrant demagnetisation curve mode. The first two of these modes are utilised for soft magnetic materials with the second mode varying dH/dt in order to keep dB/dt relatively constant. Both modes use cycle times of between 60 and 300s and may utilise a variety of test configurations including a bar permeameter, electromagnet, ring samples or Epstein frame. The minimum cycle time and the most appropriate mode is dependent on the particular sample and the effect of this on materials with a large dB/dH is significant. Measurements on soft materials include major BH loop, minor BH loops, first-order reversal curves, remanence, coercivity, normal magnetisation curve, peak permeability and loop area. The third mode is used with an electromagnet to measure the demagnetisation curve of hard magnetic materials up to a maximum demagnetisation field of 1.6MA/m. The measurement algorithm modulates dH/dt depending on dB/dt and incorporates holdback in order to accommodate rare earth materials which exhibit high viscosity.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A Cu–Zn–Sn (CZT) precursor film on Mo/soda lime glass was electrochemically co-deposited in a stirred citrate solution and further annealed and selenized at elevated temperatures. Modern x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy methods have been used for determination of the phase composition of as-deposited, preliminary annealed and selenized precursor films. It has been determined that the as-deposited CZT film contains up to four metallic phases: the hexagonal η-Cu6.26Sn5, tetragonal Sn, cubic γ-Cu5Zn8, and cubic β′-CuZn phase. During the CZT preliminary annealing at a temperature of 230 °C pure tin only melted and crystallized into the tetragonal Sn phase when the sample was naturally cooling down. When preliminary annealing was conducted at a temperature of 350 °C the whole pure tin was used for the formation of Sn solid solutions both in η-Cu6.26Sn5 and γ-Cu5Zn8 phases. However, a segregation of Sn was found out after ageing of pre-annealed precursor for 2 days. XRD studies of CZT films selenized at temperatures 350–500 °C have shown that formation of Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) started at temperatures of about 400 °C, however, the selenized film contained a large quantity of ZnSe phase and somewhat less that of CuSe. The amount of ZnSe decreased with selenization temperature until it became undetectable by XRD at a temperature of 500 °C. The paper also deals with the possible routes of Cu2ZnSnSe4 formation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Three new organic small molecules (TPA-DTBT, TPA-DTBT-TH and TPA-DTBT-CAO) containing triphenylamine (TPA) and 4,7-bis(thiophen-2-yl)benzo[1,2,5]thiadiazole (DTBT) moieties with different terminal groups were designed and synthesized. Their thermal, photophysical, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties were investigated. The introduction of 2-ethylhexyl cyanoacetate and 2-tetradecyl thiophene as terminal groups extended molecular π-conjugation length and broadened the absorption spectra. Three small molecules exhibit good solubility in common organic solvents, good film-forming ability, and thermal stability. Bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells based on the blend of small molecule TPA-DTBT and PC61BM showed a power conversion efficiency (η) of 1.85%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "For large commercial buildings, power load delivery limits are contracted with the local electricity distribution utility, and are usually fixed at one or more levels over the year, according to the seasonal building loads, and depending on the specific country regulations. Especially in warm and sunny climates, solar electricity generation using building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) can assist in reducing commercial building loads, offering peak-shaving (power) benefits on top of the on-site generation of electricity (energy). This on-site power delivery capability gives these consumers the possibility of renegotiating demand contracts with their distribution utility. Commercial buildings that operate during daytime quite often have an energy consumption profile that is well matched by solar radiation availability, and depending on the building’s available surface areas, BIPV can generate considerable portions of the energy requirements. In this work we present the role of grid-connected BIPV in reducing the load demands of a large and urban commercial building located in a warm climate in Brazil. The building and adjacent car parking lots can accommodate a 1MWp BIPV generator, which closely matches the building’s typical maximum power demands. Based on real solar radiation data and simultaneous building electricity demands for the year 2007, simulation of the annual solar generation profile of this on-site generator showed that the 1MWp BIPV system could account for around 30% of the total building’s energy consumption. In addition to the energy benefit, maximum power demands were reduced due to a good match between midday air-conditioning cooling loads and solar radiation availability on both a daily and seasonal basis. Furthermore, we have simulated the effect of this considerably large urban-sited generator on the local distribution network load, and have shown that the 1MWp BIPV installation can also offer considerable benefits to the local utility in shaving daytime peak loads at the corresponding feeder.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Mechanical alloying allows to synthesize nanocrystalline powder. In the case of thermoelectric compounds, the very small grain size can enhance the figure of merit by decreasing the thermal lattice conductivity. In this note, we present some preliminary results which we have obtained by applying this technique to CeFe4Sb12, a skuttérudite compound with very promising thermoelectric properties, and the two substituted compounds CeFe3.5Ni0.5Sb12 and CeFe4Sb11Te.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Implantable glucose fuel cells are a promising approach to realize an autonomous energy supply for medical implants that solely relies on the electrochemical reaction of oxygen and glucose. Key advantage over conventional batteries is the abundant availability of both reactants in body fluids, rendering the need for regular replacement or external recharging mechanisms obsolete. Implantable glucose fuel cells, based on abiotic catalysts such as noble metals and activated carbon, have already been developed as power supply for cardiac pacemakers in the late-1960s. Whereas, in vitro and preliminary in vivo studies demonstrated their long-term stability, the performance of these fuel cells is limited to the μW-range. Consequently, no further developments have been reported since high-capacity lithium iodine batteries for cardiac pacemakers became available in the mid-1970s. In recent years research has been focused on enzymatically catalyzed glucose fuel cells. They offer higher power densities than their abiotically catalyzed counterparts, but the limited enzyme stability impedes long-term application. In this context, the trend towards increasingly energy-efficient low power MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) implants has revived the interest in abiotic catalysts as a long-term stable alternative. This review covers the state-of-the-art in implantable abiotically catalyzed glucose fuel cells and their development since the 1960s. Different embodiment concepts are presented and the historical achievements of academic and industrial research groups are critically reviewed. Special regard is given to the applicability of the concept as sustainable micro-power generator for implantable devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "With its rapid economic growth, China is encountering serious environmental problems. As the result of a sharp increase in energy consumption in the past 20 years, large quantities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were released into the environment. PAH concentrations in the atmosphere, water, and soil were increasing year by year. Because the Chinese government had financed many research programmes on the investigation of environmental pollution with PAHs, basic understanding of the pollution patterns and pollution sources of PAHs in China was achieved. In this paper, PAH pollution in the atmosphere, water and sediment, and soil and plants was reviewed. Comparisons of literature values of PAHs in China and those of western countries show that PAH pollution in China is more serious than in other countries. PAHs concentrations in atmosphere, water, sediment and soil in China were in the range of 60–2900ngm−3, 1–98μgl−1, and 0.005–182μgg−1, respectively. The identification of sources of PAHs in different environmental media revealed that atmospheric PAHs come from primarily coal combustion and petrogenic sources; and water and soil PAH pollution from atmospheric deposition, industrial wastewater discharge, and wastewater irrigation. The environmental pollution of PAHs in water and soil also caused the bioaccumulation of PAHs in fish, bivalves, vegetables and agriculture plants. The human health risks of PAH pollution in China need to be more extensively investigated in the future.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In engineering practice, air conditioning systems are not regulated according to the accurate real-time thermal sensation of occupants, which not only hinders improving the thermal comfort of the indoor environment but also wastes the energy of air conditioning systems. To introduce human thermal comfort in real-time into the intelligent control of air conditioning systems, this paper develops a mobile app and data management system for the intelligent control of the indoor thermal environment with three key components: the phone app, server and database. Function tests of the six modules are carried out to verify the stability and usability of system. A comparative experiment between wearable sensing of thermal sensation control based on this system and traditional temperature set value control under summer conditions is then conducted to verify the feasibility of the system. Under wearable sensing of thermal sensation control, the average indoor temperature setting value is 27.5 °C with an average satisfaction score of 5.50, which is higher than the average indoor temperature setting values of 26.3 °C and average satisfaction score of 4.65 under traditional temperature set point-based control. It means that the subject's thermal preference is met while achieving energy savings. The system proposed herein offers a new way to solve the problem of the disconnection between the intelligent control of air conditioning and the actual thermal sensation of occupants.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The effect of small concentration of dispersed prussian blue (PB) [in solid polymer electrolyte viz polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with phosphoric acid] on the photocurrents were studied (in wet state and in dry state of solid polymer electrolyte) in solid state photocells fabricated using conducting polypyrrole (PPy). These exhibit good photoresponse to visible light: photocurrents being 20 to 25 times greater than the dark currents depending upon the concentration of the sensitizer. The current–voltage (I–V) characteristics in such cells reveals that the charge transport is mainly governed by the space charge effects and the sensitization effects are due to the lowering of the potential barrier formed at the polypyrrole (PPy)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) interface under photoexcitation. Also, sensitization effects were studied in the wet state and in dry state of solid polymer electrolyte (PVA). It has been observed that the moisture content in the solid polymer electrolyte reduces the photosensitivity factor (S=I l/I d, where I l is the light current and I d is the dark current), since it increases the ionic conductivity in the solid polymer electrolyte thereby increasing the dark current values which results in overall decrease in the photosensitivity factor (S). The importance of the other factors such as dye concentration, dye aggregation etc. have been explained on the basis of the experimental observations. The sensitization effects are explained on the basis of the energy band diagram of the materials forming the photocells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a promising technology to generate bioelectricity from biomass feedstocks at mild operating temperature and pressure conditions. Despite promising progress in MFC systems, their commercialization has been a major challenge, mainly due to the high cost of components, limited power generation, and lower efficiency. Thus, developing economically viable and environmentally benign electrode and membrane materials that would substantially reduce the manufacturing cost and boost the performance of MFC systems is crucial. Hence, this review aims to highlight the opportunities of using abundantly available waste biomass resources to address the challenges of economic viability and low power productivity of MFC systems. In this stride, the potential of utilization of biomass waste as membrane constituents, electrode materials, and feedstock sources that would enable large-scale commercialization of MFC systems is discussed. Moreover, the study also reviews recent advances in systematic power management and optimization techniques to boost the overall power productivity and efficiency of MFC systems. Based on the comprehensive review made, it is observed that converting biomass waste resources to biochar or activated carbon for direct application as an electrode or electrode coating can decrease its cost by up to 90%. Furthermore, waste biomass-derived biochar can significantly lower the manufacturing costs of the membrane by up to 39 times. The optimum power management configurations are also proposed based on the analysis of the key factors, including the ability to boost low or ultra-low input voltage, the amount of output voltage, and the charging rate. The challenges and limitations of using waste biomass resources in MFC systems are outlined to enlighten future research directions in this domain.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Structural, mechanical, electronic, magnetic and thermoelectric characteristics of Ba2CaMO6 (M = Re, Os) double perovskites have been calculated using first-principle based full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) approach. Optimized ground-state lattice constants of the compounds are in fair resemblance with the respective available experimentally investigated data. Calculated elastic constants and moduli show mechanical stability, anisotropy, ductility and significant stiffness. Computed spin-polarized electronic properties with a diversity of exchange-correlation potential schemes have revealed their half-metallic nature. Estimated spin magnetic moments indicate their ferromagnetic nature with major contributions from the 5d state of transition elements Re and Os. The present study has projected both the perovskite compounds as prospective magnetic materials for a variety of half-metallic, ferromagnetic and spintronic applications. Calculated thermoelectric parameters have predicted their scope of thermoelectric applications in high temperature waste heat management.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The nuclear fuel cycle comprises the handling of all fissile and fertile material necessary for nuclear power production and of the radioactive products formed in this process (Fig. 21.1). The fuel cycle is suitably divided into a front end and a back end part, where the nuclear power station is the dividing line. The front end comprises uranium exploration, mining, and refining (§14.2.4), isotope enrichment (§3.8), and fuel element fabrication (§21.1). Reactor operation involves fuel behaviour during operation, canning corrosion etc., while the back end involves reprocessing and radioactive waste (\"radwaste\") handling. Health and environmental aspects are important in all these steps, but being of a more general nature (see Ch. 15 and 22), they are not considered as \"steps\" in the nuclear fuel cycle.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ▸ Synthesis of oxygen free PbTe nanostructure by ion beam mixing. ▸ Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy are used to characterize the structures. ▸ Unstable growth and rapid roughening of surface is observed under SHI irradiation. ▸ The values of exponents obtained from the experiment are different from those predicted by universality classes.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The two-dimensional (2D) material PbSnS2, a type of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD), is a highly anisotropic layered compound with potential applications in ultrafast optics. We prepared PbSnS2 nanosheets by liquid phase exfoliation, attached them to microfibers to fabricate saturable absorbers (SAs) by optical deposition method, and successfully applied them to a passive erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL). In addition, the saturable absorption properties of PbSnS2-based SA were confirmed using a balanced two-detector measurement system. The results demonstrate that the PbSnS2-based SA can realize different stable mode-locked states in the same EDFL cavity, including fundamental frequency conventional soliton and 15th harmonic mode-locked states. Among them, the laser produced fundamental frequency mode-locked state with a signal-to-noise ratio of 59.51 dB (6.58 MHz repetition frequency). The HML pulse with a maximum repetition frequency of 98.71 MHz (corresponding to the 15th harmonic) was obtained. The results demonstrate that PbSnS2 is a candidate material for generating ultrafast pulses and has excellent potential for application in ultrafast lasers.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Renewable energy systems, such as photovoltaic and wind-turbine energy systems, are considered to be environmentally sound from the viewpoint of carbon-dioxide emissions and resource depletion. The cost of energy supplied from renewable energy systems is higher than that of conventional fossil-fuel systems, and this hinders the wider spread of renewable-energy systems. Global environmental problems, however, are becoming more obvious. There is a movement to defray the additional cost of electricity generated in environmentally-sound processes. In this paper, we report the results of a survey using the contingent valuation method (CVM) of the willingness of Japanese households to pay more, in the form of a flat monthly surcharge, for renewable energy. The median value of willingness to pay for renewable energy by Japanese households is estimated at about 2000 yen (around 17 US$ with the exchange rate 115 yen/US$) per month per household.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Different methodologies of education for sustainability have raised environmental awareness in schools. However, these studies have barely considered the effect of emotions in transforming students’ environmental behaviour. This paper analyses how education for sustainability and environmental emotions affects students’ sustainable behaviour in three secondary schools in Spain. Based on participatory learning methods, 215 students took part in a pilot project. Using structural equation modelling, a longitudinal study along the 2018 and 2019 were presented in the paper. Theoretical and empirical learning activities were designed by schools’ board of directors and parent board with the effective collaboration of environmental companies near the three schools. Findings reveal the key role that emotions play in transforming students’ environmental behaviour.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Single crystals of Gd3(Al,Ga)5O12 (GAGG) doped with Er3+ or Yb3+ ions and co-doped with Er3+ and Yb3+ ions were grown successfully by the Czochralski technique. Their optical properties were investigated in detail. Rates of radiative transitions, branching ratio values and radiative lifetimes for excited multiplets of incorporated Er3+ were determined based on the Judd–Ofelt treatment of optical absorption spectra recorded at room temperature. Obtained parameters Ω t (t=2, 4, and 6) are 1.47×10−20 cm2, 1.38×10−20 cm2, and 1.19×10−20 cm2 respectively. Low energy crystal levels of Er3+ in GAGG were determined employing absorption and luminescence spectra recorded at 5K. Consequently, the energy diagram constructed was used to substantial discussion of obtained experimental data. Up-conversion of infrared radiation at 980nm into visible emission in crystals co-doped with erbium and ytterbium was observed and discussed. It was concluded that gathered spectroscopic data point at the potential of the GAGG:Yb3+, Er3+ system for application as a laser active material operating around 1500nm within the 4I13/2→4I15/2 transition of Er3+.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Oxide heterojunctions made of p-type La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 (LSMO) and niobium-doped n-type SrTiO3 (STO:Nb) have been fabricated by the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique and characterized under UV light irradiation by measuring the current–voltage, photovoltaic properties and the junction capacitance. It is shown that the heterojunctions work as an efficient UV photodiode, in which photogenerated holes in the STO:Nb substrate are injected to the LSMO film. The maximum surface hole density Q/e and external quantum efficiency γ are estimated to be 8.3×1012 cm−2 and 11% at room temperature, respectively. They are improved significantly in a p–i–n junction of LSMO/STO/STO:Nb, where Q/e and γ are 3.0×1013 cm−2 and 27%, respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highly nanocrystalline mesoporous NiO with narrow monomodal pore size distribution was synthesized for the first time under mild conditions through a facile route of modified sol–gel process with surfactant-assisted templating technique. By controlling the hydrolysis and condensation steps of nickel methoxypropylate modified with acetylacetone in the presence of laurylamine hydrochloride surfactant aqueous solution, the nanocrystalline NiO with monomodal mesoporous characteristic could be finally attained. The synthesized material was methodically characterized by thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption–desorption, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis, Barrett–Joyner–Halenda (BJH) pore size distribution analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and selected-area electron diffraction (SAED). The particle size of the synthesized NiO in nanosized range obtained from the SEM and TEM micrographs agreed well with the crystallite size estimated from the XRD pattern. N2 adsorption–desorption isotherm and SEM observation verified that the synthesized NiO possessed mesoporous structure. The exhibiting hysteresis pattern of the isotherm with single loop further indicated the existence of monomodal mesopore. The extremely narrow pore size distribution with mean pore diameter in the mesopore region of the synthesized NiO nanocrystal was also confirmed by the BJH analysis.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a molecular biological method for the in vitro amplification of nucleic acid molecules. Using a cycle of thermally controlled reaction steps, a start molecule can be multiplied cycle by cycle up to factors of about 109. An efficient PCR relies particularly on fast heating and cooling processes, high temperature uniformity and small-sized devices. Here miniaturized thermocyclers show important advantages. Silicon-based thermocyclers with one, two, and ten chambers for volumes in the microlitre range have been prepared in order to realize fast thermocycling by high heating and cooling rates. The presented chip elements have dimensions of 20 mm × 18 mm and a weight of about 1 g.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper applies the combined Pinch and Exergy Approach in analysing the operation and design of a typical steam power plant. This work quantifies the total, avoidable an unavoidable exergy loss for the equipment, which means, the potential for equipment improvement. On the other hand, the analysis of cross pinch heat transfer in the process identifies additional losses of energy due to the inefficient design of the heat recovery system. Results from this work show that the elimination of cross pinch heat transfer in the process operation conditions will allow an increment of 0.81% (from 29.48% to 30.30%) on the cycle efficiency and a reduction of 2.4% on the cooling water required (from 5032 t/h to 4914 t/h). This indicates that even when the plant efficiency can be improved by using new or rehabilitated equipment, some energy losses could remain due to an inefficient thermal integration.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Cost calculation conundrums part 3: Today, Solar Photovoltaics (PV) is rubbing shoulders with wind power as the renewable energy technology of… …choice for many, despite its higher cost in many scenarios. So could PV really be a champion for the next decade? Gail Rajgor continues her look into renewable energy costs.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Two novel narrow bandgap conjugated polymers containing phenanthro-pyrazine unit have been successfully synthesized by the Stille coupling reaction. Comparing to the common polymers containing dithiophen-quinoxaline or dithiophen-thieno[3,4-b]pyrazine moiety, the conjugation degree of these new polymers is extended through the direction perpendicular to the main chain by introducing phenanthrene-9,10-dione to maintain a rigid conjugated bridge. The obtained polymers exhibit solution-processing ability, high thermal stabilities, broad visible absorption bands and narrow optical bandgaps. Theoretical studies disclose that the P2 exhibits wholly coplanar conformation in 1-D and 2-D direction, and the PCE value is 6-folded higher than P1 under the same photovoltaic measurement condition.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The synthesis, characterization, and photovoltaic properties of a deep blue polyplatinyne are described, which shows a narrow bandgap of 1.76eV due to the substantial donor–acceptor features along the main chain. It can give rise to photovoltaic spectral responses in the visible region at about 565nm in bulk-heterojunction polymer solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • A novel MPPT method is proposed from the input characteristics of PV systems. • According to the design idea of this method, the MPP can be successfully tracked by tracking the output voltage of PV cells. • The rapidity tracking MPP has been greatly improved by this method. • The relationships between weather parameters and control signal have been found out.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Delamination and buckling of a thin film thermoelectric generator composed of pn-junction are examined. • Strong nonlinear relationship between the temperature field and the electric current field are considered. • Delamination energy release rate for different temperature loads and electric current densities are obtained. • Critical temperature difference of delamination and buckling initiations are identified.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Al/p-Si/copper phthalocyanine photovoltaic device has been fabricated and characterised by current–voltage and capacitance–voltage measurements. Electrical properties of the device were determined by current–voltage characterizations under dark and illumination conditions. The density distribution of the interface states of the photodiode was found to vary from 8.88×1012 eV−1 cm−2 in E ss -0.54eV to 4.51×1012 eV−1 cm−2 in E ss -0.61eV. The device shows a photovoltaic behaviour with a maximum open circuit voltage Voc of 0.16V and short-circuits current I sc of 0.45μA under 3500lux light intensity.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "With the encouragement from renewable energies, elements of the electrical system are magnified which make possible a suitable connection to the electrical network. Among others, energy storage systems (ESSs) are emphasized because of their impact. This article discusses two essential aspects to take into account for an ESS, that is the regulatory framework and the economic aspect. In particular, it focuses on superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) in the Spanish electrical system. An analysis is performed on the legislation and regulations that apply to energy storage systems, which may affect in a direct or indirect manner its inclusion. This is accompanied by an analysis of the legislation in different countries to assess the situation in Spain in this regard, by comparison. Another point to take into consideration, which is crucial for the correct development and inclusion of this type of elements, is the economic viability- showing the costs of manufacturing and maintenance of these systems. Although it is necessary to keep investigating to lower the costs, economic benefits are appreciated, among other things, owing to the increase of the reliability of the electrical network. This increase of the reliability is resultant from a decrease of the cuts of service and the improvement of the quality of the energy.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Bimodal mesoporous, anatase TiO2 microspheres with particle sizes ranging from 0.3 to 2μm were synthesized using a facile solvothermal method. The photovoltaic performance of TiO2 microspheres in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) using a solid state electrolyte was investigated. The solid state electrolyte DSSC device based on the TiO2 microspheres exhibits an energy conversion efficiency of 4.2%, which is greater than that of commercial P25 TiO2 (3.6%). The higher photocurrent density was primarily achieved as a result of the greater specific surface area and pore size, which resulted in an increase in the dye uptake of the TiO2 microspheres and easy transport of solid electrolyte through mesopores. In addition, the greater electron lifetime and superior light scattering ability also enhanced the photovoltaic performance of the TiO2 microsphere-based, solid state DSSCs.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The present study experimentally investigates a novel type of battery thermal management system that works based on water cooling and thermoelectric cooling (Peltier effect). In the current proposed system, water cooling is targeted by a number of thermoelectric coolers (TEC) and the temperature of the hot side of the TECs is controlled by the RT35 phase change material (PCM). To conduct a comparison, the results are compared with the case in which the hot side of the TECs' temperature is managed using forced convection (FC) driven by fans. Moreover, the variations of TECs number, assuming constant applied power are examined. Results indicated that the thermoelectric module is considerably effective on controlling the battery pack temperature. Such that, after 90 min of the initiation of the experiment, the cases of 2TEC which benefit from FC and PCM reduce the battery pack temperature 11.3 °C and 17.75 °C respectively in comparison with the system without a cooling device. The obtained results show that the implementation of PCM in comparison with FC is more effective on controlling the temperature of the battery pack simulator (BPS). In other words, the temperatures of the battery pack for the PCM cases are 4.1 °C to 12.64 °C lower than that of the corresponding FC cases. Results also indicated that the coefficient of performance of the system is proportionally related to the number of the cooling modules and is inversely affected when the applied power to the thermoelectric module rises. Results also revealed that among the cases, in 14 conditions the temperature of the battery pack lowers to a value <40°C; 9 cases of which contains PCM and 5 systems benefits from FC cooling. The best case among the studied ones is 3TEC/P2/PCM which suggests maximum battery temperature of 37.8 °C, 12.4 W power consumption and 3.23 coefficient of performance.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Lifecycle impacts of photovoltaic (PV) plants have been largely explored in several studies. However, the end-of-life phase has been generally excluded or neglected from these analyses, mainly because of the low amount of panels that reached the disposal yet and the lack of data about their end of life. It is expected that the disposal of PV panels will become a relevant environmental issue in the next decades. This article illustrates and analyses an innovative process for the recycling of silicon PV panel. The process is based on a sequence of physical (mechanical and thermal) treatments followed by acid leaching and electrolysis. The Life Cycle Assessment methodology has been applied to account for the environmental impacts of the process. Environmental benefits (i.e. credits) due to the potential productions of secondary raw materials have been intentionally excluded, as the focus is on the recycling process. The article provides transparent and disaggregated information on the end-of-life stage of silicon PV panel, which could be useful for other LCA practitioners for future assessment of PV technologies. The study highlights that the impacts are concentrated on the incineration of the panel׳s encapsulation layers, followed by the treatments to recover silicon metal, silver, copper, aluminium. For example around 20% of the global warming potential impact is due to the incineration of the sandwich layer and 30% to the post-incineration treatments. Transport is also relevant for several impact categories, ranging from a minimum of about 10% (for the freshwater eutrophication) up to 80% (for the Abiotic Depletion Potential – minerals).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A new method for the synthesis of uniform silver nanoparticles using a single silver reduction step is presented. Fine control over the nanoparticle's size is achieved by varying the concentration of tannic acid, one of the reducing agents, resulting in uniform nanoparticles in the range of 18nm to 30nm in diameter with a standard deviation of less than 15%. Changes in the optical properties of the nanoparticles are correlated with their diameter. As the diameter increases the absorption peak is red-shifted. Specifically, for six different sizes of nanoparticles, ranging from 18nm to 30nm in diameter, a red-shift from 401nm to 410nm in the absorption peaks is measured. In addition, the extinction coefficient increases as the third power of the nanoparticle radius. Rhodamine 123 adsorbed to 30nm silver nanoparticles exhibits characteristic Raman spectrum suggesting that these nanoparticles are efficient substrate for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The IEC standards relevant to photovoltaic technology are reviewed. A short historical background of the development of TC82 within IEC is given. The standards relevant for the following areas are reviewed and discussed in detail: performance and calibration, reliability, energy rating and concentrating terrestrial PV. In the outlook the future development in this field is outlined. The appendix contains a detailed list of all relevant IEC standards published as well as standardization work currently in progress.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We demonstrate that the electronic, thermal, and optical properties of a graphene bilayer with boron and nitrogen dopant atoms can be controlled by the interlayer distance between the layers in which the interaction energy and the van der Waals interaction between the dopant atoms play an essential role. We find a conversion of an AA-to an AB-stacked bilayer graphene caused by the repulsive interaction between dopant atoms. At a short interlayer distance, a strong repulsive interaction inducing a strong electric dipole moment of the dopant atoms is found. This gives rise to a breaking of the high symmetry, opening up a bandgap. Consequently, a considerable change in thermoelectric properties such as the Seebeck coefficient and the figure of merit are seen. The repulsive interaction is reduced by increasing the interlayer distance, and at a large interlayer distance the conversion process of the stacking order vanishes. A small bandgap is found leading to a low Seebeck coefficient and a figure of merit. For both short and large interlayer distances, a prominent peak in the optical response is found in the visible range and the peak position is inversely proportional to the interlayer distance.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Thermal resistance model of hybrid PV-TE system is developed. • High concentration ratio and small temperature coefficient of PV cells are deal for the hybrid system. • Thermal resistance of heat sink is the dominant parameter in the hybrid system. • Power output of PV-TE is 1.24–2.85% higher than PV alone though the cell temperature of PV-TE is higher.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "An emerging trend in Canada is the creation of community energy plans, where decisions that used to be left to regional level energy agencies or private individuals are now being considered at the community level. A desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to become more energy self-sufficient is driving this change. Theoretically, local level management is desirable because it achieves these goals through improvements in the three areas of energy efficiency, energy conservation and switching to renewable energy sources. The analysis of 10 of the first community energy plans in Canadian communities, ranging in population size from 500 to one million, finds that communities are choosing policies and programs centred on increasing energy efficiency and conservation while renewable energy receives much less attention. Municipal operations were called upon to set higher targets than the general community. Communities that recognized the substantial potential of renewable energy often focused on technologies that the municipal sector could implement, such as bio-fuels for their transportation fleet. Wind, passive solar design, solar photovoltaics and solar thermal options were only recommended in a few cases. Overall, only one of the five larger communities (Calgary) recommended implementing multiple renewable energy technologies while three of the five smaller communities proposed multiple renewable energy sources. The implication is that smaller and more remote communities may be the most willing to lead in the planned introduction of renewable energy systems.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents an investigation into the use of thin films of silicon oxide and silicon nitride as anti-reflection coatings to minimise the reflection losses of incident solar insolation on silicon photovoltaic cells. The total theoretical reflectance under two insolation cases is investigated. Firstly, with AM 1.5 direct beam radiation at normal incidence, as is usually simulated, and secondly, with the direct beam simulated over a full day. Ensuring that a minimum silicon oxide layer of 20nm is deposited on the silicon wafer for surface passivation, variations in optimised film thicknesses between both simulations were approximately 4%. The theoretical results also showed a strong correlation to experimental results for the normal incident case. The results demonstrate that surfaces optimised for normally incident radiation are adequate for non-tracking photovoltaic cells under real conditions. The seasonal variations of an optimised surface showed variations in a performance of less than 0.1%. We have also demonstrated that the excellent surface passivation obtained with a thin thermal oxide is maintained after depositing a silicon nitride layer using low-pressure chemical vapour deposition.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Investigations by the neutron and X-ray diffraction methods and by resistivity, thermoelectric power, Hall effect and magnetic susceptibility measurements have shown three distinct superconducting plateaux depending on the decreasing oxygen content. The first two plateaux correspond to T c of about 80 K (6.89 > y > 6.75) and 50 K (6.75 > y > 6.50) and are associated with the Ortho I and II structures which are characterized with infinite CuO chains. The third plateau corresponds to macroscopically tetragonal phase with T c = 25 K (6.50 > y > 6.40) and is possibly associated with formation of the CuOCu dimers. For five selected samples (y = 6.13−6.89), a complete structural determination was achieved by neutron diffraction. The experiments were performed at room temperature on the diffractometer KSN-2 in Rez near Prague using the neutron wavelength of 0.1365 nm and the arrangement of the best resolution (Δd/d = 0.007 in the minimum). The oxygen content y per formula unit of Y0.8Ca0.2Ba2Cu3O y was estimated under the assumption of a linear relationship between the y value and the c lattice parameter. This correlation was deduced from the neutron diffraction results on selected samples completed with the value of the c-parameter of 1.1800 nm which was observed for a series of maximum reduction identified with stoichiometry y = 6.0.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In Chapter 2 we analyze impact of the lattice oscillations on forming the thermal flux in two-dimensional (2D) crystals. We began with describing the quantization of lattice oscillations and phonons in 2D crystals. Then, using the phonon Boltzmann equation, we defined the lattice thermal conductivity in terms of the phonon relaxation rates and the phonon group velocity. These allow formulating a model of lattice oscillations in 2D materials. As a relevant example, we considered the long-wavelength phonons in carbon nanotubes. Furthermore, the microscopic model of phonons in graphene in terms of the effective mass equations was delineated. The other relevant important subjects, determining the phonon thermal component in 2D crystals are the electron–phonon interaction, the deformation potential model, the relationship between the electron–phonon scattering and resistivity.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this Letter, we propose a mixed-charge model to explain the sign reversals of Hall resistivity for p-type high T c superconductors in the mixed state. The applied field vs temperature boundaries separating positive and negative Hall resistivities would be suppressed in both the underdoped and overdoped regimes, and the suppression is more severe in the overdoped regime. Although flux pinning damps the magnitude of Hall resistivity, from both positive and negative sides, it does not change either the temperature or the applied field values where the Hall resistivity changes sign.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter is in two parts. The first part deals with the basic concepts of automatic process control. The second part is about the physical elements that constitute the control system. Two control strategies, namely feedback control and feed-forward control methods, are described and their comparative merits and shortcomings discussed. Systems are characterized by their response (output) to signals (input). On–off, proportional, differential and integral control modes and their combinations are described, with emphasis on their practical application. The second part is about sensors (measuring instruments for temperature, pressure, level, flow-rate, density, color, composition), controllers and actuators.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This Letter focuses on the first results of carbon nanotubes coated by ferroelectric copolymer. Thin films of copolymer guest/host carbon nanotube have been used as nanocomposite material. The known polyvinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene poly(VDF–co–TrFE) copolymer was used as the host matrix and the guest was the single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT). The homogenous solution of nanocomposite was prepared from two independent suspensions in which two solvents were used without any problem of sedimentation. The measurements were taken on guest/host films to obtain information on the possible interactions between those materials and on the organization of SWCNT in the copolymer matrix. Also a novel procedure to improve solubility of SWCNT and to obtain nanotube/copolymer complex efficiently. This kind of nanocomposite is expected to find potential applications in actuators and nanomechanical system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Partial oxidation of hydrocarbons under well-controlled conditions opens a path to higher-value chemicals from natural gas with small exergy losses if the chemical conversion proceeds in an internal combustion engine as a polygeneration process (Gossler et al., 2015). For the relevant reaction conditions, kinetics models are not sufficiently validated due to the atypical reaction conditions, e.g., high equivalence ratios and pressures. The purpose of this study is to obtain experimental validation data for chemical reaction mechanisms that can be used to predict polygeneration processes in practical applications. In case of methane these processes proceed under fuel-rich conditions and yield primarily syngas (CO/H2). In this study, the partial oxidation of methane was investigated for an equivalence ratio of ϕ =2 in a shock-tube and a plug-flow reactor (PFR) in order to cover a wide temperature range. Time-resolved CO mole fractions were measured in shock-heated mixtures between 1600 and 2100K at ∼1bar. Good agreement was found between the experiment and the models (Yasunaga et al., 2010; Burke et al., 2015; Zhao et al., 2008). Stable reaction products were monitored by time-of-flight mass spectrometry between 532 and 992K at 6bar in a tubular flow reactor at reaction times >4s. The influence of dimethyl ether (DME) and n-heptane addition on methane reactivity and conversion was investigated. The additives significantly lower the initial reaction temperature by producing significant amounts of OH. The results were compared to simulations and serve as validation data for the development of reaction mechanisms for these atypical reaction conditions. Good agreement was found between the experiment and the models for most of species.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The quantum electrical and thermal transport properties of band-to-band tunneling are studied in the van der Waals (vdW) vertical MoS2/WTe2 nanoribbon heterojunction as well as the lateral MoS2/WTe2 heterojunction. The computational method is based on the Green's function method within the tight-binding approach in the coherent regime. The numerical results show distinct properties, such as a noticeable rectification ratio (RR) and a negative differential resistance (NDR). This device can act as a vertical tunneling transistor structure. Besides, the MoS2/WTe2 nanoribbon devices with the armchair termination exhibit the highest value of the Z T e at μ = ± 0.72 eV leading to their improved thermoelectric properties. Our findings about the hybrid heterostructures thus shed a new light toward extend the applications of 2D monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TDMs) materials in electronic and optoelectronic devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, an attempt is made to evaluate the exergetic performance of a solar photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) air collector. A detailed energy and exergy analysis is carried out to calculate the thermal and electrical parameters, exergy components and exergy efficiency of a typical PV/T air collector. Some corrections are done on related heat loss coefficients. An improved electrical model is used to estimate the electrical parameters of a PV/T air collector. Further, a modified equation for the exergy efficiency of a PV/T air collector is derived in terms of design and climatic parameters. A computer simulation program is also developed to calculate the thermal and electrical parameters of a PV/T air collector. The results of numerical simulation are in good agreement with the experimental measurements noted in the previous literature. Finally, parametric studies have been carried out. It is observed that the modified exergy efficiency obtained in this paper is in good agreement with the one given by the previous literature. It is also found that the thermal efficiency, electrical efficiency, overall energy efficiency and exergy efficiency of PV/T air collector is about 17.18%, 10.01%, 45% and 10.75% respectively for a sample climatic, operating and design parameters.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper deals with a new hybridly powered photovoltaic-fuel cell - Li-ion battery integrated system and is compared to a base system, consisting of PEM fuel cell and Li-ion battery. It investigates the effects of adding photovoltaic arrays to the base system and further effects on the overall energy and exergy efficiencies and hence hydrogen consumption. These two systems are analyzed and assessed both energetically and exergetically. The study results show that the overall energy and exergy efficiencies become 39.46% and 56.3%, respectively at a current density of 1150mA/cm2 for system 1 (fuel cell-battery). Moreover, energy and exergy efficiencies are found to be 39.86% and 56.63% at current density of 1150mA/cm2 for system 2 (fuel cell-battery-photovoltaics). Utilizing photovoltaic arrays in system 2 would recover 561g of hydrogen through 3h of continuous driving at max power of 98.32kW, which is approximately 11.2% of the hydrogen storage tank used in the proposed systems. The effects of changing various system parameters on energy and exergy efficiencies of the overall system are also examined.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films have been successfully deposited onto ultra clean glass substrates using spray pyrolysis technique. The characterizations of these films regarding structure, morphology, optical absorption and electrical transport were carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, Optical absorption spectroscopy and current–voltage measurements. XRD, TEM and HRTEM showed that the samples have a tetragonal structure and a polycrystalline nature with an average crystallite size of ∼3.4nm. SEM analysis reveals a compact surface morphology with slightly rough surface. Optical measurements showed a direct band gap of 1.56eV and absorption coefficient >104 cm−1, which are optimal for low cost solar cells. The weak absorption below the band gap edge was observed and described by Urbach band tail rule. Dc electrical resistivity of films, in temperature range 10–300K, was found to arise due to variable range hopping conduction mechanism. Using the percolation theory and the diffusion model, the density of states near the Fermi level was calculated. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra exhibit the presence of broad emission band at 1.33eV.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Photoinduced vibrational bands of poly(3-octylthiophene), P3OT, have been studied at room temperature by using time-resolved FTIR spectroscopy (TR-FTIRS) in the nanosecond to microsecond time domain. A photo-bleach occurs in the deformation band of CSC at 1463–1419 cm−1, and a few transient absorption bands occur at lower frequency (e.g. ∼1290 cm−1). The transient absorption band at 1290 cm−1 shows a signal exponential formation occurring in <200 ns, and a double exponential decay process, with lifetimes of 53 and 788 μs. Adding Fe2O3 nanoparticle into the polymer composite significantly enhances the photoinduced signal, indicating the interaction between polymer and nanoparticle. The dynamics of these photoinduced species on the nanosecond to microsecond time scale are discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, CdS and Cu doped CdS films (at the Cu percentages of 1, 3 and 5) have been deposited onto glass substrates at 350±5°C by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique and their application potential for photovoltaic solar cells have been investigated. Optical properties and thicknesses of the films have been investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). Ellipsometric angle ψ was used as the source point for optical characterizations. The optical constants (n and k) and the thicknesses of the films have been fitted according to Cauchy model. Also, optical properties of the produced films have been analyzed by transmittance and reflectance spectra. Refractive index (n), extinction coefficient (k) and reflectance (R) spectra have been taken by spectroscopic ellipsometer, while transmittance spectra have been taken by UV/vis spectrophotometer. The optical method has been used to determine the band gap type and value of the films. Mott-Schottky (M-S) measurements have been made to determine the conductivity type and carrier concentration of the films. Samples showed n-type conductivity and carrier concentration of undoped CdS sample was found to be 1.19×1019 cm−3. Also, it was concluded that Cu doping has an acceptor effect in CdS samples. From the results of these investigations, the application potential of CdS:Cu films for photovoltaic solar cells as window layer was searched.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) assembled in hydrophobic domain by fatty acid with long alkyl hydrocarbon chain such as myristic acid (Myr), stearic acid (Ste) and cholic acid (Cho) modified onto nanocrystalline TiO2 electrode is prepared and the photovoltaic properties of the nanocrystalline TiO2 film by Chl-a are studied. Incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE) value at 660nm in photocurrent action spectrum of Chl-a/Ste-TiO2, Chl-a/Myr-TiO2 and Chl-a/Cho-TiO2 electrodes are 5.0%, 4.1% and 4.1%, respectively. Thus, the IPCE is maximum using Chl-a/Ste-TiO2 electrode. From the results of photocurrent responses with light intensity of 100mWcm−2 irradiation or monochromatic light with 660nm, generated photocurrent increases using Chl-a/Ste-TiO2 electrode compared with the other Chl-a assembled TiO2 electrodes. These results show that the hydrophobic domain formed by stearic acid with long alkyl hydrocarbon chain is suitable for fixation of Chl-a onto TiO2 film electrodes and photovoltaic performance is improved using Chl-a onto Ste-TiO2 film electrode.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • We describe methods for construction of a system for single-cell transgene induction in C. elegans. • We use a pulsed infrared diode laser to heat a single cell. • The system is built from only off-the-shelf components.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thin films of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 were fabricated by evaporation from ternary CuGaSe2 and CuInSe2 compounds for photovoltaic device applications and their properties were investigated. From XRF analysis, the Cu:(In+Ga):Se atomic ratio in all thin films was approximately 1:1:2. The Ga/(In+Ga) atomic ratio in the thin films changed linearly from 0 to 1.0 with increasing the [CGS]/([CGS]+[CIS]) mole ratio in the evaporating materials. However, for thin films prepared at the [CGS]/([CGS]+[CIS]) mole ratio above 0.4, the composition by EPMA analysis was not consistent with that by XRF analysis. The result of EPMA analysis showed that the surface of a thin film was Cu-rich. XRD studies demonstrated that the thin films prepared at the [CGS]/([CGS]+[CIS]) mole ratio under 0.2 had a chalcopyrite Cu(In,Ga)Se2 structure and the preferred orientation to the 112 plane. On the other hand, XRD patterns of the thin films produced at the [CGS]/([CGS]+[CIS]) mole ratio above 0.6 showed the diffraction lines from a chalcopyrite Cu(In,Ga)Se2 and a foreign phase. The separation of a peak was observed near 2θ=27°, indicative the graded Ga concentration in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin film.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We designed a model of In x Ga1− x N tandem structure made of N successive p–n junctions going from two junctions for the less sophisticated structure to six junctions for the most sophisticated. We simulated the photocurrent density and the open-circuit voltage of each structure under AM 1.5 illumination in goal to optimize the number of successive junctions forming one structure. For each value of N, we assumed that each junction absorbs the photons that are not absorbed by the preceding one. From the repartition of photons in the solar spectrum and starting from the energy gap of GaN, we fixed the gap of each junction that gives the same amount of photocurrent density in the structure. Then we calculated the current density accurately and optimized the thicknesses of p and n layers of each junction to make it give the same output current density. The evaluation of n i : the intrinsic concentration permitted to calculate the saturation current density and the open-circuit voltage of each junction. Assuming an overall fill factor of 80%, we divided the output peak power by the incident solar power and obtained the efficiency of each structure. The numerical values for In x Ga1− x N were taken from the relevant literature. The calculated efficiency goes from 27.49% for the two-junction tandem structure to 40.35% for a six-junction structure. The six-junction In x Ga1− x N tandem structure has an open-circuit voltage of about 5.34V and a short circuit current density of 9.1mA/cm2.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "An important issue in construction of organic photovoltaic cells concerns the selective contacts. Here, especially the modification of the hole-extraction is challenging, as energy levels have to match the polymer's highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO). We took the view to the mutual anode interface and we sought for a solution-based alternative for commonly used PEDOT:PSS – with an eye on improving the hole-extraction with an inorganic interlayer. We present copper iodide (CuI) as a versatile inorganic p-type semiconductor that meets the requirements for enhanced charge extraction in donor polymers. We applied two types of anthracene-containing PPE–PPV block–copolymers that recently gained attention as efficient active absorbers in bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells. We report on the advantages using CuI as hole-selective contact and show an improvement of the power conversion efficiency in polymer-based solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper develops an inverse problem approach to optimize the geometric structure of TECs (thermoelectric coolers). The approach integrates a complete multi-physics TEC model and a simplified conjugate-gradient method. The present TEC model couples the heat and electrical conductions and accounts for all physical mechanisms occurred within TECs. Three geometric parameters, the semiconductor pair number, N, leg length of semiconductor column, H pn, and base area ratio of semiconductor columns to TEC, γ, are optimized simultaneously at fixed current and fixed temperature difference. The cooling rate on the cold end is the objective function to be maximized to obtain the optimal TEC geometry. The effects of applied current and temperature difference on the optimal geometry are discussed. The results show that at temperature difference of 20 K, the geometry optimization increases the TEC cooling rate by 1.99–10.21 times compared with the initial TEC geometry, and the optimal N decreases from 100 to 47 with invariable γ = 0.95 and H pn = 0.2 mm, as the applied current varies from 1.0 A to 3.0 A. With the increase in temperature difference, the optimal N increases at smaller currents of I ≤ 1.0 A, however, it is almost invariable at larger currents of I ≥ 1.5 A.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this report, CdS quantum dots (QDs) and N719/QDs cosensitized solar cells with ZnO/ZnS hierarchical structures as photoanodes are constructed. The ZnO/ZnS hierarchical structures consist of highly oriented ZnO nanorod arrays coated with ZnS nanoparticles (NPs), this construction is efficient on retarding the back transfer of electrons and inhibiting the recombination of electrons at the anode/sensitizers/electrolyte interfaces. The influence of deposition time for CdS QDs on photovoltaic performance of the ZnO/ZnS/CdS electrodes is explored and optimized photovoltaic performance is obtained from the device based on ZnO/ZnS/CdS(12) electrode, with a Voc of 0.66V, a Jsc of 3.66mA/cm2, an FF of 0.48, and a η of 1.16%. The cosensitized solar cell exhibits a 37% enhancement in energy conversion efficiency compared with the device sensitized by CdS QDs only, which is attributed to the higher light absorbance of the cosensitized solar cells than that of CdS sensitized solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The oriented ZnO nanowire-covered TiO2 nanoparticle composite film electrodes were fabricated by screen-printed TiO2 nanoparticle layer on conducting glass and low-temperature hydrothermal growth of ZnO nanowires. The film morphology, composition and crystalline structure were confirmed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectra and X-ray diffraction patterns respectively. Dye-sensitized solar cells based on the composite electrode gained short-circuit current density of 8.04 mA/cm2, open-circuit photovoltage of 0.67 V, fill factor of 0.40, and overall conversion efficiency of 2.15%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The design, fabrication, and initial analysis of a continuous energy harvesting and storage device for wireless sensor applications were undertaken. A Si nanowire-based photovoltaic (PV) device and Li ion battery were integrated onto a single Si substrate. The three terminal device consisted of separate positive terminals for each component and a shared negative electrode. The effect of Li+ incorporation into the planar PV electrode was evaluated. The current–voltage behavior of the PV device was tolerant to high Li+ concentrations. A titanium nitride layer between the battery and PV portions of the shared electrode was shown to be an effective diffusion barrier to Li+ incorporation.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A number of different cycle chemistries, along with an automated thin-layer flow cell electrodeposition system, are described for the formation of CdTe thin film deposits using electrochemical atomic layer epitaxy (EC-ALE). Atomic layer epitaxy (ALE) involves the deposition of a compound one atomic layer at a time, via surface limited reactions, in a repeating cycle. In EC-ALE, underpotential deposition (upd) is used to form the atomic layers. Previous studies of the EC-ALE growth of CdTe have involved a cycle where Cd was deposited by reductive upd, followed by oxidative upd of Te from an acidic (pH 2.0) solution. In the present study, basic (pH 10.2) tellurium solutions were investigated in an attempt to use direct reductive upd of Te, as well as reductive upd of Cd. The idea was to simplify the cycle. The deposition in the basic solution is shifted dramatically negative, such that surface limited reductive deposition of Te appears to coincide with potentials used for reductive Cd upd, thus allowing both elements to be reductively deposited in a cycle at similar potentials. Improvements have been made relative to previous deposits reported by this group, such as an increase in the amount deposited per cycle. The old cycle and the H-cell design produced only 0.4 ML per cycle, while our new cycle deposits the expected 1 ML per cycle. However, there were some drawbacks to the new cycle, which was based on the reductive upd formation for both Cd and Te. Even though voltammetry for Te deposition on Au suggests that Te deposits by a surface limited process, it in fact deposits at an overpotential. Therefore, some bulk Te is inevitably deposited along with each Te atomic layer. The amount of bulk deposited is a function of convection in the cell, and thus leads to inhomogeneity in the deposit, something not expected for a purely surface limited process. In order to avoid the traces of bulk Te, the best deposits were formed when the reductive deposition of Te was combined with a bulk Te stripping step to remove excess material. This process is referred to here as oxidative Te upd. The resulting deposits evidenced a predominant  orientation for zinc blende CdTe (from XRD), and a band gap of 1.55 eV (from reflection adsorption measurements), consistent with the literature bandgap for CdTe.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "SnS films were prepared onto the ITO-coated glass substrates by pulse-form electro-deposition. The potential applied to the substrates was of pulse-form and its “on” potential, V on was −0.75 V (vs. SCE )and “off ” potential, V off was varied in the range of −0.1–0.5 V. The SnS films deposited at different V off values were characterized by XRD, EDX, SEM and optical measurements. It shows that all the films are polycrystalline orthorhombic SnS with grain sizes of 21.54–26.93 nm and lattice dimensions of a =0.4426–0.4431 nm, b =1.1124–1.1134 nm and c =0.3970–0.3973 nm, though the V off has some influence on the surface morphology of the films and Sn/S ratio. When V off =0.1–0.3 V, the SnS films have the best uniformity, density and adhesion, and the Sn/S ratio is close to 1/1. The direct band gap of the films was estimated to be between 1.23 and 1.33 eV with standard deviation within ±0.03 eV, which is close to the theoretical value. The SnS films exhibit p-type or n-type conductivity and their resistivity was measured to be 16.8–43.1 Ω cm.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In 2017, environmental taxes on global pollutants (CO2) and local air pollutants (SO2, NOX, and PM) began to be collected to reduce emissions in Chile. However, large emitting sources only are subject to environmental taxes and the tax rates are much lower than the social cost of these pollutants, which does not allow to fully internalize the generated damages. For the above, this study uses the environmental extension of the Leontief price model and microsimulations to estimate the economic, environmental, distributive, and poverty short-term effects associated with the application of Pigouvian taxes on all emissions generated by productive activities. The results show that currently there are too many resources allocated to activities that generate strong negative externalities, mainly in the electricity and transport sectors. Specifically, the emissions are reduced almost 10 times more than in the current tax scenario if environmental taxes equal to social costs are applied, but relevant negative indirect effects are generated that make the practical application of a tax of these characteristics unrealistic. For example, there is a fall between 1.2% and 2.9% in employment, slightly worsening the income distribution and increases the poverty rate between 0.9 and 2.3 percentage points.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A method is presented which suggests the sharing out of total cell short circuit current among the constituent parallel branches of the equivalent circuit, allowing for the identification of their contributions to the total current–voltage (I–V) characteristics under illumination in solar cells described through two parallel diodes. The method is based on the fact that all parallel branches are always under the same voltage; in particular, the open circuit voltage is the same for the cell as a whole as well as for each of the two diodes. With the help of the parameters of each diode and its share in the cell short circuit current, its light I–V characteristic can be drawn, and its individual fill factor calculated. Furthermore, the method suggests a way to estimate the cell fill factor with the help of the individual fill factors. The application of the method is carried out on experimental data of a ZnO/CdS/CuGaSe2 single crystal solar cell.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Production process and properties of polycrystalline graphite is explained together with the starting materials, cokes and binder pitches. Forming process of blended mixture of filler coke and binder pitch, extrusion, molding and isostatic pressing, governs the texture due to the preferred orientation of anisotropic particles of coke. High-density isotropic graphite is described in detail, including three production processes. Applications of polycrystalline graphite are briefly shown with some requirements for graphite blocks. Structure, nanotexture and fundamental properties of filler cokes are described, with their changes with heat treatment at high temperatures. Basic properties of binder pitches are explained through their viscoelastic behavior coupled with their fractionation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A novel interfacial polymerization method derived from the self-assembly method is presented in this paper for the generation of radially oriented polyaniline nanofibers. Salicylic acid (SA) was used as dopant and the diameters of polyaniline-SA nanofibers range from 300 to 500 nm. Compared with the previous interfacial polymerization methods, no organic solution was added in our method. The organic phase formed in our experiment is made up of a monomer (aniline) and a dopant (salicylic acid: SA) and their amounts were increased. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra are used to characterize the products.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A novel maximum power point tracking method based on a sliding mode control strategy is proposed to harvest the maximum power from solar panels more effectively by controlling the duty cycle of DC–DC buck converter to which they connect. This method utilises a sliding mode strategy to achieve fast tracking speed and reduced oscillation at steady state. Furthermore, unlike most of other methods which require feedback signals from both voltage and current sensors, this method only requires current feedback information to generate control actions; so reducing the capital cost and the complexity of the system. The system modelling, development of the sliding mode control method, definition of the sliding surface and an analysis of stability are presented in this paper. Numerical results demonstrated that compared with conventional perturbation and observation method, a much faster tracking speed and efficiency improvement up to 5% can be achieved.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Miniaturized thermoelectric devices (TED) possess great benefits in energy converting and sensing. By employing improved microfabrication technology, we succeed made an ultra-highly integrated TED with enhanced interfacial and structural qualities at a high filling factor of 61 %. Our micro-TED (2 cm × 2 cm×6 µm, 10,082 TE pairs) achieved an open-circuit voltage up to 2.6 V, an output power of 1.2 mW (temperature difference of 62.8 K). The micro-TED delivered a large temperature gradient up to ∼600 K/mm with input current, achieving a net cooling temperature of 3.6 K with a 3 µm thick thermoelectric layer. As a novel microflow sensor, micro-TED can distinguish ultra-slow cold/hot airflows down to 4 mm/s. The ultra-thin integrated micro-TED can find multi-featured applications in ultra-low-grade thermal energy harvesting, localized chip-to-chip cooling, and hypersensitive sensing.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Anti-perovskite materials have potential applications in solid-state batteries, high-temperature thermoelectric devices and optical devices. In the current work, through the first principle calculations, we find that Anti-perovskites Ca4Pn2O (Pn = As, Sb, and Bi) have the gradually decreased band gaps of 2.078, 1.885 and 1.688 eV (HSE06 method), respectively due to the gradually increased covalent components of Ca–O and Ca-Pn (As, Sb, Bi) bonds with the increasing atomic numbers of As, Sb and Bi. The effective carrier masses of Ca4Pn2O (Pn = As, Sb, Bi) intrinsic semiconductors are small, and decrease in the principal directions. The large absorption coefficients and small effective carrier masses promise Ca4Pn2O (Pn = As, Sb, Bi), especially Ca4Bi2O, to be p-type visible light-absorbing semiconductor materials. The Raman spectra of Ca4Pn2O (Pn = As, Sb, and Bi) contain the double degenerate mode E g and single mode A 1 g while the infrared spectra contain the double degenerate mode E u and single modes A 2 u and B 1 u . This work provides valuable information for future research on Ca4Pn2O (Pn = As, Sb, Bi) anti-perovskites.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "CdS/CdTe photovoltaic cells were grown in a homemade close-spaced sublimation equipment where all steps of cell fabrication are carried out continuously, without breaking the vacuum. The best efficiency achieved was 7%. Some devices partially prepared in this system were finished (heat treatment and back contact processing) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and showed efficiencies in the range of 10–11%, due to higher values of fill factor and photocurrent. Comparison between the procedures followed in the two laboratories identified some critical issues in the CSS process carried out continuously, such as the temperature of the heat treatment and the nature of the back contact.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "To improve the heat dissipation of high-power light-emitting diodes (LEDs), a cooling system with thermoelectric cooler (TEC) is investigated. In the experiment, the 6×3W LEDs in two rows are used to compose the light source module and the environment temperature is 17°C. The temperatures of heat dissipation substrate of LEDs and cooling fins of a radiator are measured by K type thermocouples to evaluate the cooling performance. Results show that the temperature of the substrate of LEDs reaches 26°C without TEC. However, it is only 9°C when the best refrigeration condition appears. The temperature of the substrate of LEDs decreases by 17°C since the heat produced by LEDs is absorbed rapidly by TEC and dissipated through the radiator, and the junction temperature of LEDs reaches only 45°C which is much lower than the absolute maximum temperature of LEDs (120°C). The experiment demonstrates that the cooling system with TEC has good performance.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► We present a device based on GaAs and PEDOT:PSS having the reduced graphene oxide. ► The reduced graphene oxide (RGO) doping may lead to increased dark conductivity. ► The improvement of conductivity is considered to come from the mobility enhancement. ► The high photocurrent density originates from high-mobility hole transport. ► The enhanced power conversion efficiency was observed by RGO doping.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Review on environmental evaluation for renewable energy technologies is provided. ► LCA was carried out for a dish-Stirling facility and for a photovoltaic facility. ► Eco-indicator 99 and CML2 were used in the Life Cycle Assessment. ► Comparative results were independent of the impact evaluation method. ► Environmental impact of dish-Stirling and photovoltaic systems was similar.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The segregation of impurities was investigated during the crystallization of upgraded metallurgical grade silicon (UMG Si). An experimental solidification system has been developed, including a strong electromagnetic stirring in order to mix the melt, to increase the effective segregation coefficient. Our crucible has a slit-like opening at the bottom of a face, to be adapted to ribbon pulling for future developments of a crystallization system for the photovoltaic industry. The electromagnetic system allowed retaining the liquid silicon inside the crucible during the crystallization of an ingot (thickness ∼5cm), or make it flow out after the partial crystallization of a bottom layer (thickness ∼2mm). Starting from UMG Si of known composition, the chemical analysis of the impurity concentrations in that multicrystalline material shows an efficient purification, despite the rather high crystallization speed (estimated between 9 and 20cm/h). Phosphorous concentration was reduced from 6 to 1.7ppm during the segregation, which is difficult to achieve for this impurity, which has a segregation coefficient close to unity (k 0=0.3).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Applications of rice husk and its derivatives. • Study the available technologies for production of SiC, pure Si, Si3N4, Mg2Si, SiO2 from rice husk. • Explanation of different furnaces for production of rice husk ash. • Study the available technologies for production of activated carbon from rice husk.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The dynamics of single-stranded DNA in an α-Hemolysin protein pore was studied at the single-molecule level. The escape time for DNA molecules initially drawn into the pore was measured in the absence of an externally applied electric field. These measurements revealed two well-separated timescales, one of which is surprisingly long (on the order of milliseconds). We characterized the long timescale as being associated with the binding and unbinding of DNA from the pore. We have also found that a transmembrane potential as small as 20mV strongly biased the escape of DNA from the pore. These experiments have been made possible due to the development of a feedback control system, allowing the rapid modulation of the applied force on individual DNA molecules while inside the pore.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Lead chalcogenides, most notably lead selenide (PbSe) and lead telluride (PbTe), have become an active area of research due to their thermoelectric (TE) properties. The high figure of merit of these materials has brought much attention to them, due to their ability to convert waste heat into electricity. Recent efforts, such as applying pressure or doping, have shown an increase in TE efficiency. Variation in application and synthesis conditions gives rise to a need for analysis of mechanical properties of these materials. In addition to the rocksalt (NaCl) structure at ambient conditions, lead chalcogenides have an orthorhombic (Pnma) intermediate pressure phase and a higher pressure CsCl phase. By using first-principles calculations, performed within density functional theory, we study the structural, elastic and mechanical properties of PbTe and PbSe in their three phases. For each phase, elastic constants, bulk modulus, shear modulus, and Young's modulus are calculated, and the NaCl phase is studied with typical dopants, both n-type (Bi and I) and p-type (Na, In, and Tl). Pugh's ratio is employed to give insight on the brittleness of the materials and phase studied. The results presented here will be useful to guide future experiments toward the search for structurally stable TE materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We have developed a model to assess the life cycle greenhouse emissions of compressed natural gas–hydrogen (CNG–H2) mixtures used for transportation in Argentina. The overall fuel life cycle is assessed through a well-to-wheel (WTW) analysis for different hydrogen generation and distribution options. The combustion stage in road vehicles is modeled using the COPERT IV model. Hydrogen generation options include classical steam methane reforming (SMR) and water electrolysis (WE) in central plants and distributed facilities at the refueling stations. Centralized hydrogen generation by electrolysis in nuclear plants as well as the use of solar photovoltaic and wind electricity is also considered. Hydrogen distribution options include gas pipeline and refrigerated truck transportation for liquefied hydrogen. A total number of fifteen fuel pathways are studied; in all the cases the natural gas–hydrogen mixture is made at the refueling station. The use of WE using nuclear or wind electricity appears to be less contaminant that the use of pure CNG.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In order to enhance absorption at infrared range for GaAs-based solar cells, multi-stack InGaAs vertical-coupled quantum dots (VCQDs) of 5nm GaAs spacers are grown in the active region. We investigated the photovoltaic response for the solar cells by increasing the layer numbers of VCQDs. The device with nine-layer InGaAs VCQDs shows an enhanced short-circuit current density of 10.5mA/cm2. The value is increased by 42% compared to the GaAs reference device. However, the open-circuit voltage is reduced from 0.88 to 0.54V.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report an implementation of a strain-balanced superlattice structure in a photovoltaic device. A thin-period structure is an appropriate design for a strain-balanced epitaxy allowing minimum stress accumulation in the highly strained quantum well (QW). However, a large number of interfaces cause a serious issue as critical as strain balancing. Such a structure suffers from degraded crystal quality with the increase of number of interfaces; and the atomic contents within the well or barrier also become difficult to control. With help from in situ reflectivity measurement and x-ray diffraction, it was deduced that such an interface issue could result from unpredictable interfacial strain relaxation and irregular interface morphology between strained well and barrier. According to this mechanism, we developed a smart interface management, insertion of a monolayer-thin strain-neutral GaAs, to avoid diffused interfaces and morphology degradation. The modified superlattice solar cell exhibits good performance.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This work involves an investigation of the structure, ferroelectricity, optical band-gap, photovoltaic spectral response and J-V performance of BiCrO3/BiFeO3 bilayer composite films prepared via the solution-gelation technique. It is shown that the enhanced ferroelectric properties are observed for BiCrO3/BiFeO3 bilayer composite films by interaction resulting from the coupling between BiFeO3 and BiCrO3 layers. The photovoltaic spectral responses of the normalized current for BiCrO3/BiFeO3 bilayer composite films presents a noteworthy red-shift towards visible region compared with the pure BiFeO3 films and the pure BiCrO3 films. Thus photovoltaic response is attributed to the narrow band-gap of BiCrO3/BiFeO3 bilayer composite films. The short circuit current density and open circuit voltage of the BiCrO3/BiFeO3 bilayer composite films under white-light illumination are much higher than the values of BiFeO3 and BiCrO3 films. The present work provides an available way of controlling photovoltaic response of ferroelectric films and accelerating its application in light sensors, light drivers and ferroelectric photovoltaic cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Interfacial engineering is crucial for the stability and efficiency of organic solar cells. PEDOT:PSS, which has been widely used as a hole transport layer, has stability issues when exposed to air because of its acidic and hygroscopic nature. Herein, we investigated the electrical properties of reduced graphene oxide covered with an F4TCNQ interfacial layer as an alternative and its effect on the photovoltaic performance. Using an array of charge transport, spectroscopic and imaging techniques we found that the reduced graphene oxide film is efficiently hole-doped through an interfacial charge transfer, which enhances its electrical properties and favorably modifies its work function. Consequently, the open-circuit voltage and fill factor of solar cells incorporating such films are improved. P3HT might also be hole-doped by F4TCNQ, due to the formation of an intermixed interfacial layer, resulting in an increase of power conversion efficiency.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work amorphous FeC films were deposited on thin sheets of interstitial free steel using physical vapor deposition. Annealing treatments were then carried out to diffuse C from the coating into the substrate at temperatures lower than those traditionally used in carburizing treatments. The yield stress was shown to significantly increase with annealing temperature from ~120MPa at 25°C up to a maximum of 300MPa at 630°C without any significant loss of ductility. At 710°C, a decrease in yield strength was related to the coarsening of carbides inside the IF steel (confirmed by atom probe tomography), and the associated reduction in the matrix solid solution carbon concentration (confirmed by thermoelectric power measurements). The through-thickness carbon diffusion profile was predicted using Fick's law and validated by Knoop hardness measurements. Yield strength predictions were accurate if the crystallization of the FeC film was taken into account as it controls the amount of carbon available to be diffused in the interstitial free steel substrate.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The main goal of present article is to see how adding graphite powder and black paint to the absorber plate can increase solar still yield. Therefore, two identical in size solar stills called modified solar still (MSS) and Conventional solar still (CSS) have been fabricated and tested in Patan district, Gujarat, during October 2019. MSS used graphite powder mixed with black paint, and CSS used as reference still in current research work. The current research was done with tap water as the raw water. Graphite powder concentrations have varied from 20% to 40% found 10.5 to 17% enhancement in yield. Mixing carbon powder with black paint shows improvement in a rise in water temperature and heat transfer rate than CSS. According to the results, the yield of MSS was higher than the yield of CSS during experimental days. It is concluded that the payback time of MSS with 20% weight concentration and CSS found 117 days and 121 days.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Organic solar cells were fabricated by spray deposition of highly conductive PEDOT:PSS. Both PEDOT:PSS (Clevios PH750) and an active layer were spray deposited by the substrate heating method. In order to improve the conductivity of spray-deposited PEDOT:PSS, DMF or DMSO was added to it. As a result, surface morphology of PEDOT:PSS with DMSO-(/DMF) changed and its conductivity improved by about 10,000 times that of pure PEDOT:PSS. Solar cells fabricated using spray-deposited DMSO-added PEDOT:PSS as a transport layer showed a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of ∼3%, an open voltage of 0.62V, and a short circuit current of 14.02mA/cm2.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Following the 2005 Kyoto protocol, developed countries made commitments to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, mostly by integrating renewable energy technologies into their power production systems. It is a more challenging procedure for third world countries, including Lebanon, that have limited means and potential to achieve such goals. This paper assesses the status of renewable energy systems in developing countries, and concentrates on the solar photovoltaic energy production due to its abundant availability in these countries relatively to other clean energy production methods. Comparisons of developing countries׳ achievements and goals each according to their economical, political and social considerations are conducted. Projects ranging from small scale standalone systems such as microgrids and minigrids to large scale energy production stations will be presented by dividing the countries into categories that share similar constraints and limitations in the integration of such installations. Furthermore, the paper analyzes the state of energy generation based on photovoltaic systems in Lebanon in contrast to other developing countries.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "During the last decade, misfit layered calcium cobaltite (Ca3Co4O9) has appeared as a potential candidate for oxide thermoelectric materials. In the present work, we report improved thermoelectric properties of Ca3Co4O9 through a facile synthesis route. Ca3Co4O9 based composites have been prepared by mixing different wt. % of Cu using ball-milling. The pure and composite powdered samples have been consolidated into bulk ceramics by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The detailed structural investigations reveal a multiphase system comprising of Cu, Ca3Co4O9, Ca3Co4-xCuxO9 and a minority phase of Co3O4. The simultaneous improvement in the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient results in an improved power factor and the highest value of 384 μW/m.K2 at 973K have been obtained for the sample containing 5% Cu by wt. The conduction mechanisms have been discussed in detail to investigate the reasons associated with the improved thermoelectric properties.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Icosahedral AlPdRe quasicrystals show primarily semiconductor-like electronic properties and low thermal conductivity. We present the composition dependence of the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient for icosahedral AlPdRe. The strong composition dependence is considered to be related to the pseudogap structure in the electron density of states at the Fermi energy, and to the variation in the bonding nature between Al and transition metals. The temperature dependence of the electrical properties has been analyzed using a two-band model. The results obtained suggest that the effective mass plays an important role in the improvement of thermoelectric properties. The dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit, ZT, has a maximum value of approximately 0.1 in the temperature range from 600 to 700 K and reveals a strong composition dependence.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This article presents an outline about the incorporation of phase change materials (PCM) in radiant systems, their incorporation techniques, challenges, advantages, and disadvantages. The PCM incorporation into building solutions has been studied over the last 40 years to improve the energy efficiency and to solve the fast-growing problem of energy consumption in housing. The use and incorporation of PCM in building solutions contributes to improve building energy performance, reducing the thermal amplitudes, the maximum and minimum peak temperatures, and reducing the overall energy consumption. This article aims at outlining of the current state of PCM usage in radiant systems, with a special focus on PCM macroencapsulated floors, to set the ground for future work in the area through studying and reviewing existing literature. Topics such as commercially available radiant systems, PCM encapsulation techniques, innovative studies of PCM radiant systems and numerical modelling techniques are covered, providing an in-depth overview of the totality of the PCM radiant floor subject. Some of the main conclusions of this article are that although there is plenty of information available, but some relevant topics are underdeveloped, or missing in some research papers, such as climatic conditions of the experimental studies, macroencapsulation techniques, and the lack of a standard for objectively comparing PCM solutions in the building's envelope. There are plenty of valid and accurate numerical models to model PCM, where the most used methods are the enthalpy method and the effective heat capacity.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The military landscape of Kinmen is an historical treasure left behind following the threat of war. Kinmen used to be a key military location of high strategic value, and witnessed some decisive victories battles. However, owing to rapid developments in the worldwide landscape and changes in cross-strait relations, Kinmen has been transformed from a high-alert military fortification to a famous group of islands that attract many tourists. In the last few years, the issue of climate change has increased the public’s environmental awareness. In dedication to this issue, Kinmen is aggressively pursuing the construction of an energy-efficiency management network. As the current overall power supply for the Kinmen mainly from thermal power, Kinmen is hoping that by developing greener sources of energy it can play a role in the worldwide campaign to address the problems of global warming. In order to achieve the goal, the first focus should be on the best method of making good use of the natural resources of the islands – solar and wind power – and the integration of these natural resources with the unique resource of the islands – military installations. Kinmen needs to rethink the application and management of the regeneration of the abandoned military installations. By applying the approach proposed in this paper, Kinmen could develop a renewable energy scheme with distributed power systems to replace the centralized power plants. In addition to the unique characteristics of Kinmen’s existing ecology and cultural history, the feasible development of renewable energy sources by integration with surplus military installations will convert Kinmen into an area with the unique combined characteristics of environmental education and tourism.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, a novel ultra-broadband photon management structure is proposed for crystalline silicon thin-film solar cells used in the photovoltaic–thermoelectric hybrid system. Nanostructures are employed on both front and back side. Optical behavior of the structure in ultra-broadband (300–2500nm) are investigated through the Finite Difference Time Domain method. By combing moth-eye and inverted-parabolic surface, a new composite surface structure is proposed for anti-reflection in the ultra-broadband wavelengths. Front metallic nanoparticles, plasmonic back reflector and metallic gratings are studied for light-trapping and the effect of plasmonic back reflector is validated by the experimental data of the external quantum efficiency. The effects of incident angle are discussed for metallic gratings. Numerical computation shows that the incorporation of anti-reflection and light-trapping can obtain high absorption in the solar cell and ensure the rest incident light transmits to the thermoelectric generator efficiently. This work shows potential full-spectrum utilization of solar energy for various photovoltaic devices related with hybrid photovoltaic–thermoelectric systems.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In order to determine the environmental and economic implications of H2, cooling and distillation water production powered by reforming cycle, both environmental and economic factors must be examined. Therefore, this study propose, evaluate, and optimize a novel poly-generation plant driven by reforming cycle that integrates an organic flash cycle, a two-phase ejector, a thermoelectric generator, and a reverse osmosis unit. The proposed scheme is subjected to a thorough analysis from multiple perspectives, including exergy, energy, sustainability, environmental, thermoeconomic, and economic perspectives. Parametric studies assess the effect of functional parameters on plant performance. It is observed that a rise in reactor temperature leads to a diminution in H2 production. Nevertheless, this augmentation in temperature has a beneficial impact on both the inlet temperature and the mass flow rate of the subsystem. Subsequently, the heat transfer process is effectively augmented due to this increment in temperature and mass flow rate. Thus, purified water production and cooling within the system are augmented. The alteration in the rate of methanol molarity has a substantial impact on the net present value, which is abridged to 3.258 million dollars. Furthermore, the payback period is elongated to 8.979 years. As a consequence of this optimization procedure, an optimal solution is attained. This solution displays an impressive energy efficiency of 62.99% and a payback period of 2.902 years.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Tin monochalcogenides (SnSe, SnS), with advantages of earth abundance, environmental friendly, chemical stability, and less toxicity can be used in Li-ion batteries, piezoelectric, optoelectronics, sensors, and thermoelectric. Here, we used the ultra-soft pseudo-potential technique depending on density functional theory with generalized gradient approximation (GGA) to calculate the electronic, optical, and structural properties by changes related to the reduction of dimensionality from bulk to monolayer or bilayer structure. The calculated parameters show that the bandgap energies of SnS and SnSe semiconductors (0.5∼1.25 eV) cover the broadband range, and their static dielectric constant confirms the isotropic nature. We compare our theoretical results of different approximations with previously reported DFT-based and experimental results. The calculations of tin monochalcogenides show that as thickness increases, isotropic behavior increases, and material becomes crystalline. This method opens a new window to deeply understand monochalcogenide's structural, optical, and electronic properties for numerous applications, like thermoelectric, photovoltaic, and energy storage devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "DSSC are a promising alternative for the development of a new generation of photovoltaic devices. Models for the mass transport of iodide and triiodide at steady state operation of a nanocrystalline solar cell indicate the tendency for triiodide accumulation at the photoelectrode and even more acute depletion of iodide in the same region. The models developed illustrate operational aspects such as concentration profiles in the cell and the anticipated mass transfer overpotential as a function of current density. An overview of the diffusion and migration processes involved in the photoelectrochemical solar cell has been attempted. Performance of the solar cell on the relevance of mass transport has also been presented.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Continuous hourly measurement of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) from C3 to C12 was performed by an automated gas chromatographic (GC) system in downtown Taipei between 20 March 2000 and 12 May 2000. To test the performance this automated GC synchronous measurement of NMHCs with NO x was conducted sharing a common air inlet. Excellent agreement in temporal variation between NMHCs and NO x was observed suggesting that the automated GC measurement was accurately reflecting ambient concentrations of ozone precursors. On two occasions during the monitoring period, abrupt increase in concentrations of gaseous pollutants due to nocturnal radiational inversion occurred at night under stable weather conditions. Improved correlation between different NMHC species for data within these two episodes suggested better air mixing than in other periods. These two events of concentration enhancement driven by temperature inversion were also registered in CO measurement in all EPA air quality stations scattered around Taipei metropolitan area.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Defect engineering is the core of thermoelectric study: no thermoelectric material can achieve the best performance without implementing proper defects. Designing the appropriate feature size of defects can promote the trade-off between carrier mobility and lattice thermal conductivity. Taking GeTe as an example, the lattice thermal conductivity is mainly contributed by mid- and long-wavelength heat-carrying phonons, while carrier mean free path is close to point defects. Different from the mainstream strategy of oversaturated precipitation of secondary phases, we propose a novel thermodynamically route to rational design microstructures and enhance the thermoelectric performance of GeTe. Thermodynamically, Zn–Cd co-doping reduces the solubility limit of Zn or Cd in GeTe and promotes the generation of nano and micron scale Zn0.6Cd0.4Te secondary phases, thereby reducing lattice thermal conductivity meanwhile leaving a minimal carrier mobility reduction. The further Sb doping significantly reduces carrier concentration and enhances the density-of-state effective mass, thus improving the Seebeck coefficient. In addition, the formed multiscale microstructures via novel thermodynamic route further restrain the lattice thermal conductivity, leading to a maximum zT of 1.60 at 823 K in Ge0.80Sb0.06Zn0.07Cd0.07Te. This work attest to the efficacy of the rational design of microstructures by novel thermodynamic route toward the high zT in GeTe and other TE materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A non-invasive gas sensor has been fabricated for quantitative measurement of a specific gas in a binary mixture such as H2, He, etc. mixed in air, based on time of flight (TOF) measurements of the ultrasonic signal. A test gas with different concentration was mixed in air and its concentration was determined using the observed TOF data and a theoretically derived relation. The results were compared with the actually used values of gas concentration in the mixture, and a good agreement was found between them. The method can find potential use for various applications in different fields, such as chemical industry and medical diagnosis.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► The sensor exhibited wider linear range of concentration change and high sensitivity compared with those previously reported. ► A novel electrocatalyst (LaNi0.5Ti0.5O3/CoFe2O4) which overcomes the disadvantages of native enzymes was obtained. ► At the same time, it is expected to overtake expensive Pt nanoparticles in H2O2 determination.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "As the practice of intensive animal production increases, there is a need for affordable treatment technologies that can help manage the large amounts of manure generated. Our approach has been to develop an efficient liquid–solid separation module using polymer technology and integrate this separation module into systems of treatment technologies for both the separated liquid and solids. We describe the progress that has been made in management techniques and new technological alternatives for manure treatment and generation of value added by-products based on the SELCO-Ecopurin® separation technology and experiences during the last five years in 12 livestock farms in Spain, Italy and the USA. High recovery of solids (>90%) makes the use of advanced purification of the liquid a more economical alternative. The liquid can be further treated to reduce N and P and produce effluents virtually free of these nutrients. Production of methane and energy was affected by solids concentration; the anaerobic process was optimised with polymer application rate of 120 ppm during separation and a solids content of 13%.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, we first developed a simple synthetic route to prepare layered structure NH4Nb3O8 nanobelts, and then converted NH4Nb3O8 phase to single-crystal Nb2O5 by thermal treatment in air. The lengths of the nanobelts range from several hundreds of nanometers to several tens of micrometers, and the thickness and width of nanobelts are ∼15 and ∼60nm, respectively. Based on the experimental results, a possible mechanism for the formation of nanobelts was proposed. Such a simple synthetic route offers great opportunities for the scale-up preparation of one-dimensional nanostructured materials. Furthermore, the synthesized Nb2O5 nanobelts were successfully employed, for the first time, as an electrode material in dye-sensitized solar cells using a metal-free idoline dye as a sensitizer and its photovoltaic performance of the solar cells was investigated under illumination of simulated AM 1.5 solar light (100mWcm−2).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • We have compared the transport properties and electronic structure. • The transport properties of p-type Ba3M3P5 are better than that of n-type ones. • p-type Ba3Ga3P5 shows better transport properties than p-type Ba3Al3P5. • In the upper valence band of Ba3Ga3P5 has the multiple extrema.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A comprehensive understanding of the nano-structural effects that cause reduction in thermal conductivity represents important challenges for the development of thermoelectric materials with an improved figure of merit ZT. Bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3)-based thermoelectric materials exhibit very low levels of thermal conductivity. In this study, a Te crystal-embedded Bi2Te3 (Te–Bi2Te3) thin film was formed by establishing a specific annealing temperature for a Te-rich Bi/Te multilayered structure. Modulations in structure and composition were observed at the boundaries between the two phases of Te and Bi2Te3. Furthermore, the samples contained regularly shaped nanometer-scale Bi2Te3 single grains. Therefore, we obtained a dramatic ZT value of 2.27 (+ 0.04, − 0.08) at 375 K from the Te–Bi2Te3 thin film. Finally, we confirmed that interface phonon scattering between the Te–Bi2Te3 boundaries plays an important role in inter-grain phonon transport, which results in a reduction in the lattice thermal conductivity.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A new functionalized-triarylamine dye (MXD10) has been designed, synthesized, and characterized. Two CH3(CH2)4CH=CH– units were introduced into triphenylamine for improvement of light harvesting, suppression of dye aggregation and retardation of charge recombination. Photophysical, electrochemical and photovoltaic measurements are in accord with the molecular design. Device based on MXD10 gave a maximum power conversion efficiency of 6.47% under simulated AM 1.5 irradiation (100mW cm−2) with J SC =15mA/cm2, V OC =635mV, and ff =0.68.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thermoelectric energy harvesting is the concept to convert thermal energies in an electric power. For the thermoelectric energy harvesting, a single inductor dc/dc converter using a negative Dickson multiplier is presented in this research. By merging a negative Dickson multiplier into a buck-boost converter, high voltage gain, flexible output tuning, and small power loss are attained by the proposed topology. Moreover, fewer number of switch drivers and simpler switching control are achieved than conventional hybrid boost converters, because the proposed converter with a single inductor has only one transistor switch. Through theoretical analysis, a characteristic investigation is performed regarding an example of the proposed converter with 6 diodes, 6 capacitors, a MOS-switch and an inductor, where simple formulas to clarify the converter characteristics are derived by utilizing a four-port model. Furthermore, we justify the efficacy of the proposed topology by performing the comparison among hybrid dc/dc converters with a single inductor, namely, the hybrid converter using a voltage doubler and the hybrid converter using a Cockcroft–Walton multiplier. In the comparison, computer simulations using a SPICE simulator reveal that the proposed converter achieve the best performance the compared converters. Specifically, the efficiency of the proposed converter with three multiplier stages reaches about 84% when the voltage gain is 6 and the output power is 2 W. Furthermore, some experiments verify the possibility of realization by assembling the proposed converter with three multiplier stages on a printed circuit board (PCB). In laboratory tests, maximum power efficiency of 85% and the maximum voltage gain of 6.4 are measured.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This article outlines the development and testing of a prototype of a water–ammonia absorption system designed for solar-powered refrigeration in small rural operations. The objective is to design a 2 kW refrigeration equipment for isolated areas with a high level of solar radiation to meet refrigeration requirements. The equipment has been designed to operate with a concentrating solar power system to obtain the required temperatures. The heat exchangers, which act as condensers, as well as the absorber and evaporator, are all made of galvanized steel piping having fins. The design uses natural convection; the generator and energy-saving heat exchanger have a multi-tubular arrangement and a transfer tank is used in place of a pump for displacing the ammonia solution. All of the operations are manually controlled. Overall, the test results showed unsatisfactory operation of the equipment having low efficiency. Nevertheless, the proposed objectives have been met and it is evident that with several important modifications the equipment will operate satisfactorily. In conclusion, based on the development phase, it is apparent that future prototypes must be more compact and more efficient.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The Cu/Sn58Bi/Cu and Cu/Sn58Bi-0.6B4C/Cu joints were prepared by transient liquid phase (TLP) bonding technology to verify the reliability of low-temperature connection joints. Intermetallic compound (IMC) evolution at the interface under different isothermal aging times was analyzed, and the mechanical properties of the joints were tested. The results show that two kinds of IMC, lamellar Cu3Sn and fan-shaped Cu6Sn5, are formed on both sides of the joint. With increasing soldering time, the thickness for both kinds of IMC become thicker, and it is significantly thicker for the IMC near the cold end. Furthermore, the IMC growth rate of the Cu/Sn58Bi-0.6B4C/Cu solder joint is significantly lower. When the isothermal aging time reaches 36 h, the Cu/Sn58Bi/Cu joint has been almost composed of IMC, while it needs a longer time for the Cu/Sn58Bi-0.6B4C/Cu joint. The growth of Cu3Sn IMC is in line with parabolic law, being mainly controlled by volume diffusion near the hot end, while the grain boundary diffusion significantly affects it at the cold end. The joints shear strength decreases gradually with extending bonding time, but it is always higher for the Cu/Sn58Bi-0.6B4C/Cu joint. When the heating time is not long, the fracture mainly appears at the Bi-rich phase in the solder matrix. With increasing bonding time, the location of fracture gradually transformed from the Cu6Sn5 grains to the junction of the two IMC and Cu3Sn grains, along with the intercrystalline fracture and transcrystalline fracture. In summary, B4C nanoparticles can significantly improve the joint reliability and enhance its mechanical properties.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Organic nanostructures can enhance the device performance of organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells, because a significantly large area of a donor/acceptor heterointerface can be prepared. In this study, we improved the performance of OPV cells composed of cupper phthalocyanine (CuPc)/fullerene (C60) by introducing a pentacene nanometer-sized grain layer into an anode/CuPc layer. The smallest featured grain sizes are as small as 100nm, resulting in the formation of ragged heterojunctions. We show that power conversion efficiency is enhanced up to 20% compared with that of conventional planar heterojunctions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Sustained photocatalytic oxidation of water to O2 on AgCl-coated electrodes is reported. Thin silver chloride layers on different electrode substrates evolve oxygen under near-UV–Vis illumination in aqueous solution at appropriate conditions. The AgCl layers work photocatalytically in the oxidation of water to O2 in the presence of a small excess of Ag+ ions, with a maximum O2 evolution rate at pH 4–5. The light sensitivity in the visible is due to self-sensitization caused by reduced silver species. Many catalytic turnovers with respect to the total amount of AgCl were experimentally realized. Reduced silver species produced during the photocatalytic oxidation of water to O2 on AgCl-coated electrodes can be electrochemically reoxidized by anodic polarization of the electrode. Electrochemical reoxidation can be performed simultaneously with the photochemical water oxidation reaction. The photocurrent is of reversed sign with respect to what has been known as the Becquerel-type photocurrent. Different electrode preparation techniques were investigated, and electrochemical reoxidation turned out to be more efficient on electrochemically prepared AgCl layers than on precipitated AgCl layers. Very stable photoelectrodes have been obtained on SnO2 :F-coated glass plates modified with a very thin gold layer. Such electrodes were employed as the anodic part in a photoelectrochemical cell for light-assisted water splitting.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Realization of the full potentials of group II–VI heterostructures for photovoltaic device applications require reliable and precise predictive band structure models that are consistent with the fundamental principles of solid state physics. In this article, the electronic band structure of Cd based group II–VI ternary/binary heterostructures are calculated using the second nearest neighbor (2 nn) sp 3 s ⁎ semi-empirical tight binding formalism including the spin-orbit coupling. Using this scheme, we investigated the interface strain effects on band structure, such as band gaps and band offsets, in pseudomorphic Cd 1−x Zn x Te /CdTe and Cd 1−x Zn x S /CdS heterostructures for the entire composition range (0≤x≤1). It is gratifying to report that there is excellent agreement between the model predictions and experiment. The model should be useful in designing the group II–VI based heterostructure solar cells for optimum performance.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Reliable knowledge on the performance of different photovoltaic generators (as single cells, modules, laminates, shingles, car roofs, etc.) under actual operating conditions is essential for correct product selection and accurate prediction of their electricity production. For this purpose, an outdoor test facility was erected at the Paul Scherrer Institute, PSI. It consists of a sun-tracked sample holder, electronic loads and a PC-based measuring system. Insolation is measured with pyranometers, pyrheliometers and reference cells. Characterisation of a generator under given test conditions means the precise acquisition of its electrical behaviour under varying load. The generator's efficiency and all the relevant electrical parameters are derived on-line from a series of measured current/voltage (I/V) values. I/V-scans at constant insolation and at different generator temperatures enable the temperature coefficients of the efficiency and the electrical parameters to be determined. Thereafter I/V-scans at different insolations (10–1200 W/m2) and air masses (1.1–5) yield (via temperature correction) the insolation dependence of the efficiency at constant temperature. A complete scan takes about 5–15 s. Samples of size varying from 1 by 1 mm up to 1.5 by 1 m can be tested at currents up to 32 A and at voltages up to 120 V. For modelling purposes, the results are represented in the form of correlations, e.g. the efficiency as a function of the operating parameters temperature, insolation and air mass. Results obtained in PSI's test facility were confirmed by the Fraunhofer-Insitut für Solare Energiesysteme, D-79100 Freiburg, Germany. Measurements are presented from some modules and single cells as well as some efficiency correlations. Results are also presented on lamination losses, on PSI's high efficiency cell, on Grätzel cells and watch modules as well as on shading effects and of a small thermophotovoltaic generator.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper describes transient numerical modeling for thermal characteristic of vapor-cooled current leads under pulse operation. The transient thermal analysis considers the temperature difference between a helium gas flow and a copper lead with temperature dependent properties of helium gas, copper and stainless steel. The numerical analysis was validated by an experiment with commercially available 100 A vapor-cooled current leads. A proper overloading factor calculation and the effect of intermediate cooling are presented for the current leads under pulse operation, which can significantly reduce heat input to a cryostat.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "When the PV power supply participates in reactive power regulation of distribution network, its output reactive power will affect the reliability of IGBT in the PV inverter. Aiming at this problem, this paper first qualitatively analyzed the influence of photovoltaic power supply participating in reactive power regulation of distribution network on the reliability of photovoltaic power supply. Then, a quantitative evaluation method of IGBT reliability based on data-driven was proposed. This method uses LightGBM machine learning model to replace the traditional thermoelectric coupling model, which effectively improves the calculation efficiency of IGBT junction temperature and reduces the dependence of IGBT reliability evaluation results on IGBT model parameters. Through this method, the reliability of core power electronic devices in photovoltaic inverters is quantitatively evaluated according to active power, reactive power, solar irradiance and ambient temperature. Finally, based on the IEEE 33 node distribution system, the reliability of IGBT in PV inverters participating in reactive power regulation of the distribution network was evaluated.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Organic and inorganic dyes anchored to semiconductor nanoparticles find important applications as photosensitizers in the preparation of solar cells and other optoelectronic systems. For many years research in this area has involved dyes that are bound to the surface of nanocrystalline semiconductors through one or more anchoring groups, forming donor–acceptor systems where the donor is usually the dye and the acceptor is the semiconductor. The design of linkers containing a bridge between the chromophore and the binding group is a more recent development in this field. Carefully designed linkers can be useful to fix the distance of the dye from the semiconductor surface, to tune the properties of the dye, to prevent aggregation of the chromophores, and to prepare models for interfacial electron transfer studies. More generally, this appears to be a promising method for understanding electron transfer processes at the molecule–nanoparticle interface and eventually controlling them in a rational and predictable manner. This review describes the synthesis and properties of sensitizers consisting of chromophore-linkers arrays where the linkers are based on alkyl chains, rigid-rods, or tripod-shaped molecules.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Aluminum-doped zinc oxide films on glass are promising substrates for use in thin film solar cells based on amorphous and amorphous/microcrystalline silicon absorber material. The films can be produced by magnetron sputtering on large scale at relative low cost. Especially reactive sputtering of metallic Zn/Al compound targets is a cheap way to produce films at high deposition rate. One drawback of amorphous silicon is the low absorption in the near infrared spectral range. Wet chemical etching has been used to produce a rough TCO surface that enables light trapping in the absorber. The etching behaviour of ZnO:Al films can be tuned by changing oxygen partial pressure during deposition. The etching behaviour is compared to ZnO structure and discussed regarding the performance of solar cells deposited onto the etched films.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The development of novel strategies for recycling and reusing fiber composites is driven by various environmental and economic factors. Recycling materials mean that materials are processed with feasible processing methods or environment-friendly methods without deterioration of mechanical or physical performance enabling their reuse. Recycling end-of-life (EOL) waste of wind turbine (WT) blade composites is a critical challenge for renewable energy sector. This paper reviews various recycling methods (mechanical, thermal, chemical, and hybrid) and reuse of reclaimed fiber composites of carbon and glass fibers. Physical, mechanical, and chemical properties of recovered fibers and new composites (made of recovered fibers) have been discussed in detail. This paper aims to find out the optimum recycling process from existing recycling methods to recycle EOL waste of WT blades. Glass fibers (GFs) and carbon fibers (CFs) are energy-intensive to manufacture, which means these have high recycling capability in terms of the environment as well as an economic perspective. Challenges in the recycling of fibers have been identified from the available literature; future research possibilities with promising values of recovered fibers to reuse in some high-value structural applications have been highlighted.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A new type of nanosilver immobilized catalyst based on glycine modified lignin hydrogels with excellent catalytic performance towards p-nitrophenol reduction have been prepared. Glycine was used to provide amino and carboxy groups for complexing silver ions, simultaneously which was also beneficial for in-situ reduction and suppression of silver nanoparticles. As-prepared composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope with EDS, high-resolution transmission electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer and Thermal Gravimetric Analyzer. The developed network with enriched anchoring sites could provide the stability during the catalytic process and enough traction to disperse and stabilize the silver nanoparticles. Batch experiments of 4-NP hydrogenation were carried out to correlate the catalytic performance. The concentration of 4-NP of 5 mmol/L could be finished with only 101 s and the rate of k was 0.0151 s−1. Moreover, fixed-bed experiments were creatively applied for the tests and the catalyst can maintain high efficiency about 300 min with the flowing rate of 3 mL/min. After being reused ten cycles, the catalyst retained the conversion rate beyond 98%; and the structure has no obvious deterioration and the leaching of nanosilver was neglectful, which could be attributed to the crucial role of introduced glycine component.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Transparent p–n heterojunctions composed of zinc oxide, copper–chromium, and indium tin oxide films were fabricated by the pulsed laser deposition technique on a glass substrate. The effect of the deposition temperature of the p-CuCrO2:Mg layer in the junction on photovoltaic properties was investigated. Post-annealing was performed to improve the crystallinity of the semiconductor layers deposited at a relatively lower temperature. The rectifying characteristics were observed in the current–voltage curves of the prepared junctions for both p- and n-layers as thin as 100nm. A sample in which the copper–chromium oxide layer was deposited at 250°C and annealed at 500°C for 10min exhibited the highest photovoltage—as large as 184 mV—under irradiation at λ ≈ 375nm. The optical transmission of the p–n junction sample was 70% in the visible region.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Cu doped ZnSb based thin films were deposited by direct current magnetron co-sputtering. X-ray diffraction results show that the un-doped thin film reveals a single ZnSb phase and it transforms to Zn4Sb3 phase after Cu doped. The material with Zn4Sb3 phase which belongs to R-3c space group crystal will lead to lower thermal conductivity. The Hall effect measurement shows that the samples are P-type semiconductors. The electrical conductivity increasers after Cu doped due to the increase of carrier concentration and the improvement in crystallinity. Though the Seebeck coefficient decreases after Cu doped, the ZT value increases from 0.11 to 0.43 with higher electrical conductivity and lower thermal conductivity at room-temperature. The temperature-dependent of ZT value is estimated to be ∼1.35 for the thin film with Zn4Sb3 phase by using the bulk lattice thermal conductivity together with the thin film electrical thermal conductivity.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The computational redesign of the second zinc finger of Zif268 to produce a 28 residue peptide (FSD-1) that assumes a ββα fold without metal binding was recently reported. In order to explore the tolerance of this metal-free fold towards sequence variability, six additional peptides resulting from the ORBIT computational protein design process were synthesized and characterized. The experimental stabilities of five of these peptides are strongly correlated with the energies calculated by ORBIT. However, when a peptide with a mutation in the β-turn is examined, the calculated stability does not accurately predict the experimentally determined stability. The NMR solution structure of a peptide incorporating this mutation (FSD-EY) reveals that the register between the β-strands is different from the model structure used to select and score the sequences. FSD-EY has a type I′ turn instead of the target EbaaagbE turn (rubredoxin knuckle). Two additional peptides that have improved side-chain to backbone hydrogen bonding and turn propensity for the target turn were characterized. Both are of stability comparable to that of FSD-1. These results demonstrate the robustness of the ORBIT protein design methods and underscore the need for continued improvements in negative design.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Mono and hybrid nanofluids have gained great interest recently in many engineering fields due to their excellent thermophysical, transport, mechanical, and electrical properties, which can be easily used in refrigeration, heat pump, and air-conditioning systems by many roles for performance improvement. This chapter focuses on the applications of mono and hybrid nanofluids in different roles in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems to enhance the performance, such as: (i) nanoparticle-dispersed secondary fluids (as a secondary refrigerant in the evaporator, as a coolant in the condenser, and as a heating fluid in the generator of heat-driven system), (ii) nanoparticle-dispersed refrigerants (called as nanorefrigerants), (iii) nanoparticle-dispersed lubricants (called as nanolubricants), (iv) nanoparticle-dispersed absorbents (called as nanoabsorbents), (v) nanoparticle-dispersed phase-change materials (called as nano-PCMs) in the cold storage system, and (vi) nanoparticle-dispersed fluids in nonconventional systems. Finally, various challenges and future research and development scopes are discussed as well.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "New non-linear optoelectronic and photovoltaic behavior of crystalline silicon (c-Si) has been obtained with a strained nanoscale Si-layered system. We have found c-Si absorptances that even exceed values of amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin films. The present investigation exploits charge carrier and photon flux transformations at the so-called carrier collection limit. A correlation between free carrier density and the absorption coefficient could be established by combining reflectivity and transmissivity measurements on samples having different surface free carrier reservoirs. In summary, Si modifications implemented on the nanoscale lead to new effects that can widen applications of conventional Si devices.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Arginine kinase (AK) catalyzes the reversible phosphorylation of arginine by ATP, yielding the phosphoarginine. In this research, six conserved residues located on the intra-subunit domain–domain interfaces were mutated to explore their roles in the activity and structural stability of dimer AK. The mutations D69A, E70A, E71A and F80A led to pronounced loss of AK activity and structural stability. Although the mutations V75A and F76A had little effect on AK activity and structure, they caused gradually decreased the stability and reactivation of dimer AK. Our results suggested that the mutations might affect the correct positioning of the N-loop and C-loop thus disrupted the efficient recognition and interactions between the N-terminal domain and C-terminal domain which may influence the compact dimer structure, and result in decreased activity and structural stability.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We have examined the influence of crystal length on dislocation density in web silicon. The observed variations in dislocation density do not show a consistent pattern. However, the changes do not appear to be cumulative and may be largely determined by the local thermal conditions during growth. We have argued that the majority of dislocations are not replicated during ribbon growth, resulting in non-accumulation. A variety of dislocation configurations are observed by X-ray topography. We have rationalized the preceding observations in terms of dislocation glide caused by thermal gradient-induced stresses.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The fabrication of solar cells based on thin silicon film on foreign substrates is an attractive way to realise cheap and efficient photovoltaic devices on a large scale. In this work, we propose an innovative technique to obtain textured monocrystalline Si on mullite owing to the transfer of a nucleation layer and subsequent LPE growth. The nucleation layer (with the shape of a grid) is elaborated by photoelectrochemical etching. The grid pattern parameters will determine the shape of the LPE layer surface, flat or pyramidal textured for efficient light trapping.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "For the use of stand-alone photovoltaic inverters, it presents a modified multilevel inverter employing a half- and full-bridge cells with a cascade transformer. The circuit configuration is based on a prior (3 n−1 +2) level inverter. Among full-bridge cells employed in the prior inverter, one cell is substituted by a half-bridge cell. Owing to this simple alteration, the proposed inverter has three promising merits. First it can increase the number of output voltage levels resulted in high quality output voltages. Second, it can reduce two power switches by means of employing a half-bridge cell. Third, it can reduce power imposed on a transformer connected with the half-bridge unit. That is to say, most power is transferred to loads via transformers connected with low switching inverters, which are used to synthesize the fundamental output voltage levels whereas the output of a transformer linked to a high switching inverter is used to improve final output voltage waves; thus, it is desirable in the viewpoint of the improvement of the system efficiency. By comparing to the prior inverter, it assesses the performance of the proposed inverter as a stand-alone photovoltaic inverter. The validity of the proposed inverter is verified by computer-aided simulations and experimental results.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of a commercial scale photovoltaics (PV) system is quantitatively investigated. The impact of the system and financial parameters, the installed system cost, solar insolation, system lifetime, system derate losses, module cost, module efficiency, balance of system (BOS) cost, inflation, discount rate, and loan rate, are quantitatively calculated using the System Advisor Model (SAM) from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). 3D contour plots are generated to assess the impact of the key system and financial parameters on the LCOE. Calculations show that an installed system cost of 2.8, 2.3, and 2.1$/W can provide an LCOE of ~10¢/kWh (average price of electricity in the US) in Phoenix, Atlanta, and Boston, respectively, for a 30 years system lifetime, 20% system derate losses without investment tax credit (ITC). In addition, contour plots are generated to show what happens to the LCOE if the above parameters change. The study uses reasonable inputs for the current (2015) commercial scale PV system in the US.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Silicon nanocrystals (Si-ncs) embedded in silicon nitride are of great interest for micro and optoelectronic devices such as non-volatile memories and solar cells. Indeed, Si3N4 is a “high-k” dielectric and can replace SiO2 in Si-ncs memories, increasing their performances. On the other hand, Si-ncs embedded in Si3N4 antireflection layer of solar cells can be used as luminescent converters to enhance photovoltaic conversion in the blue region of the spectrum. Controlling Si-ncs characteristics (density, size, surface passivation, etc.) is necessary to the optimisation of both electrical and optical properties of the layers. In this work, we synthesized SiN x :H 50nm thick layers by ECR-PECVD using NH3 and SiH4 gases. Si-ncs are obtained thanks to a Si atom excess in the matrix, controlled by the gas flow ratio. The samples were annealed under Ar flow, first in a RTA furnace at 1000°C during 1min for particles nucleation, and then in a classic furnace, from 700°C to 1100°C, in order to investigate the Si nanostructure evolution. We studied the structural characteristics of Si-ncs population by energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EF-TEM). The layers composition was determined by Rutherford back scattering spectroscopy (RBS) and elastic recoil detection analysis (ERDA). Their optical properties were studied by photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). Results clearly show that structural and optical characteristics of these systems can be controlled by deposition parameters and annealing.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report on the influence of the interface quality on the output characteristics of amorphous/crystalline silicon heterojunction solar cells. A simulation study shows that interface states strongly influence the open circuit voltage and thus the solar cell efficiency. The interface quality, characterized by photoluminescence measurements, is optimized by varying the deposition conditions of the thin amorphous silicon film. The electronic properties of the amorphous emitter on the crystalline silicon substrates were investigated by photoelectron yield spectroscopy. A variation of the deposition conditions leads to a change in the effective interface recombination and also in the electronic structure of the amorphous silicon layer.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Single-phase anatase nanocrystalline HyCOM-TiO2 (Hydrothermal Crystallization in Organic Media) to label this method was synthesized by high-temperature hydrolysis of titanium tetrabutoxide in toluene. The resulting HyCOM-TiO2 nanocrystallites were found to be covered by n-butoxide, yielding mesoporous, transparent anatase films with a narrow pore size distribution and good electron transport characteristic when sintered at 350–550°C on optically transparent conducting glass. Dye-sensitized solar cells made of the Ru-dye-adsorbed mesoporous HyCOM films as photoanodes achieved better photo-energy conversion efficiency as compared to those prepared using commercially available Degussa P25 films.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This work presents a new topology for a thermal and RF energy harvesting system for integrated circuits. The system improves two circuit parameters: low start-up voltage and high-efficiency energy extraction. The high efficiency is achieved with a new parallel auto-adaptive DC-DC converter with a charge-pump based design to collect thermal energy. The low start-up voltage is possible with the assistance of a Radio-Frequency harvester circuit, resulting in a new hybrid energy harvesting architecture. The circuit was designed and fabricated with a CMOS 180 nm process, using an active area of 954 μm × 341 μm. The measurement results show an 87% peak efficiency with a maximum regulated output voltage of 2 V. The minimum operating input voltage is 250 mV without the start-up circuit and 30 mV with the RF start-up circuit at 33 KHz of switching frequency.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, the concept of power tracking for PV systems is highlighted and an overview on 40 old and recent Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) methods, available in the literature, is presented and classified. These methods are mathematically modeled and presented in such a way the reader can select the most appropriate method for his own application. A comparative table is presented at the end of the paper to simplify the classification of the different methods.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Bi0.9La0.1FeO3 (BLFO) films were fabricated on La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO)/SrTiO3(STO)(001) substrates by pulsed laser deposition. The ferroelectric photovoltaic characteristics of Au/BLFO/LSMO heterostructures were studied under green light illumination. The open circuit voltage and short circuit current were observed to be positive and negative values under weak light illumination in the as-grown self-poled downward BLFO thin films, while they changed the signs when the light intensity is strong. On the contrary, this photovoltaic properties can be switched when the BLFO films were in poled up state. The photovoltaic effect was also strongly dependent on the polarization direction, incident light intensity and the distribution of oxygen vacancies. As a result, the sign of open circuit voltage and short circuit current could be independent of the direction of polarization. We believe that the switchable diode and photovoltaic effects can be explained well using the concepts of Schottky barrier modulation by polarization flipping and of oxygen vacancies and the distribution of oxygen vacancies at Au/BLFO or BLFO/LSMO interface. Our work provides deep insights into the nature of diode and photovoltaic effects in ferroelectric films, implying an effective approach to improve photovoltaic effect by tuning oxygen vacancies in ferroelectric materials.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The surface finishes have an important role on the energy requirements of the buildings. This paper presents a new factor denominated “outside coating factor” (OCF) for an air-conditioned building and for a building without summer thermal control. It synthetically describes the climate of the location considered and can be useful for building planners for choosing the optimal outside surface finishes from thermal and energetic point of view. This factor depends on the cooling/heating degrees-day and solar radiation. For positive values of the OCF (0, +2.5), the optimal choice falls on the high solar reflectance and high infrared emissivity surface finishes, while the opposite occurs for negative values of the OCF.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Whereas the modern architecture trends to an extensive use of glazing elements, buildings are increasingly required to minimize the external energy demand, cutting down the energy needed and covering the residual demand using local energy generation solutions. In this context, the integration of optimized Semi-Transparent Photovoltaic (STPV) elements seems to present a promising energy saving potential, leading to significant reductions of the heating, cooling and lighting loads while the on-site electricity generation is supplied. In mild climate areas, building glazings are required to perform as solar control systems with a low solar factor in order to avoid overheating. However, g-value is frequently unavailable in the data sheet of the STPV elements, making it difficult to design the optimal building solution. In the present work, an indoor testing facility to analyze the solar factor of STPV elements has been further developed and validated. The operating principles of the calorimetric system as well as the experimental data obtained in the validation stage are presented. Results show that the system accuracy and sensitivity are fully adequate to perform detailed analyses of the solar factor of STPV glazings. Furthermore, g-value variations with the transparency degree have been analyzed over different electrical operating points.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "HelioVolt Corporation closed $8m in a Series A venture funding in June from New Enterprise Associates. “We can shorten photovoltaic manufacturing time and thermal budget by a factor of ten to 100. This is the first truly practical technology to enable buildings to produce their own power.” said Billy J Stanbery, founder and CEO of HelioVolt and a solar energy pioneer.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "N-Phenylmaleimide derivatives bearing a chiral oxazoline substituent at the benzene ring (N-[o-(4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)phenyl]maleimides, OPMIs) were polymerized using a binary initiating system composed of Et2Zn and n-BuLi to in situ produce the zinc complexes of optically active poly(OPMI)s. The significant changes in chiroptical and fluorescent properties were observed for these polymers upon complexation with metal ions due to the formation of supramolecular structure, evidenced by circular dichroism, fluorescence spectrum and atomic force microscopy. The fluorescence spectra of poly(OPMI)/ZnII complexes in the presence of (R)/(S)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL) and (R)/(S)-2-amino-1-propanol were studied in THF media. It was found that the fluorescence intensity of the complexes responded differently to both enantiomers of BINOL and the amino alcohol in a quenching and enhancement fashion, respectively. Furthermore, the enantioselective fluorescence response was strongly dependent on the amount of incorporated zinc in polymer matrices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "BIPV/T collectors incorporated into building envelopes can be used to replace conventional building materials in roofs, skylights or façades. A new design of BIPV/T solar air collector prototype for façade retrofit with emphasis on simplifying the integration into the building envelope was developed. Experimental results show, that this new design BIPV/T solar air collector reaches a comparable thermal efficiency with the one of unglazed thermal collectors (UTC) with additional photovoltaic electricity generation, leading to 10-15% higher combined efficiency. Custom thermal and fluid network numerical models were created to analyze their performance. Models were validated at the Concordia University Solar Simulator Lab. This paper presents the work done on testing, modeling and performance evaluation using 5-plot system for open loop photovoltaic/thermal solar air collectors.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A new propulsion concept for high Δ V space missions, termed LARS (Liquid Annular Reactor System), uses liquid nuclear fuel elements to heat hydrogen propellant to very high temperatures (-6000 K). The molten fuel is contained in a lower-temperature solid container which rotates to stabilize and hold in the liquid layer by centripetal force. Containment of ultra high temperature molten refractories, using this method, has been experimentally demonstrated by A.V. Grosse. The specific impulse of a rocket exhausting hydrogen at 6000 K is 2000 seconds, approximately double that of solid-core nuclear rockets. A LARS-powered space probe could accomplish extra-solar missions to 550 A.U. in approximately 35 years.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "IMEC, the blue-chip Belgium silicon-dedicated research laboratory has celebrated its 20th anniversary with an autumnal flurry of silicon-style news for its yearly gathering with journalists before the 2004 Annual Research Review Meeting in Leeuven.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Thermoelectrically-coupled nanoantennas (TECNAs)—nanoantennas that use the Seebeck effect to detect radiation—are a promising modality for spectrally resolved detection in the infrared. By tailoring the geometry of a nanoantenna coupled to a micro-cavity, their responsivity and spectral selectivity can be carefully designed. However, to date no measurements have directly established the spectral response of these detectors over a large frequency span in the infrared regime, particularly from 2 μm to 20 μm. In this work, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the spectral selectivity of TECNAs operating within the mid- and long-wave infrared (MWIR and LWIR) regions. We engineer arrays of detectors at 5.5 μm, 10.6 μm, and 14 μm, and we verify their selectivity using polarization-dependent Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). We also show that the response can be tailored using a combination of antenna and cavity design. Our results not only underscore the potential of TECNAs in advancing sensing applications within the MWIR and LWIR domains, but also offer a promising direction for enhancing other detector modalities.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Carrier injection efficiency has been studied using multiple quantum well (MQW) LED structures in order to resolve the difficulty of p–n junction placement in nitride LEDs. Variation of an active QW position in MQW LEDs results in different emission efficiency and spectra. The difference mainly comes from carrier injection efficiency of MQW LED structures. The comparison of peak lambda in electro-luminescence (EL) and photo-luminescence (PL) reveals the carrier distribution in active layers. EL and PL slope efficiencies in selective peak wavelengths indicate the performance of individual QWs for carrier injection and recombination. These efficiencies and brightness guide us towards the optimum number of QWs and the effective LED structures.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Procedures for testing organic solar cell devices and modules with respect to stability and operational lifetime are described. The descriptions represent a consensus of the discussion and conclusions reached during the first 3 years of the international summit on OPV stability (ISOS). The procedures include directions for shelf life testing, outdoor testing, laboratory weathering testing and thermal cycling testing, as well as guidelines for reporting data. These procedures are not meant to be qualification tests, but rather generally agreed test conditions and practices to allow ready comparison between laboratories and to help improving the reliability of reported values. Failure mechanisms and detailed degradation mechanisms are not covered in this report.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The magnetic field dependence of the thermoelectrical power of a series of Co/Cu multilayered nanowires grown by electrodeposition in a polymer matrix is almost that predicted by the Mott formula in the temperature range of 15–300K. Application of the two-current model to thermopower yields (S ↑−S ↓)/(S ↑+S ↓), the relative difference between the thermopower of each spin channel.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • In this paper, we conduct a thorough SWOT analysis of the wearable healthcare industry. • We examine its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and some of the major threats it faces. • Some of its innovation areas are infant and elderly care and chronic disease management. • Others are military support, sports medicine, and preventive medicine. • We also critically identify and discuss several barriers to the market’s growth.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Many small satellites are power constrained due to their minimal solar panel area and the eclipse environment of low-Earth orbit. As with larger satellites, these small satellites, including CubeSats, use deployable power arrays to increase power production. This presents a design opportunity to develop various objective functions related to energy management and methods for optimizing these functions over a satellite design. A novel power generation model was created, and a simulation system was developed to evaluate various objective functions describing energy management for complex satellite designs. The model uses a spacecraft-body-fixed spherical coordinate system to analyze the complex geometry of a satellite׳s self-induced shadowing with computation provided by the Open Graphics Library. As an example design problem, a CubeSat configured as a space-dart with four deployable panels is optimized. Due to the fast computation speed of the solution, an exhaustive search over the design space is used to find the solar panel deployment angles which maximize total power generation. Simulation results are presented for a variety of orbit scenarios. The method is extendable to a variety of complex satellite geometries and power generation systems.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In most of the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) methods described currently in the literature, the optimal operation point of the photovoltaic (PV) systems is estimated by linear approximations. However these approximations can lead to less than optimal operating conditions and hence reduce considerably the performances of the PV system. This paper proposes a new approach to determine the maximum power point (MPP) based on measurements of the open-circuit voltage of the PV modules, and a nonlinear expression for the optimal operating voltage is developed based on this open-circuit voltage. The approach is thus a combination of the nonlinear and perturbation and observation (P&O) methods. The experimental results show that the approach improves clearly the tracking efficiency of the maximum power available at the output of the PV modules. The new method reduces the oscillations around the MPP, and increases the average efficiency of the MPPT obtained. The new MPPT method will deliver more power to any generic load or energy storage media.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Material limitations of wafer-based silicon (Si) cell technology and efficiency limitations of thin film solar cell technologies need to be overcome in order to have affordable PV technology. New concepts that strive for better utilization of the sun's spectrum, hence better cell efficiency, are under development. These include multi-junction solar cells, intermediate band solar cells, cells utilizing impurity levels, quantum well and quantum dot solar cells, hot carrier cells and solar cell concepts incorporating spectrum conversion. In multi-junction solar cells, better spectrum utilization is obtained by stacking several solar cells. A record efficiency of over 39% has been achieved under 236 times the sun's light concentration. Analysis of impurity of photovoltaic and intermediate band solar cells has shown that theoretical cell efficiency is about 63.2% for single impurity level and single intermediate band. Energy-shifting of UV photons has been demonstrated by fabricating Si nanocrystals in SiOx and SiNx matrices. Proof of concept has been shown for quantum confinement in Si quantum dots and enhanced photon absorption using metal nanoparticles on the solar cell surface. Similarly, most of the advanced concepts are in the initial stage of experimentation. Significant breakthroughs are required before these concepts can contribute to mainstream PV production.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Bi2Sr2Co1.8O x /Ag composites with small amounts of Ag have been synthesized by a sol–gel via nitrates reaction and directionally grown from the melt. Some of the obtained samples were annealed in order to obtain the thermoelectric phase as the major one. As-grown and annealed samples were microstructurally characterized to determine the phases distribution and alignment. Moreover, thermoelectric and mechanical characteristics of annealed samples were determined by the four-probe technique and by three point flexural strength tests, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that Ag particles appear dispersed among well oriented ceramic grains with large size, providing a plastic flow region which increases the flexural strength for the optimally Ag added samples (1wt.%). The composites electrical resistivity is lower than that of pure Bi2Sr2Co1.8O x while Ag addition does not significantly affect thermopower values. The resistivity reduction leads to power factor improvements of ∼50%, compared with pure samples, for Ag additions of 1wt.% Ag.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We prove existence of a weak solution for a hybrid model for the electro-thermal behavior of semiconductor heterostructures. This hybrid model combines an electro-thermal model based on drift-diffusion with thermistor type models in different subregions of the semiconductor heterostructure. The proof uses a regularization method and Schauder's fixed point theorem. For boundary data compatible with thermodynamic equilibrium we verify, additionally, uniqueness. Moreover, we derive bounds and higher integrability properties for the electrostatic potential and the quasi Fermi potentials as well as the temperature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We have synthesized a series of novel blue colored symmetrical squaraine sensitizers with variable alkyl chain length for their application towards the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). It has been found that an increase in the alkyl chain length substituted at N-position of indole ring exhibits enhanced electron diffusion length and electron life-time resulting in better passivation of nanocrystalline TiO2 surface leading to enhancement in the cell performance. Based on HOMO and LUMO energy measurement of squaraine dyes, it has been demonstrated that about 0.16eV energy barrier is sufficient for electron injection from LUMO of dye to TiO2 conduction band and dye regeneration after photo-excitation. Performances of DSSCs using model squaraine dyes indicate that dodecyl alkyl substituent is optimum giving highest Voc and use of chenodeoxycholic acid along with the dye SQ-4 shows a photoconversion efficiency of 3.5% under AM 1.5 irradiation.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "N-type CuGaSe2 single crystals are prepared using a co-doping technique with Ge and Zn. Employing this method electron concentrations in the range from 1010 to 1018 cm−3 have been achieved. Magnetotransport measurements were carried out in the temperature range from 2 to 300 K. A critical concentration of 1.4×1017 cm−3 was found for the metal–insulator transition in n-CuGaSe2. Furthermore, at low temperatures a crossover from Mott- to Efros–Shklovskii-type variable range hopping is observed on the dielectric side of the transition. In addition, CuGaSe2 homojunctions have been prepared. Total area efficiencies as high as 8.9% are achieved under solar illumination.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "All-polymer bulk-heterojunction photovoltaic cells based on poly(N-vinyl carbazole) and poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-benzothiadiazole) co-casting films are investigated. One of the highest reported open-circuit voltage among the all-polymer solar cells is obtained due to the large energy offset between the highest occupied molecular orbital of the donor and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of the acceptor. Atomic force microscopy and photoluminescence study of the active layer with varied blending ratios and annealing temperatures reveals a phase controlled working mechanism, in which the charge generation efficiency is proved to be the main limiting factor of this material system. The incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency measurement shows a unique “double peak” phenomenon with increase in the annealing temperature, indicative of asynchronous chain movement between the two polymers due to their relatively large difference in glass transition temperature. Such a phase behavior might have potential value in further optimization of film morphology towards higher device performance.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "With an increasing world population and a growing economy, the demand for energy is sure to grow. The latest predictions for world energy demand all show an upward trend and even with increased energy efficiency we will still need substantially more energy by 2050 than we use today. Where's it to come from? Dr Federico Casci of the European Fusion Development Agreement (EFDA) organisation believes part of the answer is fusion…",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Food allergens elicit abnormal immune system responses among allergic individuals and sensitive detection for allergenic ingredient is greatly significant. To address this need, a novel fluorescent aptasensor, assisted by Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR), have been developed for food allergens. In this study, aptamer offers distinctive recognition capabilities in binding specific targets, while CRISPR-associated-12a protein (Cas12a) holds precise cis-cleavage for cutting fluorescent signal probes. Notably, the utilization of Cas12a cis-cleavage activity, rather than trans-cleavage, eliminates the necessity for additional fluorescent probes, thus reducing interference between substances and enhancing sensitivity. Throughout the process, complementary DNA (cDNA) plays a crucial dual role in target recognition conversion and signal presentation, representing a key challenge and innovative aspect of this study. To evaluate the performance of the aptasensor, lysozyme (LYS) is employed as a representative model target of food allergens. Under optimal conditions, the developed aptasensor could achieve an exceptional low limit of detection (LOD) of 6.10 pM with a dynamic detection range of 10 pM-320 pM. The aptasensor demonstrates high selectivity and great recovery rates. This strategy yields promising outcomes, holding the potential to serve as a valuable reference for various food allergens detection.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "With every passing day the nanofluids are proving more and more useful in several industrial and biomedical processes. Such utility of nanofluids grasped attention of the researchers from all over the world. At present, several theoretical models are available to predict the effective thermal conductivity of nanofluids. On the other hand it still remains to examine the effects of different thermal conductivity models on the outcomes of the analysis. Mixed convective peristaltic transport of water based nanofluids with viscous dissipation and heat generation/absorption is examined here using two different models of the effective thermal conductivity of nanofluids. Analysis is performed using the Titanium oxide or titania (TiO2), Aluminum oxide or Alumina (Al2O3), Copper oxide (CuO), Copper (Cu) and Silver (Ag) nanoparticles. Water is treated as the base fluid. The two cases of Maxwell's and Hamilton–Crosser's thermal conductivity models are used in the analysis. Numerical solutions for the axial velocity, temperature and heat transfer rate at the boundary are obtained and analyzed. Results show that for higher nanoparticle volume fraction and for nanoparticles with higher thermal conductivity the gap between the results predicted by the Hamilton–Crosser's and the Maxwell's model widens.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The integration of renewable resources such as solar, biomass and geothermal energies with other technologies and energy production cycles can lead to a more efficient power generation process. In addition, the development of multi-generation energy configurations can increase the sustainability, popularity, and flexibility of energy production process. In this regard, this article presents and evaluates an annotative multi-generation configuration based on solar and geothermal energies integrated with Kalina (KC), organic Rankine (ORC), refrigeration, water electrolysis, and thermoelectric (TEG) cycles. The thermal energy of the process is supplied through geothermal well, parabolic trough solar collectors (PTSC) and biomass sources. Kalina and organic Rankine cycles are installed to generate electricity. A thermoelectric generator is also embedded to increase electricity generation rate by exploiting the cycle heat losses. Meanwhile, water electrolysis and refrigeration cycles are responsible for producing a cooling load and a clean hydrogen fuel. The performance of the multi-generation configuration is evaluated and discussed from the points of view of thermodynamic, energetic, exergetic, and exergoeconomic. Moreover, a multi-objective optimization algorithm is established to optimize the exergetic efficiency and products unit cost. It was found that under the optimum case, the proposed multi-generation configuration can produce 80.1 kW and 1930 g/h of electricity and hydrogen fuel, respectively. In such a context, it can achieve 35.9 % for the exergetic efficiency and 36.95 USD per GJ for the products unit cost. Furthermore, the Levelized Cost of Electricity and hydrogen of the configuration were 5.67 USD per kg and 0.098 USD per kWh, respectively.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Dry and wet insulation characteristics of a Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) module have been studied through theoretical modelling supported by experimental results. A new equivalent circuit model approach has been used to understand the effect of resistances of the individual material used in the SPV module and the overall impact on the insulation characteristics. The electrical resistances of all the individual material have also been measured separately prior to lamination. It has been seen that, post lamination, the characteristics change significantly. EVA (Ethyl Vinyl Acetate) and Back-sheet (Tedlar) looses their separate identity and exhibit properties of a different new combined material. The resistance of this material has been determined using the equivalent circuit modelling approach. It has been shown that the insulation behaviour is primarily governed by this material. The temperature characteristics of the insulation leakage currents follow Arrhenius behaviour with well defined activation energies. It has been determined from the activation energies that the primary leakage path is from cell to EVA–Tedlar to frame of the module.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Despite the abundance of renewable energy resources in the Arab region, the use of solar thermal, solar photovoltaics, and wind is still in its technological and economic infancy. Great potential exists, but economic constraints have impeded more rapid growth for many applications. These technologies have certainly advanced technically over the last quarter century to the point where they should now be considered clean-energy alternatives to fossil fuels. For the Arab countries and many other regions of the world, potable water is becoming as critical a commodity as electricity. As renewable energy technologies advance and environmental concerns rise, these technologies are becoming more interesting partners for powering water desalination projects. We evaluate the current potential and viability of solar and wind, emphasizing the strict mandate for accurate, reliable site-specific resource data. Water desalination can be achieved through either thermal energy (using phase-change processes) or electricity (driving membrane processes), and these sources are best matched to the particular desalination technology. Desalination using solar thermal can be accomplished by multistage flash distillation, multi-effect distillation, vapor compression, freeze separation, and solar still methods. Concentrating solar power offers the best match to large-scale plants that require both high-temperature fluids and electricity. Solar and wind electricity can be effective energy sources for reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, and ultra- and nano-filtration. All these water desalination processes have special operational and high energy requirements that put additional requisites on the use of solar and wind to power these applications. We summarize the characteristics of the various desalination technologies. The effective match of solar thermal, solar photovoltaics, and wind to each of these is discussed in detail. An economic analysis is provided that incorporates energy consumption, water production levels, and environmental benefits in its model. Finally, the expected evolution of the renewable technologies over the near- to mid-term is discussed with the implications for desalination applications over these timeframes.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR) of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency is a testing reactor for various neutron irradiation tests on nuclear fuels and materials, as well as for radioisotope production. The operation of JMTR stopped temporarily in August 2006 for refurbishment and improvement. The renewed JMTR will resume operation in Japanese fiscal year 2011. The renewal of aged reactor components, the preparation of new irradiation facilities, and the development of irradiation technologies have been carried out for the resumption of the new JMTR. The new JMTR with the new irradiation facilities and the irradiation technologies will be utilized for the research and development of fission and fusion reactor fuels and materials. This paper describes the present status of the refurbishment and the irradiation technologies focused on instrumentation such as the multi-paired thermocouple which is applicable to irradiation temperature control and a ceramic oxygen sensor in JMTR.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Microcrystalline silicon–germanium (μc-Si1−x Ge x :H) alloy films have been grown by 100-MHz glow-discharge of a SiH4/GeH4/H2 gas mixture. Alloys over a full range of compositions were prepared to gain a comprehensive understanding of their growth and material properties. With increasing GeH4 concentration in the gas-phase, we observed a preferential Ge incorporation behavior in the solid. Growth rate studies revealed that the Ge incorporation efficiency from source gas to solid is about five times greater than for Si at growth temperature of 200°C, which accounts for the variation of alloy composition. With increasing Ge incorporation in the solid, on the other hand, we find a monotonic decrease in photoconductivity, followed by an electrical transition from weak n-type to strong p-type conduction at x >0.7. At x ≈0.4, however, we obtained relatively high photoconductivity gains by a factor of 20 and strong infrared response in the solar cell structure. The Ge incorporation behavior and its effect on charge carrier transport are discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We have investigated the temperature dependence of the Hamamatsu spl 6815 Avalanche Photodiode (APD) response, when used as an low energy electron detector, over the temperature range from - 9 to 30 ∘ C . In order to make precise measurements, relevant to the particles of interest, electrons were actually used to calibrate the APD response. The gain variation over the temperature was - 1.2 % / K at 10 ∘ C for a nominal bias voltage. Although a slight dead layer effect was found, the linearity of the response was excellent over all measured temperatures, and the variation of the energy resolution was acceptably small to maintain good performance. The temperature effects can be readily canceled out with an active bias voltage control based on the ambient temperature so long as the internal gain is maintained between 15 and 20.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar cells, especially thin film solar cells, utilize rough surfaces actively in order to improve light trapping efficiency. In this study, we propose a new optical simulation method, which is capable of taking into consideration the realistic surface and interface morphology. The proposed simulation algorithm is based upon a non-sequential ray tracing technique, and direct calculation of the optical absorption energy is performed by separating the light passing through medium into the coherent part and the incoherent part in the course of non-sequential ray tracing throughout the whole region of solar cell structure. It was shown that the new method can give more accurate estimation of the absolute absorption energy in the individual layer when applied for a thin film Si solar cell structure with rough surface of bidirectional scattering distribution function. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm was proved to be very effective in analyzing solar cells with complex geometry like concentrator photovoltaic system, which necessitates the combination of coherent and incoherent calculation.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Almost all the villages consisting of more than 20 households in Iran have been grid-connected by 2010 according to the Forth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2005–2010) of the Iranian government; however, there are many isolated communities with less than 20 households that are still in need of electrification. Currently, the sole technology that provides electric power to such communities is diesel generator, which does only cause environmental problems and human health concerns, but also rank high in maintenance and operational costs. Due to the recent increasing attention of Renewable Energy Organization in Iran (acronymed as SUNA based on its Persian name) to the application of renewable energies, this paper aims to analyze the techno-economic feasibility of stand-alone hybrid PV–diesel energy systems for electrification of remote rural areas in eastern part of Iran where 5kWh/m2 solar radiation per day is a common feature. Through simulations based on HOMER software, this study presents a comprehensive comparative analysis among potential configurations of a system best suited to meet the needs of isolated Iranian communities.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ▸ Assessment of energy and environmental benefits due to an Italian sustainable policy. ▸ Use of input–output analysis and LCA to analyze the effectiveness of sustainable policies. ▸ Rebound effect can reduce energy and environmental benefits arising from sustainable policies.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A NADH and glucose biosensor based on thionine cross-linked multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) multilayer functionalized indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) electrode were presented in this paper. The effect of light irradiation on the enhancement of bioelectrocatalytic processes of the biocatalytic systems by the photovoltaic effect was investigated. This bioelectrode exhibited excellent catalytic activity of the oxidation towards dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). Most interesting, the performance of this NADH sensor could be tuned by the visible light. When the biosensor was performed in the dark, the anodic current increased linearly with NADH concentration over the range from 0.5 to 237μM with detection limit 0.1μM and sensitivity 17nAμM−1. The sensitivity became 115nAμM−1 with detection limit 0.05μM with the light irradiation. Compared with the reaction in dark, the sensitivity increased around 7 folds while the detection limit decreased 2 folds. The glucose biosensor also exhibited the same behavior. The linear range was from 10μM to 2.56mM with the sensitivity of 7.8μAmM−1 and detection limit 5.0μM in the dark. After the light irradiation, the linear range was from 1μM to 3.25mM with the sensitivity of 18.5μAmM−1 and detection limit 0.7μM. It indicated a potential to provide an operational access to develop new kinds of photocontrolled dehydrogenase enzyme-based bioelectronics.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this article, the effect of hydrostatic pressure upon the optoelectronic performances of the perovskite Rb2PdBr6 was investigated by using first principles calculations. The calculated results imply that the band gap of the perovskite Rb2PdBr6 can change with hydrostatic pressure. The energy band gap of Rb2PdBr6 can be decreased to 1.341 eV when 1.2 GPa hydrostatic pressure is applied. This band gap value greatly approaches the optimal band gap value (1.34 eV) of PSCs. After finding the optimal band gap value of perovskite Rb2PdBr6, we compare the optical properties of perovskite Rb2PdBr6 under the hydrostatic pressure of 0 GPa, 1 GPa, 1.2 GPa, 1.5 GPa, respectively. The results show that the band gap reduction of Rb2PdBr6 under hydrostatic pressure leads to some superior optical properties such as improved light-absorbing ability, superior dielectric capability, and preferable charge transportation performance. The calculated lattice parameters show that the perovskite Rb2PdBr6 maintains a stable cubic spatial structure under hydrostatic pressure, and the elastic modulus complies with the criterion of mechanical stability. Meanwhile, there is no negative frequency component in the computed phonon dispersion spectra. The superior optoelectronic performance along with beneficial stability under hydrostatic pressure make Rb2PdBr6 more suitable for PSCs.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "There are a number of analytical techniques used to study material related problems. Most of them imply experimental determination of parameters and functions by means of which elemental, optical and other properties of materials can be described. Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and Raman spectroscopy are highly complementary spectroscopic techniques used for lab, in-situ, and remote analyses of materials. The LIBS-Raman system provides further information compared to other conventional techniques since it can detect the presence of low atomic number-elements, isotopic composition, hydration and structure of trace materials which may be present as surface layers etc., which are very difficult, if not impossible, by portable X-ray based systems. A setup for LIBS and Raman spectroscopy measurements in a single unit has been developed and reported recently by us using an echelle spectrograph system. The system utilizes a single nanosecond pulsed Nd:YAG laser (532 nm) and an ICCD coupled echelle spectrograph for both measurements. The unit has been successfully used for multipurpose applications such as identification of minerals, pigments etc and also for checking quality assurance. The combined atomic and molecular information from the same location on a sample, at several locations, can provide more comprehensive information regarding its properties than using either of these quantities taken singly. In many cases, it has been observed that the high resolution of the echelle spectrograph provides better quality Raman signals by virtue of the small degeneracy/crystal field splitting of many fundamental Raman bands. This can provide valuable information on inclusions in bulk samples, changes due to symmetry alteration or complex formation with surroundings, hydrogen bonding etc. The advantage of echelle system to identify natural and artificial pigments by identifying the minor and trace components by the spectra of the elements therein, is also helpful in many situations. In the present paper, the orthogonal use of LIBS and Raman spectroscopy is assessed and highlighted. The results clearly demonstrate the potential of echelle-based LIBS-Raman system in applications where more detailed information on complex samples like minerals, archaeological artifacts etc, is required with minimum sample damage or consumption.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Transition metal selenides (FeSe2 and Cu2Se) are synthesized by the hydrothermal co-reduction method. XRD results revealed the crystalline nature of their single phase and the elemental compositions are obtained using EDS. TEM images of the as-prepared samples show the formation of nanorods of 10–20nm diameter in case of iron selenide and nanoparticles of 10–35nm diameter in case of copper selenide. The energy bandgap values are calculated using tauc plots obtained from UV–Visible absorption spectra. The open aperture Z-scan measurements carried out using 5ns pulses at 532nm revealed that the samples showed excellent optical limiting behavior owing to strong nonlinear absorption (NLA). Through numerical simulations, the mechanism of NLA is found to be effective three-photon absorption which has significant contribution from excited state absorption.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Polarized Raman and IR-reflectance measurements were performed. • Assignments of all observed modes have been proposed. • Large LO–TO splitting was observed for BO stretching modes.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Bi-Te based materials have been used for near-room-temperature thermoelectric applications. However, their properties dramatically decrease at high temperatures (over 100 °C), limiting their use in power generation. In this study, we investigated the enhanced thermoelectric properties of Bi-Te based materials by Cu doping and employing the melt-spinning (MS) process that can be utilized especially at elevated temperatures. By changing the doping amount, we could modulate the temperature dependence of thermoelectric properties, where the maximum ZT temperature could be shifted from room temperature to 450 K. The highest ZT value, 1.34, was achieved at 400 K for 2% Cu-doped Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3, which is due to the enhancement in power factor and reduction in lattice thermal conductivity. The average ZT value between room temperature and 530 K was 1.17 for 2% Cu-doped Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3, which is 46% higher than that of pristine Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3. Consequently, the synergetic effect of MS process and Cu incorporation can be a promising method to widen the application of Bi-Te based thermoelectric materials for mid-temperature power generation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Organic thermoelectric (TE) materials have drawn great interest because of their advantages including mechanical flexibility, easy availability, non-toxicity and low thermal conductivity. TE materials with high dimensionless figure-of-merit ZT are required for highly efficient TE conversion. But the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of TE materials are interdependent. The increase in Seebeck coefficient is usually at the cost of the decrease in electrical conductivity. In this work, we report a facile approach to significantly enhance the TE properties of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) films by ion accumulation of an ionic liquid on the polymer surface. The ion accumulation can increase the Seebeck coefficient of the PEDOT:PSS films by 1.2–2 fold while it does not remarkably affect the electrical conductivity. The PEDOT:PSS films can exhibit an ultrahigh power factor of 754 μW m−1 K−2, corresponding to a ZT value of 0.75. This ZT value is comparable to that of inorganic TE materials like bismuth telluride at 300 K.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter discusses solar energy, solar thermal power generation, solar towers, and photovoltaic devices. Solar energy is responsible for all the biomass on the surface of the earth and is the origin of fossil fuels—the products of photosynthesis millions of years ago and now buried beneath the earth's surface. Solar energy creates the world's winds and evaporates the water that is responsible for rain; waves and ocean thermal power are both a result of insolation. There are two ways of turning the energy contained in sunlight into electricity. The first, called solar thermal generation, involves using the sun simply as a source of heat. This heat is captured, concentrated, and used to drive a heat engine. The second way of capturing solar energy and converting it into electricity involves the use of the photovoltaic or solar cell. The solar cell is a solid-state device like a transistor or microchip. It uses the physical characteristics of a semiconductor—such as silicon—to turn the sunlight directly into electricity. The solar cell is made from a thin layer of semiconducting material. The key feature of this semiconductor layer is that it will absorb photons of radiation in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Each photon of light energy is absorbed by an electron within the solid material. In absorbing the energy, the electron acquires an electrical potential, which can be made available as electrical energy, as an electric current.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Morphology-controlled growth of nanomaterials is an important topic in nanosciences because it is the prerequisite of the applications of nanomaterials. In this work, we reported the microwave-enhanced rapid and green synthesis of Sb2Se3 nanorods with a flat cross section through the reaction between selenium powders and sodium antimony tartrate. Microwave irradiation greatly shortened the reaction time, which made the cycle to be as short as 30 min. The intrinsic mechanism for the formation of nanorods with a flat cross section is related to the direction of the unique layer-structured structure of orthorhombic Sb2Se3.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The prospect of combining, at small-scale, a photovoltaic cell and a thermoelectric generator has emerged as a promising approach to enhance the non-recovered and unexploited heat from a photovoltaic cell. The increase of efficiency compared to standalone photovoltaic systems has varied, in some cases, up to 30% compared to the measured base efficiency. With the potential of improving the electrical energy generation capabilities of solar photovoltaic cells, it is no surprise innovative research regarding these hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric (PV-TE) systems has substantially increased over the last few years. In this analysis, electrical aspects of thermally coupled photovoltaic-thermoelectric energy harvesting systems observed in research are discussed and their main properties and specificities are reviewed and analyzed. A particular focus is made on the possible electrical connection between the photovoltaic cell and the thermoelectric generator within the hybrid system. The control mechanism for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) to achieve optimized power extraction, based on studies, is also addressed. Additionally, limitations and possible improvements are discussed regarding power extraction due to their specific needs for an electronic interface.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This work deals with the design and experimental implementation of a MPP-tracker for photovoltaic systems, which is a high efficiency dc/dc boost converter operating in continuous conduction mode (CCM). The converter is able to draw maximum power from the PV panel for a given solar radiation level and environment temperature by adjusting the duty cycle of the converter. Additionally, a passive nondissipative turn-on turn-off snubber is used, so that high efficiency and reduced electromagnetic interference (EMI) levels due to the soft switching operation can be obtained. The snubber improves the converter efficiency since the energy that would be dissipated during turning on and turning off is transferred to the load. The control technique, implemented with a single-chip microcontroller 80C51, is based on the perturbation and observation method, where the maximum power point is tracked with periodical calculation of the panel output power. Simulation and experimental results describe the performance of the proposed MPP-tracker.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "There are various climate policies to decarbonize the energy matrix of a country. In the case of Chile, a carbon tax of 5 USD/tCO2 was initially implemented, and later, a schedule was established for the phase-out of coal-fired thermoelectric plants, all the above in the absence of subsidies for non-conventional renewable energy (NCRE). This study uses a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model and microsimulations to assess the contribution of current climate policies and other more demanding scenarios that accelerate the decarbonization of the Chilean energy matrix, considering economic, environmental, and distributional impacts. Specifically, carbon taxes are simulated with and without complementary climate policies (phase-out of coal-fired power plants and NCRE subsidies). The results show that the scenarios that combine the three climate policies generate a greater decrease in greenhouse gas emissions (40.4% ∼ 57.5%). Besides, the drop in GDP is more pronounced when coal-fired thermoelectric plants phase out (0.3% additional), and NCRE subsidies contribute to moderately reducing emissions. However, NCRE subsidies reduce the negative effect on households’ expenditure and income, especially in the poorest quintile. Finally, microsimulations show marginal changes in income distribution and an increase of up to 0.4 percentage points in the poverty rate.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The temperature dependent structural, magnetic, and transport properties of a Mn-based compound CuNMn3 with an antiperovskite structure were investigated. A ferrimagnetic transition occurs near 150K, which coincides with the structural transition temperature from cubic to tetragonal symmetry. Below 150K, the resistivity of this compound shows a metallic behavior. Above 150K, however, the variation of resistivity with temperature is almost negligible, exhibiting nearly zero temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR). Its TCR value is about 46ppm/K near room temperature, which is about two orders of magnitude smaller than those of pure metals like Cu and Al.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "SnO2 thin films were grown on p-InP (100) substrates by using radio-frequency magnetron sputtering at low temperature. Atomic force microscopy images showed that the root mean square of the average surface roughness of the SnO2 film was 22.6Å, and X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements showed that the SnO2 thin films grown on p-InP substrates were polycrystalline. Auger electron spectroscopy and bright-field TEM measurements showed that the SnO2 thin layers grown on p-InP substrates at 200°C had no significant interdiffusion problems. However, a thin interfacial layer of unknown origin was detected between the SnO2 film and the substrate. These results indicate that the SnO2 epitaxial films grown on p-InP (100) substrates at low temperature hold promise for potential devices based on InP substrates, such as superior stability varistors and high-efficiency solar cells. Even the structure with the unintentionally grown interfacial layer might be used for high-efficiency solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A sensitive new measurement technology is described which combines calorimetry, gravimetry, and rheology applied to chemical reactions in thin films: quartz crystal microbalance/heat conduction calorimetry (QCM/HCC). The quartz crystal microbalance/heat conduction calorimeters constructed so far simultaneously measure heat generation, mass uptake or release, and viscoelastic property changes in the same, sub-milligram solid film sample when gases interact with the film in an isothermal surrounding. It is possible to measure the energetics of formation of a single layer of adsorbed molecules on a gold surface with this technique. The principles of operation of both the mass and the heat flow sensor are described, and one implementation of the combined sensor and apparatus and its electronics is presented. Methods for calibration and the preparation of thin sample films are summarized. As an illustrative example, the determination of the sorption enthalpy of hydrogen in a 25°C palladium film of 140nm thickness is discussed in detail. Other examples of the operation of the QCM/HCC are tabulated.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Appropriate technology for energy supply requires the use of the most effective energy resources and conversion technologies that will also result in the minimum acceptable impact upon the environment. A useful parameter for evaluation of energy resources for large-scale production of electricity and hydrogen fuel is the specific energy of the appropriate energy resources. Available resources for such large-scale applications must come from some mixture of renewable, fossil, and nuclear energy. Analysis is made of the appropriate use of solar energy, chemical combustion fuels, and nuclear energy on the basis of their specific energy. The results show that the most appropriate resources for large-scale production of electricity and hydrogen are low-specific solar photovoltaic and wind turbine energy for large numbers of distributed small-scale applications and high-specific nuclear energy for smaller numbers of large-scale applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A direct-detection Brillouin optical time-domain reflectometry (BOTDR) using an up-conversion photon-counting detector and an all-fiber structure Fabry–Perot scanning interferometer is demonstrated with shot-noise limited performance. Taking advantage of ultra-low noise equivalent power of the up-conversion photon-counting detector and high spectral resolution of the interferometer, the Brillouin spectra along a polarization maintaining fiber (PMF) are analyzed in the optical frequency domain directly. In contrast with heterodyne BOTDR, photon-counting BOTDR has better EM compatibility and faster speed in data processing. In experiments, using peak input power of 20dBm, temperature profile along a 9km PMF is retrieved according to the Brillouin shifts, with spatial/temporal resolution of 2m/15s. The precision is 0.7°C at the leading end and 1.2°C at the trailing end.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The development of a bioethanol steam reforming system (FBSR) is considered as a means of distributing energy using PEM fuel cells. Small-scale solar collectors (collection areas on the order of several m2) are installed in a house as a method for applying the FBSR. However, the temperature distribution of a reforming catalyst fluctuates under conditions of unstable solar insolation. Therefore, heat transfer analysis applied in reforming the catalyst layer of the reactor and the temperature distribution and transient response characteristics of the gas composition of the process were investigated. As a case study, meteorological data for representative days in March and August in Sapporo, Japan were recorded, and the hydrogen production speed, power generation output and amount of electricity purchased were analyzed. The results showed that although fluctuations in solar insolation affected the efficiency of the FBSR, the average efficiency of each representative day exceeded 40%. By installing two solar collectors, each with a collection area of 1m2, 21–25% of the average power demand of an individual house can be supplied.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Long-range potential fluctuations that modulate the band edges significantly affect the dc and ac photoconductivities in a-Si:H and a-Ge:H. The so-called μτ-product and the dielectric relaxation time in the temperature range between 20 and 300 K are obtained in the present materials. The magnitude of potential fluctuations estimated from the dc and ac conductivities is almost consistent with that from the thermoelectric power.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The substantial crystallization suppression of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) in the untreated P3HT:C60 composite film prepared from o-dichlorobenzene (ODCB) solution has been revealed. Besides, the effective conjugation length of P3HT in this composite has been nearly maintained to that in the solution. The different crystallization behaviors of P3HT in its composites with C60 and [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) are mainly attributed to the relative solubility of C60 and PCBM with respect to P3HT in ODCB. The solution to overcome this disadvantage of chain conformation and crystallinity of P3HT in the composite with C60 is thus proposed and finalized by resorting to the addition of low volatile solvent with much higher solubility of C60 than P3HT into the main solvent used, so as P3HT can crystallize before C60 forms crystallites in the solution. The feasibility of this approach has been proven by the improved efficiency of devices based on composites of P3HT and the low cost C60 without resorting to post-treatments. Our results demonstrated in this study could further benefit development of new electron acceptor materials, particularly based on fullerenes and their derivatives, by considering the role of the new materials in determining the crystallization of the other components involved in the composite film.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, a new fluoranthene-based unsymmetrical organic cyanine dye I and the corresponding cyanine dye II containing ethynyl unit for the purpose of comparison were designed and synthesized as sensitizers for the application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The absorption spectra, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties of I and II were extensively investigated. The DSSCs based on the fluoranthene dye I showed the better photovoltaic performance: a maximum monochromatic incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 67%, a short-circuit photocurrent density (J sc) of 7.83mAcm−2, an open-circuit photovoltage (V oc) of 0.476V, and a fill factor (ff) of 0.63, corresponding to an overall conversion efficiency of 2.34% under simulated AM 1.5G solar light condition. Also, the effects of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) in a solution as a co-adsorbate on the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs based on cyanine dyes were also investigated. The presence of CDCA for 0.5h, increases both the photovoltage and photocurrent of the DSSC incorporating I, in which the photovoltage and photocurrent increase 9.3% and 20%, respectively. The above photovoltaic results indicate that coadsorption of appropriate amount CDCA is effective to improve solar cell performance.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Powder technology has already extended its scope of interest to nanoparticles with novel properties and functionalities. Since the establishment of the National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC) in 2003, research activities in nanotechnology have shot up remarkably, including the production of nanoparticles via physical, chemical and biological methods. This article reviews and introduces recent works on nanoparticle production in Thailand, especially NANOTEC and her nation-wide network of Centers of Excellence. The categories of nanoparticles of interest extend from metal and zinc oxide nanoparticles to carbon nanoparticles and titanate nanostructures. However, thin films and nanofilms lie beyond the scope of this review.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "P3HT:PCBM blends applied as active layers for bulk heterojunction organic solar cells generally show unstable morphologies upon prolonged thermal annealing, severely limiting the lifetime of the devices. As such, the thermodynamic instability of the blend is a limiting factor in the overall performance of organic photovoltaics, and a strong disadvantage in the fierce competition with other photovoltaic technologies. This paper shows whether different blend preparation conditions and intrinsic structural changes in the side chains of poly(3-alkylthiophene) (P3AT) derivatives can influence the thermal stability of the resulting solar cells. A combination of Bright Field Transmission Electron Microscopy (BFTEM) and the analysis of Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) patterns revealed that the investigated preparation conditions do not really affect the thermal stability, whereas the introduction of a small ratio (10%) of specific functional moieties in the side chains of random P3AT copolymers does improve the thermal stability significantly. It was demonstrated that demixing of the blend components upon prolonged thermal annealing is strongly delayed in the functionalized P3AT:PCBM blends. The enhanced thermal stability was confirmed by in-situ monitoring of the short circuit current of organic solar cells based on the respective active layers. The introduction of functionalized side chains hence represents an attractive approach to increase the operational stability of organic photovoltaics based on the bulk heterojunction concept.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Structural, Optoelectronic, thermoelectric and magnetic properties of A2CdP2 (A = Ca, Sr and Ba) Zentl phase compounds in Cmc21 symmetry are investigated using FP-LAPW method with GGA-PBE, GGA-PBEsol, HSE06, G0W0 and GGA-mBJ potentials based on DFT. Estimated structure parameters are well agreement with the experiment. Cohesive energy shows that Ba2CdP2 is more stale then the rest compounds and posses high melting point. Electronic properties shows that all the compounds are direct band gap semiconductors at central symmetry while GGA-mBJ transit the direct band gap nature to indirect nature at ᴦ-H symmetry. The direct band gap values are ranging from 0.74 to 1.47 eV. The calculated band gaps are decreasing with the cation replacement and increasing by hybrid functionals. The result revel that all the compounds are optically active in infrared region of electromagnetic spectrum. Optical properties reveals that these compounds can be used as potential candidate for optoelectronic devices. Due to the narrow band gap semiconducting nature of these compounds their thermoelectric parameters are also calculated which shows that these compounds are efficient to use as the active thermoelectric materials. DFT and Post-DFT calculation indicate the paramagnetic nature of all compounds.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper aims at providing an overview and a critical analysis of the technological learning concept and its incorporation in energy–environment–economy models. A special emphasis is put on surveying and discussing, through the so-called learning curve, both studies estimating learning rates in the energy field and studies incorporating endogenous technological learning in bottom-up and top-down models. The survey of learning rate estimations gives special attention to interpreting and explaining the sources of variability of estimated rates, which is shown to be mainly inherent in R&D expenditures, the problem of omitted variable bias, the endogeneity relationship and the role of spillovers. Large-scale models survey show that, despite some methodological and computational complexity related to the non-linearity and the non-convexity associated with the learning curve incorporation, results of the numerous modelling experiments give several new insights with regard to the analysis of the prospects of specific technological options and their cost decrease potential (bottom-up models), and with regard to the analysis of strategic considerations, especially inherent in the innovation and energy diffusion process, in particular the energy sector's endogenous responses to environment policy instruments (top-down models).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter presents an introduction to quasicrystals. Crystals hold the translational periodicity and allow 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 6-fold rotational symmetries. The chapter presents a generalized notion of crystal to include a quasiperiodic translational order and names it “quasicrystal.” Quasicrystal is specified by two fundamental characteristics, that is, long-range quasiperiodic translational order and long-range crytallographically forbidden orientation symmetry. There are several different classes of quasicrystals: Al-based transition metal alloys (TM alloys, e.g., A1Mn, AlMnSi, A1CuFe, and A1PdMn), alloys without transition metal elements having similar composition to that of Frank-Kasper phase with tetrahedrally closed-packed structures and stable binary alloys. Structures of quasicrystals can be generated mathematically by inflation-deflation operation, utilization of matching rules, the grid method, strip projection method, cut projection method, or generalized dual method.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter presents a cumulative index of the book Neils Bohr Collected Works.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The term Dust is called for any substance that spreads in the air which includes soil and dust particles (suspended dust), smoke, fog and particulate matters. It is formed from organic and inorganic substances of terrestrial origin. Such substances are like sand storms, factory smoke, bacteria, pollen, Forrest fires and volcanoes vapors. Also, they include solid atmospheric particles that stay suspended in the air for long periods, and that are able to move with wind movements for long distances. It represents large differences in volume, shape, distribution and concentrations. Dust-storms are an environmental phenomenon that transcends boundaries and their growing intensity and frequency-as a result of increasing desertification and decreasing vegetation coverage-has a tremendous negative impact on national and regional human and socio-economic development. In this study, a review of Iraqi geographical and meteorically characteristics will be made. In addition, a review of the human activities that increased desertification in Iraq areas that reflects on increasing sand and dust storms in the country will also be reviewed. The focus on dust causes, types and specifications was a priority in order to analyze its effects on PV systems. PV systems performance is affected by dust and dust storms highly influence the energy collected. A comprehensive review for the effect of dust on PV in Iraq is represented to researchers; designers and engineers dealing with PV systems in Iraq.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Previous numerical simulation studies on U-shaped closed-loop geothermal systems (UCLGS) have been based on single horizontal well, but the reservoir temperature influence range of single well is limited and cannot effectively utilize deep geothermal resources. There are few studies on the well pattern design of UCLGS, especially concerning the shape, number, and arrangement of well. Therefore, we proposed a grid-shaped horizontal well heat exchange system of multi-layer and multi-branch to achieve optimal heat transfer and fluid circulation effect. The effects of the well layout location, injection-production ratio, number of grids, and well length on the heat extraction performance were investigated by numerical simulations after establishing a three-dimensional geothermal mining model. We explored the temperature response characteristics of the reservoir. Finally, the actual production characteristics and potential of the grid-shaped horizontal well heat extraction system were characterised using production indicators, such as production temperature, heat production rate, accumulated thermal energy, and generated energy. The results showed that the diagonal well layout is more effective for heat extraction. Multiple injection wells and one production well mode is the optimal design scheme under the conditions of this study. In addition, when using the diagonal well layout, the system’s heat extraction capacity is positively correlated with the number of grids. However, when using the horizontal well layout, it is no longer proportional to the number of grids once the injection rate exceeds 3 kg/s. Increasing the well length can improve heat production efficiency, but it is limited by the total thermal energy storage capacity of the reservoir. When a single-layer well layout cannot meet the heat extraction requirements, a multi-layer well layout can be used to enhance the heat extraction capacity and reduce the interference of the well network system with the reservoir. Therefore, this well design promotes the efficient development of deep geothermal resources.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A high flux, non-destructive X-ray synchrotron-based technique, X-ray fluorescence microscopy (μ-XRF), is able to detect metal precipitates as small as a few tens of nanometers in diameter within a silicon matrix, with micron-scale spatial resolution. When this technique is combined with the X-ray beam-induced current (XBIC) technique, one can acquire, in situ, complementary information about the elemental nature of transition metal precipitates and their recombination activity. Additionally, X-ray absorption microspectroscopy (μ-XAS) analyses yield information about the local environment of the impurity atoms and their chemical state. Model defect structures and photovoltaic-grade multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) were studied using these techniques, and the effect of transition metal clusters on the electrical properties of good and bad regions of mc-Si are discussed in detail.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Many advanced microfluidic Lab-on-disc (LOD) devices require an on-board power supply for powering active components. LODs with an on-board electrical power supply are called electrified-LODs (eLODs) and are the subject of the present review. This survey comprises two main parts. First, we discuss the different means of delivering electrical energy to a spinning disc including slip-ring, wireless power transmission, and on-board power supply. In the second part, we focus on utilizing electrical power on eLODs for three electrokinetic microfluidic processes: electrophoresis, electroosmotic flow, and dielectrophoresis. Electrokinetic phenomena enable propulsion, separation, and manipulation of different fluids and various types of microparticles/cells. We summarize the theoretical and experimental results for all three electrokinetic phenomena enacted on centrifugal platforms. While extensive numerical modeling and experimental research are available for electrokinetics on stationary platforms, there is a noticeable lack of development in this area when executed on rotating platforms. The review concludes by comparing the strengths and weaknesses of different electrokinetic techniques implemented on centrifugal platforms, and additionally, the most promising applications of electrokinetic-assisted eLOD devices are singled out.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Quality of the interface between organic and inorganic nanostructures is critical for the performance of the organic–inorganic hybrid device based on a blend of the polymer:fullerene and the ZnO nanorod array. We investigated the effect of a solution-processed interlayer on such device performance. A fullerene interlayer was spin-coated onto the ZnO nanorod surface to modify ZnO nanorod interface. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) was improved from 2.35% to 3.2%, with a short-circuit current density of 11.67mA/cm2, an open-circuit voltage of 0.55V, and a fill factor of 0.5 under 100mW/cm2 irradiation. Our investigations show that this improvement is caused by the enhanced optical absorption because this fullerene interlayer helps the polymer to self-organize and improves the infiltration of the photoactive layer into ZnO nanorod spacing. As a result, the internal series resistance is reduced, thus increasing the photocurrent and the PCE.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The growth of lanthanum conversion coatings on the zinc powder modified by ultrasonic immersion is deeply investigated by Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, spectrophotometrical and other characterization techniques. The conversion kinetics of La element and the growth mechanism of lanthanum conversion layers are also reported and proposed. The influence of the lanthanum conversion coatings on the discharge properties and cycle behaviors of zinc electrodes is evaluated through charge–discharge measurements and cycle voltammetry. It is found that La2O3 and ZnO compose the lanthanum conversion films and trace content of La element in modified zinc powder can be controlled by varying the ultrasonic power. Furthermore, the superior performance of zinc electrode using the zinc powder coated with lanthanum conversion films is clearly established by low capacity loss and high cycle stability. The great improvement over the electrochemical properties of zinc electrodes should be ascribed to the physical shielding effect of lanthanum conversion layers.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) belong to a class of devices where the nanometer scale morphology of the active layer has a large impact on device performance. However, characterization of the morphology of organic semiconductor mixtures that make up the active layer of OPVs remains a challenge. Here, the characterization methods that can be used to quantitatively and qualitatively measure the mesoscopic structure of the active layer in organic solar cells are described. Specifically, we focus on the use of X-ray and neutron scattering, scanning probe microscopy, and electron and X-ray microscopy for morphological characterization of organic semiconductor mixtures at mesoscopic length scales.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Electronic structure calculations for compounds known as Nowotny chimney-ladder (CL) phases have been performed to ascertain an empirical rule that CL compounds with a valence electron concentration (VEC) of 14 are a semiconductors. RuGa2 and RuAl2 which have a TiSi2-type structure, a prototype of the CL phase, with a VEC value of 14 are indirect-gap semiconductors with estimated band gaps of 0.235 and 0.20eV, respectively. Ru2Si3 and Ru2Ge3 with VEC=14 are predicted to be direct-gap semiconductors but the band gap decrease in the heavier elements results in closure of the gap in Ru2Sn3. Ir3Ga5 and Ir4Ge5 will be metallic or semimetallic though their VEC values are 14. The Fermi level of Mn11Si19, whose VEC is slightly smaller than 14, is located just before the gap and seems not to be inconsistent with p-type semiconducting behavior. The Fermi levels of Rh10Ga17 and Rh17Ge22 whose VECs exceed 14 are located past the gap. Cr11Gei19 and Mo13Ge23, whose VECs are smaller than 14 would be metallic. These results show that the above rule is a rather good criterion for exploration of semiconducting chimney-ladder phase compounds but compounds with VEC=14 are not always semiconductors.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Herein, we report the synthesis of high-quality, shape-controlled, single crystalline, ultra-long Te nanowires (NWs) via a facile hydrothermal method. Based on micro-structural investigation, the most preferential growth direction of as-grown Te NWs was found to be along the c-axis. The as-synthesized Te NWs acted as potential catalysts to efficiently decompose organic toluidine blue O (TBO) dye (95%) within 1h under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation at room temperature. Additionally, when compared with the bulk form, ultra-long Te absorbs not only UV light, but also visible light at ~720nm, indicating that ultra-long Te NWs may be able to utilize the full solar spectrum with a further decrease in size.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "With the mission's completion, India became only the fourth nation in history to successfully perform a soft landing on the Moon and the first nation to land a spacecraft close to the lunar south pole. The purpose of the article is to present a comprehensive review of the Chandrayaan-3 mission (a sequel operation to Chandrayaan-2) to demonstrate complete capabilities in secure lunar landing and exploration on the Moon's surface. It is equipped with a Vikram lander and Pragyan rover. An in-depth review is carried out to discuss the findings of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. The goals of Chandrayaan-3's mission are: (a) to show a safe and soft landing on the surface of the Moon; (b) to showcase roving lunar rover technology; and (c) to carry out in-situ scientific research. The goals are achieved through the lander payloads, which include the Langmuir Probe (LP), Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE), Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA), and Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) to measure thermal conductivity and temperature. For lunar laser-ranging investigations, the space agency NASA has provided a passive Laser Retroreflector Array. The α Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) and the Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) are rover payloads that were used to determine the elemental composition close to the landing site. The mission goals are highly accomplished with the successful hop experiment of Vikram on the Chandrayaan-3 mission! As ordered, it raised itself to a height of around 40 cm, turned on its engines, and then made a safe landing between 30 and 40 cm away. To put an end to the controversy, the study finishes with highlights on (a) the significant area of the southernmost polar region of the Moon with latitudes ranging from 60 to 90°S and (b) Shiv Shakti point (coordinates 69.373°S 32.319°E).",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► The effect of addition of B or C on thermoelectric properties of YbAl3 was studied. ► The Seebeck coefficient was hardly affected by the addition of B or C. ► The electrical resistivity was hardly affected by the addition of B or C, either. ► The addition of B was effective for the reduction of the thermal conductivity. ► Yb1.05Al3B0.10 showed a maximum ZT of about 0.33 at 323K.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Summary Known catalysts for (photo)electrochemical carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction typically generate multiple products, including hydrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and oxygenates, making product separation a ubiquitous, yet often overlooked, challenge. Here, we review CO2 reduction products using available catalysts and discuss approaches for product separation along with estimates of separation energy requirements. We illustrate potential complexities and discuss opportunities to minimize separations by utilizing product mixtures. We also examine potential CO2 sources, their energy requirements, and net CO2 emissions. Finally, we discuss use of waste energy sources and integrate this information into an overall energy balance assessment. Using a common sustainability metric, energy return on energy investment (EROEI), we find that an EROEI of ∼2.0 may be possible, before including separation and CO2 production energy. For EROEI to remain above one (the break-even point), these additional energy requirements, including embodied energy of equipment, must be no greater than half of the product energy.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Digital environment that is represented to intern et is displacing business way of industry and business achievement way with the fast speed being giving great change on life whole, improve existence business process utilizing internet and Web connection technology, information superhighway to tradition industrialist manufacture and etransformation's propulsion that wish to maximize productivity and administration efficiency is spread vigorously. In this paper, we wish to accomplish generation equipment's heighten stability and believability through remote monitoring and control of PV system. This paper describes the design of the monitoring system for sensing the monitoring data and indirect controlling of the PV system. Most of the conventional monitoring system depend on the special hardware and software. Basic design goal of monitoring system is to provide the convenience for the user and the portability for the system. In order for the system to fulfill its requirements, it was designed using Labview GUI facility based on the Windows 2000 environment of IBM PC compatible and Addon card based on the TCP/IP protocol. Advantage of the monitoring system are a personnel expenses curtailment effect, free of the place restriction and unmanned system of the generation plants, etc .",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "N-doped graphene oxide (NGO) thin film is synthesized by irradiation of graphene oxide (GO) thin film in NH3 atmosphere. NGO thin film obtained by irradiation of GO thin film for 60min has a high N-doping level of 12.69at.%, and the amino-like N dominates the doping with the level of 7.90at.%. The photoconductivity properties of NGO thin film under white-light illumination have been systematically examined. The results show that compared to reduced graphene oxide (rGO) thin film, NGO thin film exhibits significant photoconductivity enhancement with a high ratio of 2000%, and shows a faster photoresponse. The current responsivity and external quantum efficiency values for the NGO film reach ∼31mAW−1 and ∼87% at 2V, respectively. It may attribute to the high doping level of amino-like N on the basal plane and the pyridine-like N at the vacancy-site of graphene sheets, which can offer substantial photocarriers and the effective transfer to the electrodes.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The electronic band structures of Zn1−x Be x Se alloys are computed employing the virtual crystal approximation and empirical pseudopotentials. Pseudopotential form factors for ZnSe are fitted to experimentally determined critical point energies, and those for BeSe to generalized density functional theory computed band structures. The direct–indirect crossover alloy composition ratio is predicted to be x=0.43. At x=0.45, when Zn1−x Be x Se is lattice matched to Si, radiative lifetimes of ideal structures are computed to be 4–6μs over the 250–400K temperature range.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Researchers focused on searching for low-cost, eco-friendly, renewable, high-performance materials for energy generation to handle the increase in production costs, decrease in natural resources, and adverse effects of raw materials and intermediate and final products on the environment. Nanotechnology allowed the development of new technologies to protect the environment, meet energy needs, achieve the desired efficiency, and address the lack of resources and waste problems. Renewable energy generation has focused on producing electrical energy from water, the most abundant matter in the world. The hydrovoltaic effect allows the development of low-cost and high-efficiency systems that can directly convert thermal energy into electrical energy through the interaction of water with nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, carbon nanoparticles, conductive polymers, and graphene. This study reviews the development of hydrovoltaic energy by discussing the nanomaterials used to create this energy, the performance of the devices, the effect of material properties on device efficiency, and recent developments. Nanostructured carbon materials increase water evaporation significantly, achieving continuous electricity generation. Studies on developing self-running systems using nanostructured materials are continuing. However, researchers should also concentrate on increasing the electrical output of the devices to increase hydrovoltaic energy usage.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The operation of a combined heat and power (CHP) plant coupled with a heat storage tank (HST) can decouple heat–power constraints and improve the flexibility of unit operations during the heating season. A capacity optimization model is developed to solve the problem of HST capacity selection for deep peak shaving based on the heat–power decoupling principle of HST and peak shaving compensation policy in northeast China, taking a power plant as an example. The model takes the net present value of environmental benefits as the main optimization target function, and the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is used for optimization. The results show that the optimal HST capacity based on environmental benefits is smaller than the optimal HST capacity considering operating income. The heat load significantly impacts the configuration of the CHP system's optimal HST capacity, and the area corresponding to the optimal capacity is not the area where the maximum increment of deep peak shaving is located. The optimal HST capacity configured for the CHP plant is 170 MWh based on the characteristic daily load data of months. With the configured HST, the CHP plant can provide 8147.95 MW capacity for new energy grid-connected power generation every year during the heating season, eliminating 1692.33 tons of CO2, 41.68 tons of SO2, and 39.4 tons of NOx emissions. This study provides a HST capacity configuration method for CHP plant to improve the peak shaving ability and realize the sustainable development of society.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A thermoelectric generator was fitted to the side of a domestic woodstove. The generator was driven using one or more thermoelectric modules designed to give significant power at a reasonable cost. The thermoelectric generator was air cooled by natural convection using a commercially available heat sink. Testing was undertaken under a controlled woodstove firing rate and temperatures, and open circuit voltages were monitored over extended periods. The maximum steady state matched load power was 4.2W using a single module. The use of multiple modules with a single heat sink was found to reduce the total power output relative to the single module case as a result of reduced hot to cold surface temperature differences.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Owing to the intermittent solar irradiance from cloud cover in the diurnal period and unavailability at night time, the practical design of a solar system requires energy backup storage for an uninterrupted supply or for off-grid operation. However, for highly efficient CPV (concentrated photovoltaic) system, the literature is lacking for energy management and optimization algorithm and tool for standalone operation. In this paper, a system with CPV and electrolyser is presented where beam irradiance of sunlight is harnessed to convert the instantaneously generated electricity into useful Hydrogen/Oxygen gas, where they can be stored and re-used for downstream applications such as the fuel cells, etc. The multi-variable design and multi-objective optimization strategies are proposed and presented for a standalone operation of the CPV-Hydrogen system as well as their system performances, particularly electrical rating of CPV based upon the real weather data of Singapore.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The surface photovoltage technique allows contactless measurement of some electrical parameters of semiconductors. Unfortunately, a contemporaneous approach to steady-state surface photovoltaic (SPV) effect cannot explain the photovoltage spectra, and its application to the determination of the diffusion length is limited to thick samples with thin space charge region (SCR). In this paper a complete theory of steady-state SPV effect is presented that agrees well with the experiment. Consequently, important parameters can be evaluated from the measurements independently of thickness and resistivity of samples. The use of the theory for determining the diffusion length and thickness of the SCR is shown.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This keynote address will provide a comprehensive overview of various lubrication aspects of a typical powertrain system including the engine, transmission, driveline, and other components, as well as the integration of these lubrication and surface engineering concepts into a unified automotive powertrain system. In addition, this presentation will focus on the current status and future trends in automotive lubricants including discussion of current and anticipated future requirements of automotive engine oils. This presentation will also review the current standard ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) test methods for engine lubricants and other compilations of automotive standards. In addition to engine oil test development, industrial researchers are developing light-weight materials such as non-ferrous materials (Al, Mg) for engine and drivetrain materials to replace the current heavy-weight cast iron blocks. Recent industrial developments include high strength and high density of composite materials, high volume liquid molding and hydroforming technology, structural adhesive boding, and the ability to mold large structural components. Industrial researchers have also developed processing improvements for forming more complex stamped aluminum parts or panels, more robust stamping, and improved casting techniques. In this paper, our insights and perspectives on future trends in light-weight tribological material and nonotribology will also be reviewed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Among the vast pyrochlore group, oxide bismuth pyrochlores are quite interesting owing to the presence of stereochemically active lone pair electrons of bismuth and prominent Jahn-Teller interactions of the pyrochlore constituent cations leading to interesting structural modifications as well as emerging physical phenomenon of fundamental and technological significance. Particularly the bismuth pyrochlores nominally denoted by (Bi,M)MNO7-δ (M = transition metal, N= Nb, Ta, Sb) crystallizing with cubic symmetry at ambient conditions are intriguing due to the presence of ionic displacements and mixed cation occupancy especially at Bi site leading to non-stoichiometry and tunability of the physical properties with composition. Magnetic properties of the pyrochlore lattice has also garnered much attention as spin polarization on the frustrated square lattice indicated distinctive magnetic ground states such as spin glass, spin ice and spin liquid. In these cubic pyrochlores large cationic displacements coupled with uncontrolled random hopping, mixed cation crystallographic site occupancy and compositional variability gave rise to tunable dielectric relaxation. The cubic pyrochlore have been well known for showing low temperature as well as high temperature dielectric relaxation. Although long-range magnetic order was not supported on a bismuth pyrochlore lattice, recent findings reflected polar nature at room temperature in some of these disordered cubic pyrochlores comprising of highly polarizable cations. Herein we summarize the state of art in the exploration of cubic pyrochlores of Bi, and Nb/Ta/Sb in combination with various transition metals occupying multiple crystallographic sites. Their interesting structural, dielectric, magnetic properties and device applications are highlighted. Current challenges in the understanding of these materials are discussed and conclusions are put forth.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► α-Sexithiophene (6T) films were deposited on oriented polythiophene (PT) films. ► The 6T molecular axis was parallel to the molecular axis of the PT substrate. ► Organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices based on the oriented 6T layers were fabricated. ► OPV performance increased by 6T molecular orientation management. ► Response to polarized light was also observed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The performance of a (TREC) thermally regenerative electrochemical cycle for harvesting waste heat has been investigated based on finite time analysis. The impacts of cell material and heat exchangers on the maximum power extracted and its corresponding efficiency have been analyzed. Results reveal that materials with larger isothermal coefficients, specific charge/discharge capacities, and lower internal resistances correspond to larger maximum power that can be extracted from them. If both power and efficiency are considered, materials with larger isothermal coefficients, specific charge/discharge capacities, appropriate internal resistances, and lower specific heats are more appealing. A better heat exchanger performance increases maximum power output; however, it does not guarantee higher efficiency. This work is expected to contribute in choosing appropriate materials and heat exchangers to improve the performance of TREC devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Liquid electrolytes containing a cesium thiolate/disulfide redox couple, prepared from 5-mercapto-1-methyltetrazole cesium salt (CsT) and di-5-(1-methyltetrazole)disulfide (T2) dissolved in several aprotic solvents and solvent mixtures, have been studied using various techniques. FTIR spectroscopy reveals that relatively strong interactions occur between the reduced species T− and DMSO or DMF while Cs+ ions are very weakly coordinated to the SO or CO bond. It is shown that the electrolyte consisting of 1.55 mol kg−1 CsT in the solvent mixture DMSO/DMF (40/60%) exhibits the highest conductivity (1.1×10−2 and 2.3×10−2 S cm−1 at 23 and 80°C, respectively), and that the presence of the oxidized species T2 does not affect significantly its electrical properties up to a CsT:T2 molar ratio of 5:1. Conductivity values as a function of salt concentration are discussed in terms of the effective number of charge carriers, taking into account the level of ionic association, and of the ionic mobility. Optically transparent gel electrolytes have been prepared by incorporation of the optimal liquid electrolyte into various amounts of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF). It is shown that ionic mobility is not much affected by the polymer concentration, suggesting that migration of ions occurs mainly through the solvent mixture surrounded by the PVDF matrix.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper proposes a feasibility analysis of grid connected photovoltaic energy systems in Algerian dairy farms considering technical and economic requirements and respecting the local specific characteristics and legislations. The aim is to design an optimal solar system satisfying the farms' electric needs for each Algerian region and investigate the feasibility as well as the impact of replacing the existing conventional systems with solar energy systems. Real electricity consumption data from experimental dairy farms are recorded using typical herd size for each region and projected herd size according to the livestock intensification policy followed by the government. The pilot farms are determined to be the farms of the technical institute of breeding ITELV. The electricity consumptions of a set of Algerian family farms, ranging from 10 to 30 milking cows, were analyzed. It is found that the average energy requirements are between 330 kWh/cow/year and 560 kWh/cow/year, which is considerably lower than north European and North American dairy farms consuming up to 2900 kWh/cow/year. The results indicate that the on-farm self-produced electricity is able to achieve the energy balance between forecasted photovoltaic generation and farm energy demand with a cost of electricity ranging from −0.008 $/kWh to 0.033 $/kWh.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Phthalocyanines have become of major interest as functional colorants for dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells. Syntheses of non-peripheral (1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25) thioaryl substituted phthalocyanines have been reported. These phthalocyanines exhibited a Q band in the near-infrared region. In order to develop next generation photovoltaic cells, we have synthesized 1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octakis(thioaryl)phthalocyanines and estimated their electron transfer ability using cyclic voltammetry. In the cyclic voltammograms, these compounds showed reduction and oxidation potentials, which are attributed to the presence of the sulfur atoms in the thioaryl substituents at the peripheral positions of phthalocyanine. The electron transfer mechanisms of the phthalocyanines having cobalt and zinc as their central metal atoms were attributed to reduction and oxidation of their central metal, while electron transfer in the other metal-free compounds resulted from the highest occupied molecular orbital to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital electron transitions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Photovoltaic devices with highly ordered nanoporous titanium dioxide (titania; TiO2) were fabricated to improve the photovoltaic performances by increasing TiO2 interface area. The nanoimprinting lithography technique with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) mold was used to form titania nanopores. The solar cell with poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT):[6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) active layer on nanoporous titania showed higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.49% than on flat titania of 1.18%. The improved efficiency using nanoporous titania is interpreted with the enhanced-charge separation and collection by increasing the interface area between TiO2 and active layer.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Transmission Electron Tomography is carried out on samples suspended in liquid. • Transmission Electron Tomography is performed in an Environmental SEM. • Parameters related to nanoscale objects are measured in 3D.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The principal objective of the project was to examine the proposition that a wind turbine rated at about 500 watts could be manufactured in Zimbabwe and that it could operate cost-effectively in the low-windspeed conditions characteristic of that country. The results from the test programme between 12 July and 1 November 1996 show that the turbine produced 392 kWh at an average of 106 kWh per month, 134W mean. This output is the equivalent of nineteen 50-watt PV panels at that site. The equivalent cost was 20% of the PV alternative, with a Foreign currency requirement of less than 5%. The project has been a practical demonstration of the potential for linking specialist external design expertise with indigenous industrial capacity. The outcome is a locally-manufactured product for both the domestic and export markets, capable of competing in one of the fastest growing sectors of the renewable energy industry.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Polycrystalline CuGaSe2 (CGS) films with slightly Ga-rich composition were prepared on Mo/soda-lime substrates by the ‘bi-layer’ process. The film surfaces were modified by chemical bath treatment with In2(SO4)3, thioacetamid, and triethanolamin to improve the performance in solar cell applications. The film compositions were characterized by X-ray fluorescence and the surface of treated films was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Solar cells with ZnO/CdS/CGS/Mo/soda-lime glass structure were fabricated, and the current–voltage properties and the quantum efficiency were analyzed. Improvement of the spectral response, especially in the long wavelength region, was observed for the samples treated with the chemical bath, which results in increase in a short circuit current density. An increase in the parallel and series resistance of the cells was also observed with the treatment. The surface compositions of the CGS thin films modified by the chemical bath are discussed on the base of the results of XPS.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "An optimal sizing methodology based on an energy approach is described and applied to grid-connected photovoltaic systems taking into account the photovoltaic module technology and inclination, the inverter type and the location. A model describing the efficiency for m-Si, p-Si, a-Si and CIS is used. The method has been applied on various meteorological stations in Bulgaria and Corsica (France). The main parameter affecting the sizing is the inverter efficiency curve. The influence of the PV module technology seems less important except for amorphous photovoltaic modules for which special remarks have been made. The inclination on the PV system influences the performances particularly when the inverter is undersized compared to the PV peak power.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A method for characterizing the performance ratio of thin-film photovoltaic modules based on the use of data mining and statistical techniques is developed. In general, this parameter changes when modules are working in outdoor conditions depending on irradiance, temperature, air mass and solar spectral irradiance distribution. The problem is that it is usually difficult to know how to include solar spectral irradiance information when estimating the performance of photovoltaic modules. We propose five different solar spectral irradiance distributions that summarize all the different distributions observed in Malaga. Using the probability distribution functions of these curves and a statistical test, we first checked when two spectral distributions measured can be considered to have the same contribution of energy per wavelength. Hence, using this test and the k-means data mining technique, all the measured spectra, more than two hundred and fifty thousand, are clustered in only five different groups. All the spectra in each cluster can be considered as equal and the k-means technique estimates one centroid for each cluster that corresponds to the cumulative probability distribution function that is the most similar to the rest of the samples in the cluster. The results obtained proves that 99.98% of the functions can be considered equal to the centroid of its cluster. With these five types of functions, we have explained the changes in the performance ratio measured for thin-film photovoltaic modules of different technologies.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We have demonstrated recently that two below bandgap energy photons can lead to the creation of one electron–hole pair in a quantum-dot intermediate band solar cell (QD-IBSC). To be effective, the devices used in the experiments were designed to a) half-fill the intermediate band with electrons; b) to allocate the quantum dots in a flat-band potential region, and c) to prevent tunnelling from the n emitter into the intermediate band. QD-IBSCs have also shown degradation in their open-circuit voltage when compared with their counterparts without quantum dots. This loss is due to the presence of the intermediate band (IB) together with the incapacity of the quantum dots to absorb sufficient below bandgap light as to contribute significantly to the photogenerated current. It is predicted, nevertheless, that this voltage loss will diminish if concentration light is used leading to devices with efficiency higher than single gap solar cells. A circuit model that includes additional recombination levels to the ones introduced by the IB is described to support this discussion.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The effect of single overloads on the threshold of stress intensity range of a semi-brittle material, a γ-titanium aluminide, was analysed. This material class exhibits a pronounced R-curve behaviour, which is mainly caused by the formation of shear ligaments, crack deflection and branching. Samples with short cracks on deep sharp notches were subjected to overloads of 80 % of the fracture toughness. Contrary to ductile materials, the experiments revealed no significant increase in the long-crack threshold, however a pronounced increase in the slope of the R-curve for the threshold of stress intensity range.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thin films of Bi2Se3, Bi2Se2.9Te0.1, Bi2Se2.7Te0.3 and Bi2Se2.6Te0.4 are prepared by compound evaporation. Micro structural, optical and electrical measurements are carried out on these films. X-ray diffraction pattern indicates that the as-prepared films are polycrystalline in nature with exact matching of standard pattern. The composition and morphology are determined using energy dispersive X-ray analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The optical band gap, which is direct allowed, is 0.67eV for Bi2Se3 thin films and the activation energy is 53meV. Tellurium doped thin films also show strong optical absorption corresponding to a band gap of 0.70–0.78eV. Absolute value of electrical conductivity in the case of tellurium doped thin film shows a decreasing trend with respect to parent structure.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The paper examines how increased competition in electricity markets may reshape the future electricity generation portfolio and its potential impact on the renewable energy (RE) within the energy mix. The present analysis, which is based on modelling investor behaviour with a time horizon up to 2030, considers the economic aspects and conditions for this development with a particular focus on the photovoltaics. These aspects include pure financial/investment factors, such as the expected returns in the sector, subsidisation of certain RE resources and other policies focusing on the energy sector (liberalisation, environmental policies and security of supply considerations). The results suggest that policies aiming at the expansion of renewable energy technologies and strengthening the competition in the electricity markets have mutually reinforcing effects. More competition can reduce the financial burden of the existing renewable support schemes and consequently help to achieve the already established RE targets.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Polymer solar cells (PSC) based on blended poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) were fabricated with a non-halogenic solvent—tetralin—as the casting solvent for the active layer, and the morphology of the active layer was optimized by varying the casting conditions to obtain high efficiency and thermal stability from the PSCs. Tetralin as the casting solvent caused excessive P3HT and PCBM aggregations and hence dismal performance [power conversion efficiency (PCE)=0.5%] due to its low volatility and high dissolution power, which enhanced the plasticizing effect of residual solvent during the formation of the active layer. Accelerated removal of the residual solvent by a vacuum drying treatment greatly reduced the aggregations and improved the PCE to 2.4%, but the improvement was limited because the rapid drying inhibited full developments of continuous charge-transport pathways and of P3HT crystallinity, both of which are critical for charge transport through the device. The desirable morphology—minimal aggregations but high phase continuity and P3HT crystallinity—was obtained with a low-temperature drying process, which limited P3HT/PCBM aggregations and enhanced nucleation of P3HT crystallites, resulting in a finely interconnected P3HT crystal network that provided both large bulk-heterojunction area and facile hole-transport pathways. The resultant PSCs obtained a high PCE of 3.7%, and because of the morphological rigidity of the P3HT crystal network, showed excellent stability for extended duration at elevated temperature.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, we investigated the electron–phonon coupling and superconductivity properties of an electron-doped indium selenide (InSe) monolayer for the first time. Electron doping at 0.1 e/cell induced significant phonon softening of the acoustic ZA mode, a lower frequency E″ mode, and higher frequency A′1 mode, which were responsible for the electron–phonon coupling. Under greater doping at 0.2 e/cell, the electronic density of states at the Fermi level increased remarkably and the two Fermi sheets around Γ and M expanded. The transition temperature increased to 3.41 K according to the McMillan–Allen–Dynes formula, which is higher than that of 1.7 K in silicene with doping at 0.44 e/atom and 2.85 K in Na-intercalated MoS2 bilayers calculated using the same method. The phonon-mediated superconductivity predicted in this study combined with the topologically nontrivial characteristics reported previously suggest that few-layer InSe is a potential platform for achieving topologically superconductivity in two dimensions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In the framework of the ALB3DO joint laboratory, CEA/IRFU and the French company 3D PLUS are developing a γ camera with coded mask aperture and Compton imaging capabilities: Spid-X. It is the last generation γ camera in a more than two decades history of γ camera developments at CEA/IRFU, made commercially available by industrial partners. It is designed to have improved spectrometry and imaging capabilities compared to the previous generations. Spid-X is an integral-field spectrometer which allows for spectro-identification and imaging in the nuclear domain from 2 keV up to 2 MeV. It is based on the Caliste technology, with single planar CdTe semiconductor detector and low noise ASICs, and which is originating from research and development for space astronomy and high-energy solar observation. A dedicated version of Caliste has been successfully launched on the STIX spectrometer onboard the Solar Orbiter satellite. The aim of Spid-X is to perform in real time the four following functions: automatic identification of radioisotopes, proportion measurement in case of multiple detections, imaging, and dosimetry at the camera level. Thanks to all these features available in only one device, Spid-X will be very useful device for applications in the nuclear industry, such as monitoring and waste management. The development plan of Spid-X is based on a series of successive prototypes. In this contribution, along with a complete overview of the system, we present the first light of Spid-X as well as first performance results in spectrometry and imaging.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The combination of TiO2 nanoparticle underlayer with a high specific surface area and TiO2 (B) nanobelts overlayer with close packing density via linear and planar contacts within one photoanode is promising in enhancing the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Oxygen transport hollow fiber membranes with the composition Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.78W0.02Fe0.2O3− δ were used to demonstrate the possibility of their heating to operating temperature by passing the alternative electric current (AC). In this case, membrane with mixed ionic and electronic conductivity simultaneously serves both as a self-heater and as an oxygen separator. Direct AC heating opens the novel possibilities for fundamental and applied studies of oxygen transport membranes. It was demonstrated that the novel method of membrane heating results in the decrease in the effective activation energy of oxygen fluxes, intensifies oxygen permeation and enhances energy efficiency of oxygen production at T<900°C.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We reported first principles calculations of electronic and related optical and thermoelectric properties of two metal-rich palladium–indium selenides Pd5InSe and Pd8In2Se. Both selenides are found to be metallic and their densities of states at the Fermi energy, N (EF), showed an overlap between the Pd-s/p, In-p and Se-p states. Specific heat coefficients were found 0.52 and 0.743 mJ/mol·K2, for Pd5InSe and Pd8In2Se, respectively. Our findings indicate that the linear optical properties have potential use as active photo-catalyst under visible light irradiation. We combined the Boltzmann transport equations with density functional theory to determine the thermoelectric and electrical properties of both compounds. At 300 K, the Seebeck coefficient of Pd8In2Se is larger than Pd5InSe one. Due to their metallic character, both selenides have limited thermoelectric use in their current structures and could be doped to change their electronic structures to narrow semiconductors or semi-metallic materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Under the auspices of the US Department of Energy, Energy Storage Systems (ESS) Program at Sandia National Laboratories, electrical tests were performed on two valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries to compare the effects of several design improvements, evaluate their applicability to stationary applications, and determine their service lives. One battery represented a baseline design, and the other an improved design resulting from a development project. The two nine-cell, 1050–1200Ah, C8/8 batteries were tested over a 7-year period using primarily a 100% depth of discharge and approximately a C8/8 discharge regime. A variety of charge profiles were investigated and characterized. Both batteries reached end-of-life after several hundred cycles. This paper will describe these results and overall life data, and comparison information will be summarized.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents a Galerkin-based meshless method for calculating stress-intensity factors (SIFs) for a stationary crack in two-dimensional functionally graded materials of arbitrary geometry. The method involves an element-free Galerkin method (EFGM), where the material properties are smooth functions of spatial coordinates and two newly developed interaction integrals for mixed-mode fracture analysis. These integrals can also be implemented in conjunction with other numerical methods, such as the finite element method (FEM). Five numerical examples including both mode-I and mixed-mode problems are presented to evaluate the accuracy of SIFs calculated by the proposed EFGM. Comparisons have been made between the SIFs predicted by EFGM and available reference solutions in the literature, generated either analytically or by FEM using various other fracture integrals or analyses. A good agreement is obtained between the results of the proposed meshless method and the reference solutions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A coupled system is proposed, comprised of a concentrating photovoltaic/thermal collector field and a multi-effect evaporation desalination plant. The combined system produces solar electricity and simultaneously exploits the waste heat of the photovoltaic cells to desalinate water. A detailed simulation was performed to compute the annual production of electricity and water. The cost of desalinated water was estimated and compared to that of alternative conventional and solar desalination plants. Several economic scenarios were analyzed. The results indicate that the proposed coupled plant can have a significant advantage relative to other solar desalination approaches. In some cases, CPVT desalination is even more cost-effective than conventional desalination.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Explored the electrochemical properties of nanostructured molybdenum tetraselenide. • Synergistic effect on electrochemical biosensing characteristics of nanostructured metal chalcogenide and rGO has been studied. • A highly efficient biosensor has been fabricated for the detection of cardiovascular disease. • Fabricated biosensor exhibits excellent sensitivity [36.2 μA log (mL ng−1) cm−2] and wider linear detection range (1 fg mL−1–100 ng mL−1) against cTnI biomarker.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Single crystals of (PO2)4(WO3)2m (m=5) have been studied by transport (resistivity, magnetoresistance and thermopower) measurements. They reveal a metallic behavior with anomalies in the resistivity vs temperature showing an elbow at T1=100K and a weak hump around T2=30K. Giant magnetoresistance appears below T2. Both anomalies can also be observed as kinks in the thermopower behavior. They could be associated with Peierls instabilities and charge density waves.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Surface energy can influence frost density on hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces. • A new semi-empirical correlation for the prediction of frost density is proposed. • New correlation predicts more than 93% of the data (n = 522) to within ±20%. • Correlation is proposed for use on surfaces with contact angles 45° < θ < 160°. • Larger frost density values are predicted on hydrophilic surfaces.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A family of MEMS calorimetric wall shear stress sensors is experimentally and numerically investigated to determine their most significant design parameters. Fifteen sensor prototypes are first calibrated in a range of ± 2Pa to generate an experimental database for validation of the subsequent numerical investigation. Then, a fully parameterized numerical setup is used to investigate the effect of three geometric design parameters, namely the cavity height, the cavity width, and the inter-beam distance, on amplitude and sensitivity of the sensor. This is done by building a surrogate model based on Gaussian Process interpolation (Kriging) in the four-dimensional space consisting of the three design parameters and the shear velocity in the flow. Thanks to this methodology, the calibration curves of all possible sensor designs in the investigated range can be estimated with an error of less than 2%. A detailed study of this model reveals that the most significant design parameters are the inter-beam distance and the cavity width, while the cavity height is found to be of minor importance.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Spain exhibits a high level of energy dependence and has significant solar energy resources. These two facts have given rise to the prominence that renewable energy, particularly solar photovoltaic technology, has enjoyed in recent years, supported by a favorable regulatory framework. Currently, the Spanish Government is providing new ways in energy policy to enhance and accelerate the development of low-power photovoltaic generation facilities for self-consumption by introducing energy policies for feed-in payments of surplus electricity. Such facilities are an example of distributed electrical generation with important benefits for the environment and the rest of the electrical system because, when properly managed, they can help improve the system’s stability and reduce overall losses. By analyzing household demand and solar photovoltaic energy resources, the profitability of such facilities is considered in this article, taking into account the technical and economic impact of storage systems and proposing models for feed-in payments of surplus electricity, in an attempt to assess whether this method of electricity generation versus the method of conventionally supplied power from a grid at a regulated tariff can rival each other economically, in terms of parity.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We developed a low-noise, single-frequency Tm–Ho:YAG laser tunable in the wavelength interval between 2087 and 2099nm. To suppress both amplitude and frequency fluctuations the laser has been stabilised by two different control loops. Intensity noise has been effectively reduced using a feedback loop acting on the pump diode current, based on a biquadratic bandpass filter, which provides up to 17dB suppression at the relaxation oscillation peak. Absolute frequency stabilisation has been achieved by locking the oscillator to the P(12) absorption line of the HBr molecule at 2097.2nm using the fringe side locking technique, obtaining a long-term frequency stability better than 32kHz over an observation time of 60min. This stabilised source is aimed to injection seeding of a coherent lidar system for high precision measurements of wind velocity.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The technical performance and energy requirements for production and transportation of a stand alone photovoltaic (PV)-battery system at different operating conditions are presented. Eight battery technologies are evaluated: lithium-ion (Li-ion), sodium–sulphur (NaS), nickel–cadmium (NiCd), nickel–metal hydride (NiMH), lead–acid (PbA), vanadium-redox (VRB), zinc–bromine (ZnBr) and polysulfide-bromide (PSB). In the reference case, the energy requirements for production and transport of PV-battery systems that use the different battery technologies differ by up to a factor of three. Production and transport of batteries contribute 24–70% to the energy requirements, and the PV array contributes 26–68%. The contribution from other system components is less than 10%. The contribution of transport to energy requirements is 1–9% for transportation by truck, but may be up to 73% for air transportation. The energy requirement for battery production and transport is dominant for systems based on NiCd, NiMH and PbA batteries. The energy requirements for these systems are, therefore, sensitive to changes in battery service life and gravimetric energy density. For systems with batteries with relatively low energy requirement for production and transportation (Li-ion, NaS, VRB, ZnBr, PSB), the battery charge–discharge efficiency has a larger impact. In Part II, the data presented here are used to calculate energy payback times and overall battery efficiencies of the PV-battery systems.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Understanding of the charge transport and recombination mechanisms of dye-sensitized solar cells based on semiconductor nanostructures is essential for the improvement of their performance. A great deal of information on these systems have been obtained from studies on a single material (mostly TiO2 and to a lesser extent ZnO and SnO2). We have conducted extensive measurements on composite dye-sensitized nanosturctures and found that the composite systems possess unusual properties. Dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells made from nanocrystalline films of some materials (e.g., SnO2) yield comparatively small open-circuit voltages and energy and quantum conversion efficiencies, despite excellent dye-semiconductor interaction. However, on deposition of ultra-thin shells of insulators or high band gap semiconductors on the crystallites, a dramatic increase in the above parameters is observed. Outer shells were found to have insignificant or in most cases a negative effect on TiO2 films. We explain the above findings on the basis of vast differences in the leakage rates of trapped electrons in different materials which is sensitive to the effective electron mass. Electrons injected to the conduction band in dye-sensitization enter into shallow traps from which they get thermally reemitted to the conduction band. The building up of the electron quasi-fermi level and transport depends on this process. The spread of the hydrogenic wave function of a trapped electron increases inverse exponentially with the effective mass so that the electron leakage and their recombination with acceptors ‘outside’ become severe when the crystallite size is comparable to the Bohr radius of the trapped electron. Such recombinations are effectively suppressed by deposition of thin films on the crystallites. Excited dye molecules anchored to the outer shell injects electrons to the conduction band via tunneling.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Inverted organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells based on poly(3-hexylthiophene (P3HT) as the electron donor and [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) as the electron acceptor, were fabricated and characterized. To improve the photovoltaic performance, ZnO films were used as electron collection layers, while an under-stoichiometric molybdenum oxide MoO x was employed as the hole collection layer. Two types of ZnO layers were employed; one deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD-ZnO) and another deposited using the sol–gel method (sg-ZnO). OPV cells with a 20nm thick ALD-ZnO layer exhibited significant efficiency enhancement compared with those based on the sg-ZnO layer with the same thickness. The ALD-ZnO film exhibited reduced defect/trap concentration compared with the sg-ZnO counterpart, as confirmed by steady state photoluminescence spectroscopy, showing a promising interface layer for efficient organic photovoltaic devices exhibiting also improved temporal stability. By employing capacitance–voltage measurements we were able to identify a downward shift of the conduction band edge of ALD-ZnO film (or equivalently, an upward shift of the conduction band minimum of the sg-ZnO film), verified also by ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. This resulted in a significant decrease in the electron extraction barrier at the ALD-ZnO/organic active layer interface, as was also demonstrated by the increased current in unipolar (electron only) devices. This work highlights the importance of using the ALD method to develop conformal and defect free ZnO electron collection layers for high performance organic photovoltaics.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Seebeck coefficient S ( T ) , electrical resistivity ρ ( T ) and thermal conductivity κ ( T ) measurements on polycrystalline Zn 4 Sb 3 compounds grown by solid state reaction method are presented; these transport properties were studied in the temperature range between 100 and 290K. The Seebeck coefficient is positive over the measured temperature range and its magnitude increases with both temperature and the processing time up to reach values close to 240 μ V / K . The electrical resistivity shows a weak semiconducting behavior, its magnitude increases with the processing time to reach values around 10 m Ω cm in the sample annealed during 5h, then ρ ( T ) decreases up to 0.5 m Ω cm . The thermal conductivity shows a linear temperature behavior, at room temperature, it reaches minimum values close to 0.5W/Km. From ρ ( T ) , S ( T ) and κ ( T ) data, it was possible to determine the thermoelectric power factor, PF and the dimensionless figure of merit ZT , which reach maximum values close to 14 μ W / K 2 cm and 0.2, respectively. The behavior of studied transport properties shows that these Zn 4 Sb 3 compounds can be prepared by using the solid state reaction method, which could allow to obtain proper samples to be used in technological thermoelectric applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar desalination is a widely used system for producing drinking water from solar energy. Freshwater production with renewable energy and without environmental pollution are the benefits of using solar still in addition to being cost-effective. This study aimed to enhance the performance of solar desalination using porous media, nano-enhanced phase change material, and nano-enhanced absorption (nano-coated). The anthracite media was placed in saline water to increase the absorption of solar energy. CuO and Al2O3 nanoparticles at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.3 wt% were mixed in paraffin wax to increase the thermal properties of phase change material (NEPCM) and poured into 12 copper pipes located on the anthracite. CuO nanoparticles were dispersed in black paint and covered on the copper pipes so that the thermal conductivity of black paint increase. The results indicated that the productivity of the solar stills improved by 55.8% and 49.5% using CuO and Al2O3 nano-enhanced PCM at a concentration of 0.3 wt% and CuO nano-coated, respectively. Additionally, the added CuO and Al2O3 nanoparticles at 0.1 wt% reduced the melting point by 2.1 °C and 1.8 °C, respectively. The CPLs of the solar stills were equal to 0.1$/L and 0.104$/L using CuO and Al2O3 nano-enhanced PCM at a concentration of 0.3 wt% and nano-coated, respectively. Moreover, nano-coated increased the water production rate of the solar still by about 5.7%.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A new coating technology has been developed for large area deposition of transparent and conductive ZnO:Al films. Reactive AC magnetron sputtering from metallic Zn:Al has been performed at low substrate temperature below 200 °C using the new CleanMag technology of applied films based on moving magnets for layers with low defect density and with conventional reactive AC magnetron sputtering using static magnets (Applied Films TwinMag). Process stabilization at non-stable process conditions in transition mode has been achieved using closed loop control of discharge power according to fast oxygen partial pressure measurements taken by a lambda probe. Films with film thickness of 800–1000 nm deposited with dynamic deposition rate of a D>60 nm m/min exhibit low resistivity of ρ<270 μΩ cm and small absorption (k<2×10−3) in the visible range. The homogeneity of sheet resistance on float glass substrates with dimension of 600×1000 mm2 is better than ±6%. Film properties such as etching characteristics and haze can be controlled due to adjustment of total pressure and substrate temperature for large are a-Si:H thin film photovoltaic applications .",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Observations of wave-driven fluctuations in the near-infrared nightglow at the mesopause level were performed using a CCD camera located at Châteaurenard (44°41′ N, 6°54′E) in the French Alps. In this paper, a few examples of panoramas and top circular views of the emissive layer during summer show wave fields with wide arches and stripes extending from a point in the E-SE to the diameter opposite W-NW point. The direction of the wave field is retrieved by using specific image processing techniques which mainly consist of enhancing the wave front contrast. The emission is mainly due to the OH radical; its intensity varies during the night by as much as 50% due to photochemical and tidal effects. In addition, the intensity shows smaller fluctuations induced by the propagation of wave systems. Spectral Fourier Analysis was applied to the intensity spectra in order to retrieve the wavelengths and temporal periods of the waves travelling through the emissive layer at the altitude of 88 km. The measured wavelengths range from 25 to 69 km. The apparent periods range from 10 to 40 minutes. As a result, the mean phase speed of the waves can be calculated and is found equal to 35 m/s.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar energy can be directly harnessed for power generation by using solar thermoelectric generator (STEG) technology, which comprises of solar absorbers integrated with thermoelectric materials. STEGs behave as solid state heat engines, which can utilize the heat energy of the sun to produce a temperature gradient across a thermoelectric device, which is in turn converted to electrical energy. In this paper, we focus on investigating the performance of the solar absorber subsystem that employs a high temperature spectrally selective coating on a stainless steel substrate. We have performed temperature measurements on the absorber coating exposed to solar irradiation flux at different optical concentration ratios (10–100) and validated the experimental data using a numerical heat transfer model in COMSOL Multiphysics. This has been combined with the high temperature emittance measurements of the coating to develop a predictive efficiency model for the STEG system as a function of the thermoelectric figure of merit at a hot side temperature range of 100–500°C. Further, we have experimentally examined the performance of a natural convective cooled STEG consisting of a series combination of three commercial Bi2Te3 thermoelectric modules coupled to the selective absorber coating. The maximum power generated from the STEG has been measured at different concentration ratios and the peak efficiency of the system has been calculated in the feasible temperature range of the thermoelectric module.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The use of blends of electron and hole transporting polymers has been shown to increase exciton dissociation and efficiency in polymer-based photovoltaics. We compare plain M3EH-PPV devices to M3EH-PPV:CN-ether-PPV blend devices, demonstrating the improved performance of blends. We vary the polymer layer thickness and device electrodes for M3EH-PPV:CN-ether-PPV polymer blend devices to investigate the factors limited device efficiency. We find that although the blends allow exciton dissociation to take place throughout the polymer layer, these devices are still limited by transport properties rather than by light absorption. Our best blend device, made with indium-tin oxide and Ca electrodes, gives a power conversion efficiency η p=1.0%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The tidal hydrodynamics of the Topolobampo coastal lagoon system (Mexico) has been investigated through a modified two dimensional non-linear hydrodynamic finite difference model. The advective and diffusive process acting over a hypothetical pollutant released into the coastal lagoon have also been simulated. Maxima tidal currents (0.85m/s) were predicted within the main channel, in agree with direct measurements. The direction of the observed fastest currents (SW), also agree quite well with the direction of the strongest tidal current predicted in this investigation, which occur during the ebb when the water of the coastal lagoon is discharged into the Gulf of California. Residual currents (0.01−0.05m/s) were also predicted. The hypothetical pollutant released within the Topolobampo Harbor would spread to both Ohuira and Topolobampo sections, reaching the inlet after approximately 12days.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Due to great heat loss for Chinese greenhouse cooling with vents in winter, Photovoltaic /Thermal (PV/T) was proposed for shading and cooling of Chinese greenhouse in winter and two micro heat pipe PV/T (MHP-PV/T) systems were developed inside and outside a Chinese greenhouse in Lanzhou City. Two systems were compared to discover the electrical, thermal and comprehensive performance when the inclination angle of MHP-PV/T panels was 45° from 20th to 22th of December 2020. The results reveal that daily electrical performance of outside MHP-PV/T (OMHP-PV/T) system is better than inside MHP-PV/T (IMHP-PV/T) system while daily thermal operation of the OMHP-PV/T is significantly lower than the IMHP-PV/T system. The average daily electrical efficiency of OMHP-PV/T system in three days is 8.3%, with the electrical power of 83.94 W, and the mean daily thermal efficiency is 16.07%, with solar thermal power of 96.83 W. It has overall energy power of 317.73 W and overall energy efficiency of 37.91%, the cumulative energy profit is 2.22 kW·h correspondingly. The average daily electrical efficiency of IMHP-PV/T system is about 4.57%, with the electrical power of 32.0 W, and the thermal efficiency of 40.93%, for overall energy power of 375.81 W. Overall energy efficiency is around 53.28%, with a cumulative overall energy gain is 2.63 kW·h relatively. Therefore, the comprehensive performance of IMHP-PV/T is better than OMHP-PV/T. The results of the study establish the feasibility and a new method of using MHP-PV/T to provide shading for China greenhouse cooling and dehumidification in cold winter regions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Human interventions on coastal areas are always causing environmental impact; however, most of the times inventories of those interventions are possibly not well structured, and surely without a specific standard. The raw data presented shows an exhaustive and systematic revision of satellite images on 1700 km of the Caribbean coast of Colombia, where 2743 human interventions were identified. These interventions are classified in 38 categories in order to assess their environmental impact at a regional scale. The filtered data shows the environmental impact obtained for each category and the values allotted to each of the four parameters used for this evaluation. Moreover, the data is filtered for each of the five environmental coastal units in which the Caribbean coast of Colombia is divided by national regulations. Finally, the filtered and processed data shows the analysis done to obtain the graphical results of a previously paper (An evaluation of human interventions in the anthropogenically disturbed Caribbean Coast of Colombia ). Therefore, this dataset comprises three spreadsheets (xlsx) and two geographical files (kmz), which are ready to be used for any researcher, decision maker, land planner or practitioner interested in making further analysis on environmental impact assessment in coastal areas. Additionally, the dataset is carefully organised for educational exercises in such a manner that professors or lecturers can repeat the same steps in this study area or in their own, from the inventory to the final results.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A novel photovoltaic solar assisted heat pump (PV-SAHP) system has been proposed in this study. Performance tests with a range of condenser supply water temperature were conducted on an experimental rig. The dynamic performance of this PV-SAHP system in a 4-day period with very similar weather conditions was analyzed and the influencing factors were identified. The results indicate that this PV-SAHP system has a superior coefficient of performance (COP) than the conventional heat pump system and at the same time, the photovoltaic efficiency is also higher. The COP of the heat pump was able to reach 10.4 and the average value was about 5.4. The average photovoltaic efficiency was around 13.4%. The highest overall coefficient of performance (COPp/t), bringing into consideration both the photovoltaic and thermal efficiency, was about 16.1.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Single crystals of Mg-substituted CeFe2Al8 type intermetallics RFe2Mg x Al8–x (R=La–Nd and Sm; x≤1) were grown by reacting iron and rare earth metals in 1:1 Mg/Al mixed flux. The structure features mono-capped and bi-capped trigonal prismatic FeAl6 units. Electronic structure calculations indicate that magnesium substitution reduces the valence electron count, shifting the Fermi level away from a pseudo-gap. This changes the electronic nature of the cerium analog; the previously reported ternary CeFe2Al8 shows strong hybridization between the cerium states and the conduction electrons, resulting in no magnetic moment on Ce atoms. On the other hand, magnetic susceptibility measurements on CeFe2Mg x Al8 –x indicates a localized moment on cerium. The newly synthesized Pr, Nd and Sm analogs exhibit antiferromagnetic ordering at 2.8K, 7.8K and 12K respectively. Solid state 27Al NMR of LaFe2Mg x Al8 –x exhibits a broad Knight shift at ~1200ppm, consistent with the metallic behavior shown by electrical resistivity data.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Hot deformation of an n-type bismuth telluride (nBT of composition Bi2Se0.3Te2.7) results in a texture characteristic of the deformation mode. Extruded nBT has a fiber texture with ⟨112̄0⟩ directions aligned with the extrusion direction. Rolling of previously textured (extruded) and untextured (sintered powder compact) material results in a rolling texture with the basal plane parallel to the rolling plane, and the ⟨112̄0⟩ directions randomly oriented on the rolling plane. Results indicate an improvement in thermoelectric figure of merit at 300K from 0.79 in the as-received extruded material to 0.93 in the rolled material.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A dye-sensitized solar cell using the visible light sensitization of chlorophyll-a derivative, chlorine-e6 (Chl-e6) immobilized on TiO2 film was developed. From fluorescence spectrum of Chl-e6 immobilized on TiO2 film, the emission of Chl-e6 was effectively quenched by TiO2, indicating that the effective electron injection from the excited singlet state of Chl-e6 into the conduction band of TiO2 occurred. The short-circuit photocurrent density (I SC), the open-circuit photovoltage (V OC), and the fill factor (FF) of solar cell consisting of Chl-e6 immobilized on TiO2 film electrode and platinum-coated substrate electrode were estimated to be 1.47mAcm−2, 425mV, and 57.0%, respectively. IPCE values were reached a maximum around the wavelength of absorption maximum (11.0% at 400nm, 4.7% at 541nm and 7.9% at 661nm), indicating that the dye-sensitized solar cell using visible light sensitization of TiO2 film by Chl-e6 was developed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The electrical properties of n-BP films newly prepared by thermal CVD in the B2H6–PH3–H2 system were improved by a deuterium lamp excitation. High-temperature electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power of amorphous boron and polycrystalline boron phosphide films grown on silica glass were measured to evaluate the thermoelectric figure-of-merit (Z). In particular, the Z-value for photo-thermal BP films was higher (10−4/K) than that of boron films, indicating that they are promising for high-temperature thermoelectric materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This study demonstrates the growth of Na-β-alumina films by laser chemical vapor deposition and investigates the effects of deposition temperature (T dep), molar ratio of Na/Al (R Na/Al) and total pressure (P tot) on the phase formation, microstructure, orientations and deposition rate (R dep) of the film. Single-phase Na-β-alumina films were deposited at (T dep)=1310K–1360K, R Na/Al >20 and P tot >600Pa. Na-β-alumina films with the hexagonally faceted platelet morphology were deposited at P tot =1000Pa, whereas flake-like grains were formed at P tot =600Pa. Na-β-alumina was co-deposited with α-Al2O3 at P tot <600Pa and T dep >1350K, in which the film morphology showed flake-like grains with smaller granules. The maximum R dep of Na-β-alumina films was 44μmh−1.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The sizing optimization of a Stand-Alone Photovoltaic system (SAPV) is a very complex issue. Therefore, a compromise solution must be made between having an acceptable energy and economic cost for the consumer, and a relatively correct energy supply quality. The Gross Energy Requirement (GER) of an SAPV system corresponds to the primary energy total amount required for the production, the maintenance and the recycling of this system. Reducing the GER is thus, an effective way to promote the development of SAPV systems. Therefore, the load profile management, in order to get closer to the ideal “solar” consumer, allows the downsizing of the system. In this paper, a methodology for studying the impact of load profiles on GER is proposed. Two different modifications parameters have been considered theoretically on idealized load and production profiles: the load shifting which seems simpler to implement in the reality, and the amplitude modulation. Furthermore, the NSGA-II genetic algorithm has been used to confirm theoretical outcomes and to optimize SAPV system sizing for three realistic load profiles, with the aim of quantifying the GER reduction, by minimizing the storage capacity (taking into account the replacements due to cycling) which is one of the weak points of such a system, and by PV panels downsizing.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Ternary oxide SrSnO3 nanoparticles were employed for the first time as electrode materials in dye-sensitized solar cells. ► The strategy of chemical bath deposition was first proposed for enhancing photovoltaic performances of SrSnO3 based DSSCs. ► A significantly enhanced efficiency of 1.90% was obtained under the illumination of one sun.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We present near-field scanning photocurrent microscopy (NSPM) images of MEH-PPV:PCBM bulk heterojunction solar cells prepared by spin-coating from toluene and chlorobenzene. By utilising the NSPM technique, we demonstrate directly the influence of nano-scale phase-segregation features on local current generation. In particular, by using 100nm aperture tips we show that the 500nm diameter phase-segregated island features in toluene prepared films contribute significantly less to the overall current than the surrounding regions. Chlorobenzene prepared films show more uniform current generation on the length scale of 100nm, with the photocurrent varying by only 5%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A new solar and electrical refrigerator based on solid sorption phenomena was designed and tested. This refrigerator has very short (15 min) non-intermittent two adsorber heat recovery cycles and uses an active carbon fibre as a sorbent bed and ammonia as a working fluid. The system management involves only the actuation of valves of special type to change the direction of the heat pipe heating circuit and the operation of water valves to change the water cooling circuit direction. A new vapour-dynamic thermosyphon with one evaporator and using alternately two coaxial condenses was designed and tested. The evaporator was built as a compact boiler. This evaporator was placed in the focus of a parabolic solar concentrator as a source of energy. As an alternative an electric cartridge heater was used inside the porous heat loaded tube immersed into the liquid of this boiler. The heat power output of such a thermosyphon is 1 000 W, with R ts = 0.03 K·W−1. A new thermal control system for the refrigerator chambers was developed. Loop bendable SS-ammonia heat pipes arranged as panels were used in combination with a compact cold store (solid sorption machine evaporator, dry-ice box). The cold output of this panel is 300 W at the temperature tc = −5 °C.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This article aims to compare the situation of greenhouse gases emissions due to the supply of electricity to the two Brazilian power generation systems: The National Interconnected System (SIN) and the Isolated Systems (SISOL). The former composes the national grid. The latter is composed of 212 isolated generation systems basically supplied by diesel. A plethora of reasons justify the different energy generation sources, either the rain forest or the so-far available technologies for remote areas, but the focus of this article are the energy policies adopted to push new technologies. The well succeeded policies adopted by Brazilian government to foster new renewable energy technologies since the beginning of this century in the SIN, now need to be adapted to a new moment of energy transition and new emerging technologies suitable to the SISOL, particularly solar photovoltaics and energy storage. Biofuels has succeeded to compete with fossil but can also be benefitted from policies to foster emerging technologies. Energy policy approaches to both power systems and results of consultation to key actors are analysed. Two recently approved regulations open space to advances on the decarbonization of the SISOL provided the success histories from the SIN and experiences of agents with emerging technologies are considered. These correspond to the suggestions and recommendations which close the article.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The method to determine the spatial configuration of GdCa4O(BO3)3 (GdCOB) crystal is introduced. Samples are cut in and out of principal planes for type I phase matching. Their second-harmonic-generation (SHG) conversion efficiency is measured by a mode-locked Nd:YAG laser. The intracavity doubling frequency of GdCOB crystal is reported for the first time. At the incident pump power of 10 W, the 532 nm output reaches 1.22 W with the (113.2°, 47.4°)-cut sample. In conclusion, the (113.2°, 47.4°)-cut sample shows more excellent SHG property than those cut in other directions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The exploration of the moon and the construction of the manned lunar outpost are the important parts of the deep space exploration. The continuous supply of thermal energy and power for deep space explorers and scientific equipment is a crucial issue to accomplish manned lunar missions. For most locations on the lunar surface, darkness lasts for periods of about 350 hours, so it is a great challenge for the solar photovoltaic cells and radioisotope thermoelectric generators to launch too much material from Earth. In the mission of manned deep space exploration, it is very necessary to utilize in situ resource effectively and sufficiently to reduce the hardware must be brought from Earth and to meet the requirement of energy and life support system. This paper describes an exergy analysis of a lunar based solar thermal power system using the method of finite-time thermodynamics. The calculations indicate that the system can provide the desired energy for the equipment. The aim of this article is to provide the basis for the design of a solar-powered Stirling engine using thermal energy from the processed lunar regolith.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Changes of tree-ring widths of Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii Parl.) trees growing in air-polluted and unpolluted areas were analyzed. In the stand close to an industrial complex, a large reduction in the series of tree-ring index (TRI), which were computed by removing endogenous effects from the measured series, appeared from the 1960s to 1970s. This reduction in radial tree growth was not explained by the climatic response model calibrated for a pre-pollution period. TRI changes corresponding with changes in concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2), and a significant negative correlation between the TRI and SO2 concentration were found in the polluted area. Reduction in tree-ring growth was not seen in the unpolluted area. These results indicate that the past reduction in the growth of Japanese black pine trees growing in an industrial area was mainly caused by SO2.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The implementation of resource management strategies aimed at reducing the impacts of the anthropogenic activities system requires a comprehensive approach to evaluate on the whole the environmental burdens of productive processes and to identify the best recovery strategies from both an environmental and an economic point of view. In this framework, an analytical methodology based on the integration of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), ExternE and Comprehensive Analysis was developed to perform an in-depth investigation of energy systems. The LCA methodology, largely utilised by the international scientific community for the assessment of the environmental performances of technologies, combined with Comprehensive Analysis allows modelling the overall system of anthropogenic activities, as well as sub-systems, the economic consequences of the whole set of environmental damages. Moreover, internalising external costs into partial equilibrium models, as those utilised by Comprehensive Analysis, can be useful to identify the best paths for implementing technology innovation and strategies aimed to a more sustainable energy supply and use. This paper presents an integrated application of these three methodologies to a local scale case study (the Val D’Agri area in Basilicata, Southern Italy), aimed to better characterise the environmental impacts of the energy system, with particular reference to extraction activities. The innovative methodological approach utilised takes advantage from the strength points of each methodology with an added value coming from their integration as emphasised by the main results obtained by the scenario analysis.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Arrayed multi-wall carbon nanotube (CNT) nests were grown on a silicon nanoporous pillar array (Si-NPA) by thermal chemical vapor deposition and the corresponding microstructure was characterized. The room-temperature resistive humidity sensing properties and the electrical conducting mechanism of the CNT/Si-NPA were studied by a standard four-probe method and a hot probe method, respectively. It was shown that with the relative humidity (RH) changing from 11 to 85%, a resistance device response over 362% was achieved, and the curve of the resistance response with RH is of high linearity. The high device repeatability was demonstrated by carrying out vapor adsorption–desorption dynamic cycles, and the response and recovery time were determined to be 64 and 51min, respectively. These sensing performances given by CNT/Si-NPA are attributed to the unique surface structure, morphology and chemical inertness of the CNT/Si-NPA.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Calorimetric measurements were carried out using a differential scanning calorimeter to characterize the thermal response of β2-microglobulin amyloid fibrils, the deposition of which results in dialysis-related amyloidosis. The fibril solution showed a large decrease in heat capacity (exothermic effect) before the temperature-induced depolymerization of the fibrils, which was characterized by a definite dependence on heating rate. To understand the factors that determine the heating-rate-dependent thermal response, the concentration dependence of polyethylene glycol, which inhibits the association of amyloid fibrils with heating, on exothermic effect was examined in detail and showed a causal link between the exothermic effect and fibril association. The results suggest that the transient association driven by a spatial approach and the concomitant dehydration of hydrophobic areas of amyloid fibrils may be significant factors determining the thermal response with exothermic effect, which has not been observed in calorimetric studies of monomolecular globular proteins. The heating-rate-dependent thermal response with the exothermic effect was observed not only for other amyloid fibrils formed from amyloid β-peptides but also during the processes of the temperature-induced conversion of β2-microglobulin protofibrils and hen egg-white lysozyme into amyloid fibrils. These results highlight the physics related to the heating-rate-dependent behaviors of heat capacity in terms of interactions between the specific structures of amyloid fibrils and water molecules.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A laser-heated sample in a diamond anvil cell and synchrotron X-ray radiation was used to carry out structural characterization of the phase transformation of Fe2O3 at high pressures (30–96GPa) and high temperature. The Rh2O3(II) (or orthorhombic perovskite) structure transforms to a new phase, which exhibits X-ray diffraction data that are indicative of a CaIrO3-type structure. The CaIrO3-type structure exhibited an orthorhombic symmetry (space group: Cmcm) that was stable at temperatures of 1200–2800K and pressure of 96GPa (the highest pressure used). Unambiguous assignment of such a structure requires experimental evidence for the presence of two Fe species. Based on the equation of state of gold, the phase boundary of the CaIrO3-type phase transformation was P (GPa)=59+0.0022×(T−1200) (K).",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, incidence of pleural malignant mesothelioma (PMM) in the Liguria Region (Italy) (approximately 1.6 million inhabitants), in the presence of asbestos exposure was investigated. New PMM cases recorded by the Mesothelioma Registry of Liguria, from 1996 to 2002 and interviews reported on a standardised questionnaire were analysed according to demographical and etiological characteristics. Nine hundred and forty five PMM cases were recorded (757 males and 188 females); the age standardised (European population) incidence rates per 100000 were 8.51 and 1.43, respectively. The rates among the four provinces ranged between 1.18 and 13.7 for males and 0.68 and 1.44 for females. The questionnaire was evaluated for 786 PMM cases (or next-of-kin). Higher incidence rates were reported in the provinces with larger industrial and harbour areas, including shipyards (construction and repair), dockyards, building activities, chemical and heavy industrial activities. Asbestos exposure was unlikely or unknown for 57.5% females and 15% males. A major role of environmental asbestos exposure in the etiology of PMM is hypothesised for females and for a minor proportion of males.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Wearable bioelectronics attracts great interest as an important medium to bridge electronics and biological systems. As an emerging part of wearable electronics, organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) offer numerous benefits for biological sensing, such as intrinsic flexibility, ion-to-electron conversion property, low working voltage (< 1 V), and large transconductance. The superiorities of OECTs have been successfully applied in constructing plenty of biosensors. More importantly, significant progress has been made in OECT integration, opening up new possibilities for multifunctional and wearable bioelectronic systems. This review will first discuss the profiles of OECT, including its working mechanism, advantages, and applications. Next, the structure engineering and performance of wearable fiber-shaped and plane-shaped OECTs in integrated wearable bioelectronics are summarized. Last, major challenges for future high-performance OECT-based bioelectronics are discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A novel transparent conductive oxide film based on the triple-layered indium tin oxide (ITO)/antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO)/titanium oxide (TiO2) has been developed for dye-sensitized solar cells by using radio frequency magnetron sputtering technique. Effects of the absence and presence of TiO2 layer and the ITO layer thickness were investigated. Deposition of ATO layer was found to stabilize the thermal instability of ITO. Little change in sheet resistance and optical transmittance was observed by introduction of insulating thin TiO2 layer on top of the ATO layer, whereas photovoltaic performance was significantly influenced. The conversion efficiency was improved from 4.57% without TiO2 layer to 6.29% with TiO2 layer. The enhanced photovoltaic performance with addition of TiO2 layer was attributed mainly to the improved adhesion and partially to the reduced electron loss at the ITO/ATO conductive layer. Increase in the ITO layer thickness resulted in a slight decrease in photocurrent due to the reduced optical transmittance. When compared with the conventional fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO), the ITO/ATO/TiO2 conductive material exhibited similar photocurrent density but higher photovoltage and fill factor, resulting in better conversion efficiency.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A comparison of the room-temperature operation of diode-pumped continuous-wave thulium-doped YAP and YAG lasers is reported. A markedly superior conversion efficiency using 4.2% doped Tm:YAP was measured, 730 mW of laser output being generated with a 3 W pump diode, representing a 42% conversion of absorbed diode light to laser output. With 6% Tm:YAG, laser output was restricted to 270 mW, a 21% conversion efficiency. Both lasers were found to generate diffraction-limited output. Greater upconversion losses in YAG than YAP are proposed as a factor contributing to its poorer laser performance.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter discusses the potential hazards associated with solar cells. There are environmental, health, and safety hazards associated with the manufacturing of solar cells. The photovoltaic (PV) industry uses toxic and flammable substances, although in smaller amounts than many other industries, and use of hazardous chemicals can involve occupational and environmental hazards. In manufacturing photovoltaic cells, health may be adversely affected by different classes of chemical and physical hazards. Chemical hazards with solar cells are related to the materials' toxicity, corrosivity, flammability, and explosiveness. These hazards differ for different thin-film technologies and deposition processes. This chapter discusses main hazards associated with specific technologies and lists hazardous materials used in manufacturing. The chapter also explains public health and environmental issues associated with solar cells. Occupational safety issues related to Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) solar Cells, Copper Indium Diselenide (CIS) solar Cells, and Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) high efficiency solar cells are explained. Operation of PV modules and photovoltaic module decommissioning is also described in the chapter.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Single phase SnSe2 was synthesized at 180 °C by hydrothermal co-reduction method from SnCl2·2H2O== and SeO2, its morphology and growth direction were investigated. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). Experimental results show that, the SnSe2 powder almost consists of regular and homogenous hexagonal nanoflakes which grow along (0001) crystal plane, these nanoflakes are about 600–700 nm in side length and 30–40 nm in thickness.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Some Fe-alloyed CoSb3 compounds (La y Fe4−x Co x Sb12, with x=1–3 and y=0–0.75) with/without rare-earth element filling with different average grain sizes (about 0.8, 3.9 and 6.7μm) were prepared by hot pressing and their thermoelectric properties were measured from room temperature to 773K. Grain size has an obvious effect on the electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient of the La-filled samples. The electrical resistivity decreases and the Seebeck coefficient increases with increasing grain size for the La-filled samples. However, the electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient of the unfilled samples are relatively independent of their grain sizes. Unlike binary CoSb3, lattice thermal conductivity of the samples is found to be insensitive to the grain size within the investigated range. Theoretical analysis shows that the effect of boundary scattering on the lattice thermal conductivity in these La y Fe4−x Co x Sb12 compounds is relatively weaker than that in CoSb3. For the La-filled skutterudite compound, the figure of merit (ZT) increases with grain size, indicating that a relatively large grain size yields good thermoelectric properties for these compounds.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The photovoltaic (PV) effect is the process in which two dissimilar materials in close contact produce an electrical voltage when struck by light or other radiant energy. The photovoltaic effect has tremendous potential for society because it offers a way to generate electricity with little pollution from an energy source that is inexhaustible: the Sun.Nineteen-year-old Edmund Becquerel, a French experimental physicist, discovered the photovoltaic effect while experimenting with an electrolytic cell made up of two metal electrodes. In this experiment, silver chloride was placed in an acidic solution and illuminated while connected to platinum electrodes, generating voltage and current (1839). A few decades later U.S. physicist Edwin Herbert Hall found that a metal strip carrying a current that is placed in a magnetic field generates a voltage difference across the strip (1879). The “Hall effect” is important in the development of semiconductors and materials for solar cells. A few years later, Charles Fritts, an American inventor, created the first working photovoltaic cell when he built junctions by spreading a thin layer of selenium on a metal plate and covering it with an ultra-thin, nearly transparent layer of gold (1883). The cell was only about 1% efficient. Polish chemist Jan Czochralski developed a way to grow single-crystal silicon, which would have important implications for semiconductor and photovoltaic technologies (1916) The Czochralski process became a principal method of crystal growth used to obtain single crystals of semiconductors, metals (e.g. palladium, platinum, silver, gold), salts and many oxide crystals.U.S. engineer Russell Ohl made a series of important contributions to the development of photovoltaics while working at AT&T’s Bell Laboratories. He discovered that imperfections in silicon crystals allow the crystals to continuously emit electricity when light is shone on them. It is the impurities that make such sections more resistant to electrical flow than others, and thus it is the “barrier” between these areas of different purity that make the crystal work (1939). The so-called “P-N junction” in silicon crystals would lead to crystals to replace vacuum tubes and the manufacture of “doped” silicon solar cells, which Ohl first achieved in 1941.Gerald Pearson, Calvin Fuller, and Daryl Chapin, also researchers at Bell Labs, developed the first solar cell capable of generating enough power from the Sun to run everyday electrical equipment (1954). The inventors created an array of several strips of silicon (each about the size of a razor blade), placed them in sunlight, captured the free electrons, and turned them into electrical current.Some of the first practical applications of solar cells were in space. In 1958 the Vanguard 1C satellite was launched at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It contained a transmitter powered by six solar cells mounted on the body of the satellite, the first use of PVs in space. Later that year, Explorer III, Vanguard II, and Sputnik-3 were launched with PV-powered systems. PV became the standard energy source for space applications. In 1962, 3,600 solar batteries, employing solar cells manufactured by Bell Labs, powered the world’s first communications satellite, Telstar 1. The satellite relayed the first television pictures, telephone calls, and fax images through space.The first substantial land-based PV systems appeared in the 1960s. The Japanese firm Sanyo supplied the cells for a 242-W PV array on a lighthouse, the world’s largest array at that time (1963). In 1973 the University of Delaware built “Solar One,” one of the world’s first PV- powered residences. The roof-integrated arrays fed surplus power through a meter to the utility during the day and purchased power from the utility at night. This was the first example of the now popular grid-connected system. By the 2000s PV energy experienced rapid growth due to continued cost reductions, concerns about climate change, and generous subsidies from many governments around the world.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Quantum dot materials, in which Si QDs are embedded in a dielectric matrix, offer the potential to tune the effective band gap, through quantum confinement, and allow fabrication of optimised tandem solar cell devices in one growth run in a thin film process. Such cells can be fabricated by sputtering of thin layers of silicon rich oxide sandwiched between a stoichiometric oxide that on annealing crystallise to form Si QDs of uniform and controllable size. For approx. 2nm diameter QDs these result in an effective band gap of 1.8eV. Introduction of phosphorous or boron during the growth of the multilayers results in doping and a rectifying junction, which demonstrates photovoltaic behaviour with an open-circuit voltage of almost 500mV. However, the doping behaviour of P and B in these QD materials is not well understood. In addition P and B have large but opposite effects on QD crystallisation, with P (B) doped material forming larger (smaller) QDs than for undoped material. Alternative materials for quantum dots are Ge and Sn. These allow lower processing temperatures to be used, more compatible with underlying layers. Alternative matrices to SiO2 such as SiNx or SiC offer higher tunnelling probability and hence lower resistance. These alternative matrix materials can also be used as hetero interlayers to improve the transport in the growth direction whilst maintaining quantum confinement. Group IV alloys can also be used to modify band gap. GeC in particular looks to have useful band gap and sputtering properties. Such alloy materials could be used in hetero-junction or homojunction devices in combination with SiQD based materials to fabricate all thin film tandem cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Benthic organisms are considered among the best bioindicators being closely associated to sediments in which many pollutants are stored. In this study, macrophytes and meiofauna have been investigated in a transitional area (Venice lagoon, Italy) characterized by numerous anthropogenic pressures. Macrophyte Quality Index and meiofaunal richness were used to assess Ecological Quality (EcoQ) status in line with Water Framework and Marine Strategy Framework Directives. Comparing the EcoQ classes, the results appeared consistent in 24 sites, whereas, in the remaining 5 ones, the values significantly diverged. These results could be related i) to the presence of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa that could affect meiofaunal taxa with the production of tannins; ii) to the different time response of these communities to human impacts. This synergistic investigation has allowed an accurate description of the spatial and temporal changes of meiofauna through data on abiotic and biotic parameters characterizing the ecosystem trophic level.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A novel room-temperature coordination–precipitation technique was successfully developed for the synthesis of nickel hydroxide (theophrastite) nanoplatelets. This method has great potential for large-scale industrial production owing to facile size-controlled and low-cost. This platelet-like nickel hydroxide precursor can readily be converted to nickel oxide (bunsenite) nanoplatelets after 400°C calcining. The synthesized products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. The thickness of β-Ni(OH)2 nanoplatelets can be controlled by changing concentration of precipitant NaOH in the presence of ethylenediamine. The formation of Ni(en)3 2+ complex ions in solution prior to precipitating nickel hydroxide may play a crucial role in controlling phase composition of resulting precipitate.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Unlike fossil-fueled generation, solar energy resources are geographically distributed and highly intermittent, which makes their direct control extremely difficult and requires storage units as an additional concern. The goal of this research is to design and develop a flexible tool, which will allow us to obtain (1) an optimal capacity of an integrated photovoltaic (PV) system and storage units and (2) an optimal operational decision policy considering the current and future market prices of the electricity. The proposed tool is based on hybrid (system dynamics model and agent-based model) simulation and meta-heuristic optimization. In particular, this tool has been developed for three different scenarios (involving different geographical scales), where PV-based solar generators, storage units (compressed-air-energy-storage (CAES) and super-capacitors), and grid are used in an integrated manner to supply energy demands. Required data has been gathered from various sources, including NASA and TEP (utility company), US Energy Information Administration, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, commercial PV panel manufacturers, and publicly available reports. The constructed tool has been demonstrated to (1) test impacts of several factors (e.g. demand growth, efficiencies in PV panel and CAES system) on the total cost of the integrated generation and storage system and an optimal mixture of PV generation and storage capacity, and to (2) demonstrate an optimal operational policy.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Energy experts project that global oil supplies will only meet demand until global oil production has peaked sometime between 2013 and 2020. Declining oil production after peak production will cause a global energy gap to develop, which will have to be bridged by unconventional and renewable energy sources. Nuclear, solar and hydrogen are destined to become major energy sources during the 21st century, but only if their enabling technologies improve significantly to ensure affordability and convenience of use. This paper will argue that global oil production will probably peak between 2004 and 2005, causing a serious energy gap to develop sometime between 2008 and 2010 rather than 2013–2020 as the energy experts projected. It will also argue that a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is inevitable. The paper will conclude, however, that fossil fuels with a growing contribution from nuclear energy, will still be supplying the major part of the global energy needs for most, perhaps all, of the 21st century.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Two-dimensional materials have attracted great attention due to their excellent properties. In this paper, we conducted a theoretical study on the atomic swap within Sc2CF2 MXene. The geometric structure, electronic properties and quantum capacitance of Sc2CF2-SC↔F, Sc2CF2-SC↔Sc, and Sc2CF2-SF↔Sc monolayers are investigated by first-principles calculation. Sc2CF2-SC↔Sc and Sc2CF2-SF↔Sc monolayers form Frenkel-type defect structure after optimization. Pristine Sc2CF2 is an indirect semiconductor, while the atomic swap has no effect on the semiconductor character of Sc2CF2-SC↔F, Sc2CF2-SC↔Sc, and Sc2CF2-SF↔Sc monolayers. Especially, the atomic swap between C and Sc atoms make Sc2CF2-SC↔Sc monolayer become a narrow direct semiconductor. The quantum capacitances in aqueous and ionic/organic systems are further investigated. In aqueous and ionic/organic electrolyte, Sc2CF2 and Sc2CF2-SF↔Sc are more suitable for cathode materials, while Sc2CF2-SC↔Sc monolayer is suitable for anode materials. Sc2CF2-SC↔F is transformed from a potential cathode material to a potential electrode material for symmetric supercapacitors with the extension of voltage. The effective mass and work function of the systems are further explored. The electronic properties and quantum capacitance of Sc2CT2 with mixed termination groups are also investigated.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Three new low bandgap conjugated copolymers with 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) as donor and 2,3-bis(4-octyloxyphenyl)-quinoxaline (P1), 2,3-bis(4-octyloxyphenyl)-thiadiazol-quinoxaline (P2, P3) as acceptors were synthesized by Stille cross-coupling reaction, and their optical and electrochemical properties were studied. These polymers exhibited optical bandgap of 1.77, 1.29 and 1.13 eV, for P1, P2 and P3, respectively. Photovoltaic cells with device configuration of ITO/PEDOT: PSS/Copolymer: PCBM (1:4 w/w)/LiF/Al were fabricated. The measurements revealed an open-circuit voltage (V oc) of 0.52 V, short-circuit current density (J sc) of 3.24 mA/cm2 and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.60% for P1, and showed a V oc of 0.33 V, J sc of 2.11 mA/cm2, PCE of 0.39% for P2.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents the analysis of the technical feasibility to use a photovoltaic system to supply the electrical demand on two referential commercial aircraft, Airbus A340–300 and Cessna Conquest 441. The methodology approach comprises a process given by the selection of the photovoltaic technology, the calculation of the available solar radiation, the determination of the electrical demand, the layout definition of solar cells, the photovoltaic system capacity calculation, the estimation of the photovoltaic system weight, the estimation of fuel savings for photovoltaic system equipped aircrafts, and finally, the extrapolation of results to other aircrafts. The study concludes that the use of photovoltaic technology to supply power to the aircraft electrical system can result viable from the point of view of operational profitability, generating savings in fuel consumption. These fuel savings depend on the type of aircraft, the flying route and schedules of operation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Filling the icosahedral lattice holes of the cage-compound CoSb3 with alkali, alkaline-earth and rare-earth metal atoms can endow CoSb3 with the transport characteristic of \"phonon-glass-electron-crystal\". However, the filler atoms greatly increase the cost in raw material as well as fabrication complexity. In this work, we embedded FeCl3-intercalated graphene nanolayers into polycrystalline CoSb3 by a solution-dispersion method combined with spark plasma sintering technology. The graphene nanosheets were mainly distributed in grain boundaries. Due to the increased carrier concentration and mobility, the electrical conductivity was improved. Meanwhile, due to the enhanced interfacial phonon scattering, the lattice thermal conductivity was effectively suppressed. The thermoelectric figure of merit of the nanocomposite reached 0.6 at a mass content of 0.2 % FeCl3-intercalated graphene nanolayers, outperforming all reported values of binary CoSb3 based nanocomposites, and even comparable to that of commercially used filled p-type Fe3CoSb12. This work provides a promising strategy for low-cost fabrication of p-type skutterudites.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Since Brazil's major energy resources are renewable and directly related to climate factors, it is among the countries most likely of being affected by climate change. Given Brazil's high hydropower storage capacity and the strong seasonal patterns of its renewable resources, introducing Seasonal Pumped Hydropower Storage (SPHS) can help mitigate these challenges. To this end, a methodology is proposed that links the dynamic system-optimization model – MESSAGEix - to regional climate model simulations, called the Brazilian Electricity System MESSAGEix Model (BESMM). This model, with its detailed hydropower representation, is capable of integrating data from three climate change scenarios with the country's energy system. Climate change introduces a new dimension to this approach, as there is evidence of increasing the seasonal imbalance of variable renewable resources in Brazil. BESMM results suggest that SPHS can play a fundamental role in achieving a 100 % renewable matrix by 2100 in RCP 2.6 scenario, as well as enhancing the renewable energy endowment in scenarios RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. A reduction of up to 68 % of CO2 emissions is predicted in scenarios incorporating SPHS, compared to scenarios without SPHS.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Physical properties of perovskite-type SrVO3−δ were studied. Polycrystalline high-density samples of SrVO3−δ were prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The sample bulk density is 95% of the theoretical density. The linear thermal expansion coefficient, elastic moduli, Debye temperature, micro Vickers hardness, heat capacity, thermal conductivity, electrical resistivity, and Seebeck coefficient were investigated.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents a custom test bench for testing the characteristics of various infrared focal plane arrays (IRFPA) types [Fundamentals of IR Detector Operation and Testing, 1990, p. 26], based on CMT and microbolometer. The data belong to the testing developed by Consorzio CREO in the field of high-performance IRFPA, using high-yield CMOS read-out integrated circuit. An overview of the description of the devices, techniques and results involved in the whole characterization of IRFPA will be presented. The analysis covers the dependence of signal and noise with various parameters, and a spectral analysis comparison will be presented.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • This research study emphasizes the development of hybrid fiber reinforced cement composites (HyFRCC) to attain high strength, durability, and sensing capabilities. • Role of silica additive mixtures to enhance the dispersion and strength of HyFRCC. • CNT aqueous solution revealed stability for longer duration, strong bonding with the matrix, and deposition of silica particles on observation under the electron microscope. • Holds potential for the construction industry to be used for structural reinforcement / building materials, intrinsic sensing capabilities, or as a repair material.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Electronic and optical features of mercury chalcogenide ternary alloys HgS x Se1−x , HgS x Te1−x and HgSe x Te1−x are computed using first principle based FP-LAPW methodology employing the GGA + U functional. Structural features have been computed with Wu-Cohen (WC)-GGA functional and found that both the lattice constant and bulk modulus in each alloy system vary nonlinearly with chalcogen concentration. The incapability of Engel-Vosko (EV)-GGA and modified Becke-Johnson (mBJ) functional in calculating the correct band structures and band gaps have been resolved by employing GGA + U and it shows that each of the specimens under the alloy systems is conductor. Chemical bonding between mercury and chalcogen are covalent in nature. In case of optical transitions, the chalcogen-p of valence band as initial states and Hg-6s as well as Hg-6p states of conduction band as final states play the dominant role. In each alloy system, nature of variation of each of the static dielectric constant, static refractive index and static reflectivity with chalcogen concentration x is opposite, while critical point in each of the ε 2 ( ω ) , k ( ω ) , σ ( ω ) and α ( ω ) spectra with chalcogen concentration x is similar to the nature of variation of magnitude of negative band gap with chalcogen concentration x. Several calculated properties are found to agree well with the corresponding experimental findings.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We synthesize a single-crystal Pb1-x-ySnxFeyTe (x = 0.08, y = 0.01) ingot and investigate the distributions of tin and iron along it, as well as the galvanomagnetic properties of samples cut from the ingot (4.2 K ≤ T ≤ 300 K, B ≤ 0.07 T). The scanning electron microscopy reveals microscopic inclusions with a reduced lead-tin content enriched with iron in a number of samples, indicating that the solubility limit of iron impurity is exceeded. In the main phase, the tin content rises monotonically along the ingot from x ≈ 0.06 to x ≈ 0.15 while the iron impurity concentration increases only slightly up to 0.6 mol. %. All samples exhibit the p-type metal conductivity. We find a monotonous increase in the free hole concentration at low temperatures with increasing tin content and an abnormal growth of the Hall coefficient with increasing temperature, indicating the pinning of the Fermi level by the resonant iron level lying in the valence band. Dependences of the hole concentration, of the Fermi energy, and of the Hall coefficient on the tin concentration and on the temperature are analyzed in the framework of the two-band Kane and six-band Dimmock dispersion relations. Compositional and temperature coefficients of deep iron level movement with respect to the band edges are determined and a diagram of the restructuring of the electronic structure with an increase of the tin concentration in alloys is build. The results indicate the possibility of crossing of the resonant iron level with the heavy-hole Σ band with increasing tin content in Pb1-x-ySnxFeyTe alloys and temperature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A thermoelectric heat pump is a miniature solid state device used to pump small amounts of heat. Potential uses range from the cooling of electronic components to dorm size refrigerators. An ongoing study at the U.S. Naval Academy proposes to use a miniature thermoelectric heat pump to maintain a neutron dosimeter at near constant temperatures in order to obtain more accurate readings. Unfortunately, the coefficient of performance of the heat pump decreases rapidly with increasing temperature difference. The current study investigates the potential improvement in heat pump performance that can be obtained by cascading two or more heat pumps in series operation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "An overview of the solar array technologies involved in current and coming European space projects is presented. A general description of the solar array of each specific programme is given by means of the mission requirements, solar array design, solar cell and solar cell assembly technology. This overview includes earth observation and scientific spacecraft. For longer-term future programmes a description of the envisaged solar array and solar cell technologies to be used, is presented, together with the applicable mission parameters.In conjunction with current and future applications, the ESA R&D guidelines in the areas of solar array and solar cell technologies, solar cell assembly technology, special test and verification activities including the in-orbit demonstration of new technologies are discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Radial basis function neural networks (RBFNs) can be applied to model the I–V characteristics and maximum power points (MPPs) of photovoltaic (PV) panels. The key issue for training an RBFN lies in determining the number of radial basis functions (RBFs) in the hidden layer. This paper presents a genetic algorithms-based RBFN training scheme to search for the optimal number of RBFs using only the input samples of a PV panel. The performance of the trained RBFN is comparable with that of the conventional model and the training algorithm is computationally efficient. The trained RBFNs have been applied to predict MPPs of two different practical PV panels. The results obtained are accurate enough for applying the models to control the PV systems for tracking the optimal power points.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Renewable sources represent an effective alternative to fossil fuels for preventing resources depletion and for reducing air pollution. However, their diffusion requires huge capital investment and major infrastructure changes, which have to be assessed to verify their effectiveness. The article present an application of the R-MARKAL model to investigate the feasibility of renewable use on a local case study for electricity and thermal energy production. A comprehensive modelling approach is used to emphasise the relationships and feedback between conversion and demand sectors (residential, services and commercial), taking into account contemporaneously legal issues and physical limits of the system. The model's solutions represent the minimum cost choice and the results show that even in absence of exogenous environmental constraints, many renewable technologies are profitable demand device and their investment costs are paid off in a medium term by lower operating and maintenance expenditures. In this context the use of thermal energy from incinerator allows one to achieve a consistent reduction of atmospheric pollutant emissions and, particularly, of greenhouse gases emissions due to waste degradation.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The Bi0.9Sb0.1 powders were prepared by mechanical alloying and then pressed under 6GPa at different pressing temperatures. X-ray diffraction spectra showed that the single phase was formed. The nanostructure of grain was observed by bright-field imaging. Electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity had been investigated in the temperature range of 80–300K. The absolute Seebeck coefficient value of 120.3μV/K was measured at 130K. The figure-of-merit reached a maximum value of 0.90×10−3 K−1 at 140K.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study the actual costs of electricity produced by PV generators placed on buildings have been examined for UK and Greece. The type of buildings that were considered include medium size houses for up to four people, and buildings for offices/small business and hotels (Greece only). The chosen case studies were considered to be for new or refurbishment buildings, and, in the case of not integrated systems, for existing buildings that have the capacity to incorporate a PV installation on their present structure. The analysis has been done with the aid of PVSYST software. The costs have been derived for a working PV period of 25 years. Apart from that, a forecasting, through sensitivity analysis, of the likely relation between the price of the PV generated electricity and the price of electricity-buying power from the grid has been evaluated, examined, and analysed for the next decade. The main aim was to estimate when the prices of the PV generated electricity would be attractive to the potential costumers. The sensitivity analysis has been focused on different potential scenarios. The results identify that the period in which the profitable installation of a PV system on buildings will be a reality is estimated to be 2007–2011. During this period, BiPV installations on UK will become profitable before those in Greece.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "To enhance the efficiency of polymer photovoltaics, much effort is put into synthesis of novel compounds which show a better harvesting of solar light. In this respect, a new low band gap polymer, namely, poly(5,6-dithiooctylisothianaphtene), was synthesised. This work focusses on the spectroscopic characterisation of the material. The dynamics of the photoexcitations were studied by monitoring the dependence of the photoinduced absorption band on the laser modulation frequency and indicated dispersive recombination kinetics in this material. An appropriate model was used to describe the observed behaviour. To investigate the nature of the photogenerated species more profound, photoinduced absorption spectroscopy in the infrared was performed, showing an infrared active vibrational pattern (IRAV). Solar cells were constructed with an active layer consisting of the pristine material or a mixture with an electron accepting moiety. For this purpose, (6,6)-phenyl-C61-butyric-acid (PCBM) in 1:1 a (w/w) ratio with respect to the polymer was used. A clear improvement of the diode behaviour was observed going from the pristine material to the mixture. Photocurrent action spectra of the solar cells with the polymer:PCBM-mixture indicated an active contribution of the polymer to the photocurrent.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Analog MPPT method is fast and low-cost. ► Two voltage approximation lines are used approximate the MPP locus. ► The proposed MPPT method does not require analog multiplier. ► The proposed MPPT method can be implemented using low-power components. ► The proposed MPPT method can be applied to all types of power converters using different types of PWM ICs.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Single cooling and desalination technologies require a high amount of energy to produce cooling and fresh water, respectively. Coupling these systems seems to be attractive not only to reduce their energy consumption rates and to gain more flexibility in operation but also for environmental considerations. Besides, using solar energy to drive these coupled systems appears also interesting. The major increases in cooling and desalination demands occur in locations where solar energy is abundant. This article reviews the latest research works on systems able to carry out cooling and/or desalination using solar energy. The ability of coupling desalination technologies to cooling systems is investigated. A heat pump can produce cooling energy at the evaporator and heat at the condenser for a membrane distillation unit. An ice slurry process can operate with sea water. It freezes only pure water that can be separated from the liquid. A comparison of these systems is made. Membrane distillation (MD) and ice slurry systems must improve to be as efficient as standard technologies. An intelligent energy and water production management will have to be developed to control the operation of a system coupling ice slurry, MD and solar photovoltaic energy.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The Himalayan–Karakoram range is located in one of the most densely populated and very rapidly developing world areas. Monitoring of atmospheric composition in this area can play a relevant role in evaluating the background conditions of the free troposphere and quantifying the pollution present at high altitudes, as well as in studying regional and long-range transport phenomena. Due to technical and logistic difficulties in carrying out measurements at high altitude in the Himalaya, no systematic observations of atmospheric constituents are available for this area. Thus, a new measurement station in such a region represents a unique source of data, able to make up for the prior lack of this information. For these reasons, in the framework of the SHARE-Asia and ABC projects, a remote monitoring station, the ABC-Pyramid Laboratory, will be installed in the Khumbu valley near Mt. Everst at 5079m a.s.l. Continuous in situ measurements of chemical, physical and optical properties of aerosol, surface ozone concentration, as well as non-continuous measurements of halocarbons and other greenhouse-gas concentrations will be carried out. This monitoring station was projected, realised and tested in Bologna at CNR-ISAC Institute during autumn 2005. It was designed to be controlled by remote login and to operate for the long-term in extremely adverse weather conditions. This station represents an ideal place for studying regional and long-range air mass transport, due to natural and human processes. Precious 5-day forecast information about air-masses circulation at the ABC-Pyramid site will be supplied daily by Lagrangian backward trajectories, including suitable forecasts of stratosphere-troposphere exchange phenomena.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • SrXF3 compounds are found to be thermodynamically stable under pressure. • The thermoelectric properties as a function of temperature of SrXF3 compounds are performed. • The majority charge carriers of SrXF3 compounds are holes. • Promising thermoelectric applications are expected for the present compounds.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The performance of In x Ga1−x As detectors operating in the 2–3.4μm spectral range and temperature of 300K has been analyzed theoretically as a function of wavelength, band gap and doping level with special emphasis on 2–2.5μm and 3–3.5μm atmospheric window devices. The calculations show that the dominant generation–recombination mechanism in p-type, intrinsic and in a lightly doped n-type InGaAs is the spin split-off band Auger process (AS). Since the AS generation increases with the square of the hole concentration, the minimum thermal generation and the best performance can be obtained using moderately doped n-type material as the absorber region of a photovoltaic device. In principle, the ultimate performance can be achieved in the optimized homojunction devices with relatively thick n-type absorber region forming n–p junction with a thin p-type material. N-type doping of absorber region of InGaAs photodiodes at 300K changes from 1×1014 to 5.2×1015 cm−3 for devices optimized for operation at 2 and 3.4μm wavelength, respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Device-grade undoped hydrogenated polycrystalline silicon thin films have been developed from a gas mixture of silane and hydrogen using a hot-wire chemical vapor deposition (HW-CVD) method, optimizing the deposition parameters. Proper design of the HW-CVD reactor helps to deposit a uniform quality of film over a large area (100 cm2) with a two filament configuration. Extensive studies have been made of the effects of hydrogen dilution (4–60), substrate temperature (180–400°C) and filament temperature (1500–1700°C) on the film growth. Atomic force micrographs give a quantitative estimate of roughness for these films. UV-visible ellipsometry analyses confirm their compactness and crystallinity while X-ray diffraction patterns allow for the determination of the crystallite sizes (up to 400 Å). Using a hydrogen dilution of 60, a substrate temperature of 300°C and a filament temperature of 1500°C, a dark conductivity of 2.5×10−5 S/cm and its activation energy of 0.45 eV have been obtained. For these films, the Hall mobility attains 10 cm2/V s. With these deposition parameters, the intrinsic layer of complete p–i–n HW-CVD solar cells has been realized. These cells, deposited on TCO coated Corning glass substrates, exhibit 1.8% conversion efficiency under 100 mW/cm2 irradiation.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We have investigated the effect of new chiral (S)-5-octyloxy-2-[{4-(2-methylbuthoxy)-phenylimino}-methyl]-phenol liquid crystalline compound (LC) addition into bulk-heterojunction solar cells, based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) mixtures. Based on current–voltage characteristics and transient charge carrier extraction by linearly increasing voltage (CELIV) measurements, the efficiency of devices with liquid crystal is found to be higher than that of devices from pristine blends of P3HT–PCBM. It is found that the charge carrier mobility increased significantly in the devices with liquid crystals.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A series of porphyrins and N-confused porphyrins have been prepared in which the peripheral groups on the porphyrins are kept constant and the porphyrinoids differ only in their electronic nature. The materials have been blended into the active layer of MEH-PPV:PCBM bulk heterojunction solar cells and the performance of the cells is reported and discussed. All of the added porphyrinoids contribute to the photocurrent of the resultant solar cells and result in a broadening of the spectral response of the cells in accordance with the absorption spectra of the porphyrinoid. The efficiency of these devices is shown to correlate strongly with the ionisation potential (IP), and thus highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level, of the added porphyrinoid. We argue that the relative energy of the HOMO levels of the porphyrinoids and the hole transporting polymer in these devices, coupled with the poor charge mobilities of N-confused porphyrins combine to generate porphyrinoid-based hole traps in these devices. This increases recombination within these devices, lowering both the devices' charge densities and open circuit voltages and resulting in reduced cell efficiencies. We show that varying the porphyrinoid added, by metallation or N-alkylation of the N-confused porphyrin, allows us to systematically change the IP of the species and directly affect the power conversion efficiency of the resultant device. The implications of this work for optimising the performance of ternary blend bulk heterojunction solar cells are discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The lattice thermal conductivity of stable 18-electron Ti2FeNiSb2 compound is remarkably lower than that of the traditional ternary half-Heusler alloy, and it is considered a promising thermoelectric material. Owing to the distinctive performance of high entropy alloys, we designed a novel valence-balanced double half-Heusler Ti2Zr2Hf2NbVFe5Ni3Sb8 alloy with high entropy sublattice. The experimental results showed that enhanced electrical transport properties and reduced thermal conductivity of the alloy were achieved. The thermal conductivity at room temperature was two fifths of that of reported Ti2FeNiSb2 and the maximum power factor improved three times. The ultralow theoretical minimum lattice thermal conductivity was estimated to be less than 0.2 W m−1K−1, showing the possibility for further reduction. Phonon spectrum calculation showed that the high entropy strategy was valid for scattering phonons and limiting lattice thermal conductivity. A peak ZT ∼0.027 at 823 K was achieved, which is almost five times that of the Ti2FeNiSb2. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of the high entropy strategy in double half-Heusler compounds and the potential of the new concept of HE-DHH compounds as high-performance thermoelectric materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Anodic aluminium oxide and the hexagonal phase of lyotropic liquid crystals containing zinc and nickel ions were used to prepare Zn–Ni alloy nanorods. Highly ordered alloy nanoparticles were obtained by direct electrochemical reduction of zinc and nickel ions from an aqueous solution into the pores of the alumina membrane. The combination of the hexagonal phase of a liquid crystal and the alumina membrane (double template deposition) leads to the reduction of size of the nanorods. Particles that grow from the bottom of the pore of alumina membrane have many subdivisions due to the columns of the liquid crystals. Potentiodynamic stripping of the film confirmed the presence of the alloy phases. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis reveals the existence of two-separated time constants and the diffusion of lithium ions in the pores of the nanostructured film.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Design and construction of solar parabolic concentrator. • Photogrammetry study of SPC. • Slope error and optical efficiency of SPC. • Reflector materials of SPC. • Programmed tracking solar system.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► We have synthesized a new molecule [2,3-bis(5-bromothiophene-2-yl)acrylonitrile] as an additive in an inverted BHJ OPV. ► The highest power conversion efficiency of the device with the additive was increased by 36% compared to the pristine OPV. ► The improvement of the device was due to the formation of a cascade band alignment within the active layer. ► Such cascade structure can enhance the exciton dissociation and charge transport of the OPV device.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme of the International Energy Agency (IEA) has recently published its Task 1 report, Trends in photovoltaic applications. Survey report of selected IEA countries between 1992 and 2002, now available from the IEA-PVPS website. Visit www.re-focus.net for the latest renewable energy industry news",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "CuInS2 films were prepared by spray pyrolysis technique using CuCl2, InCl3 and SC(NH2)2 as initial chemicals. The content of Cl, O, C and N impurities in sprayed CuInS2 films were measured by EDS, WDS, RBS and organic elemental analysis. The growth temperatures of 260–280°C result in Cl, C, N content of 8 mass% and the impurity phases contain SCN, CN, NH, SO4 groups as identified by FTIR. The increase in the growth temperature up to 380°C decreases the concentration of Cl, C, N to 1–2 mass%, concurrently leading to oxidation of inorganic and organic phases resulting in O content of 16.7 at.%. The content of impurities originated from precursors is mainly controlled by the growth temperature and in less extent by the Cu/In ratio in spray solution as Cu-rich solutions result in the films with reduced content of organic residues. Thermal treatments in reducing atmospheres at 450°C improves the crystallinity of the films while annealing in flowing H2 effectively reduces the content of Cl and O impurities.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We discuss the implementation of two innovative schemes for the inclusion of protection diodes for tandem solar cells, as demonstrated on the recently launched UoSAT-12 satellite.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The transition towards sustainable energy systems has gained significant importance globally due to high levels of environmental pollution caused by the use of fossil fuels. This study addresses a critical aspect of the global transition towards sustainable energy systems. We emphasize the impact of considering energy storage system degradation and replacement in long-term energy transition planning. The importance of this lies in mitigating the challenges posed by the intermittency and variability of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, without failing to consider the negative effect that excessive use of batteries as a storage energy system would have. We propose an optimization model that integrates power systems generation and transmission infrastructure with strategic energy storage system implementation to optimize their size, operation, and location for maximum efficiency and benefits. This paper offers a comprehensive approach to take into account the environmental effect of the depth of the discharge and replacement of battery systems over a long-term planning horizon considering hourly operation of representative time periods. The electricity system of Baja California, Mexico, a region heavily reliant on fossil fuels, is presented as a case study to show the applicability of the model. Results demonstrate that continuous replacement of dispatchable generators (natural gas power plants) for non-dispatchable generators (variable renewable power plants) may cause an unexpected increase of indirect greenhouse gas emissions from the continuous replacement of batteries when degradation is not considered. The results of the case study show an average emissions factor of 0.325 Ton CO2eq/MWh, approximately 24 % lower than government expectations, using the proposed MILP model.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The current–voltage (I–V) studies for p-SiC in KOH and n-SiC in Na2SO3 in a two-electrode configuration indicated that SiC-based photoelectrochemical systems can be a possibility for water splitting. With illumination there is appreciable photocurrent generation at the semiconductor–electrolyte interface, which correspond to water splitting to form hydrogen and oxygen at the respective electrodes. The C–V analysis gave an idea about the flat-band potential and carrier concentration.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter presents basic concepts related to GaAs and high-efficiency space cells. GaAs has been found to have an optimal bandgap for effective sunlight conversion. In the first solar cells based on AlGaAs/GaAs heterojunctions, the basic narrow bandgap material was GaAs. A wide bandgap window was made of AlGaAs close in the composition to AlAs, which is almost completely transparent to sunlight, making solar cells very sensitive in the short wavelength range of the sun spectrum. Such a cell is illuminated through the window, and the light with photon energy exceeding the bandgap value of GaAs is absorbed in it, while the generated minority carriers are separated by the p–n junction field located in GaAs. Because of the close lattice parameters of the contacting materials, the interface in AlGaAs/GaAs heterojunctions is characterized by a low density of surface states, providing a highly effective accumulation of carriers. This chapter begins with a historical review of III–V solar cells. It then explains single-junction III–V space solar cells. Solar cells based on AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures are then explained. The chapter also discusses solar cells with internal Bragg reflector and basic concepts related to GaAs-based cells on Ge substrates.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We combine CdS semiconductor quantum dots and single-crystalline rutile TiO2 nanorod arrays to produce a practical quantum dot sensitized solar cell. A facile wet-chemical approach was implemented for growth of this CdS@TiO2 architecture. Rutile TiO2 nanorod arrays with lengths of 1–2μm and diameters of 40–60nm were synthesized on fluorine-doped tin oxide glass by a hydrothermal process in a titanium tetrachloride precursor solution. CdS quantum dots with a size of 5–10nm were deposited onto a TiO2 nanorod surface using an ultrasonic-assisted chemical bath deposition method. The resulting CdS quantum dots and TiO2 nanorods formed a type-II heterojunction and showed increased absorption over visible light range. Incident photon-to-current conversion efficiencies (IPCE) as high as 85% and power conversion efficiencies of 2.54% were obtained using a polysulfide electrolyte.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Two-phase loop thermosyphon is a natural phase-change heat transfer cycle widely used for thermodynamic applications. In additon to low manufacturing and maintenance costs, the primary advantages of such device include high heat transfer capability, reliability, and sustainability. Significant progress has been made in the two-phase loop thermosyphon and its integrated/coupled systems for energy conservation and environment protection. This paper represents a comprehensive review that discusses the physical mechanisms, characteristics and research progress of the two-phase loop thermosyphon based on recent experimental and simulative studies. The review extends to worldwide applications of independent two-phase loop thermosyphon in the renewable and sustainable energy fields and its utilisation for performance enhancement of vapour compression cycles by system integration and coupling. Challenges and recommendations for future research and application of two-phase loop thermosyphon are identified. This review will help researchers and engineers better understand the mechanisms, features and potential of the two-phase loop thermosyphon technology and promote its development.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The photovoltaic-thermal (PV/T) integrated system efficiently utilizes solar energy by converting a portion of absorbed solar radiation into electricity while the rest is transformed into thermal energy and collected by heat transfer media. It is still very important to study more effective types of PV/T system to improve the overall performance of the system. This study proposes a novel vacuum-tube PV/T system with inserted PV module and heat pipe. The experimental platform of the novel PV/T system is built. The energy transfer model of the system is established, and the self-programmed code is adopted to solve the model. The performance including the energy, exergy, economic and environmental analyses of the novel PV/T system is evaluated through calculation and experimental measurement. The results indicate that the vacuum-tube PV/T system with inserted PV module and heat pipe effectively reduces temperature of photovoltaic cell, reduces heat loss, and improves the electrical efficiency, thermal efficiency, and overall efficiency. The highest electrical efficiency, thermal efficiency and overall efficiency of the system reaches 11.86 %, 60.66 % and 68.44 % respectively. The overall efficiency is higher than those of the traditional flat-plate PV/T system. These indicate that the novel system is feasible for practical application and promotion.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Regional ore-magmatic systems (OMS’s) and metallogenic gold-silver belts in northeastern Asia are considered, with emphasis placed on their relationships owing to the effect of geodynamic settings and underlying and host rock sequences on the localization of gold and silver deposits of different types. Particular types of lithologic assemblages with specific mineralogical and geochemical features are persistent throughout the metallogenic belts, controlled by regional noble-metal OMS’s. Regional OMS’s with one-, two-, and multilevel local OMS’s producing different types of noble-metal mineralization are described. The problem of mineral typomorphism in metallogenic analysis has been first raised. This analysis permits one to recognize indicators of ore formation (a particular genetic type of deposits, their formation and denudation levels), sources of ore-forming fluids, regional specific geochemistry and its relationship with magmatism. Regular presence of platinum in gold-bearing metallogenic zones is shown.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The Centre for Renewable Energy Sources (CRES) in Greece in cooperation with two Greek companies, Photovoltaic and Advice is successfully working on an autonomous seawater desalination system driven by renewable energy sources. Eftihia Tzen CRES and Marios Sigalas Photovoltaic, Greece describe progress to date with this project.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Considering a photon solar sail spacecraft with a lightness number (λ) in the range [0.5-1) (all-metallic sails), this paper analyses a class of heliocentric trajectories, characterized by orbital angular-momentum reversal, delivering a considerable final spacecraft speed. It is found out that, if both the radial and transversal lightness numbers satisfy certain inequality constraints, the sailcraft in the solar gravitational field is able to first decelerate up to reversing its orbital angular momentum, then to accelerate while flying by the Sun safely and, finally, to get a cruise speed considerably higher than its heliocentric speed at the injection from the Earth-Moon system into the solar gravitational field. For example, a low-mass sailcraft with a λ in the range 0.58-0.60, constrained to a perihelion in the range 0.28-0.18 AU, can achieve a cruise speed of 11–15 AU yr−1, respectively. Considerably higher speed can be achieved by increasing λ. The final branch of an H-reversal sailcraft trajectory is characterized by a quasi-rectilinear or pseudo-cruise motion which generally extends from a few AU to the far target while the vehicle speed attenuates typically by 1% or less. The results of the analytical model used in this paper are tested and compared numerically with a sophisticated model of sailcraft dynamics at Telespazio. Impact of dynamics on sailcraft systems technology and vice versa as well as a way to design a reversal sailcraft trajectory are discussed. Some realistic current/near-term technology application examples, tailored for advanced scientific missions to the outer planets or beyond the planetary range, are presented.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Research highlights ► Water stress indicators can and should include dilution requirements for pollution. ► Wastewater treatment and reuse programs significantly reduce water scarcity. ► Irrigation impacts on water quality and scarcity must be considered. ► Animal product consumption increases land use change and water stress levels.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) systems comprise one of the promising electrification solutions to cover the demand of remote consumers, especially when it is coupled with a storage solution that would both increase the productivity of power plants and reduce the areas dedicated to energy production. This paper presents a multi-objective design of weakly connected systems simultaneously minimizing the total levelized cost and the connection to the grid, while fulfilling a constraint of consumer satisfaction. For this task, a multi-objective code based on particle swarm optimization has been used to find the best combination of different energy devices. Both short and mid terms based on forecasts assumptions have been investigated. An application for the site of La Nouvelle in the French overseas island of La Réunion is proposed. It points up a strong cost advantage by using lead-acid (Pb-A) batteries in the short term and a mitigated solution for the mid term between Pb-A batteries and Gaseous hydrogen (GH2). These choices depend on the cost, the occupied area and the local pollution and, of course, legislation.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The North China Craton (NCC) hosts the world's most typical example of “decratonic” gold deposits including lode, porphyry, cryptoexplosive breccia, and skarn subtypes. The lithospheric structure in the ore fields show “triple-junctions” of basement microblocks, zones of lithospheric thinning, and “hotspots” with abnormal crustal heat flow. The basement rocks are dominantly composed of trondhjemite-tonalite-granodiorite (TTG) suite and amphibolites. The intermediate-felsic calc-alkaline plutons with crust-mantle mixed origin and formed under high oxygen fugacity, volatile-rich and moderately fractionated conditions, together with dyke swarms of diverse compositions are indicators for the gold mineralization. The mantle under the gold field shows metasomatic or juvenile “EM2” or “EM2 + EM1” characteristics. The gold deposits are closely associated with craton destruction, heterogenous reactivation, large-scale magmatic intrusion and eruption, and upwelling of voluminous ore-bearing fluids within a transitional tectonic regime. The presence of mantle-derived mafic rocks, mafic microgranular enclaves (MME) and amygdaloidal bodies, minerals rich in Te, Ni, Cr, Mg, C and N, He and stable isotopes with mantle signature, among other features, indicate that the ore-forming metals and fluids have mixed mantle and deep crustal origin. Gold deposits coexisting or closely associated with mafic dykes and crust-mantle-derived stocks indicate that the upwelling of ore-forming fluid and localization of the ore-materials were facilitated at least partly by the intrusion of deep magma. The spatial distributions of altered rocks with alkali-feldspar-hematite zone distal to the orebody (barren) and pyrite-phyllite (sericite) zone proximal to the ore (ore-bearing zone) indicate a marked physico-chemical interface at the final stage of evolution of the ore-forming fluid. The presence of wide alteration zone indicates that the ore-controlling faults were in a compressive stress state, whereas narrow alteration zone is generally associated with a tensile stress state. The cataclastic, poikilitic, interstitial and zonal textures displayed by the various stages of ore minerals are related to the impact of alternating local tectonic stress fields in the faults, as well as fault-valve mechanism. Intense gold mineralization is typically associated with the development of polymetallic sulfide minerals and complex mineral assemblages. The major gold mineralization is also commonly related with pyrite with xenomorphic or complex forms, rich in As, Se, and Te, with large unit cells, wide X-ray diffraction peaks, and high P/(P + N) values corresponding to thermoelectric conductive type. Quartz grains formed in the main gold mineralization stage are generally fine grained and irregular, occasionally occurring as grain clusters, and showing complex thermoluminescence patterns with both high and low temperature peaks. Multiple rhythmic zones in quartz, pyrite or other ore minerals with various impurities in between the different zones indicate the pulses of ore fluid flow toward the upper part of the orebody. In contrast, minerals with few or no zones may indicate an ore-fluid reservoir typically in the middle to lower parts of orebody.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The temperature dependences of the resistivity ρ and the heat conductivity κ of La0.7Ca0.3Mn1−x Fe x O3−δ (0<x<0.12) fixed valence doped crystals were studied between 50 and 340 K using the time resolved thermoelectric effects (TTE-method). The heat conductivity κ is dominated by the lattice contribution and changes from a crystalline to a randomized scenario with increasing Fe-content. We also observe a splitting of the Curie and metal–insulator transition temperature T c>T mi which we assign mainly to a small oxygen deficit in the TTE-measured sample surface layer. Steps in κ at T mi, Δκ mi, are assigned to polaronic effects. Δκ mi changes sign with increasing x, suggesting that Fe–Fe pairs in octahedral settings take over from the single Fe-sites (dilute limit) already at x=0.04. For x>0.06, structures in κ(T) suggest that larger Fe-based clusters are introduced.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The evolving data generation landscape requires faster and more efficient microprocessors, prompting innovative manufacturing methods for smaller and faster transistors. Transistor congestion and rising demand for parallel processing are pushing the thermal design power of microprocessors well beyond 280 W, a limit for air cooling, and are expected to surpass 700 W by 2025. Consequently, transitioning towards liquid cooling is necessary. This article is intended to serve as a comprehensive roadmap to understanding this shift. It covers four major liquid cooling techniques: indirect water cooling with rear door heat exchangers, direct liquid cooling using water blocks or evaporators, single-phase, and two-phase immersion cooling. Indirect water cooling with rear door heat exchangers is a simple water cooling adaptation for reducing the power consumption of existing air-cooled data centers, but it faces the same limitations as air cooling for high-power servers. With enhancements such as reduced hot air leakage, active rear door heat exchangers, and deployment in locations conducive to free cooling, this approach could provide highly efficient data centers for the foreseeable future. Direct liquid cooling is well suited to meet rising thermal design power demands with the highest heat transfer coefficient report of 25 W/cm2-K, using water-based manifold microjet impingement on die. Emerging technologies are new thermosyphon systems, on-die/on-lid refrigeration/impingement, two phase impingement, and on/in die microchannel cooling. Air cooling is still required for peripheral equipment in this method, adding to the complexity and power consumption. Immersion cooling has the potential of reducing infrastructure size by one-third of air cooled data centers. Single-phase immersion cooling, while the most simple to implement, is limited by the low thermophysical properties of the dielectric liquids, and lack of flow control mechanism. In contrast, two-phase immersion cooling faces significant challenges related to the use of engineered fluids with global warming potential, health hazards, and long term reliability.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The hydrogen economy is defined as the industrial system in which one of the universal energy carriers is hydrogen (the other is electricity) and hydrogen is oxidized to water that may be reused by applying an external energy source for dissociation of water into its component elements hydrogen and oxygen. There are three different primary energy-supply system classes which may be used to implement the hydrogen economy, namely, fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas, and as yet largely unused supplies such as shale oil, oil from tar sands, natural gas from geo-pressured locations, etc.), nuclear reactors including fission reactors and breeders or fusion nuclear reactors over the very long term, and renewable energy sources (including hydroelectric power systems, wind-energy systems, ocean thermal energy conversion systems, geothermal resources, and a host of direct solar energy-conversion systems including biomass production, photovoltaic energy conversion, solar thermal systems, etc.). Examination of present costs of hydrogen production by any of these means shows that the hydrogen economy favored by people searching for a non-polluting gaseous or liquid energy carrier will not be developed without new discoveries or innovations. Hydrogen may become an important market entry in a world with most of the electricity generated in nuclear fission or breeder reactors when high-temperature waste heat is used to dissociate water in chemical cycles or new inventions and innovations lead to low-cost hydrogen production by applying as yet uneconomical renewable solar techniques that are suitable for large-scale production such as direct water photolysis with suitably tailored band gaps on semiconductors or low-cost electricity supplies generated on ocean-based platforms using temperature differences in the tropical seas.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Cu(In,Ga)Se2-based solar cells buffered with indium sulfide grown by numerous techniques have reached efficiencies comparable to those achieved by standard devices buffered with (CBD)CdS. The present paper firstly recalls some of the properties of the indium sulfide single crystal and points out the disagreements concerning the thin films properties inventoried in the literature. Secondly, the influence of the presence of some “foreign elements” within the indium sulfide on its properties is presented. It is shown that these “foreign elements”, even at low concentration levels, are possibly at the origin of the thin films properties deviations compared to the single crystal. The impact of these contaminants on the solar cells performance is finally discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Significant improvements in the dimensionless thermoelectric figure-of-merit (ZT) for nanostructured bismuth telluride, Bi2Te3, and its alloys have been demonstrated. In designing high-performance thermoelectric devices, variations in the thermal and electrical contact resistances due to interfacial effects between the nanostructured alloy and the metallic electrodes remain a significant issue. Smooth scratch-free surfaces should provide a baseline for contact resistance studies. In this paper, the root mean square roughness over a 10μm2 of nanostructured bismuth tellurium based alloys was reduced from 133nm to 1.9nm by a procedure consisting of electrolysis, mechanical polishing, and chemical mechanical polishing (CMP). Post-CMP cleaning was also developed to yield a wettable surface for the subsequent conformable metallization.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A simple two-step method for the preparation of cadmium selenide film on nickel substrate has been developed which consists of electrodeposition of cadmium film on nickel substrate and the subsequent dipping of the film in an acidic selenium containing solution. The films up to 3μm thick were prepared after optimization of different parameters such as concentration and pH of selenium containing solution, dipping time, temperature etc during electrodeposition of cadmium. These films were annealed in air at 773K and characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and optical absorption techniques. Further, the potential of applications of these films in solar energy conversion has been studied by forming the photoelectrochemical cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, a single-phase based Cuk converter topology for grid-connected photovoltaic inverters is used, which has a wide voltage range for PV array voltage. An adaptive perturb and observe maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method for the converter is proposed. The used MPPT algorithm can fast and accurately track the maximum power point (MPP). All control functions are implemented in software with a single-chip microcontroller. Experimental results obtained on a 2.5-kW prototype, which demonstrate that the proposed method provides effective, fast, and perfect tracking.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The assessment of energy and comfort conditions in buildings is very important in the design decision making phase of the architectural projection process. Although there already exist established standards for assessing buildings which have full data (completed projects or existing buildings), when one wishes to make an attempt to assess buildings at the initial phase of the project, or to compare possible alternatives, the situation is somewhat more difficult. This paper describes the fundamental points of the work carried out within an EC Thermie project entitled “Archisun,” the objective of which is to produce a software package that is both manageable and useful for the energy assessment of buildings. The main conditions to be met are: ease of use, data entry, interpretation of results and dissemination, and suitability for the European environment.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper we first present the integration of amorphous silicon photodiodes with a fully depleted silicon on isolator (FD SOI) MOSFET circuit. Taking the advantage of the better subthreshold characteristic of FD SOI MOSFETs with respect to bulk devices, a very simple SOI circuit integrated with the amorphous silicon photodiode is presented to significantly improve the ratio of the circuit output current when the diode is illuminated to when it is not. The use of one additional reference source voltage to adjust the operating point of the photodiode, allows to obtain a very significant increase in this current ratio, much higher than what can be obtained using a simple diode. Circuit solutions used to amplify the diode current under illumination are usually more complicated and involve a capacitor or more transistors than the circuit we present. All the other properties of the photodetector, as its spectral characteristic and linear dependence of detection with light intensity are maintained. The circuit can also be used in conjunction with other circuits for further amplification and/or processing.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A grid-connected wind-photovoltaic (PV) hybrid power system is proposed, and the steady-state model analysis and the control strategy of the system are presented in this paper. The system consists of the PV power, wind power, and an intelligent power controller. The General Regression Neural Network (GRNN) algorithm applied to PV generation system which has non-linear characteristic and analyzed performance. A high-performance on-line training radial basis function network-sliding mode (RBFNSM) algorithm is designed to derive the turbine speed to extract maximum power from the wind. To achieve a fast and stable response for the power control, the intelligent controller consists of a RBFNSM and a GRNN for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control. The pitch angle of wind turbine is controlled by RBFNSM, and the PV system uses GRNN, where the output signal is used to control the boost converters to achieve the MPPT. The simulation results confirm that the proposed hybrid generation system can provide high efficiency with the use of MPPT.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "One of the most recent optimization techniques applied to the optimal design of photovoltaic system to supply an isolated load demand is the Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm (ABC). The proposed methodology is applied to optimize the cost of the PV system including photovoltaic, a battery bank, a battery charger controller, and inverter. Two objective functions are proposed: the first one is the PV module output power which is to be maximized and the second one is the life cycle cost (LCC) which is to be minimized. The analysis is performed based on measured solar radiation and ambient temperature measured at Helwan city, Egypt. A comparison between ABC algorithm and Genetic Algorithm (GA) optimal results is done. Another location is selected which is Zagazig city to check the validity of ABC algorithm in any location. The ABC is more optimal than GA. The results encouraged the use of the PV systems to electrify the rural sites of Egypt.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Gas hydrate has been a major problem for flow assurance due to its potential to cause pipelines clogging inside subsea multiphase transportation systems. Of special interest is that polar components in crude oil should play a significant role in the hydrate formation kinetics, but the detailed understanding of their interaction remains unclear. Here, the individual component in the crude oil collected from the South China Sea was for the first time separated through the saturates, aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes (SARA) fractionation method. The promotion effect of saturates on hydrate nucleation and growth, and the surprising inhibition effect of aromatics and resins were discovered. Specifically, the average induction time was shortened by 45.13 % with the addition of the saturates; while the aromatics and resins would prolong the induction time by 2.20 and 20.83 times, respectively. Results also indicated that gas flow direction determined the behavior of hydrate growth; hydrates preferentially nucleated at the cell walls with a higher subcooling. It was further illustrated that the average growth rate of hydrate films was enhanced by 32.65 % with the addition of the saturates; while it was reduced by 54.01 % and 84.52 % with aromatics and resins, respectively. Our findings provided the first knowledge on the effect of single polar component in crude oil on hydrate formation kinetics; natural fraction such as resins was also suggested for a potential application in preventing hydrates plugging in pipelines.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Plastics have been under environmental scrutiny for decades and yet a world without plastics is inconceivable in a distant future. Can plastics waste be effectively managed where economics make sense with high materials recovery rate? One of the strategies would be to convert plastics waste to higher-value products than the original plastic resin. Specifically, utilizing higher-value products in applications where our society can benefit. Two key problems we face today as a society are access to clean water and energy storage for a green economy. Carbon is the major element in plastics. In essence, plastics waste provides a rich carbon source for carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs). In the past decade, tremendous stride has been made in the understanding of CBNs. Although made of carbon atoms, CBNs structural shapes and arrangements bestow them with extraordinary properties. Exploiting their tantalizing properties, CBNs provide enormous opportunities for material development in the fields of water purification and energy storage. Start-ups from countries such as Australia, India, China, Germany, and Canada are commercializing CBNs-based technologies for membranes and supercapacitors. Notwithstanding the benefits of the CBNs from plastics waste, significant obstacles continue to challenge materials scientists. In this chapter, we showcase challenges and opportunities on the use of CBNs from plastics waste while addressing its disposal strategies. Our primary objective has been to give a sneak peek into these emerging areas and to build research strategies for the development of membranes in water treatment and materials for energy storage.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Nanocomposite processing of binary metal chalcogenide solids has led to the synthesis of Kesterite, Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS), which is an important emerging material for thin film photovoltaic devices. Nanophase precursors are combined in stoichiometric ratios and annealed in a 350–500°C sulfur-rich nitrogen atmosphere to form CZTS. Processing methods for CZTS in the literature are either energy-intensive, requiring the sequential sputtering of metal layers at 700°C, followed by an annealing step in a sulfur-containing atmosphere at 500°C, or the use of chemicals and solvents that are detrimental to the environment. The presence of CZTS is clear in the resulting powders as confirmed by both XRD and UV–Vis analysis. Our results show that increasing the annealing temperature of the nanophase precursor mixture led to a higher level of CZTS purity and that a copper-poor and zinc-rich environment produced the purest CZTS. Tin disulfide, SnS2, precursors produced a purer CZTS than when tin monosulfide, SnS, was used, because the latter is more volatile and decomposes at lower temperatures than the former. This synthetic route is more cost effective and environmentally friendly, avoiding the use of long processing times and harsh solvents.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Energy supply to the rural poor in developing countries is a complex activity that transcends the simple selection of a best technology. This paper explains the outcomes achieved by using a new multi-criteria decision-support system to assist in calculating the most appropriate set of energy options for providing sufficient power to fulfil local demands that improve livelihoods. The elicitation of the priorities of future users, which are subsequently integrated into the energy selection process, is seen as a mechanism for the promotion of energy policies that ensure that technological developments reduce poverty. The sustainable rural energy decision support system (SURE DSS), a methodological package and software designed by the research team RESURL builds upon technical and non-technical features of energy development in remote poor areas, drawing on a sustainable livelihoods approach as part of its rationale. SURE enables simulations and calculation of the disparities that may arise between current and potential livelihoods after specific energy solutions have been installed, as well as measuring potential trade-offs among alternative livelihoods. The paper reports the outcome of an application of SURE to the case of a remote Colombian rural community whose total energy demands are only partly met through a diesel generator.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We fabricate NIR-active solar cells based on PbS quantum dots and a conventional conjugated polymer. These devices act as solar cells under exclusively NIR wavelengths above 650nm. Here PbS nanoparticles absorb photons in the NIR range that in turn generate excitons. We show that with an assistance from a strong electron-acceptor (TiO2), these excitons can be dissociated to electrons and holes to yield a photocurrent in the external circuit. We then aim to extend the spectral window of the solar cells to higher wavelength region by increasing the diameter of PbS nanoparticles to make the cells further NIR-active. We observe that the short-circuit current (J SC ) shows a peak when the diameter of PbS nanoparticles increases. Here, the spectral window can be extended till conduction band-edge of PbS quantum dots falls below that of TiO2 nanostructures cutting off the electron-transfer pathway. The NIR-active photovoltaic solar cells yield a short-circuit current (J SC ) of 1.0mA/cm2, open-circuit voltage (V OC ) of 0.42V, and power conversion efficiency (η) of 0.16% and remain operative till 1200nm.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights Modeling and building hybrid system of PV and wind turbine. Investigation of the electrical generation under Amman–Jordan’s climate. Configuration of theoretical and actual characteristics of the hybrid system. Testing effects of dust, inclination and load on the electrical generation. Financial analysis for various applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, a crystalline n-PbTe/p-GaP heterojunction was fabricated using the electron beam deposition technique. The structural properties of the prepared heterojunction were examined by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The dark current–voltage characteristics of the heterojunction were investigated at different temperatures ranging from 298 to 398 K. The rectification factor, series resistance, shunt resistance, diode ideality factor, and effective barrier height ( ϕ b ) were determined. The photovoltaic parameters were identified based on the current density–voltage characteristics under illumination. The capacitance–voltage characteristics showed that the junction was abrupt in nature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are quasi-one-dimensional (1D) tubular forms of sp2 carbon networks. They may contain one to several tens of concentric graphitic shells and are typically 1–50 nm in diameter and many micrometres in length. This fascinating class of new structures, first known as multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), was unambiguously elucidated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy by Iijima in 1991. Two years later, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were synthesized by Iijima and Ichihashi and Bethune et al. Subsequently, crystalline ropes of closely packed SWCNTs containing tens to hundreds of tubes of similar diameters were synthesized by Smalley and co-workers and made widely available to the research community. In between MWCNTs and SWCNTs lies a unique, but much less-explored member of this family, double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs), which consist of exactly two concentric SWCNTs, one nested within another.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The PV industry has to systematically reduce its manufacturing cost in order to reach grid parity for the main markets in the coming decade. Crystalline Si solar cells are dominating presently the PV-market and this dominance is expected to continue for at least the next decade. Industrial production at a cost of 1$/Wp for crystalline Si solar cells has been announced for 2011. Increasing cell efficiencies is a prominent pathway in view of the strong leverage on costs of materials in the module fabrication sequence. In order to further reduce $/Wp costs, eventually down to the 0.5 $/Wp level, it is clear that the dominant position of crystalline Si solar cells on the market was partially achieved thanks to the existing knowledge and equipment base within the context of micro(nano)-electronics, although the cost drivers in both cases are principally different: cost/functionality reduction for microelectronics versus cost/Wp for photovoltaics. In order to achieve the ambitious goals stated higher, it makes sense to have a closer look how the process and analysis toolbox available in the microelectronics area can be used at the benefit of the further development of crystalline Si-based photovoltaic devices. The use of a nanotechnology toolbox is however not limited to crystalline Si solar cells. Also fields like concentrator PV (CPV) might take profit from developments in the domain of photonics enabled by the technological capabilities developed within micro(nano)electronics. The present paper gives an overview of a number of approaches being followed in IMEC to use the broad nanotechnology toolbox of microelectronics and microsystems for crystalline Si solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Metal organic chemical vapor deposition of InAs quantum dots (QDs) and GaAs/AlAs planar microcavities with InAs QDs as active layer using tertiarybutylarsine (TBAs) as arsenic precursor is reported. The effects of crucial growth parameters on growth of the InAs QDs are studied. The spontaneous emission (SE) of InAs QDs in open space and in planar microcavties are investigated using Photoluminescence (PL) and time resolved PL spectra. The behaviors of PL and time resolved PL of InAs QDs in open space can be explained in terms of thermal redistribution of carriers and carrier transfer between quantum dots. The SE rate of InAs QDs can be enhanced in the presence of a microcavity.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Sn doped Sb2S3 thin films have been deposited by single source vacuum thermal evaporation onto glass substrates at substrate temperature Ts= 240°C. The optical constants were obtained from the analysis of the experimental recorded transmission and reflectance spectral data over the wavelength range 300–1800nm. It has been found that the refractive index dispersion data obeyed the single oscillator of the Wemple-DiDomenico model. By using this model, the dispersion parameters and the high-frequency dielectric constant were determined. The electric free carrier susceptibility and the carrier concentration on the effective mass ratio were estimated according to the model of Spitzer and Fan.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A flat-plate static-concentrator photovoltaic module is under development. This concentrator module consists of a 3.2mm-thick cover glass, monofacial or bifacial solar cells 10–25mm wide, and a reflector sheet with submillimeter V-grooves. The distribution of optical collection efficiency at the zenith and azimuth angles of incident light was calculated using a ray-tracing program. It indicated that about 90% of the annual irradiation could be collected by a monofacial-cell-type module with concentration ratio of 1.5 and by bifacial-cell-type module with concentration ratio of 2.0. Experiments showed that 38×35cm2 concentrator module with monofacial cells yielded maximum power equivalent to a conventional flat-plate module of the same size.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Multi-frequency analysis of nonlinear ultrasound propagation in commercial beverages. ► Frequency profiles related to mixture composition. ► Simultaneous determination of carbohydrate and ethanol content. ► Beverage analysis is rapid, economical, non-invasive, and non-destructive.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Experiments on the thermal decomposition of CuSe were carried out by using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) at different heating rates. The kinetic parameters and mechanisms were discussed based on model-free and model-based analyses. The decomposition rate and decomposition behavior of CuSe were investigated by using a vacuum thermogravimetric furnace. The results showed that the R3 model was identified as the most probable mechanism function under the present experimental conditions. The average values of activation energy and the pre-exponential factor were 12.344 J/mol and 0.152 s-1, respectively. The actual decomposition rate of CuSe was found to be 0.0030 g/(cm2·min).",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Controlling the three-dimensional distribution with well-ordered morphology of organic semiconducting materials for a thin film device architecture is a significant challenge for the advancement of organic electronics. More evidently, the nanoscale morphology with interpenetrating network of nanoassemblies of semiconductors is required for organic photovoltaics (OPVs), wherein electrical response depends on the charge transfer and continuous pathways for charge transport. To improve the utility of organic semiconductor-based devices, the nanoscale morphology of well-defined organic-inorganic hybrid nanostructures has been investigated. In this review, we explore the developments of functional silsesquioxane-based organic-inorganic hybrid nanostructures as potential building blocks for OPVs. We discuss the synthetic advancements to make size and shape-controlled nanostructures of polysilsesquioxane family, their performance towards solar energy harvesting, and future potential roadmap to overcoming their challenges in OPVs.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "ZnO/rGO nanosheets are fabricated by combining chemical precipitation and hydrothermal method. At the same time, high temperature annealing treatment is performed to further improve the gas-sensitive performance for ethylene glycol. The response value of ZnO/rGO-based gas sensor is up to 277 for 100 ppm ethylene glycol at an optimum operating temperature of 220 ℃. Compared with intrinsic ZnO gas sensor, the operating temperature is reduced and the response is increased by 1.1 times. The sensor has a fast response/recovery time of about 38 s/26 s and exhibits excellent cycle repeatability and stability. The detection limit is as low as 1 ppm. These excellent gas sensing properties are mainly attributed to a large specific surface and more active sites in ZnO/rGO nanosheets. In addition, based on the density functional theory (DFT), the charge transfer and the band structures are simulated. It is further confirmed theoretically our proposed gas sensing mechanism. It provides an effective research idea for real-time and ultra-rapid detection of ethylene glycol gas.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper the results from a in-depth life cycle analysis of production and use of a novel grid-connected photovoltaic micromorph system are presented and compared to other thin film and traditional crystalline silicon photovoltaic technologies. Among the new thin film technologies, the micromorph tandem junction appears to be one of the most promising devices from the industrial point of view. The analysis was based on actual production data given to the authors directly from the PRAMAC Swiss Company and it is consistent with the recommendations provided by the ISO norms and updates. The gross energy requirement, green house gas emissions and energy pay-back time have been calculated for the electric energy output virtually generated by the studied system in a lifetime period of 20 years. A comparative framework is also provided, wherein results obtained for the case study are compared with data from literature previously obtained for the best commercially available competing photovoltaic technologies. Results clearly show a significant decrease in gross energy requirement, in green house gas emissions and also a shorter energy pay-back time for the micromorph technology.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Nanomaterials play a very important role in our day-to-day life, especially for the development of novel materials with enhanced characteristics applicable in many areas. One among the many materials is graphene, which has a two-dimensional miracle structure with honeycomb lattice arrangement showing promising applications in almost all the areas of science and technology. The applications of graphene-based polymer composites emerge as one of the priority materials and are multidirectional in applications from chemical, physical, and biological sciences to engineering to attain its true potential. In this chapter, insights were given into the generation of graphene-based composites, hybrid functionalization, and possible synthesis methodologies and their potential applications toward maintaining the indoor air quality (air filters, gas, liquid, and biosensors) and for the wastewater treatment and marine pollution abatement. Further, we discussed the present status, significant challenges involved in the assembly and usage, and the rapid ways for the substantial development of graphene-based composites.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter focuses on the characteristics of silicon wafers that are used in photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing. Most of the wafer substrates used in production facilities have dimensions related to the diameters of monocrystalline silicon cylinders for the semiconductor industry, which, in turn, have influenced standards for wafer carriers, automation, and packaging. However, to maximize the power density of the modules, wafers are square or pseudo-square in the case of monocrystalline silicon, which means that cylinders are shaped as squares with rounded off corners. Wafers are generally classified according to their resistivity, type, and oxygen and carbon content. A number of techniques are available for the production of silicon wafers for the PV industry—such as Czochralski-Silicon (CZ-Si) and multicrystalline silicon, magnetically confined multicrystalline silicon, float zone silicon, and the nonwafer technologies. The realization of multicrystalline silicon ingots is a relative simple process and is based on controlling the extraction of heat from the melt in a quartz crucible in such a way that the interface between the growing solid and the ingot is as flat as possible.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Research highlights ► TPA-containing D-A-D molecules with benzothiadiazole (BT) as acceptor unit show good solubility and broad absorption. ► PCE of the OSCs based on the molecule as donor and PC70BM as acceptor reached 1.44%. ► Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-vinylene pi-bridge in the molecules broadened the absorption spectra.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A direct observation of the role of the photovoltaic effect in counter-propagating two-beam coupling in photorefractive iron-doped lithium niobate has been made. Through the application of a strong external field we directly observe that the photovoltaic effect is the dominant mechanism for a counter-propagating two-beam optical limiting geometry. We find that the contribution to counter-propagating two-beam coupling gain coefficient from the photovoltaic effect is approximately five times greater than that arising from diffusion mechanisms alone.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Dielectric Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs) exhibit superior flexoelectric properties. Gradual changes in material properties lead to large strain gradients and excellent flexoelectric responses. Cracks behave in a complex manner inside piezoelectric-flexoelectric FGMs subjected to electromechanical loading. An extended isogeometric analysis (XIGA)-based formulation is developed for flexoelectric FGMs with crack discontinuities. Ceramic-polymer FGMs of barium titanate (BTO) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) are selected for analysis since this material combination has shown better flexoelectric response solely due to gradation. A higher-order electromechanical J-integral is used to study the behavior of cracks. The fracture behavior of different crack geometries at various grading indices and levels of flexoelectricity is investigated. A crack interaction study is conducted with varying crack parameters. The length-scale effect on the energy release rate is also shown. A significant reduction in the energy release rate is observed in FGMs due to the flexoelectric effect.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Germanium (Ge)-doped Czochralski (GCZ) silicon has been grown for photovoltaic (PV) applications. It is found that Ge doping improves the mechanical strength of CZ silicon, resulting in the reduction of breakage during wafer cutting, cell fabrication and module assembly. Boron–oxygen (B–O) defects that lead to the light-induced degradation (LID) of carrier lifetime are effectively suppressed by Ge doping. The decrease in the maximum concentration of B–O defects increases with an increase of Ge concentration. The efficiency of GCZ silicon solar cells and the power output of corresponding PV modules both exhibit smaller loss under sunlight illumination. The current work suggests that GCZ silicon should be potentially a novel substrate for thin solar cells with low LID effect.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Several studies have found that the decrease of photovoltaic (PV) cell temperature would increase the solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency. Different working fluids such as air and water have been used for the cooling of PV modules, but the improvement in energy performance has been found to be small. In this paper, R134a refrigerant was employed to cool the PV modules. With its low evaporating temperature, it was expected to achieve better cooling effect and electrical performance of the PV modules than using air and water working fluids. An experimental rig of a hybrid micro PV panel-based heat pump system was constructed for the performance testing in a laboratory at the University of Nottingham. A small PV panel was made of 6 glass vacuum tube – PV module – aluminium sheet – cooper tube (GPAC) sandwiches connected in series, acting as the evaporator. This was coupled with a small heat pump system. The glass vacuum tubes reduced the heat loss from the PV panel to the ambient, resulting in the improvement of thermal performance. Three testing modes were proposed to investigate the effect of solar radiation, condenser water flow rate and condenser water supply temperature on energy performance. The testing results showed that an averaged COP reached 3.8, 4.3 and 4.0 under the three testing modes with variable radiation, condenser water supply water temperature and water flow rate, respectively, but this could be much higher for a large capacity heat pump system using large PV panels on building roofs. The COP increased with the increasing solar radiation, but decreased with the increasing condenser water supply temperature and water flow rate. The electrical efficiency of PV panel was improved by up to 1.9% based on a reference PV efficiency of 3.9%, compared with that without cooling. The condenser water supply temperature and water flow rate had little effect on the electrical performance.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "With the rapid development of the Chinese economy, energy consumption has increased considerably, and this has increased pressure on energy production. On the other hand, this pressure has greatly assisted in the development of the renewable energy in the past two decades. This paper reports the latest developments in the solar thermal utilization in China. A great deal of successful examples of solar thermal utilization are presented. Issues of most concern and interest, which are resisting a further development of solar thermal utilization, have been identified and discussed. A prediction for the prospect of solar energy thermal utilization in China is also presented.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Low-frequency cluster vibration plays an important role in reducing the lattice thermal conductivity of a system. Here, we show a new type of cluster vibration called “delocalized cluster vibration” that involves a highly symmetric local structure with lone pair electrons and marked impacts on lattice thermal transport. We take a transition-metal oxide Bi3Ir3O11 (two specific Wyckoff positions for Bi: corner-Bi1 and inner-Bi2) as an example, which exhibits counterintuitive low lattice thermal conductivity in metallic materials. Based on first-principles simulations of phonon transport in the Boltzmann transport formulation, this study shows that the four fourth neighbor Bi2 atoms form a regular Bi-tetrahedral cluster (Bi24), which collectively vibrates in certain intercorrelated patterns strongly and induces low-frequency optical phonon modes (∼0.77 and ∼1.06 THz) along with low group velocities. The Bi24-related optical modes interrupt the acoustic vibrations and thus suppress the lattice thermal conductivity to an ultralow value (calculated value is 1.0 W/m·K at 300 K). Surprisingly, these Bi2–Bi2 have relatively large distances but significant interatomic force constants, indicating delocalized interactions among Bi24. This work demonstrates that the delocalized cluster vibration plays a significant role in lowering lattice thermal conductivity.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This study presents design, development and analysis of a novel integrated energy system based on renewable geothermal energy source with a Copper Chlorine (CuCl) thermochemical cycle for hydrogen production production and a multistage desalination subsystem for freshwater production. In the proposed system, five useful outputs are effectively generated, such as heat for space heating, electricity, freshwater, hot water and hydrogen. CuCl thermochemical cycle is used for hydrogen production. The need for achieving high-temperature levels for the thermochemical cycle is met by a CuCl cascaded heat pump configuration in the system. The presented system is further analyzed and assessed thermodynamically through energy and exergy approaches. A case study is conducted for the city of Vancouver, Canada. Some parametric studies are also performed to observe the effects of different ambient and working conditions for the overall system and subsystems. According to conducted thermodynamic analysis, 42.06% energy and 49.65% exergy efficiencies are obtained for the overall system. The total exergy destruction rate for the overall system components is determined to be 46.56 MW. In the CuCl-Mercury cascaded heat pump configuration, the coefficient of performance values are obtained as 1.557 for energy and 1.128 for exergy.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "With a plentiful (and free) supply of 1 kW/m2 of sunlight at the earth's surface, the market for solar cells for terrestrial applications is expected to expand rapidly as the cost of power from conventional sources rises and, due to technology advances and economies of scale, the cost of solar cells falls. So far most cells have been made of single-crystal silicon. However, GaAs currently holds the efficiency record for single-junction photovoltaic cells [I], with further advances using other III-Vs being made.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Exergoeconomic analysis of hybrid PVT collector. ► Good agreement between theoretical and experimental values. ► An experimental uncertainty for April month is 2.1%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper describes low temperature thin film Si growth by remote plasma chemical vapor deposition system for photovoltaic device applications. Using CaF2/glass substrate, we were able to achieve an improved μc-Si film at a low process temperature of 300°C. The μc-Si film on CaF2/glass substrate shows that a crystalline volume fraction of 65% and dark conductivity of 1.65×10−8 S/cm with the growth conditions of 50 W , 300°C, 88 mTorr , and SiH4/H2=1.2%. XRD analysis on μc-Si/CaF2/glass showed crystalline film growth in (111) and (220) planes. Grain size was enlarged as large as 700 A ̊ for a μc-Si/CaF2/glass structure. Activation energy of μc-Si film was given as 0.49 eV . The μc-Si films exhibited dark- and photo-conductivity ratio of 124.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This work investigates the formation of photoluminescence (PL) centres in high-transmission glasses (HTG) doped with Cu2O and their capability to transform the solar spectrum by absorption/emission via upconversion, downconversion and Stokes-shifted PL into a more efficient spectrum for photovoltaic applications. Both the green PL Cu+ and the non-PL Cu2+ centres are formed in HTG, although their relative concentration depends on the thermal treatment and the presence of other codopants. Given that the absorption spectrum of Cu+ lies around the HTG band gap, measurement of the absorption coefficient α(λ) for these absorption bands is not easy due to corrections between the reflection coefficient and chromatic dispersion. We present a procedure, named two-thickness method, to extract the actual absorption coefficient for the spectrum of each formed centre. In addition it provides the relative Cu+/Cu2+ concentration as well as their absolute values. Analysis of the spectra also provides information on the absorption cross section, transition energy and bandwidth of each band, the knowledge of which is essential to check the suitability of such centres for photovoltaic applications in silicon solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "First principles calculations including structural, electronic, elastic, vibrational, thermodynamic and thermoelectric properties of novel quaternary Heusler compounds LiMgAgZ (Z = Al, Ga) have been studied for the first time using density functional theory (DFT). The quaternary Heusler structured LiMgAgAl and LiMgAgGa alloys possess a face centered cubic structure and belong to the space group F-43m (group No. 216). The band structure calculations reveal that these compounds are metallic. Further, the Fermi surface studies have demonstrated their metallic behavior. The mechanical stability is predicted based on calculated elastic constants, Poisson’s ratio as well as other mechanical parameters. The thermoelectric nature of these compounds is studied utilizing BoltzTrap code. The phonon dispersion curves of LiMgAgZ (Z = Al, Ga) are in the high symmetry directions over the Brillouin zone which indicate the vibrational stability of these compounds. The phonon modes are observed to be Raman active or Infrared active based on the representation of Eigenvectors. The stability of the compounds is also analyzed for their thermodynamic applications. The calculated results reveal unique surface topologies and thermoelectric responses for the compounds under investigation. This work is carried out to inspire researchers to synthesize such types of compounds and analyze their potential for the development of modern thermoelectric devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The receiver is a key component of a concentrated solar thermal power generation system. At present, molten salt is typically used for both heat absorption and as a thermal energy storage medium in commercial tower solar power stations. However, molten salt may decompose and degrade when the temperature exceeds 600 °C, hence affecting the efficiency of the whole thermoelectric conversion system. The solid particle solar receiver can collect heat at very high temperatures (exceeding 1000 °C) and can also function as a thermal energy storage medium, thus providing a new way to improve solar power conversion efficiency and reduce the cost of solar power generation. The present review summarizes progress in research on solid particle receivers. The criteria for particles that can be used in solid particle receivers are discussed. The design and performance characteristics of each particle receiver type are also summarized. Particle receivers are classified according to their structures and operation characteristics. The present review discusses the performance characteristics, applications, and existing issues of solid particle receivers, and it introduces aspects of next-generation concentrated high-temperature particle receivers. This review thus serves as a useful reference for the theoretical research and practical application of photothermic power generation and thermochemical technologies.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The electronic structure and thermoelectric transport properties of elemental selenium which has a chiral chain structure are investigated using first principle calculations and Boltzmann transport theory. Results show that selenium can achieve high zT value along the chain under p-type doping. Biaxial deformation is found to be capable of influencing the band structure and the effective mass and further manipulating the thermoelectric transport properties. The −2% biaxial compressive strain can realize the heavy and light band converged to improve both the Seebeck coefficient and the electrical conductivity. These results pave the way towards opportunities for developing inter-chain van der Waals bonded chiral-based polychalcogenide thermoelectric materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Uniform chrysanthemum-like bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) microcrystals assembled from nanosheet building blocks were successfully synthesized via a convenient hydrothermal synthetic route under mild conditions in which hydrated bismuth nitrate and l-cysteine were employed to supply Bi and S source and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA-Na2) was employed as chelating agent. The influences of reaction temperatures and time on the morphologies of final products were investigated. The phase structures, morphologies, and properties of as-prepared products were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscope, and photoluminescence spectra. The possible growth mechanism for the formation of chrysanthemum-like Bi2S3 microcrystals was discussed on the basis of the experimental results.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Polyaniline (PANI), Graphene Oxide (GO) and PANI-GO nanocomposite were prepared using in-situ polymerization and Hummer's method. GO can improve the thermoelectric properties (TE) of polyaniline by varying the concentration of GO. The morphological and structural studies confirm the uniform growth of PANI on the surface of GO during polymerization and leading to an order crystalline structure in amorphous matrix. Raman analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies shows strong pi-pi interaction of PANI over the surface of GO. And other interactions such as hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction between PANI and GO gives good support to increase their TE properties. The TE properties of PANI and PANI-GO nanocomposite have been investigated in the temperature range of 298 to 363 K. The electrical conductivity, Seebeck co-efficient and power factor of the sample PG2 (20% GO) is around 1489 S/cm, 59 μV/K and 52.11 10−7 W/K2 cm at room temperature (RT), which is 1.2 times, 1.15 times and 1.5 times higher than pure polyaniline. And the sample PG2 (20% GO) showed the highest ZT at 363 K of 0.8 and at room temperature 0.4, which is 1.25 times and 1.23 times higher than sample PP.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Brazilian coal power plants operation was simulated with and without CO2 capture. ► The implementation of CO2 capture doubles the amount of water demanded. ► Pecem and Candiota regions present restrictions on the amount of available water. ► Coal power plants from Pecem/Candiota regions will face challenges to implement CO2 capture.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents information pertaining to the chemo-synthesis of Cd(Se, Te) thin films of variable composition which has been brought about with the objectives to study the deposition history, growth kinetics and the structural and optical changes caused due to the addition of Te in CdSe. The effects due to various process parameters such as deposition time, temperature, concentration of the basic species, speed of the substrate rotation, pH, etc. on the growth and quality of the films are studied experimentally. The films are crystalline in nature over whole range of the composition parameter with a homogeneous predominant wurtzite structure for 0≤x≤0.08 and 0.7≤x≤1 regions. For the middle range (0.15<x<0.7), the material tends towards a mixture of both the wurtzite and zinc blende phases rather than the homogenous solid solution. The cubic phase also under goes solid solution for 0≤x≤0.15 range of composition parameter. The lattice parameters have been computed for all the ranges and phases to identify the solid solutions. The crystallite sizes were determined from a well known Scherrers relation and found to be varied smoothly with variation in the film composition. The spectral studies showed a high coefficient of absorption (α=104 to 105 cm−1) with an allowed direct type of transitions. The energy gap varied nonlinearly, from 1.76 to 1.44eV as x was increased from 0 to 1.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Despite limited installed-capacity to date, PV or solar power, is forecast to make a major contribution to world energy needs. However, there still is a long way to go before solar power can claim its rightful place alongside conventional generation. The idea of unlimited energy from the sun seems an obvious winner. Fuel is free and limitless, there are no troublesome emissions or noise problems, and, as a modular technology, it can be deployed close to the point of consumption, saving on infrastructure costs, transmission losses and offering greater control to individual users.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • An HCPVTH system is proposed to maximize solar energy resource utilization. • The maximum overall HCPVTH efficiency and corresponding operating parameters are determined. • Performance parameter dynamic variations of subsystems are measured over time. • Coupling mechanisms among subsystems under various meteorological parameters are determined. • The heat pipe recovery function is found to be largely responsible for improvement in overall HCPVTH efficiency.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Temperature-modulated DSC (TMDSC) was introduced to resolve overlapping transitions. It differs from the standard DSC in that it applies two simultaneous heating rates to the sample. The linear or average heating rate provides the same information (total heat flow rate) as standard DSC, while the modulated heating rate is used to determine the fraction of the total heat flow rate that responds to a changing heating rate. This fraction of the total heat flow that is frequency dependent is called reversing heat flow or heat capacity component of the total heat flow. This chapter reports the definition, theory, principles, and operating conditions (e.g., sample size, modulation period, measuring transitions, and modulation amplitude) of TMDSC method and its applications, especially its use for studying the thermodynamic properties of polymers and pharmaceuticals. We provided detailed comparison between DSC and TMDSC methods to show the advantages of TMDSC over the traditional DSC in resolving interfering thermal events, providing the best sensitivity for otherwise weak transitions, and improving the precision of heat capacity measurements. Moreover, we talked in this chapter about all techniques of TMDSC, including the isothermal step (IsoStep) method, the alternating DSC (ADSC) method, and, finally, the most advanced TOPEM method and their unique applications such as studying the thermal response of samples at different frequencies.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "As part of the international climate negotiations there is a lot of discussion about methodologies for quantifying emission reductions of greenhouse gas reduction projects (baseline discussion) and about granting emission reduction credits only to projects that are additional (investment additionality discussion). So far this discussion has been fairly general and has not systematically analysed the impacts on investor decisions. We analyse these impacts for the case of renewable energies and show that the approaches under discussion can all give perverse incentives to invest at unfavourable sites. Thus, higher CO2 abatement costs than without any crediting system might be realised resulting in inefficiencies in climate policy. To overcome this problem we introduce a new investment additionality concept and propose to have only one emission reduction factor for each electricity grid",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, the Performance analysis in terms of effect of carbon credit earned on annualized uniform cost of glazed hybrid photovoltaic thermal air collector on the basis of annual thermal energy and exergy have been analyzed for New Delhi climatic conditions. The effect of interest rates on annualized uniform cost has also been evaluated. For the lifetime (30year) analysis, the carbon emission reduction comes to Rs 109,242 and Rs 25275.6 on the basis of overall thermal energy and exergy basis. It has also been observed that there is significant decrease in annualized uniform cost due to carbon credit earned.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Two novel small molecules (SMs) of BDT(TPD-DPP)2 and BDTT(TPD-DPP)2 with a D(A-A′)2 framework were designed and synthesized, in which the electron-rich benzodithiophene (BDT) and thiophenyl-substituted benzodithiophene (BDTT) are used as a central donor (D) core, as well as the electron-deficient diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) and thieno [3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione (TPD) as dual acceptor (A and A′) units, respectively. Their optical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties were investigated together with their counterparts, which bearing an accepter-donor-accepter (A-D-A) architecture. Wider and stronger solar photon responses and decreasing the lowest unoccupied orbital (LUMO) levels are observed in the D(A-A′)2 rather than A-D-A type SMs. The significantly increasing power conversion efficiency of 4.25% with a short-circuit current density of 10.08 mA cm−2 were obtained in the BDTT(TPD-DPP)2 based solar cells. This work demonstrates that using D(A-A′)2 architecture with dual acceptor units is an effective method to improve photovoltaic performance of SMs for solution-processed organic solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Electrical properties of thin film photovoltaic modules exhibit metastable behavior when exposed to light, when kept in the dark after light exposure and as a result of external bias. These effects vary in magnitude and expression and can mainly be observed in CdTe and chalcopyrites. The light-soaking induced effect in these technologies was analyzed for electrical module parameters such as open circuit voltage (Voc), short circuit current, fill factor (FF), maximum power point (Pmpp) and the current–voltage characteristic slope at Voc. The influence of the light-soaking irradiance and the duration of the illumination at constant temperature was investigated. Furthermore, light-soaking with additional external bias was examined. Overall, all modules showed metastable behavior with increases in the FF, the Voc and the Pmpp after light-soaking. The magnitude varied for different technologies and was largest for the investigated CdTe modules. Differences among the technologies could be observed for the change in Voc. While CdTe exhibited a significant increase in both FF and Voc, Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) modules mainly showed an increase in the FF. Differences in metastable behavior were also observed for relaxation times in the dark. While CdTe modules returned to the initial levels in several hours, it took several weeks for the CIGS modules to relax. The presented experiments confirm that metastabilities reported on cell behavior also occur at the module level.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "One effective approach to better understanding the performance characteristics of high-temperature alloys is to study their thermal oxidation behavior, and to accurately determine their spectral emissivity is helpful for increasing the accuracy of temperature measurements. Using a self-developed high-temperature emissivity testing system, the normal spectral emissivity across the range 673–1273 K and a spectral band of 1–14 μm was measured relative to this background radiation. The normal spectral emissivity of 316L high-temperature alloy was investigated during the thermal oxidation process. The change in emissivity of 316L high-temperature alloy during thermal oxidation was observed. The emissivity of the 316L high-temperature alloy undergoes great changes during thermal oxidation; for example, at 1273 K it was 0.055 in its un-oxidized state but after 50 h’ thermal oxidation went up to 0.829. Below 1073 K the emissivity of 316L high-temperature alloy in 8–14 μm range showed little change, making it ideal for radiation thermometry. By fitting the measurement data, we derived that the emissivity of 316L high-temperature alloy has an exponential relationship with thermal oxidation temperature, and is a power function relationship with thermal oxidation time.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Rolling circle amplification (RCA) combined with padlock probe recognition of a DNA target is attractive for on-chip nucleic acid testing due to its high specificity and isothermal reaction conditions. However, the integration of RCA on an automated chip platform is challenging due to the different reagents needed for the reaction steps and the temperature sensitivity of the phi29 polymerase. Here, we describe the integration of an RCA assay on a single-use polymer chip platform where magnetic microbeads are used as solid support to transport the DNA target between three connected reaction chambers for (i) padlock probe annealing and ligation, (ii) RCA, and (iii) optomagnetic detection of RCA products. The three chambers were loaded with reagents by sequential filling combined with passive microfluidic structures. After loading, the on-chip assay steps were automated. For an assay in which all steps but the padlock probe annealing on the target were performed on-chip, we found a limit of detection (LOD) for a synthetic influenza target of 2 pM after 45 min of RCA, which is comparable to the corresponding laboratory assay. The entire assay, including padlock probe annealing, could be performed on-chip with an LOD of 20 pM after 45 min of RCA. This LOD can likely be reduced by further optimizing the microbead mixing. The results present important steps towards the integration and automation of RCA and potentially also other complex multi-step assays on a single-use polymer chip for molecular analysis.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "As for spintronic applications, all information is encoded in the spin degree of freedom, so the key issues are the high spin-polarization, large half-metallic (HM) bandgap, large magnetic moment and higher Curie temperature than room temperature. In this paper, we studied halogen based CsYZ2 (Y = V or Cr; Z = F, Cl, Br or I) full-Heusler alloys. Our study reveals that CsVF2, CsVCl2, CsVI2 and CsCrI2 alloys are all HM ferromagnets while remaining alloys exhibits magnetic semiconductor behavior. The electronic structures indicate that these alloys open very large bandgaps in the spin-down channel. Following the Slater-Pauling rule M t = Z t -16 , these alloys exhibit very large total magnetic moments M t of 4.00 μ B f.u. when Y = V and 5.00 μ B f.u. when Y = Cr. The high Curie temperatures indicate these alloys are appropriate for spintronic applications at room temperature. Furthermore, the absorption coefficient α(ω) of the CsVF2 alloy is better from other alloys in the visible region. The maximum ZT = 0.7 is obtained for CsCrBr2 and is an ideal candidate for thermoelectric (TE) applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "MXene composed of transition metal carbides, nitrides, or carbonitrate, is the most ornamented and rapidly expanding two-dimensional (2D) material. Due to its exceptional qualities, including its adjustable band gap, high thermal conductivity, charger mediator, superior electrical conductivity, and environmental adaptability, MXene is now attracting the interest of researchers. MXene possesses a strongly hydrophilic surface, ion exchange capabilities, and durable surface functional groups. This study provides an overview of the synthesis, properties, and prospective applications of MXenes in energy, sensing and environment sectors. Firstly, this article provides a brief overview of the MAX phase (including its characteristics and recent advancements) and MXene. Then, we thoroughly investigated the different etching techniques used in the synthesis of MXene. Moreover, various properties of MXenes, such as structural, optical, mechanical, magnetic, and electronic characteristics have been investigated. In addition, the potential applications of MXenes in various dynamic fields such as supercapacitor, energy storage and conversion, water splitting, electrochemical sensors and waste water treatment has been explored symmetrically. This study also focuses on the current progresses and future prospective relating to MXene, which will surely assist the scientists who are doing work in areas of academia and material sciences.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Energy, water and food resource scarcity caused by rapid population growth, climate change, imbalanced ecosystems, and economic diversification, is the biggest challenge for today's world. In recent decades, the importance of the interdependent relationship between these resources has been recognized as the energy-water-food nexus. Sustainable resource consumption and the capability to ascertain true resource consumption is crucial for modern day development. As such, wide-spread adoption of the energy-water-food nexus methodology for integrated resource modeling can significantly contribute toward resource productivity and continuity. This methodology has expanded over the years, from concept development to application in multiple case studies. The methodology has also enabled the identification of synergies and trade-offs within the sub-systems that constitute the overall energy-water-food nexus system, hence providing a mechanism for optimization in resource consumption and minimization in the total environmental burden in the system under evaluation. This paper has reviewed the interlinkages inherent in the energy-water-food nexus, and the progress in developing suitable quantification methods. Although there is no standardized methodology for analysis involving the energy-water-food nexus, the life-cycle assessment methodology has been used as an enabler for the quantification of environmental burdens of systems evaluated using the ‘Nexus’ approach. As such, this paper will provide an overview of the different applications in which the life cycle assessment methodology has been applied to energy-water-food nexus analysis. The paper concludes that an integrated life cycle assessment and energy-water-food nexus methodology is necessary to determine environmental burdens for different scenarios presented within systems operating within an energy-water-food nexus environment, essentially influencing energy-water-food resource sectors.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A new 2-D layered thiogermanate–thioantimonate [Ni(dien)2]3[Ge3Sb8S21]·0.5H2O (1, dien=diethylenetriamine) was synthesized under solvothermal conditions and structurally characterized. The polymeric [Ge3Sb8S21]6n− n anion in 1 is composed of heterometallic semicube [GeSb2S7] clusters and trigonal-pyramidal [SbS3] units, which are interconnected to build a 2-D layer with the large Sb18S18 heterorings. The apertures of the Sb18S18 heterorings are filled by three [Ni(dien)2]2+ complex cations as template ions. The absorption band edge of 1 is 2.29eV, exhibiting properties of the semiconductor.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We have proposed an approach to improve the photovoltaic performance of inverted polymer solar cells (i-PSC) using lithium ion doped ZnO (LiZnO) as cathode buffer layer (CBL). The LiZnO CBL was prepared using the diffusion technique, performed by inducing the Li ion of 8-hydroxyquinolatolithium (Liq) to diffuse into ZnO film through annealing the bi-layer ZnO/Liq film. Doping concentration of Li ion was controlled by using various thickness of Liq film and annealing temperature. Based on LiZnO CBL, the poly (3-hexylthiophene) [6,6]:-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) i-PSC device possessed a optimal power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.07%, which was 30% improved than that of the device with neat ZnO as CBL. The enhancement of the device performance could be attributed to the enhanced electron mobility and better band matching of the LiZnO CBL. Our finding indicates that the LiZnO film fabricated with relatively low temperature treatment has great potential for high-performance i-PSCs.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The variation of Atot,sp and Ptot,sp in the Pareto solutions in the MOO case III.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This work aims at designing a new poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)-free multilayered system for bulk heterojunction organic solar cells. We propose a multilayer structure of glass/indium tin oxide/tetrasulfonated copper phthalocyanine/poly(3-hexylthiophene):[6,6]-C61-butyric acid methyl ester/aluminum (ITO/TS-CuPc/P3HT:PCBM/Al). In this architecture, the TS-CuPc is mainly used as a buffer layer instead of PEDOT:PSS and can also act as an electron-donor material and a hole-extraction layer. Photovoltaic devices with a short-circuit current density of 9.7mA/cm2, a open-circuit voltage of 0.51V, and a power conversion efficiency of 1.76% were achieved, without post deposition thermal treatment of the P3HT:PCBM blend layer.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The state-of-the art lifetime measurement technique MDP (microwave detected photoconductivity) is presented with its latest developments in sensitivity, measurement speed and data simulation. Several applications and examples in the field of inline material characterization, defect recognition and real time statistical process control in silicon bricks and wafers are presented, demonstrating the practical use of MDP measurements and of the data obtained by it. The measured lifetime itself combined with its spatial distribution and the measured steady state photoconductivity enable a good correlation to the cell efficiency. Furthermore, the paper presents a detailed summary of the properties of steady state and non-steady state microwave based minority carrier lifetime measurement techniques to complete this extensive study.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Due to the pneumatic heating and combustion effect, the scramjet engine of hypersonic vehicle faces high temperature challenge. It is necessary to comprehensively consider its thermal management and power generation together. A new Power and Thermal Management System (PTMS) combined with Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (SCO2) closed Brayton cycle and fuel vapor turbine is proposed and discussed in this paper. The new PTMS can meet the cooling requirement of hypersonic vehicle at Mach number 6–7, and avoid the coking and scrapping in the scramjet cooling channels. Compared with the PTMS only based on fuel vapor turbine, the new PTMS utilizes the waste heat of scramjet to generate more electricity. In addition, it can reduce the use of fuel sink for cooling, and the additional weight penalty can be compensated for long endurance hypersonic flight.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper explores transnational linkages in sustainability experiments. Transnational linkages refer to diverse cross-border relationships and interactions that can complement local, regional and national capabilities enabling sustainability experiments. The paper develops a typology of transnational linkages and applies it to solar photovoltaic energy initiatives in India. Our analysis shows that transnational linkages appear to be almost universal in these experiments. Of seven solar photovoltaic technology domains present in the sample, experiments in only one – off-grid power plants – can be characterised as predominantly domestic. These findings underscore the significance of capabilities, resources and linkages spanning local, regional and national scales in innovative solar PV experiments in India, suggesting similar patterns for other socio-technical experiments. This study contributes to an emerging literature on the geography of sustainable transitions, which argues for a move away from a predominantly national framing in transition studies to embrace a multi-scalar understanding of transition processes.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The significant increase in recent years of the number of rural electrification systems (some thousands of them do exist) using photovoltaic technology installed in the Northeast of Brazil (1,500,000 km2, approximately 42 million people) used for illumination or water pumping, calls for an improvement on the design procedures in order to reduce the burden of capital costs per unit of generated power. Such objective can be accomplished as long as a better knowledge about the solar resource is achieved, considering how much these applications depend on it. The sources of information on solar radiation in Brazil are quite varied at both institutional and publication level. At institutional level, among others, we can find the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET), State Departments of Agriculture, research institutes, universities and electric power generation and distribution utilities. Progress reports or scientific and technical journals are the main publishing vehicles where this information can be found. This way, data quality varies considerably, showing spatial and temporal discontinuities, in addition to the fact that measurement instruments and physical units of registered data are not standardized. The Solarimetric Atlas of Brazil was recently published [Brazilian Solarimetric Atlas, Final Technical Report I–IV (1997); Renewable Energy 18 (1998) 393] contains that information, which is grouped, evaluated, qualified, and presented in a standardized way. It is one of the best currently existing sources of information, and it certainly consists of almost the entirety of the existing information on the solar resource (data on solar radiation and sunshine hours) in Brazil. By using this database, simultaneous records of solar radiation (measured with pyranographs or pyranometers) and sunshine hours with heliographs were obtained in 35 different places in the Northeast region. Coefficients a and b were calculated for those different places using Angstrom's correlation. Using the geostatistical interpolation method known as ‘kriging’, the values of a and b were placed on contour maps, the coverage of which is the Northeast region. The relevant kriging estimate error maps were also obtained. The general objective of this paper is to improve the amount of the currently existing information on the solar radiation in the Northeast of Brazil. Regarding this, the contour maps of coefficients a and b have made possible estimating solar radiation in 82 additional locations, were only sunshine hours data were available.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The phase formation and thermoelectric transport properties of FeSe2–CoSe2 systems were investigated by synthesizing a series of (Fe1–xCox)Se2 polycrystalline alloys (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1). It was observed that as x increased from 0 to 0.5, lattice parameters increased while the orthorhombic structure of FeSe2 was retained. The bipolar conduction behavior of FeSe2 (x = 0) changed to n-type conduction at all measured temperatures. The electrical conductivity is greatly increased with x, and the largely enhanced power factor of 1.37 mW/mK2 at 600 K is seen for Fe0·5Co0·5Se2 (x = 0.5) compared to 0.37 mW/mK2 for FeSe2. As x is further increased to 0.75 (Fe0·25Co0·75Se2), the cubic phase of CoSe2 started to form and no further enhancement of power factor is seen. Lattice thermal conductivity is gradually decreased to 3.18 and 1.79 W/mK Fe0·75Co0·25Se2 (x = 0.25) and Fe0·5Co0·5Se2 (x = 0.5) at 600 K, compared to 4.36 W/mK for x = 0 (FeSe2). Consequently, the thermoelectric figure of merit zT at 600 K for Fe0·75Co0·25Se2 (x = 0.25) and Fe0·5Co0·5Se2 (x = 0.5) is greatly enhanced to 0.14 and 0.16, respectively, compared to 0.05 for x = 0 (FeSe2).",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Si-clathrate compounds, Sr8Ga x Si46−x (x=11 and 12), were synthesized by two methods: Ar-arc melting and floating-zone melting. The Ar-arc melting of a mixture of SrSi2, Ga, and Si resulted in multiphase samples including the Si-clathrate, Sr8Ga12Si34. A single-phase Sr8Ga11Si35 was synthesized by floating-zone melting. Powder X-ray-diffraction patterns and precession photographs indicate that Sr8Ga11Si35 is a type-I clathrate with a lattice constant of a=10.4075(3) Å. Sr8Ga11Si35 is a metal whose dominant carriers are electrons, and it does not show superconductivity down to 2 K.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "At present, solar energy is widely used as a kind of clean energy. The main solar radiation range under AM 1.5 is about 300 ~ 3000 nm. In this paper, we designed an efficient, ultra-broadband perfect solar absorber to have as long absorption bands in this range as possible to help alleviate the energy problem. The simulation calculations and experiments of the solar absorber show that the absorption bandwidth with absorption greater than 90% is greater than 2100 nm. It is worth noting that the perfect absorption bandwidth with absorption greater than 99% has more than 1600 nm. The absorption rate over the whole wavelength range (300 nm–3000 nm) (weighted directly around the sun by solar AM 1.5) is more than 90%. We can effectively control the absorption spectrum by adjusting the structural parameters. In addition, the proposed solar absorber is polarization independent, both the transverse electrical (TE) mode and the transverse magnetic (TM) mode, Absorption remains above 80% when the wide incidence angle is as high as 50°. Our propose design has high broadband absorption and great potential for solar thermal energy harvesting, thermoelectrics, and thermal emitters applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Can lifestyle-based scenarios provide insight into the nature of energy use in our future buildings? Participants in a design charrette brainstormed ideas about the future of US homes and workplaces. The teams started from several descriptions of daily lifestyles, and developed specific building characteristics as the place settings for these narratives. In addition to characterizing the physical environment, the teams also identified the forces that would be influential in making these changes. Further reflection was made on the possible unintended consequences of these changes. The energy implications of these changes were characterized with respect to magnitude and direction. While acknowledging the speculative nature of the exercise, the rationale was to broaden the discussion on future energy use by looking at future scenarios in the context of everyday life.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • A comprehensive review of energy harvesting technologies in roadways is provided. • Mechanism and efficiency of laboratory and commercial products are summarized. • All technologies were compared on the basis of cost, output energy and readiness. • Thermoelectric and Piezoelectric technologies are the most readily available methods.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Experiments have been carried out on As diffusion in graded-band-gap HgCdTe epitaxial layers grown by isothermal vapor-phase epitaxy (ISOVPE). For studying As and Hg concentration distribution on depth, the SIMS experimental technique was used. A non-monotonous profile of As concentration distribution has been revealed, with the maximum distribution approximately located in the region at the edge of a sharp change in composition. A model describing the influence of the built-in electric field caused by the spatial inhomogeneity of energy gap on the diffusion of the charged impurity has been proposed. A comparative analysis of theoretical and experimental data has been performed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Carbon-coated tungsten disulphide (WS2) is synthesized using a simple method and characterized with X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy and laser Raman spectrum. The WS2-based counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are prepared at low temperature. The electrochemical catalytic activity of the WS2 counter electrodes is investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The DSSCs assembled with carbon-coated WS2 counter electrodes show a photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 5.5%, which is comparable to that of the DSSCs based on Pt electrode (5.6%). Plastic WS2 counter electrodes are also prepared which give a photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 5.0%. Our study indicates that carbon-coated WS2 is a good candidate to replace the Pt counter electrodes in DSSCs.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We have measured electrical transport properties of magnetoresistive La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 thin film as a function of temperature and magnetic field. The suppression of the resistivity and the shift of the resistivity peak toward higher temperature caused by increasing magnetic field were understood in terms of magnetic field-induced ferromagnetic ordering. The field dependence of peak temperature of resistivity can be fitted by the expression T c(H)=T c(0)+aH−bH 2. The change of the curvature of the magnetoresistance curves ρ(H) from positive below T c to negative above T c shows two different conduction mechanisms above and below T c. The temperature dependence of the resistivity above T c exhibits a thermally activated behavior relative to the applied magnetic field. The Hall effect in different magnetic fields shows that the negative magnetoresistance effect results from the increase of charge carrier density induced by the magnetic field.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The stringent requirements for reducing CO2 emissions from internal combustion engines promote the development of waste heat recovery (WHR) technologies. Turbocompounding is a promising WHR technology offering fuel-saving potential along with low volume and weight requirements. Meanwhile, the exhaust energy distribution regulation plays a significant role in improving the engine fuel economy. In this study, the coupling influence and mechanism of the variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) turbine and power turbine (PT) regulation on the recovery power and engine performance were studied from novel perspective of exhaust energy distribution. And the cooperative control strategies of VGT rack position and PT speed under whole operating conditions were first proposed. It is concluded that the increase in the VGT rack position and the PT speed leads to a decrease in the proportion of exhaust energy distributed to the VGT turbine, which affects the intake and exhaust conditions, resulting in changes in PT power and net engine output power. In addition, as the engine speed increases under full load, the optimal VGT rack position and PT speed increase. Compared to the base engine, the equivalent brake specific fuel consumption can be reduced by 3.8% at the engine speed of 2200 r/min with the optimized control of the exhaust energy distribution for the turbocompounding. The control strategy of exhaust energy distribution is of great significance to explore the maximum potential of energy efficiency improvement of turbocompound diesel engines.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) have been used by the United States to provide electrical power for spacecraft since 1961. All RTGs that have been launched by the U.S. have used heat sources fueled with the plutonium-238 isotope. Low-power (1 Wthermal) Light Weight Radioisotope Heater Units have also been used to maintain spacecraft equipment within their normal operating temperature range. Los Alamos National Laboratory is responsible for fabricating heat sources for current and future space missions. The 238PuO2 is purified by aqueous processing, fabricated into hot pressed pellets, encapsulated into precious metal cladding material, then the fueled clads are nondestructively tested. NASA currently plans for the potential use of radioisotope power systems for the Europa Orbiter and the Solar Probe missions, which are all scheduled for launch this decade. In addition several Mars Exploration missions over the next decade will employ radioisotope heater units.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Based on ab initio quantum chemical Hartee–Fock (HF) approximations, density functional theory (DFT) and LMTO-ASA methods, we have determined the geometric and electronic structures of atomic-scaled boron clusters, surfaces and nanotubes. The starting structures were constructed with the help of an `Aufbau principle', previously proposed for boron clusters. In contrast to the semi-conducting α-boron, the boron sheets show a metallic behavior similar to graphite. Boron-based clusters could also serve as models to simulate silicon-based materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The substrate material and active side characteristics can affect the bubble ebullition cycle and consequently the heat transfer rate and pressure drop in microchannel evaporators. This paper presents an experimental study on flow boiling patterns, heat transfer rates and pressure drop in multi-microchannels evaporators made of copper and aluminium. HFE-7100 was used as the test fluid at atmospheric pressure, 5 K inlet sub-cooling, mass flux of 50-250 kg/m2s and wall heat flux up to 174 kW/m2. All heat sinks were made with channel width 0.46 mm, channel height 0.46 mm, giving a 0.46 mm channel hydraulic diameter. The heat sink base area was 25 mm in length and 20 mm in width. The experimental results showed that similar flow patterns were visualised for copper and aluminium namely bubbly, slug, churn and annular flow. The heat transfer coefficient in the aluminium heat sink was 12% (average value) higher than that found in the copper heat sink. The measured pressure drop in the aluminium heat sink was 28% (average value) higher compared to the copper heat sink. However, the additional pumping power required to move the fluid through the heat exchanger is small for this factor to be significant. The SEM images of the surface revealed that the number of cavities (possible nucleation sites) was higher in the aluminium surface with clear-cutting marks compared to the copper surface. This may explain the different pressure drop and heat transfer behaviour. The results of the present study indicate that aluminium heat sinks can offer comparable thermal performance to that of copper heat sinks and can also be recommended for cooling high heat flux systems.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A transverse thermoelectric (TE) device that employs the Nernst effect can generate an electrical potential by applying a temperature gradient perpendicular to the magnetic field. Anomalous Nernst effect (ANE)-based TE materials have been proposed for transverse TE devices due to their advantage of utilizing internal magnetic field of the materials, which offers the benefit of operating without an external magnetic field. To increase the output voltage of transverse TE devices utilizing ANE, materials with higher ANE coefficients, S ANE, are required. Currently, S ANE reaches ∼6 μV/K at 300 K; however, it is still lower than the Seebeck coefficient of commercial Bi-Te-based TE materials. As proven in conventional TE research, a meticulous design of device structure has the potential to significantly amplify the output voltage for the given material properties. This study proves the same strategy works for transverse TE devices. We demonstrate that a novel device design, where a shape-engineered tilted-leg thermopile structure is employed, significantly enhance the output voltage in the transverse direction. Owing to shape engineering of the leg geometry, an additional temperature gradient develops along the long direction of the leg, which is perpendicular to the direction of the applied temperature gradient, thereby generating an additional Seebeck voltage V SE that adds to the ANE voltage V ANE. We further show that a simple adjustment of electrode position within the device can further increase V SE. The tilted leg device with electrode adjustment demonstrates a 990% enhanced transverse output voltage compared to that of conventional rectangular leg thermopile-structured devices, wherein only the ANE occurs. This combined output voltage from both the Seebeck effect and ANE is equivalent to what could be achieved by employing materials with the S ANE value of 22.8 μV/K. This value surpasses the S ANE of state-of-the-art ANE materials and devices currently available. The numerical analysis shows the tendencies of the electrical and thermal outputs of the tilted-leg device, which guides a way to further improve the output voltage. Our study paves a way to develop highly efficient transverse TE devices that can overcome intrinsic materials challenges by utilizing the degree of freedom of device design.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is the significant non-invasive technology in the detection of medicines and edible products, which can directly transmit through general plastic and glass bottles and possess the good capacity of qualification and quantification. The main advantages of NIR spectra are that the pollution caused by exposure to the air can be avoided to a great extent, the direct contact between samples and testers can be reduced, and the rapid and undifferentiated scanning of samples can be realized, etc. In this paper, we provide a review of the non-invasive detection studies using NIR spectra for the quantitative analysis and authenticity/qualitative identification of medicines and edible products in detail, evaluate the experimental design and the relevant data analysis methods used, and summarize the problems that should be paid attention to and improvement suggestions when conducting similar research in the future.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Stove stacking (concurrent use of multiple stoves and/or fuels) is a poorly quantified practice in regions with ongoing efforts to transition household energy to cleaner options. Using biomass-burning stoves alongside clean stoves undermines health and environmental goals. This review synthesizes stove stacking data gathered from eleven case studies of clean cooking programs in low- and middle-income country settings. Analyzed data are from ministry and program records, research studies, and informant interviews. Thematic analysis identifiedy key drivers of stove stacking behavior in each setting. Significant (28%–100%) stacking with traditional cooking methods was observed in all cases. Reasons for traditional fuel use included: costs of clean fuel; mismatches between cooking technologies and household needs; and unreliable fuel supply. National household surveys often focus on 'primary' cookstoves and miss stove stacking data. Thus more attention should be paid to discontinuation of traditional stove use, not solely adoption of cleaner stoves/fuels. Future energy policies and programs should acknowledge the realities of stacking and incorporate strategies at the design stage to transition away from polluting stoves/fuels. Seven principles for clean cooking program design and policy are presented, focused on a shift toward \"cleaner stacking\" that could yield household air pollution reductions approaching WHO targets.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "As one of promising thermoelectric materials with intrinsic high figure of merit (ZT), Cu2Se provides opportunities to tackle the global energy crisis via converting waste heat into electricity. Here, β-phase Cu2Se nanostructures were synthesized using a facile and large-scale solvothermal method. After sparking plasma sintering, the resultant Cu2Se pellets show outstanding thermoelectric properties with an ultra-low lattice thermal conductivity (as low as ~0.2Wm−1 K−1) that resulted in a recorded high ZT of 1.82 at 850K. Through detailed structural investigations, high-densities small-angle grain boundaries with dislocations have been found in sintered Cu2Se pellets through nanostructure engineering, which results in additional phonon scattering to reduce the lattice thermal conductivity. This study provides an important approach to enhance thermoelectric performance of potential thermoelectric materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Progress ratios (PRs) are widely used in forecasting development of many technologies; they are derived from historical data represented in experience curves. Fitting the double logarithmic graphs is easily done with spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel, by adding a trend line to the graph. However, it is unknown to many that these data are transformed to linear data before a fit is performed. This leads to erroneous results or a transformation bias in the PR, as we demonstrate using the experience curve for photovoltaic technology: logarithmic transformation leads to overestimates of progress ratios and underestimates of goodness of fit. Therefore, other graphing and analysis software is recommended.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In Portugal, data on mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution are not reported due to shortness and irregularity of the available data series, and therefore, the disclosure of the national progress in reducing the number of deaths and illnesses from air contamination in exposures to multiple pollutants is incomplete. The present work describes the application of the AirQ+ model developed by the WHO to calculate how much of specific health outcomes is attributable to long-term exposure to atmospheric NO2, PM2.5, and O3 in the population of various municipalities in Portugal, from 2010 to 2019. Linear Mixed Models were used for data analysis and have shown that (i) approximately 5000 deaths per year are attributable to exposure to mixtures of NO2 and PM2.5; (ii) the spatial distribution of the proportion of deaths attributable to NO2, PM2.5 and O3 shows significant differences between locations, and (iii) that AirQ+ is a useful tool for the purpose of effective Public Health policymaking and reporting on the national progress to implement the 2030 Agenda.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report the molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth and the comparative systematic study of the electrical and thermoelectric characterizations of ScAs:In0.53Ga0.47As and ErAs:In0.53Ga0.47As nanocomposites. The peak room-temperature power factor of ScAs:InGaAs is 38% comparing to that of ErAs:InGaAs. The carrier concentration change of the nanocomposites versus the ScAs and ErAs incorporation levels below 2.2% is explained as due to the formation of nanoparticles with different sizes and densities. The carrier concentration difference between the two types of nanocomposites at the same incorporation level of ScAs and ErAs is explained by the size difference between the ScAs and ErAs nanoparticles.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A series of nine new lanthanide(III) complexes of the type [Ln(PBH)2(NO3)2]NO3·xH2O (PBH=2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde benzoylhydrazone) have been prepared and studied by IR, UV–Vis and mass spectra. In addition the crystal structures of PBH·H2O and [Er(PBH)2(NO3)2]NO3·1.5H2O have been solved. Erbium atom is ten-coordinate and the coordination polyhedron is best described as a distorted bicapped square antiprism.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • The boundary scattering and length is investigated in thin silicon nanowires. • Phonon Boltzmann transport equation is solved across a range of temperatures. • Nanowire length plays an important role in silicon nanowires.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this article we concentrate on the importance of contact interfaces functionalized by organic semiconductors for high-efficiency charge or spin injection/extraction in organic electronic devices. We focus in particular on hybrid organic/inorganic semiconductor interfaces, consider the relevant microscopic processes from an experimental and a theoretical perspective, and relate them to device function. We provide a brief overview of the main conceptual challenges to be tackled, the methodologies used, and provide an overview of systems investigated to date. We discuss how interfacial hybridization and even minor charge-transfer can dominate the electronic properties at such interfaces, providing new avenues for tailoring organic semiconductor interfaces.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thermoelectric power of carbon fiber reinforced cement composites was firstly enhanced efficiently by metallic oxide microparticles in the cement matrix. The absolute Seebeck coefficient of these composites increased steadily with increasing metallic oxide content and achieved 4–5 folds of the original one. The largest absolute thermoelectric power of +100.28µV/°C was obtained for the composite with 5.0wt% Bi2O3 microparticles. The carrier scattering of the interface between oxide microparticles and cement matrix is probably attributed to the Seebeck effect enhancement.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "An infrared absorption spectrum of formic acid dimer (HCOOH)2 in the C–H stretching region has been observed in a supersonic jet by cavity ring-down spectroscopy. In total six vibrational bands have been identified in the region 2800–2950 cm−1, and the center frequency and relative intensity for each of them, as well as its tentative assignment, has been determined. Comparison with previous studies has shown that there is a discrepancy with regard to the assignment of the O–H stretching band.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The widespread deployment of data centers has contributed to a dramatic increase in energy consumption and carbon emissions. To solve this problem, this study proposes a distributed multi-energy system (DMES) driven by solar, wind, geothermal and natural gas and its life-cycle-based multi-objective optimization model considered energy, economy, and environment. Moreover, a novel operation strategy based on load characteristics is presented for energy flow allocation and a multi-objective grasshopper optimization algorithm is improved for model solving. Case studies are conducted on a practical data center in Qinghai, China. Based on the DMES capacity configuration and scheduling results, the cooling, heating and power supply can satisfy the demand of the data center while generating over 30% of the power from renewable sources. In addition, carbon tax is considered in the optimization model, which accounts for 4% of the life-cycle cost. Furthermore, the sensitivity of carbon tax, equipment lifespan and predicted mean vote is analyzed, obtaining that these factors have some influence on the performance of the system. Finally, the uncertainty impact on system planning is studied, concluding that the designed system exhibits high robustness levels when renewable energy forecast error is less than 20% or load forecast error is less than 10%.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In the present work, the performance improvement of a waste heat recovery system is investigated by applying a fuel cell and thermoelectric generator. With the use of energy, exergy, exergo-economic, and environmental analyses (4E analysis), the performance of the improved system is evaluated. A mathematical simulation in the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) is developed for basic and modified systems. Comparative analysis is carried out to demonstrate the benefit of the suggested system. The logical and correct combination of appropriate subsystems can lead to the maximum exploitation of an energy source, which is the innovation of the present work. The comparison of suggested system (PR/FC-TEG) with the CHP system indicates that the net output power of the PR/FC-TEG system is 3881 kW compared with 958.4 kW for the CHP system. However adding fuel cell to the PR/FC-TEG system increase output power by about 2162 kW, and it imposes 4823 kW exergy destruction rate to the system. The exergy destruction rate of the PEM FC, regenerator, and vapor generator are about 88.96% of the total exergy destruction rate, which infers the importance of these components in the PR/FC-TEG system improvement. Parametric analysis on the PR/FC-TEG performance with changing four influencing parameters is performed. Results indicate that increasing the turbine 1 inlet temperature by about 1.1% increases the cost of generated electricity from 72.92 to 73.88 $/GJ and decreases the sustainability index from 1.68 to 1.65. The multi-objective optimization of the developed system can be a promising option for future study.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter defines distributed generation as the use of modular-type electricity generators, used independently or as part of a larger system, by utility customers, utilities, and merchant or independent producers whose customers are utilities or utility companies. The purpose of these generators may be solely to provide electric power or to provide heat and power in combined heat and power (CHP) applications. A prime characteristic of distributed generation is that it does not rely on large transmission lines or a grid as much as conventional power generation does. The primary advantage of distributed generation is the much smaller size of a distributed facility versus a conventional power plant, and therefore, its affordability. Distributed generation is not always the most economic option for power generation, depending on a variety of factors including the logistics of the end-user application in use and the current state of the application's best available technology.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Mechanically stable, well adhered TiO2 films based on nanocrystalline P-25 TiO2 slurries were developed using ball milling as a part of the processing stage, without the need for binders or high temperature annealing. The strength of the TiO2 films was examined by a novel nano-scratch technique which was developed to assess inter-particle adhesion. Interfacial and photovoltaic properties of flexible dye sensitized solar cells with a ruthenium dye involving two tetra-butyl-ammonium carboxylate groups (N719) were studied. The maximum power conversion efficiency of 4.2% is obtained under illumination of 100mWcm−2, for the electrodes fabricated using 20h milled slurry, shorter or longer milling times were less optimal.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Efficient synthesis and sensitization methods to produce high-performance lead chalcogenide materials are crucial for photoelectric devices. Here, an easy and effective approach to obtain PbSnSe films is presented, based on the in-situ oxygen sensitization along with magnetron sputtering deposition. The oxygen's roles in films sensitization process are investigated experimentally. We have demonstrated the effect of O2 concentration (C O2 = [O2]/[O2+Ar] × 100%) on structural, optical and photoelectronic properties of the films. The optical band gap decreases linearly with C O2. The resulting devices based on the films yield ultraquick and extremely stable photo-response to IR irradiation. The maximum IR responsivity of 57% was achieved for the 25%-sensitized sample, which is 10 times higher than that of the 17%-sensitized one, suggesting an excellent defect tolerance.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Due to global climate change, new approaches are needed to address energy efficiency in buildings and long-term decarbonization. Solar protection of the vertical envelope of buildings is crucial to achieve this goal by reducing the cooling energy demand. However, the Cuban standard for energy efficiency in buildings (NC220-1, 2009) does not establish solar protection requirements based on the orientation of the exterior walls. The study modelled a generic modular space into a building within Energy Plus. The building was located in three geometric urban scenarios (compact, semi-compact and open) with East, Southeast, South, Southwest, and West orientations. In addition, the exposed vertical envelopes of the space were also studied for the North, Northeast and Northwest orientations in the compact context, as it has the greatest influence on sun protection. The study demonstrated that taking into account the influence of the urban built context and the orientation of the building envelope can reduce the cost of solar protection and cooling demand of buildings. The cost-benefit analysis revealed that the payback period of the sun protection elements can be less than 20 months in 7 of the 8 vertical envelope orientations studied. Furthermore, it does not exceed 15 months in the five least favourable orientations (East, Southeast, South, Southwest, and West). The recommendations provided are pioneers in the field of building energy efficiency in Cuba and should be integrated with architectural and urban guidelines in the short term to achieve an effective impact on the economy and for human well-being.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The crystal structure of type I clathrate Ba8Al16Ge30 prepared by arc melting in argon atmosphere has been studied by using a neutron powder diffractometer from 10 to 900 K. We found that the site preferences in the host structure were relevant to the guest atom features, which agrees with a previous report. Data were analyzed using two models for the Ba atom position in the larger cage (Ba2): an on-center 6d-site model and an off-center 24k-site one. The Maximum Entropy Method (MEM) results agree well with the 24k model and the shape of the nuclear density distribution of Ba2 atom evolves with increasing temperature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Paramagnetic defects produced by phosphorus ion implantation of C60 films and the influence of annealing on dangling bonds defect center have been studied by electron spin resonance (ESR) to improve the properties of P+-implanted C60 films for solar cell applications. The films implanted at room temperature reveal the presence of a paramagnetic defect center, which originated from the carbon dangling bonds, with g=2.0036±0.0004. The volume concentration of the defect center increases with the implantation dose, from approximately 4.5×1021 to 4.6×1022 cm−3 for the lowest implantation dose of 1×1013P+ ionscm−2 and the highest implantation dose of 5×1015 P+ ionscm−2, respectively. The increase in dose also causes a narrowing of the line width (from 2.6 to 2.15G) although the g-value of the single Lorentzian line remains unchanged. The narrowing is attributed to exchange (motional) interaction. The ESR results imply that no significant graphitization has occurred as a result of implantation. Furthermore, upon annealing at a temperature of 773K the spin defect density is reduced by a factor of 3.5, while the g-value remains centered at the same magnetic field. This reduction is due to a reconstruction of the less stable spin defect sites. The originality of this paper is that it is the first ESR study of defects produced by phosphorus implantation of C60 films.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • NEMD simulation conducted to examine the thermal behavior of porous graphene. • Effect of topology, orientation and elongation of pores in porous graphene investigated. • NEMD is appropriate for thermal simulations with characteristic length lower than 50 nm. • This paper sheds lights on thermal applications of architecture nanomaterials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Herein, the thermoelectric properties of vacuum deposited In2Te3 thin films were investigated by varying the substrate temperature and the thickness of the films. The thermo-electro motive force of the prepared films was found to increase with an increase in the substrate temperature up to 423 K and then decrease at 473 K due to the presence of mixed-phase structure. The maximum thermoelectric power of 220 μV/K was observed for the films deposited at 423 K substrate temperature, which was found to decrease with increase in thickness. The films deposited at 423 K with 150 nm thickness showed maximum power factor of 27 μWm−1K−2 at 450 K. These observations are explained on the basis of structural, morphological and compositional changes.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Chlorella fusca LEB 111 was more tolerant to monoethanolamine than Chlorella sp. • Addition of MEA increased the dissolved inorganic carbon by approximately 25%. • Higher MEA concentrations increased the CO2 use efficiency by C. fusca LEB 111. • MEA addition increased the carbohydrates and lipids in the C. fusca LEB 111 biomass.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Epitaxial thin films of the wide-band-gap chalcopyrite semiconductor CuGaS2 have directly been grown on single crystalline Si substrates of (111) orientation. Structurally, the samples were characterized by means of reflection high energy electron diffraction, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The CuGaS2 films crystallize exclusively in the chalcopyrite structure of bulk CuGaS2 material. Metastable cation orderings, which occur in epitaxial layers of similar compounds, are absent. Photoreflectance measurements reveal a fundamental band gap of 2.461(2) eV at 300 K. Moreover, the formation of the highly ordered chalcopyrite structure is accompanied by the expected crystal-field splitting of the valence band.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter focuses on recent developments in the field of laser crystallization of Silicon (Si) and explores the fields of research, such as in situ characterization methods, theory of phase-change processes induced by excimer laser annealing, laser interference crystallization, and the structural and electronic properties of laser-crystallized poly-Si. Experimental data on the microscopic mechanisms governing the excimer laser-induced recrystallization of a-Si is presented. The chapter discusses the essential models developed to account for laser-induced phase changes in single crystal and amorphous silicon. A mathematical model of non-equilibrium phase transitions in a binary system of semiconductor elements is presented in the chapter. The laser interference crystallization of amorphous thin films is introduced. This technique combines conventional laser crystallization with holography by interfering two or more coherent laser pulses on the surface of an amorphous semiconductor. Laser crystallization introduces stress in the resulting poly-Si films.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Ce(0.1mass%):Mn(0.015mass%):LiNbO3 Crystals were grown by the Czochralski method from melts with various Li/Nb ratios (0.94, 1.05, 1.20, 1.38). Several spectra were used to investigate the influence of the Li/Nb ratio in the melt on the intrinsic defect and location of doped ions. As it can be seen, the lattice constants decrease, the Curie temperature increases, the absorption edge of Ce:Mn:LiNO3 crystals has a violet shift, and the position of the infrared transmission peak has an Einstein shift with the increase of the Li/Nb ratio. The holographic storage properties were also measured by a two-beam coupling equipment, while the optical damage resistance ability of samples was scaled by the light spot distortion method. The maximal inflection of refractive index and the dynamic range of crystals were calculated. The results show that the holographic storage properties of the crystals are affected by the Li/Nb ratio. Among all samples, the Ce:Mn:LiNbO3 crystal grown from the melt with the Li/Nb ratio 1.38 has the best holographic storage properties.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Two new soluble and symmetrical molecules M1 and M2 of low band gap with a central spacer which was connected at both sides via ether bond with terminal 4-nitro-α-cyanostilbene units were synthesized. The spacer of M1 and M2 consisted of dihexyloxyphenylene and n-hexylene, respectively. Their long-wavelength absorption maximum was at 590–640nm. The thin film absorption onset for both molecules was located at 742nm which corresponds to an optical band gap of 1.67eV. We have fabricated bulk heterojunction (BHJ) photovoltaic devices using these molecules as donor and PCBM as acceptor. We have investigated the solvent vapor treatment effect of these blends on their morphology and photovoltaic properties. We found that the overall power conversion efficiency (PCE) for the devices based on the solvent vapor treated M1:PCBM and M2:PCBM blends is 3.05% and 1.90%, respectively, higher than those of pristine blends. This increase of PCE has been attributed to the increase in surface roughness of the blend and better balance in charge transport. The PCE has been further increased up to 3.57% and 2.42% with the thermally annealed solvent treated M1:PCBM and M2:PCBM blend, respectively. This increase of PCE may be attributed to the enhanced crystallinity of the blend and reduction of the space charge effect, improving the charge transport and collection efficiency.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The identification of multivariable systems can be challenging due to the complex and coupled dynamics between system inputs and outputs. Thus, traditional system identification like multivariable transfer function may not capture the overall system dynamics relevant for an adequate controller design. This paper presents the use of Dynamic Model Decomposition with Control (DMDc) to identify a model for a high-order multivariable system corresponding to a 16x16 multivariable thermal system with coupled dynamics. The system is controlled using a Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) with ν-gap metric controller. Obtained results show that the model obtained using DMDc corresponds to an accurate representation of the system and contributes to performing suitable temperature control.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "For grading different types of renewable energy based electricity generation systems, a figure of merit has been proposed and evaluated. The figure of merit has been obtained by analyzing total energy utilization in constructing and installing the systems and by their respective electricity generation. The gross carbon emission has also been estimated for evaluation of figure of merit. This figure of merit clearly indicates that wind power is the most sustainable source for electricity generation, followed by small hydropower and solar photovoltaics.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The films of ZnO/SiC/Si(111) and ZnO/Si(111) were grown by the pulsed-laser-deposition (PLD) technique and were processed to fabricate ultraviolet (UV) detectors. The effects of SiC buffer on the structural and photoelectrical properties of ZnO thin films grown on Si(111) substrates were investigated by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL), current–voltage (I–V) and photoresponse measurements. The results show that the SiC buffer not only leads to better crystalline quality and higher intensity of luminescence at 380nm of ZnO thin film, but induces lower leakage current and much better photoresponse of UV detector. A compliant SiC buffer layer can relax partial stress induced by large lattice and thermal mismatch between ZnO and Si and reduce the interface defects and interface state density, which can effectively improve the crystalline quality as well as optical and photoelectrical properties of the ZnO thin film grown on Si substrate.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The improvement in electrode materials to upgrade lithium ion battery (LIB) is at heart of research related to energy devices. Herein, we report on the prospects of using 2H–SiC as an anode material in LIB on the basis of first principles based theoretical predictions. The energy profiling of high symmetry structural sites pointed out that the site T C related to tetrahedral configuration with carbon is favorable intercalation site in the host. The reaction of Li with stoichiometric as well as non-stoichiometric 2H–SiC are found endothermic which points to their unsuitability for lithiation process in LIBs. However, Li intercalation into the host in presence of Si monovacancy appeared an exothermic process which motivated us to study this system in detail. The Li atom after intercalation into the host is found ionized thereby donating its 2s electron to carbon atoms. The average value of the lithium insertion voltage and theoretical capacity are calculated as 1.87 V and 85 mA h/g respectively for the host simulated in the form of supercell LixSi15C16. The diffusion barrier faced by lithium atom while moving along crystalline a-axis is minimum (among all the paths considered here) when it follows a path that links hexagonal rings while passing carbon atoms. On the other hand, in case of motion along c-axis, similar results are found for minimum energy path that is along Tc site. The low diffusion barrier will facilitate the lithium ion to move quickly that points to fast charging capability of the battery.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper is concerned with experimentally obtained full field temperature distributions at the interface between chip and tool – the tool rake face – for the machining of Ti6Al4V and Inconel 718. As part of the work presented herein, temperature distributions at the chip-tool interface were obtained using a novel technique, near infrared thermography, which provides high accuracy for the target temperature range above 1250K. During the study, transparent yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) tools were used to provide an optical path to the chip-tool interface.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, a series of tests are performed on the exhaust waste heat recovery using a thermoelectric generator (TEG) in a propane-fueled spark-ignition (SI) engine. A three-layer TEG is designed, consisting of two engine coolant exchangers (Ec_hex) positioned on both surfaces of the rectangle exhaust heat exchanger (Ex_hex). Unlike the literature papers, a novel design is created by placing copper serpentine pipes in each Ec_hex to allow propane to pass through the TEG. The reason for this is both to ensure the evaporation of propane and to increase the ΔT temperature differences by increasing the cold surface activity of TEG. A total of 12 pieces of thermoelectric modules (TEMs), 56x56 mm in size, are positioned between the rectangular Ex_hex and each Ec_hex, and a total of 24 pieces of TEMs are used in TEG. Experimental studies were performed for eight different engine speeds in the range of 1500–5000 rpm for TEGs with and without a propane inlet. In addition, computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analyses are performed to visualize both the cold and hot surface temperature contours of the TEMs. The results of the paper illustrate that the DC electrical power of the TEG with propane is higher in the range of 11.5–12.1% compared to the TEG without propane in the 1500–5000 rpm range of the engine. At 4500 rpm engine speed, the propane input TEG produced a maximum of 90.2 W of DC electrical power and a 3.02% energy conversion efficiency. In addition, there is a good correlation between the experimental and numerical findings, varying between 3% and 15% with the engine speed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Crystalline cadmium selenide thin films have been deposited using dip technique. The precursor solution contains cadmium sulphate, sodium selenosulphate with maleic acid as a complexing agent. The deposited films undergo various characterization techniques. The crystalline phase of the deposited sample was hexagonal wurtzite-type. Compositional study indicates ratio of Cd:Se was close to 1:1. The direct optical band gap energy was found to be 1.90eV. The construction of fabricated cell is CdSe|NaOH (1M)+S (1M)+Na2S (1M)|C(graphite). The photoelectrochemical characterization of the films is carried out by studying current–voltage characterization, capacitance–voltage and power output characteristics. The fill factor and efficiency of the cell were found to be 33.44% and 1.01%, respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Evidence-based growth mechanism of a PEDOT nanofilm in vapor phase polymerization (VPP) was demonstrated. • EDOT monomer diffuses into the spin-coated oxidant film, which serves as a scaffold guiding the polymerization. • The structural texture of the oxidant film was translated to the PEDOT film. • These findings will help us to control the film quality and process efficiency, especially for conductive polymer coating onto a nanostructure.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A joint experimental and theoretical investigation is performed for Ba–Sn–Ga type-I and type-VIII clathrates. The type-I sample shows a semiconductor characteristic which is accords with the first principle simulation. The type-I clathrate follows Zintl-like behaviour and the semiconducting gap is about 0.6eV which is agreement with measurement. For the type-VIII clathrate, the simulation shows that a complicated band structure around Fermi level. For the density of states, a peak appears in the fundamental gap, which corresponds to hybridization of Ba bonding orbitals and Sn(Ga) network. A superconducting transition at T C=4K is observed, which is close to the T C of Sn. An alternative explanation is superconductivity in type-VIII sample arises from increase of electronic density of states around Fermi level E F in the BCS theoretical frame.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Using first principles simulations, we generate an amorphous silicon tetraboride (SiB4) network from the melt and compare it structurally, mechanically and electrically with the crystal. Surprisingly the amorphous form is found to be energetically more favourable than the crystal. In both phases, the average coordination number of B atoms is comparable but that of Si atom is considerably different. Si atoms have a trend to structure in higher coordinated motifs in the amorphous configuration compared to the crystal. A close examination reveals that pentagonal pyramid-like arrangements are the leading units for B atoms in the noncrystalline state as in the crystal and some of which involve B12 and B11Si type molecules. Both phases exhibit a semiconducting character but have a significantly different band gap value (0.16 eV vs 0.88 eV). The Bulk modulus and Vicker's hardness are predicted to be ~151 GPa and 16.1–17.4 GPa for the amorphous network and to be ~161 GPa and 18.1–20.2 GPa for the crystal, correspondingly.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report discrete heterojunction small molecular organic photovoltaics (OPVs) with enhanced performance by modifying the interface using molybdenum oxide (MoO x ) and molecular template layer perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic-3,4,9,10-dianhydride (PTCDA). A large increase in open-circuit voltage was obtained in copper phthalocyanine/fullerene, i.e., CuPc/C60 and CuPc/PCBM, discrete planar heterojunction photovoltaics with an insertion of 5nm MoO x hole transport layer at the interface between the anode electrode and the CuPc donor layer. It results from the band bending at the interface and the pinning of the highest occupied molecular orbital level of CuPc to the Fermi level of MoO x due to the defect states (oxygen vacancies) in MoO x thin films. Moreover, the short-circuit current showed an efficient improvement by inserting a 1nm PTCDA layer at the interface between the MoO x layer and the CuPc layer. The PTCDA layer induces the growth of CuPc thin film with lying-down molecular arrangement, supporting the charge transports along the vertical direction. The power conversion efficiencies of CuPc/C60 and CuPc/PCBM discrete planar heterojunction photovoltaic devices were improved from about 0.80% to 1.50% with inserting both MoO x and PTCDA layers. The results suggest that the performance of organic discrete planar heterojunction photovoltaics could be optimized by interface modification with combining hole transport layer and molecular template layer, which are potentially suitable for other highly efficient OPVs, such as small molecular tandem OPVs.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Hydrogen demand should significantly increase in the next few years due to rapid growth of energy demand, the refinery industry’s growing needs and applications such as biofuel production. To meet the demand advanced processes are being developed throughout the world in a sustainability context. Among the most studied ones is high temperature electrolysis of steam using solar photovoltaic and thermal energy. In this work, a large scale hybrid solar hydrogen production system was designed and optimized. The system consists of the solid oxide steam electrolysis system coupled to a Photovoltaic array through a Direct Current converter and coupled to a Parabolic Trough Collector through a heat exchanger network optimized using a Generalized Reduced Gradient algorithm. Under local tropical conditions, the theoretical production rate of hydrogen per second and per day recorded from simulation of interconnected system based on optimum scenario are respectively 0.064kg/s and 1843.2kg/day. The exergy efficiency, land used and water consumption of system component was also performed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The search for harvesting both the mechanical and solar energies from a single hybrid system is of significant value and represents a new trend in energy harvesting technologies. This single hybrid system can utilize both the energy sources easily available from nature and most importantly it is clean and sustainable. It is a novel technique involving completely different physical principles utilized for scavenging different types of energies. This report presents studies of a hybrid power generator made a direct-current piezoelectric nanogenerator based on ZnO nanosheets and a bulk heterojunction organic solar cell based on an inverted structure. The device shows much larger electric power output compared to its two individual power output components, which facilitates more effective multi-type energies harvesting and clarifies a mechanism for realizing multi-functional energy devices.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We have developed an integrated laser trap/flow control video microscope for mechanical manipulation of single biopolymers. The instrument is automated to maximize experimental throughput. A single-beam optical trap capable of trapping micron-scale polystyrene beads in the middle of a 200-μm-deep microchamber is used, making it possible to insert a micropipette inside this chamber to hold a second bead by suction. Together, these beads function as easily exchangeable surfaces between which macromolecules of interest can be attached. A computer-controlled flow system is used to exchange the liquid in the chamber and to establish a flow rate with high precision. The flow and the optical trap can be used to exert forces on the beads, the displacements of which can be measured either by video microscopy or by laser deflection. To test the performance of this instrument, individual biotinylated DNA molecules were assembled between two streptavidin beads, and the DNA elasticity was characterized using both laser trap and flow forces. DNA extension under varying forces was measured by video microscopy. The combination of the flow system and video microscopy is a versatile design that is particularly useful for the study of systems susceptible to laser-induced damage. This capability was demonstrated by following the translocation of transcribing RNA polymerase up to 650s.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Disymmetrically substituted oligophenyleneethynylene (OPE) derivatives have been prepared by a new iterative method and attached to C60 by a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the azomethine ylides generated in situ from the corresponding OPE aldehydes and sarcosine.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Recently the concept of the inverted photovoltaic cell has become more attainable as a practical cell. This thin film cell consists of a p–n heterojunction in which the window layer is p-type and the absorber layer is n-type. The feasibility of a new inverted p–n heterojunction p-diamond/n-CdTe solar cell has been demonstrated. The non-optimized solar cell structure grown on semi-transparent p-diamond yielded an open circuit voltage of 0.23 V and a short circuit current of 1.54 mA/cm 2 when illuminated.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Phase change random access memory (PCRAM) requires an advanced phase change material to lower its power consumption and to enhance its data retention and endurance abilities. The present work investigated the crystallization behaviors and electrical properties of Ge1Cu2Te3 compound films with a low melting point of about 500°C for PCRAM application. Sputter-deposited Ge1Cu2Te3 amorphous films showed a high crystallization temperature of about 250°C. The Ge1Cu2Te3 amorphous film showed an electrical resistance decrease of over 102-fold and exhibited a small increase in thickness of 2.0% upon crystallization. The Ge1Cu2Te3 memory devices showed reversible switching behaviors and exhibited a 10% lower power consumption for the reset operation than the conventional Ge2Sb2Te5 memory devices. Therefore, the Ge1Cu2Te3 compound is a promising phase change material for PCRAM application.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A D–A–D copolymer (PBDTQx) with a bandgap of 1.78eV, containing alkoxy-substituted benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene (BDT) as donor and quinoxaline derivative (Qx) as acceptor, was synthesized by Stille coupling reaction. In order to study the photovoltaic property of PBDTQx, polymer solar cells (PSCs) were fabricated with PBDTQx as the electron donor blended with [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) as the electron acceptor. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PSC was 1.01% for an optimized PBDTQx: PC61BM ratio of 1:5, under the illumination of AM 1.5, 100mW/cm2. The results indicated that PBDTQx was a promising donor candidate in the application of polymer solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "CdSeTe epilayers were grown by molecular beam epitaxy on (100)-oriented vicinal silicon wafers. By controlling the growth conditions, either multiple-phase or single-phase epilayers could be deposited. In this paper we present a detailed investigation of the structure of a single-phase CdSeTe epilayer using X-ray diffraction, Rutherford back scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. Photoreflectance and photocurrent results are also presented.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In the first paper of a series of two publications entitled “A comprehensive review of solar facades. Opaque solar facades” an exhaustive review of scientific studies carried out during the last decade on opaque solar facades was proposed. The paper dealt with facades that absorb and reflect the incident solar radiation but cannot transfer directly solar heat gain into the building. This article offers a complementary survey of studies conducted during the same period of time on transparent and translucent solar facades, highlighting the categories of ventilated facades and semi-transparent building-integrated photovoltaic facades.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This study deals with structural and optical properties of β-FeSi2 layers produced by direct ion beam mixing of Fe/Si bilayers with Xe ions. By irradiation of 35 nm Fe on Si, at 600 °C with 205 keV Xe to 2×1016 ions/cm2, the formation of ∼105 nm single-phase β-FeSi2 layers was achieved. Their structures were analyzed by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and photo-absorption. The structural analyses revealed that the β-FeSi2 layers grow in the form of irregularly shaped crystal grains, with a pronounced surface morphology, but with a rather sharp silicide/silicon interface. The grains that originate from the interface are epitaxially oriented relative to the Si(100) substrate. Optical absorption, as compared with that in β-FeSi2 layers produced by ion beam synthesis or co-sputter deposition, indicates a direct band gap of 0.92 eV. A pronounced surface roughness of the ion beam mixed layers yielded photo-absorption approximately three times higher as compared with the other two sets of samples. The band gap stays nearly constant over the temperature range from 80 to 295 K. This is tentatively assigned to a high degree of structural disorder and stress induced in the ion beam mixed β-FeSi2 layers.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We investigate numerically the effects of higher-order space-charge field on the self-deflection of bright photovoltaic spatial solitons in two-photon photovoltaic photorefractive crystals under steady-state conditions. The expression for an induced space-charge electric field, including higher-order space-charge field terms is obtained. The dynamical evolution equation is built in which the effects that arise from these higher-order terms are considered. Numerical results indicate that bright photovoltaic solitons can bend towards both the same direction as the crystal's c-axis and the opposite direction, respectively. Specifically, self-deflection cannot occur for bright photovoltaic solitons if the strength of the photovoltaic field and the intensity of the input beam are appropriately selected. Relevant examples are provided.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Because of the intermittent nature of the solar radiation resource, photovoltaic (PV) solar energy generation is considered a non-dispatchable power source. However, under some conditions, in sunny urban areas with electricity load curves dominated by air conditioning loads, there is a high correlation between PV generation and utility feeder loads. In these situations, a considerable fraction of a given PV generator can be considered dispatchable power. In this work, we assess the potential of grid connected, building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) generation in the state capital, Florianópolis, in south Brazil (27°S, 48°W), which is supplied by the local utility company through 56 feeders. Our interest was to identify which feeder could obtain more benefits with implementation of a PV plant with a specific nominal power. Two factors are important in this analysis: the peak demand reduction value, and the LOLP (loss of load probability, in failures per year), or LOLE (loss of load expectation, in hours per year). We analyzed the hourly demand curves of the 56 feeders and compared them with the PV power generation values obtained from a 2kWp BIPV installation that has been operating continuously for nearly 10 years connected to one of these feeders. For our calculations, we defined a PV installation of 1000kWpAC, which corresponds to penetration level values between 10% and 20%, depending on the specific feeder considered. Our results demonstrate that the use of PV power plants can reduce significantly the summer demand peaks in regions where the load reflects commercial customers demand for midday air conditioning.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "“Technological innovation” has become a catch phrase of contemporary policy making for governments, corporations and academic organizations. For many it has become an article of faith that technological innovation is the key to solving energy transition and environmental problems, but the formula for success is not obvious. The phrase “science and technology” rolls off the tongues of energy related policymakers, managers and researchers spontaneously, as if this is the natural order of things, but why is the converse phrase “technology and science” so rarely encountered? The popular view appears to be that energy technology is applied energy science, or that technological change in the field of energy technologies flows naturally from scientific progress. However, what if popular preconceptions about the relationship between science and technology in the energy field are misplaced? This paper addresses the question of the fundamental relationship between technology and science by first analyzing historical cases of two representative energy-conversion technologies, then reviewing pertinent literature from the field of science, technology and society (STS) studies, and finally investigating empirically the nature of the relationship using statistical data analysis. It draws policy-making implications for investment in energy technology and science. We propose the hypothesis of technology-conditioned science as a plausible and credible counterweight to extant commonplace presumptions that science is the precursor of low-carbon energy-conversion technologies.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Silicon nanopillar resonators were fabricated and used for sensing airborne engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) by monitoring resonant frequency shifts induced by the mass of trapped ENPs. Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) cryogenic dry etching and thermal oxidation were utilized in sensor fabrication. An electrostatic aerosol sampler and piezo shear actuator were used to collect the flowing ENPs and excite the nanopillars in resonant mode, respectively. By using the fundamental bending frequency, the sensor can achieve a mass sensitivity of 7.41Hz/fg, which enables its application to a nanobalance to detect airborne ENPs in the femtogram regime. A simple cleaning method of polluted nanopillars was also performed to remove the adhered ENPs, thus efficiently extend the operating life of the sensor. This developed sensor is targeted for use in airborne ENP sensing applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents a novel principle for photovoltaic (PV) energy conversion using surface acoustic waves (SAWs) in piezoelectric semiconductors. A SAW produces a periodically modulated electric potential, which spatially segregates photoexcited electrons and holes to the maxima and minima of the SAW potential. The moving SAW collectively transports the carriers with the speed of sound to the electrodes made of different materials, which extract electrons and holes separately and generate dc output. The proposed active design is expected to have higher efficiency than passive designs of the existing PV devices and to produce enough energy to sustain the SAW.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Machine tools subjected to high demands regarding productivity and accuracy are faced with the challenge that thermal losses influencing the accuracy negatively. Due to high requirements regarding thermal stability of precision related machine tool components, the focused linear direct drives (LDD) must be tempered by active cooling systems. In machine tools, a sufficient cooling capacity is available, but the cooling is insufficiently adjusted to the process and the individual demand of the heat-inducing as well as precision related components. With the intention to achieve a demand-oriented cooling, the use of thermoelectricity in machine tools is one research objective at the Institute for Machine Tools and Factory Management (IWF). Inspired by the concept of thermoelectric self-cooling (TSC)-systems for electronic devices, an Adaptive Cooling (AC)-system with thermoelectric generators (TEG) for LDD in machine tools is developed and experimentally investigated. In order to enhance the performance of AC-systems, in this research a reduction of the global thermal resistance is focused. A promising approach to achieve this goal is the division of the induced heat flow into a primary and a secondary heat path. For a model-based performance analysis of this approach, a system simulation is presented. To acquire experimental data for model validation, a test bench of the AC-system with primary as well as primary and secondary heat path is put into operation. The comparison of simulative and experimental determined data indicates a predominantly high model prediction accuracy. As a result, the implementation of a secondary heat path enables a reduction of the temperature on the upper surface of the heat source by 24.6% and thus a decrease of the global thermal resistance by 38.1%. Compared to the initial state of the AC-system only with primary heat path, the achieved thermal stability in the precision related machine tool component as well as the self-starting capability is improved.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The global energy crisis and environmental pollution have provoked tremendous research efforts to develop renewable energy devices including lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), sodium-ion batteries, zinc-air batteries, supercapacitors (SCs), and so on. Transition metal chalcogenides have been attracting increasing attentions as electrode materials, mainly thanks to the abundant redox sites, unique crystal structures, and rich physiochemical properties. When introducing carbon substrate with high conductivity as support, TMC composites exhibited high electrochemical performance. As anode materials for LIBs and SIBs, TMCs-based composites demonstrated high lithium/sodium storage, great specific capacity, high rate capability, and excellent cyclic stability. For ZABs, TMCs as air-cathode catalysts can catalyze both oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions with high efficiency and excellent durability. When employed TMCs as electrode materials, high specific capacity, enhanced energy density, and outstanding stability can be achieved for SCs. In summary, TMCs have shown great promises for developing renewable energy technologies.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, we have developed and applied deposition phase diagrams in the plane of the bulk layer thickness d b and the H2-dilution ratio R =[H2]/[Si2H6] for Si:H materials deposited by 70MHz VHF PECVD from [H2]+[Si2H6] mixed gases on c-Si/(native-oxide)/n-layer substrates. To establish the phase diagrams, series of Si:H depositions having different R values over the range of 60–150 were measured in real time using a rotating-compensator multichannel ellipsometer. Using phase diagram concepts for guidance, we have fabricated high efficiency single-junction nc-Si:H n–i–p solar cells with ∼3Å/s intrinsic layers using the VHF PECVD process. We have found that the nc-Si:H solar cells with the best performance are obtained by incorporating i-layers deposited in the single-phase nanocrystalline silicon regime near the transition boundary to mixed-phase (a+nc)-Si:H. Applying insights from real time spectroscopic ellipsometry moreover, we have investigated in detail the effects of the phase of the underlying n-layer on the phase evolution of the overdeposited Si:H i-layer and on the overall device performance. With the strategy developed here, a stabilized efficiency of η =9.46% (V oc =0.516V, J sc =24.65mA/cm2, FF=0.744) has been achieved for nc-Si:H solar cells (0.25cm2 in active area) fabricated with an i-layer deposition rate of ∼2.2Å/s.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► The performance characteristics of pentacene-based photovoltaic cells with PIN structures have been investigated. ► Focus on the dependency of pentacene thin films thicknesses with morphology. ► The power conversion efficiency of 3.89% is achieved.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper deals with the current transport mechanism of solid state photoelectrochemical cells of ITO/TiO2/PVC–LiClO4/graphite as well as the physical properties of a component of a device affecting its performance. The principle of operation and a schematic energy level diagram for the materials used in the photoelectrochemical cells are presented. The device makes use of ITO films, TiO2 films, PVC–LiClO4 and graphite films as photoanode, photovoltaic material, solid electrolyte and counter electrode, respectively. The device shows rectification. The J sc and V oc obtained at 100mWcm−2 were 0.95μAcm−2 and 180mV, respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Cubic β-GeTe alloys are apt to hoist the conversion efficiency for mid-temperature thermoelectric (TE) generators with their remarkably high peak figure-of-merit (zT) values at T > 700 K. Nevertheless, the TE device that consolidated by β-GeTe alloys have existed concerns as the rhombohedral α-GeTe to β-GeTe phase-transition leverage over the workability and thermal stability. Therefore, research efforts are redirected towards the high-performance α-GeTe, which stabilizes at a rhombohedral lattice below 700 K. By incorporating the maximal Bi solubility, the α-GeTe shows severe lattice distortion without forming the undesired impurities that affect the transport properties and deteriorate the thermal stability. The α-GeTe with high-dose Bi fulfills the counterbalance between low thermal conductivity κ and elevated power factor PF = S 2 ρ −1. Herein, the Bi0.1Ge0.9Te crystal attains the peak zT of 1.5 at 625 K and 1.9 at 713 K for its rhombohedral and cubic state, respectively. The Bi0.1Ge0.9Te features hierarchical twinning accompanied with dense stacking faults which explains its ultra-low lattice thermal conductivity κ L in the temperature range of 300 K–700 K. The trade-off between incompatible low-κ and high-PF could be optimized via the phase diagram and defect engineering, which synergistically open a new category for TE performance advancement.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "An analytical model has been developed to estimate the short-circuit current density of conjugated polymer/fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells. The model takes into account the solvent-dependent molecular morphology of the donor/acceptor blend, which was revealed by transmission electron microscopy. Field-effect transistors based on single and composite organic layers were fabricated to determine values for the charge carrier mobilities of such films. These values served as input parameters of the model. It is shown that the difference in short-circuit current density that was measured between toluene-cast and chlorobenzene-cast conjugated polymer/fullerene photovoltaic cells (Appl. Phys. Lett. 78 (2001) 841) could be very well simulated with the model. Moreover, the calculations illustrate how increasing the hole and electron mobilities in the photoactive blend can improve the overall short-circuit current density of the solar cell.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► DSC study paracetamol–caffeine, paracetamol–ascorbic acid, paracetamol–citric acid systems. ► Eutectic temperatures and temperatures of liquidus determination. ► Parameters of Redlich–Kister equation optimization. ► Binary phase diagrams calculations.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, we conduct premixed combustion experiments on methane-hydrogen-air mixtures based on an experimental platform of a closed spherical chamber. The flame images, combustion pressure, and ion current signal of premixed combustion under different hydrogen fractions and different initial conditions are analyzed. The flame front is affected by turbulence to form cellular structures. As the hydrogen content increases, the crack and cellular structures of the flame front increase, and the scale decreases. The Markstein length decreases, and the flame stability decreases because of the addition of hydrogen. For dilute hydrogen conditions, the stretch flame speed increases linearly with the addition of hydrogen, and the concentration of hydrogen has a significant influence on the moment when the ion current signal appears. Under rich hydrogen conditions, the stretch flame speed increases exponentially with the addition of hydrogen, and the ion current signal curve is hardly affected by the hydrogen content. The peak combustion pressure in a turbulent environment is slightly higher (less than 0.5 bar) than that in a laminar environment. Turbulence accelerates the combustion velocity, and the peak combustion pressure occurs significantly earlier. However, with the addition of hydrogen, the difference between the time of peak combustion pressure in the laminar and turbulent environments decreases gradually.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Room-temperature epitaxy of indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films was achieved on Si(111) substrates with an epitaxial CeO2 ultrathin buffer using a pulsed laser deposition technique. The epitaxial CeO2 buffer layer was also grown at room temperature. Reflection high-energy electron diffraction and pole figure X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed the formation of a double heteroepitaxial structure of ITO(111)/CeO2(111)/Si(111) with the epitaxial relationship of [−110]ITO//[−110]CeO2//[1–10]Si. The junction of [ITO: 100 nm thick/CeO2: 3 nm thick/p-Si(111)] fabricated at room temperature exhibited solar cell properties.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Cyanine dyes with absorption edges of almost 1000nm were used in combination with MEH-PPV for the fabrication of organic solar cells. For blended thin films, a pronounced phase separation between the two components occurred and resulted in photocurrents with different signs for bilayer and bulk heterojunction devices. Absorption spectra and selective dissolution experiments were used to illustrate the process of vertical phase segregation, with the preferential wetting of the polar anode by the cyanines while maintaining percolating carrier pathways between the electrodes. For a cyanine with long alkyl side chains, the compatibility with the polymer matrix was increased and the development of the effective inverted bilayer configuration was not observed. The generally low oxidative photocurrents were explained with unfavourable shifts of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) dye energy levels in the solid state.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Unsaturated long-chain fatty acids selectively bind to the DNA binding sites of DNA polymerase β and DNA topoisomerase II, and inhibit their activities, although the amino acid sequences of these enzymes are markedly different from each other. Computer modeling analysis revealed that the fatty acid interaction interface in both enzymes has a group of four amino acid residues in common, forming a pocket which binds to the fatty acid molecule. The four amino acid residues were Thr596, His735, Leu741 and Lys983 for yeast DNA topoisomerase II, corresponding to Thr79, His51, Leu11 and Lys35 for rat DNA polymerase β. Using three-dimensional structure model analysis, we determined the spatial positioning of specific amino acid residues binding to the fatty acids in DNA topoisomerase II, and subsequently obtained supplementary information to build the structural model.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Intensification of livestock production makes correct estimation of methanogenesis in liquid manure increasingly important for inventories of CH4 emissions. Such inventories currently rely on fixed methane conversion factors as knowledge gaps remain with respect to detailed temperature responses of CH4 emissions from liquid manure. Here, we describe the temperature response of CH4 production in liquid cattle slurry, pig slurry, and fresh and stored co-digested slurry from a thermophilic biogas plant. Subsamples of slurry were anoxically incubated at 20 temperatures from 5–52°C in a temperature gradient incubator and CH4 production was measured by gas chromatographic analysis of headspace gas after a 17-h incubation period. Methane production potentials at 5–37°C were described by the Arrhenius equation (modelling efficiencies, 79.2–98.1%), and the four materials showed a consistent activation energy (Ea ) which averaged 81.0kJmol−1 (95% confidence interval, 74.9–87.1kJmol−1) corresponding to a temperature sensitivity (Q 10) of 3.4. In contrast, the frequency factor (A) differed among the slurry materials (30.1<ln A <33.3; mean, 31.3) reflecting that origin, age and composition of the manure affect this parameter. The Ea estimate, based on individual slurry materials, was intermediate when compared to published values of 63 and 112.7kJmol−1 derived from composite data, but was similar to Ea estimated for CH4 production at microbial community level across aquatic ecosystems, wetlands and rice paddies (89.3kJmol−1). This supports that the derived temperature sensitivity parameters may be applicable to dynamic modelling of CH4 emissions from livestock manure.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The rapid hydrolysis of acetylcholine (ACh), one of the key neurotransmitters in the human body, by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is fundamental for the termination of ACh impulse transmission. Several chemicals, including organophosphorus (OP) pesticides, warfare agents and drugs, are AChE reversible or irreversible inhibitors, thus their rapid on-site detection is of primary importance. Here we report for the first time a chemiluminescence (CL) foldable paper-based biosensor for detection of AChE inhibitors. The biosensor exploits three coupled enzymatic reactions catalyzed by AChE, choline oxidase and horseradish peroxidase, leading to production of hydrogen peroxide, which is measured with an optimized luminol substrate. The origami approach allows to add reagents and trigger the sequential reactions in separate steps. A compact 3D-printed device including a mini dark box was created to enable smartphone detection. The CL foldable paper-based biosensor showed suitable for the rapid detection of OP pesticides in food matrices with a total assay time of 25 min. It is thus a rapid, low cost portable test suitable for point-of-need detection of chemicals inhibiting AChE.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Within the context of mounting pressures on existing resources and the environment, fuel cell systems can and probably will play a major role. From a second law standpoint, their potential for effectively contributing to solutions, which deal with these pressures is great. This is true for fuel cells as standalone systems and even more so as systems working in concert with more conventional energy conversion processes. In order to put these systems in perspective, a brief summary of existing processes for energy conversion is presented as are projections for future improvements. The principal types of fuel cell systems are then discussed. This is followed by a brief discussion of their second law role followed by some perspectives on the modeling and analysis needs for future fuel cell system developments.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, a new type of emitting direction tunable slotted laser array for Lidar applications is proposed. By designing the structure of periodic slots, the laser array can achieve tunable emitting direction in a wide range with low vertical divergence angle. The laser array can be directly used as Lidar emitting chip without complex beam reshaping, coupling or mechanically moving parts, which makes it has the advantages of good stability, system simplification and low cost compared with other Lidars. Experimentally, an 11-channel laser array of C band with periodic slots at the output end is fabricated based on AlGaInAs/InP material system. As the slot period changes from 8 μ m to 18 μ m , the inclined angles of emission from 66.6° to 20.25° with all the vertical divergence angles less than 3.5° are obtained, and the minimum vertical divergence angle is even 1.3°. Typical optical power is 13.5 mW under 600 mA continuous injection.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Several models have been developed to estimate the operating cell temperatures of photovoltaic (PV) modules because they directly affect the performance of each PV module. In this study, two prediction models used most commonly, the nominal operating cell temperature (NOCT) model and the Sandia National Laboratory temperature prediction model (SNL), were investigated for their suitability in the prediction of PV module's temperatures for building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) installation in the tropical climate conditions of Thailand. It was found that, in general, the SNL model tends to give better results of temperature prediction than those of the NOCT model. Nevertheless, both models are strongly over-biased in temperature predictions. The discrepancies of the predictions are basically caused by the dissimilarity of the BIPV installation and the standard installation as specified by the models, rather than the effect of differences in climatic conditions between the temperate and tropical zones. In the worst case, it was found that the highest value of the mean bias error (MBE) is +8°C, or equivalent to +21% of the mean observed temperature, and the root mean square error (RMSE) is ±10°C, or equivalent to ±24% of the mean observed temperature. However, although these errors were large, their effects on the accuracy of the final prediction of the electrical power output generated by the PV module over a long term would not be great. The error of the expected generated energy output would not be more than 6% of the averaged actual energy output, which is acceptable for most applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We investigate a new approach to artificial photosynthetic systems that couples a one-electron organic photovoltaic material to a two-electron catalyst. This approach allows direct photo-production of fuels without requiring sacrificial reagents. The synthesis and characterization of the first such photoelectrocatalytic (PECat) system is described. A series of perylene diimides with appended polypyridyl ligands are synthesized. One compound is complexed to a ruthenium terpyridine catalyst. Illumination in dimethyl formamide solution results in the formation of the perylene diimide anion and irreversible oxidation of the solvent (or residual impurities). In the solid state, the PECat material is electroactive at both semiconductor and catalyst sites throughout the film. The films electrocatalyze the two-electron oxidation of isopropanol to acetone in the dark. A small PECat effect is observed in the solid films.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter presents the recent progress in growth and characterization of group IV nanowires and discusses their relevance for energy conversion applications. In a broader sense, the chapter elaborates on two main approaches to enhance the capabilities of silicon-compatible nanowires and expand their applications. The first approach focuses on phonon-engineering processes in nanowire-based structures and their impact on nanoscale heat transport and thermoelectric applications. A review of the current theoretical and experimental understanding of the interplay between nanowire properties and thermal conductivity is provided and recent progress in characterization of nanowire thermoelectric figure of merit is outlined. Moreover, special emphasis is made on nanowires with tailor-made isotopic composition as a rich playground to elucidate subtle but important phenomena governing heat transport in nanowires. The second approach elaborated in this chapter consists of bandgap engineering in nonequilibrium tin-containing group IV nanowires and quantum-sized structures based on silicon–germanium–tin (SiGeSn) nanowires. This emerging family of semiconductors provides two degrees of freedom to tune the band structure, namely, alloying and strain. The ability to independently manipulate strain and lattice parameter in this emerging class of group IV semiconductors is central to engineer low-dimensional systems and heterostructures in a similar fashion to the more mature III–V semiconductors. The chapter outlines the state of the art in the development of these semiconductors and provides a comprehensive overview of the progress in the growth and characterization of GeSn nanowires and nanowire heterostructures. A critical discussion is included to evaluate their potential use to implement high-performance and/or cost-effective optoelectronic devices with emphasis on light absorption engineering and its implication for nanowire-based photovoltaics.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • CIS and CIS/ZnS core/shell QDs were synthesized by heating-up method using diesel as the high boiling-point reaction solvent. • The use of diesel provides a low-cost and large-scale procedure for the synthesis of CIS and CIS/ZnS core/shell QDs. • The highest quality CIS QDs were obtained at the reaction temperature of 210°C for 15min and the Cu:In molar ratio of 1:1. • The absorption and photoluminescence spectra showed the quantum confinement effect and quality of the synthesized CIS QDs.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The lift side of the above figure shows the band structure of BaMg2Sb2 which has an ideal gap for solar cells and the right side of the figure represents the absorption of light energy in terms of dielectric constant.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "TiO2 nanoparticles was introduced into quasi-solid-state Poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VDF-HFP)) based gel electrolyte to form nanocomposite gel electrolyte for quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells. The steady-state voltammograms revealed that the diffusion performance of the triiodide and iodide in the quasi-solid-state P(VDF-HFP) based gel electrolyte was greatly enhanced after the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles. Especially, the apparent diffusion coefficient of I3 − increased from 0.76×10−10 m2/s to 4.42×10−10 m2/s, reached the level of the liquid electrolyte (4.04×10−10 m2/s). By introducing TiO2 nanoparticles, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the gel based device increased from 5.72% to 7.18%, which reached the level of the liquid electrolytes based device (7.01%). The electrical impedance spectrum revealed that the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles could reduce the charge recombination at the interface of dyed TiO2 electrode/electrolyte. The results of the accelerated aging tests showed that the nano-TiO2 composite gel electrolytes based devices could maintain 90% of their initial value after heating at 60°C for 1000h, which indicated that they had better thermostability than the corresponding normal gel electrolyte based devices and liquid electrolyte based devices.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Experimental investigation on the oscillation of TPNC loop is conducted. • Working fluid exchange between compressible volumes is the cause for the oscillation. • Suppression of fluid exchange between compressible volumes can eliminate oscillation. • Heat dissipation capacity can be enhanced 25% through oscillation suppression.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar Photovoltaics is one of the core technologies for a paradigm shift of our electric infrastructure towards distributed generation. In 2011 Italy became the first world market; however, Germany has even the primacy of accumulated power. The installed capacity amounted to 10.000 MW according to data of Italian Manager of Energy Services (GSE) against 1.000 MW in 2010 and 3.000 the beginning of 2011. The projections of GSE include the achievement of the 12.000 MW by the end of the year with more than 350.000 running plants. In a nearly mature market, cost related issues and technical difficulties are encountered in particular in the successful integration within a sensitive and consolidated built environment. The research presented aims to investigate the possible results of an effective use of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), choosing existing buildings in the city of Bellinzona (Canton Ticino, CH) as case studies. Bellinzona presents similar characteristics to small Northern Italian cities in terms of built environment characteristic and climate conditions. The theoretical framework for the analysis is the one proposed initially for low energy and nearly net zero energy buildings (NZEB). Although this type of analysis has been developed, in particular, for building with high penetration of renewable energy sources generation (up to 100% of the energy consumed), it seems worth investigating the dynamic interaction of building energy demand, on-site generation and grid with similar tools, because of the necessity of achieving low energy demand also in retrofitted existing buildings in a near future.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper examines the economic viability of small-scale, grid-connected photovoltaics in the Brazilian residential and commercial sectors after the introduction of the net metering regulation in April 2012. This study uses the discounted cash flow method to calculate the specific investment costs that are necessary for photovoltaic systems to be economically viable for each of the 63 distribution networks in Brazil. We compare these values to the system costs that are estimated in the comprehensive study on photovoltaics that was developed by the Brazilian Association of Electric and Electronic Industries (ABINEE). In our calculation, we utilize the current electricity tariffs, including fees and taxes, which we obtained through telephone interviews and publicly available information. We obtained a second important parameter by simulating PV-systems with the program PV⁎Sol at the distribution company headquarters' locations. In our base case scenario that reflects the current situation, in none of the distribution networks photovoltaics is economically viable in either the commercial or residential sectors. We improved the environment for grid-connected photovoltaics in our scenarios by assuming both lower PV-system costs and a lower discount rate to determine the effect on photovoltaics viability.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The development of the shale oil and gas extraction industry has heightened concerns about shale oil and gas wastewater (SOGW). This review comprehensively summarizes, analyzes, and evaluates multiple issues in SOGW desalination. The detailed analysis of SOGW water quality and various disposal strategies with different water quality standards reveals the water quality characteristics and disposal status of SOGW, clarifying the necessity of desalination for the rational management of SOGW. Subsequently, potential and implemented technologies for SOGW desalination are reviewed, mainly including membrane-based, thermal-based, and adsorption-based desalination technologies, as well as bioelectrochemical desalination systems, and the research progress of these technologies in desalinating SOGW are highlighted. In addition, various pretreatment methods for SOGW desalination are comprehensively reviewed, and the synergistic effects on SOGW desalination that can be achieved by combining different desalination technologies are summarized. Renewable energy sources and waste heat are also discussed, which can be used to replace traditional fossil energy to drive SOGW desalination and reduce the negative impact of shale oil and gas exploitation on the environment. Moreover, real project cases for SOGW desalination are presented, and the full-scale or pilot-scale on-site treatment devices for SOGW desalination are summarized. In order to compare different desalination processes clearly, operational parameters and performance data of varying desalination processes, including feed salinity, water flux, salt removal rate, water recovery, energy consumption, and cost, are collected and analyzed, and the applicability of different desalination technologies in desalinating SOGW is qualitatively evaluated. Finally, the recovery of valuable inorganic resources in SOGW is discussed, which is a meaningful research direction for SOGW desalination. At present, the development of SOGW desalination has not reached a satisfactory level, and investing enough energy in SOGW desalination in the future is still necessary to achieve the optimal management of SOGW.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Interfacial energetics and kinetics are far more important in dye-sensitized solar cells than in conventional solar cells. The huge interfacial area of the nanoporous semiconductor device, with electrolyte permeation throughout the bulk, results in a number of unusual physical characteristics. For example: dark currents can no longer be quantitatively compared to photocurrents; both equilibrium and photoinduced electric fields are rapidly screened throughout the bulk of the cell; the energetics for the crucial processes of electron injection, charge separation and charge recombination are not fixed but depend on a number of dynamic variables; and the open circuit photovoltage is controlled by the photoinduced interfacial chemical potential gradient instead of the built-in equilibrium potential difference. Surface states induced by UV illumination can enhance the photoconversion process in contrast to their detrimental role in conventional cells. Finally, recombination rates can be substantially decreased by modifying the semiconductor/electrolyte interface, rather than by optimizing bulk properties. These effects are described and explained.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this chapter, definitions of all radiative properties that are relevant for real opaque surfaces, namely emittance, reflectance, absorptance, and transmittance, are presented. Electromagnetic wave theory is then applied to predict trends of radiative properties for metals and for dielectrics (electrical nonconductors). These theoretical results are compared with a limited number of experimental data. This is followed by a brief discussion of phenomena that cannot be predicted by electromagnetic wave theory, such as effects of surface roughness, of surface oxidation and contamination, and the preparation of “special surfaces,” i.e., surfaces whose properties are customized through surface coatings, controlled roughness, and geometric pattering. The radiative properties of the Earth's surface and their implications on climate change are also discussed. The chapter concludes with a discussion of experimental techniques that are often used to measure radiative surface properties.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Copper zinc tin sulfide (Cu2ZnSnS4, CZTS) is highly abundant in nature. It is an important absorber material for the development of low-cost and sustainable next-generation I2–II–IV–VI4 thin-film solar cells because it has a the tunable direct band gap energy, inexpensive constituent elements, and a large absorption coefficient in the visible wavelength region. This work develops an efficient one-step vacuum-based approach to depositing CZTS films without the need to supply excess sulfur during/after deposition or to perform any post-sulfurization treatment. This one-step RF sputtering process produces CZTS films that are crystalline, phase-pure, dense, smooth, and continuous. Air Mass 1.5 G power conversion efficiencies of as high as 6% have been achieved with an antireflection coating, demonstrating that this new approach has great potential as a low-cost alternative for high-efficiency CZTS solar cell production.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Supramolecular assemblies are a field of main stream investigation due to its technological and scientific importance. Porphyrins and single-walled carbon nanotubes supramolecular assemblies have drawn special attention because of the ease of assemblage and electronic and photonic interactions. Here we summarize the various applications on nanoscience and nanotechnology of porphyrin/single-walled carbon nanotube molecular assemblies. Stemming from basic physics toward medical applications we show that the molecular pair is a merry combination.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "High-purity single crystals are necessary to investigate the intrinsic properties of undoped β-FeSi2 which is dependent on the composition within the homogeneity range of the phase. Therefore, iron was used as the initial material for growing β-FeSi2 single crystals with a high-purity with respect to metallic as well as non-metallic impurities. Chemical vapor transport in a closed system was used for single crystal growth. By optimization of the whole preparation process a final purity of approximately 99.996% by weight could be achieved. The content of the main electrically active elements was lower than 20 ppm. By optimizing the transport process untwinned single crystals with flat surfaces could be obtained. To fix the composition of the crystals at the lower and upper phase boundary FeSi/FeSi2 and FeSi2/Si sources were used only and the crystals were heat-equilibrated at 700, 825, 925 and 975°C for different times. Only n-type single crystals were obtained even in both equilibria, with FeSi and with Si, respectively. Therefore, the p-type conductivity of undoped single crystals reported in the literature result from non-intentional doping by the impurity level of the used source material. The single crystals grown at both phase boundaries are expected to differ in the concentration of native defects and with that in the electrical properties. Four point measurements have shown a clear relation between the temperature dependence of the resistivity and the annealing temperature. However, different values of the resistivity at room temperature of crystals at the lower and upper phase boundary were only found in 975°C annealed crystals. In no case were low ohmic single crystals obtained.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► We synthesized two low-bandgap donor-accepter copolymers. ► The polymerizations were carried out by the Sonogashira coupling. ► Microwave irradiation significantly shortens the polymerization time. ► Microwave irradiation significantly increases polymer molecular weights. ► Microwave irradiation improves the performance of polymer solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The diffusion of electron–hole plasma in an intrinsic In0.53Ga0.47As single quantum well (SQW) was investigated by measurements of the PL intensity profile around the illuminated area. We found that the carrier diffusion length increases with the temperature, from 85 to 300 K, according to a defect-limited carrier diffusion. A change in the carrier expansion is observed at about 200 K, which appears to be correlated with the thermal activation of a defect center with activation energy of 120 meV. An Arrhenius function of the PL emission intensity confirms that a nonradiative recombination channel becomes visible with an energy of about 120 meV.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper reports the development of electrically conductive silicon carbon-nitride (SiCN) for harsh-environment MEMS applications. SiCN is a new class of polymer-derived bulk ceramics for ultra-high temperature and corrosive environment applications; however, as-pyrolyzed SiCN is electrically insulating. Through post-pyrolysis annealing at 1400°C in a hot isostatic press in a nitrogen atmosphere poly(urea-methyl-vinyl)silazane-derived SiCN MEMS devices were fabricated that exhibit a room temperature electrical resistivity of 2–5.5Ωcm. The material was examined using linear four-probe, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and SEM. This integrated materials/micromachining process enables the realization of a new class of (electro-thermo-mechanical) devices not previously possible in SiCN, and thus takes polymer-derived ceramic (PDC) microsystems technology to the next level of complexity. SiCN lateral thermal actuators and micro-grippers for moving chip-sized objects were fabricated to demonstrate an application of this functionalized material. This work is the first to demonstrate electro-thermo-mechanical transducers fabricated from polymer-derived SiCN.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A comparison of the economic viability of photovoltaic and diesel water pumping systems is presented for system sizes in the range 2.8kWp to 15kWp. Actual performance data from installed systems are employed for the base case. Sensitivity analysis is carried out to generalize results for other locations and conditions. The effect of system oversizing due to mismatch of water supply and demand patterns on the economic viability of PV water pumping system is illustrated based on real data and three-year operational experience of eight installations. Investment prospects in PV water pumping applications for different selling price scenarios of water have been investigated.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The low cost thermoelectric generator (LCTEG) and high performance are investigated. We have investigated a new compound and manufactured locally based area to reduce costs of production. The thermoelectric power generation composed of small n-type (n-CaMnO3) and p-type (p-Ca3Co4O9) of 31 couples/ in2 and the use of thin copper plate and silver paint as electrodes. It was found that the mean voltage is ∼121.7mV, current is ∼0.0121mA, power is ∼1.47μW.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Assuming the validity of the principle of exchange of stabilities, the linear stability of the mechanical equilibrium of a horizontal fluid layer subject to a vertical temperature gradient, a vertical magnetic field, in the presence of Hall and ion-slip effects to normal mode perturbations is studied. The Budiansky–DiPrima method is used to solve the governing boundary value problem for an 11th order system of ordinary differential equations containing four physical parameters. The exact neutral stability curve was obtained in the form of a series. For truncation to one and two terms the coupled action of Hall and ion-slip currents is found destabilizing. The closed form of the Rayleigh number as a function of the other parameters, defining the neutral curves up the two terms, was obtained. The given problem was split into an even and an odd problem. The computation shows that the odd problem corresponding to odd velocity and temperature perturbations with respect to the vertical coordinate is more appropriate than the even one.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The chemical and crystallographic natures of oxygen non-stoichiometry and cation doping in the ‘misfit-layered’ cobaltate [Ca2CoO3− x ][CoO2] δ , δ≈1.61, were investigated. Single-phase polycrystalline samples were prepared with the help of a high-energy planetary ball mill, and single crystals grown from a K2CO3/KCl flux. Polycrystalline undoped, Ti4+-doped, and Nd3+-doped samples were annealed under both air and under argon in order to modify the oxygen non-stoichiometry. The incommensurately modulated composite crystal structures of undoped and Ti4+-doped single crystals were refined against X-ray diffraction data using the superspace group X2/m(0,δ,0)s0. For the as-made (air-annealed) undoped crystal, 14(2)% oxygen vacancies were found on the disordered O2 site in the central layer of the rock-salt-type subsystem, giving an overall stoichiometry [Ca2CoO2.86][CoO2]1.61. For the Ti4+-doped crystal this site was found to be almost fully occupied, while Ti4+-dopant cations were located on the disordered Co1 site in the central layer of the rock-salt-type subsystem, giving an overall formula [Ca2Co0.74Ti0.26O2.98][CoO2]1.61. In both cases, the average cobalt oxidation state is 3.13+. The single-crystal refinements, thermogravimetric analyses and variations in the lattice parameters of polycrystalline samples refined against synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) data indicate that for both undoped and Ti4+-doped samples, substantial numbers of additional oxygen vacancies (15–20%) can be introduced on this site by annealing under an inert atmosphere. Nd3+-doped samples have a much lower tolerance (<5%) for oxygen vacancies.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "To reuse the exhaust heat produced by molten hydroxide direct carbon fuel cells (MHDCFCs), a new combined system mainly composed of an MHDCFC, a regenerator, and a Stirling heat engine (SHE) is theoretically integrated for fuel-to-power efficiency enhancement. Mathematical formulas of the performance indicators for the combined system are derived based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics, from which the feasibility and effectiveness of the combined system are evaluated from both energetic and exergetic viewpoints. Moreover, the optimum working regions of the combined system are further specified by using a multi-objective function paying equal attention to both efficiency and power output. Results show that SHEs can be effectively acted as bottoming cycles for MHDCFC for additional mechanical power production. Numerical calculations indicate that the maximum power density and its corresponding energy efficiency and exergy efficiency of the proposed system are, respectively, about 97.6%, 97.1% and 99.2% greater than that of the single MHDCFC. Furthermore, extensive parametric studies show that increasing working temperature, volume ratio, hot-side working substance temperature or mean pressure is beneficial for the overall system performance, while increasing reactor compartment width may degrade the overall system performance.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations have been employed to calculate the thermal conductivity of coaxial nanocables of Au nanowire core and carbon nanotube shell, i.e. nanotubes filled with nanowires. Our efforts are focused on how the thermal conductivity can be altered in nanocables. By performing analysis on the phonon vibrational density of states, we have revealed that the thermal conductivity of nanocables is 20-42% higher than the corresponding bare nanotubes, due to the interactions of C–C and C–Au and the mass transfer induced by nanowire axial motion. The dependences of thermal conductivity on the temperature, length, diameter, chirality and filling ratio have been investigated. It turns out that the tendencies of nanocable thermal conductivity changing with temperature, length and diameter are similar to bare nanotubes. In addition, the thermal conductivity of nanocables always goes up with the increasing filling ratio. For different chirality types, the zigzag (18, 0) nanocable has the largest thermal conductivity increments, followed by armchair (10, 10) and chiral (14, 7) nanocables.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Considering frosting process in applications usually starts along with cooling stage of the corresponding frosting components, a systematic study on the impacts of the initial cooling rate on the frosting characteristics in an edge zone of a cold plate is conducted. The experimental plate surface temperature, air temperature, relative humidity, and velocity were − 15.0 °C, 20.0 °C, 50%, and 1.5 m/s, respectively. It has been demonstrated that a single row of droplets near the plate edge was significantly larger than the remained droplets due to edge effect. The scope of edge effect on the frosting of cold plate was weakened as the initial cooling rate of cold plate increased. For cases with initial cooling stage, the ratio of the frozen stage period to the entire early frosting stage period increased as the initial cooling rate. Besides, compared to a frosting process without an initial cooling stage, frost thickness decreased by 5.5%, 20.7%, and 32.8% when the initial cooling rates were 1.5, 0.5, and 0.25 °C/s after a 1200-s frosting duration. The results can provide basic data for establishing accurate frosting models and bring insight into delaying frosting in practical applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Research highlights ▶ The p-Si/1,4-DAAQ hybrid diode exhibits a photovoltaic behavior with open circuit voltage, V oc =0.365V and short circuit current, I sc =127μA under AM1.5. ▶ The obtained results indicate that p-Si/1,4-DAAQ inorganic–organic diode can be used as a photosensor in optoelectronic applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Due to limited fossil fuel resources, a growing increase in energy demand and the need to maintain positive environmental effects, concentrating solar power (CSP) plant as a promising technology has driven the world to find new sustainable and competitive methods for energy production. The scheduling capability of a CSP plant equipped with thermal energy storage (TES) surpasses a photovoltaic (PV) unit and augments the sustainability of energy system performance. However, restricting CSP plant application compared to a PV plant due to its high investment is a challenging issue. This paper presents a model to assemble a combined heat and power (CHP) with a CSP plant for enhancing heat utilization and reduce the overall cost of the plant, thus, the CSP benefits proved by researches can be implemented more economically. Moreover, the compressed air energy storage (CAES) is used with a CSP-TES-CHP plant in order that the thermoelectric decoupling of the CHP be facilitated. Therefore, the virtual power plant (VPP) created is a suitable design for large power grids, which can trade heat and electricity in response to the market without restraint by thermoelectric constraint. Furthermore, the day-ahead offering strategy of the VPP is modeled as a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) problem with the goal of maximizing the profit in the market. The simulation results prove the efficiency of the proposed model. The proposed VPP has a 2% increase in profit and a maximum 6% increase in the market electricity price per day compared to the system without CAES.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► This is the first report on near quantitative Sr transport from acidic feeds using crown ethers. ► The crown ether based solvent has shown both selectivity and efficiency. ► The membrane stability is high suggesting reusability. ► This work has potential to be used for high level waste remediation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Textured Sr3Ti2O7 ceramics (abbreviated as S3T) with grain orientation degree higher than 0.7 were successfully prepared by reactive-templated grain growth (RTGG) technique combined with tape casting process, using plate-like Sr3Ti2O7 particles as templates. The phase transition, microstructure and thermoelectric properties were investigated. As the sintering temperature and soaking time increase, the density and texture fraction of ceramics increase. Textured Sr3Ti2O7 ceramics were sintered in air and annealed in argon + graphene carbon (Ar+C) atmosphere. The results showed that the resistivity of textured Sr3Ti2O7 ceramics annealed in Ar+C environment decreased significantly (seven orders of magnitude). After the annealing process, the texture fraction decreased, and Sr3Ti2O7 phase on the surface of textured ceramics decomposed to SrTiO3. The Seebeck coefficient was negative, and the absolute value of S increased with increasing temperature. Textured Sr3Ti2O7 ceramics showed the maximum Seebeck coefficient (−399μV/K) at 1073K, which is higher than those of non-textured Sr3Ti2O7-based materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Using simultaneous heating and cooling of thermoelectric modules was studied. • This modification increases the temperature difference between water and glass. • This improvement increases the water productivity by 2.32 times. • This improvement increases the solar still’s efficiency by 1.76 times. • Water price in the modified solar still is 60% lower than the conventional ones.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Calculating the transport properties, such as electrical conductivity, has been a great challenge in materials modeling fields because of its complexity. We have implemented an algorithm to calculate the electronic transport properties using the generalized Kane band model and perturbation theory in the framework of the relaxation time approximation. Three scattering mechanisms affect the total relaxation time: acoustic phonon scattering, polar optical phonon scattering, and ionized impurity scattering. All the necessary parameters can be calculated from first principles. The capability of the program was tested on a group of semiconductors, and the obtained results show reasonable agreement with experiment. The program works fast, and is robust and especially appropriate for high-throughput screening of thermoelectric materials. Program summary Program title: AICON2 CPC Library link to program files: https://doi.org/10.17632/s9b8y8t92c.2 Code Ocean capsule: https://codeocean.com/capsule/7509547 Licensing provisions: GPLv3 Programming language: Python3 External routines/libraries: Numpy, Scipy, spglib, pymatgen, atomate, emc Nature of problem: Calculation of electrical and thermal conductivity from first principles requires a large number of computing resources in order to construct electron-phonon coupling matrix elements, integrate over the Brillouin zone and construct high-order force constants matrix. Solution method: Combining the perturbation theory with the deformation potential theory to calculate the electronic transport properties, using the modified Debye-Callaway model to calculate the phonon transport properties.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The long-term mission capacity of battery-powered underwater vehicles is quite limited, which necessitates the development of underwater vehicles that utilise ocean thermal engines (OTEng) to capture renewable energy. The literature indicates that OTEng based on solid–liquid phase-change materials (PCM) is the optimum solution; however, the energy capture performance of OTEng strongly affects the motion and power supply of the thermal underwater vehicle, and thus, improving their energy capture performance is critical. In this study, a new OTEng with an enhanced heat transfer structure based on PCM was designed by employing copper foam and filling fluid. An experimental platform for the performance study of OTEng was established, and a corresponding evaluation method was introduced. Comparative experiments on its performance, including the phase-transition time, volume of oil input and output, and amount of energy captured under various scenarios, were carried out. The results were analysed, and it was concluded that (1) the designed OTEng enhanced the heat transfer ability up to 58.3% in the melting process and 21.4% in the solidification process when the temperature difference was 10 °C; (2) filling liquid with 0.3 MPa system pressure was the optimal choice during the solidification process; (3) increasing the system pressure or ambient temperature during the melting process could improve the captured energy or average power in one cycle, respectively.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Korea will launch the Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer (GEMS) instrument in 2018 onboard the Geostationary Korean Multi-Purpose Satellite to monitor tropospheric gas concentrations with high temporal and spatial resolutions. The purpose of this study is to examine the performance of total column ozone (TCO) measurements from ground-based Pandora and Brewer instruments that will be used for validation of the GEMS ozone product. Satellite measurements can be used to detect erroneous outliers at a particular ground station, which deviate significantly from co-located satellite measurements relative to other stations. This is possible because a single satellite retrieval algorithm is used to process the entire satellite dataset, and instrument characteristics typically change slowly over the life of the satellite. Thus, the short-term stability (months) of satellite measurements can be used to estimate the performance of the ground-based measurement network as well as to identify potential problems at individual stations. As a reference for satellite ozone measurements, we have selected TCO data derived from OMI-TOMS V8.5 algorithm, because it is a robust algorithm that has been well studied to identify its various error sources. We validated ground-based Brewer and Pandora TCO measurements using OMI-TOMS TCO data collected over South Korea from March 2012 to December 2014. The Brewer TCO measurements at Pohang showed significant deviation from overall seasonal variation during the study period. In addition, in the presence of clouds, Pandora TCO measurements are unusually ∼7% higher than OMI-TOMS TCO data. To filter out these cloud-contaminated data, we applied a Kalman filter to the Pandora measurements. The diurnal variation in the Kalman-filtered Pandora data agrees well with the Brewer data, and the correlation of Kalman-filtered Pandora data with OMI-TOMS TCO is significantly improved from 0.89 to 0.99 at Seoul and from 0.93 to 0.99 at Busan.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Highly porous CoS CEs were first incorporated in Pt-free DSSCs. ► CoS CEs were deposited in a near-neutral solution by potentiodynamic deposition. ► The DSSC with the CoS/MWCNT CE showed an excellent cell efficiency of 6.33±0.15%. ► The long-term light soaking tests demonstrated such DSSC had excellent stability.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The performance of a Peltier cooled Si-PIN detector is compared with that for a Freolectric cooled Si(Li) detector, references being made to transmission experiments that evaluate total cross sections at low photon energies. The results of these measurements are discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The importance of highly ordered surfaces, containing adsorptive surface states, is discussed for J-aggregation by self-assembly. Such nucleating surfaces are nanometer-sized edges and corners of cubic AgBr microcrystals, or surface iodide-clusters located along edges and corners of AgBr:I microcrystals. Of particular interest are dendrimers, monoatomic steps on terraced silver halide microcrystals and fullerene derivatives as nucleating surfaces. Molecular organisation into J-aggregates by self-assembly was realized using aprotic, apolar solvents for fullerenes, and polar solvents for dendrimers and monoatomic surface steps. By using dendrimers as nucleating agents in mesopores of metal oxide nanoparticle coatings, size-controlled and stable J-aggregates with high optical densities and strong fluorescence were obtained reproducibly. Such films may be useful for sensors, opto-electronics, lighting and photovoltaics.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Reduction of optical losses in monocrystalline silicon solar cells by surface texturing is one of the important issues of modern silicon photovoltaic. For texturization during commercial monocrystalline silicon solar cell fabrication, a mixture of NaOH or KOH and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is generally used in order to achieve good uniformity of pyramidal structure on the silicon surface. The interfacial energy between silicon and electrolyte should be reduced in order to achieve sufficient wettability for the silicon surface which in turn will enhance the pyramid nucleation. In this work, we have investigated the role of hydrazine monohydrate as a surface-active additive, which supplies OH− ions after dissociation. This cuts down the IPA consumption during texturing without any loss of uniformity of textured pyramid. We are probably the first group to report such a novel idea of using hydrazine monohydrate addition in NaOH solution for texturization of solar cell. We were able to fabricate monocrystalline silicon solar cells with more than 85% yield in the range of 14–15% efficiency.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "An optical fiber hydrogen gas sensor, whose clad region constitutes a gas sensing area, was developed. For gas leakage monitoring purposes, sensing devices with wider sensing region are highly desirable. The reported sensor has potential to detect the hydrogen leakage anywhere along the sensing fiber. The sensing principle was based on the absorption of the evanescent-wave interaction in the clad region composed of tungsten trioxide (WO3) and platinum (Pt) layer. This two-layered thin film was fabricated by electron beam (EB) deposition method. The WO3 layer was directly deposited on the quartz glass fiber core, and the Pt layer was deposited on top of the WO3 layer afterward. Hydrogen atoms are easily intercalated into WO3 causing the semitransparent WO3 film to be transformed to blue tungsten bronze. This color change resulted in increase of optical fiber propagation loss. The Pt layer serves as catalyst to stimulate the reaction. Proper thickness of the sensing layer was crucial to the ideal operation. Thicker WO3 layer results in higher sensitivity, with the sacrifice of the increase in propagation loss. The loss increase limits the practical sensing length. The optimal thickness of WO3 layer was determined to be 50nm, whereas that of Pt catalyst was 5nm. The propagation loss of this sensor device was lower than that of the device fabricated by sol–gel (SG) method, which was previously developed. The fast response speed and good reproducibility were also observed. The EB deposition method was effective to control optical properties of the sensor device with ease and highly promising technology for realizing distributed sensor devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Al-doped β-FeSi2 thin film was sputtered on Si substrate and then applied to the amorphous-Si/β-FeSi2/crystalline-Si (a-Si/β-FeSi2/c-Si) double heterojunction. The X-ray diffraction result confirmed the formation of β-FeSi2 crystallization. The result of carrier lifetime measurement implied that Al-doping could improve the carrier lifetime and infrared response property of β-FeSi2 thin film. Such improvements were ascribed to the reduction of Si vacancy density by Al atom occupation. Based on the improved Al-doped β-FeSi2 thin film, the prepared a-Si/β-FeSi2/c-Si double heterojunction exhibited prominent enhancements in open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, fill factor, and energy conversion efficiency than that of the un-doped β-FeSi2 double heterojunction. These results reveal an attractive way to improve the photovoltaic property of a-Si/β-FeSi2/c-Si double heterojunction using Al-doped β-FeSi2 thin film.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We present a study on the interaction between single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and the soluble polymer poly(3-octylthiophene) (P3OT). Composites of SWNTs embedded in the polymer matrix were fabricated by drop casting of the nanotube/P3OT mixture dissolved in chloroform and have been studied using absorption spectroscopy, electrical characterization methods and high-resolution electron microscopy. The electrical conductivity was measured as a function of the SWNTs content in the solution. As the nanotube concentration increases from 0 to 20wt.%, the conductivity of the resulting films increases by five orders of magnitude. The enhancement in conductivity can be explained by means of simple percolation path theory, resulting in an estimated percolation threshold of 11wt.%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "CdTe coatings have been prepared by the reaction between films of cadmium hydroxide deposited on glass and a solution prepared by the dissolution of tellurium in hydroxymethane sulfinic acid. The films of CdTe having thicknesses in the range of 1 μm have been deposited by immersing the cadmium hydroxide coatings in an alkaline solution containing a tellurium compound at 5°C, which is warmed to 70°C. Annealing at ca. 150°C for 24 h gives highly crystalline, cubic CdTe. The preparation of an aqueous solution containing tellurium, which remains stable, is essential for the success of the process. Conditions for the preparation of such a solution are described. Details for the preparation of thin films of Cd(OH)2 on glass, essential for the success of the process, are also described. The CdTe obtained was cubic, has a band gap energy of 1.51 eV, but does not display high photosensitivity.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter presents a mean-variance portfolio optimization analysis that develops and evaluates optimal EU electricity generating mixes for 2020. The results suggest that greater shares of non-fossil technologies, primarily nuclear or wind can help to reduce the cost and risk of the EU generating portfolio as well as its CO2 emissions. Optimal generating portfolios are located that reduce cost and market risks as well as carbon dioxide emissions relative to the BAU mix. Optimal generating portfolio mixes generally include greater shares of wind, nuclear and other non-fossil technologies that often cost more on a stand-alone engineering basis, but overall costs and risks are reduced because of the effect of portfolio diversification. They also enhance energy security. The benefit streams created by these optimal mixes warrant current investments in the order of €250–500 billion. The analysis further suggests that the optimal 2020 generating mix is constrained by shortages of wind, especially offshore, and possibly nuclear power, so that even small incremental additions of these two technologies will provide sizeable cost and risk reductions. Moreover, in deregulated markets, individual power producers who evaluate only their own direct costs and risks make investment decisions. These decisions do not reflect the effects that the producers' technologies may have on overall generating portfolio performance. Today's dynamic and uncertain energy environment requires portfolio-based planning procedures that reflect market risk and de-emphasize stand-alone generating costs. Portfolio theory is well tested and ideally suited to evaluating electricity expansion strategies. It identifies solutions that enhance energy diversity and security and are therefore considerably more robust than arbitrarily mixing technology alternatives.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Photovoltaic (PV) and other solar energy systems are known to lose efficiency as a result of the accumulation of dust on the surface of the panels. These losses have been difficult to predict and vary widely across geographical regions. In this work dust is allowed to naturally accumulate on PV cover plates at two sites in the Front Range of Colorado. Mass accumulation rates are measured, as well as light transmission reduction. Mass accumulation rates between 1 and 50 mg/m2/day were observed and varied with time of year, location, and angle of deployment. Total mass accumulations up to 2 g/m2 were observed after 1–5 week deployments. Transmission reductions up to 11% were found. Transmission varied linearly with the mass of dust accumulated and it was not affected by the angle of incidence of incoming irradiance, angle of deployment of the panel, or location of deployment. Light transmission was found to be reduced by 4.1% for every g/m2 of dust accumulated on the PV cover plate; this relationship was derived from a linear regression of the data. A linear fit to the data is shown to be sufficient, and the uncertainties of the measurements and calculations are found.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We investigated the photoluminescence (PL) characteristics of MoS2–Au hybrid nanostructures, fabricated by nanosphere lithography and wet-transfer techniques. Two kinds of Au nanostructures - such as nanotriangles (NTs) and nanoholes (NHs) - were fabricated for comparison. MoS2 monolayers on both NT and NH arrays exhibited enhanced PL intensity, compared with those on SiO2/Si substrates and flat Au thin films. Numerical simulations revealed clear distinction in the electric field intensity distributions in the NT and NH arrays at the PL excitation wavelength. Such difference could be attributed to the excitation of localized and propagating surface plasmon in the NT and NH arrays. This work helps us to understand how the plasmonic NT and NH arrays affect the physical properties of the MoS2 monolayers on them.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Batteries play a vital role in solar photovoltaic refrigeration systems. Despite breakthroughs in operational characteristics of various components of such systems, lead acid batteries continue to be the only viable electrical energy storage devices as of date. The purpose of this paper is to report the results of characterization of a lead acid battery system as a component of a small capacity uninterrupted refrigeration system. The charging characteristics on solar energy, mains and a generator set powered by an internal combustion engine are presented. It is shown that through a judicious choice of capacity and load matching, the maximum power point tracker can be eliminated.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We investigated the reliability of a rechargeable battery acting as the energy storage component in a photovoltaic power supply system. A model system was constructed for this that includes the solar resource, the photovoltaic power supply system, the rechargeable battery and a load. The solar resource and the system load are modelled as stochastic processes. The photovoltaic system and the rechargeable battery are modelled deterministically, and an artificial neural network is incorporated into the model of the rechargeable battery to simulate damage that occurs during deep discharge cycles. The equations governing system behaviour are solved simultaneously in the Monte Carlo framework, and a first passage problem is solved to assess system reliability.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Light scattering is a monitoring method which enables in-situ controlling and studying of polycrystalline thin film deposition processes. One advantage of light scattering is that it is flexible in the location of the light source and the detector, which allows a certain margin in the substrate position or in the physical configuration of the deposition system. We have made a systematic investigation on the signal level of the laser light scattering on the case of a typical Cu(In,Ga)Se2 three-stage deposition process. Relationship between the distribution of the scattered light and the film structure was investigated. Generic suggestions for physical setup of light scattering systems have been described.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) are subject to several environmental factors, atomic oxygen (AO) having the greatest effect on space materials, especially polymers. Recently, the possibility of utilizing orbits at an altitude lower than 300 km (super LEO or S-LEO) has been explored, but one complication in using these orbits is that AO fluence is expected to far exceed that in an ordinary LEO. The effect of S-LEO AO on materials used in space is not well understood. To investigate the influence of S-LEO AO on space materials, we developed the Material Degradation Monitor (MDM), which is installed on a JAXA spacecraft, the Super Low Altitude Test Satellite (SLATS, also known as TSUBAME). The SLATS is the first S-LEO satellite to operate at an altitude under 200 km and the MDM is the first near real-time experiment to examine the effects of AO on materials in this orbit. The aim of the MDM is to clarify degradation behaviors of the space materials according to AO fluence. We developed the instruments needed to detect AO fluence and the changes it causes to samples of various materials in S-LEO. The MDM performed as expected until the end of the SLATS operation. Some changes in materials were found from the images taken from front and back LEDs. Although there was no breakage by AO, optical properties changed that are assumed to be due to material erosion by AO.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The growing experience with laser devices, whose wave length is partially absorbed in melanin, as well as with longer pulse lengths and higher fluences has resulted in the necessity of concurrent epidermal cooling. Based on own experience as well as the current literature our review article describes every cooling device available, i.e. ice cubes, gel pads, spray cooling with nitrogen or tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a), sapphire-glass window, “cold tip”, and cold air. The cooling systems are compared with regard to cooling method, efficacy, patient's comfort, user friendliness, and cost. In summary, a suitable cooling device is required for each indication and each individual laser.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This research purpose is to design a wind Farm for Arwad Island to stand a necessity for electricity energy, and we are set to perform a complete study for the situation of the Island (climatic – geographic – population) and its electricity requirement. And as we see in consequence we suggest seven choices for this design in addition to offshore choice, when we can, to stand clear of negative facets and positive aspects for every choice to determine what seems to be the best. After we go into a feasibility study to pick a product hour kilo watt price for best option. Toward the end we study probability of producing electricity from solar energy (pv system) to confuted disability economy this choice for many reasons. Finally to perform between production electricity classic ways, wind energy nd solar energy photovoltaic.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A novel “double cable” polymer was developed. Which are generally composed of a carbazole-bithiophene backbone functionalised with perylene tetracarboxylicdiimide (PDI) units as electron acceptors, to avoid phase separation problems between donors and acceptors. The study on the physical properties of the polymer and the interaction of the perylene diimide electron accepting substituents with the polymer backbones in this class of “double cable” polymers is presented.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper is concerned with the mechanical properties of PbTe and Pb1−x Sn x Te compounds and their correlation with the respective charge carrier concentrations. Single-crystals and samples prepared by powder metallurgy display similar general trends. It was found that although there is a similar electronic behavior (constant scattering factor of −0.5) for the various compositions examined, the mechanical properties of the compounds are completely different.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report all-solid-state lithium ion batteries based on nano-sized Li2FeSiO4 coated by carbon cathode materials with fast rechargeable (67.5mAhg−1 at 30C) and high capacity (258.2mAhg−1 with 1.55 Li-ion storage at 1C within 1.5–4.5V) performances for the first time. By investigating and comparing with Li2FeSiO4, LiFePO4 and LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 cathode materials for all-solid-state lithium ion batteries, the mechanism of the higher rate performance of the Li2FeSiO4 based battery is found to be attributed to the high temperature depended diffusivity and electrical conductivity, which are increased by nearly four orders of magnitude from 300K to 373K, and also to permeation of the cathode/electrolyte solid-solid interface to generate the overlapping between Li2FeSiO4 particles and electrolyte.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "β-In2S3 thin films, deposited by spray pyrolysis, were treated in N2 and air plasmas at 240 and 400 Pa. X-ray diffraction, SEM, and EDS analysis, and optical and electrical studies have been used to characterize the as-prepared and plasma treated thin films. The post-deposition plasma treatments affect the morphology and the optoelectronic properties of the In2S3 thin films. The In2S3 thin films treated with N2 plasma at 240 Pa showed an optical band gap, E g, of 2.16 eV and an electrical conductivity of 2×10−2 (Ω cm)−1.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents an analysis of an innovative renewable energy plant serving an existing indoor/outdoor swimming pool located in Naples. The proposed solar hybrid system is designed in order to balance the remarkable energy demand of the swimming pool facility and to ensure suitable comfort conditions for swimmers. With the aim to accomplish such goals, the dynamic thermal behavior of the swimming pool was analyzed as a function of the thermo-hygrometric conditions of the indoor space and on the meteorological conditions of the pool site. In order to properly design and size the proposed renewable energy system, different thermal pool loss formulations for the calculation of the swimming pool thermal balance, in indoor and outdoor regimes, are adopted. The solar hybrid system consists of a water cooled photovoltaic/thermal collectors plant (PV/T), designed to meet a part of the facility demands of electricity and heat. Electricity is completely utilized by the facility, while the produced thermal energy is primarily used to meet the pool thermal demand and secondarily for sanitary hot water scopes. In order to carry out dynamic simulations and sensitivity analyses, the system performance is designed and dynamically simulated in TRNSYS environment. The developed simulation model enables the calculation of both the indoor and outdoor swimming pool thermal losses and the overall energy and economic system performance. Such results are obtained as a function of the thermo-hygrometric conditions of the environment, of the occupants and the energy production of the renewable energy system. A sensitivity analysis, aiming to analyze the effect of some operation and design parameters on the energy and economic performance, is carried out. Finally, simulation results highlight: (i) the remarkable energy performance of the system due to the full utilization of the energy produced; (ii) need of incentive policies for improving the economic profitable of the proposed system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We have experimentally investigated the effects of Cu substitution (0≤x≤0.03) on structural, electronic, and optical properties of bulk Cd1−x Cu x Te, grown by Bridgman method, which is an important semiconductor for photovoltaic applications. A series of X-ray experiments unambiguously demonstrates high-quality Cd1−x Cu x Te single crystals oriented along a (110) direction without clusters and/or secondary phases. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy reveals that the work function of Cd1−x Cu x Te is only slightly smaller than that of CdTe. Although the Cu incorporation does not significantly alter the crystal structure, we find that the measured bandgap varies in the range from 1.474 to 1.461eV at room temperature, which is suitable for photovoltaic applications. Together with the one-photon absorption coefficient, crucial optical parameters describing the temperature dependence of the bandgap are determined based on three analytical models.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "There is an exponentially growing need for well-oriented, vertical silicon nano/micro-structure arrays, particularly in high-density integrated electronic devices. Here, we demonstrate that precisely controlled vertical arrays of silicon wires and cones can be fabricated by a combined treatment strategy of electrochemical and chemical etchings. First, a periodically ordered array of silicon wires was readily fabricated at microscale by simple electrochemical etching in which the current density played a critical role in determining the wire diameter and interspacing. The microstructures fabricated by electrochemical etching were more precisely tuned by further chemical etching, thereby transforming into cone arrays with extremely sharp tips where the cone height was controlled by the etching time. This approach could have broad utility in many electronics requiring miniaturization and high-density integration such as field emitters, photovoltaic and thermoelectric devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "There are currently several investigations being developed around Mars, primarily focused on the aerodynamics of drones and the study of atmosphere flow and Martian soil with the assistance of the Perseverance rover. Several phenomena in the Martian atmosphere can complicate flow measurements, and the Multi Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) at the rear of the rover can introduce additional uncertainty to the measurements. These measurements are conducted with the system called MEDA, which is located at the front of the rover, under its head. Therefore, it is considered of interest to carry out a preliminary study to determine the feasibility of performing tests on Earth simulating the Martian atmosphere without the need for a vacuum chamber. This would make it possible to streamline and simplify the methods used. The aim of this work is to perform simulations on a plate, that can be considered as a simplification of the MMRTG heat exchanger system, which is composed of a cylinder with flat fins around it, over free and forced convection to verify whether flow behaviour in Martian conditions can be obtained from dimensional analysis on Earth.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The therapy of the focal cortical epilepsies remains unsatisfactory. Close to a third of patients fail to gain adequate control with antiepileptic drugs and a portion of those who do, experience unacceptable side effects. Morever, the favorable response rate after surgical resection, approximately 60%, is not nearly as high as the response rate of complex partial seizures caused by mesial temporal sclerosis. The suppressive effect of cooling on neuronal activity has been recognized for over a century. Therefore, we have begun to explore the possible application of cooling as a therapy for focal cortical seizures. In initial brain slice experiments, we found that cooling to 20° C could rapidly terminate paroxysmal activity. Then we developed an in vivo model of focal seizures using a local injection of the convulsant 4-aminopyridine and found that cooling the injected area to less than 24° C with a thermoelectric Peltier device aborted seizures within a few seconds. Other laboratories have independently confirmed our initial observations. More recent experiments from our laboratory have shown that cooling, per se, is not associated with significant cortical damage, even at surface temperatures as low as 5° C. Advances in the fabrication of extremely thin thermoelectric devices, less than a few hundred microns thick, has raised the possibility of incorporating an implantable cooling unit into a closed loop seizure detection and treatment system.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This is a concise review of possibilities and prospects for power generation in space for terrestrial use. Advantages of this approach to power production, the economic and technological obstacles to be overcome, various conceptual approaches, including solar photovoltaic, solar dynamic, nuclear, and the use of chemical energy, and recommendations for progress are summarized. In view of the rising demand for energy, and of the diminishing fuel and available terrestrial area, the use of space for power generation seems to be inevitable: (1) It allows highest energy conversion efficiency, provides the best heat sink, makes best use of solar energy, and relieves the Earth from the penalties of power generation. (2) Both the costs of launching payloads into space and those of energy transmission are declining. The major obstacle is the exorbitantly high cost, which under current conditions requires, for example, the reduction of space transportation costs about a hundredfold for competitiveness. Other issues also need to be resolved, some of general nature, such as environmental effects and security and legal aspects, and some system specific, such as safety of nuclear power plants, and the realization of higher energy conversion and transmission efficiencies. Generation of power in space for terrestrial use will require massive resources, strong international cooperation, and several decades. A staged approach, fortified by developing applications collateral with space power, such as space-to-space power beaming for powering satellites, power relaying by orbital microwave or laser beam reflectors, and orbital mirrors for extended periods of terrestrial illumination, is recommended.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this article, the fabrication methods of black silicon (b-Si), application and performance of b-Si in photovoltaics, and the theoretical modelling efforts in b-Si-based photovoltaic cells are reviewed. To date, the most popular fabrication methods are reactive ion etching and metal-assisted chemical etching, due to their flexibility and low cost. Other methods include laser irradiation, stain etching, electrochemical etching, and Fray–Farthing–Chen Cambridge process. Black silicon's largest application is in photovoltaics due to its absorption properties. Currently, the highest efficiency of b-Si-based solar cell reported in the literature is 22.1% with an interdigitated back contact configuration. Currently, the issue of high recombination rates due to the nanostructures is being actively researched on but has yet been fully resolved. There are only a few theoretical models of b-Si photovoltaics, with most focus on the optical properties. The optical performance is usually assessed based on Maxwell's equations, while the electrical properties are simulated based on semiconductor equations, including Poisson's, continuity and drift-diffusion current equations. Most studies neglect the effect of temperature. Modelling of the thermal properties of silicon nanostructures is performed with the Monte Carlo method to solve the phonon radiative transport equation for the temperature distribution.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Bimetallic thermally-regenerative ammonia batteries (B-TRABs) exhibit great potential in converting low-grade waste heat into electricity due to their high power and energy densities. However, there are still key issues such as self-discharge, low anode coulombic efficiency (ACE), and side reactions in ammonia batteries, which are not well explained but have a significant impact on performance. Here, we focus on the electrode reaction mechanism and give a universal construction criterion for the bimetallic thermally-regenerative batteries. The influence of oxygen on the electrode reactions of each process is explored, and a flow Cu/Zn-TRAB is developed to verify the electrochemical analysis. The root cause for affecting the ACE and oxygen effect are examined. The generation of self-discharge and its different effects are investigated for each electrode process. In addition, the influence of initial catholyte pH and temperature are discussed thoroughly. It is proposed to use the transition potential and pH to predict the occurrence of self-discharge. The results mainly indicate that the power production can be increased by 10–20% by removing oxygen from electrolytes. The stable existence of low-valence ions (e.g., Cu(NH3)4 +) and the self-corrosion of ammonia on anode metals are the two main reasons for the low ACE. The self-discharge phenomenon is more serious in the discharge process because the reduction peak potential of Cu2+ is close to that of Cu(NH3)4 2+. The catholyte has the strongest ability to inhibit self-discharge at 40 °C, and the self-discharge occurs when the catholyte pH rises to ≈7–8.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "New model of the full circuit model of an electropenetrograph (EPG monitor). Black font with solid or dashed lines represent the most important elements during measurement. Grayed-out font plus dotted lines represent significant parasitic elements that can be removed by actions of the researcher. Amplifier refers to Head State Amplifier.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We present a detailed study of a novel alternating polyfluorene copolymer, poly[2,7-(9,9-dioctyl-fluorene)-alt-5,5-(4′,7′-di-2-thienyl-2′,1′,3-benzo-thiadiazole)], and its blends with the fullerene derivative [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester, using continuous wave photoinduced absorption (PA) techniques. We also present the use of phase information from the PA measurements for estimating the number of different photoexcitation types present in the PA spectra as well as their lifetimes. In all blends the PA spectra show a broad high-energy PA band ranging from ∼1 to 2eV as well as a low-energy band at ∼0.35eV. We find two kinds of excitations present at 80K, polarons showing dispersive recombination with lifetimes of roughly a millisecond, and a second kind of photoexcitations tentatively assigned to coulombically bound intrachain polaron pairs showing practically non-dispersive recombination with a lifetime of around 20μs.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Electrical current generated by a photovoltaic cell (PVC) was supplied to wastewater in a mechanically mixed and sealed reactor using stainless steel electrodes. Hydrogen gas was generated by reaction of protons released from decomposition of organic compounds and electrons provided by electrical current. Gas phase was composed of 75–99% H2 gas. Hydrogen gas produced from electrolysis of water (9.5 L) was only 12.5% of that produced from wastewater (75 L) within 432 h. TOC content of wastewater was reduced from 4800 to 4200 mg L−1 with nearly 12.5% TOC removal. Fermentative hydrogen gas production from wastewater was negligible in the absence PVC power. Wastewater inoculated with anaerobic sludge generated higher hydrogen gas volumes as compared to wastewater with the application of solar power. Energy conversion efficiency for hydrogen production by electrohydrolysis of waste compounds (hydrogen energy/electric energy) was found to be 92% for the wastewater containing anaerobic sludge.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Recent progress in the implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive resulted in a significant increase of rooftop PV installations in European buildings. In certain cases the PV installation is extended to cover also south- or west-facing walls byair cooled Building Integrated PV panels (BIPV). The cooling effect maintains a highconversion efficiency of the panels and the heated air may be exploited by the HVAC or service water heating system. Sizing and design of the double façade system is critical to its energetic performance. In this paper, the transient thermal behavior of the basic structural module of a double-skin photovoltaic façade is experimentally investigated in real insolation conditions.Theresults are employed in the validation and further improvement of integration of a BIPV concept to the HVAC system of a building.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power cycle has good prospects for use in many energy applications. Ensuring the stable operation of the power cycle is an important issue. The inlet condition of the main compressor in the sCO2 recompression cycle is close to the critical point of CO2 and the physical properties of CO2 change drastically near the critical point, so the study of inlet parameter change behavior of the main compressor is of great significance to the stable operation of the equipment and the system. This paper investigates the performance of an sCO2 recompression power cycle system under off-design conditions with different cooling and heating conditions. Unlike previous studies, this paper uses more accurate compressor and heat exchanger models to simulate the system for off-designed performance. A 1-D optimization prediction model of the compressor and a density-based segmented heat exchanger model are introduced to predict the performance changes of the system. The operating conditions, performance, and stability of the compressor under different cooling and heating conditions were compared. The results show that variations in different cooling and heating conditions change the inlet temperature of the compressor, causing the sCO2 compressor to deviate from optimal operation. As the inlet temperature increases, the power consumption of the compressor increases. At an inlet temperature of 305 K, the power is 1.93 MW (main compressor, MC) and 2.17 MW (recompressor, RC). When the inlet temperature increases to 310 K, the power increases by more than 10 %. The largest change in system efficiency is 3.76 % for a change in cooling conditions, and the largest change in compressor speed is 14.23 % (MC) and 7.79 % (RC) for a change in heating conditions, respectively. The operating condition of the main compressor moves far away from the surge line when its inlet temperature increases, which means the operation of the main compressor is more stable in this situation. The results of this paper contribute to the stable operation of the sCO2 recompression cycle.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Electrochemically deposited bismuth telluride (BixTey) thin films were grown from nitric acid baths on sputtered Au/Ni/Si substrates. The film compositions and morphology were strongly dependent on the deposition conditions. Surface morphologies varied from granular to needle-like structures depending on the Te content of the films. The power factor improved with the increase of Bi ions in electrolytes, and this may be due to the improvement of the crystal structure and no inclusion of excess Te phases. Annealing up to 200°C in a reducing H2 atmosphere did not improve the power factor due to the interdependence of the Seebeck coefficient and the electrical conductivity.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The study investigated the impact of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon fibers (CFs), steel fibers, and varying water-to-binder (W/B) ratios on the thermoelectric and mechanical properties of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). Flowability tests revealed reduced flow with decreased water content and the addition of CNTs or CFs, particularly pronounced at a lower W/B ratio. Thermal gravimetric analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrated differences in peak intensities and shifts in peaks related to the hydration products of the UHPC by the incorporation of the CNTs and CFs. The compressive strength and tensile performance increased with reduced W/B ratios and the inclusion of steel fibers, whereas the CNTs and CFs affected the strength differently based on their dispersion and interaction with other components that influenced porosity. The presence of steel fibers reduces the percolation threshold for CNTs and CFs, indicating a synergistic effect that enhances electron transport connectivity. The thermal conductivity increased with the addition of CNTs, CFs, and steel fibers, enhancing heat transfer within the UHPC. The thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) values highlighted the combined impact of CNTs, CFs, steel fibers, and W/B ratios on the thermoelectric efficiency of the UHPC, showing significant improvements with the inclusion of steel fibers and the interplay between the CNTs and W/B ratios. Ultimately, upon introducing 1.5 % steel fibers and 0.3 % CNTs, a substantial enhancement in the thermoelectric ZT was observed, surpassing the standard UHPC values by 12 orders of magnitude.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The origin of silicon solar cell passivation by the post-deposition anneal of hydrogenated silicon nitride (SiN x :H) anti-reflection (AR) coatings is investigated. The diffusion of hydrogen (H) in SiN x :H is dominated by fast diffusion of molecular hydrogen (H2) and ammonia (NH3) and not by slow atomic diffusion through covalent bonding sites. An anneal of the SiN x :H layers leads therefore to a rapid H loss into the environment and not into the silicon bulk. Instead of bulk passivation by H atoms, the improvement of the electronic properties is due to an Si/SiN x :H-interface passivation caused by the formation of a few monolayers of silicon dioxide, which removes the bonding topology related stress at the interface. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) scans on various Si/SiN x :H stacks with mono- and polycrystalline substrates and remote and direct plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposited nitrides were carried out and showed strong interface accumulation of oxygen.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Costs for High Concentrator Photovoltaic (HCPV) power plants dropped dramatically during 2013 and are expected to continue to fall in the next few years. Moreover, when viewed from the perspective of life cycle cost, HCPV becomes even more competitive than other renewable technologies in some geographical areas. Consequently, an analysis of the economic feasibility of the HCPV systems in future scenarios is necessary for comparison with other electricity generation technologies. One of the methods commonly used for the economic feasibility analysis in electricity generation projects is the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE). In this paper a cost analysis of electricity generation of HCPV technology in Spain by using the LCOE has been carried out. The results obtained in this LCOE analysis show that in 2020 the LCOE will be able to reach values for HCPV systems from 0.035 to 0.080€/kWh, lower than LCOE for conventional PV systems, in some geographical areas of Spain. The results obtained in this analysis have been shown in innovative maps.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The utilization of geothermal energy is becoming increasingly important in the current transition towards sustainable energy sources. Among the various methods of utilizing geothermal energy, the use of hybrid geothermal power plants that exploit CO2 fluid for preheating in electricity generation has been identified as an attractive approach. Additionally, the shallow ground source heat pump (SGSHP) has been proven to be superior in previous experimental studies. However, the full-scale utilization of geothermal energy, through generating electricity from geothermal power plants and applying waste heat with SGSHPs for auxiliary heating, needs further exploration. This study proposes a novel CO2 hybrid geothermal system that incorporates a GSHP heating system. The hybrid geothermal system uses CO2 as the underground working fluid, and the electricity and waste heat are used to assist the GSHP for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. The proposed system can produce 11.41 MW of electricity, 80 °C of hot water, and 34.76 MW of cold energy by driving 50 MW of the geothermal heat. Through a comprehensive analysis of the economy, energy, exergy, and environment, the results demonstrate that the maximum exergy damage of the refrigeration power cycle is 37999.33 kW, which has the highest exergy losses. The exergy loss of the steam turbine heat power conversion in the geothermal power generation process is the highest, but this loss can be effectively reduced through heat integration. The optimal cooling temperature of the coupled system should be set at 8 °C, and it has a good investment prospect. In summary, the CO2 hybrid geothermal system can realize effective cogeneration and fully utilize geothermal energy. Therefore, it has great potential to contribute to the transition towards a sustainable energy future.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Climate change affects long-lived infrastructures like electricity systems. • Decarbonization will largely be based on variable renewable energies. • Impacts of climate change work differently in size and direction. • Two investment planning strategies are compared: Anticipate climate change yes or no. • Total effects but also isolated effects on potential welfare loss are estimated.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Defects in semiconducting transition-metal dichalcogenides (STMDs) are expected to significantly affect the physical properties of bulk material. In this paper, we explore the effect of defects in monolayer tungsten diselenide (WSe2) modified by ion irradiation. The monolayer WSe2 on Al2O3 was irradiated with a 1.0 MeV C+ ion source at fluences of 5.0 × 10^13 ions/cm2 and 5.0 × 10^14 ions/cm2. The surface morphology and binding energy before and after carbon-ion irradiation was analyzed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The Raman spectra were measured in order to study the vibrational and the electronic properties of the material. Red shifting of the A 1 ′ and blue shifting of the E ′ modes were observed with monolayer WSe2 after carbon-ion irradiation. Meanwhile, in the photoluminescence (PL) spectra, we found that the bandgap can be effectively controlled. The change of the photoluminescence peak in monolayer WSe2 allows potential applications in a range of novel optoelectronic technologies.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This study provides a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted properties and stability of KFe₄Ge₁₂ and KFe₄P₁₂ skutterudite compounds. Advanced Density Functional Theory (DFT) techniques are utilized to delve into their structural, magnetoelectronic, elastic, thermophysical, and thermoelectric attributes, all while focusing on their performance under the influence of ferromagnetism. Our investigations reveal that these skutterudites closely align with similar materials in terms of structural stability, showcasing robust structural integrity. We meticulously examined the magnetic properties, and ferromagnetic phases emerged as the most thermodynamically stable, requiring minimal energy input. Moving to the realm of magnetoelectronic, electronic band profiles were calculated using the Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA) and the modified Becke-Johnson method (mBJ). Remarkably, both compounds exhibit metallic behavior and substantial spin polarization potential, promising exciting applications in spintronic devices. Elastic properties were scrutinized, affirming their mechanical stability, while thermophysical analysis highlighted their thermodynamic robustness. Notably, these materials demonstrated remarkable thermoelectric attributes, with the BoltzTraP code unveiling impressive Seebeck coefficients and electrical conductivities. These findings underline their immense potential for deployment in solid-state devices, emphasizing their strength in thermoelectrics. This study paves the way for exciting advancements in materials science and applications across various domains. Throughout our investigations, we discovered that these skutterudites exhibit a high degree of structural stability, showcasing robust integrity in their composition. Moreover, in our meticulous examination of the magnetic properties, we observed that ferromagnetic phases are exceptionally thermodynamically stable, demanding minimal energy input to maintain this state. This finding is significant in understanding the behavior of these materials under magnetic influences. Moving into the realm of magnetoelectronic, our analysis of the electronic band profiles using the Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA) and the modified Becke-Johnson method (mBJ) revealed something truly remarkable. Both compounds exhibit metallic behavior alongside substantial spin polarization potential, hinting at exciting possibilities for their application in spintronic devices. Moreover, our scrutiny of the elastic properties confirmed the mechanical stability of these compounds, while the thermophysical analysis underscored their robustness in thermodynamic behaviors. These findings collectively point towards a promising future for these materials, indicating their immense potential for deployment in solid-state devices. Particularly, their impressive thermoelectric attributes, as unveiled by the BoltzTraP code, showcase remarkable Seebeck coefficients and electrical conductivities, emphasizing their strength in thermoelectrics.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The method described in a prior journal publication  is applied to the determination of module series resistance and diode quality factors for several crystalline silicon (c-Si) technology photovoltaic (PV) modules. This method makes use of the functional dependence of the slope of the current–voltage (I–V) characteristics at open circuit (R oc) against the reciprocal of the short-circuit current density (J sc), from multiple I–V curves taken under variable illumination. It is shown that calculations of the series resistance for six modules yield values in the range 1.0–1.6Ω-cm2, expressed in unit-cell area terms. The derived values for the series resistance (R s) determined from the data are investigated for their effect on the module fill factor (FF) values and their dependence at higher light intensity levels. The diode quality factors also derived from the same data are shown to be somewhat larger than those obtained from the more canonical method — slope of the fit of the open-circuit voltage (V oc) versus logarithm of J sc. The differences between the two methods are explored within a two-diode model for c-Si. Deriving average values of diode quality factors for series-connected cells using either method is shown to exhibit problematic issues.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Using numerical analysis, stabilization of the cyclic fluctuation (changes of several minutes or less) of PV (photovoltaics) was attempted by introducing governor-free control of a SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell), controlling air flow rate, and using a flywheel inertia system. The energy balance of the system element, mass balance, time lag, etc. were modeled, and the response characteristics of the proposed system were analyzed using MATLAB/Simulink 2013a. Consequently, the range of fluctuation in the electrical frequency within 0.2 Hz was controlled by introducing a flywheel inertia constant of 0.01 s. Interconnection electricity using PV with cyclic fluctuations can be supplied as high-definition electricity. That electricity is controlled using a flywheel and a proportional-integral-differential controller with suitable parameters by adjusting the governor-free control and rate of air flow in the SOFC. The SOFC and an inertia system provide a supply of backup power from renewable energy and serve to promote the increased use of clean energy.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We perform DFT/TDDFT calculations to study the optoelectronic properties of some pentacene-based organic molecules and their derivatives, which can serve as donor moiety when blended with fullerene acceptors in the bulk-heterojunction solar cell model. We are motivated by a recent experiment in which an unoptimized device was shown to have a good photovoltaic performance and we aim to further improve the efficiency of this device. We try to optimize the photovoltaic properties on the basis of a quantum-mechanical calculation of the frontier energy levels and of the absorption properties of individual molecules and of the molecule–fullerine composite.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Development a novel supercritical CO2 power-refrigeration system. • Employing TG modules leads to enhance the energy efficiency of up to 1% • The PTSC with 826.5 kW has the highest value of exergy destruction rate. • The net power generation of Brayton cycle and TG were estimated 154.9 kW and 4.81 kW. • The refrigeration capacity of ARC is calculated as 258.7 kW.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We have investigated the electronic structures of Na-incorporated In-rich CuInS2 based on ab initio electronic band structure calculations and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). From the results of theoretical calculations and experiments, for p-type In-rich CuInS2 films, we find that interstitial Na species, except for Na at Cu sites, are very unstable and move easily within the crystal. This indicates that the mobile Na will act as a passivator of donor states, such as In at Cu sites and interstitial In, leading to good p-type conductivity of CuInS2 films. On the other hand, we conclude that the formation of the ionic chemical bonds of Na at Cu sites - S atoms near the surface are energetically favorable due to a decrease in the Madelung energy. This results in the stabilization of ionic charge distributions of CuInS2:NaCu with a shift in the energy levels of S 3p orbitals in the vicinity of the Na atoms towards lower energy regions. As a result, the Na incorporation yielded a surface layer of expressed as (Na,Cu) InS2 on p-type In-rich CuInS2 thin films.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "An organic photovoltaic architecture based on conducting polymer and organic compounds deposited concentrically on long metal wires were introduced and designed. The light enters to photovoltaic cells through a semitransparent outer electrode. Preliminary tests on the potential to realize the model in conventional flat devices was carried out. Insertion of a hole collecting layer, poly (ethylene dioxythiophene) doped with polystyrene sulfonic acid (PEDOT:PSS), to between the active layer and the outer electrode, and increasing in the wettability of PEDOT:PSS solutions on polymer-thin films were found to increase in power conversion efficiencies of photovoltaic cells. The power conversion efficiency of 0.11% was obtained from the devices tested, which is reasonably high enough for further development in metal wires-based organic photovoltaic cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • The electrical resistivity is decreased obviously through Cu-doping. • Cu-doping leads to a reduction by 30–50% in lattice thermal conductivity. • ZT=0.54 is obtained at 590K which is the largest value for Bi2Se3 reported so far.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Stacked Ge islands formed via the Stranski–Krastanov growth mode were incorporated into the intrinsic layer of Si-based pin diode to improve the performance of the solar cells in the near-infrared regime. The onset of the external quantum efficiency was extended up to around 1.4 μm for the solar cells with stacked Ge islands. The quantum efficiency was found to increase with increasing number of stacking, and the onset of the photocurrent response was in good agreement with room-temperature photoluminescence energy of the Ge islands. These results manifest that the Ge islands did play a role to increase the quantum efficiency. Furthermore, a part of electron-hole pairs generated within Ge islands was separated by the internal electric field and contribute to the photocurrent.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, the new concept of “memory dependent derivative” in the Pennes’ bio-heat transfer process of skin tissues is employed to investigate the one-dimensional problem of a skin tissue under sinusoidal heat flux conditions. Laplace transform technique is utilized to solve the problem. We investigate, numerically, the bio-heat transfer equation with memory-dependent derivative to find the effect on the tissue temperature of the kernel function and the time-delay parameter which are characteristic of memory dependent derivative heat transfer. Correlations are made with the results obtained in the case of the absence of memory-dependent derivative parameters. The effects of the time-delay on the temperature distribution in skin tissue for different forms of kernel functions are examined.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The present paper deals with the small free vibration of functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM) beams with rectangular cross sections in pre/post-buckling regimes. The in-plane mechanical boundary conditions are considered to be immovable and various out-of-plane boundary conditions are considered. The Beam is assumed to be under in-plane thermal and electrical excitations. Each thermo-electro-mechanical property of the beam is graded across the thickness based on a power law model. The von-Karman type geometrical non-linearity is implemented to account the large deflection behavior of the beam under in-plane loadings. A Ritz-based finite element formulation is developed to discrete the motion equations. The resulted system of non-linear equations is solved via the iterative Newton–Raphson scheme. Plots of frequency in terms of loading parameter reveals the existence of bifurcation or critical states in some cases. Vibration of the beam in both pre-buckling and post-buckling states are validated with the available data in the open literature. The effects of boundary conditions, beam geometry, composition rule of constituents, actuator voltage, and thermal environment are examined through the various parametric studies.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Compared with heterojunction composite, the heteroparticle theoretically provide the larger interfacial area between components and higher photoactivity. Nonetheless, two or more substances are very hard to synchronously form on an individual particle under the same experimental conditions, due to their different thermodynamical property and stability. Herein, sulfonic resins are utilized to in-situ prepare the ternary Cu-Cu2-xS/C catalyst via a simple synthetic strategy, of which the supported Cu-Cu2-xS monoparticles are proved to include both metallic Cu and Cu2-xS phases. This unique heterostructure significantly accelerates the electron transfer between Cu and Cu2-xS. Under the irradiation of visible light, the Cu-Cu2-xS/C product exhibits a superior photocatalytic activity for the reduction of Cr(VI), which is ∼5.2 times as high as the physically mixed Cu+Cu2-xS+C sample. This methodology will inspire the development and study of more heteroparticle catalysts with the high activity to apply in the possible industrial production.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, photoelectrochemical properties of Cd-substituted tetrahedrite Cu10Cd2Sb4S13 (THCd) monograin powders (MGPs) synthesized from Cu2S, CdS and Sb2S3 in two different molten salt (CdI2 and LiI) environments were studied in 0.1 M H2SO4 solution. Both materials exhibited a cathodic photocurrent that confirms the p-type conductivity. THCd MGP grown in LiI was more stable and exhibited higher photocurrent (3.9 × 10−5 A/cm2) compared to the powder grown in CdI2 (3.3 × 10−6 A/cm2). Mott–Schottky method was used to calculate the acceptor concentrations; NA in THCd grown in CdI2 was 2.6 × 10^16 cm−3 and grown in LiI was 3.5 × 10^15 cm−3. The valence band positions of THCd MGPs were derived from the electrochemical impedance measurements. Valence band maxima found experimentally are at 0.49 eV for THCd grown in CdI2 and 0.76 eV for THCd grown in LiI, relative to normal hydrogen electrode.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, a scheme of pulse combustion mode with pulse input of gas is proposed to solve the problems of low output electrical performance and energy conversion efficiency of combustion-based thermoelectric systems under limited heat dissipation conditions, which is based on experiments. The characteristics of the thermoelectric system show that pulse combustion mode can increase the instantaneous temperature difference, so as to achieve the excitation effect on the output power. The relationships among output power, system efficiency, excitation intensity and pulse input parameters, and the geometry of thermoelectric modules are obtained. The influence of pulse input parameters on the excitation intensity is interactive, and top dead center of pulse inlet power is the parameter that has the greatest influence on the performance. Compared to the constant combustion mode, the pulse combustion mode can increase the output power by up to 28.3%. A maximum output power of 7.15 W with air-cooled heat dissipation and a maximum system efficiency of 3.26% were experimentally obtained, which is a 30% increase in efficiency over current air-cooled heat dissipation thermoelectric systems. Therefore, this paper can provide solutions for more practical power supply, provide effective and feasible guidance for the study of thermoelectric systems, and provide useful insights into the electrical properties of thermoelectric systems.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Amorphous (a-)Ce50Al50 has been prepared by DC high-rate sputter method. The structure of the obtained sample has been confirmed to have an amorphous structure because there are no Bragg peaks in the X-ray diffraction measurement and have a clear exothermic peak by the differential scanning calorimetry measurement. We have measured the resistivity ρ, magnetic susceptibility χ, specific heat C p and thermoelectric power S for a-Ce50Al50. The temperature dependence of ρ exhibits a small temperature dependence less than 10% in the whole temperature region. χ follows a Curie-Weiss behavior in the high-temperature region of T>90K. The effective paramagnetic moment p eff, estimated from C is 2.18 μB/Ce-atom. The low-temperature C p/T increases rapidly with decreasing temperature and tends to a saturation. S(T) exhibits negative values in a wide temperature region. A minimum of S appear at around 60K, and S decreases linearly with decreasing temperature down to 10K. The low-temperature S is almost 0μV/K down to 2K. From these results, we have pointed out that present a-Ce50Al50 would be an incoherent Kondo material.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper discusses some energy scenarios for photovoltaic applications in Brazil engendered by using SWERA database in order to demonstrate its potential for feasibility analysis and application in the energy planning for electricity generation. It discusses two major different markets: hybrid PV–Diesel installations in mini-grids of the off-grid Brazilian electricity system in the Amazon region, and grid-connected PV in urban areas of the interconnected Brazilian electricity system. The potential for using PV is huge, and can be estimated in tens to hundreds of MWp in the Amazon region alone, even if only a fraction of the existing Diesel-fired plants with a total installed capacity of over 620MVA would fit to run in an optimum Diesel/PV mix. Most of the major cities in Brazil present greater electricity demand in summertime with the demand peak happening in the daytime period. This energy profile match the actual solar resource assessment provided by SWERA Data Archive, enabling grid-connected PV systems to provide an important contribution to the utility's capacity.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter discusses the performance analysis of photovoltaic (PV) systems based on the modeling of solar irradiance fluctuations by using fractals. The theoretical investigation is applied to study an experimental installation located in the south of Algeria, which is put into operation by the National Company of Electricity and Gas (SONELGAZ). The chapter presents a classification method of daily solar irradiances that is mainly based on fractals. This classification is then used in the performance analysis of PV systems. The idea consists in comparing the results of long-term performance to the ones obtained while using typical cases resulting from daily solar irradiances classification. The methodology developed and implemented reduces the economical costs involved in performance analysis of PV systems.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The chapter reviews the history, development, and present processes used to fabricate thin-film, CdTe-based photovoltaic (PV) devices. It is intended for readers who are generally familiar with the operation and material aspects of PV devices but desire a deeper understanding of the process sequences used in CdTe PV technology. The discussion identifies why certain processes may have commercial production advantages and how the various process steps can interact with each other to affect device performance and reliability. The chapter concludes with a discussion of considerations of large-area CdTe PV deployment including issues related to material availability and energy-payback time.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Topology optimization under stress and heat conduction constraints. • Multi-physics problem involving linear elasticity and heat conduction. • Thermal expansion effect included in the optimization. • Optimal solution satisfying stress and heat conduction constraints. • Different optima obtained for different thermal conditions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Research highlights ▶ TiO2 nanostructural arrays are fabricated by annealing the magnetron sputtered Ti on anodic aluminum oxide templates. ▶ The nanotubular array is polycrystalline anatase phase. ▶ The parameters of the porous template influence the shape of the sputtered nanostructure. ▶ The TiO2 nanostructural film is an indirect bandgap semiconductor with oxygen vacancy defects.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Poly-Si thin-film solar cells fabricated on glass superstrates via the aluminium-induced crystallisation solid-phase epitaxy (ALICE) method, where an aluminium-induced crystallisation (AIC) poly-Si seed layer is thickened via solid-phase epitaxy (SPE) of a-Si:H, are investigated. For comparison, solar cells made by solid-phase crystallisation (SPC) of a-Si:H are also investigated. In both cases, the a-Si:H films are deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) vapour. The structural quality, as determined by Raman and ultraviolet (UV) reflectance measurements, of ALICE diodes is found to be superior to that of SPC diodes. Sheet resistance profiling of n-type ALICE and p-type SPC diodes reveals that the Al doping of the AIC poly-Si layer, which is designed to function as a p+ emitter in n-type ALICE diodes, is almost completely neutralised during the high-temperature hydrogenation process. In contrast, the n+ (phosphorus) emitter of the p-type SPC diodes is not neutralised appreciably by the same hydrogenation process. To overcome the problem with Al-doped emitters, an ALICE structure with an n + AIC poly-Si emitter and a p-type base (glass/SiN/n+p−p+) is suggested and experimentally investigated. The doping in the n+ emitter of ALICE cells is found to be essentially unaffected by the hydrogenation process. Open-circuit voltages of up to 480mV are achieved for p-type ALICE cells with an n+ AIC poly-Si emitter. These voltages seem to be the highest reported so far for poly-Si thin-film solar cells on glass featuring an AIC poly-Si seed layer.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Recently, layered Li1+xV1−xO2 with x≥0 has attracted significant attention as an anode material for Li-ion batteries. Its high volumetric and gravimetric capacities (1360mAh·cm−3 and 300mAh·g−1 respectively) make it particularly interesting. During lithium intercalation Li1+xV1−xO2 with x>0 exhibits wide potential plateau below 0.1V vs. Li/Li+, while for stoichiometric LiVO2 lithium uptake hardly occurs. In this work evaluation of crystal structure, transport and electrochemical properties is given for Li1+xV1−xO2 materials with x=0, 0.03 and 0.07. Li1+xV1−xO2 showed activated character of conductivity with activation energy about 0.2–0.3eV. Thermoelectric power values exceeding 80μV·K−1 point to electron holes as the main charge carriers. Thermogravimetric measurements carried out in air indicated only minor variations of mass of the materials up to 215°C, suggesting high stability along with low level of oxygen nonstoichiometry.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Copper selenide (Cu2Se) is recognized as a p-type thermoelectric (TE) semiconductor known for its eco-friendliness, abundance in the earth's crust, and cost-effectiveness. Current research on Cu2Se primarily centers around its exceptional TE capabilities in bulk materials. However, two-dimensional thin films hold distinct advantages in TE micro- and nano-device development and applications. In the present study, a series of Cu2Se thin films were deposited on a glass substrate by employing radio frequency magnetron sputtering deposition by varying the substrate temperatures (Ts) from 50 °C to 400 °C with an interval of 50 °C. The impact of Ts role on the structural, microstructural, and electrical transport characteristics of Cu2Se thin films was investigated using the Grazing Incidence X-ray diffraction, High-Resolution transmission electron microscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Seebeck analysis. The change in the Ts increased grain growth as observed from microstructure studies and improved electrical and transport characteristics. Notably, films deposited at Ts 350 °C exhibited a significant power factor of 16.8 μW/cmK2 at 450 °C, making them highly promising for TE applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We study the effects of a transverse magnetic field and electron doping on the thermoelectric properties of monolayer graphene in the context of Hubbard model at the antiferromagnetic sector. In particular, the temperature dependence of thermal conductivity and Seebeck coefficient has been investigated. Mean field approximation has been employed in order to obtain the electronic spectrum of the system in the presence of local electron-electron interaction. Our results show the peak in thermal conductivity moves to higher temperatures with increase of both chemical potential and Hubbard parameter. Moreover the increase of magnetic field leads to shift of peak in temperature dependence of thermal conductivity to higher temperatures. Finally the behavior of Seebeck coefficient in terms of temperature has been studied and the effects of magnetic field and Hubbard parameter on this coefficient have been investigated in details.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar energy represents the largest source of renewable energy and is thus expected to play a crucial role in meeting our future energy demand. In China, solar energy utilization has made remarkable progress in recent years. In this paper, we reviewed the recent developments in the field of solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation from the perspective of transition theory, which was originally developed by technological innovation studies. The transition studies propounded three heuristic levels in a system, namely, socio-technical landscape, regime, and niche, and a transition of a system can only be fulfilled through the interactions among these three levels. With respect to the development of solar PV power generation in China, in this paper we initially examined specific situations within these three levels in the context of energy transition. In the subsequent sections, we paid attention to the response of government in promoting the solar PV development amid energy transition. Specifically, relevant policies and some niche level special programs were investigated. Then, we examined the phased achievements in the transition and offered solutions to some newly emerged problems. The final section concludes with some comments.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "To search a suitable material candidate for “all-Si” tandem solar cell, a hybrid super-lattice structure consisting 30 periods of alternating amorphous Si0.7C0.3 (5nm) layers and ultra-thin Si3N4 barrier layers (0.2-2.0nm) has been deposited by magnetron sputtering with subsequent annealing by a rapid thermal annealing (RTA) process. Structural and electrical characterization of the layered film was carried out after annealing. 8nm barrier layer thickness is proven to be able to provide sufficient structural confinement even after high temperature annealing. Increased resistivity was measured for the overall multi-layer structure, resulting from the incorporation of the Si3N4 barrier layers hence likely suppressing carrier transport and further electron hopping is proven the main transportation mechanism.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The Cu2Sex nanosheet grown on copper foam was synthesized at room temperature (25 °C) with time of as rapid as 5 min in the mixture solution of selenium and hydrazine hydrate. The Cu2Sex can be stably transformed into CuO by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in 0.1 M KOH, whose phase transformation process includes Cu2Sex transforming into Cu2Se and Cu2Se transforming into CuO. The corresponding morphology can be changed from nanosheet to thin hierarchical nanosheet and the electrochemical performance is improved simultaneously. The electrochemical behavior of CuO@Cu electrode was studied systematically, which exhibited a high specific capacitance of 1240 mF/cm2 (168 F/g) at a current density of 1 mA/cm2, and displayed a good stability with capacitance retention of 87.82% after 10000 charge/discharge cycles.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Pure carbon Schottky devices based on carbon nanotube macrostructures are fabricated and characterized. The planar 1D/2D strand-on-film junction shows interesting force- and light-controlled transport behaviors.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This study aims to investigate the role of jet-to-cross flow velocity ratio on convective heat transfer and flow characteristics in a channel with discrete heating modules simulating electronic components. Three-dimensional numerical simulations are performed using the finite volume method. The findings obtained for different velocity ratios of the jet-to-crossflow are compared with the reference case (crossflow solely). While keeping the crossflow velocity and the crossflow Reynolds number ( Re c = 5000 ) constant, numerical calculations are performed for six different velocity ratios ( U r = 1.0 , 2.0 , 4.0 , 6.0 , 8.0 and 10.0 ). The focus is on the role of the velocity ratio ( U r ) on the mean Nusselt number ( Nu m ) on the modules’ surfaces, the Nusselt number ratio ( Nu r ), the friction coefficient ratio ( f r ) obtained throughout the channel and the thermal enhancement factor ( TEF ). As a result of the study, it is revealed that the momentum of jet flow becomes dominant over crossflow, the influence of jet flow on convective heat transfer increases, and the thermal enhancement factor increases depending on the increase in jet-to-cross flow velocity ratio.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report the performance of a 1eV GaNAsSb-based photovoltaic cell grown using a molecular beam epitaxy system equipped with a radio frequency (RF) plasma-assisted nitrogen source. The 1μm-thick photoabsorption layer contains 2% of N and 6% of Sb resulting in a GaNAsSb layer with bandgap energy of 1.0eV. Under AM1.5G solar illumination condition with and without 850nm long pass filter, the GaNAsSb-based photovoltaic cell demonstrates a J SC values of 15 and 32mA/W, respectively. Deep level transient spectroscopy analysis reveals that the V OC of the photovoltaic cell could possibly be limited by the presence of arsenic antisite defects.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Experiments of mechanical alloying/milling of filled and unfilled skutterudites have been performed under various ball milling conditions in order to (a) optimise the preparation of nano-sized skutterudites and (b) to elucidate formation and/or decomposition of unfilled (CoSb3) and filled skutterudites Mm y Fe4Sb12 (Mm means ‘mischmetal’). State-of-the-art X-ray techniques have been used to evaluate the size distribution of the smallest crystallographically undisturbed regions (coherent-scattering-domains), which in many cases are significantly smaller than the physical size of grains. The influence of oxides in in situ precipitations on the stability of the nanostructures at 600°C was investigated and compared with oxide-free nano-sized skutterudites. It was shown that at 600°C the crystallites of nano-sized CoSb3 grow rapidly reaching micro-size after 90h, whilst in situ oxide stabilized nanostructures MmFe4Sb12 with crystallite size below 200nm do not show coagulation even after 600h of heat treatment at 600°C. The nano-sized oxide composite has a significantly lower lattice thermal conductivity resulting in an improvement of the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT740K =0.52 being about 20% higher than for oxide-free macro-crystalline Mm y Fe4Sb12 as reference. The composition of nano-composite was optimised for large-scale production in oxidizing atmosphere. Attempts to evaluate the dislocation density for ball-milled samples indicate that it is only slightly above the lower limit of resolution of the method of about 1012 m−2.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper focuses on the electrochemical potentialities of the 2D misfit compound Ca3Co4O9−δ , so far mainly investigated for its thermoelectric properties. Its expansion coefficient (TEC=(9–10)×10−6 °C−1) and its chemical stability are compatible with standard CGO IT-electrolyte and the first optimisation steps of the deposited cathode have been performed with the aim to minimise the ASR and increase the cell durability. Particular attention has been paid on the effect of thickness and microstructure for pure and composite cathodes. The electrode reaction was performed on symmetrical cells. The preliminary results presented here show that the composite (70wt.% Ca3Co4O9−δ –30wt.% CGO) gives the lowest ASR values compare to single-phased electrodes. Strikingly, the ASR values increase for thinner deposited layers. The effect of various current collectors (gold grid vs. platinum paste) has been also checked.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, the selective synthesis of pure cadmium telluride (CdTe) quantum dots and cadmium telluride and cadmium sulfide (CdTe:CdS) nanocomposites was accomplished. The thiol capping agent played a dual role in the preparation of CdTe and CdTe:CdS nanocomposites. Thioglycolic acid acted as a capping agent at the starting stage of the refluxing process and also acted as a sulfur source in the fabrication of CdTe:CdS nanocomposite through partial hydrolysis at longer refluxing time. The fluorescence quantum yield of the CdTe quantum dots was significantly increased in the preparation of CdTe:CdS nanocomposites. The maximum quantum yield by CdTe:CdS nanocomposites was achieved as 47% for a refluxing time of 58h. The structural studies revealed the formation of CdTe:CdS nanocomposites at longer refluxing time. The homogeneous size distribution of the CdTe:CdS nanocomposites was confirmed by high resolution transmission electron microscopic studies. The optical studies clearly demonstrated the formation of CdTe:CdS nanocomposites through partial hydrolysis of capping agent with the extended refluxing time. The size dependent energy transfer of the CdTe quantum dots was studied by the absorption and emission characteristics.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A wide variety of metal-containing polymers, or ‘metallopolymers’, have become readily available over the past decade. This has led to a rapidly expanding interest in their properties and uses. These new materials combine the processing advantages of polymers with the functionality provided by the presence of metal centers. We illustrate a selection of applications of metallopolymers in areas such as sensors, memory and light-emitting devices, solar cells, nanolithography, photonic crystal displays, controlled release, and catalysis.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "NIR emission demonstrated the occurrence of energy transfer from the excited coPPV moieties to SWNTs in the composites.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Harvesting energy based on hydrovoltaic effect as a cost-efficient and eco-friendly technology has attracted increasing attention worldwide with the intensification of global energy crisis and the development of wearable electronics. However, the existing hydrovoltaic power generators are characteristic of low electrical output in ionic solutions and high material rigidity, which hinder their application scenarios. Herein, a membrane/fabric hydrovoltaic power generator (MFHPG) with a sandwich structure is proposed, which is made up of ion exchange membrane (IEM) and cotton fabric, distinguished by high-efficient and constant energy generating from salt solution through solar evaporation. Benefiting from the directional flowing of salt solution driven by the capillary of cotton fabric fibres and water evaporation, the IEM selectively transports ions in the salt solution to generate power with much enhanced performance, where a superior short-circuit current (I sc) of ∼54.5 μA and an open-circuit voltage (V oc) of ∼0.23 V can be obtained with a size of 20 × 10 cm2. Experimental results illustrate that surface size, different solution concentrations/types and temperature all have influences on energy output performance. The underlying mechanism has also been established based on elemental composition analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and fluid flow observation. Notably, the power output can be readily promoted by series/parallel connections of MFHPGs to operate commercial electronics. This work could open up new materials and expand broader application scenarios in the field of hydrovoltaic power generation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Bismuth telluride-Bi2Te3 is the most promising material for harvesting thermal energy near room temperature. There are numerous works on Bi2Te3 reporting significantly different transport properties, with no clear connection to the synthetic routes used and the resultant surface chemistry of the synthesized materials. It is of utmost importance to characterize the constituent particles’ surface and interfaces to get a better understanding of their influence on the transport properties, that will significantly improve the material design starting from the synthesis step. Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is a promising technique, enabling the formation of thick films using colloidally stabilized suspensions of pre-made nanoparticles, which can enable the study of the effect of surface chemistry, in connection to the synthetic route, on the material’s transport properties. In order to explore the differences in surface chemistry and the resultant transport properties in relation to the synthetic scheme used, here we report on Bi2Te3 synthesised through two wet-chemical routes in water (Hydro-) and oil (Thermo-) as the solvents. XRD analysis showed a high phase purity of the synthesized materials. SEM analysis revealed hexagonal platelet morphology of the synthesized materials, which were then used to fabricate EPD films. Characterization of the EPD films reveal significant differences between the Hydro- and Thermo-Bi2Te3 samples, leading to about 8 times better electrical conductivity values in the Thermo-Bi2Te3. XPS analysis revealed a higher metal oxides content in the Hydro-Bi2Te3 sample, contributing to the formation of a resistive layer, thus lowering the electrical conductivity. Arrhenius plots of electrical conductivity vs inverse temperature was used for the estimation of the activation energy for conduction, revealing a higher activation energy need for the Hydro-Bi2Te3 film, in agreement with the resistive barrier oxide content. Both the samples exhibited negative Seebeck coefficient ( S ) in the order of 160–170 mV/K. The small difference in S of Hydro- and Themo-Bi2Te3 films was explained by the effective medium theory, revealing that the magnitude of S is linearly correlated with the surface oxide content. Based on the findings, TE materials synthesized through thermolysis route is recommended for further studies using soft treatment/processing of pre-made TE materials. EPD platform presented here is shown to clearly expose the differences in the electronic transport in connection to nanoparticle surface chemistry, proving a promising methodology for the evaluation of morphology, size and surface chemistry dependence of electronic transport for a wide range of materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "One presents in this paper an idea to use switchable technologies to independently control the solar heat flow and the visible light transmission through windows, and potentially collect infrared radiant power on a photovoltaic cell. The system uses chiral liquid crystal and suspended particle device switchable technologies that are electronically tuned to optically control the quantity of infrared light rejected, the visible light transmission and the optical path to internally reflect the light and collect it on the photovoltaic cell. A characterized suspended particle device showed an average 48.5% to 1.3% transmission respectively in the transparent and opaque states of the window. A second characterization of a chiral liquid crystal mirror manufactured to reflect the visible range showed an average transmission modulation between 84% and 3% over 250nm reflection range respectively in the transparent and reflective states at small light incidence angles. Transmission is however significantly increasing in the reflective state while increasing light incidence angle and considered in ray-tracing simulation of the system. A ray tracing software has been developed to simulate the performance of a window 50cm height by 50cm long and 5.5cm wide consisting of two chiral liquid crystal mirrors and using the characterization results. Adaptation of the mirrors configuration was considered to collect light on the cell at various zenith and azimuth solar angles. Simulation results showed no significant benefit of internally reflecting the light to concentrate it on the photovoltaic cell located in the windows frame. However, an infrared chiral mirror with a reflection bandwidth wider than the wavelength range to modulate in transmission could potentially control solar heat radiation through the window between ∼ 80% and 5% independently of the light incidence angle. The window system would technically benefit of a combined suspended particle device solely absorbing the visible range to realize the desired hybrid system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Polymer photovoltaic devices were prepared using a biodegradable poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) substrate loaded with nanoclay in an attempt to improve the thermal properties and possibly reduce permeation of water and oxygen. The nanoclay-loaded PLLA substrates were prepared by compounding and extrusion. The substrate thickness was 200μm and the substrates had good transparency in the range 300–800nm of, respectively, >80% for PLA and >60% for PLLA loaded with nanoclay. Devices were realized by application of a conducting transparent anode comprising an aluminium grid with a thin overlayer of silver and spin-coated PEDOT:PSS. The active layer consisted of microfibrillar P3HT and PCBM to encompass the low processing temperatures for PLLA and finally an evaporated aluminium cathode. It was found that PLLA as a substrate holds potential, but there are several challenges beyond the photovoltaic itself which must be met before general application within this field can be envisaged. The most important aspects are the planarity of the PLLA surface, the mechanical stresses induced by the extrusion process, the limitation in processing temperature, and the limitation in the available range of solvents for solution processing.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In response to the growing global demand for clean and sustainable energy solutions, proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have emerged as vital components in diverse decarbonization strategies. Despite their increasing importance, a comprehensive synthesis of recent advancements, challenges, and future prospects in thermal and water management within this domain remains notably scarce. This paper aims to bridge this gap by conducting a meticulous literature review focused on thermal and water management in PEMFCs. Primarily, this study encapsulates the underlying mechanisms governing thermal and water generation in PEMFCs, intricately analyzing thermal and water generation analyses. Secondly, a multifaceted exploration of thermal and water transfer mechanisms, alongside their pivotal influencing factors, is presented. Furthermore, the discourse delves into sophisticated strategies for refining water and thermal management in PEMFCs. As well as delving into the complexities of high-power heat dissipation and water balance, especially water management for cold start and high temperature operating conditions. The culmination of this investigation yields valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of thermal and water management within PEMFCs, thereby culminating in forward-looking recommendations for future research trajectories. These findings not only offer scholars a vantage point to discern emerging research frontiers and trends but also extend theoretical precepts and reference points for technology innovators and product developers.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The chemical, structural and electrical properties of various SiC-based fibres prepared from the pyrolysis of organosilicon precursors were studied as a function of their maximum (post)processing temperature T p . The magnitude of the electrical conductivity (σ) and its thermal dependence (the apparent activation energy E a ) are mainly controlled by the carbon excess present in the fibres. The free carbon phase is observed by TEM analysis as turbostratic stacks of aromatic carbon layers. The extent of those carbon domains (in length: L a and thickness: N) increases with T p . The amount of free carbon but above all its microstructure (i.e. the size of the carbon domains and their residual hydrogen content) and its microtexture (isolated domains or interconnected network) govern the electrical properties of the fibres through a percolation effect.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This article examines the prospects for cost reductions of flat panel photovoltaic (PV) electricity. Current PV production cost ranges are presented, in terms of cost per peak W and cost per kWh, for single crystalline and multi-crystalline silicon, as well as for thin-film technologies. Possible decreases of these costs are assessed, as expected based on learning curves. The cumulative production needed to reach ‘breakeven’ (at which PV is competitive with conventional alternatives) is estimated for a range of values of the learning curve parameter. The cost of this cumulative production is calculated, and the question is posed whether and how the ‘cost cap’ can be bridged, the latter being the difference between what this cumulative production will cost and what it would cost if it could be produced at a currently competitive level. We also estimate how much PV could gain if external costs (due to environmental and health damage) of energy were internalised, for example by an energy tax. The conclusions are: (1) mainly due its high costs, PV electricity is unlikely to play a major role in global energy supply and carbon emissions abatement before 2020, (2) extrapolating past learning curves, one can expect its costs to decrease significantly, so that a considerable PV electricity share world-wide could materialise after 2020, (3) niche-market applications, e.g. using stand-alone systems in remote areas, are crucial for continuing “the ride along the learning curve”, (4) damage costs of conventional (fossil) power sources are considerable, and they could provide an important part of the rationale behind major policy efforts to encourage increased use of PV. The costs involved with such policies would be elevated, but a considerable share of these costs could be justified by the fact that conventional power damage costs constitute a significant fraction of the cost gap, although probably not enough to close it.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The science and technology of conjugated polymer-based photovoltaic devices (bulk heterojunction solar cells) is highlighted focusing on three major issues, i.e. (i) nano-morphology optimization, (ii) improving charge carrier mobility, (iii) improving spectral sensitivity. Successful strategies towards improved photovoltaic performance are presented using various novel materials, including double-cable polymers, regioregular polymers and low bandgap polymers. The examples presented herein demonstrate that the bulk heterojunction concept is a viable approach towards developing photovoltaic systems by inexpensive solution-based fabrication technologies. To cite this article: A.J. Mozer, N.S. Sariciftci, C.R. Chimie 9 (2006) .",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Thin films of p-type Cu3BiS3 with an orthorhombic wittichenite structure, a semiconductor with high potential for thin film solar cell absorber layers, were synthesised by thermal annealing of Cu and Bi precursors, magnetron sputtered on Mo/glass substrate, with a layer of thermo-evaporated S. The elemental composition, structural and electronic properties are studied. The Raman spectrum shows four modes with the dominant peak at 292cm−1. Photoreflectance spectra demonstrate two band gaps EgX and EgY , associated with the X and Y valence sub-bands, and their evolution with temperature. Fitting the temperature dependencies of the band-gaps gives values of 1.24 and 1.53eV for EgX and EgY at 0K as well as the average phonon energy. Photoluminescence spectra at 5K reveal two bright and broad emission bands at 0.84 and 0.99eV, which quench with an activation energy of 40meV. The photocurrent excitation measurements demonstrate a photoresponse and suggest a direct allowed nature of the band gap.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We compared the moisture sensitivity of a Cu(InGa)Se2 (CIGS) photovoltaic cell protected by 55nm thick Al2O3, grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD), with equivalent CIGS cells protected with a glass or a polyester lid. Aging studies for more than 1000h at 85°C/85% relative humidity with simulated solar illumination showed that the ALD Al2O3 thin-film barrier provided superior moisture protection for the CIGS cell, i.e. no reduction in open circuit voltage or fill factor occurred, compared to cells protected with a glass or plastic lid. We concluded that a moisture barrier grown by ALD could have broad applicability as a strategy for extending the lifetime of flexible CIGS cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Hourly global irradiation spectra are simulated for two extreme sites based on SEDES2. ► Average photocurrent densities are computed with quantum efficiency data. ► The optimum orientation is the same for all technologies and both sites. ► At nonoptimal orientation thin film modules show small advantages over crystalline.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The increasing displacement of conventional with renewable power generation, typically non-programmable and endowed with very small or even no rotating inertia, is being accompanied by an increase of the amplitude and speed of grid frequency fluctuations. New control actions are therefore being introduced by grid operators, in the form of fast ancillary services for frequency regulation. An iterative procedure, based on the Gauss-Newton approach, is proposed here to compute the needed quantities of two fast innovative controls, namely fast primary frequency control and synthetic inertia support. In particular, by means of the identification of an output-error model, non-linear behaviours are effectively considered in the computation: dead bands on the frequency measures feeding the controllers; for renewable power plants, downward modulation schemes; for conventional ones, limits on the available control power and limitations on the maximum gradient (time derivative) of the power. The approach is tested by means of simulations in a 2030 predicted scenario for the Sardinian power system.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Renewable energy technology and in particular solar energy is being considered worldwide due to the fluctuations in oil prices, global warming and the growing demand for energy supply. This paper investigates the climate conditions available in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in particular Abu Dhabi to implement Photovoltaic (PV) technology. Measured solar radiation was analyzed for five different geographical locations to ensure the suitability of this region. Hourly, daily and monthly global horizontal irradiation (GHI) were collected and processed. Statistical methods were used to evaluate the computed GHI and showed high values especially during the summer period. Moreover, clearness index was calculated to investigate the frequency of cloudy sky days and results have shown a high percentage of clear days during the year. This paper highlights a promising future for Abu Dhabi in the solar energy sector and in particular Photovoltaic (PV) technology.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Objective Landers on Mars and Titan may have warm surfaces as a result of solar heating or the carriage of radioisotope power sources. This warmth can perturb downwind meteorological measurements, but cannot be modeled as a simple aerodynamic wake because buoyant forces can be significant. Methods We use an analytic model from the industrial aerodynamics literature on smoke dispersion from fires and smokestacks to evaluate the plume trajectories. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations are also performed for a Titan lander. Results CFD yields results similar to the analytic model. (Albeit with a possibly weaker dependence on windspeed than the classic model.) We apply the models to evaluate the probability of immersion of instrumentation in plumes from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity and for a Titan lander under various wind scenarios. Conclusions Lander perturbations can be easily calculated. Practice implications None.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Dark conductivity and photoconductivity in Al x Ga1−x N (x=0.025,0.18) films prepared by MOCVD on a sapphire substrate with a GaN bottom layer have been investigated. In the temperature range 300–500 K, the barrier at the heterostructure interface appears to play an important role in the thermal activation of the photocurrent after pulsed laser excitation, for high aluminium concentrations. Transient photoconductivity measurements on Al0.025GaN films have been made and are interpreted in terms of multiple trapping and release of carriers in localised states. The current transient is characterised by an initial rapid decay in the sub-microsecond regime, followed by a much slower power law decay out to tens of milliseconds. These features, which occur for both sub- and super-gap excitation, are consistent with the presence of a steep exponential tail of states at the band edge, followed by a broad peak centered at approximately 0.4 eV below E c.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "An important feature of the iron-based pnictides is their multi-band electronic structure with both electron and hole bands at the Fermi level. The size of these pockets can be changed by different types of substitution, resulting in a variety of original magnetic and electronic properties. The contributions of both types of carriers will thus have important consequences on the evolution of the transport properties versus temperature and doping. It has been pointed out that Hund's rule interaction plays a prominent role in the physics of these compounds by allowing a strong orbital differentiation between the 3d Fe orbitals. As a result, a description in terms of more or less correlated electrons was proposed and may have important consequences on the scattering lifetimes of the different carriers. Finally, the presence of very flat bands at the Fermi level may induce a semiconductor-like behavior, with a change in carrier concentration with temperature. In this paper, we will review the evolution of transport properties with chemical doping/substitution in iron pnictides. We will more particularly focus on the 122 family (Ba(Sr,Ca)Fe2As2) and the 111 LiFeAs compound for which sizeable single crystals required for transport measurements are available. The combined resistivity, Hall effect and magnetoresistance data will be analyzed in association with electronic structure calculations, angle-resolved photoemission measurements and quantum oscillations. In spite of the strong interplay between antiferromagnetism and superconductivity in most part of their phase diagram, direct signatures of spin fluctuations are difficult to identify in the transport properties of iron pnictides. We will show that measurements of the longitudinal magnetoresistance provide a powerful tool for studying the coupling between the charge carriers and the spin degrees of freedom.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Chemical short-range order (SRO) is known to alter a wide array of alloy properties. Here, we investigate the SRO of binary and ternary alloys in the Cr-Mo-W system using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, coupled with Monte Carlo simulations and two distinct approaches: the real-space cluster expansion (CE) and a machine learned interatomic potential (MLIP) based on the moment tensor potential (MTP) form. The size-mismatched binary, Cr-W, exhibits phase separating long-range order (LRO) in the phase diagram, but surprisingly, the SRO is predicted to be ordering-type from both CE and MTP. We rationalize this apparent discrepancy by accounting for the large coherency strain present in this system, which significantly suppresses the coherent phase separating tendency relative to the incoherent phase diagram. This competition between LRO and SRO persists in the ternary Cr-Mo-W system, where we find that SRO tendencies can qualitatively differ from those in the corresponding binary alloy. The real-space CE can efficiently capture the correct nearest neighbor SRO tendencies in this system, despite failing to account for long-range strain effects, provided it is trained on the energies of sufficiently large structures to capture short-range strain contributions over the nearest neighbor ranges ; however, we suggest MTP, or more generally MLIP, may provide a more general approach for comprehensive studies in disordered alloy systems, especially in medium- and high-entropy alloys exhibiting large lattice mismatch.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Usage of advanced materials and tools in geothermal energy applications become a trendy topic that captures a glance in the industry day by day. New technology materials such as fiber coatings, dressing materials and composites as well as new technology tools such as Distributed Temperature Sensing Systems and Distributed Thermal Perturbation Sensor allows an improved reservoir monitoring in harsh environments that have HTHP or high CO2 conditions. Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing tools that could be attached to a carrier like an aircraft, drone or a satellite and enables to describe temperature anomalies in forests, seabed, and land also pave the way of a robust identification of geothermal sources and hot spring waters. Tracers determine hydraulic connectivity between wells an gives an idea about the reservoir volume. Advanced drilling fluids are advantageous due to their light weight, tough structure which resists to corrosion compared with conventional ones and the developments promising to evolve these fluids with nanotechnology in close future. Advanced cements that developed by the aim of providing perfect zonal isolation opened the way of developing various cement types such as; foam cements, phosphate bonded, self-healing, and CO2 resistant cements. Apart from exploration phase, many inventions and developments that ensures lower health and safety risks, lower operating and maintenance costs and increases the energy efficiency in heat transfer and energy conversion sections of geothermal industry were gained a place in the market. In this chapter of the book, latest advances in geothermal industry materials and applications as well as latest technology tools which are more beneficial and efficient compared with the conventional methods are investigated in details.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We have investigated rapidly thermo-responsive NIPA gel containing polymer surfactant PMDP (NIPA-PMDP gel) as a potential drug carrier using (+)-l-ascorbic acid as a model drug. In the NIPA-PMDP gel system micelles of polymer surfactant PMDP are trapped by the entanglement of polymer chains inside the gel networks. Therefore, in principle the gel system tightly stores targeted drug in the micelles and rapidly releases controlled amount of the drug by switching on–off of external stimuli such as temperature or infrared laser beam. In our investigation on release profile, the NIPA-PMDP gel system showed completely different releasing behavior from that of the conventional NIPA gel. The NIPA-PMDP gel released rapidly all loaded (+)-l-ascorbic acid above the phase transition temperature (ca. 34°C), while slowly released the corresponding amount of the drug below the temperature. In contrast, the conventional NIPA gel released more slowly limited amount of the drug above the phase transition temperature while similarly did to the NIPA-PMDP gel below the temperature. The release profile of the NIPA-PMDP gel seems to be governed by only kinetics of volume phase transition of the gel network but not by the hydrophobic domains of the micelles probably because of too hydrophilic nature of (+)-l-ascorbic acid.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thermal considerations are becoming more and more crucial in integrated circuit (IC) design as a result of shrinking feature sizes, transistor count, and rising package density. This causes the formation of hot spots which leads to physical stress and performance degradation in ICs. The growing problem of heat dissipation inside electronic devices has been viewed as having a viable solution in microfluidic cooling. This chapter provides a study of various technologies to meet the IC cooling challenges with their pros and cons.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The optimisation of amorphous silicon layers (a-Si:H) is of key importance to obtain high efficiency heterojunction (HJ) solar cells. However, since many mechanisms take place in photovoltaic energy conversion, good electrical and optical properties of a-Si:H films do not always result in high efficiency HJ devices. This is principally due to the use of very thin layers were interfaces are of capital importance and bulk properties are not always the main guideline to best results on solar cells. In this work, we focus on the doping analysis of (n) and (p) a-Si:H layers directly and their impact on solar cell results. First, we have deposited and characterized simple (p) and (n) a-Si:H layers and then we have integrated them on full heterojunction solar cells. We have correlated the solar cells characteristics (Jsc, Voc and FF) with layer properties in order to understand the main mechanisms involved in the high performance of HJ devices. Finally, we have chosen the best layers to improve the efficiency of our heterojunction solar cells on (n) c-Si 125PSQ wafers up to 20% on an industrially-compatible process.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This study examined the effects of incorporated-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the photovoltaic response of a mesoporous TiO2 film on a titanium foil subjected to electrophoretic deposition (EPD) at a high voltage of 350 V for use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Microstructural observations showed that after EPD in an alkaline electrolyte for 40 s, the surface area of the CNT/TiO2 film was relatively higher than that of its TiO2 counterpart. This was attributed to the incorporated CNTs triggered, local agglomeration of TiO2 nanoparticles during EPD. The DSSCs with the CNT/TiO2 film exhibited a higher short-circuit current density than the cell with the TiO2 film, whereas the open circuit voltage remained constant for both cases. The power conversion efficiency of the CNT/TiO2 film approached 2.49% due to the increased surface area of the film, which facilitates increased dye absorption. Electrochemical impedance analysis showed that the charge transport resistance at the interface between the photoelectrode and electrolyte decreased when the CNTs were incorporated. This was attributed mainly to the incorporation of CNTs, which provide interpenetration paths for electrons across the entire photoelectrode.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This study presents a 2014 high-resolution spatially disaggregated emission inventory (0.025° × 0.025° horizontal resolution), of the main activities in the energy sector in Argentina. The sub-sectors considered are public generation of electricity, oil refineries, cement production, transport (maritime, air, rail and road), residential and commercial. The following pollutants were included: greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O), ozone precursors (CO, NOx, VOC) and other specific air quality indicators such as SO2, PM10, and PM2.5. This work could contribute to a better geographical allocation of the pollutant sources through census based population maps. Considering the sources of greenhouse gas emissions, the total amount is 144 Tg CO2eq, from which the transportation sector emits 57.8 Tg (40%); followed by electricity generation, with 40.9 Tg (28%); residential + commercial, with 31.24 Tg (22%); and cement and refinery production, with 14.3 Tg (10%). This inventory shows that 49% of the total emissions occur in rural areas: 31% in rural areas of medium population density, 13% in intermediate urban areas and 7% in densely populated urban areas. However, if emissions are analyzed by extension (per square km), the largest impact is observed in medium and densely populated urban areas, reaching more than 20.3 Gg per square km of greenhouse gases, 297 Mg/km2 of ozone precursors gases and 11.5 Mg/km2 of other air quality emissions. A comparison with the EDGAR global emission database shows that, although the total country emissions are similar for several sub sectors and pollutants, its spatial distribution is not applicable to Argentina. The road and residential transport emissions represented by EDGAR result in an overestimation of emissions in rural areas and an underestimation in urban areas, especially in more densely populated areas. EDGAR underestimates 60 Gg of methane emissions from road transport sector and fugitive emissions from refining activities.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Micro-combustors are critical components for micro-power systems using hydrogen and hydrocarbon fuels as an energy source. The micro-thermophotovoltaic (TPV) power system requires an output of high and uniform temperature from the wall of the combustor. This paper presents the experimental results of three types of stainless cylindrical micro-combustor with or without a backward facing step. Hydrogen was used as the fuel. The temperatures at exit and along the wall of the combustors were measured. The results show that the backward facing step provides a simple yet effective solution to enhance the mixing of fuel mixture and prolong the residence time. In addition, the step is very useful in controlling the position of flame and widening the operational range of the flow rate and H2/air ratio. A high and uniform temperature distribution has been achieved for micro-combustors with a backward facing step. This result is relevant to the application of micro-TPV power systems we are currently pursuing.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The latest research progress and regulation mechanism of photothermal functional coordination (GDY, MXene and BP) and photothermal functional structures (biomimetic structures, nanoarrays, HoMSs) on the sunlight absorption, photothermal conversion and carrier mobility of the photothermal catalytic CO2 reduction are reviewed. This review also provides insights into the development bottleneck, caution and future opportunities from laboratory to industrialization.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) system utilizing multi-junction solar cells, is the main focus for current research, offering highest efficiency among all photovoltaic systems. The main aspect of CPV system is the design and performance of concentrating assembly, as it determines the performance of whole CPV system. However, the conventional design of CPV concentrating assembly dedicates one concentrator for each solar cell, in which single concentrator is capable to concentrate solar radiation onto single solar cell. This paper proposes a novel concentrating assembly for CPV system, which is designed to concentrate solar radiation onto four multi-junction solar cells with a single set of concentrators. The proposed design not only can reduce the number of concentrators and assembly efforts for CPV systems, but also achieved an acceptance angle of 1°. In this paper, the proposed multi-leg homogeniser CPV concentrating assembly is designed, developed, experimentally tested and verified through ray tracing simulation. The paper also discuss the development of mini, precise and accurate but cost effective two axis solar tracker for CPV system, which can be installed at any location even at rooftop of residential buildings, unlike conventional large scale CPV systems. Moreover, through the electrical rating analysis of the developed CPV system, its performance can be accurately estimated in any region.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Isolated 2-amino-1-propanol (2AP) was studied by matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopy (MI-IR) in Ar and Kr and ab initio 6-31G∗ calculations undertaken at the HF-SCF and MP2 levels of theory. For the first time, five different conformational states of 2AP could be experimentally observed, which could be correlated with the most stable forms predicted by the calculations. The first and second lowest energy forms correspond to conformers which exhibit a considerably strong intramolecular OH⋯N hydrogen bond (g′Gg′ and gG′g), while the less abundant forms observed in the matrices (gGg′, gGt and g′G′g) are characterized by having a weak intramolecular NH⋯O or OH⋯N bond. These results were reinforced by infrared solution studies of the compound in tetrachloromethane and tetrachloroethylene. The experimental data obtained for the pure liquid, where OH⋯N intermolecular hydrogen bonding dominates, indicate that the preferred conformation of the monomeric unit within the aggregates is similar to conformer gGt.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A systematic study of strain relaxation mechanisms by TEM, XRD, RBS-channelling, SEM-CL and AFM in In x Ga1−x As/InP heterostructures grown by MOCVD under tensile and compressive initial misfit is reported. It is found that the layers under compression (0.61<x<0.74) relax nearly symmetrically along the two 〈110〉 directions. The residual strain vs. the layer thickness follows the same law experimentally determined for compressive MBE-grown In x Ga 1−x As/GaAs (x<0.2) specimens showing no composition, growth technique or temperature effect. The tensile layers (0.2<x<0.36) relax asymmetrically with a critical thickness larger than for the compressive case. The relaxation is faster along the -direction with the asymmetry that increases by increasing the tensile misfit. Cracks, formed after the growth, are found to present a different density along  and [1−10] depending on the residual strain. Grooves also develop along the two 〈110〉 directions as soon as a measurable strain relaxation appears. A possible correlation between grooves, planar defects and the mechanism of strain release is discussed. Strain-balanced In x Ga1−x As/In y Ga1−y As multi-quantum wells (MQWs) grown on a compositionally graded In x Ga1−x As/GaAs buffer to extend the absorption edge of photovoltaic devices to 1eV are finally investigated. The MD network results in a marked cross-hatched morphology that affects the lateral strain distribution in the whole structure. Lateral composition fluctuations in the MQW are discussed in terms of step bunching mechanism occurring at the valleys of the cross-hatched surface.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Dynamic thermography is a promising new non-invasive diagnostic technique for melanoma screening. This paper proposes a novel experimental setup of an active cooling device for dynamic thermography using a metal disc and a Peltier module. The aim is to achieve constant cooling temperature that induce deep cooling penetration and, therefore, better thermal contrast. The paper covers the numerical analysis of the device design parameters like thermocouple position, disc thickness and regulation coefficient prior to building it. Simulation is based on a numerical model of skin tissue with melanoma and the metal disc. The Peltier module has been modeled indirectly through a boundary condition simulating the device active cooling. For effective solving of the direct problem, the BEM has been used. Results showed that the thermocouple position for cooling regulation is not as important as the value of the regulation coefficient or disc thickness. A thicker disc improves the initial cooling due to higher thermal capacity. However, a thinner disc is recommended due to the faster regulation and more constant cooling temperature. Results also showed that lesion size did not affect the cooling temperature, meaning that it can be used for investigation in any tumour stage.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The Orbital Angular Momentum Reversal (H-Reversal mode), is a new class of trajectories to get a cruise speed ranging from 12 to 20 AU/yr. To accomplish the H-reversal mode, a sailcraft needs of all metal solar sail. The solar sail envisaged by the “AURORA Project” is composed of two metallic layers (AI and Cr) deposited on plastic substrate. To obtain an all metal solar sail, required by the Project, the substrate must be removed in orbit. In order to accomplish that, two possible methods are described in this paper. The first one is based on the UV degradation of a buffer layer located between the substrate and the metallic layers. The UV degradation would be the starting mechanism that causes the interface weakness. The Diamond Like Carbon has been used as buffer layer and preliminary experimental results on its UV degradation are reported. The second method exploits the characteristic of most plastics to be etched (ashing process) by the atomic oxygen. The number density of atomic oxygen in Low Earth Orbit could be enough to remove a properly-selected plastic substrate in Short time.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Scarcity of fresh water in the United Arab Emirates is a challenging problem particularly for small isolated communities to which water and electricity are difficult and/or costly to transport. Meanwhile, solar radiation in the UAE is exceptionally high around the year, which represents an environmentally safe source for power generation. In the meantime, mechanical vapor compression is an attractive technology suitable for the design of small capacity desalination units with a reasonable degree of mobility and compactness. An autonomous small capacity desalination unit that depends solely on solar power is not practically feasible. This is due to the excessive number of batteries required to back up the system during night time and blackout hours. In view of these facts, we find that a diesel-solar-assisted MVC desalination system represents an optimal solution to provide small communities at remote areas with fresh water while generating enough power for the operators housing and plant operation with minimal impact on the environment. This paper outlines a detailed model for the design of a hybrid solar-diesel powered MVC unit with a fresh water capacity of 120 m3/d. Preliminary design of a photovoltaic array to furnish the power required to drive the desalination unit, the control room and the housing of operators is illustrated. Sensitivity analysis of the main cost elements of the plant to design parameters is presented. Finally, the environmental impact of the solar assisted unit is illustrated with respect to CO2 emissions and atmospheric oxygen consumption.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Copper oxide (CuO x ) thin films were produced by spin-coating and electrodeposition methods, and their microstructures and photovoltaic properties were investigated. Thin film solar cells based on the Cu2O/C60 and CuO/C60 heterojunction or bulk heterojunction structures were fabricated on F-doped or In-doped SnO2, which showed photovoltaic activity under air mass 1.5 simulated sunlight conditions. Microstructures of the CuO x thin films were examined by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, which indicated the presence of Cu2O and CuO nanoparticles. The energy levels of the present solar cells were also discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Synthetic zeolites are materials with strong growth in technological development research because they are materials that can be obtained from waste and having several applications. In this study, type X zeolites synthesized in pilot scale from coal ash and after going through the loading process with the macronutrients phosphorus and potassium, were applied in the cultivation of Tagetes patula. To evaluate the performance of the developed fertilizer, after carrying out the phosphorus and potassium adsorption tests on the zeolitic material, the monitoring of the plant development was implemented. For this purpose, the evaluation was based on the parameters plant growth, dry matter of root and aerial part content, as well as leaf composition. A comparison between dosages, control samples and commercial fertilizer were applied in this analysis. Water and soil solubilization tests were done to evaluate the release of nutrients and identify possible harmful substances to the environment. The results were promising, indicating that the leaching of nutrients occurred gradually, being available during the entire period of plant development. Additionally, the performance of plants cultivated with zeolite fertilizer was similar or even superior to the cultivation carried out with traditional commercial fertilizer. The solubility of macronutrients in water was higher than that required by legislation (57% P and 48% K for ZXH.Fer zeolite and 64% P and 54% K for ZXF.Fer zeolite, while for a commercial fertilizer with similar concentration, the values were 23% and 27% for P and K, respectively) also demonstrating the applicability of the developed product.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "High thermoelectric performance can be achieved either by tuning the electronic structure or by enhancement in scattering the heat-carrying phonons, which often affect each other. Thereby, a leap in the performance can be achieved by simultaneous modulation of electronic structure and lowering of thermal conductivity. Herein, we demonstrate a high thermoelectric figure of merit (zT) of 1.45 at 900 K for Ge doped (4–10 mol%) n-type PbS, which is the one of the highest values among all n-type PbS-based thermoelectric materials. This high performance is achieved by simultaneous (a) enhancement of covalency in chemical bonding which increases the electrical conductivity, and (b) reduction of lattice thermal conductivity (κ lat ) to an ultra-low value of 0.56 W m− 1K− 1 at 900 K by the introduction of nanometer-sized (5–10 nm) precipitates of Pb2GeS4 in PbS matrix which strongly scatter the heat-carrying phonons. The presence of low-lying transverse acoustic (TA) and longitudinal acoustic (LA) phonon modes at 48.24 cm− 1 and 91.83 cm− 1, respectively are experimentally revealed from inelastic neutron scattering (INS) experiments. The softening of low-frequency modes at a higher temperature and ultra-short phonon lifetime (1–4.5 ps) further explain the ultra-low κ lat . Electron localization function (ELF) analysis confirms chemical bonding hierarchy and increased covalent bonding due to the presence of Ge in PbS. The increase in bond covalency upon Ge doping in n-type PbS weakens electron–phonon coupling, thereby increasing the electrical transport.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • New chalcogenide material from the As2Se3–Ag4SSe–PbTe system were synthesized. • The region of glass formation in the As2Se3–Ag4SSe–PbTe system was outlined. • The temperatures of phase transitions of some glasses were determined. • The density and the Vickers microhardness of the glasses were measured. • The composition–property dependencies are discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar cell performance parameters (open circuit voltage, short circuit current, fill factor and efficiency) are derived for different solar cell types for the irradiance range 0.1–1000W/m2. Also it is demonstrated how spectral mismatch factors for indoor lighting conditions are calculated. The presented methods and particular results may aid product designers in selecting appropriate solar cells for Product Integrated PV (PIPV) operated indoors and allow for more certainty in energy balance estimations of PIPV design concepts.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We present a comprehensive analysis of a dual, micro-gap thermionic-thermoelectric hybrid energy converter by developing a detailed theoretical model of the system. The space-charge and near-field effects in thermionic conversion and the temperature-dependent effects in thermoelectric conversion are considered while studying the energy flow through the cascade system. The temperatures and energy exchange channels in the different parts of the system are quantified using a self-consistent iterative algorithm considering the energy balance condition. The model is deployed to simulate the hybrid system performance when energized by a constant heat flux source which could, for example, be concentrated solar irradiance. The effect of solar radiation intensity on the combined system efficiency, and the dependence of the thermoelectric generator performance on the waste heat released from the thermionic top stage, are illustrated with several examples. Based on these analyses, a performance optimization of the hybrid system is carried out. The findings presented in this work offer useful insights into the hybrid generator operation. Moreover, the model developed can be used as a design tool for the practical implementation of such a hybrid system, or for extracting material- and device-related parameters from experimental data.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "(GaIn)(NAs) lattice matched to GaAs and Ge and having a 1eV bandgap is a promising candidate for future space and terrestrial multi-junction solar cell structures. The present paper summarizes results of a detailed annealing study of the metastable quaternary alloy having an In content of 8% and a N content of 2.8%. It is shown that photoluminescence (PL) intensity can be taken as a measure of improving minority carrier characteristics in solar cell devices. A direct correlation between PL intensity and quantum efficiency in the (GaIn)(NAs) material system is observed. The annealing conditions, e.g. anneal temperature, time and As-stabilization, have to be adapted to the particular In content of the material in order to initiate the site change of the nitrogen atom from a Ga-rich environment upon growth to an In-rich one after annealing. In addition, the dissolution of chain-like N-ordering in  direction is detected. The greatly enhanced optical performance leads to an improved quantum efficiencies of the (GaIn)(NAs) solar cell material.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Tetrasulfonated copper phthalocyanine (CuTsPc)-capped TiO2 nanoparticle ultrathin films were fabricated by a layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly technique. Alternating bilayer structures were formed by consecutive adsorption of CuTsPc-capped TiO2 nanoparticles with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride). Optical and electrical measurements were carried out to characterize the CuTsPc-capped TiO2 nanoparticle ultrathin films. Optical measurements revealed uniform deposition. The surface morphology of such bilayer films showed a granular morphology similar to other classes of LBL films. Electrical measurements revealed an abnormal phenomenon under white light illumination. Electrochemical and photoelectrochemical measurements on such a bilayer system were carried out to elucidate the electron transport processes and the photovoltaic effect.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The structure and main manufacturing technologies of CdTe film solar cells of large area are reviewed. Among the technologies, some have been developed for application in a pilot manufacturing line. The high resistant SnO2 (HRT) thin films have been fabricated by PECVD. The effects of annealing on the structure and properties have been studied. A surface etching process of CdTe in low temperature and lower concentration of nitric acid has been developed. The Cd1− x Zn x Te ternary compound films have been studied. In order to improve the back contact layer, Cd0.4Zn0.6Te layer with 1.8 eV band gap as a substitute for ZnTe layer is introduced in CdTe cells. The effects of the technologies on performance of CdTe cells and feasibility of application in the modules are discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The increase in PV (photovoltaic) capacities in Germany had since 2011 on some days already significant impacts on spot market prices at the German electricity exchange. The core objective of this paper is to investigate the possible effects of a further uptake of PV on the prices in electricity markets. We analyze two major effects: (i) the direct impact of PV at specific times of the year when PV shifts the supply curve of conventional electricity virtually out of the market, leading to temporarily very low market prices close to Zero; (ii) the indirect impact of PV (and wind) on the costs at which fossil capacities are offered at times when renewable energy sources are scarce. The major effects of these developments on the electricity markets will be: (i) a much higher price volatility from hour-to-hour and day-to-day; (ii) higher prices for electricity from fossil capacities and storage technologies for balancing the intermittent renewable generation; and (iii) growth of balancing markets and intensified competition at the level of decentralized balancing organizations.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "An innovative concept of solution type photovoltaic electrochromic (PV-EC) device has been developed. The device includes a semi-transparent silicon thin-film solar cell (Si-TFSC) substrate, an electrochromic solution, and a transparent non-conductive substrate, wherein the electrochromic solution is located between the transparent non-conductive substrate and the Si-TFSC substrate. The solution type PV-EC device has at least the following advantages: (1) the electrodes in the PV-EC device are planarly distributed in the whole semi-transparent Si-TFSC substrate to create a uniform electric field, which makes large area PV-EC module application feasible; (2) since the PV-EC device can be driven with low voltage and low current, the demand for photopotential and photocurrent produced by the Si-TFSCs is lowered and thus the thickness of an intrinsic layer in each of the Si-TFSCs can be thinned, which increases the transmittance of the device, and (3) the electrical power generated by the PV-EC module can be controlled by an additional output switch layout coupled with the Si-TFSC. When illuminated by sunlight, a portion of electronic current produced by a Si-TFSC is converted into ionic current to cause color changing of the PV-EC device, while the monolithically integrated Si-TFSC module generates electricity to a connected load. In view of photoelectric conversion and optical modulation properties, the PV-EC device can both function as solar cell module and as self-powered smart glass, which has great advantages in green energy application.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Using density functional theory electronic structure calculations and semi-classical transport theory in relaxation time approximation we compute transport properties of p-doped PbTe. To avoid possible errors due to rigid band approximation (RBA) we use supercell model of doped crystal and tune carrier concentration explicitly by portion of impurity atoms. In such a way we verify the validity of RBA. We considered Na and Tl dopants. The usage of supercell model instead of RBA brings the results closer to the experiment. The possible influence of resonant states on transport properties is discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Layer-by-layer deposition of functionalized polythiophene on derivatized solid surfaces with covalent binding between substrate and polythiophene and also between adajacent polythiophene layers was carried out to form robust thin film structures. The functional properties of polythiophene are retained subsequent to the immobilization.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Spherical and rod-shaped ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized through modified sol–gel method to investigate the morphological effect in the buffer layer of inverted organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs). Also the buffer layers fabricated with ZnO nanoparticles were post-treated by using zinc acetate dihydrate in methanol (zinc acetate post-treatment) to survey the influence of surface state on buffer layer. After the zinc acetate post-treatment on ZnO buffer layer, the low series resistance (R s) and high shunt resistance (R sh) were obtained due to the enhancement of the electric contiguity at the interface (buffer layer/active layer) and interconnectivity between ZnO nanoparticles. By improving the resistance, the current density (J sc) and fill factor (FF) of devices were increased. The performance of device fabricated with rod-shaped ZnO particles was higher than that of cell fabricated with spherical ZnO particles because the 1-dimensional rod particles acted as an appropriate bridge to promote the electron mobility. The best power conversion efficiency (2.68%) could be achieved through the facile and effective zinc acetate post-treatment.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The standard procedures for photovoltaic (PV) system sizing consider a representative value for autonomy based on the solar irradiation of the given location and the load consumption. However the post charging and discharging events that occur after the defined autonomy period were seldom considered in the earlier studies. This technical note appraise the application of a proposed simulation model of a standalone PV system, evolved from an hourly performance model, system which can simulate the module output along with battery charging and discharging cycles during the post autonomy hours of system operation. Based on the yearly irradiation input, the simulation model can predict the minimum time duration (hold time) required for the PV system to prepare for the load between two consecutive low irradiation cycles. All the simulation codes were developed in Matlab (r2010a). The result shows that the success of any stand alone PV system with autonomy d >1 strongly depends on the irradiation cycles of the location, and autonomy considerations would help save the system requirements up to 15% .The applicability of the proposed autonomy model is described and validated using a real time example of a refrigeration system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We investigated the effect of annealing sequence on the performance of polymer solar cell with the composite of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and a C60 derivative. The post-annealing under the existence of Al metal cap induced a substantial increase in the interfacial area between the active layer and Al cathode and in crystallization of P3HT molecules, resulting in reduction of series resistance and the enhanced photocurrent in the device. Furthermore, the post-annealing brought about the increase of light harvest in active layer and hindered the formation of shunt paths in the donor (D)/acceptor (A) bulk-heterojunction structure compared to the pre-annealing.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The objective of this paper is to review the feed-in tariffs introduced and now are being implemented in different states and territories of Australia for the grid-connected small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. A further objective is to take a closer look at the production cost of these solar PV systems to compare with the introduced feed-in tariffs. The review results show that the gap between production cost of PV electricity and the feed-in tariff is relatively high, particularly in those states, were feed-in tariff based on net metering is implemented.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Layer-by-layer complexation of macromolecular ligands employing lanthanide metal ions was developed as a new technique to fabricate multilayer thin films. Poly(3-thiophene acetic acid) [PTAA] was prepared as a macromolecular ligand and was successfully used in the fabrication of self-assembled multilayer films by alternatively dipping desired substrates in aqueous polymer and Eu3+ ion solutions. The multilayer deposition was monitored by the absorbance increase due to polymer using UV–Visible spectrophotometer. The effect of process parameters including temperature, concentration and pH of the solutions were studied to understand and to optimize the multilayer thin film characteristics. The pH of the polymer solution has dramatic influence on the thickness of the multilayer film; absorption of film increased with increase in pH of the solution. The effect of process variables on the absorbance of the deposited multilayer was explained based on the conformational changes of polymer segments.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A photovoltaic–thermal (PVT) module is a combination of a photovoltaic (PV) panel and a thermal collector for co-generation of heat and electricity. An integrated collector-storage solar water heater (ICSSWH) system, due to its simple and compact structure, offers a promising approach for the solar water heating in the varied climates. The combination of the ICSSWH system with a PV solar system has not been reported. In this paper, simulation of an enhanced ICSSWH system combined with the PV panel has been conducted. The proposed design acts passive. Therefore, it does not use any photovoltaic driven water pump to maintain a flow of water inside the collector. The effects of the solar cell packing factor, the tank water mass and the collector area on the performance of the present PVT system have been investigated. The simulation results showed that the high solar cell packing factor and the tank water mass are caused to the high total PVT system efficiency. Also, larger area of the collector is resulted to lower total PVT system efficiency.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study Stokes Raman spectra measured with 785 and 830nm excitation, as well as 1064nm anti-Stokes Raman spectra, of 23 explosive materials were obtained using fiber-optic sampling and a no-moving parts spectrograph. By using a silicon charge-coupled device (CCD) detector, 830nm Stokes Raman spectra were collected over the range 100–2400cm−1. 830nm excitation offers slightly better fluorescence rejection than 785nm, which is key for the analysis of some fluorescent explosives. Even with a high-powered 1064nm laser, anti-Stokes measurements did not yield spectra of as high quality as 785 and 830nm Stokes Raman measurements. Fourier transform (FT)-Raman remains the preferred method for fluorescence-free analysis of these explosive materials in the laboratory, but 830nm excitation is preferred for a field-portable instrument.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The transport properties including electrical resistivity ( ρ ), thermal conductivity ( κ ), as well as Seebeck coefficient (S) of intermetallic FeGa3 have been measured as a function of temperature between 10 and 300 K. The electrical resistivity exhibits metallic behavior in the temperature range we investigated. The thermal conductivity is approximately 6 W/m K at room temperature, and is mainly governed by the lattice thermal conductivity. The observed Seebeck coefficient is positive, indicating p-type carriers dominating the thermoelectric transport for FeGa3. In addition, the Fermi level of 0.14 eV measured from the top of valence band was estimated. These observations are in contrast with the reported semiconducting behavior for this compound, presumably attributed to the off-stoichiometric effect on the electronic band structure of FeGa3.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The junction formation of polycrystalline CuInSe2 absorbers (CIS) with thermally evaporated CdS was investigated by high-resolution synchrotron X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The chemistry and electronics of the interfaces of Cd partial electrolyte treated CIS (“wet” processed) and clean, decapped CIS (“dry” processed) were compared. A valence band offset of 0.96(10) eV was determined in both cases. The Cd(Se,OH) surface layer induced by the wet Cd partial electrolyte process does not significantly modify the band alignment at the CIS/CdS heterointerface from the “dry”, vacuum-processed CIS/CdS interface. During the stepwise interface formation the energy converting capability of the CIS/CdS heterojunction was assessed by in situ surface photovoltage measurements at room temperature. The evolution of the surface photovoltage significantly differs for the “wet” and the “dry” interfaces and is discussed in relation to the function in solar cell devices.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A sequential two-step near-infrared (NIR) quantum splitting (QS) has been demonstrated in a Ho3+-doped YVO4 phosphor, whereby one incident ultraviolet (UV)-to-visible photon, enabling Ho3+:5F4,5S2 excited, could be split efficiently into two NIR photons with emissions at 1015 and 1190nm, respectively. The involved NIR-QS mechanism has been analyzed in terms of the static–dynamic photoemission, monitored excitation spectra and time-resolved emission spectra. Internal quantum yield is obtained up to 112% on the basis of experimental and theoretical calculation results. It is found that the broadband [VO4]3− group as a sensitizer could efficiently transfer its energy to Ho3+ activator ions, thus dramatically enhancing the UV photo-response and the NIR luminescence intensity of the phosphor. Further development of this two-step two-photon NIR-QS phosphor may open up a new approach for enhancing the photo-response of photovoltaic cells, particular in the wavelength range of 250–560nm.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) employing a viscous non-volatile electrolyte were prepared by utilizing anatase TiO2 nanorods (synthesized via oriented attachment) as a photoanode material. One promising way to enhance the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs employing viscous electrolytes is to increase ion conductivity by increasing the salt concentration. This is accompanied by an acceleration of the charge recombination reaction and the limiting of the overall conversion efficiency. The results showed that a TiO2 nanorod electrode enables more favorable electron transport than a conventional nanoparticle-based electrode due to the improved electron diffusion length and the large intrinsic surface area.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The paper presents recent advances in Poland in the field of high temperature fuel cells. The achievements in the materials development, manufacturing of advanced cells, new fabrication techniques, modified electrodes and electrolytes and applications are presented. The work of the Polish teams active in the field of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) is presented and discussed. The review is oriented towards presenting key achievements in the technology at the scale from microstructure up to a complete power system based on electrochemical fuel oxidation. National efforts are covering wide range of aspects both in the fundamental research and the applied research. The review present the areas of (i) novel materials for SOFC including ZrO2-based electrolytes, CeO2-based electrolytes, Bi2O3 based electrolytes and proton conducting electrolytes, (ii) cathode materials including thermal shock resistant composite cathode material and silver-containing composites, (iii) anode materials, (iv) metallic interconnects for SOFC, (v) novel fabrication techniques, (vi) pilot scale SOFC, including electrolyte supported SOFC (ES-SOFC) and anode supported SOFC (AS-SOFC), (vii) metallic supported SOFC (MS-SOFC), (viii) direct carbon SOFC (DC-SOFC), (ix) selected application of SOFC, (x) advances in MCFC and their applications, (xi) advances in numerical methods for simulation and optimization of electrochemical systems.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A cursory glance at who is playing in the chalcogenides field and what applications are appearing, finds a range of topics from memory to photovoltaics and non-invasive measurement. But in the main the players cannot be drawn into discussing their development and devices, so one is left ruefully looking at the patents and presuming that some sense of concerted development, apart from that of activity, will emerge.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Mo-30–40 wt% Cu nanocomposites with average size lower than 50 nm were synthesized using molybdenum hexacarbonyl, Mo(CO)6 and copper acetonyl acetonate, [Cu(acac)2] as metal precursors. Compositional analysis of Mo-Cu nanocomposites was performed using X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF). The Mo-Cu composites were sintered using spark plasma sintering. X-ray diffraction studies of as-prepared powders showed amorphous Mo-phase and FCC Cu-phase, while sintered Mo-Cu composites exhibited crystalline BCC Mo and FCC Cu-phase become sharper. The effect of sintering temperature on relative density and mechanical properties of Mo-Cu sintered compacts was investigated. Relative density in excess of 98% were achieved for Mo-30–40 wt% Cu composites on spark plasma sintering at 1000 °C for 30 min. Vickers hardness of 653 ± 10 and 587 ± 8 Hv were achieved for Mo-30 wt% Cu and Mo-40 wt% Cu composite compacts respectively. Mo-30 wt% Cu and Mo-40 wt% Cu composites exhibit thermal conductivity of 182.5 and 224.6 W.m−1. K−1, respectively. The friction coefficient of Mo-Cu composites decreased with an increase in Cu content.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Performance of PV modules under arid conditions are considered. • Environmental parameters affect the performance on PV cells. • There are significant differences of sensitivity and performance between PV technologies. • The impact of local environment can drastically vary between different arid locations.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We design a novel class of Janus structures PbXY (X,Y = F, Cl, Br, I) and propose it for the solar mediated photocatalytic water splitting hydrogen production and for the bulk photovoltaic effect. The relaxed layers show a strong variation of the structural parameters which is due to the electronegativity of the halide atoms. The stability of the Janus structures is investigated using formation energy, phonon spectra, elastic constants and Ab-Initio Molecular Dynamics simulations. Using differential charge density calculations and Bader charge analysis, it is found that the atomic bonds may have covalent or ionic character, which depends on the halide atoms in top and bottom layers of the Janus structure. Electronic structure calculations are performed using the GGA functional and the more precise HSE functional. From the band structure, band gap and effective masses of electrons and holes are determined. The large difference between the mobility of both charge carriers as well as the built-in electrical dipole indicate beneficial conditions for charge separation and suppression of charge recombination. The calculated optical absorption spectra show that the Janus structures are suitable for UV-visible light absorption. Based on VBM and CBM calculation using the HSE functional it is demonstrated that the novel PbXY Janus layers are suitable for water splitting reaction, i.e. for the use as a photocatalyst.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A major concern in process industry is to improve the quality of final products. This is highly dependent on the raw materials composition and on the industrial processes settings. The main issue in operating these systems is to identify a correlation between the process settings and the quality of the final product. The aim of this work is to first build a model of the industrial process. Then we search for a set of parameters in order to minimize an objective function based on the quality of the final product. Since the number of parameters of these processes may be important (several hundred in some instances), we perform a Support Vector machines Regression (SVR) method as multiple regression to model the manufacturing process, based on the input (various settings) and output (product quality) data. The settings optimization using the regression function is done by a heuristic. It is based on an iterative descent method applied iteratively on each parameter. The proposed approach is used on a fluidized bed combustion boiler in the context of paper industry. The experiment confirms the efficiency of the approach.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Titania (TiO2) nanorods (NRs) and nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using oleic acid as a surfactant and employed as photoanodes for dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) fabrication. The synthesized NRs and NPs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The photovoltaic performances were compared between NRs, NPs, and their composites. The results showed that the power conversion efficiencies (η) of the composites depend on the relative compositions of NRs and NPs in photoanodes, reaching the greatest at 10% NR content. η of the pure NRs DSSC was lower than that of the NPs DSSC. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed that the highest η at 10% NRs is mainly due to reduced charge transport resistance at the TiO2/dye/electrolyte interface and electrolyte diffusion resistance, overcoming the reduction of the number of adsorbed dye molecules.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The transport properties and optical transmittance and absorption spectra for the nostoichiometric amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (a-IGZO) films with gallium and zinc deficiencies are investigated. The resistivity and carrier concentration variation with temperature both reveal that the films possess degenerate semiconductor (or metal) characteristics. The thermopower is negative and decreases linearly with decreasing temperature, indicating the electron diffusion thermopower governs the thermal transport process in each film. Using free-electron-like model, we extracted the electron effective mass, which is about three times as large as that of the stoichiometric one and increases with increasing carrier (electron) concentration. Neglecting the variation in the energy with the wavevector near the valence band maximum and using the free-electron-like model, we also obtained the electron effective mass via the optical absorption spectra measurement. The magnitude of the effective mass obtained via optical spectra measurement is comparable to that obtained via thermopower measurement for each film. Our results strongly suggest that the nostoichiometric a-IGZO films possess free-electron-like pseudo-energy-bandstructure.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Alstom and Isolux have signed a contract with Mexico's Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) to convert two 158 MW units at the Altamira thermoelectric power station in Mexico from fuel oil to petroleum coke.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents a solar photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) system with triple-junction solar cells. The essential components of the system are a concentrator of high concentration ratio, a PV/T module and a tracking device. Plane-mirrors array structure is applied to the concentrator, which can provide PV/T module with a uniform light intensity distribution and an adjustable concentration ratio. The PV/T module is an integration of triple-junction solar cells and a heat exchange device, where the heat from triple-junction solar cells is collected and transported for thermal applications by fluid passing through. Considering both photovoltaic and thermal conversion, the total solar utilization efficiency is greatly increased. The simulation results show that the thermal conversion efficiency of this high concentration PV/T system in hybrid operation can achieve about 52%, which is approximately in agreement with the experimental result of 48%, meanwhile the theoretical photovoltaic conversion efficiency can reach 26%. The simulation results also reveal the effect of fluid flow rate on the thermal efficiency of high concentration PV/T system, which is quite opposite to that in non-concentration PV/T system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The growing research in the field of photovoltaics has led to various strategies for increasing the light interaction in absorbers, for instance the use of nanostructures like nanowires where leaky mode resonances enhanced absorption efficiency. Towards this goal, we present a study of the light absorption in single Si nanowires, by means of microphotocurrent spectroscopy combined with transport measurements of carrier diffusion length using the electron beam induced current technique. The study is performed on different diameter nanowires with Schottky junctions created by doping modulation during Chemical Vapor Deposition–Vapor Liquid Solid growth. We show that the photocurrent spectra of single Si nanowires do not follow monotonous profiles as bulk silicon, but rather have steep valleys and peaks whose position and intensity are diameter dependent. These sharp modulations result from a resonant coupling between incident photons and cavity modes of the nanowires. A good agreement between the experiment and the theoretical fit using Mie theory is observed with a red shift in the absorption spectrum with increasing diameters.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Photovoltaic cells only can convert a small part of the inlet sunlight into electricity, and the rest part of the sunlight is transformed into heat. The accumulated heat may significantly degrade the photovoltaic cell performance if not removed in time. In this work, a coupling system model composed of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), a solar selective absorber (SSA) and a flexible annular thermoelectric generator (ATEG) is put forward to broadbandly harvest the inlet sunlight, in which the ATEG simultaneously considers the Thomson effect, Peltier effect and Seebeck effect. Including various irreversible losses in the coupling system, performance indicators for DSSC, ATEG and coupling system are analytically formulated, from which the energy and exergy performance are revealed. The maximum power density, maximum energy and exergy efficiencies of the coupling system can be, respectively, 86.01 W m−2, 29.56% and 31.77%, which are, respectively, 10.52%, 39.24% and 10.54% higher than that of the single DSSC. Numerical calculation results indicate that the Schottky barrier height, thickness of the TiO2 mesoporous oxide, number of ATEGs, annular shape parameter of ATEG, thickness and width of ATEG can be optimized to maximize the power density, energy and exergy efficiencies. Besides, it reveals that the Thomson effect worsens the coupling system performance. The results obtained are helpful to design and run such a real DSSC-ATEG coupling system.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Nowadays, photovoltaic energy is becoming an increasingly important renewable energy in the world. A grid connected photovoltaic system consists of extracting the maximum power from the PV panel. This paper presented a PV-grid connected system and proposed a practical and efficient method for coupling a photovoltaic generator (PVG) on a single-phase electric grid throughout two conversion stages namely DC–DC boost converter and voltage source inverter (VSI). The DC–DC converter ensures that a maximum power extraction from the PVG and that the VSI matches the grid requirement for the energy produced. In fact, before discussing the injection of the produced power by the PVG into the electric grid, connection requirement have to be met. We presented then the coupling conditions to respect and the way to deal with them. The proposed method has been simulated revealing the ability of our system to highlight the coupling instance. The obtained results show the transient analysis of coupling and the efficiency of the proposed technique.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, the recovered heat is examined for cabin cooling for ejector and absorption cooling cycles. Energy and exergy analyses are conducted to study the role of various design parameters on the cooling capacity. Waste heat from the battery pack, as well from exhaust gases in the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) mode, are the inputs for the boiler and generator. In a city driving mode, waste heat of 15.4 kW will be available. Results show that transferring this waste heat to the boiler in the ejector cooling system leads to a cooling effect of 7.23 kW, with energetic and exergetic Coefficients of Performance (COPs) of 0.48 and 0.2 respectively. In the absorption cycle, the energetic COP of the system is 0.53 with a coolant capacity of 7.93 kW. Results also show that, for the electric mode, the cooling capacity is lower than 2 kW, which is insufficient to provide cooling. While recovered heat from Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) can be used for vehicle cabin cooling by both ejector and absorption systems, the analysis shows that the latter system has a better coefficient of performance and cooling capacity than the ejector system.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Cathodic arc deposition with an activated anode was developed for preparing doped thin solid films. The activated anode was a water-cooled crucible, and the material in it was evaporated and ionized by passing a partial arc current through the crucible. As an example, aluminum-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Al) was synthesized by a Zn cathodic arc in an oxygen (O2) gas flow at 1.0Pa. Al powder was used as a dopant precursor and placed in the crucible. The anodic plume plasma appears on the crucible anode, which is composed of cathode material of Zn and anode material of Al as well as a reactive gas of O2. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis revealed that the prepared-film contained Zn, Al and O. The ZnO:Al film on the glass substrate was transparent with a very strong X-ray diffraction peak of ZnO.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Titania nanocomposite thin films were prepared by spin-coating from sol–gel derived pastes of TiO2 powder in titanium isopropoxide sol and evaluated for light energy conversion in a photoelectrochemical cell. Addition of the Ti-precursor sol caused increases in film thickness, anatase content and photocurrent as well as a decrease in optical transmittance. Electrochemical impedance increased with increasing Ti-precursor amount in film, and the frequency peak in the Bode plot shifted toward a lower frequency. These suggest a longer electron lifetime in the composite film and the suppressed charge transfer from electrode to electrolyte, related to the aggregation of titania particles. Addition of a nanostructured titania compact layer between the composite film and the substrate caused a marked increase in the photocurrent, related to the rectifying behavior. Results demonstrate that these titania nanostructures promote electron generation and transport to enhance quantum efficiency.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Multilayer chip inductors (MLCIs) have been rapidly developed for electromagnetic applications. NiCuZn ferrites are the most preferred ferrite materials to produce MLCIs. MgCuZn ferrites have similar properties to those of NiCuZn ferrites. MgCuZn ferrites owing to their superior properties like low magnetostriction, environmental stability, low stress sensitivity, high resistivity and low cost can replace NiCuZn ferrites, which have a wide range of electronic applications. In view of this, a series of polycrystalline MgCuZn ferrites with generic formula MgxCu0.5Zn0.5−xFe2O4 (X=0.0 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) are successfully synthesized by conventional double sintering technique. The samples were then characterized by the X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) microstructural studies and the grain size was estimated using SEM micrographs. The sintered ferrites have been investigated in their magnetic, electrical and thermoelectric effect studies, which were carried out in the temperature range from 30°C to 490°C. The investigated ferrites are found to exhibit excellent properties that are suitable for the core materials in multilayer chip inductors, and the results are discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A porous silicon (PS) layer formed electrochemically in the outer part of the n+ emitter of p-n+ Si junctions can be used as an efficient antireflection coating (ARC). A two-step procedure is presented which can determine the electrochemical parameters leading to the formation of an optimized single-layer PS ARC. Single-layer PS ARCs achieving ≈7% effective reflectance between 400 and 1000 nm are obtained on shallow p–n+ junction solar cells. To reduce the reflectance further, the design of double-layer ARCs based on PS is investigated. PS layers with different porosities can be realized in a single experiment by modulating the current density during the electrochemical process. It is shown theoretically and experimentally that such PS structures can lead to an effective reflectance below 3%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Two conjugated A-π-D-π-A type small molecules having a 4,8-bis(thienyl)-benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene (TBDT) unit as the donor part, a mono-thiophene as the π-conjugation bridge, and 2-cyano-3-octyloxy-3-oxo-1-propenyl (COOP) or dicyanovinyl (DCV) as the terminal acceptor unit were synthesized and investigated. Both compounds showed broad absorption band over 400–600 nm and similar HOMO/LUMO energy levels. However, these two compounds showed a big difference in photovoltaic performance. The DCV-1T-TBDT:PC61BM based solar cell exhibited an open circuit voltage (V OC) of 0.93 V, a short circuit current (J SC) of 8.54 mA cm−2, a fill factor (FF) of 0.56, and an overall power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.48%, whereas the COOP-1T-TBDT:PC61BM based solar cell showed a V OC of 1.04 V, a J SC of 2.28 mA cm−2, an FF of 0.29, and a PCE of 0.69. Furthermore, DCV-1T-TBDT showed minor thickness-dependent PCE behavior in PV device, which is beneficial for printing processing.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar distillation is a thermal process used to produce freshwater from brackish or saline water by absorbing solar radiation. The single slope solar distiller has a design with a single slope cover to condensate the generated vapor and guide the water to the distillation vessel. On the other hand, metallic nanofluids (NF) are candidates to improve the thermo-optical performance of solar energy collectors due to the high optical absorption of sunlight and high thermal conductivity. In this work, we explore silver, gold, and copper NFs to increase the performance of a single slope solar distiller. The NFs were synthesized using chemical routes to obtain NFs containing spherical nanoparticles with size about 40 nm and volume fractions of φ = 0 . 001 % . The specific water production and the base, basin, cover and ambient temperatures were recorded along the day, and the results were in agreement with the predicted values obtained from the energy balance equations. Water production enhancements of 28.2%, 19.2%, and 22.0% were obtained using Au, Ag, and Cu nanofluids, respectively. The solar distiller using Au-NF exhibited the best performance, with a maximum instantaneous thermal energy efficiency enhancement of 28.9% without changes in the colloidal stability during the experiments.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The thermal history of freeze-dried mixtures of composite powders containing ZnO–matrix and (CH3COO)2Cu·H2O (copper(II) acetate monohydrate) was undertaken by thermal analysis (TA) coupled to thermoelectrical analysis (TEA). Experiments were carried out on compacted samples, under non-isothermal conditions, in air, up to 350°C, by measuring the electrical resistance during heating, called thermoelectrical resistometry (TER), and by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Activation energy (E a) for exothermal events related to the decomposition of (CH3COO)2Cu (copper(II) acetate, CuAc2), observed within the range 225–325°C, was estimated according to ASTM E 698 method. Values of E a equal to 154 and 155kJ/mol were obtained by TER and DSC, respectively. TER showed that the thermal decomposition of CuAc2 involves the liberation of electrons. Results also indicated that TER may be used as an alternative or complementary method for the study of the thermal decomposition mechanisms of transition metal(II) acetates.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A high electric field is applied to polarize the undoped MEH-PPV and the MEH-PPV: C60 composite thin film in the process of spin-coating. Due to the polarization causing the orientation of the MEH-PPV chains, the resulting thin-film devices show improved photovoltaic properties. For undoped MEH-PPV devices, oriented under the electric field of 6×103 V cm−1, the short-circuit current ( J sc ) and the external quantum efficiency (EQE) are enhanced by a factor of 2.5 and 2, respectively. For MEH-PPV–fullerene composite devices, oriented under the same field, the J sc and the EQE are improved by a factor of 1.8 and 1.7, respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "How to strengthen the interface bonding and alleviate the contradiction between the strength and ductility of metal matrix composites is a long-standing open issue. Herein, continuous and uniform nano Cu coating was decorated onto the CNTs and used to tailor the interface between CNTs and Cu matrix of CNTs reinforced Cu matrix composite. It is found that coating Cu on CNTs not only can promote the dispersion of CNTs and strengthen the CNTs-Cu interface but also lead to the uniform strain distribution of the fabricated composite and the formation of dislocation deleted region in the interfacial area, resulting in better strength-ductility synergy than uncoated CNTs reinforced Cu matrix composite. Moreover, with precoating Cu on CNTs, the proportion of strength contribution from load transfer strengthening to the overall strength improvement can be increased from 14% to 26.5%. The findings can guide the development of Cu matrix composites with high mechanical performances.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A hybrid thermophotovoltaic system for thermal-to-electrical energy conversion is a solid-state technique that exclusively utilizes infrared light. However, it faces an upper limit on its conversion efficiency. In this study, its performance is enhanced by integrating concentrated solar energy and a thermal battery. A surface-to-surface radiative analysis in COMSOL is conducted to determine the thermal-to-electrical conversion efficiency. In addition to photon recycling, facilitated by spectral filters, the cells' junction is externally biased to impart a positive photonic chemical potential. This enhances the spectral intensity due to a higher apparent temperature and an increased entropy content. Consequently, it raises the thermal-to-electric energy conversion efficiency to 49% in a real-world scenario and up to 56% in an ideal case. Arbitrage is introduced into this power plant by incorporating an electric grid heater in the system, which bypasses solar heating. It stores electric energy during off-peak hours and provides it during on-peak hours. In this research, financial analysis is carried out using GAMS, and an estimated arbitrage of up to $920/kW-year is achieved from the electricity grid in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland (PJM). The thermal battery in the system is also compared with other energy storage devices, proving it to be advantageous compared to Li-Ion and lead-acid batteries, which exhibit higher unit energy storage and conversion costs.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thermoelectric materials can achieve the interconversion of electricity and heat, providing potential for power generation. It is a challenge to elevate conversion efficiency due to the coupled thermoelectric parameters. Herein, the high thermoelectric performance is successfully achieved in GeTe-based thermoelectric materials by single doping trivalent dopant M (M=In, Sb, Bi). The high conversion efficiency of ∼10.3% and power density of ∼ 0.6 W cm−2 under a temperature difference of 419 K are realized in a segmented single-leg device. And the remarkable hardness of ∼ 2.92 GPa in M-doped GeTe provides a prospect for device application. The advanced performance in M-doped GeTe is mainly ascribed to its high ZT value through manipulating deformation potential. The three trivalent dopants facilitate band convergence due to the enhanced symmetry, which increases effective mass without scarifying carrier mobility. Compared with In and Sb, Bi element can be the most effective dopant to decrease deformation potential from 25.3 eV to 17.2 eV. The low deformation potential by doping with Bi leads to high weighted mobility, further optimizing the power factor. The In-doped GeTe exhibits low lattice thermal conductivity at ambient temperature because of the softened phonons, while the lattice thermal conductivity of Bi-doped GeTe is significantly decreased at high temperature due to the larger atomic mass and size of Bi than that of the other two series. Consequently, the highest ZT of ∼1.9 at 723 K is attained in Ge0.94Bi0.06Te which outperforms other single-doped GeTe-based thermoelectric materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The growing concerns of global warming and depleting oil/gas reserves have made it inevitable to seek energy from renewable energy resources. Many nations are embarking on introduction of clean/renewable solar energy for displacement of oil-produced energy. Moreover, solar photovoltaic (PV)–diesel hybrid power generation system technology is an emerging energy option since it promises great deal of challenges and opportunities for developed and developing countries. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (K.S.A) being enriched with higher level of solar radiation, is a prospective candidate for deployment of solar PV systems. Literature indicates that commercial/residential buildings in K.S.A. consume about 10–45% of the total electric energy generated. The aim of this study is to analyze long-term solar radiation data of Dhahran (East-Coast, K.S.A.) to assess the techno-economic feasibility of utilizing hybrid PV–diesel–battery power systems to meet the load of a typical residential building (with annual electrical energy demand of 35,120kWh). The monthly average daily solar global radiation ranges from 3.61 to 7.96kwh/m2. National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER) software has been employed to carry out the present study. The simulation results indicate that for a hybrid system composed of 4kWp PV system together with 10kW diesel system and a battery storage of 3h of autonomy (equivalent to 3h of average load), the PV penetration is 22%. The cost of generating energy (COE, US$/kWh) from the above hybrid system has been found to be 0.179 $/kWh (assuming diesel fuel price of 0.1$/l). The study exhibits that for a given hybrid configuration, the operational hours of diesel generators decrease with increase in PV capacity. The investigation also examines the effect of PV/battery penetration on COE, operational hours of diesel gensets for a given hybrid system. Concurrently, attention is focussed on un-met load, excess electricity generation, fuel savings and reduction in carbon emissions (for different scenarios such as PV–diesel without storage, PV–diesel with storage, as compared to diesel-only situation), COE of different hybrid systems, cost of PV–diesel–battery systems, etc.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "pDoAO oxide forms viscoelastic gel-like wormlike micellar solutions in water without additive; the system reverses to fluid when acid is added (pH<2).",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► The electrodeposition of the dendritic SnTe thin films was studied using cyclic voltammetry, compositional, structural, optical measurements and surface morphology. ► The growth of the dendritic SnTe thin films proceeds via formation of nanoparticles and growth of dendritic crystals on these nanoparticles. ► The optical absorption studies as a function of deposition time indicated that the band gap of the SnTe thin film increases as the deposition time decreases.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Nanocrystalline electrochromic electrodes offer a promising outlook for the realization of displays characterized by sharp contrast and fast switching. These electrodes are constituted of sintered nanoparticles of a semiconductor, for instance titanium dioxide. Owing to the high porosity of the material, the signal produced by the color change associated to the oxidation or reduction of an adsorbed molecular monolayer can be amplified by a factor of 100–1000, allowing transmittance changes from 79 to 11% of the complete electrode in less than 1s.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • An evaluation method for thermal economic performance of solar aided power generation is proposed. • A generalized steam-water distribution matrix equation is defined. • One-to-one correspondent matrix equation of coal-fired power plant system structure. • The proposed method is successfully used to solve a canonical case of a 600MW system.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Indirect benefits of rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems for building insulation are quantified through measurements and modeling. Measurements of the thermal conditions throughout a roof profile on a building partially covered by solar photovoltaic (PV) panels were conducted in San Diego, California. Thermal infrared imagery on a clear April day demonstrated that daytime ceiling temperatures under the PV arrays were up to 2.5K cooler than under the exposed roof. Heat flux modeling showed a significant reduction in daytime roof heat flux under the PV array. At night the conditions reversed and the ceiling under the PV arrays was warmer than for the exposed roof indicating insulating properties of PV. Simulations showed no benefit (but also no disadvantage) of the PV covered roof for the annual heating load, but a 5.9kWhm−2 (or 38%) reduction in annual cooling load. The reduced daily variability in rooftop surface temperature under the PV array reduces thermal stresses on the roof and leads to energy savings and/or human comfort benefits especially for rooftop PV on older warehouse buildings.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC), thermal modulation is an important process to enhance the detectability of a volatile organic compound analyte and compound separation capacity. For increased detectability, we explore a method to enhance the temperature uniformity of a microfabricated thermal modulator with an area-adjusted air-gap spacer. The area-adjusted spacer controls the spatial distribution of heat transfer to increase the temperature uniformity of the analyte passing through the device's channel. This enables higher analyte peak-amplitude enhancement (PAE) during thermal modulation, thereby increasing detectability of the analyte. The influence of varying spacer area on temperature uniformity was characterized by simulation, and its effect on PAE was experimentally estimated. With an optimized spacer design, we achieved a 25% increase in PAE (34–42) for 10ppm n-octane vapor.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The inter-comparability of ageing of organic photovoltaic (OPV) technologies in dark is addressed. Four primary factors that affect the reproducibility of the ageing rate determination and inter-comparison are discussed: production/encapsulation of the samples, current–voltage (IV) characterization, testing conditions for ageing and lifetime determination from a decay curve. Results of inter-laboratory ageing studies of roll-to-roll and spin coated samples with correspondingly flexible plastic packaging and glass stored in dark conditions among 7 laboratories are presented. ISOS test conditions, proposed recently as guiding protocols for testing OPV stability, are applied in the study. The reproducibility of the performance versus the production and encapsulation techniques is firstly studied. The results reveal a significant improvement in the reproducibility when going from manual spin coating to roll-to-roll production. Furthermore, the reproducibility of current–voltage (IV) measurement and preconditioning (light soaking treatments) are addressed. Additionally, the inter-comparison of the degradation rates of the samples aged under three different dark test conditions (ambient, dry/heat, damp heat) reported by different groups are analyzed revealing a reasonable agreement. Finally, a logarithmic diagram for OPV lifetime associated with common time units is proposed that allows conveniently categorizing and intercomparing the stability performance of different samples aged under different test conditions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Different ratios of ZnO and MnCO3 were mixed and processed by ceramic route to investigate phase relations in the Zn–Mn–O system using differential thermal analysis and X-ray powder diffraction techniques. Except for Zn1−x Mn x O we detected two different spinel phases in this system. FactSage program was used for the construction of the Zn–Mn–O phase diagram in air and oxygen atmosphere. To verify the composition in several parts of the diagram at the temperature of interest, a number of high-temperature annealings followed by quenching was performed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Auctions have been used in several formats in the electric energy industry. In general, regulators may be uncomfortable initiating a reverse auction at a higher-than-expected final price, fearing that participants may sell their energy at an excess profitability. Nevertheless, evidence from electricity procurement auctions conducted in Brazil supports the findings that these types of auctions have the opposite effect. By attracting a larger number of agents, these auctions can trigger stronger competition and lead to lower settlement pricing. Accordingly, the Brazilian cases examined in this article present significant evidence to support this directional theory. In fact, there are some cases of electricity procurement auctions that show that inadequate auction reserve pricing leads to inefficient outcomes and may also cause the auction to fail. On the other hand, auctions with adequate price caps have led to lower final clearing prices, thus contributing to reasonable final energy pricing.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The European Union has established challenging targets for the share of renewable energies to be achieved by 2020; for Spain, 20% of the final energy consumption must be from renewable sources at such time. The aim of this paper is the analysis of the consequences for the electricity sector (in terms of excess cost of electricity, investment requirements, land occupation, CO2 emissions and overcapacity of conventional power) of several possibilities to comply with the desired targets. Scenarios are created from different hypotheses for energy demand, biofuel share in final energy in transport, contribution of renewables for heating and cooling, renewable electricity generation (generation mix, deployment rate, learning curves, land availability) and conventional power generation (lifetime of current installations, committed deployment, fossil fuel costs and CO2 emissions cost). A key input in the estimations presented is the technical potential and the cost of electricity from renewable sources, which have been estimated in previous, detailed studies by the present authors using a methodology based on a GIS (Geographical Information System) and high resolution meteorological data. Depending on the scenario, the attainment of the targets will lead to an increase in the cost of electricity from 19% to 37% with respect to 2007.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A boundary layer analysis has been presented to study the effect of Hall current on the MHD natural convection flow of a viscous incompressible fluid along a semi-infinite uniformly heated vertical plate in the presence of a strong cross magnetic field. The governing equations are expressed in terms of local non-similar boundary layer equations. Solutions are obtained for small and large values of local Hartmann parameter, ξ. For small ξ solutions are obtained through power series method and for large ξ analytical solutions are obtained via matched asymptotic expansion method. Numerical solutions are also obtained by implicit finite difference method together with Thompson's algorithm, over the entire range of ξ. The boundary layer structure is investigated in terms of shear stress, τ w , rate of heat transfer, q w , and rate of mass transfer, m w , for low Prandtl number (i.e. Pr << 1). Comprehensive interpretation of energy distribution is also given in terms of heatlines.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter reviews the basic properties, major chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactions and processes, and the present and potential applications of the ceramic materials, particularly borides and silicides. Boron forms stable borides with the transition metals. The refractory-metal borides have a structure, which is dominated by the boron configuration. This favors the metallic properties such as high electrical and thermal conductivities and high hardness. Boriding by CVD is a simple process in which a layer of boron is deposited on a metal substrate, followed by heat treatment. The boron can also be deposited by the hydrogen reduction of chloride or by the decomposition of diborane. During heat treatment, the metal boride is formed by the solid-state diffusion of the boron atoms into the metal lattice to form an interstitial compound, while the direct boride deposition does not require a reaction with the substrate to form the boride. Some of its applications include: experimental TiB2 coatings for cemented carbide cutting tools and other wear and erosion-resistant applications, and ZrB2 coatings for solar absorption. The chapter discusses the CVD of III–V compounds and chalcogenides.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "When electron-transfer from poly(3-hexylthiophene-2, 5-diyl) (PTh6) to merocyanine dye (MC) occurred in the mixed solid under illumination, the photocurrent of Al/MC+PTh6 mixed solid Schottky-barrier cell was enhanced compared to that of pure MC or pure PTh6 cell. This is because discrete pairs of electron and hole created by the photoinduced electron-transfer are effectively separated in the electric field formed at the Al/organic solid interface.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The microwave electrodeposition/microwave NaOH aqueous solution treatment was developed for the first time to prepare MnO2 modified carbon fiber/cement composite (MCFC). The effects of the MnO2 modified carbon fiber (MCF) content and alkali treatment temperatures on the thermoelectric properties of the cement composites were investigated. The results show that the composite with the MCF content of 3.75 wt% has the optimal thermoelectric performance. After microwave alkali treatment at 333K, this composite has a Seebeck coefficient of −2308.9 μV/K, electrical and thermal conductivities of 2.72 S/m and 0.632 W/mK, and as a result, the ZT value of 7.73 × 10−3 could be achieved, which is the best value among the reported carbon fiber cement composites. Moreover, the composite has a compressive strength and strain of 38.6 MPa and 2.8%, respectively, which are 15.2% and 75% higher than those of the original cement, and shows good toughness.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The stiffness of the single myosin motor (ɛ) is determined in skinned fibers from rabbit psoas muscle by both mechanical and thermodynamic approaches. Changes in the elastic strain of the half-sarcomere (hs) are measured by fast mechanics both in rigor, when all myosin heads are attached, and during active contraction, with the isometric force (T 0) modulated by changing either [Ca2+] or temperature. The hs compliance is 43.0±0.8nmMPa−1 in isometric contraction at saturating [Ca2+], whereas in rigor it is 28.2±1.1nmMPa−1. The equivalent compliance of myofilaments is 21.0±3.3nmMPa−1. Accordingly, the stiffness of the ensemble of myosin heads attached in the hs is 45.5±1.7kPanm−1 in isometric contraction at saturating [Ca2+] (e 0), and in rigor (e r) it rises to 138.9±21.2kPanm−1. ɛ, calculated from e r and the lattice molecular dimensions, is 1.21±0.18pNnm−1. ɛ estimated, using a thermodynamic approach, from the relation of T 0 at saturating [Ca2+] versus the reciprocal of absolute temperature is 1.25±0.14pNnm−1, similar to that estimated for fibers in rigor. Consequently, the ratio e 0/e r (0.33±0.05) can be used to estimate the fraction of attached heads during isometric contraction at saturating [Ca2+]. If the osmotic agent dextran T-500 (4g/100ml) is used to reduce the lateral filament spacing of the relaxed fiber to the value before skinning, both e 0 and e r increase by ∼40%. ɛ becomes ∼1.7pNnm−1 and the fraction and the force of myosin heads attached in the isometric contraction remain the same as before dextran application. The finding that the fraction of myosin heads attached to actin in an isometric contraction is 0.33 rules out the hypothesis of multiple mechanical cycles per ATP hydrolyzed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We estimate the efficiency and power of a thermal energy harvesting thermodynamic cycle using a magnetocaloric material as active substance. The thermodynamic cycle is computed using an equation of state, either extrapolated from experimental data or deduced using a phenomenological Landau model. The magnetic work is then compared to the maximum work. Afterwards power is estimated using a simple thermal exchange model. Simulations of different cycles for different working points illustrate the tradeoff between power and efficiency.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, we present a novel type of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates using the surface of microsphere end-shape optical fibre coated silver nanodendrites fabricated by laser-assisted photochemical method, which can one-timely synthesis and deposit nano-silver on the surface of microsphere. The morphology and chemical composition of SERS microsphere-shape optical fibre substrates characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), respectively, show that the Ag nanodendrites coated on the surface of microspherical end-shape have excellent reproducibility and stability in the morphology and structures. The SERS-activity of microsphere end-shape optical fibre substrates has been tested by ultralow concentration of Rhodamine 6 G and detected Dimethoate pesticide in the low-concentration range of 0.005 ppm-4 ppm with Limit of Detection (LOD) of 0.002 ppm. This study indicated that SERS substrate based on microsphere end-shape optical fibre coupled with silver nanodendrites is a large potential tool for applications in high sensitive chemo-sensing technique.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The electrical properties of high-temperature TiO2 melts were evaluated using a modified floating zone furnace with four ellipsoidal mirrors and Ir electrodes. A droplet of molten TiO2 was suspended with two Ir electrodes. The resistivity of the molten TiO2 decreased in the reducing atmosphere, and with Ta2O5 doping. Thermoelectric power, up to 250mV, due to the temperature difference at the electrodes, was observed in the specimens with and without Ta2O5 doping in Ar and/or 20% O2–Ar atmospheres. The thermoelectric power of Ta2O5-doped TiO2 is slightly larger than that of non-doped TiO2. This phenomenon is discussed based on the Seebeck effect, the diffusion potential and/or the electrochemical potential.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper we attempt to provide an analysis of the effective thermal conductivity of Si/Ge quantum dot superlattices based on a phonon-hydrodynamic approach. We consider the inner Ge quantum dots as minute ellipsoidal obstacles which exert a thermal resistance against the phonon flow in the Si hosting matrix. This yields an additional reduction term to the effective medium reduction of the thermal conductivity. The contribution considered here depends on the size, the shape, the spatial distribution of the obstacles and plays an important role when the characteristic size of the Ge obstacles is much smaller than the phonon mean-free path in the Si matrix. The originality of the paper is that the physics of rarefied fluids is used to study the problem of heat transport.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The synthesis of a zwitterionic ruthenium dye that binds to anatase surfaces and has a built-in functionality that allows for the attachment of a conjugated polymer chain is presented. The system was found to adsorb on the surface of anatase anchored by the ruthenium dye. Two types of devices were prepared: standard photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar cells and polymer solar cells. The PEC solar cells employed a sandwich geometry between TiO2 nanoporous photoanodes and Pt counter electrodes using LiI/I2 in CH3CN as an electrolyte. The polymer solar cells employed planar anatase electrodes and the complex was adsorbed onto the surface before evaporation of gold electrodes. Alternative devices were obtained by spincoating of the polymer solution onto PEDOT:PSS covered indium-doped tin oxide substrates. PEC solar cells gave the best results and the main finding was that the polymer chain served as a light harvesting antenna for the ruthenium dye.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The rapid growth of Chinese economy has tremendously stimulated the expansion of energy consumption. The structure of energy consumption in China is featured with the coal domination. Air pollution is becoming increasingly severe. As a result, we are confronted with the extremely arduous task to balance energy consumption and environmental protection. In order to coordinate the relationship between energy consumption and environmental protection in a strategic way, this paper analyzes comprehensively the instruments, effects and perspectives of energy-related environmental management. Meanwhile, this paper illustrates the barriers and challenges facing the energy and energy-related environmental management in China, and suggests a priority strategy of management instrument, mainly composed of energy-saving, optimization of energy structure, promulgation of environmental standards, advance in environmental technologies, internalization of environmental costs, establishment of a public benefit fund and adoption of a Renewable Portfolio System.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter discusses the testing of photovoltaic modules and encapsulations at elevated voltage, temperature, and humidity. The ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and silicon rubber was used to encapsulate the photovoltaic cells into panel. The current–voltage characteristics under illumination and insulation resistance of encapsulant have been used to check the behavior of aged cells and panels. To achieve stability and enhance efficiency of solar cells and PV modules, it is necessary to encapsulate them in standard lamination process. Encapsulation materials must be highly transparent, resistant against thermal and UV oxidation (degradation) at low and high temperature, resistant against humidity, with good mechanic and electric properties (electric resistance), and thermally consistent with the cell.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The atmospheric extinction of solar radiation reflected by heliostats are recognized as an important factor of radiative losses in Concentrating Solar Power technologies in general and especially in thermoelectric solar tower plants. These types of plants are getting larger (≥100 MWe), and consequently the distances between the heliostats and the receiver very often exceed 1 km and radiative losses due to solar extinction on this path can represent a high percentage. The aerosols and water vapor along this route scatter and absorb solar radiation, preventing a percentage of it from reaching the solar receiver. For this reason, in the process of choosing a location for the design and construction of these plants, the radiative losses due to extinction in that place should be known in advance. Until now, Typical Meteorological Years have been available for the location chosen in the plant design stage, mainly considering Direct Normal Irradiance but not solar extinction. Unfortunately, ground-based measurement of solar extinction has never been properly considered because it was not known how to measure or estimate it adequately. The Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT, Spain) has developed a reliable solar extinction measurement system which has been recording accurate horizontal extinction values at Plataforma Solar de Almería (PSA) since 2017. Based on this unique in the world solar extinction database of more than five years, a Typical Solar Extinction Year has been obtained for the first time to rigorously validate extinction models that then allow knowing the extinction in any area of interest in the world for solar tower power plants and to choose the most convenient one. It has been found that the annual average extinction at PSA for the measurement distance (742 m) is 6 %, with a standard deviation of 2 % and a median of 6 %. This average annual extinction value corresponds to a horizontal extinction coefficient of (0.083 ± 0.029) km−1 and a Visual Range of 47 km (-12 km, +23 km). Frequent haze events have been observed at PSA mainly caused by Saharan dust, which can be considered one more symptom of the current increased desertification and climate change.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This article reviews transparent oxide optoelectronic devices based on our efforts focusing on transparent thin-film transistors fabricated from single-crystalline films of InGaO3(ZnO)5 with a natural superlattice structure, near-ultraviolet (UV) emitting diodes composed of heteroepitaxially grown p-type SrCu2O2 and n-type ZnO, and single-crystalline NiO and ZnO pn-heterojunction diode UV detectors.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a powerful analytical tool for the identification of various physical properties and thermal transitions of polymeric materials. DSC is used to estimate the melting and mesomorphic transitions along with their entropy and enthalpy. Characterization of glass transition temperature (T g) and other effects that show either changes in heat capacity (C p) or latent heat of polymeric materials can be performed using DSC. This analytical tool measures thermal transitions, C p, and enthalpy through calorimetry. Since its invention in the 1960s, DSC has become a trendy thermal analytical tool used in a broad heating kinetic range related to heating and cooling at different heating rates and isothermal conditions. Existing DSCs can cover a broad range of heating rates starting from 1 μK/s to 10 K/s. The application of DSC is crucial in the field of semicrystalline polymeric materials because their phase transitions are dependent on heating/cooling rate. Certain issues associated with DSC are of great interest; these include calculation of baseline C p and multiple melting peaks required for crystallinity determination using DSC. DSC instrument primarily consists of a thermal scanning chamber and a computer. Two pans are used for heating and cooling in the thermal scanning furnace chamber. The first pan is used to hold the sample, while the second pan remains empty and is used as a reference.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Growth of Mg film on amorphous Si (a-Si) at room temperature in UHV conditions was studied in situ with optical differential reflection spectroscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy. The phase composition of the film was also studied by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The mechanism of silicide film growth on a-Si is considered. The origin of internal stress within the growing film and its role in the silicide film growth process are discussed. Due to high pressure occurring within the growing film, the first phase to form is the hexagonal silicide phase h-Mg2Si. According to the DRS data, the phase h-Mg2Si is semiconducting. The new peak in the differential reflectance spectrum is assigned to the h-Mg2Si. At later stages of Mg deposition the cubic silicide phase c-Mg2Si grows.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Oppositely charged SPADNS and rhodamine B (RhB) molecules show strong electrostatic ion pair interactions viaN+< group of RhB with three –SO3 − groups of SPADNS. TiO2 surface-adsorbed SPADNS molecules generate remarkably enhanced photocurrents when electrostatically attached number of RhB units with SPADNS increase. Ionic association constants were estimated from luminescence quenching plots. Both diffuse reflectance and FTIR data suggest that surface chelation take place through –OH groups of SPADNS and ionic-associated complexes between SPADNS and RhB are formed with –SO3 − groups of SPADNS. Efficient electron transfer from photoexcited RhB units to the SPADNS increases the observed photocurrent values.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We optimize the thermoelectric (TE) properties by minimizing thermal conductivity utilizing by hierarchical phonon scattering from long to mid wavelength of phonon in p-type Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3.4 (BST) composite with nano Ag-coated TiO2 (Ag/TiO2). We employed an Ag nano particle (20 nm) modulation into TiO2 (500 nm) particles by spray coating method and dispersed in a p-type Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3.4 (BST), giving rise to a hierarchical architecture from nano to micro scale. The nano particle modulation of Ag/TiO2 particles decreases grain sizes of p-type BST matrix. The hierarchical structure of modulating nano particles and small grain sizes of the matrix significantly decreases lattice thermal conductivity due to wide range of wavelength phonon scattering, resulting in the enhancement of thermoelectric performance over a large temperature range. The maximum thermoelectric figure-of-merit zT value reaches to 1.28 for 0.9 wt% Ag/TiO2 modulation doping, which is superior to the other reported ones. The optimized modulating Ag/TiO2 nano-particle dispersion effectively maintains the valence band structure while concurrently mitigating the scattering of charge carriers. Therefore, the nano particle modulation by spray coating method is an effective way to manifest hierarchical architecture from nano to micro-scale phonon scattering, which can be applied in thermoelectric materials design and process.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Ceramic sample of CuCrO2 was synthesized via a solid-state reaction method. XANES, dielectric, ferroelectric, pyroelectric, synchrotron x-ray diffraction (SXRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Raman measurements were performed on the prepared sample. Ferroelectric hysteresis loop, PUND, and pyroelectric current measurements indicate the presence of ferroelectricity in the prepared sample. The appearance of a broad maximum in dielectric permittivity and its frequency dispersion indicates the possibility of relaxor-type ferroelectricity in the system. Furthermore, TEM measurements revealed the presence of nano regions that are speculated to be polar and hence are giving rise to relaxor-type ferroelectricity. Careful analysis of XRD data indicates that the distorted CrO6 octahedra is giving rise to strain in the sample. This strain might be responsible for the observed nano regions, which might be polar, in the otherwise non-polar matrix. It is proposed that these polar regions are responsible for the presence of relaxor-type ferroelectricity in the sample.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Developing low-cost and high-performance thermoelectric materials is warranted. Herein, a series of flexible thermoelectric organic–inorganic composite films of tin sulfide (SnS)/poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and SnS/PEDOT:PSS/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) are prepared by drop coating. Then, a water–methanol solution is spun on the composite films to further improve the upper surface layer's conductivity. This facile water–methanol post-treatment does not affect the lower part of the film, which keeps the Seebeck coefficient of the film from being significantly reduced. As a consequence, SnS/PEDOT:PSS films show the most significant conductivity increase rate of 28.8% and the maximum power factor (PF) of 43.11 μW m−1 K−2, whereas those for the SnS/PEDOT:PSS/MWCNT films are 4.5% and 44.54 μW m−1 K−2, respectively. In addition, the prepared composite films show good stability in bending tests and could be applied to construct six-legged flexible thermoelectric devices to evaluate the prospects of the flexible thermoelectric application of these films. Our strategy for film design offers a new idea for thermoelectric research.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The feed-in tariff(s) mechanism involves an obligation on the part of an electricity provider to purchase electricity generated by renewable energy sources in its relevant area, paying a tariff determined by public authorities and guaranteed for a specific time period. Feed-in tariff(s) have been the primary mechanism used for supporting the development of renewable energy sources in the EU and, up to date, they are being applied in 20 EU Member Countries. On 6 July 2013, the Italian experience with feed-in tariff(s) for photovoltaic systems finished. During its lifetime of eight years, this incentive mechanism, named “Conto Energia”, was characterized by periods of great success followed by others of serious skepticism. The implementation of the Italian feed-in tariff(s) mechanism was changed many times, becoming very close to the European standard.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper describes a compact and rugged Raman integrated tunable sensor coupled with surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates for the screening of a wide variety of chemical and biological agents for homeland defense applications. The field-deployable instrument, consisting of an 830-nm diode laser for excitation and an avalanche photodiode (APD) for detection, is a fully integrated, tunable, “point-and-shoot” Raman device based on solid-state acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) technology. It can provide direct identification of chemical and biological samples in a few seconds under field conditions. This paper illustrates some applications of this portable device for the detection of various compounds of particular interest for homeland defense applications. These include methyl parathion (a nerve agent simulant) and dipicolinic acid (a biomarker for bacillus endospore), and other chemical warfare simulants such as dimethyl methylphosphonate, pinacolyl methylphosphonate, diethyl phosphoramidate, and 2-chloroethyl ethylsulfide, which are simulants for sarin (GB), soman (GD), tabun (GA), and sulfur mustard (HD), respectively, and intact bacteria such as Bacillus globigii, Erwinia herbicola, and Bacillus thuringiensis, which are simulants for biological warfare agents.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Lu3Al5O12:Ce3+ is a promising color converter for laser diode (LD)-driven solid-state lighting due to the improved thermal stability of its luminescence compared with widely used Y3Al5O12:Ce3+ materials. However, LuAG:Ce3+ emits green light, which is a severe drawback for white lighting. Here, we report biphasic Lu3MgAl3SiO12:Ce3+ (BP-LMAS:Ce3+) transparent ceramics designed with a multiple-component strategy that exhibit red-shifted emission via the inclusion of a secondary phase (Lu/Mg)4(Al/Si)2O9. This phase, dispersed homogeneously in the BP-LMAS:Ce3+ matrix, provides scattering centers, which improve the uniformity of the emitted light. The material demonstrates a broad orange-yellow emission centered at 564 nm (450-nm excitation), with an internal quantum efficiency of 76.1% and transmittance of 76% and enhanced thermal stability. Under the excitation of 14.5 W mm−2 blue LDs, it generates white light with a high luminous flux of 5,655 lumen (lm). This demonstrates that BP-LMAS:Ce3+ transparent ceramics are promising candidates as color converters for LD-driven white lighting applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The mitigation of global energy demands and climate change are the most important factors in the modern days. Development and application of solar energy have been regarded by the government of India and common people, and they thought that solar photo voltaic energy can provide more energy in future compare to other renewable energies. In the last decade, solar photovoltaic energy research and development has supported by the central government and state governments. This paper discusses the progress of current solar photovoltaic energy in India. It highlights the renewable energy trend in India with major achievements, state wise analysis of solar parks and industrial applications. Finally, it discusses the Indian government policies and initiatives to promote solar energy in India. This review on solar photovoltaic energy will help decision makers and various stakeholders to understand the current status, barriers and challenges for better planning and management in this field.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Vanner Inc claims its power inverter, SunLynx II, has been certified and can provide 2,000 or 4,000 watts of electricity in grid connected mode, while maintaining UL1741 approved protection.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Data are presented on high performance and air-stable organic solar cells with modified electrode architecture (MAOSCs), which have a patterned transparent anode determining the real active area of devices and a large area of reflective cathode covering the whole area of an active layer based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and 1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)-propyl-1-phenyl-(6,6)C61 (PCBM). Based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) scheme as a numerical method, improved light trapping within the photoactive layer, resulting from the efficient reflection of incident light at the large area of cathode, can be attained by modifying the conventional organic solar cell structures. Here, an improved power conversion efficiency of 4.3% was obtained in the case of MAOSCs under 1Sun with air mass (AM) 1.5 global (G) condition. In addition, the stability of MAOSCs in air was remarkably improved due to the limited exposure of their active layers to air.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Research highlights ► Lanthanide (Ln3+ =Sm3+ and Eu3+) doped TiO2 acts as good down-converting materials for harvesting UV light from solar radiation into visible range. ► Modification of the photovoltaic efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells by using photoelectrodes based on lanthanide (Ln3+ =Sm3+ and Eu3+) doped TiO2 down-converting materials.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Recent trends in infrared detectors are towards large, electronically addressed two-dimensional arrays. In the long wavelength infrared (LWIR) spectral range HgCdTe focal plane arrays (FPAs) occupy a dominant position. However, the slow progress in the development of large LWIR photovoltaic HgCdTe infrared imaging arrays and the rapid achievements of novel semiconductor heterostructure systems have made it necessary to foresee the future development of different material technologies in fabrication large FPAs. Among the competing technologies in LWIR are the quantum well infrared photoconductors (QWIPs) based on lattice matched GaAs/AlGaAs and strained layer InGaAs/AlGaAs material systems. This paper compares the technical merits of two IR detector arrays technologies; photovoltaic HgCdTe and QWIPs. It is clearly shown that LWIR QWIP cannot compete with HgCdTe photodiode as the single device especially at higher temperature operation (>70 K) due to fundamental limitations associated with intersubband transitions. However, the advantage of HgCdTe is less distinct in temperature range below 50 K due to problems involved in HgCdTe material (p-type doping, Shockley–Read recombination, trap-assisted tunnelling, surface and interface instabilities). Even though the QWIP is a photoconductor, several of its properties such as high impedance, fast response time, long integration time, and low power consumption, well satisfy the requirements of fabrication of large FPAs. Due to the high material quality at low temperature, QWIP has potential advantages over HgCdTe for very LWIR (VLWIR) FPA applications in terms of the array size, uniformity, yield and cost of the systems.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The influence of inserting a Ga2O3 thin film as an n-type semiconductor layer on the obtainable photovoltaic properties in Cu2O-based heterojunction solar cells was investigated with a transparent conductive Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin film/n-Ga2O3 thin film/p-Cu2O sheet structure. It was found that this Ga2O3 thin film can greatly improve the performance of Cu2O-based heterojunction solar cells fabricated using polycrystalline Cu2O sheets that had been prepared by a thermal oxidization of copper sheets. The obtained photovoltaic properties in the AZO/Ga2O3/Cu2O heterojunction solar cells were strongly dependent on the deposition conditions of the Ga2O3 films. The external quantum efficiency obtained in AZO/Ga2O3/Cu2O heterojunction solar cells was found to be greater at wavelengths below approximately 500nm than that obtained in AZO/Cu2O heterojunction solar cells (i.e., prepared without a Ga2O3 layer) at equivalent wavelengths. This improvement of photovoltaic properties is mainly attributed to a decrease in the level of defects at the interface between the Ga2O3 thin film and the Cu2O sheet. Conversion efficiencies over 5% were obtained in AZO/Ga2O3/Cu2O heterojunction solar cells fabricated using an n-Ga2O3 thin-film layer prepared with a thickness of 40–80nm at an O2 gas pressure of approximately 1.7Pa by a pulsed laser deposition.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Pure polymer photovoltaic cells were fabricated with blend single layer as well as sandwich structures, using poly(2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-1, 4-phenylene vinylene) (MEH-PPV) as electron donor and an n-type polymer poly(pyridopyrazine vinylene) (EHH-PPyPzV) as electron acceptor. The external quantum efficiency of these diodes can reach 7%. Under low-intensity monochromatic light, the open circuit voltage reached 900mV.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Colloids consisting of the CoCrCuFeNi high-entropy alloy nanoparticles in ionic liquid with the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ([BMIM]+) cation and the tetrafluorborate ([BF4]-) anion were obtained by the DC magnetron sputtering of high-entropy alloy target in vacuum, onto the surface of [BMIM.BF4] ionic liquid. The method of the nanoparticle colloid preparation is based on negligibly small vapour pressure of the ionic liquid, which allows its application in vacuum. The high-entropy alloy nanoparticle colloids were studied by HRTEM microscopy and SQUID magnetometry. Results of the structural and magnetic analyses show that the colloids contain ultra-small single-crystalline nanoparticles of an uneven shape and typical size of (2−3) nm. The nanoparticles have relatively narrow size distribution which is typical for this preparation method. The high-entropy alloy nanocolloids show complex magnetic properties that are a function of temperature, applied magnetic field and mass content of the nanoparticles in the colloids. The obtained results imply significant magnetic interactions between the ionic liquid and the high-entropy alloy nanoparticles.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A novel thermochemical hydrogen (TCH) sensor was fabricated from a thermoelectric (TE) film and platinum nanoparticle (Pt-NP)-decorated graphene catalyst applied onto the TE film, and its hydrogen (H2) sensing performance was systemically investigated. Two types of films comprising stoichiometric antimony telluride (Sb2Te3) and a Sb2Te3/polystyrene (PS) composite were synthesized by cost-effective electrodeposition on a silicon (Si) substrate. The resulting Sb2Te3/PS composite film played an important role in improving the H2 sensing signal. Specifically, the sensing signal of the optimized TCH sensor based on the Sb2Te3/PS composite film was 29.3 times higher than that of the Sb2Te3-film-based TCH sensor under 2.5 vol% H2/air at room temperature (RT). This phenomenon can be explained by the lower thermal conductivity of the Sb2Te3/PS composite film, increasing the temperature difference relative to that of the Sb2Te3 film. The R-squared correlation coefficient (R2) of the composite-film-based TCH sensor with a range of 400 ppm to 7 vol% H2/air was 0.9916. The best response time and recovery time of the composite-film-based sensor were 4 s and 3 s at 3 vol% H2/air, respectively. Our results prove that this sensor provides a wide detection range, short response/recovery time, and high sensitivity at RT, which shows its potential for use as a commercial H2 sensor for infrastructure applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The sol–gel-derived optical array-based biosensor for the simultaneous analysis of multiple analytes as potential markers for Alzheimer's disease was fabricated. β-Amyloid, acetylcholine and glutamate were selected as the biosensing probes. The fluorescent dye, carboxy SNARF-1-dextran, was co-immobilized with glutamate dehydrogenase and acetylcholinesterase for sensing glutamate and acetylcholine, respectively, while Amplex red and FITC-dextran were immobilized with horseradish peroxidase for determination of β-amyloid and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The biosensors exhibited a good performance on simultaneous analysis of multianalytes without obvious cross-interference and the detection limits of H2O2, β-amyloid, glutamate and acetylcholine were 1.57nM, 0.63nM, 0.55μM, and 1.0μM, respectively. The developed array biosensors were also applied to determine multianalytes in human serum samples spiked with various concentrations of analytes and showed a good analytical performance with dynamic range of 4 orders of magnitude for β-amyloid. Results obtained in this study clearly demonstrate the possibility of using a sol–gel-derived optical array-based biosensor for simultaneous analysis of multiple samples in the presence of important analytes for Alzheimer's disease.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Colombia aims to diversify and decarbonize its energy sector by encouraging the use of non-conventional renewable resources. Policies and/or measures to achieve this will presumably help to achieve national and international environmental goals, yet potential rebound effects may reduce its efficacy by triggering additional demand and environmental burdens. One of such rebound effects may take place as household demand rises in response to cheaper electricity prices due to the increasing shares of wind power. This study assesses the environmental rebound effect (ERE) in the household sector from increased shares of wind power into the Colombian power grid, across six environmental impacts and for the period 2020–2030. The method used combines life cycle assessment, input-output modelling, energy system modelling, econometrics, and re-spending modelling. The results show that the ERE has the potential to partially, and even completely, offset any environmental savings (backfire effect), depending on the specific impact, year, and modelling choices considered. The magnitude of the ERE (as the percentage of potential environmental savings that are offset) ranges highly across impacts, from a negligible 1% (eutrophication) to a staggering 9241% (photochemical ozone creation). The ERE has thus the potential to render decarbonization policies largely ineffective, which calls for rebound mitigation policies, such as environmental taxes.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The encapsulant is an important element used for mechanical bonding and optical coupling between the concentrator and the solar cell in a typical concentrating photovoltaic system. In this work we explain the concept of trapping the light escaping through the optical concentrator – encapsulant interface. Understanding how the losses incur is important for the development of concentrating photovoltaic systems. A case study is performed on a 3D Cross Compound Parabolic Concentrator (3DCCPC) based low concentrating photovoltaic system. Detailed optical analysis is presented quantifying the losses based on the thickness of the encapsulant spillage. Simulation results show that the optical efficiency drops from 84.5% to 55.6% whilst increase in the encapsulant spillage thickness from 0.1mm to 3mm. Use of reflective film is made along the bottom edges of the concentrator in order to make the interface region optically inactive to carry out refraction and trap the escaping light. Modelling shows that the optical losses can be completely managed by the use of the reflective film. Experiments are carried out by building a prototype in order to demonstrate the concept and validate the results. The short circuit current is found to increase by a maximum of 8.5%. A maximum power ratio of 2.73 is observed at an incidence angle of 10° for the system using the reflective film compared to 2.56 without the reflective film.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method that incorporated shading and failure conditions in photovoltaic (PV) module arrays is developed. This MPPT method was built using improved particle swarm optimization (PSO). The PSO algorithm enables PV module arrays to perform MPPT for multi-peak power–voltage (P–V) output characteristic curves when shading or failures occur. This facilitates the tracking of actual maximum power points in PV module arrays. The HIP 2717 PV module produced by SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. was used in this study to assemble various array configurations. The characteristic curves of these array configurations when partial module shading or failure occurred were investigated. Numerous working conditions were selected for dual-peak, three-peak, and four-peak characteristics. PIC microcontrollers were then used to apply both the traditional and the proposed PSO algorithms to enable MPPT. A comparison of the measurement results showed that the proposed PSO algorithm exhibited superior tracking speed, response, and accuracy, compared with those of the traditional PSO algorithm.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report a new, open-source, MATLAB-based 3D code for numerically simulating the self-potential (SP) in subsurface reservoirs. The code works as a post-processor, using outputs from existing reservoir flow and transport simulators at a selected timestep to calculate the SP throughout the reservoir model. The material properties required to calculate the SP are user defined and may be constant or vary in each cell. The code solves the equations governing flow and transport of electrical charge and global charge conservation using a control-volume-finite-difference scheme. Electrical currents associated with the SP may spread beyond the reservoir model domain, and the code allows for the domain to be extended vertically and laterally to account for this. Here, we present the governing equations and the numerical method used and demonstrate application of the code using an example in which we predict the SP signals associated with oil production from a subsurface reservoir supported by water injection.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A detailed performance evaluation of modified transcritical CO2 adsorption refrigeration systems integrated with an ejector and a thermoelectric sub-cooler is carried out using simplified thermodynamic models. The simultaneous effect of subcooling and the lift produced by the ejector on system COP and the specific cooling effect (SCE) is expounded. It is observed that the proposed system yields an identical COP with that of heat and mass recovery systems with reduced design and operational complexity. However, the heat and mass recovery systems clubbed with ejector and thermoelectric sub-cooler yield the best system performance with a maximum increment of 126% in COP. The gas cooler pressure and subcooling temperature strongly affect the entrainment ratio; however, COP and SCE strongly depend on gas cooler pressure, evaporator and generator temperatures. The maximum COP attained (i.e., 0.353) using the novel adsorbent (M-AC C-500) in the modified system can be used as a benchmark.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In the present report synthesis of CoS thin films was carried out by a modified liquid phase chemical growth process. Dark green coloured CoS thin films with hexagonal wurtzite polycrystalline structure and average grain size of ≈15nm were deposited. Surface morphology reveals a randomly oriented network of elongated thread like grains. The absorption coefficient of the CoS thin film is high (α≈104–105 cm−1) and a direct band gap of 1.13eV has been observed. n-type conduction is found in the deposited films which can be attributed to the lack of stoichiometry.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Defect structure of a nonstoichiometric compound is normally negatively deviated from the ideal behavior as the nonstoichiometry or defect concentration increases, because of increasing coulombic attraction among charge-compensating defects. It has been sporadically reported that the defect structure deviates in the opposite way or positively from the ideal behavior particularly for hyperstoichiometric complex oxides, e.g., La2−xSrxNiO4+δ and the like. As has been the case with the negative deviation, authors have been trying to interpret the positive deviation conventionally by introducing the activity coefficients of the defects involved in the redox equilibrium, but with the coefficients evaluated or interpreted in different ways depending on the authors: typically, in terms of regular solution where the ionic defect activity-coefficient quotient for the redox reaction is assumed to be linearly proportional to the oxygen excess; in terms of the upward shift of electron chemical potential with the nonstoichiometry-induced electron concentration like a rigid band electron gas; in terms of neighboring-sites exclusion and electron-energy splitting due to coulombic repulsion among the same type defects. We have recently found that the positive deviation may be universally attributed to hole degeneracy. Here, we will critically review the earlier interpretations, present a new interpretation based on the hole degeneracy, and demonstrate its universal validity by reinterpreting quantitatively all the positive deviation behaviors of all those oxides reported so far.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report band structural calculations on half-Heusler alloy CoTiSi using Korringa–Kohn–Rostoker method applied for various formalism of potential. Murnaghan equation of state is used to minimize ground state total energy and then equilibrium lattice parameter is estimated. From density of state (DOS), it is seen that the Fermi energy is not lying in the gap and a close inspection of DOSs at the Fermi level reveals the absence of gap around the Fermi level suggesting the absence of half-metallic nature and the same is also confirmed by electronic band structure diagram.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Titania nanocrystals were prepared by a modified sol–gel synthesis using the hexadecylamine surfactant as template. The progress of the synthesis in terms of phase formation and size of nanoparticles was monitored by X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Both techniques confirmed the presence of small particles crystallized predominantly at the anatase structure. Nanocrystalline thin film electrodes were constructed using an aqueous paste prepared from the material without addition of any binder or surfactant and applied to glass substrates. After annealing at 450°C in air, TEM, SEM and AFM microscopies have shown that the particles remain anatase, spherical with an average size of about 7nm and significant agglomeration. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements revealed that the porosity is characteristic of a mesoporous solid with a very large specific surface (BET) area of 134m2/g. The films were able to adsorb a large amount of standard N719 dye, making them capable to act as efficient photoelectrodes in nanostructured solar cells. Thus, after cell assembly, an overall energy conversion efficiency (η) as high as 4.1% was attained. This value was higher than that measured with standard Degussa P25 titania films (η =3.4%).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This study proposes a novel biomass gasification-based solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) integrated with a gas turbine, a thermoelectric generator, a multi-stage flash desalination with brine recirculation unit (MSF-BR), and a CO2 capture unit for power and freshwater production. Exergoeconomic and exergoenvironmental analyses of using four biomass fuels, namely, municipal solid waste (MSW), wood, paper, and sawdust on the newly proposed system are carried out. Subsequently, the thermodynamic performance, cost, and environmental impact (EI) indicators of the system are investigated under the varying substantial operating parameters for each selected biomass fuel. Then, the system performance is optimized based on the thermodynamic efficiencies, product cost, and EI of the overall system by applying the fast and elitist non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II). The results exhibit that the highest produced freshwater and output power are achieved by 46.05 m3/day, and 228.7 kW for wood and sawdust, respectively, and the lowest levelized CO2 emission is achieved to be 0.138 ton/MWh for sawdust. Moreover, better total product cost and EI rate of the system are computed to be 2.106 $/h and 14.97 Pts/h, respectively, for MSW. Therefore, MSW is recognized as the best cost and environment-friendly fuel.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Cu2ZnSn(S1 − x Se x )4 thin films have been synthesized from vacuum deposited precursors using an annealing process under a selenium rich atmosphere. A study of intermediate reactions during the process shows that the formation of minor phases strongly depends on the precursor stacking order. In particular a Cu layer inhibits the diffusion of chalcogens below temperatures of at least 350°C. However it is possible to obtain a homogeneous thin film at the end of the selenization process with material properties and photovoltaic performance that are almost independent of the precursor stacking order.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Herein, we have studied the electronic and mechanical properties of Boron (B) doped (6,1) SWCNT in zigzag and armchair pattern by using Density Functional Theory (DFT) and a b − i n i t i o Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. A systematic periodic B-doping on (6,1) SWCNT was performed along with two different patterns: armchair(along the tube axis) and zigzag (along the tube curvature). The DFT calculations showed the dependence of the electronic properties of the SWCNT on the doping pattern as well as odd and even number of doping concentration. We also found the significant variation in mechanical response of the SWCNT tube on the dopant concentrations and doping patterns. Doping with one B atom enhanced the failure stress value by 70% but the Young’s modulus value reduced by 4.57% as compared with the pristine (6,1) SWCNT.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The effect of argon ion implantation on chemical bath deposited Cadmium sulphide (CdS) thin films is investigated by X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering and optical absorption techniques. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the As-deposited CdS thin films shows the presence of both sphalerite (cubic) and wurtzite (hexagonal) phases. Phase transition from the As-deposited mixed phase to the more stable hexagonal phase along with grain growth is observed on post implantation annealing. Optical absorption studies of the implanted films reveal a reduction in the band gap on implantation and its recovery to As-deposited values on post implantation annealing. A decrease in the intensity of the Raman peak of CdS A1(LO) mode is seen on implantation and on post implantation annealing, the intensity is found to increase. A drastic reduction in the full width at half maximum (FWHM) value of the films subjected to post implantation annealing compared to that of As-deposited or implanted films suggests the removal of defects and strain during annealing. The peak position of the Raman mode of CdS remains more or less the same.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Prolonged exposure to low-density direct current (DC) can lead to mechanical degradation of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, posing significant risks to material safety and reliability. This paper presents a nonlinear constitutive model to elucidate the mechanical degradation of CFRP composites when subjected to DC influences. Grounded in the principles of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, this model introduces two internal variables to account for the impact of thermal damage and dielectric degradation on the Helmholtz free energy. Furthermore, specialized dissipation functions are employed to derive the evolution equations governing these internal variables. Utilizing the model, we analyze the damage progression in carbon fiber–epoxy laminates subjected to constant DC loading. The theoretically projected resistivity and elastic modulus align closely with available experimental data in literature, thus confirming the rationality and accuracy of the proposed model. This model holds the potential to forecast the long-term evolution of mechanical properties in unidirectionally reinforced composite materials with varying carbon fiber contents under the influence of DC, thereby furnishing a theoretical foundation for enhancing the reliability design of CFRP composites in electrically-charged environments.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The Handbook of Microscopy for Nanotechnology is recommended for scientists needing to choose which methods to use, but its high price may bar it from students using it as a quick, accessible entré to the topic, says Shaul Aloni.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • A novel method to calculate shell thicknesses of core-shell nanoparticles from XPS data is presented. • The approach is widely applicable and combines advantages of existing models. • CdSe@ZnS quantum dots with additional organic stabiliser shell are analysed by XPS. • ZnS and organic shell thicknesses were calculated. • Potential as well as challenges of this and similar approaches are demonstrated.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A microdynamics study of high-quality CdTe/ligand self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) is significant because it is closely related to the energy transformation among specific quantum states, such as the electron and vibration levels of an elementary reaction. Transient photovoltaic (TPV) technology was used to probe the microdynamics behavior of the photogenerated carriers in the QDs. The TPV polarity of the nanocrystalline CdTe particles depended on the type of capping ligand used [3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) or β-mercaptoethylamine (MA)] because of a quantum tunneling effect. This resulted in a negative TPV polarity of the MPA samples upon illumination with a laser pulse of 532nm and excitation intensity of 50μJ, the opposite to the situation for the MA sample. The effect of the concentration of Cd2+ cations on the separation and recombination rates of the photo-induced free charge carriers of the CdTe/MPA self-assembled QDs was negligible. The different chemical bonds that formed at the interface between the core-CdTe nanoparticles and the capping ligand led to the change in the intensity of the photoacoustic signal in the 550–800nm region caused by the non-radiative de-excitations as compared to the CdTe QDs capped by MA with that capped by MPA, and to the differences in the Raman scattering between the two samples. The property of those lattice vibration quantum states locating at the Brillouin zone boundary or near the Brillouin zone boundary was associated to a great extent with the formation of the shell-CdS in between the core-CdTe and the capping ligand according to the computer simulation results.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This work shows the possibility to exploit piezoelectric transformers (PTs) for implementing step-up oscillators for ultra-low DC voltage energy harvesting (EH) applications. Oscillation is achieved by coupling a common source stage made up of n- channel JFETs with a piezoelectric transformer acting like a high gain notch filter. A voltage doubler is used to store energy in a capacitor. A mathematical model of the whole system is developed and matches experimental measurements. The minimum activation voltage is 73mV. This value decreases if higher mechanical quality factors of piezoelectric transformers are provided along with a corresponding design of the input stage.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Virtual water inequity associated with “water for electricity” is examined. • A sustainable energy scenario demonstrating pathways to water inequity reduction is developed. • By 2025, water inequity can be reduced by 35% in all three case states using a combination of EERS and RPS. • In-state water consumption can be reduced by 34% through water inequity reduction by 2025. • Water implications of energy need to be considered in energy policy.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Cu3Sn, a well-known intermetallic compound with a high melting temperature and thermal stability, has found numerous applications in microelectronics, 3D printing, and catalysis. However, the relationship between the material's thermal conductivity anisotropy and its complex anti-phase boundary superstructure is not well understood. Here, frequency domain thermoreflectance was used to map the thermal conductivity variation across the surface of arc-melted polycrystalline Cu3Sn. Complementary electron backscatter diffraction and transmission electron microscopy revealed the thermal conductivity in the principal a, b, and c orientations to be 57.6, 58.9, and 67.2 W/m-K, respectively. Density functional theory calculations for several Cu3Sn superstructures helped examine thermodynamic stability factors and evaluate the direction-resolved electron transport properties in the relaxation time approximation. The analysis of computed temperature- and composition-dependent free energies suggests metastability of the known long-period Cu3Sn superstructures while the transport calculations indicate a small directional variation in the thermal conductivity. The ∼15% anisotropy measured and computed in this study is well below previously reported experimental values for samples grown by liquid-phase electroepitaxy.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Read–Shockley-like model is developed for grain-boundary-misorientation-dependent Kapitza resistance in ceria. • Sufficient statistics shows that Kapitza resistance correlates with the grain boundary energy strongly. • Best classical potential for thermal transport in ceria is identified.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper describes the development of the U.S. state of New Jersey’s policy to accelerate the growth of photovoltaic electricity generating capacity over the past ten years. It provides insights that may be of use to scholars and policy-makers who seek to understand how markets for photovoltaics and other renewable energy technologies may be created and sustained, and it adds to the growing set of detailed historical case studies on these issues. Aggressive state policy measures have put New Jersey second to California among the U.S. states in installed photovoltaic capacity. That growth was achieved in a series of stages. New Jersey initially experienced a boom and bust as generous up-front rebates catalyzed rapid growth in demand and exhausted the program’s budget. A shift in 2007 to a policy that emphasized Solar Renewable Energy Certificates failed to sustain the growth in capacity. In response, the state began to require regulated transmission and distribution utilities to provide up-front financing for photovoltaic systems. This approach has restarted the momentum of the market, but it shifts the policy’s costs into the future, while empowering a new set of players with uncertain interests over the long term.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT):1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)-propyl-1-phenyl-(6,6)C61 (PCBM) photovoltaic devices based on ordinary paper as substrate were fabricated. Au layer deposited on paper by RF magnetron sputtering was used as anode. The hybrid layer of LiF co-evaporated with Al was used for transparent cathode, and the light transmittance could reach to ∼70%. By optimizing the mass proportion of LiF and Al, we could get the best papery solar cells with the short current density and open circuit voltage 0.1mA/cm2 and 0.39V, respectively. The corresponding power conversion efficiency was measured to be 0.13‰ illuminated with 100mW/cm2 air mass 1.5 global (AM 1.5 G) simulated sunlight.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Renewable sources can provide both environmental and social benefits, as function of low or even nil atmospheric emissions, lower water consumption, more job opportunities, and foster of local economic activity. Renewable energy sources have a large relevance in the Brazilian matrix, mainly due to the importance of hydroelectricity and sugar cane products (alcohol and bagasse). Despite its historical relevance, participation of renewable resources tends to decline. A study has been developed for the new Brazilian Regulatory Agency for the Electric Sector aiming at generating electricity from renewables. This chapter synthesized results of this project. Ministry of Mines and Energy's (MME’) “Action Plan” promotes markets for sustainable energy services in isolated areas and addresses adequately some of the nontechnical barriers of renewables (lack of technical and financial information, constraints to technological development, etc.); but at this stage it makes no sense to restraint its efforts just to the dissemination of small systems.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Thin film PV technologies face a number of hurdles as they advance towards low-cost goals that are competitive with traditional sources of electricity. The US Department of Energy cost goal for thin films is about $0.33/Wp, which is based on a module efficiency goal of about 15% and module manufacturing costs of about $50/m2. This paper investigates the issues associated with achieving the $50/m2 goal based on opportunities for manufacturing cost reductions. Key areas such as capital costs, deposition rates, layer thickness, materials costs, yields, substrates, and front and back end costs will be examined. Several prior studies support the potential of thin films to reach $50/m2. This paper will examine the necessary process research improvements needed in amorphous silicon, copper indium diselenide, cadmium telluride, and experimental thin film silicon PV technologies to reach this ambitious goal. One major conclusion is that materials costs must be reduced because they will dominate in mature technologies. Another is that module efficiency could be the overriding parameter if different thin films each optimize their manufacturing to a similar level.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We have studied CR lineshape of terahertz-light-induced current in InAs quantum wells in tilted quantizing magnetic fields. We have observed dramatic modification of the lineshape with increasing of in-plane component of magnetic field as well as with increasing of transverse built-in electric field in the well. Scenario of the modification shows that the energy spectrum asymmetry is determined by so-called toroidal moment of the system and is a function of Landau quantum number. Macroscopic self-organization of electrons under the conditions of quantum Hall effect has also been directly demonstrated in both linear and saturation regimes of the light absorption.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Combined heat and power (CHP) facilities are a very promising path to reducing CO2 emissions and increasing efficiency in the power generation sector. The ability to supply essential residential utilities (electricity, cooling, and heating) in an efficient manner opens the way for combining district cooling, heating and power generation, and suggests that CHP plants are an attractive choice for providing integrated utilities for the neighborhood of the future. In this paper, we describe the optimal integration of a CHP plant as a utility producer for a residential district, and the potential for combining CHP with photovoltaic power generation. Utilizing residential energy demand data collected by Pecan Street Research Inc., a smart-grid demonstration project in Austin, TX, residential heating, cooling, and electricity demand are analyzed and evaluated. These demands are then used to compute an optimal operating strategy for an integrated CHP/solar utility and the impact of photovoltaic generation on plant operation and operating profit is determined. We demonstrate that CHP is a viable means for providing district-level cooling, heating, and power to a residential district in a hot climate.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Nuclear forensic publications, performance tests, and research and development efforts typically target the bulk global inventory of intentionally safeguarded materials, such as plutonium (Pu) and uranium (U). Other materials, such as neptunium (Np), pose a nuclear security risk as well. Trafficking leading to recovery of an interdicted Np sample is a realistic concern especially for materials originating in countries that reprocesses fuel. Using complementary forensic methods, potential signatures for an unknown Np oxide sample were investigated. Measurement results were assessed against published Np processes to present hypotheses as to the original intended use, method of production, and origin for this Np oxide.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper demonstrated a novel energy utilization that thermoelectric generation (TEG) device can achieve self-powering by radiative cooling (RC) continuously. An ultrathin TEG with a multilayer thermal emitter was fabricated to convert the heat from the environment into electricity directly by using radiative cooling. The TEG device was consisted of more than 46,000 P-N modules in series, and each two TE modules were connected by air bridge. Thermal emitter had 80.8% emissivity in the atmospheric window (8–13 µm). Besides, maximum temperature drop of 4 K was achieved. The output voltage of the TEG-RC reached up to 0.5 mV, and the TEG-RC exhibited a continuous average 0.18 mV output for 24 h. Extreme temperature gradients were surprisingly formed in cross section of 1.5 µm thick for micro/nano film materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Over a period, there has been extensive research on both single and binary elements co-doping in SnTe. For the first time, we have investigated the effects of ternary dopants, Mn, Bi, and Sb, in SnTe with an aim of employing their synergetic effects to improve the Seebeck coefficient, consequently to increase the power factor and to lower the lattice thermal conductivity ( κ l a t ). Pristine SnTe exhibits a high electrical conductivity of 6320 S/cm, where after Mn isovalent and Bi and Sb aliovalent substitution at the Sn site, the electrical conductivity reduced up to 1530 S/cm at room temperature. As a result of the tuning of the carrier concentration, an increased Seebeck coefficient in all samples is observed. Compared to equivalent doping proportion of each dopant, a higher power factor of ∼22 μW/cmK2 is recorded. Stronger phonon scattering resulting from mass fluctuation in the multiple dopants, grain size, embedded nanostructures in the grain, and strained Mn–rich nano–precipitates in the grain boundary results in a low lattice thermal conductivity, with the lowest value recorded being ∼0.86 W/mK at 773 K. As a result, a ZT value of ∼1 at 773 K is recorded for the Sn0.85Mn0.09Sb0.035Bi0.025Te sample, which is a 271% improvement from our pristine SnTe.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Water is crucial for power generation and understanding how much water is needed in the process becomes the key when ensuring water and energy security. Water use intensity has been estimated in the United States based on reported water use and electricity generation data. However, the water use intensity has been often estimated using a single year of records without comprehensive consideration of regional and seasonal variations. This study is thus focused on quantifying the water withdrawal intensity (WWI) and water consumption intensity (WCI), considering the power plant characteristics as well as regional and seasonal variations. The spatiotemporal variations are evaluated using the public records provided by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) of 234 thermoelectric facilities in the contiguous United States (CONUS) for the period 2010 to 2019. The median and range of WWI and WCI for CONUS are estimated for 26 cooling-engine combinations, which is valuable for assessing water security and energy security. The results demonstrate that WCI for power plants using cooling systems with cooling ponds is more variable regionally. The seasonal impact is more significant for recirculating cooling with natural draft systems. The median WCI for CONUS is 1.22 L/kWh. The results also confirm that facility, regional and seasonal factors are important and should be considered when estimating the water use by thermoelectric power plants.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This manuscript is described the facile and cost-effective growth of silver Zinc Oxide (Ag-ZnO) thin films by simple thermal evaporation method for thermoelectric power generation applications. Growth of samples is started by making pellets of pure silver (Ag) and zinc (Zn) powders which are composed of 1:1 ration and evaporated in vacuum tube furnace. The other growth parameters are fixed as; evaporation time (45 min), evaporation temperature (1010 0C) and oxygen flow rate (60 sccm). Five samples are prepared at different source to substrate distances (6.5–8.5 in.) and post deposition annealing of all samples is carried out at 800 °C using semi-programable muffle furnace. Prepared thin films are analyzed using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Seebeck measurements to study the impact of various source to substrate distances on the structural morphological and thermoelectric behavior of Ag-ZnO nanocomposite thin films. The obtained results are revealed that different source to substrate distances strongly influence the structural, morphological, and thermoelectric behavior of prepared thin films. Optimal values for electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient and powerful factor of synthesized thin films are calculated as 3.05 × 10^3 S/m, 645 µV/°C and 1.27 × 10−3 Wm−1 oC−2 respectively at source to substrate distance of 7.0 in.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The DC/AC conversion efficiency of grid-connected photovoltaic inverters depends on climatic characteristics, technical characteristics of the inverters and PV modules, array orientation, ratio of array peak power to inverter nominal power and DC input voltage fed to the inverter. The influence of the DC input voltage in DC/AC conversion efficiency was investigated by Zhu et al. (2011) for a high-latitude maritime climate. In this paper, all the aforementioned factors, including the DC input voltage, are analyzed for the case of the low-latitude semi-desert climate of Aguascalientes, central México. Solar irradiance and temperature measurements of 10years are used to generate a year of typical characteristics which is the basis of the research. Two commercial grid-connected photovoltaic inverters with different efficiency behavior with respect to DC input voltage and PV technologies based on crystalline silicon and Cadmium Telluride are characterized. The research reveals that maximum losses in annual inverter efficiency due to a sub-optimal string configuration are 1.3% for the analyzed technologies. Rules for sizing the array voltage and array power which keep high annual inverter efficiency while reducing the balance-of-systems costs are recommended. For optimally oriented systems, the recommended array-to-inverter power sizing ratio is 1.05 for c-Si and 0.95 for CdTe independently of the chosen inverter at central México. The methodology can be replicated to other locations, inverters and photovoltaic technologies.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "All-solid state dye sensitized solar cells were fabricated using in situ photo-electrochemically polymerized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) as a hole transport phase. Absorbance spectra and photovoltaic performance of these solid cells revealed that PEDOT is more favorable than polypyrrole as a hole transport phase in terms of transparency and charge transport property. The solid cell using this PEDOT exhibited good linearity between light intensity and photocurrent density and the overall conversion efficiency of 0.53% at AM 1.5 illumination (100 mW cm−2).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We have used low-temperature (77K) resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy as a probe of the electronic and molecular structure to investigate weak π–π interactions between the metal ion-coordinated His imidazoles and aromatic side chains in the second coordination sphere of blue copper proteins. For this purpose, the RR spectra of Met16 mutants of Achromobacter cycloclastes pseudoazurin (AcPAz) with aromatic (Met16Tyr, Met16Trp, and Met16Phe) and aliphatic (Met16Ala, Met16Val, Met16Leu, and Met16Ile) amino acid side chains have been obtained and analyzed over the 100–500cm−1 spectral region. Subtle strengthening of the Cu(II)–S(Cys) interaction on replacing Met16 with Tyr, Trp, and Phe is indicated by the upshifted (0.3–0.8cm−1) RR bands involving ν(Cu–S)Cys stretching modes. In contrast, the RR spectra of Met16 mutants with aliphatic amino acids revealed larger (0.2–1.8cm−1) shifts of the ν(Cu–S)Cys stretching modes to a lower frequency region, which indicate a weakening of the Cu(II)–S(Cys) bond. Comparisons of the predominantly ν(Cu–S)Cys stretching RR peaks of the Met16X=Tyr, Trp, and Phe variants, with the molar absorptivity ratio ε 1/ε 2 of σ(∼455nm)/π(∼595nm) (Cys)S→Cu(II) charge-transfer bands in the optical spectrum and the axial/rhombic EPR signals, revealed a slightly more trigonal disposition of ligands about the copper(II) ion. In contrast, the RR spectra of Met16Z=Ala, Val, Leu, and Ile variants with aliphatic amino acid side chains show a more tetrahedral perturbation of the copper active site, as judged by the lower frequencies of the ν(Cu–S)Cys stretching modes, much larger values of the ε 1/ε 2 ratio, and the increased rhombicity of the EPR spectra.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Silicon (Si) has been occupying the central stage of semiconductor industries for many years. Si nanomaterials (SiNMs) have attracted great attention of many scientists and engineers for more than two decades, because of their unique properties. This review summarizes the preparation of SiNMs by arc discharge and their characterizations by different techniques. By changing arc discharge conditions, such as compositions and geometries of cathode and/or anode, voltage and current, and atmosphere in the chamber, etc., different types of SiNMs, including Si nanoparticles, Si nanowires, Si nanotubes, Si nanosheets, and some other nanomaterials containing Si, can be prepared. The formation mechanisms of these SiNMs are introduced briefly. Recent developments of arc discharge method will strongly promote its role in the preparation of SiNMs.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Aluminium was used as substrate for electropolymerisation of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), PEDOT. The p- and n-doping behaviour of the PEDOT films was studied both electrochemically by cyclic voltammetry, and spectroscopically by in situ external reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy during stepwise potential cycling of the films. The polymer films were also studied by resonance Raman spectroscopy with three different excitation wavelengths (514 nm, 633 nm and 780 nm). The surface morphology of the films was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that PEDOT, polymerised on Al, is both p- and n-dopable, making it an interesting material for organic electronics applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "ZnO/CdS/CIS solar cell structures have been made by using different deposition techniques for each layer: standard rf-magnetron sputtering and chemical bath deposition for ZnO and CdS, respectively, and direct electrodeposition for CIS as a low-cost alternative to the co-evaporated absorber. Chemical studies of ZnO, CdS and CIS films, ZnO–CdS and CdS–CIS bilayers, and ZnO–CdS–CIS cells have been performed by utilising XPS. No chemical reactions were detected in the interfaces. Photovoltaic quality was evaluated from the spectral response data.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The study of molecular assemblies obtained by ionic interactions between two π-conjugated organic molecules one possessing electron donor properties and the other possessing electron acceptor properties is discussed here. The electron acceptor molecules chosen are two tetra-chlorinated 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic diimides bearing pyridine or amine functions ((1) or (2)) and the electron donor is 4-carbazol-9-yl-butane-1-sulfonic acid (3). The electrochemical characterizations and UV–vis/photoluminescence spectroscopy studies of each compound were realized. Moreover, photoluminescence quenching of (1) and (2) solutions is observed when they are protonated with the acid function of (3). Interestingly, with a simple mixture of (1) or (2) with 9-ethyl-carbazole, (1) and (2) solutions fluorescence quenching is very low. Finally, the relative energy levels values of the HOMO and LUMO of (1)–(3) were estimated and the results are compatible with a possible electron transfer from carbazole to perylene unit making these ionic assemblies attractive candidate for an active layer application in solar cell devices.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar cells were fabricated using novel bubble-like CdSe nanoclusters sensitized highly ordered titanium oxide nanotube (TiO2 NT) array, prepared by anodization technique. The CdSe sensitization of TiO2 NT arrays was carried out by a chemical bath deposition method with freshly prepared sodium selenosufite, ammonium hydroxide and cadmium acetate dehydrate at different deposition times: 20, 40 and 60min. The adsorption of CdSe nanoclusters on the upper and inner surface of the TiO2 NT arrays has been confirmed by field emission scanning electron and transmission electron microscopes. The results show the variation in cell a performance with different deposition times (20, 40, and 60min) of CdSe on TiO2 NT arrays. The solar cell with CdSe, deposited for 60min, shows reasonably high photovoltaic property compared to the reported results of similar studies. This solar cell shows the maximum photoelectric conversion efficiency of 1.56% (photocurrent of 7.19mA/cm2; photovoltage of 0.438V; and fill factor of 49.5%) and average incident photon to current efficiency of 50.2%. The photocurrent, incident photon-current efficiency and electron lifetime have been improved due to the increase of covered area and size of bubble-like CdSe nanoclusters on TiO2 NT arrays with the increase of deposition time.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The development of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is continuing in order to increase the energy transfer efficiency of the solar photovoltaic system. This paper provides a review of the conventional maximum power point tracking techniques that is enhanced by the presentation of a new technique. The new method is based on a genetic neural algorithm in order to predict the closest point to the maximum power point (MPP), which will be the kickoff point of the search process. Not only does the new technique start the search process from the nearest point to the MPP, but also the developed search algorithm is very fast. Consequently, the time taken to reach the MPP is reduced. In order to determine the new MPPT performance, a complete photovoltaic generator system is modeled and simulated using the MATLAB/SIMULINK package. Simulation results show that the new technique reaches the MPP in less than 100 sample times compared to tens of thousands of samples for conventional methods. Furthermore, the new technique reaches directly the target MPP with small deviation from the intended values. Consequently, the new technique has a significant improvement in energy extraction efficiency from the photovoltaic array to the load, in addition to higher tracking speed and system stability compared to the conventional ones.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Quantum interference (QI) effects, which offer unique opportunities to widely manipulate the charge transport properties in the molecular junctions, will have the potential for achieving high thermopower. Here we developed a scanning tunneling microscope break junction technique to investigate the thermopower through single-molecule thiophene junctions. We observed that the thermopower of 2,4-TP-SAc with destructive quantum interference (DQI) was nearly twice of 2,5-TP-SAc without DQI, while the conductance of the 2,4-TP-SAc was two orders of magnitude lower than that of 2,5-TP-SAc. Furthermore, we found the thermopower was almost the same by altering the anchoring group or thiophene core in the control experiments, suggesting that the QI effect is responsible for the increase of thermopower. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations are in quantitative agreement with the experimental data. Our results reveal that QI effects can provide a promising platform to enhance the thermopower of molecular junctions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Lithium ferrites Li0.5Fe6.5Me6O19 (Me = Al and Co) are found to exhibit M-type symmetry. The lattice parameters have been determined on a polycrystalline material and magnetic, electrical and Seebeck coefficient measurements have also been carried out. The substitution of Al3+ ion for Fe3+ ion reduces the magnetization, while Co3+ enhances the Curie temperature. These differences are explained on the basis of exchange interactions within the sublattices. A Seebeck study reveals that both the samples are n-type semiconductors.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Experimental campaign on a ORC-based power unit bottomed an IVECO F1C engine. • Evaluation of the effect on the engine (backpressure increase). • Evaluation of the effect on a light duty vehicle (weight increase). • Investigation on the heat exchanger and expander off-design working conditions. • Assessment of the net power improvement related to ORC unit on light duty vehicle.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A sustainable recycling of photovoltaic (PV) thin film modules gains in importance due to the considerable growing of the PV market and the increasing scarcity of the resources for semiconductor materials. The paper presents the development of two strategies for thin film PV recycling based on (wet) mechanical processing for broken modules, and combined thermal and mechanical methods for end-of-life modules. The feasibility of the processing steps was demonstrated in laboratory scale as well as in semi-technical scale using the example of CdTe and CIS modules. Pre-concentrated valuables In and Te from wet mechanical processing can be purified to the appropriate grade for the production of new modules. An advantage of the wet mechanical processing in comparison to the conventional procedure might be the usage of no or a small amount of chemicals during the several steps. Some measures are necessary in order to increase the efficiency of the wet mechanical processing regarding the improvement of the valuable yield and the related enrichment of the semiconductor material. The investigation of the environmental impacts of both recycling strategies indicates that the strategy, which includes wet mechanical separation, has clear advantages in comparison to the thermal treatment or disposal on landfills.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Even though creep behavior in steel at elevated temperatures has been widely observed, the effect of creep on steel members is not fully understood yet due to the extensive range of steel grades. In this paper, a tension creep test on high-strength Q960 steel at high temperatures was performed. Based on the test data in this paper and available creep data on Q345, Q460, and Q690 steels, a consistent creep model for each steel according to the Fields & Fields creep model was proposed and validated by the comparison with the test data. In order to quantitatively investigate the effect of creep on fire response of restrained steel beams, a finite element model (FEM) was established to analyze the critical temperature of restrained steel beams in fire conditions, with and without considering creep strain generated in steel beams. This was also carried out to better understand the impact of high-temperature on steel beams with various steel grades under the influence of the same load. The verification of the FEM was achieved by comparing the results with experimental data on a restrained Q235 steel beam and Q690 cantilever steel beam. The study reveals that creep has a noticeable effect on the fire resistance of the restrained steel beams and that the effect varies from one type of steel to another. A comparison has been made to observe the effect of high-temperature creep on the critical temperature for each steel type.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We stand at the threshold of a new era in space operations in which a host of potentially profound changes will occur in space systems concepts and technologies. Many of the space systems in use today were originally created in the mid- to late-1960s, based on technologies either already existing or then under development. These concepts—including satellites, launchers and piloted systems—have served well for government and commercial missions during the decades since that era. They will continue to serve—and serve well—as we enter the first decade of the next century. However, in this era of restraint in government spending on civilian space and dramatic growth in investments in existing space commercial ventures, new, breakthrough systems concepts that drive down costs are critically needed. Fortunately these new concepts appear to be at hand. Building on the research foundation of the past 20 years, an array of new technologies are emerging which may make possible highly innovative advanced systems concepts. These technologies include long-lived high-efficiency chemical propulsion, affordable megawatt-class space power systems, advanced electromagnetic systems, breakthrough materials, “brilliant” space machines, robust artificial intelligences onboard and on the ground, low-cost utilization of local resources, and others. Moreover, many of these technologies appear common to both new space industries and very affordable future government missions. Forerunners of this new era can be seen today in the systems of large telecommunications satellite constellations such as the Iridium venture and in the technologies of the reusable launch vehicle program. Driving down the cost of space access will be the linchpin for this prospective future. In addition, during the coming decade, a wide range of civilian government space investments will likely be focused on vitally-needed research and development. Our choices now are exceptionally important and must be made wisely. We stand at the threshold. Across a broad technological frontier, diverse opportunities are emerging that might well make possible the creation of revolutionary systems concepts and a dramatic expansion of new space industries, while also enabling bold, but affordable missions of human exploration beyond Earth orbit.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Al-induced crystallization (AIC) without an Al oxide at the Al/a-Si interface (glass/Al/a-Si) was investigated in comparison with the case of an Al oxide (glass/Al/Al oxide/a-Si). The Si crystallization of Al/a-Si during AIC was much faster than that of Al/Al oxide/a-Si. The annealing of glass/Al/a-Si led to poly-Si films with small Si grains compared to that of glass/Al/Al oxide/a-Si. It is difficult to observe the influence of the crystallization temperatures (400–500°C) on the crystallization of glass/Al/a-Si. With annealing of glass/Al/a-Si at 300°C, the crystallization of a-Si occurred not only in the original Al layer but also in the original a-Si layer. With lowering crystallization temperature of glass/Al/Al oxide/a-Si, it is observed that poly-Si films become oriented preferentially in the (100) direction normal to the surface and had larger grains. These preferentially (100) oriented Si thin films can act as good seed layers for the growth of the active layers by liquid phase epitaxy.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper focuses on the photovoltaic cell five parameters modeling, consisting on a current controlled generator, single-diode, a shunt and series resistances. An identification of the parameters for a photovoltaic system supported the maximum power point tracking implementation based on . The identification of parameters and the performance obtained with the equivalent circuit model for a solar module are validated by data measured on an in sitú photovoltaic system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The recovery of tellurium and bismuth from bismuth telluride waste is of great significance in improving the utilization levels of renewable resources, protecting the ecological environment and alleviating the problem of resource shortages. In this paper, tellurium and bismuth were recovered from bismuth telluride waste by selective sulfidation–vacuum volatilization. The Gibbs free energy, phase diagram and thermodynamic equilibrium diagram for the core reaction were calculated and analyzed to determine the possible reactions and the conditions required for the stability of bismuth telluride during the sulfidation process. After calculating the saturated vapor pressures, it was concluded that tellurium and bismuth sulfide could be separated by vacuum volatilization. The thermogravimetric analyses and differential scanning calorimetry were then used to analyze the reaction between bismuth telluride and sulfur. The results indicated that the temperature range for the sulfidation reaction should be 491–620 K. The volatilization temperature of tellurium should be greater than 695 K. The evaporation kinetics for tellurium and bismuth sulfide showed that the evaporation rate of tellurium was much higher than that of bismuth sulfide. Furthermore, experiments were conducted to verify the reliability of the theoretical analysis, and these were in good agreement with the thermodynamic and kinetic results. The direct yields of tellurium and bismuth were 99.65% and 99.49%, respectively. These results confirmed that the selective sulfidation-vacuum volatilization method is a feasible alternative for recovery of tellurium and bismuth from bismuth telluride waste.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, we evaluated the electronic structure and Seebeck coefficient (S) of Mg2Si by molecular orbital calculation. The energy level, density of state, electron contour map, Fermi energy and S were analyzed. The electronic structure show that, the energy gap = 0.68 eV, and the highest of density of state at 22.4 eV. The electron contour map exhibits the highest density of Si atom at HOMO and LUMO. The S exhibits negative value which indicated that n-type thermoelectric material. This calculated imply that the S has dependent on Fermi energy which is decreased with increasing temperature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper describes the construction and evaluation of an experimental low energy home assisted by a hybrid system using natural energy resources and unused energy. The home, for which a ground source heat pump (GSHP) system has been installed, was built on the campus of Hokkaido University, Japan in March 1997. The total floor area of the home is 192m2. This home is super insulated and airtight; the calculated coefficient of heat loss is 0.97 W/m2 K. It has various passive strategies including direct solar heat gain and a ventilation system with an exhaust stack. Photovoltaic (PV) modules, wind power and solar collectors are adopted in order to achieve self-sufficiency in electric power and domestic hot water (DHW) supply. A GSHP is used for space heating and cooling. Two vertical steel wells are used as vertical earth heat exchangers (VHE). In summer, there is a floor cooling system using piped cold water from the VHE. Approximately 80% of the home’s total energy was provided by PV modules, solar collectors, as well as underground and exhaust heat. The annual amount of purchased energy during the test period was 12.5% that of a typical home in Hokkaido.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The Distributed Generation expansion and its smooth integration in distribution networks have gained much interest over the last years. Particularly, the photovoltaic systems connected to the low voltage distribution networks, present noteworthy benefits for the energy markets and customers. Meanwhile, aiming to high penetration level, many issues emerge regarding their behavior under grid disturbances. In this paper, the concept of Fault Ride Through Capability (FRTC) is applied to low voltage distributed photovoltaic generators (DG-PV), aiming mostly to the coordinated design and control of their interfacing inverters, so as to successfully address the FRTC requirements. These design alterations are examined in combination with an appropriate control concept that improves the FRT behavior of the DG-PV units. In order to apply the proposed control, an energy storage system is deemed indispensable. Through load flow analysis, the impact of the DG-PV interfaced reactance value XDG is thoroughly investigated for various dispersion and penetration levels scenarios. Therefore, by applying the above control concept, a suitable selection of XDG can be reached, achieving so compliance with FRT limits without leading to extremely inverter overloading (during faults). Finally, it is shown that the wider dispersion of DG-PV units enhances their FRT compatibility.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents the performance analysis of a photovoltaic (PV) energy source driving a synchronous reluctance (SyncRel) motor. The design considerations of the PV array, suitable for driving a centrifugal pump, are studied. Three design approaches are proposed at an average insolation of 0.5kW/m2. These approaches depend upon determining the system operating point firstly and then maintaining this point on the PV generator characteristics. The first approach takes motor starting current into account as an additional design criterion. The second one is based on achieving the maximum power at the system operating point. The third approach considers maintaining voltage regulation of the PV generator at a pre-specified suitable value. A sample of the simulation results is introduced using the SyncRel motor measured parameters and the estimated parameters of the PV array. It has been found that the minimum number of cells can be achieved using the second approach.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This research undertook, a comparative study between the energy and exergy performance by considering four systems or cases namely: partially covered [case (i): N photovoltaic thermal - compound parabolic concentrators (PVT-CPC), case (ii): N photovoltaic thermal (PVT) collectors, case (iii): N compound parabolic concentrators (CPC) and case (iv): N flat plate collectors (FPC)] connected in series. A comparison in performance was carried out by considering the thermal performance of two fluids; water and molten salt. It was observed that N-PVT-CPC collectors (25% PV) and conventional CPC collectors are the most suitable of the investigated configurations for steam cooking using molten salt as the fluid. It was found that, the maximum net annual overall thermal energy and exergy were 1367.86kWh and 150.45kWh for the N-CPC collector [case (iii)], which was higher than for N PVT-CPC fluid collectors [case (i) (a)] by 1.6 and 1.06 times, respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work the results of a structural investigation by SEM of porous silicon (PS) before and after diffusion processes are reported. The formation of PS n+/p structures were carried out on PS p/p silicon wafers with two methods: from POCl3 in a conventional furnace and from a phosphorous doped paste in an infrared furnace. Sheet resistance was found to be a strong function of PS structure. Further details on sheet resistance distribution are reported. The electrical contacts in prepared solar cells were obtained by screen printing process, with a Du Ponte photovoltaic silver paste for front contacts and home-prepared silver with 3% aluminium paste for the back ones. Metallization was done in the infrared furnace. Solar cell current–voltage characteristics were measured under an AM 1.5 global spectrum sun simulator. The average results for multi-crystalline silicon solar cells without antireflection coating are: I sc=720 (mA), V oc=560 (mV), FF=69%, Eff=10.6% (area 25cm2).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work the effect of different processing routes on the kinetics of formation of Co4Sb12 phase and Yb filling in the skutterudite cage, as well as thermoelectric behaviour was evaluated. As prepared slowly cooled ingot and rapidly solidified ribbons show the presence of multiple phases, as a consequence of the complex solidification path characterized by two peritectic reactions. As solidification rate increases, grain refinement is promoted. Annealing of rapidly solidified ribbons induces a faster solubilisation of Yb due to increased grain boundary diffusivity. For this reason, rapid solidification can be considered a promising intermediate step for lowering the total processing time of skutterudites. Sintering of powders obtained from the slowly cooled ingot and rapidly solidified ribbons leads to the formation of massive samples with different densities, depending on the particle size distributions of the starting powders. The effect of Yb content on the thermoelectric properties was critically analysed, considering both data from the literature and this work.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The National Institute of Ecology, through Management General for Environmental Research and Training (DGCENICA) carried out a sampling campaign where a total of 21 elements were determined in 140PM2.5 samples from one sampling site located in the city of Salamanca, Guanajuato-Mexico between November 2006 and November 2007. The annual average PM2.5 concentration was 45μg/m3 almost three times the Mexican Annual standard for PM2.5. Mineral, organic and elemental carbon were the most important components present in particles PM2.5. Two advanced receptor models, UNMIX and positive matrix factorization (PMF) were used for PM2.5 source identification. Four and six sources were identified by UNMIX and PMF, respectively, from a combined dataset including 15 chemical species. Source categories were determined based on both, component abundances in the source profiles, and their temporal characteristics. Overall, different sources were identified as the major contributors: heavy fuels combustion, traditional brick production-agricultural burning, crustal, road traffic and secondary organic aerosols.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "One functional requirement of machine tool frames is to maintain relative geometric positioning of interfaces irrespective of any surrounding effects or conditions. Challenges for the absolute accuracy of axis positioning are quasi-static deformations in machine tool structures due to temperature variations caused by environment or the manufacturing process. On the advent of increased research in solid state materials for thermoelectric modules, the utilization of thermal energy as a beneficial source needs to be evaluated. This paper presents the conceptual design of a thermally actuated module which can compensate the previously mentioned quasi-static deformations in the framework of a building set for modular machine tool structures. The principle of different thermal expansion coefficients of materials is exploited in the design of the module to facilitate a compensating movement. The module works energy autarkic as well as controlled by external energy input.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The effect of energy transition on economic growth and consumption of nonrenewable energy is investigated in this chapter. Data for five Mercosur countries are used for the period between 1981 and 2014, with PVAR methodology. The estimated model indicates that the consumption of renewable energy (a proxy for energy transition) increases economic growth and decreases the consumption of nonrenewable energy sources. Moreover, the results of Grande causality Wald test indicate that a bidirectional relationship exists between the consumption of energy (from both renewable and fossil sources) and economic growth, and suggest that economic growth in the countries assessed depends on fossil fuels. There is also evidence of substitutability in the consumption of energy from renewable and fossil sources in periods of drought, and that the process of globalisation has a positive indirect influence on the Mercosur countries’ consumption of renewable energy. The results obtained may be of use for local governments, not only as a basis for further examinations of the nexus between economic growth and energy consumption but also for the design of new policies aiming at increasing consumption of energy from renewable sources and promoting economic development.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We have reexamined our previously published data to search for evidence of correlations between the rates for the α, β-minus, β-plus, and electron capture decays of 22Na, 44Ti, 108Agm, 121Snm, 133Ba, and 241Am and the Earth–Sun distance. We find no evidence for such correlations and set limits on the possible amplitudes of such correlations substantially smaller than those observed in previous experiments.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • A dual signal is produced towards Fe3O4 attached reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite as electroactive matrix. • A label-free “on-off-on” biosensor was designed for specific recognition of histidine enantiomers. • The proposed biosensor presented excellent selectivity, sensitivity and reproducibility for the detection of L-histidine.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this review article, we discuss the molecular beam epitaxy and basic structural, electronic, optical, excitonic, chemical and catalytic properties of III-nitride nanostructures, including nanowires, monolayer heterostructures, and quantum dots. Their emerging applications in ultraviolet, visible and infrared photonics, quantum optoelectronics, and artificial photosynthesis that are relevant for next generation mobile display, virtual/augmented reality, quantum communication, and energy, water, and environment sustainability challenges are presented.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Understanding the behavior of high-temperature aqueous solutions represents a new frontier in electrochemical studies that is both technically challenging and technologically important. Interest in this field has increased significantly over the last decade, mainly due to the many important electrochemical processes that take place in high-temperature aqueous environments. Water is the most ubiquitous of solvents and by virtue of its extraordinary physicochemical and transport properties, it forms the medium in which diverse processes occur from biochemistry to geochemistry. However, there is a scarcity of electrochemical studies at temperatures above 100 degree Celsius. This chapter provides a background of the techniques available at elevated temperatures, particularly as related to measurements of pH, and serves as a critical review of their application to electrochemical studies of high-temperature aqueous systems. For reliable high-temperature potentiometric experiments, the measured open circuit potential should be stable and reproducible. For assessing the viability and accuracy of high-temperature potentiometric measurements, reference systems should be used with a known activity of H+ (aq), aH+. A great deal of effort has been expended in recent years to develop a reliable and stable reference electrode suitable for measurements in high-temperature aqueous solutions. Two approaches employed are the use of an internal reference electrode operating within the high-temperature environment, and use of an external reference electrode working at room temperature, but connected to the high-temperature environment. The first approach requires solving the well-known problem of the diffusion potential, whereas the latter involves solving the problems of the thermal-liquid junction and thermoelectric potentials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, the use of metal-oxides/water nanofluids as coolants in photovoltaic thermal units (PVT) is investigated experimentally and numerically. The considered nanoparticles include Aluminum-oxide (Al2O3), Titanium-oxide (TiO2) and Zinc-oxide (ZnO) all dispersed in deionized water as base fluid, with 0.2% by weight (wt%). To investigate the reliability of the measurements, an uncertainty analysis is performed for the experimental data. The t-statistic indicator is used to verify that the results of the numerical model are statistically significant. The electrical efficiency for the PVT system is calculated based on the measured temperature of the photovoltaic surface and the fluid outlet. The energy balance equations for various parts of the PVT system are solved using numerical simulations. Both numerical and experimental results show that the TiO2/water and ZnO/water nanofluids present a better performance in terms of the electrical efficiency compared to that of the Al2O3/water nanofluid and deionized water. In terms of the thermal performance of the system, the ZnO/water nanofluid is found to have the highest thermal efficiency compared to deionized water and the other two nanofluids. Finally, the numerical model is used to investigate the effect of nanoparticles mass fraction, ranged from 0.05 to 10wt%, on electrical and thermal performance of the PVT system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Rheological behavior and suspension structure of anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles dispersed in pure water have been investigated over a range of volumetric solids concentrations (φ=0.05–0.12) and shear rates (γ=101–103 s−1). The nanoparticle suspensions generally exhibited a pseudoplastic flow behavior, indicating an existence of particle aggregations in the liquid medium. The suspensions became apparently thixotropic as φ was increased above 0.1. Relative viscosity (η r) of the suspensions followed an exponential form with φ, i.e., η r=13.47e35.98 φ, revealing a pronounced increase in the degree of particle interactions as φ increased. Fractal dimension (D f) was estimated from the suspension yield-stress (τ y) and φ dependence, and was determined as D f∼1.46–1.78 for the flocculated nanoparticle suspensions. This suggested that the suspension structure was probably dominated by the diffusion-limited cluster–cluster aggregation, due mostly to the strong attractions involved in the interparticle potentials. Maximum solids loading (φ m) of the suspensions was determined as φ m=0.146. This relatively low value of φ m (compared with the random close packing of monosized particles, φ m∼0.64) partially vindicated the existence of a porous, three-dimensional aggregate network of interconnected nanoparticles in the carrier liquid.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The three single layer Ce3Sb10 thin films were grown on silicon dioxide and quartz (suprasil) substrates with thicknesses of 297, 269 and 70nm using ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) technique. The high-energy cross plane Si ion bombardments with constant energy of 5MeV have been performed with varying fluence from 1×1012, 1×1013, 1×1014, 1×1015 ions/cm2. The Si ions bombardment modified the thermoelectric properties of films as expected. The fluence and temperature dependence of cross plane thermoelectric parameters that are Seebeck coefficient, electrical and thermal conductivities were determined to evaluate the dimensionless figure of merit, ZT. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) enabled us to determine the elemental composition of the deposited materials and layer thickness of each film.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Phase-change memory (PCM) is a key enabling technology for nonvolatile electrical data storage at the nanometer scale. A PCM device consists of a small active volume of phase-change material sandwiched between two electrodes. In PCM, data are stored using the electrical resistance contrast between a high-conductive crystalline phase and a low-conductive amorphous phase of the phase-change material. An appealing attribute of PCM is that the stored data are retained for a very long time (typically 10 years at room temperature), but is written in only a few nanoseconds. This property could enable PCM to be used for nonvolatile storage such as Flash and hard disk drives, while operating almost as fast as high-performance volatile memory such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM). Another particularly interesting emerging application for PCM is brain-inspired computing, where the memory devices are not only used to store data but also to perform some computational tasks. This chapter first explains the read and write operation principles of PCM and describes the physical mechanisms involved. Then key enablers of PCM for brain-inspired computing are presented along with experimental results on PCM arrays which highlight various opportunities and challenges involved in using PCM for this application.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Synthesis and photophysical properties of a new soluble C60-grafted PPV polymer have been described. Fluorescence quenching of the PPV moiety in C60-grafted PPV polymer was observed, suggesting the energy- and/or electron transfer within the polymer. The fluorescence decay profiles at around 500nm of this polymer both in chloroform and benzonitrile display a single exponential decay giving the fluorescence lifetimes of 1.10–1.27ns, which are slightly shorter than that of PPV (about 1.50ns). The nanosecond transient absorption band of C60-grafted PPV polymer was observed at 740nm corresponded to the excited triplet state of C60, which decreased in benzonitrile, indicating the existence of the extra decay path of the singlet excited state of the C60 other than intersystem crossing. Upon heating this polymer exhibits typical semilunar liquid crystalline texture, being closely associated with its polymeric structure with long solubilizing alkoxy side chains.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "From a promising first study performed on a reflecting slats solar concentrator, we propose to improve and optimize the design by providing a number of additional functions related to technological progress in the field of solar energy and electrical engineering. In order to satisfy a need for a specific production of heat around 150°C, the original system is equipped with an anti-radiation structure boiler and a more efficient control to improve and regulate the production of heat. Taking advantage of these technical improvements, photovoltaic cells are added behind slats for a stand-alone function and a possible connection to the grid (Figure 1). This new approach of solar concentration with hybrid PV/Th is being studied with an experimental system designed by our research laboratory.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Although surface nanostructures greatly influence the optical and wetting properties of transparent materials, preparing such nanostructures efficiently can be challenging because most processes require sophisticated lithography and etching steps. In this study, we developed a simple, yet effective, approach for growing invisible silica nanowires on fused silica plates. With their high transparency and antifogging and superhydrophobic properties, these materials have great potential for use in windows, displays, solar cells, and other optoelectronics.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thermoelectricity offers a sustainable path to recover and convert waste heat into readily available electric energy, and has been studied for more than two centuries. From the controversy between Galvani and Volta on the Animal Electricity, dating back to the end of the XVIII century and anticipating Seebeck’s observations, the understanding of the physical mechanisms evolved along with the development of the technology. In the XIX century Ørsted clarified some of the earliest observations of the thermoelectric phenomenon and proposed the first thermoelectric pile, while it was only after the studies on thermodynamics by Thomson, and Rayleigh’s suggestion to exploit the Seebeck effect for power generation, that a diverse set of thermoelectric generators was developed. From such pioneering endeavors, technology evolved from massive, and sometimes unreliable, thermopiles to very reliable devices for sophisticated niche applications in the XX century, when Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators for space missions and nuclear batteries for cardiac pacemakers were introduced. While some of the materials adopted to realize the first thermoelectric generators are still investigated nowadays, novel concepts and improved understanding of materials growth, processing, and characterization developed during the last 30 years have provided new avenues for the enhancement of the thermoelectric conversion efficiency, for example through nanostructuration, and favored the development of new classes of thermoelectric materials. With increasing demand for sustainable energy conversion technologies, the latter aspect has become crucial for developing thermoelectrics based on abundant and non-toxic materials, which can be processed at economically viable scales, tailored for different ranges of temperature. This includes high temperature applications where a substantial amount of waste energy can be retrieved, as well as room temperature applications where small and local temperature differences offer the possibility of energy scavenging, as in micro harvesters meant for distributed electronics such as sensor networks. While large scale applications have yet to make it to the market, the richness of available and emerging thermoelectric technologies presents a scenario where thermoelectrics is poised to contribute to a future of sustainable future energy harvesting and management. This work reviews the broad field of thermoelectrics. Progress in thermoelectrics and milestones that led to the current state-of-the-art are presented by adopting an historical footprint. The review begins with an historical excursus on the major steps in the history of thermoelectrics, from the very early discovery to present technology. Then, the most promising thermoelectric material classes are discussed one by one in dedicated sections and subsections, carefully highlighting the technological solutions on materials growth that have represented a turning point in the research on thermoelectrics. Finally, perspectives and the future of the technology are discussed in the framework of sustainability and environmental compatibility. An appendix on the theory of thermoelectric transport in the solid state reviews the transport theory in complex crystal structures and nanostructured materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Efficient polytropic expansion based Otto cycle. • Thermal efficiency is due to the inherent regeneration. • Low temperature combustion with zero NOx emissions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Most solar thermal hot water heating systems utilize a pump for circulation of the working fluid. An elegant approach to powering the pump is via solar energy. A “solar pump” employs a photovoltaic module, electric motor, and pump to collect and convert solar energy to circulate the working fluid. This article presents an experimental investigation of a new integrated solar pump design that employs the stator of a brushless DC motor and a magnetically coupled pump that has no dynamic seal. This design significantly reduces total volume and mass, and eliminates redundant components. The integrated design meets a hydraulic load of 1.7 bar and 1.4litres per minute, equal to 4.0 watts, at a rotational speed of 500 revolutions per minute. The brushless DC motor and positive displacement pump achieve efficiencies of 62% and 52%, respectively, resulting in an electric to hydraulic efficiency of 32%. Thus, a readily available photovoltaic module rated 15 watts output is suitable to power the system. A variety of design variations were tested to determine the impact of the armature winding, pump size, pulse width modulation frequency, seal can material, etcetera. The physical and magnetic design was found to dominate efficiency. The efficiency characteristics of a photovoltaic module are such that over-sizing is wasteful. The integrated design presents a robust, efficient package for use as a solar pump. Although focus has been placed on application to a solar thermal collector system, variations of the design are suitable for a wide variety of applications such as remote location water pumping.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The ternary Cu–Sb–S semiconductors are considered to be sustainable and potential alternative absorber materials in thin film photovoltaic applications. In these compounds, several phases may coexist, albeit in different proportions depending on experimental growth conditions. Additionally, the photovoltaic efficiency could be increased with isoelectronic doping. In this work we analyze the electronic properties of O-doped Cu3SbS3 in two structures: the wittichenite and the skinnerite. We use first-principles within the density functional formalism with two different exchange–correlation potentials. In addition, we estimate the potential of these compounds for photovoltaic applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Nanocomposite of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)–Ag2S was prepared using the hydrothermal process by the in situ reaction with CS2 as the sulfur source. The use of CS2 as the sulfur source can avoid the introduction of the by-products such as NaCl and KCl obtained when Na2S and K2S are used. X-ray diffraction results showed that pure phase of Ag2S was obtained in the prepared nanocomposites. They also showed that the crystallinity of PVA was largely decreased after the composition with nano-sized sulfides. This is also confirmed by infrared spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the Ag2S particles were in sphere shape with 80–120nm diameter in the as-prepared nanocomposites. Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy was also used to characterize the as-prepared nanocomposites.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We developed a small size and light weight analyzer based on the broadband cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy for measuring nitrogen dioxide (NO2) with high spatial-temporal resolution and high accuracy. The instrument utilizes a LED centered at 450 nm, a short optical cavity, and a spectrometer to determine the extinction coefficients span 435–465 nm, allowing us to retrieve the mixing ratio of NO2 by absorption cross-section. The measurement precision (1σ) for NO2 is 98 ppt in 2 s under laboratory conditions. The uncertainty is estimated at 6% mainly attributed to cross-section and the mirror reflectivity. Good consistency was achieved by comparing with commercial chemiluminescence detector and cavity attenuation phase shift spectrometer (CAPS) (both R2 = 0.99). We further mounted the instrument on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and maintained the UAV flight at the height of 20 m, the comparative measurement with a CAPS set in a neighbor building with the same sampling height showed a good correlation (R2 = 0.97), which confirmed the instrumental feasibility and stability on the UAV platform. At last, we present a successful NO2 vertical measurement test, the good performance indicates this portable technique has great potential for vertical measurement. In particular, the mini-CEAS technique can further extend to measure the vertical profiles of other trace gas species (such as nitrous acid) with strong optical structural absorptions, which would largely promote the understanding of atmospheric chemistry on a vertical scale.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious, potentially fatal disease that has been a global public health issue for centuries. The growth of the causal bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) is slow (at least 6–8 weeks) when compared to other infectious bacteria, thus posing a challenge for early diagnostics. Furthermore, TB therapy has been reported to be effective when antibiotics are administered during the early stage. Therefore, accurate and rapid diagnosis of M. tuberculosis plays an important role in TB quarantine and treatment. We therefore devised an integrated microfluidic system to automatically detect live M. tuberculosis and distinguish dead bacteria. A heparin-binding hemagglutinin antibody was used to capture bacteria within 10 min. The photo-reactive dye propidium monoazide was then used to bind double-stranded DNA from dead bacteria with high affinity (20 min) such that genes of dead bacteria were not amplified by the subsequent PCR. Additionally, after 10-min of genomic DNA isolation, the final PCR step (50 min) was carried out to detect live M. tuberculosis. It is the first time that the entire bacterial detection process (including bacterial capture, propidium monoazide treatment, lysis and PCR quantification) for live M. tuberculosis could be automated within 90 min on a single chip with a limit of detection as low as 100 colony-forming units. This integrated microfluidic system is promising for point-of-care diagnostics given its automation, high speed, low cost, low sample/reagent consumption, and reduced risk of infection for front-line medical staff.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "There is an increasing need for field-portable systems for the detection and characterization of microorganisms in the environment. Nucleic acids analysis is frequently the method of choice for discriminating between bacteria in complex systems, but standard protocols are difficult to automate and current microfluidic devices are not configured specifically for environmental sample analysis. In this report, we describe the development of an integrated DNA purification and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification system and demonstrate its use for the automated purification and amplification of Geobacter chapellei DNA (genomic DNA or plasmid targets) from sediments. The system includes renewable separation columns for the automated capture and release of microparticle purification matrices, and can be easily reprogrammed for new separation chemistries and sample types. The DNA extraction efficiency for the automated system ranged from 3 to 25%, depending on the length and concentration of the DNA target. The system was more efficient than batch capture methods for the recovery of dilute genomic DNA even though the reagent volumes were smaller than required for the batch procedure. The automated DNA concentration and purification module was coupled to a flow-through, Peltier-controlled DNA amplification chamber, and used to successfully purify and amplify genomic and plasmid DNA from sediment extracts. Cleaning protocols were also developed to allow reuse of the integrated sample preparation system, including the flow-through PCR tube.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We propose a new strategy for improving the charge selectivity of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for organic photovoltaic cells (OPVCs). The strategy involves the coating of an ultrathin layer of titanium suboxide (TiOx) on CNTs by atomic layer deposition (ALD). ALD can facilitate that conformal and uniform coating of TiOx on CNT networks while preserving their nanoporous structure. We used the TiOx-coated CNT networks as an electron transport layer in inverted OPVCs. TiOx-coated CNTs can provide electrons with an extremely fast conductive path through CNTs and selectively block the holes by means of the hole-barrier property of the TiOx in OPVCs. The nanoporous structure of TiOx-coated CNT networks can improve the device performance of OPVCs due to synergetic effects of the electron selective transport property of TiOx and the high conductivity of CNTs. In addition, further improvement of device performance can be achieved by adding a hole transport layer (MoO3) between the active layer and the Au electrode.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In light of the global environmental consequences of CO2 emissions resulting from energy use, systems options for the rational use of energy, particularly of energy efficiency improvement and renewable energy technology, have become crucial. Despite its leading efforts in developing extensive renewable energy, Japan has not necessarily achieved comparative advantage in this field owing to inherent resource constraints for renewable energy. One of the exceptions is photovoltaic power generation (PV). PV is considered to be a “footloose” renewable energy which is expected to overcome Japan's own geographical disadvantages as a technology breakthrough. MITI (Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry) initiated PV development under its Sunshine Project (R&D Program on New Energy) aiming at maximizing these advantages by: (1) encouraging the broad involvement of cross-sectoral industry, (2) stimulating inter-technology stimulation and cross-sectoral technology spillover, and (3) inducing vigorous industry investment in PV R&D, leading to an increase in industry's PV technology knowledge stock. An increase in this technology knowledge stock contributed to a dramatic increase in solar cell production. These increases led to a dramatic decrease in solar cell production price, and this decrease induced a further increase in solar cell production. An increase in solar cell production induced further PV R&D, thus creating a “virtuous cycle” between R&D, market growth and price reduction. This paper, on the basis of an empirical analysis of Japan's PV development, demonstrates the industrial dynamism of this “virtuous cycle” as a policy initiative.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Here we explore the effect of partial substitution by transition-metal elements on the elastic, electronic, magnetic and thermoelectric properties of Heusler-type alloys Co 2 Mn 1 − z X z Si (X = V, Cr, and Fe; 0 ≤ z ≤ 1), within the framework of density functional theory (DFT). Although the optimized structures at z = 0.5 crystallize in tetragonal with space group P4/mmm, incorporation of the on-site Coulomb interaction (U) allows for a wider direct bandgap in the minority-spin channel for all the ternary and quaternary Heusler alloy compounds (HACs) leading to half-metallicity. The enthalpy of formation along with our estimate of elastic constants further reveals that all the HACs under study can remain stable thermodynamically even with a considerable amount of substitutional defects. Compared to other systems, Co 2 Mn0.25V0.75Si displays rather a high Poisson’s ratio of 0.36, indicating its ductile profile with the Vickers hardness of ∼ 3. We find that the ternary and quaternary HACs can retain the half-metallic (HM) character for the minority-spin channels with conduction band minima due to Co-d orbitals. Bandgap tuning has also been observed in Co 2 Mn 1 − z X z Si with X = V/Cr at z = 0.5, signifying how the substitutional defects can influence the electronic structure of HACs. The tetragonal structures (c/a ≠ 1) at z = 0.5 are found to display higher in-plane magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (e.g. MAE ∼ 70 μ eV , for X = V) than the cubic structures (c/a = 1) where it ceases eventually. This implies a strong dependence of MAE on the axial ratio, which can be tuned by way of uniaxial strain. The figure-of-merit analysis subsequently predicts Co 2 Mn0.25X0.75Si to possess better thermoelectric properties, especially with X = V/Cr. Such myriad abilities of HACs can potentially pave the way for designing better electrode materials in spintronic devices to generate controlled spin currents with resistance to high mechanical strain.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Transition metal sulfides have emerged as highly promising materials in thermoelectrics owing to their economic viability and sustainable characteristics. Herein, we developed entropy-engineered sulfides based on TiS2. The process of equal doping at Ti sites resulted in a notable reduction in lattice thermal conductivity due to point defects and phase segregation induced by entropy engineering; however, it also had a substantial detrimental effect on the Seebeck coefficient. Finally, by incorporating minor doping at Ti sites with Zr, Nb and Ta, each at a concentration of 1 at%, an impressive figure of merit of 0.38 was achieved at 625 K because minor doping was able to maintain the large Seebeck coefficient while simultaneously reducing the lattice thermal conductivity. This study not only illuminates the significant role of entropy engineering in reducing lattice thermal conductivity but also sparks interest in the potential of equivalent doping at sulfur sites for future investigations.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Solution prepared hybrid solar cells show promising low cost technology for electricity generation from sun light, although their power conversion efficiency has to be improved. One of the approaches is to increase the absorbance or charge carrier mobility of organic semiconductors. In this work, pristine single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) were added into poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) solution to form P3HT:SWCNT composite films with different weight percent (wt%) of SWCNT. It is observed that optical absorbance spectra as well as the morphology of the composite films were modified by the addition of SWCNTs. This phenomenon could be explained by the π-π interaction between the conjugated polymer and carbon nanotubes. Most importantly, the electrical conductivities of the composite films increased with the SWCNT wt%. When these films were used as hole conductor layers in inverted planar hybrid solar cell, with CdS thin films as electron acceptor layers, the fill factor (FF) and open-circuit voltage (Voc) of the corresponding cells were decreased with the increase of the wt% of SWCNT. However, the short-circuit current density (Jsc) and the power conversion efficiency (PCE) showed a maximum value at about 0.4wt% of SWCNT in P3HT. The transient photovoltage measurements (TPV) revealed that the presence of SWNCT promoted the charge recombination process at P3HT/CdS interface, and as a result, reduced the Voc. The photovoltaic performance of the hybrid solar cells could be optimized by choosing an adequate weight percentage of SWCNT in P3HT to balance the charge carrier transport and charge recombination processes at the donor-acceptor interface.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A mechanical alloying (MA) and hot-extrusion technique was used to prepare n-type Bi–Te–Se bulk materials. The formation and distribution of Te-rich phase as well as its effect on microstructure and thermoelectric properties of the extruded samples have been investigated. The formation of Te-rich phase is mainly associated with sublimation of Te and eutectic reaction. The former occurs at any extrusion temperature and leads to formation of small-sized Te-rich phase, while the latter occurs at ≥400 °C and the resultant Te-rich phase possesses large sizes. The Te-rich phase was distributed in different morphologies depending on the extrusion temperature. Small-sized Te-rich phase was distributed around the grain boundaries in extruded samples. When excessive amount of Te was incorporated, the average grain size and orientation degree were found to be reduced due to formation of more Te-rich phase. Furthermore, the addition of excessive Te led to decrease of the Seebeck coefficient and increase of thermal conductivity, thus resulting in a significant reduction in ZT value.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The rapid rise of China as a dominant global player in the solar photovoltaic industry has drawn much attention from scholars and policy-makers. However, few literatures have launched an in-depth analysis of China׳s strategic promotion of the photovoltaic industry. This study aims to fill this gap. This paper investigates legislative and policy development along with industrial strategies which the Chinese government has pursued in order to encourage development in the photovoltaic industry and also in related research and development activities. Moreover, from the perspective of technological and industrial development trends, the authors carried out an analysis of China׳s photovoltaic industry chain, pointing out that China׳s photovoltaic industry has the potential to take one step further in the areas of research and development, and the possibility of achieving breakthroughs in international cooperation.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A simple method for covering titanium dioxide particles with a polythiophene film by chemical preparation was developed. The resulting nanocomposites consisted of a titanium dioxide core with a grain size of 25–250 nm and a polythiophene shell between 1 and 2 nm thickness. The composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cyclovoltammetry, impedance spectroscopy and photocurrent spectroscopy. The content of polythiophene in the composite (determined by thermogravimetry), was between 2% and 5%. Disk-like electrodes were prepared by pressing and then characterized by various electrochemical methods. A reversible redox potential of the polythiophene of +1.0 V (NHE) was determined by cyclic voltammetry. The reduced form of polythiophene behaved as a p-type semiconductor so that the composite with n-type TiO2 contained the properties of a p/n-junction. In the photocurrent spectra (depending on the applied potential), the characteristic anodic peaks of the TiO2 at λ=320 nm and cathodic peaks of the polythiophene around λ=500 nm were found. A new cathodic peak observed at 370 nm was explained as a new feature of the pn interface.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A German firm has submitted a proposal to to build a solar hybrid plant in the Quwairah area in southern Jordan, a senior government official has said. The Minister of Energy & Mineral Resources said that a $200m project is scheduled to generate between 100–150 MW and will be implemented on a build, own and operate (BOO) basis.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter presents profiles of substrate suppliers, epiwafer suppliers, and merchant and captive producers of GaAs devices. The chapter contains an alphabetical listing of profiles of major merchant manufacturers of materials, devices, and related equipment supplying the diode laser industry. There are currently around a dozen suppliers of substrates active worldwide. GaAs wafer manufacturers are not restricted to supplying electronic device companies. Many of these wafer suppliers are also active in the optoelectronic business. This market sector is comparable in size to that of the electronics sector, but is almost exclusively based on discrete devices rather than on ICs (integrated circuits). In terms of geography, the key players in the wafer business are located in the three main regions: Europe, Japan, and North America. However, there are a few additional suppliers in the rest of the world region, particularly in South–East Asia. The optoelectronics industry has seen an unusually large number of start-up companies in the past decade.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Electrically detected electron spin resonance (EDESR) study is done for H2-phthalocyanine(H2Pc)-(BF4)x/ C60 heterojunction with x in the order of 0.01. The action spectrum of the H2Pc(BF4)x/ C60 shows a significant difference from that of H2Pc/C60, indicating that the BF2 − affects the charge-separation process after the photoexcitation of H2Pc and possibly C60. The EDESR observes the spin-dependent recombination of localized electron-hole pairs produced by the photoexcitation. The EDESR results of the H2Pc(BF4)x/ C60 do not show any significant difference from those of the H2Pc/C60. This indicates that the formation of the localized electron-hole pairs is independent of the BF4 − effect on the charge separation process.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In poly(3-hexylthiophene):methanofullerene bulk-heterojunction polymer photovoltaic (PV) cells, we introduced nanoscale interfacial layers between the PV layer and the cathode. The nanoscale interfacial layers were made of ultrathin poly(oxyethylene tridecyl ether) surfactant and low-work-function alloy–metal of Al:Li layers. It was found that the nanoscale interfacial layers increase the photovoltaic performance: increasing short-circuit current density with fill factor and improving device stability. For PV cells with the nanoscale interfacial layers, an increase in power conversion efficiency of 4.18±0.24% was achieved, compared to that of the control devices (3.89 ±0.08%).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Roland Winston, chief scientist for Duke Solar, long-time professor and past chair in the University of Chicago's Department of Physics and scientist in The Enrico Fermi Institute, received the prestigious Farrington Daniels Award for outstanding intellectual leadership in renewable energy, from the International Solar Energy Society.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Progress is reported towards the development of a comprehensive model useful in process design and optimisation of CdS thin-film growth. Model equations are developed for the temporal variation of reactants concentrations as well as of the precipitating solid phase, both in the bulk and on the substrate. A combination of possible elementary mechanisms is employed and the resulting system of equations is solved numerically. Computational results show that the model is consistent with available experimental data, on film thickness evolution, suggesting that it may prove very useful for optimising the CBD process with respect to its design variables. To conclude the presentation, some aspects of the deposit morphology at the early stages of its growth are discussed. It appears that these first stages determine the properties of the final film.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In recent years, photovoltaic industry has achieved some remarkable development in China, This paper presents a summary and review of the present status of terrestrial photovoltaic industry, and tries to look at possible future scenarios in China, the recent progress with laboratory cells is also discussed. Topics covered include the production equipment, fabrication technology of cells and modules, storage battery, solar charge controller, DC/AC inverter, market and national policy.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A photovoltaic application project was designed to pump drinking water from an appropriate well to a residential complex located in a remote area near the Iraqi-Syrian boarder. The system comprises, solar modules array, voltage controller, inverter and a submersible. A ground storage tank of 130 m3 is also used to store the pumped water that distributed to the complex. The work includes an evolution performance of one year operation of the whole system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "PSpice author, Dr Luis Castañer dons another hat to work with Dr Tom Markvart, Reader in Electronic Materials, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The Sn/p-Bi2Te3/Sn sandwich-type sample was current stressed with a density of 150 A/cm2 to investigate the effects of current stressing on the p-Bi2Te3/Sn interfacial reactions. Asymmetrical heating phenomenon was observed at the anodic Sn/p-Bi2Te3 (50 °C) and cathodic p-Bi2Te3/Sn (120 °C) interfaces due to the Peltier effect. Besides the Peltier effect, the electromigration effect also influenced the growth of the SnTe phase and therefore polarity growth behavior was observed at the two interfaces. The growth of the SnTe phase at the cathodic p-Bi2Te3/Sn interface was accelerated because Peltier and electromigration effects drove more Sn atoms (dominant diffusion species) for the phase growth. By measuring the electromigration-induced atomic flux of Sn, the product of diffusivity and effective charge number (D × z*) was calculated to be 6.3 × 10−9 cm2 s−1 at 120 °C.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar-thermal electricity generation contributes to climate change because it incurs the emission of greenhouse gases during the provision of services and the production of materials needed for the construction and operation of solar power plants. These greenhouse gas costs (GGC) can be determined using either material inventories in physical units or monetary cost breakdowns. Solar-only plants employing parabolic troughs, central receivers or parabolic dishes exhibit GGC around 90 g CO2-e/kWhel. However, this figure varies with the plant size and also depends strongly on whether a fossil-fuelled backup or a heat storage system is utilised in order to increase the plant’s capacity factor.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Ca3−x Na x Co4O9 polycrystalline thermoelectric ceramics with small amounts of Na (x=0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07, and 0.10) have been prepared using the classical solid state method. Microstructural characterization has shown that Na has been incorporated into the Ca3Co4O9 phase and that no Na-based secondary phases have been produced. It has also been found that Na addition promotes grain growth and favours sintering due to the formation of a small amount of liquid phase. Electrical resistivity decreases when Na content increases until 0.07Na addition while Seebeck coefficient is maintained practically unchanged. The improvement in electrical resistivity leads to higher power factor values than the usually obtained in samples prepared by more complex and expensive techniques.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Most solar cell manufacturing plants and research laboratories in the U.S. use non-renewable energy for their operations. This energy paradox must be addressed, especially due to the increased spending toward photovoltaic (PV) technology research and manufacturing fueled by the growing demand for renewable energy supply. At the same time, it is also important that the scientific community be made aware of the energy cost of energy research. While keeping scientific discovery a priority, it must be understood that energy is precious and must be conserved, including at the research and development stage of a product's life cycle. With energy conservation in mind, a case study was conducted to quantify the energy demand for the research phase of an emerging PV technology and identify energy intensive components. The test-bed system chosen for this study was a quantum-wire (QWR) based intermediate band solar cell grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and fabricated by photolithography. This paper presents the results of the energy demand analysis performed on the QWR-based solar cell research test-bed system. Life cycle assessment (LCA), an internationally accepted tool for energy and sustainability analysis, was chosen as the methodology for conducting this case study.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Clean surfaces of the single crystalline β - FeSi 2 have been prepared and investigated by means of surface analysis techniques. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the surface oxide reveals that the surface Si is mainly oxidized while Fe isn’t. After removing the surface oxide, clean surface can be obtained showing well-defined atomic features in low-energy electron diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy. No drastic surface reconstruction is found possibly reflecting strong Fe–Si bond. Density functional theory calculation suggests the spin polarized surface electronic density of states when Fe comes at the surface, although such a situation seems to be unlikely.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The photoelectric behavior of a black dye, tris (isothiocyanato)-[N-(2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine-4′-(4-carboxylic acid) phenyl)] ruthenium (II) complex, was examined under different conditions. The dye was adsorbed on nanocrystalline TiO2 surface strongly and generated incident monochromatic photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) of about 90% at maximum absorption wavelength and greater than 20% in the near-IR region. A sandwich-type solar cell fabricated by this dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 film generated 6.1 mAcm −2 of short-circuit photocurrent, 0.58 V of open-circuit photovoltage and 2.9% of overall yield under irradiation of white light (78.0 mWcm −2 ) from a Xe lamp. Since the title dye shows better photoresponse than the N3 dye in the near-IR region, it would be a promising panchromatic sensitizer after optimization.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "One of the most promising electronic cooling options is the thermoelectric cooler (TEC). For large-scale cooling applications, the coefficient of performance (COP) is lower than typical vapor compression refrigeration systems. Improving the TEC's material properties or design can overcome these constraints. This study introduces pores in the thermoelement to improve TEC's thermal performance. The results show that, for the same boundary condition at varying input currents, the pores in the thermoelement caused TEC's cold side temperature to drop by 4 to 9 K. The minimum temperature under the no-pore and with pore conditions is 268 K and 264 K, respectively, at no load and 1.5 A. Furthermore, horizontal, vertical, and slanting pore orientations are also introduced, with horizontal having the best thermal performance. In addition, adding pores to the thermoelement reduces its length for a fixed cold side temperature. To achieve a cold side temperature of 284 K, the conventional thermoelement without a pore needs a length of 2 mm, and the one with a 0.2 mm radius pore needs only 1.15 mm. This reduces the volume of thermoelectric material used by the TEC. Finally, the research shows that adding pores to the thermoelement improves cooling and saves material.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper a new approach for H2 production by PEM electrolysis, assisted by effluent treatment in the anolyte is proposed. H2 is produced, in the catholyte, by proton reduction at a Fe-cathode, in an acid medium (1M H2SO4). While in the anolyte, a mixture of Fe2+/Fe3+ is produced from the oxidation of an iron anode. The overall energy required (≤1.00V) is less than that required by conventional water electrolysis, and is delivered by solar panels. In the anolyte, iron ions can be used in favor of a Fenton-type process, in the presence of H2O2. This approach is used in effluent treatment. The oxidation efficiency of dyes reactive black 5 (RB 5) and acid green 25 (AG 25) was investigated, in mild conditions, during H2 production. The main experimental results show that it is possible to oxidize 0.00024M RB 5 or 0.0002M AG 25 in the anolyte, in 20min.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The energy and climate crises have accelerated the decarbonization of electric power systems. An important part of this decarbonization process, along with the incorporation of renewable and alternative energies, is the emergence of Carbon-neutral, intelligent systems technologies, coupled with digital transformation. These have brought new dynamics to the electric power systems transformation. Significant amounts of renewable energy, massive power electronics, changes in market planning, policy influence, demand response, and emerging technologies all become the essential components of new power systems, bringing remarkable changes to this new power systems' enabling technologies: IntelliSense. A novel IntelliSense framework driven by new power system requirements is proposed. The development status, classification characteristics, the application of intelligent sensors, intelligent sensor flexible charging, and multisource plus multidimensional big data processing are all discussed in detail. They are interspersed with discussions of critical features of new power systems, the uncertainties inherent in big data about power, wireless power transfer technologies, edge-fog-cloud collaborative computing, intelligent algorithms, and other core elements of IntelliSense. Finally, ten core IntelliSense technology challenges and five major future opportunities are summarized and are expected to serve as a reference and spark new ideas for low-carbon power system development.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Moisture power generator (MEG) that can directly convert energy from environment into available clean electricity is ideally suitable to serve as a power source for portable devices and wearable electronics. However, the current MEG technology is lack of wearable capability and intrinsically associated with complicated fabrication processes, which have severely hindered its practical applications. Herein, we developed a facile process for the fabrication of textile-based moisture power generators (TMEGs) with a high flexibility. The newly-developed TMEGs exhibited a high open-circuit voltage of up to 1.0 V due to the rationally designed dual asymmetric structure to enhance the concentration difference of charge carriers for efficiently driving the diffusion of ions. Owing to its flexibility and superior performance, the TMEG could be used to construct a self-powered smart mask for monitoring of human’s respiration and as an efficient energy device for driving minitype electronics. More importantly, large-scale integration of TMEG units could be easily realized by directly printing electrodes array on 400 cm2 of asymmetric textile with screen-printing method, offering an enhanced electric output. Such integrated devices could be immobilized on a T-shirt as portable power source for supplying sufficient power to drive commercial wearable electronics. Compared to the existing power generation systems, therefore, TMEGs fabricated from such a simple fabrication process with all the aforementioned outstanding achievements hold promise for significant cost reduction, opening up new extensive applications as textile-based self-powered devices and wearable electronics.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This study delves into the realm of energy and exergy analysis, aiming to optimize the performance of a refrigeration cycle by utilizing cycle Coefficients of Performance (COPs). The conventional heat pump cycle is replaced by a cascaded cycle, and this novel configuration is scrutinized through the lenses of the first and second laws of thermodynamics. The analysis is conducted within the EES software environment, encompassing the components of the cycle governed by these laws. The refrigerant employed is R407C. Through comprehensive energy and exergy analyses, significant insights emerge. Assuming a consistent refrigeration capacity, the study unveils the potential for a remarkable 21% increase in the coefficient of performance and a substantial 32% enhancement in the efficiency of the second law of thermodynamics within the cycle. Subsequently, a deeper exploration ensues, involving the selection of cascaded cycle refrigerants—R290, R134a, and R500. The impact of pivotal parameters such as inlet pressure, outlet temperature difference of the intermediate heat exchanger, evaporator inlet temperature, and condenser outlet on cycle performance and efficiency is meticulously compared for each refrigerant. Of particular interest is refrigerant R500, which, under specific conditions, drives the cycle and system COPs up by 7% and 2%, respectively, relative to R407C. Furthermore, the study reaches the pinnacle of exergy efficiency. A staggering increase of up to 8% in cascaded cycle exergy efficiency and 3% in the overall R500 refrigerant system exergy efficiency is achieved under consistent temperatures. This multifaceted research demonstrates the potential for significant enhancements in the performance and efficiency of refrigeration cycles through judicious optimization and strategic selection of refrigerants.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Meeting both carbon emission targets and energy demands may be feasible with DC cables connecting power-thirsty cities to sun-drenched deserts. Michael Gross reports.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Sulfides are attractive candidates for thermoelectric energy recovery in the mid-range of temperatures, including temperatures where the highest proportion of industrial waste heat is released. The high polarizability of the sulfide anion leads to significant bonding anisotropy and the adoption of low-dimensional structures. Such structures offer opportunities to enhance the Seebeck coefficient and reduce the lattice contribution to thermal conductivity. The polarizable sulfide anion also promotes cation diffusion, which at elevated temperatures can lead to the emergence of a liquid-like cation sublattice, within a rigid anion matrix, conferring the characteristics of a phonon-glass-electron-crystal. A series of sulfides is described, in which these features of the sulfide anion are exploited to produce high thermoelectric performance. This includes materials derived from transition-metal disulfides, shandite, and binary and ternary copper sulfides.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A low-cost, environmentally benign method was used to prepare nanostructured thin films of Co5(OH)8(NO3)2·2H2O, a layered double hydroxide p-type semiconductor. When infilled with poly(3-butylthiophene) (P3BT), an n-type semiconducting polymer, the resulting hybrid bulk heterojunction yields a photovoltaic device. The indium-doped tin oxide/Co5(OH)8(NO3)2·2H2O/P3BT/Al cell described here is an unprecedented example of an optoelectronic device fabricated by a low-cost biologically inspired pathway independent of organic structure-directing agents. Under illumination, this proof-of-principle device yields an open circuit voltage of 1.38 V, a short circuit current of 9 μA/cm2, a fill factor of 26% and a power efficiency of 3.2·10−3%. While the open circuit voltage of this prototype cell is close to its theoretical maximum, potential sources of the observed low efficiency are identified, and a suggested path for improvement is discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology can bring emissions-free electricity to rural areas without access to the grid. Currently, policymakers are seeking ways to expand markets for off-grid PV from solar home systems to productive uses in order to enhance income generation and contribute to social development. This paper explores the role of the state in promoting such market growth. As a start, the state must improve institutions, thus echoing popular recommendations based in new institutional economic theory (NIE) that are currently touted by the World Bank and other large development agencies. Yet, NIE's framework may be insufficient because it fails to offer viable solutions to overcoming political barriers that contribute to technological path dependency. A case study in Punjab, India, where an agricultural PV water pumping program showed promising signs of successful market penetration in its first 3 years of operation, illustrates how the NIE's shortcomings manifest themselves in practice. The program was beginning to penetrate market entry for PV pumps via competition between PV providers. However, the government of India achieved this feat by providing subsidies to wealthy farmers, a move that is frowned upon by the NIE school. Based on findings from the case study, states should look beyond NIE's framework to expand and improve PV markets in productive uses by accounting for political constraints, assessing how PV technology can improve development goals, and cultivating locally appropriate service delivery models.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) methods are used in photovoltaic (PV) systems to continually maximize the PV array output power which generally depends on solar radiation and cell temperature. MPPT methods can be roughly classified into two categories: there are conventional methods, like the Perturbation and Observation (P&O) method and the Incremental Conductance (IncCond) method and advanced methods, such as, fuzzy logic (FL) based MPPT method. This paper presents a survey of these methods in order to analyze, simulate, and evaluate a PV power supply system under varying meteorological conditions. Simulation results, obtained using MATLAB/Simulink, show that static and dynamic performances of fuzzy MPPT controller are better than those of conventional techniques based controller.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► A cw 4.33μm quantum cascade laser was used for 13CO2/12CO2 measurements in breath. ► Best CO2 precision was achieved for measurements from absorption peak area. ► No temperature stabilization of an optical cell and gas flow was required. ► δ 13C precision of 1.10/00 was observed for a 1-s integration time. ► δ 13C precision of 0.50/00 was estimated for 8–10 averages of 1-s data points.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Water use by the electric power industry is attracting renewed interest as periods and zones of arid weather are increasingly encountered, and various regional energy-production scenarios are evaluated. However, there is a scarcity of data on upstream water factors and discrepancies of data from different sources. We reviewed previous studies of water use in electricity generation and used full-life cycle accounting to evaluate water demand factors, both withdrawal and consumption, for conventional- and renewable-electrical power plants. Our investigation showed that moving to technologies like photovoltaics and wind offers the best option for conserving our water supply. We also emphasize the importance of employing a transparent, balanced approach in accounting life-cycle water usages.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper outlines institutional constraints in relation to technology transfer and development in Africa. Institutional constraints are inherent in inefficient organizational, administration and management structures. Lack of institutional, incentive systems and technological capacities to re-organize institutions limits the potential for the transfer of technologies. It is practically difficult to design, implement and manage AIJ projects in Africa without a provision for capacity building. Existing institutions need strengthening and human capacity needs to be developed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The objective of this research is to generate design maps to identify functionally graded microstructures with enhanced fracture toughness. Several Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs) with an edge crack and membrane loading are considered and the resulting J-integral values are computed numerically using Finite Element Analysis. In order to capture the resulting stress fields accurately, Barsoum elements are used in the vicinity of the crack tip and the simulations are carried out for several crack lengths (a) and material contrasts (κ). The averages of the J-integral values are used to determine the normalized Stress Intensity Factors which are then benchmarked with existing analytical solutions in special cases. Furthermore, in order to facilitate an objective comparison between FGMs and homogeneous materials, a constraint is imposed on each of the microstructure so that the volume averaged modulus remains the same although the spatial variation is very different. Subsequently, we demonstrate that a FGM could perform either better or worse than the reference homogeneous material depending upon the crack length, the type of functional gradation and the material contrast (thereby the local gradient of the modulus at the crack tip). Finally, the notion of ‘Fracture Index’ is introduced using which ‘design maps’ are created in the (a−κ) space that reveal microstructures with enhanced fracture resistance. These maps are universal since any Functionally Graded Material can be mapped as a point on this space.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Bi2Te3-based crystal ingots produced by zone melting (ZM) are the most widely used materials to manufacture commercial thermoelectric (TE) devices. However, the poor mechanical properties of such crystalline materials limit the production of small-scale devices. While processability can be improved by powder metallurgy (PM), it also leads to the deterioration of the TE properties due to the donor-like effect of the introduced defects and grain boundaries. Thus, additional efforts towards re-optimizing doping are required. Here, we report a PM method to improve the mechanical properties of Bi2Te3-based TE materials through the crushing and hot pressing of Bi2Te3 ingots obtained by ZM. Besides, we demonstrate the TE properties of n-type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 (BTS) to be remarkably improved by Cu doping, which enables optimization of the carrier concentration and enhances phonon scattering at heterointerphases thus increasing the Seebeck coefficient and reducing thermal conductivity. Overall, optimized materials reach dimensionless TE figures of merit (ZT) up to 1.16 at 408 K, i.e. 45% higher than that of state-of-the-art BTS, and an average ZT value of 1.08 in the temperature range of 300–473 K.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Usually as-grown chemical bath deposited Cadmium sulfide (CdS) samples do not show luminescence at room temperature because of the high density of recombination centers due to many defects generated during the growth process, particularly for chemical bath deposited CdS films. The change of the S/Cd ratio allows to control the density of defects giving rise to a better quality CdS films which can show luminescence at room temperature. Depending on the S/Cd ratio an evolution and improvement of the photoluminescence signal at room temperature is observed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► We investigate the feasibility of hybridization of a diesel plant with photovoltaic. ► We make a techno-economic analysis to investigate the feasibility of the project. ► The most important criterion to assess the profitability is the total annual cost. ► Simulation results show that many configurations are profitable. ► An optimization is needed to find the best solution.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Various infrared up-conversion techniques have been developed, driven by applications including lasing, laser cooling, and infrared imaging. In this review article, we first present a brief overview of existing up-conversion techniques and then discuss in detail one particular approach. Among all types of up-conversion techniques, an integrated semiconductor photodetector-light-emitting diode (PD-LED) up-conversion device is the most promising one for infrared imaging applications. By now, PD-LED devices relying on various mechanisms, using different materials and structures, aiming at different wavelength regions, have been developed, and pixelless infrared imaging prototype devices have been demonstrated. We report the progress of semiconductor PD-LED up-conversion devices, and point out directions for future improvement.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► The properties and characteristics of planetary magnetic fields are reviewed. ► With the possible exception of Venus, all planets have or have had active dynamos. ► Planetary dynamos in diverse settings are driven by different sources of buoyancy. ► Magnetic fields of Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn will be obtained in detail.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The lattice dynamics of the AlMgB14 structure is characterized by phonon vibrational modes that are calculated from first-principles methods. The stoichiometric composition of AlMgB14 is found to have three soft phonon modes, which have displacements associated with metal atoms vibrating against the B lattice. This lattice instability is believed to be associated with the occupation of electronic states in the conduction bands. The off-stoichiometric occupation sweeps the Fermi level from the conduction band into the gap, and as a result the observed soft phonon modes are driven away. Based on a simple electron counting scheme, as also discussed by Mori , it is observed that stable XYB14 compounds have between 15 and 16 electrons contributed to the B-lattice from the metal species.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In the context of climate change in the world at the global level, various actions are taken for the development of renewable Energy and particularly solar energy which have potential for future energy applications. The current popular technology converts solar energy into electricity and heat separately. The photovoltaic thermal (PVT) system is designed to generate thermal and electrical energy simultaneously. A major research and development work on the photovoltaic thermal (PVT) hybrid technology has been done since last 30 years. Different types of solar thermal collector and new materials for PV cells have been developed for efficient solar energy utilization. The photovoltaic (PV) cells suffer efficiency drop as their operating temperature increases especially under high insolation levels. The overall electrical efficiency of the photovoltaic (PV) module can be increased by reducing the temperature of the PV module by withdrawing the thermal energy associated with the PV module. Both water and air either by forced or natural flow has been used for PV cooling through a thermal unit attached to the back of the module yielding photovoltaic thermal (PVT) collector. The main purpose of heat extraction unit is to extract heat from the photovoltaic system and keep its temperature at satisfactory level so that it can work efficiently. Till date many researchers have done a lot of work and number of studies have been carried out in designing, simulation, modeling, and testing of these systems. This paper reviews on the state and development of PVT technology around the world but the studies includes experimental and analytical are mainly focused on photovoltaic thermal technologies at the Indian subcontinent.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Cyclic voltammetry measurement of LaFe1− x Zn x /2Cu x /2O3 in 1 M KOH, ranged from 0 to 0.7 V, at a scan rate of 50 mV/s.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, we analyze the performance characteristics of BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaic) system of Climate Change Research Building of National Environment Research Institution which was designed with the aim of zero carbon building. This building totaling 2449 m2 is consist of five laboratories, PR (Performance Ratio) department, conference room and others, and the area of conditioned space is 1668 m2. In addition, the remaining residual load was predicted to 99,200 kWh when load reducing system was applied such as insulation, exterior shading device and lighting control. BIPV system, which is consist of three modules; G to G (Glass to Glass), G to T (Glass to Tedlar/Crystal) and Amorphous, has 116.2 kWp of total capacity, and is applied to wall, window, atrium and pagora on roof. After the completion of building, the total amount of energy consumption and the gross generation of BIPV system were 104602.4 kWh and 105266.6 kWh through a year from April 2011 to March 2012, respectively. It was evaluated to achieve zero carbon building because the energy surplus was 664.2 kWh.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We fabricated two organic diodes, one of which consists of a double layer structure of TPD/Tb(ACA)3phen and in the other one a mixture layer is inserted between the double layer, i.e., TPD/TPD:Tb(ACA)3phen (1:1, 30nm)/Tb(ACA)3phen, here TPD and Tb(ACA)3phen are (N,N′-diphenyl-N,N′-bis(3-methyl-phenyl)-1,1′-biphenyl-4,4′-diamine) and tris(acetylacetonato)-(mono-phenothroline) terbium, respectively. Both the devices show electroluminescence (EL) properties under forward bias and photovoltaic (PV) effects under illumination of ultraviolet (UV) light. For the device with a mixture layer, the EL performance and PV effects were both significantly improved. A maximum EL brightness of 150cd/m2 under bias of 17V and a maximum efficiency of 1.1cd/A at 7.5V were obtained. Moreover, the diode shows a short-circuit current (I sc) of 43μAcm−2, an open-circuit voltage (V oc) of 1.1V, a fill factor (FF) of 0.32, and an overall power conversion efficiency (η PV) of 1.0% under illumination of 365nm UV light with 1.5mW/cm2. The improvements of PV- and EL-properties were presumably attributed to the increased intermolecular contacts in the mixture of TPD and Tb-complex. In addition, a shift of EL color from UV-blue to green-yellow was also observed when a mixture layer of TPD with Tb-complex was inserted. The operation mechanisms of the EL- and the PV-processes of the diodes with different structures were further discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • A zero-carbon heating system for remote underground mines has been established. • A rock-pile seasonal thermal energy storage has been incorporated with exhaust heat recovery system. • A valid analytical model has been presented showing the techno-economic feasibility. • Financial analysis has been conducted; the proposed model has a promising payback period.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In the case of isolated areas, power quality and service reliability are improved by fusion of the ac power generation with a PV system output. Such an arrangement decreases the operating costs considerably. The proposed model and the related reliability and performance indices illustrate the benefits of PV system fusion with ac generation.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Infrared images often present distortions induced by the measurement system. Thus, image processing is a vital part of infrared measurements. A distortion model based on a convolution product is presented. Image restoration is an ill-posed problem and its solution can be obtained using regularization methods. In this paper, image restoration is performed using a variation of Tikhonov regularization that makes use of the particular form of the convolution kernel matrix, which is built as a block-circulant matrix that admits a diagonal form in the two-dimensional Fourier space. The restoration procedure is used to restore a knife-edge infrared source image.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thin films of Bi-based chalcogenides were prepared by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique according to the stoichiometric formula: Bi2(Se1−xTex)3. Their optical properties were studied aiming to find the suitable area of application and the optimum composition amongst the samples under study. X-ray diffraction analysis proved the crystallinity of the deposited samples; in addition, surface roughness and films homogeneity were studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) confirming the suitability of PLD technique to prepare homogenous and smooth films of the concerned alloys. Absorption coefficient calculations showed higher absorption values of 5×105 and 6×105 cm−1 for Te contents of 90% and 100% in the Bi2(Se1−xTex)3 system respectively. Optical band gap of the concerned films were calculated and found to be in the range of 0.76–1.11eV, exhibiting comparable values with the previously reported by other authors. Optical studies conformed direct and allowed transitions in all films. Refractive index (n) and dielectric constants (Ɛr) and (Ɛi) were calculated and studied as a function of the wavelength. Values and behavior of (n), (Ɛr) and (Ɛi) indicated strong dependence on the composition and the wavelength range.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The silicon nitride films were deposited by means of high-density inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition in a planar coil reactor. The process gases used were pure nitrogen and a mixture of silane and helium. Passivated by silicon nitride, solar cells show efficiency above 13%. Strong H-atom release from the growing SiN film and Si–N bond healing are responsible for the improved electrical and passivation properties of SiN film. This paper presents the optimal refractive index of SiN for single layer antireflection coating as well as double layer antireflection coating in solar cell applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this contribution Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), UV-Vis absorption, optical microscopy and photovoltaic characterizations are used to study the influence of polymer purification on the thermal properties of composite films of poly-3-hexylthiophene, (P3HT) and methanofullerene ([6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester) (PCBM). DSC analysis evidence that the composites prepared with commercial polymer, used as received, or after purification have quite different thermal characteristics. These features, together with the thermal annealing effects on the absorption spectra and optical microscopy, and the photovoltaic properties, indicate that the purification leads to a composite material where the polymer shows improved capability to self-organize.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Graded composition Cd x Zn1−x Te films were prepared by growing several alternate layers of CdTe and ZnTe by the Isothermal Close Space Sublimation technique. The thickness of both kinds of layers was modified along the structure to produce an increase of the average concentration of CdTe towards the surface of the films. Due to Zn/Cd inter-diffusion during the growth process the sequence of layers was converted into a relatively smooth graded composition film. According to X-ray diffraction characterization the layers grew coherently with the (100) oriented GaAs substrates although they showed a relatively high mosaicity. θ−2θ plots show very wide diffraction peaks as expected from variable composition samples. The band gap grading effect in light absorption was also verified through transmission measurements, using transparent substrates. Graded composition profiles of the thin films were confirmed by x-ray photoelectron and secondary ion mass spectroscopies. Moreover, quantitative Cd, Zn and Te profiles were obtained by the analysis of Rutherford backscattering spectra of the samples. This analysis showed a CdTe molar fraction profile ranging from approximately x=0.8 at the surface of the sample and x=0.35 at the interface with the substrate. The possibility of growing graded composition layers using a simple and cost-effective procedure was demonstrated. This could be interesting in technological applications like Cd x Zn1−x Te layers of variable composition in CdS/CdTe solar cells.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The two-dimensional monolayer structure of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is widely used in the advanced flexible electronic devices due to their unique mechanical, physical, and electronic properties. The main disadvantage of MoS2 is the limited mechanical strain, which restricts its application in flexible and stretchable devices. Therefore, it is required to develop various methods to modify the mechanical behavior of MoS2 monolayer depending on the environmental situation and the complexity of real applications. In this investigation, we have incorporated Kirigami and hetero-structure approaches for the manipulation of the mechanical behavior of MoS2. Kirigami is an ancient Japanese art of paper cutting. Monolayer MoS2 with circular/square/rectangular Kirigami pattern have simulated under uniaxial tensile load using molecular dynamics simulation. We observe that the stretch-ability (mechanical strain) significantly enhanced by the shape/size and location of Kirigami pattern during uniaxial tensile deformation. However, strength (mechanical stress and Young's modulus) of MoS2 can be enhancing by creating a hetero-structure with graphene. A large number of simulations have been performed to explore stress/energy distribution, Young's modulus, the effect of temperature, and strain rate during load applications. We believe that our results will provide extensive information related to enhancement in the mechanical strain and strain toward the application in flexible devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The role of renewable energy resources in the developing countries has been increasing considerably in the last decade. Technological developments are so advanced that the renewable can be conveniently substituted for commercial energy sources. The extent to which renewable energy could be substituted in the commercial energy scene in respect of environment is discussed in this chapter. A Renewable Energy Mathematical (REM) model has been developed for the substitution of renewable energy sources in China for the year 2020–2021. It is a linear programming model that will allocate optimal renewable energy sources for different energy sectors, such as industrial, commercial, domestic, agricultural, and transportation. The model is developed with the objective of minimizing cost based on efficiency, demand, and potential constraints. The model predicts that approximately 895.8 million tons of coal replacement (MTCR) of the total energy consumed will be from the renewable energy sources by the year 2020–2021. This model would be helpful for the formation of energy strategies in China.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter discusses and describes the future technologies that will shape the future of textile materials and its impact on apparel for the next millennia and beyond. It encompasses a wide range of knowledge and disciplines, science, experimentation, and design that have made the future of textiles one of the most diverse and complex industries in the world. The advancement of fibers, yarns, textile materials, functional finishing, electronics, and clothing physiology combined together will continue to augment people's lives in a plethora of areas, in medicine, the military, firefighting, extreme sports, and many other apparel applications. Despite the progress in textile inventions, science, and also engineering, this industry has often been overlooked and undervalued by Governments, business, and the general population as a whole. It is often seen as just wearing clothes, T shirts, jeans, shirts, and many other types of normal day apparel. It is rarely understood that the manufacture of textiles is much more than this. Air bags, for example, in cars are made from textiles, designed to save our life in the unfortunate circumstance of a car crash. Protective apparel for racing car drivers, for the military personnel who fly combat aircraft, and firefighters, some of the applications in which, high-performance apparels play apart. A relatively new buzz word, smart textiles in apparels are becoming widely spread with underwears and shirts that can monitor blood pressure and respiratory measurements and also provide heat under extreme weather conditions. This chapter explains as to how important that the future of textiles has become, which have played an increasingly important role in influencing our lives. It has also been designed to highlight the fact that there is much more to textiles and apparel than meets the eye.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In the year 1882, in London, the Edison Company first produced electricity that could be delivered to the customers via a distribution Grid or Network. Since then electricity has become a necessary energy sources for domestic use. However, in the majority of the world developing countries it is estimated that less than 5% of the rural population are connected to the national grid. There are many technical and economic reasons for that. However, if utility lines are needed and not available at some important remote areas. Solar electric systems can provide the required electricity sources. In general, electricity are produced by converting an energy source into mechanical shaft power, which in turn drives a generator which produces electricity. Where solar system convert sunlight directly into electricity with no moving parts, or maintenance, which is free and safe, and clean energy with no fuel and with no ambient pollution. This is the most environmentally way to produce power directly from sunlight to produce electricity for most household needs. The amount of power a solar electric system can collect depends on the natural energy resources at the applied location and on the equipment installed to gather that energy. The social impact of introducing solar electricity to remote areas is enormous. There are the obvious benefits of improved social services and cover the need of electricity. There are also less obvious benefits. The introduction of electricity often helps to create productive employment in rural areas and reduce immigration and there is a positive impact on economic as well as social growth. The main object of this paper to investigate the solar electric system. The comprehensive system consists of PV array, inverter, voltage regulator, battery and battery charger. The inverter, the regulator and the battery charger have been widely studied. A useful discussion also has been included.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "P-type filled skutterudite materials have been gained considerable research interest in recent years due to their promising thermoelectric power generation applications at intermediate temperature. Herein, we systematically investigated the influence of Nd filling on the thermoelectric properties of NdxFe2Co2Sb12 (x=0.4, 0.5 0.6, 0.7 and 0.8). Nd-filled skutterudites are synthesized using a simple and time-saving induction melt spinning technique followed by spark plasma sintering. The results show that Nd-filling leads to the significant reduction in the lattice thermal conductivity and enhancement of power factor over the entire temperature range. The most marked reduction in the lattice thermal conductivity is achieved with the value of 0.76W/mK for x=0.7 sample, due to strengthened phonon scattering. Meanwhile, the highest ZT=0.98 is attained at 740K for Nd0.7Fe2Co2Sb12. The rapid synthesis procedure provides an effective pathway for the fabrication of thermoelectric materials with high performance.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Microcrystalline silicon is a two-phase material. Its composition can be interpreted as grains of crystalline silicon imbedded in an amorphous silicon tissue, with a high concentration of danglind bonds in the transition regions. In this paper, results obtained by means of numerical simulations about the transport properties of a μc-Si:H p-i-n junction are reported. The role played by the boundary regions between the crystalline grains and the amorphous matrix is taken in account, and these regions are treated similarly to a heterojunction interface. The influence of the local electric field at the grains boundary transition regions on the internal electric configuration of the device is outlined under illumination and applied external bias.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "PbS nanostructures are synthesized using solvothermal method. Here, EDTA is employed as a chelating agent and PEG–PPG–PEG polymer as a structure directing surfactant. The possible factors behind the formation of nanostructures of various morphologies are explained. Crystalline quality is improved when EDTA is employed in the growth. In the Raman spectra, overtones of the longitudinal optical (LO) phonon peaks are observed. In the I–V characteristics of the photovoltaic devices, both open circuit voltage and short circuit current were improved as compared to the earlier devices made by using a similar mechanical pressing method with PbS nanowires.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "SrTiO3 (STO)-based perovskite oxide is regarded as a promising high-temperature n-type thermoelectric material. However, its intrinsic high thermal conductivity leads to poor thermoelectric properties. Using entropy engineering, lower thermal conductivity can be obtained. However, the high configuration entropy can also lead to poor carrier mobility, which inhibits electron transport and consequently reduces the electrical conductivity. Along these lines, in this work, an ultra-low thermal conductivity was obtained, which is significantly lower than the majority of the values reported in the literature, and the concept of phononic glass electronic crystal was attained at the same time. The enhanced effective scattering of phonons through the multi-scale defects gives rise to a low thermal conductivity of 1.8 W m−1 K−1 at 973K. Optimization of electrical properties due to in situ reduction at high temperature and pressure，the high-entropy ceramics possess the maximum power factor of 7.03 μW cm−1 K−2 at 973K. The application of high pressure is considered an important approach for the development of new materials with special properties. A new strategy for the composition design and in-situ reduction of oxide thermoelectric materials was provided in this work, which paves the way for the optimization and application of both the electrical and thermal properties of perovskite-based materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In present work, the effects of vacancy defects on the mechanical and thermodynamic properties of Cr5Si3 have been investigated using the first-principles. The occupation mechanism of oxygen atoms in Cr5Si3 is also carefully analyzed and discussed. The vacancy formation, lattice vibrations, electronic structure, elasticity and thermodynamic parameters of Cr5Si3 were calculated separately. The results show that Cr5Si3 is stable and irrespective of the presence of vacancies or oxygen atoms occupation in it. In addition, the Si vacancies cause Cr5Si3 to undergo a brittle to ductile transition, which originates the weak hybridization between Cr and Si atoms. Importantly, when the Si-Va2 vacancy is occupied by oxygen atom, Cr5Si3 undergoes a brittle to ductile transition despite its poor hardness and resistance to deformation, which is attributed to the formation of weak Cr–O bonds. Furthermore, both the presence of vacancy defects and the introduction of oxygen atoms result in Cr5Si3 exhibiting the greater phase stability and better thermal properties.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) are powerful analytical techniques used for the study and characterization of ultrathin films and monolayers of organic compounds adsorbed on the nanostructured surface of several metals. The main requirement which has to be met for the SERS- and SEIRA-activity is the proper morphology of the surface in nanoscale, which can be tailored by the preparation procedure. In the present work different electrochemical preparation procedures of copper substrates (cathodic reduction from electrochemical baths or its combination with oxidation–reduction cycles (ORC) treatment) were developed with the aim of fabrication of the substrate with both SERS- and SEIRA-activity for the selected model analyte. The diffuse reflectance methodology was designed to study SEIRA-activity on large-scaled nanostructured surfaces. The nanostructure of the copper surface was characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The effect of different ORC treatments on the surface morphology as well as on SERS- and SEIRA-activity is discussed. The interpretation of SERS and SEIRA spectra has been made in terms of the comparison of these two types of surface-enhanced spectra with normal infrared and Raman spectra and DFT calculation elucidating the orientation of the molecule on the surface.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In the present work, a systematic study has been carried out to understand the effect of In doping on the various properties of the ZnO nanocrystalline thin films. In-doped ZnO nanocrystalline thin films with different indium concentrations (1.98%, 4.03%, 6.74%, 8.62% and 10.48% In) have been synthesized by sol–gel method. The grain size and surface roughness of the In-doped ZnO thin films are observed to be smaller than those of the ZnO thin films. 6.74% In-doped ZnO films with a low resistivity of 1.95 × 10−3 Ω cm and a high mobility of 2.19 cm2 V−1 S−1 have been prepared under optimal deposition conditions. Inverted organic solar cells containing In-doped ZnO as an electron extraction layer with the structure indium tin oxide (ITO)/In-doped ZnO/poly[N-9′-heptadecanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(4′,7′-di-2-thienyl-2′,1′,3′-benzothiadiazole)] (PCDTBT): [6,6]-phenyl C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM)/MoO3/Al have been fabricated. The inverted organic solar cell with 6.74% In-doped ZnO exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 5.58%, which is the best efficiency reported so far for these type of solar cells. The device performance has been optimized by varying the indium doping concentration. The results clearly demonstrate that significant improvement in power conversion efficiency can be obtained by incorporating In into the ZnO films.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • We analyze Mars Science Laboratory Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons passive mode data. • Water equivalent hydrogen content varies along the MSL traverse. • DAN passive measurements are consistent with other MSL instruments. • DAN passive geochemical indices are presented.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper proposes a comprehensive optimization approach based on linear programming (LP) for the installation of multiple hybrid power plants (HPPs) in non-interconnected islands. Contrary to the state-of-the-art solutions, the proposed approach optimizes simultaneously the size, location, and technology of each HPP to minimize the long-term electricity cost of the island. The optimization problem is formulated as a LP problem to ensure convergence and global optimum solution. Moreover, a series of system constraints are included in the optimization problem, e.g., power reserves, transmission constraints, maximum renewables' direct penetration limit etc., to ensure the secure and reliable operation of the grid; this is compatible with the actual preventive measures imposed by the network operator in real non-interconnected islands. Simulations are executed in a real Greek Island (Rhodes), confirming the applicability of the proposed method as an optimization tool for network planning studies in non-interconnected islands. The results indicate that the optimal installation of HPPs can yield an annual network cost reduction exceeding 7.9 million €, equating to over 6 % of Rhode's annual cost, as well as a total renewable penetration as high as 51.8 %.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Clay layers act as semipermeable membranes in the flow of fluids, electrical charge, chemicals and heat. At zero gradients of temperature and hydrostatic pressure, a salt concentration gradient across compacted clay induces osmotic flow of water, diffusion of salt and an electrical potential gradient, the so-called membrane potential. Laboratory experiments were performed on samples of Boom Clay (Mol, Belgium) and Calais Clay (polder Groot Mijdrecht, The Netherlands) in a rigid-wall permeameter set-up. With this set-up, the induced osmotic flow of water, the diffusion of Cl− ions and the membrane potential were measured. To quantify the effect of membrane potential, the electrical potential gradient was cancelled out by virtually short-circuiting the clay membrane. In the experiments with Boom Clay, it was shown that the occurrence of a membrane potential hindered the water flux and the diffusion of Cl− by inducing an electroosmotic counterflow. Flow parameters calculated with coupled flow equations of irreversible thermodynamics were in excellent agreement with values reported in literature. In the experiments with oxidized Calais Clay, no osmotic water flow and membrane potential were observed. Calculated diffusion coefficients suggest that the clay membranes are intact. In a control experiment with kaolinite, believed to be a less efficient semipermeable membrane, apart from diffusion very small osmotic water flow and membrane potential were observed, indicating that the semipermeable behaviour of the Calais Clay is less than that of kaolinite or even nonexistent.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A thermoelectric (TE) hydrogen gas sensor was fabricated by depositing a platinum catalyst thin film on the half surface of nickel oxide thick film. When it was exposed to combustible gas diluted by synthetic air, the catalyst layer converts hydrogen and oxygen effectively to water vapor, and give out heat energy, resulting temperature difference across the sensor, and consequently voltage signal. The voltage signal for the 3% H2/air mixture gas at temperature 100°C, was 4.65mV while that for 3% CH3OH/air mixture gas was 0.31mV. The lower detection limit (LDL) of the sensor at 100°C was lower than 500ppm, with an excellent linearity of signal voltage to the hydrogen gas concentration.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A new di-anchoring organic dye based on phenothiazine featuring A-D-π-D-A (acceptor-donor-π-linker-donor-acceptor) configuration with fluorene as the π linker was designed and successfully synthesized. Compared to the corresponding mono-anchoring D-A congener, this new dye exhibited a broader and stronger absorption in the light wavelength ranging from 400 nm to 600 nm and thus showed a more efficient photovoltaic performance for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The overall power conversion efficiency (η) of this new dye in a sensitized solar cell amounted to 5.70%, which is 17% higher than that of the equivalent based counterpart (4.87%). On the other hand, the introduction of two thiophene units at position-2 and -7 of the fluorene unit gave another new dye with extended conjugation. This extended conjugation dye showed a higher molar extinction coefficient (ε), but exhibited π-stacked aggregation on the TiO2 surface, resulting in low efficiency of electron injection. The results indicate that the di-anchoring dye with fluorene as π linker is a promising candidate for efficient DSSCs.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Modern RF signal processing requires high piezoelectric coefficient functional semiconductor to deliver the high frequency, bandwidth, and quality factors required of modern RF communication technologies (5G and above). The focus of this chapter, Aluminum Nitride (AlN), is a material of choice for these applications. We first discuss the material properties and crystal structure of AlN that make it uniquely suitable for communication devices. We highlight that the piezoelectric modulus d 33 of AlN is the main determining factor for the performance and energy efficiency of acoustic wave filters. This chapter then compares established and emerging methods to increase d 33 in advanced AlN ceramics and discusses their common physical origin from strained crystal structures. Finally, we provide examples of how similar strain engineering approaches can be applied to other technologically relevant ceramics and their respective application fields.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Edge localised modes (ELMs) are a serious concern for plasma facing components in next generation tokamaks. In order to keep the power load on divertor targets at a reasonable level, operation at high heating powers in ASDEX Upgrade with boronised full tungsten walls was possible only with radiative cooling by nitrogen seeding. The key player to reduce the power load is the control of the divertor radiation. This paper investigates radiation losses between and during type-I ELMs in unseeded and nitrogen seeded discharges. The ELM averaged radiation level raises from 60% of the input power in unseeded discharges to 80% in nitrogen seeded discharges. The increase of radiation during an ELM is nearly the same for seeded an unseeded discharges, but due to the smaller ELM size in seeded discharges about 40% of the ELM energy is radiated compared to 20% in unseeded discharges.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • A trigger circuit for battery-less energy harvesting systems is proposed. • The trigger circuit is an analog switch driven by a custom nano-power control unit. • The trigger circuit lets the load operate under intermittent operating conditions. • The trigger circuit prevents lock-up phenomena.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In the present work, elemental powder mixtures with an atomic ratio of Co:Sb=1:3 were mechanically alloyed by high-energy ball milling in a planetary ball mill. It is found that the CoSb3 compound (ε-phase) was synthesized after milling for 10h, and its concentration increased with prolonged milling time. The CoSb2 compound (δ-phase) was observed when milling for longer than 20h, but single phase CoSb3 skutterudite could not be obtained even on further milling for 50h. It is shown that single phase CoSb3 could be synthesized easily by annealing the as-MAed powders in vacuum at 700°C, and the annealing time could be as short as 1h for the powders milled for over 10h.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The solar-driven interface evaporation technology (SDIE) is an innovative and environmentally friendly desalination method, highly favored by researchers due to its low energy consumption, high efficiency, absence of secondary pollution, and alignment with sustainable development principles. By utilizing widely distributed solar energy as the driving force and employing simple and portable photothermal evaporation structures as the core component, SDIE achieves efficient energy conversion and demonstrates excellent seawater desalination capabilities. Consequently, it has gained significant attention from researchers in both seawater desalination systems and water treatment applications. This paper presents a knowledge framework on seawater SDIE through scientometric analysis of academic documents from 2014 to 2023. The technology is visually analyzed using collaborative networks, reference co-citation networks, and keyword co-discovery techniques. The results demonstrate an exponential increase in the number of documents published over time, highlighting the growing significance of SDIE techniques in interdisciplinary research. Furthermore, this manuscript clarifies the main focus areas in current research including desalination performance evaluation, development of high efficient photothermal materials, system design optimization as well as mechanism analysis. Additionally, existing challenges and future research directions are proposed to provide guidance for SDIE further research.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Pyrite thin films have been obtained by sulphuration of Fe thin films. The influence of temperature and time of sulphuration on crystallite size (determined from XRD patterns) and on grain size (determined by AFM images) of the films have been investigated. It has been found that grain size is always much larger than crystallite size. Grains of higher crystallographic homogeneity are produced when the films are sulphurated at 675–700 K. They are formed by only three or four crystallites. Possible relationships between grain and crystallite growth mechanisms are briefly considered.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In the programme of total electrification, centralized supply of power generated by conventional methods using exhaustible resources is proving to be uneconomic and, more importantly, unmanageable so far as supply to rural areas, particularly remote places, are concerned. On the other hand, the decentralized approach based on supply of power produced with renewable energy resources available locally is, for various reasons, gradually being recognized as a viable alternative for such remote places. The present paper attempts to examine, from a broad-based socio-economic and environmental point of view, the feasibility of decentralized solar photovoltaic (SPV) system as a source of power compared to that from conventional sources in a remotely located island. The study, based on a sample survey, conducted in an island called ‘Sagar Dweep’ in West Bengal, India, shows that within a short spell of time of four years, there have been noticeable improvements and significant impact on education, trade and commerce, entertainment, health etc. as a result of supply of power from SPV power plants. Productivity level of some agricultural activities as well as women's participation in different economic activities (at night) other than household work have shown definite signs of betterment. The SPV system is also superior to other conventional systems on consideration of its environmental effects. Thus, on the whole, there seems to be a strong case for the locally installed SPV system in spite of its current unfavourable position in respect of the direct cost of production.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, the evolution of Silicon Nanostructures with progressive annealing has been studied. Hot Wire CVD (HWCVD) process was used to deposit a Si x N y /a-Si structure on an n-type 〈 100 〉 Silicon substrate with the Nitride acting as the buffer layer. The depositions were carried out at a low substrate temperature (250 °C) which is precisely why HWCVD was chosen over other processes for this work. The as-deposited sample was then annealed at 800 °C and 900 °C respectively. AFM studies revealed promising results hinting at the presence of Silicon Nanostructures. With progressive annealing the Nanostructures began to evolve, eventually turning into sharp Nanopillars upon annealing at 900 °C. In this paper, a growth model has been proposed which attempts to validate the experimental results. Though a lot of work is currently underway in this field, study of Silicon Nanostructures grown by HWCVD technique is relatively new.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Thin films of Cd1−x Fe x S have been prepared on stainless steel and fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass substrates using electrodeposition technique. Double distilled water containing precursors of Cd, Fe and S are used with ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) disodium salt as a complexing agent to obtain good quality deposits by controlling the rate of reactions. The different preparative parameters like concentration of bath, deposition time, pH of the bath and Fe content in the bath have been optimized by photoelectrochemical (PEC) technique in order to get good quality thin films. Different techniques have been used to characterize electrodeposited Cd1−x Fe x S thin films. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that the films Cd1−x Fe x S are polycrystalline in nature with crystallite size 282Å for the films deposited with optimized preparative parameters. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study for the sample deposited at optimized preparative parameters reveals that all grains uniformly distributed over the surface of stainless steel substrate indicates well defined growth of polycrystalline Cd–Fe–S material. Optical absorption shows the presence of direct transition and band gap energy decreases from 2.43 to 0.81eV with the increase of Fe content from 0 to 1. PEC study shows the films of Cd1−x Fe x S with x =0.2 are more photosensitive than other compositions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Most of reported I-III-VI2 type chalcopyrites have been developed as indispensible materials for potential application in photovoltaic solar cells, magnetism or thermoeletrics. The exploration of its photoluminescence potentials has been very limited and the chemical sensing using fluorescence to signal a recognition event is realized by way of CuFeSe2 nanocrystals. A novel solution-based synthesis strategy has been developed for the preparation of CuFeSe2 quantum dots (QDs) via oleylamine and dodecanethiol as precursors. QDs possess an intense blue luminescence at 431 nm and excitation-dependent features are recorded. The nanocrystals exhibit transformation from ferromagnetism to paramagnetism state between 4 K and 298 K. Another distinct advantage of the quantum dots will be the signaling pathway in response to external analytes. It gives rise to a rapid and selective assay of Cr2O7 2- through an “on-off” switching process. A linear equation can be obtained in the range from 0 to 47.5 μM and the detection limit has been determined to be 0.46 μM. This cost-effective method will pave the way for the efficient synthesis of ternary chalcopyrites and provide suitable chemical routes for sensing purposes.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The use of photovoltaic panels has become very attractive in distributed power generation systems as they provide a clean and cheap form of energy. There are various converter topologies that are employed in order to connect these sources to the grid but almost always the main component is a DC–DC converter. Most readily available DC–DC converters are designed to work under a (nearly) constant voltage source and therefore their behaviors may not be as expected when connected to a variable current source like a photovoltaic panel. In fact, as it is reported in this paper, the behavior of the overall system (PV panel/DC–DC converter) can be drastically different from the desired one which may have a detrimental effect on the grid. As a case study, this paper explores the dynamics and stability of a boost converter that is fed from a photovoltaic panel under an ohmic load. All major control methods (peak/average current mode control, voltage mode control) are considered. We show with numerical, experimental and analytical results that the converter can behave unpredictably (or chaotically) when the output of the PV varies in response to the variation in solar radiation, and we report for the first time how the domain of stability in the parameter-space and the mechanisms of instability are affected by the characteristics of the photovoltaic source. The dynamical features are explored from circuit theory and nonlinear dynamics points of view. This knowledge will help in compensating for the aforementioned uncertainty and can be used to design converters that remain stable throughout the range of incident solar radiation and load values. The results have been experimentally validated.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Epitaxially grown, relaxed Si1−x Ge x layers with x≤0.1 were grown on a Si (100) substrate by means of reduced pressure chemical vapor deposition at a temperature of 750 or 800°C. The analysis carried out on the grown layers revealed a very high material quality indicated by the low density of dislocations (105 cm−2) and the high diffusion length which was deduced from the measurements of electron beam induced current (EBIC) performed on the as-grown layers. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements showed that the threading dislocation segments do not extend inside the layer but are rather confined to the Si/SiGe interface, which results in a low density of dislocations in the material. The processed solar cells made from these SiGe layers showed a higher infrared response than those made of a corresponding Si grown and processed under similar conditions. No degradation of the solar cell performance caused by the dislocations in the SiGe layers has been observed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper we demonstrate the possibility of chemically doping the orthorhombic XYB14 crystal by controlling the metal atoms that occupy the X and Y sites. It is found that the B atoms create a network of covalent bonds in the crystal and create states near the band gap and Fermi level. The metal atoms are ionically bonded to the crystal and donate their valence electrons to the B-network. By carefully controlling the composition of the metal atom sites it may be possible to create a semiconducting medium with AlLiB14 given as an example.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, we synthesized Ag2Te nanoparticles (NPs) in an aqueous solution and investigated the thermoelectric characteristics of Ag2Te NP thin films on bendable substrates. The Ag2Te NPs have an average size of 6nm and a body-centered cubic γ-phase (or, γ-Ag2Te), and they exhibit typical p-type thermoelectric behaviors. The Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity of a γ-Ag2Te NP thin film are 1330μV/K and 0.037S/m, respectively, and the power factor is calculated to be 0.66μW/mK2. Furthermore, our bending study shows the stability of the thermoelectric characteristics of γ-Ag2Te NP thin films after the bending cycles.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Possibilities of creating photovoltaic devices using CuI/AgIn5S8 heterojunctions are considered. Among other properties, preferential formation of polar (111) surfaces makes n-type AgIn5S8 an attractive candidate for absorber layers of top cells in 4-terminal tandem structures. Cu–Ag exchange at the interface with p-type CuI was observed. This intermixing results in an additional component of Ag 3d5 photoelectron line after deposition of CuI, in the Cu (but not I) contamination of the surface after a chemical removal of CuI, and in a photoelectric sensitivity of the junction at energies below the band gaps. Valence band offsets of 0.4 and 0.5 eV (cliff) were found at interfaces with thin film and bulk AgIn5S8, supporting a conduction mechanism through interface recombination. Pinning conflict at the interface between materials with contradictory doping limitations is likely to promote the intermixing.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We present a comparison of solar thermal and solar electric cooling for a typical small office building exposed to two different European climates (Freiburg and Madrid). The investigation is based on load series for heating and cooling obtained previously from annual building simulations in TRNSYS. A conventional compression chiller is used as the reference system against which the solar options are evaluated with respect to primary energy savings and additional cost. A parametric study on collector and storage size is carried out for the solar thermal system to reach achieve the minimal cost per unit of primary energy saved. The simulated solar electric system consists of the reference system, equipped with a grid connected photovoltaic module, which can be varied in size. For cost comparison of the two systems, the electric grid is assumed to function as a cost-free storage. A method to include macroeconomic effects in the comparison is presented and discussed. Within the system parameters and assumptions used here, the grid coupled PV system leads to lower costs of primary energy savings than the solar thermal system at both locations. The presumed macroeconomic advantages of the solar thermal system, due to the non-usage of energy during peak demand, can be confirmed for Madrid.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The present study aimed to develop a simple analytical model that simulates the performance of thin polysilicon solar cells with porous silicon (PS) contact on the front surface. It provides an analytical solution to the complete set of equations needed for determining the effect of this material on the performance of the cell when acting as an antireflective coating agent. The simple analytical expressions of the emitter reverse saturation current density and light-generated current density were also obtained. The PS layer was noted to induce a decrease in emitter reverse saturation current density and an increase in solar cell photovoltaic parameters. Overall, the findings revealed that the emitter region should not be treated as a ‘dead layer’ because contact with the thin PS layer front surface was noted to improve the open-circuit voltage, photocurrent, and cell efficiency values by about 20mV, 4.5mA/cm2, and 3.3%, respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Single-phase polycrystalline La0.08Sr0.92TiO3 ceramics were prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) using sol–gel-derived powders. The La0.08Sr0.92TiO3 bulks had highly relative density (∼92%), and the grain size of the samples obviously grew from 300 nm to 3 μm when the SPS temperature increased from 1203 to 1473 K. The electrical conductivity increased with SPS-processing temperature owing to the increase of relative density, grain size, and oxygen vacancies due to the reducing atmosphere of SPS. The absolute value of Seebeck coefficient increased as the SPS temperature increased from 1203 to 1373 K, and then decreased by further increasing SPS temperature to 1473 K. The sample SPSed at 1373 K had the largest absolute value of Seebeck coefficient of 196 μVK−1 at 679 K. Sol–gel process and SPS can significantly decrease the thermal conductivity of SrTiO3 based ceramics, whose lowest value was reduced to 1.19 Wm−1k−1 at 773 K in the sample SPSed at 1203 K. The maximum ZT value of 0.08 was obtained at 679 K for the sample SPSed at 1473 K.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a promising technique valuable for environmental purification. Nano-sized semiconductors such as ZnO and TiO2, which is one of the most basic functional materials, have emerged as effective photocatalyst materials. The surface photovoltage spectra (SPS) can be an effective method for quickly evaluating the photocatalytic activity of semiconductor materials since it can provide a rapid, non-destructive monitor of the semiconductor surface properties such as surface band bending, surface and bulk carrier recombination and surface states, mainly showing the carrier separation and transfer behavior with the aid of light, especially the electric-field-induced surface photovoltage spectra (EFISPS), in which SPS is combined with the electric-field-modified technique. In this review, the basic principles, measurement and applications of the SPS and EFISPS are mainly discussed together with some fundamental aspects like the electric properties of semiconductor surface and the principle of electric field effect. In particular, the applications of SPS to nano-sized semiconductors such as ZnO and TiO2 in heterogeneous photocatalysis are emphasized, which involve mainly evaluating the photocatalytic activity by analyzing semiconductor surface properties such as the separation efficiency of photoinduced carriers under illumination by the SPS measurement, highlighting our own contributions. The results show that the weaker the surface photovoltage signal is, the higher the photocatalytic activity is in the case of nano-sized semiconductor photocatalysts.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Diamond like carbon films are deposited on silicon and quartz substrates using adamantane as a sole source of carbon by pulsed discharge plasma chemical vapor deposition. Tauc band gap of such films has been successfully tuned from 1.7eV to 2.9eV. Iodine incorporation is observed to favor the growth of such films and induces disorder in the films. It also brings down in energy the on-set of photon absorption. Such iodine incorporated diamond like carbon films may be interesting candidates for the new coming applications such as for heterojunction photovoltaic devices.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Two-dimensional CCD images of far-field second-harmonic scattering (SHS) from the hexagonal phase of as-grown lithium potassium sulfate (KLiSO4) crystals are reported. Quasi-phase matching is shown to be produced by a modulation of the nonlinear optical susceptibility χ (2) originating from a regular array of antiparallel pyroelectric twins stacked along the principal crystallographic axis normal to c . The mean width of the thin antipolar lamellae is found to be approximately 1.5 μm. Comparison with the optically active counterpart of the modulated structure revealed by polarization microscopy provides us with the image of a pyroelectric substructure included in a chiral pattern. Such regular structure is shown to be clearly associated to the mechanism of crystal growth. Twin boundaries are then proposed to be a `zig-zag' like alternation of quasi distortion free domain walls developing parallel to the growth directions of the crystal.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Based on density functional theory, mechanical, electronic, optical, magneto-optic, and thermoelectric properties of the NdBiPt Heuslerene compound in three α, β, and γ phases were investigated. All phases have ground state points with equilibrium volume, and α phase has elastic stability with Young and Shear modulus of 80.913 GPa, and 24.834 GPa, respectively. Also, its total magnetic moment is 3 µB, which makes it as a half-metal. Along the x and y directions are semiconductor, and metallic behavior from optical view, with an optical gap in the infrared region. This compound has a surprising magnetic response to incident light, so its Kerr angle at 4 eV has a rightward rotation of 4.7ᵒ, and elliptical rotation angle has occurred at 4.5 eV. Thermoelectric studies showed significant Seebeck coefficient in all temperatures, and its positive sign, referred to the holes transporter. Also, its figure of merit coefficient reached 0.9 at low temperatures.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Observation of bulk-volume induced open-circuit voltage variation by characterizing the charge transfer state using reduced electroluminescence and external quantum efficiency spectra.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Bifacial solar cells may produce more output energy than mono-facial solar cells because both sides of the cell, front and rear, can absorb solar radiation. This occurs when the nearby ground or other artificial surfaces are highly reflective. A gain in output power of 5–20% has been reported in the literature for special applications. The present article deals with the calculation of the annual incident irradiation on a solar field comprising of bifacial photovoltaic panels deployed in multiple rows and separated by a distance between the rows. These types of fields are designed for large scale solar electricity production. The calculation of the annual incident irradiation is compared between two types of deployments: (a) bifacial photovoltaic panels installed with an optimal tilt angle facing south, (b) bifacial photovoltaic panels installed vertically and facing the east-west direction. The study shows that bifacial photovoltaic panels installed with an optimal tilt angle may produce 32% more energy than vertical bifacial photovoltaic panels, for the same environmental conditions. On the other hand, more vertical collectors can be installed in fields with the same field dimensions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► We design an optimal size of PV-DG based on a probabilistic approach. ► We consider the stochastic variables of both generation and load. ► This technique is based on actual hourly solar radiation and ambient temperature. ► The optimal PV-DG size can be determined taking into account background harmonics. ► High background harmonic may affect the optimal size of PV-DG.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The number of photovoltaic (PV) modules installed continues to grow in an important way. The installations lifetime is estimated near about twenty years. During this period of use, the PV module is going to undergo degradation caused by exposure to sunlight, in the moisture and in the temperature differences. In this work, we have for objective to model the phenomena of aging in UDTS 50 modules PV, which have a relatively long operating time, exposed out in two different environments. Simulations are established in order to quantify the electrical performance and to know the different types of damage. The results of the simulations over a period of 20 years showed a significant decrease of the electrical power production",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "To mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, coal-fired electricity infrastructure needs to be replaced by low-carbon electricity generation options. Here we examine a range of possible alternative scenarios for sustainable electricity generation in South Korea, considering both physical and economic limits of current technologies. The results show that South Korea cannot achieve a 100% renewable energy mix and requires at least 55 GW of backup capacity. Given that constraint, we modelled seven scenarios: (i) the present condition, (ii) the First National Electricity Plan configuration, (iii) renewable energy (including 5 GW photovoltaic) with fuel cells or (iv) natural gas backup, (v) maximum renewable energy (including 75 GW photovoltaic) with natural gas, (vi) maximum nuclear power, and (vii) nuclear power with natural gas. We then quantify levelised cost of electricity, energy security, greenhouse gas emissions, fresh water consumption, heated water discharge, land transformation, air pollutant emissions, radioactive waste disposal, solid waste disposal and safety issues for each modelled mix. Our analysis shows that the maximum nuclear power scenario yields the fewest overall negative impacts, and the maximum renewable energy scenario with fuel cells would have the highest negative impacts.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In examining low-temperature development over the past 150years, we recognize that there are three convenient 50-year time segments, where the developments in each time interval have their unique characteristics. The first two 50-year segments at the beginning were to understand how they contributed to the status of cryogenics at the first Cryogenic Engineering Conference in 1954. When the first ice making and exporting took place in second half of the 19th century, roughly from 1850 to the turn of the century, the second principal export of the United States was ice on a global scale, while the first was cotton. In 1810, a Maryland farmer, Thomas Moore, developed an icebox to carry butter to market and to keep it hard until sold.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Two-dimensional (2D) bismuth has received considerable attention in the past few years due to its unique structure and superior electrical, optical, and topological properties. It is a promising candidate to be applied in innovate field-effect transistors, thermoelectrics, photodetectors, batteries and other electronics, in virtue of the good air stability and low toxicity. This chapter aims to thoroughly summarize the theoretical and experimental research progress of 2D bismuth from intriguing properties to emerging applications. Various preparation methods and thickness-dependent properties will also be discussed. We hope that this work could encourage further interest for the deeper research of 2D bismuth.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "FeSb2Te, a ternary derivative of binary CoSb3, displays anomalous electrical and thermal transport properties because of considerable modifications in the band structure induced by Fe and significant mixed valence state (namely Fe2+ and Fe3+) scattering of phonons. The substitution of Te for Sb generates more holes without notably affecting the band structure, while markedly improving the electrical conductivity and retaining a high Seebeck coefficient due to the enhanced density of states, thereby leading to dramatically increased power factors. Furthermore, the heat carrying phonons are strongly scattered with increasing x value because of the formation of solid solutions between two end members: □FeSb2Te and □FeSb3 (where □ can be viewed as a vacancy). Consequently, high thermoelectric figures of merit were achieved in the FeSb2+ x Te1− x compounds, with the largest ZT value reaching ∼0.65 for the sample with x =0.2. This is the highest value among all p-type unfilled skutterudites and is comparable with some filled compositions. Prospects for further improving the performance of p-type FeSb2Te-based skutterudites are discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Pure and Al-doped ZnO powders have been sintered by Spark Plasma Sintering. Al doping allows the ceramics to reach a relative density greater than 90% at a sintering temperature of 500 °C. The morphology of powder nanoparticles impacts the final grain size of the sintered bulk compounds. A ceramic sintered from isotropic nanoparticles of 30 nm in diameter can reach an average grain size of 110 nm, whereas a ceramic sintered from platelets and isotropic nanoparticles exhibits an average grain size in the submicrometric range. The influence of ceramic grain size on the thermal conductivity has been investigated. It shows that substantial decrease of the grain size from several microns down to 100 nm reduces the thermal conductivity from 29.5 to 7.8 W/m K at 100 °C. The stability of nanostructured ceramic has also been checked. After SPS, an annealing at 500 °C in air also leads to grain growth.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Light trapping characteristics of Ag nanoshells deposited on photovoltaic silicon films were studied theoretically using finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. The light absorption changes in Si films are found dependent on the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSP) including scattering, absorption and their respective portions, which can be tuned by varying the size of the metal nanoshells. Predominant scattering over absorption is demonstrated to be a prerequisite for the absorption enhancement. Metal absorption loss at LSP cavity mode resonance is responsible for the light absorption suppression. It is also found that the thickness of the active layer, which has effect on the LSP interference-induced field, influences light trapping characteristics of the Ag nanoshells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The influence of thermal interface resistance is an important design problem for the optimisation of heat transfer systems. For thermoelectric generators (TEG), it can limit the ability to convert thermal energy directly to electrical energy. This paper describes an experimental and numerical study of the influence of thermal interface resistance on TEG module performance. A test apparatus was constructed to evaluate TEGs under varying temperature and heat source/sink conditions. The effect of heat source/sink interface finish grades, corresponding to medium quality (N8-N6) and very fine (N5-N4) surface finishes, at varying clamp forces, is evaluated. Then the application of cold spray additive manufactured copper, as a novel method of TEG module thermal interfacing is explored. Experimental data is accompanied with numerical analysis using TEG ideal equations and the effective material properties approach with the incorporation of temperature dependency and fabrication quality factors to improve modelling accuracy. A system of simultaneous heat flow equations is then established to numerically solve for the presence of thermal interface resistance. The results show that high clamp forces (3600 N) and very fine finish grades were sufficient to minimise thermal interface resistance to the range 0–5.98 × 10 − 5 m 2 K W − 1 , representing a loss of 0–9.9% in maximal achievable power. For the cold spray thermally interfaced TEG module, resistance estimates were lower and in the range 0–5.4 × 10 − 6 m 2 K W − 1 , corresponding to a 0–1.0% loss in power.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In order to make more accurate estimates of the physical parameters of extrasolar planets, the observation and research on the phenomena of transits of the 7 known stars with the planetary systems TrES-1, TrES-3, XO-2, WASP-1, WASP-2, WASP-3 and HAT-P-7 are carried out with the 1-m reflecting telescope at Shandong University Weihai Astronomical Observatory/Weihai Municipal Astronomical Observatory. The fundamental conditions of the observation and data processing are introduced, and the transit light curves as well as the parameters of some planets derived from them are given. At the same time, when the results are summarized and analyzed, the prospects for the more in-depth and detailed researches which will be further carried out are also described.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The response rate of indoor thermal environment is a main factor affecting indoor comfort level greatly under air-conditioning intermittent operation. Interior finishing material can affect inner surface temperature response rate directly as the layer closest to indoor air. According to this situation, in order to explore the thermal response of the different interior finishing material under air-conditioning intermittent running, a experiment is built to analyze the effect of the interior finishing material property on inner surface temperature. Results show that interior finishing property has an significant influence on the thermal response on inner surface temperature. The porous interior finishing material has 20% higher thermal response rate of inner surface temperature than the homogeneous dense materials. Integrating with EPS or rubber sponge in the interior finishing material can improve the thermal response rate of inner surface temperature and the increased response rate can be up to 17.7%~29.6%.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A smooth transition from gasoline-powered internal combustion engine vehicles to ecologically clean hydrogen fuel cell vehicles depends on the process used for hydrogen production. Three technologies for hydrogen production are considered here: traditional hydrogen production via natural gas reforming, and the use of two renewable technologies (wind and solar electricity generation) to produce hydrogen via water electrolysis. It is shown that a decrease of environmental impact (air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions) as a result of hydrogen implementation as a fuel is accompanied by a decline in the economic efficiency (as measured by capital investments effectiveness). A mathematical procedure is proposed to obtain numerical estimates of environmental and economic criteria interactions in the form of sustainability indexes. On the basis of the obtained sustainability indexes, it is concluded that hydrogen production from wind energy via electrolysis is more advantageous for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and traditional natural gas reforming is more favorable for reducing air pollution.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, seven common hydrogen production processes are evaluated using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) in respect to five criteria. The processes to be evaluated are steam methane reforming (SMR), partial oxidation of hydrocarbons (POX), coal gasification (CG), biomass gasification (BG), the combination of photovoltaics and electrolysis (PV–EL), the combination of wind power and electrolysis (W–EL) and the combination of hydropower and electrolysis (H–EL). The selected criteria that were used in the evaluation, for each of the seven hydrogen production processes are CO2 emissions, operation and maintenance costs, capital cost, feedstock cost and hydrogen production cost. According to the evaluation, the processes that combine renewable energy sources with electrolysis (PV–EL, W–EL and H–EL) rank higher in classification than conventional processes (SMR, POX, CG and BG).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A gliding arc plasma has the advantages of strong reactivity, high energy density, and easy scale-up, so it is very competitive in the field of plasma-based N2 fixation. In this work, we designed an underwater transfer arc discharge plasma N2 fixation system based on a reverse vortex flow gliding arc. In full contact with air and water, the plasma could realize the efficient conversion of N2, O2, and H2O, obtaining gaseous NO, NO2, and activated water rich in NOx*. The experiment showed that an underwater transfer arc discharge was formed when the current was greater than 0.6 A. Under this operating condition, the conversion rate of N2 reached 1.63%, the concentration of NOx reached 2.4%, and the production rate of nitrogen-containing products was about 3.41 mol/h. In addition, the energy consumption was as low as 2.21 MJ/mol, the lowest reported value for atmospheric-pressure rotary gliding arc plasma-based N2 fixation. The generated activated water had abundant NO3 − and NO2 − ions, which could be directly applied as N2 fertilizer in agriculture, promoting plant germination and growth. This paper describes an environmentally friendly and efficient technical route toward developing industrial N2 fixation/green agriculture, strongly supporting the carbon neutrality concept.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Development of characteristic equations of hybrid PVT water collector for constant collection temperature mode. ► Comparison of the results of FPC with hybrid PVT water heating system. ► Effect of covered area of FPC by PV module on electrical energy performance of hybrid PVT system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Review heat transfer/flow parameters from studies on server cooling technologies. • Perform direct quantitative comparison between cooling technologies. • Identify heat transfer limitations, power requirements, etc. • Summarize industry implementations of each cooling solution from a design perspective. • Identify the capacity of cooling solution relative to heat loads expected by 2020.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Ports are subject to a variety of anthropogenic impacts, and there is mounting evidence of faecal contamination through several routes. Yet, little is known about pollution in ports by faecal indicator bacteria (FIB). FIB spatio-temporal dynamics were assessed in 12 ports of the Adriatic Sea, a semi-enclosed basin under strong anthropogenic pressure, and their relationships with environmental variables were explored to gain insight into pollution sources. FIB were abundant in ports, often more so than in adjacent areas; their abundance patterns were related to salinity, oxygen, and nutrient levels. In addition, a molecular method, quantitative (q)PCR, was used to quantify FIB. qPCR enabled faster FIB determination and water quality monitoring that culture-based methods. These data provide robust baseline evidence of faecal contamination in ports and can be used to improve the management of routine port activities (dredging and ballast water exchange), having potential to spread pathogens in the sea.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A novel organic cyanine dye containing triphenylamine–benzothiadiazole dyad has been synthesized and applied successfully to sensitization of nanocrystalline TiO2-based solar cell. Their absorption spectra, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties were studied. Upon adsorption on a TiO2 electrode, the absorption spectra of the cyanine dye are all broadened at both the red and blue spectral ends relative to its respective spectra in acetonitrile and ethanol mixture solution. An overall conversion efficiency of 7.62% (J sc=22.10mAcm−2, V oc=0.54V, ff=0.48) is achieved under irradiation with 75mWcm−2 white light from a Xe lamp.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3) thin films have been prepared onto clean glass substrates by the thermal evaporation technique. The deposited films were then immersed in silver nitrate solution for different periods of time, followed by annealing in Argon atmosphere at 473K for 1h, to obtain Ag/Bi2Se3 samples. The prepared films have been examined by X-ray and transmission electron microscopy for structural determination. The optical transmission and reflection spectra of the deposited films have been recorded within the wavelength range 400–2500nm. The variation of the optical parameters of the prepared films, such as refractive index, n, and the optical band gap, E g as a function of the immersion duration times has been determined. The refractive index dispersion in the transmission and low absorption region is adequately described by the well-known Sellmeier dispersion relation, whereby the values of the oscillator strength, oscillator position, the high-frequency dielectric constant, ε ∞ as well as the carrier concentration to the effective mass ratio, N/m* were calculated as a function of the immersion duration time.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper proposes an innovative thermal collector for photovoltaic-thermal (PV/T) systems. The thermal behavior of the photovoltaic module and the designed cooling box flow are coupled to achieve the thermal and electrical conversion efficiencies of the water-based PV/T system. Different inlet mass flow rates and temperatures are simulated under normal operating cell temperature conditions (NOCT). The temperature distribution and average temperature of the photovoltaic module layers are investigated. The results show that when the mass flow rate is 0.014 kg/s, and the inlet flow temperature is 15 °C, the PV module reaches an electrical conversion efficiency of 17.79% with 76.13% of thermal efficiency. The designed cooling system exhibits better performance with a significant increase in thermal and electrical conversion efficiency compared to current solutions in the literature. The findings in this paper highlight the utility of PV/T systems and their massive potential to popularize the solar energy field and harvest thermal and electrical energy simultaneously.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report a method to produce CuSbS2 thin films through a solid state reaction at 400°C involving thin films of Sb2S3 (0.5μm) and CuS. The precursor thin films were produced by chemical bath deposition on glass substrates. Thin films of Sb2S3 were deposited at 10°C using thiosulfatoantimonate(III) complex. Subsequently, thin films of CuS were deposited onto these films from a bath containing thiosulfato complex of copper and dimethylthiourea. The formation of the ternary compound upon annealing the Sb2S3–CuS films was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The estimated grain diameter of the material formed is about 20nm. A direct optical band gap of 1.52eV and a p-type electrical conductivity of 0.03Ω−1 cm−1 are evidenced. CuSbS2 is a material investigated for ferroelectric properties (Curie temperature 93°C). The characteristics reported here also offer perspective for CuSbS2 as an absorber material in solar cell application.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This study evaluates the overall effects of the present Italian Renewable Energy Supply of Electricity (RES-E) obligation and compares the contribution of each expected RES-E to the economic equilibrium mix resulting from computable economic equilibrium scenarios. The impact of the policies has been evaluated by means of a model of the Italian energy–environment system built with the MARKAL/TIMES methodology, which has been developed by the Energy Technology Systems Analysis Project of the International Energy Agency (IEA/ETSAP). Since the development of RES-E helps energy security, climate mitigation and the distribution of energy production revenues across the country, this study evaluates also an alternative scenario assuming a progressive increase of the RES-E obligation. Both scenarios are then compared with the targets fixed for each RES by the Italian White Paper on renewable energy source. Eventually the effectiveness of the RES-E policies implemented through the green-certificate mechanism are compared with the obligation to improve the efficiency of end-use devices fed by electricity and natural gas. Contrary to green-certificates policies, White certificates obligations increase energy security and GDP at the same time, because in principle they force end users to more rational choices.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In view of the low refrigeration efficiency of the refrigeration system of the pure electric logistics car under the high temperature environment, an experimental platform of the refrigeration system based on medium pressure air supply of the pure electric refrigerator car was built with R404A as the refrigerant, the experiment results show that the system refrigerating capacity, COP and EER decrease with the increase of external environment temperature under the same internal environment temperature, the compressor power and exhaust temperature increase with the increase of the external environment temperature. When the external environment temperature is 43 °C, the medium pressure air supply technology is obviously better than the non-air supply technology, the refrigerating capacity increased by 4.1–12.73 %, the compressor power and EER changed little, the COP increased by 1.3–6.38 %, and the exhaust temperature reduced by 3.4 °C-7.11 °C, especially at -3 °C, the system refrigerating capacity decreases by 30.1 %, the compressor power increases by 35.6 %, the COP and EER distribution decreases by 51.24 % and 42.68 %.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Solar cells based on a cascade structure of TiO2/ZnO/CdS photoanode are fabricated. ► ZnO is one-step deposited on TiO2 layer by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique. ► As-prepared cell achieves a power conversion efficiency of 1.56%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A composite electrode of Ni-ferrite/TiO x /Si(111) was synthesized by grafting Ni2+Fe2+Fe3+–LDH–TiCl3 (LDH: Layered Double Hydroxides) on n-Si(111) surface and calcined under 1100°C. Photoelectric research results indicated that the electrode had good photovoltaic effects in an electrolyte solution containing 7.6M HI and 0.05M I2, while platinum plate was used as counter-electrode. The observed photo-voltages (U pv) and photocurrent densities (j pc) of the electrode were at −0.75V and 5.35mA/cm2, respectively. Compared with electrodes of oxidized n-Si(111) crystal and n-Si(111) wafer covered by Ni-ferrites, j pc of the electrode Ni-ferrite/TiO x /Si(111) was increased greatly.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A quantum chemical investigation has been performed to explore the optical and electronical properties of a series of different cores (BT, PT, and BX) molecules with oligoethylene–thiophene branches, including considered symmetry and no symmetry (for branch), for solar cell materials. The frontier molecular orbital (FMO) and band gap energy calculations for all complexes were performed at the PBE0/6-31G(d) level. The values of E g change less than 0.1eV depending on the different cores. On the basis of the optimized geometries, the effect of the different cores on the absorption spectra was evaluated using the TD-PBE0/6-31+G(d,p) level. BT core can make the absorption spectra have a red shift in comparison with others (PT and BX). The ionization potential (IP), electron affinity (EA), and reorganization energy (λ) were also computed. As a result of these calculations, different cores play key roles in the change the IP, EA, and λ. Moreover, the molecules with BT core have lower λ e, λ h, and λ than those of others. Additionally, the optical and electronical properties are similar for the molecules with symmetry (for branch) or not.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The development of new photovoltaic modules relies not only on the implementation of solar cells with higher performance but also on new module concepts such as an improved light management. This can be achieved by using optimized module components, i.e. back-sheets or connectors with special optical properties. Without changing much of the module design, a single modified component can lead to a performance gain when it causes additional light to reach the active cell region. A rapid test method is proposed which allows a quantitative estimate of the performance gain achieved by replacing one component by another. The method relies on special test structures making the setup of entire modules in the first product evaluation and development phase unnecessary. Hence, a fast and cost-efficient material screening can be implemented. As an example, it is shown, how this method can be applied to estimate the current gain due to optimized cell connectors and due to the back-sheet. In either case, it is found that the additional contribution to the total current is about 2%rel.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "All over Europe, low wind speeds and stable atmospheric stratification are meteorological factors leading to air pollution episodes. Discriminating the contribution of the local atmospheric circulation and the regional and long-range transport processes, in determining PM2.5 and pollutants levels, is very important for deciding any effective abatement measure. This is particularly true in the Northeastern part of the Po Valley, one of the most polluted areas in Europe. This study proposes a method for assessing the relative importance of regional and long-range transport episodes and of local sources on PM2.5 mass and ionic composition. Air mass back-trajectories were combined with PM chemical composition and local wind data and the relative contributions were estimated. Air mass histories show that the levels of PM2.5 increased when air masses had arrived from Northern to Central and Northwestern Europe and significantly dropped when the trajectories originated from the Mediterranean area. Furthermore, results reveal that relatively fast winds from quadrant I were associated with clean air and increasing sea-salt components. Diversely, air mass stagnations were closely accompanied by severe pollution events. Heavily polluted episodes were recorded in correspondence of days characterized by low-mobility atmospheric conditions and when air masses had spent most time over the Po Valley region. These results can help understanding the sources, the chemistry and dynamics of PM2.5 in Northeastern Italy. The proposed approach is easily applicable to other environments.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The use of indium tin oxide (ITO) in conjunction with polymeric substrates requires deposition at low temperatures or room temperature, and with a limited or no thermal treatment. This process results in high resistivity materials. To achieve practical resistivity levels, we replaced ITO, the workhorse in organic optoelectronic devices, with an ITO/Ag/ITO tri-layer anode. This material yielded the desired electrical properties without a significant effect on its optical properties. For example, a sheet resistance of 15 Ω/□ and an optical transmission of 90% at 550 nm were obtained for a tri-layer film in which thickness of each ITO layer is 50 nm and the Ag layer thickness is 8 nm. The use of these tri-layer anodes in CuPc–C60-based organic solar cells led to an increase in the fill factor under illumination, and thus an improvement of the external power conversion efficiency.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report a facile and efficient strategy for the preparation of graphene-Ag2Se nanocomposites. The reduction of graphene oxide (GO) to graphene was accompanied by the formation of Ag2Se particles on the surface of graphene nanosheets. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) confirmed the efficient reduction of GO. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of the sample revealed the morphology of the architecture of graphene-Ag2Se hybrid. Photoluminescence (PL) measurement was further employed to study the optical properties of the nanocomposites. The results show that the graphene-Ag2Se nanocomposites can be prepared by a simple hydrothermal method, and Ag2Se particles are well distributed on the graphene nanosheets.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We present results on p–i–n-type photovoltaic devices based on donor–acceptor organic small molecule blends and doped wide-gap charge transport layers. The doped transport layers are formed using a high vacuum co-evaporation deposition technique (i.e. co-sublimation of matrix and dopant). Solar cell devices have been fabricated based on a blend of zinc-phthalocyanine as donor (D) and fullerene (C60) as electron acceptor (A) with doped charge transport layers. Optionally, a layer of neat layer of a perylene dye, perlenetetracarboxylic-bis-benzimidazole, is added to extend the absorption spectrum of the active layer system. The energy conversion efficiency of these cells under 1 sun, standard AM1.5 illumination (100 mW/cm2) is up to 1.9%. This represents an almost twofold improvement as compared to previously reported cells with similar active layer system in a conventional architecture. In this report, I–V characteristics, power conversion efficiencies, the dependence of short circuit current on incident white light intensity and absorption spectra of the active layer system are discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This review was compiled as part of a project to formulate a UK strategy for the development and standardisation of measurement methods for high power/cavitating ultrasonic fields. It reviews the scientific literature relating to various methods of measuring high power fields which have been developed for application in health care, sonochemistry and industrial ultrasonics, and compares these methods in terms of attributes such as spatial resolution, bandwidth and sensitivity.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are emerging as they demands for various applications, for example, military surveillance, home automation, vehicle tracking, environmental monitoring, wildlife tracking, health monitoring, and scientific exploration. Usually, sensor nodes operate with limited battery capacity. Using conventional batteries, it is not always efficient to design long-lasting sensor networks. Moreover, the replacement of the batteries is too challenging to operate in harsh environmental conditions. Therefore, to overcome, one such technique is to recharge the battery of sensor nodes using an energy harvesting system. On the other hand, some of the existing energy harvesting WSNs still lacking the intelligent strategy for judiciously utilizing both the energy management and harvesting system. The review work we present is categorized into energy management and renewable energy harvesting techniques. In energy management techniques, we discuss various methods to save energy consumption of the energy harvesting sensor networks. Notably, we study their protocol design strategies for energy-saving and essential strategies such as prediction for maximizing the energy harvesting of the sensor nodes. We also summarize their shortcomings and ability to deal with the energy harvesting system. In renewable energy harvesting schemes, we present various energy harvesting mechanisms such as solar, wind and others. We also discuss the different energy harvesting mechanisms, especially their protocol design strategies for maximizing energy harvesting, and summarize their merits and demerits. The work also discusses various challenging issues for energy harvesting WSNs followed by future research directions, and some recent applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A new replication method of depositing the crystalline TiO2 thin film on the nanoporous multilayer film of weak-polyelectrolytes, that is, the combination of the chemical solution deposition and layer-by-layer self-assembly method is proposed. Scanning electron microscopic observation revealed that the nanoporous and extremely high surface area TiO2 thin film, well imprinted with the surface structure and the inside nano-structure of layer-by-layer self-assembled thin film using as the replica, was successfully fabricated. By using the nanoporous TiO2 thin film with high surface area as the photoelectrode for dye-sensitized solar cell, the improvement of the photocurrent–voltage characteristic was achieved, resulting in an energy conversion efficiency of η=0.70%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A few nm thick 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (PTCDA) and Cu-phthalocyanine (CuPc) overlayers were thermally deposited in situ in UHV onto TiO2 (110) surface. Atomic composition of the surfaces under study was monitored using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). The formation of the interfacial potential barrier and the structure of the unoccupied electronic states located 5–25eV above the Fermi level (E F) was monitored using a probing beam of low-energy electrons according to the total current electron spectroscopy (TCS) method. The work function values upon the overlayer deposition changed from 4.6 to 4.9eV at the PTCDA/TiO2 (110) interface and from 4.6 to 4.3eV at the CuPc/TiO2 (110) interface. Band bending in the TiO2 substrate, molecular polarization in the organic film and changes in the work function due to the change in the surface composition were found to contribute to the formation of the interfacial potential barriers. Oxygen admixture related peaks were observed in the AES and in the TCS spectra of the CuPc overlayers. A mechanism of the transformations in the PTCDA and CuPc overlayers on the TiO2 (110) upon elevating temperature from 25 to 400°C was suggested.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Ubiquitous but highly variable processes of therapeutic protein aggregation remain poorly characterized, especially in the context of common infusion reactions and clinical immunogenicity. Among the numerous challenges is the characterization of intermediate steps that lead to the appearance of precipitates. Although the biophysical methods for elucidation of secondary and tertiary structures as well as overall size distribution are typically well established in the development laboratories, the use of molecular scale imaging techniques is still relatively rare due to low throughput and technical complexity. In this work, we present the use of atomic force microscopy to examine morphology of monoclonal antibody aggregates. Despite varying in primary structure as a result of different complementarity defining regions, most antibodies studied exhibited a similar aggregation intermediate consisting of several monomers. However, the manner of subsequent condensation of these oligomers appeared to differ between the antibodies, suggesting stability-dependent mechanisms.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The effect of CdCl2 treatment and the heat treatment for Cu diffusion were investigated in the CdTe thin film solar cells prepared by close-spaced sublimation (CSS) method. In the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the CdCl2-treated CdTe layer, 1.42 eV band related to V Cd–Cl defect complexes appeared. Capacitance–voltage (C–V) measurements revealed that the acceptor concentration was maximized at the optimum CdCl2 treatment temperature. Furthermore, a neutral-acceptor bound exciton line due to Cu acceptors was observed in the PL of the CdTe layer by the heat treatment for Cu diffusion. C–V characteristics and depth profile of PL spectrum implied that the heat treatment for Cu diffusion facilitated the formation of low resistance contacts to CdTe through formation of a heavily doped region in the CdTe near the back electrode, but Cu atoms did not act as effective acceptors in the CdTe layer except the region near the back electrode.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We refine two low-order structure factors of the skutterudite CoSb3 using convergent beam electron diffraction. The relatively large unit cell of this material causes the disks to overlap and introduces a series of challenges in the refinement procedure. These challenges and future work-arounds are discussed. The refined structure factors F 200 and F 600 are compared to X-ray diffraction and density functional calculated values, the latter calculated using two different functionals. Both relaxed and experimental lattice parameters are tested to explicitly highlight the impact of the lattice geometry and atomic position on the structure factors.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "For thin film silicon solar cells and modules incorporating amorphous (a-Si:H) or microcrystalline (μc-Si:H) silicon as absorber materials, light trapping, i.e. increasing the path length of incoming light, plays a decisive role for device performance. This paper discusses ways to realize efficient light trapping schemes by using textured transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) as light scattering, highly conductive and transparent front contact in silicon p–i–n (superstrate) solar cells. Focus is on the concept of applying aluminum-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Al) films, which are prepared by magnetron sputtering and subsequently textured by a wet-chemical etching step. The influence of electrical, optical and light scattering properties of the ZnO:Al front contact and the role of the back reflector are studied in experimentally prepared a-Si:H and μc-Si:H solar cells. Furthermore, a model is presented which allows to analyze optical losses in the individual layers of a solar cell structure. The model is applied to develop a roadmap for achieving a stable cell efficiency up to 15% in an amorphous/microcrystalline tandem cell. To realize this, necessary prerequisites are the incorporation of an efficient intermediate reflector between a-Si:H top and μc-Si:H bottom cell, the use of a front TCO with very low absorbance and ideal light scattering properties and a low-loss highly reflective back contact. Finally, the mid-frequency reactive sputtering technique is presented as a promising and potentially cost-effective way to up-scale the ZnO front contact preparation to industrial size substrate areas.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The low cathode Cu2+ concentration and ammonia crossover jointly cause the unstable discharge, severely limiting the practical application of thermal regenerative batteries (TRBs). In order to solve this problem, an intermediate chamber coupled with the removal of heavy metals from electroplating wastewater is introduced to construct the three-chamber thermally regenerative battery (TRB-3C). The results demonstrate that it is feasible to achieve a stable electricity generation for 3 h discharging with simultaneously high-efficient Cu2+ removal from wastewater, which is due to the intermediate chamber induced continuous Cu2+ supplementation to cathode and the alleviated ammonia crossover. A nearly five-fold promotion of the maximum performance of the battery and a high Cu2+ removal efficiency of 94.6% is obtained by using a flow middle chamber with a reduced thickness and hierarchical porous composite electrodes. With the increase of Cu2+ concentration in the wastewater, a significantly improved stable discharge is found while the removal efficiency decreased due to the required long time for the treatment. With respect to the removal, high-concentration Cu2+ wastewater can be effectively treated through the multi-batch operation. Besides, TRB-3C also shows a good removal of other metal ions in the electroplating wastewater.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The vapor-phase epitaxy (VPE) deposition of CdTe on III–V heterosubstrates was performed in order to investigate the formation of micro-pixels usable in X-ray and thermo-photovoltaic converters. InSb and (Ga)InSb layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy on semi-insulating GaAs (100) wafers were employed as substrates. In these layers, the presence of Ga- and In-rich dots (200–500nm in diameter) was detected using AFM and SEM-EDAX techniques. We found that these dots, which are in liquid phase at the VPE growth temperature (450°C), act as nucleation points during the VPE process and prompt the selective area deposition of CdTe leading to the formation of columnar structures. Two important trends related to the growth morphology were established. First, the group V element does not affect the growth of CdTe columnar structures, i.e. the formation of these structures is independent of As or Sb. Second, the In-rich dots prompt the formation of CdTe columnar structures than the Ga-rich dots better.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Copper precipitation has been tracked through thermoelectric power measurement in a copper-containing interstitial-free steel. The amount of copper in solid solution and the nature of the precipitates modify the thermoelectric power of ferrite. The change in thermoelectric power due to different substitutional alloying elements in solution in ferrite suggests a dependence on the atomic size difference of the element with iron.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Combining smaller threshold current density, temperature dependence and linewidth together with increased differential efficiency and power output, quantum dot lasers can now surpass quantum well lasers, extending lasing on GaAs substrates to 1.3 and 1.55μm fibre-optic communications wavelengths to replace more costly InP-based lasers.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Flexible thermoelectric generator (FTEG) shows the possibility as a power supply for wearable devices, where FTEG can convert human body heat into electrical energy based on Seebeck effect. The heteromorphic electrode with an integrated design of electrode and heat sink was applied to the cold side of FTEG to improve heat dissipation capacity. The application of heteromorphic electrode shows strong heat dissipation capacity by directly heat dissipation at cold end, and leading to the maximum improvement of 44.1X in the maximum output power than FTEG with conventional electrodes. Insulation measures on the heat source and appropriate choice of the wind speed are both beneficial for the improvement of the output performance of FTEG. For human energy harvesting, FTEG with heteromorphic electrodes achieves power density of 21.3 μ W / cm 2 under natural convection, and 116.1 μ W / cm 2 under forced convection (2.1 m/s) based on the device’s area. The high power level of FTEG with heteromorphic electrodes shows great potential for the practical power supply for the wearable devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Solid-state Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (ss-DSSCs) are promising candidates for future low cost photovoltaic energy generation and are based on polymer/metal oxide donor/acceptor heterojunctions. However, a crucial drawback of hybrid solar cells is the use of environmental unfriendly solvents, such as toluene, chloroform, chlorobenzene, etc. in the phase of preparation. In this work towards eco-friendly processing, we use water as a solvent in the preparation of the photo-active layer for hybrid solar cells. We demonstrate eco-friendly hybrid polymer/titania solar cells consisting of water soluble polythiophene as light-absorber, donor and Hole Transporting Layer (HTL), above a TiO2 layer that acts as an acceptor and electron conductor. The water soluble conjugated polymer materials are studied in terms of their opto-electrical and morphological properties, leading to a better understanding of the resulting photovoltaic performance. An alternative new processing method in device preparation is introduced; yielding prototype solar cells with an efficiency of 0.7%. This promising solar cell device performance can be considered as a proof-of-principle for future eco-friendly solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "PEM-based electrolytic air dehumidification is innovative due to its high efficiency, compact size and cleanness. However, high polarization loss and severe performance degradation have been observed, especially at high applied voltages (>2.5 V). Understanding the V–I characteristics is critical to performance optimization. This study experimentally investigated the V–I characteristics and internal response of materials under various operating conditions, with in-situ Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) methods. Real-time mass transfer, electrochemical polarization and reaction dynamics of PEM components during dehumidification were derived by EIS. Then, a fast prediction model was built to directly predict the dehumidification rate and attenuation without any iteration, suitable for online monitoring and adjustment. Compared to other models, this model can take a quick understanding of the impact of operating conditions on the material characteristics inside the PEM element. The deviations of current density, PEM proton conductivity and moisture removal were 3%, 11.2% and 15.3%, respectively, compared to experiment data. Results showed that when the applied voltage changed from 1.5 to 3.5 V, the high-frequency resistance of the PEM element increased from 1.69 to 2.69 Ω, and the PEM proton conductivity decreased by about 38 times. The sharp drop in PEM proton conductivity resulted in a current attenuation. With this model, requirements for key components of PEM dehumidification were also obtained. Analysis of the overpotential distribution showed that increasing the water retention and reducing the dependence of proton conductivity on water molecules of the PEM can effectively improve the performance. This research provides guidance for the performance optimization and material selection of PEM-based dehumidification.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Directional solidification of Zn-0.63 at% Bi monotectic alloys at different growth rates with and without a 5-T high static magnetic field (HSMF) was studied. Regardless of whether an HSMF was applied, the solid–liquid (S–L) interface changed in a consistent manner with increasing growth rate. The HSMF affected the S–L interface morphology and solidified microstructure by suppressing melt convection above the S–L interface. Two mechanisms led to the formation of strings of droplets. One was the Rayleigh instability of fibres caused by the bulk diffusion process as a result of the minimisation of the total interfacial energy of the system. The HSMF improved the stability of the fibre phase by reducing the interfacial energy, thereby helping to process material with a complete fibre-coupled growth structure, which has a greater specific surface area. The other was that constitutional instability at the S–L interface only existed when the growth rate was 3 µm/s under a 5-T HSMF. A revised stability-limit-diagram model was mapped to reveal solidification mechanism in monotectic systems. This work offers a new approach for processing functional monotectic alloy materials in the future.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper deals with an application of the Sliding Mode Control (SMC) in the presence of lumped temperature disturbances in Peltier Cells (PCs). A controller is proposed so that a temperature disturbance reduction is obtained. A constructive Theorem based on a particular sliding mode surface using Lyapunov approach is demonstrated. Specifically, the proven Theorem shows a structural control law which consists of an interacting input law between the two available inputs of current and forced heat convection transfer function (ventilation input). The sliding mode surface is defined in terms of cold and hot state variables, emphasizing a new two sided control approach for PCs. In terms of applications, the localization problems are very important to minimize errors in all cases in which PCs are used. The application approach is targeted on a novel workpiece clamping device, which uses PCs to freeze water on a metallic plate under subzero temperatures. The ice structure is capable of evolving enough bonding strength to clamp workpieces form and force-fitted during machining operations without deforming the piece mechanically. This capability is especially crucial for micro parts as well as for hard to clamp pieces made of brittle or soft materials and irregular shaped complex geometries. The proposed SMC approach shows a robustness against the parametric uncertainties due to the nonlinear model of PCs. Computer simulation results as well as measurements are shown.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Novel technologies and materials systems in the fields of biomimetics, biodesign, and bio-based products hold great promise for sustainable development if contributing to sustainability is a planned goal of the bioinspired product. As part of the methodological foundations for assessments, we analyzed the interface between biomimetics and sustainability research. Using the plant growth form liana as an example, we have analyzed existing biological concepts to sharpen the sustainability strategies of efficiency, consistency, and sufficiency and to derive practical design principles for more sustainable products. This chapter introduces TAPAS as a new tiered methodological framework for prospective sustainability assessment. With TAPAS and its five stages of analysis, players in the innovation process can conduct autonomous, timely, and robust assessments to identify and minimize risks and to capitalize on opportunities. We also present the Bioinspired Sustainability Assessment (BiSA), which is based on the fundamental characteristics of biological systems, namely the interplay between the functions provided and the resources required for these functions. BiSA summarizes the overall social, economic, and environmental aspects of intended functions and unintended burdens (= resource demands) and compares them with the respective reference. A biological model or the use of a biological material does not necessarily guarantee a sustainable product. Nevertheless, a contribution to sustainability must be the goal of the development process. As shown, we can learn from biological models regarding sustainability in terms of the bioinspired sustainability assessments TAPAS and BiSA and thereby gain a deeper understanding of the sustainability strategies of efficiency, consistency, and sufficiency.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The experimental results on the influence of non-stoichiometry on defect structure, band structure and physical properties of the IV–VI and I–III–VI2 semiconductor compounds with wide homogeneity regions were analyzed. It was shown that compositions at which peculiarities in the concentration dependences of properties in the homogeneity region are observed, correspond to the maximum in the melting curves. Using the approach of percolation theory, the transition from weak to heavy self-doping within the homogeneity region was considered, and the percolation threshold under the introduction of non-stoichiometric defects was estimated. Compositions optimal for long-range ordering were determined.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The Gadolinium (Gd) doped CaMnO3 or Ca0.7Gd0.3MnO3 (CGMO), structural and magnetic behavior were investigated through the X-ray diffraction and DC magnetization measurements. The high quality CGMO polycrystalline were prepared through the multiple heat treatment of solid-state reaction method. The X-ray diffraction measurement confirms the formation of single-phase with orthorhombic structure and Pnma space group. Scanning electron microscopy study reveals the surface morphology and average grain size about 2 μm. Rietveld refinement techniques were used to obtain the room temperature (RT) atomic parameters. The obtained atomic parameters of CGMO are a = 5.3465(4) Å, b = 7.5001 (5) Å and c = 5.3184 (4) Å are well matching with CaMnO3. Temperature-dependent (4–300 K) magnetic susceptibility (M)T measurements were carried out on CGMO at 500 Oe. Low-temperature magnetic susceptibility (ZFC and FC curves) confirms the magnetic transition i.e, paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic phase (TN) at 67 K, and surprisingly below 10 K magnetic moments are increasing, it may be due to the formation of weak ferromagnetic ordering. Curie Weiss fitting was carried out on low-temperature inverse susceptibility of field cooled curve which shows hump around 67 K and below 10 K. From the Curie-Weiss fitting paramagnetic curie constant θp ∼ -72 K extracted, which is a clear indication of the formation of antiferromagnetic ordering and below 10 K weak ferromagnetic interaction.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Recent advances in solar-cell technology and membrane-separation technology do promise the economic viability of distributed seawater and brackish-water solar desalting systems in the near future. Reverse osmosis desalting processes driven by photovoltaic solar electricity can have the potential of displacing fossil fuel and curbing the rise of CO2 in the environment. This paper models desalination by spiral-wound RO membrane modules driven by solarto-power photovoltaic converter panels with the purpose of revealing the economic potential of the combination. The paper then investigates the variability of the cost of desalted water with the major efficiency parameters of the desalting process and of the solar-to-power conversion process given water product rate, initial salt content, provisional reject brine salt content, design solar intensity and solar duration. Systems are generated by grouped input parameters of interest to the unit costs of solar power and product water. Runs covering a wide range of system input parameters are made and sample results are presented. The results already show two designs close to competitiveness. As fuel prices rise and/or technology advances, competitiveness becomes more assured. The obvious statement that high-efficiency solar and high efficiency desalting processes are keys to competitive solar desalination within the constraint of cost-effectiveness is confirmed in this study. The study also proposes a dimensionless number for RO membranes that may be useful.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "p-type Ce-filled Fe4-xCoxSb12 skutterudite is a promising thermoelectric material with high thermal-to-electric conversion efficiency at mid-to-high temperatures. However, fabrication of a complete single phase is required in order to secure performance reliability due to the charge state of Ce. We herein report that optimization of the Ce filling fraction according to the compositions and synthetic processes is a critical factor to develop a manufacturing process that can be applied to massive production of single phase p-type Ce-filled skutterudite. The durable maximum zT (thermoelectric figure of merit) value of Ce-filled skutterudites fabricated here was 0.81 at 723 K in Ce0.86Fe3CoSb12.09.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The sizing and techno-economical optimization of a stand-alone hybrid photovoltaic/wind system (HPWS) with battery storage is presented in this paper. The main objective of the present study is to find the optimum size of system, able to fulfill the energy requirements of a given load distribution, for three sites located at Corsica island and to analyze the impact of different parameters on the system size. The methodology used provides a useful and simple approach for sizing and analyzing an HPWS. In the proposed stand-alone system, a new concept such as the supply of wind power via a uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is introduced and therefore the energy produced by the wind generator can be sent directly to the load. In this context, an optimization sizing model is developed. It consists of three submodels; system components submodels, technical submodel based on the loss of power supply probability (LPSP) and the economical submodel based on the levelized cost of energy (LCE). Applying the developed model, a set of configurations meeting the desired LPSP are obtained. The configuration with the lowest LCE gives the optimal one. Analyzing the optimal system configurations used to satisfy the requirements of typical residential home (3kWh/day), a significant reduction in system size is observed as the available renewable potential increases leading to a considerable decrease in LCE (case of Cape corse site). The 2 days storage capacity is found to be the best for the optimal configuration with the lowest LCE. On the other hand, for low energy requirements, the LCE is found relatively high and decreases sharply with the increase in load. However, for low LPSP values, the LCE is found to rise sharply for a little increase in LPSP.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The potentials of integrating thin-film photovoltaic technology into buildings make it the recommended renewable energy source not only for traditional architectures, but also the most innovative applications that favour envelopes characterized by free morphologies such as membrane structures. The integration of Photovoltaic technology into membrane structures offers a promising significant step in the market development. However, some challenges and questions are arising relating to the applicability of such systems and how they are significantly dependant on a list of complex aspects that have to be taken into account during the design phase. These aspects include the wide variety of membrane three-dimensional geometries that in turn govern the modules distribution, orientation and shadowing as well as the distribution of stresses and deflections for each single project and how both the structure and modules react to them. The interference between the aforementioned aspects makes it hardly investigated without using a parametric tool that's able to analyze multiple parameters in an integrative real time process. Therefore, a parametric Photovoltaic model using Grasshopper was developed as a part of the PhD dissertation of the first author, Ibrahim H., With the target to analyze the aspects that impact the payback time of the PV system such as the layout orientation, the effect of shadowing and the maximum deflection allowed for the membrane surface under different loading conditions concluding with calculating the total clear surface area available for allocating PV modules. This paper presents how Grasshopper parametric tool can be efficiently used for analysing and evaluating the feasibility of applying flexible PV systems on tensile structures geometries. The outcomes of this research work will be applied to the structures designed and manufactured by Inside2Outside Ltd within the research activities founded by Innovate UK during the 30 month Knowledge Transfer Partnership KTP9912.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Zinc micro and nanostructures were synthesized in vacuum by condensing evaporated zinc on Si substrate at different gas pressures. The morphology of the grown Zn structures was found to be dependent on the oxygen partial pressure. Depending on oxygen partial pressure it varied from two-dimensional microdisks to one-dimensional nanowire. The morphology and structural properties of the grown micro and nanostructures were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies on the grown Zn nanowires have shown that they exhibit core/shell-like structures, where a thin ZnO layer forms the shell. A possible growth mechanism behind the formation of different micro and nanostructures has been proposed. In addition, we have synthesized ZnO nanocanal-like structures by annealing Zn nanowires in vacuum at 350°C for 30min.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Research highlights ▶ Non-spherical nanocrystals display much more variety of assembly patterns. ▶ Nanocubes usually pack in “simple cubic superlattice” pattern. ▶ The assembly patterns of nanooctahedra, nanoplates, and nanorods are complex and sensitive. ▶ Novel properties are being developed for these non-spherical superlattices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This review article highlights the potential of supramolecular hydrogels as emerging energy materials. Supramolecular hydrogels are a class of soft materials with unique properties, such as self-healing, self-assembly, stimuli responsiveness, and biocompatibility, making them an attractive platform for various energy applications. The article discusses the definition, properties, and advantages of supramolecular hydrogels in energy materials. It further explores the recent advances in the field, such as self-healing properties, surface functionalization, and stimuli-responsive behavior. The article concludes by discussing the current challenges and future perspectives on using supramolecular hydrogels in energy materials. Overall, supramolecular hydrogels hold great potential as versatile and sustainable materials for energy storage and conversion, and further research in this area can lead to the development of novel energy solutions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Several polyethylene and polyethylene-based copolymers were used to modify a 70/100 penetration grade asphalt from vacuum distillation. The morphological and storage stability analyses showed that, in all cases, the obtained materials were strongly biphasic and tended to separate into polymer-rich and asphalt-rich phases. However, among the tested polymers, a linear low-density polyethylene allowed for the preparation of a mix that had strongly enhanced mechanical properties, with respect to those of the base asphalt. Mixes with different percentages of this polymer were, therefore, prepared and studied from a rheological point of view, both in the range of small and large deformations. The analysis showed that, in spite of its insolubility, the polymer spread continuously through the asphalt matrix and that the obtained properties can probably be ascribed to the formation of a very low extent of crosslinking between the polymer chains.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Information on the statistical mean convective heat transfer coefficient (CHTC SM) for a building surface, which represents the temporally-averaged CHTC over a long time span (e.g. the lifetime of the building), could be useful for example for the optimisation of the performance of solar collectors and ventilated photovoltaic arrays or for preservation analysis of cultural heritage sites. A methodology is proposed to estimate the CHTC SM for a building surface, by combining local wind climate information and information on the CHTC, namely CHTC-U 10 correlations, where U 10 is the mean wind speed at a height of 10m above the ground. This methodology is applied to a cubic building for a specific wind climate, where the CHTC-U 10 correlations are obtained by means of CFD simulations (CFD code Fluent 6.3, realizable k-ɛ turbulence model). It is shown that the CHTC SM varied significantly with the orientation of the building surface due to the rather anisotropic wind conditions, where high values are found for surfaces oriented towards the prevailing wind directions, thus for windward conditions. Moreover, the evaluation of the CHTC SM for other wind climates clearly shows that the local wind conditions also can have a significant impact on the overall magnitude of the CHTC SM, where differences up to a factor 4 are found in this study. Different levels of complexity for determining the CHTC SM value are also evaluated and it is found that the required number of CFD simulations can be reduced significantly by using more simplified methods to calculate the CHTC SM, without compromising its accuracy. The applicability of the proposed methodology for other building-related applications is also discussed, for example to assess statistical mean pressure coefficients, wind-driven ventilation rates or convective mass transfer coefficients.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The thermoelectric properties of Al-doped Mg2Si1−x Sn x (x =0.0–0.1) [Mg2Si1−x Sn x :Al=1:y (0.00≦ y ≦0.02)] fabricated by spark plasma sintering have been characterized by Hall effect measurements at 300K and by measurements of electrical resistivity (ρ), the Seebeck coefficient (S), and thermal conductivity (κ) between 300 and 900K. Al-doped Mg2Si1−x Sn x samples are n-type in the measured temperature range. By Al-doping, electron concentration is controlled up to 5.3×1019 cm−3 in the composition range 0.0≦ x ≦0.1. Al-doped Mg2Si0.9Sn0.1 shows a maximum value of the figure of merit ZT of 0.68 at 864K, which is 6 times larger than that of nondoped Mg2Si0.9Sn0.1.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "With the global emphasis on environmental protection and increasingly stringent emission regulations for internal combustion engines, there is an urgent need to overcome the problem of large hydrocarbon (HC) emissions caused by unstable engine cold starts. Synergistic engine pre-treatment (reducing hydrocarbon production) as well as after-treatment devices (adsorbing and oxidizing hydrocarbons) is the fundamental solution to emissions. In this paper, the improvement of hydrocarbon emissions is summarized from two aspects: pre-treatment and after-treatment. The pre-treatment for engine cold start mainly focuses on summarizing the intake control, fuel, and engine timing parameters. The after-treatment mainly focuses on summarizing different types of adsorbents and modifications (mainly including different molecular sieve structures and sizes, preparation conditions, silicon aluminum ratio, ion exchange modification, and heterogeneity, etc.), adsorptive catalysts (mainly including optimization of catalytic performance and structure), and catalytic devices (mainly including coupling with thermal management equipment and HC trap devices). In this paper, a SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat) analysis of pre-treatment and after-treatment measures is conducted. Researchers can obtain relevant research results and seek new research directions and approaches for controlling cold start HC emissions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Finding a site to construct a sustainable building is not an easy task and persuading a developer to commission one that utilises all the latest RE technologies and design techniques can be even harder. This is where businesses, research institutes and anyone else who is involved in the renewable energy sector can be very helpful. After all, if even those who are involved in the green economy will not support the concept of sustainable building then who else will? In this issue of Sustainable Building we focus on one such example where a R&D Centre in Germany the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) has commissioned and opened a new sustainable headquarters in Freiburg, Germany.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The electronic structure of HfTe5 has been calculated within density functional theory using a self-consistent full-potential linearized augmented plane wave plus a local orbital method incorporated in WIEN2k. Spin–orbit interaction (SOI) was incorporated using a second variational procedure. The exchange correlation potential was computed with the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The obtained density of states indicates that HfTe5 is a semimetal, which is in accordance with the experimental results. The valence bands near the Fermi level originate primarily from the Te atoms. The valence charge density was also obtained to understand the bonding characteristics.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The energy yield delivered by different types of photovoltaic device is a key consideration in the selection of appropriate technologies for cheap photovoltaic electricity. The different technologies currently on the market, each have certain strengths and weaknesses when it comes to operating in different environments. There is a plethora of comparative tests on-going with sometimes contradictory results. This paper investigates device behaviour of contrasting thin film technologies, specifically a-Si and CIGS derivatives, and places this analysis into context with results reported by others. Specific consideration is given to the accuracy of module inter-comparisons, as most outdoor monitoring at this scale is conducted to compare devices against one another. It is shown that there are five main contributors to differences in energy delivery and the magnitude of these depends on the environments in which the devices are operated. The paper shows that two effects, typically not considered in inter-comparisons, dominate the reported energy delivery. Environmental influences such as light intensity, spectrum and operating temperature introduce performance variations typically in the range of 2–7% in the course of a year. However, most comparative tests are carried out only for short periods of time, in the order of months. Here, the power rating is a key factor and adds uncertainty for new technologies such as thin films often in the range of 10–15%. This dominates inter-comparisons looking at as-new, first-year energy yields, yet considering the life-time energy yield it is found that ageing causes up to 25% variation between different devices. The durability of devices and performance-maintenance is thus the most significant factor affecting energy delivery, a major determinant of electricity cost. The discussion is based on long-term measurements carried out in Loughborough, UK by the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST) at Loughborough University.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The problem of a complex assessment of potential resource- and energy saving in the civil engineering is unresolved. For achievement of the objectives of ecological protection in the given article the conceptual model of a full resource cycle is offered. It is expedient to carry out calculation of efficiency of construction technologies on the basis of the generalized indicator of ecological safety of the building. An example of a criteria assessment of constructive solutions of civil buildings and results of comparison of their ecological safety is reviewed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Copper iodide (CuI) thin films on commercial cotton and polyester fabrics obtained. • Structure, morphology, optical, electrical and thermoelectric properties analyzed. • Flexible textile thermocouples with p-CuI and n-Alumel branches developed. • Output thermoelectric parameters of flexible wearable devices studied.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The gross calorific value (GCV), proximate, ultimate and chemical analysis of debark wood in Portugal were studied, for future utilization in wood pellets industry and the results compared with CEN/TS 14961. The relationship between GCV, ultimate and chemical analysis were determined by multiple regression stepwise backward. The treatment between hardwoods–softwoods did not result in significant statistical differences for proximate, ultimate and chemical analysis. Significant statistical differences were found in carbon for National (hardwoods–softwoods) and (National-tropical) hardwoods in volatile matter, fixed carbon, carbon and oxygen and also for chemical analysis in National (hardwoods–softwoods) for F and (National-tropical) hardwoods for Br. GCV was highly positively related to C (0.79∗∗∗) and negatively to O (−0.71∗∗∗). The final independent variables of the model were (C, O, S, Zn, Ni, Br) with R 2 =0.86; F =27.68∗∗∗. The hydrogen did not contribute statistically to the energy content.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Textiles unearthed along the Silk Road are important material evidence of the spread and exchange of cultures in ancient Eurasia. This paper examines fibers and natural dyes in archaeological textiles from the Wei and Jin dynasties (220–420 CE) unearthed in Bazhou, a major route in the Xinjiang region of the ancient Silk Road. Optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and proteomics analysis were used to examine and compare ancient and modern fibers. The result showed that the ancient textile samples tested consisted of silk, wool and cotton. Two species of silk were accurately identified, Bombyx mori silk and Bombyx mandarina silk. In addition, dyes were extracted from textile artifacts using a mild extraction method and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector and a mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS). As a result, the identified red dyes can be divided into plant dyes and insect dyes, such as Rubia cordifolia, Rubia tinctorum and Kermes vermilio. The yellow dyes identified were derived from plants such as Reseda luteola, Phellodendron chinense, Phellodendron amurense, Berberis spp. The blue dyes identified in these textiles indicate the presence of indigo. These dyes are not only local, but also many exotic dyes from central or eastern China, and even from the Mediterranean coast. This study reveals the diversity of fibers and natural dyes used in the historic Lop Nor area of Bazhou, providing insights into their species origination and distribution.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Random pyramidal texturing of silicon solar cell substrates allows to increase the short-circuit current of the device, and it is usually achieved, in commercial solar cells, by chemical anisotropic etching using a potassium hydroxide and isopropyl alcohol solution. Due to some drawbacks of these chemicals, alternative chemical etching solutions are required. Our successful results on the tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH), (CH3)4NOH, solution for silicon random texturing are reported. Heterojunction solar cells were deposited on textured substrates, indicating the feasibility of TMAH texturing for solar cell fabrication.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We investigated the ground state of approximants consisting of ⩽ 165 Si atoms ( d QD ⩽ 18.5 Å ) with full termination of the Si interface with F, OH, NH2, CH3 and H groups simulating Si QDs embedded in an ionic environment, SiO2, Si3N4, SiC matrix and a co-valent environment, respectively, with ab initio methods. As the polarity of the Si/matrix interface increases the optical band-gap becomes increasingly dominated by charge transfer at the interface rather than by quantum confinement. For Si QDs with d QD = 7.3 –37Å, the interface determines the electronic structure in competition with quantum confinement for H and CH3 terminations and only as a secondary effect for strong polar interfaces (NH2, OH). We present an estimate of band gaps of different QD materials with the same interface and interpret the ab initio results in conventional quantum mechanics.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The correlation between diffusion capacitance and photoluminescence as a method of interface-defect density characterisation in amorphous silicon/crystalline silicon heterojunction solar cells is explored by numerical modelling and experimentally. At open circuit, the influence of the defect density at the front amorphous silicon/crystalline silicon interface and the surface recombination velocity of the minority carriers in the bulk depend on the doping level of the crystalline silicon and the critical contribution of the majority carriers. Experimental illustration is given for five series of solar cells with different doping levels, interface properties and back contacts. We observe agreement between simulation and experimental results and a correlation between the two methods of measurement of interface defects.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This study shows that grid-connected photovoltaic systems (SFVI) are profitable for electricity users falling within the so called Domestic High Consumption Tariff (DAC). These users do not receive any subsidy and make a SFVI feasibly due to the following double mechanism: on the one hand, the reduced amount of electricity that is drawn from the grid, and on the other, a re-classification which makes them pass from the DAC to a lower consumption tariff which benefits from State subsidies. It is also shown that the utilisation of SFVI would lead to economic benefits for the electric power sector which in consequence accounts for a social benefit. It is estimated that Tariff 1 DAC users account for a potential SFVI capacity of slightly above 400MW. This capacity may deploy a first significant SFVI market in Mexico which so far barely exists and would also represent a reduction in electricity drawn from the grid of nearly 614GWh per year and reduced CO2eq emissions of 841 thousand tonnes per year. Finally, some recommendations are inferred in order to improve the social benefit of this first deployment of SFVI in the Mexican Household sector. The analysis presented for Mexico can be replicated for other countries with subsidised residential tariffs and similar structures such as those countries identified in this paper.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Traditional electric power systems are designed in large part to utilize large baseload power plants, with limited ability to rapidly ramp output or reduce output below a certain level. The increase in demand variability created by intermittent sources such as photovoltaic (PV) presents new challenges to increase system flexibility. This paper aims to investigate and emphasize the importance of the grid-connected PV system regarding the intermittent nature of renewable generation, and the characterization of PV generation with regard to grid code compliance. The investigation was conducted to critically review the literature on expected potential problems associated with high penetration levels and islanding prevention methods of grid tied PV. According to the survey, PV grid connection inverters have fairly good performance. They have high conversion efficiency and power factor exceeding 90% for wide operating range, while maintaining current harmonics THD less than 5%. Numerous large-scale projects are currently being commissioned, with more planned for the near future. Prices of both PV and balance of system components (BOS) are decreasing which will lead to further increase in use. The technical requirements from the utility power system side need to be satisfied to ensure the safety of the PV installer and the reliability of the utility grid. Identifying the technical requirements for grid interconnection and solving the interconnect problems such as islanding detection, harmonic distortion requirements and electromagnetic interference are therefore very important issues for widespread application of PV systems. The control circuit also provides sufficient control and protection functions like maximum power tracking, inverter current control and power factor control. Reliability, life span and maintenance needs should be certified through the long-term operation of PV system. Further reduction of cost, size and weight is required for more utilization of PV systems. Using PV inverters with a variable power factor at high penetration levels may increase the number of balanced conditions and subsequently increase the probability of islanding. It is strongly recommended that PV inverters should be operated at unity power factor.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Tellurium-rich Bi2Te3 thin films are deposited by electron−beam evaporation technique at 300 K. These as-deposited thin films are further annealed at 100 °C, 200 °C and 300 °C for 1 h at a pressure of 3 × 10−4 Pa. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of as-deposited films distinctly show Te phase along with Bi2Te3. Peak intensity ratio suggests the polycrystalline nature of as-deposited Bi2Te3 films. On vacuum annealing Te-rich Bi2Te3 films exhibit improved crystallinity with a c-axis preferred orientation. In addition, structural features related to Te and Bi2Te3 composition change with Te fraction diminishing on annealing at 300 °C. From Raman spectral studies, the presence of distinct Te-rich regions, predominantly within the interlayers of Bi2Te3, are discerned. Te becomes structurally integrated within the quintuples of Bi2Te3 lattice as intergrown layers. Disordered planar structures, mostly concentrated on crystallite surfaces result from Te accumulations as evidenced in high-resolution transmission electron microscopy lattice images and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping. These are consistent with the observations from XRD and Raman studies further confirming Te-rich Bi2Te3 characteristics. Electrical properties of Te-rich Bi2Te3 thin films exhibit n-type semiconductor behaviour. Seebeck coefficient for as-deposited film is ~ 32 μV/K, which increases to ~ 97 μV/K on 200 °C annealing. Resistivity increases from 1.39 × 10−4 Ωcm to 18.76 × 10−4 Ωcm and power factor changes from 7.4 × 10 − 4 W / K 2 m to 27.17 × 10 − 4 W / K 2 m going through a maximum at 200 °C upon systematic annealing. Te-rich Bi2Te3 thin films annealed at 200 °C exhibit high power factor ( ∼ 29 × 10 − 4 W / K 2 m ) for a wide range of temperature gradients ( ΔT from 30 °C to 165 °C).",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This work presents the development of a concept of solar Photovoltaic/Thermal (PV/T) hybrid air collector. This type of collector combines the preheating of air through a gap at the underside of the PV modules in addition to the ordinary function of electricity production. The cooling of PV modules by heat extraction can improve the electrical efficiency. In this paper, a simplified dynamic two-dimensional mathematical model of solar PV/T hybrid air collector with a metal absorber is presented. The validation of this numerical model with the measured data obtained with a full-scale test bench located near Lyon is proposed. Then, a numerical parametric study is undertaken to determine the effect of the air gap ventilation type on the system preheated air thermal production and electrical production. The results show that forced ventilation provides the higher value of thermal production but natural ventilation is sufficient to cool the integrated PV modules.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Cubic phase of novel hollow hyperbranched Cu2–xSe with nanosheets hierarchical structure was prepared on a Cu foil substrate by a facile solution route, using CuO nanosheets film as a precursor, and its formation mechanism was explored. The optical, gas sensing and superparamagnetic properties of the hollow hyperbranched Cu2–xSe were studied. The results show that the hollow hyperbranched Cu2–xSe microstructure could grow as long as 118 μm with diameters of 2–4 μm. Each hyperbranched Cu2–xSe contains four orthogonally located side branches and each side branch is composed of four orthogonal sub-branches which are assembled by numerous parallelly located nanosheets. The hollow hyperbranched Cu2–xSe microstructures were formed through the transformation reactions from CuO nanosheets to Cu2–xSe nanosheets, where the CuO nanosheets function as the sacrificing template, followed by multilevel oriented self-assembly. We found that the ultralong hollow hyperbranched Cu2–xSe microstructures possess extraordinary superparamagnetic property at room temperature. Besides, the Cu2–xSe product displays strong UV–visible light-harvesting ability and excellent gas sensing property to ammonia gas.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In order to stabilize the global climate, the world's governments must make significant commitments to drastically reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. One of the most promising methods of curbing GHG emissions is a world transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy. Solar photovoltaic (PV) cells offer a technically sustainable solution to the projected enormous future energy demands. This article explores utilizing industrial symbiosis to obtain economies of scale and increased manufacturing efficiencies for solar PV cells in order for solar electricity to compete economically with fossil fuel-fired electricity. The state of PV manufacturing, the market and the effects of scale on both are reviewed. Government policies necessary to construct a multi-gigaWatt PV factory and complementary policies to protect existing solar companies are outlined and the technical requirements for a symbiotic industrial system are explored to increase the manufacturing efficiency while improving the environmental impact of PV. The results of the analysis show that an eight-factory industrial symbiotic system can be viewed as a medium-term investment by any government, which will not only obtain direct financial return, but also an improved global environment. The technical concepts and policy limitations to this approach were analyzed and it was found that symbiotic growth will help to mitigate many of the limitations of PV and is likely to catalyze mass manufacturing of PV by transparently demonstrating that large-scale PV manufacturing is technically feasible and reaches an enormous untapped market for PV with low costs.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Sodium-cobalt oxides Na x CoO2 (x =0.1, 0.2…0.9) have been synthesized and characterized. ► The heat of dissolutions of Na x CoO2, NaCl(s), CoCl3(s) and H2O (l) in aqueous HCl solution were measured. ► The standard molar enthalpies of formation ( Δ f H m ° 298 ) of Na x CoO2 compounds are determined. ► The standard molar enthalpy of formation of Na x CoO2 compounds were compared with similar class of compounds.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Large area photovoltaic devices based on an interpenetrating network of donor and acceptor molecules have been fabricated showing power conversion efficiencies up to 1.5% under monochromatic illumination at 500nm. Devices containing blends of solubilized poly (paraphenylene vinylene), (PPV) or poly thiophene derivatives as donors with various fullerene derivatives as acceptors are compared. It is shown that among the various combinations of materials both the open-circuit voltage and the short-circuit current are maximal for a blend of PPV and a highly soluble methano fullerene. For a further increase of the efficiency of these devices, a reduction of the thickness of the active layer is suggested.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper a technique that can estimate the required capacity of a Solar Wind Hybrid Power(SWHP) system for an unban residential load is presented. The probability distribution of the power output from SWHP system is calculated from the probability density functions(PDFs) of the solar irradiance and the wind speed for each hour. The size of photovoltaic(PV) array and the number of wind turbines are decided so that the total SWHP system output in one day can meet the total daily residential-load. The available power for battery system charging can be obtained from the difference between the SWHP system generation and the load. Consequently, the distribution of the battery charging power is calculated by convolving the PDFs of both the SWHP system output and the load. A typical local residential load curve is used for illustration and promssing result is obtained.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Nanospherical Ag2S/PVA and nanoneedles of CuS/PVA composite have been prepared by sonochemical irradiation of a 10% ethylenediamine–water solution of elemental sulfur, silver nitrate, or copper acetate in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol. The particle sizes are 25 and 225 nm for Ag2S/PVA and CuS/PVA nanocomposites, respectively. These nanocomposite materials are characterized using analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis, and diffuse reflection spectroscopy. A band gap of 1.05 and 2.08 eV are estimated for Ag2S/PVA and CuS/PVA nanocomposites, respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Battery thermal management is crucial for EVs and devices, impacting performance and life. Accurate temperature prediction is critical for safety, efficiency, and environmental impact. This paper presents a novel thermal management system for hybrid electric vehicles, integrating indirect liquid cooling and forced air cooling to maintain the battery temperature within a safe range. The design has been optimised through numerical simulations, investigating the impact of various cooling pipe diameters, the number of cooling pipelines, liquid flow rates, and fan positioning on battery temperature. The results indicate that these factors collectively influence the maximum battery temperature and temperature uniformity. Experimental findings confirm that the optimal configuration—featuring a 10 mm cooling pipe diameter, 10 pipelines, a 0.25 kg/s mass flow rate, and 0.2 m/s airflow—yields positive outcomes. At a 0.7 °C discharge rate, the battery pack shows a maximum temperature of 28.7 °C, a minimum of 24.5 °C, and a 3.2 °C temperature difference, signifying effective heat dissipation. The deep learning LSTM algorithm predicts battery temperature. Using 761 experimental data sets, a neural network model with the LSTM algorithm explores temperature prediction under four activation functions (sigmoid, gelu, tanh, relu). Results show high test accuracy (99.1 %, 98.3 %, 98.7 %, 97.4 %). The LSTM-sigmoid model has fewer steps, superior accuracy, minimal MSE fluctuation, and enhanced capacity for complex nonlinear functions. These findings robustly support battery thermal management system design and optimisation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Brush plating technique has been adopted for the first time to coat tin selenide thin film on tin oxide coated conducting substrates at room temperature, 50°C and 60°C. Uniform and pinhole free films were deposited at potentials 5.0V. XRD analyses show the polycrystalline nature of the films with orthorhombic structure. Optical studies show the indirect nature with a bandgap of 1.0eV. SEM pictures show smooth and uniform surface morphology with a grain size of about 0.3μm. Film roughness was characterized by atomic force microscopy. Mott–Schottky plot has been drawn to evaluate the semiconductor parameters.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "There are regions in the Republic of Croatia (underdeveloped, devastated by war, depopulated, as well as islands and mountainous areas) which are still disconnected from the electricity network or where the current network capacity is insufficient. In addition, these regions have good renewable energy potential. Since the decentralized energy generation (DEG) covers a broad range of technologies, including many renewable energy technologies (RET) that provide small-scale power at sites close to the users, this concept could be of interest for these locations. This paper identifies the areas in Croatia where such systems could be applied. Consideration is given to geographical locations as well as possible applications. Wind, hydro, solar photovoltaic, geothermal, and biomass conversion systems were analyzed from a technological and economic point of view. Since the renewable energy sources (RES) data for Croatia are rather scarce, the intention was to give a survey of the present situation and an estimate of future potential for DEG based on RES. The energy potential (given as capacity and energy capability) and production costs were calculated on a regional basis and per type of RET. Finally, the RES cost–supply curves for 2006 and 2010 are given.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "PEDOT:PSS has been a major area of interest in the field of thermoelectrics in recent years. Extensive research has shown that doping or various post-washing treatment can effectively improve the conductivity. This article proposes PEDOT:PSS sheet as the building block to fabricate functional polymer composites based on PEDOT:PSS, thus, expand the contact area between PEDOT:PSS and secondary treatment agent to improve the efficiency of doping or post-treatment. On this basis, single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) was added to optimize the comprehensive thermoelectric performance of the composites. With a rather low SWCNT content of 30 wt%, PEDOT:PSS sheet/SWCNT composite film with layered structure achieves conductivity of 3085.4 S cm−1 and PF value of 224 μW m−1 K−2. The preparation of such sheet PEDOT:PSS provides a new possibility for the preparation of functional polymer composites.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Multiple uncertainties exist in the planning and design of multi-energy complementary distributed energy system (DES). In order to solve this problem, a more complete framework of two-stage stochastic programming (TSP) approach for optimal multi-energy complementary DES planning and design under multiple uncertainties is proposed. The developed TSP model is formulated as a mixed integer linear programming, which is intended to minimize the equivalent annual cost (EAC) of the multi-energy complementary DES. Probability scenarios of key uncertain parameters selected by treed Gaussian process method for the TSP model are generated and reduced using discrete approximations of probability distributions method and random vector sampling method. The developed method framework is applied to a case study high-rise office building in planning stage to illustrate the TSP model's output. And multiple evaluation indicators including configuration, economy, energy and environment are used to compare and analyze the optimal schemes obtained by deterministic model and TSP model under different building load scenarios. The results show that of the 26 uncertain parameters considered only 7 are selected as the key parameters for the TSP model in this paper. EAC of the optimal multi-energy complementary DES may be overestimated if without considering key uncertain parameters. Thus, the deterministic optimization practices and the cost estimates resulting from them can be considered unreliable. Moreover, the multi-energy complementary DES would want to increase CO2 emission to achieve better economic performance. Finally, the energy share distribution of all scenarios in the stochastic model provides more reliable and more accurate information for decision-makers.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Note: Page numbers followed by “f” and “t” refer to figures and tables, respectively.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Non-conventional energy sources are breeding more and more widespread, mainly due to the fact of that they generate energy by keeping the spotless environment .The Multilevel inverters are highly being used in high-power medium voltage applications due to their better performance compared to two-level inverters. Among various types of multilevel inverters, neutral point clamped multi-level inverter (NPC-MLI) is suitable for a transformerless photovoltaic (PV) grid-connected system. Eliminating the leakage current is one of the most key issues for transformerless inverters Split Inductor MLI (SI-MLI) in grid-connected PV system applications, where the technical challenge is how to keep the system common-mode voltage constant to eradicate the leakage current & shoot-through possibility. The proposed elite Hysteresis Current Control (HCC) offers an admirable current control performance to SI-NPC-MLI. It is performed based on the error current value (Δi) and hysteresis Band value (h) produced between SI-MLI and grid. The proposed SI-NPC-MLI-HCC topology is guarantees for no shoot-through possibility and also maintains lower Voltage and current total harmonics distortion (THD). Test results verify the theoretical analysis and the validity of the system is verified through MATLAB/Simulink and the results are compared with conventional topologies",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A newly small organic molecule, (R)-2,2′-dimethoxyl-3,3′-di(phenyl-4-yl-diphenyl-amine)-[1,1′]-binaphthyl, was introduced into solid-state electrolyte to assemble dye-sensitized solar cell, which showed an attractive conversion efficiency of 0.55%. The positive effects of additives in electrolytes on the photoelectrical performance were discussed in detail.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The vulnerability of gas pipeline networks to physical and cyber-attacks calls for a resilience analysis based on models, capable of quantifying the network robustness and recovery from failures. This work proposes an original resilience analysis framework for a complex gas pipeline transmission network, considering the cybernetic interdependence of the physical gas pipeline network with the SCADA system. The maximum flow algorithm computes the gas network supply capacity and when a failure occurs, the pressure of the network nodes and the gas supply capacity change, leading to dissatisfaction of customer demands. The framework allows quantifing the value of resilience through specific performance metrics. The SCADA communication network, implemented in Network Simulator®, provides the necessary information regarding the delay of data packets coming from the sensors located along the pipelines. The packet delay value allows to evaluate the actual time at which the SCADA system blocks the remote control valves, ready to keep the pipelines under pressure when a failure occurs. Important insights on the resilience model are obtained through a systematic sensitivity analysis (SA) framework, customized for gas pipeline transmission networks. Specifically, we investigate the influence of model inputs to the network robustness and recovery uncertainty. The effects of individual parameters and groups formed by inputs with similar functionalities provide useful information, such as to what extent the supervisory SCADA system interconnection affects the degradation and the recovery process of the physical gas pipeline network. The results of the case study confirm, as expected, that gas transmission networks are vulnerable to both cyber and physical failures, pointing at the need for systemic methods of analysis for managing the system resilience.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The covalent modification of fullerene-C60 (C60) with poly(4-diphenylaminostyrene) (PDAS) was examined to explore the possibility of preparing new materials for effective photovoltaic cells. The high nucleophilicity and small steric hindrance of the PDAS carbanion is a very important factor in the addition of poly(4-diphenylaminostyryl)lithium (PDASLi) to C60. C60 end-capped PDAS (C60-PDAS), consisting of one PDAS molecule bonded to one C60 molecule at the polymer chain-end, was successfully prepared from the PDASLi/N,N,N’,N’-tetramethylethylenediamine system and C60. UV/vis and photoluminescence spectra suggest that C60-PDAS has considerable potential for the preparation of effective photovoltaic cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A photoconductive atomic force microscopy (pcAFM) module was designed and the performance was tested. This module consisted of three units: the conductive mirror-plate, the steering mirror and the laser source. The module with a laser irradiation unit was equipped to a conventional conducting probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM) instrument to measure photoconductance in a nanoscale resolution. As a proof-of-concept experiment, the photoconductance of aggregated fullerene on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate was measured with this module. The electrical signals (currents) of aggregated fullerene under the conditions of laser on/off at about −10V sample bias voltage were −100 to −160nA and 0 to −20nA, respectively. Results indicated that the pcAFM with this module allowed one to observe photoinduced changes of electrical properties in nanodevices with nanoscale spatial resolution.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Hybrid photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T or PVT) solar systems consist of PV modules coupled to water or air heat extraction devices, which convert the absorbed solar radiation into electricity and heat. At the University of Patras, an extended research on PV/T systems has been performed aiming at the study of several modifications for system performance improvement. In this paper a new type of PV/T collector with dual heat extraction operation, either with water or with air circulation is presented. This system is simple and suitable for building integration, providing hot water or air depending on the season and the thermal needs of the building. Experiments with dual type PV/T models of alternative arrangement of the water and the air heat exchanging elements were performed. The most effective design was further studied, applying to it low cost modifications for the air heat extraction improvement. These modifications include a thin metallic sheet placed in the middle of the air channel, the mounting of fins on the opposite wall to PV rear surface of the air channel and the placement of the sheet combined with small ribs on the opposite air channel wall. The modified dual PV/T collectors were combined with booster diffuse reflectors, achieving a significant increase in system thermal and electrical energy output. The improved PV/T systems have aesthetic and energy advantages and could be used instead of separate installation of plain PV modules and thermal collectors, mainly if the available building surface is limited and the thermal needs are associated with low temperature water or air heating.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Results are presented from the modeling of a small-scale distributed power system containing power demands, photovoltaic arrays, small-scale wind turbines and an electric grid connection. Detailed models of the photovoltaic array and the wind turbine are briefly explained in addition to the solar and wind recourse models. A subunit is defined to consist of a power demand together with power contributors. It is shown how the grid dependency (or renewable energy contribution) is affected by the connection of subunits and according to the relationship between the power demand patterns and renewable resource patterns. The outcome from several case studies is presented using simulated power demands and renewable resources. In a scenario with subunit power demands characteristic for a large household and a small factory, it is shown that the coupling of subunits reduces annual grid power transfers by more than 10% and increases the renewable power contribution to the demand by almost 7%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A series of Se- and Te-doped skutterudite Co4Sb11.9-xTexSe0.1 (x = 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6) samples are prepared by a process encompassing rapid microwave synthesis for 5 min and spark plasma sintering for 5 min and their microstructure and thermoelectric properties are studied. Nearly single-phase Co4Sb11.9-xTexSe0.1 ingots are produced by the microwave synthesis and matrix grains appear after the microwave treatment. The influence of the dopant concentration on the thermoelectric properties is discussed. The largest dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit of 0.81 is observed from Co4Sb11.5Te0.4Se0.1 at 773 K in addition to a thermal conductivity of 2.8 Wm−1K−1. The preparation technique presented here has many advantages compared to conventional methods especially the efficiency.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Radioactive isotopes have been used in analytical instrumentation for planetary exploration since the very beginning of the space age. An α Scattering Instrument (ASI) on board the Surveyor 5, 6 and 7 spacecrafts used the isotope 242Cm to obtain the chemical composition of the lunar surface material in 1960s. The α Proton X-ray Spectrometers (APXS) used on several mission to Mars (Pathfinder, Mars-96, Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) and on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), the next mission to Mars in 2011 and on the Rosetta mission to a comet) are improved derivatives of the original ASI, complimented with an X-ray mode and using the longer lived 244Cm isotope. 57Co, 55Fe and many other radioisotopes have been used in several missions carrying XRF and Mössbauer instruments. In addition, 238Pu isotope is exclusively being used in most of the space missions for heating and power generation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The thermal error generated by the high-speed motorized spindle during machining is the main reason for the exactness of the machine tool, so accurate thermal characteristics analysis is essential. In this paper, the experimental platform of motorized spindle was set up to measure the temperature and thermal displacement data at 10000r/min. Secondly, the simulation parameters of A02 high-speed motorized spindle are obtained through theoretical calculation, and the multiphysics simulation model is established. After calculation, the exactness of the temperature field model can reach about 95%, and the exactness of the displacement field can reach 85%, it shows that the simulation model can accurately predict the state of motorized spindle. Finally, a new cooling jacket structure is proposed, and it is found that the optimized temperature is reduced by 32.11% and the thermal displacement of the front surface is reduced by 32.63%. indicating that the improved cooling water jacket has better cooling performance than the traditional cooling water jacket.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "As a traditional fusion welding method, arc welding occupies most of the total welding production. However, the current industrial welding robots with the “teaching and playback” mode cannot satisfy the requirements of modern welding manufacturing. To overcome this major challenge, advanced sensing technology can be used to efficiently imitate and reproduce the welder's senses and brain. Many recent studies on application of sensing technology have promoted the development of robotic arc welding toward intelligent welding. In this paper, from the perspective of intelligent welding systems (IWS), the application of advanced sensing technology in the pre-process, in-process, and post-process stages of intelligent robotic arc welding is summarized and discussed. First, the development and application of various sensing technologies and multisensor fusion technologies for intelligent arc welding are reviewed and discussed. Subsequently, according to the different objectives of each welding stage, the advanced sensing technologies, including those for weld path recognition, weld seam tracking, weld pool monitoring, weld quality diagnosis, and weld bead inspection, are summarized and compared. Finally, a summary is provided and future prospects are put forward. This paper reviews the research progress of sensing technology for different monitoring objectives of intelligent robotic arc welding, and to provide a basis for future work.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • The HE-TEG system can realize low grade waste heat recovery by heat exchange and thermoelectric power generation. • The heat exchange efficiency of the metal foam-filled plate heat exchanger is tested as 83.56%. • Several methods have been proposed to improve TEG output.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Research highlights ► Laboratory and in situ bioassays reveal different ecotoxicological effects. ► In situ assays produce ecologically more relevant results. ► Histopathological indices are reliable indicators of global contamination. ► Hepatocellular alterations are influenced by multiple environmental parameters.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report here on a facile enzymatic polymerization protocol to prepare enzyme—poly(thiophene-3-boronic acid) (PTBA) polymeric biocomposites (PBCs) for high-performance mono-/bi-enzyme amperometric biosensing. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-catalyzed polymerization of thiophene-3-boronic acid (TBA) monomer was conducted in aqueous solution containing HRP (or plus glucose oxidase (GOx)) by either directly added or GOx-glucose generated oxidant H2O2. The mono-/bi-enzyme amperometric biosensors were prepared simply by casting the dialysis-isolated PBCs on Au-plated Au electrode (Auplate/Au), followed by coating with an outer-layer chitosan (CS) film. The boronic acid residues are capable of covalent bonding with enzyme at the glycosyl sites (boronic acid-diols interaction), which should less affect the enzymatic activity as compared with the common cases of covalent bonding at the peptide chains, and UV–vis spectrophotometric tests confirmed that the encapsulated HRP almost possesses its pristine enzymatic specific activity. The enzyme electrodes were studied by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and chronoamperometry in the presence of Fe(CN)6 4− mediator. The CS/HRP–PTBA/Auplate/Au electrode responded linearly to H2O2 concentration from 1 to 300μM with a sensitivity of 390μAmM−1 cm−2 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.1μM. The bienzyme CS/GOx−HRP−PTBA(H2O2)/Auplate/Au electrode responded linearly to glucose concentration from 5μM to 0.83mM with a sensitivity of 75.1μAmM−1 cm−2 and a LOD of 1μM, and it is found here that the use of Fe(CN)6 4− that can only efficiently mediate HRP favorably avoids the “unusual amperometric responses” observed when other mediators that can efficiently turn over both HRP and GOx are used.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The shading-type BIPV claddings can act as power generators as well as external shading devices and insulation panels. There is little available information about the impacts of orientations and inclinations on the combined energy effects of the shading-type BIPV claddings, including the power output of PV modules, the cooling load reduction of windows and concrete walls. It is worth studying the effects of different shading-type BIPV cladding designs on the total energy saving in order to maximize the system’s energy performance. By considering the meteorological conditions in Hong Kong, the energy effect of the shading-type BIPV claddings with different surface azimuth angles, in terms of electricity generation and cooling energy consumption reduction is analyzed in this paper. Based on the investigations, the optimum design of the shading-type BIPV claddings for different orientations can be achieved.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Baja California Sur (BCS) is an arid sparsely populated coastal state in northwest Mexico. Population growth, agriculture and booming tourism have lead to severe overexploitation of underground aquifers and saline intrusion. This paper reviews the current water and energy situation in BCS. The state enjoys very high levels of solar radiation, typically above 5 kWh/m2/day, and the suitability of renewable energy powered desalination for BCS is discussed, including past efforts in BCS and present challenges for this technology.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "High-performance thermally chargeable supercapacitors (TCS) greatly depend on the design of electrode materials. The unique features of succulents of absorbing water for sustaining their lives during long severe droughts imply that there exist vast spaces inside these plants, which inspires us of fabricating biomass-based electrodes by means of such succulents to develop highly efficient TCS. The optimized porous carbon prepared from succulents presents a high specific surface area of up to 3188 m2 g−1, resulting in the superior capability of accommodating a vast amount of ions and promising thermal charging performance. The TCS with this carbon electrode can generate an open-circuit voltage of 565 mV under a temperature difference of 50°C with a temperature coefficient as high as 11.1 mV K−1. This article provides a new method for the preparation of porous carbon from biomass for the TCS system.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper we present results on the characterization of Zn-doped InGaAsSb epitaxial layers to be used in the development of stacked solar cells. Using the liquid phase epitaxy technique we have grown p-type InGaAsSb layers, using Zn as the dopant, and n-type Te-doped GaSb wafers as substrates. A series of Zn-doped InGaAsSb samples were prepared by changing the amount of Zn in the melt in the range: 0.1–0.9mg to obtain different p-type doping levels, and consequently, different p–n region characteristics. Low temperature photoluminescence spectra (PL) were measured at 15K using at various excitation powers in the range 80–160mW. PL spectra show the presence of an exciton-related band emission around 0.642eV and a band at 0.633eV which we have related to radiative emission involving Zn-acceptors. Using the photoacoustic technique we measured the interface recombination velocities related to the interface crystalline quality, showing that the layer–substrate interface quality degrades as the Zn concentration in the layers increases.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The performance and emission of a CNG-DI and spark-ignition engine when a small amount of hydrogen is added to the CNG using in-situ mixing is studied. The injection timing was set to 300° BTDC, the air--fuel ratio was kept at stoichiometric, and the ignition timing was adjusted to obtain the maximum brake torque. The experiments were performed at 2000, 3000, and 4000 rpm of engine speeds with each operating at WOT conditions. The introduction of a small amount of hydrogen had improved the engine performance, Brake Specific Energy Consumption (BSEC), and cylinder pressures as well as emissions at low engine speed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Polar discontinuities can be present at 1D interfaces of novel hybrid 2D materials. • Recent experimental advances have shown evidence for electronic interfacial states. • Polarity can affect optoelectronic properties at grain boundaries. • Piezoelectricity (and flexoelectricity) can engineer the polar discontinuity.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Although geothermal energy is generally considered benign, it still has its share of problems, including the emission of greenhouse gases that harm the environment. To make informed decisions about geothermal systems, it is imperative to study their environmental impacts. This study uses six approaches to propose and analyze an innovative geothermal-driven bi-evaporator cooling/electricity plan. The proposed efficient design is made of a single-flash cycle and the integration of a modified vapor compression cycle and ejector cooling system assisted by a thermoelectric power generator device. Exergoenvironmental and extended-environmental assessments are performed to examine the environmental impacts of the current devised scheme, including calculating CO2 emissions rate and sustainability index. The suggested plan's performance in the basic design mode using 14 various working fluids showed that R143m had the highest exergetic efficiency, lowest exergoenvironmental index, and lowest cost of production at 35.9%, 0.6002, and 24.67$/GJ, respectively. This working fluid was used for parametric study and bi-objective optimization, which revealed that the vapor generator destroys 157.7 kW of exergy at the optimal point. Additionally, the vapor turbine is the most expensive component at 14.44$/h. Pareto frontier also indicates that the final chosen optimal mode (scenario C) has 27.02% energetic efficiency and 21.33$/GJ production cost, which are higher than the base scenario by 12.55% and 15.66%, respectively. In addition, the optimal scenario reduces the payback period to 8.64 years from 15.68 years in the base scenario.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This study investigates a solar-thermoelectric module for power generation from solar energy. The proposed method uses recycled external exhaust heat to generate electric power, further enhancing the thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the thermoelectric generator (TEG). Using electrophoresis deposition, self-prepared CuO nanofluid is deposited onto a Cu plate and then adheres to the surface of a thermoelectric generator (TEG). Experimental results show that the CuO thin film coating on the TEG surface can elevate the temperature by around 2 °C and the voltage by around 14.8%, thus enhancing the thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the thermoelectric generator by 10% and increasing the overall power output by 2.35%. It was found that this solar-thermoelectric module can generate about 4.95 mW/cm2 under solar radiation intensity of about 100 mW/cm2.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": ": This chapter provides an overview of the fundamental principles of CSP systems. It begins with the optical processes and the ultimate limits on the extent to which solar radiation can be concentrated. Practical factors that reduce achievable concentration levels further are discussed. Mechanisms of thermal energy loss from receivers are covered. Available power cycles for electricity generation are reviewed. The second law of thermodynamics is introduced to lead into a consideration of optimization of overall system efficiency via variation of operating temperature and receiver aperture size. Performance modelling of complete systems is introduced and finally the analysis of levelized cost of energy is covered, as a metric for comparing systems, and as a tool to thermo-economic optimization in design.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Early detection of electrical and mechanical failures in internal combustion engine generators. • Methodology for detecting incipient faults in prime mover, coupling and generator. • Modelling failure patterns in thermoelectric generators using Electrical Signature Analysis. • Proposition of practical Electrical Signature Analysis failure pattern methodology.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Electronic properties of PbTe in its Rock-Salt (B1) phase have been investigated using density functional theory (DFT) as well as the Phonon Band Structure of PbTe using density functional perturbation theory (DFPT). The lattice parameter, bulk modulus and pressure derivative are calculated as 6.608 Å, 36.00 GPa and 3.39 respectively; The density of states (DOS) has a maximum peak of 3.2 states/eV at −3.00 eV, the spherical charge distributions between the Pb+2 and Te−2 ions depict that the system is an ionic compound; From the band structure, a direct band gap of 0.7968 eV was obtained which agreed well with other calculations. We observed a large splitting value of 2.16 THZ between the longitudinal optic (LO) and the transverse optic (TO) phonon branches along the Γ-point. The vibrational density of states (VDOS) has a maximum peak of 0.185 states/eV at 1.53 THZ. The values obtained for electronic properties and the phonon band structure PbTe are essentially important for PbTe energy applications such as thermoelectric, solar cells, biological imaging electroluminescent, infrared photodetectors and optoelectronic devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The critical review on the recent development of novel narrow bandgap polymers for high-efficiency polymer solar cells concentrates on (i) the structural design of narrow bandgap polymers, which occupy a central place in recent advances in high-efficiency polymer solar cells, (ii) the intrinsic physics and chemistry of special properties, such as absorption, bandgap and energy levels, and (iii) the correlation of polymer structure and device fabrication with their photovoltaic performances. The statistical summaries of their device parameters are also discussed. The description of these structure–property correlations may guide the rational design of polymer structures and the reasonable evaluation of their photovoltaic performance.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Nanotechnology today has branched out in a large number of different areas of sciences because of its significant benefits in terms of improving the performance in many fields. Various types of nano-sized structures have been developed to advance nanotechnology strategies including nanorods, nanowires, nanotubes, nanobelts, nanoribbons, nanofibers, nanoparticles, quantum dots, and hollow spheres. As the specific application of nanotechnology in the health system, nanomedicine has emerged to provide new solutions for the medicine's unsolved complications. In this regard, nano-based materials are used in different medical settings including diagnosis and therapy of a variety of diseases, as well as in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine strategies. Here we provide a brief review of the potential applications of nanotechnology in different fields, especially in medicine.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "An abundant mineral in nature and despite its potential as raw material for different segments of industry, when it comes from coal mining, pyrite (FeS2) is treated as waste, and its disposal culminates in environmental problems for the coalfields. Increasing the purity of pyritic tailings, increasing its iron disulfide content, strengthen the possibility of turning it into a value-added by-product. In this work, an analysis of impurities in the pyrite of southern Santa Catarina (Brazil), including organic matter, sulfates, iron oxides, calcite, clay and sandstone, suggests a processing route for pyrite based on separation by density in bromoform and subsequent leaching in water and acetone solution. Statistical methods were applied to set the leaching parameters, and the process efficiency was evaluated and confirmed by fluorescent X-ray (XRF) elemental analysis (CHNS/O), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR). The proposed method extracted ferrous sulfate, calcite and quartz present in clayey and sandy fractions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Cu(In,Ga)S2 (CIGS) thin films were grown epitaxially on Si substrates of various orientations. The sulphur-termination process, utilized to suppress the unfavourable native surface reconstructions of Si, was examined. Thereby, an anisotropic etching of Si by sulphur was observed at high substrate temperatures. Cu(In,Ga)S2 was found to show a strong tendency for nucleation on tips and at step edges of the substrates. Furthermore, the material was observed to agglomerate to existing grains as well. These mechanisms lead to a three-dimensional growth mode. The resulting roughness showed a strong and monotonic dependence on the Ga content of the samples, whereas the influence of the lattice mismatch on the morphology of the samples was found to be less distinct. The coexistence of the highly ordered chalcopyrite structure with the metastable CuAu structure was found to be another prominent feature in epitaxial Cu(In,Ga)S2 thin films on Si.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this issue we return to PV in the residential sector. That the sector is becoming increasingly important to suppliers cannot be overstated. With blackout prevention rapidly moving up the agenda following the recent outages on the US East Coast and Canada (see Comment, page 16), one of the more interesting areas of PV is home/office onsite power generation. Couple these concerns with the need to satisfy architects and engineers who want to incorporate PV modules into their new-build and renovation applications, and you have the topical subject known as Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents a library of components for PV systems under Matlab/Simulink, named “PV Systems Toolbox”. This toolbox allows analyzing the behavior of a PV system. It also estimates the power produced by the PV generator according to changes in climatic conditions and the nature of the load. An accurate model of the PV generator is presented based on the equation of the Shockley diode. A simple simulation example is given using a typical 60W PV module.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Flexible polymer solar cells with an ITO/PEDOT/P3HT:PCBM/Al structure were fabricated using regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3TH) polymer:(6,6)-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) fullerene polymer as the photovoltaic (PV) bulk hetero-junction layer. The P3HT and PCBM used as the electron donor and electron acceptor materials were spin cast on indium tin oxide (ITO) coated polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) substrates. The optimum mixing concentration ratio of the P3HT:PCBM PV layer was found to be 4:4 wt.%, at which the maximum short circuit current density (JSC), open circuit voltage (VOC), fill factor (FF) and power conversion efficiency (PCE) values were about 3.8 mA/cm2, 427 mV, 36.6% and 0.66%, respectively. To investigate the effects of the post annealing treatment, the as-prepared flexible polymer solar cells were post annealed at temperatures ranging from 150 °C to 180 °C for 5 min. The JSC and VOC values increased with increasing post annealing temperature from 150 °C to 170 °C, which may be due to the improvement of the light absorption coefficient of P3HT and improved ohmic contact between the PV layer and Al electrode film. The maximum JSC, VOC, FF and PCE values of the flexible polymer solar cell, which was post annealed at 170 °C for 5 min, were found to be about 4.3 mA/cm2, 616 mV, 32.6% and 0.86%, respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Natural gas is a major fuel in Peru, accounting for nearly 45 % of all energy sources used to generate electricity. This research aims to analyze the dynamic association between economic growth and natural gas consumption (NGC), considering Peru's trade openness (Tr) from 1965 to 2022. The augmented Dickey–Fuller unit root test is utilized to test the stationary properties of the log series of real gross domestic product (GDP), NGC, and real Tr. We used the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) cointegration approach to determine the long-run (LR) equilibrium association between the variables. As the second cointegration method, we used the Engle-Granger test. The results of the ARDL test support the cointegration of all variables, we find the opposite case with Engle-Granger method. The Granger causality results support the neutrality hypothesis between GDP and NGC, a two-way causality association between Tr and GDP, and the neutrality hypothesis between NGC and Tr. Nevertheless, in the LR, cointegration confirms the growth hypothesis between GDP and NGC. Similarly, we find that in the LR, the first lag of Tr positively impacts the current GDP value. Meanwhile, in the short run, Tr has a positive effect on Peru's GDP. Then, using the findings of cointegration among all variables, we can conclude that NGC and Tr are the drivers of economic growth in Peru in the LR. Finally, we discuss the policy implications of our results.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Advanced electrolyte retainers have been developed to improve the life cycle of valve-regulated lead–acid (VRLA) batteries. One of the retainers is a separator mat which contains synthetic wood pulp (SWP), or fine polymer fibre. It shrinks less than conventional absorptive glass mat (AGM) when wetted with acid and is so elastic that the plates are kept well-pressed together when the volume of the plates changes during charge and discharge. The other retainer is granular silica which fills the space between and around the plates instead of the AGM. In a battery using this type of retainer, the plates are tightly compressed from all directions and the compression does not decrease after water loss. The basic characteristics of these new retainers and their influence on battery performance are discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper explores the potential of applying titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films to the buried-contact (BC) solar cell. The aim is to develop a lower-cost BC technology that can be applied to multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) wafers, the predominant substrate of the photovoltaics (PV) industry. The original BC solar cell used a thick, thermally grown, silicon dioxide (SiO2) layer as the front surface dielectric coating. Upon commercialisation of the BC technology, BP Solar replaced this layer with silicon nitride (Si3N4), which exhibits improved optical properties. It is anticipated that production costs can be further reduced by using a low temperature deposited front surface dielectric coating, such as TiO2, thereby reducing the number of lengthy high temperature processing steps, and developing a process such that it can be applied to mc-Si wafers. TiO2 is chosen because of its optimal optical properties for glass-encapsulated silicon solar cells and familiarity of PV manufacturers with this material. The results presented resolve the issue of surface passivation with TiO2 and demonstrate that TiO2/SiO2 stacks, achieved during a brief high-temperature oxidation process after TiO2 thin film deposition, are compatible with high-efficiency solar cells. However, TiO2 cannot perform all the necessary functions of the thick SiO2 or Si3N4 layer, due to its inability to act as a phosphorus diffusion barrier. In light of these results, three alternate BC solar cell fabrication sequences are presented, and an initial conversion efficiency of 11.5% has been achieved from the first batch of solar cells in a non-optimised processes.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highly conductive and transparent tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) films have been prepared by RF sputtering processes on polymer substrates, polyethylene terepthalate (PET) and polyimide (Kapton KJ®), and onto glass as reference. The utilisation of a RF plasma pre-treatment of the organic substrate surface leads to the realisation of adherent films on unheated substrates with good optoelectronic properties and without damage to the polymers. High transparency, near 80% on the 400–1100nm spectra range, and conductivity, σ>103 (Ωcm)–1, have been achieved for ITO films deposited onto PET and Kapton KJ® substrates. These are adequate values for the utilisation of these modified polymer samples as substrates for photovoltaic solar cells. Better optical and electrical properties of the ITO films have been observed when deposited on polymer foils if compared with those deposited on glass. Improved quality of ITO samples have been correlated with the growth of more oriented and crystalline ITO films along the preferred orientation 〈100〉. The ITO films fabricated on polymers by the method proposed do not require substrate heating during the film preparation or any post-deposition annealing treatment in order to achieve the optoelectronic quality required.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Perovskite oxides have garnered significant attention as potential active materials for supercapacitor applications. Recently, metal-doped perovskite oxides have gained prominence due to their potential to provide a synergistic blend of electrical conductivity, substantial electrochemical active surface area, and robust electrochemical activity. In this study, we systematically investigate the electrochemical properties of strontium titanate oxide (SrTiO3, STO) and chromium-doped strontium titanate oxide (Cr-STO), synthesized via the solid-state reaction method. Various material characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), are employed to examine the crystal structure, morphology, and chemical composition of these samples. Notably, Cr-STO demonstrates an approximately twentyfold increase in electrochemical surface area compared to pristine STO, resulting in enhanced anion storage capabilities when employed in alkaline 3 M KOH aqueous electrolytes. Detailed electrochemical kinetic studies reveal an augmented pseudocapacitive behavior in Cr-STO, with a more pronounced diffusive nature compared to pristine STO. Furthermore, symmetric supercapacitors fabricated with Cr-STO electrodes exhibit excellent electrochemical performance, maintaining over 93 % of their initial capacity after 10,000 charge-discharge cycles at a current density of 1 A g−1. These findings highlight the significant potential of chromium-doped strontium titanate oxide as a valuable contribution to the ongoing pursuit of novel material for supercapacitors.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Optical transmittance and conductivity for thin metallic films, such as Au, are two inversely related and extremely important parameters for its application in organic photovoltaics as the front electrode. We report our findings on how these parameters have been optimized to attain maximum possible efficiencies by fabricating organic solar cells with thin Au film anodes of differing optical transmittances and consequently due to scaling at the nanolevel, varying electrical conductivities. There was an extraordinary improvement in the overall solar cell efficiency (to the order of 49%) when the Au thin film transmittance was increased from 38% to 54%. Surface morphologies of these thin films also have an effect on the critical parameters including, V oc , J sc and FF.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A new structure incorporating multiple phases of chloroindium phthalocyanine (ClInPc) is fabricated and tested in photovoltaic devices. This so-called heteromorphic structure includes as-deposited and THF vapor treated ClInPc films to improve absorption and photovoltaic (PV) performance in devices. Absorption of the polymorphic phases of ClInPc are complementary and lead to improved current generation. Short circuit current is improved by over 70% using the heteromorphic structure, while power conversion efficiency (PCE) improves by more than 40% versus solely as-deposited devices. Advantages of the heteromorphic structure include broader spectral response, improved interfacial contact area and an intermediary open circuit voltage (V oc).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A recently released report from the European Commission attempts to provide a snapshot of the current status of renewable energy in the European Union. The report also aims to dispel widespread misconceptions and enable a more rational, proactive societal approach to renewables in Europe. Arnulf Jäger-Waldau and Harald Scholz European Commission summarise the main areas covered in the report.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The preparation of titania (TiO2), germania (GeO2) and binary TiO2–GeO2 oxide with different Ti/Ge ratio gels based on sol–gel method with surfactant-assisted mechanism and their application for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) were reported. The samples were calcined and characterized by nitrogen adsorption porosimetry, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and morphology was investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The XRD results suggested that germanium substituted for titanium in the TiO2 lattice because of the gradual shift of 101 diffraction peak of anatase type of TiO2. The higher surface area from binary oxides samples was due to the added oxide acting as a crystal growth inhibiter. For the application for DSCs, the electrodes fabricated from binary oxides sample gave significant higher J sc when compared to cell that fabricated by sample TiO2 electrode. The consequence effects of added germanium were analyzed and discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Microalgae are currently receiving strong consideration as an advanced biofuel feedstock because of their theoretically high yield (gal/acre/year) in comparison to terrestrial vegetable oil feedstocks. Microalgal lipids can be readily converted into a variety of biofuels including fatty acid methyl esters (i.e. biodiesel) via transesterification or alkanes via hydroprocessing. In contrast to paraffinic fuels whose properties can be tailored for a specific application, the properties of algal methyl ester biodiesel are directly related to the fatty acid composition of the algal lipids. Several microalgae species that are suitable for large scale cultivation such as those in the genus Nannochloropsis produce lipids that contain long chain-polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These constituents have high value as co-products but are problematic in terms of biodiesel properties such as ignition quality and oxidative stability. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of varying levels of EPA and DHA on algal methyl ester fuel properties. Oxidative stability, Cetane Number, density, viscosity, bulk modulus, cloud point and cold filter plugging point were measured for algal methyl esters produced from various microalgae feedstocks as well as model algal methyl ester compounds formulated to match the fatty acid composition of Nannochloropsis sp., Nannochloropsis oculata and Isochrysis galbana subjected to varying levels of removal of EPA and DHA. The results suggest that removal of 50 to 80% of the LC-PUFA from Nannochloropsis-based methyl esters would be sufficient for meeting existing specifications for oxidative stability. However, higher levels of LC-PUFA removal from Nannochloropsis-based methyl esters would be required to produce fuels with acceptable Cetane Number. The removal of EPA and DHA was shown to have a detrimental effect on cold flow properties since the algal methyl esters are also high in fully saturated fatty acid content.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Silicene, a single sheet of silicon atoms with honeycomb structure similar as graphene, has attracted much attention recently. Though silicene is described by a low-buckled structure in contrast to the planar geometry of graphene, it also shares extraordinary physical properties, especially Dirac fermion characteristics. The much stronger spin–orbit coupling in silicene as compared with graphene induces considerable, nontrivial energy band gap, implying that quantum spin Hall effect and other quantum effects may be realized in silicene. The successful experimental synthesis of silicene has inspired intensive research on silicene both experimentally and theoretically. In this article, we will cover the basic theoretical-predicted properties of silicene and the experimental progresses on silicene, including epitaxy growth, characterization of and atomic structure, the existence of Dirac fermions, chemical functionalization, and realization of first field effect transistor devices based on silicene.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, a kinetic method for identification of metal ions (Fe3+, Cu2+ and Ag+) was reported by using their perturbation effects on a Briggs-Rauscher (BR) oscillating system involving a tetraazamacrocyclic complex [NiL](ClO4)2 as a catalyst. The ligand (L) in the catalyst is 5,7,7,12,14, 14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-4,11-diene. When an equal amount of analytes (metal ions) were separately added to the active BR-system under the same concentration, quite different perturbation results were obtained in their concentration ranges from 1.0 × 10−4 to 2.0 × 10−3 mol/L. Furthermore, based on the FCA and NF models, the perturbation mechanisms of three metal ions on BR system were explained in details. It is shown that the different perturbation manners are attributed to kinetic-controlled mechanisms. Such mechanisms suggested that both Fe3+ and Cu2+ may face a competitive reaction with IO3 − to form iodate precipitate when they react with I− (an intermediate in BR system) vs redox reaction, whereas Ag+ directly binds to I− to generate AgI without a competitive reaction which yields iodate precipitate. Also, the method could be used for quantitative determination of Ag+.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The defect properties of as-grown and annealed CuInSe2, CuIn0.5Ga0.5Se2, and CuGaSe2 single crystals grown by chemical vapor transport have been studied by photoluminescence, Hall effect, and resistivity measurements. The various observed defect levels are ascribed to intrinsic defect states taking into account stoichiometry, annealing conditions of the samples, and the formation enthalpy of these intrinsic defects. Furthermore, the obtained activation energies and the concentrations of these defects are compared for all three different compounds. The properties of the as-grown, p-type samples are dominated by copper and selenium vacancies (VCu, VSe). The activation energies of these defects decrease slightly with the increase of In-content, which is in line with the change of the band-gap. In contrast, a vast difference is observed for the properties of a donor level induced by annealing in the presence of the corresponding group III element. This defect level is much shallower and more easily formed in In-containing compounds. It is tentatively ascribed to a VCu–IIICu defect pair. These differences in the defect physics can account for the lack of p-type conduction and the limited solar cell performance of Ga-rich materials.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Acid-denatured apomyoglobin (apoMb) contains residual helical structure in the region of the polypeptide which corresponds to the H helix of the folded protein. In order to elucidate the role of this residual secondary structure in the protein folding process and to determine whether residual structure in the denatured state affects either the overall rate of folding or the rate of formation of a burst phase intermediate, we have examined the equilibrium and kinetic folding behavior of a mutant designed to destabilize residual secondary structure in the H helix region. Both Asn132 and Glu136 were changed to Gly (N132G,E136G) to effect this destabilization. Circular dichroism spectra show that the mutant protein contains less helical structure in the acid-denatured state and in the equilibrium intermediate state at pH 4.2 than does the wild-type protein. The CD spectra of the native states of the two proteins are nearly identical. The refolding kinetics for each of the species were measured by stopped-flow CD in the far-UV region and by NMR quench-flow pulse labeling. Under identical conditions, the CD-detected refolding of wild-type and mutant apomyoglobin from the acid-denatured state or from the urea-denatured state occurs at very similar rates following a burst phase that occurs too rapidly to measure by the stopped-flow technique. The urea dependence of the unfolding and refolding rates is consistent with the presence of at least one obligatory on-pathway intermediate in both wild-type and mutant proteins. The kinetic intermediate of the mutant protein is considerably less stable than that of the wild-type protein. Hydrogen exchange pulse labeling experiments indicate that, in contrast to the wild-type protein, the H helix is not stabilized during the burst phase refolding of the mutant but becomes stabilized during the slower phases. While the wild-type and mutant proteins both form compact intermediates, these differ in the content and location of secondary structure. The rate of folding of the AGH subdomain, which takes place prior to the transition state, is substantially slower for the N132G,E136G mutant protein. A strong propensity for spontaneous formation of helical structure in the H helix region is not a prerequisite for efficient folding nor for formation of equilibrium or kinetic intermediates. These observations suggest that while folding of apomyoglobin proceeds through an obligatory intermediate, the precise structure of this intermediate is not critical and its secondary structure may be altered without substantially affecting either the overall refolding kinetics or the integrity of the final folded state.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Kejimkujik National Park, in Nova Scotia, Canada, is a sensitive region for metal(loid) contamination, such as mercury, in part due to long-range atmospheric deposition from global and regional industrial centers. The region is remote from industrial centres, but is downwind of major pollution sources in the Eastern United States and Canada, and historically had numerous gold mining sites. Due to a paucity of long-term atmospheric deposition monitoring in this region, little is known about the response of Kejimkujik lakes to multiple changing global, regional and local atmospheric Hg and metal(loid) sources. Here, we used multiple lake sediment cores to reconstruct anthropogenic depositional fluxes of metal(loid)s of concern for the last ~210years. Results showed that Kejimkujik lake sediments are highly enriched in lead (Pb), antimony (Sb) and tin (Sn), with post-industrial metal(loid) concentrations being >4-fold greater than natural baseline levels (prior to ~1800) and moderately enriched in silver (Ag), bismuth (Bi), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), rubidium (Rb), tellurium (Te), thallium (Tl), vanadium (V), tungsten (W) and zinc (Zn), with post-industrial metal(loid) concentrations being between 1.5 and 4-fold greater than natural baseline levels (prior to ~1800). Lake sediment core reconstructions of total atmospheric Hg deposition matched well with Hg wet deposition monitoring data from the overlapped period (1997–2010) being 9.1±2.7μg/m2/yr and 7.0±0.7μg/m2/yr respectively. Lakes closest to historic gold mining sites show spikes in Ag, Cd, Sb, Tl, Zn and W during mining periods (~1880 and 1950). Most of the enriched metal(loid)s (EF >1.5) (Ag, Bi, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sb, Sn, V and W) do not appear affected by redox and remobilisation issues. For the other enriched metal(loid)s (EF >1.5) (Cd, Tl, and Zn), remobilisation from upper sediments appears to be occurring within these acidic and DOC rich Kejimkujik lakes.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report the effects of chemical doping on thermoelectric properties of metal-based thermoelectric materials Sn1−x M x CCo3 (M = Ag, In, Ge, Pb, Sb, Te, and Bi) with antiperovskite structure. Compared to parent compound SnCCo3, both Seebeck coefficient (S) and figure of merit (ZT) can be effectively enhanced by hole doping, while a decreased S and ZT appear in equivalent- and electron-doped SnCCo3. Among all the doped samples, the maximum ZT value of 0.045(1) is obtained in Sn0.95Ag0.05CCo3, which is about 50% larger than that of parent compound SnCCo3 (ZT ∼ 0.03). This enhanced ZT is mainly attributed to the increased S induced by locally modified density of states near Fermi level. In addition, our optimized ZT value (∼0.045, at 235 K) is relatively large compared with other typical low-temperature thermoelectric materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, we discuss a new approach to the determination of minority carrier diffusion length (L d) on flat top surface shallow junction devices in which photocurrent is dominated by diffusion component as in solar cells. In our method, we propose the use of a single monochromatic light beam of appropriate wavelength, incident on the device surface at various angles. Under such experimental conditions, the short circuit current of the device is expressed as a function of the internal spectral response and device reflectance. Then diffusion length can be simply derived by the analysis of the experimental ratio between photocurrent measured at various incidence angles and when light impinges the device orthogonally, as function of the incident angle. An analytical model is proposed based on the modified absorption coefficient as a function of refractive angle and an experimental set-up for the evaluation of minority carrier diffusion length is proposed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Mechanical properties of thermoelectric (TE) materials are crucial for fabricating efficient and endurable TE devices. In this study, polycrystalline Bi3Se2Te thin films are grown on c-plane sapphire substrates at 250 °C and helium gas pressure of 6.5 × 10−1 Torr using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The structural, compositional, morphological and mechanical properties of Bi3Se2Te thin films are studied. The Bi3Se2Te thin films are highly c-axis oriented structure and exhibit the stoichiometric compositions of Bi3Se2Te phase. The hardness and Young’s modulus of the Bi3Se2Te thin films are 5.6 ± 0.2 GPa and 197.2 ± 5.4 GPa, respectively, which determined by nanoindentation tests with the continuous stiffness measurement (CSM) mode. The true hardness of the Bi3Se2Te thin films is also calculated using the energy principle of nanoindentation contact. The micro-Vicker indentation-induced fracture behavior of the Bi3Se2Te thin films is observed and discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Electrical transport properties of phosphoric acid doped polyaniline are investigated by the measurements of low temperature conductivity and thermopower. Samples were prepared by chemical polymerization of aniline in aqueous solution of phosphoric acid at various ratios of acid to aniline (Z). The conductivity at room temperature increases from 3 S/cm to 40 S/cm, and the thermopower increases from +0.2 μV/K to +7.6 μV/K, as the ratio Z varies from 1 to 6. The low temperature conductivity follows variable range hopping (VRH) temperature dependence, ln σ α - (T0/T) x , where VRH exponent systematically changes from x = 1/2 to 1/4. The thermopower changes from (U-shape to linear temperature dependence as the ratio Z increases. The systematic variation of transport data was analyzed by considering heterogeneous contributions from metallic transport and VRH process in disordered polymeric system.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We have demonstrated the possibility of growing p-type ZnO films by a pulsed laser deposition technique combined with plasma gas source. The p-type ZnO film has been fabricated by passing N2O gas through an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) or RF plasma source. N2O gas is effective to prevent “O” vacancy from occurring and introduce “N” as an acceptor, at the same time. With Ga and N codoping technique, we have observed a room temperature resistivity of 0.5Ωcm and a carrier concentration of 5×1019 cm−3 in ZnO film on glass substrate. Two-step growth, with a thin ZnO template layer formed at high temperature, is quite effective to realize a well crystallized growth at low temperature. The observed p-type ZnO films will open the door for practical applications in various oxide electronic devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Desalination processes consume large amount of electricity and heat derived from fossil fuels to produce fresh water. In recent years, solar desalination emerged as a favorable method for sustainable fresh water production with less environmental impacts. A solar photovoltaic thermal collector is a combined system of solar photovoltaic and solar thermal collector that simultaneously generates electricity and thermal energy. The present work reviews photovoltaic thermal collector integrating desalination technologies such as solar still, humidification dehumidification, multiple effect distillation, reverse osmosis, multiple stage flash and membrane distillation. The primary focus is made on successful utilization of electricity and heat from the photovoltaic thermal collector in desalination systems to reduce cost, primary energy consumption and to improve overall system performance. Future opportunities and novel methods to improve/explore the photovoltaic thermal driven desalination systems are reported. Possibilities of photovoltaic thermal collector as energy source for other desalination technologies (electrodialysis, forward osmosis, vapor compression, adsorption desalination and etc.) are also presented. Comparative analysis shows that overall performance of photovoltaic thermal coupled desalination systems is better than desalination systems coupled with separate photovoltaic panel and/or solar thermal collector to meet the energy needs. The additional electricity generated from photovoltaic thermal desalination paves way for standalone desalination in remote location even though the initial costs are a tad higher.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The purpose of the present research is to reduce the temperature of photovoltaic (PV) module using a combined cooling method in order to improve electrical output, having better performance and simultaneous integration of thermoelectric generators (TEG) with it and to generate surplus electricity from the existing temperature difference in the proposed system. An L-shaped earthenware water tank as the passive cooling method and an ultrasonic humidifier inside the tank as the active cooling method formed the combined cooling sections of the proposed system. The ultrasonic humidifier converts the cooled water inside the earthenware tank to cold mist in the enclosed space backside of the PV module by a piezoelectric actuator based on the cavitation phenomenon (reduction of PV module temperature occurs by heat transfer and conductivity). Temperature difference between the surface of the PV module and cold mist on backside of the PV module converts to surplus electricity by TEG. In this study, three cold mist creation capacities of 250, 400 and 550 mL/h were investigated and the greatest improvement in the utilization of solar energy compared to the control PV module was for the cold mist creation capacity of 550 mL/h. Temperature reduction of PV section of about 5.2 °C, PV maximum power improvement of 5.1% and total efficiency improvement of 4.96% were obtained in the proposed system with cold mist creation capacity of 550 mL/h compared to control PV module. It was concluded that unlike cooled PV module, the share of TEG array is very negligible in the total efficiency improvement.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Structural capacitors are multifunctional structural materials. • They provide the capacitor function for the purpose of electrical energy storage. • This paper reviews the scientific development of structural capacitors. • This paper also enunciates the design and applications of structural capacitors. • Structural capacitors will provide an untapped form of energy storage.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The optical and photovoltaic properties of dichlorotin phthalocyanine (SnCl2Pc) films and SnCl2Pc/pentacene (Pn) heterostructures (HS) have been studied. Weak bands at 1.35, 1.52 and 2.05eV have been found in absorption and modulated photoreflectance spectra of SnCl2Pc films. These bands can be caused by the formation of charge transfer states. The low concentration of recombination centers of charge carriers has been formed on a free surface of SnCl2Pc films. This concentration essentially decreases at air evacuation before vacuum deposition of a Pn layer. Therefore, interface with an insignificant recombination rate of charge carriers is formed for SnCl2Pc/Pn HS.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • A dynamic model is established for PVT-TEV system. • The system heat fresh air by PVT coupled with thermoelectric ventilator system. • Sensitivity analysis is implemented for model parameters optimization. • The average COP of the PVT-TEV system can reach 13.85.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A novel approach of MBE in situ annealing of HgCdTe for the purposes of dislocation reduction and obtaining the required p-type electrical properties is described in the paper. To prevent surface re-evaporation during annealing in vacuum, double cap layers of CdTe and wide band gap material of ZnTe or ZnSe were grown on top of the HgCdTe, and their effects were studied. The surface EPD of HgCdTe grown on GaAs substrates was reduced to 2–4×106 cm−2 by vacuum annealing at 390–450°C. The relation between the hole concentration and annealing temperature was obtained.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The performance of a parabolic trough photovoltaic/thermal collector with a geometric concentration ratio of 37× is described. Measured results under typical operating conditions show thermal efficiency around 58% and electrical efficiency around 11%, therefore a combined efficiency of 69%. The impact of non-uniform illumination on the solar cells is investigated using purpose built equipment that moves a calibrated solar cell along the line of the receiver and measures short circuit current. The measured illumination flux profile along the length shows significant variation, despite the mirror shape error being less than 1 mm for most of the mirror area. The impact of the illumination non-uniformities due to the shape error, receiver support post shading and gaps between the mirrors is shown to have a significant effect on the overall electrical performance. The flux profile transverse to the receiver length is also investigated. Peak flux intensities are shown to be around 100 suns. The impact on efficiency due to open circuit voltage reduction is discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Parasitic resistances are detrimental to solar cell performance because they reduce the device power output. In this paper the effects that series- and shunt resistance have on photovoltaic module performance parameters are discussed. Techniques used to measure these resistances are presented and the results show how current–voltage characteristics and module performance are affected. An analysis of the performance degradation of an a-Si module revealed that, apart from the Staebler–Wronski effect, an increase in series resistance contributed to a power loss of 50% after outdoor exposure of 130 kWh/m2. A 29% decrease in shunt resistance of a CuInSe2 module, over the same exposure, translated to a power loss of 6%. This study shows that the effects of shunt and series resistances on module performance are significant and cannot be ignored. These effects must be understood and taken into consideration when employing photovoltaic modules in systems and when analysing performance degradation.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Power and propulsion are enabling technologies for any space mission. Nuclear power and nuclear propulsion offer high-energy, compact technologies that will allow and enable human and robotic missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this project there were prepared solar cells using substrates of ITO on glass. The cell assembly was performed using carbon-ITO as cathode and, fourth types of anodes: (1) ITO-TiO2 commercial particles, (2) ITO-TiO2 thin film, (3) ITO-TiO2+SWCNT (functionalized single wall carbon nanotubes), (4) ITO- TiO2+ MWCNT (functionalized multi wall carbon nanotube), as anode respectively. For these types of solar cells was used solution organic dye Congo Red with ethanol, iodine electrolyte solution, between the two electrodes producing a photovoltaic cell Grätzel. Studies of X-Ray diffraction (XRD) in the synthesized nanoparticles of TiO2 showed peaks corresponding to anatase structure, with particle size of 10nm, and large surface area of 6 m2 / g, too these showed higher stability potential that TiO2 commercial particle. Preliminary studies showed that dye sensitized solar cell containing TiO2 nanoparticules and SWCNT showed the higher potential. Observed too that, the surface resistance is higher in the MWCNT then in the SWCNT.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "CeO2 thin films-based devices are attracting interests of scientists due to ceria's memory storage materials, chemical and thermal stability, visible transparency, high oxygen storage capacity, and highly tunable energy band structures. The optoelectronic and thermophysical characteristics of Ce1−xTmxO2-δ (Tm= Co, Ni) are investigated by first-principles based density functional theory (DFT) computations as implemented in the WIEN2K code. To understand the nature of examined materials, energy band structures of Ce1−xTmxO2-δ (Tm= Co, Ni) are computed. The predicted energy bandgaps for Ce1−xCoxO2-δ are 0.17 and 0.53 eV in spin down and spin up channels, respectively. However, for Ce1−xNixO2-δ, the values of energy bandgaps are 0.94 and 0 eV in spin down and spin up channels, respectively. The dielectric function ε ( ω ) for Ce1−xTmxO2-δ (Tm= Co, Ni) explains photon absorption and dispersion. Substantial absorption of incoming photons by Ce1−xTmxO2-δ (Tm= Co, Ni) can be observed in the near UV range. The largest peaks of the ε 2 ( ω ) are found at around 3.6 eV in spin ↑ channel whereas highest peaks are available at around 3.9 eV in spin ↓ channel. Ce1−xTmxO2-δ (Tm= Co, Ni) exhibit a minimal photon reflection, around 20%, over the whole energy spectrum. Ce1−xTmxO2-δ (Tm= Co, Ni) can be regarded as tunable semiconductors based on their calculated Seebeck coefficient (S) as they can be transformed from p-type semiconductors to n-type semiconductors by increasing external temperature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This study compares the environmental impacts of a polycrystalline photovoltaic (PV) module and a wind turbine using the life cycle assessment (LCA) method. This study models landfill disposal and recycling scenarios of the decommissioned PV module and wind turbine, and compares their impacts to those of the other stages in the life cycles. The comparison establishes that the wind turbine has smaller environmental impacts in almost all of the categories assessed. The disposal stage can become a major contributor to the environmental impacts, depending on disposal scenarios. Recycling is an environmentally efficient method, because of its environmental benefits derived from energy savings and resource reclaimed. The end-of-life recycling scenario for a wind turbine has a significant part on the environmental impacts and should not be ignored. However, many factors also influence the degree to which recycling can be beneficial. With the wind turbine recycling scenario, when large quantities of waste are recycled, the potential savings can be quite large, while with the PV module, small quantities of recycled waste mean that the benefits of recycling are not fully reaped.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The effect of bath temperature on Cu2SnSe4 films prepared by electrodeposition was studied in this work. The structure, morphology and composition of the films were analysed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX). The band gap energy and type of optical transition were determined from optical absorbance data. The results showed that electrodeposition of Cu2SnSe4 films was most suitable to be obtained at room temperature. Increasing the bath temperature did not improve the crystallinity of Cu2SnSe4 compound, but to formation of binary phase, CuSe. EDAX studies showed that increasing the temperature resulted in drastic increase in Cu content and decrease in Sn content. The optical absorption studies showed the film deposited at room temperature has direct transition with band gap energy E g of 1.2 eV.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper reports on the techno-economic assessment of an autonomous hybrid PV/diesel system installed in a bungalow complex in Elounda, Crete. Technical and economic factors are examined using a computerized renewable-energy technologies assessment tool. Several different economic and financial feasibility indices are calculated, such as the Internal Rate-of-Return (IRR), Year-to-positive cash flow, Net Present Value (NPV) and the simple Pay-Back Period (PBP) for different financing scenarios, in order to assess the gross return on the investment.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Confocal Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to characterize EVOO and its adulterated samples. The simultaneous acquisition of Raman and fluorescence spectra was realized in one piece of spectral data, and Raman spectra of trace substances (chlorophyll and β carrot) in EVOO were found. In addition, the EVOO used in the experiment exhibited fluorescence quenching during the process of adulteration. Use multiple linear regression (MLR) to compare and analyze pure vegetable oil and adulterated oil samples to establish a quantitative analysis model. Studies have found that fluorescence quenching not only affects the accuracy of fluorescence quantitative analysis, but also interferes with the accuracy of Raman spectroscopy quantitative analysis. In this paper, the fusion analysis of the two spectroscopic techniques minimizes the effect of fluorescence quenching and improves the accuracy of quantitative analysis.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The tunable bandgap of Cu2(Zn1−xCox)SnS4 and Cu2(Fe1−xCox)SnS4 nanocrystals synthesized by the one-pot and hot-injection methods respectively was explored as a function of the Co concentration. The Co(CH3COO)2 precursor is superior to Co(NO3)2 and CoCl2 ones in enhancing the growth of pure and stoichiometric Cu2CoSnS4 (CCTS) nanocrystals. During synthesis of pure Cu2(Zn1−xCox)SnS4 nanocrystals at 270 °C for 48 h in the one-pot system, Cu3SnS4 forms first and then reacts with Co to form CCTS, and finally Zn incorporates into CCTS to form the Cu2(Zn1−xCox)SnS4 alloy. The structural transition from kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 to stannite CCTS occurs in the Cu2(Zn1−xCox)SnS4 samples with the Co concentration (x) in the range of 0.3–0.6. The pure Cu2(Fe1−xCox)SnS4 nanocrystals were synthesized at 260 °C for 30 min by the hot-injection method. The direct bandgaps of Cu2(Zn1−xCox)SnS4 and Cu2(Fe1−xCox)SnS4 nanocrystals can be tuned in the ranges of 1.21–1.49 and 1.30–1.46 eV respectively, which decrease almost linearly with the Co concentration, showing that Cu2(Zn1−xCox)SnS4 and Cu2(Fe1−xCox)SnS4 nanocrystals may be well suited for application as the absorption layer in thermoelectric and photovoltaic devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Several photovoltaic applications, specially the water pumping systems, are installed to contribute in the socio–economic development in Algerian Sahara. About sixty pumps are installed in remote regions to supply water for drinking and irrigation. The centrifugal pumps present the state-of-the-art for most applications. This paper presents the electrical and hydraulic performance of a surface centrifugal pump versus total water heads and versus a size of PV array. Also the area irrigated by this solar surface pump is calculated under Sahara climate conditions for four crops, namely wheat, potatoes, tomatoes and sunflowers. These were selected to meet with food standards of the sites. Two application sites were chosen to test the developed model. The first is Bechar station and the second is Tamanrasset station. In both, the recorded solar radiation data were used. The results, which are illustrated by tables and curves, are analysed. The analysis of the performance concluded that this surface pump is suitable for installation in the Sahara regions with low water head.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The thermal resistance of the first-level Cu dissipation substrate (R Cu) with different Cu thickness is investigated in this work. Using the “constant-forward-voltage” method, the thermal resistances of the first-level Cu dissipation substrates (R Cu) were measured against different Cu thickness. In the initial increase in the Cu thickness (up to 0.6mm), R Cu decreases with the Cu thickness. As the Cu thickness over 0.6mm, R Cu starts to slightly increase with the Cu thickness. The thermal resistance (R Cu) of the Cu substrate is composed of the z-direction thermal resistance (R z) and the two-dimensional horizontal spreading resistance (R s). The initial decrease in R Cu should attribute to the decrease in R s with the Cu thickness. After the initial increase in R Cu, the R Cu would increase and be dominated by the R z increase with the Cu thickness. Intriguingly, a minimum R Cu value occurs at the Cu thickness of about 0.6mm. Also, in this paper, we discuss the possible inaccuracy factors of the “constant-forward-voltage” method.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The temperature dependence of the thermoelectric power (TEP) of Kondo Ce and Yb compounds is theoretically studied by a new approach: for T⪢T K, we start from the Coqblin–Schrieffer Hamiltonian including the crystalline field effect and we use a renormalized perturbation expansion with the coupling constants calculated by the “poor man's scaling” method; for T⪡T K, we use an effective spin- 1 2 periodic Anderson model. This treatment can give a negative peak at low temperatures and a positive one at high temperatures, in good agreement with the TEP curves of many Ce compounds.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Ettlia sp. YC001 showing high biomass productivity even under a high CO2 of 5–10%. ► A high lipid content of 42% (dry cell weight) and accumulation of certain carotenoids. ► Ettlia sp. YC001 can be a candidate for producing biodiesel and high-value products.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The quantum chemical exploration of highly conjugated D-π-A type molecules based on cyclopentadithiophene (CPDT) core is anticipated to recommend novel organic materials for efficient organic solar cells (OSCs). Five new conjugated molecules (C1–C5) were designed by drafting of reference CR through thiophene bridged end caped acceptors and their geometric, as well as optoelectronic properties, were investigated at MPW1PW91/6-31G (d,p) functional. All the newly tailored chromophores (C1–C5) proclaimed lower energy gap values (ranging from 1.95 to 2.19 eV) than the reference CR (3.18 eV). TD-DFT calculations of all the newly designed molecules revealed higher λ max in the range 500–514 nm than the reference CR (483.2 nm) in dichloromethane solvent. Lower excitation energies (1.79–1.94 eV) and higher dipole moment (4.84–18.37 D) for all the drafted compounds (C1–C5) than reference CR were observed which proclaimed efficient charge transfer. Simulations of global reactivity parameters like hardness, chemical potential, softness and electrophilicity manifested all these molecules (C1–C5) to be reactive and thermally stable. The small values of reorganization energies for electron and hole exhibited high electron-hole mobilities and low charge recombination. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) parameters were simulated by scaling the HOMO of designed molecules acting as a donor with LUMO of PC61BM acceptor. All the designed molecules (C1–C5) demonstrated high open circuit voltage (0.67–0.92 V) than the reference (0.49 V) which is favorable for enhancement of PCE. Also, the higher values of fill factor (FF) ranging from 0.8417 to 0.8677 for newly designed chromophores increased the PCE than reference CR (0.8015). The results demonstrated the suitability of these donor molecules designed by deliberated technique, opening a new path for the development of donor's contributors to OSCs and may prove efficient materials for fabrication of future OSCs.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Integration of renewable energy systems with the appropriate technology plays a pivotal role in resolving the problem of sustainable energy supply. This paper is aimed to describe the concept of integration of biomass and solar concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) energy system. The present study focused particularly on the investigation of performance and emission from a 1.4 kVA Spark Ignition, constant speed generator using raw biogas integrated in hybrid energy system. The experiments are conducted at different fuel flow rates under varying electric loading conditions. Comparing with LPG as fuel, the power deterioration is observed to be 32% on raw biogas, due to its low calorific value. The maximum power output and brake thermal efficiency using biogas is witnessed to be 812 W and 19.50% respectively. The exhaust emission analysis of generator using biogas displays considerably reduced carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons whereas there is no significant difference in nitrogen oxides concentration levels while comparing with LPG, ascertaining it to be an eco-friendly fuel. The biogas fuelled electric generator integration with CPV system can attain sustainable rural energy supply.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In2Se3 films of different thicknesses were prepared by thermal evaporation technique. X-ray diffraction measurements showed that the as-deposited In2Se3 films and those annealed at 373, 423, and 473K are in the amorphous state. The composition of the investigated films is checked using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) technique. The ac conductivity and dielectric properties of the amorphous In2Se3 films have been investigated in the frequency range 100Hz–100kHz. The ac conductivity σ ac(ω) is found to be proportional to ω s where s<1. The temperature dependence of both ac conductivity and the parameter s is reasonably well interpreted by the correlated barrier hopping (CBH) model. Values of dielectric constant ε 1 and dielectric loss ε 2 were found to decrease with frequency and increase with temperature. The maximum barrier height W M calculated from dielectric measurements according to Guintini equation agrees with that proposed by the theory of hopping of charge carriers over potential barrier as suggested by Elliot in case of chalcogenide glasses. The effect of annealing at different temperatures on the ac conductivity and dielectric properties is also investigated. Values of σ ac (ω), ε 1 , and ε 2 were found to increase with higher annealing temperature due to the increase of the degree of ordering of the investigated films.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In order to overcome the curtailment of wind energy caused by “power determined by heat” of combined heat and power units, this study proposes an integrated demand response strategy and optimization method for heat-electric energy dispatching in a regionally integrated energy system. Firstly, a scenario analysis algorithm based on Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) and Backward Reduction (BR) is applied to characterize the probability characteristics of wind power output. In addition, a novel integrated demand response scheduling model with the consideration of transmission characteristics of the heating network, aiming at minimizing the operation cost, is proposed for a regional integrated energy system. To solve this model, the thermos-electric coupling relationship is evaluated and the proportion of thermoelectric demand response is also weighted. The user satisfaction and economy will finally reach a more optimal level, and thereby is solved via CPLEX solver in MATLAB. The simulation results on a actual integrated energy system reveal that the proposed method is capable of optimizing energy consumption and lowering operational costs while maintaining user satisfaction with the uncertain wind generation by leveraging thermal inertia of the integrated energy system.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report on the electrical and thermal transport properties of the Sn1−x Pb x Bi2Te4 series and we discuss the potential of these materials for thermoelectric conversion applications. From the evolution of the XRD patterns, we can confidently conclude that a complete solid solution exists between SnBi2Te4 and PbBi2Te4, with no miscibility gap. A crossover from p-type conduction in Sn-rich samples to n-type conduction in Pb-rich ones has been observed, with a transition between x=0.3 and 0.4. A concomitant increase of the electrical resistivity and of the Seebeck coefficient has been observed in the solid solution, which leads to almost constant values of the thermoelectric power factor. Moreover, the thermal conductivity is slightly reduced in the solid solution. The best figure of merit ZT values at room temperature have been observed for p-type Sn0.8Pb0.2Bi2Te4 with ZT=0.25 and for n-type Sn0.3Pb0.7Bi2Te4 with ZT=0.15.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • The multi-layer structure of uniform, rectangular air cells is considered. • The phenomenon of radiation through a number of parallel internal films is analysed. • The prepared model was used to investigate the impact of film transmittance. • Experimental frosting and thawing of a test package confirmed the abilities of wrap.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar air heaters of many types have been developed in India and their performance studied in detail. The application of these air heaters are limited to a few demonstration projects for food dehydration, and space heating. Some of these case studies are described in this paper. For a few cash crops, the potential of solar air heaters for the drying process has been assessed in detail. Space heating by solar air heaters and their use for natural ventilation has also been discussed and results of a theoretical study presented to make out a case for more intensive research in the fields of solar air heater applications in India.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A well-recognized local pseudopotential is utilized to study the electrical transport properties such as electrical resistivity ( ρ ), thermal conductivity ( σ ) and thermoelectric power ( TEP ) of some liquid metals. The model potential theory in combination with Ziman, mean free path and Kubo models are implemented in the aforesaid study. The Taylor’s local field correction function is taken for studying the exchange and correlation effect with one component plasma (OCP) structure factor method of liquid metals. The computed data is found highly appreciated order with available either theoretical or experimental outcomes wherever exits.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Couplers, isolators, and circulators are all commodity components. Many of the optical filters are commercially available, with fiber gratings, thin-film multicavity filters, and arrayed waveguide gratings used in commercial WDM systems. This chapter discusses the physical principles behind the operation of the most important components of optical communication systems. For each component, a simple descriptive treatment followed by a more detailed mathematical treatment is given. The components used in modern optical networks include couplers, lasers, photodetectors, optical amplifiers, optical switches, and filters and multiplexers. Couplers are simple components used to combine or split optical signals. Filters and multiplexers are used to multiplex and demultiplex signals at different wavelengths in WDM systems. Various types of optical amplifiers, which are key elements used to overcome fiber and other component losses are described in the chapter. In many cases, these can be used to amplify signals at multiple wavelengths. Understanding filters and optical amplifiers is essential to understanding the operation of lasers, which comes next. Semiconductor lasers are the main transmitters used in optical communication systems. Photodetectors and optical switches are also discussed. Wavelength converters, which are used to convert signals from one wavelength to another, at the edges of the optical network, as well as inside the network are described in this discussion.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, we propose the newly hybrid systems formed by substitution of graphane and fluorographene (fluorographane) into both edge side parts of bilayer armchair graphene nanoribbons, and then investigate the concurrent influence of chemical functionalization and strain on the electronic transport and thermoelectric properties of b-AGNR. It is found that all hybrid systems are structurally stable and those are semiconductors, which have band gaps of about 0.1 eV–1.98 eV as function of chemical functionalization of edges and strain. Especially, the system formed by substitution of fluorographene produces larger band gap and it implies that chemical functionalization of fluorine atom plays role to increase the band gap of b-AGNR. In addition, the HOMO plays the crucial role in tuning of the electronic properties with external strain. The IV curve for b-AGANR-2 system changes drastically according to strain, especially, the current indicates the largest value under 4 % strain. The thermoelectric characteristics, such as thermoelectric current and Seebeck coefficient are enhanced more under small strain (2 % and 4 %). However, the largest power factors (PFs) values are observed under 8 % and 12 % strain. The calculated results have attracted great attention for the design of various kinds of novel nanoelectronic devices with bilayer graphene, including thermoelectric applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The photovoltage spectrum measured on back illuminated silicon solar cells of the (passivated emitor solar cell) (PESC) type without original bottom ohmic electrode is evaluated with the aim to find the diffusion length of minority carriers in bulk of the absorber (L). Two junctions, namely pn+ junction of the cell and that spontaneously created on the free surface generally exist in such samples. They give rise to two signals of opposite signs with one point of exact compensation. Six parameters (including L) are needed to characterize the spectrum. Special simple arrangement removes influence of spontaneously created junction on the free surface, which, in this way, reduces the number of parameters needed for fitting to three and enhances reliability of the measurement.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Biological preforms such as plant tissue have gained interest for manufacturing of biomorphous ceramics with an anisotropic cellular micro- and macrostructure pseudomorphous to the natural template anatomy. Mimicking the hierarchical microstructure of the native template at different length scales from large vessels (mm) down to the cell wall microstructure (μm to nm) offers the possibility to tailor the local strut microstructure in biomorphous ceramics in order to improve mechanical and other physical properties at low density. Mineralization may be achieved by intercalation of the cell walls with an inorganic or a metal organic sol or by infiltration of a metal melt or vapor into a biocarbon replica and subsequent reaction at elevated temperatures. Amorphous, nano-, or microcrystalline composite materials of a wide range of oxide- and nonoxide-based ceramic materials were formed. Since the cellular tissue anatomy is distinguished by periodical undulations of cell morphology and pore structure created by the specific growth conditions, the properties of biomorphous ceramics were found to be highly anisotropic on various hierarchical length scales.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Structural modification of iron-disilicides β-FeSi2 has been investigated to improve the thermoelectric properties of the materials by r.f.-plasma processing in SiH4, GeH4 or their mixed gases. The plasma treatment of β-FeSi2 micrograins in SiH4 or GeH4 gas prior to sintering results in an anomalous increase in the hole mobility in the temperature region lower than 400 K. X-Ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) measurements revealed that the valence states at the interface between a coated Si or Ge layer and a β-FeSi2 core material are changed by the interdiffusion of Si into β-FeSi2 for SiH4 plasma and by the out-of-diffusion of Ge from the base material for GeH4 plasma. From electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements, it is also found that the carrier mobility at temperatures lower than 400 K is limited by structural defects at the grain-boundary interface, and that the defects are greatly reduced by the r.f.-plasma treatment.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper analyzes the energy saving and power management solutions necessary to improve the energy consumption efficiency in photovoltaic powered products. Important in the design of such products is not only the energy supply optimization required to deliver the actual energy to fulfil their function, but also efficient energy transfer along the energy chain. In this paper, several methods to improve the efficiency of the energy chain are described. This includes an analysis of optimization methods for photovoltaic powered products, its functional system and product use.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We investigated the effects of poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) films treated with methoxyethanol (ME) on the performance of polymer solar cells, and the effects were compared with the PEDOT:PSS films treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). In particular, a correlation between the performance parameters of polymer solar cells and changes in the conductivity, surface morphology, and work function of treated PEDOT:PSS was investigated as a function of an added ME and DMSO ratio. The enhanced conductivity of the treated PEDOT:PSS improved the short circuit current and reduced the series resistance of solar cells. While the enhanced conductivity and surface roughness of the treated PEDOT:PSS also induced the large leakage current and sacrificed the device FF. The open circuit voltage was almost constant, although the slightly reduced voltage was observed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This research describes the development of a very cheap mesoporous silica material similar to hexagonal mesoporous silica (HMS) and using a silicate extract as precursor. This precursor is obtained from cheap fly ash by an easy calcination process at 850 °C and a green extraction with water. The obtained mesoporous fly ash material had a surface area of 282 m2 g−1 and a pore size of 5.7 nm. It was functionalized with ethylene diamino moieties via the well-known SAMMS method, followed by a DRIFT analysis that clearly showed the successful functionalization. An excellent adsorbent was obtained for the adsorption of sulfate anions by the solid's modification with copper forming a copper-ethylenediamine complex. The adsorption of sulfates was studied in a batch system where the pH at highest adsorption 8 was and the adsorption time remarkably fast (5 min). The kinetic data were fitted according to a pseudo-second order model with a high coefficient of linear regression at different initial concentrations. The adsorption isotherm that best fitted the experimental data was the Freundlich model. The maximum sulfate adsorption capacity of this very cheap fly ash based adsorbent was 146.1 mg g−1, 3 times greater than the values reported in literature and commercial adsorbent materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this chapter, existing knowledge about and experiences with product-integrated photovoltaics (PIPVs) for various product categories is presented: consumer products, lighting products, business-to-business products, recreational products, vehicles and transportation, and arts. The term PIPV indicates that PV technology is integrated in a product by positioning PV cells on the surfaces of a product. An overview is given of existing solar-powered products, and the design of PIPV will be presented from the context of design processes. Our findings show that PIPV can be applied well in different product categories and various markets. Based on a review of the existing literature, the following topics are addressed in more detail: technical aspects, system design, energy balance, costs, environmental aspects, human factors, and design and manufacturing. From our review, it is found that many relevant issues regarding PIPV have not been explored thoroughly so far; among others energy-efficient management of PIPV–battery systems, environmental aspects of PV technology in products, manufacturing of PIPVs, and user experiences with PIPV in different product categories. In this chapter, it is shown that PIPV can offer energy to products with a wide range of power demand. Therefore, it is envisioned in the future that PIPV might become common, for instance, in public lighting products, sensors, boats, cars, and in urban furniture in public spaces.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Presentation of the hybrid PV/wind system in its general form. ► Modeling parameters dealing with the calculation of the power generated from the PV/wind system. ► Presentation of the sizing optimization method of the hybrid system. ► The simulation of optimal sizing of hybrid system with these results and analysis are exposed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The usage of valuable resources and the potential for waste generation at the end of the life cycle of photovoltaic (PV) technologies necessitate a proactive planning for a PV recycling infrastructure. To ensure the sustainability of PV in large scales of deployment, it is vital to develop and institute low-cost recycling technologies and infrastructure for the emerging PV industry in parallel with the rapid commercialization of these new technologies. There are various issues involved in the economics of PV recycling and we examine those at macro and micro levels, developing a holistic interpretation of the economic viability of the PV recycling systems. We developed mathematical models to analyze the profitability of recycling technologies and to guide tactical decisions for allocating optimal location of PV take-back centers (PVTBC), necessary for the collection of end of life products. The economic decision is usually based on the level of the marginal capital cost of each PVTBC, cost of reverse logistics, distance traveled, and the amount of PV waste collected from various locations. Our results illustrated that the reverse logistics costs comprise a major portion of the cost of PVTBC; PV recycling centers can be constructed in the optimally selected locations to minimize the total reverse logistics cost for transporting the PV wastes from various collection facilities to the recycling center. In the micro- process level, automated recycling processes should be developed to handle the large amount of growing PV wastes economically. The market price of the reclaimed materials are important factors for deciding the profitability of the recycling process and this illustrates the importance of the recovering the glass and expensive metals from PV modules.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Environmentally friendly thermal interface materials (TIMs) with bidirectional high thermal conductivities have aroused considerable interests for addressing the heat dissipation issue in integrated circuits. Although graphene-based TIMs exhibit excellent in-plane thermal conductive performance, their through-plane thermal conductivity is commonly less than 3 Wm−1K−1 owing to the vast interfacial phonon scattering, significantly limiting their practical applications. In this study, a strategy aimed at building TIMs with controllable heat transfer pathways both along the in-plane and through-plane directions is proposed by incorporating micron-diamonds (MDs) in graphene nanoplatelets/nanofibrillated cellulose (GNPs/NFC) composite film via a facile and green self-assembly method. The morphology of the obtained MDs@GNPs/NFC composite film can be precisely tailored from a hierarchical structure to a 3D solid foam-like structure to tailor heat transfer paths. By adjusting the loading and particle size of MDs, a through-plane thermal conductivity of 8.85 Wm−1K−1 was achieved accompanied with a simultaneously high in-plane thermal conductivity of 32.01 Wm−1K−1. The excellent bidirectional thermal conductive performance is integrated with high-efficiency Joule heating capability, outstanding nonflammability, as well as superior electromagnetic shielding performance, showing a promising future in advanced electronic devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This study aims to stimulate the discussion on how to optimize a sustainable energy mix from an environmental perspective and how to apply existing renewable energy sources in the most efficient way. Ground-mounted photovoltaics (PV) and the maize–biogas-electricity route are compared with regard to their potential to mitigate environmental pressure, assuming that a given agricultural area is available for energy production. Existing life cycle assessment (LCA) studies are taken as a basis to analyse environmental impacts of those technologies in relation to conventional technology for power and heat generation. The life-cycle-wide mitigation potential per area used is calculated for the impact categories non-renewable energy input, green house gas (GHG) emissions, acidification and eutrophication. The environmental performance of each system depends on the scenario that is assumed for end energy use (electricity and heat supply have been contemplated). In all scenarios under consideration, PV turns out to be superior to biogas in almost all studied impact categories. Even when maize is used for electricity production in connection with very efficient heat usage, and reduced PV performance is assumed to account for intermittence, PV can still mitigate about four times the amount of green house gas emissions and non-renewable energy input compared to maize–biogas. Soil erosion, which can be entirely avoided with PV, exceeds soil renewal rates roughly 20-fold on maize fields. Regarding the overall Eco-indicator 99 (H) score under most favourable assumptions for the maize–biogas route, PV has still a more than 100% higher potential to mitigate environmental burden. At present, the key advantages of biogas are its price and its availability without intermittence. In the long run, and with respect to more efficient land use, biogas might preferably be produced from organic waste or manure, whereas PV should be integrated into buildings and infrastructures.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A looped separate heat pipe as waste heat recovery facility for the air-conditioning exhaust system has been developed in this work. A one-dimensional steady-state model is presented for determining the upper and lower operating boundaries of the initial filling ratio of the working fluid, as a function of the separate heat pipe geometry, vapor temperature of working fluid and power throughput, combined with two-phase heat exchange characteristics and distribution of the liquid film velocity along with the liquid film thickness direction. A parametric analysis is performed to investigate the effects of the length of the evaporator, vapor temperature, and power throughput on the critical values of the upper and lower boundaries. Simulation results show that the length of the evaporator makes almost no influence on the upper boundary, but great effect on the lower boundary. An increase of the vapor temperature leads to the easier arriving of the lower boundary. Moreover, operation ranges of the separate heat pipe vary with the working fluids. Water and methanol were used separately. An experiment was implemented to validate the simulated results. The numerical predictions compare favorably with experimental results.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The DNA-binding domain (DBD) of wild-type p53 loses DNA binding activity spontaneously at 37°C in vitro, despite being thermodynamically stable at this temperature. We test the hypothesis that this property is due to kinetic misfolding of DBD. Interrupted folding experiments and chevron analysis show that native molecules are formed via four tracks (a–d) under strongly native conditions. Folding half-lives of tracks a–d are 7.8 seconds, 50 seconds, 5.3 minutes and more than five hours, respectively, in 0.3M urea (10°C). Approximately equal fractions of molecules fold through each track in zero denaturant, but above 2.0M urea ∼90% fold via track c. A kinetic mechanism consisting of two parallel folding channels (fast and slow) is proposed. Each channel populates an on-pathway intermediate that can misfold to form an aggregation-prone, dead-end species. Track a represents direct folding through the fast channel. Track b proceeds through the fast channel but via the off-pathway state. Track c corresponds to folding via the slow channel, primarily through the off-pathway state. Track d proceeds by way of an even slower, uncharacterized route. We postulate that activity loss is caused by partitioning to the slower tracks, and that structural unfolding limits this process. In support of this view, tumorigenic hot-spot mutants G245S, R249S and R282Q accelerate unfolding rates but have no affect on folding kinetics. We suggest that these and other destabilizing mutants facilitate loss of p53 function by causing DBD to cycle unusually rapidly between folded and unfolded states. A significant fraction of DBD molecules become effectively trapped in a non-functional state with each unfolding–folding cycle.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The applicability of surface photovoltage (SPV) measurements for the detection of charge carrier injection processes at extremely thin absorber (ETA) interfaces was investigated. Interfaces of the ETA absorber PbS on nanocrystalline (nc-) TiO2 and ZrO2 were studied in comparison with dye-sensitized interfaces of the same oxides (which served as reference interfaces, since the charge transfer processes at these interfaces have been extensively studied and are therefore quite well understood). We found that SPV-measurements can indeed be used for the detection of electron injection. This allows the qualitative observation of photoeffects at ETA-interfaces without the need of constructing complete solar cell devices.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► N-(p-R-phenacyl)-1,7-phenanthrolinium bromides thin films are n-type semiconductors. ► Their extended conjugation and packing capacity favor d.c. electrical conductivity. ► The band model representation is suitable in the higher temperature range (T > T c). ► The Mott's variable-range hopping model operates in the lower temperature range. ► The actual organic salts hold promise for thermistor applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In order to prevent positive grid corrosion and to obtain a long life for positive electrodes of lead-acid batteries, a conductive and corrosion resistant SnO2 (tin dioxide) layer was formed on a Ti (titanium) substrate by a conventional dip-coating method. However, it is impossible to apply this method to a Pb (lead) substrate, because the dip-coating method needs a calcination process, at a temperature higher (conventionally from 450 to 600°C) than the melting point of Pb (T m: 327°C). For this reason, an SnO2 layer to protect the substrate against passivation and/or corrosion was formed on Ti and/or Pb electrodes by applying sputtering, a method which is often used in the production of semiconductors. This improved electrode, with an SnO2 layer, was not corroded at all, even though the thickness of the SnO2 layer was only about 15μm. The biggest problem of the SnO2 layer is that it dissolves in sulfuric acid when the positive electrode is polarized below 0.5V (versus Pb/PbSO4). This suggests that this electrode should not be subjected to deep discharge.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Benzodithiophene derivatives represent a category of planar and rigid sulfur-containing heterocyclic molecules that possess a diverse range of applications in the development of organic optoelectronic materials, due to their versatile chemical structures and exceptional optoelectronic properties. Depending on the different connection positions between the benzene ring and thiophene, benzodithiophene can be classified into four constitutional isomers. In particular, benzo [1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene (BDT) has found extensive utility as fundamental components in various photovoltaic polymers and small molecule materials. This article provides a comprehensive review of the research progress of BDT materials in fields such as organic solar cells, electrochromic devices, organic field-effect transistors, and biomedical imaging, with a specific focus on their performance in organic solar cells. The article explores molecular design strategies, chemical structures, and photovoltaic performance of these materials, providing valuable insights for the design and synthesis of novel BDT-based derivatives with enhanced performance and stability in the future.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar cell efficiency limit are receiving renewed examination due to the realisation that many types of solar cell structures can theoretically achieve similar efficiencies to those of multiple p–n homojunctions, without the need for a large number of different semiconductors. This paper shows that the proposed high efficiency device structures fit into one of three general classes and therefore only three ideal efficiency limit calculations are required. However, many of the suggested structures violate assumptions in the ideal efficiency limit calculations. Hence, these calculations should be modified to include additional transport, generation and recombination effects.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In today's rapidly changing corporate environment, business executives are turning to cutting-edge technology to solve complex problems efficiently. A machine learning approach allows for a more thorough understanding and quantification of decision-making outcomes, leading to increased confidence in business decisions. In this work for the first time, machine learning approach and mathematical simulation are used to model nonlinear guided waves in the sandwich nanostructure coupled with piezoelectric actuator. Using mathematical modeling, the current work studies the nonlinear phase velocity in a sandwich nanoshell composed of a bi-directional functionally graded (BD-FG) core and piezoelectric patch. The modeling uses first-order shear deformation theory with the fairly thick hypothesis to describe the displacement fields of piezoelectric layers. For core layer, a higher order shear deformation theory with terms of higher order in the Taylor series expansion is presented. The nanosystem is accurately modeled using nonlocal strain gradient theory, incorporating nonlocal and length scale characteristics. The solution approach section outlines the multiple scale method for the time domain and the harmonic solution methodology for the displacement domain to address nonlinear equations. To reduce the computational expenses, a machine-learning approach is introduced to address the nonlinear vibration issue in the current study. Validating the conclusions of the current study by comparing them with machine-learning solutions and another published paper can confirm their accuracy. The results section presents the impacts of factors like area of piezoelectric patch, length scale, applied voltage, nonlocality, geometry condition and FG power index on the nonlinear phase velocity of the BD-FG nanoshell coupled with piezoelectric patch.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "All photographers work today with historical perspective. They know that the technology they use has an origin in the distant past. They know photography has progressed and transformed over time, and they believe the current system of photography must be superior to that of the past. They are sure they will witness further progress in photography. These are the lessons of history understood by all, and none need inquire any further in order to photograph.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The present study demonstrated the direct application of poly(3-hexylthiophene) benzyl-di-n-octylphosphine oxide (P3HT-DOPO) functionalized ZnO nanoparticles (P3HT-DOPO@ZnO) as active layer of hybrid bulk heterojunction solar cells. P3HT-DOPO@ZnO Scheme 1 nanocomposites were synthesized by direct grafting of P3HT-DOPO, which was prepared via Suzuki-Miyaura reaction between P3HT-Br and p-benzyl-di-n-octylphosphine oxide acid. The resulting P3HT-DOPO@ZnO nanocomposites possess a well-defined interface, thus significantly promoting the dispersion of ZnO nanoparticles within the P3HT matrix and facilitating the electronic interaction between these two components, resulting in a more efficient photoinduced charge transfer than that of in physical mixture of P3HT and ZnO nanoparticles. The hybrid photovoltaic device of P3HT-DOPO@ZnO performance exhibited an improved device efficiencies as high as 0.077%, with J sc=1.05mA/cm2, V oc=0.34V and a FF=0.22 under AM 1.5G illumination with 100mW/cm2 light intensity.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper a hierarchical multiscale simulation framework is outlined and experimental data injection into this framework is discussed. Specifically, we discuss multiscale model-based design of experiments to optimize the chemical information content of a detailed reaction mechanism in order to improve the fidelity and accuracy of reaction models. Extension of this framework to product (catalyst) design is briefly touched upon. Furthermore, we illustrate the use of such detailed and reduced kinetic models in reactor optimization as an example toward more conventional process design. The ammonia decomposition on Ruthenium to produce hydrogen and the water-gas shift reactions on Platinum for converting syngas to hydrogen serve as illustrative fuel processing examples of various topics. Finally, opportunities for process design and control in portable microchemical devices (lab-on-a chip) are discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Advances in nanotechnology have opened up a wide range of opportunities for engineering properties of cementitious materials using nanoscale reinforcements. Development of this new class of cementitious composites has resulted in extensive academic and industrial research regarding the processing, characterization, and modeling of these materials. Nano materials, especially nano carbon materials (NCMs) including carbon nanofibers, carbon nanotubes, and nano graphite platelets, were found to be able to improve the mechanical property, durability, and functional properties of cementitious materials due to their excellent intrinsic properties and composition effects. This chapter introduces advances in NCM-filled cementitious composites with an aim at high-performance and multifunctional properties for structural applications. Key issues in research of NCM-filled cementitious composites (e.g., fabrication, properties, and mechanism) are addressed, along with challenges to add the reinforcing effect of NCMs to conventional cementitious composites and infrastructures made of them.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► The electron-recombination mechanisms within FTO/electrolyte interface are analyzed. ► The TiO2-coated solar cell exhibits enhanced efficiency by more than a factor of two. ► The electron-carrier lifetime is one order of magnitude higher than bare sample. ► IPCE shows asymmetric behavior due to high extinction coefficients of quantum dots.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In a zero energy home annual energy consumption is equal to the annual energy production using one or more available renewable energy resources. In St John’s, Newfoundland wind is the readily available renewable energy resource. The average annual wind speed in St John’s is 6.7 m/s. This paper presents a feasibility study of a wind energy conversion system based zero energy home in Newfoundland. This study is based on year round recorded wind speed data, solar data and power-consumed data in a typical R-2000 house in Newfoundland. National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s software HOMER is used to select an optimum energy system. A detailed analysis, description and expected performance of the system are presented in this paper. This investigation indicates feasibility of a wind energy system based zero energy homes in Newfoundland.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Mechanical alloying fabrication of MWCNTs/n-Bi2Se0.6Te2.4 composites. • Effect of the addition of MWCNTs on the carrier concentration. • Carrier concentration variation with MWCNTs’ content.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, we investigate the influence of the molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth conditions (substrate temperature and arsenic flux) on the photovoltaic (PV) behavior and asymmetric characteristics of nominally identical well-doped AlGaAs/AlAs/GaAs double-barrier quantum well infrared photodetectors. This PV effect, already studied and reported in the literature, has been attributed to unintentional asymmetries of the potential profile introduced during the MBE growth process; in particular, due to an inequivalence of the AlAs layer properties or, more plausibly, to local space-charge regions originating from silicon segregation. The different “unintended” asymmetries for the samples considered in this work, validated by both dark-current and responsivity measurements, point at first glance to the existence of structural dissimilarities affecting the PV response. Hence, in order to clarify the influence of the suggested AlAs barriers inequivalence or interface roughness and quality in the origin of the PV signal we have performed a direct layer structural characterization by cross-section high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The analysis yields that regardless of the different growth conditions, the layers properties are similar, suggesting they play a minor role in the origin of the PV effect. Also this characterization tool may provide a further evidence of Si segregation being the main responsible. Concerning its growth conditions dependence, it seems that the As flux, and not only the substrate temperature, may affect Si segregation and hence the PV response.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A novel dinuclear ruthenium complex has been successfully synthesized and used as a sensitizing dye in DSSC, giving J sc =1.01mAcm−2, V oc =520mV and η =0.32%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Favorable physical properties of many Half Heusler alloys (HHAs), along with the possibility of tuning their electronic structure by changing the composition, make the HHAs promising candidates for thermoelectric and spintronic applications. In the present work, we explore HHAs based on various chalcogen atoms, with 18 valence electrons (VEC) per unit cell, namely, A(=Sc,Y,La)B(=Co,Rh)C(=S,Se,Te). Systematic density functional theory (DFT) based investigations have been carried out to probe their energetic, mechanical and lattice dynamical properties. Following that, analyses of band structure and Fermi surface reveal high values of valley degeneracy in the states near the Fermi energy in many of these alloys. Therefore, subsequently, thermoelectric properties (TEP) of these above-mentioned alloys have been studied. The dependence of the TEP on the carrier concentration, chemical potential and temperature for the n- and p-type doped systems have been studied. An enhancement of 50%–100% in the values of power factor (S2 σ/τ) for YCoC(=S,Se,Te) and LaCoC(=S,Se,Te) alloys for the p-type doping has been observed as compared to TiNiSn. In comparison to the well-known TiNiSn alloy, for most of the probed HHAs, about 10% enhancement has been found in the maximum values of figure of merit calculated using only the electronic contribution ((ZT e ) max ). Further, it is essential to calculate the figure of merit (ZT) for total thermal conductivity (κ = κ e + κ l ). Hence, to obtain the lattice contribution of the thermal conductivity, we employ an equation which uses the Gr u ¨ neisen parameters. Subsequently, we calculate the ZT values using κ. We find that these values show enhancement when compared with the value obtained for TiNiSn. The favorable electronic structure and propitious values of power factor and figure of merit make this class of systems promising for possible thermoelectric applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Among the most prominent renewable energy sources worldwide, geothermal heat is plentiful in almost every location containing subterranean geofluid, primarily water. Additionally, given the excessive consumption of water in various manners globally, serious focus has been driven towards means of compensation for freshwater resources. The present study proposes four systems powered by geothermal sources, thereby introduced as geothermal systems. System D, comprised of a double-flash geothermal system, a humidification dehumidification desalination system, and two thermoelectric generators, demonstrated the most promising results among all systems after being analyzed thermodynamically and exergoeconomically, all of which performed using EES software. The evaluated parameters are sum unit cost of products, net generated power output, energetic and exergetic efficiencies, which yielded 4.532$/GJ, 106.8 kW, 45.83 %, and 51.53 %, respectively. In order to generate overplus power and further exploit waste heat, thermoelectric generators were implemented in the systems as substitutions for the condensers. The findings suggested an extra sum of 10.112 kW generated power and exergetic improvement by 1.15 % taking event in system D due to the application of two thermoelectric generators. Moreover, optimization scenarios were run to maximize energetic and exergetic performances and minimize the sum unit cost of products. Three weight coefficients were assumed for each of the target parameters within the single-objective optimization scenarios, namely the thermal efficiency mode, exergy efficiency mode, and economic mode. Moreover, a multi-objective optimization mode was carried out. The optimal results are addressed further along the paper. The present study aims at proposing an optimal system respondent to two of contemporary society’s fundamental requisites, power and freshwater, and in order to do so, an evolutional sequence has been undertaken to satisfy the stated requirements.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Ab initio quadratic CI calculation (QCISD) and 6-311G∗∗ basis have been used to calculate the equilibrium geometries, potential energy curves, spectroscopic dissociation energies of the ground and low-lying electronic states of B2 and B2 +. The correct ground state of B2 + is determined by using the potential energy curves and optimization calculation at the same time. The dissociation limits of these states are induced by using the principles of resolution, direct product and reduction of group representation and reversibility for the microscopic process. The analytical potential energy functions of these states have been fitted with Murrell–Sorbie potential energy function from our ab initio calculation results. The spectroscopic data of each state are calculated through the relationship between analytical potential energy function and spectroscopic data, and compared with some other theoretical data and experimental data available from the experiment at present.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Extraction of the transport properties of solid samples does not usually require complicated equipment or setups. However, a large number of subtle experimental details affect transport measurement, from contact resistance, to the finite dimensions of the sample, or the probe contact distances. Such details are critical when measuring nanoscale materials and devices. It is therefore necessary to master, in an informed way, the experimental aspects behind each type of transport measurement. This chapter provides an overview on relevant techniques to measure transport coefficients of bulk, thin, and nano materials. Our aim is to provide the reader the basics of representative experimental setups, together with their potential, applicability, and limitations.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The growth of cadmium chalcogenide thin film semiconductors, in the context of a typical electrolytic method of formation with an aqueous bath, is to a large extent determined by the deposition substrate, together with the potential, for a given electrolyte composition and temperature. The effect of various substrates (-oriented Ni, commercially pure Ni, Ti) and procedures (Ni electropolishing, Ti anodization, double-step deposition, etc.) on the structural arrangement and the resulting photoelectrochemical (PE) behavior of cathodically electroplated CdSe layers is presented. The outcome of the preparation process is analyzed in terms of structural–optical properties relation. As verified, some microcrystalline, porous samples give higher PE efficiencies than larger-grained ones, owing to the increased contact area with the PE redox electrolyte and possibly the establishment of a particular charge transfer mechanism in the solid. The latter is associated with the existence of a nanostructure.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This work addresses a systematic and in-depth electro-optical characterization of the Multi-Pixel Photon Counter (MPPC) sensors constituting the camera detection system at the focal plane of the ASTRI telescope prototype. The paper reports the experimental results of a large set of measurements on the MPPC devices in order to provide a reliable qualification of the detector performance and evaluate its compliance with the telescope focal plane requirements. In particular, breakdown voltage, internal gain, dark count rate, cross-talk and extra-charge probability, and absolute photon detection efficiency measurements are performed on the basic sensor device unit as a function of the detector operating conditions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Surface modification and characterization of engineering components using high energy beams is an ever expanding and innovative area of research. Laser surface modification of plasma sprayed alumina coatings were carried out for transforming metastable γ-Al2O3 phase predominantly present in as-sprayed coating to a thermodynamically stable α-Al2O3 phase. These laser treated coatings were characterized using laser based non-destructive techniques like laser Raman spectroscopy, laser scattering, photoluminescence and piezospectroscopy for quantitative evaluation of the phase transformation, surface roughness, densification and residual stress associated with the coatings. Raman spectroscopic studies indicated the restoration of α-Al2O3 phase and laser scattering technique was used to optimize the processing parameters to obtain superior surface finish. Photoluminescence measurements have shown a marginal decline in residual stress and significant increase in density of the laser treated coatings.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Capturing water vapor from atmospheric air is a possible solution to local water scarcity, but it is very energy demanding. Energy consumption estimates of water-from-air technologies involving adsorption processes, thermo-responsive hydrophilicity switching polymers, air cooling processes, and reverse osmosis of deliquescent salt solutions reveal that these technologies are not competitive when compared with seawater desalination, and the use of fresh water and wastewater sources. They only become a viable option in the absence of local liquid water sources and when long-distance transport for socio-economic reasons is not an option. Of interest, direct solar-driven technology for water-from-air production is an attractive means to disentangle the local water-energy nexus. It is expected that climate change will accelerate the introduction of water-from-air technologies in local water supply schemes. The optimal water-from-air technology depends on the climate, relative humidity, and temperature profiles. A world map is presented, indicating the optimal geographic location for each technology.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The purpose of the paper is to establish the position of the tie-lines in the Sb-Sm-Se system at 450 ​°C and 620 ​°C, to determine the optical band gap of the phases. The Sb component is in equilibrium with the γ-Sm2Se3-X-Sm3Se4 (ST Th3P4) solid solution region with α-Sm2Se3. A continuous solid solution forms between the SmSb and SmSe (ST NaCl) phases, with which the Sm3Se4 and Sm4Sb3 phases are in equilibrium. The SmSb-Sm3Se4, Sm3Se4-SmSb2, SmSe-Sm3Sb2 phases are also in equilibrium. In the Sb–Sm2Se3–Se system at 450°С, the tie-line passes between the Sb2Se3–Sm2Se3, Sb2Se3-SmSe1.9 phases. In the Sb–Se system based on Sb2Se3, a solid solution of the subtraction type Sb2-X□XSe3 (X ​= ​0–0.04) is formed. In the Sb-Sm-Se system, there is a solid solution of the substitution type along the cuts from Sb2Se3 to the Sm2Se3 (7 ​mol. % Sm2Se3), SmSe1.9 (4 ​mol. % SmSe1.9) phases. The extreme compositions of solid solutions have a peritectic point. Due to the change in the position of the tie-lines in the Sb–Sm2Se3–Se system at 620 ​°C, additional phases appear in the equilibrium samples from the Sb2Se3–Sm2Se3 section (annealing at 450 ​°C) when heated above 620 ​°C: Sb, SmSe1.9. The optical band gap of the phases is: Sb2-xSmxSe3 solid solution 1.17–1.19 ​eV, α-Sm2Se3 1.62 ​eV. Optical properties of incommensurate SmSe1.9 crystal that were investigated for the first time for this class of crystals indicate complex electronic structure that can be characterized as a multi band gap one, with at least two values of the band gap, 1.08 and 1.68 ​eV. Using optical spectroscopy, Sm ions in SmSe1.9 are proved to be predominantly in 3+ oxidation state. Previously, the formation of ternary compounds in the system was reported in the literature. Carefully conducted research allows us to assert their absence.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper provides first a review of the production costs of hydrogen from conventional, nuclear and renewable sources, reported in the literature during the last eight years. In order to analyze the costs on a unified basis, they are updated to a common year (2009), taking into account the yearly inflation rates. The study also considers whether the hydrogen has been produced in centralized or distributed facilities. From these data, the expected future costs for conventional production of hydrogen are calculated considering several scenarios on carbon emission taxations. Based on these estimations, together with the predicted future costs (2019–2020 and 2030) for hydrogen from alternative sources, several hydrogen cost-parity analyses are exposed for renewable and nuclear energies. From the comparison between these alternative technologies for hydrogen production and the conventional ones (steam methane reforming and coal gasification), several predictions on the time-periods to reach cost parities are elaborated.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, we design and construct lateral thermoelectric generators on bendable substrates with pairs of p-Ag2Te and n-Ag2Se chalcogenide nanoparticle (NP) thin films, and investigate their thermoelectric performances in ambient atmosphere. The individual Seebeck coefficient and lateral thermal conductivity are 1110 μV/K and 0.67 W/m K, respectively, for a single p-Ag2Te thin film, and − 290 μV/K and 0.55 W/m K, respectively, for a single n-Ag2Se NP thin film. A ring-shaped thermoelectric generator made with 50 pn modules of these NP thin films at a temperature difference of 15 K generates a Seebeck voltage of 1.16 V and an output power of 106 mW/cm2. Moreover, the mechanical durability of our thermoelectric generator is verified by repeated bending tests of up to 5000 cycles.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The lifetimes of organic photovoltaic cells based on conjugated polymer materials were studied. The device geometry was glass:ITO:PEDOT:PSS:C12-PSV:C60:aluminium. To characterise and elucidate the parts of the degradation mechanisms induced by molecular oxygen, 18O2 isotopic labelling was employed in conjunction with time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. A comparison was made between devices being kept in the dark and devices that had been subjected to illumination under simulated sunlight (1000Wm−2, AM1.5) and this demonstrated that oxygen-containing species were generated throughout the active layer with the largest concentration towards the aluminium electrode. For devices that had been kept in the dark oxygen species were only observed at the immediate interface between the aluminium and the organic layer. The isotopic labelling allowed us to demonstrate that the oxygen comes from the atmosphere and diffuses through the aluminium electrode and into the device.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Phase stability, defect formation energies, and carrier concentrations are closely interrelated features of semiconductors. Due to their joint dependence on the multidimensional chemical potential space, it is challenging to quantitatively establish patterns between these quantities in a given semiconductor, especially when the semiconductor is comprised of multiple elements. To enable synchronous visualization and analysis of these complementary material properties and their interdependence, we developed the Visualization Toolkit for Analyzing Defects in Materials (VTAnDeM). This python-based toolkit allows users to interactively explore how defect formation energies and carrier concentrations vary across the composition and chemical potential spaces of multicomponent semiconductors. Here, we illustrate the computational workflow that employs VTAnDeM as a post-processing tool for first-principles calculations and describe the data organization and theory underlying the visualization scheme. We believe that this software will serve as a useful tool for simultaneously visualizing the often complex and non-intuitive chemical potential – defect – carrier concentration phase space of semiconductors. Program summary Program Title: VTAnDeM – Visualization Toolkit for Analyzing Defects in Materials CPC Library link to program files: https://doi.org/10.17632/hz7dyc489v.1 Developer's repository link: https://github.com/ertekin-research-group/VTAnDeM Licensing provisions: MIT License Programming language: Python Nature of problem: Defect thermodynamics are often studied from the perspective of phase stability and defect formation energetics using first-principles calculations. The results are comparable to experimentally-measurable carrier concentrations. However, visualizing all properties simultaneously by exploring the multidimensional chemical phase space is not trivial. Solution method: VTAnDeM offers a graphical interface that allows the user to interact directly with the chemical phase space of a given material and to visualize the defect formation energetics and ensuing carrier concentrations. The computational methods derive from standard defect theory within the supercell approach. The synchronous visualization scheme provides a streamlined approach to analyzing defect-related properties in semiconductors and insulators, all in real time. Additional comments including restrictions and unusual features: Required packages, installation, and tutorials can be found on the Github page.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The performance of the Li-ion battery module (6S5P) with composite PCMs is investigated for its cooling behavior. To transfer the heat generated by the battery module, paraffin (PCM1) and Granular Paraffin (PCM2) with copper sintering are used. The battery module consists of 30 cells with a capacity of 13 Ah, and the nominal voltage is 22.2 V. The performance of battery modules is studied at a discharge rate of 1C with different cooling approaches viz natural cooling, forced cooling, PCM cooling, and PCM + Copper sintering cooling. The composite PCM is prepared by the sintering method to control the temperature achieved during the solidification of copper. It has been observed that the addition of copper sintering to the PCM enhances the cooling performance of battery modules. The thermal efficiencies obtained in different cooling approaches, viz natural cooling, forced cooling, PCM1, PCM1 + Cu, PCM2, and PCM2 + Cu efficiencies are 9.15 %, 11.04 %, 30.35 %, 38.92 %, 48.38 %, and 54 %, respectively. The results indicate the importance of PCM-based cooling in improving the cooling efficiency of lithium-ion battery packs, particularly when sintered with copper compared with natural and forced cooling in terms of maximum temperature (Tmax) and maximum temperature difference (ΔTmax).",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Electronic properties of carbon clusters with diameters d between 4 and 1100 Å were studied by scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS). Large-sized clusters all showed the zero band gap of graphite. A gap opening was observed for clusters with diameters less than about 15 Å. Energy gaps up to 650 meV were measured. The experimental results were modeled using a finite barrier potential for confined electrons, with consideration of the effective mass.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We prepared single crystals of Fe 1.95 V 1.05 Al , Fe 1.98 V 1.02 Al , Fe 2 VAl , Fe 2.02 V 0.98 Al and Fe 2.05 V 0.95 Al by the conventional Czochralski pulling method in a tetra-arc furnace. The magnetization along the  direction was measured using a SQUID magnetometer. The Fe 2 VAl sample showed the smallest value of magnetization among the samples. The magnetization of the single crystalline sample was smaller than that of the polycrystalline sample with the same composition. These results for the single crystal suggest that the Fe 2 VAl has the lower concentration of magnetic antisite defects. The Seebeck coefficients were measured in the temperature range from 10 to 300K. Fe 2 VAl showed the largest absolute value of the Seebeck coefficient S among the present samples, about | S | = 180 μ V / K .",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Controllable crystal orientation is necessary to obtain high thermoelectric performance in thin films of Bi2Te3 alloys. In the present study, highly (110)-oriented thin films of n-type Bi2Te3-x Se x with improved composition controllability are prepared through a simple electrodeposition-based process. Using potential-current co-adjusted pulse electrodeposition (PCP-ED) with adjustments to the zero current during the off-time period enables the fabrication of dense Bi2Te3-x Se x thin films with highly (110)-oriented grains by minimizing the ionic gradient (Bi3+, Te2−, Se2−) between the substrate and solution. The power factor of the PCP-ED thin film was much higher than that of the dendritic Bi2Te3-x Se x thin film fabricated by constant-potentiostatic electrodeposition (C-ED) because of the simultaneous enhancement of electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient. The high power factor of ∼1920 μW/m⋅K2, which is the best value among reported n-type Bi2Te3-based thin films, was obtained at room temperature after low-temperature annealing at 200 °C by exploiting the crystallinity enhancement and carrier concentration optimization.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report quantum efficiencies exceeding unity for monochromatic red illumination in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) pin diodes and a-Si:H/monocrystalline Si heterojunction solar cells. The values depend on the spatial size of the illumination spot which we systematically varied by alignment of different masks. The apparently large quantum efficiencies larger than unity are easily achieved for low photon flux if the illumination spot is allowed to be larger than the contact which defines the nominal conduction cross section. We present an equivalent circuit model which tracks the contributions of lateral photocurrents resulting from photogeneration outside the contact area. This additional current is effectively blocked by the voltage drop in the lateral direction across the collecting doped layer at high photon flux. True values of quantum efficiencies are always smaller than unity if restriction of the illumination spot to the contact area eliminates any lateral current contributions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In highly doped crystalline silicon, the formation of an impurity band substantially changes the density of states (DOS) of electrons. As yet, heavily doped silicon has been modelled using solely the ideal DOS of undoped silicon, regardless of the doping density. Since this approximation influences the position of the Fermi energy, we derive a more realistic silicon DOS model that is suitable for numerical device simulations. Our new model is based on photoluminescence data reported in the literature and a recently published bandgap narrowing model.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The thermoelectric properties of Mo-substituted CrSi2 were studied. Dense polycrystalline samples of Mo-substituted hexagonal C40 phase Cr1−x Mo x Si2 (x=0–0.30) were fabricated by arc melting followed by spark plasma sintering. Mo substitution substantially increases the carrier concentration. The lattice thermal conductivity of CrSi2 at room temperature was reduced from 9.0 to 4.5Wm−1 K−1 by Mo substitution due to enhanced phonon–impurity scattering. The thermoelectric figure of merit, ZT, increases with increasing Mo content because of the reduced lattice thermal conductivity. The maximum ZT value obtained in the present study was 0.23 at 800K, which was observed for the sample with x=0.30. This value is significantly greater than that of undoped CrSi2 (ZT=0.13).",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Portable and easy-to-use solution to detect possible failures at a PV installation. ► Calculation of solar and photovoltaic parameters by using a mobile device with GPS. ► No software which confers this utility to a mobile device can be found in the market.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A kinetic model is proposed to characterize surface segregation in the case of evaporation. The kinetics is formulated using the difference between the diffusion rate of solute atom in the bulk and the evaporation rate of solute atom from the surface layer. The first-order reaction equation is applied to quantify evaporation flux. A balanced state is quantified when the vapor and ambient pressure is equal and thus a complete quantification of the kinetics forms. The kinetic curve is convex prior to critical time and concave after. The maximum surface concentration decreases as evaporation parameter decreases. The kinetics of Mg surface segregation of Al-0.8 wt%Mg alloy is fitted. An enrichment ratio of 16.484 and evaporation parameter of 0.57 are the values that fit the experimental results the best. The balanced surface concentration of Mg is calculated and implies further evaporation with prolonged time. The proposed model can adequately describe surface segregation in the case of evaporation, and the formulated kinetics can satisfactorily quantify this phenomenon.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We prepared poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) nanofibers by the electrospinning method and applied to the polymer matrix in polymer electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The uptake, ionic conductivity, and porosity of the electrospun PVDF-HFP nanofiber films showed 653±50%, 4.53±1.3×10−3 S/cm, and 70±2.3%, respectively, regardless of the diameter and morphology of nanofibers. In addition, several DSSC devices using the electrospun PVDF-HFP nanofiber films as the polymer matrix were prepared to investigate the photovoltaic effect of iodine (I2) concentrations on DSSC devices. With an increase of I2 concentration in electrolyte solutions, the ionic conductivity increased, while the photocurrent density of DSSC devices decreased.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A concentrator photovoltaic (PV) module, in which solar cells are integrated in V-troughs, is designed for better heat dissipation. All channels in the V-trough channels are made using thin single Al metal sheet to achieve better heat dissipation from the cells under concentration. Six PV module strips each containing single row of 6 mono-crystalline Si cells are fabricated and mounted in 6 V-trough channels to get concentrator V-trough PV module of 36 cells with maximum power point under standard test condition (STC) of 44.5W. The V-trough walls are used for light concentration as well as heat dissipation from the cells which provides 4 times higher heat dissipation area than the case when V-trough walls are not used for cooling. The cell temperature in the V-trough module remains nearly same as that in a flat plate PV module, despite light concentration. The controlled temperature and increased current density in concentrator V-trough cells results in higher V oc of the module.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "With increased penetration of solar as a variable energy resource (VER), solar photovoltaic (PV) power production is rapidly increasing into large-scale power industries. Since power output of PV systems depends critically on the weather, unexpected variations of their power output may increase the operating costs of the power system. Moreover, a major barrier in integrating this VER into the grid is its unpredictability, since steady output cannot be guaranteed at any particular time. This biases power utilities against using PV power since the planning and overall balancing of the grid becomes very challenging. Developing a reliable algorithm that can minimize the errors associated with forecasting the near future PV power generation is extremely beneficial for efficiently integrating VER into the grid. PV power forecasting can play a key role in tackling these challenges. This paper presents one-hour-ahead power output forecasting of a PV system using a combination of wavelet transform (WT) and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques by incorporating the interactions of PV system with solar radiation and temperature data. In the proposed method, the WT is applied to have a significant impact on ill-behaved PV power time-series data, and AI techniques capture the nonlinear PV fluctuation in a better way.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents a time sequential simulation method for generating capacity adequacy evaluation of small stand-alone power systems containing solar energy (PSCSE) operating in parallel with battery storage. The reliability performance of such a system is quite different from one containing only conventional generation. This is due to the chronological random nature of the solar radiation level and the dependencies associated with the power output of every photovoltaic (PV) generating unit at the site location. The adequacy of a PSCSE depends on various factors such as the solar radiation level, the battery size and charging (discharging) capability, the failure/repair characteristics of the diesel generator (DG) and the PV unit, the system load profile and peak load and the solar energy penetration level in the system etc. The methodologies, results and discussions presented in this paper should provide valuable information to utilities involved in planning and operating stand-alone systems utilizing both conventional and solar energy.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A portable radon detection system (α-Inin) has been designed and constructed for using it in adverse environmental conditions where humidity, temperature and chemical vaporous are present. The minimum integration time is in periods of 15min during 41 days. A 12V battery and a photovoltaic module allow the α-Inin autonomy in field measurements. Data is collected by means of a laptop computer where data processing and α-Inin programming are carried out. α-Inin performance was simultaneously tested in a controlled radon chamber, together with a commercial α-Meter.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Wurtzite-structure GaN epilayers grown by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) on sapphire substrates were studied by photoreflectance (PR) spectroscopy performed at room temperature. Several nominally undoped samples with different electron concentrations (5×1015–5×1018 cm−3), deposited under different growth conditions, were investigated. For low electron concentration we have observed three well-resolved excitonic transitions related to A, B, and C excitons. In this case, extremely small broadening of PR lines (few milielectronvolts) has been found. With the increase of carrier concentration in epilayers, we have observed an increase of broadening of the transitions. This has led to the disappearance of excitons in PR spectra and to the observations of one broad non-excitonic feature for highest electron concentration. Additionally, in some cases the Franz–Keldysh oscillations (FKO) have been also observed reflecting the existence of a surface built-in electric field in the epilayers, which do not destroy the excitons.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We have investigated the absorption, the fluorescence and phosphorescence emission and the fluorescence lifetimes of adenine in low-temperature argon and nitrogen matrices at 15K. Compared to other environments the absorption spectrum shows higher intensity at the shortest wavelengths, and a weak apparent absorption peak is observed at 280nm. The resolved fluorescence excitation spectrum has five peaks at positions corresponding to those observed in the absorption spectrum. The position of the fluorescence maximum depends on the excitation wavelength. Excitation below 220nm displays a fluorescence maximum at 305nm, while for excitations at higher wavelengths the maximum occurs at 335nm. The results suggest that multiple-emission excited electronic states are populated in low-temperature gas matrices. Excitation at 265nm produces a phosphorescence spectrum with a well-resolved vibrational structure and a maximum at 415nm. The fluorescence decays corresponding to excitation at increasing energy of each resolved band could be fit with a double exponential, with the shorter and longer lifetimes ranging from 1.7 to 3.3ns and from 12 to 23ns, respectively. Only for the excitation at 180nm one exponential is required, with the calculated lifetimes of 3.3ns. The presented results provide an experimental evidence of the existence of multiple site-selected excited electronic states, and may help elucidate the possible deexcitation pathways of adenine. The additional application of synchrotron radiation proved to result in a significant enhancement of the resolution and spectral range of the phenomena under investigation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Dye-sensitized solar cells based on vertically-aligned ZnO nanorod, were analyzed at different conditions. Stability tests showed an improvement on solar conversion efficiency between ∼20% (1000W/m2) and ∼50% (1800 W/m2). This behavior was ascribed to the physisorption/chemisorption of the N-719 dye on the ZnO due to UV light. Studies at different temperatures proved that the performance of the cells can double when decreasing temperature from 72 ∘C to room temperature. An increase on the efficiency and decrease in FF was observed when light intensity is increased. IPCE analyses were used to monitor the stability of the solar cells with time.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "To reduce the environmental impact of non-biodegradable electronic waste, developing sustainable technology with biomass-derived biodegradable materials are essential. However, the insufficient mechanical and electrical performances of the conventional biodegradable materials with planar structures often limit their use in bioelectronics. Here, we develop a high-performance ionic biogel device based on three-dimensional (3D) microstructured design of completely healable yet fully biodegradable biogel by using ionically cross-linked biomass resource, gelatin. The stress-absorbing geometry of 3D microstructure improves the mechanical resilience and facilitates highly elastic (~4000%), notch-tolerable and extremely tough (~ 10,998 J/m2) ionic biogels. In addition, the interlocked feature of 3D architecture provides the ionic diode characteristics of the biogel that enhances the triboelectric energy harvesting capability from external stimuli of pressure and temperature, even under an extreme stretching condition. Our triboelectric nanogenerator based on 3D ionic biogels exhibits excellent power output (~325 mW/m2), superior energy conversion efficiency (~70.7%) and high-resolution mechano- (~ 9 Pa) as well as thermo- (~ 0.03 K) transduction functionalities with long-term stability. The 3D ionic biogel recovers its original electrical properties even after mechanical damage through self-healing. For proof-of-concept demonstrations, the gelatin biogel serve in soft and conformable electronic skins to monitor low-frequency vital signs and high-frequency acoustic waves, for haptic perception of surface textures, and in robotic tactile skins, providing a new benchmark as a clean and green technology for soft bio-electronic devices with zero waste.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A new solvent-free composite polymer electrolyte consisting of high-molecular mass polyethylene oxide (PEO) filled with titanium oxide and containing LiI and I2 was developed. The introduction of the inorganic filler (TiO2 Degussa P25) into the polymer matrix produces dramatic morphological changes to the host polymer structure. Upon addition of the inorganic oxide, the surface roughness increases, with respect to the original polymer and in parallel, the fractal dimension decreases. Both the thermograms and the atomic force microscope (AFM) pictures confirm the amorphicity of the composite electrolyte. The polymer sub-units are held together in a parallel orientation, forming straight long chains of about 500nm in width, along which TiO2 spherical particles of about 20–25nm in diameter are distributed. The polymer chains separated by the titania particles are arranged in a three-dimensional, mechanically stable network, that creates free space and voids into which the iodide/triodide anions can easily migrate. All solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells fabricated using this composite electrolyte present high efficiencies (typical maximum incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE) as high as 40% at 520nm and overall conversion efficiency (η) of 0.96% (V oc=0.67V, J sc=2.050mA/cm2, FF=39%)) under direct solar irradiation. Further improvement of the photovoltaic performance is expected by optimization of the electrolyte parameters and of the cell assembly.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Thermal degradation of epoxy LED encapsulant by external heat was tested. • A constant degradation was observed for encapsulant samples under external heat. • Thermal degradation of epoxy LED encapsulant by optical radiation was tested. • Degradation rate increased in encapsulant samples under optical radiation. • Higher rates of degradation were observed with increase in phosphor concentration.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Fe1.04Te undergoes a Fermi surface reconstruction at T N =61K. ► Properties of two closely doped samples are almost identical at high temperatures. ► Differences in their low temperature behavior can be related to AF fluctuations.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter discusses a simulation model for the design and performance evaluation of natural convection type solar tunnel dryer (STD) that has been developed and numerically evaluated. In the developed model, the design of STD is considered in two parts—air heater and drying chamber. Both are coupled together for the performance of complete system. The heat and mass transfer equations are developed for both the components and solved by numerical means. The developed model has included explicitly the design parameters, operation parameters, and climatic parameters. The developed model is useful for the design and performance evaluation of STD for low and high moisture crops.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Rural Electricity is lagging in terms of service as well as penetration of power. Most of the rural householders do not have power supply, if at all they have high in voltage fluctuations and system losses. Due to this, the performance of distribution system becomes inefficient. Optimal placement and sizing of Distribution Generator (DG) in the distribution system will improve the performance of the distribution system. This paper analysis a practical rural feeder of 3.06 MW peak load in Mysuru, Karnataka, India. A methodology used for finding optimal placement and sizing of DG in the rural feeder. The practical rural feeder is simulated in Power World Simulator (PWS) and analyze the voltage magnitude and system losses. Simulation results shows that optimal placement and sizing of DG will improve the voltage profile within the acceptable limits and reduce the system losses. Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Electric Renewables (HOMER) optimization analysis designs best system model by considering different constraints and with Renewable Energy sources (RES) for the rural distribution feeder.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper we present a review of the hot carrier plasma photovoltaic effects, that occur in n +/p and p +/n semiconductor junctions through the interaction with intense infrared radiation pulses from transversely excited atmospheric (TEA) CO2 lasers. The basic conditions for the establishment of infrared laser-induced hot carrier plasma in semiconductors are considered. The junction charge transport changes induced by the hot plasma is regarded as being responsible for the different hot carrier photovoltaic effects observed. We will focus on the generation effect associated with the disturbed minority carrier drift current, and the internal photoemission effect related to the modified majority carrier diffusion junction current. These effects could be the foundation on which silicon junction far infrared laser detectors are based, having advantages over other conventional detectors, such as low cost and the possibility of easy incorporation into the well-established integrated silicon technologies. In order to optimize the response of hot carrier effect-based detectors, the main emphasis is placed on the effect's dependence on the characteristic junction parameters.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In Algeria, there are many isolated sites which are not yet connected to the conventional electrical grid and face severe problems of water for domestic consumption and irrigation purposes. There are some photovoltaic water pumping system (PVWPS) which are situated in remote areas. Due to the high cost of setting up and maintaining a large number of PVWPS, we present in this project a methodology for setting up several PVWPS with optimal sizing corresponding to the low cost. This project presents a design of a universal data acquisition system for Algeria with available components and easily accessible with a central server. We present a network architecture of the control system for several stations.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Due to the intermittentness and variability of renewable energy sources(RES), flexible power generation is possible, and the importance of an integrated system capable of storing reserve power is increasing. In particular, the instability of the power system is intensifying due to the duck curve phenomenon (the net load between sunrise and sunset decreases rapidly and the demand for power increases for about 3 h after sunset). Therefore, this paper presents the ESS integrated gas turbine (EIGT) system, which is an integrated system of energy storage system (ESS) using micro gas turbine (MGT) and reused battery. This research contributes to verifying the utility of reused battery and compensating a duck curve through operation in a system that integrates an energy storage system using micro gas turbine and reused battery, which are small power sources that can be operated independently of the existing renewable energy. According to the result of this research, the state of health (SOH), state of charge (SOC), internal resistance, temperature, and heating rate of the reused battery were verified by supplying power, which is increased by about 66 % after sunset in a duck curve phenomenon. Accordingly, it may contribute to stabilizing the power system in the duck curve phenomenon.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Nanocomposite thin films, composed of a germanium nanocrystalline phase embedded within a tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) matrix, were produced using a multisource, sequential, RF-magnetron sputter deposition technique. The influence of nanocomposite structure on the resulting optical absorption and carrier transport properties was investigated in the context of the use of such materials as functional elements in thin film photovoltaic architectures. Deposition controls and post-deposition thermal anneals were successful in modifying the phase assembly of the nanocomposites, enabling the manipulation of Ge volume fraction, nanocrystallite size and morphology, and spatial distribution within the ITO embedding phase. Modifications in semiconductor nanostructure were correlated with changes in nanocomposite spectral absorption that were consistent with quantum-size-induced variation in Ge absorption onset energy, despite the close agreement in electron affinity between the Ge and ITO components. This suggests the formation of a high band-gap (low electron affinity) interfacial phase between the Ge and ITO components of the nanocomposite. Increased free-carrier (n-type) densities and spectrally resolved photoconductivity were also associated with the presence of the Ge phase. These results emphasize the impact of local and extended length scale structure on properties of importance to photovoltaic performance in semiconductor-based nanocomposites and the utility of the sequential sputter deposition method as a means to manipulate nanocomposite structure.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Electric propulsion has emerged as a cost-effective solution to a wide range of satellite applications. Robust development of the near-Earth infrastructure that will enable Mars exploration can also rely upon solar-electric powered vehicles. Some of these options will be discussed as well. The POWOW concept is a solar-electric propelled spacecraft capable of significant cargo and short trip times for traveling to Mars. When used for Mars missions, it would enter areosynchronous orbit (Mars GEO equivalent) and beam power to surface installations via lasers. The concept has been developed with industrial partner expertise in high efficiency solar cells, advanced concentrator modules, innovative arrays, and high power electric propulsion systems. The previous spacecraft design providing 898 kW using technologies expected to be available in 2003 produced areal power densities approaching 350 W/m2 at 80 °C operating temperatures and wing level specific powers of over 350 W/kg were projected. Because of the high power in this satellite, high voltage operation (up to 1000 V) new work on the effects of hypervelocity impact on test modules operated at these voltages is included here. Electric propulsion options have been refined and focus only on high power Hall thrusters of new as well as conventional designs.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The widespread application of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) requires the use of data acquisition units both for monitoring system operation and control of its operation. In this paper, the development of a data acquisition system for remote monitoring and control of RES plants is presented. It is based on the Client/Server architecture and it does not require the physical connection of the monitored systems to the data collection server. This feature is essential in RES plants since they are usually installed in inaccessible areas. The measured parameters are available on-line over the Internet to any user.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Thermoelectric heating system driven by heat pipe PV/T system was built and test. • Theoretical analysis has been done and simulation results have been validated by experiments. • The energetic efficiency and exergetic efficiency in summer and winter operation mode was analyzed and compared.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Concentrating solar thermal power and photovoltaics are two major technologies for converting sunlight to electricity. Variations of the annual solar irradiation depending on the site influence their annual efficiency, specific output and electricity generation cost. Detailed technical and economical analyses performed with computer simulations point out differences of solar thermal parabolic trough power plants, non-tracked and two-axis-tracked PV systems. Therefore, 61 sites in Europe and North Africa covering a global annual irradiation range from 923 to 2438 kWh/m2 a have been examined. Simulation results are usable irradiation by the systems, specific annual system output and levelled electricity cost. Cost assumptions are made for today's cost and expected cost in 10 years considering different progress ratios. This will lead to a cost reduction by 50% for PV systems and by 40% for solar thermal power plants. The simulation results show where are optimal regions for installing solar thermal trough and tracked PV systems in comparison to non-tracked PV. For low irradiation values the annual output of solar thermal systems is much lower than of PV systems. On the other hand, for high irradiations solar thermal systems provide the best-cost solution even when considering higher cost reduction factors for PV in the next decade. Electricity generation cost much below 10 Eurocents per kWh for solar thermal systems and about 12 Eurocents/kWh for PV can be expected in 10 years in North Africa.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The cost of hydrogen transmission by a pipeline depends on the pipe diameter and the hydrogen flow rate. By increasing the pressure difference through the pipeline, cost can be reduced more than the additional cost of compressors. The cost of fuel cell systems is partly the cost of vehicles and building-based systems, and, in a wider context, the total cost of a hydrogen economy with production, various types of usage and infrastructure, such as storage and transmission, and distribution and filling outlets. One reason that system costs may reveal things not possible to derive from the component costs is that each system component has an efficiency characteristic that often differs from that of the equivalent component in the current energy system. The life-cycle assessment of hydrogen production is, in the cases where conventional fuels are converted into hydrogen, in that major impacts are found to derive from air pollution and global warming issues. A life-cycle analysis of an entire system is described, choosing a passenger car. This involves both the analysis of the car manufacture, including the specific additions to traditional cars necessary for fuel cell operation, and the infrastructure impacts and contributions from the fuel provision and the final disposal of the product.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We have studied the density of states and the structural properties of a new class of material, called hydrogenated polymorphous silicon, prepared by decomposition of a mixture of silane and hydrogen in a radio frequency powered plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition system. The evolution of the density of states and of the optoelectronic properties of these films upon light-soaking and annealing cycles is different from that observed on standard hydrogenated amorphous silicon. The presence of platelet-like microstructures, revealed by an infrared absorption band centred at 2030 cm −1 , may explain this evolution.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In the present study, a new design improvement of conventional smooth tubes by inserting tori is proposed to enhance heat transfer with minimal increase of frictional penalty. Heat transfer and flow characteristics in different configurations are investigated by the numerical simulations. The effects of torus aspect ratio (AR) and torus inclination angle (α) on Nusselt number, friction factor, and performance evaluation criteria (PEC) are analyzed and discussed. The variations of average entropy generation rate (S avgen) with AR and α are also presented. The results show that the tube integrated with tori can achieve higher average Nusselt number (Nu) and PEC than those of smooth tube. This is attributed to the improved fluid mixing, boundary layer disruption, and formation of vortex/swirl flow. Nu and average friction factor (f) increase while PEC decreases with the increase of AR. Significant enhancements of Nu and f around 1.93 to 3.36 and 4.76 to 29.05, respectively, are reported for the tori integrated tube over the smooth tube. The corresponding PEC varies from 0.94 to 1.42. All results support that torus is a favorable device for the performance improvement of tube heat exchanger.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "All measures (such as selection of appropriate materials that can withstand corrosion in a given environment, development of appropriate model to predict the behavior of the system, implementation of mitigation strategies to control corrosion, and monitoring of system to ensure that the corrosion of the system is under control) would fail if a good maintenance strategy was not developed and implemented. Maintenance is a key activity in all sectors of the oil and gas network and is routinely carried out. A comprehensive and effective program requires the maintenance of five interdependent entities (equipment, workforce, data, communication, and associated activities): • The equipment is the piece apparatus or infrastructure that should be kept in good working condition. • The people are the workforce that develop, deploy, and perform necessary activities. • The historical operational data provides guidelines on the past history and informs about future action. • The communication strategy disseminates appropriate information among various groups within and outside the company. • The associated activities that provide support to the company or industry. This chapter describes general characteristics of these entities.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "French-based consultancy Tecsol, which specializes in solar power, is developing an remote Internet system for establishing the viability of complex solar power installations.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The temperature functional dependence of the solar cell efficiency is studied without neglecting (dIsc/dT). The temperature dependent parameters that determine the value of the short circuit current Isc are considered Isc is also given as a function of the incident solar irradiance. The variation of the efficiency with temperature along the local day time is also evaluated. The conditions governing the sign of (dVoc/dT) are indicated an illustrative example for a silicon cell is given.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Offsite Fe atoms at the Sb sites simultaneously induce resonance states near the Fermi level and cause an increase in hole concentration in nonstoichiometric Ti-doped NbFeSb samples, which explains the experimentally observed simultaneous increase in the Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity in the prepared Nb0.8Ti0.2Fe1.03Sb0.97 sample, leading to a significantly increased power factor. ga1",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Cherenkov Telescopes are equipped with optical dishes of large diameter – in general based on segmented mirrors – with typical angular resolution of a few arc-minutes. To evaluate the mirror׳s quality specific metrological systems are required that possibly take into account the environmental conditions in which typically these telescopes operate (in open air without dome protection). For this purpose a new facility for the characterization of mirrors has been developed at the labs of the Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera of the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics. The facility allows the precise measurement of the radius of curvature and the distribution of the concentred light in terms of focused and scattered components and it works in open air. In this paper we describe the facility and report some examples of its measuring capabilities.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highly conductive and transparent aluminum-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Al) films were prepared by reactive mid-frequency (MF) magnetron sputtering at high growth rates. By varying the deposition pressure, pronounced differences with respect to film structure and wet chemical etching behavior were obtained. Optimized films develop good light-scattering properties upon etching leading to high efficiencies when applied to amorphous (a-Si:H) and microcrystalline (μc-Si:H) silicon-based thin-film solar cells and modules. Initial efficiencies of 7.5% for a μc-Si:H single junction and 9.7% for an a-Si:H/μc-Si:H tandem module were achieved on an aperture area of 64cm2.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Exhaled breath comprises gas-phase and aerosolized fractions of water vapor and particles. The condensed water vapor fraction is referred to as exhaled breath condensate (EBC), whereas the aerosolized particle fraction, when collected separately, is termed exhaled breath aerosols (EBA). Both of these fractions contain biomarkers relevant to pulmonary and systemic physiology. EBC is easy and safe to collect, and sampling methods have been standardized for nearly all age groups and disease states, yet the composition of EBC varies between collection method and patient population and therefore care must be taken to ensure sample integrity. This chapter provides an overview of EBC and aerosols, principles of their collection, and validated biomarkers within these matrices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents a new silicon solar-cell structure improved by texturisation of the front surface using silicon micromachining technologies. A ‘honeycomb’-textured front surface has been obtained through a photolithographical process to generate patterns (disc holes) on the front surface followed by isotropic etching (in HNO3: HF: CH3COOH) until the wells joined together. For front-surface loss characterisation, the spectral dependence of the front-surface reflectivity has been investigated by spectrophotometrical measurements. The surface reflectivity was lowered under 10% and this value was a good one compared to the reflectivity of silicon monocrystalline wafer untextured surface. The p–n junction made by phosphorous diffusion at ∼0.8μm follows the honeycomb profile. In order to obtain low series resistance, a p+ boron diffusion on the back of the structure was made. The fabrication process was completed with an ohmic contact (Al on top and on the back surface).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The effect of Er3+ doping on the structure and thermoelectric transport properties of CdO ceramics was investigated. The solubility limit of Er3+ in CdO was very small and that additions of more than about 0.5at% Er3+ resulted in the presence of Er2O3. With the addition of Er3+, the average grain size of Cd1−x Er x O (0≤ x ≤0.015) decreased and the carrier concentration as well as mobility increased at room temperature. A small amount of Er3+ doping resulted in a marked increase of electric conductivity and a moderate decrease of Seebeck coefficient. Although Er3+ doping also leaded to an increase in thermal conductivity, a large ZT of 0.2 was achieved in x =0.005 sample at 723K due to the obvious improvement of power factor. The results demonstrate that CdO:Er is a new promising n-type thermoelectric material.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Both air and water cooled PV/T collectors have enjoyed growing attentions in recent years. Investigators have reported PV/T research data within a wide range of control parameters. In this paper, the effects of the major control parameters on the thermal/electrical performance of PV/T collectors are compiled and reviewed. Figures and tables are provided to give an overall picture about how PV/T performance could be improved in terms of these parameters. Although investigators understand the effects of different parameters, the improvement of PV/T performance by optimizing these parameters has not been fully realized.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The structural, electronic, magnetic and mechanical properties of the ternary CrFeZ half-Heusler compounds (with Z = Si, Sn, Ge) have been determined ab initio using a full-potential linearized muffin tin orbital approach. Equilibrium properties such as lattice constant, bulk modulus and its pressure derivative are calculated. Spin-orbit interaction effect in the electronic structure and Fermi levels are revealed. The majority-spin electrons are found to be metallic in nature, while the minority-spin electrons are found to be semiconducting electronic band-structure. It is shown that calculated band structures, density of states, magnetic moments, and elastic constants of these alloys agree well with available with theoretical and experimental data. In addition, the investigated compounds are found to be mechanical stable. Our findings predict new properties, as-yet unreported elastic parameters in the C1b structure, and thus may be realized under ideal experimental circumstances, which make them potential candidates for future spintronic applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Due to their significant magnetic and mechanical characteristics, binary intermetallic compounds are extensively studied. Here the structural, electronic, elastic, and magnetic characteristics of the cubic lave phase C15 intermetallic compounds are explored by employing density functional theory (DFT). The GGA + U potential is employed to address the strongly correlated electron complexes appropriately. The projected lattice constants appear to decline in rows and rise with column sequences and are in fine agreement with the experimental and other reported data. Electronic features indicate the metallic character of these intermetallics in which these A and B d-states electrons are primarily accountable for the metallic characteristics. Electrical resistivity curves reveal that ScFe2 is an excellent conductor among these compounds. From the total estimated magnetic moments, d-state electrons were predominantly contributing to the magnetic natureof these combinations. The magnetic susceptibility reveals a ferromagnetic nature in AB2 (A = Sc, Y, La; B = Co and Fe)whereas a paramagnetic nature was confirmed in ScNi2, YNi2, and LaNi2 compounds. The mechanical characteristics demonstrate the compounds to be mechanically stable, ductile, and anisotropic. From these studied physical features, it is believed that thecompounds are suitable candidates forspintronic devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar still is a water desalination method that works by the principle of evaporation and condensation, which has been adopted earlier as a simple and low energy consumption method. However, it suffers from low reliability and poor performance. Hence, the current study provides a developed solar still combined with a heat pump and an evacuated tube water heater to augment the thermal processes. The heat pump was attached to advance the condensation process. Besides, the heater was combined with the system to afford a storage medium and boost the evaporation process. Firstly, a parametric analysis was performed in order to select a suitable water recirculation rate and operating temperature. The productivity increased linearly with the temperature by a rate of about 0.035 L/h/m2 for a 1 ℃ temperature rise until below 68 ℃; then, the relation becomes exponential where the productivity increased by 0.16 L/h/m2 after a 1.5 ℃ temperature rise. Daily, the modified design exhibited productivity, energetic efficiency, and exergetic efficiency of 13.38 L/m2, 44.12 %, and 4.17 %, respectively. Furthermore, including cover cooling boosted these findings to 14.22 L/m2, 47.79 %, and 4.69 %, which were higher than that of a basic distiller by 291.73, 16.05, and 30.28 %, respectively. From the cost perspective, the minimum distilled water price was obtained at a 20-year lifetime span and a 5 % interest rate of 0.0121 $/L.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Synthesis of novel cyan-colored sensitizing dyes bearing squaric acid core and 2,3,3-trimethyl-indole as terminal moieties has been conducted in order to fabricate dye-sensitized solar cells based on nanoporous TiO2. It has been found that position of –COOH functionality utilized for anchoring with TiO2 surface has a marked effect on solar cell performance. Carboxylic acid group directly substituted to indole ring gave about 5-fold higher conversion efficiency as compared to the dye when it was substituted in alkyl chain of the indole ring. Efficiency has been found to be hampered due to aggregation and enhancement in the efficiency was observed when dyes were used with chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA). Using CDCA and long alkyl substituent at the N-position of indole ring to prevent aggregation and enhanced TiO2 surface passivation, respectively, has achieved a solar conversion efficiency of 3.15% with a short circuit current density of 7.26mA/cm2, an open circuit voltage of 0.64V and a fill factor of 0.68 for SQ-5 under standard AM 1.5 solar irradiation.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Requirements for steady-state purification by free-flow electrophoresis. • Solutions for removal of bubbles formed by electrolysis. • Control of pH gradient occurring due to electrolysis. • Methods to mitigate negative aspects of Joule heating.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter takes stock of the progress that 3D food printing (3DFP) has made in recent years and presents the main advances that this disruptive technique is expected to make over the next two decades. Different families of printable food products are first described, including plant products, cereal products and animal products. Food personalization is the main application of 3DFP that can benefit human well-being. We develop this concept from three distinct but complementary angles: preventive nutrition, curative nutrition, and adaptive nutrition. We then offer some answers to the main questions raised by 3DFP, in particular those related to sustainability, naturalness, consumer acceptability and the gainful use of plant or animal by-products. Finally, emerging trends and long-term perspectives related to 3DFP are discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, the compositional, the structural, the vibrational, the optical and the electrical characterizations of the YbInSe compound are investigated by means of energy dispersion X-ray analysis, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, ultraviolet -visible light spectrophotometry, impedance spectroscopy and temperature dependent electrical conductivity, respectively. The 300nm thick YbInSe films which were prepared by the co-evaporation of the source materials under a vacuum pressure of 10−5 mbar, are observed to exhibit nanocrystalline clusters of size of 27nm regularly distributed among an amorphous structure. The most intensive Raman active lines are observed at 150 and 254cm−1. In addition, the optical analysis has shown that the films exhibit a direct forbidden electronic transitions type energy band gap of 1.07eV. The optical transitions are associated with interband tail states of width of 0.28eV. Moreover, the real and imaginary parts of dielectric spectra which were analyzed in the frequency range of 270–1000THz, were analyzed in accordance with the single oscillator and the Lorentz models, respectively. The modeling allowed determining the oscillator and dispersion energies, the terahertz free carrier scattering time, the free holes effective mass, the carrier density, the drift mobility and the reduced resonant frequency for the YbInSe films. In the electronic part of study, the temperature dependent dc electrical conductivity analysis, indicated the domination of the variable range hopping transport mechanism below 335K, the thermal excitation of charge carriers in the range of 337–390K and the extrinsic-intrinsic transition property at 390K. The ac conductivity spectra which were recorded in the frequency range of 10–1500MHz, revealed the domination of the correlated barrier hopping of free carriers between pairs of localized states at the Fermi level.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We studied the features of CuSbS2 (CAS) and CuSbSe2 (CASe), two proposed photovoltaic compounds, and clarified their electronic structures by first-principles calculations and compared them to the chalcopyrite-type CuInSe2 results. For both CAS and CASe, the calculated enthalpies of formation of the chalcostibite phases were considerably lower than those of the chalcopyrite phases. Therefore, we considered that the chalcostibite phase is more stable for CAS and CASe. In their band structure calculated with the HSE06 hybrid functional, the valence band maxima of CAS and CASe were located at the Γ-point, and the conduction band minima were located at the R-point. Their second lowest conduction band was located at the Γ-point, whose energy level nearly equaled the R-point. For CAS (CASe), the partial density of the states shows the character of the Cu 3d and S 3p (Se 4p) orbitals at the top of the valence bands and the Sb 5p and S 3p (Se 4p) orbitals at the bottom of the conduction bands. The conduction bands of CAS and CASe have a p-orbital character (Sb 5p) that differs from the s-orbital character (In 5s) of CuInSe2. It is for the reason that CAS and CASe do not have a chalcopyrite structure but a chalcostibite-type structure. The calculated absorption coefficient of CuSbS2 (104–105 cm−1) is comparable to that of CuInSe2.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The purpose of this chapter is to present the basic features of air-handling processes, relevant technologies and equipment. This chapter aims to provide links between the basic theories of air-handling processes and the actual equipment, including air filters, heat exchangers, and fans. This revised chapter deals with the basic air-handling processes, filtration of particles and gaseous substances from the supply and recirculated air, heat-recovery processes, humidification, and dehumidification. In addition, this chapter also describes fans, control systems and ductwork. Moreover, several basic issues have been covered behind energy-efficient design of air-handling systems and equipment. Furthermore, this chapter introduces the essential factors in the selection of systems and equipment during the design stage: principles of controls and noise-reduction systems etc.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Some semiconducting thin films (p and n FeS2, PdS, CoS2, etc.) show an hysteresis-like loop on accomplishing measurements of the Seebeck coefficient. In these films one obtains two different values of the thermovoltage for the same thermal gradient applied to the sample. It has been found that the measured thermovoltage is the superposition of a linear component (proportional to the thermal gradient) and a non-linear one (proportional to the time-derivative of the thermal gradient). The linear component allows us to define a constant Seebeck coefficient, S, of the samples. The non-linear component appears to be higher for larger values of S. Although no explanation has been found for this behaviour, several possible underlying phenomena are pointed out.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Most of the existing experimental and theoretical studies concern the combustion of methane hydrate. There are no works comparing the features and differences of combustion of different types of gas hydrates. In addition, there is a lack of data on the comparison of different combustion methods. It is also worth mentioning the complexity of physical analysis, which is associated with a large number of key interrelated factors. The present study deals with the combustion of methane hydrate and double gas hydrates of methane-propane and methane-isopropanol. Simple expressions are obtained to estimate the effect of several key factors on the dissociation during combustion: dynamic, thermal and geometric parameters of the working area. A comparison of dissociations of different types of gas hydrates in different methods of combustion organization is presented for the first time. An analysis of ways to improve the efficiency of combustion technologies is proposed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, photovoltaic module temperature has been predicted according to outlet air temperature and solar radiation. For this investigation, photovoltaic module temperatures have been determined in the experimental system for 10, 20, 30, and 40°C ambient air temperature and different solar radiations. This experimental study was made in open air and solar radiation was measured and then this measured data was used for the training of ANN. Photovoltaic module temperatures have been predicted according to solar radiation and outside air temperature for the Aegean region in Turkey. Electrical efficiency and power was also calculated depending on the predicted module temperature. Kütahya, Uşak and Afyon are the most suitable cities in terms of electrical efficiency and power product in the Aegean region in Turkey.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We studied the hole concentration dependences of 63Cu Knight shifts in single-CuO2-layer high-T c cuprate superconductors HgBa2CuO4+δ and double-layer HgBa2CaCu2O6+δ. We found that the spin Knight shift at room temperature as a function of the hole concentration in the single-layer superconductor is different from that in the double-layer superconductor. Two type relations between the spin Knight shift and the hole doping level serve to estimate the individual hole concentrations of the non-equivalent CuO2 planes in a unit cell.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In scenario planning, causal mapping has long been used as a means to elicit the worldviews of multiple experts, facilitate discussion, and challenge and improve mental models. Large and complex causal maps, however, are difficult to analyze. This paper proposes a novel method for scenario building, based on Fuzzy Cognitive Maps, that combines intuitive, cognitive mapping techniques with formal, quantitative analysis. The proposed method helps scenario planners to integrate the qualitative and partial knowledge of multiple individuals and overcome information processing limitations. The feasibility of the proposed approach is investigated with two scenario studies on solar photovoltaic panels.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • The performance of a travelling-wave engine with phase change is analyzed. • Efficiency >40% of Carnot limit can be achieved with temperature differences <50 K. • The required mean pressure for low-temperature operation is reduced to several bars. • Criteria for choosing the reactive component are proposed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Hydrogen production using solar energy can achieve large-scale hydrogen production and solve various energy problems. The concept of hydrogen and cooling cogeneration can realize the cascade and efficient utilization of high-temperature solar energy. In this regard, a novel solar-based combined system is proposed to produce hydrogen and cooling using a methanol-reforming process and double-effect absorption refrigeration cycle. Energy, exergy, exergoeconomic, and economic criteria were defined to evaluate the feasibility of the system for investment and construction. The system was analyzed by developing a precise model in the Engineering Equation Solver. Then, optimal conditions were obtained using multi-objective particle swarm optimization and the LINMAP decision-making approach. The results revealed that the system has an energy efficiency of 75.46 % with an exergetic efficiency of 77.24 % , a total cost rate of 46.48 $ / G J , a cooling production capacity of 346.7 k W , and a hydrogen generation rate of 0.01511 k g / h . Also, the optimum exergy efficiency and unit cost of products are obtained to be 81.38 % and 37.96 $ / G J , respectively. Moreover, the total profit of 15.23 $M can be gained at the end of the plant lifetime for the hydrogen cost of 6 $ / m 3 . In this conditions, the payback period is about 1.35 y e a r s .",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Aligned and unaligned composite nano-fibers of Bi2Te3 with assessment of polypyrrole (PPy) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) have been synthesized by electrospinning. The structural and functional analysis of the crystalline materials and amorphous materials were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the transformation of micro-size particles into nano-size particles after electrospinning. Mixing the polymers with the Bi2Te3 reduces the electrical conductivity of the composite in comparison to that of Bi2Te3. However, it also very much lowers the thermal conductivity, which enhances the performance (zT) of the composite material, and a zT of 0.26 was obtained near room temperature, which is nearly equal to the zT of pure Bi2Te3 near room temperature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This study presents the sustainable planning of a renewables-based energy system, which aims to fulfil the electric needs of the island by replacing the existing diesel generators with new wind farms, photovoltaic installations and hydrogen production systems. Electric system design and least cost planning analysis were concluded using historic data from both demand and supply sides. An optimal “sustainable island” scheme should ensure 100% use of renewable energy resources for power generation, while hydrogen production is ideal for covering storage and transportation needs. Due to its morphology and scale, Karpathos applies perfectly for wind and solar energy systems, due to increased solar resource (about 1790kWh/m2.year of global irradiation) and high wind potential (average of 9m/s in specific locations). Therefore, this case study examines an increase in RES penetration up to 20% in the electric energy mixture, a hydrogen production plan just for the needs of transport and a more aggressive, 100% renewables scheme that ensures a self-fulfilling energy system based on indigenous renewable resources.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Dye sensitized solar cells based on annealed titanium dioxide films prepared by oblique reactive DC magnetron sputtering have been investigated in detail. Electron transport and recombination were studied using intensity-modulated photocurrent and photovoltage spectroscopy. Electron transport time as well as lifetime were found to increase upon lowering of the light intensity and to increase upon increasing the thickness of the TiO2 film. The properties are very similar to those observed for solar cells based on colloidal TiO2 films despite the morphologies being very different. In all cases, films are composed of a porous assembly of TiO2 nanocrystals. Grain boundaries with associated trap and/or energy barriers may explain the observed transport properties.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "With an extensive range of distinctive features at nano meter-scale thicknesses, two-dimensional (2D) materials drawn the attention of the scientific community. Despite tremendous advancements in exploratory research on 2D materials, knowledge of 2D electrical transport and carrier dynamics still in its infancy. Thus, here we highlighted the electrical characteristics of 2D materials with electronic band structure, electronic transport, dielectric constant, carriers mobility. The atomic thinness of 2D materials makes substantially scaled field-effect transistors (FETs) with reduced short-channel effects conceivable, even though strong carrier mobility required for high performance, low-voltage device operations. We also discussed here about factors affecting 2D materials which easily enhanced the activity of those materials for various applications. Presently, Those 2D materials used in state-of-the-art electrical and optoelectronic devices because of the extensive nature of their electronic band structure. 2D materials offer unprecedented freedom for the design of novel p-n junction device topologies in contrast to conventional bulk semiconductors. We also, describe the numerous 2D p-n junctions, such as homo junction and hetero junction including mixed dimensional junctions. Finally, we talked about the problems and potential for the future.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The development of photovoltaic (PV) cells has made steady progress from the early days, when only the USA space program could afford to deploy them, to now, seeing them applied to roadside applications even in our Northern European climes. The manufacturing cost per watt has fallen and the daylight-to-power conversion efficiency increased. At the same time, the perception that the sun has to be directly shining on it for a PV array to work has faded. On some of those roadside applications, particularly for remote emergency telephones or for temporary roadwork signage where a utility electrical power connection is not practical, the keen observer will spot, usually in addition to a PV array, a small wind-turbine and an electrical cabinet quite obviously (by virtue of its volume) containing a storage battery. In the UK, we have the lions share (>40%) of Europe's entire wind power resource although, despite press coverage of the “anti-wind” lobby to the contrary, we have hardly started to harvest this clean and free energy source. Taking this (established and proven) roadside solution one step further, we will consider higher power applications. A cellular phone system is one where a multitude of remote radio base stations (RBS) are required to provide geographical coverage. With networks developing into the so called “3G” technologies the need for base stations has tripled, as each 3G cell covers only 1/3 the geographical area of its “2G” counterpart. To cover >90% of the UK's topology (>97% population coverage) with 3G cellular technology will requires in excess of 12,000 radio base stations per operator network. In 2001, there were around 25,000 established sites and, with an anticipated degree of collocation by necessity, that figure is forecast to rise to >47,000. Of course, the vast majority of these sites have a convenient grid connection. However, it is easy to see that the combination of wind and PV power generation and an energy storage system may be an interesting solution for the more rural and remote applications – particularly those where an electrical supply is not available or practical – and this paper attempts to explore the current practicalities of such a power generation solution for those cellular phone base stations.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A simple explicit photovoltaic formulation for characterizing and dimensioning cell-arrays is presented. The method permits the short-circuit current, the open-circuit voltage, the maximum cell power and the optimum cell-operation conditions to be determined. Further, the model also allows quantifying the effects of panel temperature and solar irradiance on key cell parameters. Based on several datasheets, the methodology is validated by covering a wide range of operation conditions. The proposed approach can thus, be very useful for design engineers to quickly and easily determine the performance of any photovoltaic array without performing tedious numerical calculations.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Optical properties of nanocrystalline, Li x V2O5·nH2O films (0<x<22mol%), are explored in the present work. These films have been produced by the sol–gel technique (colloidal route), which was used for the preparation of high purity and homogeneity films. Optical measurements were carried out using a double-beam spectrophotometer. The optical constants such as refractive index n, the extinction coefficient k, absorption coefficient α, and optical band gap of the films material have been evaluated. The optical absorption coefficient was calculated from the measured normal reflectance, R, and transmittance, T, spectra. The optical spectra of all samples exhibited two distinct regions: at high energy, which suggests a direct forbidden transition with optical gap ranging from 1.75 to 2.0eV and increases with increase in Li-content. On the other hand a second low-energy band suggests a direct allowed transition with optical gap ranging from 0.40 to 0.42eV. The width of the localized states (band tail) E e was also estimated for all samples. Additional calculations applying the real part of the optical dielectric function led to the evaluation of the charge carrier concentration and their effective mass.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A comprehensive technique has been used to detect diffraction from the second and the third nonlinear spatial harmonic components, along with the fundamental harmonic of volume photorefractive gratings recorded in a channel waveguide in a LiNbO3 substrate. For the first time to our knowledge, efficient diffraction from the higher spatial harmonic components of a photorefractive grating has been detected in reflection geometry. The dependence of a Bragg wavelength shift on the order of nonlinearity is also reported.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, we report on the realization of the In0.085Ga0.915N p–i–n solar cell by low-pressure metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE). The w–2θ scans of (0002) reflection observation indicate good suppression of phase separation for the p–i–n solar cells with a 150-nm-thick i-In0.085Ga0.915N epilayer. The sharp and narrow signals in the photoluminescence spectra of In0.085Ga0.915N provided evidence for high material quality, even through the epilayer thickness exceeded its critical value. Furthermore, the laser lift-off (LLO) technique is used to fabricate the substrate-free thin-film solar cells (TF-SCs) with a bottom reflector. Although the samples have suffered from thermal-gradient-induced damage during LLO process, the fabricated TF-SCs still exhibit a low forward voltage of 3.3V at 20mA along with an ideality factor of 3.1. Finally, since unabsorbed photons can be reflected by the bottom reflector, the TF-SCs show a 13.6% increase in short-circuit current density as compared to their counterparts without a bottom reflector.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This study investigates the performance of a hybrid system that combined thermoelectric generators (TEG) with a solar flat plate collector system (SFPC) to turn more renewable energy into useable energy under normal operating and environmental conditions. A multi-month case study was first time conducted to explore the performance of SFPC with and without TEGs under the cold climatic conditions of Abha, Saudi Arabia. The result demonstrates that the heat losses from the rear surface of the SFPC's absorber plate were effectively utilized by TEGs, thereby decreasing overall heat losses and increasing the SFPC's overall thermal efficiency. Further, it was found that adding TEGs at the rear surface of SFPC's absorber plate improves thermal efficiency and exergy efficiency by 8.4% and 1.3%, respectively. The hybrid TEG-SPFC system can turn waste heat into useable electricity, with a peak power output of 2.2 W at midday. Maximum power was generated around midday, when the temperature differential between the upper and lower layers of TEGs was greatest. In addition, it was noticed that the thermal efficiency of the SFPC diminishes when the inlet water temperature rises. A hybrid TEG-SFPC system's exergy efficiency depends on ambient temperature variation and solar irradiance.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Different mathematical techniques adapting linear, nonlinear, mixed-integer, and network flow programming have been developed over the past decades to solve the distribution planning optimization problem. The high dimensionality of the problem made it in some of practical cases unmanageable by such classical optimization techniques. This gave rise to the application of knowledge based, heuristics, artificial intelligence, and approximate iterative techniques to search for the optimal solution. The problem also was typically perceived from the distribution companies’ perspectives with the objective being to supply sustainable yet cost effective power to multi-objective multi-interest consumers with different damage functions and relatively uncertain data. This paper presents a value-based distribution system planning procedure for large-scale agricultural real life project. This type of distribution planning is characterized not only by high load demand but also with a huge distribution network covering the vast agricultural area. Yet it is a planning for single type of customers who has a consistent developing policy, interest, cost damage function, together with a realistic and less uncertain data. The planning is also perceived from the consumer perspective who may even question the connection to the power utility unless it is proved as cost effective way of power supply. Macro and micro-levels planning is suggested for both overall project and farm modules, respectively. The proposed planning procedure evaluates different feasible alternatives based on life cycle cost while reliability indices and cost of interruption are taken into consideration. The procedure is illustrated on the micro-level for a real life agricultural problem.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Optical concentrators that could be used as a flat panel type stationary photovoltaic (PV) system will enable significant reduction in the cost of PV power generation. This paper presents the analysis of a concentrator based on an optically transparent planar waveguide with a diffused reflector on the rear surface and PV devices placed at the edge of the waveguide. Optical collection efficiency of the stationary concentrator for geometric concentration ratios in the range 2–1000 has been analyzed. Despite reduction in optical collection efficiency of this concentrator design compared to traditional flat PV panel or tracking type concentrator panels, for practical operation in the geometric concentration ratio up to 40, a factor of 2–10 times reduction in cost of PV modules per unit power generated can be envisioned due to ease in manufacturing (including flexible roll-to-roll production) and significant savings in materials usage. Experimental data shows a strong dependence of the optical collection efficiency on surface roughness of the diffuser.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "It is well known that charge density wave systems exhibit a variety of phenomena related to the existence of metastable states: Electric measurements reveal hystereses in both their thermal and electric behavior as well as different kinds of memory effects. Although these integral methods provide strong evidence for metastability, they can not uncover the spatial structure of the charge density wave. As predicted by the theory of Fukuyama, Lee, and Rice, the charge density wave should organize in domains obeying a characteristic length scale. We have performed investigations on a TaS3 sample with a low-temperature scanning electron microscope, using the electron beam as weak local heat source and recording the thermopower as a function of the beam position. We demonstrate that the structures observed can be related to metastable deformations of the charge density wave.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Low thermal conductivity plays an essential role in application relevant to thermal energy conversion and management. In this paper, we utilize molecular dynamics to investigate the thermal transport and lattice variation modes in yttria-stabilized hafnia, which only contains binary oxides of Y2O3 and HfO2. It is found that the thermal conductivity κ of yttria-stabilized hafnia decreases significantly with the increase of doping ratio of Y2O3, and then reaches a limiting value (∼2.1 W m−1K−1), because of the strong phonon scattering of oxygen vacancies. Importantly, a glass-like thermal conductivity κ is achieved in yttria-stabilized hafnia samples when the content of Y2O3 exceeds 15 mol%. By decomposing the phonon vibrational modes, we find that most of the heat is transported by diffusive modes. As a result, the κ exhibits a glass-like feature in yttria-stabilized hafnia samples with high content of Y2O3. Notably, the κ of yttria-stabilized hafnia is much lower than those of classical functional ceramics materials. The insight into the κ in yttria-stabilized hafnia system is beneficial for understanding and reducing the κ of materials through defect engineering. Despite its simple composition, yttria-stabilized hafnia with different doping ratios demonstrates unexpected high scattering rate of phonon vibration density states, which is confirmed by the diffused wavevector-frequency dispersion. Eigenvector periodicity and phonon participation ratio of phonon have been visualized to capture the distribution of phonon modes in yttria-stabilized hafnia with various dopant. This work investigates into the details of phonon vibrational modes in yttria-stabilized hafnia, which would be valuable for conducting experiments to acquire low thermal conductivity materials in laboratory.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Titanium (Ti) doped polythiophene (PTh), polyaniline (PANi) and its copolymer system were chemically synthesized via oxidation route using titanium chloride as an oxidant. Synthesized PANi-Ti, PTh-Ti and PTh-co-PANi-Ti were characterized by TG–DTA, FE-SEM and UV–vis and were used to fabricate photovoltaic (PV) cell. UV–vis study shows that optical band gap of reduces in copolymer system of PTh-co-PANi-Ti. It was observed that reduction in band gap value results in enhancement of power conversion efficiency (PCE). PV properties shows that the PTh-co-PANi-Ti exhibited the highest efficiency ɳ=2.66, with a short circuit current (I sc)=1.17mA, open circuit voltage (V oc)=0.85 and a fill factor (FF)=0.5854.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Bi2S3 thin films have been prepared by chemical bath deposition method using bismuth nitrate, Bi(NO3)3 and sodium thiosulphate (Na2S2O3) dissolved in acetic acid and formaldehyde respectively. Films were deposited onto flourine doped tin oxide coated (FTO) glass substrates. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell configuration was n-Bi2S3/0.25MNaOH–0.25MNa2S–0.25M S/C. From the current–voltage characteristics (I–V) and capacitance–voltage (C–V) plots, it is concluded that the Bi2S3 films are of n-type conductivity. The photovoltaic output characteristics were used to calculate fill factor (FF) and solar conversion efficiency (η). The low value of η may be due to high value of series resistance and interface states in the cell which are responsible for the recombination mechanism. The magnitude of band gap energy of Bi2S3 photoelectrode estimated from spectral response of PEC cell agrees with the magnitude obtained from optical absorption of Bi2S3 films. The magnitude of decay constant estimated from transient photoresponse indicated the charge transfer kinetics is of second order.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This work investigates the thermal conductivity of parts which have been additively manufactured using the aluminium alloy AlSi10Mg by selective laser melting, a laser-based powder bed fusion technique. Thermal conductivity characterisation is of particular importance to thermal engineers wishing to make use of additive manufacturing in next generation thermal management solutions. A number of processing parameters and scanning strategies were employed to fabricate samples for experimental characterisation. While the porosity of produced parts had a significant impact on thermal conductivity, after an anneal heat treatment post-processing step, thermal conductivity increased by 18–41% without any measurable change in porosity. Even though the parts produced with the “points” strategy have higher levels of porosity compared to the “contour-hatch” strategy, it has been found that after the heat treatment step, its thermal conductivity can be increased up to the “contour-hatch” strategy. Analysis of the resulting microstructures using scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray showed precipitation and coalescence of Si with increasing heat treatment temperature, with dwell time having a lower impact. While there is a desire for additively manufactured parts with little to no porosity, it has been shown in this study that it is possible to reduce laser energy density requirements by approximately one order of magnitude and still produce parts with acceptable levels of thermal conductivity which could be used for components that are not subjected to strenuous loading conditions, such as heat sinks.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this chapter, the role of decentralized energy storage in residential feeders with Photovoltaic (PV) is addressed. The increasing penetration of PV power generation is more and more contributing on relieving the overall loading of (low voltage) LV distribution grids by increasing the rate of local generation and consumption of houses and larger buildings. However, LV grids have been originally designed to accommodate unidirectional power flow from the distribution grid to the consumers. With high PV generation, the power flow may invert its direction going from downstream towards the medium voltage grid. Under such conditions, events of overvoltage may occur, posing new challenges to distribution system operators. Decentralized battery based energy storage can prevent such events by storing the surplus of energy which is locally generated.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Bangladesh is encountering difficulties in supplying energy to maintain its economic growth. The gap between demand and supply is gradually increasing. Although it has some reserves of commercial energy resources (e.g., natural gas and coal), because of economic and technical constraints it is unable to supply sufficient energy. The dependence on imported fuel (oil and coal) is gradually increasing, and the rural population, which uses a fair amount of imported fuel (kerosene and diesel), is largely disadvantaged because of its low purchasing power. Most of the commercial energy used is derived from natural gas and imported oil, while the main consumers are power generation, transport and industry. The major share of the total energy consumption in Bangladesh is from biomass fuels comprising agricultural wastes, animal wastes and fuelwood. The biomass is mainly used in the rural households. Because of shortage of land there are limited prospects of increasing the supply from biomass sources. The emphasis is usually on commercial energy, which plays a decisive role in such aspects of development as industrialization, agricultural mechanization and urbanization. Efficiency of energy production and its utilization in Bangladesh is generally poor. The demand for energy exceeds the available resources and this gap is projected to increase significantly in the near future. There are significant opportunities for increasing energy efficiency and conservation by end-users in all sectors - domestic, industrial, commercial, transport and agriculture. The extent of energy conservation initiatives in the country has been limited. The Energy Monitoring and Conservation Centre of the government has almost no regulation-enforcing authority, and the National Energy Conservation Act is still under consideration by the legislators. Significant and concerted attempts to increase energy efficiency and conservation measures in the various sectors have not been widely applied in the country. Efforts have been made to increase energy efficiency and implement conservation measures in some industries such as sugar mills, spinning mills and fertilizer factories, and also in the rural domestic sector by the expansion of the use of improved cookers. The use of energy-efficient lighting and power-consuming devices can play a role in controlling the increasing demand. Among potential renewable resources solar and biomass have good prospects. Hydropower has already been utilized to a significant extent while the potential of wind energy is limited to coastal zones. In actual practice only a small number of solar photovoltaic devices are currently being used. In the existing scenario energy efficiency and renewable energy can play a more significant role in the energy sector of Bangladesh. This will require a proper and supportive government policy. Action plans to enhance commercialization of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies have been suggested.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar spectral variation is important in characterization of photovoltaic devices. We present results of an experimental investigation of the effects of the daily spectral variation on the device performance of multicrystalline silicon photovoltaic module. The investigation concentrate on the analysis of outdoor solar spectral measurements carried out at 1min intervals on clear sky days. Short circuit current and open circuit voltage have been measured to describe the module electrical performance. We have shown that the shift in the solar spectrum towards infrared has a negative impact on the device performance of the module. The spectral bands in the visible region contribute more to the short circuit current than the bands in the infrared region while the ultraviolet region contributes least. The quantitative effect of the spectral variation on the performance of the photovoltaic module is reflected on their respective device performance parameters. The decrease in the visible and the increase in infrared of the radiation spectra account for the decreased current collection and hence power of the module.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The luminous efficiency of organic light-emitting diodes depends on the recombination probability of electrons injected at the cathode and holes at the anode. We have developed a numerical model to calculate the recombination profile in single- and multilayer structures, taking into account the built-in electric field, the charge injection process at each electrode, hopping transport with field-dependent mobilities, charge diffusion, trapping and Langevin recombination. By comparison of the simulation results, as well as approximate analytic solutions, with experimental data on MEH-PPV-based devices, we find that injection is thermionic with Schottky barriers for some electrode metals that are low enough to be considered Ohmic. Except at voltages close to threshold, diffusion and trapping effects are negligible. Both electrons and holes are mobile, with a field dependence that is independently confirmed both by single-carrier space-charge-limited current measurements and transient time-of-flight techniques.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Hydrogen bonding and interchain interactions in phytantriol, 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-1,2,3-hexadecanetriol, have been studied by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopies. Assignments of the bands were performed based on the OH/OD isotopic substitution, molecular modeling, and measurements of polarized Raman spectra. Marker bands were evaluated from the temperature-dependent spectral changes. It is shown that Raman spectroscopy provides sensitive markers, namely I(δ(CH2))/I(δ s(CH3)), τ(CH)2, I(ν s(CH3)FR)/I(ν s(CH2)), and ν s(CH2) for probing the interactions between the hydrocarbon chains. Hydrogen bonding interaction might be studied through the difference Raman spectroscopy by the analysis of polarized band at 811cm−1. Relationship is found between the frequencies of IR bands at 883–873 and 1097–1086cm−1, associated with the vibrations localized at the primary COH site, and the frequencies of OH stretching mode, making these bands specific markers in the analysis of hydrogen bonding. Evaluated marker bands may be of utility to probe the interchain and hydrogen bonding interaction of phytantriol with guest molecules in the practically important aqueous liquid–crystalline phases of this lipid.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The results of the Shubnikov–de Haas oscillations measurements on CoSb3 single crystals are presented for the first time. The measurements were performed in the temperature range 1.8–10K in pulsed high magnetic fields up to 40T. The values of cyclotron effective mass, and the g-factor were calculated.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Impact of annealing (ANN) and heat-moisture treatment (HMT) on rapidly digestible starch (RDS), slowly digestible starch (SDS), resistant starch (RS), and expected glycemic index (eGI) of corn, pea, and lentil starches in their native and gelatinized states were determined. ANN was done for 24h at 70% moisture at temperatures 10 and 15°C below the onset (T o) temperature of gelatinization, while HMT was done at 30% moisture at 100 and 120°C for 2h. The swelling factor (SF), amylose leaching (AML) and gelatinization parameters of the above starches before and after ANN and HMT were determined. SF and AML decreased on ANN and HMT (HMT>ANN). The gelatinization temperatures increased on ANN and HMT (HMT>ANN). However, the gelatinization temperature range decreased on ANN but increased on HMT. Birefringence remained unchanged on ANN but decreased on HMT. The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) absorbance ratio of 1047cm−1/1022cm−1 increased on ANN but decreased on HMT. ANN and HMT increased RDS, RS and eGI levels and decreased SDS levels in granular starches. HMT had a greater impact than ANN on RDS, RS, and SDS levels. In gelatinized starches, ANN and HMT decreased RDS and eGI, but increased SDS and RS levels. These changes were more pronounced on HMT. This study showed that amylopectin structure and interactions formed during ANN and HMT had a significant impact on RDS, SDS, RS and eGI levels of starches.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this chapter, we discuss methods to measure lateral mobility of membrane lipids and proteins using techniques based on the light microscope. These methods typically sample lateral mobility in very small, micron-sized regions of the membrane so that they can be used to measure diffusion in regions of single cells. The methods are based on fluorescence from the molecules of interest or from light scattered from particles attached to single or small groups of membrane lipids or proteins. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and Single particle tracking (SPT) are presented in that order. FRAP and FCS methodologies are described for a dedicated wide field microscope although many confocal microscopes now have software permitting these measurement to be made; nevertheless, the principles of the measurement are the same for a wide field or confocal microscope. SPT can be applied to trace the movements of single fluorescent molecules in membranes but this aspect will not be treated in detail.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Due to the mismatch between the load demand and the intermittent solar energy, a stand-alone photovoltaic-hydrogen system and an optimal control scheme are designed to maintain the high system efficiency. Based on meteorological and the load demand data, a system sizing technique is proposed to establish the minimum capacity of the system components, which are a photovoltaic (PV) panel, a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), a battery bank and an alkaline electrolyzer (Elz). An accurate energy management scheme that is utilized during power transfer is proposed to meet the economic requirements. Case studies are used to verify the efficiency of the energy management strategy and system sizing technique. Simulation results illustrate a simple solution to the design and processing of stand-alone PV-hydrogen (PV-H2) systems.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Optimum sizing of a photovoltaic system, particularly in stand-alone applications is an important part of a system design. The optimum sizing of a photovoltaic system requires knowledge of the solar radiation data for the site, the load profile, and the importance of supply continuity. This chapter present the sizing procedure of photovoltaic battery energy systems mainly based on energy balance of a particular application. A system has been chosen to provide electricity for a small and remote located clinic. A methodology is developed for calculating the correct size of this system and for optimizing the management of this system. The power for the system comes from PV panels. A battery bank is used as a backup unit. The combined system is as a stand-alone system, in the sense that no national grid electricity is brought in to meet the load.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A new cobalt-terpyridine redox shuttle based on a substituted terpyridine ligand, has been synthesized, characterized, computationally investigated and tested in photovoltaic devices. The new redox shuttle is compared to the reference [Co(bpy)3]2+/3+, analyzing the effect of different counterions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "To improve the thermoelectric performance and wearability of fabric based thermoelectric materials, a superhydrophobic encapsulated Bi2Te3/CNT thermoelectric fabric was introduced. Through layer-by-layer assembly process, Bi2Te3 and CNT were coated onto the fabric substrate, respectively. A double layer superhydrophobic encapsulation composed of silicone, PDMS and PMMA was coated onto the surface of Bi2Te3/CNT fabric to isolate it from the ambient environment. The encapsulated fabric with a water contact angle of 158.6° exhibits great self-cleaning property and flexibility. A thermoelectric generator consists of five Bi2Te3/CNT fabric legs could generate an output voltage of 1.8 mV under a temperature difference of 30 °C and could be easily attached to the end of sleeves or socks.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The Bangladesh Renewable Energy Association (BREA) has been set up as a nationwide non-profit organization for companies involved in solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and hydroelectric energy products and services.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "First-principles calculations have been used to investigate the structural, electronic and elastic properties of the filled skutterudite CeRu4P12, using the full-potential linear muffin-tin orbital (FP-LMTO) method. The exchange-correlation energy is described in the local spin density approximation (LSDA) using the Perdew–Wang parameterization. The results of the electronic properties show that this compound is an indirect band gap material. A special interest has been made to the determination of the elastic constants since there have been no available experimental and theoretical data. The energy band gaps and their volume and pressure dependence are investigated. Our results of the ground-state electronic properties are found to agree with experimental results.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Increasing nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions over the fast developing regions have been of great concern due to their critical associations with the aggravated haze and climate change. However, little geographically specific data exists for estimating spatio-temporal trends of NOx emissions. In order to quantify the spatial and temporal variations of NOx emissions, a spatially explicit approach based on the continuous satellite observations of artificial nighttime stable lights (NSLs) from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program/Operational Linescan System (DMSP/OLS) was developed to estimate NOx emissions from the largest emission source of fossil fuel combustion. The NSL based model was established with three types of data including satellite data of nighttime stable lights, geographical data of administrative boundaries, and provincial energy consumptions in China, where a significant growth of NOx emission has experienced during three policy stages corresponding to the 9th–11th Five-Year Plan (FYP, 1995–2010). The estimated national NOx emissions increased by 8.2% per year during the study period, and the total annual NOx emissions in China estimated by the NSL-based model were approximately 4.1%–13.8% higher than the previous estimates. The spatio-temporal variations of NOx emissions at city scale were then evaluated by the Moran's I indices. The global Moran's I indices for measuring spatial agglomerations of China's NOx emission increased by 50.7% during 1995–2010. Although the inland cities have shown larger contribution to the emission growth than the more developed coastal cities since 2005, the High–High clusters of NOx emission located in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regions, the Yangtze River δ, and the Pearl River δ should still be the major focus of NOx mitigation. Our results indicate that the readily available DMSP/OLS nighttime stable lights based model could be an easily accessible and effective tool for achieving strategic decision making toward NOx reduction.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Considered as one of the effective approaches to address the energy crisis and develop green and sustainable energy, the application of solar energy in multiple stages was investigated in this study. By designing a WS2/ZnIn2S4 heterojunction, a multifunctional coupling system based on interfacial water evaporation technology was constructed. In this system, the water evaporation rate was 1.67 kgꞏm-2ꞏh-1, and the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of rhodamine B reached 96.5%. Moreover, the electric energy output from thermoelectric conversion was innovatively in situ applied for photocatalytic hydrogen production, which increased the photocatalytic hydrogen production efficiency by five times, with a hydrogen production rate of 40.3 μmolꞏcm-2ꞏh-1. This study successfully integrated thermoelectric power generation, photocatalytic hydrogen production, and photocatalytic degradation of dye wastewater into an advanced solar-driven interface evaporation system, enabling the simultaneous conversion of solar energy into multiple forms of energy, improving solar energy utilization efficiency, which was of great significance for promoting the practical application of solar energy.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter discusses the energy distributions obtained with a deflection-type energy analyzer. The chapter describes experiments on a ZrO/W emitter with an apex radius of curvature of 0.9 μm. The experimental results are used to find an accurate estimate of the field factor β for this emitter-extractor system and separate the intrinsic energy broadening from the additional broadening resulting from electron-electron interactions. The chapter evaluates the experimental energy distributions published by Kim who measured energy distributions of the electrons emitted from a ZrO/W emitter with an apex radius of curvature of 0.3 μm. The parabolic-barrier approximation is used to explain these experimental results and separate the intrinsic energy broadening from the Boersch effect. The chapter highlights the usefulness of the parabolic-barrier approximation for β-determination on experimental results taken from a paper by Gadzuk and Plummer, who measured the energy distribution of a tungsten field emitter as a function of the field at 1570 K.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Complex concentrated alloys can address major materials-related engineering challenges of our time. These range from the strength-ductility trade-offs in metallic alloys, to lightweight alloys and superior combinations of properties required for structural and functional applications. Despite such cornucopia, there are serious factors that are major challenges to scalability. These factors range from the high costs associated with constituent elements, and their availability, to the wide compositional space complexities, lack of higher order phase diagrams and databases, contentious empirical design rules driving, the lack of pseudopotential and potential functions for ab initio and atomistic simulations, competition with existing conventional alloys and no realistic engineering application of note. By resolving these challenges systematically, reasonable trade-offs could be used to deploy these materials to ensure sustainable and scalable outcomes. In this paper, the implications of these factors are discussed for structural integrity of engineering materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "During energy conversion, energy is dissipated and wasted in the form of heat. This energy if recovered reduces the cost per unit of power generation and also ensures higher efficiency of the system. There are multiple systems that can directly convert heat energy into electricity namely, Thermoelectric generator(TEG), Pyroelectric energy harvester(PYEH), Thermomagnetic energy harvester(TMH), Thermoelastic energy harvester (TEH), and Thermionic energy conversion (TIC) systems. The entire transformation of these systems throughout the ages are presented in this work. And also reviews the performance and recent progress of these systems along with their applications in heat recovery. Also, heat energy recovery sources and their matching heat energy conversion systems are discussed. Each model application in converting different energy recovery sources into electrical energy is enumerated along with its research gaps. All system’s current and potential future applications in commercial, industrial and other related fields are briefly explained.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, CuInSe2 thin films were prepared by pulse-reverse electrodeposition and selenization process and characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). The pulse-deposited films show well adherent to the substrate and smooth surface with fine grains. The chalcopyrite structure of CuInSe2 with enhancement in crystallinity was observed for the films after selenization treatment in Se vapor. The best solar cell fabricated using the resultant films as absorber layers within a Ni–Al/ZnO:Al/i-ZnO//CdS/CIS/Mo/soda-lime glass structure showed an efficiency of 1.42% under AM 1.5 illumination.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The organization of proteins is an important determinant of functionality in soft tissues. However, such organization is difficult to monitor over time in soft tissue with complex compositions. Here, we establish a method to determine the alignment of proteins in soft tissues of varying composition by polarized Raman spectroscopy (PRS). Unlike most conventional microscopy methods, PRS leverages non-destructive, label-free sample preparation. PRS data from highly aligned muscle layers were utilized to derive a weighting function for aligned proteins via principal component analysis (PCA). This trained weighting function was used as a master loading function to calculate a principal component score (PC1 Score) as a function of polarized angle for tendon, dermis, hypodermis, and fabricated collagen gels. Since the PC1 Score calculated at arbitrary angles was insufficient to determine level of alignment, we developed an Amplitude Alignment Metric by fitting a sine function to PC1 Score with respect to polarized angle. We found that our PRS-based Amplitude Alignment Metric can be used as an indicator of level of protein alignment in soft tissues in a non-destructive manner with label-free preparation and has similar discriminatory capacity among isotropic and anisotropic samples compared to microscopy-based image processing method. This PRS method does not require a priori knowledge of sample orientation nor composition and appears insensitive to changes in protein composition among different tissues. The Amplitude Alignment Metric introduced here could enable convenient and adaptable evaluation of protein alignment in soft tissues of varying protein and cell composition. Statement of significance Polarized Raman spectroscopy (PRS) has been used to characterize the of organization of soft tissues. However, most of the reported applications of PRS have been on collagen-rich tissues and reliant on intensities of collagen-related vibrations. This work describes a PRS method via a multivariate analysis to characterize alignment in soft tissues composed of varying proteins. Of note, the highly aligned muscle layer of mouse skin was used to train a master function then applied to other soft tissue samples, and the degree of anisotropy in the PRS response was evaluated to obtain the level of alignment in tissues. We have demonstrated that this method supports convenient and adaptable evaluation of protein alignment in soft tissues of varying protein and cell composition.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Lombardia is the Italian Region with the largest release of CO2 in the atmosphere. • The study assess the possibility to design a CCS pilot plant in a saline aquifer. • Caprock-reservoir system has been identified in clay and conglomerate formations. • 3D geological and numerical model of CO2 geological storage are presented. • The investigated system seems compatible with potential CCS pilot plant.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Wood is a renewable fuel, however the combustion of wood can lead to significant dust emissions. The application of fabric filters is one possibility to ensure low particulate matter emissions. Nevertheless, these filters are so far not used for small-scale firing systems. In this work, the mitigation potential of a newly developed fabric filter concept with pulse-jet regeneration, based on a stainless-steel mesh was studied. The filter was tested on a commercially available 24 kW biomass boiler, which was operated with wood pellets and wood chips. Experiments showed a linear dependency of the separation efficiencies and clean gas concentrations on average pressure drop while a logarithmic dependency of the clean gas concentrations on an empirical factor k was proven. The filter showed good regenerability and dust separation efficiencies up to 83 % and 90 % during combustion of wood pellets and wood chips. The pulse-jet regeneration showed a short-time peak of dust emissions behind the filter which can represent between 24 and 60 % of the total dust emissions during a whole filtration cycle. Nevertheless, the application of different filters with 25 and 50 μm mesh size guarantees an efficient dust removal. In a first phase during filter cake formation, the concentrations can exceed the limit value, but once a filter cake had built up, the concentrations drop drastically below 0.01 g m−3. In summary, the filters show good regenerability and efficient dust separation and thus further development potential.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Polycrystalline Cd1− x Zn x Te thick films with thicknesses of about 30μm have been deposited on a Mo coated glass substrate by means of close-spaced vacuum sublimation technique. X-ray diffraction measurements have shown that the films obtained have only cubic zinc blende phase. The influence of Zn concentration on the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of Cd1−x Zn x Te films was investigated. This let us determine the nature and energy structure of the intrinsic defects and residual impurities in the films. The presence of the most intense acceptor bound exciton A°X-line for x=0.10 and the lines of localized excitons (x=0.32−0.44) in PL spectra of Cd1−x Zn x Te films indicates their fairly good optical quality as well as the p-type conductivity. There were also other intensive broad PL bands, caused by the recombination of donor–acceptor pairs involving complex acceptor centers, extended defects of dislocation type, and microstress in the films. It was also established a correlation between the broadening of exciton lines and the values of microstress in Cd1−x Zn x Te thick films. Taking into account the energy position of exciton lines, the concentration dependence of the band gap for the Cd1−x Zn x Te thick films is presented.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "For the young generation, it is indispensable to be concerned itself with the environmental consequences of the extensive usage of fossil fuels and to become familiar with renewable energies. It seems to be particularly suitable to treat future energy issues in mathematics education. However, there is a great lack of appropriate teaching material. Thus, the authors have developed a didactic concept with regard to content and structure of mathematical problems, allowing their direct and broad usage in classroom. On the basis of this concept, the authors have created several series of problems for the secondary mathematics classroom. The aim of this contribution is to present an overview of our project together with some examples of the developed problems.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Generating, converting, harvesting and storing energy are crucial parts of society. This work aims to design and construct a piezoelectric generator that harvests energy from pressure to produce an output voltage capable of charging and powering low-energy electronic devices such as mobile phones and 5 V light bulbs. Proteus 8.0 professional software is used to simulate the circuit for construction. A piezoelectric disc transducer, which is the principal component, was used in the construction. The result shows a voltage of 5–12 V capable of powering low-voltage electronic devices. Amidst the constant instability in electric power systems in Nigeria, those in rural areas have little or no electricity access. Electronic and communication devices are necessary to connect community members to those outside their communities and the world wide web for global information. Children and youths require lighting facilities at school and home for further studies. The design will provide an alternative for energy supply to areas with little or no access to electricity.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter presents a study of the transition from internal combustion vehicles (ICVs) to electric vehicles (EVs) in the metropolitan region in Chile, where the vehicle concentration is the highest [42% of the national vehicle fleet gathered on 0.02% of the total country area (ANAC, 2015)]. This chapter presents a comparison of the greenhouse gas emission of the Nissan V16’s conventional ICV with an equivalent EV and analyses of the CO2 emissions of the EV charged from the national grid and by solar photovoltaic power. The case study argues for the design of a solar power charging station for EV taxis, taking advantage of the high levels of solar radiation in Chile. The results show that EV conversion leads to environmental benefits, in comparison with its ICV equivalent, even when its energy comes from the Chilean grid. Moreover, a considerable decrease of cost and emissions per km travelled occurs when using solar energy to charge the batteries. The current situation in Chile shows that the government has made significant efforts towards sustainable development, but that further incentives are required to ensure EV adoption in the short and medium term.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A fullerene-azothiophene donor–acceptor dyad is proposed as a photoactive material for organic solar cells. The photophysical characteristics and the structural properties of films of the dyad are investigated with time-resolved EPR (TREPR) and X-ray diffraction measurements. Solar cells made from the dyad were fabricated and their photovoltaic performance evaluated in function of the active layer thickness.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Photoexcitation dynamics of terthiophene (3T) molecules incorporated in an organic–inorganic matrix containing titanium in the network are investigated by polarized transient absorption with femtosecond time resolution. We observed the decay of excited-state absorption of neutral 3T and simultaneous rise of 3T+⋅ radical cation absorption. The observed kinetics of electron transfer are independent of excess vibrational energy in the S1 state, and can be described by a biexponential function with time constants of ∼1 ps (for ∼62% of the excited 3T molecules) and ∼8 ps (for ∼33%). The angle between the S1←S0 absorption dipole moment of neutral 3T and the absorption dipole moment of the 3T+⋅ radical cation is estimated to be ∼30°. About one-half of the generated charge pairs do not recombine within 0.5 ns, which is an attractive feature for application in photovoltaic devices.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report on the incorporation of a low band gap copolymer based on thiophene and benzothiadiazole with a band gap of 1.65eV into a bulk heterojunction device with the structure ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymer:PCBM/Al. We have investigated the effects of process variable, including choice of solvent, polymer concentration and annealing temperature, on the photovoltaic device performance. The devices show spectral response down to the absorption edge of 1.65eV and exhibit an efficiency of 1% under AM1.5 illumination and a peak external quantum efficiency of 18% at 600nm.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Supercritical CO2 Brayton cycle has the advantages of high thermoelectric conversion efficiency and compact structure. However, the high ambient temperature in the desert environment would reduce the cycle thermal efficiency. In this paper, three additive gases were mixed with CO2 to reduce the effect of ambient temperature on cycle efficiency. The thermodynamic analysis method based on the optimal split ratio was applied to evaluate the potential of CO2-based binary mixtures in the SPT systems application for the first time. Meanwhile, the impact of critical cycle parameters on system performance was analyzed and the internal connection of the phenomenon was investigated by discussing the exergy loss of each component under typical operating conditions. The results show that the optimal split ratio decreases with the increase of main compressor inlet temperature and turbine inlet pressure. The change of turbine inlet temperature has little effect on the optimal split ratio. CO2-propane has the potential for practical application because the pressure ratio has little effect on the optimal split ratio. Moreover, it is found that the thermal and exergy efficiencies of CO2-propane are increased by 2.34% and 1.51% compared with CO2 under typical operating conditions based on genetic algorithm optimization.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A new gene detection platform based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas12a system is developed, which is applied for virus gene detections. CRISPR/Cas12a activated by CRISPR ribonucleic acid (crRNA) can recognize and lock the complementary target double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (dsDNA), followed by the cis-cleavage on the dsDNA and the trans-cleavage on the nearby linker single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). Target-induced trans-ssDNA cleavage leads to a failure in an aggregation behavior of the designed SERS probe pair that was bridged by the linker ssDNA, which causes the SERS intensity reduced relative to the control trial that gives much stronger SERS due to the severe aggregation state of SERS probes caused by intact linker ssDNA. This sensing method achieves the highly sensitive detections of human papillomavirus (HPV) genes in serum and pseudovirus within 40 min. The detection sensitivity of this CRISPR/Cas-SERS platform can reach pM. Owing to the flexible designs of the DNA probe and crRNA, this CRISPR/Cas-SERS sensing system is a universal gene detection tool, which can be applied for the in-vitro diagnosis field and point-of-care testing.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Cu@Ag core-shell material can not only own the benefits of Cu and Ag but also prevent their oxidation and electrochemical migration issues. This paper successfully synthesized three types of Cu@Ag composite solder preforms with different Ag shells by electromagnetic compaction (EMC). The effects of Ag shell on electrical, thermal and mechanical properties of these solder preforms were systematically evaluated and investigated. It is found that the Cu@Ag powders with a higher Ag content or irregular shapes can improve the compactness of fabricated Cu@Ag solder preforms. For the Cu@Ag solder preform with the highest density and the lowest porosity, it exhibits the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, anti-oxidation ability, showing great potential in power electronics compared to conventional die attach materials. Moreover, this Cu@Ag solder preform can achieve a void-free bondline at a relatively low temperature and pressure. Finally, the Cu@Ag solder joints also have superb resistance to electrochemical migration (ECM) than nano-Ag sintered joints.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The mesoporous porous-silicon (PS) layers were grown on 〈100〉, 〈110〉, and 〈111〉 oriented wafers at constant current density of 20mAcm−2. The pore sizes and surface morphologies were measured by atomic force and scanning electron microscopes. The thickness x of the PS formed and the refractive index were measured by an ellipsometer as a function of time duration t (in min) of anodization. The x vs. t data were fitted into a power law x=at c where c is a dimensionless constant and growth kinetics was established. The growth is practically independent of orientation. This is due the reason that the growth rate is controlled largely by the availability of holes which exchange their charge with oxidizing species and desirably large concentrations of holes were available at current density of 20mAcm−2. For a similar reason the growth of PS layer on the front surface of the n+ region of n+–p solar cells could also be done at current density of ∼20mAcm−2 nearly at the same rate. A large concentration of holes could be injected from p region into the n+ region because the positive contact was made on the p side and thus the junction was forward biased. The PS ARC of thickness 70nm showed increase ∼26% in the short circuit current density J sc and 24% in efficiency of the cells. However, the improvement in the values of the open circuit voltage V oc were lower than the expected value indicating that the PS layers had enhanced recombination of minority carriers at the front surface or in the front emitter region immediately below the PS layer.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report the effect of Cr impurity barrier on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) thin-film solar cells prepared on flexible substrates. The Cr films with varying the thickness (t Cr) were deposited on stainless steel substrates using direct-current magnetron sputtering. The solar cell performance was improved by increasing t Cr since the diffusion of Fe impurities from the substrate to CIGS was suppressed. Although the elemental composition, grain size, and strain of CIGS film showed little change with varying Fe content, the fill factor and the short-circuit current density increased as decreasing Fe. The Fe increased the series resistance, shunt paths, and saturation current density. The reduction of Fe caused a steeper bandgap grading in CIGS which enhances current collection due to higher electric fields in bulk CIGS. CIGS solar cells with 1000 nm-thick Cr barrier showed the best conversion efficiency of 9.05%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The development and current status of luminescent solar concentrators is reviewed. These solar concentrators generally consist of transparent polymer sheets doped with luminescent species; presently mainly organic dye molecules are used as luminescent species, however semiconductor nanocrystals are gaining interest. Direct and diffuse incident sunlight is absorbed by the luminescent species and emitted at red- shifted wavelengths with high quantum efficiency. Optimum design ensures that a large fraction of emitted light is trapped in the sheet, which travels to the edges where it can be collected by one or more mono- or bifacial solar cells, with minimum losses due to absorption in the sheet and re-absorption by the luminescent species. Optimized luminescent solar concentrators are predicted to offer potentially lower cost per unit of power compared to conventional solar cells. Various design and material aspects will be discussed using thermodynamic and ray-trace modeling techniques and recent experimental results are presented.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Effects of ZnO and SnO2 TCO (Transparent Conductive Oxide) substrate materials on hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) p-i-n solar cell performances and recombination kinetics have been investigated. DC and Frequency-resolved photocurrent measurements in a-Si:H p-i-n solar cells of 6 have been carried out experimentally. In particular, the I–V characteristics in the dark and light, the quantum efficiency spectra, the intensity-, bias voltage- and frequency-dependence of photocurrent were obtained. Fill factor (FF) values were determined from I–V characteristics for both types of substrate cells under various illumination levels. The exponent v in the power–law relationship, I ph α Gv , between generating flux density and photocurrent were determined at different bias voltages (DC) and modulation frequencies. High values of V oc (open-circuit voltage), FF, and DC exponent v for the a-Si:H p-i-n solar cell with SnO2 were obtained, but the integrated QE (quantum efficiency), the modulated exponent v were found to be low compared to cells prepared on ZnO substrates. Our results show that these parameters are sensitive to the ZnO and SnO2 substrate materials which act as a window layer allowing most of the incident light to pass into the i-layer of p-i-n cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Electrodes made from a non-graphitized carbon (Maxsorb) sheet with a large specific surface area greatly improved the electrochemical characteristics of thermocells with a bromine/bromide-ion redox couple and a KBr aqueous electrolyte saturated with Br2. The Maxsorb electrodes provide a higher open-circuit voltage than graphite (Perma Foil) electrodes and the maximum discharge current density is 2.4 mA/cm2 until the voltage reaches 0 V. The Maxsorb electrodes generate 5.68 mV/°C of thermoelectric power at a temperature difference greater than 40°C, which is 2.5 times the power reported previously. The Maxsorb electrodes also improve the cathodic polarization in the presence of a gas-liquid-solid interface in Br2-free electrolyte, while the graphite electrodes do not. Nevertheless, this improvement is insufficient to observe when the KBr electrolyte is saturated with Br2. An experimental cell with Maxsorb electrodes maintains a stable voltage up to 2.0 mA/cm2 for over 450 h, even though the cell configuration has still to be optimized.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The electronic and optical properties of cubic SrHfO3 under the variation of pressures were investigated by first-principles calculation within the framework of generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The calculated equilibrium lattice constant of cubic SrHfO3 is in good agreement with available experimental and theoretical results. The result shows that SrHfO3 is an insulator with an indirect band gap up to 20.00 GPa, along ( M − Γ ) . While the application of pressure above 20.00 GPa the band gap changes to direct band gap, along ( Γ − Γ ) . The band gap increases from 3.80 eV to 4.11 eV with the increase in pressure from 0.00 GPa to 35.00 GPa. In order to understand the optical properties of SrHfO3 perovskite, the dielectric function, optical conductivity and electron energy loss are calculated for photon energy up to 14.00 eV. We have also observed the decrease in static dielectric constant with the increase in energy band gap under pressure.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Four porphyrin dyes, incorporating multi-alkylthienyl appended porphyrins as the electron donor, the 2-cyanoacrylic acid as the electron acceptor, and different π-conjugated spacer, have been synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). All the porphyrin dyes studied in this work exhibit red-shifted and broadened electronic spectra respect to the reference PZn as expected. By the introduction of thienyl groups at the meso-positions, the energy level of E ox (excited-state oxidation potentials) is significantly shifted to the positive compared with the reference PZn , indicating a decreased HOMO–LUMO gap. The highest power conversion efficiency of the four dyes based on DSSCs reached 5.71% under AM 1.5 G irradiation.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "While particle aggregates play a central role in recent models for nanofluid thermal conductivity, the effect of particle diffusion in a temperature field on the aggregation and transport has yet to be studied in depth. The present work separates the effects of particle aggregation and diffusion using parallel plate experiments, infrared microscopy, Monte Carlo simulations, and rate equations for particle and heat transport. The predicted thermal conductivity and viscosity enhancements are compared to determine the favorability of aggregating nanofluids. Experimental data show non-uniform temporal increases in thermal conductivity and are well described through simulation of the combination of particle aggregation and diffusion. The simulation shows concentration distributions due to thermal diffusion causing variations in aggregation, thermal conductivity and viscosity. The aggregation produces an unfavorable nanofluid. An optimum nanoparticle diameter is calculated to minimize settling, thermal diffusion and aggregation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Photovoltaic system simulation tools are mostly used for the planning and yield prediction of power plants. During the commissioning procedure and especially during the operation of a photovoltaic power plant simple algorithms are used to convert the measured power under varying irradiance conditions to standard test conditions. Faults are only detected, if there is a significant deviation between the photovoltaic system power or daily production and the estimated production based on measured irradiance levels. In large PV power plants this can result in high economic losses, which could be reduced if the monitoring mechanisms were supported by precise modelling of the photovoltaic generator. In this work, an integrated monitoring and simulation method was developed and tested for very precise online simulation of photovoltaic power plants. The method is based on detailed one or two diode current-voltage curve modelling of the photovoltaic generator. Depending on the technology, between six (crystalline) and ten (thin films) modelling parameters for the IV curve are required. The parameters are either derived from the data sheet information of the PV modules or more precisely from measured IV curves of the modules at difference irradiance levels. Using simulated IV curves, an MPP tracking algorithm and voltage dependent inverter models, a simulation accuracy of 2% is reached, so that any problems with the PV generator can reliably be detected. Using internet based communication technology for the data exchange, the online simulation can be carried out directly on the site of the photovoltaic power plant or from any remote location. Remote simulation offers the advantage to the PV plant operator, that it can also be done as a simulation service and that the software environment does not need to be purchased. To demonstrate the method, online simulation of several grid connected PV generators up to the MW power range is carried out during the commissioning and operation of photovoltaic plants. A powerful visualisation within the same software environment includes both the monitored and the simulated online data sets, so that a very efficient fault detection scheme is available. The method is excellently suited to provide automatic and real time fault detection and significantly improve the commissioning procedure for photovoltaic plants of all sizes.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Thin crystalline silicon layers (50μm) were grown by vapour phase epitaxy on monocrystalline substrates. Minority carrier diffusion length and surface recombination velocity were evaluated by light beam induced current experiment. Although it appeared difficult to apply existing analytical models to thin and high quality layers, multi-dimensional simulator DESSIS was used successfully to extract diffusion length of the order of 300μm for p-type material and 80μm for n-type material with surface recombination velocity of the order of 100–1000cms−1 when the surface was passivated by a thin silicon nitrite coating. Results were compared with the diffusion length evaluated from internal quantum efficiency analysis in fabricated photovoltaic cells made of the same material, using spectral response and reflectivity measurements.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Ultrafast photoelectric effects have been observed in MgB2 thin films fabricated by chemical vapor deposition on MgO (111) substrates. The rise time and full width at half-maximum of the photoresponse pulse signals were about 2.4 and 4ns under the irradiation of a 248nm laser pulse of 20ns in duration through the MgO substrate at ambient temperature without any bias. Furthermore, the signal polarity is directly bound up with the laser illumination positions, while no photovoltage was observed when the MgO (111) single crystal was irradiated. The inner origin mechanism of the present positions-dependent photovoltaic response was discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, the authors aim at improving the knowledge on this topic presenting a dynamic model of a solar heating system based on PVT technology. With respect to the papers mentioned above, the layout proposed includes all the components required for operating the sys-tem. The TRNSYS simulation platform of the PVT cogeneration heating system has been established for researching the system performance of PVT solar cogeneration heating system. The inlet and outlet temperature, the electrical power output of PVT collector, heat consumption, outlet temperatures of auxiliary heat source and outlet temperatures of heat storage tank of PVT collector have been studied in this paper. The results of this investigation may be summarized as follows. The PVT collector 32m2 in size in the system can achieve annual power output of 131kWh electric energy. The heat gain of heat collector system between 12 am and 6 pm on the typical day, when the auxiliary heat source is not turned on can meet the load demand. Indoor temperature varies between 16.3∼19.5°C on the typical day, fluctuation of indoor temperature s impacted by outdoor ambient temperature and solar radiation. The entire heating season that the solar fraction of this solar heating system is 31.7%, which is close to the design value of 30%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Tyrosinase, which is also named poly-phenol oxidase, has the ability to oxidize several kinds of phenolic compounds to homologous o-quinones. In this work, nano titanium dioxide particles (TiO2 NPs) and tyrosinase are co-immobilized onto the surface of glassy carbon electrode to electrochemically study the effect of TiO2 NPs on the catalytic activity of tyrosinase. And, the influence of the photovoltaic effect of this nanomaterial on the catalytic ability of this enzyme is especially investigated. It is found that TiO2 NPs can greatly enhance the catalytic ability of tyrosinase. Moreover, the photovoltaic effect of this nanomaterial can further make tyrosinase to exhibit a higher enzymatic activity. This phenomenon may be due to the increasing amount of oxytyrosinase generated by the photovoltaic effect under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation, which is an important intermediate in the process of the catalytic reactions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Enhancing thermoelectric performance while minimizing exhaust back pressure is a crucial step in advancing the commercial viability of automotive thermoelectric generators. To achieve high overall performance in a thermoelectric generator, an annular thermoelectric generator equipped with circular pin fins is proposed. A comprehensive three-dimensional numerical model is established to accurately predict thermoelectric performance and thermomechanical behavior. Detailed multi-physics field distribution characteristics are analyzed. Using an L25 orthogonal array, we examine five influencing factors and their five levels: exhaust temperature, exhaust mass flow rate, fin height, fin diameter, and the number of fins. The Taguchi analysis suggests that exhaust temperature is the most influential factor in determining thermoelectric performance, followed by mass flow rate, fin height, fin diameter, and fin number. The optimal values for these parameters are 673 K, 30 g/s, 20 mm, 3 mm, and 420, respectively. Under the optimal design parameters, the net power reaches 34.11 W, representing an 18.7% increase compared to the original design. Moreover, a comparative study is conducted between plate fins and pin fins, showing that the pin fin-based thermoelectric generator exhibits a 5.83% increase in output power and a 4.82% increase in maximum thermal stress compared to the plate fin-based thermoelectric generator.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Nanostructured nickel silicides have been synthesized by reduction and silification of high-surface-area nickel oxide, and exhibited remarkably like-noble metal property, lower electric resistivity, and ferromagnetism at room temperature. Highlights ► NiSi x have been prepared by reduction and silification of high-surface-area NiO. ► The structure of nickel silicides changed with increasing reaction temperature. ► Si doping into nickel changed the magnetic properties of metallic nickel. ► NiSi x have remarkably lower electric resistivity and like-noble metal property.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The installed capacity for solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity production in Sweden is small but rapidly growing. In this paper, the emerging innovation system for the deployment of building-sited PV systems in Sweden is analysed in order to identify and assess drivers and barriers to diffusion, using a technological innovation systems (TIS) approach. As the market for PV systems in Sweden has grown, an increasing number and variety of actors have become engaged in PV deployment, and networks have been formed. The PV market has been utterly dependent on a government investment subsidy scheme, which has, however, effectively set a cap on the size of the market, leading to fluctuations in demand and difficulties for PV installation firms. The case study illustrates how the technological innovation systems (TIS) approach can be used in a deployment context to reveal system weaknesses.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The electrochemical formation of porous silicon (PS) layers in the n+ emitter of silicon p–n+ homojunctions for solar energy conversion has been investigated. During the electrochemical process under constant polarization, a variation of the current density occurs. This effect is explained by considering the doping impurity gradient in the emitter and by TEM characterization of the PS layer structure. Optical transmission measurements indicate that modifications of the refractive index and absorption coefficient of PS are mainly related to the porosity value. Reflectivity measurements, spectral response and I–V characteristics show that PS acts as an efficient antireflection coating layer. However, beyond a critical layer thickness, i.e. when PS reaches the p–n+ interface, the junction properties are degraded.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The Al3Hf phase was formed by Hf ions implantation into Al film with a current density of 64 μA/cm 2 to a dose of 7×1017 ions/cm 2 using a metal vacuum vapor arc ion source. The surface hardness of Al film increased after Hf ions implantation. The quantitative depth profile of the formed Al3Hf phase was obtained using the quantitative structure and phase depth profiling technique of X-ray diffraction patterns. In the surface layer of the sample, the content of Al3Hf phase was about 67%. With the increase of depth, the content of Al3Hf phase decreased. At the bottom of the Al film the content of Al3Hf phase was about 5%.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thermoelectric properties of silicene nanoribbons doped with Co adatoms located in the edge positions are investigated theoretically by ab initio numerical methods based on the density functional theory. The adatoms are shown to considerably influence the corresponding electronic band structure, which results in two different magnetic states of the nanoribbons – ferrimagnetic with semiconducting transport properties and ferromagnetic of metallic character. In the former state magnetic moments at the two edges are antiparallel, while in the latter case they are parallel. Numerical calculations show that a significant spin thermopower can occur in the ferrimagnetic state due to a non-zero band-gap, while in the ferromagnetic state both conventional and spin thermopowers are rather moderate. Thus, the ferrimagnetic state arising due to the presence of impurities at the edge positions appears to be the most appropriate from the point of view of spin thermoelectric phenomena.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Photovoltaic applications are implemented on a large scale in buildings, with a view to reducing global warming sustainably, as well as to meet energy demand. Thousands of electricity generators have been installed in this process around the world. However, very few countries have technical regulations that enable the energy efficiency and yield to be optimised in building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). On the other hand, all these normative should be a result of a serious study of the solar resource available in each region. This paper proposes a methodology to establish technical standards in order to limit the losses due to shading and orientation of the constructed surface areas, where any country could be taken as benchmark. Colombia is also taken as a case study, by performing a comparative analysis for different cities.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, we investigated the dependence of spin Seebeck effect (SSE) voltages on the thickness of yttrium iron garnet (Y3Fe5O12-YIG) thin films grown on a silicon (Si) substrate fabricated by a metal-organic decomposition (MOD) method. The thickness of films was controlled by repeated spin coating and annealing cycles. Based on grazing incidence X-ray diffraction measurements, the YIG thin films displayed high crystallinity without secondary peaks, despite the increase in thickness. Scanning electron microscopy revealed uniform, highly dense films for samples having a thickness in the range of 37–260 nm. Magnetic hysteresis loops showed similar coercivities of <36 Oe for all samples, confirming the high quality of the YIG films, regardless of mismatch between the lattice constants of YIG and the substrate. Spin Seebeck resistivity results revealed a strong dependence on the thickness of the samples and the local maxima for 138-nm-thick YIG. This was attributed to the effect of the magnon energy relaxation length ( ξ L ), which is shorter in comparison to that of a single-crystal YIG film grown on gadolinium gallium garnet. In this study, facile fabrication of hundreds of nanometers-thick YIG films on a Si substrate was achieved, for applications involving thermoelectric energy harvesting.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The paper deals with concentrator photovoltaic dense-arrays under non-uniform solar irradiance. For given measured I–V characteristic of InGaP/GaAs/Ge multi-junction solar cells, estimated cell parameters connected to bypass diodes were obtained by using the Newton–Raphson method. Based on the cell parameters, the I–V characteristics of arrays were constructed and their performances under non-uniform irradiance were investigated. With the arrays performances analysis, the function of bypass diodes was also analyzed. Under non-uniform irradiance, the photo-generated currents of the cells are different and as a result, the I–V characteristic of the array contains steps. The steps may indicate the mismatched cells in the array operating in the negative voltage range and forcing the bypass diodes to conduct. For low dispersion of the non-uniformity of the solar flux, the inclusion of bypass diodes has no effect on the output power of the array; however for high dispersion, the output power decreases because the mismatched cells become reverse biased and dissipate power.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A novel method for producing high-quality polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) films on glass by means of solid phase epitaxy (SPE) of evaporated amorphous silicon on aluminium-induced crystallisation (AIC) poly-Si seed layers is introduced. Optical transmission microscope, Raman, UV reflectance spectroscopy and cross-sectional transmission electron microscope measurements show consistently that a transfer of the crystal properties of the AIC poly-Si seed layer into the crystallised amorphous silicon layer has been achieved. A 1-sun open-circuit voltage of 337mV is realised with a hydrogenated SPE/AIC p–n junction device, which is a promising result considering the early stage of process development. The SPE/AIC method appears well suited for the fabrication of poly-Si thin-film solar cells on glass and, due to the high crystal quality and the much larger average grain size, could lead to improved energy conversion efficiencies compared to Si solar cells made by solid phase crystallisation.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Self-assembled monolayer on biotinylated oligonucleotide gold. • Label-free impedimetric detection of DNA hybridization. • Impedimetric detection for HIV-1 proviral DNA.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Liver transplantation is often the only effective treatment for end stage liver diseases resulting from cirrhosis, hepatitis, progressive jaundice, and biliary atresia. Hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) preservation may enhance donor pool by extending preservation time and reclaiming marginal donor livers including those from non-heart beating donors (NHBD), as demonstrated in the kidney. However, current HMP protocols have not been successful in improving extended preservation of livers and the major cause of preservation injury remains unknown. An intravital microscopy study was conducted to understand the flow dynamics of sinusoidal perfusion during 24h HMP with cold modified University of Wisconsin (UW) solution. Fluorescein isothiocynate (FITC) labeled albumin was utilized to visualize microvascular space and FITC labeled red blood cells (RBCs) were used to visualize flow dynamics during HMP. A heterogeneous flow pattern with regions of red cell stasis was observed after 24-h HMP. To examine the cause of red cell stasis, intravital and confocal microscopy studies of endothelial cells (ECs) structure labeled with DiI acetylated low-density lipoprotein (DiI acLDL) were conducted. These studies suggest that morphological changes in EC structures occurred during 24h HMP, which may cause obstruction to the sinusoidal flow. Histological findings confirm these results. As a result, heterogeneous flow pattern, red cell stasis, and edema occur, which may lead to the failure of these tissues following extended HMP.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The photovoltaic (PV) system is one of the renewable energies that attract the attention of researchers in the recent decades. The PV generators exhibit nonlinear I–V and P–V characteristics. The maximum power produced varies with both irradiance and temperature. Since the conversion efficiency of PV arrays is very low, it requires maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control techniques. The maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is the automatic control algorithm to adjust the power interfaces and achieve the greatest possible power harvest, during moment to moment variations of light level, shading, temperature, and photovoltaic module characteristics. The purpose of the MPPT is to adjust the solar operating voltage close to the MPP under changing atmospheric conditions. It has become an essential component to evaluate the design performance of PV power systems. This investigation aims to assess different MPPT techniques, provide background knowledge, implementation topology, grid interconnection of PV and solar microinverter requirements presented in the literature, doing depth comparisons between them with a brief discussion. The MPPT merits, demerits and classification, which can be used as a reference for future research related to optimizing the solar power generation, are also discussed. Conventional methods are easy to implement but they suffer from oscillations at MPP and tracking speed is less due to fixed perturb step. Intelligent methods are efficient; oscillations are lesser at MPP in steady state and tracked quickly in comparison to conventional methods.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Aluminium-induced crystallisation of amorphous silicon is studied for the formation of continuous polycrystalline silicon thin-films on low-temperature glass substrates. It is shown to be a promising alternative to laser crystallisation and solid-phase crystallisation. Silicon grain sizes of larger than 10μm are achieved at temperatures of around 475°C within annealing times as short as 1h. The Al doping concentration of the poly-Si films depends on the annealing temperature, as revealed by Hall effect measurements. A poly-Si/Al/glass structure presented here can serve as a seeding layer for the epitaxial growth of polycrystalline silicon thin-film solar cells, or possibly as the base material with the back contact incorporated.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In the present study, p-type (Bi2Te3) x (Sb2Te3)1− x crystals with various chemical compositions ( x = 0 , 0.05, 0.10, 0.16, 0.20, 0.24 and 0.26) were fabricated through the zone melting method. Thermoelectric properties, including Seebeck coefficient ( α ), electrical conductivity ( σ ) and thermal conductivity ( κ ), were measured in the temperature range of 300–500K. The influence of the variations of Bi2Te3 content ( x ) on the thermoelectric properties was studied. The increase of Bi2Te3 content ( x ) caused a decrease in hole concentration and thus a decrease of σ and an increase of α . The maximum figure of merit ( ZT = α 2 σ T / κ ) of 1.14 was obtained at about 350K for the composition of 24% Bi2Te3–76% Sb2Te3 with 3wt% excess Te.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Multiphase solid-gas flows and particulate fouling in porous media are omnipresent in many environmental and industrial applications. However, the underlying mechanisms and transport behaviour of these complex fluids coupled with heat transfer effects are poorly understood. Moreover, the complexity of multiphase non-isothermal solid-gas transport is further compounded by the fact that thermal solid-gas transport through porous metal foams is not established. This paper numerically investigates non-isothermal solid-gas flows through an idealized metal foam heat exchanger based on a cylindrical ligament and a Weaire-Phelan model. We delve into the dynamics and heat transfer profiles of solid-gas flows immersed in porous metal foams based on various solid foulant properties. The foulant thermal behaviour based on various metal foam ligament wall temperatures is investigated. It is found that the foulant temperature profiles vary with time and the temperature profiles also vary with increasing wall temperature. Moreover, the Weaire-Phelan (WP) model can be used as an alternative to the real metal foam sample. The heat transfer between the foulant, wall, and fluid play a pivotal role in the alteration of the temperature profiles. The developed numerical methodology and the WP geometry may serve as a stepping-stone to address pertinent issues such as indoor environmental studies and optimization of compact heat exchangers.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Hybrid photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) systems consist of PV modules and heat extraction units mounted together. These systems can simultaneously provide electrical and thermal energy, thus achieving a higher energy conversion rate of the absorbed solar radiation than plain photovoltaics. Industries show high demand of energy for both heat and electricity and the hybrid PV/T systems could be used in order to meet this requirement. In this paper the application aspects in the industry of PV/T systems with water heat extraction is presented. The systems are analyzed with TRNSYS program for three locations Nicosia, Athens and Madison that are located at different latitudes. The system comprises 300m2 of hybrid PV/T collectors producing both electricity and thermal energy and a 10m3 water storage tank. The work includes the study of an industrial process heat system operated at two load supply temperatures of 60°C and 80°C. The results show that the electrical production of the system, employing polycrystalline solar cells, is more than the amorphous ones but the solar thermal contribution is slightly lower. A non-hybrid PV system produces about 25% more electrical energy but the present system covers also, depending on the location, a large percentage of the thermal energy requirement of the industry considered. The economic viability of the systems is proven, as positive life cycle savings are obtained in the case of hybrid systems and the savings are increased for higher load temperature applications. Additionally, although amorphous silicon panels are much less efficient than the polycrystalline ones, better economic figures are obtained due to their lower initial cost, i.e., they have better cost/benefit ratio.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Electrochemical properties of two protype NiO nanostructures (coral and flake) were investigated at room temperature. Coral – like nanostructure possesses higher specific capacitance instead of having less surface area. In addition, significant differences have been noticed in the shape of the CV curves. Here, a mechanism of electron transfer across electrode – electrolyte has been proposed to understand these phenomenon on the basis of electron – phonon interaction, analysed by Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopies. Difference in electron – phonon interaction for the two synthesized structures is found to originate from morphological anisotropy that has been illustrated using fractional dimensional space approach.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Nowadays, vehicles are involved deeply in human life, especially for passengers and goods transportation, and along with technological advancements, the autonomous car becomes one of the most concerning issues. With the aim of management and control, many kinds of sensors are situated in different parts of the vehicle to ensure safe and reliable driving, but they also drain out more power from the electric circuit. In this work, a rotational switched-mode water-based triboelectric nanogenerator (RSW-TENG) as battery-free device is demonstrated, in which its capability of converting rotational kinetic energy into electricity and detecting the road slope as well as the wheel speed is carefully investigated. The spatial relation between water and electrodes during operation has a great effect on the electrical outputs of RSW-TENG where they represent a negative proportional relationship with the slope angle ranging from 0° to 80°; meanwhile, a positive proportional relationship with rotational speed is observed instead. The practical evaluation with a prototype of vehicle wheel attached RSW-TENG is implemented, and it exhibits a reliable and accurate performance under different inclinations and driving speeds. These results point out that the RSW-TENG could be an appropriate selection for monitoring and enhancing driving safety.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We demonstrate response and lifetime improvements for organic photovoltaic (OPV) by using organic bathophenanthroline (Bphen) and inorganic molybdenum oxide (MoO3) as a compound cathode buffer layer (CBL). Not only power conversion efficiency (PCE) increases by 27% but also working and storage lifetimes extend at least 10 and 60 times respectively comparing with PV cell with 5nm thick Bphen as CBL. The optimized PV structure is ITO/CuPc (20nm)/C60 (40nm)/Bphen (2nm)/MoO3 (5nm)/Al and the CBL of the reference device is 5nm Bphen without MoO3 layer. The achievement of PV performance and lifetime improvement by introducing such a compound CBL is attributed to appropriate level alignment between C60, Bphen and MoO3, and stable inorganic MoO3 can prevent from superior oxygen and moisture diffusion into the C60 acceptor layer. The detailed working mechanism of the compound Bphen/MoO3 CBL in the OPV cells is also argued.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Patterning the TMDC with periodic defects decreases their thermal conductivity. • The thermal conductivity increases with increasing density of defect patterns. • The width of PBG is reversely related to the thermal conductivity of TMDC. • The temperature profiles of TMDC with periodic defects exhibit a multistep structure.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Five thin film photovoltaic modules were deployed outdoors under open circuit conditions after a thorough indoor evaluation. Two technology types were investigated: amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) and copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS). Two 14W a-Si:H modules, labelled Si-1 and Si-2, were investigated. Both exhibited degradation, initially due to the well-known light-induced degradation described by Staebler and Wronski [Applied Physics Letters 31 (4) (1977) 292], and thereafter due to other degradation modes such as cell degradation. The various degradation modes contributing to the degradation of the a-Si:H modules will be discussed. The initial maximum power output (P MAX) of Si-1 was 9.92W, with the initial light-induced degradation for Si-1 ∼30% and a total degradation of ∼42%. For Si-2 the initial P MAX was 7.93W, with initial light-induced degradation of ∼10% and a total degradation of ∼17%. Three CIGS modules were investigated: two 20W modules labelled CIGS-1 and CIGS-2, and a 40W module labelled CIGS-3. CIGS-2 exhibited stable performance while CIGS-1 and CIGS-3 exhibited degradation. CIGS is known to be stable over long periods of time, and thus the possible reasons for the degradation of the two modules are discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The transition to near zero energy and near zero carbon homes places the policy focus firmly on the widespread application of renewable energy technologies by the mainstream building industry. This systemic change from typical business practices for house design and construction to embrace the application of photovoltaic technology is likely to come with significant risk to policy outcomes. Using evidence drawn from a reasonably large near zero energy housing estate in Australia, the use of building energy regulations to facilitate the application of photovoltaics may not deliver the expected policy outcome. Lessons learnt from Australia point to issues related to regulatory design, industry training, and compliance assessment. Addressing these issues will be essential to achieve low carbon policy intentions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Triphenylene (TP)-based materials have been greatly exploited lately. The compelling optoelectronic characteristics of TP derivatives as a consequence of the aromaticity of moiety allowed the expansion of functional two-dimensional (2D) porous coordination polymers (PCPs). The properties of these materials and performance of their derived functional devices strongly depend on their synthetic approach, defining their morphology, crystallinity, and orientation, among others. Thus in this chapter we will summarize the different synthetic procedures to obtain TP-based 2D PCPs, detailing the morphological characteristics as crystalline domain and orientation obtained with each methodology. We also present a vast range of 2D TP-based PCP structures focusing on their electronic properties as well as emphasizing the effects of intralayer (in-plane) and interlayer (out-of-plane) charge transport on the electrical conductivity of each chemical and crystalline structure. Finally, we will introduce the principal and diverse applications of functional devices including these materials present in the literature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The coastal zone is the main source of foreign currency for Mexico so that federal policies are adjusting to try to improve its conditions. To that end, a large and comprehensive study was financed by the government to assess the state of knowledge of the water quality of coastal waters and the environmental status of the whole coastal area in Mexico. Based on the existing literature found in the most important research institutions of the country, as well as on field visits to 42 coastal cities from 1996 to 1998, and complemented with interviews of more than 80 persons (“key informants”) involved in the different key activities of the sites visited, the main environmental parameters useful to assess water and environmental quality were selected. All the sites where data existed and in particular the 42 main coastal cities were then analyzed according to the different categories of stress to which they are subjected and the degree of damage observed and reported. As a result, an environmental diagnosis of the Mexican coastal zone is outlined, divided by type of activity. The oil and related petrochemical industries as well as the big tourist resorts were identified as the largest contributors to the degradation of the natural ecosystems in the Mexican Coastal Zone.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This study reports on the fabrication of a chalcogen-based thermoelectric power generation (TEG) device using p-type Bi0.4Sb1.6Se2.4Te0.6 and n-type Bi2Se0.6Te2.4 legs. Electrical power generation characteristics were monitored by changing both the temperature conditions and the number of p–n couples required to generate maximum power. The significance of the resistances including the internal resistance and contact resistance between legs and electrodes, are discussed. The maximum output power obtained with the 18 p–n couples device was 273.2mW under the thermal condition of T H=523K hot-side temperature and ΔT=184K temperature difference.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► The Se supply for the selenization of CZTSSe films with high Se content was investigated. ► The CZTSSe precursors were electroplated on ITO coated glasses. ► An artfully designed graphite box was used as the selenization container. ► The usage amount of Se powder was optimized. ► The pressure of nitrogen in the tubular furnace was refined.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Different growth modes have been identified in thick (⩾500nm) AlGaN and InGaN layers grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy as a function of parameters such as the growth temperature or the III–V ratio. Al mole fractions between 0% and 60% have been explored in AlGaN alloys, finding that a two-dimensional growth only occurs above a critical temperature under a metal-stable regime. This critical temperature increases with the Al content and depends strongly on the strain induced by the substrate and previous layers. A thermodynamical model is proposed to explain this behaviour. InGaN layers were also grown with In compositions in the 0–10% range. In this case, a metal-stable regime may induce In accumulation at the surface preventing the InGaN growth. Thus, slightly N-rich conditions are needed to reach an efficient In incorporation. To broaden the photodetection range of III-nitrides, photoconductors have been fabricated on both ternary alloys aiming to obtain high responsivity, solar-blind UV detectors (AlGaN) and narrow-band visible detectors (InGaN).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Spray coating is a high throughput coating technique that is scalable and adaptable for organic photovoltaic manufacturing. To ensure uniform coating of the organic layers, the wettability, surface tension and boiling points of the solvents have to be optimized. Here, we used microscopic videos to understand the dynamics of the spray coating process. By optimizing the wettability and drying time of the PEDOT:PSS suspension on a hydrophobic surface, we attained a spray coated transparent anode without compromising on device performance. We further applied this vacuum-free process to a near infrared absorber to achieve a transparent organic solar cell with close to 60% transparency.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • EGCG esterification with stearic acid was partial and yielded a mixture of esters. • NaCl (1.6–8 %wt) was added to a 0.8 %wt PGPR-0.25 %wt BC-1 %wt WPI double emulsion. • Droplet size, viscosity and stability of emulsions depended on salt concentration. • Storage reduced EGCG and esterified EGCG encapsulation in the 4.3 %wt NaCl emulsion. • Neither of the catechins made the emulsion more resistant to oxidation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter focuses on engines that transform heat directly into electricity—the thermoelectric, the thermionic, and the radio-noise converters. The ability of a thermocouple to generate a voltage when there is a temperature difference across it suggests its use as a heat engine capable of producing electricity directly. The unparalleled reliability and simplicity of the thermoelectric generators make them the preferred device in applications in which unattended operation is more important than efficiency. These applications include power supplies for spacecraft that operate too far from the sun to take advantage of photovoltaics, topping cycles for stationary power plants (potentially), generators for oil-producing installations, including ocean platforms, and electric power providers for air-circulating fans in residential heating systems that otherwise would not operate during periods of electric power failures. Thermoelectric devices are silent—a virtue in many cases where noises would be distracting or unacceptable.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Several thermal TRP ion channels have recently been identified. These channels are directly gated by temperature, but the mechanisms have remained elusive. Studies of their temperature gating have been impeded by lack of methods for rapid alteration of temperature in live cells. As a result, only measurements of steady-state properties have been possible. To solve the problem, we have developed an optical approach that uses recently available infrared diode lasers as heat sources. By restricting laser irradiation around a single cell, our approach can produce constant temperature jumps over 50°C in submilliseconds. Experiments with several heat-gated ion channels (TRPV1–3) show its applicability for rapid temperature perturbation in both single cells and membrane patches. Compared with other laser heating approaches such as those by Raman-shifting of the Nd:YAG fundamentals, our approach has the advantage of being cost effective and applicable to live cells while providing an adequate resolution for time-resolved detection of channel activation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The organic dyes have been synthesized via a ‘Click’ reaction and employed in dye-sensitized solar cells, in which an electron-deficient 1,2,3-triazole unit is introduced to connect the thienyl group and the phenoxyl group as π-linkers. Compared with the non-thiophene containing reference dye, these new dyes show stronger intramolecular charge transfer and higher molar extinction coefficient with incremental increase of thienyl groups. Thus, the short-circuit current of solar cells based on them is greatly increased. Moreover, the existence of 1,2,3-triazole unit is favorable for the charge separation that can retard the charge recombination and improve the open circuit voltage. Consequently, the solar cell based on the dithienyl containing dye presents the best performance with a J sc of 10.00 mA cm−2, a V oc of 0.68 V and a FF of 0.71, corresponding to an overall conversion efficiency of 4.81% among them.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, an artificial neural network-based genetic algorithm (ANN-GA) model was developed for generating the sizing curve of stand-alone photovoltaic (SAPV) systems. Firstly, a numerical method is used for generating the sizing curves for different loss of load probability (LLP) corresponding to 40 sites located in Algeria. The inputs of ANN-GA are the geographical coordinates (Lat, Lon and Alt) and the LLP while the output is the sizing curve represented by C A = f ( C S ) . Subsequently, the proposed ANN-GA model has been trained by using a set of 36 sites, whereas data for 4 sites which are not included in the training dataset have been used for testing the ANN-GA model. The results obtained are compared and tested with those of the numerical method. In addition, two new regression models have been developed and compared with the conventional regression models. The results show that, the proposed exponential regression model with three coefficients presents more accurate results than the conventional regression models. A new ANN has been used for predicting the sizing coefficients for the best regression model. These coefficients can be used for developing the sizing curve in different locations in Algeria. The results obtained showed that the coefficient of multiple determination (R 2) is 0.9998, which can be considered as very promising.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A highly efficient organic thin-film solar cell based on a heterojunction structure employing a novel electron-donor (ED) material, tetraphenyldibenzoperiflanthene (DBP), has been demonstrated for the first time. An organic photovoltaic (OPV) cell with 0.033-cm2 active area, comprising DBP as an ED layer, fullerene C60 as an electron-acceptor (EA) layer, and 2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline as an exciton-blocking (EB) layer, has exhibited an open-circuit voltage (Voc ) of 0.92V, a short-circuit current density (Jsc ) of 6.3mA/cm2 and a conversion efficiency of 3.6% at 100-mW/cm2 simulated AM1.5G sunlight. Meanwhile, those of a conventional cell employing copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) for an ED layer are 0.51V, 4.3mA/cm2, and 1.4%, respectively. The high Voc and Jsc of the DBP-based cell is attributed to the DBP's highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level 5.5eV and the effective light absorption, respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The problem of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in photovoltaic (PV) arrays is addressed considering a PV system including a PV panel, a PWM DC/AC inverter connected to single-phase grid. The maximum power point (MPP) of PV generators varies with solar radiation and temperature. To reduce the PV system cost, the MPPT is presently achieved without, chopper, resorting to solar radiation and temperature sensors. The proposed strategy involves a multi-loop nonlinear controller designed, using the backstepping design technique, to meet the three main control objectives i.e. (i) voltage reference generator designed to meet maximum power point tracking (MPPT), (ii) tight DC Link voltage regulation for a wide range voltage-reference variation and power factor correction (PFC) requirement must be satisfactorily realized. A formal analysis based on Lyapunov stability is developed to describe the control system performances. It is formally shown that the developed strategy control actually meets the MPPT requirement.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, the influence of gate voltage dependent piezoelectric polarization on the damage effect of GaN HEMT induced by high power electromagnetic pulse was investigated in detail. Firstly, the necessity of considering gate voltage dependent piezoelectric polarization charge is stated theoretically. Secondly, by adding the polarization vector of z-axis P Z PE , the modified polarization model is constructed. Then series of gate injection experiments were carried out with the help of TCAD simulation software to analysis the damage effect and the influence of gate voltage dependent piezoelectric polarization on the damage threshold of GaN HEMT caused by high power EMP. The results show that the threshold power and threshold energy of the device are reduced due to the temperature rise of the device becoming steeper at the same injected power and the damage time of the device shorter when considering the gate voltage dependent piezoelectric polarization. This conclusion is very important for device design using GaN materials especially when the device operates under high voltage conditions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Exhaust heat from diesel engines can be an important heat source to provide additional power using a separate Rankine Cycle. In this study, experiments were conducted using water as the working fluid to estimate the exhaust waste heat obtainable from a diesel engine using two available heat exchangers purchased from the marketplace. An additional power of 16% was found. As these heat exchangers were not specifically designed for this application, attempts were then made to improve the overall performance of the exhaust heat recovery system by optimizing the design of the heat exchangers. The working fluid pressure and the orientation of heat exchangers were also optimized. After optimization, the additional power increased from 16% to 23.7%.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The most optimal electrodes were fabricated using two types of semiconductor composite, Px-TiO2 (bottom)/anatase TiO2 (top) and anatase TiO2 (bottom)/P-TiO2 (top). The Px-TiO2, containing nanometer-sized P (1.0, 5.0, and 10.0 mol%)-incorporated in TiO2 prepared using a solvothermal method, was used as the working electrode material together TiO2. The photovoltaic efficiency of Px-TiO2 (bottom)/anatase TiO2 (top) dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was higher than that of double-layers of anatase TiO2-DSSC as determined from photocurrent–voltage (I–V) curves. However, device efficiency was reduced on increasing P content for both types of cell: Px-TiO2 (bottom)/anataseTiO2 (top) and anatase TiO2 (bottom)/Px-TiO2 (top) combined electrode arrays. We attributed this result to the energy levels of reduction (conduction band)/oxidation (valence band), as determined by cyclic voltammetry (CV). As the conduction level of Px-TiO2 was at a lower energy level than that of pure anatase TiO2, electron transfer was only possible on the Px-TiO2 (bottom)/anatase TiO2 (top) electrode, and particularly in the P 1.0 mol% TiO2 (bottom)/TiO2 (top)-DSSC. Recombination was also much slower in P 1.0 mol%-TiO2 (bottom)/TiO2 (top)-based DSSCs than in the pure TiO2-double-layered DSSCs.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper deals with an experimental outdoor annual performance evaluation of 2.32kWP photovoltaic (PV) power system located at solar energy park in New Delhi composite climatic conditions. This PV system operates the daily electrical load nearly 10kWh/day which comprises of various applications such as electric air blower of an earth to air heat exchanger (EAHE) used for heating/cooling of adobe house, ceiling fan, fluorescent tube-light, computer, submersible water pump, etc. The outdoor efficiencies, power generated and lost in PV system components were determined using hourly experimental measured data for 1year on typical clear day in each month. These realistic data are useful for design engineers for outdoor assessment of PV system components. The energy conservation, mitigation of CO2 emission and carbon credit potential of the existing PV integrated EAHE system is presented in this paper. Also, the energy payback time (EPBT) and unit cost of electricity were determined for both stand-alone PV (SAPV) and building roof integrated PV (BIPV) systems.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In the new emerging markets of flat panel display, photovoltaic and optical coating applications, the introduction of cylindrical rotating magnetron technology can accommodate the needs for faster, better and cheaper coating processes. Recent developments of hardware (compact end blocks, etc.) and target materials for rotatable magnetron technology offer a total solution to the innovative thin film applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Chemical bath deposited Zn-compound buffer layers have been applied as an alternative to the CdS buffer layer in the development of Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 (CIGSSe) thin film solar cells. We used CIGSSe absorbers developed by Shell Solar for large-scale production. When ZnO is sputtered directly on such absorbers, very poor performances are obtained. In contrast, when the CIGSSe films are treated in electrolyte containing Zn-ions before sputtering, device efficiency of 12% is achieved. Including a sulfur or selenium source, we have developed a process to fabricate Cd-free CIGSSe devices with over 14% efficiency, certified at NREL. The structure and composition of the CBD-ZnSe on CIGSSe surface were investigated. The growth mechanism of chemical bath deposited ZnSe and ZnS on CIGSSe are discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) is a semiconductor material which can be inexpensively deposited to create a large array detector or readout structure. Combining it with a suitable semiconductor X-ray sensitive converter would produce a large, sensitive detector for X-rays with energies of 6–20 keV such as used in measurements of diffraction patterns for protein crystallography. In these experiments, the diffraction patterns created when X-rays strike crystallized protein samples are used to infer the physical structure of the molecules. The requirements for the detector include the ability to record signal peaks to high diffraction order to obtain accurate mapping of the electron density of the protein molecule, plus rapid sampling of the diffraction pattern to minimize radiation dose to the exposed crystal, while maintaining high signal-to-noise ratios. In this paper we summarize our results to date measuring and modeling the suitability of various semiconductor thin films for direct X-ray detection, and of the noise and readout properties of an amorphous silicon matrix array. We provide sample diffraction patterns obtained from a protein crystal taken at the Argonne Advanced Photon Source X-ray synchrotron using a phosphor coated a-Si: H array.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are widely used in electric vehicles (EVs) because of their high energy density; however, maintaining an optimal temperature range is crucial for their performance and lifespan. In this study, we aim to address the major challenges faced by LIBs under variable load conditions, such as their heat-generating mechanisms and key thermal problems. Effective thermal management systems for batteries (TMS-Bs) can mitigate thermal runaway (TR) in LIBs and improve their performance and lifespan. This study analyzed various TMS-B cooling methods and their advantages and disadvantages in terms of feasibility, cost, and lifespan. This study also discusses TR mechanisms, models, and strategies to mitigate TRs in LIBs. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the recent developments and challenges in LIB TR prediction, TR preventative methodology, and TR contingency plans. We also suggest several future works related to TMS-B. Overall, TMS-B is crucial for maintaining optimal temperature ranges in LIBs used in EVs. An effective TMS-B can mitigate TR and improve the performance and lifespan of LIBs. However, further research on TMS-B construction, working medium, runner size, and liquid-filling capacity along with a better understanding of how battery cells, modules, and packs respond to rapid charging situations is required.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A method to evaluate the ecological risk of chemical mixtures in water bodies is here presented. In the first phase, the approach considered routine chemical monitoring data (MEC: measured environmental concentrations) obtained from the Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, which were georeferenced to a single coordinate system for each monitoring station. The overall mixture toxicity were then evaluated for three representative aquatic organisms (algae, Daphnia, fish) using the concentration addition model to combine exposure with ecotoxicological data (from different databases). A database management system was used to facilitate the creation, organisation, and management of the large datasets of this study. The outputs were obtained as GIS-based mixture risk maps and tables (listing the toxic unit of mixtures and individual substances) useful for further analysis. The method was applied to an Italian watershed (Adda River) as a case study. In the first phase, the mixture toxicity was calculated using two scenarios: best- and worst-case; wherein the former included only those compounds that were be detected, while the latter involved also substances with concentrations below the limit of quantification. The ratio between the two scenarios indicated the range within which mixture toxicity should ideally vary. The method demonstrates that these ratios were very small when the calculated toxicity using the best case indicated a potential risk and vice versa, indicating that the worst-case scenario could not be appropriate (extremely conservative). Consequently, in the successive phase, we focused exclusively on the best-case scenario. Finally, this approach allowed the priority mixture identification (those most likely occurring in the analysed water samples), algae as the organism at the highest risk, and the substances that contributed the most to the overall mixture toxicity (terbuthylazine and s-metolachlor for algae, and chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-CH3 for Daphnia and fish).",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Hybrid solar cells on the basis of CuInS2 (CIS) photoabsorber on Cu-tape (CISCuT) in combination with organic buffer layers of Zn-phthalocyanine (ZnPc), ZnPc:fullerene (ZnPc:C60) composite and conductive polymer buffer layers of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) doped with polystyrenesulfonate (PSS) were prepared using vacuum evaporation and spin-casting techniques. To prepare solar cells with an active area of 2 cm2, the appropriate deposition parameters and thickness of ZnPc, ZnPc:C60 and PEDOT-PSS layers were selected experimentally. For preparation of semitransparent contact-window layers, chromium and gold were evaporated on the surface of ZnPc, ZnPc:C60 and PEDOT-PSS films. It was found that an intermediate chromium layer improves PV properties of the structures with organic buffer layers. The photosensitivity at small illumination intensities of complete structures with ZnPc and ZnPc:C60 layers increased more than one order of magnitude in comparison with the structures where the PEDOT-PSS buffer layer was deposited. The presence of C60 in the composite-buffer layer results in increased photoconductivity. The best structure with composite ZnPc:C60 buffer layer showed an open-circuit voltage of 560 mV, a short-circuit current density of around 10 mA/cm2 and a photoconversion efficiency of around 3.3% under the light illumination with an intensity of 100 mW/cm2 from a tungsten–halogen lamp. The low transmission of the semitransparent chromium–gold window layer is the reason for relatively low current density.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The thermal energy management (TM) of a hypersonic vehicle should concern the full process of the heat dissipation, transport and reuse. In this paper, the aerodynamic heat of a hypersonic cruiser is dissipated by passive thermal protection system (TPS), transported by regenerative cooling (RC) network, and reused by RC network and thermoelectric (TE) conversion component. The TM system accordingly includes three subsystems of TPS, RC network and TE component. An equivalent thermal equilibrium model and an overall equivalent heat transfer coefficient are developed to build up the mutual correlation between the aerodynamic heating and TM system instead of the one-way influence, and account for the coupling design rationale of the TM subsystems. For passive TPS, the distribution, area and weight of relevant concepts are obtained; for RC network, the determination method of the heat capacity and coolant mass-flow-rate is developed, and the heat transport performance at specific vehicle regions is numerically analyzed by using hydrocarbon and liquid hydrogen fuel as coolants; for TE component, a TE-AFRSI concept is established by integrating mid- and low-temperature TE stages into the advanced flexible reusable surface insulation (AFRSI), and the concept is optimized by considering the thermal protection, weight increment and heat reuse performance. The design roadmap of TM system is finally proposed and the influence of the overall equivalent heat transfer coefficient is clarified. The results show that the aerodynamic heat and the transported or reused heat proportion will increase, while the scale of passive TPS will be reduced by the increase of overall equivalent heat transfer coefficient.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • The Al-Ag-Ga system was assessed using literature data on binary subsystems. • Isothermal sections, liquid projection and invariant reactions were calculated. • All thermodynamic calculations were validated by experimental investigations. • Lattice parameters for ζ phase were found to be in agreement with literature data. • Studied system was found to exhibit similar behavior as other Al-Ag-X systems.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This study presents the results of a preliminary attempt towards identifying potential areas in India where provision of electricity through renewable energy-based decentralized generation options can be financially more attractive as compared to extending the grid. The cost of generation of electricity from coal, hydro and nuclear power plants and also cost of transmission and distribution of electricity in the country have been estimated. The delivered cost of electricity (generated in a coal thermal power plant) in remote areas, located in the distance range of 5–25km is found to vary in a wide range varying from Rs. 1 1 1US$=Indian Rupees (Rs.) 45.80 on 20 October 2006. 3.18 to 231.14/kWh depending on peak electrical load and load factor. The study indicates that renewable energy-based decentralized electricity supply options (such as micro hydro, dual fuel biomass gasifier systems, small wind electric generators and photovoltaics) could be financially attractive as compared to grid extension for providing access to electricity in small remote villages.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A thorough transport and thermodynamic investigation of flux-grown single crystals of the ternary Zintl phase Yb11 AlSb9, combined with first-principles density functional theory calculations, shows that this compound is a metal above T ≈ 100 K and a semiconductor with small hybridization gap at low-T. The general behavior resembles those of Kondo lattice semiconductors, although some of the measured properties are strongly sample dependent, as often seen in hybridized f-electron materials. We thus suggest that Yb11 AlSb9 can be considered as a new Yb-based Kondo lattice semiconductor joining the family of strongly correlated electron systems.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This work investigates the photovoltaic properties of a BHJ solar cell made of an active layer constituted by phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester and a novel polyalkylthiophene derivative functionalized in the side chain with porphyrin dye. The polymer was fully characterized by FT-IR, NMR, UV–vis, GPC, DSC and TGA techniques and the active layer by cyclic voltammetry and AFM. The results of this study indicate that the solar cell made of polythiophene containing a 25% molar content of sensitizer dye as the active layer, exhibits higher power conversion efficiency, short circuit current and fill factor values than the reference cell based on polythiophene completely devoid of porphyrin.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • The shift of band gaps in ZSiNRs with hydrogen adsorptions results in spin Seebeck effects. • A large rectification ratio of about 105 at room temperature for the spin current is achieved. • A negative differential thermoelectric resistance for the charge current is observed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A rapid, one-step synthesis of pristine ZnAl2O4 by spark plasma sintering has been developed in this work. Using inexpensive reagents (ZnO and Al2O3) and the direct synthesis approach, a total synthesis time of five minutes was achieved. Varying the sintering parameters allows for tailoring of the density, crystallite size, and band gap. An extensive parameter study was performed to understand the formation of impurities at different conditions, and also to investigate the effect of using either γ – or α -Al2O3 as the aluminum source. The experimental results reveal that a heating ramp of 200°C/min up to 1000°C, and immediate cooling thereafter, produces pristine ZnAl2O4. The thermal diffusivity and band gap were found to be dependent on the synthesis conditions employed. The synthesis approach in this work provides a protocol for controlled preparation of bulk ZnAl2O4 with tunable properties.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Alkali metal thermal to electric converter (AMTEC) cells are built with readily available materials. Improvement of the performance of an AMTEC cell requires improvement and development of components as well as cell geometry. The present paper shows parametric results obtained by changing cell geometry to determine the effects of these design changes on the cell performance. In order to improve the cell performance, heat losses, input thermal power, cell's output power and efficiency have been investigated in detail by varying the cell designs. Changing some geometrical dimensions of the cell has proved to be very effective in improving the cell performance. As a result of this overall effort we have been able to demonstrate the improvement in the efficiency of AMTEC cell by 17.5% over the one in operation called Ground Demonstration Converter System at Air Force Research Laboratory, Albuquerque, New Mexico.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, we study CdS films processed by chemical bath deposition (CBD) using different thiourea concentrations in the bath solution with post-thermal treatments using CdCl2. We study the effects of the thiourea concentration on the photovoltaic performance of the CdS/CdTe solar cells, by the analysis of the I–V curve, for S/Cd ratios in the CBD solution from 3 to 8. In this range of S/Cd ratios the CdS/CdTe solar cells show variations of the open circuit voltage (V oc), the short circuit current (J sc) and the fill factor (FF). Other experimental data such as the optical transmittance and photoluminescence were obtained in order to correlate to the I–V characteristics of the solar cells. The best performance of CdS–CdTe solar cells made with CdS films obtained with a S/Cd ratio of 6 is explained in terms of the sulfur vacancies to sulfur interstitials ratio in the CBD–CdS layers.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The growing research in the field of photovoltaics has led to various strategies for increasing the light interaction in absorbers, for instance the use of nanostructures like nanowires where leaky mode resonances enhanced absorption efficiency. Towards this goal, we present a study of the light absorption in single Si nanowires, by means of microphotocurrent spectroscopy combined with transport measurements of carrier diffusion length using the electron beam induced current technique. The study is performed on different diameter nanowires with Schottky junctions created by doping modulation during Chemical Vapor Deposition–Vapor Liquid Solid growth. We show that the photocurrent spectra of single Si nanowires do not follow monotonous profiles as bulk silicon, but rather have steep valleys and peaks whose position and intensity are diameter dependent. These sharp modulations result from a resonant coupling between incident photons and cavity modes of the nanowires. A good agreement between the experiment and the theoretical fit using Mie theory is observed with a red shift in the absorption spectrum with increasing diameters.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The degradation of organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) based on pentacene/fullerene heterojunction was investigated in air with different relative humidity (RH). The lifetime of OPVs stored in air with 33±5% RH was about 850h, 35 times of those stored in air with 65±5% RH (25h). Two degradation processes were clearly observed for the devices in low humidity. The results demonstrate that the water and oxygen have different effects on pentacene/fullerene heterojunction OPVs degradation, thus dominating at different time periods. The different decay constants caused by O2 and H2O might come from the diffusion of O2 and H2O, respectively. Water is believed to be more important in the degradation process of pentacene/C60 based solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The electromagnetic interference of power lines to nearby metallic pipelines has been a subject of research for many decades. Usually attention was given to gas or oil pipelines that shared the same rights-off-way with a power line for large distances. However, the recent advancement of renewable energy sources and specifically Photovoltaic (PV) power, due to generous incentives provided in many countries, has resulted in installations of large PV power stations even in agricultural areas. This brought up cases where such power stations in the MWp level, typically connected in medium voltage through buried cables, are located in the vicinity of metallic irrigation pipelines. Under certain conditions, these situations may result in induced voltages and currents on the pipeline that can pose threats to operating personnel. This work presents an analysis of the problems through a quasi-real case study adapted from a real case of a PV power station. The calculation methodology involves a hybrid method that is used in a way to reduced computational time. Results are presented both for normal operating conditions and faults in the power station and may be useful for both agriculture professionals and engineers.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A constant pressure, mixed gas permeation testing skid was deployed at the National Carbon Capture Center to test membrane performance when continuously exposed to slipstream post-combustion flue gas. Small, laboratory scale membranes can be loaded for testing and the degree of automation allowed the skid to be run unattended for several weeks at a time. In this report, we share our experience in commissioning the skid and quantifying CO2, N2 and O2 permeances of several membranes during the first round of testing. Dense films of polydimethylsiloxane and poly(bistrifluoroethoxyphosphazene) were tested with flue gas for approximately 20h each. In addition, we successfully tested four thin film composite hollow fiber membranes made by a dip coating process, consisting of porous Torlon hollow fibers coated with a selective layer of poly(bistrifluoroethoxyphosphazene) or its mixed matrix with a metal organic framework SIFSIX-Cu-2i filler particles. Initial results suggest the polydimethylsiloxane showed comparable results to the literature data, but the coated hollow fiber membranes have lower CO2 permeances relative to N2 or O2 permeances compared to their performance under idealized, dry, contaminant-free mixed gas conditions. While quantification of H2O permeance was performed, we found it was affected by concentration polarization even with small membrane area and a low stage cut.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "To use silicon in emerging photonic devices, it is necessary to improve its luminescent properties. In this regard, hexagonal modifications of silicon are attracting great attention, as they demonstrate an increased emissivity in comparison with cubic silicon. It has been recently established that, upon irradiation of the SiO2/Si structure with Kr+ ions, a photoluminescence line appears, which is associated with the formation of the 9R-Si hexagonal phase. In this work, we compare the changes in photoluminescence under irradiation with As+ and Kr+, which are close in atomic mass and radius but differ in chemical nature. Irradiation and subsequent annealing were carried out under identical conditions with ion energy of 80 keV, dose of 5·1016 cm−2 and annealing temperature of 800 °C (30 min in N2). It is found that photoluminescence line at around 1240 nm is observed in both cases, but the intensity is significantly higher and the maximum is shifted by 5 nm towards shorter wavelengths for As+ irradiation compared to Kr+ irradiation. The results are interpreted taking into account the different degree of out-diffusion of As and Kr associated with their different chemical nature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Electrodeposition and post-annealing is a promising low-cost approach to the growth of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 for photovoltaic applications. However, In and Ga electrodeposition is not facile from aqueous electrolytes. Efficient electrodeposition can be achieved by using deep eutectic solvent (DES) based electrolytes since solvent decomposition reactions (such as hydrogen evolution reaction in water) do not occur. In this work, the electrochemical behavior of InCl3 and CuCl2–InCl3 on the DES 1:2 choline chloride:urea (ChCl:U) on a Mo rotating disk electrode is studied via cyclic voltammetry. The deposited Cu–In thin films are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) in terms of morphology and composition and X-ray diffraction (XRD) regarding crystal structure. The cyclic voltammetric studies on the ChCl:U–CuCl2–InCl3 system showed multiple cathodic and anodic responses, which were assigned to various crystalline phases. The crystalline phases, composition and morphology of the deposits were potential dependent. Cu–In intermetallics formation is studied as a function of deposition potential and electrolyte composition. Cu–In metal precursors were thermally annealed under selenium pressure to form CuInSe2.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Cadmium sulphide finds extensive applications in a variety of optoelectronic devices. CdS, with a band gap of 2.43eV, is a suitable window material in heterojunction solar cells that employ CdTe, Cu2S or CuInSe2 as an absorber. Polycrystalline films of CdS, thickness ∼15μm, were grown onto chemically clean and optically plane glass substrates by sintering process. A 10min sintering time and 500°C sintering temperature were found to be optimum. As deposited films were characterized through optical, structural and electrical transport properties using optical reflection spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry and I–V characteristics techniques.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In order to obtain electricity in off-grid areas and in emergency conditions (earthquake, hurricane, tidal wave, military field, etc.), a prototype of stove-powered thermoelectric generator (STEG) without battery embedded was built and tested. A novel type of heat collector, i.e. two copper heat conducting flat plates installed oppositely, was designed to integrate a relative large number of thermoelectric (TE) modules (eight TE modules in the present work). The heat collector works with optimized heat sinks and cooling fans to maintain large temperature difference and low cold end temperature, and to insure the self startup of the STEG. Hard charcoal was used to test the performance of the STEG, including the startup performance, power load feature, response dynamics when adding a load and thermoelectric efficiency. Results showed that the STEG can be self startup. The measured maximum electricity power is 12.9 W, and the thermoelectric efficiency lies between 2.4% and 2.8% when the temperature difference ranges from 119 °C to 147 °C. The response time is short enough (several seconds) to stable the outputs, and the cold end temperature is low enough, i.e. less than 65 °C to install normal cooling fans.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, the crystalline quality of CsPbBr3 is significantly improved through a two-pronged strategy using a two-step process. Specifically, we combined the etching effect of PEG on PbBr2 with the strong permeation effect of CsBr aqueous solution in the CsPbBr3 preparation. Under 1-sun illumination, the PCE of printable mesoscopic perovskite solar cells (p-MPSCs) based on CsPbBr3 reached an impressive 10.04%, marking the highest reported value to date. By capitalizing on the excellent thermal stability of CsPbBr3 and fully harnessing the surface thermal energy of the device using a thermal-to-electricity generator (TEG) module, the assembled p-MPSC-TEG series-connected four-terminal tandem device achieves a power output of up to 28.35 mW cm−2 under concentrated light. This groundbreaking research not only establishes a new benchmark for all-inorganic p-MPSCs but also underscores their potential for high power output, stability, and simultaneous solar energy utilization in photothermal applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Bulk heterojunction (BHJ) photocells using low energy-gap polymers such as poly[[4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b’]dithiophene-2,6-diyl][3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4-b]thiophenediyl]] (PTB7) and modified fullerenes such as [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (C70-PCBM) show relatively high power conversion efficiency. It is known that the thermal annealing, which effectively improves the photovoltaic performance of BHJ photocells with semi-crystalline polymers such as poly (3-hexylthiophene), is not applicable to BHJ photocells with amorphous-type polymers such as PTB7. In this study, it is found that PTB7:C70-PCBM BHJ photocells degrade shortly at 80°C, which is within the range of the temperature shock cycling test condition specified in IEC 61646, the international standard for testing thin-film photovoltaic module. On the other hand, the photovoltaic performance of PTB7:C70 BHJ photocells composite has been found to significantly improve after the thermal annealing at 160°C. The results strikingly indicate not only that the lack of thermal robustness in PTB7:C70-PCBM BHJ photocells does not mainly arise from the nature of the polymer but the substituents of the fullerene used, but also that neat fullerenes should not be considered as just cheap and nasty substitutes of fullerene derivatives.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A Life Cycle Assessment, LCA, of a nanocrystalline dye sensitized solar cell (ncDSC) system has been performed, according to the ISO14040 standard. In brief, LCA is a tool to analyse the total environmental impact of a product or system from cradle to grave. Six different weighing methods were used to rank and select the significant environmental aspects to study further. The most significant environmental aspects according to the weighing methods are emission of sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide emission was selected as the environmental indicator depending on the growing attention on the global warming effect. In an environmental comparison of electricity generation from a ncDSC system and a natural gas/combined cycle power plant, the gas power plant would result in 450 g CO2/kWh and the ncDSC system in between 19–47 g CO2/kWh. The latter can be compared with 42 g CO2/kWh, according to van Brummelen et al. “Life Cycle Assessment of Roof Integrated Solar Cell Systems, (Report: Department of Science, Technology and Society, Utrecht University, The Netherlands, 1994)” for another thin film solar cell system made of amorphous silicon. The most significant activity/component contributing to environmental impact over the life cycle of the ncDSC system is the process energy for producing the solar cell module. Secondly comes the components; glass substrate, frame and junction box. The main improvement from an environmental point of view of the current technology would be an increase in the conversion efficiency from solar radiation to electricity generation and still use low energy demanding production technologies. Also the amount of material in the solar cell system should be minimised and designed to maximise recycling.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The supply of Energy resources to the villages located in inland and hilly regions, is disadvantageous both for the domestic and transport purposes. Because these conditions may produce the depopulation of the inland zone, a smart way to ease this inconvenience is to produce in situ electrical Energy for houses and fuel for cars, getting them from an available Energy source in the village, as the solar Energy. The only technology to produce hydrogen ecologically and to minimize CO2 emission, is through RES (Renewable Energy Sources). The solar energy plants must use the surfaces of buildings instead of occupying other green areas useful for agricultural activities. On this basis, we propose in this paper a demonstrative project for a village in Sardinia, consisting of photovoltaic collectors connected in a network, to provide electricity to homes and hydrogen for transport purposes.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Achieving solutions to environmental problems that we face today requires long-term potential actions for sustainable development. In this regard, renewable energy resources appear to be the one of the most efficient and effective solutions. That is why there is an intimate connection between renewable energy and sustainable development. Anticipated patterns of future energy use and consequent environmental impacts (focussing on acid precipitation, stratospheric ozone depletion and the greenhouse effect) are comprehensively discussed in this paper. Also, potential solutions to current environmental problems are identified along with renewable energy technologies. The relations between renewable energy and sustainable development are described with practical cases, and an illustrative example is presented. Throughout the paper several issues relating to renewable energy, environment and sustainable development are examined from both current and future perspectives. It is believed that the conclusions and recommendations drawn in the present study will be useful to energy scientists and engineers and policy makers.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Performance improvement of the thermoelectric cooler depending on both the thermoelectric material development and the system design optimization will be positive and significant for various applications of thermoelectric cooling technology. This paper introduced a typical thermoelectric cooling model and constructed the overall heat transfer and electric-heat conversion model. Based on the dimensional analysis method, we deduced and obtained several necessary non-dimensional coefficients such as dimensionless cooling power, working current, and thermal conductance for analyzing the performance of the thermoelectric cooler. The dimensionless working current and thermal conductance reveal the relationship between the cooling capacity caused by the Peltier effect, the inner heat conduction of the PN material, and the total heat transfer capacity of the cold-side and hot-side. The multi-parameters analysis results show that the cooling power will reach up to the maximum when K d , I d , and ω vary from 0.1 to 0.3, 0.08 to 0.12, 0.3 to 0.45, respectively. For validation, we constructed an experimental system for testing the cooling performance. Experimental results show that the optimal thermal conductance allocation ratio of the cold-side is the same as the simulation results. That is, the overall consideration of dimensionless coefficients is feasible and significant for ameliorating the thermoelectric cooling performance.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Growing globalisation and more complex business environment are conditions which gave requests for organizations to rapidly increasing management effectiveness and require application of new management theories which can respond to modern business conditions. Modern management theory offers some new concepts, which could support necessary changes in organization to increase their effectiveness. This paper elaborates integration concept by design approach of integrated management systems and implementing TQM elements and synergetic effect by using scientific approach in management and affirmation of social model of management. Paper also emphasizes importance of design phase in developing and implementing effective management system and considers the using some adequate management theories like General system theory, Balanced Scorecard, CASE tools for Information systems design.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In recent years, phase change materials (PCMs) have attracted considerable attention due to their potential to revolutionize thermal energy storage (TES) systems. Their high latent heat storage capacity and ability to store and release thermal energy at a constant temperature make them promising candidates for TES applications. However, challenges such as low thermal conductivity, supercooling, phase segregation, leakages, corrosions, and slow charging/discharging rates have prompted the development of various PCM modification techniques and heat transfer enhancement methods. This review provides an overview of recent advances in PCM technologies from 2010 to 2023. It encompasses the development of new PCMs with high thermal conductivity, shape stability, and durability, as well as exploring novel TES storage methods to enhance charge/discharge rates. The review comprehensively discusses different types of PCMs, including paraffins, non-paraffins, sugar alcohols, hydrated salts, molten salts, and metals. It aims to understand their unique characteristics, compare their costs, sustainability, and applicability, and delve into the associated phase transitions between states and eutectics. Furthermore, the review covers shape stabilization and encapsulation of PCM, along with the elaboration on applications and the effect of process parameters during modification. While shape stabilization is generally easier to produce and control, encapsulation can provide better protection and isolation to the PCM core. To implement PCM-based heat transfer systems effectively on a commercial scale, passive methods (e.g., fins and nanoparticles) and active methods (e.g., external fields and rotation) are also explored. Additionally, it elaborates on the pros, cons, and relevant applications of emerging heat transfer enhancement techniques for PCM technologies. The review highlights that various enhancement methods can be combined in a system to achieve optimal charging/discharging rates, ultimately aiming for phase transition congruency. Overall, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and engineers working in the field of PCM-based thermal energy storage.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The high cost of photovoltaic modules motivates the use of reflectors to increase the electricity production. The system geometry of static low-concentrating PV systems for building-integration with parabolic aluminium reflectors was optimised for maximum annual electricity production. The optical efficiency of systems with different geometries was calculated from short-circuit current measurements on thin film modules and the annual electricity production was simulated. An inclination of the reflectors’ optical axis of 35°, resulting in a concentration ratio of 4.65, showed the highest electricity yield per cell area, 120kWh/m2 cell area, 72% higher than for a vertical module without reflector.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Industrial symbiosis (IS) can promote carbon emission reduction through effective use of resources and energy. This study aims to quantitatively examine the effects of IS performance on carbon emission reduction through a case study on Xinfa Group, a comprehensive large enterprise group in China. A scenario without IS is assumed for comparison. Results show that the carbon emission rates with and without IS are 16.20 Mt of CO2e and 18.17 Mt of CO2e, respectively. The largest carbon emission sector is the electrolytic aluminum industry, which accounts for 70.2% of the total. The carbon emissions under the IS condition at Xinfa Group decrease by 10.84% compared with that under the no IS condition. The carbon emission reduction primarily results from byproduct exchange and energy symbiosis, with rates of 72% and 28%, respectively. Carbon emission reduction as a result of energy-graded utilization is 11.4%. Carbon emission reduction from calcined lime, alumina, calcium carbide, and other industries accounts for 60.7%, 18.7%, 0.9%, and 27.1% of the total emission reduction, respectively. The characteristics of IS development at the Xinfa Group are presented.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A Computer Software application has been developed to simulate the behavior of a photovoltaic generator connected to the low voltage network. Although this software was devised to be used mainly in in-household installations, it could also be implemented in commercial and industrial installations. By using distributed generation concepts, the behavior of the photovoltaic generator is described through three different cases: the first case is only based on the power consumption from the distribution network. The second one is based on the energy generated by the photovoltaic system. The last one is based on the consumption along with the power generation. Furthermore, this software can determine the behavior of the photovoltaic generator by using demand curves and historical power curves. Three different options can be used to model the demand curves: data insertion from the user, choice of a default curve (given by some network operators), and generation of the curve using Artificial Neuronal Networks (ANN). ANN are also used to simulate the power generation from measurements of solar radiation provided by the Línea de Investigación en Fuentes Alterntativas de Energía LIFAE (Searching Lab on Alternative Energy Sources) from Universidad Distrital. Finally, to generate the total curve, which represents the photovoltaic user behavior, the previous curves are added (demand curve and power curve). The final curve shows sundry values per hour, according to how the initial curves have been modeled.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The stabilization of future CO2 atmospheric concentrations to levels that might prevent anthropogenic alterations of the world climate calls for tens of terawatts of carbon free renewable energy resources. The combined energy production potential of all known non-solar carbon-free renewable resources seems insufficient to meet these targets. Consequently, over the next decades solar energy, and in particular photovoltaics, is expected to fill the gap. In this work several mature photovoltaic technologies, ranging from silicon to thin films, and solar concentrator systems are analyzed. The estimates of the energy production limits are established for each technology, based on available global material reserves. It is shown that many existing technologies, albeit playing an important in the present sub-gigawatt energy production levels, are affected by severe material shortages, that would prevent their scale-up to the terawatt range. This is the case for thin film solar cells technologies based on CdTe and CIGS where the showstopper is the scarcity of tellurium and indium respectively. Despite the abundance of silicon, crystalline Si-based solar cells will hardly reach the terawatt range as additional scale-up of the technology will be impeded by the global reserves of silver, commonly used as electrode material. As for amorphous silicon and dye sensitized thin film technologies, avoiding the use of indium tin oxide transparent conductor films appears as a must for exceeding the few tenth of terawatt barrier. For existing III–V concentrator cells, operating under moderate concentration (<200X), terawatt year level may be afforded by circumventing the use of Ge substrates and by minimizing the use of In and Au in the cell fabrication process. In conclusion the study summarizes current material challenges for terawatt level deployment of the existing solar cells, and for each technology, identifies improvements and innovations needed for further scale-up.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Electronic stability analysis of amorphous Zr70Pd30 clusters upon transition from the as-quenched to an annealed state revealed a divergence in the interaction trends of the two atomic species. In the case of Zr-centered clusters, this transition involved a sizable shift in spin multiplicity from 8 to 4 accompanied by an 11% reduction in binding energy, the latter characterized by the reduction of Zr-eg contributions into orbitals involving Pd. In a qualitatively different transition mechanism, Pd cluster annealing caused the reduction of spin multiplicity from 6 to 4 expressed as a marginal 1% increase in binding energy and caused Pd centers to virtually disengage from interactions with Zr whilst increasing their majority eg populations in orbitals of the same species. Molecular orbital interactions translated into icosahedral or near-icosahedral coordination for Zr centers in both temperatures. Alongside differences in orbital interactions, a feature commonly expressed on both Zr- and Pd-centered clusters was revealed by the topology of the spin density which featured as σ bonding of surface species on all of the low energy clusters studied. Some spin density sign reversal was also present and was tentatively taken to signify the onset of coordination saturation for both species.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The present paper reports the structural, electronic, phonon and thermodynamical properties of some transition-metal nitrides (TMN: TiN, VN and CrN) by means of first-principles calculations. The computed equilibrium lattice constant and bulk modulus agree well with the available experimental and theoretical data. The electronic band structure and density of states calculations show metallic nature. The phonon frequencies are positive throughout the Brillouin zone for these compounds in rocksalt structure indicating dynamical stability. The calculated electron–phonon coupling constant λ and superconducting transition temperature agree reasonably well with the available experimental data. These compounds behave as a conventional phonon-mediated superconductor. Within the GGA and quasi-harmonic approximation, thermodynamical properties are also investigated.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report the solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell performances of perylene imide using nanoporous TiO2 electrodes. Solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells were fabricated using the organic hole-transporting medium (HTM) 2,2′7,7′-tetrakis-(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenyl-amine)-9,9′-spirobifluorene (spiro-OMeTAD). The experimental E LUMO levels of perylene imide dyes are found to be 3.75 and 3.77eV, respectively. Therefore, perylene imide dyes can inject electrons to the conduction band of titanium dioxide in organic dye-sensitized solar cells. TiO2 thin films of about 2μm in thicknesses were prepared. Both preparation and thickness of the compact TiO2 layer were optimized using spray pyrolysis. The studies revealed that an optimum film thickness of 130–150nm of compact TiO2 yielded the best rectifying behavior and SDSC performance. In this work, our goal was to investigate the performance of perylene sensitizers in connection with spiro-OMeTAD hole transport material. Short-circuit current densities, open circuit voltages and overall conversion efficiencies of the solar cell with 2,2′7,7′-tetrakis-(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenyl-amine)-9,9′-spirobifluorene(spiro-OMeTAD) as a hole conductor and perylene imide as sensitizer on mesoporous TiO2 were investigated.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A brief overview is provided of renewable energy technologies suited to stand alone power generation; in practice this means wind turbines and photovoltaics (PV) as these can be used in diverse locations, and to a lesser extent micro-hydro which is more site specific and bio-energy although this last one may not be effective at the smaller scales mostly involved. The issues concerning the use of wind power and PV for desalination by reverse osmosis will be discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The singlet oxygen quantum yields (ϕ Δ), LUMO energy levels (eV), photo stabilities under Xe-lamp irradiation of N,N′-di-dodecyl-3,4,9,10-bis(dicarboximide)perylene and N,N′-di-(1-dehydroabiethyl)-3,4,9,10-bis(dicarboximide)perylene, N-DODEPER and ABIPER, respectively, in different host matrices (solution, PVC and sol–gel matrix) are determined. Quenching of their emission by KI is found to give k q values of 3.5–37.4×109 M−1 s−1. Quenching is more efficient in solution phase than it is in immobilized phases. ϕ Δ’s of ABIPER and N-DODEPER are in negligible range, 0.090 and 0.095, respectively. The LUMO energy levels determined by cyclic voltammetric studies are 3.65 and 3.49eV for ABIPER and N-DODEPER, respectively. Neither ABIPER nor N-DODEPER showed degradation tendency in sol–gel matrix. Photooxidation of α-terpinene is performed with ABIPER and N-DODEPER as photosensitizers, both in acetonitrile solutions and immobilized phases (PVC and sol–gel host matrices) by the use of two different irradiation sources, Na lamp and concentrated sun light. The photosensitizers exhibited different activities on the product profile, which were strongly dependent on the irradiation source, period of irradiation and the phase that the sensitizers were placed (solution or immobilized phases). Product analysis results point that in immobilized phases of PVC films 3,6-dioxoheptanal is the major product. In solution and immobilized phase of sol–gel ascaridol is the most abundant product. Superoxide anion radical, forms as reactive intermediate at photoinduced electron transfer process, directs the primary mechanistic step of photooxidations. A secondary mechanistic step is being proposed for the clarification of product formations.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Cost-effective strategies and quantitative evidence of impact are essential for remodeling. Therefore, the first step is to define the remodeling scheme, conduct case studies and collect data according to established methodologies. Problems are then identified and improvement plans proposed, while simplifying the diagnostic process. In this study, a framework for retrofitting an existing building was presented and a case study focusing on the proposed methodology was carried out. Comparisons of the measured value with the design value of the insulation performance from the case study showed that the error rate was 79.2%–112.8% for walls and 20.4%–27.6% for windows. In addition, energy savings analysis through calibration simulation showed that the error between design and measured values was 33.7%. By accumulating the case study results, the cause of the difference in savings can be analysed and similar data can be inferred without field diagnosis.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The main objective of this article is to deal with and establish a new type of transparent conducting material by doping Gallium Nitride (GaN) with rare-earth RE (Gd, Sm) elements. A theoretical study was performed by using the density functional theory (DFT) implemented in WIEN2k code and BoltzTraP package based on semi-classical Boltzmann transport equation (BTE) within constant relaxation time and rigid band approximation (RBA). The application of the modified Becke–Johnson (TB-mBJ) potential has improved the electronic structure, especially the electronic bandgap. Our simulation result matches with other computational results as well. We have compared the total energy of ferromagnetic (FM) and Anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) configurations for the doped system to analyze the magnetic ground state stability. Preferentially the most stable magnetic configuration is found to be ferromagnetic. The low value of formation energy indicates the possibility of the preparation of these materials in the lab. To further compare the results, we have also used the VNL-ATK quantumwise code based on the Linear Combination of Atomic Orbital (LCAO) approach. VNL-ATK incorporate a new functional DFT-1/2 to correct the Kohn–Sham KS eigenvalues around the minima and maxima of the conduction band, and the valence band, respectively, which enhances the bandgap. It shows the high optical absorption and the high electrical conductivity. These characteristics offer that GaN doped with rare earth elements are potential candidates for optoelectronic, solar cell, and spin-based magnetic devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Rooftop photovoltaic (PV) power generation stands as a promising technology for the transition towards a low-carbon power and buildings sector. However, in the past deployment has been strongly dependent on policy support. With the recent rapid decrease in module costs, rooftop PV is exhibiting a growing potential to be an attractive investment even in the absence of subsidies. While many drivers of economic performance have been investigated in isolation, a holistic analysis of how realistic combinations of influencing factors determine rooftop PV׳s economics is still missing. We identify the most important influencing factors through a comprehensive review of the literature. We then provide a model-based techno-economic analysis of a small-scale grid-connected residential building PV system, assessing how region-specific geographic, technological, and economic parameters jointly influence performance. We find that in many regions rooftop PV can already today be an attractive investment, even in the absence of subsidies. No regional influencing factor can in isolation guarantee or impede performance. Moreover, in most regions it might be possible to further improve economic performance. Self-consumption is identified as a likely driver of value in the future, while low electricity prices (and thus fossil fuel subsidies) present a powerful barrier in some regions. Based on these insights, we discuss implications for policy makers and investors with regard to recognizing and shaping attractive markets and investments.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The South African solar map has been redrawn to make it applicable to photovoltaic installations. This has been done with the aim of reducing the cost of solar PV installations in South Africa through accurate energy resource assessment and competent system design. Climate data software as well as solar design software was used to aid this process. The new map provides an alternative to the map in current use, which only considers radiation, whereas many more factors affect the output of a panel, such as wind, cloud cover and humidity. All these are taken into account when drawing the new map.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "To study the grey spatial soliton families in biased two-photon photovoltaic photorefractive crystal, the dynamical evolution equation and the numerical solution of the grey spatial soliton families were established. The numerical results show that the incoherently coupled screening-photovoltaic grey soliton families can be established provided the multiple incident beams have the same polarization, wavelength, and are mutually incoherent. The screening-photovoltaic grey soliton families can be considered as the united form of screening grey soliton families and open- or closed-circuit photovoltaic grey soliton families due to two-photon photorefractive effect.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The majority of industrial, automobile processes, electrical appliances emit waste heat in the low-temperature range (<573 K), hence efficient thermoelectric materials operating in this range are highly needed. Bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) based alloys are conventional thermoelectric material for the low-temperature application. The pure Bi2Te3 sample synthesized in this work exhibits n-type conduction. We demonstrate that by small doping of Pb at Bi site a transition in electrical transport form n- to p-type is observed. The figure-of-merit (ZT) of n-type Bi2Te3 is ~0.47 and optimized Bi1.95Pb0.05Te3 exhibit p-type conduction with enhanced ZT of ~0.63 at 386 K. The conversion efficiency of Bi1.95Pb0.05Te3 based single thermoelement with hot pressed Ni/Ag electrical contacts was found to be ~4.9% for a temperature difference (ΔT) of 200 K. The efficiency was further enhanced to ~12% (at ΔT ~ 494 K) in the segmented thermoelement consisting of Bi1.95Pb0.05Te3 and (AgSbTe2)0.15(GeTe) 0.85 (i.e. TAGS-85).",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, we investigated the phonon modes, dielectric properties, infrared (IR) reflectivity, and Raman intensity spectrum of semiconducting silicide BaSi2 within the framework of the first principles density functional theory. The zone-center phonon mode frequencies formed two major bands in the ranges of 50–150 cm−1 and 270–500 cm−1. The modes in the frequency band 100–150 cm−1 had high Born effective dynamical charges and oscillator strengths, and they contributed significantly to the mode effective charge, static dielectric permittivity, IR activities, and reflectivity spectrum. These modes were attributable to displacements of isolated Si clusters relative to one another without internal distortions. The computed Raman activities and intensities were significant for modes in the frequency band of 270–500 cm−1. These modes were primarily associated with silicon atom vibrations in the Si clusters in BaSi2 and the internal modes of the isolated Si clusters with Td symmetry. The band gap was also computed for BaSi2 using the modified Becke–Johnson exchange potential and it was in good agreement with the previously reported experimental values. The computed Raman intensity and IR reflectivity spectrum can be used as benchmark first principles theoretical results to compare with experimental results.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "To date, many carbon allotropes have been proposed theoretically or/and experimentally, and a variety of attractive chemical and physical characters have been uncovered in these materials simultaneously. Although these researches have been abundant, there is still a lack of systematic studies on thermal transport properties of various carbon allotropes. In this paper, the lattice thermal conductivity κ L of all common carbon allotropes with different crystal systems, such as diamond, bct- C 4 , bct- C 8 , hex-C, kagome, m-carbon, pentadiamond, t-carbon and w-carbon, has been investigated systematically through the combination of first-principles calculations with compressive sensing techniques and Boltzmann transport theory. In order to reveal the correlated factors of the heat transport, the mechanical properties of these carbon allotropes are also calculated. Strikingly, our results indicate that the κ L are proportional to bulk modulus in these carbon allotropes with different crystal structures, which can be used to estimate thermal conductivity of carbon allotropes and may also be employed as the useful guides in future thermoelectric device designs. These findings show that this methodology can be used as a highly effective tool to estimate the lattice thermal conductivity of different semiconductor materials in thermal management system.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► CdS and PbS nanoparticles co-sensitized ZnO nanorods as photoanode of DSSCs. ► CdS and PbS sensitized ZnO by SILAR. ► High cell efficiency of ZnO/CdS/PbS mainly due to the stepwise band edge structure.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The efficiency of solar cells made from a conjugated polymer blended with a fullerene derivative has risen from around 1 % to over 9 % in the last ten years, making organic photovoltaic technology a viable contender for commercialization. The efficiency increases have resulted from the development of new materials with lower optical gaps, new polymer:fullerene combinations with higher charge separated state energies, and new approaches to control the blend microstructure, all driven by a qualitative understanding of the principles governing organic solar cell operation. In parallel, a device physics framework has been developed that enables the rational design of device structures and materials for improved organic photovoltaic devices. We review developments in both materials science and device physics for organic photovoltaics.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Graphene oxide/ carbon nanotubes (GO/CNTs) aerogels were prepared by adjusting the proportion of GO and CNTs, the corresponding reduced graphene oxide/CNTs (rGO/CNTs) aerogels were obtained by thermal reduction. Then, poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonic acid (PEDOT: PSS) was compounded with rGO/CNTs aerogels at a mass ratio of 1:1 to prepare rGO/CNTs/PEDOT: PSS (GCP) composites. Structural analyses revealed the strong π-π interaction between rGO/CNTs and PEDOT: PSS, which leads to the formation of ordered regions. Porous structures of rGO/CNTs aerogels act as conductive network skeleton to promote carrier transport in GCP composites, and the electrical conductivity of GCP composites improves effectively. The optimal electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of GCP5 were 1788.11 S cm−1 and 15.87 μV K−1 respectively. The maximum power factor and ZT merit of GCP5 achieved to 45.03 μW m−1 K−2 and 2.65 × 10−2 at room temperature, which was almost 43 and 17 times than that of PEDOT: PSS.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The feasibility of utilizing Y2O3:Tb3+ and Y2O3:Eu3+ as radioluminescent nanophosphors under α-particle excitation is investigated. Materials synthesized by the urea homogeneous precipitation method were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD analysis of as-produced precipitates and nanophosphors fired at temperatures ranging from 950 to 1100°C indicated the presence of highly crystalline cubic Y2O3 with crystallite sizes of ∼40nm. SEM and TEM analysis revealed that particles with average diameters of ∼200nm and comprised of ∼40nm grains were obtained. High-resolution radioluminescence and photoluminescence spectra were used to investigate the unwanted radioluminescence saturation effects associated with the high ionization rate of α-particles. Additionally, the radioluminescence intensity as a function of rare-earth ion dopant concentration is investigated for these materials under α-particle excitation. The prospect for utilizing these materials as intermediate absorbers in indirect-conversion radioisotope batteries is discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The recent surge of unveiled US patents on the intermediate reflectors for thin-film silicon (Si) photovoltaic (PV) devices reflects the paramount importance of light trapping to improve the conversion efficiency. Here, the recent patent issues on the intermediate reflectors of thin-film Si PV devices are reviewed. Highly transparent and conductive metal oxide intermediate reflectors have the advantage of the higher efficiency for the fabricated multi-junction solar cells compared to the Si alloy intermediate reflectors. However, their high lateral electrical conductivity leads to the lateral shunting during the monolithic series integration of segments. To avoid the lateral shunt creations, an additional laser scribe or a coating process that induces a high production cost is necessary. In addition, a low conversion efficiency for hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H)/hydrogenated microcrystalline Si (μc-Si:H) double-junction PV modules employing a metal oxide intermediate reflector stems from the decrease in the active area as a result of the additional process. Meanwhile, double-junction PV modules employing an n-type hydrogenated microcrystalline Si oxide (n-μc-SiO x :H) intermediate reflector provide a higher conversion efficiency. Since the Si alloy intermediate reflector can avoid the lateral shunting, it may be a promising option for cost-effective mass production of large-area thin-film Si multi-junction PV modules. Although the developed intermediate reflectors have the high potential, the current status is limited at the research and development (R&D) level. Therefore, the up-scaling with the low cost, high throughput, and high yield is a key technological mission for mass production.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Detecting cracks in thermoelectric wafers is critical for thermal-electric energy conversion devices. • Our technique works for small, fragile wafers with non-uniform geometry. • We excite flexural vibration modes, which induce contact acoustic nonlinearities within cracks. • Cracks identified via resonance amplitude and nonlinear harmonic generation and modulation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Thermoelectric Na1.2Co1.8Ag0.2O4/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites were synthesized for the first time. • Enhanced thermoelectric properties are obtained by incorporating reduced graphene oxide in Na1.2Co1.8Ag0.2O4. • Na1.2Co1.8Ag0.2O4/0.04 wt% rGO reaches a maximum power factor of 444 μW m−1 K−2 at 859 K.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Photovoltaic systems are renewable energy sources with various applications and their implementations in energy production and saving are verified. Installing those systems onto merchant marine vessels could prove to be an efficient way of minimizing fuel costs and simultaneously protecting the environment by reducing significant carbon dioxide emissions. This paper examines the feasibility of installing solar panels onto vessels and also calculated the payback period from the adopted investment with respect to fuel oil savings. Thus, the two important parameters incorporated in the parametric analysis are the solar radiation density and the fuel cost. In order to calculate the energy production of the solar installation systems, the globe is divided in six different zones, according to solar radiation density (Stackhouse and Whitlock, 2008). For one square meter of the considered solar panels the peak output power is taken equal to 130W (Kagaraki, 2001). The payback period of the investment depends greatly on the fuel prices. For a reasonable fuel price annual increase at about 10–15% the estimated payback period varies from 16 to 27 years. The more the fuel oil increases, the methodology reveals that the payback period converges to a minimum of 10 years. When using any storage media such as hydrogen, the methodology shows that the payback period increases and this depends on the proportion of the energy stored and from the storage media itself.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "An adaptive control scheme for maximum power point tracking of a single-phase grid-connected photovoltaic system is presented. The difficulty on design a controller that may operate a photovoltaic system on its maximum power point (MPP) is that, this MPP depends on temperature and solar irradiance, ambient conditions that are time-varying and difficult to measure. A solution using an on-line sliding mode estimator is presented. It estimates three different parameters that depends on solar irradiance and temperature, eliminating the necessity of having any sensor for these environmental variables. It is capable of estimate time-varying parameters. A complete analysis was done taking into account the non-linearities showed by the closed-loop system. A variation of the Lyapunov redesign technique was used to find a controller that give globally asymptotically stable trajectories of the closed-loop system. An adaptive law was found to substitute a perturbation bound and also to eliminate possible chattering due to the discontinuous controller term. Computer simulations are presented to show the good performance of the controller.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A novel thermoelectric material, A-site-deficient spinel Zn0.5Rh2O4, was prepared by subtracting Li ions from Li0.5Zn0.5Rh2O4 immersed in a K2S2O8 aqueous solution. The electric conductivity (σ) increased 6-fold after extracting Li (σ=8.8S/cm (Li0.5Zn0.5Rh2O4), 50S/cm (Zn0.5Rh2O4) at 600°C), whereas the Seebeck coefficient (S) only slightly increased (S=203μV/K (Li0.5Zn0.5Rh2O4), 216μV/K (Zn0.5Rh2O4) at 600°C). In Zn0.5Rh2O4, a mixed-valence configuration of Rh3+ and Rh4+ at a ratio of 1 to 1 and a half-deficient A-site were realized, resulting in high σ and even slightly increased S, which were likely attributed to the rather high power factor of 2.3×10−4 W/mK2 at 600°C. Our findings demonstrate that controlling the Rh4+/Rh3+ ratio is a promising method for enhancing the thermoelectric properties.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter discusses the use of new approaches in thin film photovoltaic solar cells. The chapter first reviews devices which use nanowires and quantum dots in inorganic thin film solar cells. The second part is devoted to organic solar cells, explaining their working principles and strategies for light trapping and efficiency enhancement. The last part describes new chalcopyrite materials deposited by state-of-the-art technologies at the industrial level such as spray, electrodeposition, or doctor blading. Such technologies allow low-cost deposition of advanced materials on large surfaces for harvesting sun energy.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The binding energy of ground state exciton in Ga x In1−x N y As1−y /GaAs single quantum well is studied theoretically. We have calculated the exciton binding energy by a variational envelope-function procedure using simple two-band model, including strains and the difference in dielectric constants between well and barrier materials. The influence of the well width and nitrogen and indium mole fractions on the value of binding energy has been analyzed. It has been observed that incorporation of small amounts of nitrogen (up to 5%) induces significant changes of the exciton binding energy.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report in this paper a study of the mechanical alloying (MA) process for the Pb0.65Sn0.35Te alloy. MA has been carried out in a high-energy planetary ball mill. The mechanism of formation has been studied from systematic analyses of mechanically alloyed powders using X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy. As it was already observed for the MA of PbTe, this synthesis is associated with an exothermic reaction between the elemental powders. The required time to reach an homogeneous phase Pb0..65Sn0.35Te is 31h.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Electrodeposited CuIn(S,Se)2 based solar cells with efficiencies of 10.4% and 7.1% are reported. Their electronic transport properties are examined as a function of temperature by admittance spectroscopy and dark-current–voltage measurements (J (V, T)). For all devices, admittance spectroscopy reveals two relative shallow defect levels located at 0.1 eV and 0.23 eV, respectively. For the device showing the lowest efficiency, an additional deep defect at 0.51 eV is probed. The presence of this defect is well correlated with the J (V, T) results which reveal an enhancement of a second recombination mechanism that we identify as an additional tunneling-assisted recombination path.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Flow in small size tubing or channels in multidisciplinary field such as Chemistry, medical and lab on chip sensors can be a potential candidate for energy scavenging. Recently, energy harvesting techniques have been developed utilizing the steady flow under induced pressure gradient in lab on chip device. Here, for the first-time harnessing energy from unsteady pulsatile water flow over hydrophobic polymeric surface attached in the inner wall of the elastic tubing that induces slip boundary and causes electrostatic potential difference in the electrical double layer of the solid-liquid interface is described. This work demonstrates peristaltic flow driven triboelectric nano-generator based on the flow contact electrification between the hydrophobic micro porous PVDF (mpPVDF) membrane and water stream flowing through elastic silicon tubing. The efficiency of the PF-TENG as energy harvester was evaluated using deionized water (PF.DIw-TENG), tap water (PF.Tw-TENG). The mechanistic approach is discussed for the generation of alternating current based on the relation between the hydrodynamics of pipe flow and adsorbed ions at the Electrical Double Layer (EDL). The generated voltage and short-circuit currents (Isc) are superior in PF.Tw-TENG, in particular, the maximum peak to peak values of voltage and Isc are 20.93 V and 1.67 μA, respectively, over PF.DIw-TENG. The PF.Tw-TENG shows greater efficiency over PF.DIw-TENG due to the presence of dissolved free mobile ions which can enhance the power output. Moreover, we verify the possibility of the PF-TENG as self-powered average volumetric flow rate sensor. The developed PF.TENG can be potentially applied for fluid dynamic monitoring of peristaltic flow involved in pharmaceuticals and food industries.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► We fabricate two all-inorganic solar cells based on TiO2 nanorod arrays. ► CdSe or CdTe nanocrystals are used as absorbers. ► TiO2/CdSe/CuSCN trilayer structure and TiO2/CdTe bilayer structure are adopted.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Various SiGe-based Quantum Dot Superlattices (QDSLs) were grown using an industrial Chemical Vapor Deposition tool with the intent to develop efficient thermoelectric thin films at a large scale. We report first on the growth of monocrystalline SiGe-based QDSLs. We were able to control the SiGe spacer width and the sizes and densities of Ge dots. A vertical ordering behavior was observed for large dot structures, but not for those with the smallest dots (30–70nm wide, 3nm high). In situ B doping operated during growth led to hole densities of 5×1019 to 1×1020 cm−3. We also report on the growth of polycrystalline SiGe-based QDSLs with the same equipment. We show in particular that vertically aligned Ge dots were formed in a similar way as in monocrystalline structures despite the presence of stacking faults and grain boundaries. A heavy p doping was also obtained on some of these structures.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► We provide guidance on the methodology for the measurement and assessment of PQ characteristics for PV systems. ► We provide required indices for characterizing PQ of PV systems, the measurement procedure, and the procedure for assessing compliance with PQ requirements. ► Field measurements performed in an actual MV PV system are characterized according to relevant PQ indices and compared to its objectives.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The increasing population has created two fundamental issues on the islands (in this case, Kish Island): an expansion in waste production and handling and a rise in the need for freshwater for daily consumption. Waste gasification can be used to reduce waste and generate energy. Sea salt water can be converted into drinkable freshwater using energy. This article describes a computational code using a combination of EES (Engineering Equation Solver) and MATLAB software for a hybrid cycle that includes waste gasification and reverse osmosis to generate freshwater and power. Kish Island waste data was carefully collected onsite. An exergy evaluation has been conducted to verify the cycle's irreversibility. Lastly, optimization has been performed to identify the best operation mode. In terms of irreversibility, a gasifier is far more irreversible than any other type of plant equipment. Based on the parametric analysis, salt water and waste flow significantly impact freshwater production. Approximately 20,000 m3/day are consumed on Kish Island each day, so if the entire production power of the steam turbine is used in the reverse osmosis high-pressure pump, 2860 m3/day can be obtained each day (14% of the required amount).",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Currently, there are no methods for calculating the operating conditions of automatic submerged overlay welding (surfacing) with a sintered strip that would concider the features and technological parameters affecting the formation of weld metal. The dependences presented in the article indicate that the magnitude of the welding current has the greatest influence on the penetration depth, while the dependence on the voltage and the welding speed is insignificant. Accordingly, as the voltage increases, an increase in penetration occurs, but in the case of a surfacing rate, an inverse relationship is observed. The developed models are 95% adequate. An experiment was performed to determine the influence of the parameters of the overlay strip on the structure and properties of the weld metal.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Bi4Ti3O12/BiFeO3 (BTO/BFO) heterostructure bilayer film is prepared on fluorine-doped tin oxide conductive glass by a sol–gel process. The X-ray diffraction result shows that no additional phase can be found besides the characteristic diffraction peaks of BTO and BFO. Piezoelectric force microscopy measurement confirms the complete domain switching and local ferroelectric nature. The open circuit voltage and short circuit current density of the bilayer film are measured to be about 0.38V and −56.24µAcm−2, respectively, higher than those of the BTO. The BTO/BFO film exhibits repeatable and stable instantaneous response of photocurrent. A theoretical band diagram model combining p–n heterostructure with ferroelectric polarization is constructed to describe the mechanism of photovoltaic enhancement of the film.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper describes a comparison between two dynamic methodologies used in the probabilistic risk analysis (PRA) of the Cassini Mission. The main Cassini PRA was performed by Lockheed Martin. A combination of Monte Carlo algorithms and event-tree logic was used to perform the study. Results were validated using an alternative method, the Discrete Dynamic Event Tree (DDET) methodology. Two major conclusions of the paper are 1) performing a dynamic PRA of large scale ‘real-life’ systems is feasible and 2) given the same ground rules and assumptions, two dynamic methodologies would give the same results.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The application of renewable energy sources in electric power systems is increasing. There is a growing need for economic evaluation to inform photovoltaic (PV) allocation decisions for a range of decision-makers. In this study, power output and temperature data collected from PV modules in Istanbul, Turkey in 2009 have been analyzed to determine solar power generation potential. In addition to the measurements, technical and commercial parameters were also used to perform the evaluation. Different tariffs such as time-of-use and feed-in tariffs were considered in this study.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Electrical conductivity, thermopower (Seebeck coefficient), and thermal conductivity are the main parameters that determine the ZT value of thermoelectric (TE) materials. The accurate measurement of the above three parameters is of vital importance for the characterization of TE material performance. After long-term technical improvements, the current measurement technology of TE transport properties is relatively mature, but the complexity of measurement error sources and the incomplete uniformity of measurement standards are still problems that puzzle TE materials researchers. This chapter will focus on introducing the measurement principles and methods of Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity, analyzing the causes of measurement errors and exploring solutions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In light of Brazil׳s socio-economic development in the last 20 years, the population has greater access to consumer goods, hence impacting the escalating growth in electricity demand, thereby resulting in the need for substantial investments in electricity generation and transmission. In contrast, government institutions have not taken effective measures to increase the energy efficiency of the most impactful energy-consuming appliances, which would reduce the need for energy investments. Through econometric models, Brazil׳s residential electricity consumption was projected up to 2030 and it is predicted that results can be achieved if through tax exemption, the government can promote the use of more energy-efficient technologies. Through an economic and financial evaluation, our study analyzes the potential effects of a decrease in tax revenues for the State in light of lower investment needs in energy generation and distribution.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, the formation of ohmic contacts to n-GaN using Al, Ti/Al and Ti/Au has been investigated. n-GaN Ti/Al contacts showed the lowest specific contact resistance after annealing at 900°C for 30 s. For p-GaN, Ni/Au contacts were studied. A lowering of sheet resistance upon annealing in the case of n-GaN and an increase for p-GaN might be attributed to formation of N-vacancy. No native oxide was detected on GaN surface by XPS.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Electrochemical oxidation and polymerization of N,N-dimethylaniline at a gold electrode have been studied in an acidic solution. Both potential cycling and electrolysis at a controlled potential yield a thin film of a polymer that shows electrochemical activity in acidic and pH-neutral solutions. Raman spectra of sulfate- and polystyrenesulfonate-doped polymer have been obtained and analyzed. Two possibilities for electropolymerization have been considered – a simple polymerization yielding a “true” poly(N,N-dimethylaniline), and polymerization accompanied by a partial demethylation yielding poly(N-methylaniline). Based on the results obtained, the first one has been considered as most likely.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In the 9th of March 2007, the European Council decided a fixing goal of 20% contribution of the renewable energy sources (RES) on the total European electric energy production in 2020. In order to reach such an ambitious goal, all the European countries are adopting different support policies for encouraging the installations of RES-based generation systems. In this paper, after a brief review on the main support policies for RES in Europe, the specific situations of four representative countries (France, Germany, Italy and Spain) are examined, with the purpose of putting into evidence the main differences in the support policies adopted for Photovoltaic (PV) and Wind systems. In particular, a comparison based on the calculation of the pay-back-period (PBP), the net present value (NPV) and the internal rate of return (IRR), for different sized PV and Wind systems, shows that in some situations a support policy can be not convenient for the owner of the RES-based generation system and that, in many cases, the differences between the way of implementation of the same support policy in different countries, can give place to significantly different results.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The system proposed in this paper produces hydrogen by supplying photovoltaic power to a water electrolyzer and then supplying this gas to a fuel cell with a time shift. The objective of this system is to supply power to an individual house or apartment building with only green energy. However, the solar cell module installation area is large in the proposed system. Therefore, this paper considered installing a solar cell module with a plant shoot configuration. As a result of this modification, the power generation area of the proposed system is 33–52% smaller than that of a conventional flat solar cell module. From these results, it should be possible to introduce the proposed system into an individual house.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "For alternative energy technologies like photovoltaics (PV), the analysis of Research and Development (R&D) expenses is important to observe and understand market dynamics. This is, in turn, essential for policymakers. However, the quantitative evaluation of global corporate R&D investments is a challenging task due to unavailability or high scatter of precise data. Here we present a top-down approach to estimate the current and global historic cumulated PV R&D investments based on international PV patent applications. High growth rates of PV-related patents and R&D headcount accompany growth and development of the PV market and are an excellent indicator to analyze R&D investments. With this approach, current annual corporate PV R&D investments are found to be about 6000m€ and show a rapidly increasing trend on a global scale.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Computable general equilibrium models are becoming popular for simulating emissions trading systems. However, these models make various assumptions about the production structure and the possibilities of substituting energy for productive factors or inputs. Therefore, this study aims to analyze how different options to incorporate energy into the nested production structure of a computable general equilibrium model affect the obtained impacts when an emissions trading system is implemented. A flexible computable general equilibrium model called ECOMODEL is developed, which is the first model that allows choosing any of the three nested production structures most used in the literature (KEL-M, KL-EM, or KLE-M). The Chilean economy is used as a case study since there is a current database with high disaggregation of the energy sector for calibrating the computable general equilibrium model. The results show that the simulated impacts with KEL-M and KL-EM structures are the best when elasticities of substitution equal to the values ​​most frequently used in previous studies are chosen. However, the KEL-M structure that considers energy as a substitute for capital provides overly optimistic environmental results when high elasticities of substitution are used, obtaining the lowest reduction in Gross Domestic Product and the lowest price of the emissions trading system. Furthermore, the KLE-M structure gives unrealistic results regardless of the elasticities of substitution used. In consequence, a KL-EM nested production structure should be prioritized to simulate an emissions trading system since it provides realistic results and is less sensitive to the values of the elasticities of substitution.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "It was discovered that the well-known higher boride YB66, one of the first reported phonon glass electron crystals (PGEC), could be obtained in a much more metal-rich composition than previously thought possible. Using the floating zone growth method, YB48 single crystals with YB66 crystal structure could be obtained, and their thermoelectric properties measured. This expansion of the homogeneity range of the well-known YB66 compound is surprising and a new Y atomic site was discovered. YB48 exhibits much higher power factors than YB66 which increase rapidly with increasing temperature. The obtained dimensionless figure of merit of this compound at 990K is approximately 30 times higher than that of previously reported YB66 samples, and higher than any other pristine higher boride. This discovery reveals YB48 as a promising high temperature thermoelectric material.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper some renewable energy options for electricity generation for Pakistan are explored from multiple perspectives comprising technical, economical, social, environmental and political aspects. Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) has been used for the first time for the energy sector of Pakistan. An AHP model has been presented for the selection and prioritization of various renewable energy technologies for electricity generation. After accessing potential of the country for generating electricity from renewable resources, reviewing relevant scholarly literature and discussion with experts, an appropriate decision model has been formulated consisting of goal, criteria, sub-criteria and alternatives. Wind energy, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal and biomass energy options are used as the alternatives in the decision model. Besides ranking and prioritizing of these technologies, results of the proposed decision model can also be used for the development of long-term renewable energy policy and energy roadmap for the country. The findings of this research might also be highly relevant to other developing countries.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The majority of the solar radiation that reaches the earth lies close to the visible region of the spectrum. The intensity falls off from there slowly into the infrared and more quickly into the ultraviolet (UV). Recently, as the growth of high Al composition AlGaN has matured, interest has focused on detectors operating in the solar-blind region of the UV spectrum. The solar-blind region corresponds to the strong atmospheric absorption of solar UV in the range of 240-290 nm. This creates a natural low background window for detection of man-made UV sources. The development of UV photodetectors has been driven by numerous applications in the defence, commercial, and scientific arenas. These include covert space-to-space communications, secure non-line-of-sight communications, early missile threat detection, UV spectroscopy, chemical and biological threat detection, flame detection and monitoring, UV environmental monitoring, and UV astronomy. Many organic and inorganic compounds have absorption lines or florescence lines in the UV region of the spectrum. If a number of different cut-off wavelength UV photodetectors are used, it is possible to determine the presence of individual spectral lines and attempt to identify the presence of specific chemicals. This potential for compact solid-state florescence spectroscopy is one of the most interesting applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We investigated the influence of negative pressure on the electrical conductivity, the Seebeck coefficient, and the power factor of Sb2Te3. We performed first-principles calculations with the linearized-augmented plane-wave method considering negative hydrostatic pressure in the range from zero to −2 GPa and doping for electrons and holes up to 1020 cm−3. Our results predict a significant increase of the Seebeck coefficient and the power factor under negative pressure for certain doping concentrations.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Gaobeidian Lake, located in Beijing, China, serves as a recipient lake for effluents from a large municipal sewage treatment plant (MSTP). In order to evaluate the effects of discharging MSTP effluent on the mercury contamination of the local aquatic ecosystem, sediment cores, water, plankton, fish, and turtle samples were collected from Gaobeidian Lake for mercury speciation analysis. High concentrations of total mercury (T-Hg) were detected in sediment cores (5.24-17.0 μg/g dry weight (dw), average: 10.1 μg/g). The ratio of methylmercury (MeHg) to T-Hg was less than 0.3% in sediments and ranged from 35% to 76% in biota samples. The highest level of T-Hg and MeHg were found in aquatic bryophyte and crucian carp (3673 and 437 ng/g dw, respectively). The relative contents of MeHg were significantly correlated with trophic levels (R 2 = 0.5506, p < 0.001), which confirmed that MeHg can be bio-transferred and biomagnified via food chain in this aquatic ecosystem.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • A polypropylene microfluidic device with a porous polymer monolith modified with a covalently linked capture oligonucleotide was prepared. • Solid-phase extraction conditions for hybridization of target DNA were optimized. • The device allows fast extraction of 1pM DNA from a 100μL sample with recovery up to 83%.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Alkali activated cements (AAC) are becoming an increasingly promising alternative to traditional Portland cement. There are still some significant barriers which have yet to be addressed, by all the agents involved in the construction industry. However, it appears that some AAC applications can be introduced in current applications at a faster rate than, for instance, structural concrete. One of these applications are materials with thermal performance, based on the capacity of some types of AAC to expand during initial reactions. The present paper aims to assess the viability of producing porous AAC for application in thermally effective façade panels. A wide range of industrial by-products were activated with sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate. Two additional by-products were incorporated to increase the thermal damping of the pastes, with the intention of taking advantage of the large pore volume. Flexural and compressive strength and density was measured, and selected pastes were then submitted to microstructural characterisation (SEM/EDX), environmental behaviour (heavy metal leaching), porosity (SEM) and thermal performance (thermal coefficient). The results showed maximum compressive strengths of 2.5 MPa, while the majority of the pastes tested showed conductivity values below the threshold of 0.2 W/m.°C, which is the requirement for obtaining a classification of ‘thermal’. Therefore, the production of panels for thermal insulation based on alkali activated industrial by-products is competitive with traditional materials based on current commercial solutions, and, given the non-structural nature of this application, can be very close to reach industrial production.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The fundamental physical properties of VRu3, NbRu3 and TaRu3 were studied using CASTEP package. Their stabilities were confirmed by calculating the enthalpy of formation and the phonon dispersion spectra. These Ru-based intermetallics are conductors with a strong covalent bond and have demonstrated interesting thermomechanical properties: high Vickers hardness, low thermal conductivity, high fracture toughness and high melting point, making them good candidates for high-temperature application. Adsorption behavior and sensing properties of XRu3(100), XRu3(110) and XRu3(111) surfaces at H2, N2, O2, CO, NO, CO2, N2O, NO2, H2S, SO2, H2O, NH3 and CH4 have also been studied. In all cases, a physisorption interaction was found with an adsorption energy between −19 and −75 meV. The gas adsorption capacity follows the order SO2 > H2S > CH4 > CO2 > NH3 > N2O > CO > H2O > N2 > O2 > OH > H2. VRu3(111), NbR3(111) and TaRu3(110) are the most suitable adsorption surfaces. Gas recovery times have proven to be very short, on the order of a few picoseconds. Among the tested gases, CO2, H2S, SO2, NH3 and CH4 show high recovery times with VRu3(111), NbRu3(111) and TaRu3(110).",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "CuInSe2 layers have been prepared by direct electrodeposition onto Mo-coated glass substrates, being the overall film composition adjusted by the substrate polarization potential. The structure and composition of these samples have been investigated by XRD, EDX and XPS for the films as-grown and after heating with Se vapor. The obtained data reveal the importance of oxygen interaction with CuInSe2 layers at temperatures above 400°C, by resulting in a crystalline In2O3 phase which remains in the film near-surface region and a poor crystalline Cu x Se which migrates towards the bulk. Such components redistribution allows overall stoichiometric layers to approach the characteristics of global Cu-rich ones and achieve the highest CuInSe2 recrystallization.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This study aims to study of physical parameters of the Cs2CdZnCl6 double perovskite compound implementing a full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) technique and Boltzmann transport equation within the framework of density functional theory (DFT) as carried out in the WIEN2k code. The Birch Murnaghan equation of state (EOS) and the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) were both used in the structural analysis, resulting in the stable phase for Cs2CdZnCl6 double perovskite. The compound is found to be semiconductor in nature with band gap of 3.971 eV. Strong hybridization between the Cd-3d and Zn-5d orbitals was seen in the DOS data, confirming the ionic character due to the relative abundances of the two states. Thermodynamic features have been computed for temperature ranges (0−1200K) and pressure ranges of around 0–30 GPa, In regard to thermoelectric properties, calculations have been made for temperature, chemical potential, and charge carrier concentrations. Positive values of the Seebeck coefficient characterize the p-type nature of Cs2CdZnCl6. The highest Seebeck coefficient ever recorded was 235.41 mV/K at 130 K. According to calculations, the maximum ZT value at 600 K is 0.65, which raises the possibility that Cs2CdZnCl6 is a high-performance thermoelectric material.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The initial stage of indium tin oxide (ITO) thin film growth, deposited by reactive thermal evaporation (RTE), was investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements. Five ITO thin films were deposited by RTE of an In:Sn alloy in the presence of added oxygen on heated oxide substrates (T s=440K), with film thickness as the deposition variable. Surface imaging as well as statistical analysis were applied to obtain information about the structure of the samples from AFM measurements. In the initial stages of the deposition it was possible to distinguish the presence of individual features randomly distributed with characteristic dimensions of up to 100nm. Subsequently, the ITO films appeared to grow uniformly as a continuous film deposited over the entire surface. As the ITO films were formed under the low-nucleation barrier regime, which involved small critical nucleus with low positive free energy of formation, the films consisted of many small aggregates. The small minimum stable size of the aggregates and the high nucleation frequency gave rise to a fine-grained film. The grain size of the ITO films increased as the film thickness increased until a maximum value of t=80nm was reached.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study we employ Life-Cycle Assessment to evaluate the energy-related impacts of photovoltaic systems at different scales of integration, in an arid region with especially high solar irradiation. Based on the electrical output and embodied energy of a selection of fixed and tracking systems and including concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) and varying cell technology, we calculate a number of energy evaluation metrics, including the energy payback time (EPBT), energy return factor (ERF), and life-cycle CO2 emissions offset per unit aperture and land area. Studying these metrics in the context of a regionally limited setting, it was found that utilizing existing infrastructure such as existing building roofs and shade structures does significantly reduce the embodied energy requirements (by 20–40%) and in turn the EPBT of flat-plate PV systems due to the avoidance of energy-intensive balance of systems (BOS) components like foundations. Still, high-efficiency CPV field installations were found to yield the shortest EPBT, the highest ERF and the largest life-cycle CO2 offsets—under the condition that land availability is not a limitation. A greater life-cycle energy return and carbon offset per unit land area is yielded by locally-integrated non-concentrating systems, despite their lower efficiency per unit module area.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We have examined the electronic properties of (Ag1−xCux)(In1−yGay)Se2 (ACIGS) alloys over a wide range of compositions to assess whether such alloys might allow one to achieve larger values of VOC at larger band gaps compared to the Cu(In1−yGay)Se2 (CIGS) alloys. Our studies employed junction capacitance techniques such as drive level capacitance profiling (DLCP) and transient photocapacitance (TPC) spectroscopy, as well as temperature dependent J–V measurements. The TPC spectra revealed not only that the band gap did indeed increase as the Ag-fraction was increased, but also that the bandtailing (or Urbach energies) in all ACIGS samples were substantially smaller than for CIGS samples of corresponding band gaps. This indicates that the Ag alloying somehow reduces the degree of disorder present. The DLCP measurements indicated very low free carrier densities, on the order of 1014 cm−3, as well as evidence of defects located at the CdS/ACIGS junction. Temperature-dependent I–V measurements revealed a distinct “kink” in the VOC vs T characteristics, suggesting a transition from an interface-trap limited regime to a bulk-limited regime. At temperatures below 250K, the VOC increased by up to 0.1V as the sample was light soaked. This suggests that the interface traps limiting the VOC can be passivated by exposure to light.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The renewable energy industry is growing rapidly amidst rising concerns about oil depletion and climate change. Renewable energy is seen by many as part of the appropriate response to these concerns and some national Governments have put programs in place to support the wider use of sustainable energy systems. This has led to a rapid increase in demand for renewable energy specialists who are able to design, install and maintain such systems. Most engineers are not trained to use these renewable energy technologies and most are not aware of the principles of sustainability. There is therefore an urgent need to develop and implement new courses that prepare engineers, scientists and energy planners to work with renewables to produce sustainable energy generation systems. Renewable energy education is a relatively new field and previously it formed a minor part of traditional engineering courses. These days it has an identity of its own, with special techniques, standards and requirements which are not normally encountered in other disciplines. Attempts to add one or two units of study on renewables into traditional science and engineering degrees are unlikely to produce graduates with sufficient knowledge or understanding to use renewables effectively. Modern renewable energy education includes a study of the technology, resources, systems design, economics, industry structure and policies in an integrated package. This prepares the graduates to design sound systems from amongst the range of options available. There are more pitfalls in the use of renewables than there are in using the more mature conventional technologies and systems. Designers, installers and service personnel need to be particularly aware of the industry and the characteristics of the various firms and their technologies. Over the past decade several new approaches have emerged to renewable energy education that seek to address the needs of the 21st century for sustainable energy supply systems. This paper will describe the aims, philosophy, structure and outcomes of several of these initiatives. It includes courses in renewable energy science, renewable energy engineering, renewable energy policy and planning and renewable energy technician training. The paper will also describe some aspects of the training of researchers in cooperation with the renewable energy industry.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "With massive influx of new funding and emergence of modern facilities and centers, the area of semiconductor manufacturing and processing has attained national and global momentum like never before. To meet the rising industry demands via accelerated materials design, fundamental atomistic-level insights are crucial. Today, there are a number of published works using some combination of first principles-based density functional theory (DFT) simulations and machine learning (ML) for accelerating the prediction of semiconductor properties over large chemical spaces. Materials discovery based on “DFT-ML” significantly shortens the time required to select promising chemistries for laboratory synthesis and characterization, and are thus frequently combined with rational experimentation for a variety of semiconductor classes and properties, for applications such as solar absorption, light emission, power electronics, photocatalysis, and quantum technology. In this review article, I discuss some of the key concepts behind accelerating the prediction of fundamental semiconductor properties, highlighting some available datasets and tools. In the context of published literature as well as my own past and ongoing research, I discuss some major studies involving the discovery of new materials for solar cells, water splitting, and wide band gap semiconductors, focusing on the application of DFT and/or ML for prediction and understanding of semiconductor alloys, bulk stability, electronic, optical, and dielectric properties, and defect behavior. This article aims to highlight established computational recipes, large databases, and ML-based prediction and optimization tools that may guide researchers in their own semiconductor design and discovery endeavors.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Flywheel energy storage (FES) can have energy fed in the rotational mass of a flywheel, store it as kinetic energy, and release out upon demand. It is a significant and attractive manner for energy futures ‘sustainable’. The key factors of FES technology, such as flywheel material, geometry, length and its support system were described, which directly influence the amount of energy storage and flywheel specific energy. It is very suitable to such applications that involve many charge–discharge cycles and little in the way of long-term storage applications including International Space Station (ISS), Low Earth Orbits (LEO), overall efficiency improvement and pulse power transfer for Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), Power Quality (PQ) events, and many stationary applications. Design margins, fault protection and containment were considered as three good approaches to solve safety issue. Vacuum enclosures or helium–air mixture gas condition were discussed for solution of windage energy loss. In short, with the aid of new technologies the cost of FES can be lowered and the FES will play a significant role in securing global energy sustainability.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "To improve the thermal and electrical performance of photovoltaic (PV) systems, a novel system was proposed, in which the PV panel, phase change material (PCM), thermoelectric (TE), and thermal collection devices (PV-PCM-TEG-T) were combined. The experimental device of the PV-PCM-TEG-T system was put up, and its electrical and thermal characteristic was experimentally studied by comparing it with the standard PV panel on the condition of 3-hour radiation and 3-hour non-radiation. A heat transfer numerical model of the PV-PCM-TEG-T system is established and verified by experiments. The comparison of the PV-PCM-TEG-T system and standard PV panel and the effects of PCM thicknesses, and melting temperatures on the temperature of photovoltaic devices were numerically analyzed in 24-hour operating conditions. The results show that under an experimental condition of 3-hour solar radiance of 800 W/m2 and 3-hour non-radiance, the novel system has better temperature control performance, which could increase the PV panel’s output power and power generation efficiency by 10.4 % and 1.9 % respectively. Under 24-hour simulation conditions, the temperature of the novel system is significantly lower than that of the standard PV panel, with a maximum temperature difference of 10.1 °C. The PV-PCM-TEG-T system with thicker PCM has the same temperature as the system with thinner PCM, but higher TE power generation. And the temperature control is better with the lower PCM melting point. This study has a good promoting effect on the efficient utilization of solar energy.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper proposes a novel approach to the use of thermoelectric couples, treating them as variable insulators in thermal systems. Thermal conductivity in thermoelectric materials can be externally controlled by electrical parameters such as electrical load or DC voltage in passive and active systems, respectively.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thermoelectric cooling (TEC) modules are being accomplished in many devices due to their flexible sizing. This application needs a DC to make a cooling effect. In this study, the experiment was focused on the cooling system design using TEC in a vacuum wall. The vacuum wall is known as being well-insulated which helps to reduce the heat load of applications. A cooling box for vaccine preservation was designed in this study, with the inside temperature varied between 17, 19, 21, 23, and 25 °C. Vacuum conditions of −15, −20, and −25 in Hg were used. The results show that the power required decreases when the inside temperature increases. The TEC can control the inside temperature as well, when the outside ambient temperature is slightly different in all testing conditions. The power varies directly with the vacuum level, which shows that the vacuum wall can reduce the heat load from the outside environment. Moreover, the correlation of the power requirement in which the inside temperature can be predicted with good agreement is reported.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells on aluminum foils offer the advantage to be flexible, lightweight and, because of the low cost substrate, can be used for several applications, especially in buildings, where aluminum is already commonly used. There are reports of a-Si solar cells on Al foil, but to our knowledge development of CIGS solar cells on Al foils has not been reported. We have developed CIGS solar cells on coated Al-foil samples. When using Al as substrate, CIGS layers of suitable structural and opto-electronic properties should be grown at low (<450 °C) deposition temperatures, because of the difference in the thermo-physical properties of layers and substrates. We have grown CIGS layers by evaporation of elemental Cu, In, Ga, and Se at different substrate temperatures and investigated the properties of these CIGS layers by different methods (SEM, SIMS, and EDX). The photovoltaic properties of small area solar cells were characterized with I–V and quantum efficiency measurements. An efficiency of 6.6% has been achieved. We have also observed that some Al from the foil dissolves during chemical bath deposition (CBD) of CdS. The presence of Al in the bath seems, in some cases, to be beneficial for the electrical properties of the CIGS solar cells. Thinner and more homogenous CdS layers are obtained. Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis (ERDA) and SIMS measurements have shown incorporation of Al in the CdS.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Quantifying the reliability of photovoltaic (PV) modules is essential for consistent electrical performance and achieving long operational lifetimes. Optimisation of these parameters increases the profitability of photovoltaic electricity because such systems should only require an initial capital investment. There are several aspects in a PV module which compromise its profitability. One such important aspect is the thermo-mechanical stress that is induced by day to night temperature cycles during every day of operation. Since this stress obviously cannot be omitted the PV module set-up should reduce the resulting internal loads to a minimum. This paper analyses the effects of the thermally induced stresses in two different module constructions. The thermo-mechanical reliability of photovoltaic modules is tested by the IEC standard 61,215 which accelerates the day to night cycles. Detailed analysis of this experimental test method is done by FEM simulations. Results of those numerical analyses are able to directly analyse the internal stresses in a PV module. The investigation presented here applies a classic module assembly for H-patterned cells with a single front glass and a plastic back sheet which is the reference type. The second packaging type for H-patterned PV cells is the glass–glass module which replaces the back sheet by a second glass sheet. Both module types have the same base area including 60 solar cells and the same total thickness. Each of the module assemblies are transferred to 3-D FE-models and subjected to temperature cycles. The simulation results show no module deformation for the symmetrical glass–glass module while the glass-back sheet assembly deforms by several mm. The mechanical results show that the solar cells are displaced towards each other when temperatures decline and vice versa during temperature increase. This forced movement causes stresses and strains in the interconnection structures of the modules. The analyses reveal that inside the glass–glass module the copper ribbons and solder layers are subjected to higher mechanical loads compared to the reference type. In case of the glass–glass module the copper ribbons may fail which can result in a complete cut of the series-connected solar cell strings.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The typical design of photovoltaic facilities with photovoltaic solar trackers is achieved using a squared or diagonal distribution of the trackers. In general, this is a good distribution for harvesting most solar radiation. However, these facilities can be affected by shadows of environmental objects like buildings, vegetation, etc. In this paper, a metaheuristic method based on evolution strategies is presented for calculating the best location of each tracker on a building of irregular shape, considering the shadows caused by obstacles and photovoltaic trackers. The evolution strategies will use the energy readings obtained by a photovoltaic tracker distribution to look for the best location. In the calculus of the energy, solar charts are used to combine the solar radiation received and shadows suffered by the tracker for each solar position.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This work focuses onstudying oflead-free inorganic perovskite material, specifically cubic-KGeCl3, as a solar cell absorber layer. The SCAPS-1D simulation is performed based on the electronic properties derived from DFT analysis of KGeCl3.The performance of KGeCl3 perovskite solar cell has been optimized by suitable selection of ETL and HTL material, layer thickness, doping concentration, defect density, series resistance, shunt resistance and back metal contact. It was found out that SnS2 as ETL and Cu2O as HTL provides best power conversion efficiency (PCE). The results obtained from this study aligned well with previous published literatures. Finally, the optimized novel device architecture FTO/SnS2/KGeCl3/Cu2O/C shows a PCE of 15.83 %, Voc = 545 mV, Jsc = 41.91 mA/cm2 and FF = 69.24 % at 300 K temperature. The findings of this study suggest that cubic-KGeCl3 perovskite can be a very promising candidate for non-toxic inorganic solar cells.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter describes the development of a novel solid state photoconversion device that operates efficiently within the low intensities range of radiant energy. The device has voltage correction characteristics that depend on the level of radiant energy. As is known, the floating voltage of conventional photovoltaic Si-based cell depends directly upon the intensity of radiant energy, which strikes the surface of a cell end. Its value increases for about 100 mV, whereas the value of radiant energy changes over 10 times. The special technology of receiving the photo-voltaic cells on the basis of the monocrystal silicon is developed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Textured thin films of γ-In2Se3 were grown on glass substrates by sequential thermal evaporation of In and Se. The crystallization was achieved by annealing the as-deposited films in flowing nitrogen. It is shown by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements that single phase γ-In2Se3 films are obtained by annealing half an hour at 673 K. The films obtained on bare glass substrates and on SnO2 coated glass substrates are textured along the (001) direction while those obtained on mica sheet and gold coated glass are not. The films are stoichiometric. Films deposited on glass substrates have been optically characterized. At room temperature, the measured band gap is 1.8 eV. In the case of thick films (1 μm), the surface of the films becomes rough, which can explain the higher photoconductivity of the films when the light beam is incident upon the substrate. Effectively, at the interface glass/film there is not any rugosity and the trap density is smaller than at the interface film surface/air. Photoluminescence spectra are obtained in the temperature range 78–200 K. Two peaks are observed. The width and the energy position of the main peak are temperature dependent. It is situated in the gap energy range and can be attributed to exciton recombination, while the other small one can be attributed to some intrinsic defects.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The introduction of large concentrations of lattice vacancies in silicon nano-films creates more than a 20-fold reduction in thermal conductivity, while electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient are largely maintained. This results in thermoelectric performance comparable to silicon nanowires, but crucially leaves the silicon structure indistinguishable from bulk silicon, resulting in a robust material that is straight-forward to fabricate. This finding significantly advances the potential of silicon ultra-thin-films as a high-performance thermoelectric material.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter provides an overview of thin silicon solar cells. Thin silicon solar cells can greatly benefit from light-trapping effects, which can offset the relatively weak absorption near-bandgap energy photons by increasing the optical path length of light within a solar cell structure. Three types of reflective surfaces can be employed—random texture, geometric or regular structuring, and the use of optical elements external to the silicon solar cell structure—to implement light trapping in silicon solar cells. Light trapping has been incorporated in structures with thickness ranging from less than 1 micron to 400 microns with varying degrees of success. The factors that influence the open-circuit voltage of a silicon solar cell are the same irrespective of the fact whether the device is thin or thick. These include doping levels, various bulk recombination mechanisms, and surface recombination.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "(Ba,Sr)TiO3 coatings deposited on carbon steel substrates were successfully prepared by an atmospheric plasma spray system. Three sets of samples containing different amount of both crystalline and amorphous phases were deposited and consequently studied in order to determine their electrical properties. The results show a clear correlation existing between the amorphous phase content and coating´s electrical properties. The resistivity increases with increase of amorphous phase content. Relative permittivity for low frequencies decreases and become more stable with frequency tuning when amorphous phase content increased. The maximum relative permittivity value is in the range 75–200 for frequency 1kHz. The loss factor varies between 0.23 and 0.03 for all studied samples. The loss factor is at the lower limit of these values and frequency much less dependent when the coating contains 15wt% of amorphous phase and more. The band gap of all samples is between 2.75eV and 2.90eV. Microstructure and hardness were evaluated in order to determine basic mechanical properties of deposits.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • We have upgraded a 12 years old tritium calorimeter. • We have developed a new control and data acquisition software using LabView. • The retuned PID control loops increased stability and accuracy. • The automatic control algorithm can reduce measurement time and avoid possible operator errors. • We compared calibration results made with the original and the upgraded system.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The development of novel high-temperature structural and multifunctional thermal protection materials for harsh environment applications, such as high-temperature oxidation, severe thermal shock, ablation by combustion gas flow etc., is one of the urgent needs of the modern aerospace industry. Ceramic matrix composites such as Cf/(C, SiC, Si3N4), SiCf/ZrB2, SiCp/(Si3N4, HfB2) have received much attention in recent years. Coincidently, metastable silicoboron carbonitride (Si-B-C-N) ceramics and corresponding matrix composites stand out from all recent materials offering great potential at high temperatures due to their high microstructural stability and excellent high-temperature properties including resistance to oxidation, thermal shock and ablation. Using inorganic powders (such as Si, C, B, BN, etc.) instead of organic precursor as raw materials, the inorganic processing route based on mechanical alloying (MA), one of the non-equilibrium processing technique, coupled with sequential sintering, although apparently very ‘hard’ compared to the ‘soft’ polymer precursor method, is actually a simple and effective way to prepare monoliths with the uniform microstructures and superior properties. It has been used to obtain dense Si-B-C-N monoliths and structural parts stable at high temperatures providing new experimental data and therefrom a more detailed understanding of the intrinsic properties of metastable Si-B-C-N materials, benefitting progress towards engineering applications. This review summarizes the state-of-the-art research in Si-B-C-N ceramics and their matrix composites obtained by the inorganic processing route in the last decade compared with those of precursor-derived counterparts, including material design and preparation, microstructural features and evolutionary process, mechanical and thermophysical properties, resistance to oxidation, thermal shock and ablation, and the mechanisms of oxidation, ablation and crystallization of amorphous Si-B-C-N ceramics. Future trends for Si-B-C-N relevant materials are also pointed out.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "General Relativity (GR) will soon celebrate its 110th birthday, holding up against all experimental enquiry. Nonetheless, unification theories attempting to quantize gravity, such as string theory, are gaining footing. These hypothesize additional scalar, vector, and tensor long-range fields that couple to matter (Will, 2014), introducing violations to GR. Although such violations have never been detected, it is likely that GR will not be the ultimate theory of gravity. What is certain is that gravity tests are alive and well, pushing the validity of GR to new scales and accuracies, or -potentially- suggesting alternative routes for new physics. Building upon the legacy of Voyager and Pioneer missions, which demonstrated the capability to survive in the outer reaches of the solar system, the Interstellar Probe mission concept (McNutt et al., 2022) aims to characterise our heliosphere through state-of-the-art instrumentation, opening new frontiers also for GR testing. In this work, we investigate the possibility of constraining the Nordtvedt parameter η and the mass of the graviton via the Compton wavelength λ C , by simulating the processing of 10 years of radiometric data from the Interstellar Probe. Station calibration and clock synchronisation, as well as limiting spacecraft precession manoeuvres are highlighted as key strategies for obtaining high-quality estimates. In the most favourable scenario, η can be constrained to less than 1.5 · 10 - 5 , reducing the uncertainty obtained via Lunar Laser Ranging (Hofmann and Müller, 2018), and a lower bound of 1.4 · 10 14 km is set for λ C , improving the estimates obtained from planetary ephemerides (Bernus et al., 2020) and gravitational wave detection (Abbott et al., Jun 2021). Extending ranging measurement acquisition to 20 years improves the results tenfold. This experiment interrogates fundamental physics from a unique dynamical setting, investigating possible violations of the Equivalence Principle (EP) underlying GR.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The need for energy is incrementally growing with the increasing population and developing industry. The reserves of fossil fuels such as diesel fuel and gasoline are close to depletion, and the environmental factors of these fuels are also negative. For these reasons, the shift from alternative energy sources to electric vehicles is accelerating. The most important parameter in the design of electric vehicles is the storage capacity of this energy. The heat generated during the charging and discharging of batteries used in these vehicles affects the lifespan and performance of the batteries. In addition, in an increasingly competitive environment, it is vital to obtain this information correctly in a short time. In this study, the way battery modules are affected by changing the busbar material of 10 series-connected prismatic batteries, different air velocity, and different air temperature values were evaluated and estimation was made by using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) to reach the correct data in a short time. Silver, nickel, and steel were chosen as busbar materials. The best result was achieved with a silver (due to keeping the battery module at the lowest temperature). Evaluations were made at 1.0-1.5-2.0 and 2.5 C ratios, 1-2 m/s air inlet speeds, and 295-300 K air inlet temperatures. The estimation of the data was also carried out with the help of ANN. ANN algorithms BR-LM-CGP and SCG algorithms were evaluated. The best algorithm BR-16 was found. The R2 value of BR-16 was 0.995886, the CoV value was 0.005168 and the RMSE value was 0.011295.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The photocatalytic magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) represents a promising alternative building material due to its advantageous properties, such as high compressive strength, and reduced environmental impact. In addition, photocatalytic cements promote self-cleaning, air purification, and antimicrobial properties compared to traditional cements, giving them an additional advantage. The MOC cement requires few raw materials to be formed (MgO, MgCl2, TiO2, and H2O) at room temperature; however, its moisture stability remains a challenge. As alternative, this work proposes the fabrication of photocatalytic self-cleaning and antimicrobial MOC samples with optimized moisture stability through the modifications of the MgO/H2O molar ratios (M/H) and using low-cost additives, e.g., citric acid (CA) and fly ash (FA) by a multivariable factorial design. The characterization of the MOC samples showed needle-like morphology, characteristic of the phase 5 [5Mg(OH)2 . MgCl2 . 8 H2O] of this cement, that favored the formation of high surface areas (up to 328 m2g−1). The MOC samples were exposed to humid conditions to demonstrate its moisture stability, which results revealed that their mechanical performance was influenced by the M/H molar ratio, resulting in morphology changes. The addition of citric acid improved the moisture resistance of the MOC samples. This is supported by the increased moisture stability coefficient (MSC) values, which ranged from 0.59 to 0.69. The optimal conditions proposed were 5/15 M/H, 1%CA, 3%FA with 3%TiO2, which allow the design of a MOC with an initial strength of 39 MPa, high moisture stability and high photocatalytic activity (up to 100%) to remove four model pollutants: reactive black 5, methylene blue, rhodamine B, and methyl yellow under solar irradiation. Meanwhile, antimicrobial activity was demonstrated against the Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella sp., and Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, showing high zones of inhibition > 22 mm under visible light. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of MOC as a sustainable material with enhanced photocatalytic activity and resistance to high humidity environments, making it suitable for outdoor applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We fabricated an n-channel accumulation-type field-effect transistor (FET) on a SrTiO3 single crystal having a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) layer and a Na+-doped PVA layer as a gate insulator. Both devices show an n-type FET performance having a response time of 10–100 second order. This slow response is due to the gradual formation of an electric double layer by solvated Na+ ions moving through the water absorbed in the PVA layer towards the surface of SrTiO3 by applying a gate voltage (V G), which is manifested by the fact that Na+-doping into the PVA layer dramatically reduces the driving voltages and the response time. In these devices, metallic or semiconducting behaviors are observed if the applied V G is large enough to form a conducting channel during cooling of the devices. These results indicate that electrons are certainly doped into the surface of SrTiO3 by applying V G in both devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Photovoltaic (PV) modules convert part of incident solar energy into electrical energy for commercial applications, with the rest being transferred to heat energy. The modelling of PV modules plays an important role in the fault diagnosis of a PV array. The object of this paper is to develop a parameter based model of a PV module. This model is sequentially coupled with an electrical model and energy balance equation. In order to establish the parameter based model, key parameters including the total effective solar energy, total heat exchange coefficient and ambient temperature are calculated from two working points on PV module along with the corresponding temperature from a thermal camera. Using the developed model, a fault diagnosis method based on the model is illustrated. Finally, model validation is carried out by the experiments.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work we show how the heterostructure technology can have a chance in the challenge of interdigitated back contact solar cell. We present an innovative rear junction, backside contact design in which both the emitter and the back surface field are formed by amorphous/crystalline silicon heterostructure, and the grid-less front surface is passivated by a double layer of amorphous silicon and silicon nitride, which also provides a good anti-reflection coating. The technological processes are performed at temperature below 300 °C with the aid of one metallic mask to create the interdigitated pattern. The initials results, on a p-type monocrystalline silicon wafer; are really promising, a V oc of 687 mV has been reached. We show that the uniformity of the deposited amorphous silicon layers is not influenced by the mask-assisted deposition process and that the alignment is feasible. On the other hand several technological aspects that strongly limit the fill factor (50%) and the short circuit current density (30 mA/cm2) have to be optimized.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Quaternary chalcopyrite semiconductors are being considered as an attractive class of materials for thin film solar cells. The present study reports the synthesis of quaternary chalcopyrite Cu2NiSnS4 (CNTS) nanoparticles by hot injection method for the first time. The wurtzite structured CNTS nanoparticle formation was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (FEG-TEM), scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Light absorption in the visible region was confirmed with the help of UV–vis spectroscopy. Optical band gap as calculated from the absorption spectrum was found to be 1.38eV. Films prepared from the nanoparticle suspension displayed photoresponse behavior under illumination, suggesting the potential use of CNTS as an active layer in low-cost thin-film solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper examines «Aist-2D» small spacecraft. Thermoelasticity problem is solved in two stages by finite element method using ANSYS® software. The first stage is thermal analysis. Space factors, devices and onboard equipment heat liberation are taken into account. External heat currents intensity and equipment work modes change depending on the spacecraft position on the Earth orbit. The second stage is stress-strain analysis of the structure, which is caused by the temperature field influence. As a result, the onboard equipment movement against structure elements and the acting forces are defined.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work we report the influence of post-deposition heat treatments on the structure of the CdTe films electro-deposited on stainless steel substrates. The CdTe films were annealed in air at various temperatures and time in order to investigate the influence of post-deposition heat treatments on the film structure. The various structural parameters, such as grain size, lattice constant and stress, were investigated using XRD. The results showed that the stress, grain growth and the re-crystallization of CdTe depends on the post-deposition annealing time and temperatures. In the initial stages of annealing when the grains grow in size, the grain growth process obeys a parabolic growth law. The re-crystallization process during annealing has two stages, in the beginning, the re-crystallization is dominated by random orientation of the grains followed by a second process in which once again the crystallites tend to orient in a particular direction. The value of activation energy for 20% re-crystallization in CdTe was estimated as 1.17±0.1eV. The as-deposited film is under compressive stress and with annealing the compressive stress increases. For longer annealing times the stress changes from compressive to tensile. The calculated stress is ∼109 dyn/cm2. Lattice parameter of the as-deposited film is larger than the powder sample and upon annealing lattice value increase and reaches a maximum and on further annealing for a long time it decreases and attains a value less than that of the powder sample. The calculated value of the change in band gap due to the stress, induced during the annealing, is in the range −13meV⩽ΔE g⩽17meV.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The mathematical basis of chemical thermodynamics is presented, including the analysis of overshooting an equilibrium. Equilibrium relationships for non-equilibrium chemical dependences are constructed for some typical chemical reactions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A new metal-assisted chemical etching method using Na2S2O8 or KMnO4 as an oxidizing agent was proposed to form a porous silicon layer on a highly resistive p-type silicon. A thin layer of Ag or Pd is deposited on the Si(100) surface prior to immersion in a solution of HF and Na2S2O8 or HF and KMnO4. The properties of porous silicon layer formed by this method as a function of etching time were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) and reflectance spectrometry. It shows that the surface is porous and the layer thickness is not limited by an instability as observed with electrochemical methods. In addition, reflectance measurements made with a variety of etching conditions show a lowering of the reflectance from 38 to 6%, measured with respect to the bare polished substrate. However, this result can be improved by changing the experimental conditions (concentration, time, temperature, etc.).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A theoretical dissertation and experimental assays of the irreversible phenomena applied to electro-kinetics and inverse osmosis is presented. Experimental assays were made on simple equipment to evidence the occurrence of connected irreversible phenomena between electric current flow and global mass flow. The coupling of these two phenomena allowed us to make conclusions about the possibility of reducing operation costs of the inverse osmosis equipment due to increasing the saline solution flow between 12% and 20%.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The evolution of the Verwey transition in Fe3O4 and its properties are discussed in this chapter. On the discovery of the Verwey transition, it was proposed that a sharp change in resistance with the temperature is governed by the structural modification from cubic to monoclinic phase. However, with time, this transition has evolved with several complications in its origin because the significant variation in the transition temperature point was observed as compared to a single crystal when Fe3O4 thin film was deposited onto substrates. Thanks to material science where different substrates with several doping agents can be made, which ultimately affects the Verwey transition due to variable interface strain available via lattice mismatching. Further, the origin of unique antiphase boundary evolution in Fe3O4 and their effect on the structural, magnetic, vibrational, and electronic properties are discussed. Several techniques are involved to explain the most abundant material Fe3O4, which shows promising features in several applications such as resistive switching, wearable electronics, and biomedical.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A thermodynamic analysis of the phase relations in the NaSbSn system was undertaken by applying the CALPHAD method and first principle calculations. The CALPHAD method was used for the optimization of the thermodynamic parameters of the binary and ternary phases, as well as for the calculation and prediction of the phase relations in the systems. The electronic structure calculations were performed using density functional theory to get a measure of formation enthalpies of binary and ternary compounds. New thermodynamic assessments are provided for the NaSb and NaSn systems. The formation of new compounds, NaSbSn, Na3Sb3Sn, and NaSb2Sn3, in the NaSbSn system was proposed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In the liquid-phase-deposition (LPD) method, the deposition temperature is considered to be one of the most important factors in TiO2 nanotube crystal growth. We investigated the effects of the deposition temperature on the surface morphology and defects in TiO2 nanotube (NT–TiO2) thin film electrodes utilizing scanning-electron-microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and photoluminescence (PL), together with the effects of these on the photovoltaic characteristics of CdSe quantum dot (QD)-sensitized NT–TiO2 solar cells. In addition, we studied the effect of these defects on the physical properties, such as the carrier recombination and electron transport at the TiO2 and TiO2/QD interface. NT–TiO2 electrodes prepared at low temperatures have a more uniform surface and lower defects than those prepared at high temperatures. From the PL measurements and the photovoltaic characterization such as shunt resistance (Rsh) and open circuit voltage decay (OCVD), these defects can act as carrier recombination centers. The defect density increases with increasing deposition temperature, leading to an increase in carrier recombination. Series resistances (Rs) of the solar cells with NT–TiO2 electrodes prepared at high temperatures were larger than those of the solar cells with NT–TiO2 electrodes prepared at low temperatures, suggesting that the defects can also affect the carrier transport characteristics. Eventually, CdSe QD-sensitized NT–TiO2 solar cells employing NT–TiO2 prepared at low temperatures showed higher conversion efficiencies than those prepared at high temperatures.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Because the crystal structure of Janus MoSSe is between from MoS2 and MoSe2, and the Janus MoSSe probably exhibited to outstanding characteristics difference from MoS2 and MoSe2. Adsorption of organic molecules is a prospective and effective pattern to modify the optoelectronic properties of 2D materials. For this purpose, the optical and electronic characteristics of organic molecules adsorbed Janus MoSSe monolayer were discussed by the first principles calculations. The results indicate that p-doped Janus MoSSe can be obtained by molecular doping with tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) and tetracyanoethylene (TCNE), whereas n-doped Janus MoSSe can be realized by doping with tetrathiafulvalene (TTF). Importantly, a dipole moment is produced between Janus MoSSe and organic molecule, and the dipole moment can to a great extent alter the work function values of Janus MoSSe ranged from 3.76 eV to 6.17 eV. Interestingly, the impurity band near the Fermi level appears in the band structures of Janus MoSSe after different organic molecules adsorption, which demonstrates that electron is more prone to transition. Furthermore, Adsorption of organic molecules on Janus MoSSe can significantly expand its optical absorption spectrum in the visible light region. This study gives a theoretical guidance for the fabrication of Janus MoSSe-based photovoltaics nanodevices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • The effect of surface contact angle on frost melting is studied. • The effect of frosting time on frost melting is studied. • The frost melting behavior in multiple frosting cycles is studied.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The present study seeks to demonstrate the use of vibrational thermally assisted laser induced fluorescence of the hydroxyl radical to obtain planar temperature measurements. This technique utilizes a simple two-level vibrational model to describe the relationship between the population ratio of excited states and temperature. The quenching to vibrational transfer ratio between the excited states was used as a calibration parameter to fit the thermally assisted fluorescence measurements to known temperature data. The measurements presented here are from a premixed methane–air flame. A rectangular shaped burner allowed for calibration and comparison of the thermally assisted temperature results with sodium line reversal data available in literature. Excellent agreement between the two approaches was achieved for three different equivalence ratios. A single calibration was sufficient for the range of conditions tested in the present work. Two detection schemes were also tested, the first using the (0–0) and (1–0) vibrational bands and the second substituting the (0–1) fluorescence in place of the (0–0) band. The weakness of the fluorescence signal from the (0–1) band was very restrictive to temperature imaging with the current setup. Overall, the applicability of the thermally assisted technique to temperature imaging was positively demonstrated from this work.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, 3D ZnO nanosheets were grown on carbon fabric using a simple, cost-effective solvothermal approach, followed by thermal annealing to form porous 3D nanostructures. The as-coated fabrics were investigated to determine their structure, morphology, and composition. The thermal stability of as-fabricated fabrics was assessed using thermogravimetric analysis. The Ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of manufactured ZnO nanosheet coated fabric and porous ZnO coated fabric was 462 and 185 respectively. The enhancement in UPF of ZnO nanosheet coated carbon fabric is attributed to the intense ultraviolet (UV) shielding property of ZnO. The porosity of the ZnO nanostructure is found to have a significant impact on the UPF of the synthesized fabric. Thermoelectric properties of fabricated materials were also studied. ZnO coated carbon fabric shows a thermopower of −0.007 μVK⁻1, while porous ZnO coated carbon fabric yields a thermopower of 0.009 μVK⁻1.The hydrophobic nature of the samples is confirmed by the results of a water contact angle study.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Conjugated polymers using tetrafluorophenylene unit were synthesized and deployed for photovoltaics. The tetrafluorophenylene unit which has the strong electron-withdrawing ability, was utilized for the copolymers of push-pull type with low bandgaps for organic solar cells. 9H-Carbazole as electron-rich unit and di-2-thienyl-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (DTBT) or tetrafluorophenylene unit as electron-deficient unit were utilized for the syntheses of donor-acceptor (D-A) types of conjugated polymers with different ratios of tetrafluorophenylene unit (PCDTBTF-1, PCDTBTF-3 and PCDTBTF-10). By introduction of tetrafluorophenylene unit in the backbone of PCDTBT, the energy level of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the bandgap were decreased as compared to those of PCDTBT. The higher amount of tetrafluorophenylene unit, the lower energy levels of the HOMO of the polymers were observed. The device of PCDTBTF-1:PC71BM (1:1) with additive of diphenyl ether (DPE) showed an open-circuit voltage (V OC) of 0.82 V, a short circuit current (J SC) of 9.66 mA/cm2, and a fill factor (FF) of 0.44, which yields PCE of 3.44%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In the present era, addressing the uncertainty related with green energy and request side response has developed a notable challenge in microgrid (MG) management operations. Conventionally, optimizing dispatch involves establishing odds distribution functions for renewables and the linked load model. Despite numerous modeling approaches, few consider customer approval, often relying on complex parameter-solving algorithms. This paper introduces an ideal deployment strategy for a thermoelectric-coupled MG to tackle these issues. Utilizing a digital twin framework that incorporates thermoelectric technology and Renewable Energy Resources (RERs), the study employs a Modified Biogeography Enhancement Algorithm (MBOA) for effective economic dispatch. Initially, a parameter simplification method is anticipated to address RE uncertainty, incorporating normal distribution odds functions and reserve capability allocation prices. Additionally, the paper takes into account the impact of transferable and reducible loads on customer approval for request side response, considering the load tracking capability on renewables. An enhanced biogeography-driven enhancement algorithm is presented to optimize the anticipated system. Computer simulations and comparisons validate the efficiency of the strategy in dropping the MG's functioning prices, emphasizing the importance of sustainable energy management practices that integrate waste heat recovery and renewable resources in contemporary power systems.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Photovoltaic (PV) systems can be tied to a utility grid to work more effectively as an alternative energy sources. One of the major issues about grid-tied PV systems is to avoid non-intentional operation in islanding mode. Many methods have been proposed to detect islanding operation of grid-tied PV systems. They have different non-detection zones for different kinds of load. This paper presents an intelligent adaptive method for islanding detection in grid-tied PV system. The simulation and test results prove its effectiveness and superiority.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper reports on experimental investigation of performance of a new type of PV-slat window (PV-SW). The main functions of this PV-SW are as follows: to admit sufficient daylight, to act as a shading device for decreasing direct heat gain through window glazing and to ensure indoor air movement, which improves resident's thermal comfort. To assess the performance of this PV-SW, two test rooms of 1×1×1.5m3 (H:W:L) volume were built using plywood and gypsum boards. At the first, the PV-SW of 0.5×0.6m2 surface area was located at the south-facing wall whereas the other room was equipped with a commercial transparent slat window of the same size. The PV-SW consists of six PV slats. The photovoltaic cells were connected in series giving a maximum electrical power output of 36W (12V×3A). The circuit was connected to a direct current axial fan, located inside the room, that requires a maximum power of 43W. The analysis of performance of this PV-SW was investigated based on power output, daylight factor and temperature difference between indoor and ambient. The experimental results showed that this multi-purpose PV-SW is extremely interesting as it can produce power up to 15W, decrease indoor temperature and provide sufficient light for housing. The maximum indoor illumination was about 750lx with slats angle of 68°. The room temperature was about 2–3oC lower than that of room equipped with transparent slats.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Researchers at Cambridge University's Cavendish Laboratory have developed a technique for making photovoltaic polymer thin films with external quantum efficiencies 10 times greater than previously achieved.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Electrochemical experiments with a chalcopyrite rotating disk electrode were carried out in alkaline glycine solutions. This showed no apparent passivation behaviour during anodic dissolution that is observed in acid solutions. The current increased with applied potential from the open circuit potential with no resemblance to the passivation region seen in acid solutions. A loosely held porous layer developed on the surface consisting largely of iron oxyhydroxides that had a limited effect on the anodic current. Elemental sulfur and a disulfide species were detected using XPS and Raman spectroscopy but did not passivate the surface as has been proposed for acid solutions. The disulfide species is sometimes used to infer a metal deficient sulfide or polysulfide that is responsible for passivation but in this study it had no passivating influence. Current-potential curves showed features of a non-ideal semiconductor that were explained by charge transfer via surface states.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Indium sulfide (In2S3) thin films have been prepared by the spray pyrolysis (SP) technique using indium acetate and N-N dimethyl thiourea as precursor compounds. Samples prepared at different temperatures and atomic ratio of In to S in the starting solution, (In/S)sol, have been characterized using several techniques. X-ray diffraction studies have shown that the preparation temperature (T p) affects the crystallinity of the deposited materials as well as the optoelectronic properties. For (In/S)sol=1/8, the optical band gap (E g) increases from 2.2 up to 2.67 eV when T p increases from 250 up to 450 °C. For (In/S)sol=1 and T p=450 °C, the deposited material shows n-type electrical conductivity with a dark value of 1 (Ωcm)−1, and E g=2.04 eV. The In2S3 thin films prepared under these conditions have a big potential use as a window material for photovoltaic heterojunction devices.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In recent years, China’s new energy industry has developed rapidly. The role of new energy in promoting the economy is also becoming more and more obvious. Over time, the world’s energy structure will undergo earth-shaking changes. This paper aims to study how to conduct research on environmental design based on new energy technologies. This paper presents the basic concepts of new energy technology and environmental design. The experimental results of this paper show that although the energy consumption of traditional environmental art design is not increasing all the time, the general trend is rising. From about 65% at the beginning to about 90% at the end, it shows that the energy consumption generated by traditional environmental art design is very huge. This also leads to increased environmental design costs and damage to the environment. The overall energy consumption of environmental art design based on new energy technology is only between 20% and 30%. Whether it is viewed from the perspective of the sustainable development of the economy and society and the protection of the earth’s ecological environment on which human beings depend, or the practical energy supply for some special purposes, the development of new energy is of great strategic significance. This shows that the new energy technology saves a lot of cost for environmental art design, and has little damage to the environment. It can be seen that it is very meaningful to apply new energy technology to environmental design.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "As the primary carrier of harmful elements, road sediment poses severe hazards to human health and ecological environment, especially in megacities. Based on the industrial cities in North China, this research focused on the multi-element features and the pollution levels, sources, and spatial distributions of trace metals in road sediment of Shijiazhuang. The mean levels of P (928.4 mg kg−1), S (1446.2 mg kg−1), Cl (783.9 mg kg−1), Br (5.3 mg kg−1), Na2O (2.0%), CaO (9.9%), Co (36.0 mg kg−1), Pb (38.0 mg kg−1), Cu (34.7 mg g−1), Zn (149.1 mg kg−1), Ba (518.1 mg kg−1), and Sr (224.9 mg kg−1) in road sediment were greater than their soil background values. Trace metals in most samples was moderately (75%) and heavily contaminated (15.6%). The industrial areas, congested roads, and residential areas in the northeast, middle and south of Shijiazhuang are the hotspots of trace metals pollution. A comprehensive analysis of trace metals sources indicated that Ni, V, Ga, Rb, Y, Sc, La, Ce, Zr, and Hf were mainly from natural source, which contributed to 34.2% of the total trace metals concentrations. Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Ba, Sr, and Mn primarily originated from mixed source, which accounted for 46.5%. Co principally came from building source, which accounted for 19.3%. This study shows that industrial discharges, construction dust and traffic emissions are the primary anthropogenic sources of trace metals in road sediment in the study area.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, we analyzed the application of photovoltaic solar energy as a source of cathodic protection in metallic structures foundations on transmission lines towers. As preliminary studies concerning the need for cathodic protection of the structure, we have measured the resistivity of the soil, the pH and the natural corrosion potential. After the verification of the need for protection against corrosion, the cathodic protection system (CPS) was designed calculating the current to be injected, the PV system and a monitoring system. For analyzing the efficacy of the CPS, a comparison was made between the measurements done in two towers very close to each other, one with a CPS and the other acting as a witness. By comparing the loss in masses of the carbon steel coupons installed around the base of both towers and the measurements of the potentials reached due to the injected current, the efficacy of this system was experimentally demonstrated. In the protected tower, the rate of mass loss experienced a decrease by a factor equal to 2.5. Finally, the economical analysis using the LCC, showed that the usage of CPS has a significant and clear advantage regarding traditional methods.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper describes a monitoring architecture for stand-alone photovoltaic (SAPV) systems. For the proposed system a web application has been adopted, thus allowing an on-line monitoring and control of remote installations. Moreover, daily reports are elaborated and sent to the system operator. These data can be analysed off-line to calculate both energy performances indices and statistical values. Historical data analysis is useful not only to optimize the operation of the system but also to design a retrofit of the SAPV system. To check the effectiveness of the proposed remote monitoring system, the performance of a photovoltaic-powered outdoor refrigerator has been evaluated. In case of temperature-sensitive application, such as vaccines or perishable goods storage, critical operating conditions have been detected. Experimental measurements executed on a prototype, adapted for outdoor operation with a horizontal PV module, show that the refrigerator works adequately in the given place (Catania-Italy), where typical Mediterranean climate is present, if an additional vertical PV module is adopted.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Zintl phases have been recognized as an important class of materials that have good properties for thermoelectric applications. Zintl phases are intermetallic compounds that are semiconductors with complex structures and a mix of ionic and covalent bonding. These structure types are composed of elements that display ionic bonding or covalent bonding and can be tuned in multiple fashions to provide efficient thermoelectric materials. The covalent bonding provides unique 0D clusters, 1D chains, 2D layers, and 3D frameworks that are interspersed and valence satisfied with alkaline earth, alkali metal, or rare earth cations. Because both the anionic framework and the cations can be alio- or isovalently substituted, a vast array of new compounds can be synthesized, and precise tuning of properties can be achieved. The combination of both ionic and covalent bonding within a semiconducting structure makes this an ideal phonon-glass electron-crystal class of compounds. This chapter will outline some of the most recent successes for thermoelectrics and suggest directions for new endeavors.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper we report X-ray diffraction measurements and UV–visible spectra of thin film of 8T oligothiophene grown at two substrate temperatures 25 and 175°C. We also report the scanning electron microscopy pictures of 8T films deposited at different temperatures (25, 120, 150 and 175°C). These experimental results account for a different structural organization of organic molecules in the thin films. We also show that the increase of substrate temperature enhances the charge transport in 8T-based field-effect transistors. UV–visible spectroscopy shows that heating the substrate during 8T film deposition enhances the molecular order and leads to large crystallites. The last result is confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Carrier mobility in 8T field-effect transistor increases rapidly when the substrate temperature exceeds 120°C, up to a value of 0.33cm2 V−1 s−1.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The activities in field of renewable energy in Iran are focused on scientific and research aspects, and research part is aimed at reduction of capital required for exploitation of related resources. The second step is to work research results into scientific dimension of this field for practical means, i.e. establishing electricity power plants. Due to recent advancements in wind energy, many investors in the country have become interested in investing in this type of energy. At the moment, projects assuming 130MW of wind power plants are underway, of which, 25MW is operational. Based on the planning in the 4th Socioeconomic and Cultural Development Plan (2005–2010), private sector is expected to have a share of at least 270MW in renewable energies. However, it is the government's duty to take the first step for investment in biomass and solar power plants; private sector may then play its part once the infrastructures to this end are laid out. At the moment, a 250kW plant is under construction in Shiraz and two more geothermal units with 5 and 50MW capacities will follow. Moreover, two biomass and solar energy plants, standing at 10 and 17MW, respectively, are of other upcoming projects. The project of Iran's renewable energy, aims to accelerate the sustainable development of wind energy through investment and removal of barriers. This preparatory project is funded by the global environment facility (GEF) and will provide for a number of international and national consultant missions and studies. Once the studies are concluded, a project to develop 25MW of wind energy in the Manjil region of Gilan will be prepared. It will be consistent with the national development frameworks and objectives and form part of 100MW of wind-powered energy, which is expected to be developed under the government's third 5-year national development plan (started 21 March 2000).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Current drug therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) are mainly based on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors. However, such inhibitors may possess non-optimal pharmacological properties or cause adverse effects, therefore research for the development of new drugs is still in progress. In this paper, a rapid and simple chemiluminescent (CL) assay for the in vitro evaluation of AChE inhibitors in which the activity of AChE is measured through a series of coupled enzymatic reactions leading to light emission is described. The assay is performed in microtiter plates, both in the 96- and 384-well formats. In the latter format up to 30 compounds can be simultaneously analyzed in a very short time (the chemiluminescence measurement lasts 5min) and using small volumes of samples and reagents (the assay volume is less than 60μL), thus allowing high-throughput screening (HTS). The assay proved to be reliable, as demonstrated by the analysis of known AChE inhibitors, and the reproducibility of the results was satisfying for a screening assay (CV% in the order of 20%). It could therefore represent a valuable alternative to other methods for the preliminary evaluation of new potential AChE inhibitors.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report the epitaxial growth of Cu2O (001) and m-plane (101¯0) ZnO/Cu2O thin films on both bulk MgO (001) and biaxially textured thin films of MgO (001) via plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. Cube on cube epitaxial growth of Cu2O thin films on both bulk MgO (001) and biaxially textured thin films of MgO (001) was observed and confirmed via X-ray diffraction and reflection high energy electron diffraction measurements. In addition, epitaxial m-plane ZnO growth via plasma-assisted MBE was conducted on both MgO substrates and Cu2O/MgO substrates. The ability to grow oriented, high-quality n-ZnO/p-Cu2O heterostructures enables improved thin film morphology and may have important implications for optoelectronic and photovoltaic devices.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "For an isotropic quantum resonant scatterer, such as a quantum dot embedded in host semiconductors, we propose a method to achieve resonant electron scattering by taking physical quantities into account through the second-order expansion. All needed physical information for spherical harmonic channels in anomalous quantum resonant scattering is revealed in a parameter space as the size of quantum scatterer is comparable to the de Broglie wavelength of incoming matter wave. Our results provide the guideline to realize quantum resonant scatterers with state-of-the-art semiconductor heterostructure technology.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The Global Climate & Energy Project (GCEP) at Stanford University in Califorrnia has awarded four projects a total of $5.1 million to research the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier. Stanford faculty members from a range of disciplines will lead the individual research efforts, and the projects will be funded over a three-year period from January.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Nitrogenated diamond-like (DLC:N) carbon thin films have been deposited by microwave surface wave plasma chemical vapor deposition on silicon and quartz substrates, using argon gas, camphor dissolved in ethyl alcohol composition and nitrogen as plasma source. The deposited DLC:N films were characterized for their chemical, optical, structural and electrical properties through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV/VIS/NIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscope and current–voltage characteristics. Optical band gap decreased (2.7 to 2.4 eV) with increasing Ar gas flow rate. The photovoltaic measurements of DLC:N/p-Si structure show that the open-circuit voltage (V oc) of 168.8 mV and a short-circuit current density (J sc) of 8.4 μA/cm2 under light illumination (AM 1.5 100 mW/cm2). The energy conversion efficiency and fill factor were found to be 3.4×10−4% and 0.238 respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Outdoor exposure test of amorphous silicon (a-Si) modules has been conducted at three sites (AliceSprings, Darwin, and Perth) in Australia since December 1996. The purposes of this test are to evaluate long-term reliability and the effects of climate conditions on efficiency. The I–V curves were measured automatically once a day at each site and also by solar simulator several times a year. From the result of about 3 years of exposure, it was found that the efficiency showed slight decreasing tendency of about 2–3% per year after initial degradation. The performances of seasonal fluctuation of efficiency were different from site to site, which was the reflection of the different climate conditions at each site. Seasonal fluctuation of efficiency corresponded to that of temperature. From the difference of the efficiency measured on site and that by solar simulator etc., spectral distribution of solar irradiance could be another factor for seasonal fluctuation of efficiency measured on site.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Pollution and bycatch are two of the main threats for cetaceans worldwide. These threats are exacerbated for nearshore species particularly for those in regions with intense industrial and fishing activities. Burmeister's porpoise is endemic to South America, has a Near Threatened conservation status because of long-term mortality in fisheries. Burmeister's porpoise occur in Mejillones Bay, northern Chile, a hot spot for heavy metals pollution from the mining industry and an intense industrial and artisanal purse-seine fishing area. From 2018 to 2021, we conducted systematic marine surveys to assess the abundance, distribution and habitat use of Burmeister's porpoises. We responded to stranding reports from 2018 to 2022, and necropsied nine individuals. From five of these, we analyzed the metal concentrations (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Hg, Se and Zn) in muscle and skin tissues. Results showed an abundance of 76.17 individuals (CV = 25.9%) and an average density of 0.45 individuals/km2 (CV = 26%). Burmeister's porpoises were observed year round, 22.2% were mother-calf pairs present in austral summer at an average of 90.6 m depth in the southwestern bound of the bay. Two-thirds of stranded specimens died due to bycatch and one died due to bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) attack. We report a dead Burmeister's porpoise positive for avian flu virus A (H5N1). Metals analyzed were found in muscle and skin tissues of stranded Burmeister's porpoises in the following order (Zn > Cu > Cr > As > Hg > Pb > Cd). Although we could not assess pollution as a cause of mortality, Cr, As and Pb concentrations exceeded the concentrations found in other porpoises species worldwide. We conclude that bycatch and pollution as the main threats for Burmeister's porpoise survival in northern Chile. Future studies should investigate the use of acoustic deterrent alarms to mitigate the bycatch in the bay and consider the Burmeister's porpoise as a sentinel species of pollution in northern Chilean coast.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Keggin-type polyoxometalates (POMs) based photosensitizer [(CH3)4N]5[PW11O39RhCH2COOH]∙6H2O (PW11Rh-COOH) was firstly explored for assembling the POMs sensitized solar cells (PSSC). Electrochemical measurement, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectrum, Surface photovoltage spectrum, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrated that PW11Rh-COOH displayed higher photovoltaic response than that of other POMs because of the better visible-light response, energy level matching and higher carrier separation efficiency.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The S-shape phenomena of J-V curves in conventional bilayer heterojunction organic photovoltaic have been investigated by experiments and simulations. The origin of S-shape can be attributed to the charge accumulation induced recombination within the device. Highlights ► Investigate the S-shape effect in the J–V cures of bilayer heterojunction OPV. ► Control the S-shape effect by the varying thickness of the exciton blocking layer. ► Develop a numerical model to simulate the S-shape effect due to the variation of BCP thickness. ► Provide evidence for the hypothesis that S-shape effect is due to charge accumulation by C–V measurements.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The wireless transmission of process data is a widely discussed topic in the field of automation. A lot of semi-wireless sensors or sensor hosts can be found in today's markets using radio transmission. However, using a wireless data transmission is one necessary step in realising wireless sensors. A further important step is the use of a maintenance-free wireless power supply. Energy Harvesting methods may be a solution. Measurements in a real system environment shows the usable environmental power which can be converted into electrical energy.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "K substituted BiFeO3 films have been fabricated on FTO/glass substrates using the sol–gel method. XRD results show that the films are randomly oriented. UV–Vis absorption results indicate that the films exhibit intense absorbance around 500nm. The band gaps are 2.52eV, 2.59eV, 2.64eV and 2.62eV for the 0%, 5%, 10% and 20% K substituted films, respectively. Significantly enhanced photovoltaic effect was observed in the 20% K substituted BiFeO3 film. The short circuit current density and open circuit voltage of the 20% K substituted film are 1.32μA/cm2 and −0.45V, respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Laser photolysis of iron pentacarbonyl for deposition of Fe/C/O nanocomposite. ► Nanocomposite incorporating high-pressure (orthorhombic) and ambient-stable (cubic) nanostructures of Fe3O4. ► The high-pressure Fe3O4 nanoform embedded in Fe/C/O phase is stable at ambient conditions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We present a parametric study of the optimisation of a longitudinally pumped astigmatically-compensated Cr4+:forsterite laser and compare with experimental results. The gain medium is characterized by a low figure of merit and an upper state life time which is sensitive to temperature, and therefore to pump power. The objective is the optimisation in the CW regime in order to get the highest circulating intensity, thereby making self mode-locking easier. We solve the rate equations of a two-level vibronic laser to obtain the CW laser output and show that there exits an optimum crystal length, weakly dependent on pump power, output coupler and upper state life time. The model is shown to agree well with experiment when the pump power-induced thermal effects are taken into account.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Large-volume isothermal heat flow calorimeter is analyzed. • Three dimensional computational representation of the real device is constructed. • Computational model is calibrated using four different constant heat power pulses. • Model is verified in an independent heat power scheme. • Experimental and computational outputs show a high level of agreement, R 2 =0.9998.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Ten-stacked InAs/GaAs quantum-dot infrared photodetector with two Al 0.1 Ga 0.9 As blocking layers at both sides of the structure is investigated. High responsivity 1.73A/W under low applied voltage of –1.4V is observed at 20K with peak wavelength ∼7.6μm. The appearance of 3–6μm photovoltaic response at higher temperature is attributed to the enhancement of E 1 – E 2 and E 2 -tunneling transition with increasing temperature. Higher photocurrent avalanche process under negative bias is due to the front blocking layer barrier lowering which results from strain-induced dislocations.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter focuses on the evaluation of the technical performance of photovoltaic (PV) systems. Existing evaluation procedures are based on the European guidelines and the IEC Standard 61724. This chapter discusses results, experiences, and lessons learnt from the analysis of grid-connected PV systems. The PV systems investigated have an installed capacity between 1 kWp and 3 MWp adapted to various applications and located worldwide. The chapter illustrates the operational behavior of different grid-connected PV systems. The chapter presents an overview of performance indicators. Trends in long-term performance and reliability are also discussed in detail. Lessons learnt from PV systems that provided well-documented failure reports are discussed. In these systems, power conditioner units often caused problems over the first year of installation. After problems of the utility interactive inverters had been solved, the system operated well for many years. A second high failure rate period of inverters was observed after 8–10 years of system operation. The replacement of “old” power conditioner units caused long repair times, and thus high operational losses. Good contacts between system user, installer, and manufacturer of the system components helped to reduce delays in the replacement of the faulty parts.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The growth of ternary silicides and β-FeSi2 on ternary silicides for pseudobinary system MnSi1.7–β-FeSi2 was investigated by reactive deposition epitaxy (RDE). The structural properties of resultant silicide layers were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that a Fe x Mn1−x Si1.7 layer having a Mn11Si19 crystalline structure was formed when Fe was deposited within limited solubility range in MnSi1.7. On the other hand, β-FeSi2 islands were grown on Fe x Mn1−x Si1.7 layers when excess Fe atoms were deposited. The growth evolution and phase transitions of the silicide layers are discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, we report on structural and thermoelectric properties of novel Heusler compounds Hf2FeNiSb2 and Ti2FeNiSb2. Polycrystalline samples were successfully synthesized by arc melting and melt spinning techniques and consolidated by spark plasma sintering method. The studied compounds were found to crystallize in a face centered cubic crystal structure, as can be judged by superstructural reflections, clearly seen on the X-ray diffraction patterns. Morphology and grain sizes were examined by SEM analysis, showing homogeneity and high density of grains in the synthesized samples. Electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient were investigated in a range of temperatures between 300 and 900 K. Thermal conductivity was measured in the same temperature range and found to be significantly lower than that previously reported for related half-Heusler alloys such as TiCoSb. The thermoelectric figure of merit of the concerned Hf2FeNiSb2 and Ti2FeNiSb2 samples was found at 0.082 and 0.027, respectively, at 874 K.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The aim of the presented work is to design, model, and analyze the fixed-guided two-beam (FG2B) & fixed-guided four-beam (FG4B) piezoelectric energy harvesters, especially for ambient mechanical energy harvesting applications. Two and four rectangular beams are connected at the middle of the square-shaped seismic-mass in these configurations. The performance of the energy harvesters is analyzed using eigen-mode analysis and frequency domain analysis. To determine the resonance frequency of the energy harvesters the eigen-mode analysis is performed. The frequency domain analysis is coupled with parametric sweep analysis to analyze the effect of variation in input acceleration from 1g to 5g ( g = 9.8 m / s 2 ) on von Mises stress, displacement, electric potential, and output electric power. The main aim of the energy harvester is to generate electric power from the ambient mechanical vibrations. The reported FG2B and FG4B energy harvester produce an optimum electric output power of 0.55µW and 0.25µW at the maximum load resistance of 0.52MΩ and 0.2MΩ, respectively, with the electric potential of 0.8V and 0.32V respectively. Hence, the proposed energy harvesters generate higher electric potential and output power at a higher resistive load range with less device volume than the work reported in the literature. The designed energy harvesters resonate at around 550 Hz and 770 Hz for FG2B and FG4B respectively, which is in the low-frequency range and hence can be efficiently utilized for low-frequency energy harvesting applications with better electrical output power.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Electrical power generated by a photovoltaic cell (PVC) was supplied to diluted industrial wastewater in a mechanically mixed and sealed stainless-steel reactor for hydrogen gas production. Three different electrodes, graphite, stainless steel and aluminum rods were used for comparison. Protons released from decomposition of organic compounds and electrons provided by the DC current reacted to form hydrogen gas. The highest cumulative hydrogen gas formation (CHF) was obtained with the aluminum electrode (120 L in 8 days) and the lowest was with the graphite electrode (4 L). Hydrogen gas production from wastewater was 2.4 times higher than that produced from water when aluminum electrodes were used. TOC content of wastewater was reduced from 2400 to 1700 mg L−1 with nearly 29% TOC removal within 6 days. CHF from wastewater was 76 L within 18 days with the stainless-steel electrodes while CHF from water was only 9.5 L. Fermentative hydrogen gas production from wastewater was negligible in the absence PVC. Energy conversion efficiency for hydrogen gas production (hydrogen energy/electric energy) was found to be 74% with the aluminum electrodes.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The air-stable layered semiconductor Bi2O2Se has recently attracted extensive interest because of its potential application in electronics, optoelectronics, ferroelectrics, and thermoelectrics. For many of these applications, thermal transport in Bi2O2Se is of great importance, but a complete understanding of the process remains elusive. Here, we perform a combined experimental and theoretical study of the anisotropic thermal conductivity of single-crystalline Bi2O2Se in comparison with Bi2Se3. Bi2O2Se exhibits relatively higher through-plane thermal conductivity but lower in-plane thermal conductivity, resulting in substantially smaller thermal anisotropy. This behavior originates from the stronger interlayer electrostatic interaction in Bi2O2Se compared with the typical van der Waals coupling in layered materials, making the phonon isoenergy surfaces less anisotropic and, thus, weakening phonon focusing in the in-plane directions. Our study advances the fundamental understanding of thermal anisotropy in layered materials with various interlayer interactions and will facilitate application of Bi2O2Se in electronics and thermoelectrics.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • We tested two observing scenarios for a gas correlation filter radiometer (GCFR). • A GCFR improves the discrimination between temperature and dust from a spacecraft. • A GCFR allows measurement of H2O at a high sensitivity from a spacecraft. • On spacecraft a GCFR detects N2O and CH3OH at abundances below previous upper limits. • A GCFR would allow detection of H2O, HDO, N2O, CH4, SO2, H2CO, C2H2, C2H6 from a lander.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report on the use of electrochemical atomic-layer epitaxy (EC-ALE) to grow thin-films of the III–V compounds InAs, InSb, and an InAs x Sb1−x superlattice. EC-ALE is a method for forming compound semiconductors with improved control, compared to other electrodeposition methodologies. It involves the use of surface limited reactions to form deposits an atomic layer at a time, in a cycle. The EC-ALE cycle uses underpotential deposition (upd) to form atomic layers of each of the component elements. One cycle ideally produces one monolayer (ML) of the desired compound. Studies to optimize the InAs cycle are reported, specifically the dependence on the In and As deposition potentials. These studies show that the potentials must be adjusted for each of the first 25 or more cycles, as a contact potential between the Au substrate and the growing semiconductor develops. After deposition of this initial ‘buffer layer’, steady state conditions are reached, and the same potentials can be used without change, for the remaining cycles. The formation of InSb has also been investigated, and the EC-ALE growth of InSb deposits is reported for the first time. Due to a 6% lattice mismatch, and a less than fully optimized cycle, the InSb deposits on Au appear composed of 70 nm particles. By combining the InAs and InSb programs, a superlattice was formed with 41 periods, where each period involved ten cycles of InAs followed by ten cycles of InSb. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated a period of 5.5 nm, whereas a 7.4 nm period was expected, based on 1 ML/cycle and the (111) interplanar spacing, derived from the lattice constants for InAs and InSb. Given the stoichiometry of the resulting deposit, and the shorter periodicity observed, it appears that 1 ML/cycle of InAs was formed, while only a 1/2 ML/cycle of InSb was obtained. IR absorption measurements indicate that the deposit was red shifted relative to the lower bandgap compound, InSb (0.17 eV), which is consistent with a type II superlattice. If an alloy had been formed, the bandgap should have been a linear function of the bandgaps and relative mole fractions of InAs and InSb, or about 0.31 eV, twice the observed bandgap.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► We report a reproducible method for the preparation of high quality Cd2SnO4 films. ► The dependence of CTO film properties on sputter and anneal conditions is studied. ► Single phase Cd2SnO4 thin films with random orientation show best properties. ► The coefficient of thermal expansion of Cd2SnO4 films is determined.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We have studied the effect of polymer molecular weight on the performance of poly(3-hexylthiophene):TiO2 hybrid photovoltaic device using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM). The atomic force microscopic studies show the nanoscale morphology of the hybrid film changes from small domain size rod-like structure to large domain nodule-like structure with increasing the molecular weight of poly(3-hexylthiophene). The studies of SNOM of hybrid film reveal that the large domain structure of the high-molecular-weight P3HT hybrid film exhibits continuous absorption mapping as opposite to the discontinuous absorption mapping of the low-molecular-weight P3HT hybrid film. Both results suggest the improvement in device efficiency from high-molecular-weight P3HT is due to the formation of large domain structure with increased carrier mobility and light harvesting.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This study numerically explores 3D liquid-metal (LM) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flows moving through a channel with dis-alignment subjected to a uniform magnetic field. The channel is composed of an upstream duct, a junction duct and a downstream duct. Considered are the cases with different orientations of external magnetic field. The results show that the maximum and minimum pressure drop are observed in cases with the external magnetic field perpendicular and parallel to the stream-wise direction in the junction duct, respectively. Higher velocities can be seen in the fluid region around the sharp edges of the two right-angle turning sections. Moreover, the inclined magnetic field yields complicated flow structures and electromagnetic characteristics of the aforementioned LM flows. In association with the needs for the minimization of the pressure drop for the optimal design of LM flow in a fusion blanket, the present study on the LM MHD flows in a channel with dis-alignment is performed, which may be helpful to the design of the flow through a fusion blanket.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Nanosphere lithography is a widely used technique for nanofabrication, due to its simple, effective, and inexpensive nature. This study presents the use of nanosphere lithography to produce nano-textured surfaces on Ti-6Al-4V.The effect of nanosphere diameter on the resulting nano-texture was tested by using two nanosphere diameters: 1 µm and 750 nm. Nanospheres were assembled into two substrate surfaces, and target material deposited using vapour deposition. The nanosphere mask was then removed to reveal nanopatterns on substrate surfaces. In general, samples that used a smaller nanosphere diameter produced sharper, more refined and consistent nanostructures, in comparison to samples tested with a larger nanosphere diameter. The results show successful fabrication of consistent and uniform arrays on different substrates. Ti-6Al-4V substrates allowed fabrication of nano pyramids, however these were not as uniform as glass, and more research needs to be completed to investigate the interaction between nanospheres and substrate material, and in forming more uniformly ordered arrays on Ti-6Al-4V. Consistency of nanopyramids can be improved by gaining more control over the nanospheres during mask the mask preparation stage. In addition, refining the nanoparticles can be achieved by using secondary processes, such as reaction ion etching. With further investigation and testing, this method, and study, may have applications in producing antibacterial surfaces, and reducing adhesion of bacterial cells to orthopaedic implant surfaces.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Moisture can diffuse into a photovoltaic (PV) module through its breathable back-sheet and its ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) sheet. Therefore moisture-induced degradation mechanism is investigated with multi-crystalline (m-Si) silicon PV module. Three types of accelerated tests (ATs) were conducted to evaluate the effect of temperature and humidity on the degradation of m-Si PV module. The thermal activation energy for degradation, 0.492eV, was calculated. Electroluminescence image shows that moisture has an effect on the module degradation. Electrical measurements, Dark IV and Suns Voc indicate that series resistance (Rs ) contributes to drop in power output. The results of SEM&EDX and Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) reveal that corrosion occurred at the region of solder joint and also show that the oxide concentration on the metal electrode increased after the AT.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In high-precision machining, Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM), product is formed with more hardness materials where the thermoelectric energy sandwiched between the electrode and the work piece serves as a basis for the EDM mechanism. Peak current, pulse on time, dielectric pressure, electrode polarity, work piece material, electrode material, flushing pressure, flushing direction, and flushing method are just a few of the many parameters that can be changed during the process. The focus of this research is to identify the EDM process's parameters in order to enhance productivity as measured by EN-31 tool wear rate and material removal rate (MRR). Peak current, pulse on time, dielectric pressure, and tool size were the variable parameters, each with three levels. Three 3-level variables were applied using RSM orthogonal arrays L29. As per the equation developed, the peak current inputs have a significant influence in determining the MRR for the range of experimental values under consideration, but for the TWR, the greatest impact is produced by the pulse on time, followed by the size of the tool. According to the optimization results, the discharge current of 34A, the pulse on time of 1000 μs, the dielectric compression of 1.2 kg/sq.cm, and the tool size of 16 mm are optimum for MRR.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In order to develop novel photovoltaic materials, 5-formyl-2,2′:5′,2″-terthiophene (3T-CHO) and rare earth (terbium) complex based on the 5,5′-bis(5-(2,2′-bithiophene))-2,2′-bipyridine (B2TBPY) ligand, were synthesized. The photovoltaic properties of 3T-CHO and Tb complex based on B2TBPY ligand were studied. Under 78.2mW/cm2 illumination, the ITO/3T-CHO/PCH/Al device has a short circuit current of 1.81mA/cm2, an open circuit voltage of 2.25V, fill fact of 48.3% and photoelectric conversion efficiency of 2.52%. The ITO/B2TBPY-Tb/PCH/Al device has a short circuit current of 2.47mA/cm2, an open circuit voltage of 0.57V, fill fact of 29.1% and photoelectric conversion efficiency of 0.52%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "India has been pursuing non-conventional sources of energy for various applications for a long time now. Several technologies—solar heating, solar photovoltaic, biomass, wind—have been demonstrated over the years. Currently, renewable sources of energy make up for about 5% of grid electricity produced in the country. This is impressive growth compared to 2.7% that is contributed by nuclear energy despite huge investments made in that sector. Despite the growing contribution of renewables to the national power kitty, about 125,000 or 21% villages remain in dark and not all households have power in the villages electrified. While the government efforts continue to spread solar and biomass based lighting, heating and power systems in villages, efforts in the non-governmental sector have shown that decentralized, off-grid power generation through biomass-based gasifiers and solar photovoltaics offers a viable, long-term solution to rural electrification. Though government policies now recognize decentralized power generation, they do not see it as a preferred mode of rural electrification nor do they foresee a major role for voluntary agencies and people's organizations in decentralized power generation through renewable sources. While technology has shown the way, right policy initiatives and enabling environment are lacking to use decentralized power generation through renewables as an input in overall development process.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Two-dimensional nanomaterials have become a major focus in modern research worldwide due to their potential characteristics like high surface area, mechanical strength, thermal conductivity, etc. With proper synthesis and modification, these high-aspect ratio sheet-like 2D layer solids can lead to novel and improved technologies to meet the global environmental challenges. Supplying safe drinking water is one of the major encounters that we face in the modern era. Even though many water filtration and membrane technologies are in use, fouling remains one of the main problems. Fouling can seriously hamper the performance of the membranes. 2D nanomaterials like graphene oxide, chalcogenides, and oxides have shown great potential to be used in water filtration technology to modify the membrane. These nanosheets show both antifouling and antibacterial properties that are technologically useful properties. This review assesses the recent development of 2D nanomaterials as building blocks for the upcoming generation of water treatment, desalination, antifouling, and antibacterial membranes. The most promising application areas are highlighted to show how these materials or combination and modification of these materials can lead to new clean up technologies in the field of water filtration.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Exhaled breath is a promising specimen for in vivo drug analysis. The analysis of non-volatile drugs (NVDs) in exhaled breath is especially valuable due to the clinical prevalence of NVDs. NVDs transfer from the body to the exhaled air in the form of exhaled breath particles (EBPs). The generation of EBPs involves multiple sites in the respiratory tract and complex mechanisms linked to breathing maneuvers. The exhaled NVDs concentrations typically fall within the range of pg L−1, presenting significant analytical challenges. Breath analysis for NVDs finds utility in drugs of abuse testing and therapeutic drug monitoring, with a growing body of related studies. This review thoroughly describes the origin of NVDs in exhaled breath, and summarizes the characteristics and limitations of current analytical methods for exhaled NVDs, as well as the applications of breath analysis for NVDs, in order to provide helpful guidance for subsequent basic and translational research.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Vehicle exhaust pipe is an excellent heat source and its integration with thermoelectric generators for thermo-electrical conversion has been recently attracting much attention. The methods of increasing power output include the parameter optimizations of the thermoelectric module material, thermoelectric module geometrical shape and exhaust gas property. Because of the coupling nature of these parameters, however, there is a lack of lateral comparison providing with the idea of which parameter gives the largest effect and which parameter combination gives the best power output performance. For this purpose, a novel hexagonal shaped housing has been developed for an engine exhaust thermoelectric generator unit to contain thermoelectric modules with higher temperature difference. The concept of hexagonal shaped housing provides a larger contact area which will increase the temperature differences applied on the hot and cold sides of the thermoelectric module. The thermoelectric generator unit performance has also been improved by the concept of the cross flow which will enlarge the high temperature difference area. Built with these two new concepts, an innovative engine exhaust thermoelectric generator unit has been designed, fabricated and tested. The performance optimization of the thermoelectric generator unit has been conducted based on the validated simulation model. The identified key parameters include the number of thermocouples, geometric shape/curvature of the thermoelectric module, thickness of the thermocouples, thermoelectric module material, number of layers of thermoelectric modules, exhaust gas temperature and the thickness of the ceramic substrate. It suggests that four parameters need to be focused for optimization, which are the number of thermocouples, exhaust gas temperature, thermoelectric material and geometric shape/curvature. In order to reduce the complication brought by modifying other parameters, further, Optimized Systems 1, 2 and 3 with different optimized parameters are compared. It is found that a good trade-off between achieving high power output and avoiding unnecessary technical complexities and related cost increase can be reached for Optimized System 3 with 152 thermocouples and 480 °C exhaust gas temperature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Managing the transition to a renewable energy future is an important policy priority in many countries. Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is expected to make an essential contribution, but due to relatively high cost, its growth to date has been largely driven by public policy, notably feed-in tariffs. Feed-in tariffs have been implemented in various countries, but with widely differing outcomes in terms of installed PV capacity. Previous research indicates that the level of policy risk may be an important driver for differences in renewable energy policy effectiveness. This paper suggests that project developers who make a decision between PV investment opportunities in different countries carefully weigh feed-in tariff-induced returns against a set of policy risks, and choose the country with the most favorable risk-return profile. This model is empirically tested by a stated preference survey among European PV project developers, consisting of 1575 choice decisions by 63 investors. The findings demonstrate that risk matters in PV policy design, and that a “price tag” can be attached to specific policy risks, such as the duration of administrative processes or uncertainty induced by an approaching capacity cap. Governments can build on these empirical results to design policies that will be effective in attracting private PV investment, while at the same time maintaining efficiency by providing an adequate compensation for policy risk.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The effect of adding white scattering layers to the bottom side of luminescent solar concentrator waveguides is evaluated. It is determined that adding a rear scatterer separated from the waveguide by an air gap results in a large increase of energy output from the waveguides, and this enhancement persists over long (>30cm) distances, although the magnitude of the enhancement decreases with distance. An attached scatterer resulted in the greatest improvement of light output for short (∼6cm) distances, but actually reduced edge emissions over longer distances. We provide estimates for the relative contribution of dye-emitted light and scattered light to the total waveguide emission, as well as distinguishing between the contributions of direct and indirect scattering of light to the total output as a function of dye content of the waveguides.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A new five-source PVD system was developed for the deposition of Cu(In1−x Ga x )(Se1−y S y )2 (CIGSS) thin films. The system allows the independent and controlled deposition of all five elements. In the first part of this paper, we investigate CIGSS formation via a double-layer process of depositing a Cu–S or Cu–Se layer on top of an In–Ga–Se or In–Ga–S layer, respectively. Incomplete intermix of two different chalcopyrite species is observed. In one case, additionally, an enrichment of Ga at the interface between those two layers is observed. In the second part of the paper, films within the complete compositional range of 0<x<1, and 0<y<1 were deposited on Mo-coated soda lime glass. The incorporation of sulfur in the films depends strongly on the sulfur concentration in the vapor phase, the substrate temperature, and the Cu/In ratio. The films were analyzed by means of EDS, XRD, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), and AES. Solar cells were fabricated and characterized by I–V measurements. We show results for a series of solar cells deposited group-III rich on the equal-gap line E gap=1.5 eV for various S and Ga contents. The best cells show an efficiency near 10%. The highest open circuit voltage is 854 mV at sulfur contents of S/(Se+S)=0.26.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper examines the role of technology in managing the costs of a carbon constraint on the U.S. economy. Two portfolios of technology are examined. One reflects modest investments in climate-friendly technologies, the other more aggressive development. The analysis indicates that the development of a broad range of low- to zero-carbon emitting technologies can substantially reduce (but not eliminate) the economic cost of decarbonization. By enabling large-scale emission reductions on the supply-side, costly reductions in demand are avoided. In particular, the emergence of electricity as a low-carbon fuel provides a powerful lever for achieving reductions in other sectors of the economy at lower cost. While the analysis suggests that there is no “free lunch,” the bill, which may indeed be well worth paying, can be greatly reduced through an accelerated R&D program and successful diffusion of new technology throughout the economy.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Self-powered skin electronics capable of energy harvesting and health monitoring is being regarded as the next-generation wearable system, with broad applications both for academic research of artificial intelligence and clinical practice of healthcare medicine. Demonstrated examples of self-powered skin electronics involves various types of devices, associated with energy conversion from piezoelectricity, triboelectricity, biofuel cell, photovoltaics, and thermoelectricity into electrical power source. These systems are of particular interests because they can intimately conform to the surfaces of skin with great flexibility and stretchability, and serve as wearable electronics. In this context, intrinsically stretchable materials and advanced device designs are in development to establish functional, high-performance interfaces with the skin. This review summarizes the most recent advances in this field, with highlight on constituent materials, device configuration, system functionality and integration methods in the past 5 years. Besides, subsequent section includes the related applications of these electronic platforms, with emphasis on energy harvesting and healthcare for human body and animal models. Toward the end of the article, the challenges and opportunities for self-powered skin electronics are discussed, offering information and research ideas for readers. These advances establish the foundations for self-powered devices in electrical skin interfaces of the future, where these advanced technologies suggest broad relevance to diverse skin-integrated electronics.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A parameter optimization method is proposed for photovoltaic (PV) array based on genetic algorithm, which condenses multiple sets of results of PV parameters into a set of parameter values with high precision. Firstly, based on the I-V equation, the ranges of feasible solutions can be obtained by utilizing the measured data with a novel parameter identification method. Then, by using genetic algorithm a set of identification results are gotten, and a new method named hybrid genetic algorithm is proposed to improve the identification accuracy for those results with larger error. Finally, in the simulation verification part, based on the measured data the parameters can be determined through the proposed method. By comparing the predicted results with the measured results, it proves the effectiveness of the method.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Oxide based thermoelectric (TE) materials offer several advantages over currently used intermetallic alloys due to their chemical and thermal stability at high temperatures, non-toxic elements, low cost and ease of manufacture. However, incorporation of oxides into thermoelectric generators (TEGs) is hindered by factors such as the requirement for polycrystalline materials over single crystals and the large electrode/ceramic contact resistances. The latter significantly limits the performance efficiency of a working TEG. Here we report the TE properties of Ag infiltrated polycrystalline CaMn0.98Nb0.02O3 ceramics. We demonstrate that by using this route the intrinsic TE properties of this material are fully recovered in 2-terminal geometry through Ag infiltration, thereby overcoming the electrode TEG contact problem. This synthetic route provides opportunities for bridging the performance gap between the intrinsic TE and TEG device properties of oxides.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Bismuth compounds are poorly to moderately absorbed with the primary human exposure pathway for bismuth (7440-69-9) being from medicinal preparations that are administered orally or intramuscularly. Several bismuth compounds are used medicinally. Bismuth compounds are considered to be poorly to moderately absorbed following inhalation, topical application, or ingestion. Gastrointestinal absorption depends on the water solubility of bismuth salts. The mechanism by which bismuth produces toxicity has not been identified. Symptoms of bismuth poisoning include fever, weakness, renal failure, pain similar to rheumatism, and diarrhea. There does not appear to be an antidote of choice for bismuth toxicity in humans. Little information is available on the ecotoxicity of bismuth or bismuth compounds.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thin copper sulfide films were deposited from a chemical bath onto glass, silicon, gold and platinum substrates. Films were modified by aging the deposit under ambient conditions, annealing in air, soaking in cupric ion solution, or by fixing the electrode potential. The structure of the deposited film was investigated using neutron reflectometry, Raman scattering, electrochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. Deposited films were shown to be bilayer, with a more dense layer close to the substrate and a less dense layer at the film/solution interface. Modification resulted in the formation of a single layer film of copper sulfide, the composition determined by the extent of copper exchange/transfer with the external environment. SERS results show the presence of a ν(SS) band from the early stages of film deposition.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A Green's function (GF) method is developed for interpreting scanning probe microscopy (SPM) measurements on new two-dimensional (2D) materials. GFs for the Laplace/Poisson equations are calculated by using a virtual source method for two separate cases of a finite material containing a rectangular defect and a hexagonal defect. The prescribed boundary values are reproduced almost exactly by the calculated GFs. It is suggested that the GF is not just a mathematical artefact but a basic physical characteristic of material systems, which can be measured directly by SPM for 2D solids. This should make SPM an even more powerful technique for characterization of 2D materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A detailed review of different applications that have already been investigated with SMARTS, a versatile spectral solar irradiance model, is proposed here. This review provides examples of applications in many different disciplines, for which recent developments are discussed. Three main types of applications are considered, depending on their spectral range. Purely spectral applications encompass the determination of atmospheric constituents, the performance testing of spectroradiometers, and the improvement and validation of reference spectra for the rating of photovoltaic or glazing systems, or for new standards development in the field of weathering and material degradation. Narrow-band applications include the determination of different UV fluxes and of the UV index, and the prediction of illuminance on any horizontal or tilted surface, of the luminous efficacy of direct, diffuse or global radiation, of the photosynthetically active radiation, and of the irradiance transmitted by different bandpass filters. Finally, some specific broadband applications are reviewed: mesoscale predictions of radiation fluxes, evaluation of circumsolar effects in pyrheliometers, performance assessment of broadband radiation models, and turbidity determination from broadband irradiance data.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This research compromises of an innovative investigation based on semitransparent vertical cylinder-shaped thermoelectric cells (TEC’s). The temperature gradient was generated by light illumination. Cells with antimony doped bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) were fabricated and its electric parameters were measured with different modifications to obtain the optimum design for maximum power efficiency. The thermoelectric material was filled in the semi-transparent plastic cylindrical tube with external and internal diameters and length of 6 mm, 5 mm and 20 mm. The open circuit voltage (VOC) and short circuit current (ISC) dependences with respect to averaged temperature and gradient of temperature were measured. These variations of temperature were controlled by varying the intensity of light. The fabricated semitransparent thermoelectric cells have 25% transparency. The investigation of thermoelectric properties of p-Bi2Te3 showed that increasing the average temperature from 34 to 60 °C, the increment in the current and voltage of the thermoelectric cells is 4.45 and 3.3 times. However, after modifications increased the current 10.1 and 8.9 times in case of water reservoir as a coolant, 16.5 and 14 times with large metallic top electrode, 19.3 and 19.5 times when all modifications added together, respectively. Overall optimum results were obtained with the least number of glasses, maximum load pressure, larger metallic electrode receiver, water reservoir as a coolant to get most temperature gradient. Potentially the semitransparent thermoelectric cells can be built and used to fabricate special windows which produce, electric power, allow to illuminate inside house directly by solar light without conversion to the energy and to heat water.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "DNA polymerase activity was measured by a stopped-flow assay that monitors polymerase extension using an intercalating dye. Double-stranded DNA formation during extension of a hairpin substrate was monitored at 75°C for 2min. Rates were determined in nucleotides per second per molecule of polymerase (nt/s) and were linear with time and polymerase concentration from 1 to 50nM. The concentrations of 15 available polymerases were quantified and their extension rates determined in 50mM Tris, pH 8.3, 0.5mg/ml BSA, 2mM MgCl2, and 200μM each dNTP as well as their commercially recommended buffers. Native Taq polymerases had similar extension rates of 10–45nt/s. Three alternative polymerases showed faster speeds, including KOD (76nt/s), Klentaq I (101nt/s), and KAPA2G (155nt/s). Fusion polymerases including Herculase II and Phusion were relatively slow (3–13nt/s). The pH optimum for Klentaq extension was between 8.5 and 8.7 with no effect of Tris concentration. Activity was directly correlated to the MgCl2 concentration and inversely correlated to the KCl concentration. This continuous assay is relevant to PCR and provides accurate measurement of polymerase activity using a defined template without the need of radiolabeled substrates.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Technological, economic and sustainability evaluation of power plants by use of the analytic hierarchy process and nine end node criteria for a reference scenario based on subjective criteria weighting has been presented in a previous paper by authors. However, criteria weight variations may substantially modify overall evaluations and rankings of power plants. The current paper presents a sensitivity analysis with four alternative scenarios (sets of criteria weights) compared with the reference scenario. The results show that priority to “technology and sustainability” favors renewable energy power plants, while priority to “economic” criteria favors mainly nuclear power plants and less the four types of fossil fuel power plant.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Half-heusler alloys are fascinating thermoelectric materials because they have superior mechanical and transport properties. In this study, we used dft+u calculations and the Boltztrap equation to examine the electronic, optical, and thermoelectric properties of YAuSi, YAuGe, and YAuSn half-heusler alloys. The DFT+U approach predicted band gaps of 1.2767 eV, 0.611 eV, and 1.5741 eV for YAuGe, YAUSn, and YAuSi, respectively. We also observed that all materials under consideration have a broad absorption spectrum ranging from 1 eV to 12 eV, with notable peaks in the visible and UV ranges. The obtained opto-electronic properties position the three alloys as promising candidates for photovoltaic applications. Finally, thermoelectric property calculations revealed that the figure of merit values for YAuSi, YAuGe, and YAuSn HH alloys were 0.730, 0.726, and 0.736 at 800 K, respectively suggesting the materials are also suitable candidates for application in the field of thermoelectricity",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This work deals with the problem of controlling single-phase grid connected photovoltaic system. The system consists on a photovoltaic (PV) panel, a boost power converter and a single phase inverter connected to the grid. The control objective is fourfold: (i) asymptotic stability of the closed loop system, (ii) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) of PV module (iii) tight regulation of the DC bus voltage, and (iv) unity power factor (PF) in the grid. A nonlinear controller is developed using feedback linearizing technique based on an averaged nonlinear model of the whole controlled system. The model accounts, on the one hand, for the nonlinear dynamics of the underlying boost converter and inverter and, on the other, for the nonlinear characteristic of PV panel. It is formally shown, through theoretical analysis and simulation results, that the proposed controller does achieve its objectives.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter covers the designs and applications of building integrated photovoltaic thermal (BIPVT) systems, which are essentially a building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system with the combination of a thermal management system but exhibit synergistic benefits that a single one cannot achieve. In the beginning, one example of such systems called building integrated thermal electric roofing system developed by coauthor Frank Pao is introduced and some iconic installation projects domestically and overseas are presented. Then, the state-of-the-art research on BIPVT modules and prototypes at Columbia University is reviewed, in which thermoelectric, functionally graded material, lightweight concrete panels, and serpentine water tubes are used for prototype fabrication and testing. Finally, the applications of BIPVT for net-zero and energy-independent buildings as well as microgrids and energy storage are explained. The two case studies at the end of the chapter are about two residential projects in Westchester, NY and Boston, MA, respectively, using building integrated thermal electric roofing system.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Using Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Boltzmann’s transport theory, we determined the band structure and thermoelectric properties in Lithium-Aluminium-Silicide compound. The band-structure calculations showed a triple point degeneracy at Γ point due to the energy difference between the Lithium-Aluminium ligand formation. With the valence band maximum at Γ and the conduction band minimum at X , we observed an indirect bandgap along the Γ → X transition. Observation of the transport properties of LiAlSi at temperatures below 500K, showed several shoulders or minor pre-peaks which are more pronounced in the low energy range and might be due to intrinsic magnetization of the constituent elements. The Seebeck coefficient has the highest value of 325 μV K −1 in the p-type region, while the n-type doping has a maximum value of 297 μV K −1. In detail, the calculated results of Seebeck coefficient, thermal and electrical conductivity, power factor and electronic fitness function are in this work.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This research introduces a novel method that leverages Spirulina extract (S.E) as a bio-surfactant in the ultrasound-assisted synthesis (UAS) of Pd3+ (0.25–10 mol%) doped tin oxide (SnO2) self-assembled superstructures. Nanotechnology has witnessed significant advancements in recent years, driven by the exploration of novel synthesis methods and the development of advanced nanomaterials tailored for specific applications. Metal oxide nanoparticles, particularly SnO2, have garnered considerable attention due to their versatile properties and potential applications in various fields, including gas sensing, catalysis, and biomedical engineering. The study explores how varying influential parameters like S.E concentration, sonication time, pH, and sonication power can influence the resulting superstructures' morphology, size, and shape. A theoretical model for forming different hierarchical superstructures (HS) is proposed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirms the crystalline tetragonal rutile phase of the SnO2:Pd HS. Raman spectroscopy reveals a red shift in the A1g mode, indicating phonon confinement due to various defects in the SnO2 structure. Further characterization using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) provides insights into particle size, surface morphology, elemental composition, and binding energy. The study also demonstrates the application of optimized SnO2:3Pd HS in developing latent fingerprints (LFPs) on different surfaces using a simple powder dusting (PD) method, with the fingerprints (FPs) visualized under normal light. A mathematical model developed in Python-based software is used to analyze various features of the developed FPs, including pore properties such as number, position, inter-spacing, area, and shape. Additionally, an in vitro MTT assay shows concentration-dependent anticancer activity of SnO2:3Pd nanoparticles (NPs) on MCF7 cell lines, highlighting their potential as a promising cancer treatment option. Overall, the study suggests that the optimized HS can serve as multifunctional platforms for biomedical and dermatoglyphics applications, demonstrating the versatility and potential of the synthesized materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "EVA is a widely used material for the encapsulation of photovoltaic modules. It melts at elevated temperatures, and seals the module before it is crosslinked at temperatures above 130 °C by a peroxide-initiated crosslinking reaction. EVA has good optical properties necessary for application in solar modules. For process optimization and quality management, a method for the quick and reliable characterization of EVA crosslinking behaviour is of great value. Here, the practicability of ultrasound for online crosslinking monitoring is demonstrated. A sound velocity increase of about 8 m/s during the crosslinking reaction is found. The ultrasound results are compared with rheometer measurements performed with a curemeter typically used for the investigation of rubber crosslinking.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This research investigates the economic penetration and system-wide effects of large-scale intermittent technologies in an electric generation system. The research extends the standard screening curve analysis to optimize the penetration and system structure with intermittent technologies. The analysis is based on hour-by-hour electric demands and intermittent generation. A theoretical framework is developed to find an expression for the marginal value of an intermittent technology as a function of the average system marginal cost, the capacity factor of the generator, and the covariance between the generator's hourly production and the hourly system marginal cost. A series of model runs are made examining the penetration of wind and photovoltaic in a simple electric generation system. These illustrate the conclusions in the theoretical analysis and illustrate the effects that large-scale intermittent penetration has on the structure of the generation system. In the long-term, adding intermittent generation to a system allows us to restructure the dispatchable generation capacity to a mix with lower capital cost. It is found that large-scale intermittent generation tends to reduce the optimal capacity and production of baseload generators and increase the capacity and production of intermediate generators, although the extent to which this occurs depends strongly on the pattern of production from the intermediate generators. It is also shown that the marginal value of intermittent generation declines as it penetrates. The analysis investigates the specific mechanism through which this occurs.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Zinc sulphide thin films are deposited on SnO2/glass using the chemical bath deposition technique. X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy are used to characterize the structure of the films; the surface composition of the films is studied by Auger electrons spectroscopy, the work function and the photovoltage are investigated by the Kelvin method. Using these techniques, we specify the effect of pH solution and heat treatment in vacuum at 500°C. The cubic structure corresponding to the (111) planes of β-ZnS is obtained for pH equal to 10. The work function (Φ material − Φ probe) for ZnS deposited at pH 10 is equal to −152meV. Annealing at 500°C increases Φ m (by about 43meV) and induces the formation of a negative surface barrier. In all cases, Auger spectra indicate that the surface composition of zinc sulphide thin films exhibits the presence of the constituent elements Zn and S as well as C and O as impurity elements.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This work reports a structure–property investigation of a conjugated polymer nanocomposite with enhanced conductivity. Regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (rrP3HT) was used to prepare composites with thin, short, multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) addition over a wide range of concentrations. Scanning and transmission electron microscopies demonstrated an excellent dispersion and good wetting properties within the carbon nanotube composites. Coated MWNTs showed superstructures of P3HT self-organized on nanotube surfaces. Changes in the long range order and on the self-ordered mesophase of the bulk material were investigated by infrared and Raman spectroscopies, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. Interplay between charge transport through the semiconducting polymer and carbon nanotube network increased the composite's conductivity after percolation to values close to 10−2 Scm−1.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) biomicrofluidic technologies are rapidly emerging bioanalytical tools that can miniaturize and revolutionize in situ research on embryos of small vertebrate model organisms such as zebrafish (Danio rerio) and clawed African frog (Xenopus laevis). Despite considerable progress being made in fabrication techniques of chip-based devices, they usually still require excessive and manual actuation and data acquisition that significantly reduce throughput and introduce operator-related analytical bias. This work describes the development of a proof-of-concept embedded platform that integrates an innovative LOC zebrafish embryo array technology with an electronic interface to provide higher levels of laboratory automation for in situ biotests. The integrated platform was designed to perform automatic immobilization, culture and treatment of developing zebrafish embryos during fish embryo toxicity (FET) biotests. The system was equipped with a stepper motor driven stage, solenoid-actuated pinch valves, miniaturized peristaltic pumps as well as Peltier heating module. Furthermore, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) was used to implement an embedded hardware/software solution and interface to enable real-time control over embryo loading and immobilization; accurate microfluidic flow control; temperature stabilization and also automatic time-resolved image acquisition of developing zebrafish embryos. This work presents evidence that integration of embedded electronic interfaces with microfluidic chip-based technologies can bring the Lab-on-a-Chip a step closer to fully automated analytical systems.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Ultrasonic machining (USM) is a mechanical type advanced machining process, which is mainly used for machining hard and brittle materials such as glasses and ceramics irrespective of their electrical conductivity. Compared to electron beam, laser beam, and EDM type advanced machining processes, development of thermal damage on the workpiece is less in USM process. This chapter mainly covers basic components of ultrasonic machines, material removal mechanism, and influence of USM parameters on process productivity and part quality. A mathematical model to analyze the material removal rate in USM process considering direct impact of abrasive particle on the workpiece is presented. Tool wear encountered in ultrasonic tools and various factors influencing tool wear are also discussed. Finally, recent advances in USM process with an emphasis on micromachining and composite processing are discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, a prototype open loop air-based building integrated photovoltaic thermal BIPV/T system with a single inlet is studied through a comprehensive series of experiments in a full scale solar simulator recently built at Concordia University. A numerical control volume model is developed and validated based on the results from the experiments. Improved designs of a BIPV/T system with multiple inlets and other means of heat transfer enhancement are studied through simulations. Simulation results indicate that the application of two inlets on a BIPV/T collector increases thermal efficiency by about 5% and increases electrical efficiency marginally. An added vertical glazed solar air collector improves the thermal efficiency by about 8%, and the improvement is more significant with wire mesh packing in the collector by an increase of about 10%. The developed model is applied to a BIPV/T roof of an existing solar house with four simulated inlets, and the thermal efficiency is improved by 7%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Glass-fiber-reinforced polyurethane foams, one of the most widely used insulation materials in liquefied-natural-gas cargo-containment systems, is generally blown by various blowing agents that exist in the gaseous state in closed cells. Hydrofluorocarbon-245fa, also known as HFC-245fa, is one of the most environmentally friendly blowing agents, but it has a high potential to contribute to global warming that is about 1000 times that of CO2. As a result, CO2 has received much attention as an ideal eco-friendly blowing agent. Therefore, a study was carried out to compare the low-temperature compression characteristics of CO2- and HFC-245fa-blown glass-fiber-reinforced polyurethane foams at various temperatures and strain rates. It was confirmed that the blowing agent affected the microscopic and mechanical characteristics of the glass-fiber-reinforced polyurethane foams. It also revealed for the first time that the compressive stress decreased as the strain rate increased when the test temperature was below the freezing point of the blowing agent, contrary to the tendency above the freezing point.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In comparison to standard applications, lifetimes of lead–acid batteries in photovoltaic (PV) systems are shorter than one might expect. This investigation aims to identify reasons for the accelerated ageing. A detailed mathematical model of current, potential and acid distribution within the electrodes during normal operation is developed and used. Results show that the rather small currents in PV applications (on an average between I 50 and I 100) and the limited charging time cause problems, which are of minor relevance for standard applications. Small currents in conjunction with acid stratification cause a significant undercharging of the lower part of the electrodes, which again causes accelerated sulphation. Further, the number of sulphate crystals decreases with decreasing discharge current used for a full charge of the battery. This reduces the overall surface of the sulphate crystals and results in higher polarisation during the charging. The time taken for a battery cell to be completely charged is dominated by the positive electrode because it shows a high polarisation well before the electrode is completely charged. Simulations show that the charging time could be reduced if positive electrodes with less inner surface were to be used in batteries for PV systems. It is worth mentioning that the requirements for power are rather small in PV systems. This paper focuses on the qualitative results of the simulations and their interpretation. No models are explained in detail.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Thermal-to-electrical energy conversion due to the thermo-diffusion of ions is an emerging field of study, which has attracted significant research efforts over the past several years due to unprecedentedly large thermopower over several mV/K compared to 10−2–10−1 mV/K from conventional electronic thermoelectric materials. Nevertheless, key enabling principles and general rules for achieving the extraordinary properties have yet to be fully unveiled due to the complexity in establishing consolidated theories unlike crystalline solids. Here we suggest empirical relationships between ionic conductivity and ionic thermopower as well as their dependency on relative humidity (RH). It is very intriguing to see both ionic electrical conductivity and ionic thermopower are simultaneously improved as RH is raised, in contrast to their adverse correlation in conventional electronic thermoelectrics, offering potential breakthroughs for large performance enhancement. This paper mainly focuses on the thermo-diffusion of ions called the Soret effect in solid-state polyelectrolytes due to their large thermopower, and their transport properties were described in comparison to electronic Seebeck effects. Representative materials and their device applications are introduced along with underlying physics and perspectives. We anticipate that this work serves as a guide for exercising their outstanding properties as well as opening up new strategies for thermal-to-electrical energy conversion.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A new cooling method of ethanol direct-contact phase-change immersion cooling was proposed in the thermal management of high power light emitting diodes (LED) and the feasibility of this cooling method was investigated. The heat generated by LED was measured firstly using two types of power systems: DC power and LED driver. Then the heat dissipation performance was evaluated under different experimental conditions. The results indicate that startup process of the cooling system is quick and only 450s is needed to reach steady-state under heat load of 42.78W. The minimum thermal resistance of 1.233°C/W is obtained when liquid filling ratio is 33.14%. The junction temperature of LED under different absolute pressures is much lower than the limited value of 120°C. Baffle with total height of 140mm, bottom space height of 20mm and distance away from substrate surface of LED of 8mm improves heat transfer performance best due to ethanol self-circulating in the cooling receiver. Overall, the ethanol phase-change immersion cooling is an effective way to make sure high power LED work reliably and high efficiently.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A coupled system comprising of a graphene-based thermionic energy converter (GTEC) and a thermophotovoltaic cell (TPVC) is proposed to recover the waste heat from the anode of GTEC for additional power generation. Based on energy balance principle, the operating temperature of the anode is numerically calculated. Neglecting the non-ideal factors, the local maximum power density 4.46 W cm−2 and efficiency 0.573 of the system are determined for given related parameters. An overall maximum efficiency 0.584 is obtained by optimizing the cathode’s temperature, while local maximum power density is increased with increase of the cathode’s temperature. The comparisons between the present work and the previous works are made. The present work demonstrates that the proposed system can achieve higher performances than those of the single GTEC and TPVC operating at the same temperature differences. The effects of the thermal loss at the anode and the non-radiative recombination losses of the PV cell on the system’s performances are discussed. The local maximum power density 2.06 W cm−2 and efficiency 0.251 are obtained. An overall maximum efficiency 0.307 can be achieved by optimizing the cathode’s work function. The present coupled system is very promising for renewable energy utilization.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter aims to present an overview of the recent progress in high-performance bulk Mg2(Si/Sn/Ge) thermoelectric materials defining the key approaches for boosting the thermoelectric performance. These include alloying, doping, nanostructuring, band converging, and intentional or spontaneous hierarchical Sn-rich and Si-rich phases’ architecture.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Time-resolved U(VI) laser fluorescence spectra (TRLFS) were recorded for a series of natural uranium-silicate minerals including boltwoodite, uranophane, soddyite, kasolite, sklodowskite, cuprosklodowskite, haiweeite, and weeksite, a synthetic boltwoodite, and four U(VI)-contaminated Hanford vadose zone sediments. Lowering the sample temperature from RT to ∼ 5.5 K significantly enhanced the fluorescence intensity and spectral resolution of both the minerals and sediments, offering improved possibilities for identifying uranyl species in environmental samples. At 5.5 K, all of the uranyl silicates showed unique, well-resolved fluorescence spectra. The symmetric O = U = O stretching frequency, as determined from the peak spacing of the vibronic bands in the emission spectra, were between 705 to 823 cm−1 for the uranyl silicates. These were lower than those reported for uranyl phosphate, carbonate, or oxy-hydroxides. The fluorescence emission spectra of all four sediment samples were similar to each other. Their spectra shifted minimally at different time delays or upon contact with basic Na/Ca-carbonate electrolyte solutions that dissolved up to 60% of the precipitated U(VI) pool. The well-resolved vibronic peaks in the fluorescence spectra of the sediments indicated that the major fluorescence species was a crystalline uranyl mineral phase, while the peak spacing of the vibronic bands pointed to the likely presence of uranyl silicate. Although an exact match was not found between the U(VI) fluorescence spectra of the sediments with that of any individual uranyl silicates, the major spectral characteristics indicated that the sediment U(VI) was a uranophane-type solid (uranophane, boltwoodite) or soddyite, as was concluded from microprobe, EXAFS, and solubility analyses.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Water pumping has been one of the main applications for wind power in the past and despite the spread of mains-electric pumps, more than a million windpumps remain in regular use. This paper reviews the general technical and economic requirements for pumping water using wind energy and by way of example gives an overview of the development of the new ITP wind-pump. It then considers the future prospects for this kind of technology.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A new design concept, called one axis three positions sun-tracking polar-axis aligned CPCs (3P-CPCs, in short), was proposed and theoretically studied in this work for photovoltaic applications. The proposed trough-like CPC is oriented in the polar-axis direction, and the aperture is daily adjusted eastward, southward, and westward in the morning, noon and afternoon, respectively, by rotating the CPC trough, to ensure efficient collection of beam radiation nearly all day. To investigate the optical performance of such CPCs, an analytical mathematical procedure is developed to estimate daily and annual solar gain captured by such CPCs based on extraterrestrial radiation and monthly horizontal radiation. Results show that the acceptance half-angle of 3P-CPCs is a unique parameter to determine their optical performance according to extraterrestrial radiation, and the annual solar gain stays constant if the acceptance half-angle, θa , is less than one third of ω 0,min, the sunset hour angle in the winter solstice, otherwise decreases with the increase of θa . For 3P-CPCs used in China, the annual solar gain, depending on the climatic conditions in site, decreased with the acceptance half-angle, but such decrease was slow for the case of θa ⩽ ω 0,min/3, indicating that the acceptance half-angle should be less than one third of ω 0,min for maximizing annual energy collection. Compared to fixed east–west aligned CPCs (EW-CPCs) with a yearly optimal acceptance half-angle, the fixed south-facing polar-axis aligned CPCs (1P-CPCs) with the same acceptance half-angle as the EW-CPCs annually collected about 65–74% of that EW-CPCs did, whereas 3P-CPCs annually collected 1.26–1.45 times of that EW-CPCs collected, indicating that 3P-CPCs were more efficient for concentrating solar radiation onto their coupling solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A new regime of high rate deposition of near-stoichiometric silicon nitride by Hot Wire Chemical Vapor Deposition was investigated. The layers were tested on multicrystalline silicon solar cells in order to assess their antireflection and passivation properties. The present design of the filament arrangement and the showerhead gas supply system allows for virtually unlimited scale-up and deposition rates of around 3 nm/s were obtained. By varying the SiH4 flow, the refractive index at 630 nm (n) could be controlled from 1.90±0.05 to 2.12±0.05, and the extinction coefficient at 400 nm (k) was <0.007 for all films of interest. The cells had state-of-the-art values for all photovoltaic parameters, similar to cells with a conventional SiN x antireflection coating. An efficiency of 14.3% was reached using HWCVD SiN x for multicrystalline Si solar cells with an industrial emitter.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In the discussion of renewable energy deployment, one key concern is the various types of barriers that renewable energy needs to overcome before it can make its way into the mainstream. These barriers increasingly shift from the technical to the economic and institutional. The most general types of barriers are due to technological ‘lock-out’ or to carbon ‘lock-in’ [Unruh, G., 2000. Understanding carbon lock-in. Energy Policy 28(12), 817–830 (Elsevier)]. These barriers necessitate the development of a strategic approach to deploy or introduce renewable energy technology. Existing energy policy has mostly relied upon financial subsidies, market-based instruments such as renewable portfolio standards, and production tax credits to stimulate the installation and use of equipment to generate electricity from renewable sources. These strategies target mostly system-level decisions of end users. The purpose of this paper is to present an innovation perspective on the renewable energy deployment process by introducing the innovation value-added chain (IVC) framework. The analytical objective of IVC is to evaluate the impact of a new innovation on the various stakeholders and players in the development and deployment processes. A deployment or innovation strategy that causes minimal disruption, enhances existing competencies, or expedites new learning by the players has a higher chance to succeed. We draw upon two sets of system integration costs data for grid-connected distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems in Japan and the United States and demonstrate conspicuously different dynamic learning behaviors. These two deployment models can be understood in terms of how the IVCs are organized and how PV system integration projects are performed in the field. In addition, IVC-based findings can inform the targeted application of conventional financial subsidies for learning investment not only at the PV system level, but also at the (localized) system integration level. This would involve other stakeholders, thus suggesting new energy policy space. We highlight some future research directions using the IVC framework.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Life cycle assessments (LCA) typically exclude spatial information in estimating the water consumption associated with a product, resulting in calls to improve regional detail to better reflect spatial variation. In response to these calls, we have compiled a spatially-resolved inventory of changes in water consumption associated with the coal-to-gas transition in Pennsylvania at the resolution of watersheds from 2009 to 2012. Results indicate that the total water consumption of the fuel extraction and power sectors in Pennsylvania increased by 7.6 million m3 (2 Bgal) over four years. At the state and watershed scales, we compare total water consumption for the coal-to-gas transition to a case where only the water consumed across two life cycle stages of electricity generation is considered – fuel extraction and use at the power plant to generate electricity. The results for the latter indicate that water consumption decreased by over 15.1 million m3 (4 Bgal). For both cases, watershed-level results showed water consumption generally increased in watersheds with growing shale gas activity or new natural gas capacity, while it decreased with diminishing coal-fired generation. Watershed-scale water consumption from 2009 to 2012 may be reversed from a net increase to decrease (and vice versa) when the total water consumption is compared to the water consumed specifically for life cycle stages of electricity generation, reinforcing the importance of further developing spatially-resolved inventories for LCA. Focusing on the water consumption associated with only electricity generation and its fuel use does not capture the full effects of fuel extracted for use in other sectors. We suggest that spatially-explicit inventories that include multiple life cycle stages should be a critical component in the development of more comprehensive, spatial LCA methodology. Spatial differentiation in inventories is necessary to adequately characterize watershed-level impacts that can be normalized over a functional unit. The approach can be used as a complementary assessment to LCA that can inform policy-makers and investors about where energy developments may pose additional risks to water supply and availability.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A series of Pb 1-y (Zn0.85Al0.15) y Te-Te nanocomposites (y = 0, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, and 0.11) was fabricated by hydrothermal synthesis of PbTe and Zn0.85Al0.15Te nanoparticles separately, followed by intimate mixing, pressing, and sintering in evacuated-and-encapsulated Pyrex ampoules at 380 °C for 12 h. Thermoelectric properties were characterized from 120-600 K. With increasing Zn content, the peak thermopower shifts to higher temperatures, Hall carrier concentration increases, and the lattice thermal conductivity decreases. As compared to the pristine PbTe, thermoelectric properties of Pb 1-y (Zn0.85Al0.15) y Te-Te nanocomposites have improved considerably. The y = 0.11 sample exhibits the highest zT ~1 comparable to the state-of-the-art p-type PbTe-based materials. The enhanced zT is ascribed to reduced thermal conductivity, elevated electrical conductivity and thermopower. This unique new method of material synthesis and doping is very promising to obtain high-performance thermoelectric materials in addition to tuning their nanostructures.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Tin dioxide (SnO2) has recently proved to be a promising material for thermoelectric applications. We have investigated the influence of highly valence Bi doping as an electron donor in oxygenated SnO2 materials on their thermoelectric properties. We have synthesized the pure and Bi doped SnO2 nanoparticles (x = 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) through a simple hydrothermal approach. The Seebeck coefficient and Hall measurements have been used to determine thermoelectric behaviour. The measured value of the Seebeck coefficient increases from - 56 to - 83 μV/°C as the Bi content increases. This improvement in the Seebeck coefficient has been attributed to the charge carrier localization (energy filtering effect) caused by the inclusion of the bismuth atoms and the presence of secondary phases based on BiO2. However, the electrical conductivity measurements show an inverse relation with the Bi doping, increasing the impurities. The Sn1-xBixO2 sample with x = 15 has achieved the maximum Seebeck value, resulting in the upward trend in power factor of up to 1.97 × 10−4 Wm−1C−2. Further, we have used X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy to determine the effect of Bi on the SnO2 crystal structure and surface morphology. Which also demonstrates the presence of composites with mixed phases.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We reported the synthesis of novel polymeric semiconductor materials based on [poly(4-(5-(1,5-bis(alkoxy)naphthalen-2-yl)thiophen-2-yl)-7-(thiophen-2-yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]-thiadiazole)] (PANTBT) and the fabrication of solar cells with a power conversion efficiency of 4.2% using the synthesized polymers blended with [6,6]-phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PC70BM) in bulk heterojunction geometry. By varying the side chains, three polymers were synthesized [poly(4-(5-(1,5-bis(2-ethylhexyloxy)naphthalen-2-yl)thiophen-2-yl)-7-(thiophen-2-yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole)] (PENTBT), [poly(4-(5-(1,5-bis(decyloxy)naphthalen-2-yl)thiophen-2-yl)-7-(thiophen-2-yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole)] (PDNTBT), and [poly(4-(5-(1,5-bis(tetradecyloxy)naphthalen-2-yl)thiophen-2-yl)-7-(thiophen-2-yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole)] (PTDNTBT), maintaining a low highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level and relatively low band gap, which lead to a high open circuit voltage and short circuit current of the resulting devices. Due to the superior miscibility of PANTBT derivatives with PC70BM, favorable phase separation with a domain size of 10–20nm was achieved regardless of the crystalline nature of the pristine polymers. PDNTBT with alkyl side chain C10 and PTDNTBT with alkyl side chain C14 showed higher photovoltaic performances. In addition, the effects of the crystalline nature of polymers on the thermal stability of the resulting solar cell devices were discussed in terms of the influence of side chains.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Among energy storage systems, Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) is attractive because of high energy density, ease of being scaled up, absence of geographical constraints, mature technology and use of safe materials/working fluids. This work presents a critical review of LAES system configurations in the literature to identify the criteria behind their conceptual development. The goal is achieved following the HEATSEP methodology, which allowed identifying a common thread in the evolution of all LAES configurations in the literature based on very few layouts, named “basic configurations”. The optimization of these few layouts, taking into account all possible internal heat transfers, provides a unique and comprehensive overview of existing configurations in spite of their seemingly great complexity. This picture clearly indicates the link between topology and performance improvement and provides insight into the limits of the maximum possible performance gain over the existing literature. The optimal results show that the margin for improvement is quite narrow. In the case of a complete thermal integration between charge and discharge phases with the addition of Organic Rankine Cycle system a gain from 61.9 % to 64.3 % is obtained over the best performing configuration in the literature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper describes a power source for the autonomous control system of a subsea well (SWACS) in the Ionian Sea. The unit was deployed in Jan. 1996 at a depth of 180 m. The 650 kWh sea-water battery uses anodes made from commercial magnesium alloys, sea-water as the electrolyte and oxygen dissolved in the sea-water as oxidant. The inert cathodes are made from carbon fibers. The system is composed of six, two-metre high sea-water cells integrated in a steel structure, a d.c./d.c. converter and a valve regulated lead-acid accumulator enclosed in a titanium container together with a monitoring unit which transfers data to the surface via an acoustic link.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Materials that are currently non-recyclable end up in landfills. With successful research and development, many waste stream materials can be re-manufactured to reduce costs and increase company profit. Thermal conduction properties of fibrous materials may be conducive to use in insulation. An example of this is experimental determination of the “R” value of these materials. In this work, one such technique is explored. It is inexpensive to reproduce and indicates R values comparable to those in standard construction insulation materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A new type of ω-methoxy-functionalized oligo-(OCT) and poly-(PQ) hexylthiophene characterized by a tetrameric repeating unit was synthesized and characterized. The configurational regularity and the mean degree of functionalization per thiophenic ring, lower than in commonly synthesized PATs, permitted the obtainment of more ordered chain conformations especially in the solid (film) state. Solar cells based on OCT and PQ films (as p-donor polymeric layer) mixed with Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTs, used as electron-acceptor system) were prepared and investigated. A power conversion efficiency of 0.52% with a fill factor of 0.42, an open-circuit voltage of 0.48V and a short-circuit current of 1.93mA/cm2 under 70mW/cm2 white light illumination is reported for the polymeric sample. The obtained performance is comparable with that of devices made with regioregular P3HT but the easiness of the monomer synthesis and polymer preparation, giving OCT and PQ with good yields, as well as the enhanced workability and filmability of the latters from diluted solutions of common organic solvents together with their low sensitivity to the environmental conditions (air oxygen, moisture, temperature) makes the synthesized materials very promising for the set-up of polymer photovoltaic cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Promoting the coupled development of water, energy, and food (WEF) subsystems is a critical step to enhance synergies and increase efficiencies in the WEF nexus. However, the evolution and obstacles of coupled development are largely ignored. This study developed a framework dividing links in the nexus to select indicators and integrated models for the degree of coordination and obstacle diagnosis to explore the coupled development of the WEF nexus from 2000 to 2020 in the water-scarce megacities of Beijing and Tianjin. The results show that the average coordination degree of the WEF nexus in Beijing (0.315) and Tianjin (0.317) is at a low level, indicating a limited interaction between the WEF subsystems, while the coordinated development degree of the WEF nexus is increasing. The order degree of the WEF subsystems shows a two-level hierarchical structure, indicating that both similarities and differences are included in place-specific characteristics. Furthermore, obstacle factors are identified from water and energy subsystems, in which environmental water use (W3) and the energy consumption per gross domestic production unit (E4) played the most significant roles and require a higher priority in policy response. The results in this paper complement obstacle factor analysis in WEF nexus practice, and provide operational indicators for nexus governance.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "CuInSe2 (CIS) thin films were deposited on Mo/glass substrates by one-step electrodeposition from aqueous baths containing CuSO4, In2(SO4)3 and SeO2 with Li2SO4 electrolyte. The quality of the electrodeposited films depended on the presence of pH buffer in the bath. CIS films deposited from non-pH buffered baths showed pronounced (112) orientation, while films exhibiting more random orientation were obtained from pH buffered baths. Denser, smoother samples were obtained from non-pH buffered baths, though with no difference in film composition. As-deposited films exhibit low crystallinity and require recrystallization by annealing in H2Se. Best devices, ∼9%, were obtained with CuInSe2 films deposited from non-pH buffered baths.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Constructing a multifunctional material for harvesting different types of energy requires a novel strategy that can offer a higher output while simultaneously reducing the device's size and increasing its usability. Here we have developed a flexible Ag2Te-nylon nanocomposite film-based hybrid device using a vacuum filtration technique that can harvest simultaneously thermal and mechanical energy using the thermoelectric and triboelectric effect. The flexible hybrid device can generate a power of ∼ 35 nW corresponding to a power density of 58 µW/cm2 through simple finger touch by thermoelectric effect, whereas an output power of ∼7 nW corresponding to a power density of 23 nW/cm2 can be generated via rubbing with fingertips due to the triboelectric effect. In the Ag2Te-PVDF nanocomposite film, an output power of 0.3 µW (corresponding to a power density of 1 µW/cm2) has been achieved while rubbing with fingertips. The fabricated device in this study is the only one of its kind where a single material can harvest thermal and mechanical energy. The flexible film's hybrid energy harvesting feature, along with the advantages of low cost and simple synthesis, makes it a promising choice for harvesting energy from human activities.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We have fabricated photodetectors based on electron–accepting and electron-donating organic materials. Multiple heterojunctions between the donor and acceptor layers were introduced. The thickness of the donor and acceptor materials was controlled in the molecular scale. By keeping the total thickness of the devices the same, we have studied the performance of the photodetectors as a function of the number of such molecular-level interfaces. The results showed that the number of donor–acceptor interfaces enhanced exciton dissociation but, at the same time, hindered charge transport by introducing energy barriers. We have shown that a trade-off between the two effects existed at an optimum number of donor–acceptor interfaces, where the device showed better photodetector performance.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Developing advanced solar-powered interfacial evaporators with three-dimensional porous configuration integrating key components of effective solar conversion, adequate water transmission, and flexible thermal modulation is highly demanded but remains a major challenge for solar steam generation. In this work, nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube@Co arrays are in situ grown on three-dimensional macroporous nickel foam (Co-NCNT/NF) to act as a hierarchically porous configuration for solar water evaporation. Synergistic cooperation between Co nanoparticles and NCNT leads to outstanding broadband absorption across whole solar spectrum. Under 1 sun irradiation, the Co-NCNT/NF can rapidly respond to solar light and generate a stable surface temperature as high as 41.5 °C during solar evaporation process. Benefiting from the multifunctional structure features, the Co-NCNT/NF achieves a high evaporation rate of 1.65 kg m−2 h−1 and an evaporation efficiency up to 97.5 % under 1 sun irradiation. Such performance facilitates the continuous production of clean water from seawater and the effective purification of various wastewater. Moreover, comprehensive utilization of additional heat loss during solar water evaporation for thermoelectric power generation is demonstrated as well.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A series of Hf:Fe:LiNbO3 crystals were grown by the Czochralski technique with various doping concentrations of HfO2. Their defect structures were analyzed by the UV–visible absorption spectra and infrared absorption spectra. The optical damage resistance of Hf:Fe:LiNbO3 crystals was measured by the photo-induced birefringence change and the transmitted light spot distortion method. The results show that the optical damage resistance ability of Hf:Fe:LiNbO3 crystals enhances remarkably with the HfO2 concentration increasing when the HfO2 concentration is lower than its threshold concentration (4mol%). However, when the HfO2 concentration exceeds its threshold concentration, the optical damage resistance ability of the crystals returns to decrease. This unusual behavior is explained by using the photovoltaic field produced in the crystals.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report on the solar-blind metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) UV photodetector fabricated on the Al0.3Ga0.7N/GaN heterostructure layer grown on sapphire(0001) by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The use of high-temperature (HT)-AlN interlayer in Al0.3Ga0.7N/GaN epilayer and its effects on the grown structures were explored. The Al0.3Ga0.7N-based interdigitated MSM photodetector has been successfully fabricated and characterized. The device reveals that a visible rejection is more than 3 orders of magnitude with a cutoff wavelength at 292nm and the responsivity is up to 0.15A/W. Also, MSM UV photodetector shows very fast response time of 12.5ns without reverse bias and very low dark current due to low noise with a typical value of 72pA and 0.15μA at 10 and 40V, respectively. The obtained results are very promising for the enhancement of solar-blind MSM UV photodetectors and simultaneously very sufficient for application in UV region such as UV astronomy, UV missile detection and visible blindness materials.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The effects of ZrO2 nano particles addition to the ZrNiSn matrix on the thermoelectric properties were investigated. Thermal conductivity, Seebeck coefficient and electrical resistivity were measured. The X-ray powder diffraction, EPMA and FESEM were adopted for the microstructure characterization of the composites. The transport properties are mainly discussed with regard to the microstructures. The lattice contribution to thermal conductivity can be reduced by addition of small amount of ZrO2 nano particles, which serve as additional phonon-scattering centers. The dimensionless figure of merit ZT of ZrNiSn half-Heusler thermoelectric material was improved by introducing ZrO2 nano particles.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Choosing the right battery for a given photovoltaic (PV) system is a key question, because it strongly influences the cost and reliability of the system. This paper presents results of seven test procedures experienced at the GENEC battery test facility. A set of four complementary tests is selected, covering the various types of photovoltaic systems. Moreover, the analysis of these results gives an estimation of the ageing rate for the different types of batteries used in photovoltaic systems.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► We measured effects of installing a building integrated photovoltaic roof (BIPV) on a building. ► BIPV contained thin film solar PV laminated to white membrane, above a layer of insulation. ► Roof solar absorptance decreased to 0.38 from 0.75, lowering roof temperatures by 5°C. ► Primary benefit of BIPV was electricity generation and not reduced heat flows into the building. ► Building energy simulations predicted energy savings for more typical buildings.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • The calculated optimum PF/τ of doped Cu12Sb4S13 reaches 1.4⋅1011 W/mK2 s at 300K. • The optimum carrier concentration is in the range of 5⋅1020 to 6⋅1020 holes/cm−3. • The presented device, composed of one thermocouple, reaches an output power of 27.65nW/cm2 K.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "An integrated renewable energy (RE) system for powering remote communication stations and based on hydrogen is described. The system is based on the production of hydrogen by electrolysis whereby the electricity is generated by a 10kW wind turbine (WT) and 1kW photovoltaic (PV) array. When available, the excess power from the RE sources is used to produce and store hydrogen. When not enough energy is produced from the RE sources, the electricity is then regenerated from the stored hydrogen via a 5kW proton exchange membrane fuel cell system. Overview results on the performances of the WT, PV, and fuel cells system are presented.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Polycrystalline thin film p-AgInSe2/n-CdS heterojunctions were fabricated and current density–voltage, capacitance–voltage and spectral response of the junctions were studied. The heterojunction was illuminated in the back-wall configuration and an open-circuit voltage of 500 mV, a short-circuit current density of 24 mA cm−2 and an electrical conversion efficiency of 6% have been obtained for a cell 1 cm2 in area under a solar input of 100 mW cm−2.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The current research presents a novel integrated energy system to generate clean and sustainable power for building applications. The system uses a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell to generate power and heat from syngas, as well as a dual-ejector organic flash cycle (DOEFC) to recover waste heat from the upper process efficiently. From a technological, economic, and environmental aspect, the system is examined. To figure out the system's best operation point, a two-criteria optimization is shown to seek the lower cost and emission as well as higher efficiency of the system. Moreover, a parametric study is performed to reveal the influence of several key parameters on the system performance. The results pinpoint that this system has energy and exergy efficiencies that are around 37.65% and 23.77%, respectively. Among the components of this system, Afterburner (5.84 MW), PEM-FC (5.04 MW), and selective CO oxidizer (3.32 MW) are responsible for the greatest amount of exergy destruction rate. In addition, it is worthy noting that, the highest contribution of the total exergy destruction is due to the irreversibilities of the fuel cell. Furthermore, the results of this system's two-objective optimization show that the best solution point has a net output power of 2.66 MW and a total cost rate of 5.39 $/h.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A building integrated photovoltaic-thermal (BIPVT) multifunctional roofing panel has been developed in this study to harvest solar energy in the form of PV electricity as well as heat energy through the collection of warm water. As a key component of the multifunctional building envelope, an aluminum/high-density polyethylene (HDPE) functionally graded material (FGM) panel embedded with aluminum water tubes has been fabricated through the vibration-sedimentation approach. The FGM layer gradually transits material phases from well-conductive side (with aluminum dominated) to another highly insulated side (with HDPE). The heat in the PV cells can be easily transferred into the conductive side of the FGM and then collected by the water flow in the embedded tubes. Therefore, the operational temperature of the PV cells can be significantly lowered down, which recovers the PV efficiency in hot weather. In this way, the developed BIPVT panel is able to efficiently harvest solar energy in the form of both PV electricity and heat. The performance of a prototype BIPVT panel has been evaluated in terms of its thermal efficiency via warm water collection and PV efficiency via the output electricity. The laboratory test results demonstrate that significant energy conversion efficiency improvement can be achieved for both electricity generation and heat collection by the presented BIPVT roofing system. Overall, the performance indicates a very promising prospective of the new BIPVT multifunctional roofing panel.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "β-FeSi2 layers were grown on Si(111) substrates by reactive deposition epitaxy under the presence of an Sb flux. The growth evolution of the β-FeSi2 layers and the growth condition dependence of the structural property were examined to clarify the growth mechanism. It has been found that the crystalline quality and the morphology of the layers grown under the presence of an Sb flux are improved in comparison to those grown under the absence of an Sb flux. The epitaxial relationship and internal strain between the β-FeSi2 layers and the Si(111) substrates have also been investigated.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Recently identified fundamental classes of dual-mirror double-tailored nonimaging optics have the potential to satisfy the pragmatic exigencies of concentrator photovoltaics. Via a comprehensive survey of their parameter space, including raytrace verification, we identify champion high-concentration high-efficiency designs that offer unprecedented optical tolerance (i.e., sensitivity to off-axis orientation) – a pivotal figure-of-merit with a basic bound that depends on concentration, exit angle, and effective solar angular radius. For comparison, results for the best corresponding dual-mirror aplanatic concentrators are also presented.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "To expand the functions of building window and enhance its thermal performance, a novel CdTe multi-layer PV ventilated window system integrated with phase change material (PCM) was proposed. The novel window system was fabricated, constructed and installed on the south façade of a building room and several groups of seasonal experiments were conducted under different operating modes. Electrical, thermal and daylighting performance of the system were investigated. Main conclusions are: (1) For the heating season mode experiment, daily total electricity generation ( E P V ) and average electrical efficiency ( η e ) were 0.383 kWh and 7.39 %. Room air temperature difference ( Δ T r o o m ) between the experimental room and reference room was in the range of 0.88 °C–7.04 °C. Effective functions of space heating and heat preservations were achieved; (2) For the cooling season mode, daily E P V and average η e were 0.159 kWh and 6.33 %. Δ T r o o m was in the range of −4.26 °C to −1.26 °C. Effective functions of passive ventilation cooling was realized; (3) The novel window system can provide useful daylight illuminance (UDI) for most time during the working time; (4) Based on the experiment results on transition season, other alternative operating strategies were recommended for specific different ambient condition days.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A series of novel donor–acceptor type polymers based on 4,4′-bis(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole) were synthesized and characterized. Two soluble regioregular tail-to-tail and head-to-head coupled polymers, poly[7,7′-bis(3-octyl-2-thienyl)-4,4′-bis(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)] poly[3TBB3T], and poly[7,7′-bis(4-octyl-2-thienyl)-4,4′-bis(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)] poly[4TBB4T] were synthesized by FeCl3-mediated oxidative polymerization. To further decrease the band gap of the polymers, vinylene spacers were incorporated into the polymer backbone by Stille coupling of the corresponding monomers and (E)-1,2-bis(tributylstannyl)ethene. A crystal structure of a monomer analog shows near planar arrangement of the aromatic units in the solid state. The optical properties of the monomers and polymers were investigated by steady-state absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry measurements indicate that the polymers could be employed as acceptor materials in polymer–polymer bulk heterojunction solar cells due to their low LUMO energy of about −4.0 eV. A maximum photovoltaic power conversion efficiency of about 0.3% was observed for a 1:1 blend of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (rr-P3HT) and poly[4TBB4T] and the origin of the moderate efficiency is discussed by interpreting the device current–voltage characteristics, external quantum efficiency and incident light intensity dependence of the power conversion efficiency.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "An analysis has been made of the most important electrical parameters related to photovoltaic grid-connected inverters above 10kW. To achieve this, a compilation of up to fifty manufacturers, various brands and up to five hundred different models has been prepared and updated to February 2009. Datasheet and manuals have been compiled, noting down their electrical output and input characteristics. Different and important aspects with respect to performance of some PV grid-installation have been analyzed: the number of different models for values of power; topology option; operational DC parameters range (such as nominal power, maximum power, nominal current, voltage), operational AC parameter range (such as nominal power, maximum power, nominal current, voltage), inverter conversion efficiency vs. nominal power and normalised inverter size and weight.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A representative set of amorphous–nano-crystalline Si thin films was deposited by radio-frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition using silane highly diluted by hydrogen. By Raman spectroscopy it was found that the variation of silane to hydrogen ratio resulted in films with crystal fraction between 0 and 55vol.% and individual crystal sizes between 2 and 20nm with bi-modal, broad size distribution. High resolution transmission microscopy, done on certain number of samples, confirmed the nano-meter size of crystallites and bi-modal size distribution. The optical properties measured by Fourier transform photocurrent spectroscopy and photo thermal deflection spectroscopy correspond to the material with structure between amorphous and crystalline. The spectral distribution of relative quantum efficiency of photovoltaic solar cell made from this material shows ‘blue shift’ with increase of crystal to amorphous fraction. This result is discussed as a possible consequence of quantum effects accompanied with actual size and size distribution of crystals.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "SPV (solar photovoltaic) systems are often partially shadowed by passing cloud, neighboring building, chimney, tree, telephone pole etc. As a result, their produced power is lower than the expected value despite their size. This reduction in produced power is dependent on area of PVs under shade, shade scenario, module interconnection styles and also on the connection of shaded and non-shaded modules. This paper presents a novel method to forecast the interconnection of modules in a TCT (total-cross-tied) connected PV (​photovoltaic) array. In this approach, the placement of shaded and non-shaded modules in array are done in such a way so as to distribute the shading effects evenly in each row thereby enhance the PV array power. The performance of this method is investigated for different shading patterns which are the approximations for the most common partial shading scenarios in PV fields and the results show that it can provide multiple solutions for reconfiguration of photovoltaic array to improve energy yield under partial shading conditions. In addition, the power–voltage characteristic curve of these reconfigurable PV arrays are much smoother than that of TCT (total-cross-tied) configured PV arrays and thus ease the work of MPP (maximum power point) techniques. Also this method can easily be implemented for the design of large photovoltaic structures without tedious mathematical formulation.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The optical and photovoltaic properties of Si NCs/SiC multilayers (MLs) are investigated using a membrane-based solar cell structure. By removing the Si substrate in the active cell area, the MLs are studied without any bulk Si substrate contribution. The occurrence is confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and light-beam induced current mapping. Optical characterization combined with simulations allows us to determine the absorption within the ML absorber layer, isolated from the other cell stack layers. The results indicate that the absorption at wavelengths longer than 800nm is only due to the SiC matrix. The measured short-circuit current is significantly lower than that theoretically obtained from absorption within the ML absorber, which is ascribed to losses that limit carrier extraction. The origin of these losses is discussed in terms of the material regions where recombination takes place. Our results indicate that carrier extraction is most efficient from the Si NCs themselves, whereas recombination is strongest in SiC and residual a-Si domains. Together with the observed onset of the external quantum efficiency at 700–800nm, this fact is an evidence of quantum confinement in Si NCs embedded in SiC on device level.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Modeling of the system consists of a PVA supplying through a DC converter, a DC engine coupled to a centrifugal pump. ► Tracking of a maximum power point to the PVA through the control of a DC/DC converter by fuzzy controller for a solar pumping system. ► The results confirm the simulation results which show the utility of the fuzzy controller for the optimization of the system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The waste heat from a supercritical Brayton cycle has a great potential to be recovered. However, there is a lack of research regarding the utilization of these cycles in multi-generation systems. In addition, different multi-generation systems based on supercritical Brayton cycles have not been compared in the literature. In the present study, two multi-generation configurations based on two supercritical Brayton cycles, namely regenerative (configuration 1) and recompression (configuration 2), are proposed and compared from thermodynamic and exergoeconomic standpoints. In both configurations, an organic Rankine cycle, a domestic hot water heat exchanger, and an LiCl-H2O absorption refrigeration system are employed to convert the waste heat of the two supercritical Brayton cycles into useful energy. Meanwhile, a thermoelectric generator is used instead of a condenser for efficient waste energy recovery of the organic Rankine cycle. The generated electricity by the organic Rankine cycle and thermoelectric generator is used to generate hydrogen in a proton exchange membrane electrolyzer. In addition, a direct integration method is employed to integrate the two supercritical Brayton cycles with a solar power tower as the heat source. The final results regarding the net output power, exergy efficiency, and economic performances of the two configurations reveal the superiority of configuration 2 over configuration 1. Net output power and exergy efficiency of configuration 2 are 6.55 MW and 4.06% points higher than configuration 1. Moreover, total cost rate and unit cost of products for configuration 2 are 0.4 $ s - 1 and 10.03 $ G J - 1 lower than configuration 1. On the other hand, cooling, heating, and hydrogen rates of configuration 1 are respectively 2.93 MW, 4.23 MW, and 2.84 k g h - 1 higher than configuration 2. Moreover, the monthly analysis of the two systems for Dhahran city (26.3°N/50.2°E) as a case study indicates that the best thermodynamic performance of the systems is achievable in February, June, and July.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Flexible self-supporting black phosphorus/PEDOT:PSS (BP/PP) thermoelectric (TE) composite films were fabricated by a solution 3D printing technology using BP and PP as filler and matrix, respectively. When the mass content of BP is 2 wt%, a power factor of 13.18 μWm-1K-2 at 360 K was acquired for the BP/PP composite film, the related electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient were 755.53 S/cm and 13.21 μV/K, respectively. The resistance changing ratio for the above-mentioned BP/PP composite film was 7.5 % after bending for 500 times at a bending radius of 4 mm, indicating a good flexibility, and therefore this flexible self-supporting TE film has a wide potential for wearable electronics.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • It reports high ZT 1.2 for n-type polycrystalline In4Se3 based materials. • The power factor is increased near room temperature for introducing Se-deficiency. • The ZT values are decreased with increasing Se-vacancy. • The Se-vacancy has the effect of the electron doping and carrier scattering center.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, we dewatered sub-bituminous coal mined in Warra, Indonesia, by using liquefied dimethyl ether (DME); no heating was required in this dewatering process. We achieved this dewatering both in a laboratory-scale experiment and using previously developed bench-scale equipment. We also examined the properties of the coal before and after dewatering and measured the amount of energy required by the equipment. We found that the maximum water extraction efficiency of liquefied DME was 98.3%. Further, the properties of the coal did not change after the dewatering treatment. The wastewater obtained by dewatering can be treated by existing wastewater treatment technologies. The energy consumed by the bench-scale equipment was 2069kJ/kg-water; thus, this dewatering process using liquefied DME was confirmed to be effective and energy efficient.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Pt/TiO2 nanocomposite films were prepared using 2-beam pulsed laser deposition (2B-PLD) technique, where sequential irradiation of ArF excimer laser for ionization after Nd:YAG laser for ablation of the target was utilized. The effect of the time delay of the ArF laser after the ablation laser irradiation on the structures of Pt/TiO2 nanocomposite films was studied. It was inferred from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of the as-deposited films that the coordination structures around Ti atoms in the films were affected by the time delays. Single phase TiO2 in anatase form was obtained in the annealed Pt/TiO2 nanocomposite films prepared at 200–250ns of the time delays, which suggests that the effective photoionization of the ablated species could take place by the ArF laser irradiation in this time range and affect the structure of the deposits.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "As Taiwan has a dense population and only limited natural resources, the government began actively establishing a Taiwan's sustainable development indicators (TSDI) system in 2003, which was developed with reference to the Pressure–State Response (PSR) framework to evaluate the progress towards sustainability. Energy is a very important factor in leading to sustainable development at the national level. However, there are only two indicators concerning the energy sustainability in the TSDI system. This paper summarizes the current status of energy supply, energy consumption, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and renewable energy production since the year 2000. The updated information on the TSDI was also addressed and analyzed to imply the progress towards energy sustainability during 2000–2008. Finally, the weighted-sum method was proposed to make an analysis of energy sustainability from Taiwan's renewable energy production, showing that this country has experienced a significant progress toward energy sustainability in recent years.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Since 2009, ESA has been conducting R&D activities leading towards the development of a European capability in radioisotope power systems for space. The programme is focused on the use of americium-241 as an innovative alternative to the plutonium-238 currently used by the USA and Russia. Two different technologies are being developed by the University of Leicester in the UK: radioisotope thermoelectric generators and radioisotope heater units. The development of the fuel containment architectures, known as heat sources, has recently evolved from the design stage to more representative prototypic systems. Multiple containment layers ensure that the heat sources can survive accident conditions from launch failures to Earth re-entry, minimising the risk of inadvertently releasing radioactive material into the environment. Validated accident models are necessary for the design iteration process of these systems, and for the creation of a safety case for their launch. The research project here presented was a collaboration, supported by ESA, between the University of Leicester in the UK and ArianeGroup in France. The goals of this activity were to perform the first-ever impact tests for the European Am-based heat sources, and to start developing computer models to simulate the behaviour of the containment systems under different impact conditions in accident scenarios. Tested samples were then characterized both at ESA/ESTEC and at the University of Leicester, in order to understand the behaviour of the fuel containment materials under the most relevant accident conditions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Magnesium silicide Mg2Si is a well-studied binary of Mg and Si due to its potential technological applications like infrared photonic and thermoelectric. In many experimental scenarios, e.g., in supersaturated solid solution of Al–Mg–Si, some other Mg-Si binaries, e.g., Mg9Si5 and Mg5Si6, co-exist with Mg2Si. It was then computationally found that Mg9Si5 and Mg5Si6 are thermodynamically favorable under some non-zero pressures. Other than this, very little is known about these two new binaries. This paper aims to unveil some structural, electronic, and vibrational properties of Mg9Si5 and Mg5Si6, providing some information that may be useful for further possible investigations on the Al–Mg–Si solid solution.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper we present a formulation of the unit commitment problem with AC power flow constraints. It is solved by a Benders’ decomposition in which the unit commitment master problem is formulated as a mixed-integer problem with linearization of the power generation constraints for improved convergence. Semidefinite programming relaxation of the rectangular AC optimal power flow is used in the subproblem, providing somewhat conservative cuts. Numerical case studies, including a 6-bus and the IEEE 118-bus network, are provided to test the effectiveness of our proposal. We show in our numerical experiments that the use of such strategy improves the quality of feasibility and optimality cuts generated by the solution of the convex relaxation of the subproblem, therefore reducing the number of iterations required for algorithm convergence.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Electrical and photovoltaic properties of a metal–semiconductor–insulator–polymer–metal diode were investigated. The n-Si/SiO2/MEH-PPV/Al diode shows a rectifying behavior with the rectification ratio of 2.22×105 at ±5V and exhibits a non-ideal behavior due to the series resistance and oxide-organic layers. The organic semiconductor makes a contribution to the I–V characteristics of the diode and the trap-charge limited space charge and space charge limited current mechanisms were observed for the diode. The current–voltage characteristics of the n-Si/SiO2/MEH-PPV/Al diode under different illumination intensities give an open circuit voltage (V oc) along with a short circuit current (I sc). This suggests that the n-Si/SiO2/MEH-PPV/Al diode is a photovoltaic device with V oc =0.456V and J sc =7.89×10−8 A/cm2 values under 100mW/cm2 illumination intensity. The photoconductivity mechanism of the diode is controlled by monomolecular recombination. The interface state density D it values with time constant τ it of the diode under dark and illumination conditions were found to be 2.53×1010 eV−1 cm−2 with 5.09×10−5 s and 2.50×1010 eV−1 cm−2 with 8.27×10−5 s, respectively. The obtained results indicate that the n-Si/SiO2/MEH-PPV/Al diode is a photo-sensitive diode.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The process of selecting and designing the major components for a hybrid solar collector/CHP system is described. Particular attention was given to the design of the solar collector and a number of options, including thin membrane heat pipe solar collectors (both ‘normal’ and ‘artery’ types) and hybrid heat pipe solar collectors (both wicked and wickless types), were considered. Performance comparisons were made using theoretical and experimental data and a hybrid solar collector was selected as the best option for the system. Micro impulse-reaction turbine using n-pentane as its working fluid was selected for the system although further work is being carried out on a compressed-gas driven turbo alternator. A prototype hybrid solar collector/CHP system has been constructed and the results of its theoretical and experimental testing are presented in Part II of this paper.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Polycrystalline PdS thin films with tetragonal structure have been grown by direct sulphuration of Pd layers. They are formed by crystallites of size ∼50 nm. As-grown PdS films show a Seebeck coefficient, S =−250±30 μV/K, which indicates an n-type conductivity. Electrical resistivity of the samples, measured by the four contact probe, is (6.0±0.6)×10−2 Ω·cm. Hall effect measurements, confirms n-type conductivity with a negative carrier density n =(8.0±2.0)×1018 cm−3 and electron mobility μ of (20±2) cm2/V s. Band gap energy (E g) and absorption coefficient (α) are determined from the optical transmission and reflectance of the films. A direct transition with energy gap E g =(1.60±0.01) eV is obtained. Optical absorption coefficient in the range of photon energies hν>2.0 eV is higher than 105 cm−1. All these properties make PdS thin films a good alternative material for solar applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Energy & exergy analysis identified exhaust & coolant as the preferred sources. • A size vs. performance trade-off study was conducted for a reference cascade system. • Novel fluid formulation was identified as a method to improve the case for ORCs. • An innovative dual-pressure ORC system utilising water–organic blends is proposed. • The proposed system offers an efficient & compact, cooling & heat recovery solution.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The interface formation upon deposition of Gd overlayers onto n-type GaAs(110) substrates was investigated at room and low (20K, 100K) temperatures by photoemission, UPS, AES, and LEED. Binding energy shifts of Ga3d and As3d levels at 300K and 100K were observed starting from the minimal Gd coverage (∼0.03ML). It was found that band bending saturates only after metallization of the interface at 1–2ML. It is argued that two different mechanisms are involved in the Schottky-barrier formation: Fermi level pinning by defect states and metal-induced gap states. The growth of Gd overlayer at low and room temperatures leads to reacted components showing up in Ga3d and As3d photoemission spectra at coverages ≥0.03ML. LEED studies at T=20300K showed disordered interface structures at submonolayer and high coverage ranges. Temperature-induced changes in the interface formation were observed as well. At 300K the overlayer is cluster-like even at 0.03ML, while at 100K and 20K it is close to Stranski–Krastanov and layer-by-layer types, respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In nanocrystalline alloys, a range of configurations can have low energies when solute atoms have favorable interactions with interfaces. Whereas binary nanostructured alloys have been well studied, here we lay groundwork for the computational thermodynamic exploration of alloy configurations in multicomponent nanocrystalline alloys. Multicomponent nanostructured systems are shown to occupy a vast space, with many topological possibilities not accessible in binary systems, and where the large majority of interesting configurations will be missed by a regular solution approximation. We explore one interesting ternary case in which the first alloying element stabilizes grain boundaries, and the second forms nano-sized precipitates.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This communication presents a comprehensive review on the solar photovoltaic (SPV) systems for recent advances and their emerging applications in the present and future scenario. Besides, the performance study of off grid and grid connected SPV power plant has been discussed and presented in detail. From the literature, it is found that the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems varies from 10% to 23%. Thus, the efficiency is the important factor which needs to be explored further for the best implementation and utilization of this emerging and useful technology around the globe. However, among all the applications discussed here, Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), Concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) and photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) are found to be the most technically sound and exhibit that SPV may be a feasible solution for the future energy challenges. Again, the building integrated PV system not only reduces the area requirement, but also cuts the material and infrastructure costs of the building and hence, fulfills the technical thrust for smart building requirements. Recently developed CPV cells are found to be feasible, most promising and cost effective technology having higher efficiency and lesser material requirements than those of the other solar cells. On the other hand, as the PV/T systems produce not only the electricity but also the heat energy are found to be more useful, suitable, and promising for most of the real life applications especially, where both forms of energy are required simultaneously.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The current–voltage characteristic and the performance of organic bulk-heterojunction solar cells are very sensitive to small variations in the production steps or environmental influences. In our experiments, we found a large variation of the short-circuit current, which does not correspond to the device thickness as one might expect. The fill factor of some devices is below 25% under illumination, while the best devices have a fill factor of about 70%. Electrical impedance spectroscopy can provide information about the conductivity of different regions within the device. In earlier measurements, it was observed that devices with a thick absorber layer might consist of a conductive bulk region and a very poorly conductive depletion region at the metal contact. Using a standard semiconductor device model, it is shown in this paper that this reduces the charge collection efficiency under short-circuit conditions, as there is no electrical field in the bulk region, supporting the charge separation. For devices with the low fill factor, a thin-current limiting layer under forward bias can be identified by electrical impedance spectroscopy and is suggestive of a corroded metal contact.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This study examines the thermal–hydraulic performance of heat sinks having plate, slit, and louver fin patterns. Comparison of the associated heat transfer performance and the effect of fin spacing are made. The results indicate that the enhanced fin patterns like louver or slit fin operated at a higher frontal velocity and at a larger fin spacing is more beneficial than that of plain fin geometry. The heat transfer performance of louver fin is usually better than that of slit fin but accompanies with higher pressure drops. However, it is found that the pressure drops for slit fin is comparable to the louver fin geometry when the fin spacing is reduced to 0.8mm. This is associated with the appreciable rise of entrance/exit loss (form drag) caused by the slit fin geometry. The test results also reveal a significant drop of heat transfer performance at a low Reynolds number and at a small fin spacing, or the so-called “maximum” phenomenon of Colburn j factor. This is applicable to all the tested geometries. By a careful examination of the test results, it is concluded that this phenomenon is related to the developing/fully developed flow characteristics. In fact, the maximum point occurred roughly at x + =0.1 where fully developed and developing flow is separated.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Sintered polycrystalline Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 thermoelectric materials with various degrees of crystal alignment and grain sizes were prepared by pulse-current sintering under cyclic uniaxial pressure at sintering temperatures of 350–425 °C for holding times of 0–60 min to clarify the relationship between the microstructure and the thermoelectric properties. The degree of crystal alignment was enhanced with an increase of both the sintering temperature and holding time, and grain growth was also confirmed in the high temperature or long-time sintering process. The thermoelectric properties were measured perpendicular to the pressing direction, which corresponds to the crystal alignment direction. The electrical resistivity decreased and the thermal conductivity slightly increased with increasing sintering temperature and holding time. As a result, the figures of merit of the crystal-aligned samples sintered at high temperatures or for long holding times tended to reach 0.9–1 with large power factors because of the small electrical resistivity. The relationships between the quantified microstructure parameters and thermoelectric properties are discussed. The electrical resistivity decreased with increasing degree of crystal alignment and it saturated at a certain degree of crystal alignment, indicating that perfect crystal alignment is not necessary to obtain the lower limit of the electrical resistivity. Conversely, no significant change of the lattice thermal conductivity was observed in the grain size range 0.6–9.7 μm. This means that the lattice thermal conductivity of crystal aligned Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 is almost independent of the degree of crystal alignment and grain size in the measured range.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The power factor (PF) increases with the increase of carrier concentration and accomplish its peak value in the range from 4 × 10^19 cm−3 to 4 × 10^20 cm−3. Subsequently, it decreases with increasing the concentration. The maximum value of PF is 3.14 × 10^11 W K - 2 c m - 1 s - 1 at 900 K for p-type doping monolayer Sb2S2Te which is extremely close to the value of n-type. The carrier doping has small effect on the shapes of PF for bulk and monolayer Sb2S2Te. It is noticed that PF of monolayer Sb2S2Te is higher than that of bulk material in the carrier concentration and temperature (except for T = 300 K) range considered. Monolayer Sb2S2Te exhibits superior thermoelectric properties and plays a key role in the enhancement of the figure of merit for p-/n-type doping in comparison to the bulk compound.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The effect of the thermal and contact resistances of ceramic plates plays a vital role in thermoelectric (TE) coolers with relatively short thermoelements, especially in TE microcoolers. Through first introducing equivalent impedances, like equivalent thermal conductance, electrical resistance etc., general performance formulae with familiar forms are developed to take into account the thermal contact effect on TE coolers. Then, two new approaches are presented to obtain simplified formulae at maxima for temperature difference, cooling rate and coefficient of performance. Compared numerically with real maximum cooling performances of TE coolers, simplified formulae are proved to be good approximations at small thermal contact resistance and not-too-short thermoelements. In addition, some errors in previous investigators’ models are redressed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Nanocellulose (NC) is the biological polymeric nanomaterial booming in the international market. The burgeoning demand for cellulose materials and advancements in nanotechnology have intensified the researches on the development of cellulose-based nanomaterials. Substantial research on nanocellulose-based composites in energy, electronics, biomedical, health, and the environment has been carried out in the last few decades. NC offers a plethora of outstanding properties such as biodegradability, renewability, and excellent fibrous structure. The recent advancement in the synthetic methodologies for various types of nanocellulose materials and their applications in a myriad of fields such as biosensing, chemical sensing, gas sensing, and strain sensing have been explored. The surface modification ability and robust nature of NC offer various possibilities for hybrid materials in the sensing field. Many sensors developed on plastic, paper, and glass platforms will be replaced with NC to modify the conventional sensing probes in the near future.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper reports the successful deposition of CuIn5S8 and Cu2SnS3 thin films obtained on Pyrex glass substrates using annealing in a sulfur atmosphere at 550 °C during evaporation of copper on In2S3 and SnS2 sprayed thin films, respectively. The CuIn5S8 and Cu2SnS3 thin films crystallize in cubic structures. Under suitable experimental conditions, this procedure, using the mobility of copper and silver elements, can be used to prepare many ternary absorber layers from binary buffer materials.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The major trends in PV technologies, applications and markets show promise for the future of renewable energy. The 30% growth projected for PV shipments in 1998 appears sustainable if current trends in new markets and applications reinforce and accelerate improvements in PV costs and performance. Through established partnerships and programs, R&D continues to focus on improving efficiency of solar energy systems, increasing manufacturing capability, reducing solar energy systems costs, enhancing reliability and flexibility of PV products, and producing innovations in thin-films and other emerging PV technologies. Continued research and market development in the US and other nations will advance quality and performance standards, and reduce the overall price of PV systems, laying the foundation for large-scale market expansion worldwide.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Herein we prepared five glass samples from the composition xLa2O3-(100-x)B2O3 (where x = 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 mol%) and reported the physical, optical and γ radiation shielding characteristics. The density of glass samples was increased from 3.1531 to 3.9443 g/cm3 with the addition of La2O3, while the molar volume is in the range of 34.2679–40.3849 cm3/mol. The refractive index of the glass samples is in the range of 1.6524–1.6541 with addition of La2O3 concentration. The optical band gap energy is found to be in the range of 3.08–3.14 eV. The transmission spectra for the La2O3 doped borate glasses in the wavelength range 200–2200 nm were reported and the results showed good transparency in visible region. This indicates that the prepared glasses are specifically showing superior transparency to visible light. The mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ) was simulated using MCNP code and the simulated data were compared with WinXcom data. The radiation shielding results showed that the different concentrations of La2O3 for the La2O3–B2O3 glass system have affected the μ/ρ of the glasses. Moreover, the sample with 35 mol% of La2O3 has higher μ/ρ compared with the rest of specimens especially at 0.347 MeV. The effective atomic number (Zeff) was also calculated and the highest Zeff values at all selected energies were for the sample with 35 mol% of La2O3, whereas the lowest Zeff were for the sample corresponding to 15 mol% of La2O3, which was 18.86 and 12.31 at 0.347 MeV respectively. The mean free path at 0.347 MeV and 0.511 MeV is very low for 35 mol% of La2O3 (1.88 and 2.70 cm respectively), which indicates that the sample with composition 35La2O3–65B2O3 can be used as effective and transparent photon shieling materials at low energy.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A D-π-A-π-D compound 4,7-bis{5′-[4″,4″-N, N-diphenylamino-styryl]thiophen-2′-yl}benzo[1,2,5-thiadiazole] (TPA-BTD-TPA) with triphenylamine (TPA) as electron-donor and benzothiadiazole (BTD) as electron-acceptor and linked via vinyl unit was synthesized and characterized. A stable intramolecular charge-transfer state enabled the molecule to expand the optical absorption band and prevented the occurrence of electron back-donation. Excellent film-forming property made it easy prepare homogeneous film using a spin-coating technique. Suitable energy levels were beneficial for the improvement of photovoltaic device performance. Photovoltaic cell based on TPA-BTD-TPA/[6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester as a active layer was fabricated, and the optical conversion efficiency was 0.26% under the illumination of AM 1.5 (85 mW/cm2).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "There are powerful pathways descending from the auditory cortex (AC) to the inferior colliculus (IC), yet their function is not fully understood. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of a reversible cortical inactivation, achieved by cooling of the AC, on the responses of neurons in the rat IC. Extracellular single-unit or multi-unit activity was recorded in the IC of anaesthetized rats with a 16-channel multielectrode probe introduced along the IC dorso-ventral axis through the dorsal cortex (DCIC) to the central nucleus of the IC (CIC). Cooling of the AC produced an increase in spontaneous activity and magnitude of the sound-evoked response in 47% of the IC neurons. Maximal changes in the neuronal activity were observed in the DCIC and the central part of the CIC. The final segments of the sustained responses to 60 ms stimuli and the off responses were more affected than the onset segments. Inactivation of the AC resulted in a suppression of the post-excitatory inhibition and neuronal adaptation, which was reflected in a pronounced enhancement of synchronized responses to a series of fast repeated clicks. The response parameters recovered, at least partly, to the pre-cooling levels 1 h after the cooling cessation. The frequency tuning properties of the IC neurons did not show any significant changes during the cooling period. The results demonstrate that AC cooling inactivates excitatory corticofugal pathways and results in a less activated intrinsic inhibitory network in the IC.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Extensive investigation into the physical properties of Cr–Al single crystals. • Unusual and prominent influence of SDW reflected in physical properties. • Alternative magnetic phase diagram suggested for Cr–Al system. • Triple point on phase diagram minimum appears to be deeper and narrower. • Triple point appears to be enigmatic critical point to be further investigated.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a wide gap semiconductor that if grown under nanostructured form, is suitable for photovoltaic applications as a way to enlarge the active part of a solar cell. Voids of enlarged surfaces of textured substrates can be filled with a thin absorber. The main advantage of such light-collecting devices is the short electronic transport distance needed which reduces the requirement of large diffusion lengths. Crystalline ZnO nanocolumns were obtained by electrodeposition on polycrystalline conductive glass and on monocrystalline GaN substrates. Sizes and surface–volume ratios of the ZnO columns depend mainly on the growth parameters such as current density, deposition time and temperature of the bath. The intense ultraviolet photoluminescence emission observed in ZnO columns grown under different conditions depends mainly on post-annealing treatment.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This study is devoted to the formation of high–low-level-doped selective emitter for crystalline silicon solar cells for photovoltaic application. We report here the formation of porous silicon under chemical reaction condition. The chemical mixture containing hydrofluoric and nitric acid, with de-ionized water, was used to make porous on the half of the silicon surface of size 125×125cm. Porous and non-porous areas each share half of the whole silicon surface. H3PO4:methanol gives the best deposited layer with acceptable adherence and uniformity on the non-porous and porous areas of the silicon surface to get high- and low-level-doped regions. The volume concentration of H3PO4 does not exceed 10% of the total volume emulsion. Phosphoric acid was used as an n-type doping source to make emitter for silicon solar cells. The measured emitter sheet resistances at the high- and low-level-doped regions were 30–35 and 97–474Ω/□ respectively. A simple process for low- and high-level doping has been achieved by forming porous and porous-free silicon surface, in this study, which could be applied for solar cells selective emitter doping.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Although there are clear economic and environmental incentives for producing energy from solar and wind power, there can be local opposition to their installation due to their impact upon the landscape. To date, no international guidelines exist to guide quantitative visual impact assessment of these facilities, making the planning process somewhat subjective. In this paper we demonstrate the development of a method and an Open Source GIS tool to quantitatively assess the visual impact of these facilities using line-of-site techniques. The methods here build upon previous studies by (i) more accurately representing the shape of energy producing facilities, (ii) taking into account the distortion of the perceived shape and size of facilities caused by the location of the observer, (iii) calculating the possible obscuring of facilities caused by terrain morphology and (iv) allowing the combination of various facilities to more accurately represent the landscape. The tool has been applied to real and synthetic case studies and compared to recently published results from other models, and demonstrates an improvement in accuracy of the calculated visual impact of facilities. The tool is named r.wind.sun and is freely available from GRASS GIS AddOns.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Si nanowires (NWs) are promising materials for future electronic, photovoltaic, and sensor applications. So far the Si NWs are mainly formed on particular substrates or at high temperatures, greatly limiting their application flexibility. Here we report a low temperature process for forming and massively transferring vertically aligned Si NWs on alien substrates with a large density of about (3–5)×107 NWs/mm2. The X-ray diffraction spectrum reveals that the transferred NWs exhibit almost the same crystal property as the bulk Si. Our investigation further shows that the transferred NWs have exceptional optical characteristics. The transferred Si NWs of 12.14μm exhibit the transmittance as low as 0.3% in the near infrared region and 0.07% in the visible region. The extracted absorption coefficient of Si NWs in the near infrared region is about 3×103 cm−1, over 30 times larger than that of the bulk Si. Because of the low temperature process, it enables a large variety of alien substrates such as glass and plastics to be used. In addition, the exceptional properties of the transferred NWs offer potential applications for photovoltaic, photo-detectors, sensors, and flexible electronics.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar energy, at the present time is considered as an important source in electricity generation. Electricity from the solar energy can be generated using solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. The maximization of solar power extracted from a PV module is of special concern as its efficiency is very low. The output power of a PV module is highly dependent on the geographical location and weather conditions such as solar irradiation, shading and temperature. To obtain maximum power from PV module, photovoltaic power system usually requires maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller. In this paper, an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) based maximum power point tracker for PV module has been presented. To extract maximum power, a DC–DC boost converter is connected between the PV module and the load. The duty cycle of DC–DC boost converter is modified with the help of the ANFIS reference model, so that maximum power is transferred to load. Due to the complexity of the tracker mechanism and non-linear nature of photovoltaic system, the artificial intelligence based technique, especially the ANFIS method, is used in this paper. In order to observe the maximum available power of PV module, the ANFIS reference model directly takes in operating temperature and irradiance level as input. The response of proposed ANFIS based control system shows accuracy and fast response. The simulation result reveals that the maximum power point is tracked satisfactorily for varying irradiance and temperature of PV module. Simulation results are provided to validate the concept.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Several changes are taking place in the energy sector as a result of the development of renewable energies and the implementation of new clean technologies. The use of renewable energies offers the opportunity to diminish energy dependence, reduce the emission of CO2 and create new employment. The involvement of local agents is highly important for the future development in this field, especially in regions whose industrial mix was based on traditional energy sources. Since this is the case in the region of Asturias (Spain), in this article we focus on the expectations of employment generated by renewable energies in Asturias during the period 2006–2010. More specifically we propose ratios of job per unit of installed energy power based on the available regional information in order to forecast energy employment in Asturias. With this aim three alternative scenarios are considered according to a range of possible future renewable energy pathways, leading to baseline, optimistic and pessimistic forecasts. Once these forecasts are computed we also analyse the emergent professional profiles and required skills related to the new jobs generated in the installation, operation and maintenance of the different renewable energy systems.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, we present a new automatic supervision and fault detection procedure for PV systems, based on the power losses analysis. This automatic supervision system has been developed in Matlab&Simulink environment. It includes parameter extraction techniques to calculate main PV system parameters from monitoring data in real conditions of work, taking into account the environmental irradiance and module temperature evolution, allowing simulation of the PV system behaviour in real time. The automatic supervision method analyses the output power losses, presents in the DC side of the PV generator, capture losses. Two new power losses indicators are defined: thermal capture losses (L ct) and miscellaneous capture losses (L cm). The processing of these indicators allows the supervision system to generate a faulty signal as indicator of fault detection in the PV system operation. Two new indicators of the deviation of the DC variables respect to the simulated ones have been also defined. These indicators are the current and voltage ratios: RC and RV . Analysing both, the faulty signal and the current/voltage ratios, the type of fault can be identified. The automatic supervision system has been successfully tested experimentally.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Ultrashort-pulse lasers allow to deposit extremely large peak intensities into a material, albeit with an exquisite precision. Thus, they have become a prevalent tool in many processes that require micro-precision material modification. One such applications is the micro-structuring of functional surfaces in Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry instruments. Laser light can be tailored to induce permanent changes to the surface properties of materials not easily achieved by other means, for example to change the local chemistry, the local crystal structure and the local morphology. Such methods are expected to affect the behaviour of electrodes in a Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry instrument. Structuring the incident laser light enables tailored laser-material interactions to be controlled with very high spatial resolutions, leading to extremely accurate control of the local surface properties relative to the bulk and other regions on the surfaces.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This research investigates ambient air samples, the chemical compositions, and the potential toxicity of inhalable particulate matter PM2.5 from the municipalities on the south, north, and east coast of Puerto Rico. Ambient air samples from Guayama, Ponce, Guayanilla, Bayamón and Humacao were studied, during the year 2013. The various sources of PM2.5 affecting the air quality of Puerto Rico come from industrial activities, wildfire, anthropogenic inputs, and African dust storms, and volcanic eruptions. Data shows organic compounds, including n-alkanes, esters, phthalates, siloxanes, and others. A large number of organic compounds with irritating properties and potential toxic risks were identified. The plasticizers were the most crucial group due to their known adverse health effects. This research identified DEHP and DBP as the most abundant phthalates in PM2.5 extracts. In vitro testing to assess PM2.5 toxicity was performed on BEAS-2B human lung epithelial cells. The evidence of variable and relative abundance of organic compounds in ambient PM2.5 identified Guayama as the most concerned site. The most significant difference between the sites studied was having one of the highest relative toxicity due to its organic constituents.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, a quantum chemistry study was performed on the organometallic perovskites/organic hole transfer materials (HTMs) in the perovskite solar cells (PSCs) from the molecular engineering viewpoint. Density functional theory (DFT)/time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) was applied to investigate the electronic structures/excited state properties of a series of the perovskites, ABX3 (A=CH3NH3, NH4, CH(NH2)2, B˭Ge, Sn, Pb, X=Cl, Br, I). On the basis of the energy level of the perovskites, HTMs and TiO2, all perovskite compounds demonstrate a positive response to the hole/electron injection in the PSCs. A high occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) density of the HTMs, TPB, NPB, TPD, MDA1, MDA2, MDA3, TH101 and V950, are distributed over the whole molecule, homogeneously, which makes the hole transfer more proper. Investigation of the photovoltaic properties of the PSCs shows that they are strongly influenced by the chloride anion. The theoretical trend of the exciton binding energy is according to: F- < NH4- < MA-based perovskites. Considering different analyses show that the rate of the electron injection rate constant and the light harvesting efficiency increase by an increase in the electron driving force and electronic chemical potential. The correlation of the band gaps and the chemical nature of the substitutions in the perovskites shows a collapse by an increase in the cation size. Finally, it is proposed that ASnCl3 and AGeCl3 perovskites are better candidates to be applied in the PSCs as photosensitizers due to an improved incident photon to current efficiency.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Research highlights ▶ ACo2+x Ru4−x O11 (A=Sr, Ba; 0≤ x ≤0.5) show values of electrical resistivity of the order of 10−5 Ωm and their Seebeck coefficients are positive and range from 1μVK−1 (T =100K) to 20μVK−1 (T =450K). ▶ BaCo2Ru4O11 shows power factor at room temperature of P.F.: 0.20μWK−2 cm−1.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Various stable oxygen configurations exist inside PCBM crystals. ► Absorption of molecular oxygen may create deep and shallow carriers traps. ► Water molecules in PCBM voids create a shallow acceptor-like carrier trap. ► Atomistic-scale mechanisms of oxygen and water adsorption for solid PCBM revealed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents a computational thermal model that has been used for analyzing the annual performance of facade-integrated hybrid photovoltaic/thermal collector system for use in residential buildings of Hong Kong. In the study, the applications of EPV (film cell) and BPV (single silicon cell) panels in this hybrid photovoltaic/hot-water system were investigated. Simulation results based on test reference year data showed that the annual average electrical efficiencies of the hybrid EPV and BPV modules are, respectively, 4.3% and 10.3%, the corresponding annual average thermal efficiencies to hot water are 47.6% and 43.2%, and the reductions of space heat gain in summer season through the collector wall are 52.9% and 59.1%. The overall thermal efficiencies are 58.9% and 70.3% respectively, which are much better than the conventional solar collector performance.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Are public R&D programs really effective in developing innovative technologies? How many technologies developed in these programs have been successfully commercialized? What are the key factors for successful commercialization and diffusion in the market? This paper tries to answer these questions by examining the Japanese experience of public R&D in demand-side energy efficiency, focusing on two major projects conducted in the 1980s and 1990s. It is found that of the 34 technologies developed in the two projects, only seven have been commercialized so far, four of those seven have only a very limited number of installations, and only one has a growing market. The results show that, while public R&D investments have a high risk of failure, they can bring new technologies to the market after a certain lead time. In addition, several factors resulting in the success or failure of commercialization/diffusion are identified, such as long-term R&D support by the government, a marketing strategy to respond to and influence market demand, and combination of R&D and deployment policy.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Morphology profoundly influences nanomaterials' performance for various applications including energy, environment, and catalysis etc. Molybdenum disulfide, the most studied nanomaterial after graphene, has undergone intense research in this perspective, showing its potential for real-time applicability. The unique electronic structure and charge distribution make MoS2 suitable for practicing various faceted controlled synthesis methods and exploring apposite application paths for each topographical structure. The most popular topographical structures include nanosheets, nanoflowers, nanoscrolls, nanoribbons, nanowires, wrinkled structures, nanotubes, nanospheres, and hierarchical structures. The present review presents a comprehensive collection of advents in specific morphology targeted synthesis of MoS2 and the contribution of each morphology towards specific applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Wireless body area network (WBAN) has revolutionized the healthcare sector by enabling remote monitoring and control of wearable and implantable devices, providing freedom of mobility to patients. However, wireless channel modeling in BAN is a crucial aspect for designing an efficient off-body, on-body and in-body communication. Due to the unique characteristics of the human body, it aims to characterize the signal propagation through skin, tissues, internal organs and biological fluids of a patient’s body. Moreover, it is important to enhance the battery life of the low-powered devices for a sustainable BAN. In this work, we provide a hybrid communication channel model for wireless power transfer in a BAN including both off-body and in-body communication channels. An indoor room scenario is considered in which a movable patient having an implant inside its body is present along with an RF power source (for example, a Wi-Fi access point) situated in a ceiling corner. Implant is assumed to inhibit energy harvesting capability. For practicability, we have considered the effect of path loss, partition walls, floor attenuation factor along with other important body parameters. Specifically, we aim to statistically characterize this hybrid communication system, for which unique closed-form expressions of the probability distribution functions of the received power have been derived, thereby first calculating the instantaneous power at different layers of human body and then obtaining the closed-form expression for average received power. All the derived mathematical expressions have been verified via numerical simulations. Further, for elongating the lifespan of implants, we investigated the average power harvested by an implant and its power outage probability for analyzing the sustainability of implants. The results are numerically validated, considering different types of indoor room scenarios, in addition to providing key design insights.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Magnetic nanowires (NWs) electrodeposited into solid templates are of high interest due to their tunable properties which are required for magnetic recording media and spintronic devices. Here, highly ordered arrays of FeNi NWs with varied lengths (ranging from 2.5 to 12 μm) and diameters (between 45 and 75 nm) were fabricated into anodic aluminum oxide templates using a pulsed ac electrodeposition technique. X-ray diffraction patterns along with energy dispersive spectroscopy indicated the formation of Fe70Ni30 NWs with fcc and bcc alloy phases, being highly textured along the bcc  direction. Magnetic properties were studied by hysteresis loop measurements at room temperature and they showed reductions in coercivity and squareness values by increasing length and diameter. Further, magnetic fingerprints of the NWs were characterized using the first-order reversal curve (FORC) analysis. FORC measurements revealed that, with increasing length and diameter from 2.5 to 10 μm and 45–55 nm, respectively, besides an increase in inter-wire magnetostatic interactions, a transition from a single domain (SD) state to a pseudo SD state occurred. Moreover, a multi-domain (MD) state was found for the longest length and diameter. While the irreversible magnetization component of the SD NWs was approximately 100%, the reversible component of MD NWs increased up to 20%.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Key effects of the pyrethroid insecticide allethrin, delivered to or washed out from cells at 10 or 100 μM in 0.1% DMSO, on neuronal Na+ channel currents were studied in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells under whole-cell patch clamp. Tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-R) Na+ channels were more responsive to allethrin than tetrodotoxin-sensitive (TTX-S) Na+ channels. On application of 10 or 100 μM allethrin to cells with TTX-R Na+ channels, the Na+ tail current during repolarization developed a large slowly decaying component within 10 min. This slow tail developed multiphasically, suggesting that allethrin gains access to Na+ channels by a multiorder process. On washout (with 0.1% DMSO present), the slow tail current disappeared monophasically (exponential τ=188±44 s). Development and washout rates did not depend systematically on temperature (12°, 18°, or 27°C), but washout was slowed severely if DMSO was absent. As the duration of a depolarizing pulse was increased (range 0.32–10 ms), the amplitude of the slow component of the succeeding tail conductance first increased then decreased. Tail current amplitude had the same dependence on preceding pulse duration (at 18°) at 10 or 100 μM, consistent with allethrin modification of Na+ channels at rest before opening. At 10 μM, slow tail conductance was at maximum 40% of the peak conductance during the previous depolarization, independent of temperature; evidently, the fraction of open modified channels did not change. However, at low temperature, the tail is more prolonged, bringing more Na+ ions into a cell. In functioning neurons, this Na+ influx would cause a larger depolarizing afterpotential, a condition favoring the repetitive discharges, which are signatory of pyrethroid intoxication.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Uniform Bi2S3 and Bi2Se3 nanoribbons were synthesized via a template-free route using hydrochloric acid, BiCl3 and S (or Se) powder as starting materials. The reactions were conducted at 150°C for 48h, which is easy to be maintained and controlled. The key step was only adjusting the amount of hydrochloric acid. The products were in large scale and with uniform shape, and were characterized via X-ray diffraction pattern, scanning electronic microscopy images and transmission electron microscopy images. A possible explanation of crystal growth was proposed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Analysis of the composition, strain-relaxation, layer-tilt, and the crystalline quality of In y Ga1− y As/InP1− x As x thermophotovoltaic (TPV) diodes grown by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) is demonstrated using triple-axis X-ray reciprocal space mapping techniques. In0.53Ga0.47As (E gap=0.74eV) n/p junction diodes are grown lattice matched (LM) to InP substrates and lattice-mismatched (LMM) In0.67Ga0.33As (E gap=0.6eV) TPV diodes are grown on three-step InP1− x As x (0<x<0.32) buffer layers on InP substrates. X-ray reciprocal space maps about the symmetric (400) and asymmetric (533) reciprocal lattice points (RELPs) determine the in-plane and out-of-plane lattice parameters and strain of the In y Ga1− y As TPV active layer and underlying InP1− x As x buffers. Triple-axis X-ray rocking curves about the LMM In0.67Ga0.33As RELP show an order of magnitude increase of its full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) compared to that from the LM In0.53Ga0.47As (250 vs. 30arcsec). Despite the significant RELP broadening, the photovoltaic figure of merits show that the electronic quality of the LMM In0.67Ga0.33As approaches that of the LM diode material. This indicates that misfit-related crystalline imperfections are not dominating the photovoltaic response of the optimized LMM In0.67Ga0.33As material compared with the intrinsic recombination processes and/or recombination through native point defects, which would be present in both LMM and LM diode material. However, additional RELP broadening in non-optimized LMM In0.67Ga0.33As n/p junction diodes does correspond to significant degradation of TPV diode open-circuit voltage and minority carrier lifetime demonstrating that there is correlation between X-ray FWHM and the electronic performance of the LMM TPV diodes.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Recently, SnSe of orthorhombic phase has attracted much attention due to its excellent performance in thermoelectricity, yet the thickness-dependent thermoelectric properties were poorly studied. We have investigated the thermoelectric transporting properties of few-layered (from 1 L to 4 L) and bulk SnSe by using density functional theory plus Boltzmann transport theory. We employed the electron-phonon Wannier method to obtain the accurate transporting parameters, i.e., carrier mobility as well as relaxation time, in contrast to those derived from deformation potential theory. Our results reveal that the band gap decreases from 0.91 eV (1 L) to 0.59 eV (bulk) as the thickness increases, and meanwhile the effective charge mass increases slightly. As bulk SnSe is thinned to the monolayer, the high frequency modes are stiffened while the low frequency modes are softened, and meanwhile the acoustic velocities become larger. At 300 K, the thermal conductivity of bulk SnSe takes 1.52, 0.80 and 0.41 W m−1 K−1 for κ a , κ b and κ c respectively, in good agreement with the experimental values. Thermal conductivity of few-layered SnSe decreases slightly from 2.45 to 1.61 W m−1 K−1 for κ a , and from 1.81 to 1.02 W m−1 K−1 for κ b as the layer number increases from 1 L to 4 L. The EPW calculations reveal that the electron mobility of n-type films increases rapidly from 24.4 cm2/V s (1 L) to 179.6 cm2/V s (4 L) and the hole mobility of p-type films increases from 47.2 cm2/V s (1 L) to 1211.1 cm2/V s (4 L) at 300 K as the thickness increases. Compared with the monolayer, thicker film of SnSe has larger carrier mobility as well as lower thermal conductivity, which leads to better thermoelectric performance. At 700 K, the figure of merit is enhanced from 0.22 (1 L) to 0.58 (4 L) for n-type films in electron density of −0.55 × 10^13/cm2. Our research casts some light on the future thermoelectric applications based on few-layered SnSe.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The transportation sector is experiencing quick electrification to pave the way to carbon-neutral society, which poses great challenges to the thermal management technologies for the motor as they are expected to be more and more powerful. Advanced cooling with oil spray on the end winding was reported experimentally and theoretically in this work. It was suggested that with the oil spray cooling, the temperature of winding was well within the safety range, indicating it is an efficient way to dissipate the heat for high-speed motors. Furthermore, a lumped-parameter model for motor was also introduced. It was found that the main heat transfer thermal resistance of winding is the resistance between the yoke and winding. Meanwhile, the main influencing parameters of spray system are heat transfer coefficient and wetting ratios of spray. The paper is expected to lay a solid foundation for the application of oil spray cooling in high-speed motor thermal management.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In the research of semiconducting materials, ion beam-induced charge collection (IBICC) technique can provide interesting and straightforward information about the different electronic device characteristics. This nuclear microprobe technique was used for the qualitative analysis of charge collection efficiency spatial distribution in three different types of EFG silicon material. Using IBICC technique, we studied the influence of present light impurities (oxygen, carbon) on electrical activity of extended defects. It is shown that oxygen segregating close to structural defects influences their electrical activity, while for carbon we did not observe the same effect. We demonstrated that IBICC technique could be applied to provide spatial information about the position of electrically active defects, and/or their activation or deactivation during subsequent processing.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Hybrid materials consisting of CdSe nanocrystals (CdSe NCs) and 7-(4,4″-dioctyl-2,2′:5′,2″-terthiophene-3′-yl)heptanoic acid (TTHA) or its high molecular analogue—poly(7-(4,4″-dioctyl-2,2′:5′,2″-terthiophene-3′-yl)heptanoic acid) (PTTHA) have been prepared from TOPO capped NCs via ligand exchange. Detailed spectroscopic and spectroelectrochemical (UV–vis–NIR, Raman) studies of these hybrids enabled us to determine the alignment of the HOMO and LUMO levels of their components. Since, for NCs of 3.7nm, the alignment of the energy levels in both hybrids is staggered, the elaborated new materials are of potential use in photovoltaic devices. In the CdSe–PTTHA hybrid material a uniform distribution of the NCs within the polymer matrix is evidenced by TEM images. This is caused by strong interactions between nanocrystals surface and coordinating carboxylic function of the polymer.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report the effects of iodine (I) doping on the electrical and optical properties of diamond-like carbon (DLC) thin films grown on silicon and quartz substrates by microwave surface wave plasma chemical vapor deposition at low temperature (<100 °C). For film deposition, we used argon gas with methane or camphor dissolved with ethyl alcohol composition as plasma source. The optical gap and photoconductivity measurements of the samples were carried out before and after the iodine doping. The results show that optical gap dropped from 3.4 to 0.9 eV corresponding to nondoping to iodine-doping conditions, respectively. The photovoltaic measurements show that the open-circuit voltage (V oc) and short-circuit current density (J sc) of I-doped DLC film deposited on n-type silicon substrate under light illumination (AM1.5, 100 mW/cm2) were approximately 177 mV and 1.15 μA, respectively, and the fill factor was found to be 0.217.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This article presents a summary of research issues and opportunities in alternative energy source research identified by panels of experts assembled by the Engineering Directorate of the US National Science Foundation. The objective was to identify transformative research issues and opportunities to make alternative energy sources viable. The article presents motivations for energy research, grand challenges, and specific challenges in the research areas covered. The grand challenges identified for the United States include supplying 30% of US electricity from photovoltaics by 2030, supplying 25% of US electricity from wind by 2025, displacing 30% of US hydrocarbon use by 2030 with bio-based products, and providing a practical 250–300Wh/kg energy storage system by 2025. Similar challenges could be outlined along the same lines for the remainder of the world. Examples of specific areas of research focus identified as promising include high performance p-type transparent conductors, multijunction thin-film photovoltaic devices, defects in chalcogenide semiconductors, experimental study and numerical modeling of the fluid mechanics of airflow as applied to wind turbines, improved materials for wind turbines, methods for creating high energy density transportable biological feedstocks, biorefinery processes yielding infrastructure-compatible biofuels and biochemicals directly, and improved electrodes and electrolytes for Li ion batteries. Arguments for each of these as research priorities are given.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Bismuth telluride electrodeposition was carried out to investigate the effect of electroplating factors on the crystal orientation. It was found that the layers have a fibre crystallographic texture. The applied potential and current density have a strong effect on the chemical composition and therefore on the orientation of the electrodeposited films. According to the amount of tellurium in the deposits three types of behaviour were defined. A {10.0} crystalline crystallographic texture appeared for alloys with a very important excess of tellurium obtained at low current densities. Another preferential orientation was observed the {11.0} for the Te-rich layers. Finally two orientations {11.0} and {10.10} were found for Bi-rich electrodeposits. An increase in the thickness promoted sharper crystallographic textures.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This study presents a PV–diesel hybrid power system with battery backup for a village being fed with diesel generated electricity to displace part of the diesel by solar. The hourly solar radiation data measured at the site along with PV modules mounted on fixed foundations, four generators of different rated powers, diesel prices of 0.2–1.2US$/l, different sizes of batteries and converters were used to find an optimal power system for the village. It was found that a PV array of 2000kW and four generators of 1250, 750, 2250 and 250kW; operating at a load factor of 70% required to run for 3317h/yr, 4242h/yr, 2820h/yr and 3150h/yr, respectively; to produce a mix of 17,640 MWh of electricity annually and 48.33 MWh per day. The cost of energy (COE) of diesel only and PV/diesel/battery power system with 21% solar penetration was found to be 0.190$/kWh and 0.219$/kWh respectively for a diesel price of 0.2$/l. The sensitivity analysis showed that at a diesel price of 0.6$/l the COE from hybrid system become almost the same as that of the diesel only system and above it, the hybrid system become more economical than the diesel only system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The growing importance of sustainability and passive house design requires the reconsideration of integrating the solar PV modules in both buildings and architectural design processes. The architectural integration of photovoltaic systems is one of the fundamental themes of contemporary architecture to optimize efficiency while taking into account the proportions, morphology and aesthetics of the project. The direct conversion of solar energy into electrical energy using photovoltaic systems appears to be a consolidated technology of exploitation of renewable energy sources. In addition to the availability of the source, its characteristics are its reliability and that it needs low maintenance. In this paper, we present, as a case study, a solar canopy specially designed for the Liv-lib’ project at Solar Decathlon Europe 2014. Canopy's shape was designed to maximize the performance of the solar conversion by integrating in series two innovative solar technologies, Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSC) and Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide (CIGS) solar cells. LSC are constituted by slabs of transparent materials (PMMA) doped with a fluorescent dye that captures a fraction of the sun rays passing through the panel. The dye molecules then re-emit light at a longer wavelength inside the slab which, due to the total internal reflection, traps and guides this light toward its edges. Strips of solar cells are optically coupled to the edges and convert into electric energy the light gathered by the slab. Liv-lib’ is a self-sustainable passive house run by University Paris-Est, thanks to the joint work of staff and students from “ENSA Paris-Malaquais”, “ESTP”, “ESIEE Paris”, and “Chimie ParisTech” with academic and industrial partners, among which, for the LSC, the Department of Physics and Earth Sciences of the University of Ferrara.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) have been utilized in the USA to power satellites and space exploration equipment for over half a century. In our preceding paper, Dustin and Borrelli (2021), we assessed the performance of 241Am as an alternative to 238Pu by modeling the specific decay-heat and γ spectra of several potential radioisotopes in SCALE-ORIGEN, and comparing these with 238Pu An analysis of heat output, heat stability, safety, availability and required mass showed that of the isotopes reviewed, 241Am had the greatest potential for replacing 238Pu, with additional design considerations. In our current work, we have assessed radiation transport for two configurations of an 241Am powered Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG), due to the potential health effects for operators, fabricators, and others with the potential to be exposed to neutrons and lower energy γ rays. We have modeled the use of americium as a fuel source replacement for plutonium in current MMRTG designs. The assessment has been performed using MCNP6, in terms of neutron and γ emissions that might interfere with sensitive equipment and power system production. The radiation transport behavior in terms of dose rate of the 241Am fueled models is compared with that of a 238Pu fueled model. Additional work was performed to validate modeling simplifications with regards to thermocouple material configurations.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We evaluated the effectiveness of the tariff flags system (TFS) on electricity consumption in Brazil. Tariff flags represent a demand-side management (DSM) mechanism used in the Brazilian electricity sector and act as a signal sent to agents about electricity production costs. The effectiveness of the flags in reducing electricity consumption is assessed using monthly consumption data from 26 Brazilian states between 2015 and 2022, and panel data models with fixed effects were estimated. The results indicate that only the water scarcity flag effectively reduced electricity consumption by 2.89%. When the Yellow, Red I, and Red II flags were in operation, there was a median increase in electricity consumption of 0.61%, 4.24%, and 1.47%, respectively. In addition, the other variables indicate that the higher the temperature and income of the States, the higher the consumption, and the higher the electricity tariff, the lower the consumption. We also observed persistence in the consumption of electricity in the States, possibly related to consumer habits.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Nowadays, wearable devices mainly exist in the form of portable accessories with various functions, connecting various kinds of terminals like mobile phones to form various wearable systems. In a wearable system, the wearable power supply device is the key component as energy dispenser for all devices. Nanosheets, a kind of two-dimensional material, which always displays a high surface-to-volume ratio and thus is lightweight and has remarkable conductive as well as electrochemical properties, have become the optimal choice for wearable power supply devices. The development and status of nanosheet-based wearable power supply devices including nanosheet-based wearable batteries, nanosheet-based wearable supercapacitors, nanosheet-based wearable self-powered energy suppliers are introduced in this article. Besides, the future opportunities and challenges of wearable devices are discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Engineers at the Naval Air Weapons Station at China Lake, California have completed Phase I testing of a solar/PEM regenerative fuel cell power system from Proton Energy Systems of Wallingford, Connecticut.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The performance of CdTe/CdS solar cells has been successfully characterized in terms of a device model based on Shockley–Read–Hall (SRH) recombination theory. The model has been applied to a large number of devices from our laboratory in the 10–15% efficiency range and is able to provide key insights into the diode properties of our devices and the fundamental mechanisms that determine performance. Methods for the reliable measurement of key device parameters are presented, and the results are verified by simulating the characterization data in a self-consistent manner. Crossover between the dark and light J–V curves has been identified as a front contact phenomenon arising from the presence of CdS. Junction mechanisms and an observed relationship between reverse saturation current and diode quality factor are discussed. Our techniques indicate that all values of diode quality factor are between 1 and 2 which is consistent with SRH recombination theory and explainable in terms of the location and lifetimes of the recombination centers. It is found that devices with large diode factors are dominated by midgap states. Reduction of midgap states results in a reduction of the diode factor and improved performance.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "-Oriented epitaxial and polycrystalline Ba1− x Sr x Si2 films with various x values were grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on Si(111) and transparent fused silica substrates, respectively. The indirect absorption edge E edge in Ba1− x Sr x Si2 increased with increasing Sr composition, x, and reached approximately 1.40eV when x=0.52. However, the E edge value was almost saturated for higher x values, and the formation of homogeneous Ba1− x Sr x Si2 films was difficult for samples in which x>0.6. Furthermore, phase separation was observed when x=0.77. Using a thermodynamic model, the average phonon energy in BaSi2 was estimated from the temperature dependence of the optical absorption edge to be approximately 25meV.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "To obtain a dual-functional polymeric semiconductor for efficient red-light emission and high-performance photovoltaic cells, an alternating copolymer containing triphenylamine (TPA; as donors) and cyano-substituted phenylene (as acceptors), TPA-CNPPV, was synthesized by Wittig reaction. The polymer was characterized by FT-IR, 1H-NMR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements showed that the polymer presented reversible oxidation and reduction with relative low potentials, suggesting its good electron and hole-injection abilities. The photophysical properties of the light-emitting material were investigated in both solution and spin-coated film. Efficient red photoluminescence (PL; at 641 nm) was observed in the film. TPA-CNPPV possessed good film-forming property and thermal stability, lower band gap, efficient photoluminescence, good hole-injection ability and high electron affinity, which are highly desirable for realizing red-light emission in light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and achieving high-performance photovoltaic cells. This point was supported by the fabrication and characterization of optoelectronic devices. The single-layer light-emitting device of ITO/TPA-CNPPV/Al had relative high external quantum efficiency (0.06%), which was increased to 0.35% with PVK as hole-injection transport layer and Ba as cathode. ITO/PEDOT/TPA-CNPPV/Ba/Al showed dual function in both light-emitting devices and photodiodes. Photovoltaic cells with pristine TPA-CNPPV had energy conversion efficiency of 0.1% at 500 nm. The efficiency was improved to 1.1% under AM1.5 (78.2 mW/cm2) with a TPA-CNPPV/C60 weight ratio of 1:4.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Designed with a predetermined composition profile, functionally graded materials receive much attention in serving as the thermal barrier coating to resist severe thermal loading. By means of the dual-phase-lag theory, the non-Fourier effect is considered in establishing the theoretical thermoelastic model of the cracked layer under sudden thermal shocks. The novelty of the present work lies in revealing the interaction effects of two collinear Griffith cracks embedded in a functionally graded layer on the transient temperature and thermal stress fields under harsh conditions. Via employing the Fourier sine and cosine transforms, coupled with the Laplace transform, the dynamic mixed mode crack problem is transformed into a group of Cauchy-type singular integral equations. Numerical calculations are implemented to evaluate the transient temperature and stress intensity factors. The influences of the crack spacing, the nonhomogeneous parameters, and the thermal lags on the thermal and stress concentrations are explored. The results indicate that both mode I and II thermal stress intensity factors of the outer crack tips are noticeably higher than those of the inner crack tips, even up to 71% and 128%, respectively. A larger fracture risk may occur with the closer two adjacent cracks.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Distribution of various oxygenated compounds obtained from non-catalytic and catalytic pyrolysis experiments.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, nano-sized WO3 powder was dispersed into CoSb3 powder by ball milling and CoSb3/WO3 thermoelectric composites were fabricated using hot-pressing sintering. The results showed that the WO3 phase distributed uniformly in the form of clusters and the average size of cluster was lower than 4 μm. As the content of WO3 increased, the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of CoSb3/WO3 composites decreased. The thermal conductivity of composites decreased obviously which resulted from the phonon scattering by the WO3 inclusions locating on the grain boundaries of CoSb3 matrix. The highest thermoelectric figure of merit ZT = 0.40 was achieved at 650 K for CoSb3/2%WO3 composite.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Deposition of composite thin film of polyaniline/TiO2 (PAni/TiO2) has been carried out by a combined process of magnetron sputtering and plasma polymerization at a pressure of 5×10−2 Torr using titanium as target material for sputtering, aniline as monomer, oxygen as reactive gas and argon as carrier gas/ion source for sputtering. The deposition has been achieved using dc discharge power of 35W for sputtering and radio frequency (rf) power of 8–12W at substrate bias values in the ranges of −80 to −100V for polymerization. The ultraviolet (UV) photo-stability of the composite film has been studied by exposing the film deposited on silicon substrate for different reaction times up to 1h under UV radiation at wave length range of 280–400nm with intensity 0.4mW/cm2. An organic/inorganic nanocomposite film based photovoltaic device has been developed. The device has an aluminum/composite/indium tin oxide sandwiched structure that shows strong photoresponse in ultraviolet region and hence the device has potential for application as an UV detector. Highlights ► Polyaniline/TiO2 (PAni/TiO2) film has been deposited by a combined process of magnetron sputtering and plasma polymerization. ► An organic/inorganic nanocomposite film based photovoltaic device is developed. ► The device has an aluminum/composite/indium tin oxide sandwiched structure. ► The device shows strong photo-response in ultraviolet region, so it has potential for application as an UV detector.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Synchronized Switching Harvesting on Inductor (SSHI) and Synchronous Electric Charge Extraction (SECE) are two classic interface circuit techniques for Piezoelectric energy harvesting. But the former has high peak output power with narrow rectified voltage range, while the latter has wide rectified voltage range with lower peak output power. This paper presents a self-powered interface circuit for piezoelectric energy harvesting to achieve a good balance between the two. The proposed interface circuit is based on the Series-SSHI (S–SSHI) and SECE. The circuit proposed can harvest energy through S–SSHI and SECE in positive and negative half cycles, respectively. Moreover, the figure of merit (FOM), optimal rectified voltage range (ORVR) and region of interest (SRoI) of simulation and experiment results are discussed. The maximum FOM of the proposed circuit is as high as 2.15, which is 1.68 times that of the SECE, and it can reach 6 times the ORVR of the S–SSHI. SRoI factor of the proposed circuit show that the proposed method has better performance. In addition, the circuit shows a simpler implementation compared with state-of-the-art designs.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "From the very early days, the development of food packaging has created a surge in the food industry focusing on the safe delivery of food products to the end consumers. The traditional aim of food packaging includes preservation, promotion, and protection of food products. However, in the current century, the recent trends are more focused on the upgrade of functional systems of packaging. In this context, the intelligent packaging delivers intelligent functions such as sensing, detecting, recording, tracing, communicating, and applying scientific logic. This chapter primarily discusses the application of sensors, their working mechanism, and the status of sensors and nanosensors in intelligent food packaging systems. The intelligent food packaging is extensively used for checking food freshness without opening, detecting bacterial growth, integrating with food packaging, etc. In intelligent packaging, among available sensor types, the freshness sensor can sense and inform the status of food products including freshness, microbial pathogen, and gaseous conditions, which are related to food safety. The inclusion of different types of sensors in intelligent packaging materials delivers the inner condition of food materials during storage. The sensor can be of direct (spoilage, ripeness, leak, microbial, ethylene gas) or indirect-type sensors (humidity, temperature, time–temperature) for freshness monitoring. In sensor technology, the sensor signals include electrical, electrochemical, chemical, and others. The sensor-based packaging systems are sensing materials, signal transduction, sensor films, etc., and the outputs in sensor systems are obtained as color, voltage, pH changes, etc. Based on the previous discussion, the working of different sensors including chemical sensors, biosensors, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, etc., has been described in this chapter. This chapter also discusses the various materials used in developing sensors and nanosensors to be utilized in intelligent packaging applications. The recent progress in the use of sensors in developing intelligent packaging has also been summarized. The application of sensor in food packaging includes the use of gas sensor, fluorescence-based oxygen sensors, ripeness sensors, microbial spoilage sensors, etc. Finally, the future perspective of the use of sensor in intelligent packaging has also been briefly stated. The improvement in sensor technology such as in terms of accurate readings, cost, size, and usability should be considered for better designing of intelligent packaging.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents an overview of ITER-supporting materials R&D activities and major achievements in Japan during the period from the Co-ordinated Technical Activities to date. In view of the completed engineering design of ITER during the Engineering Design Activities period, R&D efforts since then have been focused on: those for reduction of component fabrication cost; those in support of domestic preparations of a structural technical code for construction; and those necessary for operation, and been extended to component-level testing rather than pure material testing. They cover materials R&D for in-vessel components, vacuum vessel, cryogenic steels of superconducting magnets and diagnostics components. Major achievements in each R&D area are highlighted and their impact or implication to the design, construction and operation of ITER is presented.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Metal-chalcogenides are explored as potential electrode material for rechargeable batteries because of their several remarkable properties. Cu-Se, Cu-Te, Cu-S compositions have been synthesized in bulk and thin film form for battery applications. Crystalline nature of the electrodes, capacity to undergo oxidation–reduction in the presence of an electrolyte and nano structured porous nature of the as-prepared films has been verified using various characterization techniques at ambient conditions. The results obtained in this work verifies that synthesized Copper-chalcogenides can be an appropriate choice as electrode for energy storage application.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The use of radiation sources, namely radioactive sealed or unsealed sources and particle accelerators and beams is ubiquitous in the industrial and medical applications of ionizing radiation. Besides radiological protection of the workers, members of the public and patients in routine situations, the use of radiation sources involves several aspects associated to the mitigation of radiological or nuclear accidents and associated emergency situations. On the other hand, during the last decade security issues became burning issues due to the potential malevolent uses of radioactive sources for the perpetration of terrorist acts using RDD (Radiological Dispersal Devices), RED (Radiation Exposure Devices) or IND (Improvised Nuclear Devices). A stringent set of international legally and non-legally binding instruments, regulations, conventions and treaties regulate nowadays the use of radioactive sources. In this paper, a review of the radiological protection issues associated to the use of radiation sources in the industrial and medical applications of ionizing radiation is performed. The associated radiation safety issues and the prevention and mitigation of incidents and accidents are discussed. A comprehensive discussion of the security issues associated to the global use of radiation sources for the aforementioned applications and the inherent radiation detection requirements will be presented. Scientific, technical, legal, ethical, socio-economic issues are put forward and discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The graphite felt was oxidized at a positive electrode potential in sulfuric acid solution. The electrochemical performance of the treated graphite felt served as electrode for vanadium redox battery was investigated with FT-IR, SEM, XPS, BET, cyclic voltammetry and testing VRB system, respectively. The results show that the molar ratio of O to C increases from 0.085 to 0.15 due to the increase of —COOH functional groups during electrochemical oxidation treatment, and the GF surface is eroded by electrochemical oxidation, resulting in the surface area increase from 0.33 m2/g to 0.49 m2/g. The VRB with modified GF electrode exhibits excellent performance under a current density of 30 mA/cm2. The average current efficiency reaches 94% and average voltage efficiency reaches 85%. The improvement of electrochemical activity for the electrode is ascribed to the increase of the number of —COOH group and the special surface of GF.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Topological crystalline insulators have been confirmed to be topological insulators whose surface states are protected by the crystalline symmetry. A new type of 2D pentagonal rings anisotropic structure OsS2 is confirmed as 2D topological crystalline insulator with gap of 44.3 meV by two pairs of spin filtering edge states and mirror Chern number CM = 2. The dxz and dyz orbitals of Os atom cross linearly between S and Γ points to form a Dirac cone without spin–orbit coupling effect. Carrier mobility of OsS2 is as high as 3.74 × 10^4 cm2 V−1 s- 1 for electrons and 3.33 × 10^4 cm2 V−1 s−1 for holes. The OsS2 monolayer is a high-strength 2D material with the minimum Young’s modulus 153.51 N·m−1. Furthermore, OsS2 shows strong optical absorption in the deep ultraviolet region. The OsS2 monolayer is expected to play important applications in fields of nanoelectronics, spintronics and mechanics owing to its TCI and high carrier mobility.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We describe a computerized microscope system that has been developed for studying the physics of dust particles which adhere to various kinds of surfaces such as those of solar collectors. The device enables investigators: (1) to obtain the particle size distribution of dust on a surface; (2) to calculate the fraction of surface area covered by dust; (3) to calculate the reduction of optical efficiency (of the solar collector under study) as a function of particle size; (4) to investigate the effect of various kinds of applied force field on the adhesion of dust particles to the surface. Some examples are given for the use of such a measuring system for the study of photovoltaic and solar-thermal collector surfaces.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics defines a set of phenomenological coefficients to describe entropy production by means of thermodynamic fluxes. The determination of these phenomenological coefficients has proved to be a challenging task and hence it is not widely spread. In this study, a relationship between Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy and these coefficients is successfully presented. This opens the possibility of obtaining these important coefficients with this practical well known technique, allowing the experimental determination of the entropy production specially for a YSZ electrolyte. Reducing the entropy production will lead to an increased efficiency and thus the wider spread of SOFCs and SOECs.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Interfacial engineering of core-shell structured mesoporous materials from single micelles building blocks are reviewed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A possible way to calculate the cost-effectiveness of a photovoltaic system combined withelectric energy storage for a household is presented in this paper. To evaluatethe electricity costs, of the PV-battery system, the progression of the power demand and electricity production is evaluated and compared with cost and revenue of the resulting energy flow based on the electricity purchase prices and the EEG bonus for the feed in of renewable solar energy. The results show that solar applications with electricity storages can be profitable. But the high purchase price of the storage reduces the financial gain of the photovoltaic system. This paper also reveals that in the examined case redox flow batteries are the most promising technology and lead acid batteries are more lucrative than lithium ion batteries due to their lower initial costs. The calculation can predict the cost- effectiveness of a solar system with energy storage and therefore help to find the bestbattery sizefor a certain household.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "ZnO:B windows for 30cm×30cm-sized Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS)-based submodules are deposited by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). The ZnO thin films have a high electron mobility of over 35cm2/Vs, and have a sheet resistance of about 10Ω/sq. while keeping a transmittance of near 90% for the wavelength ranging from 400 to 1300nm. Further improvement of the MOCVD deposition by growing ZnO/ZnO:B windows is performed, and a conversion efficiency of 12.93% (V oc/cell=592mV, J sc=33.87mA/cm2, FF=0.645) for a 30cm×30cm-sized CIGS-based submodule with an aperture area of 864cm2 has been achieved.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, an energy efficient temperature control algorithm with a photovoltaic (PV) system in cooling systems of a large glass-covered building is proposed using control horizon method. A control horizon switching method and linear programming algorithm is used for optimal control, and a time-of-use (TOU) electricity rate is included to calculate the energy costs. Simulation results show that the reductions of energy cost and peak power can be obtained using proposed algorithms.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, the hygrothermo–magneto–electro–elastic coupling improved enriched finite element method (HC-IEFEM) is proposed to analyze functionally graded magneto–electro–elastic (FG-MEE) structures. The static behavior of FG-MEE structures in the hygrothermal environment is studied. In the enriched finite element method (EFEM) enhanced by interpolation cover functions, the improved shape functions are added to solve the rank defect problem. Quadrilateral elements are used in the analysis of FG-MEE structures in this study. This improved method has proven to be relatively more efficient and resistant to mesh distortion than the traditional finite element method (FEM). Besides, the adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) scheme is used to refine the mesh in local areas to improve numerical calculation efficiency. Numerical examples show that the adaptive HC-IEFEM can achieve relatively high accuracy for analyzing FG-MEE structures. The proposed HC-IEFEM can obtain high accuracy in the hygrothermal environment using a relatively coarse mesh through the improved shape function and AMR scheme. Therefore, the significant potential is demonstrated in analyzing FG-MEE structures in the hygrothermal environment using the proposed adaptive HC-IEFEM.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents a method for assessing the reliability of large-scale grid-connected photovoltaic systems. Fault tree and probability analysis are used to compute the reliability equation and the developed model is applied on military-standard data and on data taken from scientific literature. The method provides a tool useful to single out the different impacts that the large number of components belonging to the photovoltaic field and the BOS (Balance of System) chain have on system overall reliability, hence granting the possibility to design and implement more effective monitoring/diagnostic strategies and maintenance plans.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter discusses the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) in optoelectronic and ferroelectric applications. Optoelectronics combines optics and electronics. It deals with optical wavelengths from 0.20 μm (ultraviolet) to 3 μm (near infrared). Thin-film processes, such as reactive sputtering, molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE), and particularly MOCVD, play a major part in their production. The critical properties for optoelectronic materials are bandgap (operating range), carrier lifetime (efficiency), and resistivity (response time). The III–V and II–VI semiconductor compounds have excellent optical properties and are the most important group of optoelectronic materials, all being produced by CVD. One of them being mercury cadmium telluride, which is used extensively in military night sights, which detects in the 8–13 μm spectral band. The major applications of CVD II–VI compounds are found in photovoltaic and electroluminescent displays. The optoelectronic devices are found in various consumer products such as: television, compact-disk players, laser communications, cellular telephones, and direct-broadcast television. Some of the optoelectronic components produced by CVD include: semiconductor lasers, light-emitting diodes (LED), photodetectors, photovoltaic cells, and photocathodes. This chapter discusses each of these components in detail.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • BOG cold exergy and PTORC are employed to recover waste heat of a PEM fuel cell. • The PEM fuel cell is simulated mathematically and results are validated. • Thermodynamic and exergoeconomic analyses are performed for the system. • A parametric study is considered to illustrate effects of important parameters. • Proposed system generates 1353 kW power and overall total cost rate is 154.66 $/h.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Methylammonium (MA) and formamidinium (FA) mixed perovskites have been widely utilized in invert planar perovskite solar cell (PSC) applications due to their great potentials such as solution processing, high power conversion efficiency, high absorption, and low cost. To commercialize the PSCs, further improving the device performance without detrimentally changing the device configuration is important at present. Herein, small amount (5%) of CsI is introduced to form a pinhole-free mixed perovskite light absorption layer in a flexible photovoltaic system with enhanced main photovoltaic parameters of the device, resulting in a ~ 36% enhancement of power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 8.9% to 12.1% (from 11.3% to 14.6% for rigid device). The origins of the enhancement have been studied by exploring the crystal structures, optical absorption, and crystal morphlogies of the synthesised perovskite layers and charge carrier behaviors of the devices. Through small perturbation transient photovoltage (TPV) measurements, the lifetime of the charge carriers are found remarkably increased after the small amount of CsI doping. These characteristics make cation doping of the mixed perovskite layer a promising method in facile tuning of the film quality of the perovskite layer for efficient charge carriers transporting and further boosting the PCE of the devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "2,5-Bis(2-anthracenyldiazo)-1H-pyrrole (dye D1) and 2,2′-[1,4-phenylenebis(azo)]bis-1H-pyrrole (dye D2) were synthesized by four- and two-step reactions, respectively. Their absorption spectra were broad with thin film absorption onset at 829 and 738nm corresponding to an optical band gap of 1.39 and 1.68eV for D1 and D2, respectively. The solution processed bulk heterojunction (BHJ) photovoltaic devices fabricated from D1 and D2 as donor blended with PCBM as an acceptor showed power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 2.13% and 1.59%, respectively. The PCE has been further improved up to 2.42% and 2.18%, after thermal annealing of the D1:PCBM and D2:PCBM layers, respectively. The higher PCE of the photovoltaic devices based on the D1:PCBM blend as compared to D2:PCBM is attributed to the higher hole mobility and lower band gap of D1 relative to D2. The combination of D1 with D2 and PCBM allows not only a broad absorption, but also tuning of the inter energy level leading to a higher short circuit current (J sc) and open circuit voltage (V oc). The best performance device exhibited PCE of about 3.61% with the thermally annealed D1:D2:PCBM photoactive layer. Such a high PCE using small molecules is due to the increased values of both J sc and V oc.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "With the rapid development of metal halide perovskite, reducing its dimensionality into two-dimensional (2D) or one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures has been reported to be a good alternative for expanding the spectral absorption or emission range. For example, when substituting monovalent cation Cs+ with phenylethylammonium (PEA+) on fabricating 2D-CsPbI3, the photoluminescence peak processes a maximum regulation from 710 to 625 nm. Simultaneously, when slicing into 1D CsPbI3 nanowires, the light emission could also achieve a maximum blue shift from 700 to 600 nm. Herein, by using a ligand-assistant reprecipitation (LARP) method, oleic acid (OA) molecule is successfully inserted into the lattice of one-dimensional CsPbI3 nanowire (namely OA-CsPbI3), which presents a monochromatic yellow light emission at 558 nm with narrow emission-band (about 28 nm), and records high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 94%. Such a yellow-light emission in single halide CsPbI3 systems has never been discovered before. Meanwhile, a shallow energy level in the OA-CsPbI3 nanowire is further identified by the ultrafast transient absorption (TA) and first-principle calculation, which helps the photoexcited carriers bypass the trap state level in the bandgap and enhances the radiative excitons lifetime with maximum binding energy up to 212.5 meV. What's more, the excellent thermal and moisture stabilities of the newly formed one-dimensional OA-CsPbI3 nanowire indicate a promising application prospect in the field of luminescent devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Batteries are gaining momentum in the dawn of the global energy transition. Their propensity to early ageing remains, however, a serious concern. Reasons for this include thermal and electrical stresses experienced during operation. The combination of batteries with supercapacitors (SC) into hybrid energy storage systems (HESS) is currently regarded as an effective means of reducing electrical stress on batteries. However, battery-SC HESS still plays a marginal role in practice. Anticipating a possible resurgence of interest in this technology, controllers should be designed to enable easy conversion of existing battery energy storage systems (BESS) into battery-SC HESS. Currently, most control models in the literature would require significant modifications to the existing infrastructure, hindering the expected transition to the HESS. This paper introduces a fuzzy logic controller for plug-in SC aiming for straightforward conversion of BESS into battery-SC HESS. In addition to relieving batteries from fast-varying currents, the SC can contribute in the supply of slow-varying currents to further relieve the battery from electrical stresses and assist in regulating the battery temperature. Extensive simulations indicate that peak currents of batteries can be reduced by up to 26.20% under normal operation, and their temperature slope by up to 38.15% under high temperature conditions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Laser Directed Energy Deposition (DED) is an important process for additive manufacturing because of the advantage of high manufacturing speed. 450 nm blue laser has a higher absorption rate than traditional infrared laser for highly reflective materials such as Al and Cu. However, it is still unclear how the blue laser affects the particles and the molten pool flow in the DED process. In this work, we first designed two models to reveal the mechanism of the molten pool behaviors in the blue laser DED process: the transient model and the steady deposition model. The models are validated by in-situ and ex-situ experiments respectively. It is found that the three stages can be concluded for a particle impacting the molten pool: particle impacts, surface oscillates and the molten pool recovers. The particles whose diameter is less than 100 µm are necessary for steady deposition. The influence of process parameters on DED is investigated, and a suitable process parameters window is found. we also verified the superiority of the blue laser for DED of highly reflective materials through the simulation models. The current study provides new insights into the mechanism from the interaction in the molten pool scale to single-track forming in the blue laser DED, and can provide theoretical guidance on the application of blue laser DED of highly reflective materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents a cross-country benchmarking study of natural gas distribution to final consumers and compares two samples of companies in Italy and Ukraine. A 2-stage DEA procedure calculating efficiency of gas providers and identifying critical context factors and policy issues that affect it is implemented. Both countries are low performing in terms of operators’ technical and scale efficiency and there is room to design more efficient market configurations. Some issues need attention to develop an effective gas market policy: a) search for efficiency requires accurate investigation of its main drivers that depend on context factors; b) while greater efficiency is necessary to reduce cost and increase service quality, at different stages of progress of the reform process other goals may be more important; c) gas industry reform process should be planned adopting a systemic perspective as its development does not remain confined to the sector, but implies changes in the whole country economy, particularly when the gas market is of primary relevance to the economy; d) a more comprehensive package of reforms may be necessary to make gas market reform successful; e) even though the gas market reform is an economic process, it has unavoidably social and political implications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Microcrystalline n-type emitters, that, compared to a-Si:H ones, ensure better electronic properties and better transparency in the visible, were used to fabricate heterojunction solar cells on crystalline silicon. The substrate surface was passivated by the deposition of a very thin intrinsic a-Si:H buffer layer. The microcrystalline n-type emitters were deposited by radio-frequency (rf) plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, using a high hydrogen diluted gas mixture. The simulation of optical spectra of n/i double layers on c-Si gives a preliminary evidence that the continuity of the intrinsic a-Si:H buffer layer is preserved after the rf deposition. The photovoltaic devices incorporating microcrystalline emitters exhibit a remarkable increase of short circuit current (J sc) and efficiency (a factor 1.24 and 1.38 respectively) compared to the case of a-Si:H emitters. Noticeable improvements are observed if the structure is applied to textured substrates.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Enhancement of thermoelectric properties by virtue of decreased electrical resistance through grain boundary engineering is realised in this study. A robust strategy of optimisation of the transport properties by tuning the energy filtering effects at the interfaces by decreasing the interfacial electrical resistance is achieved in LaCoO3 (LCO). This is accomplished by the incorporation of multilayer graphene within the parent LCO matrix containing multi-scale nano/micro grains. The present work has attained a substantial increment in electrical conductivity from a value of 96 Scm-1 for bare LCO to ∼5300 Scm-1 at 750 K by incorporating 0.08 wt% multilayer graphene in LCO. No significant change in thermal conductivity is observed due to the presence of multilayer graphene in LCO. A zT of 0.33 at 550 K for 0.08 wt% multi-layer graphene incorporated LCO composite is achieved which is the highest thermoelectric figure of merit value for undoped LCO reported until now.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, we investigate the use of learning curves for the description of observed cost reductions for a variety of energy technologies. Starting point of our analysis is the representation of energy processes and technologies as the sum of different components. While we recognize that in many cases “learning-by-doing” may improve the overall costs or efficiency of a technology, we argue that so far insufficient attention has been devoted to study the effects of single component improvements that together may explain an aggregated form of learning. Indeed, for an entire technology the phenomenon of learning-by-doing may well result from learning of one or a few individual components only. We analyze under what conditions it is possible to combine learning curves for single components to derive one comprehensive learning curve for the total product. The possibility that for certain technologies some components (e.g., the primary natural resources that serve as essential input) do not exhibit cost improvements might account for the apparent time dependence of learning rates reported in several studies (the learning rate might also change considerably over time depending on the data set considered, a crucial issue to be aware of when one uses the learning curve methodology). Such an explanation may have important consequences for the extent to which learning curves can be extrapolated into the future. This argumentation suggests that cost reductions may not continue indefinitely and that well-behaved learning curves do not necessarily exist for every product or technology. In addition, even for diffusing and maturing technologies that display clear learning effects, market and resource constraints can eventually significantly reduce the scope for further improvements in their fabrication or use. It appears likely that some technologies, such as wind turbines and photovoltaic cells, are significantly more amenable than others to industry-wide learning. For such technologies we assess the reliability of using learning curves at large to forecast energy technology cost reductions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The gravitational lens effect of the Sun would allow, by using a detector at one of its foci, to obtain a “telescope” with gigantic amplification and resolution powers opening extraordinary perspectives for the detailed study of extrasolar planets, particularly technologically advanced ones. But, astronautical challenges are raised by the necessity to align precisely and put in an efficient tracking and scanning mode the detector, necessarily modest in size compared to the dimensions of the planet images and ranges of orbital and rotational motions. In the frame of the FOCAL space mission submitted to ESA, we present the dynamical geometry of the images for two typical cases of observational wavelengths: 10 centimeters (radio) and 10 micrometers (infrared), for a solar-type stellar system 10 parsecs away. Plasma thrusters could provide interesting solutions for the control of the detector for tracking and scanning the focal images.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This work deals with the performances and responses of a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) plant in normal and disturbed modes. The system is composed of a solar array, a dc–dc converter and a three-phase inverter connected to the utility grid. On the one hand a suitable control of the dc–dc converter is developed in order to extract the maximum amount of power from the PV generator. On the other hand an active and reactive power control approach (PQ) has been presented for the inverter. This method can provide a current with sinusoidal waveform and ensure a high power factor. Therefore, the grid interface inverter transfers the energy drawn from the PV into the grid by ensuring constant dc link voltage. Modeling and controlling were carried out using the informational graph of causality and the macroscopic energy representation methods. The simulation under MATLAB/SIMULINK and the experimental results show the control performance and dynamic behavior of grid-connected PV system in normal and disturbances modes.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Brazil faces a continuous increase of energy demand and a decrease of available resources to expand the generation system. Residential buildings are responsible for 23% of the national electricity demand. Thus, it is necessary to search for new energy sources to both diversify and complement the energy mix. Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) is building momentum worldwide and can be an interesting alternative for Brazil due its solar radiation characteristics. This work analyses the potential of seven BIPV technologies implemented in a residential prototype simulated in three different cities in Brazil (Natal, Brasília and Florianópolis). Simulations were performed using the software tool EnergyPlus to integrate PV power supply with building energy demand (domestic equipment and HVAC systems). The building model is a typical low-cost residential building for middle-class families, as massively constructed all over the country. Architectural input and heat gain schedules are defined from statistical data (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística—Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics (IBGE) and Sistema de Informações de Posses de Eletrodomésticos e Hábitos de Consumo—Consumer Habits and Appliance Ownership Information System (SIMPHA)). BIPV is considered in all opaque surfaces of the envelope. Results present an interesting potential for decentralized PV power supply even for vertical surfaces at low-latitude sites. In each façade, BIPV power supply can be directly linked to local climatic conditions. In general, for 30% of the year photovoltaic systems generate more energy than building demand, i.e., during this period it could be supplying the energy excess to the public electricity grid. Contrary to the common belief that vertical integration of PV is only suitable for high latitude countries, we show that there is a considerable amount of energy to be harvested from vertical façades at the sites investigated.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► For 78 Brazilian cities analyzed, the optimum tilt is often above the latitude value. ► Losses on roofs will be up to 15.0% if face north, east or west. ► Surfaces tilted from 40° to 70° may harness up to 90% of the maximum irradiation. ► Vertical façade's losses will be more than 40%, however may have high irradiation.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Ag-Zn-Sn-Se samples were prepared using selenization of Ag-Zn-Sn precursors. • Ag2ZnSnSe4 can be obtained at selenization temperature of 410 °C for 90min. • The carrier concentration of samples was in the range of 8.99 ×1015 –5.97 ×1018 cm−3. • Sample with [Zn]/[Sn] ratio of 1.42 has the highest PEC performance in salt-water.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Photovoltaic properties of novel composites consisting of poly(3-decylotiophene-4,5-diyl) PDT with doped anthracene dye chromophore were explored. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels of the composite were estimated by means of DFT B3LYP quantum chemical calculations. The open-circuit voltage was found to be enhanced with the increase of the chromophore state dipole moment, however short-circuit current is diminished. Despite the values of the quantum efficiencies not being too large (about 0.16–0.19%), the influence of the state dipole moments should be taken into account during the further research of materials with improved photovoltaic responses. One of possible mechanisms may be related to existence of trapping polaron states, which are directly related to the state dipole moments of the chromophore interacting with the dipole moments of the particular polymer chains.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The modelling and outdoor evaluation of high concentrator photovoltaic (HCPV) systems is complex due to the use of multi-junction solar cells and optical devices. At the same time, the single exponential model (SEM) is widely used for predicting the IV characteristics of PV systems. In this paper, several conventional analytical methods for extracting the five parameters of the SEM model of non-concentrating PV devices are applied and evaluated for the electrical characterization of a HCPV module for the first time. Among the different approaches, three simple analytical methods have been selected with the aim of offering rapid and easy solutions for the characterization of HCPV systems. The selected methods are: the method of Phang et al., the method of Blas et al. and the method of Khan et al. In addition, these methods are compared with a numerical extraction method previously introduced by the authors. Results show that all the methods investigated can be valid for predicting the IV curve of a HCPV module except the method of Khan et al., which tends to underestimate the IV curve and maximum power of the module. The dependence of the extracted SEM model parameters with the input irradiance is also discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Laminar mixed convection in the entrance region of an inclined tube with longitudinal external fins (corresponding to the basic element of a flat plate solar collector) has been studied numerically. The system is subjected to a uniform solar flux and convective losses on its top surface; it is insulated on its bottom surface. The results show that the secondary flow induced by buoyancy has a very significant effect on the axial flow and on the isotherms in both the fluid and the solid. Furthermore, due to circumferential conduction in the tube wall, more heat reaches the fluid from the bottom half of the fluid–solid interface than from its top half. The circumferentially average Nusselt number shows the usual decrease with axial distance from the tube inlet towards a constant value in the fully developed region. This constant value is considerably higher for the finned tube than the corresponding value for a bare tube. Both these values are significantly higher than one for fully developed forced convection. A parametric study shows the effects of the fin and tube materials, of the solar flux and the fin’s width on the thermal performance of the collector.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Membrane desalination does help at procuring an increasing freshwater (FW) global demand. Energy requirements of desalination technologies compromise the environmental sustainability of desalination. The integration of renewable energies with desalination technologies might improve the sustainability of desalinated water over other alternative FW sources. This paper discusses the sustainability of Electrodialysis (ED) powered by photovoltaic solar (PV) energy as one of the most promising configurations for the desalination of brackish water. Environmental, with special focus on energy consumption as a function of salinity, economic, and social issues have been considered and main figures for an ED–PV case study in the Canary Islands focused in FW production are given. Energetic considerations have also been deeply discussed in the section of environmental issues. Reverse Osmosis has been taken as the reference technology. The reference energy consumption for ED of brackish water (2500–5000mgL−1) includes a range of 0.49–0.91kWhm−3. Due to this range and regarding to the environment, the use of ED–PV is in the range of 0.02–0.03kgCO2 m−3 (only due to energy supply), which is a decrease of one order of magnitude compared to grid mix supply. A medium-term forecast for ED–PV is presented in which might be economical over conventional grid mix supplied ED before 2020 under the most optimistic scenario, leading to a production costs around 0.15–0.4€m−3. With respect to social issues, renewable desalination contributes to a significant increase of local direct and indirect employment but under a wide range of 0.1–4 permanent positions per 1000m3 day−1. Finally, the main identified barriers for ED–PV preventing a larger market penetration are the matching of the intermittent output of renewable energies with water demand, lifetime of membranes, efficiency of solar panels and the high production cost of freshwater compared to its low market price as commodity.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Continuous operation of a polymer photovoltaic device under accelerated conditions for more than 1 year has been demonstrated (8760h at 72°C, 1000Wm−2, AM1.5, under vacuum). Formation of hydrogen-bonded networks is proposed to be responsible for the long lifetime and high stability observed in photovoltaic devices employing polythiophene substituted with carboxylic-acid moieties under oxygen free conditions. 1H and 13C solid-state NMR, IR, and ESR spectroscopy of unmodified and isotopically labeled polythiophenes were studied. Distances between the isotopically labeled carboxylic acid carbon atoms were measured by 13C solid-state magic-angle-spinning (MAS) NMR using symmetry-based double-quantum (2Q) dipolar recoupling. This revealed the presence of 13C–13C distances of 3.85Å, which correspond to the C–C distance in hydrogen-bonded carboxylic acid dimers. In spite of the presence of carboxylic groups in the polymer as demonstrated by 13C CP/MAS NMR and IR spectroscopy, the absence of carboxylic protons in solid state 1H NMR spectra indicate that they are mobile. We link the extraordinary stability of this system to the rigid nature, cross-linking through a hydrogen-bonded network and a partially oxidized state.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Micro-Raman scattering experiments have been performed on the ternary solid solution in the Zn4Sb3–Cd4Sb3 system. Ten samples were studied; their compositions go from Zn4Sb3 to Zn3.1Cd0.9Sb3. The homogeneity of these samples was checked by X-ray diffraction and electron microprobe analysis. The corresponding lattice parameters were calculated and their concentration dependence exhibits a small negative deviation from Vegard's law between end members of the Zn4Sb3–Cd4Sb3 system. Three peaks and one shoulder are easily observable in the Raman spectrum of β-Zn4Sb3. These peaks are still present when the zinc atoms are substituted by cadmium ones. As the intensities of the Raman lines were observed to be very sensitive to the direction of the microcrystallites, only the change of the position could be discussed. From these experiments, we can suggest that the peak at about 155cm−1 should imply essentially Sb–Sb bondings while the peaks at about 172cm−1 and 320cm−1 must also imply Cd–Sb and Zn–Sb bondings.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The development of wearable devices for sweat analysis has experienced significant growth in the last two decades, being the main focus the monitoring of athletes health during workouts. One of the main challenges of these approaches has been to attain the continuous monitoring of sweat for time periods over 1 h. This is the main challenge addressed in this work by designing an analytical platform that combines the high performance of potentiometric sensors and a fluidic structure made of a plastic fabric into a multiplexed wearable device. The platform comprises Ion-Sensitive Field-Effect Transistors (ISFETs) manufactured on silicon, a tailor-made solid-state reference electrode, and a temperature sensor integrated into a patch-like polymeric substrate, together with the component that easily collects and drives samples under continuous capillary flow to the sensor areas. ISFET sensors for measuring pH, sodium, and potassium ions were fully characterized in artificial sweat solutions, providing reproducible and stable responses. Then, the real-time and continuous monitoring of the biomarkers in sweat with the wearable platform was assessed by comparing the ISFETs responses recorded during an 85-min continuous exercise session with the concentration values measured using commercial Ion-Selective Electrodes (ISEs) in samples collected at certain times during the session. The developed sensing platform enables the continuous monitoring of biomarkers and facilitates the study of the effects of various real working conditions, such as cycling power and skin temperature, on the target biomarker concentration levels.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "For mass fabrication of thermoelectric generators a fast, cheap and simple method is required to produce high ZT leg material. It is well known that severe plastic deformation (SPD) enhances the density of defects and dislocations, and also refines the grains to nano-size. These are the essential key parameters for low thermal phonon conductivity. Consequently and as a first example, SPD via high-pressure torsion (HPT) at elevated temperatures in protective gas atmosphere was used to directly consolidate and plastically deform commercial p-type skutterudite powder, DDyFe3CoSb12, (DD stands for didymium) into a dense thermoelectric solid. The HPT-sample exhibited a high figure of merit, ZT > 1.3 at 773 K, much higher than that of the hot-pressed reference sample (HP) from the same powder. The ZT achieved is comparable with ZTs of corresponding high energy ball milled and hot pressed samples (HBM-HP) as well as of ball milled, hot pressed plus HPT processed skutterudites (BM-HP-HPT). The thermoelectric efficiency is even 4% higher. Synchrotron measurements were performed at temperatures from 300 to 825 K in order to evaluate the changes in grain size and dislocation density of the CP-HPT samples before, during and after annealing. SEM and TEM images served to give a better insight into the temperature dependent diversification of the new material. Due to grain refinement and enhanced dislocation density, the CP-HPT material exhibits higher hardness values than the reference sample. The elastic moduli are, within the error bar, the same. With large high-pressure torsion facilities at hand, a new, fast and therefore cheap mass production of thermoelectric leg material directly from powders can be envisaged. This new production technique furthermore warrants high figures of merit but excludes time-consuming ball milling and hot-pressing steps.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "To address the increase of electricity demand, the need for reducing carbon dioxide, and the reduction of available fossil fuel resources, renewable energy sources are being recruited. Specifically energy generated by photovoltaic (PV) cells is becoming one of the most promising alternatives. In this context, this paper presents an optimization model for the scheduling problem where conventional and photovoltaic sources of energy are scheduled to be delivered to satisfy energy demand. The optimization model is formulated as a Linear Program (LP) with a bounded number of variables and constraints. The respective solution can be obtained in polynomial time and provides the optimal combination or schedule of energy generated from different sources (conventional, renewable and battery storage) such that the total demand is satisfied and the profit is maximized. Numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness and the generality of the scheme.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We selected and investigated nine G-quadruplex (G4)-forming aptamers originally designed against different proteins involved in the regulation of cellular proliferation (STAT3, nucleolin, TOP1, SP1, VEGF, and SHP-2) and considered to be potential anticancer agents. We showed that under physiological conditions all the aptamers form stable G4s of different topology. G4 aptamers designed against STAT3, nucleolin and SP1 inhibit STAT3 transcriptional activity in human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells, and all the studied aptamers inhibit TOP1-mediated relaxation of supercoiled plasmid DNA. STAT3 inhibition by G4 aptamer designed against SP1 protein provides a new explanation for the SP1 and STAT3 crosstalk described recently. We found some correlation between G4-mediated inhibition of the DNA replication and TOP1 activity. Four G4 aptamers from our dataset that appeared to be the strongest TOP1 inhibitors most efficiently decreased de novo DNA synthesis, by up to 79–87%. Seven G4 aptamers demonstrated significantly higher antiproliferative activity on human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells than on immortalized mammary epithelial MCF-10A cells. Pleiotropic properties of G4 aptamers and their high specificity against cancer cells observed for the majority of the studied G4 aptamers allowed us to present them as promising candidates for multi-targeted cancer therapy.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In theory, building a solar water pumping system is fairly easy. Any water pump can be powered by a set of commercially available photovoltaic panels. However, once the need for efficiency and reliability hoves into view, then, as Ian de Villiers explains, the options become rather more limited.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report on the performance around 1970nm of a thulium-doped TZNG bulk glass laser pumped by a semiconductor disk laser (SDL) emitting at 1211nm. A pump-limited maximum output power of 60mW at 1946nm was obtained with a measured slope efficiency of 22.4%. The tuning range of 115nm extended from 1850nm to 2040nm. Comparison with a previously reported performance when pumped at 793nm with Ti:sapphire laser is discussed highlighting the competitiveness of pumping at 1211nm.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "At present, photovoltaic grid-connected systems (PVGCS) are experiencing a formidable market growth. This is mainly due to a continuous downward trend in PV cost together with some government support programmes launched by many developed countries. However, government bodies and prospective owners/investors are concerned with how changes in existing economic factors – financial incentives and main economic parameters of the PVGCS – that configure a given scenario may affect the profitability of the investment in these systems. Consequently, not only is a mere estimate of the economic profitability in a specific moment required, but also how this profitability may vary according to changes in the existing scenario. In order to enlighten decision-makers and prospective owners/investors of PVGCS, a sensitivity analysis of the internal rate of return (IRR) to some economic factors has been carried out. Three different scenarios have been assumed to represent the three top geographical markets for PV: the Euro area, the USA and Japan. The results obtained in this analysis provide clear evidence that annual loan interest, normalised initial investment subsidy, normalised annual PV electricity yield, PV electricity unitary price and normalised initial investment are ordered from the lowest to the highest impact on the IRR. A short and broad analysis concerning the taxation impact is also provided.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, we perform a preliminary optimization-based study to explore the potential effectiveness of the proposed Active Thermal Insulator (ATI). The ATI is a specially designed window that is expected to actively compensate for the heat gains or losses that occur through it. This window design has a thin-film photovoltaic (PV) module integrated into the outer pane, which powers thermoelectric (TE) units embedded in the frame of the window. TE units can enforce heat flow in a designated direction when supplied with electricity. In this study, the operation of the ATI window in summer has been considered. In summer, the TE units induce heat flow from the interior of the building envelope to the outside. This direction of heat transfer is opposite to that occurring naturally, and thereby minimizes the net heat gain of the room. Finned heat sinks were added to aid the heat transfer to and from the TE units. Our research seeks to design an ATI window that uses solar energy, thereby reducing the energy consumed by the air-conditioning system from the power grid. In this paper, we study the effect of TE unit selection on the ATI’s feasibility. We use optimization formulations to help describe the ATI’s performance. The results show the ATI design can offer a significant improvement over traditional windows, and that the selection of TE unit is critical to effectiveness of the design.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, electrohydrodynamic (EHD) and nanofluid were synergistically employed to improve minichannel flow boiling. R141b, TiO2/R141b and TiO2/Span80/R141b nanofluids are employed as working fluids. Flow boiling characteristics in minichannels under electric field were evaluated experimentally. Laser confocal microscope was used to examine the effect of EHD and surfactant on nanofluid stability, particularly nanoparticle deposition on heated surfaces. Electric field can effectively enhance heat transfer, and the enhancement is more significant for nanofluids compared to pure fluid. Heat transfer performance is higher for TiO2/R141b than TiO2/Span80/R141b, while TiO2/Span80/R141b shows higher pressure drop than TiO2/R141b. The maximum enhancement ratio of 1.58 and 1.85 is found for TiO2/R141b and TiO2/Span80/R141b under electric field. Besides, heat transfer mechanism enhanced by EHD and nanofluid was discussed. Nanofluid stabilization induced by electric field and surfactant play crucial role in EHD enhancement for nanofluid. The findings suggest that TiO2/Span80/R141b nanofluid is well-suited for integration with EHD.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The global fuel cell market was valued at US$2.9 billion in 2015, and it is expected to grow to US$8.6 billion by 2022. Miniature fuel cells have been considered as the next-generation power source for electronic mobile and portable products. These miniaturized fuel cells are expected to replace the current batteries. Nanotechnology is key to this perspective. Nanotechnology-based fuel cells (nanofuel cells) can offer many advantages over the traditional fuel cells in portable devices, such as longer shelf life, lower cost …. This chapter describes the use of nanotechnology in fuel cells for enhancing their performance and lifetime.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A detailed first principle investigation of two-dimensional alkaline-earth carbides (M2C; M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) materials is reported for the first time. The M2C structure has been thoroughly investigated using the projector augmented wave (PAW) method under the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) framework of density functional theory (DFT). The M2C compounds are found to be dynamically and energetically stable, according to phonon dispersion studies. The electronic properties of M2C materials provided the essence of band structure and projected density of states of these compounds. Under the investigation of Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) functional, M2C compounds are found to exhibit metallic behavior. In the series of M2C compounds, with an exception of Ba2C compound, remaining appears to be narrow gap semiconducting materials under Heyd-Scuseria-Ernzerhof (HSE06) functional study. Mg2C compund shows the highest work function in the series as 4.47 eV. In addition to the phonon dispersion analysis, we have evaluated their mechanical stability in terms of elastic properties, and the resulting elastic parameters and polar diagrams of Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio validate their mechanical stability. The good metallicity and hardness of 2D M2C compounds might suggest their potential applications as hard conductors.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Inkjet-printing is a suitable method to generate patterned structures from solvents containing active components. However, the process of inkjet-printing imposes severe limitations on the properties of the inkjet ink. This paper presents a new approach to solvent systems suitable for inkjet-printing common organic solar cell materials, poly(3-hexylthiophene) and 1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)propyl-1-phenyl[6,6]C61 as active layers in solar cells. Typically, low boiling point chlorinated solvents are used to dissolve P3HT and PCBM because both components are well soluble in these materials. During inkjet-printing, nozzle clogging due to evaporation of the ink in the inkjet print head is reduced when a high boiling point solvent is incorporated. Solar cells with active layers that were printed from an ink with a solvent system of chlorobenzene and trichlorobenzene showed power conversion efficiencies of 2.4% when active layer was dried at 130°C. This compares to 2.6% for spin-coated solar cells from the same materials. In addition, devices with printed passive and printed active layers were prepared and power conversion efficiencies of 1.5% were achieved.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The production of arrays of nanoscale particles is of interest for many current scientific endeavours. Established techniques such as lithography are suitable for the task, but come with high equipment costs. An alternative is to use the distribution of glass dopants in a drawn optical fibre to define the nanometre scale pattern. The structures are then revealed by etching the glass with a selective acid. One of the critical factors when working with doped glasses is the effect of dopant diffusion encountered in the manufacturing phase as excessive diffusion will destroy the pattern. To aid in calculating the effects of diffusion, a simulation program was written which models the glass structure under various diffusion conditions likely to be encountered in the fibre production. Outputs of the simulation package are found to correlate well with experimental results. As a demonstration of the nanostructures produced, the etched fibres were employed as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper reviews the present status of research, development and manufacturing for photovoltaics (PV) in Japan based on the Japanese New Sunshine Program conducted by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). In particular, the status of research and development on high-efficiency and low-cost crystalline silicon, thin-film silicon and Group II–VI compound solar cells and modules, and super high-efficiency Group III–V compound solar cells, is presented. In addition, Japanese government programs to promote solar houses, wherein 18,000 PV systems were installed on Japanese houses in 1999, are also demonstrated. Future prospects for PV technologies, such as silicon material, thin-film and module technologies, concentrator systems and new application fields, are discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "To avoid the disaster of ice accumulation on outdoor equipment, the construction of photothermal anti-icing surfaces is an efficient approach. Inspired by unique light trapping and photothermal properties of Papaver radicatum growing in latitude 83°40’ N, this work proposes an anti-icing surface with high-efficient photothermal trap capacity and super-hydrophobicity on TC4 via laser processing. The bio-inspired structure shows light harvesting with over 94% absorption in the visible spectrum mainly based on minimizing reflection inside constructed petals-like and rough epidermal micro-structures. With such excellent photothermal behaviors and super-hydrophobicity, the as-prepared sample endows faster temperature rise and higher temperature difference above 15 °C under 1 × 10^5 Lux simulated Sun luminance. The bio-inspired P. radicatum surface exhibits a strong capacity of anti-icing by inhibiting the nucleation and growth of ice crystals at −30 °C. Meanwhile, this proposed structure can effectively delay the formation of frost under sunlight. The structure shows potential applications on field equipment for enhanced photothermal anti-icing property.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, we do the experiment and simulation of the silicon nanopillars fabricated by a damage-free neutral-beam-etching system combined with bio-template-mask technology. The fabricated silicon nanopillars are with the diameter of 16 nm and the height of 90 nm and the density is 6.5 × 10^10/cm2 with variation of 3%. We model and simulate the fabricated silicon nanopillars by periodical cylinder in Si0.7Ge0.3 matrix to estimate the energy profile with different wave vectors. The variations of the energy with respect to the height, diameter, and the separation of the simulated silicon nanopillars are reported. The results of this work will be useful for thermoelectric applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The first building-integrated photovoltaic system (BIPV) in Hong Kong has been working successfully for three years, as remote system for the first year and grid-connected system in the last two years. A number of issues have been investigated on the experimental system including technical, economical, operation and management topics. This paper presents the findings from this research project funded by the Industrial Support Fund of the Hong Kong SAR Government. Simulation and data monitoring have been completed for energy performance of the BIPV system under Hong Kong weather conditions. The natural ventilation effect of an air gap on PV module’s power output and heat transfer across the PV wall and PV-roof have been investigated. Good agreement between simulation and experimental results was achieved. The system can provide about 41% of electric power for an indoor lighting floor area circuit of 250 m2. The harmonics of the power output from the PV system was also measured to check the interference level to the utility grid. Experiments show that the total harmonics current distortion of the grid-connected BIPV system is far lower than that from some conventional equipment, such as personal computers. The total harmonics from this BIPV system is less than 12% for most of the time, even when the incident solar irradiation is very weak.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Skutterudite is one of the most promising thermoelectric (TE) semiconductor materials. Last year, NaFe4P12 skutterudite nano-wires have been synthesized by our group, and may potentially be used for preparing advanced TE materials with a quantum structure. Recently, we found that there are some nano-dendrites in the NaFe4P12 nano-wires, which can be used in some special electronic components to connect the nano-wires as nano-joints. In this paper, the morphology and growth mechanism of NaFe4P12 nano-dendrites are reported. The angles between two branches are 60° or 120°. Electron diffraction shows that the orientation plane of the dendrites is (111). The formation of the dendrites is caused by defects in the nano-wires.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • The eggplant peel is a rich source polyphenols with high antioxidant activity. • Were evaluated the effects of solvent, ultrasonic frequency, temperature and time. • All the parameters had a positive influence on polyphenols extraction. • The solvent concentration influenced negatively the anthocyanins extraction.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► A direct control MPPT approach for PV system using particle swarm optimization algorithm. ► Proposed method does not require PI control loops which normally exist in the PV system. ► It successfully tracks the global maxima of PV array under partial shading conditions. ► Proposed method yields an average MPPT efficiency of 99.5% for a whole day profile.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A new method which can nondestructively measure the surface-state density (SSD) D s and estimate the capture cross-sections (CCS) of surface state σ 0 n and σ − p on surface of p-type semiconductor crystals is proposed. This method is based on the photovoltage measurements at various temperatures. The photovoltage experiment was carried out with a (111)p-type Si single crystal (N A=4.8×1014 cm −3). Owing to that the surface barrier height φ BP=0.6421 V and the surface-recombination velocity s n=9.6×103 cms−1 of this sample can be determined, the SSD D s =1.2×1011 cm−2 eV−1 can therefore be obtained, furthermore CCS σ 0 n≈5×10−14 cm2 and σ − p≈2×10−10 cm2 can also be estimated. These results are consistent with that of related reports obtained by other methods.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "NASA is currently constructing an Interstellar Roadmap that will outline a progressive series of phased technology efforts over several decades that would enable new science beyond the solar system, leading to and culminating in robotics exploration of nearby stars. The Roadmap is structured around a decadal progression of science missions and enabling technologies in which each decadal cycle has an intrinsic value in itself. The Roadmap serves at least 5 functions: 1) it lays the foundation for the development of a broad new strategic thrust of space exploration and development; 2) it outlines a long term progressive program for which each phase has an intrinsic value and can be argued independently of a Star Mission itself; 3) it defines a phased approach that would culminate in a large- scale breakthrough beamed energy capability that would have broad planetary and terrestrial applicability; 4) it describes an endeavor that could provide the technological basis of a U.S. economic engine for the first half of the 21st century; and 5) it provides a focus and a structure around which new government/industry economic relationships may be established. This paper outlines the process for constructing the Roadmap which is due to be completed in Fall 1998. It also poses questions raised by a mission of such scale and suggests some of the strategic value of such a Roadmap.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "High-efficiency PERL (passivated emitter, rear locally diffused) and PERT (passivated emitter, rear totally diffused) silicon solar cells have been fabricated on FZ and MCZ (magnetically confined Czochralski) substrates at the University of New South Wales. One of the PERL cells on FZ substrates demonstrated 24.7% efficiency at Sandia National Laboratories under the standard global AM1.5 spectrum (100mW/cm2) at 25°C. Another PERT cell on a MCZ substrate, supplied by SEH, Japan, demonstrated 24.5% efficiency at Sandia under the same test conditions. Both these efficiencies are the highest ever reported for FZ and MCZ silicon cells, respectively. The cells made on MCZ substrates also showed stable cell performance.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Over the past two years, development has begun on a unique high-power solar concentrator array called stretched lens array squarerigger (SLASR). SLASR marries the high electrical performance and low mass of the ENTECH stretched lens array (SLA) flexible blanket concentrator with the high structural performance and low mass of the ATK space squarerigger (SR) platform. SLASR offers unprecedented performance metrics for a space solar array of any type, including: • high power capacity (100kW to multi-MW Class) • compact launch stowage (80–120kW/m 3 ) • state of the art areal power density (300–400W/m 2 ) • outstanding array-level specific power (300–1000W/kg) • high-voltage operation at low insulation mass penalty (300–600V) • excellent manufacturability using proven processes (cells and lenses at MWs/year) • improved radiation hardness at low shielding mass penalty (enabling solar electric propulsion space tugs through the radiation belts) • exceptional cost effectiveness (50–75 percent less than high-efficiency planar arrays) This paper describes SLASR technology, discusses SLASR developments to date, and outlines plans for SLASR technology maturation. The advantages of SLASR over other high-power solar array technologies are presented, including a comparison of key performance parameters for large-scale solar electric propulsion space tug missions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter discusses the modeling and the performance evaluation of a single crystalline-Silicon PV array in Rabat (Morocco). From experimental results, at real weather conditions, the performance of eight panels connected in series-parallel were examined by obtaining the I-V curves under a wide range of global radiation's and constant functioning temperature. The predicted values compared well with the measured values. The solar panel maximum efficiency and the fill factor are also presented. For the parameter identification, a minimization program, developed in MATLAB tool, was used. The model for simulating the single crystalline-silicon PV array is presented. The predicted characteristics are in good agreement with the measured characteristics, under a several insolation levels. The array efficiency and the fill factor are also determined.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Low-temperature synthesis of ZnTe nanowires (NWs) is a helpful advancement in realization of low cost nanostructured electronic devices. This article reports a novel and low temperature (275 °C) synthesis of one-dimensional (1D) NWs of ZnTe on glass substrate. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX) revealed that prepared NWs have good crystallinity and yield. Optical properties, reported in this article as UV spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL), confirm its energy gap of 2.24 eV.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • A new approach to fault detection in photovoltaic systems is developed. • Fault detection is based on the residuals obtained from a one-diode model. • EWMA test is used to monitor the performance of photovoltaic systems. • The proposed method has been experimentally validated in a grid connected PV system. • This scheme successfully monitors the DC side of PV systems and detects partial shading.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "An environmental control system utilizing solar energy would generally be more cost-effective if it were used to provide both heating and cooling requirements in the building it serves. Various solar powered heating systems have been tested extensively, but solar powered air-conditioners have received little more than short-term demonstration attention. This paper reviews past efforts in the field of solar powered air-conditioning systems with the absorption pair of lithium bromide and water. A number of attempts have been made by researchers to improve the performance of the solar applied air-conditioning (chiller) subsystems. It is seen that the generator inlet temperature of the chiller is the most important parameter in the design and fabrication of a solar powered air-conditioning system. While collector choice, system design and arrangement are other impacting factors for the system operation.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Ultrasonic investigation for the single crystals of ferromagnetic filled skutterudite compound NdOs 4 Sb 12 was performed. A marked frequency dependence of the ultrasonic dispersion has been observed in a longitudinal elastic constant C 11 at temperature centered around 45K; however, no dispersion was measured in the transverse elastic constant C 44 . Such a clear mode difference in the ultrasonic dispersion, which has been found in PrOs 4 Sb 12 , strongly suggests that Nd ion in NdOs 4 Sb 12 bears thermally activated off-center rattling effect.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Here, we discuss the influences of small-scale biomass burning (BB) originating from local/regional emissions, such as agricultural waste burning, which are difficult to detect via remote sensing. To evaluate the BB contribution, we used a positive matrix factorization (PMF) model with chemical component data including levoglucosan, a useful BB indicator, at multiple urban, suburban, and background sites in central Japan during two weeks in October and November of 2014 and January and February of 2015. High levoglucosan concentrations were observed not only at the suburban sites but also at the urban sites. At the background site located downwind of Northeast China, the levoglucosan concentrations were elevated when air masses were transported from Northeast China, where fire spots were detected. Meanwhile, at the other sites, small-scale local or regional BB emissions prevailed, and fire spots were rarely detected. At these sites, the levoglucosan levels were high although the relevant air masses did not originate in Northeast China. The source apportionment results demonstrated that in fall, BB was a significant source of particulate matter with diameters of less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), organic carbon, and elemental carbon at all sites. Notably, the BB contributions to PM2.5 were higher at an urban site located near farmland than at other urban sites in fall and winter. Our results indicate that specific BB emission sources, such as local, small, and irregular open field burning, impact the air quality not only at suburban areas but also at urban areas in central Japan.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents a systematic algorithm to determine the optimal allocation and sizing of Photovoltaic Grid-connected Systems (PVGCSs) in feeders that provides the best overall impact onto the feeder. The optimal solution is reached by multi-objective optimization approach. Both technical and economical objective functions are taken into account in the optimization procedure. The technical objective is related with the improvement of the distribution feeder voltage conditions. The economical objective is associated with the profitability both PV generation and potential loss reduction on the feeder. This procedure aims at finding the PV solution that yields the best compromise for the two considered objectives between various potential candidates of PVGCSs well known. The results obtained with the proposed methodology for feeders found in the literature demonstrate its applicability.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The title compounds, which are formed in very low yields by treating 2,3-bis(bromomethyl)tetrathiafulvalenes with naked iodide in the presence of C60, can be obtained in much higher yields by successive similar treatments of the major adducts produced at each step. The electrochemical properties of the unprecedented tri- and tetra-TTF/C60 assemblies are also presented.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Results of investigations of semiconductor AIIBVI compounds (for example of CdTe and ZnTe) grown by the chemical vapor transport (CVT) method in a closed volume using three transfer agents containing a halogen, compound NH4X (X=Cl, Br, I) are presented. The processes of vapor phase growth (composition of the vapor phase and mass transfer) in Me(Cd, Zn)Te–NH4X (X=Cl, Br, I) systems have been calculated theoretically and the results are have been verified in growth experiments. Optoelectronic properties of the grown materials and barrier structures based there upon are discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Two stable Li-doped δ-graphyne structures exhibit metallic electronic structures. • Optical properties of three δ-graphynes exhibit strong anisotropic behaviour. • The reflectivity under parallel polarization is significant greater than the counterpart value under vertical polarization. • Three δ-graphyne structures have broad frequency photoresponse ranging from the zero frequency to ultra-violet regimes.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The effects of radio frequency (rf) powers on the characteristics of a-C:N/p-Si photovoltaic solar cells prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) are investigated. As the rf-power raises from 100 to 400 W, the N doping content of a-C:N films increases and the microstructure of a-C:N films is transformed to graphite-like. Alternatively, the short-circuit current and conversion efficiency of a-C:N/p-Si photovoltaic solar cells increase with increasing the rf-power, but the open-circuit voltage and fill factor are less dependent on the rf-power. Although the best performance of a-C:N/p-Si photovoltaic solar cells is achieved with the rf-power of 400 W in this work, it is expected that the performance of a-C:N/p-Si photovoltaic solar cells can be further improved by increasing the rf-power, or adding applied bias and magnetic field on PECVD system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The Transient Photoconductivity (TPC) is studied in the pre-recombination time range on the basis of a Multiple Trapping (MT) model which uses a transient occupation function to account for simultaneous interactions of all the tail states with the conduction band. A direct inversion method for the extraction of the Density Of States (DOS) from the TPC data in amorphous semiconductors is derived. Application of this transient spectroscopy to n-type a-Si:H results in a very narrow band tail (tail width of 14meV) starting around 0.16eV below the mobility edge and leading to low DOS. This finding is in favour of the defect pool concept, and involves some doping effects at the donor level.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "One of the major challenges today is assessing the suitability of PV (photovoltaic) systems' installations on buildings' roofs regarding the received solar irradiance. The availability of aerial laser-scanning, namely LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging), means that assessment can be performed automatically over large-scale urban areas in high accuracy by considering surfaces' topographies, long-term direct and diffuse irradiance measurements, and influences of shadowing. The solar potential metric was introduced for this purpose, however it fails to provide any insights into the production of electrical energy by a specific PV system. Hence, the PV potential metric can be used that integrates received instantaneous irradiance which is then multiplied by the PV system's efficiency characteristics. Many existing PV potential metrics over LiDAR data consider the PV modules' efficiencies to be constant, when in reality they are nonlinear. This paper presents a novel PV potential estimation over LiDAR data, where the PV modules' and solar inverter's nonlinear efficiency characteristics are approximated by modelled functions. The estimated electrical energy production from buildings' roofs within an urban area was extensively analysed by comparing the constant and nonlinear efficiency characteristics of different PV module types and solar inverters. The obtained results were confirmed through measurements performed on an existing PV system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report the formation of polycrystalline TiO2 film (rutile phase; tetragonal: a=4.593 A ̊ and c=2.959 A ̊ ) by anodic oxidation of titanium sheet. The microstructural characterization revealed the porous nature of the film consisting of randomly oriented microcrystals. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) characterization of TiO2 films has been carried out by employing standard electrochemical techniques. The investigations being reported involve I–V and C–V measurements, besides the use of PEC cell for hydrogen production by employing photovoltaic power as external biasing source. The open circuit voltage and short circuit current for the cell were found to be 780 mV and 9.27 mAcm −2 , respectively. The observed frequency dispersion in Mott–Schottky plots was related to the presence of interface states participating in the charge exchange with bulk electrolyte. The hydrogen production rates were found to be 37.4 and 24.6 lh −1 m −2 , respectively, for PV biased PEC and PV (stand-alone) driven electrolysis modes.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Thiazole ring-containing azomethines were obtained. ► Blue photoluminescence exhibited both azomethines. ► The J-U effects in monolayer and BHJ devices depend on compound used. ► NMR and FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the structure of the compounds.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work we employed an electrodeposition technique to prepare copper selenide nanorods with various dimensions by changing bath concentration and keeping deposition time fixed. This study reports the effect of bath concentration on the crystal structure, surface morphology and optical properties of copper selenide thin films. The electrodeposited films were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectra properties, the ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) and compositional analysis. Upon bath concentration, the band gap energy of copper selenide decreases from 2.54eV to 2.35eV along with an increase in the crystal size form 7–17nm. The crystal size was found to increase upon increase in bath concentration and materials exhibit better crystallization. Similar results were also observed in the XRD studies, where peak intensity increased upon bath concentration.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This work presents a study on the structure of Cu x (CdTe) y O z thin films grown by reactive RF co-sputtering of Cu and CdTe targets, as a function of the Cu concentration (0.1–12at%) and the oxygen partial pressure ( P O 2 ) during growth (5.6×10−5, 9.5×10−5, 3.0×10−4 and 6.4×10−4 Torr). When O2 is introduced in the growth chamber, at the two lower partial pressures and in the absence of Cu, XRD peaks of the hexagonal (H) phase are observed with increased intensity, including the (101)H peak, which becomes more intense than the normally dominant (111)C/(002)H peak; this is very rarely observed in CdTe-based films. The presence of Cu, however, tends to return the material to the crystalline state usually observed in pure CdTe films. The samples grown with higher P O 2 values, 3.0×10−4 and 6.4×10−4 Torr, are amorphous, regardless of the Cu concentration.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Shanghai is characteristic of subtropical monsoonal climate with the mean annual temperature of 17.6°C, and receives annual total radiation above 4470MJ/m2 with approximately 2000h of sunshine. A solar energy system capable of heating, cooling, natural ventilation and hot water supply has been built in Shanghai Research Institute of Building Science. The system mainly contains 150m2 solar collector arrays, two adsorption chillers, floor radiation heating pipes, finned tube heat exchangers and a hot water storage tank of 2.5m3 in volume. It is used for heating in winter, cooling in summer, natural ventilation in spring and autumn, hot water supply in all the year for 460m2 building area. The whole system is controlled by an industrial control computer and operates automatically. Under typical weather condition of Shanghai, it is found that the average heating capacity is up to 25.04kW in winter, the average refrigerating output reaches 15.31kW in summer and the solar-enhanced natural ventilation air flow rate doubles in transitional seasons. The experimental investigation validated the practical effective operation of the adsorption cooling-based air-conditioning system. After 1-year operation, it is confirmed that the solar system contributes 70% total energy of the involved space for the weather conditions of Shanghai.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A systematic ab initio study, using the local spin density approximation, of the electronic properties of Ga x P y M compounds, where M is a transition metal substituting Ga or P atoms in a GaP host semiconductor lattice is presented. This study is oriented towards the early identification of intermediate band materials of recent interest as new photovoltaic materials to exceed the efficiency of single gap and even tandems of two solar cells. M=Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn have been explored as transition metals and Sc, V, Cr, and Fe in Ga32P31M and Cr in Ga31P32M have exhibited the desired intermediate band.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, we define new approach of B 1 − hybrid optical magnetic Lorentz flux by hybrid frame in 3D space. We express the B 1 − hybrid optical electromotive forces f E ϕ T , f E ϕ B 1 and f E ϕ B 2 and its properties. Firstly, considering optical hybrid flux density, we obtain new conditions for B 1 − hybrid Heisenberg ferromagnetic optical induced electromotive f E ϕ T FR , f E ϕ B 1 FR and f E ϕ B 2 FR for the flux linked with poles coils. Moreover, we investigate relationships between optical magnetic flux surface and uniform hybrid magnetic surface by using fractional optical and numerical results. The resulting optical quantities of hybrid magnetic particle are constructed numerically, discussed, and graphically offered for a new fractional equation of an optical hybrid flux density.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Ever-increasing heat fluxes approaching that at the surface of the sun in microelectronic chips, and the miniaturization of powered devices of all types, have been strongly driving microcooling technologies of all types. Microcooling technologies include micro heat pipes and thermocapillary systems, microchannel heat exchangers, microjet convection coolers, solid-state coolers, and mechanical coolers. Microcooling technologies also range from mature devices that are commercially available to those that are nascent and still in basic research to solve fundamental problems. This chapter reviews different microcooling devices and technologies, the underlying principles, and the state-of-development to date.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A theoretical model is proposed in this work for an evaluation of the specific heat and Debye temperature of low-dimensional materials. In the model, the allowed discrete vibration modes in the confined direction(s) are first obtained by solving the elastic vibration equation. The acoustic specific heat is then calculated by summing over these discrete, excited, phonon modes and integrated over the continuous wave numbers in the unconfined directions. An effective Debye temperature is then defined as the one appearing in the conventional Debye model that gives a same value for the specific heat. It is found that the so-defined Debye temperature of the mixed polarization associated with nanowires is about half the longitudinal Debye temperature of bulk materials at room temperature. This agrees with the experimental observations. Those of both the dilatational and flexural polarizations associated with the thin films on the other hand are about 28% smaller than the bulk longitudinal Debye temperature. When the temperature is so low that there are only a few phonon modes excited, these low-dimensional materials show two-dimensional behavior, excluding the flexural polarization of the thin films, which shows one-dimensional behavior instead due to its parabolic dispersion relation at small dimensionless wave numbers.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Twelve projects provide energy services to off-grid rural households in developing countries by enhancing markets for solar home systems and by removing barriers to their dissemination. Project approaches are reviewed, along with early implementation experience and lessons suggested by experience. Most projects incorporate the following features: pilot private-sector and NGO delivery models; pilot consumer credit delivery mechanisms; pay first-cost subsidies and offer affordable system sizes; support policy development and capacity; develop codes and standards and establish certification, testing, and enforcement institutions; and conduct consumer awareness and marketing programs. Most projects are just beginning implementation; a few are almost completed. Lessons from early experience suggest that: solar home system delivery firms face a myriad of difficulties operating in rural areas; credit risk is a serious concern of both financiers and dealers and makes credit sales particularly challenging; technical performance of systems is becoming well-proven; customers desire a range of component options and service levels and can benefit from even small systems; projects must recognize the link between rural electric-grid extension and solar home system demand; and marketing campaigns can be extremely costly and time consuming in rural areas. Challenges are to demonstrate sustainable and replicable business models, develop regulatory models for energy-service concessions, and integrate rural electrification policy with solar home system delivery.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper we show the results of the cost model developed in LIMA project (Seventh Framework Programme, CN: 248909). The LIMA project is entitled “Improve photovoltaic efficiency by applying novel effects at the limits of light to matter interaction”. The project started in January 2010 and during this year a cost model of the device developed in the project has been developed to assess the industrial viability of this innovative approach to increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of photovoltaic solar cells. During 2011 the cost model has been actualized and a new scenario has been defined. The LIMA project exploits cutting edge photonic technologies to enhance silicon solar cell efficiencies with new concepts in nanostructured materials. It proposes nanostructured surface layers designed to increase the light absorption in the solar cell while decreasing the surface and interface recombination loss. The integration on a back contact solar cell further reduces these interface losses and avoids shading. The project improves light-matter interaction by the use a surface plasmonic nanoparticle layer. This reduces reflection and efficiently couples incident radiation into the solar cell where it is trapped by internal reflection. Surface and interface recombination are minimized by using silicon quantum dot superlattices in a passivating matrix.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This article reviews the surface passivation of n- and p-type crystalline silicon by hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide films, which provide surface recombination velocities in the range of 10cms−1. Films are deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition from a silane/methane plasma. We determine the passivation quality measuring the injection level (Δn)-dependent lifetime (τ eff(Δn)) by the quasi-steady-state photoconductance technique. We analyze the experimental τ eff(Δn)-curves using a physical model based on an insulator/semiconductor structure and an automatic fitting routine to calculate physical parameters like the fundamental recombination velocities of electrons and holes and the fixed charge created in the film. In this way, we get a deeper insight into the effect of the deposition temperature, the gas flow ratio, the doping density of the substrate and the film thickness on surface passivation quality.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper uses fuzzy set methodology to perform the comparison between different solar systems for various applications. The aim of the paper is to determine the order in which solar systems should be given higher priority to be used in Jordan. The systems considered are solar distillation, solar water heating, solar space heating and ventilation, solar water pumping, photovoltaics and solar electric power production. They were compared according to their benefits and costs. Based on benefit to cost ratios, the results show that solar distillation is found to be the best choice and should be given the highest priority in terms of research and development. It is followed by the solar pond for electric power production, then, solar water pumping followed by solar space heating and photovoltaics. Finally, solar water heating may not need further development.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Single-crystalline Bi2S3 nanowires, with diameters in the range of 80–200nm and lengths up to tens of micrometers, have been successfully synthesized through surfactant micelle-template inducing reaction at ambient-pressure and low-temperature. The synthetic route is simple, effective and can provide great opportunities for both fundamental and technological applications. The optical properties of the Bi2S3 nanowires with different diameters were firstly examined by means of photoluminescence spectroscopy at room temperature. The representative photoluminescence spectrum exhibits a great blue-shift from the band gap of 1.30eV of bulk Bi2S3 to high energy of 1.44eV, which indicated that these nanostructures showed quantum confinement effects.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The melt and quench technique was used to create a new TeO2–Li2O–MoO3 glass system with the objective of providing alternative and new shielding materials for radiation safety purposes. The synthesized glasses were studied by means of their physical, thermal, and radiation shielding characteristics. It was demonstrated using Raman and FTIR spectroscopy that the insertion of Li2O and MoO3 resulted in a superimposed reduction of all Te units, including TeO3+1 and TeO3 with non-bridging oxygen, via the formation of Te(short)-O-Mo and a coordination change from MoO4 to MoO6. The densities of the prepared glasses were relatively high, having values between 4.48 and 5.11 g/cm3. Compared with TeO2-pure glass, the values for Tg and Tx substantially decrease with Li2O and MoO3 insertion. However, among prepared samples, there is only a small fluctuation in both characteristic temperatures, suggesting high thermal/composition stability. FLUKA simulations were used to estimate the photon, proton, electron, α-particle, and carbon ion shielding parameters for beam energies ranging from 15 to 15,000 keV. With changes in the chemical designation of the synthesized glasses, the mass attenuation coefficient of photons and stopping powers of charged radiation changed, gradually increasing with glass density and decreasing with Li2O and MoO3 insertion. In addition, the ability of the glasses to moderate fast neutrons declined with increases in the MoO3 and Li2O weight contents. On the contrary, the total cross section of thermal neutrons improved as glass density decreased and Li2O and MoO3 content increased. The synthesized glasses, through the evaluated parameters, showed better radiation shielding capacity compared to existing shields such as concrete and commercial RS-series glass shields.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The defect physics is important for understanding the athermal effect of electric fields and/or currents on the enhanced ionic diffusion during flash sintering of ceramics. In this study, conventionally sintered 8 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia with a fluorite cubic structure was processed by AC flash and subsequently quenched to partially freeze the flash-induced defect structures. The dynamic and quasi-static mechanical properties of flashed and non-flashed samples were evaluated by a sound velocity measurement and a nanoindentation technique to characterize the mechanical responses attributed to the flash-induced defects. A negligible change was confirmed in the dynamic elastic constants even after flash, while the quasi-static elastic properties of the flashed sample exhibited a considerable rate dependence (i.e., the slower the loading rate, the lower the measured contact modulus). The contact modulus of the flashed sample tested at the slowest loading rate in this study was reduced to approximately 72% of the non-flashed one, where the contact modulus was rate-independent. The time-dependent mechanical behavior was also confirmed during nanoindentation creep. Such rate- and time-dependent mechanical properties are characterized as anelasticity (i.e., viscoelasticity or pseudoelasticity in other terms), which can be attributed to stress-induced and thermally activated recoverable motions of point defects. The flash process of cubic zirconia possibly induced point defects associated with short-range structural change, which could be the origin of anelasticity.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Photovoltaic characteristics of dye-sensitized solar cells fabricated from branched titania nanotube arrays are compared with those obtained from unbranched ones. Branched titania nanotubes result in increased efficiency and short circuit current density without any discernible increases in dark current, than in devices with purely unbranched tubes. Adsorption isotherms show that increased inter-tube porosity exposes the outer surfaces of the branched tubes, providing increased access and area for dye adsorption. Our findings indicate that branched titania nanotubes could be attractive for use in many applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Many field researchers have in the past grappled with the problems of energy loss and panel damage as a result of shading and staining of PV panels after installation. A number of solutions have been proposed to try and minimize the effects of this problem in the field. The problem with all these solutions is that they address inter-panel connection topologies for very large installations. No particular attention has been paid to the topologies of individual panels. In sub-Saharan Africa most installations are single panel solar home systems and therefore small shading can result in an entire installation being disabled. This paper aims to study the effect of shading and staining on photovoltaic modules and propose a new topology that will reduce the effect of shading on the performance of individual photovoltaic modules.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The thermoelectric properties of tungsten trioxide (WO3) ceramics doped with cerium dioxide (CeO2) were investigated. The results demonstrated that the addition of CeO2 to WO3 could promote the grain growth and the densification. The magnitude of the electrical conductivity (σ) and the absolute value of the Seebeck coefficient (|s|) depended strongly on the CeO2 content. The sample doped with 2.0mol% CeO2 yielded higher σ and |s|, resulting in a significant increase in the power factor (σs 2). In addition, the power factor value of all samples increased abruptly at high temperatures, which revealed that WO3-based ceramics could have greater thermoelectric properties at high temperatures.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • A novel method to produce intrinsic (in situ) porosity in Al-based foams is reported. • The process does not involve the use of foaming agents or space holders. • A porosity above 65% was achieved. • The heat treatment provoked the formation of large porosity. • The porosity formation could be associated to the controlled reaction of the liquid and solid phases.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Silicon nitride offers many potential benefits to the family of buried contact fabrication sequences including improved design flexibility and efficiency. The main device structures of the buried contact family comprise the standard buried contact, the simplified buried contact and the double-sided buried contact cells. The physical properties of silicon nitride allow it to be used for surface passivation, as an anti-reflection coating, as a diffusion source material and as a masking dielectric. The use of silicon nitride in each buried contact fabrication sequence is described in this work.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The efficiency of plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) is no more to prove for the realization of ultra shallow junctions (USJ) in semiconductor applications. Interest for the fabrication of submicrometer CMOS devices is well known, but the ability of PIII to implant quickly high doses at very low energy and low price makes it a good candidate for the fabrication of solar cells. In this paper, we present results obtained by a semi-industrial prototype of PIII (PULSION®) designed by the French company IBS. First, metallic contamination, homogeneity, reproducibility, and SIMS profiles of ultra shallow junctions made by PULSION® BF3 implantation on 200-mm silicon wafers are presented. Results are compared with BF2 + implantations made on an AXCELIS NV-8200P beam line implanter and demonstrate the compatibility with semiconductor requirements. Then, results on solar cells with BF3 shallow junctions made by PIII are presented. The simulated and measured internal quality factor (IQE) with an improved behavior in blue wavelengths demonstrates the interest of PIII for this applications field.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The helical, amphipathic surfactant protein, SP-B, is a critical element of pulmonary surfactant and hence is an important therapeutic molecule. However, it is difficult to isolate from natural sources in high purity. We have created and studied three different, nonnatural analogs of a bioactive SP-B fragment (SP-B1-25), using oligo-N-substituted glycines (peptoids) with simple, repetitive sequences designed to favor the formation of amphiphilic helices. For comparison, a peptide with a similar repetitive sequence previously shown to be a good SP mimic was also studied, along with SP-B1-25 itself. Surface pressure-area isotherms, surfactant film phase morphology, and dynamic adsorption behavior all indicate that the peptoids are promising mimics of SP-B1-25. The extent of biomimicry appears to correlate with peptoid helicity and lipophilicity. These biostable oligomers could serve in a synthetic surfactant replacement to treat respiratory distress syndrome.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "HgTe rod-shape composed of crystalline particles has been prepared by a hydrothermal method, and characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transition electron microscopy (TEM). The effects of capping agents, reductants, reaction temperatures, and reaction times on crystal structures and shapes of HgTe have been investigated. The results showed that the CTAB as capping agent plays a crucial role in the hydrothermal process. The synthesis procedure is simple and uses less toxic reagents than the previously reported methods.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Semiconducting manganese silicide, Mn27Si47 and Mn15Si26, were obtained using mass-analyzed low energy dual ion beam epitaxy technique. Auger electron spectroscopy depth profiles showed that some of the Mn ions were deposited on single-crystal silicon substrate and formed a 37.5nm thick Mn film, and the other Mn ions were successfully implanted into the Si substrate with the implantation depth of 618nm. Some samples were annealed in the atmosphere of flowing N2 at 840°C. X-ray diffraction measurements showed that the annealing was beneficial to the formation of Mn27Si47 and Mn15Si26.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The study presents the hybridization of global sensitivity analysis with data-driven techniques to evaluate the Mexican electricity market interaction and assess the impact of individual parameters concerning locational marginal prices. The study case pertains to Yucatan, Mexico's electricity grid and market characteristics. A comparison of three artificial intelligence techniques in the electricity market is presented to forecast electricity prices in real-time market conditions. The study contemplates exogenous input parameters classified as regional, operational, meteorological, and economic indicators. A sensitivity analysis was carried out to the model with the best performance of the Artificial Intelligence techniques. The results showed that the impact of the variables fluctuates according to market and consumption conditions. In this study, the most relevant variables were electricity generation (17.06%), fossil fuel costs (natural gas 12.54% and diesel 8.63%), load zone (11.17%), and the day of the year (8.51%). From the qualitative point of view, the complex behavior of the parameters was analyzed; moreover, the quantitative results weighted the relevance of the variables in the Locational Marginal Prices. The meteorological and economic parameters allow assessing the environment where it interacts and serves as an instrument for decision-making in the planning of the energy sector. The presented methodology can be implemented as an alternative tool for market participants to analyze electricity prices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Au nanoparticles (NPs)/(n-type)a-Si:H/(p-type)c-Si heterojunctions have been deposited combining plasma-enhanced chemical-vapour deposition (PECVD) with Au sputtering. We demonstrate that a density of ∼1.3×1011 cm−2 of Au nanoparticles with an approximately 20nm diameter deposited onto (n-type)a-Si:H/(p-type)c-Si heterojunctions enhance performance exploiting the improved absorption of light by the surface plasmon resonance of Au NPs. In particular, Au NPs/(n-type)a-Si:H/(p-type)c-Si show an enhancement of 20% in the short-circuit current, JSC , 25% in the power output, Pmax and 3% in the fill factor, FF, compared to heterojunctions without Au NPs. Structures have been characterized by spectroscopic ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy and current–voltage (I–V) measurements to correlate the plasmon resonance-induced enhanced absorption of light with photovoltaic performance.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In most portable electronic devices, besides the temperature of multiple heat sources, i.e. junction temperature, the temperature of the enclosure, i.e. skin temperature, should also be controlled to protect the user experience. Thus, generating the device-level compact thermal model for predicting the skin temperature will not only improve the efficiency of early-stage thermal design but also help to develop the model-based temperature control strategy. However, most of the existing modeling methods mainly focus on predicting the junction temperature. In this paper, the dynamic compact thermal models of two portable electronic devices, including a smartphone and laptop, are first generated based on the convolution method. Under the assumption of linear time-invariant (LTI) systems, the skin temperature of the two test devices could be fast calculated once the step response of each heat source is obtained. The results show that compared to the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model generated in ANSYS Icepak, the transient deviation of the convolution-based model is within 5%. Then, a linear fitting model is proposed to real-time predict the skin temperature of laptops. Both the experimental and simulation results demonstrate that once the scale factors are trained, the linear fitting model could accurately real-time predict the skin temperature after 60s. The maximum transient deviation in the experiment and simulation are 4% and 7% respectively. The results indicate that the proposed modeling method has tremendous potential for both thermal design and control optimization.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Rubidium hydrogen squarate (RbHC4O4, RbHSQ) crystallized in monoclinic space group P21/c. This compound form a short asymmetric intermolecular hydrogen bond whose O–O distance is 2.482(4)Å. The hydrogen squarate anions are forming head-to-tail infinite chain hydrogen-bonding motifs. A long interplanar separation (4.15Å) indicates that a weak π interaction occurs between hydrogen squarate anions in RbHSQ. The hydrogen bond and cation–anion interactions are the predominant driving forces in the crystal packing. The Raman spectrum of RbHSQ shows an average behaviour between squaric acid and squarate dianion, however, the vibrational modes at ca. 1800cm−1 (CO stretching mode) and in the region 1500–1700cm−1 (CO+CC stretching modes) are the most affected by the presence of strong hydrogen bonding interactions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "I−/I3 − redox reaction behaviors on chemically polymerized p-toluenesulfonate doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT-TsO) and sputtered-Pt electrode were characterized to compare its performance as the counter electrode in dye sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Adsorption of iodide species at the PEDOT surface, as well as Pt surface was little affected the redox reaction at the low concentration of redox couple. The PEDOT-TsO film had porous structure and charge transfer resistance of the PEDOT-TsO electrode decreased with the thickness. Photovoltaic performance of DSCs with PEDOT-TsO counter electrode (CE) also improved with the thickness of PEDOT-TsO when ionic liquid was used for the electrolyte. The use of porous PEDOT-TsO counter electrode that has low cost, simplified fabrication process and sufficient catalytic activity could enhance the potential of the DSCs for practical use.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► A method to compute shading losses in PV fields with 2-axis trackers is proposed. ► Ray tracing software is used to account for the motions of sun and trackers. ► Ease of use and good results were obtained in comparison with previous methods. ► The method is simple, easy to implement and software independent.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Waste sludge, a solid recovered from wastewater of photovoltaic-industries, composes of agglomerates of nano-particles like SiO2 and CaCO3. This sludge deflocculates in aqueous solutions into nano-particles smaller than 1μm. Thus, this sludge constitutes a potentially hazardous waste when it is improperly disposed. Due to its high content of amorphous SiO2, this sludge has a potential use as supplementary cementitious material (SCM) in concrete. In this study the main properties of three different samples of photovoltaic's silica-rich waste sludge (nSS) were physically and chemically characterized. The characterization techniques included: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen physical adsorption isotherm (BET method), density by Helium pycnometry, particle size distribution determined by laser light scattering (LLS) and zeta-potential measurements by dynamic light scattering (DLS). In addition, a dispersability study was performed to design stable slurries to be used as liquid additives for the concrete production on site. The effects on the hydration kinetics of cement pastes by the incorporation of nSS in the designed slurries were determined using an isothermal calorimeter. A compressive strength test of standard mortars with 7% of cement replacement was performed to determine the pozzolanic activity of the waste nano-silica sludge. Finally, the hardened system was fully characterized to determine the phase composition. The results demonstrate that the nSS can be utilized as SCM to replace portion of cement in mortars, thereby decreasing the CO2 footprint and the environmental impact of concrete.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, a numerical study is performed to investigate the effects of nanofluid on the productivity of a stepped solar still. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis is arranged to determine the sensitivity of the hourly productivity to the height and length of steps. Finally, an optimization analysis is performed by using response surface method to optimize the geometry of stepped inside the still. Obtained results indicate that 22% enhancement in the hourly productivity is observed by increasing the nanoparticle concentration from 0% to 5%. Moreover, there is only 2.1% difference between the estimated results by RSM and calculated results by CFD.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents a study of feasibility of different existing methodologies linked to field’s data acquisition from remote meteorological stations. The data transmission serves to collect field’s meteorological information, such as temperature, humidity and radiation. In our study the experimental data is registered in a weather station located about 100km from the University of Almeria. Various existing techniques are studied, especially Radio, GSM (global system of mobile communication) and GPRS (general packet radio service). In the result of these studies has been designed a system of field’s data acquisition (herein referred as Meteologger) which we are going to present in this paper. The system is based on an ATmega 16 microcontroller, which scans 8 sensors together at any programmable intervals. This paper presents the study of the mentioned project, application and some main characteristics of the prototype system and its program. We attempt to implement the system, and subsequently present the performance of tests regarding the mentioned system. To verify its functioning some comparison of this measurement system with two others commercial data-acquisition system (Campbell and Hobo H8) has been carried out.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Surface photovoltage (SPV) method for the characterization of multicrystalline silicon material for photovoltaic applications has been investigated, in view of its application as in-line characterization tool in photovoltaic industry. Minority carrier diffusion lengths have been measured by SPV on as-grown multicrystalline Si wafers as well as on emitter diffused multicrystalline Si wafers, showing the capability and the flexibility of the method. The usual assumptions for SPV data analyses have been critically discussed. The SPV values of diffusion length have been related with material characteristics and process control.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "System efficiency and payback time are yet to attain a commercially viable level for solar photovoltaic energy projects. Despite huge development in prediction of solar radiation data, there is a gap in extraction of pertinent information from such data. Hence the available data cannot be effectively utilized for engineering application. This is acting as a barrier for the emerging technology. For making accurate engineering and financial calculations regarding any solar energy project, it is crucial to identify and optimize the most significant statistic(s) representing insolation availability by the Photovoltaic setup at the installation site. Quality Function Deployment (QFD) technique has been applied for identifying the statistic(s), which are of high significance from a project designer's point of view. A MATLAB™ program has been used to build the annual frequency distribution of hourly insolation over any module plane at a given location. Descriptive statistical analysis of such distributions is done through MINITABTM. For Building Integrated Photo Voltaic (BIPV) installation, similar statistical analysis has been carried out for the composite frequency distribution, which is formed by weighted summation of insolation distributions for different module planes used in the installation. Vital most influential statistic(s) of the composite distribution have been optimized through Artificial Neural Network computation. This approach is expected to open up a new horizon in BIPV system design.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Seven Bacillus strains isolated from milk powder production lines were grown in two selective media. All the strains produced extracellular and intracellular proteinase and lipase activity, but at different levels. Proteolytic activity was generally highest at neutral to alkaline pH. Inhibitor studies showed that two types of proteinase were produced — a serine proteinase and a metallo-proteinase. Not all of the strains produced both types of activity and those that did produced different levels. All strains produced a 1,3-specific lipolytic activity that showed a preference for short-chain fatty acids. The lipolytic activity had greater heat stability than the proteinase activities, but all would clearly survive pasteurisation at 72°C for 2min in milk. Further, the enzymes are likely to survive any heat treatments applied during commercial milk powder manufacture. The enzymes remain active in milk powder during storage, and are therefore likely to be active in milk products made from recombined milk powder.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Glancing angle deposition (GLAD) was used to deposit controlled-porosity TiO2 thin films of varying pore size and shape. Hybrid materials were fabricated by infiltrating the TiO2 films with poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) using a spin casting process, which were either employed as-cast or subjected to thermal processing. Photovoltaic devices fabricated using these hybrid materials were characterized as a function of TiO2 pore size and shape, and thermal processing. It was found that the optimum pore size was dependent on the thermal history of the sample. When as-cast hybrid materials were employed conversion efficiencies decreased with increasing pore size. When hybrid materials annealed above the melting point of P3HT were employed the trend was reversed, with conversion efficiency increasing with increasing pore size. Trends in conversion efficiency were found to correlate with P3HT crystallinity, demonstrating that optimum pore sizes for hybrid devices of this type are dependent on sample processing.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The improvement in photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells was found after aging in the dark and was analyzed by linear sweep voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The promotion was found to arise from the formation of blocking layers on the surface of nanocrystalline TiO2, resulting most likely from the intermolecular electrostatic action between the 4-tert-butylpyridine and the 1,2-dimethyl-3-propylimidazolium ions. These blocking layers can retard the interfacial reaction of the electron with I3 − ions without deteriorating the rate of regeneration of the oxidized dye molecules. By virtue of the blocking layers, the retarding recombination of electrons with the I3 − ions significantly increased the electron lifetime and enlarged the electron diffusion length, resulting in a higher open-circuit voltage and an improvement in charge collection efficiency, and eventually an enhancement of the energy conversion efficiency.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The structural, electronic and thermoelectric properties of AZr1-xMxO3 (A = Ba, Ca, Sr; M = Al, Cu, x = 0.25) without and with an oxygen vacancy (Vo) have been unveiled using the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof Generalized Gradient Approximation (PBE-GGA) functional along with Tran-Blaha modified Becke-Jonhson (TB-mBJ)approximation based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) in the framework of WIEN2k code for memristors applications. Moreover, isosurface charge density plots have been calculated by using Vienna ab initio Simulation Package (VASP) simulation code. The analysis of structural parameters reveals that substituting Zr4+ with Al3+ and Cu2+ causes the lattice distortion which tends to increase in the presence of Vo along with dopant. The study of band structure, density of states (DOS) and isosurface charge density plots predict the enhanced charge conduction and formation of conducting filaments (CFs) for all composites with dopant and/or Vo. Moreover, spin polarized density of states for Cu doped composites has also been calculated to confirm the large exchange splitting of Cu-3d states. The thermoelectric characteristics of considered composites have also been explored using the Boltztrap code to better explain the semi-classical Boltzmann transport theory. Thermoelectric parameters confirm the semiconductor nature of all composites, ensuring the compatibility for memristors and thermoelectric devices applications. In addition to this spin polarized thermoelectric behavior of Cu doped composites that ensure the contribution of spin down ( ↓ ) states of Cu for charge transport mechanism. The SrZrCuO3+Vo composite is found most promising candidate followed by BaZrCuO3 for memristors applications while, CaZrCuO3 is found most suitable amongst studied composites for thermoelectric devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Icephobic materials can prevent or reduce ice formation, e.g. by ensuring easy detachment, a desirable property for those applications where ice accumulation is critical to human safety. Herein, we develop a chitosan electrolyte hydrogel to create a bio-based surface with low ice adhesion. The chitosan electrolyte hydrogel is physically crosslinked and infused with salted water at concentrations from 4.5 to 30 g/L, including that of seawater (23 g/L). Depending on salt content in the hydrogel, we could obtain very low ice adhesion down to 140 kPa (at – 10°C). We hypothesize that the chitosan electrolyte hydrogel exploits the colligative properties of water avoiding the ice nucleation at the ice-hydrogel interface. To confirm the hypothesis, we investigate the chitosan electrolyte hydrogel structure by contact angles analysis, DSC, TGA, FTIR, XRD, and by rheometry for mechanical properties. We quantify the presence of non-freezing water, which creates a lubricating liquid water layer at the ice-hydrogel interface, affecting the ice detachment mechanism and lowering ice adhesion. In conclusion, the proposed chitosan electrolyte hydrogel presents a bio-based and cost-efficient strategy for ice detachment across various icing scenarios for systems operating in humid marine environments, such as offshore platforms and ships.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In Australia, the Federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson dropped a bombshell on the research community by directing the nation's leading research body on how it is to spend a third of its 2003 budget.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A novel alkyloxy-imidazole polymer was prepared by in situ co-polymerization of alkyloxy-imidazole and diiodide to develop an ionic polymer gel electrolyte for quasi-solid dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The DSCs with the polymer gel electrolyte of 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide (MPII) showed good photovoltaic performance including the short-circuit photocurrent density (J sc) of 3.6mAcm−2, the open-circuit voltage (V oc) of 714.8mV, the fill factor (FF) of 0.60 and the light-to-electricity conversion efficiency (η) of 1.56% under AM 1.5 (100mWcm−2). As a comparison, the DSCs with the polymer gel electrolyte of 1,2-dimethyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide (DMPII) yielded a light-to-electricity conversion efficiency of 1.33%. The results indicated that the as-prepared polymers were suitable for the solidification of liquid electrolytes in DSCs.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter provides an introduction to III–V space solar cells. Among different investigated heterostructures based on III–V heterojunctions appropriate for fabrication of single junction solar cells, aluminum gallium arsenide/ Gallium arsenide (AlGaAs/GaAs) heterostructures have found the first application because of the well-matched lattice parameters of GaAs and α-linolenic acids (AlAs) and because GaAs has an optimal bandgap for effective sunlight conversion. The Bragg reflector (BR) made of semiconductor layers is widely used in lasers and other optical devices. By using a multiple layer composed of two materials with different refractive indices, nearly 100% reflectance can be achieved over a restricted wavelength range. Epitaxial (MOCVD) Bragg reflectors in solar cells are based on the pairs of AIxGa1-xAs and GaAs layers. The new III-V low-dimensional structures based on superlattice and multiquantum wells, as well as metallic and quantum dot intermediate bands, are proposed currently for solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report UHV STM/scanning tunnelling spectroscopy (STS) studies on mesoporous TiO2 films in the presence and absence of adsorbed dye sensitisers (chlorophyll and a Ru bipyridyl dye). Interconnected and aggregated TiO2 nanocrystallites with mean diameters typically of 30–80 nm and different pore sizes are observed in STM images. The results show that, under controlled tunnelling conditions, the surface apparent band gap of as-prepared thin films is consistent with the bulk band gap of 3.2 eV , but that a quite different, lower surface apparent band gap is observed when a sensitising dye is adsorbed. Moreover, the characteristic measured in this case is dependent on the choice of dye, showing that the STM I/V characteristic is sensitive to the adsorbed dye, rather than merely to the effect of surface adsorbed water. We discuss possible mechanisms for this effect, and the use of this effect in the optimisation of dye-sensitised photovoltaic cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter provides an overview of the energy conundrum that everyone faces. It discusses the overbearance of continued government regulations and programs that have indirect economic consequences in the promotion and use of solar energy. Issues related to climate change are addressed and many details involving the Cap and Trade Bill that Congress attempted to pass in 2009 are discussed. By examining the contents of such a massive 1400 plus page bill, it can be understood that few people read or even understood such legislation, causing consternation of further proposals. Energy production by developing and implementing natural domestic resources is discussed relative to establishing a stable and strengthened economy. Solar energy is compared to other forms of energy in terms of environmental considerations, and annual energy consumption of the world in regard to known reserves of finite fossil and nuclear resources are illustrated and compared to the yearly potential of renewable energy alternatives.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Using the first-principles calculations, we investigate the geometric structure, electronic and magnetic properties of armchair silicene nanoribbons (ASiNRs) doped with aluminum (Al) or phosphorus (P) atoms. Total energy analysis shows that both Al and P atoms are preferentially doping at the edge site of ASiNRs. And the magnetism can be found in both Al and P doped systems. For Al doped ASiNRs, we find that the magnetic moment and band gap are dependent on the ribbon width. While for P doped ASiNRs, the magnetic moment always keeps 1 μ B and is independent of the ribbon width, meanwhile the band gap oscillates with a period of three with the ribbon width increasing. Our results present a new avenue for band engineering of SiNRs and benefit for the designing of silicone-based nano-spin-devices in nanoelectronics.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The electronic properties of interfaces play a decisive role in determining the electrical characteristics of organic photovoltaic cells. In this paper, it is proposed that the mechanism responsible for the energy level alignment observed upon interface formation involves charge transfer between the electrode and the organic semiconductor. The amount of charges transferred is determined by occupying the density of states of the semiconductor according to Fermi–Dirac statistics and the observed energy level shifts are then governed by electrostatics. Within the proposed framework, we also discuss and numerically model the impact of the coupling strength between the molecular and the metal states. Photoelectron spectroscopy studies on two types of technologically relevant model interfaces, namely a metal/insulator/organic semiconductor heterojunction and a donor/acceptor heterojunction supported on a metal electrode, are then presented. The experimental observations, ranging from band bending to interface dipole formation, are shown to emerge naturally from the same theoretical framework. These results unambiguously demonstrate the essential role of the metal electrode in governing the energy level alignment, even significantly away from the metal surface.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Photoemission spectra of a GaAs gate material of a metal semiconductor field effect transistor (MESFET) were analyzed to nondestructively assess the submicron-size local gate temperature. Utilizing the micromanipulator, the laser beam was precisely adjusted to probe the exact position of the device gate. The emission spectral bands due to the interaction among photons, free excitons and impurity bound excitons in GaAs gate materials were measured and identified both at 299.1K and 84.8K. The shift of the band was found to be 16.30 meV for the free excitons when the device was not powered, while the band shift of the gate was 7.38 meV when the device was powered at 84.8K. Simple first order calculations based on the theory of temperature shift of the bound excitons, predicts an inversely proportional relationship between the emission bandshift and temperature. Measurements using this technique found an increase of 97.0K.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "With recent literature demonstrating enhancement of the thermoelectric performance of nanoscale materials relative to their corresponding bulk materials, methods to synthesize low-dimensional nanomaterials in large scale at low cost are needed. We demonstrate a method for preparing nanostructured dimagnesium silicide (Mg2Si) thermoelectric materials that are nanocomposites with MgO by the reduction of diatomaceous earth (diatoms) using a gas-displacement solid state reaction with magnesium vapor. The resulting semiconducting Mg2Si preserves the general morphology of the original diatoms and their nanosized grains at least down to the size of 30nm. This reaction represents a possible method for the production of large quantities of low-cost nanoscale thermoelectric materials with potential for enhanced thermoelectric performance.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The European Union Renewable Energy Partnerships program includes a Campaign for Take-Off.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Fossil fuel energy resources are becoming increasingly scarce. Given the negative environmental impacts (e.g. greenhouse gas emissions) that accompany their use, it is hardly surprising that the development of renewable energies has become a major priority in the world today. Andalusia, with a mean solar radiation of 4.75kWh/m2 per day and a surface area of 87,597km2, is the region in Europe with the highest solar energy potential. This research study determined the solar energy potential in Andalusia for grid-connected photovoltaic systems installed on residential rooftops. A methodology was developed for this purpose, which first involved a description of building characteristics, followed by the calculation of the useful roof surface area where photovoltaic arrays could be installed. In the next phase of the study, the mean solar irradiation characteristics were defined as well as the technical parameters of the photovoltaic systems. All of these factors allowed us to estimate the amount of electricity that could be potentially generated per year by solar panels.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The MESSENGER mission to Mercury, to be launched in 2004, will provide an opportunity to characterize Mercury's internal magnetic field during an orbital phase lasting one Earth year. To test the ability to determine the planetary dipole and higher-order moments from measurements by the spacecraft's fluxgate magnetometer, we simulate the observations along the spacecraft trajectory and recover the internal field characteristics from the simulated observations. The magnetic field inside Mercury's magnetosphere is assumed to consist of an intrinsic multipole component and an external contribution due to magnetospheric current systems described by a modified Tsyganenko 96 model. Under the axis-centered-dipole approximation without correction for the external field the moment strength is overestimated by ∼4% for a simulated dipole moment of 300 nTR M 3 , and the error depends strongly on the magnitude of the simulated moment, rising as the moment decreases. Correcting for the external field contributions can reduce the error in the dipole term to a lower limit of ∼1–2% without a solar wind monitor. Dipole and quadrupole terms, although highly correlated, are then distinguishable at the level equivalent to an error in the position of an offset dipole of a few tens of kilometers. Knowledge of the external magnetic field is therefore the primary limiting factor in extracting reliable knowledge of the structure of Mercury's magnetic field from the MESSENGER observations.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "To comply with regulations stated by the United Nation’s International Maritime Organization, ballast water discharged by ships must be treated to avoid the spread of invasive organisms including algae. In this study, Raman spectroscopy and multivariate data analysis was used to make a Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) classification model for discrimination between viable (potential invasive) and UV exposed non-viable organisms. UV exposure is commonly used as a ballast water treatment strategy and a UV based exposure method was developed such that non-viable (and dying) algae consistently could be obtained. Raman spectra from both viable and UV treated algae of Rhodomonas salina and Tetraselmis suecica were measured. A PLS-DA model was obtained to form the normalized dataset, and Cross-Validated using Venetian blinds. Based on their individual Raman spectra, it was possible to obtain 100 % discrimination between the two algal species. The model classified 92 and 91 % of the viable algae correctly for R. salina and T. suecica, respectively, as opposed to 82 and 94 % for non-viable algae. In conclusion, in this proof of concept study, Raman spectroscopy was found to have a potential for algae species identification as well as discrimination between viable and non-viable algae.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thin films of CdIn2S4 have been deposited on to stainless steel and fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)-coated glass substrates from aqueous acidic bath using an electrodeposition technique. Ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) disodium salt is used as complexing agent to obtain good-quality deposits by controlling the rate of the reaction. The different preparative parameters like concentration of bath, deposition time, bath temperature, pH of the bath have been optimized by the photoelectrochemical (PEC) technique in order to get good-quality photosensitive material. Different techniques have been used to characterize CdIn2S4 thin films. Optical absorption shows the presence of direct transition with band gap energy 2.17eV. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the as-deposited and annealed films showed the presence of polycrystalline nature. Energy-dispersive analysis by X-ray (EDAX) study for the sample deposited at optimized preparative parameters shows that the In-to-Cd ratio is almost 2 and S-to-Cd ratio is almost 4. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for samples deposited at optimized preparative parameters reveals that spherical grains are uniformly distributed over the surface of the substrate indicates the well-defined growth of polycrystalline CdIn2S4 thin film. PEC characterization of the films is carried out by studying photoresponse, spectral response and photovoltaic output characteristics. The fill factor (ff) and power conversion efficiency (η) of the cell are 69 and 2.94%, respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Typically, Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) thin films for photovoltaic devices are deposited by co-evaporation or, alternately, by deposition of the metals with or followed by treatment in a selenium environment. In this article, we describe CIGS films that are instead deposited by RF magnetron sputtering from a single quaternary target without any additional selenization. Devices built with these films exhibit efficiencies as high as 8.9%. We demonstrate that deposition power can be varied in order to change the film morphology and improve device performance.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Multi-material additive manufacturing by laser-based powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) enables arbitrary material composition in components and thus enables the manufacturing of so-called smart parts. By combining different materials sensoric structures can be implemented into components. This paper investigates the possibilities to manufacture thermocouples (TC) consisting of two nickel-based alloys by the means of PBF-LB. These alloys are qualified to achieve sufficient relative densities for the thermocouples. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity of the parts is measured and compared to literature values. Finally, additively manufactured thermocouples are tested in comparison to conventional thermocouples in the temperature range from 50 to 350°C.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Photovoltaic conversion is the conversion of radiant energy (light quanta) into electrical energy that can be achieved with the use of semiconductor materials, for which the electron excitation caused by impinging light quanta has a strongly enhancing effect on the conductivity. A p-n junction provides an electrical field that causes the electrons excited by radiation (such as solar) to move in the direction from the p-type to the n-type material and cause the vacancies (holes) left by the excited electrons to move in the opposite direction. If the electrons and holes reach the respective edges of the semiconductor material, the device is capable of delivering electrical power to an external circuit. The motion of electrons or holes receives competition from recombination processes (electrons being recaptured into vacancies), giving importance to such factors as overall dimensions and electron mobility in the material used. A p-n junction may be utilized to convert solar radiation energy into electric power. A solar cell is formed by shaping the junction in such a way that the p-type material can be reached by incident solar radiation by placing a thin layer of p-type material on top of a piece of n-type semiconductor. In the dark and with no external voltage, the net current across the junction is zero. An alternative n-p type of solar cell may consist of a thin n-type layer exposed to solar radiation on top of a p-type base. In this case, the excess holes in the n-type valence band produce the photo-induced current. The efficiency of solar cell radiant-to-electrical energy conversion is the ratio of the power E delivered and the incident energy.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The rapid crystallization of amorphous silicon utilizing the radio-frequency (rf) inductive coupling thermal plasma torch of argon is demonstrated. Highly-crystallized Si films were fabricated on thermally grown (th-)SiO2 and textured a-Si:H:B/SnO2/glass by adjusting a distance between the tip of the silica tube and the substrate stage and the translational velocity of the substrate stage. The crystallization was promoted efficiently from the bottom to front surface during the solidification and crystallization of liquid Si.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A consensus has long existed within the electric utility sector of the United States that renewable electricity generators such as wind and solar are unreliable and intermittent to a degree that they will never be able to contribute significantly to electric utility supply or provide baseload power. This paper asks three interconnected questions: 1. What do energy experts really think about renewables in the United States? 2. To what degree are conventional baseload units reliable? 3. Is intermittency a justifiable reason to reject renewable electricity resources? To provide at least a few answers, the author conducted 62 formal, semi-structured interviews at 45 different institutions including electric utilities, regulatory agencies, interest groups, energy systems manufacturers, nonprofit organizations, energy consulting firms, universities, national laboratories, and state institutions in the United States. In addition, an extensive literature review of government reports, technical briefs, and journal articles was conducted to understand how other countries have dealt with (or failed to deal with) the intermittent nature of renewable resources around the world. It was concluded that the intermittency of renewables can be predicted, managed, and mitigated, and that the current technical barriers are mainly due to the social, political, and practical inertia of the traditional electricity generation system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report a new technique for the growth of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films. The CZTS thin films were successfully formed by electrodeposition in ionic liquid and sulfurized in elemental sulfur vapor ambient at 450°C for 1.5h using Argon as the carrier gas. Experimental data on X-ray diffraction indicated that the film has a kesterite structure with preferred grain orientation along (112). It is found that the energy bandgap of the film is about 1.49eV and the optical absorption coefficient is in the order of 104 cm−1. The results are compared to a control film grown by e-beam deposition of elemental stacked layers followed by the same sulfurization process. The data show that the two films have comparable optoelectronic properties indicating that electrodeposition in ionic liquid is a viable process for the growth of CZTS films for applications in photovoltaic device. The XRD results also indicate an absence of the oxide peak in the material, which is commonly found in films grown by electrodeposition in aqueous solutions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "An efficient and reliable characterization of PV devices is paramount for the establishment of new PV installations and for evaluation of the performance of the existent ones. In order to analyze the electrical performance of photovoltaic devices it is essential the determination of the characteristic current versus voltage (I–V) curve from which important information about several parameters of the PV generator can be obtained. The objective of this work is to present an accurate and reliable post-processing method for measured I–V curves (raw data) of photovoltaic devices. In order to implement this post-processing method in-house software (which is described in this work) was developed to post-process I–V curves of any PV device. This software allows the determination of several parameters from a measured I–V curve, as well as its translation to any irradiance and temperature conditions. The post-processing method has been tested in a wide range of raw data I–V curves related to modules based on different technologies. The results have shown a very good level of reliability and accuracy for traditional crystalline silicon and thin film devices.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A photovoltaic (PV) system can generate electrical energy and maintain sustainability in the environment. In the future, these energy-generating systems that do not alter the environment will play a major role in building a nation. A PV system, a sustainable energy source, acts as a vital system in reducing environmental pollution and is called a clean energy source. In this study, we analysed the performance of various PV cell materials such as mono crystalline (m-Si), polycrystalline (p-Si), and black solar cells. The operating parameters of a solar PV cell, such as parasitic series and shunt resistances and photo-generated current, are affected by temperature. A m-Si module of 250 W shunt resistance, polycrystalline module of a 3-kW (Yingli's manufactured) system in a series resistance, and black m-Si type of 250W and 3kW of photo-generated current were highly influenced and changed their output with the effect of temperature. Theoretical parasitic resistances were calculated using the Lambert W function. These theoretical investigation results were compared with the experimental results of 3-kW polycrystalline solar PV modules. Moreover, the influence of this resistance on system performance was analysed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, a theoretical study of the effect of material parameters on the quantum efficiency of a homogeneous GaInAsSb infrared photovolatic detector is presented. The considerations are carried out for the near room temperature and 2.5 μm wavelength. The calculated results show that the quantum efficiency depends strongly on the carrier concentrations in the n- and p-regions. In addition, the absorption coefficient, the surface recombination velocities and the widths of the two regions also effect the quantum efficiency.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The chemical-physical properties of thin lanthanum (oxy)boride films deposited on polycrystalline tantalum substrates by different deposition techniques (Pulsed Laser Deposition - PLD - with either nanosecond or femtosecond laser source, and electron beam evaporation) were compared in order to investigate the effect of chemical composition, crystallinity, surface morphology of the thin films on the thermionic electron emission capability. The emission performance of the films was analyzed in the 700–1600 °C temperature range, allowing the determination of work function values ranging from 2.59 to 2.85 eV and an effective Richardson constant at least one order of magnitude lower than the ideal value for all the films. The highest measured thermionic current density value of 1.68 A/cm2 at 1600 °C was provided by the samples grown by femtosecond PLD, indicating a promising performance for practical application in high-temperature thermal-to-electric energy conversion.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Considerable attention has recently been given to bimetallic systems such as Cu–Pd alloys as hydrogen storage material. These alloys are attractive alternatives to pure Pd membranes because of their sulphur tolerance and high permeability to hydrogen. The density functional theory based full potential linearized augmented plane wave and projector augmented wave methods have been implemented to understand the phenomenon of hydrogen diffusion in Cu–Pd alloys. The AuCu3 structure of CuPd3 and Cu3Pd allows intercalation of hydrogen atoms in its octahedral sites. The lattice parameters and volume of the unit cell expand on hydrogenation, without phase change. We have studied the formation and stability of hydrides of the ternary alloys. The heats of formation support the hydrogenation of CuPd3 alloy whereas the endothermic reactions indicate that hydrogen will be absorbed in the Cu3Pd alloy at the expense of energy. The phonon dispersion relations of the hydrides of CuPd3 exhibits instability due to the Pd–H bonds which leads to distortion of Pd-octahedra in the unit cell. Softening of acoustic modes is not observed in the Cu3Pd alloy; instead the optical modes due to H–H bonds have very high vibrational frequencies. The permeance of H atoms in the alloy can be quantified from the extent of hybridization between H s-states, Cu and Pd d-states. From the density of states, the movement of the H s-band and centre of d-bands towards the Fermi energy level EF was observed. Both the factors indicated that the monohydride of CuPd3 was most stable. The temperature dependent Hall and Seebeck coefficients reflect the modifications in the electronic structure due to formation of hydrides. At ambient temperatures, the free charges carriers (electrons) are found to increase in the monohydride of Cu3Pd, whereas it decreases in the monohydride of CuPd3. The electronic component of specific heats γ obtained from low temperature specific heats is found to decrease in the hydrides of both the alloys, which implies an increase in the lattice contribution through the electron-phonon coupling. From the optical properties, it is possible to monitor the hydrogen uptake in the alloys by studying the variations in reflectance, absorption coefficients in the visible regions. The electronic and dynamical studies suggest that the alloy with excess Pd has potential applications as hydrogen storage materials. The monohydride of CuPd3 appears to be appropriately stable for applications such as electrode material in rechargeable batteries.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter provides an overview of research efforts toward the application of micro- and nanotechnologies to solar photovoltaics (PVs). Shorter-term applications are focused on improving the processing cost of conventional thin-film solar cells using nanoparticle inks, as well as improving performance by using novel optical films. There are also efforts to develop novel micro/nanoarchitectures such as nanowire or nanocomposite-based devices. Finally, various quantum-based concepts are considered, and progress toward demonstration of devices is discussed. The chapter ends with a perspective on the future of micro/nanosolar technologies in PVs and the potential manufacturing issues that are anticipated as these new technologies develop.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We present a series of fabrication processes of high-performance thermoelectric gas sensor micro-devices including a membrane–releasing process in KOH for the mass production of hot-plate type membrane devices. The fabricated devices are hydrogen gas sensors based on the thermoelectric detection of the catalytic hydrogen combustion. The KOH wet etching membrane–releasing process, using protective wax or polymer coating shows fabrication yields of over 70% and 80%. Most sensors detect wide range hydrogen concentration from several part-per-million, ppm, to percent in air demonstrating robust sensor process. As the device working principle of the Seebeck effect is linear phenomena, a good linear relationship between voltage signal and hydrogen concentration can be achieved, 1mV=1000ppm, down to 50ppm hydrogen in air. The test method for a large number of sensor devices has been developed, and the validation study for mass production of gas sensors is carried out.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The optical degradation induced by long-term (about 15 years) field exposure on c-Si photovoltaic modules belonging to the large-scale Delphos ENEA PV plant, located in Manfredonia (South of Italy), was investigated by making comparative reflectance measurements on the exposed modules, after their dismounting and cleaning, and on the original, unexposed counterparts. Four types of module fabrication technologies were analyzed: Helios single-Si, Pragma single-Si, Pragma multi-Si and Ansaldo multi-Si. Siemens multi-Si modules, of recent technology and exposed for 5 years, were taken as reference. The electrical loss measured for the single PV generators of the Delphos plant, each corresponding to a particular module technology, after a monitoring period of about 10 years, resulted to range between 11–22% for the output power and 9–14% for the output current. The aging effects on the dismounted and cleaned modules appeared as the discoloration of ARC layer, particularly at the center of the cells, and as the formation of stains distributed over the cell surface, likely due to the browning of the EVA. The spectral measurements of the total hemispherical reflectance, carried out under direct light at near-normal incidence, showed that the discoloration of ARC is associated to a decrease of the reflectance in the blue region (400–500nm), and a resulting levelling of the spectral reflectance curves. The spectrally integrated measurements of reflectance carried out at diffuse white light, on the other hand, have provided evidence of an increase of the total hemispherical reflectance for exposed modules, particularly marked for the multi-Si modules, which correlates quite well with the extent of current loss measured on the single PV generators of Delphos plant.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Five novel organic sensitizers that contain a fused-planar triphenylamine as electron donor have been synthesized and their photophysical properties, theoretical calculation and photovoltaic performances as well as stability test have been studied. Under standard AM 1.5 sunlight, the sensitizer JK-164 yielded a short-circuit photocurrent density of 15.32mAcm−2, an open-circuit voltage of 0.70V, and a fill factor of 0.74, corresponding to an overall conversion efficiency of 7.86%. The JK-164 cell exhibits an excellent stability, revealing a slight change after 1000h of light soaking at 60°C using a solvent free ionic liquid. The cell shows a higher open-circuit voltage (V oc) compared to that of JK-163 due to an increased electron life time (τ c ) in the conduction band of TiO2.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The FREI dynamics of methane/oxygen mixture were observed experimentally in a micro quartz tube combustor. A 2-D model was used to predict propagation features of FREI flame and the simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental results. According to the flame velocity and the wall heat flux obtained from simulation data, four stages of flame front propagation were revealed, namely accelerating stage, decelerating stage, reverse propagating stage and weak reaction stage. Further investigation on flame front propagation were taken in the view of radical analysis and heat release rate (HRR) analysis. Main elementary reactions that contributed to the HRR were acquired. Results revealed that the regeneration of CH4 behind the flame front and the reducing consumption of the overall quantity of methane caused the deacceleration of the flame. The extinction of the flame was due to the negative HRR in the combustor. After the extinction of the flame, the consumption of methane tended to exist along the combustor wall owing to the high wall temperature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Perturb and Observe (P&O) and Incremental Conductance (INC) are widely used as Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) techniques in Photovoltaic (PV) systems. But, they fail under rapidly varying of sunlight levels. This paper proposes a new MPPT technique, which can make a distinction between perturbation in the reference voltage and sudden-changing of sunlight and thus optimize the PV system efficiency. This method consists on a modified INC algorithm, which is used to fine-tune the duty cycle of the DC/DC converter in order to avoid divergences of the maximum power point (MPP) when using basic INC under fast varying of luminosity levels. The proposed PV-MPPT system, which is composed by a step-up converter as the interface to feed the load, is tested by simulation within the Matlab/Simulink software by taking into account the luminosity, the temperature and the load variation. The simulation results are satisfactory and demonstrate that the improved INC technique can track the PV maximum power at diverse operating conditions with the most excellent performance, the energy conversion efficiency is increased by approximately 5%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Low and middle income countries are usually trapped by their natural resource abundance, and thus have little opportunity to diversify their electricity matrix. On the other hand, in high income countries, new electricity sources have been growing faster, regardless of their resource endowments. As income grows, countries should have more opportunities to develop new technologies. Thus, the evolution of technologies to generate electricity should lead to a new mix of fuel consumption along the steps of an imaginary electricity ladder, from the more traditional to the more advanced and cleaner technologies. Notwithstanding the income effect, the endowment effect could hinder the diversity of electricity sources. In this context, we examine whether or not Brazil has been able to diversify its electricity mix with respect to income growth, by breaking what we called the “endowment trap”. Based on an economic model developed in this research, we found evidence that Brazil has succeeded in breaking its hydroelectric dependency, but has not eliminated the polluting sources.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Three organic dyes with D-π-D-π-A structure based on triarylamine, dimethylarylamine, and rhodanine-3-acetic acid moieties are designed and synthesized. Incorporating thiophene moieties into the system affords sensitizers with high molar extinction coefficients. These dyes were applied into nanocrystalline TiO2 dye-sensitized solar cells through standard operations. For a typical device the maximal monochromatic incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) can reach 73%, with a short-circuit photocurrent density (J sc) of 7.3mA/cm2, an open-circuit voltage (Voc ) of 636mV, and a fill factor (ff) of 0.61, corresponding to an overall conversion efficiency (η) of 2.86%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Many battery energy-storage applications are currently undergoing a progressive change away from the traditional flooded lead–acid battery to a valve-regulated design which offers convenience both in operation (spill-proof, able to be rapidly recharged) and in reduced maintenance. At the same time, there are large changes in prospect in the applications themselves. In the transport sector, it appears that at least part of the largest of all present markets, the 12/14V starting, lighting and ignition (SLI) battery, will be replaced by a 36/42V system. Also, there may be some substitution of electric and/or hybrid electric vehicles for vehicles that employ internal combustion engines alone. There is also, currently, rapid growth in the use of valve-regulated lead–acid batteries for telecommunications and there is enormous potential for future growth in remote-area power supplies (RAPSs). The present paper reviews some of the salient aspects of the research and development programs that are being carried out in order to meet these challenges.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Fengyun-4A (FY-4A), which is the latest-generation Chinese geostationary meteorological satellite, measures solar reflection and thermal emission with high temporal, spatial, and spectral resolutions. It is expected to be highly beneficial for solar resource assessment and forecasting in China. This study is the first to estimate, using FY-4A and a random forest model, the global horizontal irradiance (GHI) at a 4-km–15-min spatio-temporal resolution over China, as a means to arrive at a solar photovoltaic (PV) resource map. In terms of GHI estimates, the root mean square error and mean bias error between hourly measured and retrieved values are 147.02 (35.2%), −5.64 W/m2 (−1.4%), respectively, whereas the values of daily estimates are 29.20 (18.0%), −2.97 W/m2 (−1.3%). The retrieval accuracy is found much better for instances with solar zenith angles smaller than 60°. Relatively larger errors are found at locations in the Sichuan Basin and northeastern China, which can be attributed to bright surfaces and/or strong cloud transients. With the retrieved irradiance, PV resource is derived through a physical model chain. The annual mean PV resource map suggests that, over most of the west areas, the annual mean effective irradiance exceeds 1700 kWh/m2, with the highest value found in Tibet (around 2000 kWh/m2 per annum). Eastern China has an annual effective irradiance of only 1300–1500 kWh/m2. The region with poorest solar resource is the Sichuan Basin (less than 1100 kWh/m2 per annum).",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Passive radiative cooling, which creates a direct in-situ cooling effect, along with a natural refrigerant-based vapor compression system, could be a potential alternative for building air conditioning to reduce the heat island effect and global warming. Hence, the radiative cooler is integrated with transcritical CO2 air conditioner as a sub-cooler or/and roof envelope. Three configurations of radiative cooler integrated CO2 system (Case 1: radiative cooler as roof envelope only, Case 2: radiative cooler as sub-cooler only and Case 3: radiative cooler as sandwiched roof envelope and sub-cooler) are proposed and simulated for tropical Indian summer climate. Energy, exergy and economic analyses along with gas cooler pressure optimization are performed. The Monte Carlo method is used to calculate annual energy savings for all three cases. Results show that case 3 exceeds the performance of other cases. Case 3 also reduces the variations of optimum gas cooler pressure and cooling load, leading to the smooth operation of the CO2 air conditioner. COP increment of 33.8% and exergy efficiency improvement of 29.1% are observed for case 3. A simple payback period of 5.3 years is worked out for case 3. Annual energy saving per unit area for case 3 is found comparable to solar photovoltaic integration.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents an efficient photovoltaic power interface circuit incorporated with a buck-boost converter and a full-bridge inverter. It connects up a solar array to power a utility line. The proposed interface circuit consists of five switches, an input inductor, and LC filters. The buck-boost converter operates at high switching frequency to make the output current a sine wave, whereas the full-bridge inverter operates at low switching frequency of 50–60 Hz, which is determined by the ac utility line frequency; thus, it can reduce the switching losses incurred by the full-bride inverter. In the output stage, a high power-factor is achieved without an additional current controller owing to the input inductor current operatly in a discontinuous conduction mode. Consequently, it has a simple and robust circuit configuration. Operational modes are analysed, and then the validity of the proposed interface circuit is verified through computer-aided simulations and experiments based on a laboratory prototype of 150 W.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The principle and process of dye removal from BiOCl-1 exposed (001) surface by piezoelectric photocatalysis under the action of light and ultrasound were introduced.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Excimer laser-crystallized silicon solar cells fabricated show a steady increment of the current densities with exposure to simulated sunlight, over a 30min period. The current density of the amorphous silicon cell under identical conditions remains steady, with no significant change. The process was observed to be reversible upon cooling, and the performance increase is attributed to the energy barrier introduced by the enhanced bandgap of a nanocrystalline silicon middle layer, created as a result of the crystallization. It is suggested that the thermal energy due to prolonged illumination allows carriers to cross the barrier increasing output currents.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Capping interactions associated with specific sequences at or near the ends of α-helices are important determinants of the stability of protein secondary and tertiary structure. We investigate here the role of the helix-capping motif Ser-X-X-Glu, a sequence that occurs frequently at the N termini of α helices in proteins, on the conformation and stability of the GCN4 leucine zipper. The 1.8 Å resolution crystal structure of the capped molecule reveals distinct conformations, packing geometries and hydrogen-bonding networks at the amino terminus of the two helices in the leucine zipper dimer. The free energy of helix stabilization associated with the hydrogen-bonding and hydrophobic interactions in this capping structure is −1.2 kcal/mol, evaluated from thermal unfolding experiments. A single cap thus contributes appreciably to stabilizing the terminated helix and thereby the native state. These results suggest that helix capping plays a further role in protein folding, providing a sensitive connector linking α-helix formation to the developing tertiary structure of a protein.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Magnesium silicide (Mg2Si) is a promising intermetallic compound for applications such as light-weight composite materials and thermoelectric energy conversion. It is difficult, however, to synthesize high-quality Mg2Si on a large scale. Self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) is an attractive pathway, but it is difficult to ignite the low-exothermic Mg/Si mixture and achieve a self-sustained propagation of the combustion wave. In the present paper, mechanical activation was used to facilitate the ignition. Magnesium and silicon powders were mixed and then milled in a planetary ball mill in an argon environment. The mixtures were compacted into pellets and ignited at the top in a reaction chamber filled with argon. Depending on the pellet dimensions and diameter-to-height ratio, two modes of combustion synthesis, viz., thermal explosion and SHS, were observed. In both modes, Mg2Si product was obtained. Thermocouple measurements have revealed that the exothermic reaction stages include two self-heating events separated by a long period of relatively slow interaction. To clarify the reaction mechanisms, differential scanning calorimetry was used, which also revealed two peaks of exothermic reaction in the milled Mg/Si mixture. The first peak is explained by the effect of mechanical activation. Explosive-based shockwave consolidation was used to increase the product density. Thermophysical properties of the obtained material were determined using a laser flash apparatus.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "From the measurements of Raman spectra of ternary InP1−x As x (x=0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) under high pressure, the pressure-dependence of the ionicity was found to be strongly affected by the As mole fraction x. In particular, for x=0.6 and 0.8 ternary alloys, the effective dynamic charge of InP-like mode strictly increases with pressure, in sharp contrast to the corresponding behavior satisfied by the majority of III–V and II–VI binary compounds including InP. This can be understood by the charge transfer from As to P in the cation sublattice when the ternary alloys are under pressure.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The solar photovoltaic (PV) industry has undergone a dramatic evolution over the past decade, growing at an average rate of 48 percent per year to a global market size of 31GW in 2012, and with the price of crystalline-silicon PV module as low as $0.72/W in September 2013. To examine this evolution we built a comprehensive dataset from 2000 to 2012 for the PV industries in the United States, China, Japan, and Germany, which we used to develop a model to explain the dynamics among innovation, manufacturing, and market. A two-factor learning curve model is constructed to make explicit the effect of innovation from economies of scale. The past explosive growth has resulted in an oversupply problem, which is undermining the effectiveness of “demand-pull” policies that could otherwise spur innovation. To strengthen the industry we find that a policy shift is needed to balance the excitement and focus on market forces with a larger commitment to research and development funding. We use this work to form a set of recommendations and a roadmap that will enable a next wave of innovation and thus sustainable growth of the PV industry into a mainstay of the global energy economy.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Photothermal conversion attracted lots of attention in the past years and sorts of materials were explored to enhance photothermal efficiency. In the past years, solar-driven desalination by photothermal conversion was proposed to release the shortage of fresh water and then it was considered much more important to prepare photothermal materials on large scales with high performance and low cost. In this review, we summarized the works on carbon-based photothermal materials in the past years, including the preparation as well as their application in steam generation. From these works, we give an outlook on the difficulties and chances of how to design and prepare carbon-based photothermal materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The fine adjustment of the organic absorber nanoscopic properties, such as crystallite orientation, dimension and separation distance is demonstrated. This is essential for organic solar cells based on bulk and three-layered molecular heterojunctions for well controlled and reproducible properties. The required structures are achieved by using the organic vapor-phase deposition technique. Homogeneously nanostructured donor copper phthalocyanine layers are grown as a function of process parameters as columnar and/or horizontal elongated-rod-like crystallites on single crystalline <100>-oriented Si wafers as well as 3,4-polyethylenedioxythiophene:polystyrenesulfonate-coated indium tin oxide/glass substrates. The influence of the CuPc crystallinity on the photovoltaic properties of the organic solar cell devices is investigated.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Photovoltaic (PV) effects of Pt sandwiched polycrystalline BiFeO3 (BFO) thin films deposited directly on Pt(111)/Ti/ SiO2/Si(001) substrate at 550°C by radio frequency magnetron sputtering are investigated under different BFO film thicknesses. It is found that both 300 and 450nm thick BFO thin films do not exhibit obvious PV effects, which can be attributed to their large leakage current density. However, obvious PV effects are observed in the samples of 600 and 750nm in thickness. It is found that not only the open circuit voltage but also the short circuit current density of the two samples decreases with the increasing annealing temperature on top Pt/BFO interfaces. The obtained PV results can be explained by the change of the interface state induced by the high temperature thermal treatment.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1) virions and HSV-1-infected cells bind to human immunoglobulin G (hIgG) via its Fc region. A complex of two surface glycoproteins encoded by HSV-1, gE and gI, is responsible for Fc binding. We have co-expressed soluble truncated forms of gE and gI in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Soluble gE-gI complexes can be purified from transfected cell supernatants using a purification scheme that is based upon the Fc receptor function of gE-gI. Using gel filtration and analytical ultracentrifugation, we determined that soluble gE-gI is a heterodimer composed of one molecule of gE and one molecule of gI and that gE-gI heterodimers bind hIgG with a 1:1 stoichiometry. Biosensor-based studies of the binding of wild type or mutant IgG proteins to soluble gE-gI indicate that histidine 435 at the CH2-CH3 domain interface of IgG is a critical residue for IgG binding to gE-gI. We observe many similarities between the characteristics of IgG binding by gE-gI and by rheumatoid factors and bacterial Fc receptors such asStaphylococcus aureus protein A. These observations support a model for the origin of some rheumatoid factors, in which they represent anti-idiotypic antibodies directed against antibodies to bacterial and viral Fc receptors.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In the absence of direct sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (i.e. combustion), other sources of emission become dominant in so-called ‘emission-free' power plants. In this study the indirect GHG emissions, related to construction of nuclear plants, windfarms and photovoltaic plants, are estimated with two different types of life-cycle assessment. The process-chain analysis divides an investment good into its material components (tons of material) and then unravels the entire production process of each material product. The energy required in, and the GHG emissions related to, the construction of the power plant are obtained by integration over all process steps and summation over all material products. The input/output analysis looks at the different economic sectors called on in the construction of the power plant. The sectors that represent a part of the total cost of the power plant are responsible for the amount of energy used (and the corresponding GHG emissions) to deliver their final product. A result is provided by detailed analysis of all relevant sectors and fitting them into the construction phase. Using similar techniques, energy use and GHG emissions related to maintenance and demolition, including storage of nuclear equipment, can be quantified. For construction, maintenance and demolition of these power plants, following orders of magnitude are obtained: nuclear: 40kJprim/kWhel, 3gCO2/kWhel; wind(coast): 120kJprim/kWhel, 9gCO2/kWhel; wind(inland): 350kJprim/kWhel, 25gCO2/kWhel; PV(1998): 3000kJprim/kWhel, 130gCO2/kWhel; PV(near future): 1500kJprim/kWhel and 60gCO2/kWhel.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Liquified natural gas (LNG) is increasingly used as fuel in marine industry. For transportation and storage purposes it is kept at −163 °C under atmospheric pressure. When LNG gets in contact with a plate, pipe or a tank, it causes very significant thermal load on the structure which has, until that point, been kept at environmental temperature. The current study presents the nonlinear transient thermoelastic response of circular/annular plates which experience sudden cryogenic thermal load. This is the first time that thermoelastic analysis has been presented for any structure under such condition. The material is composed of stainless steel ( S U S 304 ) and low-carbon steel ( A I S I 1020 ) and is functionally graded through the thickness. The novel material configuration proposed in this study has been used for the first time in cryogenic and low-temperature applications. Material properties are evaluated based on available experimental data and assumed to be temperature dependent. The nonlinear governing equations and boundary conditions are obtained with the von Kármán assumption and the first order shear deformation theory. The governing equations are discretized and solved with the Generalized Differential Quadrature Method (GDQM) and Newton-Raphson iterative method. The temporal evolution of the temperature field is obtained by solving Fourier-type heat conduction equation using GDQM and Crank-Nicolson scheme. The results have been validated with axisymmetric FEM models using solid elements. A detailed parametric study has been carried out to investigate the effect of temperature dependency, material distribution, thermal/mechanical boundary conditions, geometrical nonlinearity, and plate size on the thermoelastic response. The results show that transient thermoelastic response of plates under sudden cryogenic cooling can be very different than steady state response. Significant deflections occur in a fraction of a second because of the sudden thermal load and decrease over time. The highest stresses appear predominantly in the initial phase, but can also appear later depending on the plate geometry and boundary conditions. For certain thermal boundary condition, the response of a plate under low-temperature thermal load can qualitatively differ from high-temperature thermal load.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Co-based Heusler alloys are attracting considerable interest as they were found to be suitable for spin-injection processes, and for the generation of spin-polarized currents via spin-Seebeck effect. Co2HfSn has been proved to be one of the most promising candidates for this application, since it combines remarkable half-metallic properties, compositional and doping versatility, ease of preparation, high Curie temperature, and sufficiently high Seebeck coefficient. In this work, the Co2HfSn Heusler compound was synthesized by rapid solidification (melt-spinning) followed by spark plasma sintering. Electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis was performed, providing useful information on the microstructure and grain size distribution which result from such processing route. An average grain size of approximately 5 μm was observed. The electronic and thermal transport properties were then measured, and the thermoelectric figure of merit zT was experimentally estimated for the first time, having a maximum value of 0.040 at 800 K. The electrical conductivity and the charge carrier concentration were measured down to 2 K to collect evidence on the shape of the electronic density of states in proximity of the Fermi level at temperatures close to absolute zero. A change of regime of the electrical conductivity at low temperatures was found and explained in terms of a modification of the electron scattering mechanisms, due to a crossover from a half-metallic to a conductive state at 75 K. Finally, the transport, elastic and vibrational properties were calculated using Density Functional Theory (DFT). Properties such as the Seebeck coefficient and the electronic thermal conductivity were evaluated using DFT-calculated electronic bands within the framework of Boltzmann transport theory. Vibrational properties, such as phonon band structure, density of states and heat capacity were computed in the harmonic approximation, using DFT to calculate the force constants matrix. Results from calculations of the elastic moduli enabled us to apply Slack's model for the estimation the lattice thermal conductivity. By combining experimental measurements with DFT calculations, we obtained consistent results that offer a deeper understanding of the properties of this compound at both low and high temperatures.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "To elucidate the effect of polyols on a phospholipid molecular layer, different polyols with the formula H-(CH(OH)) m -H (m = 2–6) were added to a phospholipid (1,2-dipalmitoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DPoPE)) solution above and below the phase transition temperature between the lamellar and inverted hexagonal phases. As for the surface pressure (π)−surface area (A) isotherm of the phospholipid monolayer at the air-water interface, π at a constant value of A increased with increasing m, especially for xylitol (m = 5) and sorbitol (m = 6). Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and Fourier transform IR spectrometry (FT-IR) were used to evaluate the interaction between DPoPE and the polyol molecules. The experimental results suggest that the number of CH(OH) groups in the polyol plays an important role in the characteristic interaction between DPoPE and the polyol in both the lamellar and inverted hexagonal phases.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "To contribute to achieving improved energy-effectiveness of future designs of public houses and the equipment employed therein, energy usage and wastages have been examined for two “pubs”, one of modern and the other of traditional construction. The use of pertinent energy-consuming equipment was surveyed and the associated patterns of operation assessed. Energy tariffs in force are analysed with respect to their influence upon demands. Thermal conditions within the public areas of the public houses were also monitored, and the proportion of energy used for space heating determined. Pub managers and staff were involved with the survey. Refrigeration equipment was particularly energy consuming, owing to the conditions under which it was required to operate. Despite the availability of more efficient alternatives, tungsten lighting is still in common use in bars, and accounted for up to a quarter of the electricity used in the public houses considered. There, controls for the heating systems are basic but ill-devised, so leading to extreme thermal conditions in some areas of the pubs: consequently there are significant opportunities for savings. Ventilation controls were overlooked, so large rates of heat loss occurred via the exhaust air. The potential for achieving significant energy-savings through the introduction of waste-heat recovery equipment is hampered by (i) the brewery’s requirement for a payback period for such investments of 1year or less, and (ii) the reality that energy bills amount only to ∼3% of turnover at present unit-energy prices and are therefore of less importance than customer comfort. Values of the recommended ‘energy indices’ are calculated in order to assess the pubs’ overall performances: according to these nationally-accepted benchmarks for these concepts, both assessed pubs are classified as ‘good’, despite the shortcomings of each enterprise identified in the present research.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Bond-length fluctuations in transition-metal oxoperovskites may give rise to two-phase fluctuations in what appears to be a single phase to a diffraction experiment. Orbital disorder at Jahn–Teller ions results in bond-length fluctuations that give 3D-ferromagnetic, vibronic Mn(III)–O–Mn(III) superexchange interactions and allow disproportionation into Mn(IV) and Mn(II) in LaMnO3; where orbitally ordered and disordered phases coexist, an external magnetic field stabilizes the orbitally disordered, ferromagnetic phase relative to the orbitally ordered, antiferromagnetic phase. Spin–lattice interactions in the paramagnetic phase of charge-transfer compounds give bond-length fluctuations arising from the semicovalent component of the superexchange interactions. At the crossover from localized to itinerant electronic behavior, the coexistence of two-phase fluctuations has been demonstrated in both the single-valent RNiO3 family (R=rare-earth, A=alkaline-earth) and the mixed-valent R 0.5 A 0.5MnO3 perovskites. “Bad-metal” behavior is found to be associated with bond-length fluctuations.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Zn(Se,OH) x thin films were grown on Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 (CIGSS) substrate by chemical bath technique. The initial formation and subsequent development of the CIGSS/Zn(Se,OH) x interface are studied by XPS photoemission spectroscopy. Changes in the In 4d and Zn 3d core lines are used to directly determine the CIGSS/Zn(Se,OH) x heterojunction valence band discontinuity and the consequent heterojunction band diagram. For device optimization the thickness and good surface coverage were controlled by XPS-UPS photoemission spectroscopy. A Zn(Se,OH) x thickness below 10 nm has been found to be optimum for achieving a homogeneous and compact film on CIGSS. A remarkably high active area efficiency up to 15.7% (total area efficiency 13.26% with open circuit voltage (V oc) up to 565.74 mV, a fill factor (FF) of 71% and a short-circuit photocurrent density (J ph) greater than 33.01 mA/cm2) are obtained. The internal parameters, such as the saturation currents, the series resistance R s and shunt resistance R sh are calculated. Major losses in these cells are due to the significant influence of the series resistance R s on the fill factor.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Tin sulphide (SnS) is of interest for use as an absorber layer in thin film solar cells. This is because the constituent elements, tin and sulphur, are abundant and non-toxic and the compound has a near optimum direct energy bandgap (1.35eV) for photovoltaic solar energy conversion. This paper investigates the formation of thin films of tin sulphide on soda-lime glass substrates using a two step method. The layers are formed by sputtering tin onto glass and then annealing in a 5% H2S in argon gas environment for a temperature in the range 300-450°C, for annealing time of 2hours. The physical and chemical properties of the layers formed are compared to those synthesised by annealing sputtered tin layers in an environment containing elemental sulphur. The surface texture of the films formed were observed using scanning electron microscopy, the film composition determined using energy dispersive X-ray analysis and the phases present and structure of each phase using X-ray diffractometry. Reflectance versus wavelength data was also used to determine the energy bandgap.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "NASA's proposed roadmap for robotic Mars exploration over the next decade is influenced by science goals, technology needs and budgetary considerations. These requirements could introduce potential changes to the succession of missions, resulting in both technology feed forward and heritage. For long duration robotic surface missions at locations, where solar power generation is not feasible or limited, Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) could be considered. Thus, RPSs could provide enabling power technologies for some of these missions, covering a power range from 10s of milliwatts to potentially a kilowatt or even higher. Currently, NASA and DoE with their industry partners are developing two RPSs, both generating about 110W(e) at BOL. These systems will be made available as early as 2009. The Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG)—with static power conversion—was down-selected as a potential power source for the MSL mission. Development of small-RPSs is in a planning stage by NASA and DoE; potentially targeting both the 10s of milliwatts and 10s of watts power ranges. If developed, Radioisotope Heat Unit (RHU) based systems—generating 10s to 100s of milliwatts—could power small adjunct elements on larger missions, while the GPHS module-based systems—each generating 10s of watts—could be stacked to provide the required power levels on MER class surface assets. MMRTGs and Stirling Radioisotope Generators (SRGs) could power MSL class or larger missions. Advanced Radioisotope Power Systems (ARPS) with higher specific powers and increased power conversion efficiencies could enhance or even enable missions towards the second half of the next decade. This study examines the available power system options and power selection strategies in line with the proposed mission lineup, and identifies the benefits and utility of the various options for each of the next decade launch opportunities.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A new measurement system for investigation of transient diffusion fields using an accurate interferometer system was developed. This system was composed of a rapid heat-transfer control system and a real-time phase-shift interferometer. The heat-transfer control system had a small test-cell in which the liquid temperature was controlled by non-equilibrium thermoelectric device. In order to investigate pure diffusion fields without double diffusive convection, micorgravity experiments using an airplane were carried out. Thermal and mass diffusion fields of aqueous solutions of NaClO3 and Ba(NO3)2 were measured by the system. Thermal and mass diffusion fields were investigated with various temperature conditions. The effect of double diffusive convection on the measurement of diffusion fields was observed. Mass diffusion of NaClO3 solution in various temperature gradients was measured in normal and micro-gravity conditions. The relation between crystal growth and super cooling was investigated, and no crystal growth was observed at small supersaturation ratio. The result agreed with that obtained using a small rocket experiment.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Device modeling for p–i–n junction μc-Si basis thin film polycrystalline Si solar cells has been examined with a simple model of columnar grain structure and its boundary condition utilizing two-dimensional device simulator. As the simulation results of solar cell characteristics show, open-circuit voltage (V oc) and curve fill factor (FF) considerably depend on those structural parameters, while short-circuit current density (J sc) is comparatively stable by courtesy of homogeneous built-in electric field in the i layer. It has also been found that conversion efficiency over 12% could be expected with 1μm grain size and well-passivated condition with 3μm thick i-layer.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Efficient photovoltaic (PV) cells based on regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT):fullerene derivative [6,6]-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) composites have been fabricated by using solution-processed molybdenum oxide (MoO3) as an anode buffer layer. The influence of solution-processed MoO3 anode buffer layer on the device performance of P3HT:PCBM PV cells is investigated as compared to the PV cells with different anode buffer layers including water-soluble poly(ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and the thermally evaporated MoO3. It is found that .the performance of the PV cell with solution-processed MoO3 anode buffer layer is comparable or higher than the devices using PEDOT:PSS or thermally evaporated MoO3 as the anode buffer layer. The power conversion efficiency of PV cell with solution-processed MoO3 anode buffer layer reaches 3.14% under AM1.5G 100mW/cm2 illumination.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, electrospun MXene (Ti3C2Tx) functionalized Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composite nanofiber is firstly proposed as a promising negative triboelectric layer for boosting triboelectric energy harvesting performance. The Ti3C2Tx nanosheets are blended into the PVDF matrix followed by a standard electrospinning process to improve the dielectric property and surface charge density of the nanofiber that substantially improves the triboelectric performance. The dielectric modulation of PVDF nanofibers by incorporating conductive MXene nanosheets significantly enhanced the dielectric constant and the surface charge density of nanofiber by 270% and 80%, respectively. The Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) based on PVDF/MXene composite (PMC) nanofiber and Nylon 6/6 nanofiber is fabricated that can deliver a peak power of 4.6 mW (power density:11.213 Wm−2) at the matching load of 2 MΩ, which is 1.58 times higher than that of pristine PVDF nanofiber fabricated in this study. As-fabricated TENG shows excellent performance under low-frequency impact motions with highly stable (> 60 K cycles) output signals, quickly charges the storage capacitors, and sustainably operates the low power electronics and commercial LEDs. In addition to energy harvesting, the TENG is successfully demonstrated as a self-powered foot motion sensor, that can automatically control the step lights based on the human foot motion over the stair.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Incorporates data from a large and diverse outdoors test field. ► Presents novel methods of deriving performance parameters from time series data. ► Introduces error mechanisms and corrections for high temporal resolution modeling. ► Presents model validation, showing decreased errors through the use of the proposed modeling technique. ► Demonstrates the use of regressive analysis on system performance monitoring and design.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Carbon films have been deposited on quartz and single-crystal silicon substrates by pulsed laser deposition technique. The soot for the target was obtained from burning camphor, a natural source. The effect of nitrogen (N) incorporation in camphoric carbon film is investigated. Optical gap for the undoped film is about 0.95eV. The optical gap remains unchanged for low N content and decreases to about 0.7eV. With higher N content the optical gap increases. The resistivity of the carbon film is increased with N content initially and decreases with higher N content till the film is deposited at 30mTorr. The results indicate successful doping for the film deposited at low nitrogen content. The J–V characteristics of N-incorporated carbon/silicon photovoltaic cell under illumination are observed to improve upon N-incorporation in carbon layer.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) converts vast majority of hydrogen energy into waste heat, resulting in energy wasting, membrane drying and even lifetime shortening. Herein, air gap membrane distillation is proposed to immediately remove and harness the waste heat from PEMFC for additional freshwater production. By quantifying the irreversible thermodynamic and electrochemical losses, mathematical formulas for the water production, power generation and overall efficiency are derived to evaluate the system performance. After a rigorous model validation, the performance feature, feasibility and competitiveness of the proposed system are examined. The integration system achieves a peak power density 23.69 % higher than that of a single PEMFC at 353 K, with a corresponding increase in exergy efficiency by 3.61 %. In addition, the influential mechanisms of the PEMFC operating conditions, air gap thickness, coolant temperature, and properties of the proton exchange membrane and hydrophobic porous membrane are investigated to discern potential avenues for further performance improvement. The gradient-based local sensitivity analyses further determine the optimal parameter regulation strategies for different output targets. The economic study indicates that the levelized costs of water and electricity over the total lifecycle are 21.53 $ m−3 and 0.061 $ kWh−1, respectively. The multi-objective optimization, integrating genetic algorithm and the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution, maximizes the exergy efficiency and output power density while minimizing the initial investment cost per unit area, with values of 42.84 %, 0.975 W cm−2, and 27.33 $ cm−2, respectively.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The structural, electronic, thermoelectric and thermodynamic properties of ternary half-Heusler compound YPdSb are investigated using the first principle calculations. It is found that YPdSb is an indirect semiconductor. The calculated band gap is 0.161eV with spin-orbital coupling including and 0.235eV without spin-orbital coupling including, respectively. The electronic transport properties are obtained via Boltzman transport theory. The predicted Seebeck coefficient is 240μV/K and the thermoelectric performance can be optimized by n-type doping at room temperature. Moreover, the lattice dynamical results regarding the phonon dispersion curves, phonon density of states and thermodynamic properties are reported. Thermodynamics (heat capacity and Debye temperature) as well as mean phonon free path and the thermal conductivity in a temperature range of 0–300K are determined.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • New policy framework for effective waste management in Korea was examined. • New policy framework includes the national strategic environmental assessment. • Strategy pursues waste reduction, preservation, stabilization, and optimal use. • Government applied the new framework to establish and revise the Wastes Control Act.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Progress in molecular biology has made available new bioanalytical tools that take advantage of the great detectability and the simple analytical format of bioluminescence. Combining luminescent enzymes or photoproteins with biospecific recognition elements at the genetic level has led to the development of ultrasensitive, selective bioanalytical tools (e.g., recombinant whole-cell biosensors, immunoassays and nucleic-acid hybridization assays). Optical in vivo imaging is also growing rapidly, propelled by the benefits of bioluminescent tomography and imaging systems, and making inroads into monitoring biological processes with clinical, diagnostic and drug-discovery applications. Bioluminescence-detection techniques are also appropriate for miniaturized bioanalytical devices (e.g., microarrays, microfluidic devices and high-density-well microtiter plates) for the high-throughput screening of genes and proteins in small sample volumes.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "New and emerging robust technologies can play an important role in ensuring a more resilient meat value chain and satisfying consumer demands and needs. This paper outlines various novel thermal and non-thermal technologies which have shown potential for meat processing applications. A number of process analytical techniques which have shown potential for rapid, real-time assessment of meat quality are also discussed. The commercial uptake and consumer acceptance of novel technologies in meat processing have been subjects of great interest over the past decade. Consumer focus group studies have shown that consumer expectations and liking for novel technologies, applicable to meat processing applications, vary significantly. This overview also highlights the necessity for meat processors to address consumer risk–benefit perceptions, knowledge and trust in order to be commercially successful in the application of novel technologies within the meat sector.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Insect damage in wheat adversely affects its quality and is considered one of the most important degrading factors in Canada. The potential of near-infrared (NIR) hyperspectral imaging for the detection of insect-damaged wheat kernels was investigated. Healthy wheat kernels and wheat kernels visibly damaged by Sitophilus oryzae, Rhyzopertha dominica, Cryptolestes ferrugineus, and Tribolium castaneum were scanned in the 1000–1600nm wavelength range using an NIR hyperspectral imaging system. Dimensionality of the acquired hyperspectral data was reduced using multivariate image analysis. Six statistical image features (maximum, minimum, mean, median, standard deviation, and variance) and 10 histogram features were extracted from images at 1101.69 and 1305.05nm and given as input to statistical discriminant classifiers (linear, quadratic, and Mahalanobis) for classification. Linear discriminant analysis and quadratic discriminant analysis classifiers correctly classified 85–100% healthy and insect-damaged wheat kernels.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, a novel Swiss roll counterflow micro-combustor is developed to improve flame stability, preheating, and heat recovery. The study experimentally investigates the combustion characteristics of methane-oxygen mixtures in a constant-temperature aluminum chamber over a range of equivalence ratios using spectroscopic methods and RGB image processing. The results indicate that this micro-combustion flame is a cool flame with an inverse relationship between variations of flame thickness and flame length. Furthermore, the study explores the behavior of some radicals, including O H * , C H * , C 2 * , H 2 O * , and CO 2 * and their radiation intensity, which are influenced by the equivalence ratio and mass flow rate of fuel to the oxidizer, as well as other factors such as flame surface area and heat transfer from the wall. RGB image processing is also utilized to investigate the changes of C H * and C 2 * in channels G and B, respectively. The study shows a strong correlation between the visible light intensity of the flame and the R channel. The results demonstrate that for the equivalence ratios Between 1.93 and 2.26, the radiation intensity of the radicals is relatively stable, which makes it applicable for micro-combustors.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Two indole-containing fullerene derivatives, N-hydrogen-2-[3-(N-2-ethylhexylindolyl)]fulleropyrrolidine (EHIHC60P), and N-(2-ethylhexylindolyl))-2-[3-(N-2-ethylhexylindolyl)]fulleropyrrolidine (DEHIC60P) were synthesized by the typical Prato reaction. The absorption spectra, electrochemical properties of the two compounds were measured. Inverted solar cells were fabricated with the structure of ITO/ZnO/poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT):fullerene derivatives/MoO3/Ag. The highest power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 3.32% and 3.23% were obtained for P3HT/EHIHC60P and P3HT/DEHIC60P based solar cells at the composite ratio of 1:1 after the active layers were annealed at 150 °C under inert atmosphere, with a open-circuit voltage (V oc) of 0.66 V and 0.74 V, respectively. For comparison, the device based on P3HT/PCBM at the same conditions showed the PCE of 3.28%, with a V oc of 0.61 V. The influence on the photovoltaic property of the fullerene derivatives, which was induced by some subtle changes in the chemical structure was compared and discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Development of cascaded air-source hydronic heat pumps. • Analysis of single to multi-staged heat pumps through energy and exergy approaches. • Performance evaluations of these heat pump systems through energy and exergy efficiencies. • Comparative assessment of these for better applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Dy-doped Bi2Te3 pellets with three different molar ratios between the precursors BiCl3 and DyCl3∙6H2O (x = 0.05, 0.1, and 0.25) were prepared by hydrothermal and carbon burial sintering. The excess of Dy ions in the highly doped samples (x = 0.25) remarkably increased the Seebeck coefficient, reduced the thermal conductivity, and increased ZT more than twofold in the temperature range of 323–375 K compared to pristine Bi2Te3. At low Dy concentrations (x = 0.05 and 0.1), the Dy ions substituted the TeBi antisites and then intercalated between the Bi2Te3 interlayers at higher concentration. The Dy ions act as both the phonon and charge carrier scattering centers which increase the scattering factor and decrease the point defect scattering relaxation time γ . The increase in the number of Te vacancies and the higher sound velocity of Dy (2710 m/s at 20 °C) compared to that of Bi (1790 m/s) considerably contribute to the improvement of the thermoelectric performance of pristine Bi2Te3.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter delineates nanostructure and nanomorphology engineering in polymer solar cells. Solar cells based on conjugated polymers have been a rapidly developing area of research during the past decade. Because photo-excitations in conjugated polymers show diffusion lengths of only around 5–20 nm, the structure of the polymeric nanophase within the photoactive layer has a large influence on the device properties and the solar power conversion efficiency. This chapter addresses different architectures of polymer solar cells and the influence of their design on solar cell properties. Thereafter, it concentrates on polymer–fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells and the engineering of their nanostructure toward improved power conversion efficiencies. Bulk heterojunctions constitute intimate blends of organic donor and acceptor materials that allow for efficient charge separation throughout the photo-active layer and provide independent pathways to transport the charge carriers to the contacts. Domains of donor and acceptor materials serve as hole and electron conducting nanophases respectively. Finally, a viewpoint is presented with the focus on the engineering of ordered bulk heterojunctions based on conjugated polymers in combination with inorganic scaffolds or diblock copolymers.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Guanines, key players in DNA and RNA, exist as dynamic keto and enol forms, influencing reactivity and potential applications. This study explores the impact of external electric fields on these forms using computational methods in gas and solvent (water) phases. Analyzing the energy gap, dipole moment, enthalpy, and Gibbs free energy revealed distinct responses. The keto form showed a significant decrease in the energy gap in the presence of an electric field, particularly in water, indicating enhanced reactivity. Conversely, the enol form exhibited a stabilizing effect with increasing electric field strength. Thermodynamic properties highlighted solvent-dependent interactions and electric field-induced changes in electron density distribution. The study further investigated guanine’s potential for nanoelectronics by calculating I-V curves, revealing promising characteristics, especially for the keto form in the aqueous phase. Additionally, the analysis of solvation and cohesive energies provided insights into solute–solvent interactions and intrinsic molecular stability. Overall, this research contributes to understanding how guanine responds to electric fields, paving the way for novel guanine-based materials with potential applications in nanoelectronics.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Introduction of lubricant phase into thermally sprayed coating while avoids high-temperature ablation is still a challenge. Here, vacuum impregnation and hydrothermal reaction, acted as a post-treatment process, was applied to synthesize MoS2 phase on and within high-entropy alloy (HEA) coating. The as-synthesized MoS2 phase with high purity and spherical shape distributed in the pores and finally formed a thin layer on coating surface. Compared to the single HEA coating, coefficient of friction (COF) and wear rate (Q) of the HEA/MoS2 composite coatings possessed a significantly reduction, i.e 87.2% and 75.6% reduction in COF and Q at 2 N, respectively. Besides, owing to the formation of lubricating film during the sliding process, the composite coating had a more stable sliding process. At the same time, the doped MoS2 played a positive role in reducing abrasive- and adhesive wears for both coating and coupling ball. Since the lubricating film can be continuously replenished and repaired, the HEA/MoS2 self-lubricating coatings maintained a good chemical stability and provided a relatively good wear properties.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This study assess the feasibility of photovoltaic based power plant; for this purpose best site for the location of the project is determined by comparing monthly average daily global solar radiation data of eight Pakistani cities and Quetta city is chosen for the 10 MW plant. RETScreen simulation of the power plant shows that about 23.206 GWh of electricity can be generated in a year if one axis tracking method is employed. At a total cost of $50 m, 50% debt ratio, 9% discount rate the proposed PV plant generates electricity at a rate of $0.157/kWh. The investigation shows that presently the PV based electricity is about 30.8% more expensive as compared to grid supplied electricity. Emission analysis demonstrated that the proposed PV power plant avoided carbon dioxide production by 17,938 tons/year. The analysis shows that presently the proposed PV power plant is not feasible if only economic factors are considered. Sensitivity analysis demonstrates that if total installed cost of the plant is about $35 m then the cost of power from photovoltaic plant will be equal to grid supplied electric power without any subsidy.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Chapter 9 is about photovoltaic systems. Initially, the general characteristics of semiconductors are given and examine p–n junctions, the photovoltaic effect, and PV cell characteristics. This is followed by a description of photovoltaic panels and examines arrays, and types of PV technology and related equipment, which include batteries, inverters, charge controllers, and peak-power trackers. Then a review of possible applications are presented, which include direct-coupled PV systems, stand-alone applications, grid-connected systems, hybrid-connected systems, and types of applications with a separate section on building-integrated PV systems. This is followed by the methods used to design PV systems and examine electrical loads, absorbed solar radiation, cell temperature, and sizing of PV systems. Subsequently, tilt and yield are considered describing fixed tilt, trackers, shading and tilting versus spacing considerations. Finally, the chapter examines the concentrating PV and the hybrid photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) systems and their applications including water and air-heating BIPV/T systems.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Hybrid solar cells have been prepared by deposition of thin films of cadmium sulfide (CdS) on transparent conductive glass substrates, followed by the formation of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) coatings. Conductive carbon paint (CP) layer was applied on top of P3HT before the evaporation of gold (Au) as metal contact. When the P3HT film thickness (d) was smaller than 600nm, photovoltaic (PV) performance of the CdS/P3HT solar cells was enhanced with CP layer. In the case of d =305nm, the presence of CP layer increased the open-circuit voltage (Voc ) from 335 to 710mV and the short-circuit current density (Jsc ) from 1.23 to 1.42mA/cm2 as well. The analysis of current–voltage (I–V) curves in the dark of the same type of cells indicates that CP reduced the leakage current and metal contact resistance, and increased the rectification ratio. I–V curves of hole-only Metal-1/P3HT/Metal-2 devices suggest that the presence of CP facilitates hole-extraction from P3HT. The comparison of charge recombination times at CdS/P3HT interface suggests that without CP layer, Au atoms could reach areas near the interface and facilitates charge recombination process. It is concluded that conductive carbon not only improves the ohmic contact between P3HT and top metal but also impedes the diffusion of the evaporated metal atoms deep inside the polymer films. This leads to better PV performance of the CdS/P3HT solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In the context of the ongoing research addressing problems of random clinical failures of braided esophageal NiTi stents, we introduce novel in-situ electrochemical methods for investigation of corrosion fatigue of superelastic NiTi wires or springs subjected to cyclic mechanical loadings in simulated body fluids. Corrosion fatigue properties of NiTi are very different from conventional materials due to the intrinsic recoverable deformability of the surface originating from martensitic transformation. It is shown that the localized corrosion of phase transforming NiTi is strongly facilitated by cracking of the surface oxide, crack opening/closing and passivation, mutually competing during cyclic mechanical loading in fluids.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This article summaries the significance of microstructure control in metal forming. The physical metallurgy of the thermomechanical intervention applied is subjected to the different metallurgical techniques implicated in processing. The structural improvement by thermomechanical treatment is the consequence of the connections between grain growth, recrystallization, precipitation and transformation. This overview describes the important microstructure evolutions that happen throughout and after the subsequent high-temperature deformation of steel in particular by means of empirical associations. Various concepts additionally relate to other metals.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Application of the economical metal oxide thin-film photovoltaic devices is hindered by the poor energy efficiency. This paper investigates the photovoltaic effect with an ultrathin tantalum oxide (TaOx) tunnel barrier, formed by the plasma oxidation of a pre-deposited tantalum (Ta) film. These ~3nm TaOx tunnel barriers showed approximately 160mV open circuit voltage and 3–5% energy efficiency, for varying light intensity. The ultrathin TaOx (~3nm) could absorb approximately 12% of the incident light radiation in 400–1000nm wavelength range; this strong light absorbing capability was found to be associated with the dramatically large extinction coefficient. Spectroscopic ellipsometry revealed that the extinction coefficient of 3nm TaOx was ~0.2, two orders higher than that of tantalum penta oxide (Ta2O5). Interestingly, refractive index of this 3nm thick TaOx was comparable with that of stochiometeric Ta2O5. However, heating and prolonged high-intensity light exposure deteriorated the photovoltaic effect in TaOx junctions. This study provides the basis to explore the photovoltaic effect in a highly economical and easily processable ultrathin metal oxide tunnel barrier or analogous systems.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work an innovative antireflection coating technology for photovoltaic modules based on remote plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition of porous SiO2 films is presented. We show that the proposed technology has the potential to significantly improve the performance of photovoltaic modules by effectively reducing the optical losses of the air/glass interface. As a result, the transmission of a glass pane measured at a single wavelength was increased from 91.7% to 100% by a single-layer porous SiO2 antireflection coating on both sides of the glass pane. Furthermore, a double-layer porous SiO2 antireflection coating on both sides of the glass pane increased the transmission weighted with the AM1.5G spectrum in the 400–1150nm wavelength region from 91.6% to the remarkably high value of 99.4%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Free-piston Stirling generators (FPSGs) show great potential in portable power sources for the advantages of high reliability, high efficiency, low noise, compact structure, long lifetime, etc. An FPSG aimed at 15 W electric power output is numerically and experimentally studied. By adopting the second method of Lyapunov, the onset characteristics of the FPSG are analyzed based on a thermodynamic model. The effects on the onset conditions of the interaction between the displacer and power piston are explored. It is shown that the optimal operating pressure and spring stiffness corresponding to the lowest onset heating temperature are 6.2 MPa and 5500 N/m, and the FPSG is easier to start when the damping of the displacer and power piston is smaller and the mass of the displacer and power piston is well matched. The experimental results of the effects of the pressure and spring stiffness on the onset temperature agree well with the calculated results. The FPSG can generate 15.5 W electric power with a thermal-to-electric efficiency of 16.0% in the experiment when the heating and chilling water temperatures are 820 K and 300 K, respectively. And the relative errors between the calculated and experimental PV power and their efficiencies are about 2.1%–6.8% and 24.4%–26.9%, respectively. This work can lay a good foundation for studying the onset characteristics and stable operating characteristics of FPSGs.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The performance of PV (photovoltaic) module is strongly dependent on its operating temperature. Most of the energy absorbed by the panel is converted to heat which is normally lost and provides no value. In order to study the performance of a hybrid PV water cooled system, a numerical model (electrical and thermal) is developed using EES (Engineering Equation Solver) software. The model predicts various electrical and thermal parameters affecting its performance. The effect of cooling the module by incorporating a heat exchanger (cooling panel) at its rear surface is also investigated experimentally. The results of the numerical model are found in good agreement with the experimental measurements performed for the climate of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. With active water cooling, the module temperature dropped significantly to about 20% leading to an increase in the PV panel efficiency by 9%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Improper operating temperature will degrade the performances of electronic components, Li-ion batteries and photovoltaic (PV) cells, which calls for a good thermal management system. In this paper, specific attention is paid to the thermal management systems based on the phase change materials (PCMs). Performances of the PCM-based thermal management systems for each kind of these three devices along with the type of PCM used, thermal properties of that kind of PCM, like phase change temperature, enthalpy of phase change and thermal conductivity are discussed. Discussion in detail on techniques to improve the thermal conductivity of PCMs is made because of its crucial influence. Advanced-structure heatsinks with multi-layer PCMs and hybrid passive heatsinks combined with active cooling are also introduced. The PCM-based thermal management system is powerful in ensuring electronic devices, Li-ion batteries and photovoltaic cells working safely and efficiently.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Geopolymers have been introduced as a promising strategy for the solidification/stabilization (s/s) of heavy metals due to its sustainability and environmental friendliness. However, it usually takes a long curing time to achieve a rational mechanical strength, and the stability of heavy metals in geopolymer needs to be further enhanced to reduce possible environmental risks. Here we introduced a microwave (MW) strategy for the s/s of real lead slag with geopolymer technology. The stabilization of lead slag (LS) with different addition ratios were characterized, and the effect of microwave power as well as irradiation time were also examined to optimize the geopolymer strength and the leaching of Pb. The geopolymerization process was drastically enhanced, showing shortened polymerization period from 28 days to 15 min with an optimum compressive strength of 18.8 MPa and s/s efficiency of 98.73%. It was revealed that physical embedding was the main stabilization mechanism proved by lead speciation, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS) analysis. It suggested that the combined effects of local heating and enhanced dehydration with MW irradiation would benefit the stabilization of lead slag in geopolymers.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This research aims to develop a methodology for the evaluation of the potential energy saving and energy generation of semi-transparent PV windows in Brazilian office buildings. The evaluation is based on computer simulations: a daylighting simulation for the investigation of the available annual daylight with different window systems using Daysim/Radiance program and the simulation of the energetic performance using the program EnergyPlus. The simulations were accomplished for two cities in two different climatic zones of Brazil and compared to a German city. The results show that it is possible to reduce the energy consumption for artificial lighting and air-conditioning using appropriate control systems and furthermore to generate energy using semi-transparent photovoltaic panels in windows. Though only one building geometry was analyzed the results suggest that the potential of this technology is high in Brazil.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Solid solutions Sr1−x La x PbO3−δ with x=0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2 and 0.25 were synthesized by oxalate precursor coprecipitation methods. The solid solutions obtained were analyzed by the XRD technique and iodometric titration. Resistivity ρ and thermoelectric power S were measured for temperatures 20 K<T<300 K. The parent compound SrPbO3−δ shows a shallow minimum of ρ(T) at about 120K, whereas ρ(T) for the La-doped samples are rather smooth with weakly manifested inflection points for all investigated compositions. The thermoelectric power is negative. The transport data demonstrate that the ceramic samples Sr1−x La x PbO3−δ are unstable towards electron spectrum dielectrization or localization of current carriers. From the analysis of the measured properties it may be inferred that the effects of disorder and granularity and the inter-grain tunneling, in particular, strongly influence transport phenomena.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Chemically deposited thin films of tin sulfide forms in two crystalline structures depending on the bath compositions used: orthorhombic, SnS(OR), and zinc-blende, SnS(ZB). These films posses p-type electrical conductivity and have band gaps of 1.2 and 1.7 eV, respectively. The photovoltaic structure: SnO2:F/CdS/SnS(ZB)/SnS(OR) with evaporated Ag-electrode reported here shows an open circuit voltage (V OC) of 370 mV, a short circuit current density (J SC) of 1.23 mA/cm2, fill factor of 0.44 and conversion efficiency of 0.2% under 1 kW/m2 illumination intensity. We present an evaluation for improvement in the light generated current density when the two types of SnS absorber films are used. Different evaporated electrode materials were tested, from which Ag-electrode was chosen for this work. The results given above were obtained with SnS(ZB) film of 0.1 µm and SnS(OR) film of 0.5 µm in thickness.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Thin-film polycrystalline-silicon (pc-Si) solar cells with a grain size in the order of 1–100μm could substantially lower the price of photovoltaic energy if sufficiently high efficiencies are obtained on low-cost foreign substrates. A promising approach is the epitaxial thickening of seed layers made by aluminum-induced crystallization (AIC) of amorphous silicon. A clear difference in performance was found for AIC based solar cells grown by low- and high-temperature epitaxy. A large intragrain defect density was observed for this type of pc-Si solar cells that probably limits the cell performance. This paper studies intragrain defect formation in AIC based pc-Si layers by the investigation of state of the art absorber layers grown both by low- and high-temperature epitaxy on seed layers made on various substrates. The samples were characterized by defect etching in combination with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and by cross-section transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The AIC seed layers themselves were found to be major sources of intragrain defects. Moreover, AIC seed layers prepared under different conditions can lead to different intragrain defect densities.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Ternary component polymer-gel electrolytes are designed to facilitate ion transport in a highly viscous medium and utilize incident light more efficiently in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Polyethers with multiple molecular size distributions are employed as solvents and TiO2 nanoparticles as a filler to prepare the polymer-gel electrolytes. The ion transport properties of the electrolytes are systematically investigated using electrochemical analyses such as ion conductivity and diffusion coefficient measurements. The influences of the electrolyte components on the electron transport in photoanodes are also investigated by measuring the laser-induced photovoltage and photocurrent transient response, incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE), and current–voltage (J–V) curves. The optimized polymer-gel electrolyte results in greatly enhanced energy conversion efficiency (i.e., 7.2% at 1sun) due to the significantly improved ion transport and good light-scattering effect of the nanofillers.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Flue gas moisture recovery from coal-fired power plants has always been an important topic in the fields of energy and building and gas dehumidification. Moisture and waste heat recovery in a transport membrane condenser (TMC) involves heat transfer, mass transfer and intermolecular interactions. This study, an experiment was designed based on TMC, which revealed the process of vapor condensation on the membrane surface and mass transfer across the membrane, and clarified the driving mechanism of mass transfer. It is found that the main driving force affecting the mass transfer is related to the recovery mechanism and the flowing working fluid. The main driving force influencing mass transfer on the flue gas side is the pressure gradient caused by the vapor pressure difference, whereas on the condensation side, mass transfer is influenced through the heat transfer gradient. Furthermore, high vacuum levels on the permeate side may enhance gas cross-membrane transport, but do not improve mass transfer performance. Compared with a longitudinal spacing of 30 mm, the condensation mass transfer rate of TMC with a longitudinal spacing of 80 mm increased by 107%–174%. The research results have an important role in promoting the realization of resource recovery and energy efficiency.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Since the COVID-19 outbreak at the end of December 2019, a variety of novel Coronavirus nucleic acid detection methods have been proposed at home and abroad. Because of the disadvantages of most existing PCR instruments on the market such as long reaction time and high cost, this study developed a more timesaving and cheaper two-channel real-time quantitative PCR instrument. In this instrument, a PCR system combining a thermal cycle system and real-time fluorescence quantitative technology was designed. The software system and data processing, optical system, thermal cycle module, and hardware module of the PCR instrument were studied. The low-cost, portable real-time quantitative PCR system has been validated with consistent results compared to Bio-rad CFX Connect. At the same time, the same samples were used for the contract experiment with the hospital instrument, and the amplification result was better than the existing instrument in the hospital.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Two different InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells (MQWs) were prepared. They contain AlN low-temperature interlayers (LTILs) between the GaN barrier and InGaN well layers, one with a trapezoidal InGaN QW and the other with a quasi-trapezoidal InGaN QW without terminal In composition gradient region (ICGR). Meanwhile, their photoluminescence (PL) spectra were acquired and their dependences on the excitation power and temperature were studied. These measurements reveal a smaller quantum-confined Stark effect, a stronger carrier localization effect, and a higher internal quantum efficiency of the quasi-trapezoidal QWs compared with that of the trapezoidal QWs. This phenomenon is a result of the fact that: the characteristic structure of the quasi-trapezoidal InGaN QWs, cannot only reduce strain in the active region due to effective strain-compensated effect of the AlN LTILs, but also avoid diffusion of In atoms from the high In region containing In-rich clusters into the terminal ICGR due to the lack of the terminal ICGRs. The former reduces the piezoelectric polarization fields induced by the lattice mismatch between well and barrier layers, the latter suppresses the degradation of the In-rich clusters and the generation of non-radiative centers.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents an effective modeling and simulation scheme of solar-powered hydrogen production system (PV-SPE: Photovoltaic-Solid Polymer Electrolyte). Hydrogen can provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy supply, which can enhance world's economy, environment and security. In the coming decades, the world will need new energy supplies and an upgraded energy infrastructure to meet the growing demands for electric power and transportation fuels. Existing production technologies can produce vast amounts of hydrogen from hydrocarbons; unfortunately, they emit large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Renewable technologies such as solar and wind need to be further developed in order for hydrogen production to be more cost-competitive than other sources. In this paper, we focused on a renewable technology that can advance the commercial readiness of the solar-powered hydrogen production system. Software (PSCAD/EMTDC) based model of PV-SPE system is used to effectively simulate a hydrogen production system. To verify the simulation results, we implemented an actual PV-SPE system. The actual values obtained from the data acquisition system were compared to the simulation results.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The paper presents an advanced numerical study of industrial switchgear with the joint electric resistance included. The fundamental thermal problems (radiation, convection and conduction) in copper busbars, supporting parts and cooling air were coupled with the electromagnetic field to accurately define the power losses. The mathematical model was based on the validated model of the simplified laboratory switchgear. However, more sophisticated busbar system was employed in this study. The model results were compared with the measurements data for two switchgear configurations of different type of a top cover, i.e. ventilated and solid ones. Then, the “what-if” studies for basic configuration were considered. In the considered problem, the influence of the busbar surface emissivity modification, the changes in enclosure inlet/outlet grids and application of the radiator without fan on the local and global temperature reduction within the switchgear was analysed. The results obtained show the importance of radiative heat transfer and emphasize the influence of the surface emissivity in the switchgear cooling process.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Despite extensive and systematic studies on pressure-induced phase transitions and superconductivity in sesqui-chalcogenide A2B3 (A=Sb, Bi; BS, Se, and Te) compounds, the detailed transporting properties of Bi2S3 have rarely been reported. Here, we discovered an unambiguous correlation between superconductivity and phase transitions in Bi2S3 under non-hydrostatic conditions. The rapid decrease in resistance below 10 GPa and the occurrence of superconductivity at approximately 25.5 GPa should be caused by the two unusual pressure-induced isostructural transitions. Subsequently, the superconducting transition temperature (T C ) increased to around 7.3 K, which was accompanied by the amorphization of Bi2S3 above 43 GPa. Furthermore, divergence between the theoretical calculations and experimental measurements showed that the above phase transitions and pressure-induced charge transfer had a critical effect on the electronic properties of this compound. The results of this study indicated that high pressure could help to improve thermoelectric properties.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "CdO/Si heterojunctions were fabricated by depositing CdO polycrystalline thin films on p-type single crystalline silicon wafers by CBD. The current–voltage characteristics under dark and illumination of CdO/Si devices resemble those of a light sensitive diode. From the CdO/Si diode spectral sensitivity curves (A/W), it has been implied that CdO films allow a high sensitivity response in the visible and the near infrared regions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Over the past decades, organic solar cells based on semiconducting polymers or small molecules have become a promising alternative to traditional inorganic photovoltaic devices. However, to address the intrinsic limitations of organic materials, such as charge separation yield, charge transport and durability, new strategies based on hybrid organic/inorganic materials have been explored. One such approach exploits mesoporous inorganic nanostructures as electron acceptors, which takes advantage of the potential to control the active layer structure and interface morphology through nanoparticle synthesis and processing. In this work, the potential of hybrid photovoltaics will be discussed and illustrated through a recent study of bulk heterojunction systems based on the blend of TiO2 nanorods with a conjugated polymer. To cite this article: J. Bouclé et al., C. R. Physique 9 (2008).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "1, 2-dicyano-methanofullerene (C60(CN)2) is a soluble fullerene derivative that has been reported to have stronger electron affinity than parent C60. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments were carried out on C60(CN)2 thin films spin coated on heavily doped n-type Si substrate. UPS spectra enabled the determination of the vacuum shift at the fullerene derivative/Si interface and the onset of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO). From the UV–vis absorption spectra of C60(CN)2 thin films spin coated on quartz substrates, the optical band gap (E g ) and the onset of absorption were determined. These measurements allowed the determination of the lowest occupied molecular orbital (LUMO) position. The morphology of the deposited film was probed by AFM and reveals non-uniformity of the thin film. Open circuit voltage (V oc ) measurements on P3HT/C60(CN)2 based organic solar cell device are compared to the commonly used P3HT/PCBM device.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We undertake a qualitative empirical study of the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry in order to investigate the role of diversity in stimulating innovation and diffusion. Based on evolutionary-economic concepts, we identify the main dimensions and components of diversity in the solar PV industry. Using nine indicators and additional information about recent developments regarding technologies, markets and actors (countries and firms), the dynamic potential is assessed for the various solar PV technologies. It is concluded that the dominant trend is an increase or maintenance of diversity among solar PV technologies, which likely contributes positively to innovation and diffusion. We discuss the implications of taking into account the role of diversity of solar PV in the design of energy policies.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A hybrid wind/photovoltaic/fuel cell generation system is designed to supply power demand. The aim of this design is minimization of annualized cost of the hybrid system over its 20 years of operation. Optimization problem is subject to reliable supply of the demand. Three major components of the system, i.e. wind turbine generators, photovoltaic arrays, and DC/AC converter, may be subject to failure. Also, solar radiation, wind speed, and load data are assumed entirely deterministic. System costs involve investments, replacement, and operation and maintenance as well as loss of load costs. Prices are all empirical and components are commercially available. An advanced variation of Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm is used to solve the optimization problem. Results reveal the impact of component outages on the reliability and cost of the system, so they are directly dependent on components' reliabilities, i.e. outages result in need for a larger generating system for supplying the load with the acceptable reliability. Additionally, it is observed that the inverter's reliability is an upper limit for the system's reliability. Moreover, an approximate method for reliability evaluation of the hybrid system is proposed which considerably reduces the time and computations.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter discusses the plans of the project that illustrates to show how such a building can service all its own energy requirements. Plans have been developed to overcome the challenge presented with the involvement of the Gaia Trust. The mission statement undertakes “to promote the uses and benefits of renewable energy and energy conservation by informing, stimulating, entertaining, and educating school, university students, industry, and members of the public in a dedicated and imaginative environment.” This is to be achieved by developing an innovative ultra low-energy building complex to house a new exhibition/education/visitors centre to demonstrate renewable energy and energy conservation. The building, designed by Edward Cullinan Associates, will be of the highest architectural quality and will incorporate the latest energy-efficient technology. It is proposed that there will also be a library/resource centre, lecture theatre, restaurant, and shop. Finally, the funding of the project is described showing how full use has been made of European Grants and how the matching funding has been obtained.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents a non-resonant vibration based electromagnetic MEMS energy harvester, which generates energy from low frequency vibrations with low displacement amplitude. The harvester is composed of an energy harvester chip, housing two electroplated copper micro coils realized on parylene cantilevers and a miniature NdFeB magnet with two mechanical barrier arms. The structure uses the mechanical frequency up conversion (mFupC) principle for energy generation. The non-resonant operation is maintained by attaching the chip and the magnet to two different platforms, which move with respect to each other. The prototype generates 2.1mV RMS voltage and 18.5nW RMS power from both coils on the average, under 10Hz, 5mm peak to peak (1g) external vibrations. The RMS value of the generated voltage during the mFupC duration is calculated as 9.5mV, leading to 363nW power and 1.1μJ energy delivery from each coil to equivalent resistive loads at each occurrence of the mFupC. Serial connection of the coils is also studied and it is concluded that this configuration has a non-significant effect on the generated power since the waveforms of the coil voltages have both phase and resonance frequency differences, canceling out some portion of the signal when they are added together. During the tests, it is observed that excessive stress around the cantilever fixed edges eventually break the coil lines at this region. This is handled by applying an epoxy to this region, lowering the stress on the copper line. With this configuration, the generated power is slightly reduced due to the decreased resonance frequency and increased damping ratio of the cantilevers. The epoxy-applied prototype has been tested under various vibration conditions with no damage on the coil, and the non-resonant operation behavior of the energy harvester has been verified.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A CO2 comprehensive balance within the life-cycle of a photovoltaic energy system requires careful examination of the CO2 sinks and sources at the locations and under the conditions of production of each component, during transport, installation and operation, as well as at the site of recycling. Calculations of the possible effect on CO2 reduction by PV energy systems may be incorrect if system borders are not set wide enough and remain on a national level, as can be found in the literature. For the examples of Brazil and Germany, the effective CO2 reductions have been derived, also considering possible interchange scenarios for production and operation of the PV systems considering the carbon dioxide intensity of the local electricity grids. In the case of Brazil also off-grid applications and the substitution of diesel generating sets by photovoltaics are examined: CO2 reduction may reach 26,805 kg/kWp in that case. Doing these calculations, the compositions of the local grids and their CO2 intensity at the time of PV grid injection have to be taken into account. Also possible changes of the generation fuel mix in the future have to be considered: During the operation time of a PV system, different kinds of power plants could be installed that might change the CO2 intensity of the grid. In the future also advanced technologies such as thin films have to be considered.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The conductivity and the thermoelectric power of fully conjugated networks of poly(3-n-octylthiophene) have been measured as a function of the temperature between 15 and 300 K. Despite the interchain conjugated reticulation the conduction process is still governed by hopping. The data are in good agreement with a model of inter-cluster hopping conduction. The cluster size is discussed as a function of the reticulation ratio. It is pointed out that the presence of the reticulation points gives rise to specific properties, in particular the intrinsic intra-cluster conductivity is enhanced as compared to that of poly(3-n-octylthiophene).",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Vertical aligned CuO nanowire arrays were synthesized by a simple and cost-effective thermal oxidation method. They act as cores, radial CuO/ZnO core/shell heterostructure nanowire arrays were fabricated by thermal decomposition. Based upon the core/shell nanowire-based all oxide p–n junction, their photovoltaic performance was investigated. A larger open-circuit voltage of 0.445V and short-circuit current density of 0.89mA/cm2 were obtained. The overall power conversion efficiency is 0.17%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Zero-dimensional fluorescent nanoparticles having specificity as molecular probe appears to be strategically balanced fluorescent nano-probes. In this work, purified lemon extract and l-arginine have been thermally coupled for the extremely acute detection of Cu2+ in aqueous medium. The Cu2+ ions may be captured by the amino groups on the surface of the nano-sensor to form cupric ammine complex resulting in quenched fluorescence via an inner filter effect. Our proposed nano-probe is N-doped carbon dots (NCDs) which are efficiently selective as fluorescent chemosensor due to enormous binding affinity towards Cu2+ in a wide range of concentration (0.05–300μM) within a few minutes.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The thermoelectric properties of melt-processed nanocomposites consisting of a polycarbonate (PC) thermoplastic matrix filled with commercially available carboxyl (–COOH) functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were evaluated. MWCNTs carrying carboxylic acid moieties (MWCNT-COOH) were used due the p-doping that the carboxyl groups facilitate, via electron withdrawing from the electron-rich π-conjugated system. Preliminary thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of MWCNT-COOH revealed that the melt-mixing was limited at low temperatures due to thermal decomposition of the MWCNT functional groups. Therefore, PC was mixed with 2.5 wt% MWCNT-COOH (PC/MWCNT-COOH) at 240 °C and 270 °C. In order to reduce the polymer melt viscosity, a cyclic butylene terephthalate (CBT) oligomer was utilized as an additive, improving additionally the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites. The melt rheological characterization of neat PC and PC/CBT blends demonstrated a significant decrease of the complex viscosity by the addition of CBT (10 wt%). Optical and transmission electron microscopy (OM, TEM) depicted an improved MWCNT dispersion in the PC/CBT polymer blend. The electrical conductivity was remarkably higher for the PC/MWCNT-COOH/CBT composites compared to the PC/MWCNT-COOH ones. Namely, the PC/MWCNT-COOH/CBT processed at 270 °C exhibited the best values with electrical conductivity; σ = 0.05 S/m, Seebeck coefficient; S = 13.55 μV/K, power factor; PF = 7.60 × 10−6 μW/m K−2, and thermoelectric figure of merit; ZT = 7.94 × 10−9. The PC/MWCNT-COOH/CBT nanocomposites could be ideal candidates for large-scale thermal energy harvesting, even though the presently obtained ZT values are still too low for commercial applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "To fulfill the ever-increasing power demands of deep space exploration, the output performance of radioisotope thermoelectric generators, the only accessible power source, must be enhanced in several aspects, including thermoelectric properties of materials, geometry, welding, etc. In this study, we present our results on the development of a novel thermoelectric slurry suitable for the 3D printing of thermoelectric generators with optimized leg geometry. The rheological properties of the slurry are optimized by combining proper amounts of organic solvent, binder, and bismuth telluride-based thermoelectric powder. The addition of Cu to the slurry as a conductive additive are also investigated. The homogeneous dispersion of Cu within the material not only increases the electrical conductivity of the final thermoelectric leg significantly but also promotes the crystallization of the thermoelectric particles during the sintering process. These effects result in 3D-printed thermoelectric composites exhibiting ZT values up to 0.91 and extended optimum operating temperature range. Thermoelectric modules composed of 3D-printed thermoelectric legs show excellent output performance and structural strength. This work could also produce other special shaped thermoelectric devices to match irregularly shaped heat sources to reduce contact heat loss and improve output performance.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Nanocrystalline thin films of Ag2S have deposited onto fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass substrates at the optimised conditions by using successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) investigations were carried out using cell configuration as n-Ag2S/(1M NaOH+1M Na2S+1M S)/C. The dynamic current–voltage characteristic has been examined at room temperature (27°C). It is concluded that the Ag2S films are of n-type electrical conductivity. The photovoltaic output characteristics were used to calculate fill factor (FF) and solar conversion efficiency (η). The low value of η may be due to high value of series resistance and nanocrystalline grain size of Ag2S thin films.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Cold injury limits distribution of perennial agricultural crops, though replacement of plants and other management practices may allow for some damage tolerance. However, winter damage to crops such as grapevines (Vitis spp.) can result in losses in yield the following year if buds are damaged, but over many years when vines must be replaced and reach maturity before fruiting. Despite risks, grapevines are cultivated at the edge of permissible climate and rely on cold hardiness monitoring programs to determine when cold damage mitigation and management practices are required. These monitoring programs represent a critical, but laborious process for tracking cold hardiness. To reduce the need for continuous monitoring, a model (WAUS.2) using cold hardiness data collected over many years from Washington state, USA, growers was published in 2014. Although the WAUS.2 model works well regionally, it underperforms in other regions. Therefore, the objective of this work was to develop a new model (NYUS.1) that incorporates recent knowledge of cold hardiness dynamics for better prediction outcomes. Cold hardiness data from V. labruscana ‘Concord’, and V. vinifera ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ and ‘Riesling’ from Geneva, NY, USA were used. Data were separated in calibration (∼2/3) and validation (∼1/3) datasets. The proposed model uses three functions to describe acclimation, and two functions to describe deacclimation, with a total of nine optimized parameters. A shared chill response between acclimation and deacclimation provides a phased integration where acclimation responses decrease over the course of winter and are overcome by deacclimation. The NYUS.1 model outperforms the WAUS.2 model, reducing RMSE by up to 37% depending on cultivar. The NYUS.1 model also tends to be more conservative in its prediction, slightly underpredicting cold hardiness, as opposed to the overprediction from the WAUS.2 model. Some optimized parameters were shared between cultivars, suggesting conserved physiology was captured by the new model.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper develops an overall methodology for investigating the thermal and power behaviors of semi-transparent single-glazed photovoltaic window for office buildings in Hong Kong. In order to estimate its overall energy performance, this study is conducted in terms of total heat gain, output power and daylight illuminance. Three simulation models are established, including one-dimensional transient heat transfer model, power generation model and indoor daylight illuminance model. A typical office room reference is chosen as case study, and the weather data from 2003 to 2007 from the Hong Kong Observatory are used as the simulation inputs. By incorporating the simulation results, the overall energy performance can be evaluated in terms of electricity benefits corresponding to five orientations of the studied typical office. The priority of office orientation considering overall energy performance is: south-east, south, east, south-west and west. The findings show that thermal performance is the primary consideration of energy saving in the entire system whereas electricity consumption of artificial lighting is the secondary one. The overall annual electricity benefits are about 900 kWh and 1300 kWh for water-cooled and air-cooled air-conditioning systems respectively. The application of semi-transparent PV glazed window can not only produce clean energy, but also reduce building energy use by reducing the cooling load and electrical lighting requirements, which definitely benefits our environmental and economic aspects.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Metal hydrides have been studied for use in energy storage, hydrogen storage, and air-conditioning (A/C) systems. A common architecture for A/C and energy storage systems is two metal hydride reactors connected to each other so that hydrogen can flow between them, allowing for cyclic use of the hydrogen. This paper presents a nonlinear dynamic model and multivariate control strategy of such a system. Each reactor is modeled as a shell-and-tube heat exchanger connected to a circulating fluid, and a compressor drives hydrogen flow between the reactors. We further develop a linear state–space version of this model integrated with a model predictive controller to determine the fluid mass flow rates and compressor pressure difference required to achieve desired heat transfer rates between the metal hydride and the fluid. A series of case studies demonstrates that this controller can track desired heat transfer rates in each reactor, even in the presence of time-varying circulating fluid inlet temperatures, thereby enabling the use of a two-reactor system for energy storage or integration with a heat pump.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Electrode nanostructure and quantum dot growth method have a clear influence in the final quantum dot solar cell performance. ► Higher V oc values are systematically obtained for TiO2 morphologies with decreasing surface area. ► Higher V oc values are systematically obtained for cells using CBD growth method in comparison with SILAR method.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A procedure for assessing the reliability functions of photovoltaic concentration (CPV) systems, subjected to outdoor degradation, will be described in this work. The evaluation of the concentrator cells failure rate, the understanding of the origin of these degradation modes and how they affect the performances of concentration cells is an essential step to improve their reliability and to accelerate their competitiveness. The reliability evaluation methodology introduced here, as the cells are deployed outdoors and then are subjected to the actual sources of stress (e.g. ambient temperature, solar concentrated irradiance, cells working temperature and the variations of these parameters over days and seasons), will furnish values of failure rates very close to the true ones.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The first PV system at Harvard Business School, a 36.5 kW PV array, has been installed on HBS's Shad Hall campus in Boston, Massachusetts. The array comprises 192 panels, and was designed and installed by Global Resource Options (GRO) of White River Junction, Vermont.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Rare earth sulfides with complex crystal structures and unique electronic configurations have made many breakthroughs in the fields of optics, electronics and catalysis through the modulation of crystal structures and composites. This article provides a comprehensive review of the structures, properties, applications and prospects of rare earth sulfides.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • A compound cycle system integrates refrigeration and waste heat recovery function. • The optimum solution can be obtained through a linear weighted method. • This proposed compound cycle system has the advantage of miniaturization.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The package r.sun within the open source Geographical Resources Analysis Support System (GRASS) can be used to compute insolation including temporal and spatial variation of albedo and solar photovoltaic yield. A complete algorithm is presented covering the steps of data acquisition and preprocessing to post-simulation whereby candidate lands for incoming solar farms projects are identified. The optimal resolution to acquire reliable solar energy outputs to be integrated into PV system design software was determined to be 1square km. A case study using the algorithm developed here was performed on a North American region encompassing fourteen counties in South-eastern Ontario. It was confirmed for the case study that Ontario has a large potential for solar electricity. This region is found to possess over 935,000 acres appropriate for solar farm development, which could provide 90GW of PV. This is nearly 60% of Ontario’s projected peak electricity demand in 2025. The algorithm developed and tested in this paper can be generalized to any region in the world in order to foster the most environmentally-responsible development of large-scale solar farms.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Roof space bears a considerable quantity of indoor thermal energy loss and solar energy gain, especially for the low-rise residential buildings, where heat transfer accounts for a large proportion. Radiative cooling strategy can cool an object, by emitting the thermal infrared irradiation passing through the atmospheric window into outer space. Furthermore, through utilization of solar energy, it contributes to improvement of the thermal comfort in the building’s interior. Here, we proposed a radiative-based air temperature regulating system to achieve space heating and space cooling passively, through the radiative thermal transfer technique. Based on the residential building typology feature, the proposed system was integrated into the roof of a low-rise residential building. The proposed system was expected to achieve reductions in the thermal transfer of rooftop and the building energy consumption. Furthermore, two composition modes of modules were designed for the radiative-based air temperature regulating system, namely in parallel and in series. The heat exchange efficiency experimentations were conducted to both composition modes, aiming at exploring a better connection method for the modules. Moreover, the passive system was designed with two working modes, for improvement of the indoor thermal comfort throughout the year. Through rotations and movements for the modules, the operation mode of the proposed system can be changed flexibly. Via employing the proposed system, a total annual energy consumption difference of 3487 k·Wh between the base case and the study case was achieved, leading to the energy saving rate of 20%.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "There is a substantial need to accelerate the advancement and implementation of advanced clean energy technologies to solve challenges of the energy crisis, climate change, and sustainable processes. Solar heating and cooling technologies are feasible solutions among clean energy technologies. This paper presents a detailed literature review on studies performed around the solar district energy systems with integrated thermal storage. They are mainly either for heating or cooling. The combined district heating and cooling system with both systems integrated with borehole thermal energy storage (BTES) has not been fully explored. A low-temperature distribution fluid, suitable for use in distributed heat pumps around the community with BTES, has also not been practically installed yet. Such system, could reduce the transmission/distribution heat loss within the community, and lower the required amount of energy production and storage, compared to the other systems. This could make the entire system techno-economically more attractive while not compromising energy efficiency of the system.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The environmental impacts of recycling, mechanical biological treatments (MBT) and waste-to-energy incineration, the main management strategies to respond to the increasing production of post-consumer materials are reviewed and compared. Several studies carried out according to life-cycle assessment (LCA) confirm that the lowest environmental impact, on a global scale, is obtained by recycling and by biological treatments (composting and anaerobic fermentations) if compost is used in agriculture. The available air emission factors suggest that, on a local scale, mechanical biological treatments with energy recovery of biogas, may be intrinsically safer than waste-to-energy incinerators. Several studies confirm the capability of biological treatments to degrade many toxic xenobiotic contaminating urban wastes such as dioxins and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, an important property to be improved, for safe agricultural use of compost. Further LCA studies to compare the environmental impact of MBTs and of waste-to-energy incinerators are recommended.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "At present ceramic tiles are already being marketed with characteristics and performance features that make them products whose applications go far beyond traditional tile uses. These are not just future possibilities: their industrial and commercial reality already makes them immediately serviceable in multiple environments. And this is precisely the key concept in these new tile applications: their features make them useable for wholly different functions – functions till now reserved for other products – or, in certain cases, for entirely novel functions. In addition, the functionalities involved are destined to improve aspects directly related to the quality of life, conditions of habitability or, for instance, to using such a vital natural source of energy as solar radiation. It should, therefore, be stressed that these new generations of ceramic tiles are to be considered part of the range of architectural elements for both external and internal uses, since, as the following will show, they provide the surfaces they clad with a broad spectrum of properties and functions without detriment to the aesthetic qualities, always so characteristic, of ceramic tile. To illustrate the above, the present paper describes three new families of ceramic products. These groups of products are conceptually different and many-sided, which makes them serviceable as functional elements in different contexts.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "India has a very large potential for harnessing renewable energy sources. However, there is a large gap between the estimated potential and the cumulative achievements made so far. A variety of reasons are attributed to the current low levels of dissemination of renewable energy technologies in India as against their respective estimated potentials. Several of these attributes could, one way or the other, be related to the current status of development of the technology, its appropriateness and dissemination strategies adopted for their diffusion and deployment. Results of an attempt to assess the current status of some renewable energy technologies in India are briefly presented in this paper. The main findings of a structured questionnaire based survey undertaken for eliciting views of different categories of stakeholders on various issues affecting dissemination of renewable energy technologies in India are presented in this paper.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Algae have a variety of uses, including pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, and as a potential energy source as a feedstock for biodiesel, bioethanol and biogas. To optimize the commercial production and use of algal biomass, production facilities have to be specifically designed to handle the source materials and subsequent products. This requires a knowledge of their thermophysical properties. To that end, density, viscosity, and heat capacity of the marine microalgae Nannochloropsis salina were determined experimentally at atmospheric pressure and as a function of temperature and total solid (TS) content. Correlation analyses show a relationship between experimental data, temperature, and total solid content for each of the investigated thermophysical properties. Thus, equations were developed allowing the calculation of these properties as a function of temperature and TS content.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Operating solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) with gas from biomass gasification ensures a combined heat and power system with a less complex gas cleaning and an efficient use of biogenic resources. The main challenge and obstacle for the application of SOFCs with bio-syngas is the degradation of Nickel anode caused by carbon deposition, Nickel re-oxidation and contaminants such as tar and sulfur. Understanding the degradation mechanisms, identifying the optimal operation conditions and developing advanced SOFC materials, regeneration methods and diagnosis tools are essential for a stable, efficient and eco-friendly system. This work reviews the current development in terms of the deterioration of cell anodes, the underlying materials sciences, operation of coupled system, the economic feasibility and further approaches of efficiency elevation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The performance of a thermoelectric device used as a heat pump or refrigerator is mainly affected by the Peltier, Fourier, Joule and Thomson effects. The differential equations governing the temperature field inside the device operated between two heat reservoirs are established by using nonequilibrium thermodynamics. New expressions are derived for the COP and the rate of heat pumping. Effects of the Thomson heat on these parameters are analyzed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Purpose Venipuncture is an invasive procedure for diagnosis and treatment, which is often attributed to pain and anxiety. In this study, a thermoelectric element (TEE) band was developed to apply heat therapy (40∼45°C), cold therapy (0∼10°C), or thermal grill illusion (TGI) therapy (40∼45°C, 0∼10°C) to cause an illusion of pain by simultaneously applying heat and cold. This band was subsequently used to investigate its effect on patient pain, anxiety, and satisfaction. Methods This was a randomized controlled study. Participants, who were to undergo venipuncture, were randomly assigned to the heat therapy, cold therapy, TGI therapy, or control groups. Each group had 30 participants. The interventions were employed for 10 seconds during venipuncture, and the pain, anxiety, and satisfaction were measured before and after the procedure. Results Subjective pain, anxiety, and physiological responses after TEE band intervention were not significantly different between the four groups. However, there was a significant difference in satisfaction (F = 4.21, p = .007) between the four groups, and the cold therapy group showed the highest satisfaction. Conclusion In this study, when heat, cold, and TGI therapy were applied with a TEE band, pain and anxiety relief effects were not confirmed, but satisfaction was high. TEE band is a newly developed product that can easily apply hot and cold treatments without using ice packs or hot water packs. Further studies with various individual characteristics of chronic pain or repeated venipuncture are warranted to evaluate the effect of TEE.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Optimal photovoltaic hybrid systems (PVHS) have been evaluated for remote villages in Far North Cameroon using a recent iterative optimisation method based on desired annual number of generator hours and the Net Present Value technique. PVHS configurations with the same PV array size were computed for varying energy demand (D1) and constant daily energy demand (D2) when the minimum desired renewable energy fraction was set to 20%. However, the annual diesel generator operating times in PVHS configurations were found to be higher for D1 at renewable energy fractions greater than 71.9%. The results of economic analysis using a PV module cost of a remote fuel price of 1.12 €/l, inflation rate of 5%, discount rate of 6%, 2 days autonomy, PV module costs in the range 7.5 €/Wp–0.75 €/Wp, and fuel escalation rate in the range 5%–20%, showed that PVHS were the optimal options for D2 for all combinations of sensitivity variables. PVHS were also found to be the optimal option for D1 at a fuel escalation rate of at most 10%. SPVS were found to be optimal option for D1 at a fuel escalation is at least 15% and PV module costs are in the range 2.25 €/Wp −0.75 €/Wp. The renewable energy fractions evaluated for optimal PVHS options were found to be in the ranges 88.7%–97.0% and 89.4%–99.9 % for D1 and D2 respectively. Consequently, PVHS are the optimal power option for the electrification of villages in Far North Cameroon, with annual solar insolation of at least 5.5 kWh/m2/d and annual energy demand of 72.6 kWh/d if the fuel escalation rate is at most 10%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Vacancies caused by Ca-deficiency in polycrystalline La 0.67 Ca 0.33−x MnO 3−δ (x=0.00,0.05,0.10 and 0.15) result in two obvious changes: one is a large increase of resistivity ρ in paramagnetic-insulator state; another is a decrease of Curie temperature T C. The conduction mechanism is of polaronic nature above T C, and the activation energy for the charge carries increases with increasing x. Rietveld refinement analyses show that the unit-cell volume V C shrinks abruptly accompanied by the insulator–metal transition and that the volume change of La0.67Ca0.18MnO3−δ shows larger anomaly than that of La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 around T C. Vacancies on A-sites introduce additional lattice distortions which can be partially removed below T C.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "An alternating polyfluorene (APFO) with low band-gap segments named APFO-Green1 has been designed and synthesized for use in optoelectronic devices. The low band-gap segment consists of an electron acceptor (A), fenced by electron donors (D). This D–A–D configuration leads to a partial charge transfer in the polymer backbone, and thereby a low band-gap (1.3eV). Results obtained from characterization of APFO-Green1 include light absorption and emission at extended wavelengths as well as high hole mobility. Furthermore, blends of the polymer with different fullerene derivatives exhibit unusually high photovoltaic performance at long wavelengths, making this type of conjugated polymers promising for plastic solar cell applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The chapter argues that the ethical questions that lie ahead must be addressed to create a firm ethical foundation for agriculture. Scientific myths that pervade agricultural must be addressed and often dismissed. It is recommended that a new public image—an ethic of responsibility—be accepted as a standard by those who practice agriculture, those who study it, and all who benefit from it. Those engaged in agriculture should expand their realm of inquiry to include those asking the same questions and with whom it may be good to form partnerships to discuss agriculture’s ethical and other issues.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, a novel hybrid maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method is proposed and investigated. The proposed MPPT technique combines the simplicity of perturb and observe (P&O) method and the fast tracking ability of open circuit voltage (OCV) method. The advantages of the proposed MPPT approach include fast tracking speed, no additional circuit required and no temporary power loss. To validate the feasibility of the proposed MPPT technique, an 1.2 kW thermoelectric generation system for industrial waste heat recovery is also constructed, experimental results show that comparing with conventional P&O technique, the proposed method can improve the tracking speed for 42.9% and 86.2% when temperature differences are ΔT = 60 °C and ΔT = 180 °C, respectively. Moreover, the energy loss can be improved by 24.0% and 87.0% when temperature differences are ΔT = 60 °C and ΔT = 180 °C, respectively.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Problems related to the uncertainties of the sources and loads in integrated energy systems (IESs) are becoming more prominent with the interconnection of large-scale renewable energy sources and multi-energy loads. Moreover, such scenarios pose great challenges for the optimal operation of IESs. A distributed IES in an industrial park is regarded as the research object, and a stochastic optimal operation model based on multiple-scenario simulations is proposed to consider the prediction uncertainties arising in the case of distributed power generation and multi-energy loads. Specifically, scenario analysis for stochastic optimization is applied to address these prediction uncertainties in a two-part approach: operation scenario generation based on Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) and the reduction of multiple scenarios into a smaller number of more general scenarios based on K-means. Afterwards, a day-ahead stochastic optimal operation model for a distributed IES with the total operating economy as the decision-making objective is proposed based on typical operation scenarios. Moreover, the overall energy efficiency and new energy consumption capacity are all considered. In this way, the safe and economical operation of the IES can be guaranteed even under the negative influence of uncertainties. The validity and rationality of the proposed model are verified by analysis of examples.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Use of both the optical & conductive properties of a metallic plate solar concentrator enhances the recovery of absorbed waste heat to improve the net system performance. In this investiagation, a solar thermal system has been proposed which will facilitate the process heat for industrial purposes in a wide range of low to medium temperature. An analytical study followed by an experimental study of a bench model of trigeneration solar thermal system is conducted in this investigation. The drying & heating application in the low to medium temperature range using the recovered heat with the enhancement by the normal irradiative heat concentrated at the focus of the concentrator is envisaged to be accelerated through increased mass flow rate with energy storage to meet up a sustainability support.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • DNI determined with the SPN1 should be corrected with quadratic function. • After recalibration the RMSE of the analyzed SPN1 DNI is reduced from 11% to 7%. • One-month recalibration against pyrheliometer is recommended.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, we review the latest developments in the area of printing technologies with an emphasis on the fabrication of control-embedded photovoltaics (PV) with on-board active and passive devices. We also review the use of power converters and maximum power point tracking (MPPT) circuits with PV panels. Our focus is on the investigation of the simplest implementations of such circuits in view of their integration with solar cells using printing technologies. We see this concept as potentially enabling toward further cost reduction. Besides a discussion as to feasibility, we shall also present some projections and guidelines toward possible integration.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The Seebeck coefficients (α) and the power factors of 100 nm-thick Ge1- x Sn x films grown by magnetron sputtering were studied versus Sn composition (0.09 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) in the 220−330 K temperature range. The films present particularly high Seebeck coefficients at room temperature but as they are undoped, their power factors are too low for room temperature thermoelectric applications due to low electrical conductivity (σ). Nevertheless, as it is possibile to modify both α and σ by adjusting x, as well as employ conventional doping techniques, the IV-IV Ge1- x Sn x semiconductor is shown to be extremely interesting for complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor-compatible thermoelectric applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Layered metal selenides have attracted widespread attention in thermoelectrics. However, the thermoelectric performance of these compounds holding n-type conduction suffers from low electrical conductivity especially along out-of-plane direction mainly due to the carrier deficiency. Herein, two-dimensional MXene with metallic conductivity is introduced into SnSe2 matrix as a carrier reservoir to alleviate the electron shortage. Br-doped SnSe2/Ti3C2T x composites are successfully fabricated by a hydrothermal method combined with solid-state synthesis. Compared with that of pristine SnSe2, the carrier concentration of SnSe1.97Br0.03/0.4 wt% Ti3C2T x is enlarged by three orders of magnitude from 1017 cm–3 to 1020 cm–3. Meanwhile, it is revealed that the electrons transfer from the MXene layers into the SnSe2 matrix facilitated by elevated temperature based on the first-principles calculations. Combining with the intrinsically low lattice thermal conductivity, a peak zT close to unity is achieved along out-of-plane direction at 818 K in SnSe1.97Br0.03/0.4 wt% Ti3C2T x sample. These findings offer an available strategy to efficiently increase the carrier concentration of wide-gap layered compounds.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thermoelectric (TE) generation technology plays an increasingly significant role in a global environment. A desirable approach to improve the efficiency of thermoelectric generator (TEG) is to segment the n- and/or p-leg into several parts with different materials for increasing the average thermoelectric figure of merit of the legs, and to operate with a relatively larger temperature gradient. In this study, a three-dimensional model is developed for the performance analysis of a segmented TEG, and the geometric design optimization of the TEG is examined numerically with the use of the temperature-dependent thermoelectric materials. Specifically, the temperature, heat flow, electric potential, electric current and Joule heating in the thermoelectric modules are investigated in detail. Also, the efficiency and effectiveness of the TEG is analyzed with the design variables such as the ratio of cross-sectional area of p-leg and n-leg, the length ratio of different materials in the segmented leg, and the geometry configurations of p- and n-legs. Furthermore, the effect of the contact resistance on the TEG performance is considered. The results show that a proper design of the geometric parameters can lead to an optimal design of thermoelectric generation systems with higher efficiency.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thermoelectric (TE) materials with high figure-of-merit, ZT, are critical to the development of energy harvesting devices that directly convert heat to electricity. This chapter surveys recent developments in earth abundant high ZT metal selenides and sulfides. Key physical mechanisms leading to high ZT are discussed first, including anharmonicity, band structure engineering by doping, nanoscale size effect and topological defects. The impact of synthesis and consolidation processes on the thermoelectric performance of a range of chalcogenides is described. In particular, factors including changes in stoichiometry, phase separation and precipitation arising from volatilization of the chalcogen at elevated temperatures are discussed. The significant challenges presented by devices constructed from copper chalcogenides exhibiting phonon-liquid electron-crystal (PLEC) behavior are outlined, and strategies to ameliorate the deleterious effects of ionic diffusion in PLEC-based devices reviewed. Material synthesis, spark plasma sintering and emerging TE processing techniques such as screen-printing are described.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Developing an adaptive building envelope (ABE) to cope with drastic changes in the ambient environment contributes to achieving the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 in the building industry. In this study, two types of ABE, namely, adaptive ventilation and sunlight regulation wall (AVSRW) and adaptive sunlight regulation wall (ASRW), were designed by combining variable transparency shape-stabilized PCM (VTSS-PCM) and reflective film, and the AVSRW had an air cavity to control the heat storage and release of VTSS-PCM. The numerical models of the two ABEs and the massive wall (MW) were developed and validated by a full-scale experimental test. Based on these validated numerical models and weather datasets in four climate zones of China, the energy performances of AVSRW were simulated under the influence of melting temperature (T m) of VTSS-PCM, thickness (L) of VTSS-PCM, and reflectivity (R) of reflective film. Then, a bi-objective global optimization was conducted to find the optimal performance and design parameters of AVSRW. Finally, the AVSRW and the ASRW with the optimal design parameters were compared with and the MW. The parameters analysis revealed that the combined action of T m, L, and R on AVSRW determined the trade-off among the heat conducted to the interior, the solar energy stored by VTSS-PCM, and the solar energy reflected by the reflective film. The optimization results showed that, in the climate conditions of Beijing, Changsha, Guangzhou, and Harbin, the optimal values of T m were 24.02 ℃, 24.37 ℃, 25.86 ℃, and 23.43 ℃, respectively; the optimal values of L were 0.16 m, 0.16 m, 0.09 m, and 0.16 m, respectively; the optimal values of R were 0.23, 0.29, 0.79, and 0.33, respectively. Under the optimal values of T m, L, and R, compared with MW, the annual ESRs of AVSRW and ASRW were 84.26 % and 38.71 % in Beijing, 81.98 % and 39.45 % in Shanghai, 70.28 % and 55.53 % in Guangzhou, 76.20 % and 29.54 % in Harbin. This study provides the basis for the design and optimization of AVSRW and ASRW in different climate regions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We study the optical electric field distribution inside heterojunction photovoltaic devices. The generation of excitons and thereby the charge generation is directly dependent of the exciting optical electric field. From calculations of the internal optical electric field distribution we can derive an optimized geometrical structure with respect to the efficiency of this type of devices.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We have investigated the threshold properties of Rubidium blue bronze Rb0.3MoO3 under high dc electric field in a large temperature range 20–150 K. The second threshold fields have been observed at temperature up to 102.4 K, and have quasi-linear relationships with temperatures 20–45 K and 55–100 K, respectively. A novel crossover platform has been found firstly in the temperature dependence of the second threshold field E T 2 at about 45–55 K. The results indicate that the dynamical behavior of the second threshold effects may originate from different mechanisms. We suggest that the highly conducting state at 20–45 K and 55–100 K result from the undamped sliding motion of rigid CDW and current inhomogeneity, respectively.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar thermoelectric energy-generation technology is being developed to mitigate the limitations of solar cells. Thermal management is essential to creating highly efficient and stable solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs). Phase change materials (PCMs) can be used to improve the performance of STEGs. In this study, we numerically investigate the heat transfer, thermal energy storage, and thermoelectric energy conversion in an STEG with PCMs (STEG-PCM). Based on a parametric study, we present thermal design guidelines for the configurations of an STEG-PCM and the thermal properties of PCMs by considering both the thermoelectric generation performance and thermal stability of the STEG-PCM. We also show that the PCM-impregnated structure is the most crucial component of the STEG-PCM in the thermal design based on a sensitivity analysis. To find the optimal design of a PCM-impregnated structure, topology optimization is performed for the STEG-PCM focused on daytime thermoelectric generation performance. The topology-optimized PCM-impregnated structure shows a thermoelectric generation performance close to that of an STEG-PCM whose PCM-impregnated structure is assumed to be an ideal mixture of PCM and framework material. This study explains how PCMs affect thermal energy transport and conversion in an STEG and sheds light on a highly efficient and stable STEG system.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Aluminum (Al)-doped titanium dioxide nanorod arrays (ATNs) were grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide-coated glass at different Al atomic concentrations ranging from 1 at.% to 5 at.% in a Schott bottle through single-step aqueous chemical growth for self-powered photoelectrochemical cell-type ultraviolet (UV) photosensor applications. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the grown ATNs exhibited a crystalline rutile structure. The ATNs showed smaller crystallite size and average nanorod diameter and length compared with the undoped sample. The photocurrent measured from the fabricated UV photosensors improved to some extent with increasing Al-dopant concentration. Samples with 2 at.% Al showed the maximum photocurrent of 108.87 μA/cm2 at 0 V bias under UV irradiation (365 nm, 750 μW/cm2). The results show that high-performance UV photosensors can be fabricated and enhanced using ATNs easily prepared in a glass container.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Photovoltaics (silicon solar cells) have gained more attention due to their low-cost fabrication, flexible transpiration, ease of installation, commissioning, and lower weight. In the near past, achieving improved power conversion efficiency and enhanced stability was a bottleneck problem. Today, commercial photovoltaics with a laboratory efficiency of 25% have been realized, and enhanced stability under ambient conditions has been significantly improved, exclusively with photovoltaic devices utilizing inverted architecture, while multijunction photovoltaics have achieved much higher overall efficiencies. Reducing production costs and enhancing photoconversion efficiency are the main tasks in order to make photovoltaic energy competitive and able to substitute traditional fossil energies. Nevertheless, progress in nanotechnology might open the doors for inexpensive, comparably more efficient solar cell devices. The global community is also paying attention to solar cells not just because of the cost but also for certain other reasons such as climate change, emission of CO2, and ease of access to remote areas in developing countries for farmers and healthcare applications. Nanotechnology has proved breakthroughs in several solar cell technologies. Researchers hope that nanotechnology might solve the low-efficiency problem of solar cells and could promisingly reduce the manufacturing cost of solar cells. Exploiting nanotechnology in solar cell applications could possibly solve the two biggest problems of the solar cell industry. It can make it a step forward to harvest solar power efficiently and cost-effectively while preserving the environment. In this chapter, we will explain the potential of nanotechnology materials, synthesis and process for a solar cell application, the implications of this technology, and how it can contribute to our communities and societies in the long run.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A novel regioregular selenophene and thiophene-based poly(2,5-bis(3-dodecylthiophen-2-yl)-2′,2″-biselenophene) (PBTBS), was chosen as promising electron donor materials blended with [6,6]-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester(PCBM) to fabricate bulk heterojunction solar cells. The optical and photovoltaic properties of PBTBS were characterized and compared to those of poly(3,3″′-didedocyl-quaterthiophene)( PQT-12). The PBTBS showed a higher ionization potential (IP) and improved oxidative stability than PQT-12 through the cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements, which was due to stronger electron-donating properties of selenophene than that of thiophene analogue. A comparison of photovoltaic properties of cells between two polymer donors PBTBS and PQT-12 were also carried out. The result showed that cells based on the PBTBS had the comparable photovoltaic parameters with those of the PQT-12. An open voltage (V OC ) of 0.46V, a short-circuit current (J SC ) of 0.17mA/cm2, a fill factor (FF) of 0.32 and a power conversion efficiency (η) of 0.34% were achieved at 100mW/cm2 (AM 1.5). The external quantum efficiency of cells based on the PBTBS exhibited much better performance with around 3.4% at 540nm compared with that of the PQT-12.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Photostrictive effect in lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) ceramics, one of the promising candidates for photostrictive materials, has been investigated with different contents of La and the ratio of Zr/Ti near the morphotropic phase boundary compositions. The maximum photocurrent and photovoltage were obtained at different compositions of PLZT ceramics: maximum photocurrent at 4/48/52, maximum photovoltage at 5/54/46. New figures of merit for evaluating these materials, which includes both the magnitude of strain and response speed, were proposed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A cooling device based on jet impingement is proposed for cooling of densely packed photovoltaic cells under high concentration. The device consists of an array of jets where the cooling fluid is drained around the sides in the direction normal to the surface. The local and average heat transfer as well as pressure drop of the device is measured. A model is proposed which predicts the pumping power required for a given average heat transfer coefficient and device configuration. This model forms part of an optimised design process which is outlined. It is shown that the inherently nonuniform heat transfer distribution of jet arrays has little effect on the expected electrical performance of the PV array.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), CuInS2 (CIS) films have been grown on 4-in Si(111) substrates. For a detailed investigation by means of photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, samples were either taken as grown or subjected to postgrowth treatments, including KCN etching and hydrogen implantation. Altogether, six defect-related transitions at 1.48 (#1), 1.436 (#2), 1.395 (#3), 1.345 (#4), 1.195 (#5) and 1.03 eV (#6) were observed and analysed by means of power-dependent measurements. Thus, one free-to-bound (#1) and five donor–acceptor transitions (#2–#6) were identified. The energetically highest of these observed transitions were combined in a model for intrinsic defect levels which includes two acceptor and one donor states.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Flat roofs present a large potential of suitable areas for installation of PV (photovoltaic) plants. Flat roof PV installations have the advantage of being able to be optimally positioned with support structures, and the inclination angle can be adjusted. Due to the important technological development existing in the PV sector, there are different PV technologies in the market, whose energy and economic features substantially differ. This paper describes some useful parameters to assess the technology and distribution of modules to be installed in flat roofs and terraces of buildings. The effect on the energy parameters of the modules tilt and disposition is analyzed in a case study, considering different technologies.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This index is in letter-by-letter order, whereby hyphens and spaces within index headings are ignored in the alphabetization, and it is arranged in set-out style, with a maximum of four levels of heading. Location references refer to the volume number, in bold, followed by the page number. Page numbers suffixed by f, s and t refers to figures, schemes and tables terms respectively. vs. indicates a comparison.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "High mobility transparent conducting oxide (HMTCO) materials (mobility>60 cm2 V−1 s−1) have a high transmission over the visible to near infra red wavelength region with resistivity <2×10−4 Ω cm. We investigate the application of HMTCO materials as transparent contacts for multi-junction and bifacial solar cells to increase the device NIR transmission. Using the HMTCO materials as front contacts significantly reduces absorption and reflection losses of the solar cells, from 850–1500 nm. The need to develop a low temperature process to prepare HMTCO materials as back contacts in semi-transparent solar cells is also emphasized.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "To elucidate the optimal bulk heterojunction (BHJ) film for high-performance organic photovoltaics, structural control of BHJ films based on small molecules is one of the great challenges. A homogeneous BHJ structure based on oligothiophene and fullerene has been fabricated by means of terminal modification using the sterically bulky t-butyl group. However, the suppression of interaction among the oligothiophene molecules produces a low fill factor. Molecular design of donor material in order to obtain good fill factor was not clear. Herein, we synthesized oligothiophene with sterically bulky o-biphenyl groups possessing molecular flexibility. We achieved balance between the morphological control of BHJ films and improvement of the fill factor. In this study, we suggest that improvement of fill factor is attributed to increasing hole mobility and crystallinity by ortho-biphenyl group.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A method is presented and tested which, implemented along with a lumped dynamical model of an inverse cycle, allows for the description of the system with very simple mathematical tools, without any need to possess information about the thermophysical properties of the refrigerant fluid operating in the cycle. The algorithm, based on the fluid independent Carnot cycle, is applied both to a household refrigerator and to a direct expansion, variable capacity, solar assisted heat pump (DX-SAHP). The validity of the approach is established by comparing the numerical results of the proposed simplified approach to transient and time averaged data based on consolidated thermodynamic-cycle simulators which make use of full standard fluid properties description. Simulations comparisons confirm the ability of the proposed model to closely adhere to the dynamic behavior of the considered devices and disclose the opportunity to develop inverse-cycle models so simple to be easily embedded, along with their sensitivity features, in cheap model-based regulators and transient control strategy developments.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The aim of this work is to investigate the electrical uniformity of monolithic polycrystalline silicon solar cells prepared by various process techniques. By a series of experiments such as P and Al impurity gettering and silicon nitride passivation, a new conclusion is that the application of P and Al gettering as well as silicon nitride passivation enhances the electrical uniformity of small area solar cells diced from the same polycrystalline silicon solar cells, even if impurity gettering is not effective when the dislocation density is above a threshold value of about 106 cm−2. The experiments give us some hints that when we cut large area polycrystalline silicon solar cells into small pieces needed for application, we should modify production process slightly.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The article is devoted to the design of the drive unit of a continuous transport machines, i.e. the leading suspension of a special belt conveyor – a conveyor with a suspended belt and a distributed drive. The paper provides an analysis of known designs of conveyor suspension with a suspended belt and specifies their common general weaknesses. The authors show the original technical solution of the universal roller suspension, equipped with an individual motor-gear drive, as well as a drive roller pressure device, and its main advantages. The authors developed and showed a mathematical model designed to optimize the characteristics of the metal structure of one of the most metal-consuming elements of the considered drive suspension as the carrier section and taking into account structural, strength and stiffness limitations. In their paper, the authors showed the implementation of the proposed mathematical model: the stress-strain state of the metal structure of the drive suspension is calculated using the example of the basic design. It is established that the basic drive suspension has excessive strength, weight and exceeded geometric parameters of the rods. The authors made the conclusion about the need for multi-criteria optimization of the metal construction of the drive suspension, as well as the study of the influence of the configuration parameters of the drive suspension on its weight and size characteristics.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thermal-assisted cold sintering process (TA-CSP) has been applied to fabricate high dense α-Al2O3 ceramics with submicron grain sizes. The α-Al2O3 (80 wt%) and γ-Al2O3 (20 wt%) powders are firstly mixed and then cold sintered at 300 °C to produce a green bulk with a relatively high density of ∼ 86.9 %, and then later a second heat treatment (800–1350 °C) is applied to finally fabricate (∼ 98 % dense) α-Al2O3 ceramics with grain sizes of 720 nm. A microstructural analysis with XRD and TEM suggests that the TA-CSP samples not only complete the final densification but also drive a phase transition of γ-Al2O3 to α-Al2O3. To put into perspective the Hardness and Young's modulus of TA-CSP samples reach ∼ 14 GPa and ∼ 335 GPa, respectively, which is comparable to conventional sintered samples processed at higher temperatures of 1500–1700 °C. Therefore, it is feasible to utilize TA-CSP to prepare α-Al2O3 ceramics with small grain sizes at low sintering temperatures.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A renewable energy powered mobile medical clinic has been designed, developed and deployed in the Dominican Republic. The portable renewable energy system consists of a 46.5 m2 (500 ft2) tent powered by a suite of renewable energy technologies including a hybrid wind and photovoltaic system with a lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) battery bank for energy storage. Thin-film photovoltaic panels integrated into the thermal fly of the tent are designed to generate 4.8 kW of power. In addition, the system consists of two wind turbines each capable of generating 1 kW, and are supported on portable towers which do not require guy wires or mountings into the ground. The system provides 3 kW of power continuously with a maximum renewable energy power generation of 6.8 kW. The Mobile Medical Clinic (MMC) was deployed in Mao, Dominican Republic. Due to the environmental conditions at this particular location a majority of the power generated by the renewable energy system came from the photovoltaic panels. The renewable energy system and energy storage system are backed up by a gasoline generator, which serves solely as a source of power in the absence of wind or solar energy and when the battery bank is discharged. The control system of the MMC automatically turns on and shuts off the generator as needed in order to minimize fuel consumption. The entire MMC including the renewable energy system was designed to be portable, scalable and all components man-liftable. The system is controlled by state-of-the-art off the shelf components and does not require a complex computer control system. The control system consists solely of the inverters and the charge controllers. The system has remained extremely effective and yet simple to operate which is beneficial since the purpose of the MMC is to operate in austere conditions with minimal training for the operators. The system has been donated to the Dominican Republic to be used for deployment during emergency response situations.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The energy yield of a PV device under outdoor conditions depends on the performance of the device under large variations of three main parameters, the device temperature, the total irradiance and the spectral irradiance. To properly compare indoor and outdoor performance matrices the spectral response (SR) of the PV devices has to be measured as a function of temperature and irradiance intensity. This work presents systematic measurements of the SR of two thin film PV devices (a-Si and CIS). The SR of the a-Si device changed slightly with both parameters, whereas the SR of the CIS device remained essentially unchanged. The results provide the mismatch factor (MMF) for explicit correction of each entry in the indoor performance matrix. A good approximation, however, is to use the same MMF for the entire matrix.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "An ab − initio density functional theory (DFT) method has been used to study the elastic and thermodynamical properties of Fe2CoAl under hydrostatic pressure. In calculating mechanical and dynamical properties we have studied the elastic constants, anisotropy parameters, compressibility, ductility, plasticity, Debye temperature, vibrational energy, specific heat etc., under different applied pressures. While applying isotropic compressive pressure we have observed that elastic stiffness constants and hardness of the system increases almost linearly. However, the Pugh's ratio, B/G > 1.75 for all applied pressures except for 20 GPa ≤ P ≤ 40 GPa. The value of Poisson's ratio (σ) fluctuates around 0.25. Our calculations have revealed an admixture of covalent and ionic bond in Fe2CoAl. The compound under investigation is ductile in nature at all pressures considered.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "With growing interest in SnS for solar photovoltaic device fabrication, the barrier characteristics to this semiconductor with respect to different metal contacts have become increasingly important. In this work we have studied barrier characteristics of polycrystalline SnS thin films metallized with indium, aluminium, copper and silver under different annealing conditions. Indium has been observed to form ohmic contact to p-SnS under all annealing conditions. With the other three metals, Schottky diodes were fabricated and subsequently the contact parameters were extracted under forward bias using indium top contact under different annealing conditions. Although aluminium formed Schottky contact to polycrystalline SnS, annealing at 350°C rendered it ohmic. EDX analysis confirmed desulfurization from SnS thin films due to annealing. Breakdown voltages of the Al/SnS Schottky barrier diode were determined and were in the decreasing trend with higher annealing temperature, supporting the increase in the doping profile with annealing temperature. Photoluminescence spectra of SnS films were studied and correlated to surface trap centers generated due to annealing.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper examines the impact of policies to reduce carbon and other air emissions in the electric sector. The analysis is from a recent scenario development effort, Scenarios for a Clean Energy Future (CEF), by five National Laboratories. The CEF assesses how policies can be used to promote energy-efficient and clean energy technologies to address key energy and environmental challenges facing the United States. The impact of policies in the electric sector is evaluated using the CEF-NEMS model, which is derived from the National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) model developed by the DOE Energy Information Administration. The analysis shows that by 2020 under the policies analyzed, CO2 and other emissions can be substantially reduced by moving from coal to advanced gas combined cycle systems and renewable energy. Prices show little change and may drop due to decreased end-use demands.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Indium sulfide thin films prepared using spray pyrolysis, with In/S ratio 2/3 in the solution, were annealed in vacuum at 300 and 400°C. The effect of this treatment on properties of the films was studied using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, optical absorption, transmission and electrical measurements. Optical constants of the films were calculated using the envelope method. Annealing did not affect the optical properties of the film much, but the resistivity of the films showed a drastic decrease and the grain size increased. In2S3 thin films have potential use as buffer layer in photovoltaic heterojunction devices.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Nondestructive detection of the nutritional parameters of pork is of great importance. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of applying hyperspectral image technology to detect the nutrient content and distribution of pork nondestructively. Hyperspectral cubes of 100 pork samples were collected using a line-scan hyperspectral system, the effects of different preprocessing methods on the modeling effects were compared and analyzed, the feature wavelengths of fat and protein were extracted, and the full-wavelength model was optimized using the regressor chains (RC) algorithm. Finally, pork's fat, protein, and energy value distributions were visualized using the best prediction model. The results showed that standard normal variate was more effective than other preprocessing methods, the feature wavelengths extracted by the competitive adaptive reweighted sampling algorithm had better prediction performance, and the protein model prediction performance was optimized after using the RC algorithm. The best prediction models were developed, with the correlation coefficient of prediction (R P) = 0.929, the root mean square error in prediction (RMSEP) = 0.699% and residual prediction deviation (RPD) = 2.669 for fat, and R P = 0.934, RMSEP = 0.603% and RPD = 2.586 for protein. The pseudo-color maps were helpful for the analysis of nutrient distribution in pork. Hyperspectral image technology can be a fast, nondestructive, and accurate tool for quantifying the composition and assessing the distribution of nutrients in pork.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The efficiency of CuInS2 (CIS) solar cells is determined by the presence of native (extrinsic) lattice defects. These defects introduce energy levels in the band gap, which determine the conductivity type and the minority carrier lifetime. In this study, different characterization methods are applied to elucidate the defect physics and chemistry of CIS. Thin films of CIS are obtained by sulfurization of a CuIn metallic alloy. The process conditions are: reactor pressure 1 bar, substrate temperature between 450 and 500 °C, sulfurization time between 2 and 15 min. The films are investigated with X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. It is found that the deposition parameters such as the sulfur pressure and the reactor temperature determine the concentration and type of lattice defects. In the present investigations, the process conditions are related to the defect chemistry and show how the quality of CIS thin films can be improved.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The significance of crystal properties for the product performance of organic pigments has always required special efforts to analyze, to control and to design these materials. In this article recent developments and the modern scientific facets of pigments research (e.g. crystal structure prediction and polymorphism, electronic structures of molecular crystals, and crystal morphology determination) will be discussed. The broad interest in these topics is shared with many other areas of scientific and industrial research on molecular solids.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Zinc sulphide thin films were deposited by the pulse plating technique at a duty cycle of 20% and different deposition current densities in the range 50–300 mA cm−2. X-ray diffraction studies indicated the films to be polycrystalline with wurtzite structure. Direct optical band gap in the range of 3.6–4.0 eV was obtained for the films deposited at different deposition current densities. AES studies indicated a Zn/S ratio of 1.02–1.04. The room temperature resistivity values varied in the range of 3.5–17 Ω cm as the deposition current density decreases. Photoluminescence emission peak was observed at 388 nm at room temperature for an excitation of 325 nm.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Bi2S3 is a promising inorganic material for thin film photovoltaic application with optimum direct band gap of ~1.3eV, strong absorption coefficient, nontoxic and simple composition. Here we introduce rapid thermal evaporation (RTE), a method with simple facility and extremely fast deposition speed, to produce high quality Bi2S3 films. By optimizing the substrate temperature and post-annealing process, well-crystalline, smooth and compact Bi2S3 films were obtained. The band gap, doping type and density, and photosensitivity of as-produced Bi2S3 films were revealed by a combined X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectrum, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Hall effect and photoresponse measurements. Finally, a prototypical ITO/NiO/Bi2S3/Au solar cell with 0.75% power conversion efficiency was obtained, manifesting the promise of Bi2S3 as the absorber layer for thin film photovoltaics.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Bi2S3 nanorods, with a diameter of ca. 10 nm and a length of up to ca. 300 nm, have been successfully prepared from a formaldehyde solution of bismuth nitrate and thiourea by microwave irradiation. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern indicates that the product is pure orthorhombic Bi2S3 phase. The product is also characterized by the techniques of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Single composite crystals of (BiS) x TS2-type ternary chalcogenides (T=V, Nb and Ta) with layered substructures have been prepared by chemical-vapor transport method with NH4Cl as transport agent. The mutually incommensurate composite crystal structures of (BiS) x TS2 have been successfully characterized by the X-ray diffraction and the convergent beam electron diffraction methods using (3+1)-dimensional superspace group symmetry. Temperature dependences of in-plane electrical resistivity of single composite crystals of (BiS) x TS2 have been measured by a standard d.c. four probe method in the range of 1.7–300 K. It has been suggested that the electronic transport properties of (BiS) x TS2 compounds are metallic below room temperature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Since solar energy systems feed on a ‘clean’ energy source, they do not produce polluting emissions during their operation. However, they carry the environmental weight of other phases in their life cycle. In order to analyze the energy and environmental profile of these systems, it is necessary to expand the system boundaries, taking into account also the ‘hidden impacts’ related to production, transportation and system disposal at the end of its technical life. Here, the life cycle assessment methodology is applied to derive a complete and extended energy and environmental profile of photovoltaic systems. As reference case, a conventional multi-crystalline building integrated system is selected, retrofitted on a tilted roof, located in Rome (Italy) and connected to the national electricity grid. Then improved configurations of the reference system are assessed, focusing on building integration issues and the operational phase (considering an experimental hybrid photovoltaic system with heat recovery). Environmental ‘pay back times’ of the assessed systems are then calculated for CO2 equivalent emissions and embodied energy. All the analyzed configurations are characterized by environmental pay back times one order of magnitude lower than their expected life time (3–4 years vs. 15–30 years). Thanks to a wider exploitation of photovoltaic potential during its ‘zero emission operation’, these results are further lowered by photovoltaic hybrid systems (environmental pay back times, depending on heat recovery configuration, go down to 40–50% of the values calculated for the reference case).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We numerically model crystalline silicon concentrator cells with the inclusion of band gap narrowing (BGN) caused by injected free carriers. In previous studies, the revised room-temperature value of the intrinsic carrier density, n i=1.00×1010 cm−3, was inconsistent with the other material parameters of highly injected silicon. In this paper, we show that high-injection experiments can be described consistently with the revised value of n i if free-carrier induced BGN is included, and that such BGN is an important effect in silicon concentrator cells. The new model presented here significantly improves the ability to model highly injected silicon cells with a high level of precision.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Naphthyridine and acridinedione coordinated ruthenium (II) complexes were synthesized and characterized. Their applications in dye-sensitized solar cells were demonstrated. From the I–V curves, the short-circuit photocurrent (I SC) and the open-circuit photovoltage (V OC) were measured. A maximum current conversion efficiency (η) of about 7.7% was obtained for 5-amino-4-phenyl-2-(4-methylphenyl)-7-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-1,6-naphthyridine-8-carbonitrile (pmpn) coordinated ruthenium (II) complex.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Monodisperse, indium doped zinc oxide (IZO) nanoparticles were prepared via the polyol-mediated synthesis and incorporated into regular and inverted poly-(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) and [6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester organic photovoltaic devices as buffer layers between the active layer and the cathode. Efficient hole blocking at the particle buffer layers leads to an enhanced open-circuit voltage of the solar cells. This effect is even more pronounced for inverted device architectures. Device degradation studies revealed a solar cell performance reduction upon sample exposition to ambient atmosphere. However, this degradation is fully reversible under UV illumination. In addition, the n-doped IZO particles form suitable charge carrier transport layers for an efficient recombination in an intermediate recombination zone in tandem solar cells. Accordingly we have fabricated fully solution-processed tandem solar cells and investigated their optoelectronic properties.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This book presents the progress of the state of the art, as well as on future trends in nanotechnology especially silicon/metal nanotechnology. It presented how we observe, explore, manipulate, and build nano-scale objects. How we handle and arrange atoms in specific order or even place them in a particular spot. Moreover, it presented how we enter a nanoworld not only in our minds, but also with our eyes and hands via building advanced and low cost prototypes and devices that impact many aspects of our life. Yet the question remains: Will nanotechnology prove to be the platform technology of the 21st century? Before we address this question, we will first address the question: Are there any practical successes in nanotechnology worth reporting?",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The current–voltage relation and photovoltaic properties of a heterojunction composed of Pr0.75Na0.25MnO3 (PNMO) and Nb-doped SrTiO3 (Nb–STO) are studied. The PNMO/Nb–STO heterojunction exhibits a good rectifying property. Meanwhile, the heterojunction also presents a significant photovoltaic effect. The maximum photovoltage is 28mV under the illumination of 70mW/cm2 light with the wavelength of 473nm at 20K. A qualitative explanation is given based on the analysis of junctions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We investigated spin-dependent thermoelectric properties of a carbon atomic chain (CAC) between two zigzag-edged triangular graphene nanoflakes (GNFs), with two semi-infinite armchair graphene nanoribbons (AGNRs) as the electrodes. Using the non-equilibrium Green’s function method combined with the effective self-consistent mean-field Hubbard approximation, we found that the designed configuration shows large thermo-spin effects that could be tuned by the gate voltage, chemical potential as well as temperature. Our results show that the non-magnetic AGNRs with the edge magnetism of the GNFs and CAC located between them induces a notable spin Seebeck coefficient (SSC), comparable to or more than that in zigzag graphene nanoribbon junctions, for all sizes of CAC. Finally, applying a gate voltage and a temperature gradient across the chain-based caloritronic device could induce a pure spin current, a perfect spin filtering effect, and an unrivaled negative differential thermal resistance in a broad range of temperatures close to room temperature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Molecular beam epitaxial (MBE) growth and lasing operation of quaternary GaInAsSb/AlGaAsSb-based optically-pumped vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSEL) emitting at a wavelength of 2.0μm are reported. MBE growth of such structures is particularly challenging as it requires, apart from the large total thickness of the epitaxial layer stack of 10–12μm a change of group-III fluxes for the growth of AlAsSb and low Al-content AlGaAsSb. Two different growth schemes are compared. The first one is the conventional growth procedure in which the wafer remains in the growth chamber and the growth is interrupted at the interfaces before and after the active region to adjust the group-III cell temperatures for different flux settings. At the interfaces where the growth had to be interrupted, secondary-ion mass-spectrometry revealed the unintentional incorporation of In at a concentration equivalent to 1–2 monolayers. Here we introduce a new growth procedure—the sequential growth scheme where each section of the VECSEL is grown separately, and after the growth of a section, the sample is taken out of the growth chamber and stored in the buffer chamber while the group-III cell temperatures are adjusted. After the new group-III fluxes have been stabilized, the wafer is transferred back into the growth chamber and the next section of the laser is grown. This way the unintentional incorporation of In at interfaces between different sections of the VECSEL structure can be avoided. A comparison of nominally identical VECSEL structures grown within the same growth campaign using the two different growth procedures reveals an increase of the maximum output power of nearly 100% for a 2.0μm emitting VECSEL structure grown with the sequential growth scheme accompanied by an improvement of the optical-to-optical power conversion efficiency from 14.4% to 21.5%.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper analyzes smart combinations of rechargeable batteries and capacitors in energy storage media of photovoltaic (PV) powered products. Important in a mature design of such products is an efficient energy transfer from PV converter into the storage media and from storage towards the energy consuming application. In this paper, an introduction sets the stage for combining batteries and capacitors followed by a background section, a section on experiments and a synthesis section analyzing the test results and anticipation on future developments. The final section presents a summary of conclusions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used to study the crystallization behavior of the (GeTe4)x(GaTe3)100-x glasses for far-infrared optics. Two independent overlapping crystallization processes were found – the initial surface-located precipitation of hexagonal Te and Ga2Te5 phases, followed by formation of the rhombohedral GeTe phase. The initial precipitation process, and in particular the formation of the Ga2Te5 phase, was found to be catalyzed by presence of mechanically induced defects. Finely powdered materials with higher GaTe3 content also exhibited more pronounced separation of the two crystallization sub-processes. Glass stability of the prepared glasses was evaluated in terms of the Hrubý criterion - the (GeTe4)86(GaTe3)14 composition was found to be the most stable and most resilient to the negative crystallization-enhancing influence of structure defects. Pros and cons of the compositional evolution of the crystallization behavior (determined via full kinetic description of the involved crystallization sub-processes and kinetic prediction of the crystallization behavior) were discussed with regard to the ceramics and glass-ceramics applications. Glasses with low GaTe3 content appear to be most suitable for preparation of fully ceramic materials, whereas glasses with high GaTe3 content seem to be most suitable for the glass-ceramics applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A methodology for estimating the rooftop solar photovoltaic potential for a region has been described. The methodology has been applied and illustrated for the Indian city of Mumbai (18.98°N, 72.83°E). It uses high-granularity land use data available in the public domain and GIS-based image analysis of sample satellite images to estimate values of the Building Footprint Area (BFA) Ratio. Photovoltaic-Available Roof Area (PVA) Ratio has been estimated by simulations in PVSyst and has been compared with relevant values from the literature. Solar irradiance (DNI and DHI) and ambient temperature data have been taken from Climate Design Data 2009 ASHRAE Handbook. Liu Jordan transposition model has been used for estimating the plane-of-array insolation. Effect of tilt angle on the plane-of-array insolation received has been studied to make an optimum choice for the tilt angle. Micro-level simulations in PVSyst have been used to estimate effective sunshine hours for the region of interest. The installed capacity, annual and daily generation profiles and capacity factor have been estimated for PV panels with different rated solar cell efficiency and power–temperature coefficient values. The results show a potential of 2190MW for Mumbai city with median efficiency panels, at an annual average capacity factor of 14.8%. Daily and monthly variation of the generation from the Rooftop PV Systems has been studied. Comparison with sample daily load profiles shows that large scale deployment of Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Systems can provide 12.8–20% of the average daily demand and 31–60% of the morning peak demand for different months, even with median conversion efficiency panels. This method can be used to obtain the PV potential for any region.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper gives an overview of the main research directions in chalcopyrite material research and the application of results for the improvement and fabrication of solar cells. So far the copper indium gallium sulphur selenide material family is the base for the highest efficiency thin-film solar cells and the most advanced in terms of actual commercialisation. The transfer of research results into actual production from its early stage and the development of the chalcopyrite thin-film solar cell industry are sketched. The last part of the review shortly describes a number of current industrial players involved in the manufacturing of chalcopyrite solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Building integrated photovoltaic is an art and trend using PV module to replace building material on the outer wall. The semi-transparent c-Si PV module is installed to replace the tiled roof in this study. PV power generation prediction is follow with module performance, installation site and meteorological data. A simple model is created to simulate the power output using PV module thermal model. PV module thermal model is the relation of the module temperature, ambient temperature and solar radiation. In the present study, two parameter linearly regression model is to simulate the power generation in BIPV system. The monthly root-mean -square error (RMSE) is about 4.7%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Economics are crucial to the success of any energy utilization system, and photovoltaic converters are no exception. Because of the intermittence of sunlight, storage systems or standby power generators are frequently required, substantially increasing investment costs. Exceptions include photovoltaics used to supply peak loads that coincide with periods of maximum insolation. Photovoltaics used directly to power irrigation systems need no storage provisions. An important consideration in any type of power plant is the ratio of the average power delivered to the peak installed power. This is related to the plant utilization factor. The efficiency of photovoltaic systems is low compared with that of traditional thermal or hydroelectric plants. However, efficiency is not of primary interest in many photovoltaic installations. The cost per peak watt may be the important characteristic. At the low price of $0.20 per peak watt, it is possible that many buildings will eventually be covered with photovoltaics. In some cases, the average energy generated may well exceed the needs of the building. However, energy will be generated only on sunny days, not rainy ones, and there will not be any generation at night. Consequently, adequate storage facilities must be available, especially in residences, where demand during the day may be small while at night the requirements are higher.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Using near simultaneously acquired Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and Earth Observing-1 Advanced Land Imager (ALI) data we assess the relative radiant responses over active lava flows from the Mt. Etna July/August 2001 flank eruption. By assessing the extent of saturation between the two instruments and using the dual-band method of extracting sub pixel thermal information, we show that the ALI represents an improvement over the ETM+ in the present ability to assess temperatures of hot active lava flows for a number of reasons. (1) The extra spectral channels provided by ALI compliment the current SWIR channels on ETM+ by providing a greater number of paired channel combinations for input into the dual-band method. Thus, dual-band temperature solutions can be determined for a greater range of lava flow types than previously possible using the two paired channel combinations available with the ETM+. (2) The ALI instrument is less susceptible than ETM+ to saturation within the SWIR, especially when using channels 5, 5p and 4p at wavelengths of 1.65, 1.25 and 0.87 μm respectively. (3) The greater radiometric sensitivity of the ALI 12 bit electronics coupled with a significantly higher signal to noise ratio aid in obtaining successful dual-band solutions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents a new wireless platform designed for an integrated traffic/flash flood monitoring system. The sensor platform is built around a 32-bit ARM Cortex M4 microcontroller and a 2.4GHz 802.15.4 ISM compliant radio module. It can be interfaced with fixed traffic sensors, or receive data from vehicle transponders. This platform is specifically designed for solar-powered, low bandwidth, high computational performance wireless sensor network applications. A self-recovering unit is designed to increase reliability and allow periodic hard resets, an essential requirement for sensor networks. A radio monitoring circuitry is proposed to monitor incoming and outgoing transmissions, simplifying software debugging. We illustrate the performance of this wireless sensor platform on complex problems arising in smart cities, such as traffic flow monitoring, machine-learning-based flash flood monitoring or Kalman-filter based vehicle trajectory estimation. All design files have been uploaded and shared in an open science framework, and can be accessed from https://osf.io/fuyqd/. The hardware design is under CERN Open Hardware License v1.2.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "For manufacturing renewable energy equipment, lots of material is needed, including mineral resources. The scarcity of mineral resources is one of the challenges to developing renewable energy projects. This study used the data from the most polluting Chinese provinces by employing a panel Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) model to examine the factors influencing the development of wind power projects in China by considering the scarcity of mineral resources. The study found that financial policies, the abundant essential mineral resources, and regional economic growth are prerequisites for developing wind power projects.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The Government of India has taken several initiatives for promotion of solar energy systems in the country during the last two decades. A variety of policy measures have been adopted which include provision of financial and fiscal incentives to the potential users of solar energy systems however, only 0.4 million solar home systems (SHSs) have been installed so far that is far below their respective potential. One of the major barriers is the high costs of investments in these systems. The clean development mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol provides industrialized (Annex-I) countries with an incentive to invest in emission reduction projects in developing (non-Annex-I) countries to achieve a reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at lowest cost that also promotes sustainable development in the host country. SHSs could be of interest under the CDM because they directly displace greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while contributing to sustainable rural development, if developed correctly. In this study an attempt has been made to estimate the CO2 mitigation potential of SHSs under CDM in India.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A bimetallic Fe/Al disinfection system was developed to examine the feasibility of inactivation of water borne microorganisms. In this study, the effectiveness and mechanisms of the bimetallic Fe/Al system on the inactivation of model bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli), were investigated. Results revealed that the Fe/Al system effectively inactivated E. coli to reach nearly 2 logs (99%) removal within 20 min and 4 logs (99.99%) at 24 h, indicating that the Fe/Al composite was able to sustain a long-term disinfection capacity. The inactivation ability resulted from hydroxyl radicals produced by a Fenton reaction through in-situ self-generated Fe2+ and H2O2 species in the Fe/Al system. In addition to the attack by the radicals, some of E. coli were adsorbed onto the Fe/Al composite (zeta potential of 30–50 mV) as a result of Coulomb interaction. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed that the adsorbed bacteria had damaged pores at the two ends of their rod-like cells. This phenomenon suggested that a micro-electric field between the Fe/Al galvanic couple induced electroporation of the adsorbed E. coli and thus further advanced additional inactivation ability for the bacteria disinfection.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In the present chapter applications of thiophenes, oligothiophene, and polymers containing thiophene units are summarized. The focus lies on: Medicinal applications such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, HIV, and anticancer drug as well as thiophene-based antagonists to various receptors. Thiophenes as reactive intermediates are limited to photochemical and electrocyclic reactions, ring-opening to non-sulfur-containing compounds and hydrodesulfurization (HDS) reactions. In the last decade, the use of poly- and oligothiophenes as photovoltaic and (semi)conducting materials is one of the fastest growing areas in the chemistry of thiophene derivatives only followed by dye chemistry (push–pull substituted compounds for nonlinear optical uses and photochromic dyes for data storage, etc.). Owing to the ongoing interest in supramolecular chemistry and noncovalent interactions, macrocycles (ring, catenanes, cyclophanes, and calixarene derivatives) based on the basic thiophene skeleton is an increasing area as well. The chapter is finished with a short update about organometallic compounds based on thiophenes.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A p-Cu2O/n-TiO2 thin film heterojunction solar cell has been fabricated by electrodeposition of Cu2O on radio-frequency sputtered n-TiO2 thin film. The heterojunction solar cell was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and UV spectroscopy. Capacitance–voltage (C–V) and current–voltage measurements were performed. The values of barrier height and carrier concentration were estimated from the reverse bias C–V. The transport mechanism is related to space charge limited current and a trapped charge limited current having slope values of 1.95 and 3.5. Impedance measurement showed that electrical resistance decreases when the voltage is increased. The energy band diagram shows that the main-band discontinuity forms in the valence band. The ideality factor, barrier height and series resistance, fill factor and efficiency were also measured. The heterojunction solar cell exhibits a maximum fill factor and a power conversion efficiency of about 0.35 and 0.15% respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "It has been proved that the thermoelectric performance of p-type SnSe crystals can be optimized through enhancing carrier concentration. The calculations of electronic band structure elucidate that this approach can be interpreted by including multiple valence bands. To better estimate the potential performance, we proposed the transport properties for p-type SnSe crystals and analyzed the weighted mobility from the experimental results. The weighted mobility approaches ∼600 cm2V−1s−1 when the carrier concentration is as high as ∼6.3 × 10^19 cm−3. Combined with obtained lattice thermal conductivity, through rising carrier concentration, the quality factor B possesses significant improvements of ∼235% and 138% at 300 K and 773 K, respectively. Through comparing weighted mobility and Hall mobility, two effective mass values ∼0.9 m e to 1.8 m e can be derived using carrier concentrations. It is expected that the ZT ∼1.0 at 300K and ZT ∼2.9 at 773 K can be obtained when the carrier concentration of ∼6.3 × 10^19 cm−3 and the effective mass ∼1.8 m e were selected. This work provides an alternative way to comprehend the performance optimization in thermoelectric community.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In California, RWE Schott Solar in Rocklin has contracted with Prevalent Power Inc, a Novato-based clean energy developer and systems integrator, to provide a flat-roof solar electric power system for the County of Marin in northern California. This is a short news story only. Visit www.re-focus.net for the latest renewable energy industry news.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report enhanced polymer photovoltaic (PV) cells by utilizing ethanol-soluble conjugated poly(9, 9-bis (6′-diethoxylphosphorylhexyl) fluorene) (PF-EP) as a buffer layer between the active layer consisting of poly(3-hexylthiophene)/[6, 6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester blend and the Al cathode. Compared to the control PV cell with Al cathode, the introduction of PF-EP effectively increases the shunt resistance and improves the photo-generated charge collection since the slightly thicker semi-conducting PF-EP layer may restrain the penetration of Al atoms into the active layer that may result in increased leakage current and quench photo-generated excitons. The power conversion efficiency is increased ca. 8% compared to the post-annealed cell with Al cathode.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We have performed a first principles study of structural, mechanical, electronic, and optical properties of orthorhombic Sb2S3 and Sb2Se3 compounds using the density functional theory within the local density approximation. The lattice parameters, bulk modulus, and its pressure derivatives of these compounds have been obtained. The second-order elastic constants have been calculated, and the other related quantities such as the Young's modulus, shear modulus, Poisson's ratio, anisotropy factor, sound velocities, Debye temperature, and hardness have also been estimated in the present work. The linear photon-energy dependent dielectric functions and some optical properties such as the energy-loss function, the effective number of valence electrons and the effective optical dielectric constant are calculated. Our structural estimation and some other results are in agreement with the available experimental and theoretical data.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A framework integrated the advanced exergy analysis with the theory of life cycle assessment is constructed to evaluate and optimize the environmental performance of energy conversion systems. The SJ-type oil shale retorting (SJ-OSR) process as one of the energy conversion systems with severe environmental pollution is employed to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach. The results show that the avoidable exergy destruction of the retorting unit and recycle gas combustion unit to their total exergy destruction are 56.49% and 65.12%, respectively. The environmental impact for the total exergy destruction (B D,tot ) of the SJ-OSR process is 1219.05 mPts/s. The environmental impact for total endogenous exergy destruction is 984.63 mPts/s, which accounts for 80.77% of the B D,tot . As for the drying, retorting and recycle gas combustion units, their environmental impacts related to avoidable exergy destruction rates are larger than the unavoidable parts. Most of the environmental impact with respect to the avoidable exergy destruction rates is endogenous (350.22 mPts/s). Based on the proposed two improvement strategies, ultimately, the B D,tot of the improved process decreases obviously from 1219.05 mPts/s to 1037.87 mPts/s, and the proportion of B D,tot reduced is about 14.86% of that for the existing process.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In the present study, the thermal conductivity of superlattice bismuth–telluride (semiconductor)–antimony (semimetal) (Bi2Te3–Sb) nanostructures (nanowires and nanotubes) has been modeled using an incoherent particle model, approximating all the scattering to be diffuse and gray, and applying a Matthiessen-type simplification. The effect of varying the ratio of the superlattice nanowire segment lengths (L) of Sb and Bi2Te3 has also been studied assuming: (i) L Sb = L Bi 2 Te 3 ; (ii) L Sb =0.25× L Bi 2 Te 3 ; (iii) L Sb =0.5× L Bi 2 Te 3 ; (iv) L Sb =2.0× L Bi 2 Te 3 ; and (v) L Sb =4.0× L Bi 2 Te 3 . It is shown that thermal conductivity of the superlattice nanowires reduces either with a reduction of segment lengths (L Sb and L Bi 2 Te 3 ) or with a reduction of nanowire diameter. Specifically, the thermal conductivity is lower than 2Wm−1 K−1 (the bulk value for Bi2Te3), even when the nanowire diameters (10nm) are 10 times larger than the mean free path (1nm) of Bi2Te3, provided the individual segment lengths (L Sb and L Bi 2 Te 3 ) are lower than the mean free path limit. The thermal conductivity of either superlattice nanowires or superlattice nanotubes was also observed to decrease, as the segment length of semimetal (Sb) is lowered relative to the segment length of semiconductor (Bi2Te3). In the case of superlattice nanotubes, a reduction in wall thickness caused a corresponding reduction in thermal conductivity as well. For example, with a fixed outer diameter value of 5nm, the thermal conductivity of the nanotubes can be lowered by ∼33% by decreasing the tube wall thickness from 0.75 to 0.1nm. Our predictions also suggest that for a given value of the segment lengths of L Sb and L Bi 2 Te 3 , nanotubes exhibit a lower thermal conductivity than nanowires. This therefore suggests that nanotubes of superlattice structures of Sb and Bi2Te3 should exhibit a higher thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) than nanowires under corresponding conditions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Layered Cu2S/CdS photovoltaic p–n junctions were fabricated via a simple and reproducible route. CdS inner layer was grown on ITO substrate using chemical bath deposition process for different times. The utilized bath consisted of cadmium sulfate and thiourea with concentrations of 0.05M and 0.07M, respectively. CdS layer grown for 600min was uniform with a thickness of about 500nm. Moreover, band gap energy of the CdS inner layers was measured as 2.40–2.44eV depending on the thickness of the layer. Cu2S outer layer was formed over the CdS via ion exchange chemical route, in a bath consisting of copper chloride aqueous solution. EDS, XRD, and XPS were utilized to characterize the formation of cadmium sulfide, and copper sulfide phases during the fabrication steps of the p–n junctions. Nano-layered cell, each layer 200–250nm in thickness was fabricated with an apparent band gap of 2.22eV. SEM imaging of both inner and the outer layers confirmed the uniformity and homogeneity of the CdS and the Cu2S layers.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Massive amounts of low-grade thermal energy (<120°C) globally exists in various industrial production processes (i.e., power plants and glass production), nature (i.e., geothermal and solar energy) and living organisms (i.e., human body), and it is gradually recognized as a potential renewable energy resource, and the increasing energy crisis and environmental problems can be alleviated by the help of converting it into electrical energy efficiently. In recent ten years, a variety of liquid-based heat-to-electricity systems or batteries have been proposed and have realized the conversion of low-grade thermal energy to electrical energy or mechanical work with lower material costs and high efficiency and power density. Among them, bimetallic thermally-regenerative ammonia batteries (B-TRABs) have gained much higher power density (the power densities of Cu/Zn-TRAB and Ag/Zn-TRAB are more than 500 Wm-2 and 1000 Wm-2, respectively) and energy density (the energy density of Cu/Zn-TRAB is > 1000 Whm-3) than other methods, and the Carnot-relative efficiency η t/C can reach ~10% at peak power output. Therefore, the basic working principle, temperature effect on battery performance, electrolyte decoupling strategy and flow battery system about the B-TRABs are introduced in this chapter.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Photovoltaic (PV)-green roofs combine PVs with green roofs, are a new tendency in the building sector and they provide additional benefits (in comparison with the simple green roofs) such as in situ production of electricity. The present study is a critical review about multiple factors which are related with PV-green roofing systems. Representative investigations from the literature are presented along with critical comments. The studies reveal that plant/PV interaction results in PV output increase depending on parameters such as plant species, climatic conditions, evapotranspiration, albedo, etc. Furthermore, by comparing a PV-green roof with a PV-gravel one from environmental point of view, it can be seen that the PV-green system, on a long-term basis, compensates its additional impact due to its higher production of electricity. Moreover, in the frame of the present study, a systematic classification of Mediterranean plant species in terms of their appropriateness for PV-green roofs is also conducted. The results reveal that PV output increase which is provided by PV-green roofs depends on several factors and among the studied plant species, Sedum clavatum shows the best interaction with the PVs and the building. Experimental results and findings about the environmental profile of PV-green roofs are also presented and critically discussed. Conclusively, PV-green roofing systems are promising, especially for warm climates.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The method to reach low-cost thin-film solar cells studied here involves the deposition of a thin layer of crystalline Si directly on cheap foreign substrates with CVD at high temperatures. Our investigation deals with controlling physical phenomena such as nucleation, layer growth and dopant diffusion to achieve specific properties enabling better performance, effectively designing both the polysilicon material and the device structure. The required grain size is obtained by depositing small isolated crystallites with the right surface density on the substrate and subsequently growing a closed layer from these nuclei. To reduce recombination velocity at grain boundaries the effect of the growth rate and post-deposition treatments are investigated. The high second diode current that usually plagues such devices can be reduced by improving the material quality and optimising the base doping level. We introduce the TREBLE concept in which carrier collection relies on the presence of deep peaks of preferential doping at grain boundaries.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Michelle Addington and Daniel L. Schodek's new book on smart materials in architecture has much to interest material scientists as well, says George E. Dieter.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Experiments on dye-sensitized (DS) photoelectrochemical cells made from SnO2, ZnO and comparison with similar cells based on TiO2 gives much insight into the nature of charge separation, transport and recombinations. It is shown that the trap mediated recombinations are sensitive to the effective electron mass and therefore explains difference between the cells made from TiO2 and SnO2 or ZnO. Considering the trap mediated electron leakage from nanocrystallites, a theoretical model is constructed to explain quantitatively the effect of trapping on static and transient behavior of the cells. The model clearly demonstrate that trapping seriously affects the performance of the cell, when the electron leakage from traps is significant. The predictions of the model are compared with experimental data on transient measurements. The paper will also comment on the problem of recombinations in DS solid-state cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A simulation of shading effects in arrays with different string configurations has been done. Simulation has been performed using as the basic unit the solar cell, modelled in direct bias by the conventional one exponential model, and in reverse bias by an equation previously validated in different types of photovoltaic cells reverse characteristics. The influence of the amount of shading, the type of reverse characteristic of the cell, the string length and the number of shaded cells has been analysed, and some recommendations are extracted.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Conventional high-cost conductive filler as the crucial ingredient of multifunctional concrete might negatively affect the workability and mechanical properties. Petroleum coke as a low-cost by-product was ever used as the conductive filler in cementitious composites, while its mechanical properties were disregarded in the design of cementitious composites due to pore structure. This study demonstrates that calcined petroleum coke (CPC) can effectively improve the mechanical properties, workability, and electrical conductivity of ultra-lightweight engineered cementitious composites (ULW-ECCs). Besides, multifunctional ULW-ECCs were developed by using fly ash cenospheres (FAC) and CPC, which show heat insulation, heat energy harvesting, and self-healing functions. The new ULW-ECCs showed high pseudo-strain-hardening indices due to the dense matrix and had an oven-dry density of 1262–1428 kg/m3, compressive strength of 58.1–76.3 MPa, tensile strain capacity of 8.0–8.8 %, tensile strength of 5.2–6.1 MPa, and flexural strength of 13.1–17.6 MPa. Furthermore, the multiple micro-cracks of ULW-ECCs show excellent self-healing properties. The electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient (under different moisture conditions), and thermal conductivity and effusivity were tested. The meso- and micro-structure analyses were conducted to explain the results. The new ULW-ECCs show low thermal conductivity and effusivity due to the use of FAC. The ULW-ECCs incorporating CPC result in a P-type thermoelectric voltage and exhibit a Seebeck coefficient of 4060 μV/°C which is higher than that of cementitious composites using different conductive fillers in previous literature, suggesting that the newly developed ULW-ECCs could be viable thermoelectric composites.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Three types of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAPNs) were synthesized employing a sonochemistry-assisted microwave method by changing microwave power (from 200 to 300W) or using calcination treatment: L200 (200W, lyophilization), L300 (300W, lyophilization) and C200 (200W, lyophilization & calcination). Their physiochemical properties were characterized and correlated with cytotoxicity to human gastric cancer cells (MGC80-3). The major differences among these HAPN preparations were their size and specific surface area, with the L200 showing a smaller size and higher specific surface area. Although all HAPNs inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis of cancer cells, L200 exhibited the greatest toxicity. All types of HAPNs were internalized through energy-dependent pathways, but the L200 nanoparticles were more efficiently uptaken by MGC80-3 cells. Inhibitor studies with dynasore and methyl-β-cyclodextrin suggested that caveolae-mediated endocytosis and, to a much lesser extent, clathrin-mediated endocytosis, were involved in cellular uptake of the various preparations, whereas the inhibition of endocytosis was more obvious for L200. Using fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled HAPNs and laser-scanning confocal microscopy, we found that all forms of nanoparticles were present in the cytoplasm, and some L200 HAPNs were even found within nuclei. Treatment with all HAPN preparations led to the increase in the intracellular calcium level with the highest level detected for L200.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thermal engineering has emerged as a critical component in the development of integrated circuits and associated electronics. Considerations span multiple physical length scales, from fundamental phonon heat conduction in individual transistors at nanometer length scales to systems level cooling at centimeter scales. With a rapidly evolving technology landscape toward the end of Moore’s law scaling, challenges in thermal engineering have broadened to include consideration of heat dissipation in transistors, self-heating in devices and interconnects, leakage power, the altered thermophysical properties of materials at scaled dimensions, electrothermal circuit simulations, packaging challenges for multichip and vertically stacked die packages, three-dimensional integration, systems on chip, new systems cooling technologies such as microchannel-based liquid cooling, and at the deep end of research, the thermal considerations for revolutionary logic devices. This chapter outlines key challenges in this rapidly changing landscape and summarizes the fundamentals relevant for tackling these myriad challenges. The chapter concludes by outlining thermodynamic limits for power density from a thermal standpoint.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The n-GaAs layer was successfully grown on (100) p-type silicon (p-Si) substrate by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) using rough surface buffer layer (RSi) to reduce the tensile stress in GaAs layer grown on Si substrate. We have reviewed the initial stage and the recombination of GaAs epitaxial layer grown on rugged silicon substrate (RSi). Two dimensional reconstructions were observed for 2μm GaAs layer by reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED). High resolution X-ray diffractometer (HRXRD) has been achieved, showing the better relaxation and high quality of n-GaAs layer deposited on p-RSi substrate. The effects of rapid thermal annealing (RTA) on crystal structure of GaAs on Si were studied by analyzing the linewidth of the rocking curve related to the samples. Photocurrent measurements indicate potential application of this structure for photovoltaics.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Distributed generation technologies such as photovoltaic, fuel cells and micro turbines are emerging. However, these sources require interfacing units to provide the necessary crossing point to the grid. The core of these interfacing units is power electronics technologies such as inverters since they are fundamentally multifunctional and can provide not only their principle interfacing function but various utility functions as well. This paper shows the possibility of adapting the droop/isochronous control methodologies used by synchronous generators in conventional power systems to provide frequency control and power balance to inverter-based distributed generation power systems.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Mn-doped CuInSe2 compounds (CuIn1− x Mn x Se2, x=0.0125–0.20 and Cu1− y In1− y Mn2 y Se2, 2y=0.0125–0.60) were synthesized by high-temperature solid-state reactions. Single phase materials with chalcopyrite structure persist up to 0.10 and 0.20 doping for CuIn1− x Mn x Se2 and Cu1− y In1− y Mn2 y Se2, respectively. The chalcopyrite and sphalerite phases co-exist in the Cu1− y In1− y Mn2 y Se2 system for 2y=0.25–0.50. Attempts to introduce greater manganese content, x=0.15–0.20 for CuIn1− x Mn x Se2 and 2y=0.60 for Cu1− y In1− y Mn2 y Se2, result in partial phase segregation. For the single-phase samples, the lattice parameters of both systems increase linearly with manganese concentration and thus follow Vegard's law. The temperature of the chalcopyrite–sphalerite phase transition is decreased by manganese substitution for all single-phase samples. The bandgap of the materials remains around 0.9eV. Additionally, the Mn-doped CuInSe2 compounds display paramagnetic behavior, whereas pure CuInSe2 is diamagnetic at 5–300K. All the CuIn1− x Mn x Se2 and Cu1− y In1− y Mn2 y Se2 compounds with chalcopyrite structure show antiferromagnetic coupling and measured effective magnetic moments up to 5.8μB/Mn.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Transition-edge sensors are widely recognized as one of the most sensitive tools for the photon and particles detection in many areas, from astrophysics to quantum computing. Their application became practical after understanding that rather than being biased in a constant current mode, they should be biased in a constant voltage mode. Despite the methods of voltage biasing of these sensors are well developed since then, generally the current biasing is more convenient for superconducting circuits. Thus transition-edge sensors designed inherently to operate in the current-biased mode are desirable. We developed a design for such detectors based on re-entrant superconductivity. In this case constant current biasing takes place in the normal state, below the superconducting transition, so that following the absorption of a photon it does not yield a latching. Rather, the sensor gains energy and shifts towards the lower resistant (e.g., superconducting) state, and then cools down faster (since Joule heating is now reduced), and resets in a natural way to be able to detect the next photon. We prototyped this kind of transition edge sensors and tested them operational in accordance with the outlined physics. The samples used in experiments were modified compositions of YBCO-superconductors in a ceramic form (which, as we discovered, reproducibly demonstrates re-entrant superconductivity). In this presentation we report their composition, methods of preparation, and the detection results. This approach, in some areas, may have practical advantage over the traditional voltage-biased devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Phase change materials as a potential passive cooling solution is widely used to cool electronic devices, since the high temperature accompanied by the continuous operation of these electronic devices significantly affects their efficiencies and causes irreversible damage. However, there is a lack of the feedback on cooling potential and recessive failures such as ineffective cooling due to overuse. Here, we report a self-hygroscopic and smart color-changing Co@Li-PAM hydrogel, composed of polyacrylamide (PAM)-based polymer chains, H2O molecules, and functional ions including Li+, Co2+, [Co(H2O)]2+, Cl-, and Br-. It has been found that the hydrophilic porous PAM network acts as the main framework with excellent biocompatibility and reliable chemical stability, LiBr acts as the adsorbent in the PAM network to absorb water molecules in the air during electronic device downtime, and Co ions are introduced into hydrogels through coordination bonds formed with amide groups of polymer chains. The reversible transformation between [Co(H2O)6]2+ and Co2+ driven by the water content in Co@Li-PAM triggers color changes, which indicates the current heat dissipation potential of hydrogels. Applying the as-designed Co@Li-PAM hydrogel to cooling commercial polycrystalline silicon solar cells can increase its energy conversion efficiency by 1.26 % under the illumination of 1 kW m-2. This strategy is expected to provide exotic solutions for the development of electronic devices, carbon neutrality, and global sustainable development goals.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This review presents the structural elements and discusses the great potential of high entropy oxides (HEO) as promising catalysts. A critical comparison is provided with the medium and low entropy metal oxides in terms of the important functionality of HEO to exhibit higher oxygen mobility and withhold high population of oxygen vacancies as well as leading to high metal dispersion. This review study critically compares the performance of the thermal, electro- and photo- high entropy oxides catalysts with the conventional metal oxides and demonstrates their superiority over them while discussing the governing characteristics of HEO. The HEO complex structure is highlighted using ab initio calculations on understanding and tuning their electronic/structural properties. Catalysts’ design criteria and direction in the studies of the HEO as catalysts for energy and sustainability are proposed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Fundamental questions involving the origin, evolution, and history of both Titan and the broader Saturnian system can be answered by exploring this satellite from an orbiter and also in situ. We present the science case for an exploration of Titan and one of its lakes from a dedicated orbiter and a lake probe. Observations from an orbit-platform can improve our understanding of Titan׳s geological processes, surface composition and atmospheric properties. Further, combined measurements of the gravity field, rotational dynamics and electromagnetic field can expand our understanding of the interior and evolution of Titan. An in situ exploration of Titan׳s lakes provides an unprecedented opportunity to understand the hydrocarbon cycle, investigate a natural laboratory for prebiotic chemistry and habitability potential, and study meteorological and marine processes in an exotic environment. We briefly discuss possible mission scenarios for a future exploration of Titan with an orbiter and a lake probe.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbon films were grown by PECVD from silane/methane gas mixtures by fixing the methane ratio in the gas phase and by changing the rf power and pressure. The effects of the discharge parameters on the optical, electrical and structural properties were investigated. These effects were attributed to the variation of carbon content in the film. The analyses enabled us to determine the optimal growth conditions to produce a-SiC:H materials, suitable in solar cell applications, with a good photosensitivity and low defect density of states.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "La-doped SrTiO3/TiO2 (La:STO/TO) eutectic crystals were grown by a micro-pulling-down method at various growth rates to control the eutectic morphology and thermoelectric properties. The La:STO/TO eutectic crystals were composed of a TiO2 (TO) rod phase in the SrTiO3 (STO) matrix phase for all growth rates. The diameter of the TO rod phase systematically decreased as the growth rate was increased, according to the Jackson–Hunt model, and the diameter reached approximately 1 μm at a growth rate of 1 mm/min. The La:STO/TO eutectic crystal exhibited a lower thermal conductivity than the Nb:STO single crystal, owing to the decrease in the lattice thermal conductivity by phonon scattering at boundaries in the eutectic morphology. The figures of merit, ZTs, of the La:STO/TO eutectic crystals grown at 0.02 and 0.5 mm/min growth rates were 0.015 and 0.025, respectively. The faster growth rate led to an increased ZT, owing to the decrease in electrical resistivity.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Photovoltaic (PV) power systems are attractive for use with water pumping systems in remote, off-grid areas with naturally high solar insolation. Two simplified design procedures for these systems are reviewed and compared to a more detailed analysis for a specific village (Ying, 9.7°N, 0.8°W) in West Africa. The simple design methods result in too little flow during months with below-average insolation. A rule-of-thumb chart is presented to predict flow losses for similar installations. To explore possible benefits of tracking strategies, ten different array configurations were simulated: three with fixed orientation, six with single axis tracking, and one with dual axis tracking. Of the three fixed orientation arrays, the configuration to maximize insolation and flow was an equator-pointing array with slope slightly greater than local latitude. The single and dual axis trackers were simulated with seasonal, monthly, and hourly tracking periods, the latter being a good representation of a continuous tracking system. For single axis tracking, a vertical axis array with slope fixed at 30° and variable azimuthal angle provided the best performance. For dual axis tracking, hourly array re-orientation results in significantly more received insolation (17.6% greater than non-tracking horizontal array) while adjustments only on a seasonal or monthly basis still yield 8.5% relative gain. In general, there is little predicted difference between monthly and seasonal re-adjustment of array orientation. A single vertical axis variation allows almost the same benefit as a full two-axis variation if re-oriented on a monthly or seasonal basis. Using one of these strategies could translate into reduced array size, reduced capital costs, or could provide extra margin for future increased water flow requirements due to community growth or unexpected weather. Simple monthly or seasonal adjustment by residents also could increase the sense of ownership in those served by the system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this review we describe the development of ultrafast non-linear photoemission spectroscopy on metals from the first historic observations in the sixties to state-of-the-art experiments. We present an account that is focused on electron spectroscopy experiments that use short laser pulses to investigate the non-equilibrium response of electrons in metals. Several examples of the application of non-linear spectroscopy to the investigation of many-body effects and highly non-equilibrium processes will be illustrated. Furthermore, we give a brief overview of the wide spectrum of experimental methods based on non-linear photoemission spectroscopy.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Back surface reflectors (BSRs) with grating structures have been developed to enhance light trapping in thin-film hydrogenated microcrystalline Si (μc-Si:H) solar cells. As a grating structure, a periodic honeycomb-like dimple pattern with a period of ∼450nm has been fabricated on Al substrates by a self-ordering process using anodic oxidation of Al. The clear diffraction effect has been confirmed on the patterned Al from the angle-dependent reflection. From quantum efficiency measurements, we found that the periodically patterned BSR can confine the incident light more effectively than the random textured BSR, especially at longer wavelengths.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The strategy of exploiting photosynthesizing microalgal cultures to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from flue gases through fixation has potential in effectively diminishing the release of CO2 to the atmosphere, helping alleviate the trend toward global warming. The use of fiberoptic-based solar concentrating systems for microalgal photobiorectors has the potential to meet the two essential criteria in the design of a lighting system for algal photobioreactors: (1) electrical energy efficiency; and (2) lighting distribution efficiency. The overall efficiencies of solar concentrating systems have significantly improved in recent years, exceeding 45%. Meanwhile, achieving uniform lighting distribution within photobioreactors constitutes probably the greatest challenge in using fiberoptic-based solar concentrators as a lighting system for photobioreactors. The light-emitting fibers appeared to be a most promising candidate in achieving such uniform light distribution in photobioreactors. Also, when a hybrid-solar-and-electric-lighting scheme is adopted to augment solar lighting whenever needed, the hybrid lighting distribution needs to be designed accordingly.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this research, a new bio-based phase change material (PCM) composed of oleic acid and beeswax is synthesized to absorb excess heat from the PV panel. Metal matrix sheets (MMS) inserted inside the PCM container to augment heat diffusion and improve the thermal and electrical efficiency of the PV panel. The influence of number of MMS (N = 1,2,3,4 and 5) and weight of the PCM (W = 1.6-4 kg) on the temperature, output power and electrical efficiency of the PV panel are analyzed. The results represent that using the bio-based PCM reduces the PV panel temperature from 58.92 °C to 51.45°C, when MMS is not applied. It has been observed that using MMS provide lower PV temperature than using PCM alone and improve the electrical efficiency (η). Further, it is identified that N = 5 has the highest electrical efficiency, but the difference between N = 4 and N = 5 is not very remarkable. Increase in the weight of the bio-based PCM from 1.6 kg to 4 kg results in a significant improvement in the PV performance. The values of N = 5 and W = 4 kg are found to achieve a maximum electrical efficiency of 11.73% and output power of 7.04 W in the PV/bio-based PCM system.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The low-temperature property of ytterbium-doped fiber lasers is quite important in various applications. A fiber laser operating at 1018 nm is fabricated and its gain fiber is cooled to −30℃ by the temperature control system enabled on the thermoelectric coolers. The cooling effect of the system is better than that of the water-cooling system. The temperature of fiber core is obtained by an in-situ temperature measurement system based on the optical frequency domain reflectometry. Experimental results show that the output power decreases about 5.7 % while the temperature is adjusted from 20℃ to −30℃. Meanwhile, the central wavelength and the linewidth change little during the temperature tunning.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Recent interest in π-conjugated statistical copolymers, as well as their analog alternating copolymer, is due to their relatively high efficiencies as red light-emitting diodes and photovoltaic cells when used as active semiconductors. An example of this type of copolymer is poly{9,9-bis(2′-ethylhexyl)fluorene-2,7-diyl-co-2,5-bis(2-thienyl-1-cyanovinyl)-1-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-4-methoxybenzene-5″,5‴-diyl}, which is synthesized from monomers 2,7-dibromo-9,9-bis(2′-ethylhexyl)fluorene and 2,5-bis(2-(5′-bromothienyl)-1-cyanovinyl)-1-(2″-ethylhexyloxy)-4-methoxybenzene. Accordingly, this study investigates the exciton dynamics of these materials as model copolymeric systems at systematically varied comonomer ratios. For a more quantitative exploration of the copolymer systems more quantitatively, ultraviolet–visible absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy were utilized for diluted solutions and spin-cast thin films. The photoluminescence quantum yield was calculated from the time-integrated spectroscopic data. The yield values are discussed in terms of a primary kinetics model and used to clarify the different exciton dissipation behaviors of solutions and films. Moreover, the fundamental data are compared with previously reported electroluminescence efficiencies.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Characterization of a solution-processable functionalized graphene oxide (SPFGraphene oxide) was investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy and the result of elemental analysis showed that the isocyanate treatment results in the functionalization groups in SPFGraphene oxide. Doping SPFGraphene oxide to P3HT based solar cells induces absorbing spectra more strongly and a great quenching of the photoluminescence of the P3HT. With an increase in the SPFGraphene oxide content, the overall performances of the hybrid devices increases first, reaching the peak efficiency for the 10wt% SPFGraphene oxide content, and then decreases. After annealing at 160°C for different time durations, the device containing 10wt% of SPFGraphene oxide for 10min shows the best performance with a power conversion efficiency of 1.046%, an open-circuit voltage of 0.73V, a short-circuit current density of 3.98mAcm−2 and a fill factor of 0.36 under simulated AM1.5G conditions at 100mWcm−2; The similar content one for 20min shows η value of 1.013%, which is lower than the former one to a small extent for longer annealing duration. The graphene has the potential to act as the next-generation material in the photovoltaic devices and other applications for ease of preparation, low price, large surface area, high conductivity and excellent transparency.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Ruthenium thin films were prepared by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) on the surface of copper indium diselenide (CuInSe2) semiconductor at a total pressure of 1.33×10−4 MPa and temperatures as low as 448 K using ruthenium dodecarbonyl as precursor. In our knowledge the lowest temperature reported for the deposition of this element. This permitted to protect the surface of the CuInSe2 semiconductor with crystalline, uniform and smooth ruthenium films. The CuInSe2 semiconductor films were prepared by electrodeposition over SnO2 conducting-coated glass substrates. The best result to avoid CuInSe2 degradation and to have photoelectrochemical response was obtained with the 40-nm-thick ruthenium films. The photocurrent response was obtained in a 0.5 M sulfuric acid solution at 291 K .",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The elastic constants and modulus, elastic anisotropy, Debye temperature, and sound velocity properties of hP6- and cF24-Mg2X (X = Si, Ge, and Sn) compounds were investigated by first-principles calculations, and a comparison with cF12-Mg2X was performed. By employing the stress-strain method and Voigt-Reuss-Hill approximation, we calculated the elastic properties of single and polycrystalline crystals, respectively. The calculated Poisson's ratio v, G H / B H and Cauchy pressure P Cauchy values indicate that cF12-Mg2X is brittle, while hP6- and cF24-Mg2X are ductile. The elastic anisotropy of Mg2X (X = Si, Ge and Sn) is estimated by several elastic anisotropy indices, three-dimensional surface constructions and projections of Young's, shear and bulk modulus. The elastic anisotropy of Mg2X (X = Si, Ge and Sn) is in a sequence of cF24 > hP6 > cF12. Finally, Debye temperature and the directional sound velocity were obtained from the elastic constant and the modulus conversion, respectively.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Previous broadband energy harvester techniques met many challenges like output power with a sharp peak, small enhancement in bandwidth, and large dimensions and weights. This paper introduces the Automatic Resonance Tuning (ART) technique of two piezoelectric beams to manage these challenges. The energy harvester of two clamped beams automatically adapts their natural frequencies corresponding to the ambient vibration using (sliding masses over the beams). The optimization using COMSOL was conducted to determine the frequency ranges of the low-frequency beam and high-frequency beam and maximize the output power. The bandwidth of the optimized ART harvester is broadened from 27 to 137 H z , ultra-broad bandwidth ( 110 H z ). Our Finite Element Method (FEM) results were validated with experimental results that exhibited excellent convergence. Usually, the dataset of voltage and power is collected by the FEM. Voltages and power evaluated using FEM for some positions are used as the convolutional neural network (CNN) input. CNN predicts the most of masses' positions over the harvester due to the complexity of repetition implementation FEM in several positions. Then, the CNNs are trained for new wide masses position prediction. The mean square error (MSE) of the training dataset is 2.5601 × 10 - 7 μ w and the performance of the CNN training is 97.62 % accuracy ( P % ), 95.38 % regression rate ( R % ), and 93.78 % F-score ( F % ), at epoch 1000 , which shows the effectiveness of the proposed approach.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The objective of this paper is to mathematically model a stand-alone renewable power system, referred to as “Photovoltaic–Fuel Cell (PVFC) hybrid system”, which maximizes the use of a renewable energy source. It comprises a photovoltaic generator (PV), a water electrolyzer, a hydrogen tank, and a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell generator. A multi-domain simulation platform Simplorer is employed to model the PVFC hybrid systems. Electrical power from the PV generator meets the user loads when there is sufficient solar radiation. The excess power from the PV generator is then used for water electrolysis to produce hydrogen. The fuel cell generator works as a backup generator to supplement the load demands when the PV energy is deficient during a period of low solar radiation, which keeps the system's reliability at the same level as for the conventional system. Case studies using the present model have shown that the present hybrid system has successfully tracked the daily power consumption in a typical family. It also verifies the effectiveness of the proposed management approach for operation of a stand-alone hybrid system, which is essential for determining a control strategy to ensure efficient and reliable operation of each part of the hybrid system. The present model scheme can be helpful in the design and performance analysis of a complex hybrid-power system prior to practical realization.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection is common in water reclamation. Certain common types of UV sources emit wavelengths in the 200–240nm range (e.g. medium-pressure mercury vapor lamps) and can interact with nitrate in water to generate hydroxyl radicals. These radicals are potent oxidizers and contribute to attenuation of trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) in treated water. This chapter discusses the chemistry basics of the process and the potential for using it at wastewater treatment and reclamation facilities for TrOC treatment. Nitrate at concentration >5mgN/l can be as effective as 5–10mg/l of hydrogen peroxide (a conventional hydroxyl radical source in advanced oxidation processes). Up to 60% contaminant oxidation can be achieved by hydroxyl radicals alone (excluding direct photolysis) for most organic contaminants at common advanced oxidation levels UV fluence of 2000mJ/cm2, but little oxidation is expected at current disinfection doses.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report on a three-dimensional single-shot optical recording by 150fs pulses at 800nm wavelength in Fe-doped and stoichiometric undoped LiNbO3. The highest refractive index modulation of ∼10−3 per single pulse has been achieved at close to the dielectric breakdown irradiance of ∼TW/cm2, and was found to be independent of polarization of the writing beam. The quasi-permanent and rewritable bits have been demonstrated in Fe-doped LiNbO3. Recording in undoped stoichiometric LiNbO3 was of transient nature with full optical contrast recovery on a 0.1–1s scale. The observed refractive index modulation is explainable by the photovoltaic effect in LiNbO3.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Z-contrast imaging we have demonstrated elongated nanostructure formation of fullerene derivative [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) within an organic host through annealing. The annealing provides an enhanced mobility of the PCBM molecules and, with good initial dispersion, allows for the formation of exaggerated grain growth within the polymer host. We have assembled these nanostructures within the regioregular conjugated polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). This PCBM elongated nanostructure formation maybe responsible for the very high efficiencies observed, at very low loadings of PCBM (1:0.6, polymer to PCBM), in annealed photovoltaics. Moreover, our high resolution TEM and electron energy loss spectroscopy studies clearly show that the PCBM crystals remain crystalline and are unaffected by the 200-keV electron beam.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A thiophene/phenylene vinylene-based polymer (P1) was synthesized and its properties compared with those of a previously described analogous polymer (P2-CN) which contains CN substituents in the vinyl moieties. In solution, the P1 polymer absorbed in a range from UV to near 600nm and, compared to P2-CN, exhibited a band gap energy that was larger, from 1.7 to 2.0eV, and the energy levels of LUMO and HOMO lower, by 0.2 and 0.5V, respectively. However, the power conversion efficiencies (PCE, 0.30%) of photovoltaic devices fabricated using a blend of P1 and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) appeared to be slightly higher than the reported PCE (0.15%) for P2-CN devices fabricated in the same configuration.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In The Netherlands, a collaboration between compounder Resin (Products & Technology) BV and partners photovoltaic module developer TULiPPS™ Solar BV, industrial colorants producer QolorTech BV and Austrian plastic components manufacturer voestalpine Plastics Solutions has developed a family of long fibre thermoplastic (LFT) polypropylene (PP) composite materials.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Characteristics of a high concentration photovoltaic/thermal (HCPV/T) module equipped with point-focus Fresnel lens have been investigated in this paper. Both electrical and thermal models of the module are developed by numerical methods. The electrical model is based on the Shockley diode equation, and the thermal model is grounded on a two-dimensional steady-state heat transfer model. Influences of environmental parameters and coolant water are considered in the models. The inputs of the models consist of irradiance, ambient temperature, wind speed, water temperature and mass flow rate. The outputs mainly include electrical efficiency and thermal efficiency. The simulated results are compared with experimental results and a great agreement is obtained. By the virtue of the validated models, influences of different parameters on module performance are analyzed in detail. The results show that an electrical efficiency of 28% and a thermal efficiency of 60% can be obtained by the HCPV/T module. The electrical efficiency is mainly influenced by solar irradiation rather than cell temperature. The thermal efficiency increases with the increment of irradiance, ambient temperature and water mass flow rate. On the contrary, increasing water temperature and wind speed will lower the thermal efficiency. Also, the HCPV/T module can produce hot water as high as 70°C without decreasing the electrical efficiency seriously.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Nanosensors are useful for monitoring human behavior and it helps to intimate the dangerous situation to get help from a trusted person. It could bring safety precautions to avoid kidnaps, robberies, and misbehaviors. Requirements like portable, wearable, and power consumption might be the hurdles to the progress of such sensors. Here we prepared a biomechanical energy-scavenging triboelectric nanogenerator, using a sponge-structured Eco-Flex polymer film. It can work as an energy harvester and as a Self-powered sensor for the first time in a wristwatch for security applications. Here sugar granules assisted as a template to develop a sponge structure that is of low-cost approach to create a porous polymer film, which is lightweight, and has high flexibility. A pair of sugar-granules-assisted sponge-based triboelectric nanogenerator (SGAS-TENG) devices could detect external motions from the wearer or from the attacker who attempts to hold the wrist. The SGAS-TENG device can scavenge mechanical energy for powering low-power electronics like LEDs, LCDs, digital watches, and temperature sensors. The electrical output is generated under different types of holding action, and the best outcome is ∼37 V and ∼ 0.5 μA with a maximum peak power density of ∼464.21 μW/ cm 3 . A real-time transmission for security applications was demonstrated by integrating the TENG device with the ESP8266 Wi-Fi module, IoT cloud, and the mobile application Blynk 2.0. The device is analyzed for scavenging mechanical energy from the ball pressing to help arthritis patients who have less sense of grabbing in their hands. The output generated by integrating the device in a foam-based smiley ball is ∼10 V. Finally, this approach could bring systematic information about the person in danger who has hand disorders and needs physical as well as medical help.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This communication presents the preliminary investigations of the activity of azomethine naphthalene diimides in organic solar cell. This study explores the photovoltaic properties of four azomethine naphthalene diimides in bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells under an illumination of 17mW/cm2. Organic solar cells in the configuration of indium tin oxide/poly(3,4-(ethylenedioxy)thiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)/active layer/aluminum (ITO/PEDOS:PSS/active layers/Al) were constructed. Three kinds of devices which differ in the composition of active layer were fabricated. In the first type of device the active layer contains of [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) with the azomethine naphthalene diimide, whereas, in the second type active layer consists of blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) with the azomethine naphthalene diimide. The third type of device comprises of active layer containing P3HT and PCBM with azomethine naphthalene diimides. Compound end-capped with ethylenedioxythiophene units showed the highest value of power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.50%, being superior to the device based on P3HT and PCBM for which PCE of 3.88% was measured. To the best of our knowledge, first time the device based on azomethine naphthalene diimide exhibited such high value of power conversion efficiency.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A heterostructure composed of TiO2 and macroporous silicon in this study may represent the simplest relaxation oscillator ever reported. It consisted of macroporous Si with TiO2 grown on its pore walls, and metallic contacts. This is also the first relaxation oscillator of its kind. Such oscillators are commonly formed by a capacitor or an inductor and a feedback loop with a switching device operating with a threshold voltage. The dielectric characteristics of TiO2 (capacitive behavior) in combination with the tunnel diode characteristics of the heterostructure (presenting a negative differential resistance, when activated at a threshold voltage) are shown to give rise to the relaxation oscillations.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The study of thermoelectric transport properties in Cu2−x Se and Cu2S has gained an importance in the thermoelectric research during last few years due to their superionic behavior and low cost. Here, we reported a facile method to enhance the thermoelectric efficiency of Cu2−x Se by introducing Cu2S nanoparticles (NPs) in the matrix of Cu2−x Se. The observed efficiency is a direct result of simultaneous improvement of Seebeck coefficient (S) because of the external strain induced by Cu2S nanoinclusions in Cu2−x Se and decline in the total thermal conductivity by suppressing both electronic and lattice thermal contributions. Such higher S and lower thermal conductivity is realized for a composite structure with 10wt% nanoinclusions of Cu2S which effectively contributed to higher ZT value of 0.90 at moderate temperature of 773K. Thus, it is believed that the proposed hybrid structure is a promising p-type thermoelectric material for mid-temperature range energy harvesting applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Defect interaction can take place in CdTe under Te and Bi rich conditions. We demonstrate in this work through first principles calculations, that this phenomenon allows a Jahn Teller distortion to form an isolated half-filled intermediate band in the host semiconductor band-gap. This delocalized energy band supports the experimental deep level reported in the host band-gap of CdTe at a low bismuth concentration. Furthermore, the calculated optical absorption of CdTe:Bi in this work shows a significant subband-gap absorption that also supports the enhancement of the optical absorption found in the previous experimental results.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "As a novel and environmentally friendly energy source, thermoelectric (TE) materials are receiving more and more attention because of their unique capability to directly convert heat into electricity. Chalcogenide-based materials have been extensively explored as promising TE candidates in the past years, primarily attributed to their unique properties in accommodating diverse compositions and structures, resulting in exceptional TE performance. Enhancing the TE properties of such materials typically involves a series of strategies: optimizing carrier concentration, harnessing energy band engineering to decouple the Seebeck coefficient and electric conductivity, and lowering the lattice thermal conductivity via nanostructuing. These approaches collectively hold the potential to significantly boost the overall performance of chalcogenide materials. This review provides a comprehensive overview of several classical chalcogenide-based TE material systems, such as SnQ (Q = S, Se, Te), PbQ (Q = S, Se, Te), GeTe, and Bi2Te3, focusing on their structures, and elucidates strategies for enhancing their thermoelectric performance.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Zn-phthalocyanine (ZnPc)–perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) “bulk heterojunctions” has been obtained by vacuum evaporation from a single heated source. The composition, in weight, of the initial powder was 0, 10, 25, 50, 100% of PTCDA. The deposited films have been characterized by infrared, visible and near UV absorption, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). “Diodes bulk heterojunctions” ITO/ZnPc:PTCDA/Al and ITO/PEDOT:PSS/ZnPc:PTCDA/Al have been also realized and studied by I–V characteristic measurements in the dark and under illumination (ITO: indium tin oxide; PEDOT:PSS: poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) oxidized (doped) with poly(4-styrenesulfonate)). It is shown, in the case of pure ZnPc or PTCDA thin films that the properties of the initial molecules are preserved, during the deposition process. The introduction of PTCDA in the ZnPc induces a best covering of the visible spectrum. It is shown that the films with the optimum PTCDA concentration in ZnPc (25% weight) for the expansion of light absorption spectrum give the best results in solar cells. The formation of a blend PTCDA:ZnPc was found to improve the photovoltaic performances of the solar cell. This improvement is attributed to the expansion of light absorption spectrum and to charge separation by the bulk heterojunctions. Moreover, the presence of a thin PEDOT:PSS film at the interface ITO/ZnPC:PTCDA allows one to achieve a significant solar cell efficiency of nearly 0.2%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A total of 16 analytical methods, spanning from classical solvent extraction over different thermo-analytic and mechanical approaches to acoustic and optical spectroscopy, have been evaluated as to their ability to determine the crosslinking state of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), the prevailing encapsulant for photovoltaics applications. The key objective of this work was to create a systematic and comprehensive comparison, using a unified set of traceable test samples covering the full range of realistically occurring degrees of EVA crosslinking. A majority number of these tested methods proved fundamentally suitable for detecting changes in the polymer properties during crosslinking based on the effect e.g. its mechanical properties or its crystallinity. Interestingly, when investigated in detail, most of the methods showed mutually different dependencies on the lamination time, indicating a complex range of effects of the chemical crosslinking on the properties and behaviour of the material. Furthermore, Raman spectroscopy could be identified as a potential new method for measuring the degree of crosslinking in-line in the PV module manufacturing process, thus providing an interesting approach for improving process control in PV module processing.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "CdTe thin films have been deposited using spray pyrolysis with and without electric field. The improvement in the film properties with the electric field is observed which is mainly due to the reduction of droplet size. The presence of CdTeO3 peaks in the X-ray diffraction pattern for films deposited without electric field at 350 °C is attributed to the slow dissociation of complexes containing Cd and Te ions on the substrate. The reduction in the droplet size under the influence of electric field and faster dissociation of droplets at high temperature leads to complete pyrolytic reaction for a nearly oxide free CdTe film formation. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis indicates stoichiometric Cd and Te atomic concentrations, with oxygen and chlorine impurities in varying amount for different substrate temperatures, with and without electric field. The presence of chlorine gives rise to an intense photoluminescence peak at 1.40 eV along with a weak peak at 0.84 eV. The intensities of both peaks diminish when the films are prepared with the electric field, due to reduction of chlorine concentration and morphological changes in the films.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Thiophene and benzotriazole units have been utilized as donor–acceptor type polymers in bulk-heterojunction solar cells varying the alkyl chain length. The resulting alternating polymers used as donor materials and have been investigated in terms of their photovoltaic performances. Highlights ► We investigate the optical and electrochemical properties of the polymers. ► We examines the polymers in terms of their photovoltaic performances. ► We characterized the topography using AFM in order to explain the losses in performances.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "ZnO and Sb-doped ZnO films were grown on (001) sapphire using metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Diethylzinc (DEZn), trimethylantimony (TMSb) and oxygen were used as the Zn, Sb and oxygen sources, respectively. The reaction mechanism of DEZn and oxygen was investigated. The formation of the SbZn–2VZn acceptor complex is explained, and the effect of the Sb chemical state on the conduction type is discussed. In the low-temperature spectrum of the Sb-doped ZnO film, emissions associated with acceptors, such as the acceptor-bound exciton (3.319 eV) and the transition between free electrons and acceptors (3.244 eV), were observed, which proved the creation of the SbZn–2VZn acceptor complex. According to the energy level of the transition between the free electrons and acceptors, the acceptor binding energy was calculated to be 0.19 eV. Meanwhile, by fitting the integral photoluminescence intensity versus the temperature function, the acceptor binding energy was also estimated and was similar to the calculated value.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter discusses oxygen and hydrogen separation membranes based on dense ceramic conductors. The theoretical basis for understanding the transport properties in dense oxides is introduced. This treatment starts from basic defect chemistry and the equations for flux of oxygen ions and protons. The most important families of oxides and the specific compositions that demonstrate high ionic diffusion rates are introduced. The important issue of materials stability under operation is then discussed, taking into consideration, the typical membrane working condition characterized by high temperature, the presence of significant chemical, mechanical, and thermal gradients, as well as aggressive chemical components. The chapter illustrates several examples of membrane applications. The possibility of mass and heat integration in novel process designs and the potentials of dense ceramic membranes in power generation with CO2 capture are demonstrated. The chapter also discusses the latest developments in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and prospects toward high-temperature water electrolysis.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) induced variable levels of iROS in human lung cell lines. • No oxidative damage to DNA was detected in MNP-treated human lung cell lines. • No substantial changes in the TAC, iGSH or GPx activity were found in either of the cell lines. • Oxidative stress generation plays, at most, only a marginal role in MNP genotoxicity.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In recent years, microalgal feedstocks have gained immense potential for sustainable biofuel production. Thermochemical, biochemical conversions and transesterification processes are employed for biofuel production. Especially, the transesterification process of lipid molecules to fatty acid alkyl esters (FAAE) is being widely employed for biodiesel production. In the case of the extractive transesterification process, biodiesel is produced from the extracted microalgal oil. Whereas In-situ (reactive) transesterification allows the direct conversion of microalgae to biodiesel avoiding the sequential steps, which subsequently reduces the production cost. Though microalgae have the highest potential to be an alternate renewable feedstock, the minimization of biofuel production cost is still a challenge. The biorefinery approaches that rely on simple cascade processes involving cost-effective technologies are the need of an hour for sustainable bioenergy production using microalgae. At the same time, combining the biorefineries for both (i) high value-low volume (food and health supplements) and (ii) low value- high volume (waste remediation, bioenergy) from microalgae involves regulatory and technical problems. Waste-remediation and algal biorefinery were extensively reviewed in many previous reports. On the other hand, this review focuses on the cascade processes for efficient utilization of microalgae for integrated bioenergy production through the transesterification. Microalgal biomass remnants after the transesterification process, comprising carbohydrates as a major component (process flow A) or the carbohydrate fraction after bio-separation of pretreated microalgae (process flow B) can be utilized for bioethanol production. Therefore, this review concentrates on the cascade flow of integrated bioprocessing methods for biodiesel and bioethanol production through the transesterification and biochemical routes. The review also sheds light on the recent combinatorial approaches of transesterification of microalgae. The applicability of spent microalgal biomass residue for biogas and other applications to bring about zero-waste residue are discussed. Furthermore, techno-economic analysis (TEA), life cycle assessment (LCA) and challenges of microalgal biorefineries are discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A novel chemical alloying method of high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) has been used for the synthesis of bulk-skutterudite CoSb3. Through this method, the processing time can be reduced from a few days to half an hour. The Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity of CoSb3 were all measured in the temperature range of 327–661K. The Seebeck coefficient of CoSb3 increased with increasing synthesis pressure; a substantial reduction in the thermal conductivity was observed with increasing synthesis pressure. These results indicated that the HPHT technique may be helpful for optimizing electrical and thermal transports in a relatively independent way.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Polyethylene oxide base polymer electrolyte has been modified by doping of EMImDCN and PEG as plasticizers. Doping by IL resulted to enhanced conductivity and improved DSSC response. The DSSC using the modified electrolyte showed 3.02% efficiency at 1 sun condition.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Heat pipe technology has evolved significantly in addressing thermal management challenges. Still, existing heat pipe designs have limitations in efficiently optimizing heat transfer, particularly in scenarios with spatial constraints and variable heat loads. To overcome these challenges, this study deals with incorporating truncated cones in different forms, such as convergent and divergent, in the thermosyphon heat pipe. The parametric analysis and the performance of this research highlight the ability to handle varying heat loads and determine that a 1:1:1 ratio between the evaporator, adiabatic, and condenser sections of 300 mm in total length thermosyphon heat pipe may be expected to meet spatial constraints efficiently. Placement of the convergent truncated cone in the evaporator and the divergent truncated cone in the condenser helps improve the evaporation and condensation performance by 62.07% and 108%, respectively, when compared to the conventional geometry due to the increasing vapour and liquid velocities. Interestingly, the wall temperature decreases by 11.9%, and the thermal resistance is reduced, increasing the heat transfer coefficient by 85.68% compared to the uniform geometry thermosyphon heat pipe. Hence, these findings provide a path for promising applications in heat recovery and thermal management systems.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Water flow cooling is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to enhance the performance of a photovoltaic (PV) system. However, most of the studies have investigated a PV unit with water flow cooling in the steady-state condition. Therefore, as the novelty, this study aims at modeling and investigation of the system performance in the transient condition. For a 50W polycrystalline PV module, the annual experimental data is utilized to find its transient response to water flow cooling, which covers temperature and power improvement (ΔT and ΔP). An artificial neural network (ANN) is developed using the experimental data for prediction of ΔT and ΔP. ANN is validated and then, utilized to provide a comprehensive discussion about the impact of effective parameters on the system response. According to the results, for all the investigated cases, there is a threshold value for water flow rate. For instance, when wind velocity and ambient temperature are 1 ms−1 and 25 °C, the threshold values for the solar radiation values of 800, 1000, and 1200 Wm-2 are 0.009, 0.013, and 0.015 kgs−1, respectively. Moreover, irradiance and ambient temperature have great impacts on dimensionless ΔT and ΔP, while wind velocity is the least effective one.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents an adaptive artificial neural network (ANN) for modeling and simulation of a Stand-Alone photovoltaic (SAPV) system operating under variable climatic conditions. The ANN combines the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm (LM) with an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter in order to accelerate the convergence of the network. SAPV systems are widely used in renewable energy source (RES) applications and it is important to be able to evaluate the performance of installed systems. The modeling of the complete SAPV system is achieved by combining the models of the different components of the system (PV-generator, battery and regulator). A global model can identify the SAPV characteristics by knowing only the climatological conditions. In addition, a new procedure proposed for SAPV system sizing is presented in this work. Different measured signals of solar radiation sequences and electrical parameters (photovoltaic voltage and current) from a SAPV system installed at the south of Algeria have been recorded during a period of 5-years. These signals have been used for the training and testing the developed models, one for each component of the system and a global model of the complete system. The ANN model predictions allow the users of SAPV systems to predict the different signals for each model and identify the output current of the system for different climatological conditions. The comparison between simulated and experimental signals of the SAPV gave good results. The correlation coefficient obtained varies from 90% to 96% for each estimated signals, which is considered satisfactory. A comparison between multilayer perceptron (MLP), radial basis function (RBF) network and the proposed LM–IIR model is presented in order to confirm the advantage of this model.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "While much research effort has concentrated on utilising solar photovoltaics to generate hydrogen via electrolysis, the possibility of using wind power has received little attention. This paper summarises results from a recent EC-funded project to demonstrate the practicality of such a system and to identify possible drawbacks or areas requiring further development. Specifically, the project examined the effects of fluctuating power supplies on electrolyser operation and the modification of wind turbine operation to smooth power output, assessed the sizing and economics of a wind-hydrogen production plant, and resulted in the construction of a demonstration plant at ENEA’s Casaccia Research Centre in Italy.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Due to their unique structures and superior mechanical, electrical, and other physical properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have shown great potential as building blocks for a variety of novel high-performance materials. CNT films, which can be synthesized via CVD methods as well as wet processing approaches, have been proven to be promising for using as composite reinforcements, electric conductors, thermal management materials, etc. Floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (FCCVD) is a simple and environmentally friendly process among the preparation methods of CNT films. It has the advantages of low cost and mass production, and is very helpful for the large-scale preparation of high-performance CNT films. In this review, we first briefly discuss development of FCCVD technology. Then the CNT growth mechanism in the FCCVD process and the relationship between key process parameters and quality/structure property of CNT film are discussed in-depth. The unique properties and the state-of-the-art applications of the CNT films in composite and some other application fields are overviewed in detail. Finally, the opportunities and remaining challenges toward its real applications are prospected.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We demonstrate the effectiveness of using a high Ar+H2 dilution of GeH4, high pressure, and low substrate temperatures in producing device-grade a-Ge:H through standard radio-frequency glow discharge deposition. The enhanced plasma chemistry encourages the production, heating, and incorporation of nanoparticles to increase order, while the low substrate temperature encourages hydrogen incorporation to saturate dangling bonds. We utilize the material in nip photodiodes illuminated through the n-side, and demonstrate a device with an i-layer thickness of only 60nm showing J SC=20.6mA/cm2 (AM1.5 Efficiency=2.1%). Temperature-dependent conductivity and bias-dependent spectral response measurements suggest that a non-uniform field distribution and a defect-rich region near the i–p interface are currently the limiting factors for the device performance.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • The purpose of our work is to harvest thermal energy using a pyroelectric material. • This kind of material is able to convert thermal energy to electrical energy only with the presence of a temperature variation. • A commercial PZT ceramic was used, heating and cooling are provided by infrared rays. • Our work aims also to improve the harvesting energy.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The optical transmittance properties, under diffuse light, of semitransparent materials used to fabricate photovoltaic devices have been investigated by using an apparatus provided with two “coupled” integrating spheres, one for producing the incident diffuse light and the other for collecting the transmitted light. A detailed analysis of the measurement conditions has been performed taking into account the perturbing effect each sphere produces on the other, and a final expression for the correct transmittance of the sample is derived.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report on the thermal conductivity measurement of Ge quantum dot superlattices. The samples used were grown using molecular beam epitaxy. The typical dot sizes were determined by transmission electron microscopy measurements to be 75nm in base and 7nm in height. A differential 3ω method was employed to characterize the thermal conductivity of the samples. At room temperature, thermal conductivity was determined to be 6.2 and 30.5W/mK in the cross-plane and in-plane direction, respectively. Temperature-dependent measurements showed that cross-plane thermal conductivity monotonously decreased while in-plane thermal conductivity showed a peak as the temperature decreased from 300 to 80K. The results were well explained using a model based on the Boltzmann transport equation for cross-plane conductivity and based on the relaxation time approximation by including phonon scattering by quantum dots for in-plane thermal conductivity.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The thermoelectric power (TEP) and the electrical resistivity (ER) of Al–Mg–Si (balanced) and Al–Mg–Si–Cu (balanced+Cu) alloys have been measured in the temperature range 300–800K. TEP and ER are found affected by different types of precipitates in the Al matrix. Addition of Cu refined the microstructure of the balanced alloy hence altered the TEP and ER measurements. Cu promotes the kinetics of artificial aging due to the formation of the Q′ phase and the intermediate phases which precipitate at earlier temperatures. The coexistence of the equilibrium β (Mg2Si) and the stable Q-phases results in stabilization of the TEP at elevated temperatures. The existence of Cu slightly increases the lattice rigidity leading to a decrease in the rate by which the ER increases with temperature. Repeating measurements after slow cooling of the two alloys changed considerably the results of TEP and ER. Correlation was found between different types of precipitates and changes in the TEP and ER indicating the possibility of employing TEP and ER measurements to study the precipitation sequence in such alloys.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The self-assembled method was introduced to successfully obtain rare earth (RE) nanofilm on a single-crystal silicon substrate. The resultant film was characterized by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ellipsometer, contact angle meter and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The scratch experiment was performed for interfacial adhesion measurement of the RE film. The friction and wear behavior of RE nanofilm was examined on a DF-PM reciprocating friction and wear tester. The results indicate the RE nanofilm is of low coefficient of friction (COF) and high wear resistance. These desirable characteristics of RE nanofilm together with its nanometer thickness, strong bonding to the substrate and low surface energy make it a promisinig choice as a solid lubricant film in micro electromechanical system (MEMS) devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, a comprehensive modeling and parameters extraction method is proposed to describe the current–voltage and power–voltage characteristic of photovoltaic cells. This method is based on data commonly issued by commercial photovoltaic data sheet. By using Lambert W function, the improved model of solar cells is given. Meanwhile, the current–voltage and power–voltage curves of photovoltaic cells are calculated. To extract the model parameters from only three state points at standard test conditions, an optimized approach using iterative method and approximate method is presented. Compared to the popular R p model and experimental data, the proposed method shows excellent agreement between the current–voltages points. It is found that the proposed modeling and parameters extraction method has less error at the maximum power point state. Moreover, the proposed model is more realistic when subjected to ideality factors variations.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • The MESSENGER XRS measured ~1–10 keV X-rays from the surface of Mercury. • Surface abundances of Mg, Al, Si, S, Ca, Ti, and Fe were obtained. • Calibration measurements are presented for the reduction and analysis of these data.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Aluminum (Al) and gallium (Ga) co-doped ZnO (AGZ) powder was synthesized by a chemical co-precipitation method and compacted to form targets. In order to demonstrate the effects of Ga additive and analyze the discrepancy between AGZ and Al doped ZnO (AZO), the microstructure, electrical properties and densification of sintered targets were investigated. Further research was carried out on the properties of AGZ thin film and its application on nano-crystalline Si (nc-Si) solar cells. Results showed that Al and Ga co-doped ZnO ceramic targets have higher densities and lower resistivities than Al doped ZnO ceramic targets with the same doping concentration. Similarly, AGZ thin films have lower resistivities than AZO thin films deposited under the same conditions. In addition, Al–Ga co-doping leads to higher carrier concentration and broader optical band gap. The nc-Si solar cell coated with AGZ transparent thin film electrode exhibits higher conversion efficiency.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The Ce–Ni-Ga system has been investigated at 670/870 ​K by X-ray and electron microprobe analyses. The known compounds, i.e. CeNi9Ga4 and CeNi5.7Ga7.3 (LaCo9Si4-type), CeNi7Ga6 (LaNi7In6-type), CeNi6.5-6.15Ga6.5-6.85 (Ce2Ni13Ga13-type), CeNi3-3.2Ga2-1.8 (YCo3Ga2-type), CeNi1-1.2Ga3-2.8 (CePtGa3-type), CeNiGa (ZrNiAl-type), CeNiGa2 (NdNiGa2-type), Ce2Ni2-2.06Ga1-0.94 (Mo2NiB2-type) and Ce3Ni2Ga2 (La3Ni2Ga2-type), have been confirmed in this system at 870 ​K. A new ter nary Ce2Ni6Ga (Er2Co7-type, R-3m, N 166–2, hP54) was detected at 870 ​K and ~Ce5Ni2Ga (unknown type structure) was identified at 670 ​K in this system. Quasibinary solid solutions were detected at 870 ​K for CeNi5, CeNi3 and CeGa2 while no appreciable solubility was observed for other binary compounds of the Ce–Ni-Ga system. CeNi6.5Ga6.5, CeNi7Ga6 and CeNi9Ga4 are Curie-Weiss paramagnets down to 2 ​K, exhibiting magnetic-field-induced ferromagnetism and field-enhanced heat capacity at low temperatures. CeNiGa2, CeNiGa3 and Ce5Ni2Ga are antiferromagntics with the Néel temperatures at 4–6 ​K and Curie-Weiss paramagnetics at high temperatures. CeNi3Ga2, CeNiGa and Ce2Ni2Ga show temperature insensitive paramagnetism at high temperatures and Curie-Weiss paramagnetism at low temperature, suggesting a mixed valence state of Ce(III) and Ce(IV).",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The modification of the thermoelectric properties brought about in the multivalley systems like SnSe due to doping and high pressure has played a key role in their applications in new technologies. In this study we employed first-principle calculations to investigate the thermoelectric properties of SnSe 1 − x S x compounds under high pressure for 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 . The pressure and temperature dependencies of the Seebeck coefficient, the electrical and thermal conductivities were calculated and compared to the available experimental data. Thermal conductivity were determined by using the Slack’s model and the quasi harmonic Debye model. Finally the power factor and the figure of merit of the compounds were calculated based on the thermoelectric parameters calculated. The increase of figure of merit with temperature and its variation with pressure should be useful for finding possible strategies to tune the applications of these compounds.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Metastable rocksalt-type phases of the solid solution series AgIn x Sb1−x Te2 (x=0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6) were prepared by high-pressure synthesis at 2.5GPa and 400°C. In these structures, the coordination number of In3+ is six, in contrast to chalcopyrite ambient-pressure AgInTe2 with fourfold In3+ coordination. Transmission electron microscopy shows that real-structure phenomena and a certain degree of short-range order are present, yet not very pronounced. All three cations are statistically disordered. The high degree of disorder is probably the reason why AgIn x Sb1−x Te2 samples with 0.4<x<0.6 exhibit very low thermal conductivities with a total κ<0.5W/Km and a lattice contribution of κ ph ∼0.3W/Km at room temperature. These are lower than those of other rocksalt-type tellurides at room temperature; e.g. the well-known thermoelectric AgSbTe2 (κ ∼0.6W/Km). The highest ZT value (0.15 at 300K) is observed for AgIn0.5Sb0.5Te2, mainly due to its high Seebeck coefficient of 160µV/K. Temperature-dependent X-ray powder patterns indicate that the solid solutions are metastable at ambient pressure. At 150°C, the quaternary compounds decompose into chalcopyrite-type AgInTe2 and rocksalt-type AgSbTe2.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A down-conversion (DC) photoelectrode of TiO2:Sm3+ nanocrystals synthesized by sol-hydrothermal method was introduced on dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to investigate the effect of DC nanocrystals in DSSCs. X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy disperse spectroscopy (EDS) and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) analysis were employed to characterize the structure, composition and pore size of the synthesized nanocrystals, respectively. The fluorescence spectroscopy indicates that the DC photoelectrode has the capability to convert ultraviolet light into visible light, which can be effectively absorbed by the sensitizer N719. The absorbed light will then be converted into electricity accordingly. Photovoltaic properties of the new DSSCs doped with 0.5 up to 1.5 mol% of samarium were investigated. The photoelectric performances show that the short-circuit current density (J sc ) of DSSCs based on a 1 mol% Sm3+ doped TiO2 photoanode reached 16.71 mA/cm2, enhanced by approximately 25.07% compared to that of the cell based on pure TiO2 photoelectrode. The power conversion efficiency (η) of the DSSCs was also increased by 16.7%. The enhancement can be attributed to the DC effect of TiO2:Sm3+ nanocrystals.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • A new compound with the nominal composition of Ca2.7Bi0.3Co3.9Fe0.1O9+δ has been synthesized. • Bi doping was found to result in 40% reduction in the thermal conductivity, due to the point defect phonon scattering. • The co-doping of Fe and Bi effectively enhances the powder factor by 33% compared to the undoped counterpart at 973K. • The highest figure of merit achieved ∼0.4 at 973K by co-doping of Bi and Fe in Ca3Co4O9+δ.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Triplet exciton formation occurs over 100ns after photoexcitation in F8BT–PFB polymer blend films showing that intersystem crossing occurs in precursor charge-pairs.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► The transient-chamber method was validated using time-trend analyses and sap-flow measurements in wheat. ► Canopy microclimate changed significantly during chamber placement. ► Lag, calculation, plant response, and recovery times were quantified and 3 flux calculation methods tested. ► Leaf transpiration and plant-sap flow stayed near ambient levels during 120s after chamber placement. ► A new saturation function is proposed for improving the calculation of vapor fluxes from concentration changes.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Over the past decade, the electricity generation landscape around the globe has changed severely with rapid multiplying of renewable generation. The 21st century has numerous points of power injection as well as millions of points of consumption. The power system in India has coarsely folded in the last decade and similarly in the previous decade. Alternative sources of energy are being sought after in the world today as the availability of fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources are declining. Photovoltaic energy offers an encouraging solution to this search as it is a less polluting renewable energy resource. The proposed work focuses on the Economic Assessment models while estimates the economic impacts of constructing and operating power generation at the local and state levels. The work considers many aspects of the problem including the energy and economic ones which is of basic importance for evaluating real outcomes of investments. The result of the assessment screens the economic feasibility of photovoltaic systems and the consequent production of electricity, recovering costs of installation and maintenance of the system. Additional economic aspects includes evaluation of costs of the PV systems (investment costs and costs for maintenance, servicing and insurance against damage) and benefits due to the gains for the avoided bill costs, the incentives and the sold electricity; analysis of cash flows; estimation of the energy cover factor related to the results of the economic analysis; sensitivity analysis for the most significant physical and economic parameter.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Recently, the chalcogenide-based materials are attracting the scientific community due to their promising thermoelectric properties. Monoclinic compounds of the chalcogenide class of materials are the least explored for thermoelectric and optoelectronic device applications. In our present study, we have taken NbS 2 Cl 2 to analyse its electronic properties of bulk and monolayer to understand its electronic and thermal transport properties along with its optical properties, using the density functional theory framework. The investigated compound has direct bandgap values of 1.41 eV and 1.67 eV in its bulk and monolayer phases, respectively, making it a semiconductor. The lattice thermal conductivity( κ l ), being a crucial parameter for a thermoelectric material, is observed to be ultra-low along ‘c’ direction for the bulk (0.44 Wm/K) and the same along ‘b’ direction for monolayer (0.36 Wm/K). We also predict a great potential for nanostructuring with 72% reduction in the thermal conductivity for the crystal grain size of 10 nm. Further, carrier lifetimes for various concentrations and temperatures are estimated by incorporating different scattering mechanisms in the calculations, such as acoustic deformation scattering (ADP), ionized impurity scattering (IMP) and polar optical scattering (POP). Based on thermoelectric performance, we predict n-type doping would be more favourable. At 700 K, n-type bulk has a maximum thermoelectric performance (ZT) of 0.4, higher than the well-known monoclinic GaTe (0.24) TE material. In addition, the calculated absorption coefficient reveals the optical anisotropy. The predicted absorption coefficients for bulk and monolayer in the visible range are 7 . 5 × 1 0 5 / cm and 3 × 1 0 5 / cm , respectively. The current work highlights its extremely low thermal conductivity and significant absorption coefficients, which could lead to future applications in thermoelectric and optical devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We propose a model for the heating system of an ecological building whose main energy source is solar radiation. The most important component of the heating system is a vapour compression heat pump. Both the first law and the second law were used to analyse the heat pump operation. The state parameters and the process quantities were evaluated by using, as input, the building thermal load. The second law analysis emphasised that most of the exergy losses occur during compression and condensation. Preliminary results show that the photovoltaic array can provide all the energy required to drive the heat pump compressor, if an appropriate electrical energy storage system is provided.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Treatment of chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) wastewater was investigated. The CMP wastewater, as obtained from surface treatment of photovoltaic wafers, was characterized by high suspended solids, high nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and green color. This study determines the feasibility of CMP wastewater treatment by the electrocoagulation process. The COD concentration of the CMP wastewater was found in the range of 700 mg/l which is below the discharge standards. The analysis of the wastewater before and after electrocoagulation shows that the electrochemical process was a total barrier for the metal species, color and a significant reduction in the concentration of the fluoride and sulfate ions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper introduces a novel device composed by a wide band rectifying antenna array coupled with a modified resonant amortized Armstrong oscillator with increased efficiency, used as step-up micro-converter. The aim of the device is to harvest ambient electromagnetic energy and convert it into useful energy. Experimental methods and simulations were used to design the microstrip rectenna and the micro-converter prototypes. One rectenna array composed by 48 microstrip antennas and five step-up micro-converters were designed, manufactured and tested. The microstrip rectenna has a unique design with a geometrical area of 36 cm2 and high frequency to direct current power conversion efficiency of 17.5%–74% measured at 0.6 μW/cm2 to 55 μW/cm2 input power density in 860–890 MHz band and a large bandwidth of 800 MHz-13GHz range. The micro-converters were supplied from the rectenna array output with 300mV–1200mV, charging each one 3 V/6 mAh accumulator. The DC to DC conversion efficiency of the micro-converters falls in 43%–59% range. Our micro-converter has an average increased conversion efficiency of about 15% higher than any published solutions, measured below one miliwatt input power. Our micro-converter can be used for other energy harvesting devices such as low light indoor photovoltaic cells or ultra low power thermoelectric generators.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Luminescent down shifting (LDS) films doped with Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2 (EuTT) and Eu(TTA)3Dpbt (EuTD) are prepared by soaking method and used in encapsulation of multi-crystal silicone (mc-Si) modules. Hereinto, EuTT EVA film has improved spectra response of mc-Si PV module effectively and an increase of 0.42% absolute efficiency has been obtained because of its suitable absorption spectrum, higher LQE (0.73) and no self-absorption loss while EuTD film has the absolute efficiency of mc-Si PV modules reduced by 0.28%. Highlights ► Luminescent EVA films were prepared by soaking method for the first time. ► Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2 was encapsulated in the pre-existing EVA layer of mc-Si modules. ► Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2 EVA layer increases the power efficiency of mc-Si modules by 0.42%. ► Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2 as luminescent species is promising in practical application.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Although polymers are widely used in a variety of applications, their low surface energy frequently makes them unsuitable for use. With atmospheric pressure plasma technology, it is possible to modify the surface properties of polymers in a cost-effective and efficient manner. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the use of non-equilibrium plasma to modify surfaces, a field of research that is rapidly developing. Plasmas have the ability to change the topography of a surface as well as its chemical composition, and they can also be used for cleaning and deposition. Recently developed atmospheric plasma surface modification techniques for a variety of polymers are discussed in detail in this article. The most frequently used plasma sources, as well as the most significant effects they have on various polymers, will be discussed in detail.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The performance of photovoltaic devices is greatly influenced by the surface characteristics such as surface roughness and presence of organic contaminants; therefore, their measurement is of great importance for photovoltaic industry. Moreover, these parameters should be measured by non-contact, fast methods capable of application as in-line techniques in photovoltaic industry. Surface roughness measurements and detection of organic contaminants by work-function measurements are the subject of this contribution. Monocrystalline and multicrystalline silicon wafers have been analyzed by Scanning Kelvin Probe (SKP ) in order to obtain work-function maps. These presented regions of higher work-function values correspond to organic contaminants, which are deliberately deposited on the wafer surface. In this way we have demonstrated the capability of work-function measurements for the detection of the contaminants. Moreover, unintentional organic contamination has been detected on multicrystalline Si wafers by SKP analyses. At the same time, the surface roughness has been obtained from surface topography maps.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Thermal metamaterials have amazing properties in heat transfer beyond naturally occurring materials owing to their well-designed artificial structures. The idea of thermal metamaterial has completely subverted the design of thermal functional devices and makes it possible to manipulate heat flow at will. In this perspective, we review the up-to-date progress of thermal metamaterials starting from 2008. We focus on both the key theoretical fundamentals and techniques for applications and give a perspective of scale-based classification on thermal metamaterials' theories and applications. We also discuss the junction between macroscale and microscale design methods and propose some prospects for the future trend of this field.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The radiation emitted by the interaction of an ultra-relativistic particle with a metallic grating (Smith–Purcell radiation) could be used as a very sensitive position sensor for a future Linear Collider or X-ray Free Electron Laser, with position resolution of 1 μm , or better. This article analyzes the physical principles underlying the operation of such a device and concludes with some of the practical issues in its implementation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In recent years, an increasing concern of environmental issues of emissions, in particular global warming and limitations of energy resources has resulted in extensive research into novel technologies of generating electrical power. Thermoelectric power generators have emerged as a promising alternative green technology. Thermoelectric power generation offers a potential application in the direct conversion of waste-heat energy into electrical power thereby improve the overall efficiency of energy conversion system. With the invention of new thermoelectric materials in Quantum Well (QW) technology, we can increase the energy conversion efficiency to more than 25% from the present 5%, which will allow for the low cost conversion of waste heat into electricity. At present, the electricity is generated through the electric generator to the engine. Abundant amount of heat is produced from the engine exhaust and it is unutilized. So as to utilize this waste heat, we propose the concept of quantum well thermoelectric generator (QWTEG). The QWTEG uses the concept of see-beck effect which exploits the difference in the temperature between exhaust and wings respectively to harness electric power. The energy thus produced can be stored in the battery of aircraft. The power output of a thermoelectric power generator increases when there is a maximum difference in temperature. The exhaust temperature of a jet engine is 1500 K which is beyond the melting point of some metals and on the other side the surface temperature at wings varies between 20 POPC and -40 POPC. The main advantage of this concept is continuous production of electricity even when the aircraft is halted in the ground. Using this technology increases the battery life and is more reliable. Fabrication and installation of quantum well is easier with the current technology. It can be the future of power generation in aircrafts and spacecraft’s as it is cost efficient.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We determined the work function of indium tin oxide (ITO) films on glass substrates using photoemission spectroscopy (PES). The ITO coated glass substrates were chemically cleaned ex-situ, oxygen plasma treated ex-situ, or sputtered in-situ. Our results suggest that the performance of ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) measurements can induce a significant work function reduction on the order of 0.4–0.5 eV, on ex-situ chemically and oxygen-plasma treated ITO samples. This was demonstrated by the use of low intensity X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) work function measurements before and after the UPS measurements were carried out.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A dye-sensitized nanocrystalline solar subjected to reverse bias of 800mV showed no measurable loss in performance. However, at 2000mV, a dramatic and irreversible reduction in the cells performance is observed. Raman spectroscopy experiments suggested that no desorption of the photosensitising dye occurred. Spectroelectrochemical experiments revealed that an irreversible loss of intensity in the metal to ligand charge transfer band at 540nm occurred. In practical terms, these results indicate that cells which are incorrectly connected to an array of cells or a system failure where potentials greater than 1500mV are present, may be irreversibly damaged.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Measurements of non-steady-state photocurrents and of time-modulated conductivities for homogeneous illumination of varying intensity are performed with a photorefractive iron-doped barium–calcium titanate crystal of the congruently melting composition (Ba0.77Ca0.23TiO3, BCT). The diffraction efficiency and the two-beam coupling gain are determined from conventional holographic experiments. Debye screening and diffusion lengths are found to be of the order of 0.1 μm. The response-time of the material is 2 s (light intensity 0.2 W/cm2, wavelength 514 nm) and the dark storage time is 6 s. The measured refractive index changes are only one third of the values, which are expected from the known electrooptic coefficients and space-charge fields.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The activation energies of acceptor E A and donor levels E D in the chalcopyrite compound CuInSe2 are calculated by using a simpler model based in the effective-mass theory for the case of single, double and triple point defect centers. Despite of the simplicity of this model, it is found that the values of E A and E D thus calculated for shallow and deep levels are in reasonable agreement with those reported from the experimental data. In the case of not shallow donor levels values of E D in good agreement with these data are calculated by using the free electron mass m 0 instead of the effective electron mass. From the analysis of the results, most of these levels have been identified as due to the presence of several native point defects.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Organic π-conjugated small molecules have attracted much attention for developing high performance organic photovoltaics (OPVs) due to their well-defined molecular structure, easily controlled energy levels and absorption, and more accurate simulation-experiment match. A novel small molecule combing a N-heteroacene (acceptor moiety) and benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene (donor unit) together through a π-conjugated bridge (3,3″-dioctyl-2,2′:5′,2″-terthiophene), has been synthesized and characterized. The blended films of this small molecule with different acceptors have a wide absorption in visible region, which makes it possible for application in OPVs. The as-fabricated devices with PEDOT:PSS as an anode buffer layer show the power conversion efficiency at around 1%. By replacing PEDOT:PSS with MoO3, the power conversion efficiency is almost doubled up to 1.97%. AFM images and XRD patterns are employed to investigate the morphologies of the active layer. Consistent with the J–V curves and EQE spectra, the higher power conversion efficiency probably comes from the good alignment of the HOMO energy level of the small molecule with the work function of anode buffer layer and reduced chemical interactions between active layer and anode buffer layer.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A new type of hybrid polymer electrolyte matrix based on benzidine impregnated polyepichlorohydrine (PEC) with TiO2 nanofiller was developed for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The polymer electrolytes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), TGA, XRD and FT-IR, and the assembled DSSCs by photocurrent density–voltage and energy conversion efficiency (η) measurements. The ionic conductivity and the interfacial contact with dye attached TiO2 particles were enhanced markedly by the addition of electrochrome impregnated polymer electrolyte, resulting in very high overall energy conversion efficiency.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Organic photovoltaic (PV) cells composed of a perylene derivative, N,N′-di(pentan-3-yl)-perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide), PTCDI, acting as an acceptor and a π-conjugated polymer poly{1-phenyl-2-[4-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl]acetylene}, PDPA, acting as a donor of photogenerated free electrons are presented. Two types of starting double-layer samples were prepared: samples I composed of a spin-cast PDPA thin film bottom layer and a PTCDI upper layer deposited by the vacuum sublimation, and samples II composed of a spin-cast mixed PDPA/PTCDI layer and a vacuum-sublimation deposited PTCDI upper layer. The samples were treated with toluene vapors to induce changes in the morphology of heterojunctions due to recrystallization of PTCDI, which have been monitored by the optical absorption spectra and AFM images, and the influence of the morphology changes on photovoltaic characteristics of the samples has been studied. A short-time (2–5min) toluene-vapor treatment positively influences the PV efficiency of system I due to a formation of larger PTCDI crystals, which improves the collection efficiency of the upper layer. However, a longer-time treatment of a system I results in a decrease in its PV efficiency owing to a significant decrease in the PDPA–PTCDI interfacial area accompanying further growth of PTCDI crystals, which lowers the photogeneration efficiency of the system. A combination of molecularly dissolved (in PDPA) and crystalline PTCDI in the system II has been proved to provide better PV efficiency due to a combination of improved free charge carrier photogeneration in the composite bottom layer and the collection efficiency of charge carriers of the upper layer.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Large-scale deployment of solar PV arrays has no adverse impact on the atmosphere. ► At solar conversion efficiency of 20% or higher, PV arrays can cool the air. ► Very high-density deployment of PV can cause some warming but also larger cooling. ► Increasing roof albedo by 0.05 and PV efficiency from 10% to 20% are equivalent.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A Cr2Ge2Te6 (CrGT) film is known to be a phase change material showing low-energy phase change between amorphous and crystalline phases. A crystalline Cr2Ge2Te6 (CrGT) film obtained from an amorphous phase via metastable crystalline phase has been reported to possess different local structure from the CrGT bulk material. The bulk CrGT is known to show a band conduction, while the conduction mechanism of the CrGT film has not been clear yet. In this study, the conduction mechanism of the CrGT film was discussed based on the temperature dependence of the conductivity (σ), Seebeck coefficient (S), and Hall properties. It was found that the CrGT film shows a variable range hopping conduction below 170 ​K, while it shows a mixed-conduction of band-like conduction and nearest-neighbor hopping conduction above 300 ​K. Such the mixed-conduction mechanism was found to cause the positive temperature dependence of the σ and S in the CrGT film. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity of the CrGT film was measured to be 0.16 ​W/mK, which is much lower than that of the bulk material. The mixed-conduction mechanism and the low thermal conductivity introduced by nanostructuring through sputtering method is suggested to promising strategy to enhance the thermoelectric properties of the CrGT material.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The oxidation reaction intensity of coal is quite weak during the spontaneous combustion latency. A thermopile sensor suitable for an isothermal flow reactor was developed to monitor the temperature of coal during the spontaneous combustion latency. The role of oxidation temperature and particle size were discussed. The element and oxygen-containing functional group changes of coal samples after oxidation were measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results show that the coal temperature has remarkable laws which conforms to a quadratic polynomial T = T0+A t-B t2+C t3-D t4. In the temperature range 20–70 °C, a temperature dependence of reaction rate which does not conform to the Arrhenius equation. The laws accord with a third order polynomial function ln(Dt/dt) = A(1/T)3+B(1/T)2+C(1/T)+D. The decrease of particle size can effectively increase the oxidation heat released by coal during the spontaneous combustion latency. Singly bonded C–O groups, phenol, alcohol or ether, dominate at all temperatures over other oxygen-containing functional groups. The contents of C–O groups and hydroperoxide continue to increase during the spontaneous combustion latency. The results will be helpful to further reveal the oxidation mechanism of coal during the spontaneous combustion latency.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In Germany, RWE Group in Essen and Schott Glas in Mainz are to set up a joint venture, RWE Schott Solar GmbH, based in Alzenau, to expand in the market for solar technology.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Due to their unique structure and properties as well as promising applications, porous two-dimensional (2D) materials, such as graphene, boron nitride, metal chalcogenides, carbon nitride, and metal oxides, have attracted extensive attention in the past few years. Combining the advantages of both 2D materials and porous structure, the fabricated porous 2D materials have presented the features of large surface areas, diversified compositions, and enhanced electronic conductivity, which endow them high potentials to act as defining components in high-performance electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices, such as lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells. In this review, we demonstrated the fabrication of various porous 2D materials by using several typical techniques like surface treatment, self-assembly, vacuum filtration, template-based, and template-free synthesis. In another way, their potential applications in energy sciences and the main challenges were introduced and discussed. It is expected that this work will be helpful for understanding the effects of material structure on its electrochemical performances in one way, and in another way will guide the design and fabrication of novel porous 2D structured materials for energy, electronic, and biomaterial applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Establishment of geochemical background and threshold values of potentially toxic elements is essential for soil management activities. Available topsoil data collected in the Bulgarian soil quality monitoring network are explored for the concentrations of the potentially toxic elements (PTEs) of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn. The ‘median + 2MAD’ and TIF methods for obtaining geochemical threshold values, which differentiate sampling sites with background from those with unusually high element concentrations, are presented. Comparison of the derived national geochemical threshold values with those obtained in European studies outlines the specificity of the Bulgarian PTE background concentrations among the other southern European countries. The threshold values for Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn are more similar to those derived from the northern European countries since the As and Cr ones are more close to the values derived for southern Europe. The geochemical threshold of Hg is almost one order of magnitude as high as the southern European derived value. The usage of geochemical threshold values for soil risk assessment is suggested by comparison with soil quality guideline values adopted in other countries. The combination of threshold values based on 90th percentile with geochemical mapping identifies the priority areas for further assessment. Regions with more than 2 PTEs (2.26% of the Bulgarian territory) are suggested for detailed (eco)toxicological assessment.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Herein, a nano-reticular structure cobalt diselenide (CoSe2) film with high electroconductivity and electrocatalytic has been synthesized by one-step electrodeposition method and is applied as a counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements with different potential windows are carried out to reveal the deposition mechanism of cobalt selenide, illustrating that the formation of CoSe2 occurred at −0.62 V via inductive effect reaction with selenide (Se2−). Tafel and CV characterizations demonstrate an excellent electrocatalytic activity of CoSe2 counter electrode towards I−/I3 − reduction reaction, which is attributed to the electronic effect between Co and Se and electrochemical active sites, provided by wrinkled layer structure, for adsorption and reduction of I3 −. EIS measurements show a great electroconductivity ability of electrodeposition CoSe2 film. The DSSC based on the CoSe2 counter electrode yields a maximum power conversion efficiency of 3.96% (Jsc = 10.84 mA cm−2, Voc = 0.65 V and FF = 55%) under the standard AM 1.5G illumination, which is 1.6 times higher than that of commercial Pt-based DSSC.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The presence of transition metal ions in photocatalytic reactions is reviewed according to two main approaches: (a) the influence of transition metal ions on the rate of photocatalytic reactions (mainly oxidation) and (b) the transformation of the ions to less toxic species or their deposition on the semiconductor catalyst surface for recovery of expensive and useful metals. Most of the proposed mechanisms are discussed, together with experimental physicochemical evidences that support the involved pathways. Practical applications related to environmental protection and industrial processes are described.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • A coupled photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric generator (TEG) system is investigated. • A simple analytical model is derived, and the temperature of the joined system is found. • Crystalline Si (c-Si), amorphous Si (a-Si), CIGS and CdTe PV cells are considered. • The efficiency is shown to decrease in almost all cases for the combined system. • Increasing temperature decreases PV performance quicker than TEG performance increases.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, poly(phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and TiO2 nanocomposites containing different amounts of TiO2 were prepared through PPV precursor reaction in aqueous media. The TiO2 components were introduced into the systems by two methods, i.e. through in situ sol–gel reaction or by mixing commercially available TiO2 nanoparticles with the PPV precursor before reaction. The composite prepared by mixing commercially available TiO2 nanoparticles shows perfect crystal character of the anatase TiO2, but TiO2 particles severely agglomerate in the PPV matrix. The composite prepared by introducing TiO2 nanoparticles through the sol–gel reaction shows uniform nanoscale dispersion of anatase TiO2 in PPV matrix. The UV–vis and FL spectroscopic analyses confirm the formation of the TiO2/PPV composites and reveal the enhanced PL quenching effect as the TiO2 content increases. The PPV/TiO2 composites can show significant photovoltaic response. Better photovoltaic performance is observed for the solar cells prepared by using the in situ sol–gel reaction method.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles, obtained by sol-gel technique, were used to create an antireflective coating (ARC) for the use in a high concentrating photovoltaic (HCPV) device. These ARCs have shown a transmission increase from 92% up to 99% when deposited on glass substrate. The introduction of these same ARCs, with different optical paths, in the HCPV system has shown an overall power increase with strong dependence of the HCPV module performance (based on triple junction solar cells) upon the different ARC transmission spectra. Optimal ARC spectral shape was thus determined. A net additional power generation of 4.3% of the HCPV was measured, indicating almost complete elimination of Fresnel reflection losses in the system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Current best practice methodologies of energy utilization are limited to core production processes, excluding non-core processes. Energy determinations are limited to specialized functions and do not cover the entire business. This research introduces business process modelling to evaluate the holistic business energy demand, inclusive of core production and support functions, of a coal fired power plant. The methodology includes, modelling and statistical techniques, in developing the holistic baseline model, with predictive capacities to forecast the energy impact of changes to the business. Post a validation cycle, the results provide for insights on the impact of optimization, including Cleaner Production, IoT and technology substitution on the coal to energy business. The results include CO2 impact, energy impact and resource (people) impacts as forecast by the model. The model is unique in that it is system agnostic and can be used to forecast any energy production configuration.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Monitoring the fabrication process of a solar cell covers a number of different measurements, including mechanical, optical, and electronic properties. This chapter focuses on the measurements of the minority carrier lifetime that provide information about the properties of silicon materials, surface passivations, and the emitter diffusions. There are three basic approaches to measure the lifetime, depending on the way that an excess of carriers is created in a semiconductor. One of the approaches, the transient decay method—in which a photogeneration is terminated abruptly and the rate, at which carriers disappear— is measured, together with excess electron concentrations. Another approach is the steady-state method, in which a constant generation rate of known value is maintained, and the effective lifetime is determined from the balance between generation and recombination values. The lifetimes vary considerably depending on the process history of their samples, measurement conditions, and they can degrade or recover when the samples are exposed to light or annealed at certain temperatures. The measured, apparent lifetime can also be affected by nonrecombination mechanisms, such as carrier trapping.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Fullerene particles were successfully used to grow vertically aligned CuPc nanorods. ► Fullerene particles reduce the probability of localized shorts in the photovoltaic cells. ► X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveals the crystalline nature of fullerene-based nanorods. ► These nanorods were successfully applied to the organic photovoltaic cells. ► Considerable improvement in power conversion efficiency of photovoltaic cells was observed by using these nanorods.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The electrical and optical characteristics of a set of MBE-grown 1.3μm emitting GaInNAs/GaAs quantum well (QW) resonant cavity light-emitting diodes (RCLEDs) have been analyzed as a function of the growth temperature of the distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) and the contact alloying. The RCLEDs consist of a λ-long microcavity delimited on one side by an 8-pair AlAs/GaAs DBR and on the opposite side by a metallic mirror, with the QW located at one of the antinodes of the standing wave. The structures are designed for extraction of the light through the substrate. Room-temperature electroluminescence at 1.3μm is demonstrated with 38% In and 1.3% N in the quantum well. It is found that the RCLEDs with the DBR grown at the lowest temperature of 670°C show a lower differential slope efficiency and degraded current–voltage characteristics, i.e. higher ideality factor, lower shunt resistance and lower threshold voltage. This degradation can be explained to arise from the higher roughness observed in the DBRs grown at 670°C, which likely enhance the formation of point defects and compositional inhomogeneities in the quantum well. Alloying of the ohmic contacts also results in a widening of the electroluminescence emission, probably due to the degradation of the top metallic mirror sharpness caused by the diffusion of the metal into the GaAs. The best results in terms of differential slope efficiency and electrical characteristics are obtained when the DBRs are grown at 750°C and the contacts are left non-alloyed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Starting from the polymeric structure of Sb2S3, we successfully prepared sub-micron-sized hollow cones of Sb2S3 in a yield close to 85% via a solvothermal crystallization route. The quasi-2D ribbon-like structure of Sb2S3 can direct the formation of thin crystal flakes, which can transform into hollow cones through a spiral rolling-up process favored by the high pressure generated in the solvothermal environment. Techniques such as XRD, SEM, TEM, SAED, EDAX, and HRTEM were used to characterize their morphology, structure, and composition. This crystallization route is also workable for the preparation of tubular Bi2S3, and we believe that it could be extended to the preparation of novel tubes of other materials with an analogous chain structure, such as selenium and tellurium.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper outlines the growing need of energy in the developing countries and the acute population growth, which will exceed 10 billion by the year 2050. It describes the achievement and progress made in geothermal, hydro-power, biomass conversion, solar thermal technology, wind energy conversion and the ever increasing usage of photovoltaics. The paper also addresses the barriers and problems which face renewable energy users and producers. It is evident now that global warming is setting in and is going to change the climate as well as the terrain of many countries unless drastic measures are taken. The recent Kyoto meeting emphasised the importance of limiting CO2 emissions and to abide by some form of agreement to reduce emissions. Countries such as India, China and Indonesia, which represent nearly half the world's population, are actively involved in using renewable energy as the only means of sustaining their energy growth. It concludes that renewable energy penetration into the energy market is much faster than was expected a few years ago and by the year 2020, 10–15% of our prime energy will be met by renewable energy.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Bi2Sr2Co2O9 exhibits a misfit-layered structure with good thermoelectric properties. We have investigated the thermoelectric properties of Bi2Sr2Co2Oy in both thin-film and single-crystal forms. Among thin films grown at different temperatures, we find that both the in-plane thermoelectric power (S ab ) and electrical resistivity (ρ ab ) vary in an opposite trend, i.e., S ab is high when ρ ab is small. This results in large power factor (S ab 2 /ρ ab ~5.5μW/K2 cm for the film grown at 700°C), comparable to that for whiskers. For single crystals, the electrical resistivity shows metallic behavior in a large temperature range, but has higher magnitude than that of films grown at 675°C and 700°C. The annealing of single crystals under Ar atmosphere leads to even higher resistivity while S ab is improved. We discuss the thermoelectric performance of this material considering both oxygen concentration and phase purity.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The basis of spintronics is the technology involving nano-sized devices whose spins are directed. Therefore, materials that provide magnetic and 100 % spin polarization are remarkable. The ferromagnetic phase of VCo2O4 has obtained the most stable. In the GGA approximation, the equilibrium lattice constant and magnetic moment values were 8.34 Å and 10.00 μB/f.u., respectively. The band gaps in the GGA and GGA + mBJ approximations were calculated as 1.262 eV and 4.847 eV. The band gap values for Coulomb interactions U = 1, 2, 3, and 4 eV were obtained as 1.268 eV, 1.273 eV, 1.279 eV, and 1.286 eV, respectively. The elastic calculations showed that VCo2O4 was mechanically stable and ductile. The Debye temperature was calculated as 565 K at 0 GPa pressure. As a result, VCo2O4 oxide spinel has been obtained as a true half-metallic ferromagnetic material and will be a very good alternative for spintronic applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The distribution of temperature according to the height in the heat storage stratified water tanks designed for the heating of premises is uneven. In order to determine possible thermal energy amount stored in the tank it is necessary to know the residual water temperature in the tank. In the experiments with vertical thermal energy storage tanks of 0.31, 0.9 and 1.5m diameter, we determined that at a duration of charging of 8h, and discharging of 16h, the value of temperature transitional zone height at 90% probability is 0.47±0.03m. Using analytical methods we worked out carry-overs for the determination of residual temperature of heat accumulating tanks with external and internal heat sources. It was determined that in the heat storage tanks with internal heat source fitted at the bottom of the tank the residual water temperature is higher, and the amount of accumulated thermal energy is lower than in the tanks with external heat source.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The Sustainable Process Index is an ecological evaluation system specially developed for the requirements of process engineering. It allows reliable as well as convenient and quick valuation of processes on the base of data available to a process engineer even in the early stages of planning. The paper will discuss the application of this index in practical examples of interest to many process engineers. Energy systems are of great importance for almost any process, as they cause a considerable part of investment, as well as operating costs. From the ecological point of view, they may be even more influential as they cause direct emissions (e.g. SO2, NOx) as well as contributions to global ecological problems, most prominently global warming. The right decision about energy systems within a process therefore is of considerable importance for any process engineer. A comparison of different energy systems with the SPI will reveal the most important ecological features of energy systems using different conversion technologies as well as different raw materials and energy sources. The various pressures exerted by these systems on the environment will be discussed. However, the most important information derived from a valuation with the SPI is the relative size of these pressures. This bases the decision about the right energy system on an equal footing for all technological contenders. It allows also the setting of engineering and optimisation priorities.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The requirement for the temperature stability is very high in the star sensors as the high precision needs for the altitude information. Thermal design and analysis thus is important for the high power star sensors and their supporters. CCD, normally with Peltier thermoelectric cooler (PTC), is the most important sensor component in the star sensors, which is also the main heat source in the star sensors suite. The major objective for the thermal design in this paper is to design a radiator to optimize the heat diffusion for CCD and PTC. The structural configuration of star sensors, the heat sources and orbit parameters were firstly introduced in this paper. The influences of the geometrical parameters and coating material characteristics of radiators on the heat diffusion were investigated by heat flux analysis. Carbon–carbon composites were then chosen to improve the thermal conductivity for the sensor supporters by studying the heat transfer path. The design is validated by simulation analysis and experiments on orbit. The satellite data show that the temperatures of three star sensors are from 17.8°C to 19.6°C, while the simulation results are from 18.1°C to 20.1°C. The temperatures of radiator are from 16.1°C to 16.8°C and the corresponding simulation results are from 16.0°C to 16.5°C. The temperature variety of each star sensor is less than 2°C, which satisfies the design objectives.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Interfacial phenomena control the performance of devices employing various oxides and designed to realize phenomena such as spin injection and magnetic coupling. Here we review our work on spin injection into oxide superconductors and briefly mention work on magnetic heterostructures. The focus will be on geometries prepared using ozone-assisted, oxide-molecular beam epitaxy. The implications for our results of recent applications of probes of buried interfaces will be discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report here observations in real time of the aligning effect of electric fields during the synthesis of carbon nanotubes in an environmental transmission electron microscope (ETEM). Growths took place using C 2 H 2 as precursor gas at ∼ 1 0 − 4 mbar, a temperature of ∼ 700 ° C and within a micro-capacitor incorporated in a specifically-designed heating micro-chip. Individual nanotubes are easily resolved as they appear as extremely straight lines growing parallel to the electric field. These nanotubes are predominantly Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs). Owing to the very good alignment of nanotubes in the object plane of the microscope we can obtain unprecedented excellent determination of the nanotubes’ growth rates and follow them dynamically. Constant growth rates are observed in most cases but other behaviours are observed such as growth rate acceleration. For low applied voltages the growing nanotubes can cross the gap and connect to the opposite electrode although some are destroyed by mechanical failure or during the contact. For high applied fields and positive biasing allowing Field Emission (FE), the growth is limited within the gap as FE can occur during growth leading to new saturation or destruction processes. These different mechanisms are presented as well as the observed balance between electrostatic and adhesion forces.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A solar-thermoelectric liquid chiller (STLC) system is constructed and characterized using both theoretical and experimental analyses. A cold-plate (plate and tube type) heat exchanger, attached to the cold side of the STLC system, is utilized for removing the heat from the circulating water in the system. Analytical models include the thermoelectric Peltier effect, thermal convections in air and water, and conductions within the solid parts of the STLC system. Proposed analytical models are used to calculate different performance parameters (e.g., heat removal rate and coefficient of performance) of STLC system at different input electrical currents, temperature differences (between the bulk mean temperature of the liquid and the surrounding environmental temperature), and flow rates. Optimum values of the electrical current are calculated to achieve maximum heat removal rates for a wide range of temperature differences. It is observed that the heat removal rate by the STLC system increases with increasing bulk mean temperature of the water for considered ambient temperature conditions. However, small changes in the heat removal rate are observed when liquid flow rate changes inside the cold-plate heat exchanger. A prototype of the conditioned space is constructed to perform the experimental analysis. Experimental analysis includes the monitoring of the cooling down period of the water and conditioned space to achieve desired temperatures.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper provides an extensive overview of heat transfer augmentation through various techniques using microchannel heat sink (MCHS). Continuous miniaturization of electronic devices due to multifunction, high heat flux over the unit area, and lower package volume has compelled researchers to find advanced and sophisticated heat removal technologies. This review paper (with more than 300 references) covers the recent developments in the area of different cooling technologies in general and MCHS in particular. The focus has been paid to the research articles since 2010 because of the enormous volume of papers published in this area in the last 10 years. Following a brief introduction to the rise of micro-scale devices, as well as conventional cooling technologies and applications, the review first classifies flow channels, as well as the various microchannel fabrication techniques used over the years. The next section provides different methods adopted for heat transfer enhancement that are broadly categorized under active and passive techniques, with the focus on passive devices. The final section provides heat transfer enhancement in MCHS by geometrical modifications. When flow inside a straight channel becomes regular and the boundary layer grows, heat transfer performance deteriorates. So, extensive studies have been conducted on channels that inherently provide boundary layer interruption, secondary flows, and chaotic advection that promote heat transfer without modest change in pumping power. Special emphasis has been given to the fractal shaped MCHS due to its inherent property of reducing temperature non-uniformity with an insignificant drop in pressure. Additionally, comments and perspectives to highlight the notable contributions are presented.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report on the first monolithic, amorphous-silicon-based, photovoltaic-powered electrochromic window coating. The coating employs a wide band gap a-Si1−x C x :Hn–i–p photovoltaic (PV) cell as a semitransparent power supply, and an Li y WO3/LiAlF4/V2O5 electrochromic (EC) device as an optical-transmittance modulator. The EC device is deposited directly on top of a PV device that coats a glass substrate. The a-Si1−x C x :HPV cell has a Tauc gap of 2.2eV and a transmittance of 80% over a large portion of the visible light spectrum. We reduced the thickness of the device to about 600Å while maintaining a 1-sun open-circuit voltage of 0.9V and short-circuit current of 2mA/cm2. By employing the LiAlF4 as the Li+ ion electrolyte, the parasitic electronic current through the device has been significantly reduced (<10μA/cm2 under 1V bleaching voltage). By properly controlling y and the thickness of each layer, the coloration and bleaching voltage of the EC device could be adjusted within the range of −0.6 to −1.3V (coloring) and 0.1–0.6V (bleaching) for compatibility with the underlying PV cell. Our prototype 16cm2 PV/EC device modulates the transmittance by more than 60% over a large portion of the visible spectrum. Its color is pale yellow at bleached state and dark blue at colored state. The coloring and bleaching times of the electrochromic device are approximately 2min under normal operating conditions (±1V). The device is hermetically sealed for a long lifetime.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents the experimental results of a small Sea Water Reverse Osmosis desalination system equipped with a hydraulic energy recovery unit of the Eco systems Clark pump type. The system is installed at the Agricultural University of Athens, and has been in continuous operation since January 2004. The system has a maximum fresh water production of 2.6 m3/day, with an average quality of 250 μS/cm, using two spiral wound SWRO membranes connected in series. The feed water is a NaCl solution with an Electrical Conductivity of 35 mS/cm, typically isoosmotic with the sea water. The only electrical consumption of this system is a brushless DC motor directly coupled to a feed water rotary vane pump. This motor is powered from a small battery bank of 310 Ah. The measured specific energy consumption reached up to 3 kWh/m3, while other small sea water reverse osmosis systems without energy recovery reported specific energy consumption as high as 10–20 kWh/m3. The measured low energy consumption of the present system makes it suitable for future coupling with renewable energy systems such as photovoltaics and wind generators.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "To obtain a rigorous investment analysis for photovoltaic power generation plants, a dynamic Business Plan has been studied. It allows us to determine, in real time, the investment parameters (Net Present Value, Internal Rate of Return, Return on Investment, etc) starting from the technical, economical, financial and positional data. The Business Plan provides, as output, the exact values of the parameters (dependent variables or objective functions) basing on the exact values of the input variables (independent variables). By suitably varying the independent variables it is possible to obtain a sensitivity analysis on the dependent variables due to which different evaluations about the investment in multiple pre-set scenarios can be obtained. On the other hand, by using the Business Plan as data creator and then applying the Response Surface Methodology techniques, it has been possible to obtain mathematical functions (regression meta-models) which are able to explain the link among dependent and independent variables in the definition range. This approach allows to generate a sort of k dimensional state equation of order n for the different investigated economic parameters. These equations provide, in the chosen dimensional space (two or three-dimensional), a view of the dependent variable behaviour (e.g. Net Present Value, Internal Rate of Return) while changing one or two independent variables (e.g. government incentives, discount rate). The descriptive ability of this approach has a higher level in terms of quality and reliability than a traditional sensitivity analysis. In this paper, a case study about a 1MWe photovoltaic plant located in Liguria (North-Italy) and a comparison with a similar plant located in Sicily (South-Italy) are also presented.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Photovoltaic-thermal collectors (or PV-T collector) are hybrid collectors where PV modules are integrated as an absorber of a thermal collector in order to convert solar energy into electricity and usable heat at the same time. In most of the cases, the hybrid collectors are made by the superposition of a PV module on the thermal absorber of a solar collector. In this paper, the approach is different and is to analyze thermal and optical properties related to both PV and solar thermal functions in order to identify an optimum combination leading to a maximum overall efficiency. Indeed, although these two functions do not exploit the same range of radiation wavelengths, thermal and PV functions are not so complementary due to photo-conversion thermal dependency. In this context, an alternative PV cell lamination has been developed with increased optical and thermal performance. The improvements were evaluated around 2mA/cm2 in terms of current density in comparison to a standard module encapsulation. Based on this technique, a real size PV-T module has been built and tested at Fraunhofer solar test facilities. The results show a global efficiency of the PV-T collector above 87% (79% thermal efficiency plus 8.7% electrical efficiency, based on the absorber area).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Large area thin film coating of glass substrates adds value and performance to the glass that is often unachievable by conventional tinting of the glass composition. Far infra red coatings, applicable for low emittance window glass, have been commercially successful due to their ease of manufacture and enhanced performance compared to uncoated glass. By producing the coated glass by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) directly on a float glass manufacturing line, economies of scale and production simplicity are achievable that escape off-line deposition technologies. The critical success factors that make on-line coatings commercially successful, such as float bath compatible, high deposition rate chemistry and flexible reactor design will be discussed. Manufacturing difficulties arise with on-line coatings, however, due to the speed of glass production along with the lack of atmosphere control inherent to the glass making process. Due to the highly thermally activated chemistry of CVD, stable substrate temperatures as well as insensitive thin film designs are necessary for high product yields and quality control. By utilizing novel multilayer structures, normal and off angle color can be controlled such that typical production thickness nonuniformities are masked thereby yielding an aesthetically pleasing product. Material and design constraints for on-line low emittance glass, mirror coatings and architectural solar control coated glass produced using these techniques will be described. CVD deposition chemistry also is an important factor which is critical to efficient on-line coating processes. Individual thin film growth rates need to be typically greater than 200 Å/s for commercial on-line coatings. High material loading, with gas phase precursor concentrations up to 3–4%, are often necessary to achieve such growth rates. The CVD chemistry must be stable and compatible with the high loading and temperature such that high deposition efficiencies can be achieved without excessive particulate production or gas phase ignition. CVD precursor design and vaporization techniques will be described which can satisfy these constraints. With proper choice of precursor and additive chemistry, high deposition efficiency, long runtime and low cost deposition processes can be achieved. When combined with thickness insensitive thin film designs, these chemistries have successfully produced a wide variety of cost-effective on-line coated products.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A non-monotonic dependence of the thermoelectric properties of PbS epitaxial films grown on (001)KCl substrates and covered with an EuS protective layer on the PbS layer thickness (d=2–200 nm) was detected at room temperature. The complex character of the dependence on d is attributed to a competition between percolation phenomena and size quantization. Within the framework of percolation theory on the basis of experimental data, the critical exponent for the electrical conductivity was determined. Oscillations in the thickness dependence of the kinetic coefficients are attributed to quantum size effects occurring in thin layers.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Considerable efforts have been made in the past several decades to search for electrolytes that can work at low temperatures for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The rare-earth oxide Gd2O3 is a thermodynamically stable semiconductor material, but it has not yet been thoroughly explored for use in SOFC devices. In this study, a series of Fe-doped Gd2O3 with varying compositions were successfully synthesized to function as electrolytes for SOFCs. The as-prepared material, 10% Fe-doped Gd2O3 (Fe0.1Gd1.9O3), exhibited an excellent peak power density of 1352 mW/cm2 at 550 ℃, while the ionic conductivity reached 0.25 S cm−1. Various spectroscopic measurements, such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations, were employed to understand the enhanced ion transportation mechanism and the improved performance of Fe-doped Gd2O3. The results showed that the Fe-doped Gd2O3 and energy bandgap tuning of electrolytes can significantly improve fuel cell performance at low temperatures, which is of great significance for the future development of low-temperature ceramic fuel cells.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Islanding phenomenon is undesirable because it leads to a safety hazard to utility service personnel and may cause damage to power generation and power supply facilities as a result of unsynchronized re-closure. In order to prevent the phenomenon, various anti-islanding methods have been studied. Until now, frequency or start phase shift methods of inverter current have much attention as active anti-islanding methods, which cause reactive power variation to the utility. However, these methods deteriorate usually the power quality like power factor or harmonic performance. This paper proposes a high power quality active anti-islanding method using effective power variation, which is implemented by periodically increasing/decreasing variation of inverter current magnitude. If it causes the large variation of inverter output voltage after islanding, active frequency drift (AFD) method as a simple anti-islanding method will be injected into the inverter current for a designed period and islanding can be detected. In case of large voltage variation when the grid is connected, AFD method will be removed after the designed period. Unlike most active anti-islanding method deteriorating power quality, the proposed method will have high performance of islanding detection and good power quality. For the verification of the proposed method, simulated results and experimental results in addition to analysis are presented using a 3kW PV inverter.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Holistic TEG development for heavy-duty vehicles including operating costs. • CFD modelling combined with vehicle interactions to optimize TEG power output. • Maximum electrical power of the TEG is 1507 W for natural gas heavy-duty vehicles. • Resulting TEG design offers −0.54% net and −1.04% gross fuel reduction. • Commercial modules not application-oriented, new approaches required (≫1 W cm−2).",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This work developed a three-dimensional, multiphysics, and transient model to investigate transient supercooling of TECs (thermoelectric coolers). The model coupled the heat and electricity conductions and considered all thermoelectric effects. The model was well validated by dynamic test data for a TEC (Thermoelectric cooler) start-up process and was compared with the previous heat conduction model. The comparison confirmed that the multiphysics model has a more superior performance for predicting the key evaluation parameters of the transient supercooling. Then the model was used to investigate various current pulses (t 0, t 1/2, t 1, t 2, t 3, t 4, and t 5) to search for the optimal shape. The results showed that the optimal shape is only determined by the time to reach the minimum cold end temperature (t min) and the pulse width (τ). For the pulses with t min < τ, a higher power pulse provides a lower cold end temperature, for the pulses with t min = τ, however, the trend is opposite. The present results reasonably explain the divergence for the optimal pulse shape reported by the previous studies.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The need to develop an approach to gather detailed molecular information occurring on catalytic surfaces and gain deeper understanding of the structure-reactivity relationship of nanocatalysts for rational design and improved performance is essential in catalysis. In this study, we report the dynamic tracking of the degradation of a recalcitrant diazenyl-based micropollutant over Aurivillius lanthanum-doped bismuth titanate nanoparticles (BLT NPs) by Raman spectroscopy. By leveraging this powerful analytical technique, rich structural information can be retrieved, including the adsorbed species, which can provide profound insight of the degradation mechanism. Our observations show significant asymmetrical broadening in the vibrational spectra particularly within the range of 1300 cm−1 to 1400 cm−1, which can be attributed to the photo-oxidation of diazenyl derivatives within their specific chemical environment at ambient condition. The results, supported by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, demonstrate the selective cleavage of the pollutant's C-N and N = N bonds, likely resulting in the formation of 4-nitroazobenzene as the predominant intermediate product.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Compared with p-type oxyselenide thermoelectric material, the corresponding n-type material research progress is slow. In this work, combining low thermal conductivity of BiCuSeO and high electron carrier concentration of n-type Bi2O2Se, a new-type two-dimensional layered oxyselenide Bi6Cu2Se4O6 was synthesized. Through increasing electron carrier concentration via introducing transition metal elements (Ti, Zr, Ce), the electrical transport properties were enhanced and the peak ZT value ~ 0.16 at 873 K was obtained, which is 60 % higher than that in Bi6Cu2Se3.6Cl0.4O6. This work indicates that transition metal element is an effective n-type dopant to enhance the thermoelectric performance of Bi6Cu2Se4O6.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The photovoltaic performance of inverted structure hybrid solar cells fabricated using cadmium sulfide (CdS) films and the photoactive layer of P3HT (poly(3-hexyl)thiophene) and PCBM ([6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester) is reported. CdS thin films with different thicknesses were deposited using the spray deposition technique. Current–voltage (I–V) characteristics were performed under dark and AM 1.5 illumination (mW/cm2) conditions. Inverted structure hybrid solar cells employing CdS thin films yield a short circuit current density of 1.9mA/cm2, resulting in a power conversion efficiency of ca. 0.3%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Most of urban air quality studies focus on the megacities of North America, Europe and, recently, Asia. Meanwhile, the most polluted urban areas in the world are rapidly growing large, mid-size and small cities of Asia, Middle East, Africa and South America. This raises a question: why relatively smaller cities are more polluted than the megacities? This study presents the first comprehensive decade-long analysis of the effects of fuel and transport regulations on PM2.5 (particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm) pollution in Quito, a medium-size city of South America. The effectiveness of a number of regulations is quantified through the elaboration of a high accuracy (98%) regression model. The model estimated that the PM2.5 concentrations were reduced by 67.6 μg/m3, combating the effect of city growth and intense motorization, reducing the annual PM2.5 concentrations to 17.4 μg/m3. This study is recommended as a guideline for thousands of other cities worldwide looking for optimal urban particulate pollution management.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter is the introduction of the volume on ‘Solar Thermal Systems: Components and Applications’. It initially examines energy-related environmental problems, which include acid rain, ozone layer depletion and global climate change, and how renewable energy technologies can be used to avoid these problems. Subsequently, the chapter examines the environmental characteristics of solar energy in terms of basic relations used to determine the position of the sun on the sky. Therefore, the chapter includes an analysis of the equation of time, longitude correction, solar angles, the incidence angle for fixed and moving surfaces, and finally presents easy ways to determine the basic sun angles using sun path diagrams. This is followed by an analysis of the solar radiation and, in particular, thermal radiation and transparent plates, which are two subjects that are of interest to the people dealing with the design of solar systems. Finally, the solar resource is examined. The operation of solar collectors and systems depends on the solar radiation input and the ambient air temperature and their sequences. These and other meteorological parameters are usually provided in terms of the typical meteorological year and the generation of such years from raw data is given.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The effect of a thermal annealing treatment at various temperatures on the performance of bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells based on poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)-p-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV) and buckminsterfullerene (C60) composites was investigated. With the increase in temperature, three stages were observed: from 60 to 120°C, the photovoltaic performance of the composite devices became better with the rising temperature; from 120 to 180°C, the photovoltaic performance decreased to a minimum; but, at about 200°C, a sharp rise occurred, followed by a gradual decline. The obvious red-shift of the photoluminescence (PL) spectra and the new PL peak and shoulder at about 620 and 660nm, respectively, indicated the formation of molecular aggregation and the lengthened and the ordered conjugated segments. It was suggested that the crystallization of C60 after thermal annealing at 200°C, which matched the nano-sized ordered domains of MEH-PPV led to a sharp enhancement in photovoltaic performance.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A typical problem of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BiPV) is the power loss due to temperature increase caused by limited cooling compared to free standing photovoltaic (PV) systems. Higher operating temperatures have a negative effect both on the efficiency and lifetime of the PV system. Decreasing the PV operating temperature in BiPV applications is thus a crucial aspect to both enhance the system efficiency and to decrease the temperature-induced degradation process. This study investigates the effectiveness of a passive low-cost strategy to improve the PV performance of BiPV systems by decreasing the module temperature. It consists in the application of an heat sink system on the PV module back side to enhance the PV cooling. An experimental investigation was performed on a wooden BiPV façade prototype and the results show that this strategy could lead to a temperature reduction up to 5.2°C, meaning a possible power output increase of 2.3% of the PV nominal power. Considering a South facing facade application in Agrigento (South of Italy) climate, this strategy could enhance the annual PV energy generation for an extent of 1.2% and the total PV energy generation over the whole module life-time for an extent of 31% due to a longer life-time (considering some assumptions reported in the paper).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A sustainable expansion of corn-based and sugarcane-based ethanol production could induce food safety and also decrease the Southern Brazilian Amazon’s extensive cattle farming and deforestation of new pasture areas. The present work aims to evaluate a technological prospect regarding the strategies and market potential of bioenergy and bio-products generation for a corn-based production system. A ‘Strategic Foresight’ approach was formulated and thoroughly analyzed. Overall, it showed that productivity improvement of livestock could be accomplished, and light vehicles’ energy demand using anhydrous and hydrous ethanol could also be enhanced. The results demonstrated that greenhouse gas emissions from a ‘Corn-to-Ethanol’ production system are smaller than the conventional Mills. The Foresight analysis identified that the positive energy balance from ethanol provides more energy than its industrial consumption. ‘Corn Ethanol’ production processes are integrated in six (6) “Flex Mills” in Brazil by taking advantage of the existing installations for sugarcane processing with a production ranging from 250 to 500 million liters/year. The State of Mato Grosso shall have twelve (12) Ethanol Mills in “Full” operation until 2021. The SWOT analysis in this study revealed that: the economy's development could generate direct and indirect jobs, potentially supporting the energy transition to a low-carbon economy through the valorization of agricultural and livestock products, and thus allowing the expansion of confined livestock, pig, and fish farming. Finally, the Strategic Foresight showed the multi-tiered importance of technological application and cooperation in the agro-industrial sector.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The thermo-mechanical properties of silicon nanowires are of great importance in the state of the art silicon technologies. Herein, thermal and mechanical properties of silicon nanowires along  direction are illustrated by a molecular dynamics approach using Tersoff potential. Different lengths ranging from 10 to 45 nm and cross section widths from 2.2 nm to 6.5 nm as well as different temperatures from 200 to 500 K were studied. In all the cases, the corresponding thermal conductivities of silicon nanowires were found to be much smaller than the bulk silicon counterpart, in the range of ~1–5 W/(m.K), and strongly dependent on size while less sensitive to temperature. The elastic modulus, fractural strain and stress were also investigated upon various size and temperatures indicating dramatically lower properties at higher temperature and as a result of nano-scaling. The presented findings on <110> silicon nanowires sheds further lights on the current understandings on thermo-mechanical behavior of silicon nanowires for applications such as in Li-ion batteries and provide complementary information for the relevant data bank.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Use of a polyfluorene derivative (WPF-oxy-F) as the cathode interfacial layer was investigated for low-cost and high-efficiency organic solar cells (OSCs) based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and 1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)-propyl-1-phenyl-(6,6)C61 (PCBM). Insertion of the WPF-oxy-F interfacial layer between the P3HT/PCBM active layer and the metal cathode increased overall power conversion efficiency from 2.95% to 3.77% primarily due to the improved open circuit voltage and enhanced fill factor, resulting from a reduction of the metal work-function through the introduction of WPF-oxy-F.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Luminescent porous silicon (PS) was prepared for the first time using a spraying set-up, which can diffuse in a homogeneous manner HF solutions, on textured or untextured (100) oriented monocrystalline silicon substrate. This new method allows us to apply PS onto the front-side surface of silicon solar cells, by supplying very fine HF drops. The front side of N+/P monocrystalline silicon solar cells may be treated for long periods without altering the front grid metallic contact. The monocrystalline silicon solar cells (N+/P, 78.5cm2) which has undergone the HF-spraying were made with a very simple and low-cost method, allowing front-side Al contamination. A poor but expected 7.5% conversion efficiency was obtained under AM1 illumination. It was shown that under optimised HF concentration, HF-spraying time and flow HF-spraying rate, Al contamination favours the formation of a thin and homogeneous hydrogen-rich PS layer. It was found that under optimised HF-spraying conditions, the hydrogen-rich PS layer decreases the surface reflectivity up to 3% (i.e., increase light absorption), improves the short circuit current (I sc), and the fill factor (FF) (i.e., decreases the series resistance), allowing to reach a 12.5% conversion efficiency. The dramatic improvement of the latter is discussed throughout the influence of HF concentration and spraying time on the I–V characteristics and on solar cells parameters. Despite the fact that the thin surfae PS layer acts as a good anti-reflection coating (ARC), it improves the spectral response of the cells, especially in the blue-side of the solar spectrum, where absorption becomes greater, owing to surface band gap widening and conversion of a part of UV and blue light into longer wavelengths (that are more suitable for conversion in a Si cell) throughout quantum confinement into the PS layer.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Analytic model of the frequency response of thermoelectric modules. • Extension of previous models to account for realistic thermal contacts. • Paving the way to in-situ characterization. • Physical interpretation of the so-called thermoelectric capacitance.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highly efficient high-power laser operation around 1084 nm is demonstrated of the Yb 0 . 14 : Y 0 . 77 Gd 0 . 09 Ca 4 O ( BO 3 ) 3 mixed crystal in a compact plano-concave resonator, producing an output power of 18.1 W in free-running mode, with optical-to-optical and slope efficiencies being, respectively, 60% and 70% with respect to incident pump power. In laser action achieved with the high-gain short-wavelength oscillation being suppressed, the highest output power reaches 16.2 W with an optical-to-optical efficiency of 50.3%, while the slope efficiency amounts to 58%. The results presented reveal the superiority of the Yb-ion doped mixed oxyborate crystal to the existing Yb-ion or Nd-ion crystals capable of generating high-power laser radiation around 1084 nm.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Columnar-structured rutile TiO2 film with a thickness of 1.4μm is prepared using the radio-frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering technique, for application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Pure rutile TiO2 films are fabricated by controlling the substrate temperature during sputtering and using a substrate with a rough surface morphology. Successive substrate heating to 623K induces the growth of a rutile TiO2 film that has a specific direction in the (110) plane, which results in a decrease in the average grain size. This causes in an increase of dye uptake and thereby contributes to enhancement of the photocurrent in the DSSC.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The advent of nanotechnology and nanomaterials is opening new perspectives for the achievement of efficient solid-state heat converters. After decades of slow progress, in recent years innovative ideas have been put forward to improve the thermodynamic conversion efficiency and, as a consequence, new thermoelectric nanomaterials have been developed. A key and challenging ingredient for the progress of this research ambit is today the refinement of precise methods for the measurement of the thermoelectric parameters of nanostructures.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents a laser-based self-referencing thermoelectric technique, like other thermoelectric techniques, which is completely insensitive to spurious geometric effects. The main advantage of this new thermoelectric technique is its sole sensitivity to intrinsic subtle material properties within a shallow layer close to surface, and therefore, this laser-based self-referencing thermoelectric technique can be exploited for NDE issues requiring limited depth material characterization. The successful detection of surface-breaking rectangular tin inclusions in copper has demonstrated that the laser-based self-referencing thermoelectric method has certain penetration depth. In addition, experimental results are shown to be in very good qualitative agreement with the prediction of a simple model developed to understand the relation between the measured and generated thermoelectric voltage. These results clearly demonstrate this laser-based self-referencing technique is a true near surface technique.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "As open-shell moieties are increasingly integrated into organic electronic devices, there remains a need to establish the interactions that occur between these oxidation–reduction-active (redox-active) radical species and commonly-used conjugated polymers. In this report, we show that the addition of the stable radical galvinoxyl to the conjugated polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) alters the thin film transistor response from semiconducting to conducting as well as modestly enhances the electrical conductivity. This interaction is not seen with other radical species. While an increase in charge carrier concentration is observed, the interaction does not seem to be otherwise consistent with a simple charge-transfer doping mechanism, due to the mismatched reduction and oxidation potentials of the two species. Additionally, no freeze-out of charge carriers is observed at lower temperatures. It is also not due to parallel conduction through the radical fraction of the bulk composite, as the radical species is non-conductive. Hole mobility is enhanced at lower concentrations of the radical, but it decreases at higher concentrations due to the reduced fraction of conductive material in the polymer bulk. Despite the increase in mobility at lower concentrations, the activation energy for charge transport is increased by the presence of the radical. This suggests that the radical is likely filling trap states within the P3HT for the composite thin film while not affecting their energetic distribution.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The temperature and irradiance dependent mathematical model for photovoltaic panel performances estimation is proposed in the paper. The base of the model is the mathematical function of the photovoltaic panel current–voltage curve. The model of the current–voltage curve is based on the sigmoid function with temperature and irradiance dependent parameters. The temperature and irradiance dependencies of the parameters are proposed in the form of analytic functions. The constant parameters are involved in the analytical functions. The constant parameters need to be estimated to get the temperature and irradiance dependent current–voltage curve. The mathematical model contains 12 constant parameters and they are estimated by using the evolutionary algorithm. The optimization problem is defined for this purpose. The optimization problem objective function is based on estimated and extracted (measured) current and voltage values. The current and voltage values are extracted from current–voltage curves given in datasheet of the photovoltaic panels. The new procedure for estimation of open circuit voltage value at any temperature and irradiance is proposed in the model. The performance of the proposed mathematical model is presented for three different photovoltaic panel technologies. The simulation results indicate that the proposed mathematical model is acceptable for estimation of temperature and irradiance dependent current–voltage curve and photovoltaic panel performances within temperature and irradiance ranges.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • A facade-built-in two-phase thermosyphon loop is introduced. • Effects of heat loads and filling ratios are experimentally investigated. • The optimal filling ratio (around 116%) is not a fixed value. • Reverse startup under specific test condition are observed and discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Unraveling the kinetic behavior inside the battery is essential to break through the limitations of mechanistic studies and to optimize the control of the integrated management system. Given this fact that the battery system is multi-domain coupled and highly nonlinear, an improved lumped parameter multi-physical domain coupling model is first developed to capture the electrical, thermal and aging characteristics of the battery in this paper. On this basis, an adaptive multi-timescale decoupled identification and estimation strategy is proposed based on the quantified timescale innovation, which realizes the online monitoring of the battery state and the accurate identification of the model parameters. The specific idea is that the decoupled identification of kinetic parameters inside the cell, the terminal voltage prediction and the real-time monitoring of the internal temperature with the online estimation of the available capacity are distinguished under different timescales. Meanwhile, the response time characteristic of the different kinetics is extracted and analyzed as a distinction between the coupled internal electrochemical processes. In this idea, four functionally different sub-observers are developed independently. Significantly, adaptive time-scale driven methods designed based on the fundamental timescale of the system, the amount of variation of the state of charge, and the amount of transfer charge are used separately for the observer implementation at different timescales. In addition, the coupling of the fast and slow kinetic parameter discriminators is achieved by diffusion voltage, and the internal temperature observer as well as the available capacity observer are coupled to each other based on the estimation results. Experimental results for two long-time operating conditions at 5, 25 and 45 °C show that the proposed strategy has fast convergence and reliable accuracy in monitoring the battery state characteristics. Compared with the traditional fixed timescale algorithm, the proposed multi-physics domain coupling modeling strategy based on independent timescale driven design is more competitive in practical embedded applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3)-based compounds have attracted considerable research attention in recent years owing to the intriguing features and widespread applicability of Bi2S3. This paper presents a detailed discussion on the characterization methods and material properties (such as structural and chemical characteristics, electronic band energy, etc.) of Bi2S3. Furthermore, simulation and experimental approaches to determine the fundamental chemical and physical properties of Bi2S3-based materials have been discussed. Herein, the physical (hot wall, thermal, sputtering, Bridgman method, and so on) and chemical routes (sol-gel processing, mechanochemical milling, successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction, microwave deposition, pyrolysis, chemical bath deposition, etc.) for synthesizing Bi2S3 and its composites are methodically presented along with their merits and demerits. In addition, the techniques associated with the application of Bi2S3-based compounds in various fields, including chemistry, optics, electronics, biomedical and materials sciences, and so on, are highlighted. Finally, future directions for utilizing Bi2S3 are proposed. The paper cumulatively covers the mechanisms, phenomena, and properties of Bi2S3 and its composites reported in the literature to date.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This article analyses the long-term performance of collective off-grid photovoltaic (PV) systems in rural areas. The use of collective PV systems for the electrification of small medium-size villages in developing countries has increased in the recent years. They are basically set up as stand-alone installations (diesel hybrid or pure PV) with no connection with other electrical grids. Their particular conditions (isolated) and usual installation places (far from commercial/industrial centers) require an autonomous and reliable technology. Different but related factors affect their performance and the energy supply; some of them are strictly technical but others depend on external issues like the solar energy resource and users’ energy and power consumption. The work presented is based on field operation of twelve collective PV installations supplying the electricity to off-grid villages located in the province of Jujuy, Argentina. Five of them have PV generators as unique power source while other seven include the support of diesel groups. Load demand evolution, energy productivity and fuel consumption are analyzed. Besides, energy generation strategies (PV/diesel) are also discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The development of new acceptor materials has played an important role in advancing the efficiency of organic photovoltaics (OPV). In this review we survey two types of acceptors, fullerene derivatives and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The former has been the most successful type of acceptor in OPV, while the latter is a new type of acceptor that has shown encouraging spectroscopic results but its implementation in efficient devices is work in progress. We present some of the essential properties of an OPV acceptor, and the main experimental methodology used to characterize the photoconductivity of an OPV active layer comprising a donor-acceptor blend. We then discuss different aspects of donor-acceptor blends, or bulk heterojunctions, with a polymer donor and a fullerene or SWCNT acceptor. We show the basic charge-generation and recombination properties of a prototypical polymer-fullerene system, and discuss the significance of the molecular structure of the fullerene in terms of the mixing of the two components and its effect on photocarrier dynamics. In the case of the fullerene acceptors we also compare to OPV device efficiency. We discuss the role of charge and energy transfer from the polymer in exciton quenching in polymer-SWCNT blends, and show that the former results in the generation of long-lived charge carriers, similar to observations in polymer-fullerene blends. We show that SWCNT enrichment, to yield samples with only a few percent of metallic SWCNTs results in an enhancement of the photoconductance and carrier lifetime in P3HT-SCWNT blends. We also discuss the role that SWCNT diameter plays on the driving force for carrier generation, and suggest that smaller SWCNTs may be critical for efficient OPV device performance. Finally, we discuss the implications of the results of the photoconductivity studies on OPV device performance, and outline future challenges and open questions pertaining to the optimization of acceptors in OPV.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Part of the electrical energy spent for lighting purposes can be recycled by photovoltaic power generation. We have suggested some methods to enhance power generation based on solar cells using indoor artificial lights. An emergency street light system working on stored photovoltaic energy from outdoor sodium vapor lamp illumination is proposed as an application.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Due to the specific properties of nanocrystalline materials in comparison with crystalline materials, it is essential to investigate their structural parameters like lattice parameters and grain sizes. We used the Rietveld method and refined electron powder data (recorded with selected area electron diffraction—SAED) on nanocrystalline (nc) TiO2-anatase prepared by sol–gel route. We correlated refined lattice parameters with average grain size obtained from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images. We give preliminary results on relative changes of lattice parameters a and c vs. the mean grain size in nc TiO2-anatase.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "First-principles calculations of the lattice parameter, electron density maps, density of states and elastic constants of Mg2Si are reported. The lattice parameter is found to differ by less than 0.8% from the experimental data. Calculations of density of states and electron density maps are also performed to describe the orbital mixing and the nature of chemical bonding. Our results indicate that the bonding interactions in the Mg2Si crystal are more covalent than ionic. The quasi-harmonic Debye model, by means of total energy versus volume calculations obtained with the plane-wave pseudopotential method, is applied to study the elastic, thermal and vibrational effects. The variations of bulk modulus, Grüneisen parameter, Debye temperature, heat capacity C v , C p and entropy with pressure P up to 7GPa in the temperature interval 0–1300K have been systemically investigated. Significant differences in properties are observed at high pressure and high temperature. When T<1300K, the calculated entropy and heat capacity agree reasonably with available experimental data. Therefore, the present results indicate that the combination of first-principles and quasi-harmonic Debye model is an efficient approach to simulate the behavior of Mg2Si.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, post-thermal annealing treatment is introduced to improve the photovoltaic performance of CdS/CdSe quantum dot (QD) co-sensitized TiO2 electrodes fabricated through successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. It has been found that post-thermal annealing could enhance the crystallinity of CdS and CdSe QDs obviously, increase the short-circuit current density (J sc) and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of QD sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) significantly. After annealing at 200 °C for 3 min, the J sc and PCE of QDSSCs increase from 11.71 ± 0.23 mA cm−2 and 2.57 ± 0.05% to 12.99 ± 0.31 mA cm−2 and 2.86 ± 0.06%, respectively. With the post-thermal annealing temperature further increasing to 300 °C, the J sc sharply increases to 15.75 ± 0.15 mA cm−2, but the PCE is almost unchanged, which has been attributed the sharply decrease of fill factor (FF). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurement has demonstrated that the sharply increased FF originates from the increase of the resistance at TiO2/electrolyte interface when the post-thermal annealing treatment is 300 °C.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report the structural and temperature dependent magnetic properties of Fe100−x Si x (0≤x≤40) alloy powders synthesized by a mechanical alloying process over a wide composition range. We have observed from X-ray diffraction (XRD) that non-equilibrium solid solution could be obtained up to 35at% Si within 100h of milling. As-milled powders have fine crystallites with size around 9nm and dislocation density in the order of 1017 m−2. The variations of saturation magnetization and lattice constant with Si substitution show a good correlation between the structural and magnetic properties. Thermomagnetic studies reveal the presence of different magnetic phases in the milled Fe–Si powders with high Si content, which depends on both composition and milling time. Curie temperature of Fe–Si solid solution decreases gradually at a rate of 1.45K/at% Si with increasing Si content. These results are in close agreement with the XRD data obtained for presently investigated nanocrystalline Fe–Si alloys.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • AC LED junction temperature is measured using three methods and analyzed. • Results from voltage drop and peak wavelength methods for AC LEDs agree. • The temperature at different phase angles within the first AC power cycle is measured. • Accuracy of the rms current method improves when the first half cycle heating is included.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, a novel battery thermal management system (BTMS) integrated with thermoelectric coolers (TECs) and phase change materials (PCMs) is developed to ensure the temperature working environment of batteries, where a fin framework is adopted to enhance the heat transfer. By establishing a transient thermal-electric-fluid multi-physics field numerical model, the thermal performance of the BTMS is thoroughly examined in two cases. The findings demonstrate that increasing the TEC input current, fin length, and thickness is beneficial for reducing the maximum temperature and PCM liquid fraction. Nevertheless, although the increase in fin length can lower the temperature difference, the influence of fin thickness and TEC input current on the temperature difference is tiny. Based on the numerical findings, the optimal fin length and thickness of 7 mm and 3 mm are obtained. In this situation, when the TEC input current is 3 A, the maximum temperature, temperature difference, and PCM liquid fraction in Case 1 are 315.10 K, 2.39 K, and 0.002, respectively, and those are respectively 318.24 K, 3.60 K, and 0.181 in Case 2. The configuration of Case 1 outperforms that of Case 2, due to the fewer TECs and greater distance from the battery pack to the TEC within Case 2. When experiencing a higher battery discharge rate, the TEC input current should also be correspondingly increased to ensure the temperature performance of the battery. The relative findings contribute to new insights into battery thermal management.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) provide new opportunities for developing a new generation of thin film Si solar cells with enhanced light trapping and increased overall performance. Here, we report on the fabrication of SiNW-based thin film solar cells directly on top of low cost TCO/glass substrates in an all-in-situ process. The SiNWs are obtained on ITO (or SnO2) substrates via vapor–liquid–solid growth mechanism, with the nano-scaled In (or Sn) catalyst droplets prepared by using H2 plasma superficial reduction of ITO (or SnO2) in a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition system (PECVD). We demonstrate that the morphology and compositional properties of the SiNWs, as well as the catalyst remnant in the SiNWs, can be effectively controlled by tuning the growth temperature and plasma conditions. The enhanced light trapping and absorption effects have been achieved by growing SiNWs directly on top of the TCO substrates, with the absorption edge downshifting steadily to ∼1.1eV, indicating that the crystalline core of the SiNWs also participates in the light absorption. According to a real time monitoring using an in-situ MM-16 ellipsometer, the enhanced light trapping/absorbing effects can be attributed to the growth of long, sharp and straight SiNW. Prototype SiNWs-based thin film solar cells are successfully demonstrated.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A theoretical model has been developed to describe the response of V-trough systems in terms of module temperature, power output and energy yield using as inputs the atmospheric conditions. The model was adjusted to DoubleSun® concentration technology, which integrates dual-axis tracker and conventional mono-crystalline Si modules. The good agreement between model predictions and the results obtained at WS Energia laboratory, Portugal, validated the model. It is shown that DoubleSun® technology increases up to 86% the yearly energy yield of conventional modules relative to a fixed flat-plate system. The model was also used to perform a sensitivity analysis, in order to highlight the relevance of the leading working parameters (such as irradiance) in system performance (energy yield and module temperature). Model results show that the operation module temperature is always below the maximum working temperature defined by the module manufacturers.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The solar thermoelectric generation（STEG）cogeneration system can provide heating and electric power simultaneously. Precedent studies on the STEG system were focused on getting higher electrical efficiency of the system and creating a new record. Optimization of thermal performance and evaluation of thermal efficiency are usually completed by calculation or numerical simulation. In this paper, a novel design of STEG cogeneration system was proposed. The system can work in three modes according to seasonal demand of hot water and electric power. A series of experiments were carried out in different working modes under variable conditions to evaluate the performance of the system. The results show that the system can generate 0.2 kW·h of electrical energy and about 100L of hot water at 41 °C in 1 day when solar irradiation is 1000 W/m2. The collector efficiency and electrical efficiency are calculated to be 42.2% and 2.1%, respectively.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The sluggish kinetics of the anodic oxygen evolution reaction significantly restricts the efficiency of silicon (Si)-based photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells. In this study, we employ microfabrication technology to batch-prepare reproducible Si substrates, and develop a facile electrodeposition technique to load high-quality nickel film onto the substrates. Innovatively, we introduce energetically favorable polyols (such as glycerol, propylene glycol, and ethylene glycol) into the electrolyte, resulting in a remarkably low onset potential and a high hole injection efficiency during the PEC oxidation process. Taking glycerol as an example, in-situ impendence spectra provide real-time evidence for the accelerated hole transfer and utilization at the photoanode/electrolyte interface in the presence of glycerol. Mechanistic studies further reveal that glycerol undergoes synergistic oxidation mediated by holes and catalysts. Finally, by intergrating a solar thermoelectric generator into a PEC polyol oxidation cell, the self-powered system demonstrates promising potential for producing valuable products solely by harnessing solar energy.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Controlling nanoscale thermal transport via phonon engineering is a promising path for novel thermal management in electronic devices and high performance thermoelectrics. Here we report that ultrafine nanofabrication allows us to change the lattice vibrational properties such that reduces the material thermal conductivity in an unusual manner. This is demonstrated in ultrafine silicon (Si) phononic crystals with two-dimensional arrays of through-holes. We reveal that thermal conductivity of Si can be reduced far below the theoretical limit predicted from a phonon particle model when the through-holes are arranged at sub-100 nm periods. Significant elastic softening is identified in these fine phononic crystals, which indicates change in the lattice vibrational properties. Interestingly, we find that the change in elasticity occurs locally and non-uniformly, suggesting that additional phonon scattering mechanism or a change in sound velocity needs to be considered in phononic crystals. The present result provides new thinking for understanding thermal transport of solids and opens a new avenue to tailor phonon transport in thermal-energy-related materials and devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar PV systems have evolved from small stand-alone applications through residential and commercial systems to MW-scale installations and groups of systems that feed significant energy into the utility grid. High PV penetration levels create a number of challenges for the management of the operation of the utility grid. This paper will cover the current and historic status of the integration of renewable energies into utility grids over a variety of global regions. This includes grid control and network planning. The technology for the integration of PV is described including the codes and standards governing the utility interactivity requirements. This will include short term dynamic responses as well as power ramp rates. Geographic, technological, and meteorological factors will be discussed. The coordination of meteorology and energy production is a key factor that is examined in detail including real world data. The paper includes a discussion of future utility grid features to support increasing levels of PV and other renewable generation sources.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The band alignment at the interface of the heterostructure β-In2S3/SnO2 has been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The measurements have been performed on samples obtained under the same experimental conditions as those used to achieve the β-In2S3/SnO2 ohmic contact. The semi-direct XPS technique used to measure the band offsets allows us to estimate the conduction band discontinuity, ΔE c, between β-In2S3 and SnO2 to −0.45eV. The band alignment of the β-In2S3/SnO2 heterostructure being known, we could estimate the Cu(In, Ga)Se2/β-In2S3 band alignment using the work function of SnO2 and the electron affinity of Cu(In, Ga)Se2 reported in the literature. The conduction band discontinuity at the interface Cu(In, Ga)Se2/β-In2S3 has been estimated about 0eV, which is an interesting result for photovoltaic applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The apparatus described in part I of this investigation was filled with various blends of ultra high purity nitrogen and a mixture of 95% nitrogen/5% methane, simulating Titan's atmosphere with up to 50% relative methane humidity, as well as an Earth atmosphere for comparison, with a source of γ rays suspended therein. Readings were taken from a plate immersed in the atmosphere at the top of the chamber connected to a conductivity probe, with the source at various distances from the plate. γ-induced conductivity was not found to be significant at a distance from the source equivalent to that on the surface of the hull segment on Dragonfly containing the radioisotope generator when γ ray energies and field geometry were corrected for, however ion buildup in the experiment chamber indicated the possibility of similar buildup within the hull segment itself. The effect of methane in the atmosphere was statistically indeterminate, reflecting earlier simulation results, however molecular ions were shown more likely to be the predominant carriers of charge than the free electrons measured in the simulation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) with a conductivity enhanced by doping with either dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) or ethylene glycol (EG) were successfully fabricated to increase the photon harvesting property through localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) by adding Au nanoparticles to PH500, a hole collection layer, and effectively separating the generated charges. At Au nanoparticle and DMSO doping concentrations of 20wt% and 1wt%, respectively, the characteristics of the OPVs were optimized with a short-circuit current density (J sc), open-circuit voltage (V oc), fill factor (FF) and estimated power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.0mA/cm2, 0.595V, 57.8% and 2.6%, respectively. Compared to the device with a buffer layer of conventional PEDOT:PSS, PCE was improved by ca. 85%. The series resistance (R s), shunt resistance (R sh), and hole mobility were 18Ωcm2, 673Ωcm2 and 4.2cm2/Vs, respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report that Ce3+ can be an efficient sensitizer for Yb3+ and a broadband absorber for blue solar spectra. The broadband excitation for near-infrared (NIR) emission is ranged from 350nm to 500nm. The allowed 4f→5d transition and the adjustable lowest 5d level make the energy transfer from Ce3+ to Yb3+ efficiently. Therefore the quantum efficiency (QE) is also very high up to 154.3%. Furthermore, the energy of Yb3+ 2F7/2→2F5/2 transition matches well with the band gap of a single-junction Si. Given the broad excitation band, high absorption coefficient and excellent mechanical, thermal, and chemical stability, this system can be used as down-conversion (DC) layer for solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Layered Zintl Ba2ZnX2 (X=As, Sb, and Bi) with intrinsically ultralow lattice thermal conductivity (κ) have attracted continuous attention because of their potential applications in thermoelectric devices. Understanding the low-κ mechanism is favorable for preserving the temperature gradient between the two ends of a material and achieving high thermoelectric performance. Herein, based on first-principles calculations, we systematically report the phonon-limited thermal conductivities of Ba2ZnX2. In the framework of the harmonic approximation, the absence of unstable vibrational modes indicates Ba2ZnAs2 and Ba2ZnSb2 are dynamically stable, while Ba2ZnBi2 is unstable with imaginary frequencies in the phonon dispersion. Remarkably, Ba2ZnSb2 exhibits low acoustic phonon group velocities (<4.5 km/s), large Grüneisen parameters, short phonon relaxation time (<5.5 ps), low-lying optical modes (∼1.5 THz), and strong optical-acoustic phonon couplings. These inherent phonon features can greatly hinder the heat transport ability and therefore give rise to an ultralow thermal conductivity of ∼ 0.11 W/mK at 300 K for Ba2ZnSb2. Furthermore, elastic properties calculated based on the density functional theory helped to gain insight into the origin of the low κ. Our study provides fundamental physical insights into the reason of low thermal conductivity of Ba2ZnX2, which is valuable toward the search for efficient thermoelectric materials based on layered Zintl phase compounds.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Thermo-mechanical instability of bimetal thermostats is modeled using a Ritz method. • Demonstration of the operation of the bimetallic strip heat engine is made. • Heat engine’s output mechanical energy is evaluated. • Heat engine’s Carnot efficiency is evaluated.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Subphthalocyanine and subnaphthalocyanine dyes and their mixture were investigated by means of the spectroscopic and photoelectric methods. Absorption, fluorescence, steady-state and time-resolved photothermal measurements for the dyes and their mixture were done in order to get information about the radiative and non-radiative deactivation processes as competetive processes to charge separation. It was shown that energy transfer between the dyes improved the photocurrent generation in photoelectrochemical cells (PEC) based on In2O3 and SnO2 as an electrode. The possible participation of the dye triplet states in non-radiative processes was discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The efficiency of the photovoltaic (PV) module is drastically decreased when integrated with building material. This efficiency decrease is mainly caused due to the temperature rise of the PV module. The temperature rise is responsible for the overall decrease in voltage and power production. Only a small fraction of the solar radiation that falls on the PV module is utilized for electricity production and the rest generates excess heat responsible for the temperature rise of the PV module. The integration of the PV panel on the roof also prevents air circulation results in the accumulation of heat. There are several techniques to manage the temperature rise viz. air cooling, water cooling, thermoelectric cooling, and phase change materials (PCMs). This paper discusses the various cooling technologies that can regulate PV temperature and augment power production. The result showed that passive cooling that relies on convection is the easiest and simplest approach and does not consume additional power. Active water cooling is effective to a greater extent but there is always a requirement of cold water which may offset the benefit of cooling. The temperature up to 18 °C can be reduced and efficiency between 1 and 18% can be enhanced by PV/thermoelectric module (TEM). The PV temperature can be lowered by about 35.6 °C by using a PCM system with the PV panel. The addition of nanoparticles has a positive influence on lowering the temperature of the PV module. The temperature can be lowered up to 16 °C by using nanoparticles in the water system with PCM. The electrical efficiency can be improved by 8–10%. The integration of PV/T with PCM can increase the heat availability time by 100%. The addition of such kind of heat extraction system increases the electrical power production and better thermal efficiency is also observed. The combined efficiency of 70–80% has been achieved in many cases. For the PV/ T system, the economic payback is obtained between 20 and 25 years and the energy payback is between 15 and 20 years.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The low concentrating photovoltaic system can be a promising choice for building integration by eliminating tracking and active cooling. This paper reports the performance analysis of a low concentrating dielectric compound parabolic concentrator designed for building façades integration in northern latitudes (>55°). The range of the acceptance angles for the designed dielectric concentrator is 0–55°, having a concentration ratio (CR) of 2.8. The concentrator is manufactured in clear polyurethane using a casting process. The average AM1.5G spectrum weighted transmittance, within spectral range 300–1100nm, of the 16.4mm thick polyurethane concentrator is found to be 81.9%. The performance of the designed concentrator is analysed using small prototype modules with 8 solar cells in series (1.89Wp), under a solar simulator for different incidence angles. The optical losses that occur within the concentrator-encapsulation interface and cover glass have been reduced for better performance. The indoor characterisation of the concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) module results in a maximum power ratio of 2.27 when compared to a similar non-concentrating counterpart, for 1000W/m2 light energy incident at 20°. The maximum experimental optical efficiency of the CPV system is found to be 80.5%; this result gives the electrical conversion efficiency of the CPV module to be an average of 9.43% with a maximum 12.1% within the range of acceptance angle of the designed concentrator. It is observed that that the power ratio decreases near the acceptance half-angles of the designed concentrator due to the optical losses caused by scattering and escaping of light from the edge of the receiver. Investigation of the optical losses from the parabolic sides of the concentrator shows that, the imperfect parabolic surface caused by machining error results in scattering with a fraction of light escaping from the parabolic side instead of reflecting back to the receiver for all angles of incidence. Cost analysis shows that the designed CPV modules can result in a 20% reduction in the cost per unit power output of the system in the current market scenario.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Tandem PV-TE hybrid system is an effective full solar-spectrum utilization method. Nanostructured front surface can make the system absorb more solar light, thereby generating more carriers and more heat. The heat will decrease photovoltaic efficiency but increase thermoelectric efficiency. Therefore, it’s necessary to clarify the combined effect of nanostructure’s full-spectrum characteristics on PV-TE hybrid system. In this study, a multi-physics coupling model of a GaAs solar cell based PV-TE hybrid system with a nanostructured front surface was built and validated. The numerical results show that the system output power of nanostructure with a 1.8% average reflectance in 0.28 ~ 0.875 μm is 374.3 W·m−2 greater than that with a 8.7% average reflectance and the system output power of nanostructure with a 2.6% average reflectance in 0.875 ~ 2.5 μm is 79.1 W·m−2 greater than that with a 8.1% average reflectance under 100 concentration ratio. It means that both the reductions of reflectance in 0.28 ~ 0.875 μm and in 0.875 ~ 2.5 μm can effectively improve the system output power. Therefore, nanostructure with low reflectance in full spectrum (not only in short wavelengths) is advised for a GaAs solar cell based PV-TE hybrid system.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The structural, mechanical, thermodynamic, electrical, optical, and thermoelectric properties of Cs1-xAxPbI3 (A = K, Rb) perovskites within GGA approximations have been studied. The calculations are performed using the QUANTUM-ESPRESSO computational package based on the density functional theory (DFT) and the pseudo-potential method. The calculated elasticity parameters illustrated that Cs1-xAxPbI3 (A = K, Rb) perovskites have mechanical stability conditions at ambient pressure. The calculation of the elastic modulus shows that KPbI3 and Cs0.75 K0·25PbI3 with Young's modulus equal to 16.11 GPa and 17.00 GPa have the lowest and highest hardness respectively. The estimated B G H ratio values were greater than 1.75 for all perovskites, reflecting the flexibility of the compounds. Calculation of band structure confirmed the semiconductor behavior with a direct band gap in the range of 1.38 eV–1.51 eV. Our investigation of charge carrier mobility revealed that electrons have greater carrier mobility than holes in all Cs1-xAxPbI3 (A = K, Rb) perovskites. The optical absorption peaks of Cs1-xAxPbI3 (A = K, Rb) perovskites are located in the visible area, indicating their effective use in optical and optoelectronic devices. Calculations of the Seebeck coefficient revealed the n-type semiconductor nature of all perovskites. Thermoelectric parameters, including the Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity divided by the relaxation time, and thermal conductivity divided by the relaxation time, all increase as temperature increases. The thermoelectric properties of Cs1-xAxPbI3 (A = K, Rb) perovskite were improved by increasing the concentration of potassium and rubidium. The maximum electronic figure of merit of all Cs1-xAxPbI3 (A = K, Rb) perovskites at room temperature was 0.99, which makes them good candidates for application in thermoelectric devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Non-destructive spatial characterisation tools are essential for the evaluation of thin film photovoltaic modules; as such distributed variations have a significant effect on the overall device performance. A combination of several techniques (solar simulator, LBIC and thermography) is used in conjunction to identify and investigate performance problems and locate possible defects in thin film silicon photovoltaic modules of different structures. An excellent agreement between the different spatial analysis tools is demonstrated. The LBIC system used here is unusual in that it analyses modules where the cells are interconnected and the signal strength does not give as clear a feedback on the defects as in the case of measuring each cell separately. The choice of lasers used in the system allows the investigation of separate junctions in the most common multi-junction devices. The system characterisation is demonstrated here in order to warranty reliability and repeatability of this tool. A special test module is investigated where all techniques are compared and good agreement is demonstrated. Furthermore, the problem of reducing signal strength with increasing junction number is demonstrated and discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The effect of uniaxial strain on structural and electronic properties of α-Ag2S are investigated by using first-principles calculations. It is found that Ag–S bonds in α-Ag2S are anisotropic in the absence of strain, e.g., longer AgI–S bonds and shorter AgII–S bonds. However, the uniaxial strain causes AgI–S bonds to change from isotropy to anisotropy due to weak AgI–S bond strength, which would affect the electronic properties of α-Ag2S. Interestingly, a semiconductor-to-metal transition is found when the compressive strain is close to 20% along a or c axis. The overlap between orbitals of AgI, AgII and S atoms makes bonding states (valence band) and anti-bonding states (conduction band) close to each other and even produces band crossings, causing a transition from semiconductor to metal under compressive strain. These findings imply that strain is a good strategy for tuning electronic properties of α-Ag2S.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Benefits attributed to wound scabs include prevention of blood loss and protection against infection. However, when formation of a wound scab is prevented, the risk of infection is reduced. Moreover, in the absence of a wound scab, wounds heal faster and scar formation is reduced. The question arises why we develop a wound scab. Here we show that wound scabs inhibit transmission of ultraviolet radiation (UVR). We compared the UVR transmittance of human wound scabs to sunscreen by measuring the sun protection factor (SPF) with diffuse transmittance spectroscopy. Three wound scabs showed SPFs of 70, 84, and 300, which is more effective than the most protective commercially available sun block. Because our results demonstrate that a wound scab offers natural protection against UVR, and because no beneficial trait is attributed to wound scabs, we hypothesize that the main function of wound scabs is to limit DNA damage in underlying cells during regeneration of wound tissue exposed to sunlight, thereby reducing the risk of developing skin cancer.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Electric grids with high wind penetration levels have operational problems. ► Hydrogen production and storage can mitigate impact on grids of wind farms. ► The study describes an optimisation method for analysing wind–hydrogen systems. ► Optimal size of the hydrogen plant gives the minimum hydrogen production cost. ► The minimum hydrogen production cost does not give the maximum peak shaving effect.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We investigated the in-plane anisotropy on the resistivity and thermopower of the Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ (Bi-2212) and Bi–Sr–Co–O (BiCo) single crystals. In Bi-2212, the b-axis resistivity is higher than the a-axis resistivity, and is expressed as a sum of the a-axis resistivity and an additional residual resistivity. A downward deviation due to pseudogap is observed below a characteristic temperature T∗ which is isotropic in the form of conductivity. These results suggest that the modulation structure along the b-axis works as an anisotropic scattering center, but does not affect the pseudogap formation. On the other hand, the anisotropy of the resistivity and the thermopower in Pb-doped BiCo is substantial, probably owing to the misfit structure between the hexagonal CoO2 layer and the rock-salt Bi2O2 layer. However, the anisotropy in the resistivity in Pb-free BiCo is very small, suggesting that the inplane anisotropy is averaged by the modulation structure, whose direction is tilted by 45° from the a- and b-axis.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "With the rapid advancement of the Internet of Things, a wide range of information interaction platforms have been developed to enhance the quality of life and work. Nevertheless, rigid batteries greatly limit its development, which requires frequent replacement or recharge. Thermoelectric generators (TEG) have emerged as an attractive form for energy suppliers owing to their ability to convert low-grade energy heat into sustainable electricity. Herein, we have implemented a flexible TEG-based multifunctional information interaction system, which utilizes body heat to enable information interaction through finger touch. To increase the efficiency of energy conversion, the flexible TEG achieves high performance by optimizing the filling factor and material thermal conductivity, leading to a normalized power density of 1.43 μW/cm2 K2. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, the system has been applied to food spoilage monitoring with an MXene-based sensor to achieve stable and sensitive ammonia detection. The TEG-based information interaction system provides an attractive solution for intelligent packaging and will act as an exciting platform for human body energy harvesting and human–machine interaction for point of care testing.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The superlattice monolayers composed of periodically assembled graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) superlattices by strong covalent bonds have aroused great interest in academia and industry due to their adjustable physical properties, which are expected to play an important role in the modulation of material properties, especially in thermal transport properties. In general, thermal transport properties highly rely on the characteristic of nanostructures. Thus, understanding the impact of structural characteristics on physical properties is essential for the design of high-performance materials. In this study, we report our results from three different methods including non-equilibrium molecular dynamics, homogeneous non-equilibrium molecular dynamics, and spectral heat current decomposition to explore the phonon thermal transport properties in different graphene/h-BN superlattice monolayers, which are constructed by periodically stitched and equal-sized graphene and h-BN superlattices. We find that the thermal conductivities decrease first and then increase with the increase of periodic length, corresponding to a transition from coherent transport to incoherent transport, and a minimum thermal conductivity at a certain period is identified. These results provide a theoretical validation of a possible control on thermal properties at the nanoscale, which may have potential applications in thermoelectric devices once upon experimental validation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Low band-gap polythiophene (PT) derivatives, with bulky conjugated side-chains composed of the triphenylamine, thiophene, and vinylene groups (TPATh), are synthesized. The copolymers, synthesized by Grignard metathesis and Stille coupling with different copolymer configurations and side-chain densities, are regioregular-TPATh-PT (rr-TPATh-PT) and random-TPATh-PT (r-TPATh-PT), respectively. The incorporation of bulky conjugated moiety curtails the effective conjugation length in the main chain; thus, low HOMO levels are obtained for the copolymers. Moreover, r-TPATh-PT with less bulky side-chain content exhibits a better conjugation along the polymer backbone than rr-TPATh-PT. Higher absorption intensity in the vision region is observed for r-TPATh-PT in comparison with rr-TPATh-PT. In addition, polymer solar cells (PSCs) are fabricated based on an interpenetrating network of PT derivatives as the electron donor and the fullerene derivatives (PC61BM and PC71BM) as the electron acceptors. Better compatibility is observed for the r-TPATh-PT/PC61BM-blend film as compared to the rr-TPATh-PT/PC61BM-blend film. Higher photovoltaic (PV) performances of the r-TPATh-PT/PC61BM-based PSCs are observed in comparison with the rr-TPATh-PT/PC61BM-based PSCs. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the PSC based on the blend of r-TPATh-PT and PC61BM (w/w = 1:1) reaches 0.94% under an illumination of AM 1.5G, 100 mW cm−2, which is almost twice that of the cell based on rr-TPATh-PT. Further improvement of PV performance is achieved for the PSC fabricated from the blend of r-TPATh-PT and fullerene derivative PC71BM (w/w = 1:3), with a short-circuit current of 6.83 mA cm−2, an open-circuit voltage of 0.71 V and a PCE of 1.75%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper proposes that spatial dynamics of new environmental technologies can be better understood when positioned in a multi-scalar theoretical framework based on innovation system approaches. We combine territorial innovation system concepts with a technological innovation systems (TIS) perspective. The investigation of photovoltaic (PV) technology in Germany indicates that the relevance of different scales and actor constellations shifts in the course of a ‘maturing’ innovation system. First, the convergence of regional and institutional subsystems forms a temporary window of opportunity for a robust TIS formation within a national framing. Second, consolidation according to basic patterns of the underlying national innovation system takes place. This is illustrated by the robust performance of German mechanical PV equipment suppliers within a globalized PV value chain. The empirical findings allow for drafting a theoretical framework that offers a generalized view on this shifting spatial context pattern of an emerging environmental technology.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) with backbones containing extended networks of π-conjugation has been widely regarded as one of the excellent organic semiconductor materials in optoelectronic devices. Conductive PEDOT versus other conducting polymers integrated the brightest advantages, such as good environmental/air stability, high electrical conductivity, and its commercialized end product, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). In organic thermoelectric polymers, PEDOT has naturally become the preferred object of the majority of researchers. In the past few decades, numerous efforts have been devoted into the studies of thermoelectric performance of PEDOT, including material preparation and technology, methods for improving performance, optimization of molecular structure, and structure-property relationship as well as theoretical calculation. This results in the development of the dimensionless figure-of-merit (ZT) from less than 10−3 to 10−1 at room temperature. It is inevitable that the thermoelectric performance of PEDOT is still far from the application of actual conversion between heat and electricity. Nevertheless, thermoelectric PEDOT is very popular in micro and wearable electronic devices due to its good flexibility in the application of medium and low temperature. In the future, it is greatly desired for PEDOT that the thermoelectric ZT could break through 10–1 with more attention and efforts in the future.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► P3HT:PCBM active layer is stratified in real devices. ► A PCBM-rich layer is formed on top of the PEDOT:PSS and the TiOx transport layer. ► A P3HT-rich layer is formed at the free surface of the active layer.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Net positive suction head (NPSH) is what the pump needs, the minimum requirement to perform its duties. Normally, the pump manufacturers publish the NPHSr (required) values on their pump curves, and they are calculated using the formula: NPSHr = ATM + Pgs + Hv – Hvp, where ATM is atmospheric pressure, Pgs is the suction pressure gauge reading taken at the pump centerline and converted into feet of head, Hv is the velocity head, and Hvp is the vapor pressure of the fluid expressed in feet of head. The chapter also discusses the NPHSa (available), and this is calculated using the formula: NPSHa = Ha + Hs – Hvp – Hf – Hi, where Ha is the atmospheric head (14.7 psi x 2.31) = 33.9 ft at the sea level, Hs is the static head in feet (positive or negative) of the fluid level in the suction vessel to the pump centerline, Hvp is the vapor head of the fluid expressed in feet, Hf is the friction head or friction losses expressed in feet in the suction piping and connections, Hi is the inlet head, or the losses expressed in feet that occur in the suction throat of the pump up to and including the eye of the impeller.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A simple wiper coating method was introduced to coat large area of PEDOT:PSS film for the polymer solar cell module. A thin and smooth film of PEDOT:PSS was prepared by the method. The efficiency of 4.46% was obtained from the single cell having wiper-coated PEDOT:PSS layer. The efficiency is comparable to the polymer single cell prepared by spin coating method. The atomic force microscopy result confirms that the surface of the film prepared by the coating method is smooth uniform. The large area module was prepared by the method and the VOC of 5.30 V, ISC of 19.88 mA and FF of 53.29% was obtained from the polymer solar cell module. The resulted power conversion efficiency was 1.21% with on aperture size 46.2 cm2.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Cu- and Ag-based superionic conductors are promising thermoelectric materials due to their good electrical properties and intrinsically low thermal conductivity. However, the poor electrical and thermal stability restrict their application. In this work, n-type pure phase Ag2Te compound is synthesized by simply grinding elemental powders at room temperature and compacted by spark plasma sintering. It is found that, because of the migration of Ag+ after the phase transition around 425 K, submicron pores are formed inside the samples during the electrical performance measurement, resulting in poor electrical stability and repeatability of Ag2Te samples. However, Pb-doped Ag2- x Pb x Te (x = 0–0.05) specimens exhibit improved electrical stability by the precipitation of the secondary phase PbTe in the Ag2Te matrix, which is confirmed via cyclic electrical property measurement and microstructure characterization. A maximum zT = 0.72 is obtained at 570 K for x = 0.03 mainly due to the increased power factor.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The performance improvement of solar cells due to the formation of a porous silicon layer treated with rare earth (Ce, La) in the n+ emitter of silicon n+/p junctions has been investigated. The photovoltaic properties of the cells with and without treatment of the porous silicon layer are compared. From the reflection measurements, it was shown that the cells with treated PS layers have lower reflectivity value compared to cell with untreated PS layer. The main result is that the photovoltaic energy conversion efficiency of solar cells can be enhanced by using the treated porous silicon layers with the rare earth (Ce, La) as anti-reflection coatings.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The effects of changes in plasma membrane (PM) sterol lateral organization and availability on the control of signaling pathways have been reported in various animal systems, but rarely assessed in plant cells. In the present study, the pentaene macrolide antibiotic filipin III, commonly used in animal systems as a sterol sequestrating agent, was applied to tobacco cells. We show that filipin can be used at a non-lethal concentration that still allows an homogeneous labeling of the plasma membrane and the formation of filipin-sterol complexes at the ultrastructural level. This filipin concentration triggers a rapid and transient NADPH oxidase-dependent production of reactive oxygen species, together with an increase in both medium alkalinization and conductivity. Pharmacological inhibition studies suggest that these signaling events may be regulated by phosphorylations and free calcium. By conducting FRAP experiments using the di-4-ANEPPDHQ probe and spectrofluorimetry using the Laurdan probe, we provide evidence for a filipin-induced increase in PM viscosity that is also regulated by phosphorylations. We conclude that filipin triggers ligand-independent signaling responses in plant cells. The present findings strongly suggest that changes in PM sterol availability could act as a sensor of the modifications of cell environment in plants leading to adaptive cell responses through regulated signaling processes.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "An operating strategy based on partial-state-of-charge (PSoC) operation has been developed for a remote-area power-supply (RAPS) system in Peru. The facility will power an entire village and comprises a photovoltaic array, a bank of gel valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries, a diesel generator, and a sophisticated control system. The PSoC schedule involves operation below a full state-of-charge (SoC) for 28 days, followed by an equalization charge. The schedule has been evaluated by operating a 24V battery bank under simulated RAPS conditions in the laboratory. It is found that operation between 58 and 83% SoC causes the negative-plate potentials to move to significantly more negative values during charging as the PSoC duty progresses. This behaviour is undesirable, because it can lead to the activation of a preset limit and a subsequent reduction in system efficiency. Lowering the PSoC window to 47–72% SoC or 40–65% SoC during the 28-day cycle is found to stabilize the negative-plate potentials. The behaviour of the negative plates in gel batteries is very similar to that observed for absorptive glass mat (AGM) designs of VRLA batteries operated in hybrid electric vehicles.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► The methyl orange film shows thermal stability. ► The films behave as p-type semiconductor. ► The absorption mechanism is due indirect allowed transition. ► The thickness dependence on the dark and illuminated J-V characteristics was considered.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Despite wide structural and functional differences, the laws that govern quantum solar energy conversion to chemical energy or electricity share many similarities. In the photosynthetic membrane, in common with semiconductor solar cells, the conversion process proceeds from the creation of electron–hole pairs by a photon of light, followed by charge separation to produce the required high-energy product. In many cases, however, mechanisms are needed to enhance the optical absorption cross-section and extend the spectral range of operation. A common way of achieving this is by light harvesting: light absorption by a specialised unit which transfers the energy to the conversion apparatus. This paper considers two examples of light harvesting — semiconductor solar cells and the photosynthetic apparatus — to illustrate the basic operation and principles that apply. The existence of a light harvesting unit in photosynthesis has been known since the early 1930's but details of the process — relating, in particular, to the relationship between the structure and spectral properties — are still being unravelled. The excitation energy carriers are excitons but the precise nature of the transport — via the solid state Frenkel–Peierls variety or by Förster's resonant energy transfer — is still subject to debate. In semiconductor solar cells, the energy of the absorbed photon is collected by minority carriers but the broad principles remain the same. In both cases it is shown that the rate of energy conversion is described by a law which parallels the Shockley's solar cell equation, and the light harvesting energy collection is subject to reciprocity relations which resemble Onsager's reciprocity relations between coefficients which couple appropriate forces and flows in non-equilibrium thermodynamics. Differences in the basic atomic make-up in the two systems lead to different energy transport equations. In both cases, however, similar mathematical techniques based on Green's functions can be used to advantage. The Green's function provides a convenient vehicle for the determination of the probability of energy collection — known as the trapping probability in the photosynthetic unit. Using the reciprocity relation, both quantities are shown to be closely related to the distribution of the energy carriers in the dark. The collection probability can then be discussed in detail, by solving the semiconductor device equations in the case of solar cell, and by linking the Green's function formalism to the random walk model in the case of the photosynthetic unit. The concept of resonant energy transfer is beginning to enter the arena of solid-state optoelectronics. It is an aim of this paper to show that similar phenomena — which exist in the domain of bioenergetics — can throw new light on a range of energy transfer and collection processes that are of considerable importance in many modern optoelectronic devices.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Electrodeposited cuprous oxide thin films on indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) substrates were sulphided by exposing them to a spray of aqueous solution of sodium sulphide or to a mixture of hydrogen sulphide and nitrogen gases. Both methods produced light darker and darker films having different photovoltaic characteristics in a solar cell structure. The photovoltages produced by the light darker films under AM 1.5 illumination was negative as compared to the positive photovoltages produced by the darker films. Spectral response measurements revealed that most of the light darker films produced positive photovoltages in the shorter wavelengths and negative photovoltages in the longer wavelengths. However, some of the light darker films produced only the negative photovoltage for the entire spectral range and their photovoltaic properties were comparatively better. Darker films resulted in only the positive photovoltages in the entire spectral range. As a result of the sulphidation, the bulk crystal structure of the cuprous oxide thin films was not changed, however, the interfacial characteristics of the solar cell structure were modified.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Research highlights ▶ Hydrothermal synthesis of TiO2 nanotubes. ▶ Fabrication of DSSC using TiO2 nanotubes. ▶ Optimization of TiO2 thickness. ▶ Electron lifetime study by EIS analysis.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Removing the surplus material and attaining desired shape, size as well as to create intricate feature is the sole aim of today’s micro manufacturing technologies. Hence, micromachining technologies utilizes various material removal mechanisms to fabricate micro features as well as formed surfaces in micron/sub micron dimensions. In the recent past, the utilization of different micromachining techniques has become popular to fulfill the various needs of micro manufacturing. It includes different micromachining methods which utilize energies, e.g., mechanical, thermal, chemical and electrochemical micromachining. Detail discussion on micro-USM, micro-EDM, micro-LBM, micro-ECM have been highlighted. It contains basic material removal mechanism, setup details, comparison, influence of process parameters, advantages and challenges as well as applications. It also covers different hybrid micromachining processes which combine two or more micromachining processes for achieving advantages of individual processes simultaneously. Latest development in the field of micromachining has also been included considering various sequential micromachining (SMM) processes which is basically a machining strategy where, two or more micromachining techniques are implemented in a sequence on the same machine tools and tries to encompass more and more micromachining processes on a single workstation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In engineering, remote laboratories present a triple role: they provide to the students the necessary contact with real devices, introduce them in the use of new technologies and make possible that the students conduct lab classes when and where they want. In this paper we present a remote lab devoted to photovoltaic power. The experimental system consists of two photovoltaic panels connected to a variable load and illuminated by a variable luminary. It allows the students to obtain different characteristic curves. The user interface has been integrated in Moodle. The system access management is carried out by software developed by authors. A didactic valuation process has been carried out to establish the acceptation of the educational experience by the students and to identify underlying factors. The hardware and software developed for this remote lab are not specific, but reusable for other remote lab experiences besides the one presented here.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Development of a reliable 3D-CFD model applicable to gasoline DI-SI engines • Calculated results validated with measurements developed specially for this study • Detailed vaporization process of wall film consisting of a gasoline surrogate fuel",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "WO3 porous nanosheet arrays have been prepared by a facile chemical bath deposition. The as-prepared nanosheet arrays are found to be precursors of tungstite and hydrotungstite. The nanosheets become porous upon annealing of the precursors due to the removal of crystalline water. Constructed from porous nanosheets with ultra-thin thickness of 20 nm, WO3 arrays exhibit enhanced low temperature NO2 gas sensing performance. A high response of 460 toward 10 ppm NO2 is achieved at a working temperature of 100 °C. The superior sensing performance of the WO3 porous nanosheet arrays compared to the thick WO3 layer is ascribed to the high degree of participation in surface reaction with the gas for the nanosheet arrays. The temperature-dependant gas response to NO2 is interpreted by the competitive adsorption of oxygen and NO2 at low temperature and their desorption at high temperature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A cycle testing procedure is proposed which carries out charge and discharge in a partial state of charge (PSOC) with some testing levels such as an averaged state of charge, temperature, etc. The PSOC cycle test with this procedure was carried out for a commercial lithium-ion cell for about 20,000cycles, and the testing procedure and test results are discussed. The features of the degradation due to PSOC cycle test in the tested lithium-ion cell were clarified as follows. The degradation during the PSOC cycle test was greater at higher environmental temperature. The degradation was greatest at a high average SOC, and smallest at SOC=50%. The degradation increased again at a low average SOC. In the test results for 2 years with 20,000 PSOC cycles, which converted to 2200cycles of full-capacity charge and discharge, capacity degradation was 32% even at the greatest degradation at 318K and 8% or less at 278K. The proposed testing procedure is useful for evaluating a cell used on partial charge and discharge cycles.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Universal mechanical energy has attracted considerable interest as a novel, sustainable source of energy and has been effectively collected from several nanogenerators in the ecosystem on a small scale. However, the efficacy and applicability of nanogenerators are highly reliant on the materials used in their fabrication. The integration of nanogenerators with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) results in nanogenerators that facilitate the quick creation of selfpowered sensors and wearable electronics systems. MOFs offer nanogenerators with exceptional physical, electrical, chemical, and optical characteristics with increased output performance. This introductory chapter emphasized the state-of-the-art MOF-based nanogenerators with regard to fundamental classifications, strategies for improving energy efficiency and energy collecting, specific benefits, output efficiencies, and applications. Moreover, some issues might hinder the usage of MOF-based nanogenerators; therefore, several challenges and potential research directions in this emerging field are also addressed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "As non-polluting reliable energy sources, stand-alone photovoltaic/wind/fuel cell (PV/wind/FC) hybrid systems are being studied from various aspects in recent years. In such systems, optimum sizing is the main issue for having a cost-effective system. This paper evaluates the performance of different artificial intelligence (AI) techniques for optimum sizing of a PV/wind/FC hybrid system to continuously satisfy the load demand with the minimal total annual cost. For this aim, the sizing problem is formulated and four well-known heuristic algorithms, namely, particle swarm optimization (PSO), tabu search (TS), simulated annealing (SA), and harmony search (HS), are applied to the system and the results are compared in terms of the total annual cost. It can be seen that not only average results produced by PSO are more promising than those of the other algorithms but also PSO has the most robustness. As another investigation, the sizing is also performed for a PV/wind/battery hybrid system and the results are compared with those of the PV/wind/FC system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, the adsorption of bisphenol A (BPA) and 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2) from landfill leachate onto single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) was investigated. Different leachate solutions were prepared by altering the pH, ionic strength, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the solutions to mimic the varying water conditions that occur in leachate during the various stages of waste decomposition. The youngest and oldest leachate solutions contained varying DOC and background chemistry and were represented by leachate Type A (pH = 5.0; DOC = 2500 mg/L; conductivity = 12,500 μS/cm; [Ca2+] = 1200 mg/L; [Mg2+] = 470 mg/L) and Type E (pH = 7.5; DOC = 250 mg/L; conductivity = 3250 μS/cm; [Ca2+] = 60 mg/L; [Mg2+] = 180 mg/L). These solutions were subsequently combined in different ratios to produce intermediate solutions, labeled B–D, to replicate time-dependent changes in leachate composition. Overall, a larger fraction of EE2 was removed as compared to BPA, consistent with its higher log KOW value. The total removal of BPA and EE2 decreased in older leachate solutions, with the adsorptive capacity of SWCNTs decreasing in the order of leachate Type A > Type B > Type C > Type D > Type E. An increase in the pH from 3.5 to 11 decreased the adsorption of BPA by 22% in young leachate and by 10% in old leachate. The changes in pH did not affect the adsorption of EE2 in the young leachate, but did reduce adsorption by 32% in the old leachate. Adjusting the ionic strength using Na+ did not significantly impact adsorption, while increasing the concentration of Ca2+ resulted in a 12% increase in the adsorption of BPA and a 19% increase in the adsorption of EE2. DOC was revealed to be the most influential parameter in this study. In the presence of hydrophilic DOC, represented by glucose in this study, adsorption of the endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) onto the SWCNTs was not affected. In the absence of SWCNTs, hydrophobic DOC (i.e., humic acid) adsorbed 15–20% of BPA and EE2. However, when the humic acid and SWCNTs were both present, the overall adsorptive capacity of the SWCNTs was reduced. Hydrophobic (π-π electron donor-acceptor) interactions between the EDCs and the constituents in the leachate, as well as interactions between the SWCNTs and the EDCs, are proposed as potential adsorption mechanisms for BPA and EE2 onto SWCNTs.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Bismuth is semimetal with unique properties such as magnetoresistance and thermoelectric behaviors due to high electron mobility, low carrier density and highly anisotropic Fermi surface. In addition, bismuth NPs undergoes a semimetal to semiconductor transition due to size induced quantum confinement effect. Therefore, bismuth NPs are potentially useful for optical and electro optical devices. In addition, bismuth NPs are interesting as green lubricant and thermoelectric materials. Recently, laser ablation is extensively employed to synthesis of metal NPs by laser target interaction in liquid environment. The aim of this work is the synthesis of stable bismuth colloidal NPs by Q-switched laser ablation in acetone. A Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with the fundamental wavelength at 1064nm,energy of 118mJ/pulse and 12ns pulse duration was employed for bismuth target ablation. The laser was operated for 5min at repetition rate of 10Hz. Colloidal stability, particle size, crystal structure and optical properties of the NPs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-visible spectroscopy respectively. The bismuth NPs were rather spherical and with the particle size of 27±9nm. The XRD pattern of NPs was consistent with a bismuth rhombohedral crystal structure. Colloidal bismuth NPs in acetone is in light brown color. UV-Visible spectra were measured in 6 months shows perfect stability of colloidal samples without any precipitation. Optical extinction without plasmon resonance pick in visible wavelengths is the optical characteristic of bismuth NPs and reveal perfect dispersion of NPs without agglomeration or coupling of NPs in liquid. According to the FT-IR result as the stability of NPs is related to the large dipole moment of acetone molecule and acetone enolate formation on the surface of bismuth NPs.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Recent investigations on Bi doped Mg2Si have shown huge differences of the optimum doping level with respect to maximization of thermoelectric performance. A possible discrepancy among the published results can have origin in different homogeneity of the samples examined in different studies, but it is impossible to judge because of lack of the microstructural studies. Therefore, the aim of the study was to develop a method for obtaining a homogeneous Mg2Si doped with Bi samples and determine the influence of dopant on their thermoelectric properties as well as the solubility limit. The results of theoretical studies of the electronic structure employing FP-LAPW (Full Potential Linearized Augmented Plane Wave) method calculations within density functional theory DFT using the WIEN2k package in Bi-doped Mg2Si are presented. A series of samples with nominal composition Mg2Si1−xBix (x=0–0.06) were prepared using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method and subsequent annealing. Structural, phase and chemical composition analyses were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning thermoelectric microprobe (STM). The solubility limit was found to be higher than in the previous reports. Carrier concentration was measured using the Hall method. The investigations of the influence of Bi dopant on the transport properties i.e.: electrical conductivity, the Seebeck coefficient and the thermal conductivity were carried out in the temperature range from 300 to 720K. On the basis of the experimental data, the temperature dependencies of the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT were calculated. Detailed analysis of all obtained results was carried out providing additional insight into the role of the homogeneity of studied materials on their thermoelectric properties.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The defrosting behavior of an air source heat pump includes melting, drainage and evaporation, which shows different characteristics on fins with different surface characteristics. This paper presents an investigation of the effects of surface characteristics on the defrosting behavior of a fin. A frosting/defrosting experimental system was constructed to implement visual research of the defrosting process on fins with different surface characteristics. The characteristics of frost melting and molten water retention were analyzed and compared. The effects of the surface characteristics on the melting time and melting process were significant. There were obvious differences in molten water retention among different fins. Retained water formed a thin water film on the hydrophilic fin, while only a few spherical droplets with small sizes stayed on the super hydrophobic fin because the frost layer was released from it. The retained water mass on the super hydrophobic fin was the least, which reduced the energy for evaporation. Repeated experiments showed almost the same defrosting behavior as those of the first run.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Development is the enlargement of people's choices. Optimal subsidy policy is intended to create the right incentives for each of the value chain participants. This paper contends that the interest subsidy offered by the Indian federal Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for solar thermal systems, through mainstream banking channels is superior in intent and outcome compared to the capital subsidy as currently offered for solar PV systems, routed through government controlled delivery channels. The interest subsidy enhances innovation, improves service delivery and expands the range of product available to consumers enjoying a wide range of endowments, thus leading to more inclusive development. The simple monopoly model developed by Atkinson [Atkinson AB. Capabilities, exclusion and the supply of goods. In: Basu K, Pattanaik P, Suzumura K, editor, Choice, Welfare and Development. Oxford University Press; 1995] is applied to the context of solar home systems to demonstrate price reduction and choice expansion in a liberalized market, facilitated by an interest subsidy scheme.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The development of suitable semiconductor devices needs the use of non-destructive characterisation techniques with good spatial resolution. The aim of this paper is to use light-beam-induced current (LBIC) mapping and infrared thermography (IRT) to control large area solar cells. Samples analysed in this study are industrial 10cm×10cm multicrystalline silicon solar. The LBIC experimental set-up works at 780nm which is a well-suited wavelength for both as-grown and stressed silicon. A low laser diode power (0.15mW) avoids any change in local transport properties; the spot diameter and the depth of field of the incident beam are 20 and 80μm respectively. The infrared camera is an Agema 880 SW with an InSb detector (working range: 3–5μm) and a thermal resolution of about 0.1K without signal treatment processing. Comparison between the two techniques is presented for analysis of local shunts.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Single-phase multiferroic BiFeO3 thin films have been prepared on LaNiO3/Si(100) and Si(100) wafer via sol–gel technique. The films are polycrystalline with preferring orientation of (101). The film has a conspicuous absorption in the blue and green light region, and band gap of 2.74eV. The refractive index and the extinction coefficient of the film is about 2.36 and 0.06 at 600nm, 2.26 and close to zero in the range of 800–1200nm, respectively. The films also exhibit favorable ferroelectric and dielectric properties. A large photo induced open-circuit voltage was observed, indicating that the film exhibits photovoltaic behaviours.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Undoped ZnO and codoped ZnO:Mo:In sprayed thin films on SiO2 at 460°C. • XRD, SEM, EDS, and Raman spectroscopy characterizations. • Variable effect of the SiO2 substrate and dopants on the formation of ZnO:Mo:In thin films. • Two strong bands, 1LO and 2LO, of high spectral density and of ∼71 and 137meV energies. • Dependence of 2LO phonon mode with average grain sizes, stresses and crystallite sizes.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This work reports the first-principles study, based on the density functional theory (DFT), by using generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and ultra-soft pseudo-potential (USP), to explore effects of zinc (Zn) doping on structural, electronic, optical and thermal properties of cuboctahedral SrTiO3. We observe significant reduction in unit cell volume upon doping Zn into SrTiO3. Furthermore, Zn doping introduces new sates at Brillouin zone symmetry points turning the indirect band gap of host material into direct one. Replacement of Zn with Sr in host lattice repositions density of states at lower energies resulting in stronger interactions between Zn-atom and its neighbors as compared to interactions between Sr-atom and its surroundings. This refers to substantial modification in electronic band structure of host material by Zn doping. Physical properties of SrTiO3 also change significantly upon Zn doping in accordance with the electronic band structure. Significant changes in electronic structure and properties of SrTiO3 by Zn doping opens new prospects for potential applications of these materials in optoelectronics.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A porous vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) nano-powder are amalgamated with the polymer electrolyte mixture of poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF) and Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers by electrospinning method for photovoltaic performance of PVdF-PAN-V2O5 dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). This electrospinning technique compensates the disadvantage of leakage of the liquid electrolyte in DSSCs. Before evaluating the PVdF-PAN-V2O5 electrospun nanofiber membrane photovoltaic performance, participating component are optimized under optimum condition. The morphology and crystal structure of electrospun PVdF-PAN-V2O5 are analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and parametric study like ionic conductivity electrolyte uptake, porosity also measured. As per observation of all study, a three-dimensional network structure of nanofiber membrane which is fully interconnected with combined mesopores and macropores because of a good V2O5 dispersion. It is found that7 wt% V2O5 of PVdF-PAN-V2O5 electrolyte membrane has the highest ionic conductivity (7.11×10-2 Scm-1) due to the large liquid electrolyte uptake (about 576%). The composite membranes exhibit a high electrolyte uptake of 520-576%. The porosity of membranes was efficiently improved by the creation of electrospinning technique. The PVdF-PAN-V2O5 based DSSCs showed an opencircuit voltage (Voc) of 0.78 V, a Fill factor of 0.72 and a Short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 13.8 mA cm-2 at an incident light intensity of 100 mW cm-2. The photovoltaic efficiency of 7.75% is comparable to that of other reported DSSCs.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "‘Note: Page numbers followed by “f” indicate figures and “t” indicate tables.’",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents a novel high voltage gain interleaved DC boost converter. This converter is non-isolated boost converter, which can level up DC voltage from 24 Vdc input voltage to 130 Vdc output voltage. This is adequate suitable in order to develop and apply with any dc output renewable energy source, such as PV generation system and etc. The converter in this paper has power rating at 350W. The proposed converter has totally four modules of DC boost converter, which are connected in parallel. At the same purpose, these switching devices are controlled by 90 degree shifting to each other, due to an interleaving technique. This will leads to a smoother output dc current. Nevertheless, the High gain DC boost converter in this project was done by MATLAB / SIMULINK based Digital Signal Processing Board (here is TMS320F2812) implementation. The laboratory experiment shows that the converter works very well, and its result is in a good satisfaction.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A new one-step process for synthesis and growth of zinc–germanium–phosphide, ZnGeP2 (ZGP), is reported for the first time herein using a three-zone resistance furnace by the horizontal gradient freeze technique. A safe and proper temperature scheme has been obtained for both synthesis and growth of ZGP crystals via the melt growth route from Zn, Ge and P powder. The prepared material has been investigated using powder X-ray diffraction which shows the correct ZGP tetragonal phase. EPMA results are also obtained to estimate the compositional homogeneity of the grown crystal.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This work demonstrates thermal-to-electric energy conversion based on ionic nanofluidic transport in nanochannels inducted by a temperature gradient. Two types of highly periodic and high aspect ratio nanochannels have been fabricated in a silicon (Si) substrate and in an aluminium oxide (Al2O3) membrane. Silicon nanochannels with diameter of 100 nm and height of 300 μm have been produced by metal-assisted chemical etching process (MACE), while nanochannels with the dimensions of the 10 nm and 3 μm respectively, were fabricated in a Al2O3 membrane by the anodic aluminum oxidation (AAO) process. Moreover, a novel approach of thermally nanofluidic energy harvesting was proposed and conducted. The performance of the thermally ionic nanofluidic energy harvesting system in cases with and without nanochannels has been evaluated and compared. The advantage of the presence nanochannels on energy conversion has been confirmed. The electrolyte concentration dependence on the output power has been determined. Also, the effect of nanochannel materials, including alumina and silicon materials, on the power density has been verified. The ionic Seebeck coefficient was enhanced by 7.3 times when the nanochannels were present. The silicon substrate with nanochannels demonstrated the highest performance for energy harvesting. Its power density reaches approximately 1.47 mW/m2, which was 13.3 times larger than the case without nanochannels. This investigation may open new opportunities for the future thermoelectric generators based on ionic transport in nanochannels.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "One- and two-stage concentrations using wedge-shaped concentrators were proposed as static solar concentrators, where the light changes its direction with specular reflection at the rear surface and refraction or total internal reflection at the front surface. The condition for the total internal reflection gives the critical tilt angle of the wedge and consequently determines the maximum value of the concentration ratio. When the tilt angle is larger than the critical one, only the reflection at the front surface lowers the collection efficiency. Two-stage concentration can give a higher concentration ratio than one-stage concentration. A truncated-cone-shaped concentrator with tracking system can give higher concentration ratios than the two-dimensional wedge-shaped concentrators.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The main goal of this paper is to present an optimal step-wise orientation program and its implementation way on an outdoor photovoltaic tracking platform developed for testing different types of photovoltaic modules. In the paper there are presented: the functioning mode of the electrical command-control components; the Modbus communication between the components and the monitoring PC; the PC user interface able to allow the changing of the tracking modus and the algorithm used for identifying the optimal tracking program. In the last part several monitoring results, obtained from the tracked vs. fixed PV modules installed in the mountain area Brasov, Romania, are described.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Waste-heat recovery with thermoelectric power generators can improve energy efficiency and provide distributed electricity generation. New thermoelectric materials and material performance improvements motivate development of thermoelectric generators for numerous applications with excess exhaust and process heat. However, thermoelectric generator product development requires solving coupled challenges in materials development and systems engineering. This review discusses these challenges and indicates ways system-level performance relies on more factors than traditional thermoelectric material performance metrics alone. Relevant thermo-mechanical and chemical material properties, system components such as thermal interface materials and heat exchangers, and system form factors are examined. Manufacturing processes and total system cost components are evaluated to provide product development and commercial feasibility contexts.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter focuses on the data aspect of ITS. It aims to give the reader a descriptive illustration of the current developments in the field of ITS that are data intensive. The chapter provides the fundamental concepts of big data analytics and describes the tools and techniques that are currently used for collecting and processing mobility data, for extracting valuable knowledge and feeding smart mobility applications. It also discusses significant applications in road, maritime and air transportation networks and discusses the data aspects that play a leading role in the final decision making. Finally, it links to popular software and platforms for handling data streams and providing big data analytics, which can be the building blocks of an intelligent transportation system.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We synthesized the thiophene-based copolymers (P(3TAF-co-3TAa)-A-n and P(3TAF-co-3TAa)-B-n) using two different kinds of thiophene monomers, (N-(3-thienylmethylene)-2-aminofluorene and 3-thiophene acetic acid), as sensitizers on the DSSCs. P(3TAF-co-3TAa)-A-n (n=1, 2, 3) was synthesized with different molar ratios (3TAF:3TAa=1:5, 1:10, 1:20) of monomers at room temperature, respectively. Also, P(3TAF-co-3TAa)-B-n (n=1, 2, 3) was synthesized with above molar ratios of monomers at 0°C, respectively. The DSSCs devices were fabricated using the thiophene-based copolymers as sensitizers and their photovoltaic performances were measured by using a solar simulator under AM 1.5. In the DSSCs devices using polymeric sensitizers, V oc is 0.53–0.60V, J sc is 1.9–4.5mA/cm2, FF is 0.51–0.63 and the power conversion efficiency is 0.63–1.53%, respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The inspiration for lipid bilayer research, without question, comes from the biological world. Although the first report on self-assembled bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) in vitro was reported in 1961, experimental scientists including surface, colloid, and bioscientists have been dealing with these interfacial phenomena since Robert Hooke's time (1672). BLMs have been used in a number of applications ranging from basic membrane biophysics studies to the conversion of solar energy via water photolysis, and to biosensor development using supported bilayer lipid membranes (s-BLMs). This paper briefly summarizes the past research of our laboratory since 1974 on the use of BLMs as models of certain biological membranes. Further, we describe in some details our present work on supported BLMs as practical biosensors. The experiments carried out in close collaboration with others on s-BLMs are also presented. Supported BLMs provide the foundation for a variety of lipid bilayer-based molecular sensors that are sensitive, versatile, inexpensive (i.e. disposable) and open to all sorts of experimentation.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Have been successfully developed the solar drying integrated solar collector and photovoltaic (PV). However, heat waste is transfer from the back side of solar collector to surrounding over operation. A thermoelectric generator (TEG) relies on the \"Seebeck effect\" to directly convert heat into electricity. TEG is applied to use in specific area such as detector, egg incubator, exhaust car, watch etc. The objective of this research is focused on development a solar drying technology with using solar collector combined with TEG module. The system was constructed and installed at School of Renewable Energy Technology, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok Thailand. Temperature profile the back side of solar collector, power of TEG module, air flow rate of blower were measured and analyzed. As the results, temperature at behind of solar collector was decreased with increasing the produced power of TEG module which corresponded with solar irradiance. Solar collector can be operated and produced hot air temperature about 70-80 °C supported to chamber for drying. TEG can be produced the electricity about 0.0813 V/module. The deference of temperature surface was 1.77 °C and the average temperature of back side 45.4 °C. The ambient temperature was 35.8 °C. In addition, the system can be used blower for controlling air flow rate by using electricity from TEG module. It can be concluded the solar collector can be combined with TEG module for producing the electricity to supply the blower within tunnel drying, including with a guideline for improve the performance of solar drying technology.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Fe3O4 thin films were grown at 573K onto SiO2/Si (001) and c-Al2O3 (0001) single-crystal substrates using pulsed laser deposition in order to investigate the effect of thermoelectric properties on substrates. The thermoelectric properties of the Fe3O4 films were observed above 300K. An increase in the thickness of the Fe3O4 films grown onto a SiO2 (250nm)/Si (001) substrate produced a decrease in the Seebeck coefficient and it was approached to the absolute value (∼60μV/K) observed at the films grown on c-Al2O3 substrate as the SiO2 thickness was increased from 250 to 750nm. The Seebeck coefficient of the Fe3O4 films was definitely depended on the Si (001) substrate.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The nucleation and growth behaviors of primary Al phase in the hypoeutectic alloy of Al–20.8%Cu (mass fraction) in high static magnetic fields were investigated by differential thermal analysis (DTA). The DTA curves indicate that the nucleation temperature of primary Al phase decreases as the magnetic induction increases. The average growth rates of primary crystals increase with the increase of magnetic induction. The dendrite structures show that primary Al phase dendrites change from disorderly without the magnetic field to regularly with the field. The effect of magnetic field with the magnetic induction order of 10 T on driving force for the nucleation of Al crystals is negligible. The reduction of nucleation temperature of primary Al phase is mainly caused by the increase of the interfacial free energy between the melt and the nucleus. The change in dendrite morphology can be attributed to the suppression of melt flows in the magnetic field and magnetic anisotropy of Al crystals.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This work studied the electrical effects of the substitution of tin with silicon on p-type Cu2ZnSnS4 semiconductor compounds. To this purpose, two samples, namely Cu2ZnSnS4 and Cu2ZnSn0.5Si0.5S4, were prepared. The samples purities and homogeneities were characterized by both Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). We observed that the temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity of materials exhibits a crossover from T −1/4 to T −1 dependence in the temperature range between 130 and 140K. The characteristic temperature (T 0,Mott), the hopping distance (R hop), the average hopping energy (Δ hop), the localization length (ξ) and the density of states (N(E F)), were determined, and their values were discussed within the models describing conductivity in p-type semiconductor.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper a comparative study through experimental work between a new low-cost maximum power point tracker (MPPT) and the conventional configurations of the photovoltaic (PV) regulators under different atmospheric conditions is presented. The comparison is made by means of the energy production obtained by the PV generator of each system. From the results obtained it can be concluded that, depending on the charge state of the batteries, the MPPT can increase the overall efficiency of the system between 2.8% and 18.5% compared with the performance of a conventional system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The eHealth service has been considered a potential resource issue for industry and academia and is remarkably similar to a promising technology for continuous monitoring of biomedical signals in the human body. Indeed, it deployed modern digital technologies to maintain patient health data in digital environments such as the Internet of Things (IoT). In this vein, Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) are essential components of eHealth systems for early detection and successful treatment. Because sensor batteries in WBANs are usually operated and inconvenient to recharge, an energy-efficient resource allocation scheme is critical to extending the length of networks while still meeting the stringent quality of service requirements inherent in WBANs. As a result, this paper investigates resource allocation issues for WBAN. Our objective is to maximize energy efficiency by considering the effect of data transmission, relay selection, power consumption, and each sensor's energy constraints. Due to the current problems' sophistication, we present a Q-learning Agent (QLA) system to obtain the optimal allocation approach. A Q-Sensor Network Management Unit (Q-SNMU) is implemented and designed to synchronize all body sensors appropriately. The results show that the proposed scheme works well and that the proposed Q-SNMU approach is very efficient at running.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This study investigated cyclic magneto-hydrodynamic radiative effects in Casson and Maxwell fluids, including nonlinear radiation and Arrhenius activation energy. It promotes non-Newtonian fluid use in diverse fields like industry, manufacturing, sciences, medicine, and engineering. Using boundary layer approximations, non-dimensional equations are formulated. For numerical solutions, widely recognized explicit finite difference method (EFDM) has been utilized. To ensure the robustness of EFDM results, stability and convergence tests are performed. Exploration involve a detailed sensitivity analysis by using RSM, offering a thorough understanding of influential parameters. These analyses explore complex interactions among physical parameters, affecting Nusselt number, skin friction, and Sherwood number. Maxwell fluid's velocity is more affected by periodic magnetic force than Casson fluid, during the presence of nonlinear radiation. Additionally, nonlinear thermal radiation has a greater impact on temperature and concentration profiles compared to linear radiation for both fluids. Moreover, Casson fluid has a stronger influence on the average heat transfer rate compared to Maxwell fluid with nonlinear thermal radiation which is 8.6 % greater than the Maxwell fluid. On the other hand, at constant thermal radiation (Ra), due to decrease of Brownian motion (Nb), the rate of heat transfer is reduced by 1.2 % and 0.3 % respectively for Maxwell and Casson fluid. Also, for thermophoresis parameter (Nt), this rate is reduced by 2 % and 1.6 % respectively. The investigation also revealed that the Ra exhibits a positive sensitivity towards average Nusselt number, while Nb and Nt are displayed a negative sensitivity.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A method for the determination of iodine in coal using pyrohydrolysis for sample decomposition was proposed. A pyrohydrolysis apparatus system was constructed, and the procedure was designed to burn and hydrolyse coal steadily and completely. The parameters of pyrohydrolysis were optimized through the orthogonal experimental design. Iodine in the absorption solution was evaluated by the catalytic spectrophotometric method, and the absorbance at 420nm was measured by a double-beam UV-visible spectrophotometer. The limit of detection and quantification of the proposed method were 0.09μgg−1 and 0.29μgg−1, respectively. After analysing some Chinese soil reference materials (SRMs), a reasonable agreement was found between the measured values and the certified values. The accuracy of this approach was confirmed by the analysis of eight coals spiked with SRMs with an indexed recovery from 94.97 to 109.56%, whose mean value was 102.58%. Six repeated tests were conducted for eight coal samples, including high sulfur coal and high fluorine coal. A good repeatability was obtained with a relative standard deviation value from 2.88 to 9.52%, averaging 5.87%. With such benefits as simplicity, precision, accuracy and economy, this approach can meet the requirements of the limits of detection and quantification for analysing iodine in coal, and hence it is highly suitable for routine analysis.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thermoelectric (TE) composite wires with polylactic acid (PLA) as the matrix and Bi0·5Sb1·5Te3 (BST) as the filler are synthesized by extruding. The effects of silane coupling agent KH570, plasticizer ATBC, and conductive additive multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the composition, TE, and mechanical properties of the composite wires are systematically studied. It is necessary to add KH570 into the composite wires to make the actual BST loading the same as the designed value. The addition of ATBC greatly increases the flexibility of the composite wires and improves the wires' mechanical properties. When the BST loading increases from 35.8 to 87.5 wt%, the flexural modulus increases from 1684.0 to 4379.8 MPa and the flexural strength monotonically decreases from 50.1 to 13.4 MPa. In aspect of TE properties, the power factor PF of the composite wires increases with the increase of the BST loading, and the maximum Seebeck coefficient reaches 200 μV K−1. When MWCNTs are added into the composite wires, the electrical conductivity is significantly enhanced and thus the PF of the wires is raised. The highest PF of 11.3 μW m−1 K−2 is obtained for the wire containing 81.3 wt% BST and 4 wt% MWCNTs. A TE figure of merit ZT of 0.011 is obtained at room temperature. The excellent TE properties and satisfactory mechanical properties of the BST/PLA composite wires make them a promising candidate used for 3D printing of TE devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Batteries are the power tank of solar power systems. They play the role of power supply when the sun does not shine. This paper provides a review of battery charging control techniques for photovoltaic systems. In addition, it presents a new battery charge controller that keeps on the good features and resolves the drawbacks and limitations of the traditional controllers. The new controller is based on a newly developed maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique enabling very fast maximum power point (MPP) capture. Moreover, it utilizes the constant current, constant voltage (CCCV) charging scheme to reduce the battery charging time. In addition, it enables accessing all system parameters remotely for monitoring and administration purposes. In order to determine the performance parameters of the proposed controller, a prototype was implemented together with microcontroller based DC–DC converter. The experimental results show that, the new controller tracks the MPP faster than the conventional controllers do. Moreover, the charging period is significantly reduced. Moreover, the proposed controller has high accuracy and minimizes the steady state oscillation errors around the target MPP.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "From late September to early October of 2017, the majority of European networks involved in environmental radiological monitoring – including the environmental monitoring system of the KFKI Campus in Budapest – detected 106Ru isotope of artificial origin in the atmosphere. The reported values higher than the minimum detectable activity (MDA) concentrations were in the range of 0.8 μBq/m3 – 145 mBq/m3. Based on the results of environmental measurements and the available meteorological data, assessments were made to analyze concentration levels of 106Ru activity and to help understand the behavior of radioruthenium in various environmental media. Evaluation of the daily variation of activity levels indicated a maximum of 4 day-long residence time of 106Ru contamination presence in ground level air in Budapest. An average 106Ru activity concentration of 25.6 ± 1.4 mBq/m3 have been observed for the estimated residence time of 106Ru in the air. Deposition of 106Ru was dominantly influenced by rainfall, the major contributor wet deposition which led to an average of 11.3 ± 1.3 Bq/m2 deposition on the ground surface prior to plume passage.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Rural Energy Supply Models (RESuM) is a study undertaken by the International Energy Society in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, which offers support to government, business and finance institution in rural energy supply activities.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A series of alternating copolymers of the type A-alt-B, where A is 9,9-bis(2′-ethylhexyl)fluorene and B is a thiophene-based moiety, was synthesised via the palladium-catalysed Suzuki coupling. These copolymers were characterised by optical and electrochemical methods and used in the fabrication of light-emitting diodes. We find that upon increasing the conjugation length of the B moiety, from a thiophene unit to 2,5-bis(2′-vinyl thienyl)thiophene, the fluorescence quantum yields are reduced both in solution (from 51 to 11%) and in solid state. Both absorption and emission are red-shifted, with the solid state emission maximum increasing from 476nm (green) to 600nm (orange). When the B unit is changed from thiophene to thiophene-S,S-dioxide, there is a significant increase in both the ionisation potential and electron affinity, and a concurrent reduction of the solution fluorescence efficiency (down to 16%). These polymers appear promising materials for optoelectronic applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Thin-film nanocomposites, consisting of silver nanoparticles embedded in a dielectric fluoropolymer matrix (poly[4,5-difluoro-2,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-dioxole-co-tetrafluoroethylene]), were synthesized using vapor-phase co-deposition. The electrical conductivity of these composites was measured in-situ as a function of film thickness at various metal concentrations. At low metal concentrations (<30%), dielectric behavior and very little change with film thickness were observed. At moderate to high silver loadings (30–80%) a large increase in electrical conductivity was observed as the films grew thicker. As the thickness increased further, the conductivity flattened out. At very high silver content (>90%), fragmented fractal nanoclusters were able to further interconnect to achieve the percolation process and eventually evolve into a metallic continuum with dielectric polymer inclusions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "First-principles, density functional calculations show that O2 adsorbed single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) show dramatic differences depending on the type of the tube. Upon O2 physisorption, the zig-zag SWNT remains semiconducting, while the metallicity of the armchair is lifted for the spin-down bands. The spin-up bands continue to cross at the Fermi level, and make the system metallic only for one type of spin. The singlet bound state of O2 occurs at the bridge site of the (6,6) SWNT at small distance from the surface of the tube. However, for the hollow site, the molecule dissociates when it comes close to the surface.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We developed heterojunction-based Schottky solar cells consisting of π-conjugated polymers and n-type GaN. Poly (3,4-ethylendioxythiophene):poly (styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) was used as the transparent Schottky contact material and their electrical properties were investigated in comparison with those of a polyaniline (PANI) Schottky contact. The PEDOT:PSS/n-GaN/sapphire (0001) sample exhibited high-quality rectifying characteristics with a low reverse leakage current of less than 10−8 A/cm2 at a reverse bias voltage of −3V. While investigating the photovoltaic performance, it was observed that the open-circuit voltage of the PEDOT:PSS/n-GaN/sapphire (0001) sample reached 0.8V, which was much superior to the photovoltage reported for a conventional metal/GaN Schottky photodetector. We also confirmed that the PEDOT:PSS is as promising a material as PANI for π-conjugated polymer/GaN Schottky solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The development of photovoltaic (PV) energy throughout the world this last decade has brought to light the presence of module mismatch losses in most PV applications. Such power losses, mainly occasioned by partial shading of arrays and differences in PV modules, can be reduced by changing module interconnections of a solar array. This paper presents a novel method to forecast existing PV array production in diverse environmental conditions. In this approach, field measurement data is used to identify module parameters once and for all. The proposed method simulates PV arrays with adaptable module interconnection schemes in order to reduce mismatch losses. The model has been validated by experimental results taken on a 2.2kWp plant, with three different interconnection schemes, which show reliable power production forecast precision in both partially shaded and normal operating conditions. Field measurements show interest in using alternative plant configurations in PV systems for decreasing module mismatch losses.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We have demonstrated that hot-wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) is an excellent technique to produce high-quality epitaxial silicon at high rates, at substrate temperatures from 620 to 800°C. Fast, scalable, inexpensive epitaxy of high-quality crystalline Si (c-Si) in this temperature range is a key element in creating cost-competitive film Si PV devices on crystalline seed layers on inexpensive substrates such as display glass and metal foil. We have improved both the quality and rate of our HWCVD Si epitaxy in this display-glass-compatible T range. We understand factors critical to high-quality epitaxial growth and obtain dislocation densities down to 6×104 cm−2 by techniques that reduce the surface oxygen contamination at the moment growth is initiated. We have also developed and validated a model of the HWCVD silicon growth rate, based on fundamentals of reaction chemistry and ideal gas physics. This model enables us to predict growth rates and calculate the sticking coefficient of the Si radicals contributing to film formation between 300 and 800°C. We obtain efficiencies up to 6.7% with a 2.5-micron absorber layer grown on heavily-doped ‘dead’ Si wafers although these cells still lack hydrogenation and light trapping. Open-circuit voltages up to 0.57V are obtained on 2-μm cells. Efficient film crystal silicon photovoltaics will require dislocation spacing more than 6 times the cell thickness, or else effective H passivation of the dislocations.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "An experimental study of spectrally selective reflector (SSR) characteristics of pyrolytically deposited fluorine doped tin oxide on aluminium is reported. It is shown that a pyrolytically deposited doped tin oxide layer offers good spectral selectivity to the aluminium surface. High solar reflectance is obtained for wavelengths below 1.1 μm and low solar reflectance for wavelengths above 1.1 μm. The spectral selectivity is highly dependent on the preparation conditions, doping and thickness of the films and spectral selectivity was significantly improved if the aluminium surface was initially anodized. The results demonstrate a potential for producing SSR’s for silicon based solar cell concentrator applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are becoming the backbone of global photovoltaic (PV) industry due to their low cost manufacturing and long-lasting stability. Organic and inorganic Perovskite materials have unique electronic and optical features like high absorption coefficient, adjustable band gap and solution-based production method. In this study, numerical investigations have been performed to design and propose guidelines for novel solar cell configurations using SCAPS-1D simulator. A perovskite material (FA)0.85Cs0.15Pb(I0.85 Br 0.15)3 has been chosen as active absorber because of its easy experimental synthesis and durability alongside Copper oxide (CuO) hole transport material (HTM). The device performance was optimized for various electron transport materials (ETMs) like TiO2, IGZO, WO3 and SnO2. A comparative study has been performed to investigate the most efficient device configuration. Necessary investigations which have considerable influences on the optimized device performance and power conversion efficiency (PCE) have been carried out which include the diffusion length, band gaps, interface defect densities, thicknesses of different structural layers and temperature. In the proposed Au/CuO/ FA0.85Cs0.15 Pb (I0.85Br0.15)3 /ETMs/FTO solar cell configurations, the comparative role of ETMs has been examined in which TiO2 and SnO2 have shown remarkable results due to their high electron affinity and tunable band gaps. As per standard device optimization process in the simulation software, the thickness of the perovskite absorber layer was found to be 0.40 μm, optimized thickness values of ETMs TiO2, IGZO, WO3 and SnO2, were found to be 0.065, 0.060, 0.070 and 0.070 μm respectively along with CuO-HTM layer of optimized thickness value of 1.035 μm. Critical investigations regarding the variation of electrical parameters open-circuit voltage (Voc), Short circuit current (Jsc), Fill Factor (FF%) and quantum efficiency (QE) against thickness, temperature, interface defect density, carrier mobility, density of states, carrier generation and recombination’s have been performed and reported for all Au/CuO/ FA0.85Cs0.15 Pb (I0.85Br0.15)3 /ETMs/FTO compositions. Current investigations may certainly prove to be useful for designing and fabrication of highly efficient and cheap PSCs.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Single crystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod array has been used for the fabrication of CdSe/CdS/PbS/ZnO quantum dot sensitized solar cell (QDSSC). The ZnO nanorod array photoanodes are sensitized with consecutive layer of PbS, CdS and CdSe quantum dots by employing simple successive ion layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) and chemical bath deposition (CBD) techniques. The performances of the QDSSCs are examined in detail using polysulfide electrolyte with copper sulfide (CuS) counter electrode. The combination of two successive layers of PbS with CdSe/CdS/ZnO shows an improved short circuit current density (12.223 mA cm−2) with a maximum power to conversion efficiency of 2.352% under 1 sun illumination. This enhancement is mainly attributed due to the better light harvesting ability of the PbS quantum dots and make large accumulation of photo-injected electrons in the conduction band of ZnO, and CdSe/CdS layers lower the recombination of photo-injected electrons with the electrolyte, these are well evidenced with the photovoltaic studies and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Vertically aligned multi-wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were grown on Ni/Ti/Si substrate by thermal chemical vapor deposition method in a microwave heating system. The results showed that vertically aligned CNTs could be uniformly grown on a large area substrate of 3 inch diameter. The Ti interlayer couldn't obstruct the interdiffusion of Ni and Si and the inward diffusion of O, Ti and C. The C atoms for CNTs growth were supplied from Ni particles at an early stage and from Ti interlayer at a later stage in the growth process.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Results obtained using one-dimensional simulator SCAPS–1D are modified to account for perimeter recombination which is a two-dimensional effect. The modification consists mainly of adding a perimeter contribution to the dark current of the cell. The perimeter recombination current in micro-solar cells is analysed on the basis of a model in which the Fermi level pinning reduces the electric field at the surface of the space-charge region. Consequently, the surface recombination effective width is increased. A simple analytical form of the perimeter current at the space-charge region surface is developed, surface recombination outside this region is neglected. The obtained results agree well with reported experimental results of a 0.5 cm × 0.5 cm GaAs solar cell. The calculation demonstrates that perimeter current affects seriously the performance of small area solar cells. For solar cells with a perimeter to area ratio (P/A) greater than 100cm−1 the expected bulk recombination current is two to three orders of magnitude too small to account for. The performance of small area solar cells are reduced by the perimeter effect, the most important deterioration is recorded in the theoretical energy conversion efficiency η .",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The automotive thermoelectric generator (ATEG) system is a potential device to improve the fuel efficiency of range-extended engine. Few studies have focused on the matching design and optimization between ATEG system and the range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) by using the numerical optimization method. In this work, a longitudinal-lateral-vertical optimization approach is proposed to determine the optimal configuration of ATEG system with thermal protection and maximum net output power while matching the exhaust temperature and flow rate of REEV engine. Moreover, the fuel efficiency of range-extended engine with the optimal ATEG configuration is analyzed. The results indicate that the effects of N row and H on the temperature profile are not linear. Through the optimization, the optimal configuration of ATEG system is N row = 3, N col = 4 and H = 20 mm. The maximum net power is about 14.6 W and the net efficiency is about 1.0%. And the net efficiency will be very low if N col increases to too large. Compared with the preliminary configuration before the optimization, the output power and net power of the optimal configuration increased by about 66.3% and 114.7%, respectively. Accordingly, the fuel efficiency of range-extended engine achieves an increase of 2.0%. Moreover, the optimal configuration with more N col and higher H is needed to match the REEV engine with larger exhaust displacement. Therefore, this work provides a significant guidance for the matching design and numerical optimization of ATEG system applied in REEV.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The obtaining of dense ceramic pieces with versatility of size and shape is a much sought-after objective. Powder Injection Moulding (PIM) and Ceramic Injection Moulding (CIM), in particular, is a well-known technology that allows preparing this kind of complex parts with great variety of materials and at large production volume in a cost-efficient way. Usually, this process provides structural materials for mechanical and conforming purposes, but very few works have focused on manufacture functional porcelains. In this work, CIM method is used to process rare-earth free glass-ceramics with photoluminescent properties. The CIM parameters are optimized to obtain dense ceramic parts based on Na-rich plagioclase previously designed. The CIM processed samples show a higher structural disorder as studied by XRD and Raman spectroscopy and variations of the micro-nanostructure, in comparison with conventional ceramic processed samples. Photoluminescent emission studies show an increase of almost one order of magnitude on the UV-blue emission, due to the rise of the structural defect population generated by the CIM process. The CIM process, thus, provides results that boosted the use of rare-earth free materials for luminescence application having complex shapes.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this sneak peek of the Japanese PM show, Eur Ing Kenneth J A Brookes FIMMM CEng and Metal Powder Report consultant editor provides a glimpse of what attendees can expect.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The optical properties of cupric telluride (CuTe) thin films have been studied in the wavelength range 310–800nm using spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). Thin films of thickness between 30 and 150nm were prepared by thermal evaporation at the rate of 15.6Å/s on well cleaned glass substrates kept at 300K under the vacuum better than 2×10−5 mbar. It has been found that the optical band gap increases with the thickness of the films. The refractive index of the films increases with the energy but the extinction coefficient first increases and then decreases gradually with energy. The analysis of the absorption coefficient determined from the extinction coefficient reveals that there is allowed direct transition with a band gap of about 1.5eV. The increase in the band gap with the increase in the film thickness has been ascribed to defect levels in the band gap formed by defects in the films.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Transient processes generally constitute part of energy-system cycles. If skillfully manipulated, they actually are capable of assisting systems to behave beneficially to suit designers' needs. In the present study, behaviors related to both thermal conductivities (κ) and heat capacities (c v ) are investigated. Three major findings validated by COMSOL simulations and micro-Hamiltonian-Oscillator analyses are reported: (1) effective κ and effective c v can be controlled to vary from their intrinsic material-property values to a few orders of magnitude larger; (2) a parameter, tentatively named as “nonlinear thermal bias”, is identified and can be used as a criterion in estimating energies transferred into the system during heating processes; (3) For bodies of fluids confined by a cold bottom and a hot top, it may be feasible to install a propeller that can be turned by a weak buoyancy force induced by the top-to-bottom heat conduction via the propeller, provided that densities of the propeller and the fluid are similar. Such a turning motion serves double purposes of performing the hydraulic work and increasing the effective κ of the propeller. Hence, hot-top-and-cold-bottom fluid-filled enclosures (e.g., oceans) that induce nearly no buoyancy flows may now, in principle, become energy-harnessing sources.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The synthesis of PbS nanostructures by microwave irradiation of single source precursor compounds in ethyleneglycol medium is reported. Pb(II) bis(N-ethyl-N-phenyldithiocarbamate) and Pb(II) bis(N-butyl-N-phenyldithiocarbamate) represented as complexes (1) and (2) respectively were utilised. The prepared PbS nanostructures were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that complex (1) can project the formation of nanorod with (111) basal plane, while (2) project the formation of nanocube with (001) basal plane. The formation of different morphologies in ethylene glycol may also be due to the selective binding to specific crystallite facets of the PbS through the hydroxyl groups of ethylene glycol. In the nanorod, the selective stabilization of the (111) face of PbS, resulted in anisotropic growth along the (100) face. The high resolution TEM images showed distinct lattice fringes which confirmed the crystallinity of the nanostructures. The band gap energies were obtained as 1.10 and 1.12 eV for the nanorods and nanocubes respectively, a significant blue shift from the bulk value (0.4 eV) which could be ascribed to quantum confinement effect. The result established the significant effect of the precursor type on the morphologies of the PbS.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Graphdiyne (GDY), a novel two-dimensional carbon allotrope whose features bring together in layers along sp and sp2 hybridization based Carbon-atoms are receiving increased attention from both research and industry because of its exclusive and attractive structure, chemical and physical, properties. Its distinctive sp-sp2 carbon, homogeneous pores, and highly p-conjugated configuration offer novel real applications for instance, separation of gases, water purification, catalysis, energy-based fields and humidity sensor. GDY-related materials through different morphologies, like nano-tubes, nano-walls, nanowires, nanosheets, and controlled stripe arrays, therefore, in recent years; substantial efforts are expended in development of distinct GDY. Although, GDY materials still face a lot of challenges, considering requirement for more complete understanding in growth method, approaches for fabricating one or few layers single crystal GDY film, physicochemical properties basic characterization, and accomplishment of capable applications. This review aim is to provide inclusive information on preparation of GDY and GDY-derived materials, their property, involving structure, electronic, mechanics, spectral, as well as their renewable energy applications in novel emerging nanotechnologies.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents the cool-down, warm-up and steady state performance of a 100 W AC operated domestic refrigerator powered by a field of photovoltaic panels, a battery bank and an inverter. It is shown that there is no degradation in the performance when a non-sinusoidal waveform AC source is used to operate the refrigerator although it may involve only a slight additional heating of the hermetic compressor. Thermal mapping of the temperatures at various points on the refrigerator is provided for steady state, cool-down, warm-up, periodic opening of the door and ice making. An energy flow diagram is given for a steady state sunny day operation. Major sources of losses are identified.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The increasing share of renewable energy resources like wind or solar power opens up interesting options for a paradigmatic change of network operation strategies. On the one hand volatile generation principally endanger robust network operation. On the other hand there is an political and ecological pressure to maximize the in-feed of renewable energy resources, like photovoltaics. There is therefore a need for a cheap and scalable solution to meet these challenges. We claim that this requires more local intelligence associated with the network elements and communication between these units. Future grid operation system will have to provide features like state estimation, voltage control and load balancing irrespective of the voltage level. Scalability is achieved if the central control task is distributed among the distributed intelligent units.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Stable and efficient organic solar cells with Mg (20 at. %): Ag alloy cathodes and bulk-heterojunction absorber layers from metal (e.g., Cu, Zn)-phthalocyanine and C60 small molecules are demonstrated. Device efficiencies of 4.0% under an illumination of 100 mW/cm2 at 25̊C were achieved as a result of the fine adjustment of the cathode work function as well as of the absorber design. By combining low and high work function materials, the work function in both Mg/Ag bilayer and Mg:Ag alloy layer cathodes was adjusted for optimum photovoltaic parameters. The electric and photovoltaic properties of the devices are discussed with respect to the cathode layer structure. The formation of the absorber/cathode interface was investigated by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements (XPS). The work function of the absorber and cathode layers were determined from the XPS high binding energy cutoff (HBEC) spectra. For optimized devices, the work function of the cathode at the side adjacent to the absorber layer equals 4.0…4.1 eV. While devices with Mg/Ag bilayer contacts exhibit a 65% efficiency drop in the first month after the preparation, devices with Mg:Ag alloy contacts demonstrate stable photovoltaic parameters within the time of the study of ∼ 1 year.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Active building envelope (ABE) systems are a new enclosure technology which integrate photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric (TE) technologies. In ABE systems, a PV system supplies electrical power to a TE heat-pump system, which can transfer heat in one direction or another depending on the direction of the current. Both the TE and PV systems are integrated into one enclosure surface. Hence, ABE systems have the ability to actively control the flow of heat across their surface when exposed to solar radiation. Applications for this technology include all types of enclosures that require cooling or heating, such as building enclosures. At this stage of our study, we are developing various ABE system prototypes by using commercially available PV and TE technologies. In this study, two types of commercial available TE modules are studied for their potential application in an ABE prototype window system. We have performed various experiments to determine the coefficient of performance for these TE modules when operating under different voltage regimes, and have tested different electrical connection diagrams. Based upon the measured data, and results based on the computational models of a TE system, the most suitable type of TE modules, the voltage and current, and the preferable connection diagrams are discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► We synthesized two new solution-processable star-shaped D–π–A organic molecules. ► The two molecules S(TPA-TBTT) and S(TPA-TBTT-TPA) possess broader absorption. ► We studied the photovoltaic properties of the molecules. ► The OSC based on S(TPA-TBTT): PC70BM exhibited power conversion efficiency of 1.90%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Ecuador is undergoing through important changes in its electrical generation system. According to the Ecuadorian Government, by 2017 the country will leap from 53% to 86% hydro-electrical power generation by incorporating new plants, becoming a country almost carbon neutral. This also changes how we look at other electricity generating systems that can be called renewable or green. This paper discusses whether solar energy sources, such as PVs, can be eligible or not, depending on its potential to create important environmental liabilities, or by using life cycle analysis data of the system to establish when it becomes beneficial. Based on the fact that a green energy source is replaced by another green energy source, two carbon emission scenarios will be analyzed (actual energy mix scenario and 2020 energy mix scenario) to determine if the country can call solar energy beneficial.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Development of polymer-based composites with excellent thermal conductivity and electrical insulation properties is a hot research topic, because more and more electrical devices with high energy/power density need thermal conductive electrical insulation systems. Polymers generally own lower thermal conductivity, and the composites filled with thermally conductive fillers is a common method for preparing high thermal conductivity composites. However, large amounts of fillers always result in decreasing of electrical insulation properties in the composites. Morphology control of the filler, complete core-shell structure, and core-shell-like structure fillers can achieve optimization of thermal conductivity and electrical insulation properties in filled composites. This work covers how to obtain a reasonable balance of thermal conductivity and electrical insulation properties in filled composites from the filler chosen of view. Recent advances in new thermally conductive fillers are summarized, to provide a reference for the application of high thermal conductivity composites in the electrical insulation field.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Methods of preparation and properties of nanointercalates and some nanostructured materials are reviewed. Particular attention is paid to inorganic–organic nanointercalates obtained by exfoliation of layered inorganic materials. Mechanical, electrical and optical properties of nanostructured systems especially those involving polymers are discussed in more detail. The review is closed with the author's personal point of view on future aspects of nanoscience.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Carbon nanotube films with high nanotube loading were prepared using a vacuum filtration method and their photovoltaic properties as semi-transparent conducting electrodes in nanotube-silicon heterojunction solar cells were investigated. The correlation between the power conversion efficiency of the solar cells and the figure of merit (FM) of the films were obtained. The maximum efficiencies (up to 1.5%) were found for those cells using the films with highest FMs and transmittances. For comparison, the photovoltaic performance of a self-assembled nanotube thin film of high transmittance (91%) was tested and the corresponding solar cell showed a conversion efficiency of ∼4%. This work provides guidance for future improvement on the photovoltaic properties of nanotube films as window electrode materials.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A series of ruthenium complex dyes with different number and position of carboxyl groups on bipyridine ligands, such as Ru(4-carboxyl-4′-methyl-2,2′-bipyridine)(4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′- bipyridine)(NCS)2 (denoted as Ru1A), Ru(4-carboxyl-4′-methyl-2,2′-bipyridine)2(NCS)2 (Ru11A), Ru(4,4′-dicarboxyl-2,2′-bipyridine)(4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine)(NCS)2 (Ru2A), and Ru(4-carboxyl-4′-methyl-2,2′-bipyridine)(4,4′-dicarboxyl-2,2′-bipyridine)(NCS)2 (Ru3A) were synthesized and compared with Ru(4,4′-dicarboxyl-2,2′-bipyridine)2 (NCS)2, commonly known as N3 dye for the adsorption behavior on the TiO2 surface and photovoltaic properties of dye-sensitized solar cells. The experimental results show that the tilt angle of ruthenium dyes on the TiO2 surface which is dependent on the number and position of their carboxyl groups strongly affected the photovoltaic performance.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Two series of nanocomposite photoanodes were synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) including samarium titanate (x% SmTiO3)/TiO2 nanocomposites (x = 2, 4, 6 and 8%) as well as perovskite oxide Gd2O3-impregnated SmTiO3/TiO2 nanocomposites (TiO2+4%SmTiO3/Gd2O3) with various weight percentages of Gd2O3 (1, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 wt%) nanoparticles. Photovoltaic performances of DSSCs based on (x% SmTiO3)/TiO2 nanocomposites photoelectrodes verified that the champion device in the first series contained TiO2+4%SmTiO3 as it exhibited utmost power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.31 ± 0.03%. Among DSSCs assembled with second series of TiO2+4%SmTiO3/Gd2O3 photoanodes, it was found that impregnation of 5% Gd2O3 afforded the highest PCE of 8.08 ± 0.06%, fill factor (FF) of 57.53%, open circuit voltage (VOC) of 779 mV and short-circuit current density (JSC) of 18.03 mA cm−2. Such boosted photovoltaic efficiency was associated with significantly improved IPCE great dye loading, lowest charge transfer resistance, highest capacitance, and favorable visible photons absorption by the designed photoelectrode.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Superconductors with non-trivial band topology are emerging as one of the best avenues to study quantum anomalies and experimental realization of Majorana Fermions. This article reports the successful crystal growth of superconducting SnAs, which can have topologically non-trivial states, as evidenced in DFT (Density Functional Theory) calculations, Z2 invariants and topological surface states. Here, we followed a two-step method to grow SnAs crystal. The powder XRD (X-ray Diffractometry) pattern of synthesized crystal ensures that the crystal is grown in a single phase with a NaCl type cubic structure and the EDAX (Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis) endorses the stoichiometry of the as-grown sample. The DFT calculations performed with and without inclusion of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) show band inversion at various k symmetry points near the Fermi level. The recorded Raman spectra show two different modes, which are assigned as A1 and ETO vibrations. The ZFC (Zero-Field Cooled) & FC (Field Cooled), as well as the isothermal M − H (Magnetization vs. field) measurements, are also performed for the topological non-trivial SnAs superconductor, which eventually confirm the weak type-II superconductivity at 4K. Various other superconductivity parameters viz. kappa parameter, coherence length, and penetration depth are also calculated to probe the as-grown sample's characteristics.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this article, the results of a research study with the objective of analyzing the behavior of electric power consumption in solar home systems installed in some rural communities are shown. The random character of that behavior was corroborated and, besides, some factors that influence it were identified. These factors are the following: technical, managerial, psychological, geographical, sociocultural, demographic and economic. It was also verified that this behavior follows the γ function distribution, in which “a lot of people consume a little, and a few people consume a lot”. The places where the research was carried out correspond to some rural communities of the Amazon, of the Northeast and of the Atlantic Ocean south coast in Brazil, and of Lake Titicaca in Peru.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "As a renewable energy, solar energy can effectively solve the energy crisis. Improving the efficiency of thermal and electrical conversion is of significance to high concentration photovoltaic/thermal (HCPV/T) systems. For further reducing the contact thermal resistance in the HCPV/T systems, this paper presents an integrated system of HCPV system and spray cooling (SC-HCPV). A comprehensive heat transfer model was established to study the influence of heat on solar cells by combining solar cells with spray cooling (SC). The temperature uniformity, thermal and electrical performance at high concentrations is studied through experiments and simulations. The influences of nozzle settings, concentration ratio (CR) and inlet temperature are evaluated to get suitable system operating parameters. Compared with the partial jet, the EEF under SC is 2.1% higher than that under the partial jet, and the solar cell power generation per unit area can gain 7.5%. For another aspect, the EEF of the system can still maintain above 30% under the high CR of 1000, and high-temperature hot water above 60 °C can be obtained, which has superior potential applications in printing and dyeing, domestic water with high temperature, seawater desalination, disinfection water and so on.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Pulsed laser-induced ultrafast photovoltaic effects have been investigated in La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 films on tilted SrTiO3 substrates fabricated by laser molecular beam epitaxy. A picosecond (ps) photovoltaic pulse without any applied bias to the film has been observed at room temperature. The rise time and full-width at half-maximum of the photovoltaic pulse are as short as 300 and 700ps, respectively when the film has been irradiated by a laser pulse of 25ps duration and 1.064μm wavelength. The photovoltage sensitivity is as large as 0.45V/mJ, and the photocurrent sensitivity is more than 0.25A/mJ. The mechanism is proposed as the combination of a photoelectron and a Seebeck processes, and the Seebeck coefficient we obtained, ∼4.04μV/K, is one order larger than previous report.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In order to study the heat transfer characteristics (HTCs) of molten salt outside the tube bundle in a shell-and-tube heat exchanger (STHE) without baffle plates, the HTCs of molten salt (204.06 °C~236.91 °C) are experimentally and numerically investigated in this paper. Firstly, the HTCs of molten salt (3514 < Re < 5482) is experimentally studied based on the test platform with HITEC salt and oil. Then the empirical heat transfer equations of molten salt applied in the shell side of STHE are fitted. Finally, the comparison between the experimental and numerical results is conducted. The results show that the fitted equations agree well with the experimental data and the fitted deviations are only 8%. The error is about 11% between the simulation and experiment results which indicates that the HTCs of molten salt STHE would be predicted well using the simulation method. The numerical results also show that there exist flow dead zones in the STHE which could weaken the molten salt HTCs.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper deals with the modelling and simulation of a hybrid photovoltaic–thermal (PV/T) solar energy system. This is a combined system consisting of a normal PV panel at the back of which a heat exchanger with fins is embedded. The advantage of this type of system is that the PV panel operates at a lower temperature, thus more efficiently, and also hot water is produced at the same time as electricity. The PV system consists of a series of PV panels, a battery bank and an inverter whereas the thermal system consists of a hot water storage cylinder, a pump and a differential thermostat. The system is modelled using TRNSYS, which is a transient simulation program and typical meteorological year (TMY) conditions for Nicosia, Cyprus. The main component of the TRNSYS deck file constructed for this purpose is Type 49, accompanied by other additional components required for the model. The results show that the optimum water flow rate of the system is 25 l/h. The hybrid system increases the mean annual efficiency of the PV solar system from 2.8% to 7.7% and in addition covers 49% of the hot water needs of a house, thus increasing the mean annual efficiency of the system to 31.7%. The life cycle savings of the system is Cy£790.00 and the pay-back time is 4.6 years.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report herein large area (>10cm2), interconnected organic solar cell modules both on glass substrates as well as on flexible ultra-high barrier foils, reaching 1.5% and 0.5% overall power conversion efficiency under AM1.5 conditions. Series connection is described, as these modules consist of up to three cells. Using our flexible barrier material, a shelf lifetime of polythiophene-based solar cells of 6000h could be realized. Furthermore, we compare the photovoltaic performance of efficient conjugated polymer:fullerene solar cell modules with established technologies. Under typical indoor-office lighting, our modules are competitive with these systems.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Electricity is establishing ground as a means of energy, and its proportion will continue to rise in the next generations. Home energy usage is expected to increase by more than 40% in the next 20 years. Therefore, to compensate for demand requirements, proper planning and strategies are needed to improve home energy management systems (HEMs). One of the crucial aspects of HEMS are proper load forecasting and scheduling of energy utilization. Energy management systems depend heavily on precise forecasting and scheduling. Considering this scenario, this article was divided into two parts. Firstly, this article gives a thorough analysis of forecasting models in HEMs with the primary goal of determining whichever model is most appropriate in a given situation. Moreover, for optimal utilization of scheduling strategies in HEMs, the current literature has discussed a number of scheduling optimization approaches. Therefore, secondly in this article, these approaches will be examined thoroughly to develop effective operating scheduling and to make wise judgments regarding usage of these techniques in HEMs. Finally, this paper also presents the future technical advancements and research gaps in load forecasting and scheduling and how they affect HEMs activities in the near future.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Vitrification is widely accepted as the most safe process for treating hazardous wastes and converting them into leach-resistant materials. In this paper a review of the current and emerging waste vitrification technologies is reported. Analysis of different methods of vitrification, according to physical state and composition of the waste, can offer a guideline for process selection. Moreover, the most recent studies on vitrification of various types of industrial and civil wastes and their further transformation in useful marketable products are presented and discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), which can convert all forms of mechanical energy into electricity, has been hailed as one of the economical ways to harvest energy. However, the development and application of TENG are limited due to its low output power. Although it is found that the power of TENG can be increased by introducing corona discharge, there are few studies on the influential factors of TENG based on corona discharge. In this paper, the multi-pulse triboelectric nanogenerator (MP-TENG) with enhanced output power is proposed by controlling the negative corona discharge through the integration of TENG and the micro-gap. The experimental results show that Voc, Isc and Qsc are improved 154%, 725% and 3025% respectively. Moreover, the highest power growth rate of 646% can be achieved under a low frequency. The MP-TENG demonstrates a superior output performance that the charging time of 100 μF capacitor to 3.5 V shortens by 1/5 and 12 parallel LED panels (240 lamp beads) can be lit up, which presents a great potential in practical application and plays a guide role in introducing corona discharge into the TENG.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • The impacting and freezing experiments of supercooled water droplets are conducted. • The impacting-freezing behaviors of supercooled water droplets are simulated. • The numerical model considers the supercooling effect and dynamic contact angle. • The supercooled droplet spreads and retracts slower than the room temperature one. • A morphology map of rebound and adhesion is proposed for the impacting-freezing.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The Acheson graphitization furnace (AGF), as a most energy-consuming equipment for graphite production, results in substantial thermoelectric losses during heating process. To improve the thermal efficiency, a method is proposed to optimize the structure of furnace core based on the thermoelectric field distribution. In this study, a numerical simulation using FLUENT software was adopted to explore the characteristics and coupling rules in relation to thermoelectric field distribution. Further optimize furnace core structure to achieve more suitable performance indicators, which include electrical heating efficiency and thermal efficiency. The results suggested that the changes of electric (power density) and thermal (temperature) fields with the layout of coke materials exhibited a consistence: the lower power density and temperature were observed at the position of graphitized coke, while the higher values were for calcined coke. The heat producer during the graphitization process was twofold: the electric heat and the transferred heat, and their proportion was confirmed as a range of 7:3–9:1. Under a fixed square side section, which is an optimal scenario, both thermal efficiency and electric heating efficiency with the furnace core length presented a parabolic variation. These findings may provide some guidelines and insights for a better design and operation of AGFs.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The influence of variations in the incident solar spectrum on solar cells is often neglected. This paper investigates the magnitude of this variation and its potential influence on the performance of thin film solar cells in a maritime climate. The investigation centres on the analysis of a large number of measurements carried out in Loughborough, UK, at 10min intervals over a period of 30 months. The magnitude of the spectral variation is presented both on a daily and a seasonal basis. Of the different thin film materials studied, amorphous silicon is shown to be the most susceptible to changes in the spectral distribution, with the “useful fraction” of the light varying in the range +6% to −9% of the annual average, with the maximum occurring in summer time.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A novel fullerene derivative with an N-hexylphenothiazine moiety, PTZ-C60, was synthesized and characterized. The new synthesized fullerene showed good solubility in common organic solvents such as toluene, chlorobenzene and 1, 2 dichlorobenzene. The synthetic product PTZ-C60 was characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, FT-IR and UV–vis spectroscopy. Photovoltaic devices were fabricated using the new fullerene derivative as the electron acceptor and P3HT as the electron donor. The configuration of the device was as follows: ITO/PEDOT:PSS/active layer/LiF/Al. The weight ratios of the electron donor to the acceptor in the active layer were 1:0.5, 1:0.7, and 1:1. The open-circuit voltage (V oc) of the fabricated devices was found to be higher than that of devices based on C60 because the LUMO energy level of the new fullerene derivative was higher than that of C60. Further, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of these devices was observed to be high when annealing was carried out at 150°C for 5min and the thickness of the active layer was 80nm. The maximum V oc, short-circuit current density, and PCE of the best device were 0.608V, 4.393mA/cm2, and 1.29%, respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Climate represents one of the main limiting factors of production efficiency. Thermal stress events can cause reduced performance, morbidity, and mortality, resulting in significant economic losses and animal welfare concerns. Environment control in confined animal housing systems is typically based on heat and moisture production rates at predetermined ambient temperature levels measured between 1950 and 1980. This traditional control method can fall short in meeting the true thermal needs of the animals since it does not account for factors now acknowledged as affecting the animal's productive responses to surrounding conditions, such as humidity, drafts, radiation, physiological state, and social interactions. Also, advancements in animal genetics, nutrition, and management practices have led to considerable changes in sensible and latent heat loads of modern livestock buildings. In this context, precision livestock farming technologies (sensors, detectors, cameras, microphones, etc.), enabling the automatic monitoring of environmental, physiological, and behavioural variables, can be used to continuously assess livestock performance and well-being in relation to their environment. An innovative strategy for environment control of livestock buildings could include the analysis of: (i) heat and moisture production rates using the most recent bioenergetic models; (ii) thermal stress through multi-factor animal comfort indices based on some environmental and physiological measurements; and (iii) animal behaviour as a response to changing environmental conditions. This paper presents a critical review of the state of the art of precision environment control of livestock buildings, identifying knowledge gaps, research opportunities, and technical challenges.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Strong salt expansion and frost heave are induced to make the infrastructure in the salted region damaged with water or salt phase change at low temperature. Laboratory test based on differential scanning calorimetry is used to investigate salt and water phase transformation and their crystallization mechanism in sodium sulfate soils and solutions. During the experimental process, crystallization heat release, crystallization period and supercooling are measured. According to the conservation principle of mass and heat, salt and ice crystallization are separated, and unfrozen water content is calculated at different temperatures. Moreover, variations of unfrozen water content, as well as the supercooling degree of sodium sulfate soils with different size are compared and analyzed based on heterogeneous nucleation theory. The results demonstarte occurance of the ice crystallization before salt crystallization in minor soil samples; however, salt crystallization appears first in pure solution at high concentration. The interval at which the ice and salt crystallization begin decreases as the salt content increases, and the supercooling decreases as the salt content or sample size increases. Additionally, water freezing in small soil samples is more difficult than that in larger soil samples, and the unfrozen water content increases as the salt content or sample size decreases.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, we present the calculations for the structural, electronic and optical properties of simple perovskites CaZrO3-xSx (x = 0, 1, 2 and 3) using density functional theory (DFT) with GGA-PBE as implemented in ABINIT package. The crystal structure of CaZrO3-xSx (x = 0,1,2 and 3) compound changes with the change of x value. The calculated electronic properties revealed the indirect semiconducting behavior of CaZrO3-xSx (x = 0, 1, 2 and 3) perovskites. However, the indirect band gap value Eg (R-Γ) drops from 3.36 to 0.48 eV when the parameter “x\" increases from 0 to 3. In any case, the optical parameters such as dielectric constant ε(ω), reflectivity R(ω), refractive index n(ω), absorption coefficient α(ω), extinction coefficient k(ω), energy-loss function L(ω), and optical conductivity σ(ω), are also investigated. As results, it can be deduced that CaZrO2S and CaZrOS2 materials have the promising optoelectronic devices in photovoltaic applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper analyzes the behavior of one minute global irradiance distributions as a function of hourly average solar global irradiance. For this purpose, we have used the clearness index k t which describes the atmospheric transmittance. Our interest is in characterizing the intrahourly variability of solar global irradiance and the behavior of the instantaneous values as a function of hourly values of solar global irradiance. The distributions are unimodal and show a marked symmetry around a central value that is close to the corresponding hourly average value. The probability density functions have been modeled using functions based on the Boltzmann statistic used in recent studies of the one minute distributions of k t conditioned to the optical air mass. These functions provide good fit of the distributions and are analytically integrable and can be inverted analytically. The one minute global irradiance data used in this study have been recorded during a three year period in a radiometric station located in south eastern Spain.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) expressly commits the Annex I countries to provide financial resources and technology to developing countries so as to control, reduce, or prevent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The present paper argues that the ultimate goal of any action in the field of transfer of technology (TT) should not be only just to apply particular technological solutions to the GHG problem but to enhance the capabilities of developing countries to assess the need, select, import, assimilate, adapt, and develop the appropriate technologies. The paper also looks into the various dimensions of TT that results in capacity building in developing countries. Using case studies of two GHG-reducing technologies, one from the demand side [compact fluorescent lamp (CFL)] and the other from the supply side [photovoltaic (PV) cell], the paper tries to find out whether TT has been adequate in significant capacity building. The case studies show that the technology absorption is still incomplete. High up-front costs and lack of awareness (information) has resulted in significant underutilization of capacities, thus acting as major barriers in their diffusion. The paper also looks into the various market- and government-related barriers forestalling the diffusion of various GHG-reducing technologies.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Current–voltage, impedance spectroscopy and capacitance–voltage characteristics have been carried out on indium tin oxide (ITO)/poly(phenyl azo methane thiophene) (PPAT)/In schottky barrier device. In this device, injection and transport is expected to be dominated by holes. The conduction mechanism in low field region is ohmic whereas the space charge limited current theory with an exponential distribution of traps is in extremely good agreement with at higher voltage region. The characteristic energy (E t ) of the exponential traps distribution is 0.13 eV from the valence band edge at room temperature but this shifts towards the valence band edge with the increase in temperature. Electrical impedance measurements on PPAT schottky barrier diodes in the frequency range 40 Hz–100 kHz were also reported. The device having configuration ITO/PPAT/In display the schottky behaviour, which can be modelled by a simple equivalent circuit of two RC elements in series, representing a bulk and a junction region. Low frequency device capacitance shows a pronounced voltage dependence and from a detailed analysis, the ionised acceptor concentration, potential barrier height and width of depletion layer have been calculated and discussed in detail.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Cadmium sulfide (CdS) films were chemically deposited on glass, polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and Si wafer. Effects of substrate types on the structural and optical properties of the films were investigated. There is a preferential orientation of the crystallites in the film grown on the glass along the c-axis (perpendicular to the plane of the substrate) producing a strong hexagonal (0 0 2) or cubic (1 1 1) peak, regardless of the presence of ITO coating. However, such preferential orientation decreases or disappears when the deposition was made onto PC or PET substrates. The crystallinity of CdS films on glass and Si is better than that of the other ones. The average transmittance of the films on PC and PET is about 50% and 55%, respectively, and increases up to 70% for glass substrate. The improvement of the transmittance was obtained from ITO-coated substrates.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Tellurium evaporation annealing method for sintered p-type (Bi,Sb)2Te3 is reported. ► This method is based on the control of carrier concentrations. ► The underlying mechanism is also determined using ab initio calculation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "PbTe based materials are well known for their high performance thermoelectric properties. Here, a systematic study of thermoelectric transport properties of n-type Pb-deficit Pb0.98-xSbxTe alloys with carrier concentrations in the range of ∼10−19 cm−3 is presented from room temperature to 623 K. A maximum thermoelectric figure of merit (zT) of ∼0.81 was achieved at 623 K for 4 mol% Sb containing Pb-deficit composition, by the cumulative integration of enhanced power factor and significant reduction in thermal conductivity. The scattering of phonons at Pb vacancies, contributed to the reduction of lattice thermal conductivity, and thereby strikingly boosted the zT of the Pb-deficit samples when compared with the pristine Pb1-xSbxTe.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Note: Page numbers followed by “f” indicate figures, “t” indicate tables.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A new class of metal-free organic dyes (DH-41–DH-44) containing triphenylamine group as an electron donor, cyanoacrylic acid group as an electron acceptor and a π-linker of 2,2′-bithiophene unit with two hexyl groups at different β-substituted positions have been designed and synthesized. Their photovoltaic performances are characterized experimentally and the structure–performance relationship is explored with the aid of theoretical calculation. Although all the DH dyes show the same structural backbone, changing β-substituted positions of hexyl group at 2,2′-bithiophene unit can alter the molecular coplanarity of conjugated skeleton and the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) that finally affects the UV–Vis absorption and the photovoltaic performances of the DH dyes. By comparison, the dyes with two hexyl groups at nonortho β-positions of 2,2′-bithiophene unit shows less steric hindrance and better molecular coplanarity that is favorable for improving photovoltaic performances. Among them, DH-44 has the best optimized structure for ICT, so it shows broadened and red-shifted absorption with high molar extinction coefficient, and exhibits excellent photovoltaic performances with high power conversion efficiency of 5.86%, which reaches over 95% of the reference dye N719-based cell fabricated and measured under the same conditions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The interface properties of silicon solar cell structures were characterized by the two non-destructive and highly surface-sensitive spectroscopic techniques: surface photovoltage and spectroscopic ellipsometry. The resulting charge and density of interface states as well as the microscopic surface roughness and oxide coverage were investigated during silicon wafer preparation and during sample storage in air. The surface state density of hydrogen-terminated silicon surfaces as well as the long-time stability of the hydrogen termination were found to primarily depend on the surface morphology resulting from the wet-chemical oxidation procedures applied before. The smallest interface state densities were obtained by NH4F treatment subsequent to oxidation in ultra-pure water at 80°C. Surfaces prepared using this procedure are found to be much more stable upon exposition to clean-room air than those prepared by conventionally prepared H-terminated surfaces. The successful application of the new passivation procedures in photovoltaics is shown for selected examples of different solar cell concepts.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Among the solutions to the global energy problem, the utilisation of solar energy is, without a doubt, one of the most encouraging ecological avenues. In a solar thermal system, the solar thermal energy can be exploited via heating working fluid circulating through a heat collector. In this paper, the concept of the building integrated solar thermal collectors was briefly introduced, the applications of building integrated solar thermal collectors were presented and standards for assessing thermal performance of these solar thermal systems were addressed. The major features, current status and existing difficulties related to the various types of solar thermal collectors were identified. Several factors affecting the thermal performance, characteristics of the solar thermal systems and building integration possibilities were also summarised. This study facilitates understanding the questions prevailing in solar thermal collector technology, diagnosing new research directions towards further improvement of the performance, addressing the important issues related to architectural barriers, system design and installation. Also, this review reveals the trend of the technology, particularly the advancement in recent years and the future work required.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter discusses implications for conventional and renewable energy technologies. The chapter briefly explores the implications of these factors for the development of non-fossil energy sources. The continued growth in energy demand and fossil fuel use that is projected by a number of international energy agencies is incompatible with the attainment of the greenhouse reduction targets acknowledged in the Kyoto Protocol. Either energy use must be curtailed, fossil fuels replaced with a less carbon intensive fuel mix, or economic growth in ROW regions restricted; if not, the greenhouse reduction targets cannot be met. The Kyoto Protocol incorporates a number of market based instruments, which it refers to as “flexibility mechanisms.” Together, the various “flexibility mechanisms” have the potential to create a new commodity—carbon abatement which would be traded on an international market much like soya beans or pork bellies. In its nature, scope and intent therefore, the Kyoto Protocol is as much a trade agreement as it is an environmental one. Put succinctly, it has the potential to radically alter the way developed countries trade carbon based energy products, and as such, is of enormous significance to the energy supply sector in general and to the future development and deployment of renewable energy technologies in particular.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Strong coupling between a two-dimensional material and substrate is problematic in that interlayer charge transfer at the interface often complicates optoelectronic device applications. Such substrate-induced charge doping effects are particularly large for two-dimensional materials on SiO2/Si substrate. Here, we report a Raman study of monolayer WS2 encapsulated with hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) to unveil substrate-related charge doping phenomena under the influence of laser irradiation. Raman correlation analysis between the E ′ and A 1 ′ phonon frequencies of WS2 reveals that the encapsulation of WS2 with hBN leads to a screening of electron transfer from SiO2 to WS2. Further, photo-induced charge doping in WS2 is completely suppressed by hBN encapsulation. Our results demonstrate that understanding the photo-induced charge doping effects in two-dimensional heterostructures is useful in characterizing the role of hBN encapsulation and, thus, shed light on design strategies for efficient two-dimensional optoelectronic applications where a precise control of charge doping is required.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Atmospheric water harvesting has been inexorably proliferated as a potential source of freshwater, notably for remote areas that lack access to water and electricity. This technology could be significantly operated with renewable energy sources. The current study comprehensively reviews the state-of-the-art atmospheric water harvesters and their desiccant materials. Firstly, a detailed survey on desiccant materials, silica gel, Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), hydrogels, zeolite, hygroscopic salts and composite desiccant materials is illustrated. The review particularly focuses on the materials adsorption capability, kinetics, proper matching with climate conditions. Moreover, the most suitable adsorbents are thoroughly surveyed for a wide range of climate conditions, especially for water scarcity regions (i.e., arid zones) that are characterized by low relative pressures. Moreover, various designs of solar-powered atmospheric water harvesters are comparatively summarized, including fixed and portable installations. It can be concluded that MOF-801, MOF-808, MOF-841, HKUST-1, and CPO-27(Ni) have a superior potential for water harvesting in arid areas. Additionally, MIL-101(Cr) has superior water uptake and kinetic at high relative pressure (i.e., humid areas), and it is irrelevant for water harvesting at dry zones. It is found that the cost of the collected water from atmospheric water harvesting technology is about 0.062–0.86 $/kg of adsorbent. This work provides beneficial perspectives for selecting the most relevant desiccant materials beside the appropriate solar system for water harvesting applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Robotics has the potential to contribute significant benefits for offshore and onshore petroleum industry for the next decades, but in fact has nowadays often the problem of missing wide commercial availability, which means that robotics is in some cases more expensive for the industry that it should be, or the development period is complex. In the end, there is a big potential for the petroleum industry to increase profits, safety or production capacity when implementing more robotic technique in their production process. Nevertheless, this potential is barely used due to given economic, organizational and social barriers. This paper gives first an overview on robots in the petroleum industry, focuses on improvements especially in the case of robotic vehicles which move inside a pipeline for inspection reasons, so called in-pipe inspection robots.. Existing locomotion methods as well as in development or described in the literature were shortly described and discussed. One of the main problems is the cost of these robots and cost efficiency and orientation is evaluated with a simple 5-points evaluation method.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A research group at Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology in Japan has developed a dendrimer that can build complex metal ions in an orderly fashion starting from the core of the macromolecule outward.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This research analysed the enhancement to the power output of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) module in converting waste heat from a low temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane fuel cell into electricity assisted by swirl flows (swirl strength from 1.2 to 1.6). The module was constructed using a single TEG cell, a heat pipe and a finned heat sink. The study applied the scenario where the fuel cell operated as the power source for a mini fuel cell vehicle. This scenario provided a practical evaluation of the module performance as the hot stream temperature was varied due to the changes in fuel cell power while the cooling air varied according to the vehicle drive speed. The maximum power was enhanced from 200 μW (for non-swirl condition at 60 °C) to 3056 μW as the swirl strength increased to 1.6. Significant power enhancement factor by 8–17 in stationary mode and between a factor of 1.4–2.2 at the speed of 10 ms−1 were obtained with a non-linear relationship to the swirl strengths and cooling modes. Therefore, the introduction of swirl to the hot air stream is a viable approach to provide significant enhancements in low grade waste heat recovery using TEG.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "TiO2:polymer bulk-heterojunctions (BHJ) have been elaborated from hydrolysis–condensation reactions of a TiO2 precursor in contact to the surrounding air humidity in a polymer thin film. A new precursor: tetrakis(9H-carbazole-9-yl-ethyl-oxy) titanium [Ti(OeCarb)4], has been synthesized as a TiO2 precursor to form a blend with Poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) which is the archetype of non-conjugated photoconducting polymer with strong electron-donor properties. This new precursor is expected to enhance the materials miscibility because of the chemical structure of the ligand close to the PVK repetitive unit and to inhibit premature hydrolysis by a strong steric hindrance. Commercial titanium isopropoxide [Ti(iOPr)4] was used as a reference to study the influence of the chemical structure of the precursor on BHJ properties. Photoluminescence studies have shown charge transfer enhancement when Ti(OeCarb)4 is used. In order to understand this ligand effect, photoluminescence (PL) responses were correlated with surface chemical composition (XPS) and topography (AFM) of thin films. Results have shown that Ti(OeCarb)4 allows a better miscibility between TiO2 and PVK. The lower reactivity of Ti(OeCarb)4 to hydrolysis and its chemical structure close to the repetitive unit structure of the polymer are believed to play a main role in the BHJ property improvement.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "To increase the performance of thermoelectric materials, the electronic parameters in the figure of merit must be improved. In this article, we use full, numerical band structures and solve the Boltzmann equation in the relaxation time approximation using energy-dependent scattering times informed by first principles simulations. By varying the strength of the electron–phonon coupling or the lattice thermal conductivity, we compute the thermoelectric figure of merit, zT, vs. a generalized thermoelectric quality factor. More than a dozen of different complex electronic structures are examined. Surprisingly, we find that at a given quality factor, none provides a better figure of merit than that of a material with a simple, parabolic band and acoustic deformation potential scattering. A qualitative argument for this unexpected finding is presented. This apparent universal behavior suggests that even for complex electronic band structures, the thermoelectric figure of merit depends solely on the ratio of electrical to thermal conductivity; the Seebeck coefficient and Lorenz number need not be considered. This observation should simplify the search for promising new materials, but if exceptions to this behavior can be identified, new paths for increasing thermoelectric material performance will open up.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Bi2Te3-based flexible thermoelectric power generator is a competitive candidate for wearable electronics. However, the strongly coupled Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity limits thermoelectric performance of p-type Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3-based flexible thin films (f-TFs). In this work, we report Ti-doping by a magnetron co-sputtering method can strengthen the texture orientation of as-prepared Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3-based f-TFs and correspondingly contribute to a high electrical conductivity of 532.69 S cm−1 at room temperature. Under simultaneously optimized carrier concentration (n h ), a high Seebeck coefficient of ∼196.15 μV K−1 and an high room-temperature power factor of ∼19.67 μW cm−1 K−2 have been achieved. A 3 single-leg flexible thermoelectric device demonstrates high applicability. Simultaneously, the as-prepared Ti-doped Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 f-TFs and device demonstrate high bending resistance as evidenced by the <10% change of thermoelectric performance before and after bending. Our study indicates that Ti-doping can simultaneously tune the texture orientation and n h of Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3-based f-TFs and achieve high thermoelectric performance.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, small molecule organic photovoltaic cells based on copper phthalocyanine (CuPc)/C60 hetrojunction were fabricated. To have a good band structure matching between the work function of the anode and the highest occupied molecular orbital of the organic material the introduction of a buffer layer is necessary. Efficiency of devices shows a strong improvement when the metal oxides such as molybdenum oxide (MoO3) and tungsten oxide (WO3) were used as buffer layer between the ITO anode and active layer. The effect of MoO3 and WO3 thickness on the performance of the photovoltaic devices was investigated and compared. The thickness of each buffer layer was optimized to have better hole transport. Also the devices' performance was analyzed based on the surface roughness of bare ITO, and ITO, which covered with WO3 and MoO3. It was found that the anode buffer layer thickness is a very important factor in controlling the electrical characteristics of the organic photovoltaic devices. It is shown that the best results are obtained with a 4nm MoO3.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Ken-ichi Uchida received his PhD degree from Tohoku University, Japan, in 2012. He was an assistant/associate professor at Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University. He is currently a group leader of Spin Caloritronics Group, Research Center for Magnetic and Spintronic Materials, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan, since 2016 and professor (cross-appointment) at Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, since 2019. He has been working mainly on spintronics, spin caloritronics, and thermoelectrics. Joseph P. Heremans is an Ohio Eminent Scholar and professor in Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Department of Physics at The Ohio State University, USA, since 2005. Prior to that, he worked at the General Motors Research Laboratories and the Delphi Research Laboratories for 21 years. He is a member of the US National Academy of Engineering and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Physical Society. He is an experimental physicist, focusing on transport properties in condensed matter.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The diffusion coefficients, D, of oxygen in titaniumoxo phthalocyanine (TiOPc) films are determined by following the increase of electric photoconductivity of the films upon oxygen sorption. The diffusion coefficient in as-deposited films of unsubstituted TiOPc is D≈8×10−16 cm2 s−1. Introduction of alkyl spacers leads to the increase of D by an order of magnitude. Scanning electron micrographs and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements show that this increase is due to the amorphous structure and the larger distances between the conjugated π-systems in films of substituted Pc’s. As photo-oxidation of the films is a diffusion controlled process, its quantum yield, φ p, increases 10-fold upon alkyl-substitution. Annealing the films leads to microcrystalline films with a closer alignment of the π-conjugated systems, as demonstrated by the changes in the UV-Vis absorption spectra. Consequently, D decreases by approximately an order of magnitude.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This study employs simple approaches involving melt blending and Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing to fabricate a light-responsive shape memory composite. And, this composite material is used for the design of optically controlled devices that mimics the blooming of flowers in the natural environment. The composite material utilizes poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) as the matrix, with lignin (L) serving as a functional filler. The analysis indicates that, due to the excellent photothermal conversion efficiency of lignin, under constant illumination the shape memory materials heat up to 50 °C within 40 s, the shape recovery rate exceeds 95.06 %. Lignin ameliorated the rheological deficiencies of TPU, with the composite material viscosity decreasing from 103 to 101 at an angular frequency of 100 rad/s, enhancing its compatibility with FDM processes. This research offers greater economic efficiency compared to conventional light-responsive materials and a simpler production method.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The evidence of relationships between climate change induced by greenhouse gases of anthropogenic origin, and energy-economic issues (inappropriate use of fossil fuels and technologies, uncertainty in fuels price and demand trends, etc.) asks for the adoption of a holistic approach in order to re-orient the anthropogenic activities’ system towards a configuration that harmonizes environmental protection, economic growth and security of energy supply. In this framework, energy system sustainability represents one of the major challenge the EU is facing and its implementation passes through a path of coordinate actions carried out by local governments in which objectives of sustainable development become integral part of strategic programming. The aim of this research is to provide local administrations with an analytical support tool to guide key strategic decisions in energy and climate planning on the medium-long term, assessing the possible role of local energy systems in the achievement of sustainable objectives at national/European scale. This paper focuses on the implementation of a partial equilibrium TIMES-generated model in a real case study, the regional energy system of Basilicata region (Southern Italy). First, it describes the adopted methodology. Second, it is provided a step-by-step description and characterisation of the reference energy system and the model’s data input which represents the first step for an in-depth knowledge of the present energy system on which to build effective and sustainable local energy and climate plans.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar energy is widely regarded as a major renewable energy source, which in future energy systems will be able to contribute to the security of energy supply and the reduction of CO2 emissions. This study combined an evaluation of solar energy resources in Taiwan with land use analysis, which allows the potentials and restrictions of solar energy exploitation resulting from local land use conditions to be considered. The findings unveiled in this study indicate that photovoltaic electricity generation and solar water heating have the potential of producing 36.1 and 10.2TWh of electricity and thermal energy annually in Taiwan, accounting for 16.3% and 127.5% of the total domestic consumption of electricity and energy for household water heating in 2009, respectively. However, the exploited solar photovoltaic power generation in 2009 accounted for only 0.02% of total potential in Taiwan, while the exploited solar water heating accounted for 11.6% of total potential. Market price and investment incentive are the dominant factors that affect market acceptance of solar energy installation in Taiwan. The administrative barriers to the purchase and transmission of electricity generated from renewable energy sources have to be removed before the potential contribution of solar energy can be realized.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We have investigated PECVD-deposited ultrathin intrinsic a-Si:H layers on c-Si substrates using UV-excited photoemission spectroscopy (hν =4–8eV) and surface photovoltage measurements. For samples deposited at 230°C, the Urbach energy is minimal, the Fermi level closest to midgap and the interface recombination velocity has a minimum. The a-Si:H/c-Si interface density of states is comparable to that of thermally oxidized silicon interfaces. However, the measured a-Si:H dangling bond densities are generally higher than in thick films and not correlated with the Urbach energy. This is ascribed to additional disorder induced by the proximity of the a-Si:H/c-Si interface and H-rich growth in the film/substrate interface region.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, CuInSe2 thin films were prepared by the reaction of identical metallic alloys with three different chalcogenide sources. Comparisons were drawn in terms of morphological features, the formation of crystalline phases, level of Se incorporation and the degree of in-depth compositional uniformity after each reaction process. For a given set of experimental parameters (i.e. specific reaction temperature and exposure period), H2Se/Ar treated samples showed superior structural features, higher levels of Se incorporation and improved in-depth compositional uniformity. From this fundamental study, considerable insight was gained regarding the growth kinetics of the respective selenization processes.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Using UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, a study on the electrochemical polymerization of some Schiff’s base—type monomers containing pyrrole moieties was performed. Similar data were obtained for pyrrole polymerization too. Some 1H-NMR spectra are reported and discussed. The spectral changes of the polymerization solutions point out distinctly stages of the electrooxidative polymerization process. The chemical structure of the monomers influences the electronic absorption spectra of the polymers.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Heterogeneous photocatalysis has been demonstrated as a highly effective approach in addressing the difficulties encountered by conventional technologies in environmental remediation. Herein, for the first time, a novel hierarchical photocatalyst of selenium-doped Bi2S3 (Bi2S3-xSex) was successfully synthesized through a one-spot hydrothermal route followed by a vacancy engineering process (V-Bi2S3-xSex). The photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and in-situ generation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) under simulated solar-light irradiation were performed to evaluate the catalytic activity of the as-prepared samples. The catalytic activity of as-prepared samples was evaluated toward the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and in-situ generation of H2O2 under simulated solar-light irradiation. Notably, V-Bi2S3-xSex (V-BSSe-5, as optimum sample) exhibited a photo-reduction of Cr(VI) at a rate of 97.04% during 150 min, which was 1.53- and 1.39-fold higher than those of pure Bi2S3 and Bi2Se3, respectively. Interestingly, the V-Bi2S3-xSex photocatalyst not only harvested more incident light in the UV–vis and near-infrared (NIR) regions but also supplied many active sites, improving the promotion of photo-generated charge-carriers, inhibiting charge recombination, and thus enhancing the photocatalytic activity. In addition, V-BSSe-5 showed greater photocatalytic efficiency for H2O2 generation, which was 15.69, 10.07, and 1.79 times higher than those of Bi2S3, Bi2Se3, and BSSe-5, respectively. The charge-carrier migration pathway and possible photocatalytic mechanisms were systematically discussed by assisting the electron spin resonance and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. The findings of this study demonstrate that doping and defect engineering strategies have the potential to be a significant advancement in the development of visible- and NIR-light responsiveness photocatalysts, thereby providing a solution to current environmental and energy challenges.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper describes the development of a wireless sensor network for remote water vapor detection. The network is composed of three parts: the base station, the router node, and the end node. The end node is fabricated from distributed-feed-back (DFB) laser water vapor detection systems. Multi-node topology is adopted among the water vapor detection nodes with ZigBee multi-hop mesh routing protocol for communication, and acquisition data are transmitted to the data center through wireless communication. The network can detect water vapor down to 1ppm, and an excellent stability is observed in 100 days. The system has been put into an actual test application, and it will be used to monitor environment change with a high precision.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The integrated photovoltaic system building design (BIPV) is becoming popular among architects and design engineers. This paper reports on an empirical approach for BIPV applications in building design. A brief description of the theory and mechanism is given followed by experimental and numerical validation. The procedures and estimation methodology conducted in previous research is documented. The investigation procedures and devices employed are described and the experimental results are illustrated. Statistical analysis and regression functions are employed to simplify the solar irradiation estimation procedure. The framework for evaluating building solar irradiation applications is described in detail. Conclusions are drawn regarding the BIPV evaluation operational characteristics for building solar energy applications as a simplified approach for architects and design engineers. The results with local parameters can be used to estimate the tilted planes for BIPV application.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "PDA immobilized encoded beads (PDA–SERS beads, PDA–FL beads) which have their encoding capacity and PDA properties, which cause their optical properties to be changed, are prepared. Research highlights ► A novel PDA immobilization method for optically encoded micro beads which have their encoding capacity and PDA properties was developed. ► Their optical properties of PDA immobilized encoded beads, which can be changed their property by external stress, was studied. ► The immobilization methods was successfully applied to SERS-encoded beads and proven to also be useful in fluorescence encoding systems.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "New disubstituent fluorinated perylenebisimide regioisomers were synthesized and characterized. The single-crystal structure of a 1,6-disubstituted perylenebisimide was elucidated for the first time, which revealed that the molecules are arranged in stacks along the b-axis of the unit cell and share more than 50% of their core surface. Owing to the steric encumbrance of the substituents, the perylene cores were highly twisted. The effect of substituent positions on their spectroscopic, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties were also examined. Moreover, the two substituent positions on perylenebisimides were found to have a large impact on the solar cell performance. Different perylenebisimide regioisomers made an impact on open circuit voltage, but strongly affected the short circuit current density, indirectly influencing the overall photovoltaic performance of the device.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Hydrogen can be used as a buffer for storing intermittent electricity produced by solar plants and/or wind farms. The MYRTE project in Corsica, France, aims to operate and test a large scale hydrogen facility for regulating the electricity produced by a 560 kWp photovoltaic plant. Due to the large quantity of hydrogen and oxygen produced and stored (respectively 333 kg and 2654 kg), this installation faces safety issues and safety regulations constraints that can lead to extra costs. These extra costs may concern detectors, monitoring, barrier equipments, that have to be taken into account for evaluating the system‘s total cost. Relying on the MYRTE example that is an R&D platform, the present work consists in listing the whole environmental and safety regulations to be applied in France on both Hydrogen and Oxygen production and storage. A methodology has been developed [1,2] for evaluating safety extra costs. This methodology takes into account various hydrogen storage technologies (gaseous and solid state), and is applicable to other ways of storage (batteries, etc.) to compare them. Results of this work, based on a forecast of the operating platform over 20 years, can be used to extrapolate and/or optimize future safety costs of next large scale hydrogen systems for further PV or wind energy storage applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The large oil and natural gas resource base and the greater competitiveness of conventional energy supply technologies based on oil and gas is a key energy characteristic in the countries of the GCC. Until today, mostly pilot and research Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and Rational Use of Energy (RUE) activities were conducted. However, these countries seem to be ready to take a more active part in the development of environmental friendly energy technologies. RES are expected to play a greater role in the future based on the rich natural potential of the region. In addition, appropriate efforts to formulate strategic RUE policies are initiated for assuring buildings sustainability and providing guidelines for future architecture. In this context, GCC countries are realizing the inevitability of putting climate change issues on the top of the list of priorities in the process of economic and social development. This paper includes an analytical review of the current RES and RUE development status in the GCC region, giving special emphasis to the business opportunities that the region offers for regional and international companies involved in this market.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Difficulty in heating tumors with high spatial selectivity while protecting surrounding healthy tissues from thermal harm is a challenge for cancer photothermal treatment (PTT). To mitigate this problem, PTT mediated by photothermal agents (PTAs) has been established as a potential therapeutic technique to boost selectivity and reduce damage to surrounding healthy tissues. Various gold nanoparticles (AuNP) have been effectively utilized as PTAs, mainly using strategies to target cancerous tissue and increase selective thermal damage. Meanwhile, imaging can be used in tandem to monitor the AuNP distribution and guide the PTT. Mainly, the parameters impacting the induced temperature can be determined using simulation tools before treatment for effective PTT. However, accurate simulations can only be performed if the amount of AuNPs accumulated in the tumor is known. This study introduces Photo-Magnetic Imaging (PMI), which can appropriately recover the AuNP concentration to guide the PTT. Using multi-wavelength measurements, PMI can provide AuNP concentration based on their distinct absorption spectra. Tissue-simulating phantom studies are conducted to demonstrate the potential of PMI in recovering AuNP concentration for PTT planning. The recovered AuNP concentration is used to model the temperature increase accurately in a small inclusion representing tumor using a multiphysics solver that takes into account the light propagation and heat diffusion in turbid media.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The strain gradient-driven caloric component or flexocaloric effect (FCE) can be obtained in any material, enabling a higher working temperature or above Curie temperature. The FCE uses an inhomogeneous deformation of the crystal lattice to produce polarization (FCE). The flexopolarization coefficient obtained due to strain gradient is used to calculate FCE. Numerous FCE evaluation methods are available based on measured qualities and their combinations. Thermodynamic relations, Maxwell’s relations, Landau–Ginzburg method, Electrocaloric approach, cross-coupling relation, and elastocaloric relation are explored to evaluate FCE and discussed in this chapter. The electrical field-induced stress gradient field-based converse or inverse FCE is also evaluated. The FCE potential in BaTiO3-based ceramic, thin film ceramic, lead-based ceramic, and functionally graded materials ceramics are elaborated. Finally, the possibility of the inverse caloric effect will also be discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The structural and energetic aspects of the interaction of two important phenazinium dyes methylene violet 3RAX and indoine blue with DNA were studied by spectroscopic and thermochemical techniques. The binding affinity values of both the dyes were of the order of 105 M−1 but methylene violet 3RAX bound to DNA more strongly. Both dyes bound DNA by intercalation but methylene violet 3RAX bound stronger than indoine blue. The DNA binding of both the dyes was exothermic and favoured by a small negative enthalpy and positive entropy contributions. The effect of ionic strength indicated that electrostatic attraction is an important component of the dye–DNA interaction although the major contribution comes from hydrophobic forces. The temperature dependence of enthalpy changes yielded negative heat capacity value which was higher for methylene violet 3RAX compared to indoine blue suggesting higher contribution from hydrophobic forces in the interaction of the former. Enthalpy–entropy compensation phenomenon was observed for the binding of both dyes to DNA.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents a knowledge-based system (KBS) implementing a convergent method based on physical laws for design concept generation of instrument systems. From the fundamental requirements specifications, the system utilising first principles can generate a range of alternative concepts. These are sequences of physical laws each of which would satisfy the basis of a required instrument system. Full details of how the KBS generates alternative solutions are provided.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The analysis of thermoacoustic engines and the equations that describe the internal physical phenomena are far from simple. Previous studies on energetic characterisation of thermoacoustic engines are based only on the determination of the active acoustic power flow distribution. In this paper, another variable, known as the reactive acoustic power, is additionally estimated and studied. This article proposes a simple method which is based on the combination of both active and reactive acoustic power flow for the evaluation and optimisation of thermoacoustic Stirling engines. In addition the paper illustrates the method using a thermoacoustic Stirling engine demonstrator design which is able to fit three different feedback branches. The results show that the amount of reactive acoustic power supplied towards the core branch differs depending on the specifications of the selected feedback branch. Besides, the amount of reactive acoustic power distributed towards the core branch is a good indicator of the grade of traveling-wave phasing. An improvement of 16.4% in the active acoustic power towards the extraction branch is achieved and besides, the amplification of the active acoustic power through the core branch has increased by 12%. The method can serve as an effective tool to study and optimise thermoacoustic devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► The effect of additive gelators in electrolytes on the photovoltaic characteristics was studied. ► We measured cyclic voltammetry to determine the charge diffusion behavior in the electrolytes. ► The key circuit elements related to electron transport and interfacial recombination was discussed. ► An enhanced solar-to-electric energy conversion efficiency of 7.65% was achieved. ► Thermal stability of dye-sensitized solar cell with gel electrolytes was improved.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, we report on organic photovoltaics based on inverted structure with the photoactive layer sandwiched between lithium zinc oxide electron transport layer and PEDOT:PSS doped with V2O5 hole transport layer. The efficiency of the PEDOT:PSS device increases from 4.04 to 4.20% as we doped with V2O5. This inverted organic photovoltaic can retain efficiency with only 1.9% degradation after 3 weeks storage in ambient conditions. The degradation rate for PEDOT:PSS device is significantly higher (11.6%) compared to PEDOT:PSS doped with V2O5. The good stability in our device can be attributed to the air stable PEDOT:PSS doped with V2O5 HTL as the interfacial layers. It is found that the degradation rate decreases with increasing V2O5 concentration in PEDOT:PSS.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "As photovoltaic systems incorporate power converters, which are harmonic generating devices, they will have an influence on power quality of supply network. This paper investigates the impact of the first 10kW residential photovoltaic (PV) system connected to the low-voltage distribution network in Croatia. The harmonic impact of such a PV plant is measured in two periods: winter and summer. Analysis of the recorded data is done regarding harmonic content of the PV current. Based on the measured data, a computer model of the plant and local distribution network is made. The model is used to simulate several scenarios of residential PV plant expansion. In the first scenario it is assumed that one third of the households that are connected to the local grid will install 10kW PV plants. The second scenario assumes that all the households will install 10kW PV plants. However, the PV plants are not the only harmonic sources in a distribution grid. The grid usually supplies many nonlinear loads, which absorb distorted current. To consider that influence, another harmonic current source is modeled. Mutual influence of PV and grid harmonics is also analyzed. The results of the simulations and conclusions are given at the end of the paper.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Dealing with power distribution system became one of the most important arts in the field of power system, especially in the rapid increase of the distributed generation (DG) penetration to the distribution level which is a vital and important part of the entire power system. In this paper, a very special power distribution system with a unique deployment of distributed generation, such as, photovoltaic and wind generation has been studied. Energy storage system is utilized to play the main role to control the system’s power quality and the system frequency, as load following operation (LFO) and automatic generation control (AGC), respectively. In this paper, a working criterion has been introduced followed by a case study focuses on two important conditions, one of them when the proposed system is connected to the electrical grid (upper system) and the other one when the system is completely islanded. In both cases, the crucial usage of the ECS gives a concrete result which made the system fully recommended to be applied in real life.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A sustainability technology evaluation platform has been prototyped for simulating integrated technology systems within a specific urban regional context. “Sustainability technologies” refer to available and potentially available technologies that may help to decrease human pressures on the environment or natural resources while providing a desired standard of living. The platform is based on an Internet-based infrastructure for integrating distributed models, called DOME (distributed object-based modeling environment) that has been developed to provide a simulation environment in which large systems, such as an urban region, can be modeled. The infrastructure can support flexible and transparent integration of independently developed computational tools from a wide range of fields such as geographic information systems, input–output analysis, life cycle analysis, and technology process modeling. The tools are linked in a decentralized ad-hoc manner so that an integrated simulation can be developed as understanding of the system grows. Tools are available to observe and understand the emerging structure of the system simulation, and to evaluate and optimize the system based upon its behavior. The urban sustainability technology evaluation platform is built from three basic types of computational elements linked through DOME. These are elements that provide information defining the urban region, elements that simulate behavior of technologies to be evaluated, and elements that integrate and analyze the region-specific effects of the technologies. As an example of the first type, a GIS (geographic information system)-based land use object has been developed to provide information needed to drive simulation models for a wide variety of urban technologies. Examples of the second type include technology simulation models of photovoltaic solar cell modules (PV modules). An object that provides a generalized life-cycle assessment by calculating both the direct and indirect effects of a given technology on total production levels and total pollution emissions in a region using Leontief Input–Output analysis represents the third type of computational element. All of the objects support Internet-enabled GUI's (graphic user interfaces) through the DOME infrastructure, allowing users to transparently connect to, interact with, and utilize object functionality or data. A system model is constructed from these elements to study the economic cost and effect on emissions of CO2 associated with installing PV modules on the rooftops of buildings in Tokyo, Japan. The development of this technology evaluation simulation illustrates the use of the three types of objects and how, by using the DOME infrastructure, they may be linked to form system models to evaluate sustainability technologies.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The work presents a model of light intensity dependence of short-circuit current for a bilayer organic system. The model is based on the assumption of a uniform electric field in both organic layers and it concerns a bimolecular and monomolecular recombination of charge carriers at a heterojunction interface. The comparison between theoretical calculations and experimental results carried out on the system formed from copper phthalocyanine or bormophosphorus phthaocyanine and perylene dye is presented in the work. A good correlation between theoretical and experimental results has been achieved.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Thin film photovoltaic devices based on CuInSe2 (CIS) prepared by vacuum deposition have shown efficiencies greater than 17%. However, inexpensive large-area uniform-thickness photovoltaic devices are likely to require non-vacuum deposition techniques. We discuss in this paper electrodeposition of CIS films using multilayers of binary selenides and, post-deposition selenization and thermal annealing. A sequential electrodeposition of Cu/In2Se3/Cu2−x Se on Mo-on-glass substrates was done potentiostatically at varying potentials, pH and deposition time. We have obtained crystalline chalcopyrite CuInSe2 films with phase content greater than 95%. The surface of the films is specularly reflecting. We also present here a study of sputtered CIGS films using multilayers of binary selenides, and one-step electrodeposition of CIS films.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Targeted at improving the energy output of thermophotovoltaic system, a novel micro combustor with spiral fin is proposed. The multi-structure factors of spiral fin concluding spiral fin length, spiral fin pitch, spiral fin number and spiral fin opening size impact the thermal and energy performance of micro combustor are investigated in this study. The method of Taguchi experimental design is introduced to determine the testing cases, Orthogonal design table L 16 ( 4 4 ) . Then, grey relational grade is adopted to obtain the influence of four factors on performance parameters. The evaluation indexes of each testing case include mean outer wall temperature, outer wall temperature uniformity and pressure drop, which are closely connected with the thermal and energy performance of micro combustors. Moreover, the results calculated by grey relational grade are verified by analysis of variance. Results show that the optimal combination of the structure is micro combustor inserting with spiral fin, in which the spiral fin is 16 mm, the spiral fin pitch is 1.57 mm, the spiral fin number is 8 and spiral fin opening size is 0.2 mm. Meanwhile, the spiral fin length has the greatest impact on the comprehensive performance of the micro combustor, with a contribution of 48.522%.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Cluster assembled selenium oxide (SeO2) thin films, as a function of oxygen flow pressure (OFP) have been synthesized by a low energy cluster beam deposition (LECBD) technique. The OFP dependent surface morphology leading to well separated nanoclusters (size ranging from 50 to 200nm) and fractal features are confirmed from transmission electron microscopic (TEM) measurements. A diffusion limited aggregation (DLA) mediated fractal growth with dimension as 1.71±0.01 has been observed for high OFP (60mbar). Structural analysis by glancing angle X-ray diffraction (GXRD) and selected area diffraction (SAD) studies identify the presence of tetragonal phase SeO2 in the deposit. Micro-Raman studies indicate the shifts in bending and stretching vibrational phonon modes in cluster assembled SeO2 as compared to their bulk counter part due to the phonon confinement effect.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Architected, structural materials have been reported with promising enhancement of mechanical performance using the structural method (e.g., mechanical metamaterials MM) and the material method (e.g., composite materials). Here, we develop the extensible, plate-like mechanical metamaterials at the microscale using the functionally graded materials (FGM-MM) and the carbon nanotubes (CNT-MM) to obtain the advanced structural materials with good maneuverability over the postbuckling response. Theoretical models are developed to investigate the postbuckling response of the FGM-MM and CNT-MM subjected to the bilateral constraints, and numerical simulations are carried out to validate the theoretical results. The theoretical models are used to investigate the maneuverability of the postbuckling behaviors with respect to the material properties (i.e., the FGMs and CNTs) and geometric properties (i.e., the corrugated microstructures). The findings show that the corrugation in the MM and composition in the FGMs and CNTs assist in tuning the buckling mode transitions. The reported CNT-MM and FGM-MM provide a novel direction for programming the mechanical response of the artificial materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Fluorine incorporated amorphous carbon (a-C:F) thin films were prepared by Microwave Surface Wave Plasma chemical vapour deposition (MW SWP CVD) using a mixture of carbon tetrafluoride (CF4) and acetylene (C2H2) gas along with argon (Ar) as dilution gas. Optical properties studied by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy shows an increase in optical band gap with respect to CF4/C2H2 flow rate ratio. Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies show formation of C–F bonding configuration with high fluorine incorporation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) shows carbon peaks shifted to higher binding energy levels due to carbon fluorine linking. CFx bonding configuration enhanced with more and more fluorine incorporation. Raman studies of the films show structural transition with fluorine incorporation. From these studies correlation of optical properties, bonding configuration and structural properties of fluorinated carbon thin films were discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Correlating the effect of the Al2O3 layer with the molecular size and the LUMO level of the sensitizers. ► Over 8% in the efficiency of Al2O3 modified DSSCs can be facilely obtained using simple organic sensitizers. ► Influence of Al2O3 overcoat on the pore microstructure and electronic energy level of the electrode was examined.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The Amazon watershed harbors a megadiversity of terrestrial and aquatic plants and animals. Mechanisms that sustain this biodiversity are the water level fluctuations the fluvial dynamics and the intense gene flux due to permanent integration of climatological, geomorphological and biological components of the system. The construction of hydroelectric reservoirs to support economic development of Brazil and other countries that share the Amazon basin will interfere with the ecological dynamics of this ecosystem changing the hydrological, hydrosocial and fundamental processes. Furthermore the construction of Andean reservoirs can disrupt the connectivity with the lower Amazon ecosystem. Principles of ecohydrologies, ecological engineering and preservation of key river basins, have to be applied in order to optimize energy production and promote conservation practices. Long term planning and integration of countries that share the Amazon basin is a strategic decision to control and develop the hydropower exploitation in the region.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The release of petroleum hydrocarbons in the form of oil sludge poses a serious threat to people and the environment. At present, biodegradation of oily sludge is regarded as one of the most promising harmless treatment technologies, where the screening of high efficient degrading strains is the key to its implementation. In the present study, a strain Proteus mirabilis SB was isolated from oil sludge of Jingbian Oil Field. The strain grew and reproduced rapidly with petroleum hydrocarbon as the sole carbon source in the optimal growth temperature range of 30–35 °C, and salinity less than 6%. Its effective emulsification function was attributed to the production of biosurfactants, mainly rhamnolipids, through metabolism. Analysized by gas chromatography (GC) and four-fraction the degradation efficiency of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) reached 70.5% within 2 weeks in the liquid culture medium, while the degradation efficiencies of saturated hydrocarbons, aromatics, resins and asphaltenes were 90.8%, 69.2%, 16.3% and 31.5%, respectively. For degrading petroleum hydrocarbons in oil sludge within a quasi-solid culture system under standard atmospheric conditions, a total degradation efficiency of 76.9% over 60 days was obtained, while 90.8% of saturated hydrocarbons and 69.2% of aromatics were degraded. Overall, the strain was capable of degrading petroleum hydrocarbons in both crude oil and oil sludge with high efficiencies This development demonstrated strong potential of Proteus mirabilis SB for oil sludge treatment and in situ bioremediation of crude oil contaminated soil/land.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Parts of CERN’s accelerator complex and experiments, especially in the antimatter field, require a vacuum in the 1 0 − 12 mbar range or better. Thus gauges are needed to reliably measure XHV during experimental operation and in order to study the vacuum science needed for those experiments. We therefore built a setup to reach 1 ⋅ 1 0 − 13 mbar in order to simultaneously compare different hot cathode ionization gauges with the ability to measure high UHV and XHV close to their lower pressure limit: Barion extended, Extractor IE514, a modulated Bayard–Alpert gauge and two Improved Helmer gauges. All gauges but the Extractor behave similarly with respect to small pressure variations around the limit pressure, while the Extractor seems to overestimate high UHV hydrogen pressure. We show how gauge operation determines our ultimate achievable pressure due to outgassing, which was comparable for all gauges and in the order of Q ∼ 1 0 − 10 mbar l s − 1 . Further we show the disturbances caused in the static system due to gauge pumping (visible only as electronic pumping), and report some of the possible difficulties and origins of noise when measuring pressures in the XHV range, including the thermoelectric effect.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The intracellular ice formation (IIF) behavior of Haliotis diversicolor (small abalone) eggs is investigated in this study, in relation to controlling the cooling rate and the concentration of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The IIF phenomena are monitored under a self-developed thermoelectric cooling (TEC) cryomicroscope system which can achieve accurate temperature control without the use of liquid nitrogen. The accuracy of the isothermal and ramp control is within ±0.5°C. The IIF results indicate that the IIF of small abalone eggs is well suppressed at cooling rates of 1.5, 3, 7 and 12°C/min with 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 4.0M DMSO in sea water. As 2.0M DMSO in sea water is the minimum concentration that has sufficient IIF suppression, it is selected as the suspension solution for the cryopreservation of small abalone eggs in order to consider the solution’s toxicity effect. Moreover, IIF characteristics of the cumulative probability of IIF temperature distribution are shown to be well fitted by the Weibull probabilistic distribution. According to our IIF results and the Weibull distribution parameters, we conclude that cooling at 1.5°C/min from 20 to −50°C with 2.0M DMSO in sea water is more feasible than other combinations of cooling rates and DMSO concentrations in our experiments. Applying this protocol and observing the subsequent osmotic activity, 48.8% of small abalone eggs are osmotically active after thawing. In addition, the higher the cooling rate, the less chance of osmotically active eggs. A separate fertility test experiment, with a cryopreservation protocol of 1.5°C/min cooling rate and 2.0M DMSO in sea water, achieves a hatching rate of 23.7%. This study is the first to characterize the IIF behavior of small abalone eggs in regard to the cooling rate and the DMSO concentration. The Weibull probabilistic model fitting in this study is an approach that can be applied by other researchers for effective cryopreservation variability estimation and analysis.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Damping of convection is key in the precise measurement of a diffusion coefficient in melt, and applying a static magnetic field to the melt is a promising method of realizing damping in electrically conducting melt such as a semiconductor and metal. Convection behavior in a melt with a low Grashoff number under a uniform static magnetic field was calculated on the basis of the finite element method. Using the results, the specimen geometry and the direction of the applied magnetic field in diffusion experiments with a diffusion-couple method were evaluated by the numerical simulation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Enhanced geothermal system (EGS) provides a feasible way for extracting geothermal energy from hot dry rock (HDR) reservoirs, whereas seismic risk it might induce and enormous cost impair its prospects. For sustainability, circulating fluid in a closed loop to extract thermal energy from a deep geothermal reservoir seems more reasonable and receives increasing attention. With this aim, using a super long gravity heat pipe (SLGHP) to extract geothermal energy from HDR reservoirs was tried by several researchers due to its extremely extraordinary heat transport ability. Jiang et al. designed a SLGHP, by which a thermal power as high as 200 kW was achieved from a 3000 m depth HDR reservoir successfully. The pioneering work proves the feasibility of a safer way for harvesting geothermal energy other than EGS, more importantly, it does not consume power and avoids the toughest issue of pipe scaling in a conventional geothermal production system. The article reviews the latest advances in SLGHPs for geothermal energy extraction. Laboratory experiments and representative in-situ tests are thoroughly analyzed with respect to technologies employing natural circulation inclusive of gravity-assisted heat pipe (GHP) to harvest geothermal energy. Theoretical and numerical work is also reviewed as significant supplements to experimental investigation. Key factors involved are discussed to clarify the challenges of GHPs in engineering for geothermal energy extraction. Low thermal extraction power and economic benefits as well as lack of highly efficient technology to convert heat to electricity are the main barriers of the application of SLGHPs in geothermal energy extraction and utilization. Nonetheless, previous investigation on SLGHPs offers new insights into geothermal energy exploitation from HDR reservoirs.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Structural changes developed in GeS glassy alloy with incorporation of Ga have been investigated using vibrational spectroscopy. Thermal evaporation technique has been employed to deposit thin films of Ge20S80−xGax glassy alloy. Structural transformations in bulk and thin films have been examined from Raman and FTIR spectra recorded at room temperature. Observed left shift in the Raman spectra and right shift in the IR spectra are consequence of increase in reduced mass of the alloy. Ga occupy the Ge sites, due to atomic similarity, and results in the formation of Ge(Ga)S4 tetrahedra units and S3Ge(Ga)-(Ga)GeS3 ethane like structures. Broadening of IR and Raman bands with Ga concentration reveals the conception of GaS bonds. Chemical changes developed in the Ge-S-Ga glass have been correlated with XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) chemical shift. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses reveal the existence of metal-metal and SS bonds in violation to the chemical ordered network model.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Boron-containing polymers have recently attracted considerable attention due to their unique properties that are imparted by the specific characteristics of the element boron. Via innovative synthetic approaches, organometallic polymers comprising boron centers in either the tri- or the tetra-coordinate state have become accessible. The former situation, for example, facilitates the incorporation of the boron's vacant p orbital in an extended π-system. Strong interactions of the boron centers with adjacent donor moieties lead to tetracoordinate boron groups. Both features have a significant effect on the properties of the resulting materials, eventually enabling new functionalities. Herein, inorganic–organic hybrid polymers having boron in the main chain are discussed, as well as selected examples of side-chain boron-functionalized polymers, and inorganic polymers comprising chains of concatenated BN or BP units. Additionally, the first results obtained with heavier group 13 element-containing macromolecules are summarized.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This work presents the utilization of mathematical models which represent the energy processing on Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems. Such models are part present on literature and part proposed by the authors. All models are implemented in MATLAB GUIDE code which allows the analysis, helps on the design and permits the operational behavior and energy contribution simulation of GCPV with different sizes. The work also presents comparison between the data generated by the program and some measured data from installed Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Semitransparent/opaque PV modules are integrated on façade and roof of a building. ► Room temperature is higher in semitransparent than opaque PV. ► Maximum room air temperature of 22.0°C is achieved in BISPVT system for roof.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This study presents an experimental investigation on the pumped two-phase cooling system designed for battery thermal management. The experimental system was established with R1233zd as the refrigerant, and a dummy battery was used to simulate the heat generation during battery operation. The thermodynamic cycle, wall temperature distribution of the cold plate and overall heat transfer coefficient were analyzed under steady state, while the transient response of the system with pump control was also studied. Results showed that the evaporating pressure of the system was not sensitive to the refrigerant mass flux, while it could be raised under higher heating loads. Both the refrigerant mass flux and vapor quality at the cold plate outlet showed little influence on the wall temperature distribution of the cold plate, however their effects on the overall heat transfer coefficient were different. An optimum value of vapor quality at cold plate outlet could be found for the pumped two-phase cooling system to achieve a maximum heat transfer coefficient. Based on this feature, a pump control program was designed and embedded into the system, and transient experiment showed that the control program could effectively handle the sharp increase of heating load. The application of the control program could lead to a near 10 K decrease in wall temperatures of the cold plate by maintaining the outlet vapor quality of the cold plate at 0.25 when the heating load was instantly raised from 100 W to 600 W, meanwhile the growth of wall temperature was also slower. The results of this study can serve as a guideline for the application of pumped two-phase cooling system on battery thermal management.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Recognition of moisture condensation using nonlinear characteristics of quartz crystal with Colpitts circuit. • This method is cleverer, it has a high measurement accuracy and sensitivity, and the requirement of the measurement method is not very high, easy to achieve. • The sensor has fast response time and recovery time.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A methodology is developed for calculating the correct size of a photovoltaic (PV)-hybrid system and for optimizing its management. The power for the hybrid system comes from PV panels and an engine-generator – that is, a gasoline or diesel engine driving an electrical generator. The combined system is a stand-alone or autonomous system, in the sense that no third energy source is brought in to meet the load. Two parameters were used to characterize the role of the engine-generator: denoted SDM and SAR, they are, respectively, the battery charge threshold at which it is started up, and the storage capacity threshold at which it is stopped, both expressed as a percentage of the nominal battery storage capacity. The methodology developed is applied to designing a PV-hybrid system operating in Corsica, as a case study. Various sizing configurations were simulated, and the optimal configuration that meets the autonomy constraint (no loss of load) was determined, by minimizing of the energy cost. The influence of the battery storage capacity on the solar contribution is also studied. The smallest energy cost per kWh was obtained for a system characterized by an SDM=30% and an SAR=70%. A study on the effects of component lifetimes on the economics of PV-hybrid and PV stand-alone systems has shown that battery size can be reduced by a factor of two in PV-hybrid systems, as compared to PV stand-alone systems.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Single junction p-i-n μc-Si:H solar cells were prepared in a low-cost, large-area single chamber radio frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition system. The effects of seeding processes on the growth of μc-Si:H i-layers and performance of μc-Si:H solar cells were investigated. Seeding processes, usually featured by highly hydrogen rich plasma, are effective in inducing the growth of μc-Si:H i-layers. It has been demonstrated that p-layer seeding methods are preferable to i-layer seeding. While performance of μc-Si:H solar cells produced by i-layer seeding methods was usually limited by very low fill factors, μc-Si:H solar cells with good initial and stabilized conversion efficiencies were obtained by p-layer seeding.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Early leak detection of liquid and gas of both buried and unburied pipelines remain a critical task for economical and safety reasons. Several techniques were recently suggested and tested in real-life conditions and the corresponding results are very encouraging since they offer low cost solution while they yield both true detection and accurate localization of the leak. However, most of the techniques are not robust enough for all possible scenarios and may fail under certain environmental conditions. This review paper presents the most recent findings in acoustic and infrared (IR)-based leak detection techniques which remain the most widely used techniques for liquid and gas leaks detections respectively. However, they may fail under some situations. For instance IR-based techniques are not adequate during rainy, humid, or sandy weather or when ppb sensitivity is required, while acoustic sensors are not adequate for gas leak detection or when additional sources of acoustic noise are in the vicinity of the target area. Thus, the paper provides other alternative techniques such as ground penetrating radar (GPR), temperature profiling, and photoacoustic sensing techniques. Several important research works and real-life applications are cited in an attempt to provide a reasonable cross-section of various techniques. The paper can be useful for either a fresh researcher in the area, or for a skilled R&D engineer involved in the design of a leak detection solution since it presents the most recent leak detection techniques.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "FeSe Superconducting bulks with high superconducting phase ratio were prepared with high energy ball milling (HEBM) aided sintering process. During the HEBM process, the solid solution of Fe–Se (Fe(Se)SS) can be successfully obtained, which not only assured the atomic uniformity of precursor powders, but greatly shortened the diffusion distance between Fe and Se atoms. Therefore tetragonal β-FeSe superconducting phase can be formed directly with one step sintering process and the formation of hexagonal δ-FeSe non-superconducting phase can be avoided. The influences of Fe/Se ratio and sintering temperature on the phase transition process and the superconducting properties were systematically studied. The change of Fe/Se ratio showed great influences on both the superconducting volume and critical temperature of final bulks. By increasing the sintering temperature to 700 °C, FeSe bulk with higher texture, better crystallization and optimized chemical composition was achieved. The FeSe superconducting bulk with the critical temperature T c(onset) of 9.0 K was obtained with the Fe/Se ratio of 1.20, HEBM time of 6 h, and sintering temperature of 700 °C.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Cancer is a complicated disease for which finding a cure presents challenges. In recent decades, new ways to treat cancer are being sought; one being nanomedicine, which manipulates nanoparticles to target a cancer and release drugs directly to the cancer cells. A number of cancer treatments based on nanomedicine are under way and mostly are in preclinical trials owing to challenges in administration, safety, and effectiveness. One alternative method for drug delivery is the use of photovoltaic nanoparticles, which has the potential to deliver drugs via light activation. The concepts are based on standard photovoltaic cell that holds opposite charges on its surfaces and releases drugs when charge intensity or polarity changes upon photo-stimulation such as from a laser source or sunlight. This review will cover some recent progress in cancer treatment using nanoparticles, including photovoltaic nanoparticles.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this research a techno-economical methodology is presented to evaluate the productivity of a grid connected photovoltaic (PV) system in a specific site in Oman called Sohar. The methodology is based on three factors namely capacity factor, yield factor and cost of energy. The analysis is done by MATLAB software using hourly meteorological data and a model for grid connected PV system. By analysing the obtained meteorological data, it is found that the average daily solar energy in Sohar zone is 6.182kWh/m2 day. The assessment results show that the PV technology investment is very promising in this site whereas the annual yield factor of the system is 1696.6kWh/kWp. Meanwhile, the capacity factor of the proposed system is 19.46%. As for the cost of the energy generated by the proposed system, it is 0.158USD/kWh. This research contains worthwhile technical information for those who are interested in PV technology investment in Oman.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum (Alq3) is a frequently used material for organic light emitting diodes. The electronic properties and solubility can be tuned by chemical tailoring of the quinoline part, which makes it an interesting candidate for organic solar cells. Steady-state absorption and fluorescence, as well as time-resolved fluorescence properties of the parent Alq3 and a series of complexes consisting of derivatives, such as 4-substituted pyrazol, methylpyrazol, arylvinyl, and pyridinoanthrene moieties, of the quinoline ligand, were studied in solutions and in thin films. Suitability of the complexes as anodic buffer layers or dopants in inverted organic solar cells based on the well known bulk heterojunction of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) was tested. The devices equipped with the derivatives showed higher power conversion efficiency (η) compared to the photocells containing the parent Alq3. Open circuit voltage (V oc) was increased when the derivatives were utilized as the anodic buffer layer. Doping of the P3HT:PCBM with a small amount of Alq3 or its derivative improved short circuit current density, V oc, fill factor, and η, while the series resistance decreased. In addition, the devices were stable in air over several weeks without encapsulation. Possible mechanisms leading to the improvements in the photovoltaic performance by using the parent Alq3 or its derivative as buffer layer or dopant are discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Piezoresistive composites are materials that exhibit spatial and effective electrical resistivity changes as a result of local mechanical deformations in their constituents. These materials have a wide array of applications from non-destructive evaluation to sensor technology. We propose a new coupled nonlinear micromechanical-microelectrical modeling framework for periodic heterogeneous media. These proposed micro-models enable the prediction of the effective piezoresistive properties along with the corresponding spatial distributions of local mechanical–electrical fields, such as stress, strain, current densities, and electrical potentials. To this end, the high fidelity generalized method of cells (HFGMC), originally developed for micromechanical analysis of composites, is extended for the micro-electrical modeling in order to predict their spatial field distributions and effective electrical properties. In both cases, the local displacement vector and electrical potential are expanded using quadratic polynomials in each subvolume (subcell). The equilibrium and charge conservations are satisfied in an average volumetric fashion. In addition, the continuity and periodicity of the displacements, tractions, electrical potential, and current are satisfied at the subcell interfaces on an average basis. Next, a one way coupling is established between the nonlinear mechanical and electrical effects, whereby the mechanical deformations affect the electrical conductivity in the fiber and/or matrix constituents. Incremental and total formulations are used to arrive at the proper nonlinear solution of the governing equations. The micro-electrical HFGMC is first verified by comparing the stand-alone electrical solution predictions with the finite element method for different doubly periodic composites. Next, the coupled HFGMC is calibrated and experimentally verified in order to examine the effective piezoresistivity of different composites. These include conductive polymeric matrices doped with carbon nano-tubes or particles. One advantage of the proposed nonlinear coupled micro-models is its ability to predict the local and effective electro-mechanical behaviors of multi-phase periodic composites with different conductive phases.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Prototype devices based on black silicon have been fabricated by microstructuring 250μm thick multicrystalline n doped silicon wafers using femtosecond pulsed laser in ambient gas of SF6 to measure its photovoltaic properties. The enhanced optical absorption of black silicon extends across the visible region and all the black silicons prepared in this work exhibit enhanced optical absorption close to 90% from 300nm to 800nm. The highest open-circuit voltage (V oc) and short-circuit current (I sc) under the illumination of He–Ne continuous laser at 632.8nm were measured to be 53.3mV and 0.11mA, respectively at a maximum power conversion efficiency of 1.44%. Upon excitation with He–Ne continuous laser at 632.8nm, external quantum efficiency (EQE) of black silicon as high as 112.9% has also been observed. Development of black silicon for photovoltaic purposes could open up a new perspective in achieving high efficient silicon-based solar cell by means of the enhanced optical absorption in the visible region. The current–voltage characteristic and photo responsivity of these prototype devices fabricated with microstructured silicon were also investigated.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We present a methodology for estimating the average profiles of daytime and daily ambient temperature from a spatially-continuous database for any location within Europe. The primary database with 1-km grid resolution was developed by interpolation of monthly averages of 7 daily values of temperature: minimum and maximum and 5 measurements at 3-h intervals from 6:00 to 18:00 hours Greenwich Mean Time. With a little over 800 meteorological stations available, we obtained a cross-validation root mean square error of 1.0–1.2°C, while the interpolation error is lower, at 0.5–0.7°C. A polynomial fit was applied to estimate the daytime temperature profile (assuming only time from sunrise to sunset) from the interpolated 3-h measurements for each month. The curve fit coefficients make it possible to calculate a number of derived data, such as average daytime temperature, maximum daytime temperature and time of its occurrence within the region. An example demonstrates the coupling of the simulated daytime temperature profile with a model for assessing the relative efficiency of electricity generation by crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules. As an alternative to the polynomial fitting, a double-cosine method was applied to enable calculation of daily (24-h) temperature profiles for each month using interpolated minimum and maximum temperatures. Compared to the polynomial curve-fitting, this method does not offer lower errors, but it provides data which are more suitable for estimation of solar thermal heating or calculation of degree days for building heating/cooling.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The advantage of PV–thermal hybrid systems is their high total efficiency. By using concentrating hybrid systems, the cost per energy produced is reduced due to simultaneous heat and electricity production and a reduced PV cell area. In this article, the optical efficiency of a water-cooled PV–thermal hybrid system with low concentrating aluminium compound parabolic concentrators is discussed. The system was built in 1999 in Älvkarleby, Sweden (60.5° N, 17.4° E) with a geometric concentration ratio of C=4 and 0.5kWp electric power. The yearly output is 250kWh of electricity per square metre solar cell area and 800kWh of heat at low temperatures per square metre solar cell area. By using numerical data from optical measurements of the components (glazing, reflectors, and PV cells) the optical efficiency, η opt, of the PV–CPC system has been determined to be 0.71, which is in agreement with the optical efficiency as determined from thermal and electrical measurements. Calculations show that optimised antireflection-treated glazing and reflectors could further increase the electric power yield.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The sulfide compound Bi2SeS2 is an environmentally friendly thermoelectric material, which is as an analogy of the traditional compound Bi2S3. Here, a high ZT value of 1.04 at 773 K is obtained through synergistically tuning the electrical transport properties by using Cu and I as the dual carrier providers and suppressing the lattice thermal conductivity by forming the Cu-rich nano-precipitates. The dual carrier providers lead to exclusively high electrical conductivity and hence a large power factor over 650μWm−1K−2 at 773 K. The atomic resolved annular dark field STEM reveals the interstitial Cu and S deficiency would result into the formation of BiCuS2 or Cu2S nano-precipitates and embed in the lattice of Bi2SeS2, serving as strong phonon scattering. This work suggested that nanostructured Bi2SeS2 is very promising for waste heat energy harvesting in the future.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Discovering exceptions has been a major route for advancing sciences but a challenging and risky process. Machine learning has shown effectiveness in high throughput search of materials and nanostructures, but using it to discover exceptions has been out of the norm. Here we demonstrate the use of genetic algorithm to discover unexpected thermal conductivity enhancement in disordered nanoporous graphene as compared to periodic nanoporous graphene. Recent studies have concluded that random pores in nanoporous graphene lead to reduced thermal conductivity than periodic pores, due to phonon Anderson localization. This work, however, aims to challenge this accepted knowledge by searching for exceptions. A manual search was first shown to be expensive and unsuccessful. An efficient “two-step” search process coupled with genetic algorithm was then designed, and unexpected thermal conductivity enhancement was successfully discovered in certain structures with random pores, at a fraction of the computational cost of the manual search. Through structural analysis, we proposed that such unusual enhancement is due to the effect of shape factor and channel factor dominating over that of the phonon localization. Our work not only provides insights in thermal transport in disordered materials but also demonstrates the effectiveness of machine learning to discover small probability events and the intriguing physics behind.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The thermal time constant distribution of a photovoltaic panel has been measured experimentally. A wide spectrum, ranging between a few milliseconds and a few hours, has been detected. A simple thermal analysis can only explain time constants up to 500s. It was found that the lateral heat diffusion inside the solar cells was responsible for the observed phenomena. The reason was the top finger-shaped contact and the non-uniform characteristics of the individual solar cells, that gave rise to a non-uniform power distribution and hence a lateral transient heat transfer. The experiment demonstrated that the conventional method used for thermal characterization of semiconductor devices, involving electric preheating, should not be used for photovoltaic panels due to their large dimensions as compared to other electronic devices.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report on the effects of air-holes on temperature and temperature gradient of solid-core photonic crystal fiber lasers (PCFLs) using finite element method. The temperature distribution and the temperature gradient over PCFL cross section were simulated as function of induced heat. Our simulations were devoted to three kinds of PCFLs with various d/Λ ratios where large-mode-area solid-core PCFLs with air-holes triangular lattice as cladding and polymer coatings were considered. For thermal modeling, all cooling mechanisms such as convection and radiation have been taken into account. Also, the temperature dependence of silica thermal conductivity has been considered. The results show that variation of d/Λ ratio has no noticeable effects on the core temperature, whereas the presence of air-holes in the cladding can significantly increase the temperature gradients. Moreover, the importance of heat dissipation by radiation, which is usually neglected in the literature were shown. It is shown that this effect is a robust cooling mechanism for fiber lasers.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A cable corrosion monitoring sensor with a temperature compensation probe has been designed and manufactured to monitor the corrosion of high-strength steel wires in the transition zone between the cable body and the anchorage. The influence of temperature and tensile force on the resistance of steel wires was thoroughly investigated. Reliability tests were conducted on the temperature compensation probe, along with salt spray corrosion tests on the corrosion sensor. The research results demonstrated that, compared to the temperature sensor, temperature compensation probe can better reflect the actual temperature of the corrosion sensor and provide effective temperature compensation for the corrosion sensor. Moreover, the developed corrosion sensor can effectively reflect the mass loss rate of the corrosion probe. The sensor is capable of detecting a corrosion level as low as 0.02 % of the complete steel wire mass, which corresponds to an average corrosion depth of 0.412 μm.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Single crystals of Bi2Te3 were prepared by a modified Bridgman method. The as-prepared Bi2Te3 was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Anisotropic phenomena in the layered Bi2Te3 crystal was investigated. The measurements showed that the electrical conductivity, Hall mobility and Seebeck coefficient (TEP) have anisotropic nature. From these measurements type of conduction and several physical parameters such as diffusion coefficients, diffusion lengths, and effective masses of carriers were estimated.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The effect of (NH4)2S-based chemical treatment on type-II InAs/GaSb superlattice has been investigated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry together with the fractional derivative spectrum model have been used for surface and interface characterization. It has been shown that As2S3 and In2S3 compounds are created during 21% (NH4)2S-based chemical treatment. Additionally, the reduction of leakage current of InAs/GaSb-based photodetectors has been observed. These results indicate that 21% (NH4)2S chemical treatment seems to be a promising long term stable passivation method for InAs/GaSb superlattice-based photodetectors.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "State of the art, grid integrated photovoltaic inverters have the best efficiencies of approximately 98% at medium power ranges. Operations at lower and at higher power ranges decrease the efficiencies of these devices to some extent because of technical implications of the inverter. The nominal power of photovoltaic inverters is usually specified by the inverter manufacturer considering standard test conditions and/or normal operating conditions. If the inverters are oversized higher losses do appear as the inverter converts more energy at the lower power ranges and if the inverter is undersized higher energy losses appear as the inverter converts more energy at the higher power ranges. Especially due to the inverter's maximum power limitation a part of the disposable solar energy at very high incidences may be rejected by the solar inverters. Therefore a correct sizing defines an optimal solar generator size in relation to the inverter size which maximizes its yearly energy conversion. Due the inverters efficiency curve characteristic, an optimal sizing of the inverter depends on: (i) technological aspects of the solar inverter and photovoltaic modules, (ii) climatological aspects of the location where the inverter is installed and (iii) time resolutions considered for the simulations which have to be accomplished to obtain the yearly energy conversion. In the present work, different system configurations are simulated using the software PVsystTM in order to assess and compare an optimized system configuration for three different locations, Capivari de Baixo-SC (Latitude 28°S), Juazeiro do Norte-CE (Lat. 7°S) in Brazil and Freiburg in Germany (Lat. 48°N). The limits of the method are discussed and a method is proposed to assess to which extent the annual energy YIELD per unit of installed solar generator peak power can be improved and compared for different PV technologies. Considering a specific energy price, in either a net-metering or a feed-in tariff market (see e.g. ), the higher inverter investment cost due to an eventual over sizing of the inverter should be justified by a higher annual feed in revenue due to the higher amount of energy injected to the grid.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Passive heat transfer (PHT) methods provide an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly approach for transferring heat between systems, making them a promising solution for renewable and clean energy utilization across various applications. Changing the performance of heat transfer systems can be achieved by manipulating fluid flows. In this study, an investigation was conducted on the use of four blocks with different positions and sizes as obstacles embedded within a square enclosure, which affected the heat transfer through natural convection. Additionally, the study explored the effectiveness of a hybrid nanofluid created by injecting two types of nanoparticles, titanium oxide ( Ti O 2 ) and Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT), into the cooling fluid. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were employed to examine the impact of the blocks, nanoparticle concentration, and Rayleigh number on heat transfer parameters. The findings revealed that the addition of a 6 % volume fraction of titanium oxide and MWCNT to the base fluid resulted in a notable increase of over 5 % but less than 30 % in the average Nusselt number. In contrast to expectations, embedding obstacles drooped off average Nusselt number by 9 to 30 % in Rayleigh numbers of 10,000 and 100,000, and had no effect in Rayleigh numbers of 100 and 1000.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We present the results of electrical resistivity, thermoelectric power and thermal conductivity on polycrystalline MgB2 samples. From the analysis of the results we find the Fermi energy E F=0.8 eV and the electron–phonon coupling constant, λ tr, estimated from transport properties, lies in the range 1.25–2.25.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, we used a hydrothermal route to synthesize tellurium selenide-gadolinium tungsten oxide material for supercapacitor application. Structural characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the composite material consists of phases from the starting materials (i.e. Gd2(WO4)3 and Te0.39Se0.61). The composite material was amorphous up to annealing temperature of 700 °C but became crystalline at and beyond 800 °C. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) results confirmed that all the elements in Gd2(WO4)3 and Se0.61Te0.39 were present except selenium that was not detected in the composite material due to the possibility of overlap between rare earth elements (REE) with selenium. The band gap energy determined for Gd2(WO4)3 is 3.28 eV and after the incorporation of Te0.31Se0.61, it slightly increased to 3.39 eV for Gd2(WO4)3/Te0.39Se0.61. The electrochemical properties of all the materials indicated a quasi-reversible system and the current response was increasing with increasing scan rates indicating battery-type electrodes. The specific capacity obtained from GCD at a current density of 1.2 A g−1 were 64.3, 17.3 and 23.8 C g−1 for Gd2(WO4)3, Te0.39Se0.61 and Gd2(WO4)3/Te0.39Se0.61, respectively. Gd2(WO4)3 showed superior electrochemical performance compared to the composite however, the composite showed more pseudocapacitive nature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Mixture of thermoelectric Bi2Te3 and ferromagnetic Ni powders was spark-plasma-sintered to prepare bulk composites with different Ni content (0.5 and 1.25 at.%). Hexagonal Bi2Te3, cubic Ni and trigonal NiTe2 phases coexist in the composites. The Bi2Te3 phase forms matrix of the composite, whereas the Ni and NiTe2 phases corresponds to filler. The filler is formed by Ni@NiTe2 (“core-shell”) inclusions. Forming “core-shell” inclusions is due to high-temperature diffuse redistribution of Ni during the composites sintering. Gradient distributions of Ni, Te and Bi exist within these inclusions. Embedding the Ni filler into the Bi2Te3 matrix lead to drastic decrease of electrical resistivity, decrease of Seebeck coefficient, and increase of thermal conductivity. As result, the composites demonstrate enhanced thermoelectric efficiency. Optimal combination of thermoelectric properties for the composite with x = 0.5 at.% leads to more than two-fold enhancement of the thermoelectric figure-of-merit (∼0.67 for the composite against ∼0.30 for reference Bi2Te3 sample).",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Inverted polymer-based bulk-heterojunction organic photovoltaic (BHJ-OPV) device designs have enabled a breakthrough in operational lifetime through use of stable electrode materials. To date, there have not been systematic performance parameter comparisons between conventional and inverted devices that consider a range of different metal electrodes and presence of native metal oxides at the organic-metal interface. Here, we systematically compute optical and electronic performance parameters for both conventional and inverted BHJ-OPV devices for 15 different electrode types covering a range of workfunctions. We quantitatively demonstrate that (1) high-workfunction metal electrodes (Au, Pd, Ni) are ideal for high-efficiency inverted device performance; and (2) native metal oxide on metal electrodes (e.g., CuO/Cu, Ag2O/Ag, NiO/Ni), which dramatically reduce conventional device efficiencies, can result in highly efficient inverted BHJ-OPV devices (efficiency of up to 6.7% for the P3HT:PCBM system). This work is an important advance over prior studies as it predicts the electrode materials and configurations that can lead to both high efficiency and high stability BHJ-OPV devices.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Compounds that inhibit phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) have been developed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Because men with erectile dysfunction frequently have comorbid cardiovascular disease, they may have limited cardiac repolarization reserve and be at risk of arrhythmia if treated with medications that prolong ventricular repolarization. The human ether-a-go-go related gene (HERG) channel is important for repolarization in human myocardium and is a common target for drugs that prolong the QT interval. We studied the ability of three compounds that inhibit PDE5—sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil—to block the HERG channel. Using a whole cell variant of the patch-clamp method, the HERG current was measured in a stably transfected human embryonic kidney cell line expressing the HERG channel. The compounds produced dose-dependent reductions in HERG current amplitude over a concentration range of 0.1 to 100 μM. The IC50 values were 12.8 μM for vardenafil and 33.3 μM for sildenafil. Because the maximum soluble concentration of tadalafil (100 μM) produced only a 50.9% inhibition of the HERG current amplitude, the IC50 value for tadalafil could not be determined with the Hill equation. Tadalafil had the weakest capacity to block the HERG channel, producing a 50.9% blockade at the maximum soluble concentration (100 μM), compared with 86.2% for vardenafil (100 μM) and 75.2% for sildenafil (100 μM). In conclusion, the concentrations of the PDE5 inhibitors required to evoke a 50% inhibition of the HERG current were well above reported therapeutic plasma concentrations of free and total compound. None of the three compounds was a potent blocker of the HERG channel.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Cast multicrystalline silicon ingots are widely used in photovoltaic manufacturing. A key issue to achieving high solar cell efficiencies is attaining an optimized temperature profile during ingot fabrication in order to control the formation of extended defects such as grain boundaries, sub-grain boundaries and dislocations. Numerical simulation is a powerful tool to help understand and depict the temperature distribution inside the growth furnace and to allow tailoring of the growth conditions to achieve high quality with a minimum of defects. Two major types of casting furnaces, direct solidification system and heat exchange method system, will be compared from the aspects of thermal field, crystal quality and related numerical simulations.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • The change in the cell volume leads to convergence of the electronic bands. • The maximum value of the power factor increases with increasing cell volume. • In unstable structures, the bands convergence effect is observed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Cost-effective and spectrally selective solar absorbers that possess high solar absorptance, low thermal emittance, and superior thermal stability are essential for photothermal conversion applications, e.g., industrial heating, solar desalination, photothermal catalysis, and concentrating solar power systems. Here, a new strategy using a selective leaching reaction is demonstrated for transfiguring the broad-spectrum and highly reflective aluminum alloys into plasmonic-nanostructure selective solar absorbers (PNSSAs). Enabled by surface plasmon resonance, this strategy via assembling copper nanostructured thin film on an alloy mirror yields tunable manipulation of the spectral selectivity, high and omnidirectional solar absorptance (0.94 from 0 to 60°), low thermal emittance (0.03 at 100 °C), and excellent thermomechanical stability. Featured with merits of competitive performance of spectral selectivity, the feasibility of solution-processed fabrication, and cost-effectiveness of raw materials and chemicals, selective-leaching-alloy to achieve PNSSAs is a promising and universal approach for achieving high photothermal efficiency (85%) of solar thermal energy harvesting. The compatibility of this strategy with other metal alloys, such as steel and superalloys, extends its applications to fabricating mid- and high-temperature selective solar absorbers.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► The micro tube exhibits a high compressive strength. ► The micro tube insertion into Al–Cu pad is sensitive to misalignment. ► Experimental results and FE simulations are in a good agreement.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, we present a generic model based on universal of mathematical equations to model the operation of a solar cell. We analyze the output current and the electric power supplied by a solar cell according to the output voltage, temperature and power. The results obtained show that the model is very effective in treating the simulation model of a solar cell on the one hand and secondly the ability to model in an efficient manner a photovoltaic field with fewer errors. This allows operating the photovoltaic generators in optimal conditions, and consequently with a better exploitation of energy.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Crystalline and poorly crystalline bismuth sulfide with different sizes were synthesized using hydrothermal, solvothermal and liquid-phase method at low temperature (110–180°C) through changing reaction conditions. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The results indicated that solvent, reaction temperature and time were key factors for purity, size, and morphology of the resulting products. A reasonable mechanism was proposed for these processes. For the established precursors, we put forward the optimum synthesis conditions for preparing nanoscale bismuth sulfide.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Humidity control, which is affected by the performance of humidifying device and structure of the container, is very important for delaying water loss of fresh products. Humidifying rate and humidity distribution uniformity in fresh-keeping container were investigated to evaluate the characteristic of humidity control by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models. A pressure gauge was adopted to measure the ventilation resistance of products, by which the inertial resistance and viscous resistance values were obtained. The results of humidity performance were evaluated by entropy method. The results showed that the number of ultrasonic atomizers and sensor location had a significant effect on the humidifying rate. The effects of spray height, deflector angle and products quantity on humidifying rate are not significant, but they showed significant difference in the humidity distribution uniformity on products. The results of this study provide a better understanding of humidity control, which will help for the environment control in a fresh-keeping container.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "An electron-donor–acceptor type co-polymer, PDTTBBO, composed of 3,5-dihexyldithieno [3,2-b:2′3′-d] dithiophene as donor and 2,6-dimethyl benzo[1,2-d; 5,4-d′] bisoxazole as an acceptor unit was synthesized by Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) olefination reaction via multi-step procedure. The UV–vis absorption and photoluminescence emission peaks of the co-polymer in chlorobenzene were observed in a range from UV to near 700nm. The lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and highest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO) levels of the co-polymer were estimated at −5.71eV and −3.46eV, respectively, corresponding to a band-gap of 2.25eV. Bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells were fabricated using a blend of PDTTBBO and PCBM with a ratio of 1:1. The short-circuit current density (J sc), open-circuit voltage (V oc) and fill factor (FF) of the device were estimated to be 1.306mA/cm2, 0.628 and 0.37, respectively, corresponding to power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.31% under AM 1.5 illumination.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A model of a solar–wind hydrogen energy system was applied to the Ceará state—Brazil and the prospects for reducing emissions of fossil fuels pollutants in such federal state were studied. This long-term study simulates three scenarios of fast, slow and no introduction of hydrogen in the energy balance of the Ceará state. Not including nitrogen oxides, if fuel burning continues, results indicate that hydrogen energy eventually will reduce to zero all emissions of fossil fuels pollutants in the Ceará state by the year 2060 in both scenarios of hydrogen introduction.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Growth of Au-free axial InAs/InSb HS NW on Si substrate is demonstrated by MOCVD. • Axial InSb HS growth shows a very narrow growth temperature window of 450–470 °C. • Growth time effect of InSb HS NW’s morphology and crystal structure is studied. • Formation of axial and core-shell InSb HS can be controlled by growth time.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Characterizing the hydrodynamics of a fluidized bed is of vital importance to understanding the behavior of this multiphase flow system. Minimum fluidization velocity and gas holdup are two of these key characteristics. Experimental studies addressing the effects of bed height and material density on the minimum fluidization velocity and gas holdup were carried out in this study using a 10.2cm diameter cylindrical fluidized bed. Three different Geldart type-B particles were tested: glass beads, ground walnut shell, and ground corncob, with material densities of 2600, 1300, and 1000kg/m3, respectively. The particle size range was selected to be the same for all three materials and corresponded to 500–600μm. In this study, five different bed height-to-diameter ratios were investigated: H/D=0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 3. Minimum fluidization velocity was determined for each H/D ratio using pressure drop measurements. Local time-average gas holdup was determined using non-invasive X-ray computed tomography imaging. Results show that minimum fluidization velocity is not affected by the change in bed height. However, as the material density increased, the minimum fluidization velocity increased. Finally, local time-average gas holdup values revealed that bed hydrodynamics were similar for all bed heights, but differed when the material density was changed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The scientific and industrial communities worldwide have recently achieved impressive technical advances in developing innovative electrocatalysts and electrolysers for water and seawater splitting. The viability of water electrolysis for commercial applications, however, remains elusive, and the key barriers are durability, cost, performance, materials, manufacturing, and system simplicity, especially with regard to running on practical water sources like seawater. This article, therefore, primarily aims to provide a concise overview of the most recent disruptive water-splitting technologies and materials that could reshape the future of green hydrogen production. Starting from water electrolysis fundamentals, the recent advances in developing durable and efficient electrocatalysts for modern types of electrolysers, such as decoupled electrolysers, seawater electrolysers, and unconventional hybrid electrolysers, have been represented and precisely annotated in this report. Outlining the most recent advances in water and seawater splitting, the article can help as a quick guide in identifying the gap in knowledge for modern water electrolysers while pointing out recent solutions for cost-effective and efficient hydrogen production to meet zero-carbon targets in the short to near term.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The amorphous SrTiO3- crystalline PbS heterojunctions were prepared through different weight percentages of PbS (5 and 10%) to promote the photocatalytic water splitting. The amorphous SrTiO3 exhibits the combination of the hexagonal cone and nanoparticle like morphology. Similarly, the crystalline PbS shows nanoparticle like morphology. The XRD and TEM results further confirm the amorphous SrTiO3-crystalline PbS heterojunction formation. The EDS and XPS analysis confirm the presence of SrTiO3–PbS heterojunction. The SrTiO3–PbS heterojunction inhibits the self-trapped excitons recombination. The formation of amorphous-crystalline heterojunction suppress the electron transfer resistance which effectively reduces the charge carrier recombination. The SrTiO3–PbS (5%) shows efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production of 5.9 mmol g−1h−1 under ultraviolet irradiation.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Three small band gap copolymers based on alternating dithiophene and thienopyrazine units were synthesized via Yamamoto coupling and applied in bulk heterojunction solar cells as donor together with PCBM ([6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester) as acceptor. The polymers have an optical band gap of about 1.3eV in the solid state and only vary by the chemical nature of the solubilizing side chains. The nature of the side chain has a major effect on solubility and processability of the polymer. Using n-butoxymethyl side chains a soluble, easy to process polymer was obtained that gave the best photovoltaic performance. With short-circuit currents up to 5.2mA/cm2 an efficiency of 0.8% was achieved under estimated standard solar light conditions (AM1.5G, 100mW/cm2) with spectral response up to 950nm.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Ion beam sputter deposition (IBSD) method was employed to find optimum conditions for the formation of epitaxial β-FeSi2 films on Si(100) substrate. It was found that crystal structure of the films as determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis is dependent on the substrate temperature as well as on the deposited thickness of sputtered Fe. The film with best crystal properties was obtained either at 873 K with the deposited Fe thickness of 15 nm, or at 973 K with the deposited Fe thickness of 30 nm. The obtained results indicate the importance of Fe and/or Si diffusion in determining the crystal properties of β-FeSi2 film.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, the Silvaco TCAD simulation tool is utilized for modeling of ternary chalcostibite copper antimony sulfide (CuSbS2) thin film solar cells (TFSCs). The earth-abundant CuSbS2 is a promising material as a solar absorber and hole transport layer due to its high optical absorption coefficient, and low cost. CuSbS2 based solar cell can be fabricated in vacuum-free environment. Mostly CdS is used as electron transport layer (ETL) in CuSbS2 based solar cell but the efficiency is low due to creation of Schottky barrier at the back-contact and substantial carrier recombination at the CuSbS2/CdS interface. Hence, a (ITO/n-TiO2/p-CuSbS2/Au) np heterojunction-based solar cell has been developed. The observed maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.26% (open circuit voltage (V oc) = 823 mV, short circuit current (J sc) = 28.48 mA/cm2, fill factor (FF) = 65.1%) is achieved by optimizing the absorber thickness (400 nm) of the solar cell. Different parameters like effect of absorber thickness, back contact, bandgap, carrier concentration, temperature, and defect density are optimized to find the best possible efficiency of the solar cell. The device also exhibits good performance stability at high temperatures. Based on results, a (ITO/n-TiO2/p-CuSbS2/Au) np heterojunction-based fabricated solar cell device is possible in future.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A temperature controlled 1Ω and 10kΩ transportable setup was developed at National Institute of Metrological Research (INRIM) for the calibration and adjustment of multifunction electrical instruments as digital multimeters (DMMs) and multifunction calibrators (MFCs). The two standards are made of two 10Ω and 100kΩ resistor nets connected in parallel and inserted in a temperature controlled aluminum structure. Novelties of the realization are the oil insertion of the 1Ω net with the internal side of the connectors lowering the thermo-electromotive forces (EMFs) effects, and the possibility to know instantly the temperatures of the environment, of the internal of the structure and the last calibration values of the 1Ω and10kΩ standards. Short- and mid-term stabilities of the setup standards resulted on the order and in some cases better than other metrology-grade 1Ω and 10kΩ commercial items. The transport of the setup even turning off its temperature control did not cause appreciable measurement variations on the two standards. The standards uncertainties meet those requested by DMMs and MFCs manufacturers to calibrate and adjust these instruments. A test to adjust a MFC gave satisfactory results.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In x Ga y Se z thin films with In/(In+Ga) ratio between 0 and 1 have been obtained by sequential evaporation and subsequent heating in vacuum at temperatures ranging from 250 to 400 °C. The influence of the metallic ratio and heating temperature on the structural and optical properties of the evaporated layers has been established by means of X-ray diffraction analysis and spectrophotometry.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "CdTe/CdSe and CdSe/CdTe core/shell colloidal quantum dots, both with and without a second CdS shell, have been synthesised and characterised by absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopies, scanning transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Each type of quantum dot had a zinc blende crystal structure and had an absorption edge in the near-infrared, potentially enabling the more efficient exploitation of the solar spectrum. Each was used to sensitise a photovoltaic cell of a ‘Grätzel-type’ design consisting of the dots coated onto mesoporous TiO2, a sulphur-based electrolyte and a platinum top electrode. The photovoltaic efficiency of the cells was found to be greater for Type-II dots as compared to the quasi-Type-II dots. However, the efficiency was reduced on the addition of an outer CdS shell indicating that it acts as a barrier to charge extraction.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "To understand the physical phase structural variation and activation pathway of the active component during the catalytic reduction of pyrite (FeS2)-based catalysts, multiple methods, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and high-temperature in situ XRD, were applied to characterize the catalyst and reaction process. The reaction mechanism was simulated and verified using density functional theory. The results indicated that pyrite-based catalysts promote the CO reduction of SO2 to S through the dynamic transformation of three phases (FeS2, Fe7S8, and FeS), in which S-vacancy formation is the most important step. As the critical temperature for the reaction of FeS2 and CO was initiated at approximately 525 °C, the active component's physical phase structure and activation pathway could be controlled by adjusting the temperature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Wettability between ribbons of two lead SnAgPb (SAP) and SnPb (SP) solders, and a lead-free SnAgCu (SAC) solder on two Ag paste substrates at temperature ranging from 190 to 280°C was investigated by the sessile-drop method. The Contact angle (CA) method at high and room temperature was applied to measure the wettability of solder and Ag substrate. For the CA measurement obtained at high temperature, it is generally seen that CA values decreased with increasing soldering temperatures. On the other hand, the CA values of SAP solder were lower than those of SP and SAC solders at 220–240°C. It is suggested that SAP has a good wettability characteristic, compared to SP and SAC solders, when soldering at 220–240°C. For the CA measurement obtained at room temperature, the results showed that two lead solders had higher CA values as compared to that of a lead-free SAC solder. Furthermore, the CA values of lead solders were known to increase with increasing soldering temperatures, while SAC solder oppositely decreased with the raising soldering temperatures. In addition, CA values of SAP were detected to be higher at higher temperature than those at RT, suggesting that SAP has dewetting characteristics during the soldering process.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Power point tracker algorithms play an important role in the optimization of the power and the efficiency of a photovoltaic generator (PVG).We made the comparison between two algorithms currently implemented for the power optimization of PVG. These algorithms are based on the Perturb Observe and the Conductance-Increment methods allowing the Maximum Power Point Tracking, MPPT, principle. The study leads us to conclude that these algorithms are not well adapted for PVG exposures in very unfavorable but realistic external conditions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In recent years, Zn1 −x Mg x O has attracted the attention of many researchers as its physical behavior can be suitably controlled by varying the Zn/Mg ratio. Also, it has high stability with low toxicity and the abundance of constituent elements. Further, the band offsets can be tuned to a minimum level with respect to a heterojunction partner by suitably controlling the Zn/Mg ratio. These properties make this material as a potential candidate as a buffer layer in the fabrication of Cu(In,Ga)Se2-based solar cells. In our previous study, Zn1 −x Mg x O films prepared by spray pyrolysis at 300°C have shown high resistance and optical transmittance with wide energy band gap. However, it is interesting to note that if the films were conducting, then they can also be used as window layers. In the present investigation, Zn0.76Mg0.24O films have been prepared by spray pyrolysis at an optimized substrate temperature of 300°C with different dopant concentrations that vary in the range, 0–6%. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the films were polycrystalline and exhibited wurtzite crystal structure with a preferential c-axis orientation. The influence of Al doping on the electrical resistivity was found to be significant. The average transmittance of the films was found to be >60% in the visible range with a small variation in the optical energy band gap. The changes occurred in the structure, topography, composition, electrical and optical properties of the layers as a function of dopant concentration have been studied.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In the present work, effects of height, length, and width of a single-slope basin-type solar still on its distillate production was investigated. For this purpose, a radiation model was developed which accounts for the influences of all walls on quantities of received solar radiation by the base and saline water of the still. Moreover, in this radiation model, the side walls of the still were considered as the trapezoid and the diffuse as well as beam components of solar irradiance were separately taken into account for the first time. Abilities of the present model were compared with earlier ones. Furthermore, the predictions of the current model were compared with the present experimental results, and it was observed that the predicted and measured values are in a close agreement. The results of this study show that by increasing the height of still's walls, its efficiency decreases. The model suggests that the height of the front wall should be less than about 0.10 m. Moreover, it is illustrated that by extending the still length, the side walls shadow reduces and consequently, the system efficiency increases. In addition, the optimal width to length ratio was found to be about 0.4.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Increasing energy demand requires the energy harvesting of any dispersed energy in combustion machines, nuclear, geothermal, photovoltaic or solar-thermal devices by thermoelectric materials. NaTaO3 composite material is suggested in this paper for the first time as such material with reasonable high figure-of-merit in the temperature range from 750 to 1273K. While pure NaTaO3 with perovskite crystal structure is an insulator, ceramic NaTaO3–Fe2O3 (n-type) and NaTaO3–Ag (p-type) composites in mixtures around 30mol.% are semiconductors with Seebeck coefficients of −250and 70mV/K as measured in a self-built device even under closed circuit condtions. The electric conductivity for the n-type material increases from 0.02mS/m at 773K to 200mS/m at 1273K leading to a power factor of ZT >4.5*10−6 at 900K and ΔT =500K. This material was found by ab initio calculations using the VASP program. The reason for the high Seebeck coefficient is the large effective mass of NaTaO3 m */m 0 =12, the main factor determining the thermoelectric performance. It is also confirmed, that Fe atoms as dopants enter the Ta-site of NaTaO3, up to 8 at.%, and reduces the bandgap.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter deals with saving our planet, universal peace possible solely through creating of job opportunities. Protection of peace and environment should be carried on after the principle “Preventive Care instead of Cure.” In a confrontation of trouble and solution, with new, sustainable and environment-friendly technologies a way to the dismantling from unemployment and to the consolidation of the social peace is demonstrated. Moreover, the initiated projects are developing the survival basis of the country compatibly with ecology, environment and human health, giving people a positive perspective toward their future. Energy from waste instead of deposition is protecting the habitat from pollution of flora and fauna. The chapter presents the dangers of Air Pollution caused by fossil fuels, particularly for the ozone layer, are pointed out and possible ways of combating them. Some effects of destructive gases on the depletion of the ozone layer are indicated and serious limitations through U.N.E.P (United Nations' Environment Program) are mentioned. Renewable Energy sources may be used by Solar Panels for heat and electricity as well as by wind turbines in order to produce electric power. Electric car propulsion and the development of hydrogen combustion engines show means able to reduce road traffic air pollution to approximately zero.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Hydrogen is considered an important energy carrier and fuel within the context of sustainable energy technologies. However, finding the ways to produce hydrogen in a more nature-friendly manner is vital while increasing the use of hydrogen in energy applications. In the current study, environmental impacts of five different hydrogen production options via nuclear energy are comparatively assessed through a life cycle assessment (LCA) technique in five impact categories; abiotic depletion potential (ADP), acidification potential (AP), global warming potential (GWP), ozone depletion potential (ODP), and human toxicity potential (HTP). Required thermal and electrical energy for production processes are supplied from nuclear power plants (NPPs). Energy and material inputs for production processes are defined. For the extensive LCA calculations, a powerful software is employed. According to the LCA study results, the GWPs of employed hydrogen production methods, namely high temperature electrolysis (HTE), conventional electrolysis (CE), 3-,4-, and 5-step Cu–Cl cycles, are 0.4768, 0.7071, 1.320, 1.201, and 1.346 kg CO2 eq per kg of hydrogen respectively.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Pressure induced structural transition and electrical transport properties are of potential to give brand-new information on the kind of nitride function nanomaterial.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Schematic energy level of and photoinduced charge transfer af PTh/Tio2 nanoparticle interface.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report Cu and Te NMR measurements on Cu2-xTe with x between 0.13 and 0.22. Aided by powder x-ray analysis and computed NMR quadrupole shifts, a structure change near x=0.20 was found consistent with structures reported by Baranova, with best fits to the β-I structure for x=0.22 and β-III for smaller x. NMR T 1 and Hall effect results demonstrate p-type electronic behavior with filling of simple hole pockets induced by increased numbers of vacancies for both phases. Furthermore the Cu and Te chemical shifts are large and negative, as observed in topologically inverted semiconductors, with a splitting into two distinct local environments for both Cu and Te sites in the x=0.22 structure. Cu T 1 results show a rapid decrease of the energy barrier for initiation of Cu ion hopping to 0.12eV for x=0.22, considerably smaller than observed at higher temperatures, indicating a tail of relatively mobile Cu ions which may be of significance for potential device applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Basic properties, such as the phase relationship, crystal structure, and energy gap E g, have been investigated in Sr-rich Sr1− x Ba x Si2. Sr1− x Ba x Si2 (0≤ x ≤1.0) has two phases: one with the SrSi2-type structure and another with the BaSi2-type structure. The SrSi2 phase exists at x ranging from 0 to 0.13, and the BaSi2 phase exists at x ranging from 0.24 to 1.0. The volume increases with x in both the SrSi2 and BaSi2 phases. A volume jump of 13.7% appears at the structural phase transition from the SrSi2 phase to the BaSi2 phase. E g increases with x in SrSi2-phase Sr1− x Ba x Si2 but E g decreases with x in the BaSi2-phase Sr1− x Ba x Si2. In Sr-rich BaSi2-phase Sr1− x Ba x Si2, Ba atoms at a specific crystallographic site, the A1 site, are preferentially substituted by Sr atoms, as well as in Ba-rich BaSi2-phase Sr1− x Ba x Si2.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this study, a dual-type responsive electrochemical immunosensor was developed for the quantitative detection of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a potential biomarker of cardiovascular disease in serum. N-doped graphene nanoribbons (N-GNRs) with good conductivity were used as the sensing matrix modifying the glassy carbon electrode. Palladium platinum alloy (PdPt) nanoparticles with high catalytic performance toward the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were reduced onto amino-functionalized fullerene (n-C60-PdPt) and significantly amplified the electrochemical signal recorded by the amperometric i-t curve. Furthermore, staphylococcus protein A (SPA) with antibody orientation function was introduced to improve the immunoreaction efficiency. Accordingly, a label-free immunosensor was fabricated based on n-C60-PdPt/N-GNRs for the quick detection of PCSK9. Meanwhile, to realize ultrasensitive detection of PCSK9, Pt-poly (methylene blue) (Pt-PMB) nanocomposites synthesized by a one-pot method for the first time were used as a novel signal label, which exhibited uniform morphology as well as good conductivity and produced an electrochemical signal recorded by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Herein, a novel sandwich-type immunosensor was designed using n-C60-PdPt/N-GNRs as the sensing matrix and Pt-PMB as the signal label for sensitive detection of PCSK9. Under optimal conditions, the label-free immunosensor showed a linear range of 10pgmL−1 to 100ngmL −1 with a detection limit of 3.33pgmL−1 (S/N=3), and the sandwich-type immunosensor exhibited a linear range of 100 fg mL−1 to 100ngmL −1 with a detection limit of 0.033pgmL−1 (S/N=3) for PCSK9 detection, indicating its potential application in clinical bioassay analysis.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper addresses the findings of the European Space Agency (ESA) study (Energy and Provision Management Study), performed by an Italian consortium, aimed at designing and breadboarding of an Energy Provision and Management system (EPM), based on Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell (PEFC) technology. The EPM has been developed for supporting space exploration applications, specifically for lunar surface missions. The fuel cell technology has been selected through a trade-off activity, and the power requirements of a Lunar Base (LB) power plant and a Pressurized Lunar Rover (PLR) have been identified. A synergetic design of EPM has been proposed for both the LB and the PLR. Finally three technological demonstrators have been designed, manufactured and tested: i) a 1 kW PEFC stack, ii) a stand-alone power system based on the developed stack, iii) a regenerative power system based on the stand-alone stack connected with a commercial electrolyser. The tests carried out on breadboards, have demonstrated the ability of fuel cell power systems to meet the requirements of future space missions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "NaSICON-type materials have been investigated since 70s and become an attractive candidate for energy storage and many other emerging applications owing to their good ionic conductivity. However, further enhancement in ionic conductivity at room temperature (RT) and facile processing methods to synthesize NaSICON in an energy efficient and low cost manner are required to enable various emerging applications. This study reports a new processing method, termed as mechanical-activation-enhanced reactions, to address these challenges simultaneously. It is shown that Na3Zr2Si2PO12 membranes with little or no impurity, relative densities ∼95 %, and total ionic conductivity of 1.53 × 10−3 S/cm at RT can be synthesized through one high-energy ball milling process followed by one step of high-temperature reaction(s) and sintering at the same time, greatly simplifying the procedure for synthesizing NaSICON membranes while achieving the outstanding ionic conductivity reported in the literature. It is found that mechanical activation at RT has significantly increased the reactivity of the reactants, accelerated the reaction kinetics in forming NaSICON, and increased the bottleneck size of the NaSICON crystal for Na ion transport. This study has provided a new direction to synthesize high performance, low cost NaSICON membranes and offered guidelines for achieving NaSICON membranes with superior ionic conductivity in the future.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Three new selenidostannates have been synthesized by using deep eutectic solvent mixture of choline chloride and 1,8-diaminooctane as reaction medium.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Nanostructured glasses have been exposed outdoors for 12weeks to test their durability, antireflective and self-cleaning performance. It was seen that nanostructured glass sample with 200-nm high nanostructures provided superior antireflective and self-cleaning effect as compared to planar glass over the testing period. This particular nanostructured glass sample also provided the best performance when tested as the packaging cover of a solar module, with reduction in efficiency by only 0.3% over a testing period of 5weeks.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A series of heterojunctions consisting of intrinsic zinc oxide (ZnO) films and p-type Si substrates have been prepared by DC reactive sputtering. The ZnO films were grown at different conditions, and the influence of growth conditions on photovoltaic (PV) property was discussed. It was found that both growth temperature and oxygen partial pressure play important roles for enhancing the PV effect of the samples. By optimizing growth conditions, the PV efficiency has been improved and also by more magnitudes. The open circuit voltage (V oc) and short circuit current (I sc) per square centimeter arrived at 350mV and 2.5mA, respectively. The variation mechanism of PV effect with growth conditions has been investigated in order to understand the photoelectric conversion behavior of the ZnO/Si heterojunction.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The thermal fluctuations contribution to the transport energy of type-II layered superconductors is investigated in the framework of the Lawrence–Doniach model. It was discovered that temperature dependence of the magnetization and the magnetoconductivity of high-temperature cuprate superconductors exhibits an intersection point at a temperature slightly below T c in a wide range of fields. We detect a similar intersection point of the transport energy curves at temperature just below T c in a wide range of fields. Strong thermal fluctuations with interactions treated by a self-consistent theory is used to explain the intersection point. Our results include all higher Landau levels. We show that the two-to three-dimensional crossover is the key for the existence of intersection point.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Experimental and first-principles studies on hydrogen evolution properties of layered GaX (X =S, Se, Te).",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "New glassy materials in the system xCuO-(50-x) CdO–50B2O3 were prepared by a melting-quench technique. Their UV–vis, FTIR, electrical, dielectric, SEM, XRD patterns and density properties were investigated. SEM and XRD studies confirmed their amorphous nature and the presence of crystalline phases in the sample with 50mol% CuO. Replacing CdO with increasing concentrations of CuO decreased the density and increased the molar volume. Optical reflectance spectra revealed the presence of Cu2+ ions in octahedral coordination, as well as the presence of Cu1+ and Cuº in the samples with greater than 30% CuO. FTIR measurements confirmed the conversion of BO4 units to BO3 units with increasing CuO contents. The conduction in the CuO-containing samples increased as the CdO was completely replaced by CuO. The CuO-containing samples exhibited a slight increase in the ɛʹ values with increasing temperature and a decrease with increasing frequency. The ɛʹ values gradually increase upon replacing CdO with up to 40mol% CuO. An abrupt increase in ɛʹ was recorded for the sample with 50mol% CuO, particularly at high temperature. The latter sample showed an εʹ value of 927at 100Hz and 298K. Prepared samples with high ɛʹ values are promising candidates for capacitor materials in electronic devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In line with the worldwide trend, Korea has recognized the importance of renewable energy and extensively supported its exploitation. As of August 2009, the largest incentives for renewable energy are offered to solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, which have vastly increased the installations of this system. On the basis of total paid incentives, the second largest beneficiary is the fuel cell (FC) system. This support has contributed to the successful commercialization of the molten carbonate FC (MCFC) as a distributed generation system (DG). Considering the status of energy systems in Korea, solar PV and MCFC systems are likely to be further developed in the country. The present paper analyzes the exploitation of these two energy systems by conducting a feasibility study and a technology assessment in the Korea environment based on many assumptions, conditions and data involved. The feasibility study demonstrates the positive economic gains of the solar PV and MCFC power plants. The unit electricity generation cost of solar PV is twice that of an MCFC system. In addition, the study reveals the slightly greater profitability of the MCFC. Exact estimation of their future economies is impossible because of uncertainties in many future conditions and environments. Nevertheless, the development of solar cells with higher efficiency is undoubtedly the most critical factor in increasing future profits. On the other hand, reductions in the operation and maintenance (O&M) costs and the natural gas (NG) price are the most important issues in raising the viability of the MCFC system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Today, solar thermal systems are well established worldwide with an enormous potential for energy production and for high contribution to the future green energy system. Solar domestic hot water systems with natural circulation are most favorable in areas with a mean annual sum of global radiation on a horizontal surface above 1800kWh−2 year−1 and with collector areas up to 10m2. Forced circulation systems for flat-type solar collectors could be useful in colder climates and for large systems. The application of more complex solar collector technologies depends on the possible demands for higher temperature levels. Several examples concern some industrial applications, whose heat demands could now be met through solar energy. In all the cases, the next challenge is to swiftly make cost-effective all such devices and technologies.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In order to improve the properties of transparent conductive thin films we have developed a range of multilayer coatings consisting of three to five alternating layers of metals and high refractive index dielectrics. We have used physical vapor deposition (electron gun and thermal evaporation) to prepare optimized coatings with excellent optical and electrical properties, improved thermal endurance and long-term stability. They compare favorably with equivalent doped metal oxide films. We have used ZnS/Ag/ZnS films successfully as electrodes in electrochromic devices prepared in our laboratory. These coatings suppress emissive heat losses and prevent overheating by solar IR radiation, thus improving the performance of electrochromic windows. They can also be used as low emittance coatings in double glazings, especially for solar control applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We study the fabrication of poly(3-hexylthiophene)—P3HT and [6,6]-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester—PCBM based polymer bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells using rotogravure printing. By studying the dependencies of device performance on material and process parameters including contact angles, ink concentrations, ink viscosities, solvent characteristics, and gravure printing parameters, optimized hole transport layers [poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)—PEDOT:PSS] and active layers (P3HT:PCBM) are printed, resulting in devices with power conversion efficiencies as high as 1.68% under AM 1.5 G and a spectrally matched intensity of 100mW/cm2.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The first Bilateral Energy Conference—organized jointly by the E-MRS and MRS—was held at the E-MRS Spring Meeting this year and included the first symposium to appear in Europe dedicated to solar hydrogen production. The strong turnout and high level of interest that was expressed in this symposium bodes well for the future of this exciting and important field.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Data centers have attracted increasing attention worldwide over the last decades due to their high energy consumption. Cooling accounts for about 30–40% of the total energy consumption of data centers. High-temperature data centers could save large amounts of cooling energy by changing their cooling mechanism. More effective use of “free cooling” is the basic and effective means for high-temperature data centers to reduce cooling energy consumption. It is possible to build chiller-less or even chiller-free data centers. They require less capital investment for cooling and allow more hours of “free cooling”. However, a few essential concerns need to be addressed before the wide application of high-temperature data centers, particularly the technical bottlenecks and the reliability and performance of servers and IT equipment. Though many reviews on data centers exist in the existing research, a systematic review of high-temperature data centers, particularly on the above essential concerns, is still unavailable. This paper is intended to fill in these gaps and provide a comprehensive review of these critical aspects. The main benefits and the major bottlenecks for implementing high-temperature data centers as well as the existing efforts and latest technologies to tackle the bottlenecks are categorized and analyzed systematically. In addition, a through review of the main temperature-sensitive IT components (e.g., hard disk drives and CPU) is done, and their current states and potential solutions are analyzed. Finally, the paper elaborates on future perspectives for the development and applications of the high-temperature data center.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "On a global scale, thermoelectric energy remains the main source of the energy industry. This process results in a large amount of coal waste. Among them, the bottom ash still has no suitable application in civil construction and usually is discarded in sedimentation basins. The objective of this investigation is to evaluate the valorization of bottom ash in alkali activation pastes. Rheological, mechanical, microstructure, and durability properties were assessed for application to external structures. Bottom ash and metakaolin were used as aluminosilicate and as an alkaline solution a mixture of sodium silicate and NaOH was made. A room temperature cure was adopted for all the samples. The findings show that the alkali activation of bottom ash (BA) was not satisfactory to achieve minimum strength and durability. BA samples require supplementation to improve its mechanical and durability properties. At 28 days of reaction, the formation of superficial cracks was observed, which contributed to the deterioration in the durability tests. However, metakaolin and bottom ash (MKBA) mixtures resulted in the best performance. It was observed an increase of reaction degree and compressive strength (47.9 MPa at 28 days), greater development of thermal conductivity, and reduced deterioration through wetting and drying cycles, marine environments, and sulfate attack.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Zintl phases have been theoretically predicted to be promising n-type thermoelectric materials, which, however, are very difficult to achieve experimentally, owing to the existence of intrinsic negatively charged defects. Here, taking the representative AMg2Sb2 (A= Yb, Eu, Ca, Sr, Ba) as the examples, we theoretically found that the defect formation energy of negatively charged A and Mg vacancies near the conduction band minimum are lower than other types of defects, playing as the vital role in hindering the experimental realization of n-type conduction. Experimentally, by suppressing the formation of A and Mg vacancies, n-type conduction can be successfully achieved in all the studied AMg2Sb2 Zintl phases. Moreover, taking EuMg2Sb2 as an example, its n-type thermoelectric performance can be significantly improved through further isoelectronic alloying and donor doping. This work highlights the importance of understanding intrinsic defects as a guide for the development of n-type thermoelectric Zintl phases.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Bi2.0Te2.7Se0.3 is the most widely used thermoelectric n-type leg for large-scale cooling applications. However, as-grown electrodeposited Bi2Te3-ySey films typically have a Seebeck coefficient around a third of the bulk value, which sometimes can be improved with thermal annealings. In this work, we report as-grown Bi2Te3-ySey films having a Seebeck coefficient of approximately half the value of bulk without additional thermal treatments. All samples reported were deposited in baths containing no additives, sodium lignosulfonate (SLS), or both SLS plus ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) with a concentration of 1 M HNO3 (pH of 0 ± 0.1) and 0.6 M HNO3 (pH of 0.3 ± 0.1). For each scenario, the deposition was carried out at two different temperatures (0 °C and 5 °C). Seebeck values of −120 μV K−1 have been measured for as-grown films with an optimum morphology and stoichiometry (Bi2Te2.7Se0.3), which is ∼50% of the value obtained for this composition in bulk and the highest among as-grown electrochemically deposited films reported to date. These results are an incentive to revisit and further explore the chemistry behind the electrodeposition of bismuth telluride selenide films to improve the performance of electrodeposited thermoelectric films.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "There are at least 607 thousand households in the Brazilian Amazon that need to be attended with some form of regular electricity service. These households are not attended by the electricity sector through its electricity distribution companies and most of them have some form of precarious decentralized electricity generation that is not registered or regulated in the institutional framework. Diverse initiatives were taken by Brazilian government to attend these household through alternatives that relied on locally available renewable energy. This paper accesses this initiatives of rural electrification in the Brazilian Amazon. First an overview of the problems of rural electricity are discussed and its specificities in the Brazilian Amazon. Then the Brazilian institutional framework that organizes the decentralized electricity generation is described with its various limitations. The diverse initiatives undertaken to attend the rural communities in the Amazon since the 1990s are described, as well as how these initiatives are linked to the policies for rural electrification. The results shows that it can be inferred that sole market mechanisms are not sufficient to guarantee economic sustainability of these projects. This can be one of the reasons why traditional electricity distribution companies showed the lack of interest in promoting rural electrification with other means than grid extension. The most successful projects had financed efforts to integrate the generation of electricity into local development initiatives in order to guarantee sustainability and used substantial part of funding for local mobilization and organization. It needs a paradigm chance by treating these initiatives as local development initiatives and promoting alternative ways for its implementation through partnership between local new actors in the electricity sector and government and implementing policy on a local municipal level.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► A series of polychalcogenides exhibit various anionic, in part nonclassical bonded SeSe and TeTe oligomers as well as infinite chains. ► The same compounds contain cationic Cu atom clusters with Cu deficiencies of different extent. ► Seemingly analogous Ag and Au chalcogenides are without Ag or Au deficiencies.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The experiments to determine the effect of fuel-injection timings on engine characteristics and emissions of a DI engine fueled with NG-hydrogen blends (0%, 3%, 5% and 8%) at various engine speeds were conducted. Three injection timings namely 120°, 180° and 300° CA BTDC with a wide open throttle at relative air–fuel ratio, λ = 1.0 were selected. The ignition advance angle was fixed at 30° CA BTDC, while the injection pressure was fixed at 1.4 MPa for all the cases. The tests were firstly performed at low engine speed of 2000 rpm to determine the engine characteristics and emissions. The results showed that the engine performance (e.g. Brake Torque, Brake Power and BMEP), the cylinder pressure and the heat release have the highest values at the injection timing of 180° CA BTDC, followed by the 300° CA BTDC and the 120° CA BTDC. The NO x emission was found to be highest at the injection timing of 180° CA BTDC. The THC and CO emissions were found to decrease while the CO2 emission increased with the advancement in the injection timing. The addition of a small amount of hydrogen to the natural gas was found to increase the engine performance, enhance combustion and reduce emissions for any selected injection timings. Secondly, the tests were carried out at variable engine speeds (i.e. 2000 rpm–4000 rpm) in order to further investigate the engine performance. The injection timings of 180° and 300° CA BTDC with CNG–H2 blends were only selected for comparisons. The injection timing of the 300° CA BTDC was discovered to yield better engine performance as compared to the 180° CA BTDC injection timing after a cutoff engine speed of approximately 2500 rpm.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A Fresnel lens collector was incorporated in a thermoelectric solar system for combined heat and power (CHP) generation. Two passive (heat pipe thermo-siphon) and active (pumped circulation) cooling systems were used for transferring heat from the cold side of thermoelectric generators to a thermal energy storage. Experimental results from the solar thermoelectric (STE) CHP system equipped with passive cooling showed that the maximum output power of the thermo-siphon from the thermoelectric generators (TEGs) was 70 W/m2. This system also generated 3.8 kW/m2 thermal power in a clear September day from 10:30 to 15:30. The thermal efficiency of the thermo-siphon configuration was 18.05% and its total efficiency (electrical and thermal efficiency) was 18.39%. Additionally, experimental results of the STE CHP system equipped with active cooling were indicative of 33.15% thermal efficiency and 33.88% total efficiency at a flow rate of 700 ml/min. The maximum generated power and stored thermal energy of the system were 143 W/m2 and 6.5 kW/m2, respectively.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The purpose of this study is to evaluate 10 types of power plants available at present including fossil fuel, nuclear as well as renewable-energy-based power plants, with regard to their overall impact on the living standard of local communities. Both positive and negative impacts of power plant operation are considered using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The current study covers the set of criteria weights considered typical for many local communities in many developed countries. The results presented here are illustrative only and user-defined weighting is required to make this study valuable for a specific group of users. A sensitivity analysis examines the most important weight variations, thus giving an overall view of the problem evaluation to every decision maker. Regardless of criteria weight variations, the five types of renewable energy power plant rank in the first five positions. Nuclear plants are in the sixth position when priority is given to quality of life and last when socioeconomic aspects are valued more important. Natural gas, oil and coal/lignite power plants rank between sixth and tenth position having slightly better ranking under priority to socioeconomic aspects.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) has been used to grow corrosion-resistive, semiconducting thin films of the graphite-like polymer polyperinaphthalene (PPN) from 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA). Unlike thermal chemical vapor deposition of PPN from PTCDA, where thin film growth is catalyzed by a transition metal substrate, PPN films have been grown by PECVD for the first time on non-catalytic substrates: indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass, aluminum and silicon. Films with the same morphology and molecular characteristics have also been grown on steel substrates, where iron functions as a growth catalyst. Potentiodynamic corrosion measurements in pH 5 water show that PPN films on steel provide an effective corrosion protection layer. Plasma deposition parameters and electrical conductivities of the films on different substrates have been determined together with their nanoscale morphology and chemical structure using scanning electron microscopy, and Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. These results suggest that under plasma conditions at a substrate temperature of 450°C, a large fraction of the anhydride groups in PTCDA are eliminated without decomposition of the perylene backbone. The perylene and perylenedicarboxylic radicals adsorb on the substrate and undergo plasma-enhanced polymerization to form partially cross-linked PPN thin films.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This study overviews the rapid development of two-dimensional (2D) Transition Metal Dichalcogenide (TMD) materials. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is one of the compounds currently being discussed because of its unique features that allow it to be used in various applications. Its unique structure, electronic properties, magnetic properties, mechanical properties, and band gap make it a viable material for replacing graphene and other semiconductor devices. On a nanoscale, it is a promising material with good spintronics and magnetoresistance properties. It is used in various energy applications including, ultra-low-leakage dynamic memory applications, Solar cell applications, Environmental monitoring applications, microwaves, and optoelectronic devices. The organic FET with MoS2 is a 2-bit memory device that can be controlled by voltage and can be used in low-cost memory devices. Combining MoS2 with other 2D nanomaterials, such as graphene, in hybrid structures can provide a balance between their defects and a superior combination of their wonderful qualities to overcome existing constraints. In this review, we discuss MoS2 properties and structure focusing on its applications and future challenges.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper we will present a newly written energy calculator built as a project between CICESE and the State Energy Commission of Baja California. The system runs server side and is written in PHP and Python storing its data on a MySQL database. The user interface allows the user to input their geographic location, and electrical energy use history. The user can then choose from a virtual warehouse of photovoltaic systems offered by local installers. Using astronomical algorithms, and weather station data the system generates a list of solar intensity values and calculates the response of chosen photovoltaic. The final values calculated are the cost predictions for the next 20 years. Because of its open-source nature, then system can be easily expanded to include wind power systems, carbon production, and ever gas and water usage. The primary user for this system is the general public with hopes that they will become educated on their energy use, and the potential effects of new photovoltaic installations.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Polycrystalline samples of Cox:TiSe2 have been prepared by solid state reaction and characterized by X-ray diffraction, SEM/EDX and XPS. Resistivity data indicate systematic changes upon the addition of cobalt with broad peaks due to Charge Density Wave (CDW) transitions. Clear features seen in thermoelectric power indicate the presence of CDW state in all the samples and are in line with the electrical transport data. Analysis based on a two band model for thermoelectric power could explain the results well. Addition of 1% Co in TiSe2 results in an enhancement of Weak Anti Localization (WAL) effect and supported by Hikami-Larkin-Nagaoka fit. Classical quadratic dependence along with an embedded weak localization (WL) feature at low fields is observed for 6% Co in TiSe2 that could be explained using a Khosla-Fischer fit due its close proximity for a magnetic transition.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "CuInS2 thin films were prepared by sulfurization of electrodeposited Cu–In precursors. Morphological improvement enabled us to fabricate the solar cells using electrodeposited Cu–In precursors. The photovoltaic property of a conversion efficiency of 1.3% was obtained.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Electricity and Water plans to set up a renewable energy department within a year.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Thin CuGaSe2 films were deposited by vacuum co-evaporation and characterized for their structure, properties and performance as hydrogen-evolving photoelectrodes. The 0.9μm thick films were nearly stoichiometric with very slight copper deficiency and showed polycrystalline structure with grain sizes of tens of nanometers. An electrode based on such a film was demonstrated operating with outdoor 1-sun photocurrent of up to 13mA/cm2. Spectral response data show significant incident-photon-to-current efficiency throughout the visible spectrum, peaking at 63% at 640nm. Photocurrent output under simulated 1-sun Air Mass 1.5 light was stable over 4h. Unassisted water-splitting is not possible due to high band edge positions, but operation in tandem configuration with a suitable bottom junction is feasible.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The history of helliotechnology is inseparable from humankind's saga, though no one really knows when it began because the pre-historians and anthropologists are at odds concerning the origins of human species. The developments of helliolithic cultures created a variety of sun-related art forms and myths. The Ayarmaca in northern Chile and the Incas of Peru both believe that their hero Viracocha created humankind; but when they show disrespect to the solar deity, he turns them into painted stone dolls and declines to bring them back to life until properly atoned. Starting with the research on the electrostatic effects—which the lodestone's magnetism had revealed, research had intensified during the 17th and early 18th centuries to explore energy conversion devices in which mechanical, chemical, or electrical energy could be changed from one form to another. It started with the efforts to replace animal and human muscle power with mechanical energy.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In the present study, the hydrothermal characteristics of two different a) serpentine (Conf. A), and b) double serpentine (Conf. B) heatsinks with water/silver Nano Fluid (NF) were studied. To this end, the Finite volume method was performed, and the governing equations were discretized based on the second upwind approach and solved numerically applying the Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure Linked Equations (SIMPLE) scheme. The results demonstrated that the thermal resistance (R) of Conf. A is lower than that of Conf. B at low Re numbers, and these two configurations have an identical R as Re increases to 2000. Also, the convective heat transfer in Conf. A is slightly higher than that in Conf. B and for Re=2000 both configurations have a same h value. Moreover, the increasing of nanoparticle concentration from 0% to 1% increases h by 12.55% and decreases the pressure drop (ΔP) by 4.25%. In addition, the CPU mean temperature of Conf. A is 0.8% and 0.1% lower than that of Conf. B for Res of 500 and 2000, respectively. On the other hand, ΔP in Conf. A is 74% higher than that in Conf. B. Besides, Conf. B exhibits a better temperature uniformity as compared to other configuration. The parameter of figure of merit was obtained as 1.47 to 1.52 at Res of 500 and 2000, respectively, which showed that Conf. B provides a higher hydrothermal performance over the other configuration.The environmental impact of the designed heat sink is equal to 0.5388.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thermal properties of AlGaInP/GaInP MQW red LEDs are investigated by thermal measurements and analysis for different chip sizes and substrate thicknesses. To extract the thermal resistance (Rth ), junction temperature (Tj ) is experimentally determined by both forward voltage and electroluminescence (EL) emission peak shift methods. For theoretical thermal analysis, thermal parameters are calculated in simulation using measured heat source densities. The Tj value increases with increasing the injection current, and it decreases as the chip size becomes larger. The use of a thin substrate improves the heat removal capability. At 450mA, the Tj values of 315K and 342K are measured for 500×500μm2 LEDs with 110μm and 350μm thick substrates, respectively. For 500×500μm2 LEDs with 110μm thick substrate, the Rth values of 13.99K/W and 14.89K/W are obtained experimentally by the forward voltage and EL emission peak shift methods, respectively. The theoretically calculated value is 13.44K/W, indicating a good agreement with the experimental results.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A series of random conjugated copolymers (labeled PMLTQT, PMLT2T, and PMLT3T) consisting of 3,4-diphenyl-maleimide and various thiophene derivatives has been designed and synthesized via Stille cross-coupling for application in polymer solar cells. These copolymers were readily soluble in common organic solvents, thermally stable from 405 to 437 °C upon heating, and exhibited good absorption in the UV and visible regions from 300 to 650 nm. The intensities of the PL emission spectra of these copolymers in a solid film were dramatically quenched by the addition of 50 wt% [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM). Their electrochemical properties indicated that the highest occupied molecular orbital levels of these copolymers were in the range of −5.63–5.73 eV, characteristic of better air stability and a high open-circuit voltage (V oc) suitable for application to photovoltaic cells. Bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices composed of an active layer of electron-donor copolymers blended with the electron acceptor PC61BM or [6,6]-phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) at a weight ratio of 1:3 were investigated. The photovoltaic device containing PMLT3T and PC71BM (1:3, w/w) as the active layer afforded the best performance among these copolymers, with a V oc of 0.74 V, J sc of 7.4 mA cm−2 and a PCE of 1.20% under AM 1.5 G simulated solar light.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Buildings are one of the biggest energy consumers in our world. The concept of zero energy building (ZEB) is an attractive approach in order to reduce the energy requirement of buildings leading to more sustainable cities. Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is one suitable technology for providing electricity to the buildings with a minimum impact. Traditionally, photovoltaics (PV) have been installed looking for maximum yearly energy production. In this work the feasibility of PV working in non-optimal orientations will be explored by using two experimental setups: a photovoltaic façade with a southwest orientation and an architectural model of a building with the façades in the cardinal points, covered with PV. The results show interesting features, considering yearly and hourly generation profiles. Although the annual energy production for the façades and the roof is between 50% and 76% of an optimum angle installation, the façades have a more stable production along the year: monthly production can vary by a factor 2 vs a variation of factor 4 for irradiance. Moreover, the hourly production profiles are displaced from noon so they can match the demand. With some current net metering proposals, non-optimal orientations could even be more economical than the maximum producing orientation.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Closed-Brayton-cycle (CBC) power generation system is a potential high-power electricity generation scheme for hypersonic vehicles, but finite cold source onboard limits its power level. One of power enhancement approaches is building a combined closed-Brayton-cycle and thermoelectric generator (TEG) power generation system, aimed to extend the available temperature range of cold source. In this study, a combined power generation system based on supercritical carbon dioxide closed-Brayton-cycle in combination with multi-stage thermoelectric generator is advanced on hypersonic vehicles to promote electric power, in which the cold source is hydrocarbon fuel at room temperature. Analysis results indicate that the electric power rise percentage realized by TEG is as high as 68.3%. At the maximum CBC power, the TEG power and according total electric power increase with the highest temperature of TEG coolant, but the increasing rate of electric power becomes lower due to the decrease of conversion efficiency. In addition, although the simple recuperated CBC has advantage on power output with finite cold source, the total power of combined system with recompressing layout is always higher, due to a larger heat absorption capacity of fuel for the thermoelectric conversion of TEG.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • A detailed optimization model based on energy cascade utilization. • Technologies sizing and dispatch considering cascade heating utilization. • Methodologies to model segmented waste heat utilization in a DES. • Optimal cascade heat utilization saves 5% cost comparing with traditional models.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This study investigates the potential benefits of semi-transparent photovoltaic windows on the energy, daylighting and thermal performance of commercial buildings. A general simulation methodology is proposed and utilized, integrating thermal, electrical and daylighting analysis. The impact of various building design parameters on the selection of ideal optical properties of semi-transparent photovoltaics is examined. The potential performance of Poly-Si, a-Si/μc-Si and organic cell technologies is also studied. The selection of the module optical properties is shown to be sensitive on the daylight and lighting controls applied and photovoltaic cell technology utilized. The selection of a semi-transparent photovoltaic module with 10% visible effective transmittance resulted in the lowest annual end-use electricity consumption (as low as 5kWh/m2/yr). Finally, simulation results suggest that high cell operating temperatures of up to 64°C could occur that might cause accelerated degradation when organic thin film technologies are used.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "New diamines and tetramines bridged by an electron-deficient chromophore benzo[1,2,5]selenadiazole were synthesized.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents the evolution of the environmental licensing process in Brazil, with focus on transmission lines, identifying and evaluating its critical aspects. For this purpose, we analyze the modalities of insertion of the environmental variable in planning for the Brazilian electric power sector, present an overview of the complexities of energy transmission in the country and describe the evolution of the environmental licensing process, in particular its application to the Madeira transmission line, the world's longest high-voltage direct current line at 2375km, which connects the northern and southern regions of the country. Finally, we succinctly describe the latest developments of the country's environmental legislation, presenting the advances achieved and future challenges.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "There is an increasing demand for innovative solutions to protect the environment from different kinds of industrial pollutants and to complement the existing physical, chemical and biological wastewater treatment techniques. Recently, the use of piezoelectric nanomaterials as catalysts for water purification has been suggested. We show that the observed catalytic activity may not be entirely attributed to the piezoelectric effect of nanomaterials. While piezoelectric-based catalysis has already been studied using several piezoelectric materials, its discrimination against the omnipresent tribocatalysis or sonocatalysis remains in its infancy thus questioning the relevance of the additional piezoelectric contribution. In this study, we investigate the catalytic activities of both piezoelectric barium titanate (BaTiO3) and non-piezoelectric titanium dioxide (TiO2) to distinguish between sono- tribo- and piezocatalytic contributions. Comparing the catalytic performance of BaTiO3 and TiO2 for different concentrations and temperatures gives an approach to better understand the contribution of different physical effects to the catalytic activity of BaTiO3. It is shown that for otherwise identical properties such as size, crystallinity and similar properties of surface terminations, the comparison of TiO2 and BaTiO3 yields a contribution of around 90 % to the piezoelectric effect in the BaTiO3 catalytic response.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, we demonstrate highly stable inverted bulk heterojunction organic solar cells using aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) as electron transport layers fabricated via a non-toxic so-gel process. The conductivity of the AZO layers can be enhanced fourfold as compared to that of intrinsic zinc oxide (ZnO) layers. The transmittance of AZO films is improved and the Haze value of the films is reduced by more than 50% in comparison to that of ZnO. The power conversion efficiency of the device reaches 6.51% and still has approximately 98% of the initial power conversion efficiency (PCE) after over 900 h without encapsulation.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "To investigate effects of the geometry of compound parabolic concentrators (CPCs) on the performance of CPC based photovoltaic systems (CPVs), it is necessary to determine the angular distribution of the annual collectible radiation on solar cells as the photovoltaic conversion efficiency of solar cells is highly sensitive to the incident angle of solar rays, especially for radiation incident at the angle larger than 65°. In this work, a mathematical procedure is suggested to estimate the annual collectible radiation and its angular distribution on the absorber of CPC- θ e where the exit angle of solar rays is restricted within θ e for the incoming radiation over its acceptance angle. Calculations show that, given the acceptance half-angle ( θ a ), the annual collectible radiation of full CPC- θ e oriented in the east–west direction (EW-CPC- θ e ) increases with the increase of θ e ; whereas for truncated EW-CPC- θ e with given θ a and geometric concentration (Ct ), the annual radiation collected by EW-CPC- θ e with θ e <90° is almost identical to that by EW-CPC-90, the one without exit angle restriction, even slightly higher. Results indicate that, for CPC- θ e oriented in the north–south direction (NS-CPC- θ e ), the angular distribution of annual collectible radiation can be regarded to be isotropic; whereas for EW-CPC- θ e , the angular distribution is dependent on its geometry and strategy of its tilt-angle adjustment but is anisotropic. Results also reveal that the annual power output from EW-CPV- θ e decrease with the increase of θ e and always higher than that from EW-CPV-90 except full EW-CPV- θ e in the case of aperture’s tilt-angle being yearly adjusted four times at three tilts.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The public and society have increasingly recognized numerous grave environmental issues, including water pollution, attributed to the rapid expansion of industrialization and agriculture. Renewable energy-driven catalytic advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) represent a green, sustainable, and environmentally friendly approach to meet the demands of environmental remediation. In this context, 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) piezoelectric materials, with their non-centrosymmetric crystal structure, exhibit unique features. They create dipole polarization, inducing a built-in electric field that generates polarized holes and electrons and triggers redox reactions, thereby facilitating the generation of reactive oxygen species for wastewater pollutant remediation. A broad spectrum of 2D TMDCs piezoelectric materials have been explored in self-integrated Fenton-like processes and persulfate activation processes. These materials offer a more simplistic and practical method than traditional approaches. Consequently, this review highlights recent advancements in 2D TMDCs piezoelectric catalysts and their roles in wastewater pollutant remediation through piezocatalytic-driven AOPs, such as Fenton-like processes and sulfate radicals-based oxidation processes.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Solution processed technologies are more and more used to lower the manufacturing prices in solar cell industry. This paper shows that silicon nanoparticles dispersion has the potential to be used as raw material for microcrystalline silicon thin-film thus opening a route for solution processed silicon devices. Restoring of functional properties of deposited film by classical thermal annealing and microwave annealing is led. Both recovering techniques are studied in terms of morphology as well as electrical and optical properties. Surface chemistry of the nanoparticles is shown to have a major role on the stability of the dispersion, the deposition and sintering processes.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The US Energy Department's solar and renewable energy and energy conservation budgets are reported to have paid for the cost of printing the White House National Energy Plan.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Tripodal ligands have crucial effect on the particle size and agglomeration level. ► The symmetry of the complexing agent has a crucial role on the morphology. ► The reflectivity property is very important factor in efficiency of DSSC.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Optical and electrical properties of graphene deposited on Ni electroplated Cu foil was studied by microwave power system chemical vapour deposition. Problems associated with non-uniformity using different substrates and the control of graphene properties instigated a new method for the preparation of graphene films. The growth process involved the use of Isopropanol for the formation of radicals at varying substrate temperatures and atmospheric pressure with microwave energy to form uniform solid films. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the quality of the films and designate single-layer graphene for 2D-band at low temperature while few-layer graphene for G-band at high temperature. Scanning electron microscope revealed changes in the morphology of graphene as the deposition parameters increases. The optical analysis revealed exponential decay of absorbance with spectra fringes in the visible region and transmittance of 92.8% and 93.7% which depends on the thickness uniformity of graphene. Hall Effect measurement showed n-type carrier conductivity with large positive magnetoresistance and high electrical conductivity due to the increased number of layers, low sheet resistance and high substrate temperature. The effect of varying temperature on graphene have been investigated, perhaps, low and intermediate substrate temperature yielded better optical properties while the high temperature yielded better electrical properties.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Elemental composition and mineralogy of a high ash feed coal (ash: 49.7 wt.%), and its bottom and fly ash from a Brazilian power plant (Presidente Médici Power Plant or UTPM-446 MW) was determined using ICP-MS, ICP-AES, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron micrography (SEM). Most trace elements in coal fall in the usual range determined for world coals. However, concentrations of some elements were higher than the expected for coals, including Cs Rb and heavy rare earth elements (REEs). This might be due to the high content of detrital minerals of the studied coal, given that these elements are usually associated with clay minerals. Elements were classified into three groups based on the analysis of trace element concentrations in fly and bottom ashes, and enrichments or depletions of these concentrations in relation to the coal: Group I (volatile elements with subsequent condensation): As, B, Bi, Cd, Ga, Ge, Mo, Pb, S, Sb, Sn, Tl and Zn; Group II (no volatile elements enriched in bottom ash vs. fly ash): Ca, Fe, Mn, P, Ti and Zr; Group III (low volatile elements with no partitioning between fly and bottom ashes): Al, Ba, Be, Co, Cr, Cs, Hf, K, Li, Mg, Na, Ni, Rb, Sr, Th, U, W, Y and most of REE. The mass balance for trace elements obtained demonstrated that the volatile emission of the trace elements studied is very low. According to the leachable proportion obtained, the elements may be classified as follows: B (40–50%)>Mo>Cu>Ge=Li=Zn=As>, Ni, Sb, Tl, U>Ba, Cd, Sr, V (0.3–2%). For the other elements studied, the leachable fraction is in most cases <1% of the bulk content.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Cu2S/Cu1.96S core/shell nanowires were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–VIS absorption spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR). Preliminary results revealed the characteristic atomic compositions and spectroscopic properties of the Cu x S nanowires.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, polycrystalline samples of the substituted n =3 Ruddlesden-Popper Ca4−x RE x Mn3O10 phase were prepared by solid-state reaction (RE, rare earth=Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy). Single phased samples were synthesized for sintering times larger than 150h at 1350°C. Complete thermoelectric characterizations were performed from 5 to 390K, in terms of electrical resistivity (ρ), Seebeck coefficient (S) and thermal conductivity (κ). As expected, the substitution of Ca by different rare earth elements leads to a significant modification of the thermoelectric properties. With substitution level as low as 1.25at.%, a remarkable decrease of the electrical resistivity is observed. The influence of this cationic substitution on the thermal conductivity (κ), Seebeck coefficient (S), and the figure of merit ZT is also discussed. In this study, the best one reaches 5.8×10−3 at 300K for the Ca3.95Eu0.05Mn3O10 composition, a value 6 times higher than the ZT exhibited by the beginning Ca4Mn3O10 sample.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► A pH-switchable anionic wormlike micellar system based only on natural renewable erucic acid has been developed. ► The system can be easily prepared by adding NaOH and is responsive in alkaline conditions. ► Thermally induced transitions from fluid-like solutions to solid-like hydrogels have been investigated. ► Thermally induced structural transitions from fluids to hydrogels with pH-switchable anionic wormlike micelles.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We present a simple route for developing high-quality CdSe thin films at low temperature by means of the chemical bath deposition technique using an ammonia-free formulation. The effect of the concentration of the precursor solutions was evaluated through four formulations. The crystalline, optical, and morphological properties of the CdSe thin films were analyzed for the four deposition conditions. As-deposited CdSe films exhibited hexagonal phase and strong crystalline orientation along the  direction as observed by XRD analysis. The diffraction peak corresponding to the (002) crystalline planes shifts to higher two theta values in the patterns of the films deposited with increasing precursors concentration, showing the shrinkage of the crystalline lattice of up to 1.58%, as a product of the tensile stresses through the substrate-film interface. UV-Vis-NIR analysis revealed highly reflective films and good optical quality. The refractive index showed a maximum of 2.20–2.26 around 640 nm, while the extinction coefficient was zero at wavelengths lower than the absorption edge. The SEM and AFM analysis revealed the homogeneous and compact CdSe films surface with low average roughness. The energy band gap of the CdSe thin films varied in the range from 1.78 to 1.9 eV and the variation has been associated with the stresses induced in the film-substrate interface during the film growth. We found an opposite trend between the lattice constant (c) and the energy band gap of the CdSe thin films, which enable the adjustment of their optical properties through the concentration of the precursor solutions during the deposition process.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Crystalline Na3Bi2P3O12, K3Bi2P3O12 and glassy K3Bi2P3O12 compounds were prepared by solid-state reaction method. The prepared samples are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The crystalline materials are found to be orthorhombic. The electrical conductivity measurements on the crystalline and glassy samples show that at ∼373K, the σ DC for crystalline K3Bi2P3O12 (0.81×10−8 S/cm) is about two orders of magnitude higher than the corresponding glassy phase (1.25×10−10 S/cm). The scaling results show that the conductivity relaxation mechanism is independent of temperature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter provides an overview of the present knowledge of Cu(In,Ga)Se2-based heterojunction thin-film solar cells. CuInSe2 and CuGaSe2, the materials that form the alloy Cu(In,Ga)Se2, belong to the semiconducting I–III–VI2 materials family that crystallizes in the tetragonal chalcopyrite structure. With a power conversion efficiency of 18.8% on a 0.5 cm2 laboratory cell and 16.6% for mini-modules with an area of around 20 cm2, Cu(In,Ga)Se2 is today by far the most efficient thin-film solar cell technology. The start of production at several places provides a new challenge for research on this material. This chapter focuses on four points:—the description of the basic material properties such as crystal properties, phase diagram, and defect physics; description of the cell technology starting from the growth of the polycrystalline Cu(In,Ga)Se2 absorber up to device finishing by heterojunction formation and window layer deposition; the electronic properties of the finished heterostructure; and photovoltaic potential of wide-gap chalcopyrites, namely CuGaSe2 and CuInS2, as well as that of the pentenary alloy system Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 and the possibility of building graded-gap structures with these alloys. The chapter briefly covers scientific issues that are relevant for photovoltaic applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Microwave photoconductive decay (μPCD) has become a standard technique for measuring the carrier lifetime of silicon used in solar cells. Here, we have used μPCD to examine the carrier lifetimes at common doping levels used in the base region of silicon photovoltaic devices. For the conductivity range used in the p-type base of n+–p structures, the microwave penetration depth is less than the wafer thickness. In this case, the reflectance–conductivity relationship is very nonlinear. We will show that quasi-steady-state photoconductivity (QSSPC) and resonance-coupled photoconductive decay (RCPCD) lifetime measurements track over a wide range of injection level, and generally agree at higher injection levels. Our μPCD data will be compared with the transient RCPCD data over the same range. The data from the latter agree at low-injection levels, but show serious disagreement at higher injection levels. The conclusion is that μPCD must be limited to low-injection levels in the doping range used for solar cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Electron structure features of nanopowders with composition of (Na/K)VMoO6 have been investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The dispositions of valence edge and conduction band were determined experimentally for vacuum condition by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV–visible and impedance spectroscopy and evaluated theoretically for water solutions. The additional absorbance band in the band gap has been found for both compounds, which leads to electron conductivity at low-temperature range (250–350 °C). Nanopowders have been prepared by sol-gel method with further ground in the planetary mill. Prepared powders in water solution have formed nanosuspension with size's particle up to 100 nm for NaVMoO6 and 400 nm for KVMoO6, which is hardly sedimentated. The highly effective photocatalytic ability under visible light irradiation of the prepared compounds was observed using methylene blue decomposition process. The almost full methylene blue (20 mg/L) degradation is observed during 30 min for 10 mg of the photocatalysts. The investigation of possible dye degradation pathway has showed the high depth of decomposition.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In the synthesis of La2S3 via the sulfurization of La2O3 powder using CS2 gas, La2O2S was formed in the initial stage of reaction, and single-phase β-La2S3 were finally formed for a shorter period of time at higher temperature. For long sulfurization time of 8h, single-phase β-La2S3 could be synthesized at above 1023K. In the synthesis of Pr2S3 via the sulfurization of Pr6O11 powder using CS2 gas, PrS1.7, Pr4O7, and Pr2O2S were formed as intermediate products. At sulfurization temperatures above 1123K, only Pr2O2S was formed in the initial stage of reaction, and α-Pr2S3 having a trace of β-Pr2S3 was formed for a shorter period of time at higher temperature instead of Pr2O2S. In the synthesis of Nd2S3 and Sm2S3 via the sulfurization of Nd2O3 and Sm2O3 powders using CS2 gas, only Nd2O2S and Sm2O2S were also formed in the initial stage of reaction. And α-Nd2S3 having a trace of β-Nd2S3 and single phase α-Sm2S3 were formed for a shorter period of time at above 1073 and 1123K, respectively. In all cases, the impurity oxygen content in synthetic powders decreased gradually with an increase in sulfurization temperature. Moreover, the carbon content in these powders increased gradually with an increase in the sulfurization temperature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report on the existence in the U–Ru–Al system of a novel compound, URu2Al10, crystallizing in the orthorhombic YbFe2Al10-type structure, where the uranium atoms are caged in Ru–Al polyhedra, forming a clathrate-like structure. Results of the magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity in zero and in magnetic fields up to 8 T, thermopower and specific heat, performed in a wide temperature range, are presented. No magnetically ordered state down to the lowest temperature measured has been found. On the basis of (i) the susceptibility anomaly occurring at about 50 K and (ii) the positive magnetoresistivity, growing with applied magnetic field as αB n (n ≈ 3/2), (iii) a characteristic temperature variation of the thermopower, as well as (iv) a moderate value of the Sommerfeld coefficient, a mixed-valence state of uranium in this compound has been postulated. This points to similarities between the presently studied compound and the behaviour of other Ru-containing uranium ternaries, such as U2Ru2Sn and U2RuGa8, classified earlier as valence-fluctuating type materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "High efficiency and high open-circuit voltage (V OC) ITO/boron subphthalocyanine chloride (SubPc)/C60/bathocuproine/Al organic photovoltaic devices were fabricated in this study. Molecular packing was adjusted by controlling the deposition rate of SubPc, thus influencing the energy level of SubPc, which not only increased the energy level difference from the LUMO level of C60 to the HOMO level of SubPc, but also reduced the energy barrier between the ITO/SubPc interface and diminished the accumulation and recombination of holes in SubPc, resulting in considerable improvement in both the V OC (1.02V) and fill factor (65.37%) of the device, and a 3.96% final efficiency of the device.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Thermal desorption spectroscopy using nanscopic metal-insulator-metal devices. • Accurate temperature determination of the active 10 nm Pt film. • Detection of charge flow to or from the sensor metal film.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The development of non-conventional water resources in Egypt is a must in order to respond to the continuously increasing demand. The present paper presents the results of an investigation undertaken in order to evaluate technically and economically the installed desalination units in Sinai. The available water resources were evaluated. Forecast study was undertaken in order to evaluate the expected shortage. The future need for desalination units was identified. The main objective of this work is to identify the potential sites for desalination project implementation.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Three novel poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) derivatives with conjugated thiophene side chains, P1, P2 and P3, were designed and synthesized for application in polymer solar cells (PSCs). The effects of the conjugated side chains on the thermal, photophysical, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties of these polymers were investigated. The polymers exhibited good thermal stability and film-forming ability. The absorption spectra indicated that the short conjugated side chains have slight influence on the UV-region spectra of PPVs; whereas with increasing the length of conjugated side chains, the absorption of the UV-region red-shifted. The photoluminescence spectra reveal that complete exciton energy transfer occur from the conjugated side chains to the main chains of the polymers. The polymers emitted yellow-orange light with the emission maximum peaks in the region of 525–550nm in chloroform solution and 611–616nm in thin films. Cyclic voltammograms displayed that the band gaps were reduced effectively by the attachment of the conjugated thiophene side chains. The bulk heterojunction solar cells were fabricated based on the blend of the polymers and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) in a 1:4 weight ratio. The maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE=0.53%) was obtained by using P3 as the electron donor under the illumination of AM 1.5, 100mW/cm2.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Inclusion of trace quantities of heavy metal atoms (Pd) in a ladder-type polymer (PhLPPP) backbone allows transitions between the singlet and the triplet manifolds. Temperature-dependent photoinduced absorption studies of PhLPPP show the triplet–triplet absorption peak (T 1 → T N) at 1.3eV to blue-shift with increasing temperatures, suggesting a localization of the excitons on smaller chain segments with large exchange splitting energy. Furthermore, solar cells were fabricated using PhLPPP as the donor material; on an average the power conversion efficiencies of PhLPPP-based solar cells were 3–10 times greater compared to the ladder-type polymer with no incorporation of Pd atoms.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Organic photovoltaics (OPV) have developed into a vast research area. Progress in various directions has made it difficult to monitor the technology's precise development state. We offer a patent landscape analysis over all OPV devices, their substrates and encapsulation materials to provide an overview of patenting activity from a historical, organizational, geographical and technological point of view. Such an exercise is instrumental for private companies and research institutes aiming at both internal or external technology creation. We discuss our findings in the context of the Industrial Life Cycle model and find OPV still residing in the fluid technology development phase. Technology development is still following an exponential growth path, with the majority of patents coming from the Asian continent and in general private companies. For devices, the main technological focus can be traced back to the “H01L-031” international patent classification (IPC) main group. For the queried substrates, the most attention has gone to glass, but paper and textile have drawn significant interest too. Finally, encapsulation is found to be a less mature research field given the smaller number of patent families. The latter shows that the technology has not matured to the level where processing is carried out on a commercial scale.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Note: Page numbers followed by “f” and “t” refer to figures and tables, respectively.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The congruent In (3 mol%):Fe (0.03 wt%): LiNbO3 crystal has been grown by Czochralski method in air. Some crystal samples were reduced in Li2CO3 powder, and others were oxidized in Nb2O5 powder. The defects and ions location in crystal were investigated by infrared (IR) transmission spectrum. The photorefractive properties were measured by two-wave coupling and light-induced scattering resistance experiments. In the oxidized sample, the photovoltaic effect was the dominant process during recording. However, for the as-grown sample as well as the reduced, the photorefractive effect was governed by the diffuse field and the photovoltaic field, together. In addition, the reduction treatment made the photoconductivity increase, which resulted in shorter erasure time and lower diffraction efficiency, but higher light-induced scattering resistance ability. The oxidation treatment caused the inverse effect.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Temparature dependence of Seebeck coefficients S, electrical conductivity, heat conductivity k and dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit ZT of p-Bi2Te3, Sb2Te3 and n-Bi2Se3-doped by Fe or Cr were carried out in the temperature interval 7<T<300K. At T=4.2K Shubnikov-de Haas and Hall effects have been measured. By increasing the Fe content, the hole concentration decreases in p-Bi2−x Fe x Te3, while the electron concentration increases in n-Bi2−x Fe x Se3. The decrease of the hole concentration was observed in p-Sb2−x Cr x Te3 single crystals with Cr-doping. This demonstrates that Fe or Cr act as donors. The Seebeck coefficient increases in p-Bi2−x Fe x Te3 and Sb2−x Cr x Te3 with increasing Fe or Cr content, while it decreases in n-Bi2−x Fe x Se3. Cr-doping increases dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit ZT in Sb2Te3 at T>150K.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Presently, many equivalent circuit models have been developed and proposed to describe the photovoltaic (PV) cell's characteristics, and the most commonly used are single and double diode models. In a single diode model, a complete characteristic of a PV cell's can be described by five model parameters i.e.: light generated current, leakage or reverse saturation current, diode quality factor, series resistance and shunt resistance. Light generated current and reverse saturation current can be said as external influences meanwhile the others are internal influences. Accuracy of the PV system modelling is depending on the correct calculation of the internal influences. A research preliminary in order to identify internal influences have been performed and will be presented in this paper. As a research subject, polycrystalline silicon (wafer based crystalline silicon technology) and amorphous silicon (thin film technology) modules, as components of grid-connected PV array system at Szent István University (SZIU), were used under Gödöllő climatic conditions. As an initial step, simulation results based on software packages (associated with the PV characteristics) and some calculation methods to identify internal influences are shown here. As a long term outcome of this research, internal parameters of both modules can be predicted, and furthermore PV cell's model for both modules can be developed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A workshop entitled Coatings on Glass was held on 18–19 January 2000 at Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, CA, USA with the purpose of identifying key targets for improvement, technology barriers, and research needs relevant to the manufacturing of coated glass products. Experts from the glass and coatings industries, universities, and government laboratories participated. Small groups focussed on the needs of the four major sectors of the coatings industry: flat glass; container glass; fiber glass; and specialty coatings. The large number of recommendations are summarized briefly in this article. A report giving complete details is available from the author for those wishing to obtain additional information.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Both frontal and back electrical contacts have been developed onto polyimide sheets (Kapton KJ®) as alternative substrates to the conventional glasses, for application in lightweight and flexible thin film photovoltaic devices. Transparent and conductive indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films have been deposited by r.f.-magnetron sputtering as the frontal electrical contact. On the other hand, Mo, Cr and Ni layers have been prepared by e-gun evaporation for the back electrical connections. ITO films deposited onto polyimide have shown similar optical transmittance and higher electrical conductivity than onto glass substrates. The transmittance decreases and the conductivity increases after heating at 400 °C in vacuum atmosphere. Mo, Cr and Ni layers deposited onto polyimide showed similar structure and electrical conductivity than onto conventional glasses. The properties of Mo and Cr layers remained unchanged after heating at 400 °C in selenium atmosphere.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "There is renewed optimism about the potential for leapfrogging in the rural energy sector of East Africa. By adopting highly efficient and renewable technologies many believe the region can rapidly bypass the conventional path of energy development and skip directly into the use of more efficient and environmentally friendly technologies. This study explores the potential for energy leapfrogging by examining three technological approaches targeted at rural households in East Africa: conventional grid expansion, renewable energy technologies supplying electricity, and improved cookstoves. The study identifies economic, social, political, and cultural factors limiting the ability of rural people to rapidly switch into using and/or supplying these technologies. The potential for leapfrogging may be overstated by planners and experts who focus on the technical and economic viability of the technologies while insufficiently considering the social conditions and economic realities of daily life in the region. Moreover, energy leapfrogging itself is considered a misconception. Energy transitions in rural areas are incremental processes—not leaps—dependent upon household and regional accumulations of technological capabilities. These capabilities have technical, organizational, and institutional components and are manifest in individuals' capacity to adapt to new technologies, their ability to take economic risks, and in their desire to modify their behavior. In designing technology dissemination or energy supply projects, planners must thoroughly account for the capabilities existing in rural areas.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In 2010, the Czech Republic was one of the states of the European Union, which met the indicative target for the share of renewable energy sources in gross electricity consumption. That year, gross electricity generation from renewable sources amounted to a total volume of 5851GWh, which corresponds to 8.24% of gross electricity consumption in the Czech Republic in the given time period. The largest share of the total came from hydroelectric power plants (47.7%) and biomass power plants (25.8%), and a smaller share from photovoltaic power plants (10.5%), biogas power plants (8.7%) and wind farms (5.7%). Compared with 2009, the highest year-on-year growth came from photovoltaic power plants (527GWh, 44.2%) and, as far as other renewable sources are concerned, electricity generation at hydroelectric power plants (360GWh, 30.2%) and biogas power plants (184GWh, 15.4%) rose more sharply as well.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In PV cells consisting of p-type and n-type semiconductor materials, electricity is produced with part of the solar radiation coming to the cell surfaces, while the rest causes the cells to rise in temperature, thus decreasing the conversion efficiency. Therefore, controlling the cell temperature is very important in terms of conversion efficiency. In this paper, passive cooling was performed by storing the heat acting on the PV panel with a 40 W harvesting capacity in the phase change material (PCM) in contact with the back surface. Simultaneously, active cooling was achieved by transferring the heat stored in the PCM to the hot-side surface of the integrated thermoelectric generator (TEG) with the help of the heat transfer fluid circulated in the copper pipes inside the PCM. Thus, the base hybrid system (PV/T-PCM-TEG) design (Case_1), which increases thermal stabilization of cells, was realized. While 20 thermoelectric modules are used in TEG, RT55 paraffin wax is used as PCM in the empty space on the back surface of the PV panel. In addition, to improve the PV/T-PCM-TEG system efficiency, three different cases were created by adding Al2O3 nanoparticles into the PCM (Case_2) and by placing copper fins around the copper pipes (Case_3). As a result, the power output of PV/T-PCM-TEG is 10.29%, 12.73%, and 14.22% higher for Case_1, Case_2, and Case_3, respectively, than the standard PV panel. In addition, the maximum PV panel efficiency is 30%, while the efficiency of PV/T-PCM-TEG increased to 32.8% with Case_1, 33.9% with Case_2, and 35.2% with Case_3.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, the potential and the cost-effectiveness of a solar photovoltaic power plant for meeting the energy demand of garment zone at Jaipur (India) is analyzed. Also, the energy demand of garment zone for year 2011has been estimated (2.21MW) and the design of the solar PV power plant of 2.5MW capacity has been proposed, which requires about 13.14acres of land area. Looking at the scarcity and cost of the land near the city, an off-site proposal for the power plant has also been considered and compared with the on-site option. For the on-site solar PV power plant internal rate of return (IRR) is 11.88%, NPV @ 10% discount rate is 119.52 million INR, simple payback period is 7.73 years and discounted payback period @10% is 15.53 years, while for the off-site power plant IRR is 15.10%, NPV is 249.78 million INR, simple payback period is 6.29 years and discounted payback period is 10.14 years. Levelized cost of energy is Rs. 14.94 and Rs. 11.40perkWh for on-site and off-site solar PV plants respectively @ 10% discount rate, which is quite attractive.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Energy sources have become a focus of legal, ethical, social and economic pressures due to increasing environmental problems. Nonrenewable energy sources are being increasingly replaced by other sources that are renewable and less pollutive, with technologies aimed at sustainability. Companies that adopt alternative forms of energy will be able to increase their competitiveness and use wastes to generate energy, which is an ecological and economical efficiency approach. In the interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, a rural producer of pork crackling and coffee evaluated the entire production cycle of his products and wastes, seeking to achieve energy self sufficiency and identify new possibilities for gains through cost reductions. Biodiesel, soap and detergent are produced with the waste animal fat left from the production of pork crackling. Pig farm wastes become biomass for a biodigester, which produces sufficient biogas to keep the piglets warm, dry the coffee, fry the pork crackling, and generate electricity, among other uses. The biofertilizer produced by the biodigester helps fertilize coffee and corn plantations. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the ecological and economic feasibility of the project. The research method used here is a case study involving qualitative analyses of environmental and social variables and quantitative analyses of economic variables. It is concluded that the investment made in this project yields excellent returns, with savings of 100% in fuels, 50% in electric energy and 40% in fertilizer, in addition to gains from the products developed with the wastes.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "ABB SOLAR Inverters, part of the ABB Group, looks at photovoltaics (PV) as part of the power distribution networks, highlighting the key challenges, the solutions on the market, and opportunities for the future.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "UV–VIS spectroscopy, electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) and conductivity measurements have been used to characterise the interactions between methanol vapour and polyaniline. The data indicates that the methanol hydrogen bonds to two locations on the emeraldine base such that it is able to form a bridge between the polymer chains causing twisting. This prevents the few remaining polarons from moving beyond a few monomer units, effectively localising them, giving rise to a decrease in conductivity and an increase in absorption at ca. 1.6eV. However, in the case of the emeraldine salt protonation of the quinoid moieties’ nitrogen restricts the number of potential hydrogen bonding sites, preventing the methanol from forming a bridge between two polymer chains. At the same time, the high conductivity of the emeraldine salt allows the charge that is transfer to the polyaniline, as a result of the hydrogen bonding to the methanol, to be distributed along the conjugated chain in the form of polarons and bipolarons.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "With greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions decreasing by more than 18% in the 1990s, Germany appears to be among the few industrialised countries which are on track to meet the targets they committed themselves to under the Kyoto Protocol. This achievement may appear less remarkable if one takes into account that Germany benefited from so-called “wall-fall profits”, i.e. the breakdown and restructuring of the East German economy after reunification in 1990. Nevertheless, various policies at national, regional, and local levels were introduced in the 1990s in Germany, which also resulted in a reduction of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. The objective of this paper is to examine the underlying factors for the GHG emission trends in Germany in the 1990s. In particular, it is estimated to what extent the observed reductions are wall-fall profits, and to what extent they are the result of policy measures. The findings indicate that wall-fall profits account for almost 50% of the reduction of all six greenhouse gases. This share increases to 60% if only energy-related CO2 emissions are considered. At the same time, a diverse set of policies also had a significant effect on the reduction of greenhouse gases. Environmental policies directed towards non-CO2 gases were as important as policies addressing CO2 emissions. Overall, the contribution of all the policies combined was slightly higher than the impact of unification. Although Germany is on a reduction path to meet the Kyoto target, the likelihood of it achieving the more ambitious national target without additional policy efforts appears rather slim.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper is on the five-parameter modeling for photovoltaic systems. Normally, the technical information for photovoltaic panels is too restricted to identify the five parameters. So, an undemanding heuristic method is adopted in this paper, requiring only information on open circuit, maximum power point and short circuit conditions. The I-V and the P-V curves for a series connected monocrystalline photovoltaic system is obtained from the parameters identification using the heuristic method and validated by comparison with experimental curves. Also, a simulation for partial shading on the photovoltaic system is presented to illustrate a feasible assessment during the design of a PV system for loss of energy conversion due to shading.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The limited use of low temperature waste heat turns thermocells into attractive devices for micropower generation. In this work, a thermocell based on a proton exchange membrane with hydrogen electrodes was experimentally investigated. The dependence of the Open Circuit Voltage on the water vapor content in hydrogen as indicated by the humidifier temperature and on the applied temperature difference between anode and cathode were studied. A maximum OCV is reported at a humidifier temperature of 300 K , whereas the maximum power density of 45.3 μ W / cm 2 was obtained at a humidification temperature of 323 K . For the same case and a temperature difference of 35 K a Seebeck coefficient of 1.75 mV / K was obtained. The experimental values were then compared to a thermocell model, which has already been published, based on Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics and classical coefficients from literature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper discusses the performance, testing, and problems of copper indium aluminum diselenide (CIAS) thin-film devices with CIAS co-evaporated in a large-area moving substrate deposition system on transparent back contact technology. The CIAS alloy is being developed for use as a wide-bandgap radiation-resistant semiconductor for application as both a high-voltage single-junction photovoltaic (PV) cell using low-cost thin-films on lightweight flexible substrates, and as a top cell in efficient two-terminal monolithic tandem (multi-junction) PV cells. After significant development, it appears that conventionally formed CIAS devices experience a drop-off in performance with CIAS bandgaps above 1.5eV, in addition to decreased zero bias depletion widths, and increased J L(V) effects with increasing CIAS bandgap. However, the performance drop-off is above the single-junction optimum bandgap, and higher-bandgap devices have not been tested with better-matched buffer layers. This paper also discusses CIAS devices with transparent back contacts. A wide-bandgap CIAS device with infra-red (IR) transparent back contacts and substrates can offer better performance over standard CIGS devices by being better tuned to the optimum bandgap for AM0 solar spectrum, reduced ohmic losses, and temperature dependencies compared to that typical of low-bandgap CIS alloys, reduced operating temperature with better IR transparency, the option of backside light collection with a suitable visibly transparent substrate, and is a precursor for use as a top cell in a monolithic tandem device configuration. CIAS devices with transparent back contacts show no loss in performance compared to standard Mo back contacts.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents the hourly mean solar radiation and standard deviation as inputs to simulate the solar radiation over a year. Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) technique is applied and MATLAB program is developed for reliability analysis of small isolated power system using solar photovoltaic (SPV). This paper is distributed in two parts. Firstly various solar radiation prediction methods along with hourly mean solar radiation (HMSR) method are compared. The comparison is carried on the basis of predicted electrical power generation with actual power generated by SPV system. Estimation of solar photovoltaic power using HMSR method is close to the actual power generated by SPV system. The deviation in monsoon months is due to the cloud cover. In later part of the paper various reliability indices are obtained by HMSR method using MCS technique. Load model used is IEEE-RTS. Reliability indices, additional load hours ( ALH ) and additional power ( AP ) reduces exponentially with increase in load indicates that a SPV source will offset maximum fuel when all of its generated energy is utilized. Fuel saving calculation is also investigated. Case studies are presented for Sagardeep Island in West Bengal state of India.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Simple analytic model derived to predict performance of TEG module arrays. • Model is experimentally validated with a small-scale test facility. • Thermal-fluid figure of merit identified for TEG WHR systems. • General guidelines proposed to find optimal number of TEG modules. • Model illustrated by analyzing and improving a vehicle WHR system design.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The essence of the freezing process in frozen sand molds is the heat transfer issue within the water-containing porous medium. In this paper, the evolutionary mechanism of the water-ice phase interface in frozen sand molds was studied through simulations and experiments at the mesoscale. Firstly, the evolutions of the phase field and temperature field during the unidirectional freezing process of frozen sand molds with different pore structures were investigated through numerical simulations. Then, utilizing the low-temperature freezing in-situ characterization platform, the nucleation mechanism of ice crystal bonding bridges between sand particles of varying materials was explored. The influence of sand mold characteristics on the freezing behavior of frozen sand molds was evaluated by the unique variable principle. Additionally, power function relationships for freezing time of frozen sand molds with different scales and materials were established, enabling the prediction of the time required for complete freezing of frozen sand molds. According to the results of multiple nonlinear regression analysis, the model showed reliable accuracy in predicting the time for fully frozen. This work will provide a valuable reference for further research on the engineering application of frozen sand molds.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The cutting-edge flexible electronics have experienced an explosion growth in the past decades, driving the traditional rigid devices evolve into soft, light, thin, durable and comfortable devices with more and more add-on functionalities. This rapid advancement of flexible electronics induces urgent demand of flexible and sustainable power source to overcome one of the bottlenecks of this technology. Triboelectric nanogenerators, since first invented in 2012, have become a promising energy harvesting technology during the past few years with significant development across the world, due to their diverse flexible/stretchable configurations, no material limitation and high output performance. Beyond energy harvesting, triboelectric nanogenerators can actively function as self-powered sensors and actuators to detect, monitor, interact and respond to the ambient changes induced by environment or human. These triboelectric devices can be key components to achieve sustainable functional systems. Therefore, the complementary marriage of triboelectric nanogenerators and flexible electronics yields a highly advanced technology to realize self-powered, flexible and smart functional systems. In this review, progress development of triboelectric nanogenerators and flexible electronics technology is firstly reviewed. Then various micro-/nano-systems enabled by the integration of triboelectric nanogenerators and flexible electronics technology are presented to show the feasibility to achieve sustainable functional systems. At the end, a future prospect of “all-in-one” multi-functional smart system is proposed under the same flexible platform towards convenient, miniaturized and sustainable micro-/nano-systems.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A complete analytical model of a mid-infrared (MIR) double heterostructure (DH) photodetector has been developed. The model is physics based and takes into account all the dominant mechanisms that shape the characteristics of room temperature MIR DH photodetectors. It can be used to characterize theoretically the performance of narrow bandgap III–V based semiconductor MIR photodetectors for non-telecommunication applications. The model has been applied to estimate the detectivity, photoresponse and quantum efficiency of an P+–As0.55Sb0.15P0.30/n0–InAs0.89Sb0.11/N+–InAs0.55Sb0.15P0.30 DH MIR photodetector. The results obtained on the basis of the model are in good agreement with reported experimental findings. The simulation code developed can be used as a tool by the design engineers for useful fabrication guidelines.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A modified prism method has been used for the Refractive Index (RI) determination of lead scandium tantalate Pb2ScTaO6 (PST) single crystals with perovskite structure. The crystals are obtained by the High Temperature Solution Growth (HTSG) method. The RI values of PST crystalline prism are measured with error of ±2×10−3 in the temperature range 0–40°C. A jump around 15°C is observed in the temperature dependence of RI, which is explained by the presence of the diffuse paraelectric (PE)–ferroelectric (FE) phase transition. Transmission spectra (TS) in the same temperature range are presented.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Reduction of thermal conductivity κ while preserving high electrical conductivity σ in materials continues to be a vital goal in thermoelectric study for the reuse of exhaust heat energy. In the use of an eco-friendly and ubiquitous element, Si as thermoelectric material, high κ value in bulk Si is the essential bottleneck to achieve high dimensionless figure of merit. This is a motivation for many recent studies on reducing κ in Si, by nanostructuring, e.g., using grains/wires with size smaller than the phonon mean free path. However, κ reduction that can be achieved tends to be saturated presumably due to an amorphous limit. Here, we present a nanoarchitecture for defeating the κ amorphous limit while preserving bulk-like σ. This new nanoarchitecture is an assembly of Si nanocrystals with oriented crystals separated by a 1-monolayer amorphous layer with well-controlled nanoscale shaped interfaces. At these interfaces, novel phonon scattering occurs resulting in κ reduction below the amorphous limit. Preservation of bulk-like σ results from the coherency of the carrier wavefunctions among the oriented nanocrystals separated by the ultrathin amorphous layer. The results will bring environmentally-friendly and low-cost thermoelectric Si material compatible with mature LSI process technology and represent guidelines for optimized thermoelectric nanostructures.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Two collinear mode-III cracks lie in a 1D hexagonal piezoelectric quasicrystal strip. • Exact closed-form phonon and phason stress and electric field are determined. • Field intensity factors and the energy release rate are derived. • Effects of material constants and geometric size on fracture parameters are discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A number of diagnostic measurements such as dark I–V and spectral response are widely used in photovoltaic research and development. Dark I–V shows how a device operates as a p-n junction and can be used to obtain series resistance, shunt resistance, and diode quality factor. Spectral response is a fundamental property of solar cells, and it can provide information about optical losses such as reflection and give insights into carrier recombination losses. An useful diagnostic for cells and modules is known as laser-beam-induced current (LBIC), which produces a map of a device's response by rastering a laser spot across the front surface and measuring the resultant current. These maps can easily identify locations of reduced output, which can greatly simplify diagnostic investigations, such as a search for cracks in polycrystalline silicon (Si) cells.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Thin-film inverters based on high mobility microcrystalline silicon thin-film transistors (TFTs) with different channel lengths were realized. The NMOS enhancement load saturation mode (NELS) inverters were prepared by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition at temperatures below 200°C. The realization of microcrystalline silicon thin-film inverters facilitates the direct integration of column and row drivers and circuitry on display backpanels. The influence of the transistor properties and underlying contact effects on the performance of the inverters will be discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter focuses on the chemical preparation of advanced ceramic materials. From the first use of flint and obsidian during the Stone Age, to the formation of vessels from clay, to the use of refractories in the iron and steel industry, to the fabrication of optical fibers for high-speed communication, ceramics have revolutionized society and technology in many ways. Novel ceramic materials are always surprising us. How to prepare advanced ceramics has become the key point. Conventionally nanostructured ceramics are defined as inorganic materials composed of structural units with a size scale of less than 100 nm in any dimension. Based on dimensions, nanoceramics are classified as zero-dimensional nanocrystals, one-dimensional nanowires and nanotubes, two-dimensional nanofilms and nanowalls, and three-dimensional bulk materials with at least one nanocrystalline phase. Nanoceramics, in particular, bulk nanoceramic materials, exhibit superior and unique properties in comparison to conventional ceramics with coarser structured units. A major challenge in the research on bulk nanoceramics and nanoceramic composites is concerned with the aspect of processing. The basic steps in nanoceramic fabrication mainly involve obtaining unagglomerated nanosized powders with uniform size distribution and sintering to near theoretical density without grain growth. The synthesis of nanocrystalline powders is an essential and first step in the processing of bulk nanoceramics. Efforts have been made to ensure appropriate control of particle size, surface contamination, and degree of agglomeration. Various chemical methods have been adapted to synthesize nanocrystalline powders. The main advantages of chemical synthesis methods lie in their ability to produce a large variety of compositions and ensure homogeneous (atomic level) mixing of the constituent particles.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "No study of coping with climate change is complete without considering geoengineering. Leveraging Tsiolkovsky's and Tsander's 1920s idea to use mirrors for space propulsion, Fuller's 1940s Dymaxion Grid, Glaser's 1970s study of solar power satellites, and Forward's 1970–90s concepts of “statites” and “Starwisps”, we propose placing one or more large (Σarea=700Kkm2) lightsail(s) in a radiation-levitated non-Keplerian orbit(s) just sunward of the Sun–Earth Lagrange-1 point. The purpose of this syncretic concept is twofold: (I) As a parasol, it would reduce insolation on Earth by at least one-quarter of a percent, same as that which caused 1.8°C drop during the “Little Ice Age” (∼1550–1850), and same as the IPCC Third Report's mid-range value for global warming by 2050. Lowering temperature will reduce the atmosphere's water vapor content, which should reverse the increasing frequency and severity of storms, likewise reducing the damage accompanying climate change. It transforms the “solar constant” to a controlled solar variable. The sail would utilize the very photons it diverts from us to maintain its position without expensive fuel. (II) As a ∼100+Kkm2 photovoltaic power station, the parasol could displace over 300EJ/a (∼100 trillionkWh/yr) of fossil-fired electricity for its creators, roughly the entire global demand forecast by 2050, in turn displacing most carbon burners from the terrestrial grid, providing US$trillions in revenue from clean energy sales to amortize the scheme. This approach to geoengineering is not precluded by international treaty, but it is not a panacea either because it does not fix the other consequences of exponentially growing combustion of fossil fuels. However, it would buy time because it is self-funding (“pay-as-you-go”); furthermore it is linear, scalable, minimally intrusive, and above all, reversible. If Tellurian spacefaring civilization bootstraps its exponential growth with lightsails, there might eventually be enough of them to have a detectable effect on Sol's apparent luminosity as seen from far away, similar to the eponymous Dyson Sphere. So we tagged our concept with the moniker “Dyson Dot”.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A hybrid material of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)–polyaniline (PANI) was prepared by in situ emulsion polymerization. The structural characterization showed that some CNTs were linked up by PANI chains, which appears to be like a network including PANI fiber and nanotubes. This network results in the hybrid material having highly conductivity with new conductive passageway. The conductivity and thermal properties of hybrid materials depend on the content of CNTs. The CNTs do not affect the structure of PANI chains.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Increasing the accuracy of prediction improves the performance of photovoltaic systems and alleviates the effects of intermittence on the systems stability. A Nonlinear Autoregressive Network with Exogenous Inputs (NARX) approach was applied to the Vichy-Rolla National Airport's photovoltaic station. The proposed model uses several inputs (e.g. time, day of the year, sky cover, pressure, and wind speed) to predict hourly solar irradiance. Data obtained from the National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB) was used to conduct simulation experiments. These simulations validate the use of the proposed model for short-term predictions. Results show that the NARX neural network notably outperformed the other models and is better than the linear regression model. The use of additional meteorological variables, particularly sky cover, can further improve the prediction performance.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The ability and efficiency of lithium intercalation into transition metal compounds have been found to depend strongly on their electronic structure. This work is a brief review of physicochemical properties of intercalated transition metal compounds with layered, spinel or olivine type structure in order to correlate their microscopic electronic properties, i.e. the nature of electronic states with the efficiency of lithium intercalation process that is controlled by the chemical diffusion coefficient of lithium. The data concerning cell voltages and character of discharge curves for various materials are correlated with the nature of chemical bonding and electronic structure following it. The nature of the metallic type conductivity of doped phospho-olivine is discussed and some fundamental arguments against the bulk nature of the observed high electronic conductivity are presented.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► The paper reports a tool and methodology for the analysis of the influence of electricity exchange from Zero Energy Buildings on the overall energy system. ► The paper qualify and quantify why such exchange should be best dealt with at the system level and not at the individual building level. ► The paper introduce a compensation factor for including exchange of electricity in the definition of Zero Energy Buildings. ► The paper makes a first attempt to calculate the size of such compensation factor for Zero Energy Buildings with PV and Wind.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, the power factor of a grid-connected photovoltaic inverter is controlled using the input output Feedback Linearization Control (FLC) technique. This technique transforms the nonlinear state model of the inverter in the d–q reference frame into two equivalent linear subsystems, and then applies a pole placement linear control loops on this subsystem in order to separately control the grid power factor and the dc link voltage of the inverter. Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) that allows extraction of maximum available power from the photovoltaic (PV) array has been included. This MPPT is based on variable step size incremental conductance method. Compared with conventional fixed step size method, the variable step MPPT improves the speed and the accuracy of the tracking.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Recently, there has been a growing interest in synthesizing new materials with unique physical properties. PANI/Bi2Te3 composites have attracted considerable attention due to the distinctive characteristics of the conductive polymer and semiconductor material. PANI/Bi2Te3 composites were prepared and irradiated with 100 KGy electrons from the electron beam accelerator. After the exposure to the radiation and increasing Bi2Te3 concentration, XRD shows an increase in the unit cell volume and the inter-chain distances where the grains were decreased. Besides TEM, SEM provided the topographic images and the nano-crystal size on the surface and showed the accumulation of the particles of the obtained materials. TGA demonstrates the degradation behavior compositions throughout the heating of the samples. Unexpected ferromagnetic behavior was achieved for the highest ratio of (PANI)0.3(Bi2Te3)0.7, confirmed by VSM and ESR. The ferromagnetic behavior was achieved without introducing any magnetic dopants, making these materials applicable in the future in magnetism.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper provides an assessment of the large-scale implementation of distributed solar photovoltaics in Wisconsin with regard to its interaction with the utility grid, economics of varying levels of high penetration, and displaced emissions. These assessment factors are quantified using simulations with measured hourly solar radiation and weather data from the National Solar Radiation Database as primary inputs. Hourly utility load data for each electric utility in Wisconsin for a complete year were used in combination with the simulated PV output to quantify the impacts of high penetration of distributed PV on the aggregate Wisconsin electric utility load. As the penetration rate of distributed PV systems increases, both economic and environmental benefits experience diminishing returns. At penetration rates exceeding 15–20% of the aggregate utility load peak, less of the PV-energy is utilized and the contribution of the aggregate electricity generated from PV approaches a practical limit. The limit is not affected by costs, but rather by the time-distribution of available solar radiation and mismatch with the coincidence of aggregate utility electrical loads. The unsubsidized levelized cost of electricity from PV is more than four times greater than the current market price for electricity, based on time-of-use rates, in Wisconsin. At the present time, the investment in solar PV as a cost-effective means to reduce emissions from traditional electricity generation sources is not justified.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A polymer-quantum dot (QD) composite matrix was fabricated by a simple layer-by-layer (LBL) covalent conjugation of cadmium selenide (CdSe) QDs to poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) films. LBL covalent conjugation was preferred in the current work for avoiding possible phase separation of QDs into microdomains when directly mixed with polymers. A PDMS film was fabricated by thermal curing of a pre-polymer mixture and was silanized using 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxy silane (3MPS). A monolayer of CdSe QDs was conjugated to the polymer film through thiol coupling. By repeating the fabrication of PDMS film on the QD layer, silane coupling, and QD conjugation we have successfully prepared an optically transparent multilayer polymer-QD matrix. We selected PDMS as a host polymer considering (1) photoluminescence (PL) of QDs was not affected by PDMS, (2) simple chemical conjugation of QDs to PDMS, (3) flexible structural fabrication, and (4) optical transparency. Formation of individual layers of polymer and QDs was characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging, and the presence of QD layers inside the PDMS matrix was identified from fluorescence imaging. Besides a simple demonstration of LBL conjugation of QDs to PDMS, the preparation of an optically transparent polymer-QD matrix where PL properties of QDs are intact would be useful during the construction of QD based optical and optoelectronic devices supported in host matrixes.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Two-dimensional (2D) materials have garnered significant attention due to their exceptional thermoelectric properties. In this study, 2D Janus HfXY (X≠Y, X/Y=Cl, Br, I) monolayer materials are comprehensively examined using ab initio methods to ascertain their potential as promising thermoelectric (TE) materials. Our predictions reveal that these Janus materials exhibit favorable dynamic, thermal and mechanical stabilities. These materials are predicted to exhibit semiconductor characteristics, showcasing indirect HSE06 band gaps ranging from 1.30 eV to 1.44 eV when accounting for the spin-coupling effect. Furthermore, the calculated lattice thermal conductivities are 22.38 W/mK for Janus HfBrCl, 11.86 W/mK for Janus HfBrI, and 7.79 W/mK for Janus HfClI monolayers. These figures notably reside below the thermal conductivities found in the extensively employed transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). These Janus materials are predicted to have higher electron carrier mobilities ranging from 1220 cm2/sV to 4289 cm2/sV, surpassing the majority of other 2D materials. The enhanced electron carrier mobility result in good n-type power factor parameters, ranging from 58.20 mW/mK2 to 247.40 mW/mK2 between 300 K and 600 K. Such merits of lower thermal conductivities and higher power factor parameters endow these monolayers with the large figure of merit (zT) values for n-doping types along x (y) directions: 0.87 (0.88) for Janus HfBrCl, 1.62 (1.80) for Janus HfBrI, and 1.67 (2.15) for Janus HfClI at 300 K. Furthermore, these zT values can further increase along with external temperature increasing. These calculated thermoelectric figure of merit values surpass those of Hafnium-based TMDCs. Our study highlights the promising prospects of 2D Janus HfXY (X≠Y, X/Y=Cl, Br, I) monolayers as strong contenders for applications in thermoelectric conversion devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "By externally applying an electric field across a photorefractive BaTiO3 crystal we experimentally demonstrate that the self-pumped phase conjugator in the `cat' configuration gives a frequency shift between the output phase conjugate beam and the input beam. For large electric fields the conjugator shows temporal instability in its output. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical results.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this work, a new framework for control of power flow of an energy storage is proposed. As part of the framework, an advanced controller for manipulating the power flow of an energy storage system, a photovoltaic (PV) source, and the utility grid is developed. The new controller relies on the Model-based Predictive Control (MPC) concept. The proposed controller realizes an optimal control scheme that maximizes the local self-consumption of renewable energy source. At the same time, the energy consumption supplied by the electric grid is minimized subject to its price posted in the grid. The presented approach is evaluated through computer-aided simulations using data available from a real installation in Switzerland. The data consists of photovoltaic panels, industrial building as a load as well as a battery energy storage system (BESS).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Different Nd:Y x Gd1− x VO4 mixed crystals with low Nd ion concentrations were successfully grown by the Czochralski method. The influences of different Gd/Y ratio on the Nd:Y x Gd1− x VO4 mixed crystal properties were also investigated for the first time. X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) results showed that the constants of a, c and the dimensions of unit cell were linear with the Gd content in mixed crystal. The thermal and optical properties show some interesting changes. The laser experiments have proved that Nd:Y x Gd1− x VO4 crystals are new good laser materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Recent research in the Quijos and Cosanga valleys of the eastern piedmont of Ecuador’s Cordillera Real has revealed and substantiated previous knowledge of obsidian sources that are unrelated to obsidian flow systems in the Sierra de Guamaní, Ecuador. Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) were carried out on 47 obsidian source samples collected from several contexts in and adjacent to the study area. From samples within the study area three distinct obsidians were characterized: Cosanga A, Cosanga B, and Bermejo. These obsidians originate from a number of obsidian-bearing rhyolitic domes recently identified in the hills west of the Río Cosanga. Extensive survey of these dome localities has identified obsidian cobbles large enough for formal and informal tool manufacture. Beyond the study area, samples were collected and analyzed from the El Tablón source in the Sierra de Guamaní, providing much needed data on this poorly understood source. In addition, a sample from the newly identified Conda Dome source, near the Cotopaxi volcano, was characterized with XRF. All samples were then compared to 57 pre-existing samples from the Mullumica–Callejones, Yanaurco–Quiscatola and Carboncillo sources in the Ecuadoran Cordillera Real, as well as to artifacts from the Sumaco area in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Results of the elemental characterization indicate that the Cosanga Valley, El Tablón and Conda Dome obsidians are chemically distinct. Further, visual characteristics of Cosanga Valley obsidian types are useful in source attribution for the large artifact samples from the region. Finally, obsidian collected from the El Tablón flow suggests that this source may have produced obsidian suitable for tool manufacture.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents a new method of measuring fat content in coconut milk at room temperature (25°C) based on the designed Y-type optical fiber measurement system and makes the analysis and evaluation of this system. The system consists of light source, Y-type optical fiber, signal amplification module, signal conversion module and microprocessor module. The new method of assessing the accuracy of the measurement system – R&R (Repeatability and Reproducibility) assessment method is introduced here. It makes the effective analysis and evaluation and judges the reliability of the Y-type optical fiber system, laying the foundation for obtaining high quality data. The results show that the designed measurement system has high precision and can satisfy the measurement of this kind of samples.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "For establishing a new methodology for evaluating an effect of the grain boundaries, both the piezoelectric photo-thermal (PPT) and the surface photo-voltage (SPV) measurements of polycrystalline Si p–n junction samples with different volume fractions of grain boundaries were carried out. We could define the signal intensity ratio of SPV/PPT as the key indicator of photovoltaic performance. This is because the PPT signal implies the phonon emitting carrier loss, whereas the SPV denotes the photo-excited carrier accumulation at the surface and the junction interface. It was found that the SPV/PPT ratio and solar cell efficiency decreased with increasing volume fraction of the grain boundaries. Present experimental results demonstrated that one can directly estimate the photovoltaic performance of in-process polycrystalline Si p–n junction wafer by adopting the combination of the PPT and the SPV methodologies without electrodes. Since the PPT detects the non-radiative recombination process, present methodology and the laser-beam-induced current and the photoluminescence imaging methods are complementary. By complementary use of these methods, it becomes possible to investigate the characteristic of grain boundary.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "High levels of GHG emissions are the result of the activities of the construction industry; for example, cement and steel production alone are responsible for 10–12% of global Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. In order to control climate change, while complying with the levels set by the Paris agreement and the IPCC 2018 report (a maximum of +1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels), serious measures need to be adopted so that GHG emissions can be reduced. Indeed, it is only through the adoption of the Circular Economy (CE) principles that the construction sector will be able to play a strategic role in the achievement of such reductions. Despite the importance of the topic, there are few comprehensive reviews of possible strategies to produce low-carbon materials; this paper analyses literature reviews on low-carbon material, starting from international policies on GHG emission reduction and CE principles, providing a critical summary of current knowledge. On the basis of a thorough literature review whose references have been made in accordance with the relevance of the topic of study, the approaches adopted in order to produce low-carbon materials, the materials investigated and the related issues and challenges, the work identifies in an original way eight approaches (known as Low-carbon Emission Approaches - LEAs) related to the production process that could help reduce the GHG emissions of construction materials. Comparing the results of the literature review analysis with the material life cycle by means of a matrix that relates LCA and LEAs, the paper underlines LEA's capability to reduce GHG levels. In particular, focusing on the 8 LEAs identified, it emerges that, in order to create low-carbon products for construction, it is possible to use alternative materials (up to −40% of GHG emission) and natural materials (up to −90%), to introduce secondary raw materials (up to −40/50%), to implement CCS and CCU systems in the production process (up to −70%), to increase the use of energy from renewable sources (up to −60%), and to increase product performance. The work also highlights some limitations linked to several factors, such as: the costs for initial investments, some changes in the cultural paradigm, the impossibility for the market to receive innovative products, and the lack of skills of technicians and companies, and so on; these problems need to be solved in the shortest time possible in order to achieve the goal set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The influence of aminotriazole additives in acetonitrile solution of an I−/I3 − redox electrolyte on the performance of a bis(tetrabutylammonium)cis-bis(thiocyanato)bis(2,2′-bipyridine-4-carboxylic acid, 4′-carboxylate)ruthenium(II) (N719) dye-sensitized TiO2 solar cell was studied. The current–voltage characteristics were investigated under AM 1.5 (100mW/cm2) for 10 different aminotriazole compounds. The aminotriazole additives tested had varying effects on the solar cell performance. Most of the additives enhanced the open-circuit photovoltage (V oc), fill factor (ff) and the solar energy conversion efficiency (η), but reduced the short circuit photocurrent density (J sc) of the solar cell. The highest η of 7.6% was obtained by adding 3-amino-1H-1,2,4-triazole and η was comparable to that of 4-t-butylpyridine (TBP). Both the physical and chemical properties of the aminotriazoles were computationally calculated in order to determine the reasons why the additive affects the solar cell performance. The greater the calculated partial charge of the nitrogen atoms in the molecule, the larger the V oc value. The V oc of the solar cell also increased as the size of the aminotriazole molecules decreased. The J sc value increased with increasing the absolute difference in the dipole moments between the calculated aminotriazoles and acetonitrile. These results suggest that the electron donicity of the aminotriazole additives influenced the interaction with the TiO2 photoelectrode and the solvent, which altered the dye-sensitized solar cell performance.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Roof-top integrated photovoltaic systems: potential estimation. ► GIS data and ortho-imagery processing and analysis. ► Roof partitioning and analysis: suitability for PV installations and theoretical potential. ► Distributed PV potential over large scale territories.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The performance of a photovoltaic module under operating conditions mainly depends on two factors: solar irradiation and cell temperature. These two factors are strongly influenced by mounting geometrical parameters. This paper studies the effects of mounting parameters on photovoltaic (PV) module performance by using CFD and single diode model. The results show that maximum power output happens at the tilt angle where the incoming solar irradiation reaches the peak value. The relationship between efficiency and tilt angle acts differently based on wind velocity inside the gap. The air gap height, the distance between the module and roof, determines the heat transfer mechanism inside the air gap and then greatly affects the module performance. When the flow inside the air gap becomes fully developed, both the module power output and efficiency reach the greatest value. The result of this study provides theoretical basis to design mounting parameter for PV module installation and helps maximize energy efficiency in practical operating condition.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Various desalination methods have been introduced to address the growing demand for freshwater. Among these methods, solar stills have emerged as one of the simplest approaches. However, their performance has been hindered by low reliability, particularly due to heavy reliance on solar energy year-round. Addressing this issue, this study presents a novel and reliable solar desalination unit incorporating an evacuated tube water solar heater as a heat collector and a 250 W heat pump unit for condensation. Additionally, ultrasonic atomizers are integrated to facilitate vapor generation and accelerate its separation from the hot water fed into the desalination unit. The research commences with the selection of the optimal number of atomizers, followed by a comprehensive analysis encompassing environmental, economic, exergy, and energy (4E) considerations for the system with the optimal atomizer configuration. Furthermore, cover cooling is implemented to enhance condensation rates. Results indicate that the system, equipped with a single atomizer, yields 19.565 L/m2 per day of distilled water, with daily energy and exergy efficiencies of 62.39 % and 6.04 %, respectively. Following cover cooling, the system achieves production of 20.95 L/m2 of distilled water per day, accompanied by energy and exergy efficiencies of 65.48 % and 6.67 %, respectively. These improvements represent enhancements in freshwater production, energy efficiency, and exergy efficiency by 431.7 %, 57.82 %, and 74.61 %, respectively. Additionally, the system demonstrates a cost reduction of 14.36 % and a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions by 11.17 tons CO2, underscoring its economic and environmental benefits.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Methane (CH4) is the second most damaging greenhouse gas by absolute amounts released. Many globally distributed methane sources are of human origin, representing a significant untapped potential for capture and on-site conversion into electricity or ‘higher value’ chemicals. This study systematically and quantitatively analyzes the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for generating electric power as well as analyzes AOM in bioreactors for producing value-added chemicals. The maximum performance of such systems is currently unknown. Based on biophysical arguments, power densities of 10 kW/m3 and more should be achievable, and Coulombic, carbon conversion, and energy conversion efficiency could reach 90%. Such performance is much higher than what is usually predicted. This AOM MFC approach promises higher efficiency, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and easier distribution compared to existing chemical plants or aerobic biological approaches. Yet achieving this requires significant and integrated advancement of different technologies. This analysis provides an accessible primer for the necessary interdisciplinary research effort, and discusses recent enabling biotechnological advancements, open research questions and corresponding R&D pathways, where enzyme and synthetic microbial consortia engineering, microfluidic technologies, membrane and electrode materials, modular system integration, and power optimization technology will likely be critical. In conclusion, AOM MFC is a very promising technology as the performance limits estimated here show, and if realized at scale, a significant impact on green-house gas reduction and sustainable, on-demand electricity and chemical (fuel) production could be achieved; this analysis could also aid the rational MFC design for other chemical reactions.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In the case of the telecommunication (T/C) services' expansion to rural and remote areas, the market generally responds with the minimum investments required. Considering the existing situation, cost-effective operation of the T/C infrastructure installed in these regions (i.e. remote T/C stations) becomes critical. However, since in most cases grid-connection is not feasible, the up-to-now electrification solution for remote T/C stations is based on the operation of costly, oil consuming and heavy polluting diesel engines. Instead, the use of photovoltaic (PV)-based hybrid power stations is currently examined, using as a case study a representative remote T/C station of the Greek territory. In this context, the present study is concentrated on the detailed cost-benefit analysis of the proposed solution. More precisely, the main part of the analysis is devoted to develop a complete electricity production cost model, accordingly applied for numerous oil consumption and service period scenarios. Note that in all cases examined, zero load rejections is a prerequisite while minimum long-term cost solutions designated are favorably compared with the diesel-only solution. Finally, a sensitivity analysis, demonstrating the impact of the main economic parameters on the energy production cost of optimum sized PV-diesel hybrid power stations, is also provided.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The paper analyses the evolution of the photovoltaics industry in Australia, Germany and Japan from a comparative policy perspective. It uses a sectoral innovation system framework to discuss the way the three countries have approached the development of knowledge and new technologies, the actors in the sector and the interactions between them, the role of institutions and availability of funding as well as the development of markets for photovoltaics. It outlines the different paths that the countries have adopted for the process of transition from niche to mass production. The findings show that various national players have specialised in different activities, with the institutions' building block being a key determinant for success or otherwise. In the case of Australia, it is also the least developed area which ultimately exposes the country to losing its innovation benefits.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • We demonstrate that bulk material can be used for flexible thermoelectric system. • Not only flexible thermoelectric device but also heat sinks are combined together as a system. • The flexible thermoelectric system produce 80μW powered by human body heat.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The control strategy for a photovoltaic (PV) system with a hydrogen (H2) subsystem consisting of an electrolyzer, pressurized hydrogen gas storage, and fuel cell has been investigated. Detailed computer simulation models for TRNSYS have been developed, tested, and verified against a reference system, namely the PHOEBUS plant in Jülich, Germany. The basic control strategy and main logical control variables for a PV–H2 system are described. System performance indicators, parameters, and constraints that can be used to analyze the performance of PV–H2 systems have been identified. The results from a time series simulation for a typical year are presented. Finally, the importance of selecting smart control strategies is demonstrated.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A variety of approaches are explored for crystalline silicon thin film solar cells on foreign substrates. According to their grain size, we classify these films as either microcrystalline, polycrystalline, or monocrystalline. The first two materials are directly deposited onto foreign substrates, whereas monocrystalline films are transferred from a wafer to a foreign substrate. We describe device results, analyze underlying material properties and discuss prospects and limitations of these approaches. In contrast to the limited performance of micro- and polycrystalline Si thin film solar cells imposed by the presence of grain boundaries, we expect transfer approaches to result in thin film solar cell efficiencies in the range of 18–20%. This approach therefore opens an avenue to an efficient and competitive Si-based thin film technology in the near future.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Production systems represent a significant source of waste heat. The waste heat cannot be reused often. Many optimization methods can give a solution for waste heat recovery. However, the results do not depend only on the method. The low-temperature waste heat makes difficulties for its recovery within the processes. Organic Rankine Cycle units can be used for low-temperature heat transformation into electricity. Linking the Organic Rankine Cycle within the heat integrated system is not simple. This depends on the influence of a few important factors. The process parameters of the working medium, the physical and chemical characteristics of the working fluid, the continuity of heat supply, and the temperature level of waste heat are necessary conditions that must be included in optimization. The optimization method should determine the optimal operating point of the Organic Rankine Cycle. The displacement of the operating point leads to decrease in the effective transformation of heat into electricity. These problems are analyzed through a review of the methods and approaches used for the integration of Organic Rankine Cycle in thermal process systems. These include Pinch technology, Non-Linear Programming, Multiple Integer Linear Programming, Genetic Algorithm, Artificial Neural Network and many different approaches for polygeneration systems. All methods were compared and systematized in a general scheme for integration of an Organic Rankine Cycle with low-temperature industrial waste heat supply. This work also includes experience in implemented and designed projects of an integrated Organic Rankine Cycle.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "With the objective of the formulation of ready-to-print stable water-based inks of supercapacitive MnO2, selected surfactants have been used as reactants for the synthesis of manganese oxide powders. The presence of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), caffeic acid and Triton TX100 in the reaction medium drastically impacts on the characteristics of the resulting material at crystal and molecular levels, on particle shape and size, on the Mn oxidation state as well as on the electrochemical behavior of the corresponding electrodes. With caffeic acid and Triton TX100, resulting oxides are mixtures of amorphous MnO2 and Mn2O3 with limited electrochemical performances. Showing, in contrast, strong similarities with birnessite-type MnO2, surfactant-free powders and those prepared in presence of SDS, both show attractive electrochemical performances with capacitances up to 164F/g for the latter. The excess of particle surface charges upon SDS adsorption is pointed out for a better stability of the corresponding ink formulation as well as for a better dispersibility of the powder at dry state, which result in a more homogeneous composite electrode.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "System simulation is necessary to investigate the feasibility of Solar PV system at a given location. This study is done to evaluate the feasibility of grid connected rooftop solar photovoltaic system for a residential Hostel building at MANIT, Bhopal, India (Latitude: 23° 16′ N, Longitude: 77° 36′ E). The study focuses on the use of Solargis PV Planner software as a tool to analyze the performance a 110 kWp solar photovoltaic rooftop plant and also compares the performances of different PV technologies based on simulated energy yield and performance ratio. Solargis proves to easy, fast, accurate and reliable software tool for the simulation of solar PV system.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "For many years, the photovoltaics (PV) community has relied on the concept of energy payback time (EPT) as a means of quantifying the ratio of energy generated from a PV panel or system over its lifetime, compared to the energy that was required to fabricate it. Few other energy technologies are so judged and this paper argues that the EPT concept is obsolete, misleading and may possibly even contribute to keeping the myth alive, that ‘That PV does not payback the energy used to create it’. Therefore, a new norm for the PV community is proposed, the energy yield ratio (EYR), as used by Gürzenich et al. (Int J Life Cycle Assess 1999; 4(3): 144–9). EYR values for three different PV products (a single multicrystalline silicon module, 2kW rooftop grid-connected system, and a solar home system) are determined to be 4.8–13.9, many times the energy inputs required to fabricate the system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "To maximally utilize inlet sunlight, a novel dye-sensitized solar cell-based hybrid system containing a solar selective absorber and a Stirling-like thermocapacitive cycle is theoretically put forward. Energy efficiencies and output powers of dye-sensitized solar cell, Stirling-like thermocapacitive cycle and hybrid system are deduced. Feasibility as well as competitiveness of hybrid system are expounded through comprehensive comparisons. Numerical results show that output power density and energy efficiency of hybrid system are, respectively, 148.96 W m - 2 and 14.90%, which are, respectively, 93.58% and 204.70% superior to that of standalone dye-sensitized solar cell. Moreover, ponderable parametric studies are performed to examine how key variables affect the hybrid system performance. It is found that greater operating temperature of dye-sensitized solar cell, charging endpoint voltage of Stirling-like thermocapacitive cycle or thermal conductance coefficients between Stirling-like thermocapacitive cycle and dye-sensitized solar cell/solar selective absorber subsystems as well as environment are favorable to the hybrid system performance, while higher environment temperature and discharging endpoint voltage of Stirling-like thermocapacitive cycle are unfavorable variables. In addition, the thickness and porosity of nano porous TiO2 semiconductive film can be structurally optimized to improve the hybrid system performance.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, we investigate using an adaptive radial basis function (RBF) network with infinite impulse response (IIR) filter in order to find a suitable model for sizing coefficients of the stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) systems, based on minimum of input data. These sizing coefficients allow to the users of stand-alone PV systems to determine the number of solar panel and storage batteries necessary to satisfy a given consumption, especially in isolated sites where the global solar radiation data is not always available. Obtained results by feed-forward MLP, RBF and an adaptive RBF-IIR model have been compared with real sizing coefficients. The adaptive RBFIIR has been trained by using 200 known sizing coefficients values corresponding to 200 locations in Algeria. In this way, the adaptive model was trained to accept and even handle a number of unusual cases. The unknown validation sizing coefficients set produced very set accurate estimation with the correlation coefficient between the actual and the RBF-IIR model estimated data of 97% was obtained. This result indicates that the proposed method can be successfully used for estimating of optimal sizing coefficients of PV systems for any locations in Algeria, but the methodology can be generalized using different locations in the world.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this article, results are presented of annual simulations of a decentralized (regional) plant for the power and heat supply of a residential complex. This complex consists of four houses with 40 flats all in all. The annual power consumption of the complex is 157 MWh and the heat requirement is 325 MWh. The concrete dynamics of the energy demands over the year is taken into consideration. The energy supply system is composed of a power-controlled combined heat and power (CHP) plant (55 kW), a photovoltaic plant (PV array or PV plant) array for power generation as well as a field of solar thermal collectors with a short-term accumulator for water heating and a long-term accumulator for supplying heat for domestic heating purposes. Simulation results demonstrate that synergetic effects result from the combination of a CHP plant with wind power and PV plants of varying sizes, which have an effect on the cost effectiveness of the plant as a whole with the different dynamics of energy sources (wind and solar energies) and of the consumption of power and heat being the decisive factors. The power deficits of wind power and PV plants are compensated through the application of a natural gas-operated CHP plant. In almost all variants, the demand for fossil energy carriers is distinctly less than in conventional energy supply plants.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We investigated thermally- or optically-biased memristive switching in two-terminal micro devices based on vanadium dioxide (VO2) thin films. For the preparation of multi-level resistance switching, the device was kept at a specific temperature or an optical illumination power so that it fell into the thermal or optical hysteresis region of the device resistance during the switching. With the application of external current pulses, the device resistance decreased in a discrete manner showing multiple resistance levels, each of which was maintained as long as the temperature (or optical) bias excited the device. In particular, in the optically-biased case, the effect of the pulse-free interval between current pulses on the device resistance was also examined with respect to three intervals including 10, 15, and 30 s. It was observed that a longer pulse-free interval and higher optical bias reduced the rate of current-induced change in the device resistance. Finally, in order to explore a trend of grain resistance change in the VO2-based device, we carefully suggested a grain network model explaining a percolative transition in inhomogeneous VO2 film.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "About 70% of 1.2 billion people live in rural areas in China. In spite of the rapid growth of China's national economy in recent decades, energy problems still have a very real impact on economic and environmental development, especially in rural areas. In order to mitigate the adverse impact of coal burning to the regional and global environment, the Chinese Government has adopted vigorous measures to develop renewable energy technologies.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Magnetron sputtered ZnO:Al films are promising candidates as front electrode in a variety of opto-electronic devices. Here we report on efforts to obtain highly conductive and transparent ZnO:Al films using different deposition conditions for RF, DC and MF (mid frequency) sputtering. Investigations were made to see the effect of target doping concentration (TDC), film thickness, sputter pressure and deposition temperature. RF sputtering from ceramic targets yields low resistivities between 3 and 5×10−4 Ω cm for target doping concentrations between 4 and 0.5%. With decreasing TDC to 0.5% carrier mobilities up to 44 cm2/Vs were obtained, accompanied by the extension of the region of high transmission to the near infrared, due to a reduction in free carrier absorption and corresponding shift in plasma wavelength. DC and MF sputtering from metallic targets yielded similar low resistivities at deposition rates up to 200 nm/min. An analysis of mobility (μ) data of all films as function of the corresponding carrier densities (N) showed that the μ–N values obtained in this study are in the vicinity to limits suggested in the literature.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • CSP capacity to end of 2016 is almost 5GW, slower than hoped, but 5GW in Chinese plans. • Evidence of learning rate does exist once sufficient similar capacity added without delay. • Energy systems analysis is evolving with recent large-scale utility renewables including CSP. • System value of CSP relates to storage and dispatch, but uptake is likely more complex. • Marginal system value methods need to capture spatiotemporal behavior to determine value.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Landfill gas (LFG) projects for energy production have several advantages. However, to avoid the impossibility of these projects, it is crucial to assess the long-term effects of public policies that promote the diversion of waste disposed of in landfills. Therefore, the objective of the present work is to evaluate the effects of the application of public policies, which influence recycling, reduction of generation, and inadequate disposal reduction of municipal solid waste (MSW), in the potential of electricity generation in landfills, as well as to evaluate its effect on economic viability. A System Dynamics model was employed to estimate methane production while considering variations in the quantity and make-up of MSW over time. The results showed that the scenarios with the greatest potential for methane generation and electricity were those with less diversion of biodegradable waste. Furthermore, the economic performance demonstrated that none of the possibilities are viable except with carbon credits extra income. However, all scenarios could become viable by increasing the energy sale rate above 93.2 USD.MWh−1. Another option calls for lowering the discount rate through government incentives to a percentage below 10 % and an investment cost below 77 % of the original value. These elements aid in long-term planning and give decision-makers a future vision of the impact of these policies.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The glass-like thermoelectric material AgSbTe2 has shown great potential in recent years due to its inherent low thermal conductivity and large Seebeck coefficient. Using nanostructured engineering to improve the electrical properties of AgSbTe2 while reducing its lattice thermal conductivity, is the main focus of thermoelectric performance optimization. Herein, we report a significant improvement in the thermoelectric performance of a composite prepared by incorporation of graphene nanosheets into surface-modified AgSbTe2 matrix via the hetero-aggregation method. Compared with the matrix, all composite bulk samples exhibited lower lattice thermal conductivity due to the enhanced phonon scattering at the new formed interfaces. Besides, the formation of the conductive network structure by graphene nanosheets in the matrix greatly increased the conductivity of AgSbTe2 from 1.6 to 2.5*104 S/m without significant deterioration of the Seebeck coefficient. Consequently, the maximum ZT of about 1.25 was obtained at 500K for 0.9 vol% graphene/AgSbTe2, which was 69% higher than that of pristine AgSbTe2 bulk. This also validates that the hetero-aggregation composite method is a promising processing scheme for designing novel two-dimensional thermoelectric nanocomposites.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Crystallization of water and food systems may be affected by electric and magnetic fields. In this review paper, the crystallization of water and food systems assisted by DC voltage (DC-V) is compiled based on existing literature. Two ways of applying DC-V during electrocrystallization can be identified, namely charge flow (CF) conditions with electrical charges flowing through the matrix and static electric field (SEF) conditions. Both processes have shown to interact with nucleation mechanism by reducing supercooling and favouring a higher nucleation rate. The theoretical calculations show that the application of SEF can modify the free energy of formation of ice nuclei in the water phase. Moreover, SEF application can also enhance heat and mass transfer during crystallization process. Various molecular simulations and experimental studies have shown that SEF aligns the water molecules in its direction by the phenomenon of dielectric polarization, and thus, reduces the degree of supercooling (∆T). The freezing process under SEF produces smaller ice crystals in the food products, resulting in less freeze damage; it is thus expected to minimize cell disruption, to reduce the drip loss, to lessen the protein denaturation, and finally to preserve the texture of the fresh food after thawing. Furthermore, freezing under SEF may help to use less energy intensive freezing conditions (higher set point temperature, low air velocity). As a conclusion, the use of DC-V in the case of crystallization of food systems (especially freezing) offers a new perspective to the food industry.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A fission-fragment-sensitive detector built for low-energy photon spectroscopy applications at the WNR “white” neutron source at Los Alamos is described. The detector consists of eight layers of thin photovoltaic cells, onto which 1 mg/cm 2 of pure 238 U is deposited. The detector serves as an active target to select fission events from background and other reaction channels. The fairly small thickness of the detector with respect to transmission of 20–50 keV photons permits the measurement of prompt fission-fragment X-rays. Results with the GEANIE photon spectrometer are presented.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The Helium Cooled Ceramic Breeder (HCCB) blanket is the critical component of the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR). The radial structural layout of the internal functional zones has the largest impact on the neutronics and thermal-hydraulic performance of the blanket, and it’s also the major determinant for the detailed 3D design. In the previous work, NTCOC, a Neutronics/Thermal-hydraulic Coupling Optimization Code, has been developed for application in the radial structural layout optimization of the CFETR HCCB blanket. However, for increasing the optimization efficiency, the NTCOC employs the simplified 1D neutronics and 2D thermal-hydraulic calculation models, the results of which may differ from the calculation results of the 3D actual models. Therefore, it’s essential to verify the reliability of the simplified models by comparing their calculation results with the corresponding 3D models. In this work, both the 3D neutronics and thermal-hydraulic analyses corresponding to the radial structural optimization processes of the CFETR HCCB blanket are performed and the corresponding calculation results are compared with NTCOC. The results show that adopting the 1D neutronics model in NTCOC can reflect the change tendency of the tritium breeding performance during the radial optimization processes accurately. However, the radial temperature distribution which is calculated by the 3D thermal-hydraulic model is generally higher than the NTCOC results, which means that the direct application of the 2D thermal-hydraulic model in NTCOC is not conservative. For solving this problem, a 3D thermal revision is added to the previous optimization method in the form of feedback. After revision, the 3D calculated temperature of the newly obtained blanket scheme is generally lower than the NTCOC’s, which means that the previous problem has been well solved. This work comprehensively verifies the reliability of the NTCOC and the improved optimization method after the 3D thermal revision for application in the radial structural optimization of the CFETR HCCB blanket.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, a methodology to estimate the profile of the produced power of a 50 Wp Si-polycrystalline photovoltaic (PV) module is described. For this purpose, two artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been developed for use in cloudy and sunny days respectively. More than one year of measured data (solar irradiance, air temperature, PV module voltage and PV module current) have been recorded at the Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey (from 1-1-2011 to 24-2-2012) and used for the training and validation of the models. Results confirm the ability of the developed ANN-models for estimating the power produced with reasonable accuracy. A comparative study shows that the ANN-models perform better than polynomial regression, multiple linear regression, analytical and one-diode models. The advantage of the ANN-models is that they do not need more parameters or complicate calculations unlike implicit models. The developed models could be used to forecast the profile of the produced power. Although, the methodology has been applied for one polycrystalline PV module, it could also be generalized for large-scale photovoltaic plants as well as for other PV technologies.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Gel electrolytes were prepared by adding different alkali metal iodide salts RI (R+ = Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+ or Cs+) and I2 into acetonitrile gelated with poly(ethylene-oxide) (PEO). KI, RbI and CsI, poorly soluble in liquid electrolyte, can dissolve completely in PEO gel electrolyte due to a strong interaction of cation and PEO chains. All gel electrolytes exhibit high conductivity in the range of 10− 3 S/cm and contain I− with concentration of 0.3 M. The effect of R+ in PEO gel electrolyte on the performance of quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) was investigated. The results showed that the open circuit voltage (V oc) increases with the increased radius of alkali metal cation. It is explained by the rise of electron Fermi level (E F) of TiO2 caused by a decrease in I3 − diffusion with the increase of radius of R+.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper focuses on evaluating the performance of automotive exhaust thermoelectric generators (AETEGs) under actual vehicle driving conditions. The exhaust gas temperature and mass flow rate under driving conditions are in a transient state, which directly affects the performance of the AETEG and therefore cannot be ignored. To reflect this, we built a numerical model of the AETEG and developed a weighted analysis method based on the exhaust conditions in standard test cycles to obtain the output performance and optimal thermoelectric module area of the AETEG. The results show that, compared with the results without using the weighted analysis, the maximum power output and the optimal module area increased by 5.2 % and 56.4 %, respectively, after using this method. In addition, for engineering applications, this paper presents a simplified calculation method for the performance parameters of an AETEG. Compared with the numerical calculation method, the simplified calculation method, whose calculation accuracy meets the requirements of general engineering applications, is more convenient and efficient, and has certain guiding significance for the practical application of AETEGs.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Given the cascade utilization of photon energy, concentrating spectral beam splitting hybrid conversion technology is one of the state-of-the-art solar energy harvesting schemes. In this paper, a novel photovoltaic-thermochemical hybrid system based on a Cassegrain concentrator is proposed for ameliorating optical efficiency and thermochemical conversion under spectral splitting. On this basis, solar energy penetration is improved by concentrating optimization and reactant flow regulation. A specially developed splitter is used to allocate different radiation bands, allowing for the thermochemical storage of photovoltaic loss at mid/low temperatures. The mathematical method covering ray tracing, parameter optimization, solar multi-effect conversion process, and evaluation is constructed and verified, by which the optical characteristics, thermodynamic regulation, and economic feasibility are quantitatively investigated. The results show that the optical efficiency of 79.2% can be obtained by multi-objective optimization considering the uniformity of energy flux and the deviation of ray incidence angle for the first time. With the assistance of the reactant flow strategy, the hybrid system has a solar-product conversion efficiency of more than 36.4% and a stable exergy conversion capacity under different irradiance conditions. Moreover, the system demonstrates a potential investment return and a controllable levelised cost of electricity. In summary, the research results will contribute to the feasibility of full-spectrum solar absorption and the applicability of dish concentrators in distributed scenarios.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► We study electron transfer dynamics of C343 on ZnO and TiO2 films and solar cells. ► Femtosecond upconversion spectroscopy is used to investigate these processes. ► Retardation in injection dynamics is observed in solar cells compared to thin films. ► Electron injection is faster in ZnO than TiO2 films, but slower in ZnO solar cells. ► Lower efficiency of TiO2 cells is due to higher electron–hole recombination rates.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This study outlines a new methodology for experimental determination of the key parameters required for designing LED thermal management hardware, using a case study of the Nichia NC5W093AT Light Emitting Diode (LED), a light used in automotive headlamps. The method provides the junction temperature, the efficiency, and the package thermal resistance of the LED. For the studied LED, it was found that efficiency decreased from 36% to 25% with increasing junction temperature from 30°C to 120°C; efficiency was also insensitive to supply current. The thermal resistance, which spanned from the LED junction to the copper base, was determined to be 3.2 K/W and was insensitive to supply current and operating temperature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Perovskite materials have attracted tremendous attention in the field of material science and technology owing to their unique properties like tunable band gap, high carrier mobility, long diffusion length and high molar absorptivity coefficient. Among 2D perovskites the layered materials have been extensively studied in comparison to non-layered 2D perovskites. But non layered perovskites have emerged as a class of potential materials possessing unique structure and optoelectronic properties which make them suitable for many applications. This chapter will focus on the comprehensive review of synthesis, structure, properties and applications of non-layered 2D perovskites. We will discuss the crystal structure of these materials in comparison to their layered counterparts, followed by an insight of their physical properties and finally their applications. Overall, this chapter will provide insights into the potential of non-layered 2D perovskites as an emerging class of materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "High-strength steel has been widely used in many engineering structures owing to its enormous economic benefits. A considerable amount of theoretical and experimental research on the fire resistance of high-strength steel structures has been reported. Most of the research has focused on the mechanical properties of steel and the overall buckling behavior of members, but less work has been done on the local buckling behavior, which is often observed in steel structures subjected to actual fires. Moreover, very few design provisions in codes and standards are available for calculating the local buckling capacity of steel columns under high temperatures. In this study, eight welded H-section columns (groups A and B) made of high-strength Q960 steel were tested under axial compression at ambient and elevated temperatures to investigate their local buckling behaviors. By considering different buckling zones, heating temperatures, and heating methods, the load–axial displacement, load–lateral deflection, and local buckling zone of steel columns were recorded. Compared with the ambient temperature test results, the ultimate load of group A specimens at 480 and 632 °C decreased by 26.1% and 57.2%, respectively, and the ultimate load of group B specimens at 472 and 683 °C decreased by 28.5% and 74.2%, respectively. The critical buckling temperature of the columns in transient-state testing was higher than that in steady-state testing under the same load conditions. A finite element model was established using the ABAQUS finite element software and was validated by the test results. The experimental values were compared with the design methods proposed in Eurocode 3 (EC3). The results reveal that EC3 is unsuitable for calculating the local buckling capacity of H-section Q960 steel columns at elevated temperatures.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Water and energy scarcity is one of the most important and biggest challenges facing many countries around the world. In rural communities, the traditional energy sources utilized for produce the freshwater may be not available. So, the hemispherical solar distillers are a good choice to produce the freshwater, which characterized by having a large surface area for receive and condensed compared to traditional single-slope solar distillers. The present work aims to achieve the highest freshwater productivity from the hemispherical solar distillers by combining two of the most effective modifications, namely, use of CuO nanoparticles to increase the evaporation rate, and use of glass cover cooling technology to increase the condensation rate. To obtain the influences of combining two effective modifications on the productivity of hemispherical distillers, three hemispherical distillers were constructed and tested at same climate conditions, namely; the conventional hemispherical distiller which represent the reference distiller, modified hemispherical distiller with CuO nanoparticles, and modified hemispherical distiller with CuO nanoparticles and glass cover cooling technology. The results presented that the combination between two effective modifications (CuO nanoparticles with 0.3% concentration and glass cover cooling technology) represents the good option which improving the freshwater productivity to 7.9 L/m2/day compared to 3.85 L/m2/day for reference distiller with an improvement of 105.2%. Also, the utilization of these two combined effective modification with 0.3% CuO nanoparticles concentration improves the daily efficiency by 101.5% compared to reference distiller.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Al2O3 layers of 1–3 μm were deposited as diffusion barriers by RF sputtering from a ceramic target on metal foils of Ti, Kovar® and Cr steel. Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS)-based thin-film solar cells were deposited onto these substrates using a co-evaporation process for CIGS at T⩾550 °C. CIGS solar cells of 0.25 cm2 achieved efficiencies of approximately 10–11% without any Na doping. Without barriers, the cell efficiencies were limited to significantly lower values except for Ti substrates. The reduced efficiency values can be attributed mainly to a reduction in fill factors, and secondly, to reduced open-circuit voltages. The different solar cell efficiencies can be correlated with the amount of impurities entering the CIGS layer by diffusion from the substrates, as investigated by simultaneous secondary ion mass spectrometry and sputtered neutral mass spectrometry depth profiling. Without diffusion barriers, Fe and Cr concentrations of several hundred ppm were detected in CIGS layers on Cr steel. Fe, Ni, Co and Ti concentrations from Kovar® and Ti substrates were much smaller, indicating a reduced diffusion. Using Al2O3 barriers, the concentrations of Fe and Cr in CIGS are reduced proportionally to the barrier thickness by up to a factor of 100 when compared to systems without barriers.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Thermodynamic parameters characterizing protein stability can be obtained for a fully reversible folding/unfolding system directly by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). However, the reversible DSC profile can be altered by an irreversible step causing aggregation. Here, to obtain insight into amyloid fibrils, ordered and fibrillar aggregates responsible for various amyloidoses, we studied the effects on human β2-microglobulin and hen egg-white lysozyme of a combination of agitation and heating. Aggregates formed by mildly agitating protein solutions in the native state in the presence of NaCl were heated in the cell of the DSC instrument. For β2-microglobulin, with an increase in the concentration of NaCl at neutral pH, the thermogram began to show an exothermic transition accompanied by a large decrease in heat capacity, followed by a kinetically controlled thermal response. Similarly, the aggregated lysozyme at a high concentration of NaCl revealed a similar distinct transition in the DSC thermogram over a wide pH range. Electron microscopy demonstrated the conformational change into amyloid fibrils. Taken together, the combined use of agitation and heating is a powerful way to generate amyloid fibrils from two proteins, β2-microglobulin and hen egg-white lysozyme, and to evaluate the effects of heat on fibrillation, in which the heat capacity is crucial to characterizing the transition.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A soft and simple photochemical technique is proposed for the incorporation of copper oxide to nanoporous TiO2 with the purpose of sensitizing the TiO2 to wavelengths in the visible range. An aqueous solution of copper formate is employed as precursor. The light intensity value needed for the process, as well as its spectral range, is readily attainable with solar light. Because of the importance of heterojunctions of porous semiconductors in solar energy application, like extremely thin absorber solar cells, experimental conditions have been studied in order to obtain a thin absorption layer of copper oxide covering the TiO2. Selection of copper formate solution concentration, irradiation time and previous immersion time in the precursor solution has been studied using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and optical spectral transmission. Direction and wavelength dependence of photocurrent show that photons are absorbed by the copper oxide and electrons injected to the TiO2.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The use of nanostructured delafossite oxides in thermoelectric (TE) applications has attracted a great interest due to their high performance and long-term stability at elevated temperatures. Cuprous delafossites, CuMO2 (M = Al, Cr, Fe, Ga, Mn), compared to conventional TE materials, such as Bi2Te3, PbTe and SiGe, are non-toxic and more earth abundant. In particular, CuAlO2 compound shows a great potential for high performance thermoelectric materials. In this work, a systematic study of temperature dependent TE properties of cuprous delafossite materials, CuAlO2, is reported. The optimization of the TE properties has been realized by controlling nanostructure size around 80 nm CuAlO2 powder was prepared using a solid-state synthesis method at ∼1373 K in nitrogen/air atmosphere. The nanostructure size was controlled by a high energy ball milling process. Reducing the particle size of nanostructured bulk materials decouples interdependent electron and phonon transport and results in a lattice thermal conductivity decrease without deteriorating electrical conductivity. The high effective mass plays a dominant role in the high Seebeck coefficient and low electrical conductivity. The power factor reached ∼0.78 × 10−5 W/mK2 at 780 K. Temperature dependent TE properties, including Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity are analyzed. The processing-structure-property correlation of these materials are discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The influence of graphene oxide geometry on electrochemical performance is of great interest, but there are few reports on this subject. Three different members of the graphene oxide family, graphene oxide nanosheets, graphene oxide nanoribbons, and graphene oxide quantum dots were comparatively investigated as electrode materials to systematically study the effect of geometric structure. The results showed that, as the geometric structure varies, the three graphene oxide materials possess different electrical conductivities, various defect densities and oxygen contents, as well as diverse electrode surface chemistry and microstructures, which combine together to result in the distinct electrochemical responses for the modified electrodes, depending on the redox system involved. This work broadens the method of studying the electrochemical performance of many other materials from the perspective of geometry.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Magnetron sputtered hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin films have been characterized. Hydrogen (H2) with argon (Ar) was introduced into the sputtering chamber to create the plasma. A sudden increase in the deposition rate occurred when the hydrogen was added. The maximum hydrogen content of 16 atomic percent (at.%) was achieved and a bandgap of about 2.07eV was determined from the spectral investigations of the hydrogenated films. The effect of radio frequency (RF) power on the deposition rate, as well as on the hydrogen content was investigated. To change the hydrogen content in the films, the hydrogen flow rate was varied while keeping the argon flow rate constant. The hydrogen content in the films increased with increasing hydrogen flow rate up to the maximum content of 16at.% and then decreased for further increases in hydrogen flow.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The photovoltaic properties of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) based on several types of substrates, FTO, Ti and stainless steel, were investigated. The sheet resistances of the substrates were correlated to the photovoltaic properties. The efficiency of the DSC using Ti substrate was higher than that of the DSCs using stainless steel and FTO. For the large-size DSCs based on FTO, the metal track is an important component to retain the decrease in cell performance due to the relatively high sheet resistance of FTO. To minimize the internal resistance of DSCs, the Ti sheet was used as a support of nano-crystalline TiO 2 due to the low sheet resistance. Although the IPCE of DSCs based on Ti substrate was lower than that of DSCs based on FTO in the range from 400 to 500nm, the DSC based on Ti substrate showed the higher IPCE in red region due to the light reflecting on Ti substrate. The efficiency of 3.2% for the DSC based on Ti substrate was obtained with a Jsc 6.94 mAcm - 2 , Voc 0.75V, and FF 0.610. This result shows that the Ti plate has superiority for producing the large DSCs without metal track and reduces the cost of DSCs.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper extensively concentrates on energy and environmental impacts only. Energy utilization and its major environmental impacts are discussed from the standpoint of sustainable development, including anticipated patterns of future energy use and subsequent environmental issues. Renewable energy technologies and efficient energy utilization are identified as the most effective potential solutions to current environmental issues, along with some practical examples. Several aspects relating to energy utilization, renewable energy, energy efficiency, environment and sustainable development are examined from both current and future perspectives. It may be concluded that the conclusions and recommendations presented here will be beneficial to energy scientists and engineers, and energy policy makers.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Fusion deposition modeling (FDM) is an incredibly dynamic yet inexpensive process for a range of fabrication steps from prototyping to mass production. FDM is on the cutting edge of manufacturing thermoelectric materials. Previously, the FDM materials were limited to the most common types: acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA). However, new developments in FDM material have created printing opportunities that were unheard of just a few decades ago. Therefore, it became a valuable resource for a wide range of industrial applications, ranging from the aerospace industry to the biomedical industry. While FDM is still largely confined to rapid prototyping, advancements in reinforced filaments have moved the technology ever closer to end-use products. As composites, they can withstand considerable forces and are better able to resist corrosion. However, after a lengthy process, the surface quality and structure can be achieved, which is a basic drawback of this process. Still, this is an ideal process for many biomedical applications, such as replacing human tissues, bones, and joints. Overall, FDM has changed how manufacturing processes are approached, and the technology will continue to become more prominent in the coming years.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The photovoltaic properties of nanoporous TiO2 film treated with Al3+ ions have been investigated by the spectral and transient photovoltage (PV) technique. The performances of the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with different amounts of aluminum oxide were compared. The results showed that with increased amount of aluminum oxide, the spectral PV responses blue shift (with the exception of the 0.1wt%) and the time of the transient PV maximum increase. The performances of the corresponding cells were improved. These results indicated the dependence of the DSSCs performances on the charge dynamics in the corresponding nanoporous TiO2 film.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter addresses the theoretical background and technical challenges behind the direct production of hydrogen via photo-splitting of water in biomimetic devices. Natural systems for water splitting via natural sunlight (photosystem II) and for hydrogen synthesis (hydrogenase enzymes), as well as artificial molecules obtained to mimic the properties of natural ones, are reviewed and discussed. Given the properties of these systems, a theoretical efficiency of 10% was estimated based on the thermodynamics of a fully optimized system in terms of materials and engineering design. Finally, the main advances in theoretical knowledge and engineering research required to assemble these functionalities into a solar-to-fuel device, which may compete with photovoltaic cells, are presented.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "HEterojunction Interfacial Workfunction Internal Photoemission (HEIWIP) detectors using AlGaAs as both the emitter and the barrier material with different Al fractions for the two layers are demonstrated. The extension of the HEIWIP concept to wavelengths longer than 110μm in the GaAs/AlGaAs system requires the use of AlGaAs as the emitter material to reduce the barrier height. The p-type doping produces an offset in the valance band between doped and undoped material. The Al fraction difference then gives a valance band offset in the opposite direction, which reduces the total offset. The FIR absorption up to ∼400μm for AlGaAs films with different Al fractions and doping are presented. The absorption in the films with low Al fraction (1%) shows little variation from comparable GaAs films while for 20% Al, the absorption is reduced. The spectral results on a device with 12% Al emitters and 11% Al barriers have shown a response of 0.6A/W at 30μm with D ∗ =3×1010 Jones measured at 5K. The low responsivity is due to the reduced number (3) of emitters in the test device, and when scaled for the number of emitters this is comparable to results obtained from GaAs/AlGaAs HEIWIP detectors. Based on these results, a design for a 300μm detector is presented and potential difficulties in growth and fabrication such as dopant migration are discussed.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "It is widely known that photoluminescence (PL) and infrared (IR) spectroscopies are among the experimental tools extensively used in the last decades for the study of impurities and defects in silicon for both microelectronic and photovoltaic applications. This review paper reports the main historical achievements and recent developments obtained in this field by PL and IR, paying particular attention to the most useful data for the study of defects in silicon for photovoltaic applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • We examine the solar radiation conversion into thermal energy and energy storage. • Compound parabolic concentrator has been mounted on photovoltaic-thermal collector. • Overall efficiency of the PVT solar collector was higher. • The plate temperature gradually increase from water entrance to the solar collector.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Chronic hypoxia causes neural dysfunction. Oxygen (O2) supplements have been commonly used to increase the O2 supply, yet the therapeutic benefit of this treatment remains controversial due to a lack of cellular and molecular evidence. In this study, we examined the effects of short-burst O2 supplementation on neural behavior and presynaptic protein expression profiles in a simple chronic hypoxia model of snail Lymnaea stagnalis. We reported that hypoxia delayed the animal response to light stimuli, suppressed locomotory activity, induced expression of stress-response proteins, hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), repressed syntaxin-1 (a membrane-bound presynaptic protein) and elevated vesicle-associated membrane protein-1 (VAMP-1) (a vesicle-bound presynaptic protein) level. O2 supplements relieved suppression of neural behaviors, and corrected hypoxia-induced protein alterations in a dose-dependent manner. The effectiveness of supplemental O2 was further evaluated by determining time courses for recovery of neural behaviors and expression of stress response proteins and presynaptic proteins after relief from hypoxia conditions. Our findings suggest that O2 supplement improves hypoxia-induced adverse alterations of presynaptic protein expression and neurobehaviors, however, the optimal level of O2 required for improvement is protein specific and system specific.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "As a result of the oil crisis of the 1970s, energy saving in the construction and operation of buildings has been a strategic issue in the building industry. Energy consumption has a significant impact on the environment in terms of the resulting emissions and by-products. However, energy consumption is not the only building item that impacts on the environment. Other items such as site planning, waste management, selection of materials and design for flexibility, together with energy planning form the agenda for sustainable building practices and are a critical factor in addressing the environmental crisis. As strategic as energy saving has been since the oil crisis, environment-friendly building practices today provide competitive advantage for the firms that embrace them. Based on a case study drawn from Botswana, this paper discusses some environment-friendly building practices and the importance of considering the sustainability of the building at the design stage because decisions made here influence all downstream processes. The paper concludes by emphasizing that, although much progress on environmental improvement has been made as a result of legislation and regulations, these efforts need to be complemented with the contribution of the business sector that is compelled by financial gains in adopting environment-friendly practices.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In the low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) process, there are many factors that could affect the thin film thickness and homogeneity in the thin film deposition process. Besides temperature, the volume flow rate of the reactant gas, the Mole fraction, and pressure are all affecting factors. On the basis of the forecast mode result of the thermal model of wafer temperature distribution in the previously published article, this study used the optimal method to calculate the conversion rate of the surface of each wafer under simulated conditions of various furnace temperatures and Mole fractions, as well as silane flow rates and pressures, and finally calculated the thin film growth rate and homogeneity of the surface of each wafer. This study validated four types of process conditions, and found that the results were very close to the experimental values in the previous studies, when conditions such as temperature, Mole fraction of silane, flow rate and pressure in the process were changed. This study thus concluded that the proposed process film thickness mode could meet the requirement of the process capacity. This study found that adjusting the heating zone temperature to regulate the film thickness growth rate was able to control uniformity of the film thickness. These feasible adjustment measures could be very effective on the industry commercial processes. Furthermore, the film thickness mode established in this study was used to discuss the application level of the inherently safer design strategies. This study mode could be used to adjust the temperature, mole fraction (mf), flow rate (F) and pressure (P) in the process for a single machine. Under the condition of meeting the film thickness process recipes required by the process, the silane flow rate was lowered through the adjustment of the control system. The study took the silane supply system as the basis of the case study. Based on a daily required silane consumption of 64.4 L, the daily required amount was 1.5 cylinders in the case of using 40 L high-pressure cylinders. The total daily required amount would be three 40 L high-pressure cylinders, including one more reserve amount on top of the daily required amount, which could match the inherently safer design philosophy and the principles of intensification, attenuation and limitation of effects. In terms of the factory evaluation, among all of the 12-inch furnace machines in Taiwanese wafer factories, nine out of 47 sets use silane, and the total daily consumption reaches 579.6 L. The total required amount, including the reserve, is 27 cylinders for 40 L high-pressure cylinders. As for the setting of the gas cabinet, the required amount could be reduced, since the gas supply pipeline could be designed in a multiple circuit. The minimum reactant gas input amount could be obtained in combination with the proposed film thickness mode, and the safety could be improved greatly, in accordance with the inherently safer design philosophy and the principles of intensification, attenuation and limitation of effects. In addition to the process capacity, this study also took the elevation of the inherently safer level into consideration, which could be provided to the industry for more comprehensive design consideration.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The investigation of inorganic oxide perovskites, specifically CsXO3 (X = Ti, Mn, Cu), has been carried out utilizing density functional theory (DFT) to gain deeper insights into their structural electronic, optical, and elastic attributes. The calculated band gaps for CsTiO3, CsMnO3 and CsCuO3 are determined to be 1.68 eV, 3.26 eV, and 4.62 eV, respectively, while the lattice parameters are measured at 4.098 Å, 3.987 Å, and 4.059 Å. Our findings indicate that CsMnO3 and CsCuO3 possess moderate-sized, indirect band gaps, showcasing potential for enhanced conductivity. And CsTiO3 shows direct band gap. Additionally, CsTiO3 and CsCuO3 exhibit ductile and anisotropic behavior, as evidenced by both Poisson's ratio and the anisotropic factor. And CsMnO3 shows brittle nature. The anisotropic factors are 2.14 for CsTiO3, 1.99 for CsMnO3, and 1.89 for CsCuO3, whereas the Poisson's ratios are measured at 0.45, 0.34, and 0.49, respectively. Notably, CsTiO3 demonstrates significant photovoltaic activity within the visible spectrum, accompanied by a high optical conductivity and absorption coefficient, positioning it as a promising material for solar cell applications. The favorable attributes of CsTiO3 suggest its potential suitability for integration in optical and electronic devices.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper analyzes the thermodynamic performance of high-temperature PhotoVoltaic/Thermal (PVT) solar collectors. The collector is based on a combination of a parabolic dish concentrating solar thermal collector and a high efficiency solar photovoltaic collector. The PVT system under investigation allows one to produce simultaneously electrical energy and high-temperature thermal energy by solar irradiation. The main aim of this study is the design and the analysis of a concentrating PVT which is able to operate at reasonable electric and thermal efficiency up to 180 °C. In fact, the PVT is designed to be integrated in a Solar Heating and Cooling system and it must drive a two-effect absorption chiller. This capability is quite new since conventional PVT collectors usually operate below 45 °C. Among the possible high-temperature PVT systems, this paper is focused on a system consisting in a dish concentrator and in a triple-junction PV layer. In particular, the prototype consists in a parabolic dish concentrator and a planar receiver. The system is equipped with a double axis tracking system. The bottom surface of the receiver is equipped with triple-junction silicon cells whereas the top surface is insulated. In order to analyze the performance of the Concentrating PVT (CPVT) collector a detailed mathematical model was implemented. This model is based on zero-dimensional energy balances on the control volumes of the system. The simulation model allows one to calculate in detail the temperatures of the main components of the system (PV layer, concentrator, fluid inlet and outlet and metallic substrate) and the main energy flows (electrical energy, useful thermal energy, radiative losses, convective losses). The input parameters of the model include all the weather conditions (temperature, insolation, wind velocity, etc.) and the geometrical/material parameters of the systems (lengths, thermal resistances, thicknesses, etc.). Results showed that both electrical and thermal efficiencies are very good in a wide range of operating conditions. The study also includes a comprehensive sensitivity analysis in which the main design variables were varied in order to evaluate the related variations of both electrical and thermal efficiencies.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report the photovoltaic characteristics of n-type conductivity of nitrogen-doped amorphous carbon (a-C:N) thin-films grown on quartz and heat tolerant (up to 260 °C) flexible polytetrafluoroethene plastic substrates by microwave (MW) surface wave plasma (SWP) chemical vapor deposition (CVD) at low temperature (<100 °C). For film deposition at various gas composition pressures ranging from 50 to 90 Pa in the CVD chamber, we used argon as carrier gas, nitrogen as dopant and methane as carbon plasma source. The X-rays photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurement shows that nitrogen content in the films grown on plastic substrates is higher compared with the films grown on quartz substrates. The optical measurements show that the optical band gap of the films grown on plastic substrate is lower compared with the films grown on quartz at the same parameters. The temperature dependence conductivity and photoresponse measurements show that the electrical conductivity of the films grown on plastic substrates is much higher compared with the films grown on quartz substrates. Our experimental results show that amorphous carbon deposited on flexible plastic substrates is reliable for photovoltaic applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The paper reports the preparation of thin film with MoO3 nanowires (NWs) by the doctor blade method and the study of its thermal diffusivity (α) by the sensitive photothermal beam deflection (PTD) method. When the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopic and Atomic Force Microscopic analysis unveil its morphology as NW bundles, the X-ray diffraction analysis reveals the structure to be orthorhombic. The NWs formed are of diameter ~ 20 nm and length up to 5 μm. The standardization of the transverse PTD setup is done by determining the value of α of iron, which agrees well with literature reports. The thermal diffusivity of MoO3 NW film is obtained as 0.0036 cm2/s, which is 9.48% of its bulk counterpart. The reduction in the thermal diffusivity of NW makes it a suitable candidate for thermoelectric applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A precursor to prepare nanocrystalline Cu2−xSe was obtained in the solvothermal reaction of CuCl2·2H2O with elemental selenium at 140°C for 10 h in ethylenediamine (en). Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, thermal analyses (TGA-DTA), and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analyses showed that the precursor could be a complex with the form Cu2−xSe(en)2, which released the ligand ethylenediamine to obtain Cu2−xSe crystals by pyrolysis or protonation. XRD, transition electron spectroscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to investigate the phase, size, morphology, and composition, respectively, of the final product. The analyses indicated that it was a pure nanocrystalline Cu2−xSe with cubic structure.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Using detailed data originating from several hundred households of the German Residential Energy Survey (GRECS), this paper empirically investigates the returns on investment in photovoltaic (PV) installations. We find that these returns were particularly high in the years 2009 to 2011, when large subsidies for solar electricity coincided with plummeting module prices. While our empirical analysis demonstrates that such investments also incur substantial risks, there is evidence that, above all, wealthy households tend to benefit from the solar subsidies, whereas the costs of financing these subsidies are borne by electricity consumers at large, not least poverty-endangered households. The resulting redistribution of financial resources raises the question of whether the burden-sharing of Germany’s transition to an alternative energy system is fair.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The objective of this work is to study the transport of electrical charges in a solar cell based on InGaN. By varying the alloy composition, InGaN can reach all values of bandgap between 3.42eV and 0.7eV, which covers almost the entire solar spectrum. At present most of the studies of InGaN photovoltaics are conducted on hetero structures. The aim of this study is therefore to better understand the influence of each parameter of the solar cell for an improved optimization of performance. The yield obtained for a reference cell is 16.62% for optimal values of doping of the layers. For other parameters, such as generation and recombination, performance of the cell varies monotonically with these settings. It has been shown that solar cells based on InGaN have a very low diffusion length due to the dislocation density, with a carrier lifetime around 9.909ns. However, the minority carrier transport is reinforced because of the bias field in the material. In addition, as the III nitrides have a high absorption coefficient, very thin layers of material are sufficient to absorb most of the light.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Two self-assembled N-heterocyclic-substituted zinc porphyrins and isonicotinic acid dyads formed by the coordination bonds of Zn-to-ligand, have been designed and organized. Further, the dyads were immobilized on the semiconducting TiO2 electrode surfaces by the carboxylic groups of isonicotinic acid ligands, and their photovoltaic performances were measured under irradiance of 100mWcm−2 AM 1.5G sunlight. Photoelectrochemical studies reveal a significantly improved photovoltaic behavior for the dyad of tetrazole-based zinc porphyrin compared to the dyad with iminazole-based zinc porphyrin under the similar experimental conditions.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Selenium sulfide (SeS2) passivated GaAs is bonded with silicon substrate at 350°C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows the formation of Ga–Se phase in the passivation process. From the XRD analysis, β-Ga2Se3 peak is also observed for the chemical and thermal stability of GaAs at 350°C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows smooth surface morphology for SeS2 treatment time of 10s. Elemental analysis shows that 10s passivation treatment is optimal for adhesive wafer bonding without applying any weight and pressure at different regions (GaAs and SeS2). XRD, SEM and energy dispersive X-ray results confirm that 10s of passivation treatment is essential for high stability of adhesive wafer bonding of GaAs and Si.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The recent decade has witnessed tremendous advances in therapeutic approaches for combating cancer. In particular, the emergence of nanotechnology has unlocked novel research opportunities for precision and personalized photomedicine. New multifunctional theranostic nanoplatforms have been actively investigated to accurately assess tumor parameters (location, size, and shape) for delivering appropriate therapy. Among these nanoplatforms, inorganic nanoparticles have garnered enormous attention from many research groups owing to their tailorable morphology (size, shape, porosity, etc.) and physicochemical (optical, magnetic, catalytic, X-ray opacity, etc.) characteristics. This review highlights the recent research endeavors on expanding the imaging frontiers of inorganic nanoparticles along with simultaneous cancer phototherapy. We extensively explored and critically analyzed literature published on the integration of the most commonly applied imaging modalities, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, into inorganic nanoparticles for imaging-guided phototherapy. This review ends with a description of the future perspectives in developing imaging-guidable photomedicines with potential clinical applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Thylakoids are photosynthetically active membranes found in Cyanobacteria and chloroplasts. It is likely that they originated in photosynthetic bacteria, probably in close connection to the occurrence of photosystem II and oxygenic photosynthesis. In higher plants, chloroplasts develop from undifferentiated proplastids. These contain very few internal membranes and the whole thylakoid membrane system is built when chloroplast differentiation takes place. During cell and organelle division a constant synthesis of new thylakoid membrane material is required. Also, rapid adaptation to changes in light conditions and long term adaptation to a number of environmental factors are accomplished by changes in the lipid and protein content of the thylakoids. Thus regulation of synthesis and assembly of all these elements is required to ensure optimal function of these membranes.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This study used electrochemical deposition to make CeTe and CeTe-doped molybdenum. We deposited the films at varying concentrations of the dopant; (0.1–0.3) mol%. All the solutions used to deposit the thin films were prepared in distilled water. Adding molybdenum to cerium telluride boosts absorption rates. Film thickness decreased from 117.09 to 164.31 nm, lowering resistivity (11.24 to 08.23 ῼ.cm) and increasing conductivity (0.08 to 0.12 S/m). The pattern exhibit diffraction peaks at planes (111), (120), (121), and (131), which correspond to respective angles of 23.216°, 27.744°, 32.152°, and 36.182° The FTO substrates used for the synthesis may have been the cause of the unindexed peaks. The bandgap energy of cerium telluride is 1.20 eV, which narrows to 1.49 – 1.60 eV as molybdenum dopant concentration rises. The cerium telluride and CeTe-doped molybdenum have a lattice constant of 6.6490 and 6.6298 Å respectively. Cerium telluride doped molybdenum is a potential candidate for photovoltaic application.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Five new octahedral spin-crossover magnetic complexes with general formulae, [Fe(LCn)3](BF4)3, where L = ligand, and n = 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, were synthesized and characterized. The influence of different ligand lengths on the diffusion and Seebeck coefficient, and the effect of counterions were investigated. It was found that diffusion and Seebeck values were highly dependent on magnetic properties of the complexes and the agglomeration formed from the long ligand lengths. Hence, it was found that ionic complexes with higher percentage of low-spin have recorded the highest diffusion and Seebeck values due to the presence of N-donor ligand as an effective electron donor to the metal centre. Thus, it is easier to break the Coulombic interaction, consequently increase the ionic mobility in solution that accounted for the entropy formed. Therefore, these findings provide a systematic pathway in the designing and synthesising SCO complex to obtain optimum performance of thermo-electrochemical materials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "High-energy resolution diode type CdTe detectors were fabricated by growing an n-type epitaxial layer on high resistivity p-like crystal wafers, and their stability issues during a long-term operation were studied. Room temperature stability of the detectors was not good at low operating biases of around 200V. However, it could be improved significantly by operating them at higher biases under full depletion conditions. On the other hand, detectors exhibited excellent stability by cooling them slightly below room temperature down to 0°C. The effect of this low level of cooling on detector stability was found to be more significant than that of applying high biases at room temperature. By using the detector type presented here, stable operation could be obtained at moderate operating voltages of around 400V and with a modest degree of cooling.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The chapter introduces the general concept of Smart Grid with possible different implementations (e.g., active distribution network, microgrids, nanogrids and virtual power plants), and the motivations that lead to this power system’s evolution. A discussion on the transition from the the traditional distribution architecture toward the innovative Smart Grid is also included, paying attention to the challenges in front of distribution planners and decision makers at any level of the chain value. Emphasis is given to the enabling technologies required for the Smart Grid implementation. Indeed, advanced metering, intelligent electronic devices, and communication infrastructures assure the observability of the electric distribution system, an essential prerequisite for any efficient controllability. Energy storage systems are also crucial together with the other distributed energy resources to guarantee the sufficient level of flexibility for making the control also effective.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The endless and dramatic increase of global energy demand makes it imperative to develop sustainable, affordable, and efficient materials to act as electrocatalysts in the clean energy technologies. Electrocatalysts based on coal chars are promising materials as they can be considered as value-added by-products from coal combustion contributing to industrial ecology and circular economy. Therefore, herein we report the application of three sets of coal char (char concentrates before and after carbonization and demineralized and graphitized char concentrates) obtained from four different countries (Portugal, Romania, Poland, and South Africa) as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts. All electrocatalysts presented moderate ORR activity with some showing selectivity for the indirect two-electron process while others for a mixed regime between the two- and four-electron process. Still, the positive results obtained are better or in some cases comparable to commercial graphene. Moreover, all electrocatalysts presented good tolerance to methanol poisoning. More importantly, the results of this study demonstrate that pristine coal chars are promising materials to prepare efficient ORR electrocatalysts which will be of great importance in the near future.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Liquid nitrogen quenching was introduced for bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells. ► A twofold increase in the short-circuit current of the P3HT:PCBM bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cell. ► Phase separation and roughened surface in the P3HT:PCBM film play a key role.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The intermittent property of a photovoltaic (PV) system requires supplementary energy such as the utility grid or batteries to meet load demand. However, when large scale PV systems are connected to the utility grid, they might affect the grid stability if the overall system is not properly designed. Hence, an accurate model for forecasting the PV system output would be useful in enhancing the system stability and reliability. The dynamic modelling of PV systems is thus crucial to the rapidly developing technologies and integrated sources in the smart grid application. This paper presents different approaches to model PV systems and identifies their pros and cons in modelling. The paper then explains the importance of a dynamic model, followed by the methodology in building up such a dynamic model. A three-vertex representation of a nearby building casting a shadow onto the PV array is also proposed as a novel approach in shadow analysis. The implementation of the dynamic model for PV systems was demonstrated in a case study in Hong Kong.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The measurement of the condensation heat transfer coefficient inside micro- and minichannels is still somewhat elusive due to the difficult task of getting accurate values of the heat transfer coefficients during the condensation process, particularly when studied within single minichannels. The present paper reports local heat transfer coefficients obtained from the measurement of the local heat flux and the direct measurement of the saturation and wall temperatures during condensation of R134a and R32 within a single circular 0.96mm diameter minichannel. Except for the lowest mass velocity, the test results do not show significant discrepancy from the trends expected for macroscale tubes.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Layered compounds play an important role in thermoelectric materials exploration, as their thermal and electrical conductivities could be affected by different layers. Herein, we have synthesized a new layered Ba0.7K0.3Cu2Se2 phase with the ThCr2Si2 structure through 30% K doping on the Ba sites in the pristine orthorhombic BaCu2Se2. The layered Ba0.7K0.3Cu2Se2 exhibits intrinsically low lattice thermal conductivity due to its extremely short phonon mean free path. Ba0.7K0.3Cu2Se2 also features high hole mobility and reasonable Seebeck coefficient at high doping levels. The enhancement of electrical conductivity is mainly ascribed to the increase of the hole concentration and the unchanged high hole mobility. As a result, the peak ZT of Ba0.7K0.3Cu2Se2 reaches 0.32 at 800K, which is of significance by comparing to its undoped BaCu2Se2 counterpart.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Recently, perovskites have been widely studied as functional materials. Significant attention was paid to the perovskites as an anode material for supercapacitor when the charge storage mechanism of the oxygen-anion-intercalation was proposed. This review summarized the anion-intercalation mechanism and the factors which impact the electrochemical performance of electrodes by researching previous studies on perovskite materials for supercapacitors. Moreover, the issues and the focus of the previous studies have also been discussed herein. The guidelines for the design of perovskite material for supercapacitor were also presented, which is beneficial to the further study of perovskite materials for supercapacitors.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper, a new method of incorporating sand troughs is proposed to enhance the performance of a single slope solar still performance with 1.5 m2 aperture area. Experiments are performed in clear days of the sky for 1 cm, 2 cm, and 3 cm of water levels at the basin. The maximum yield is obtained for 1 cm water level at 2 PM for both the cases of solar still with and without sand troughs are 0.453 L/m2 and 0.2 L/m2, respectively. Solar still gives better yield with low depth of water level even at less solar radiation. The water level and use of sand troughs increased the evaporation rate and yield of the solar still. The still with sand troughs exhibits the maximum daily productivity rise of 71.4% for 1 cm water level when saline water is used. For 12 years of still life, the annual cost of produced pure water in modified still with sand troughs is calculated as ₹0.801 per litre. Water level plays a major role in the productivity of the solar stills. The efficiency of solar still with Sand troughs at 1 cm water depth is obtained as 65.08% whereas still without S.T at 1 cm water depth is limited to 37.9%.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "States, regions, and municipalities have a growing importance in innovating policies to promote renewable sources of energy. This article examines the contribution of three state governments in developing and deploying wind and solar energy technologies in Brazil. The Brazilian electricity sector represents an interesting case of a middle-income country that is distinguished by strong federal involvement in energy governance and a reliance on hydroelectric power, followed by natural gas and coal. Using interviews conducted with policymakers and energy professionals, we find that regional energy transitions emerge as part of a process where state-level actors frame renewable energy choices primarily in terms of economic development opportunities and improving energy security. The engagement of regional institutions and organizations with energy priorities further influences the development of renewable technologies. The main policy implication is that state governments can have a strong role in the learning and niche formation of renewable alternatives that have been given less priority at the national level. This paper concludes that future policies should investigate how to scale up state renewable energy programs and initiatives.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "It is a common practice, in Korea as well as other countries, to use economic feasibility study for policy-maker or business communities before deciding substantial investments on sustainable energy projects especially photovoltaic industry in 2008. Many feasibility studies provided the basis for worldwide investments in the photovoltaic industry in 2008 by many Korean firms. In 2011, however, many firms have decided to withdraw from the photovoltaic industry and retract investments. This research analyzes the gap between the results of the conventional feasibility study and the reality in the perspective of path dependence and path evolution, and proposes a hybrid market feasibility study model to account for the gap. In other words, conducting conventional feasibility studies do not incorporate changes in economic feasibility due to changes in society and are thus not precise in predicting market feasibility when the business environment has changed. In addition, this study shows how policy support can create a bubble in the sustainable energy industry and distort the market value. Policy support is necessary, but must be implemented with right timing, contents and delivery system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "In this paper the role of the preparation route on the transport properties of the BaCe1−x Y x O3−δ solid solution with x =0, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2 has been studied. In particular, the samples were synthesized by means of the solid-state reaction and by a modified Pechini method. The effect of grain size on the sintering behaviour of the two samples batches was investigated by means of impedance spectroscopy and electron microscopy. It was found that a good sintering of the pellets can be achieved at 1250°C for the samples prepared through the Pechini method. The ceramic route, even at higher temperatures, does not lead to good density values. The extensive conductivity measurements as a function of doping and gas environment (pure oxygen and argon+10% H2 +water) we carried out showed that the optimal Y-doping is around 15% and that a significant proton conductivity can be achieved for T lower than 500°C. Above this temperature, the role of oxygen defects starts becoming relevant. Finally, the presence of a slope change in all the Arrhenius plots, irrespective to the gas environment, at about 450–500°C was observed and qualitatively interpreted as due to a change in the nature of the main charge carriers involved.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Chemically stable and earth-abundant SnS material recently has gained great attention in the electronics and optoelectronics applications since its modulated stoichiometry and structural-related semiconducting. In this work, a concept-of-proof photodetector based on a kind of multilayer SnS incorporated secondary phases synthesized by RF sputtering technology was demonstrated and characterized. Remarkably, the obvious negative self-powered photoresponse without external bias and polarity detection characterization at 2 V were observed, implying the photocurrent transformation kinetics from negative to positive with the variation of biased voltage. It reveals directly the underlying governing dynamics of the built-in synergizing biased electric field on the electron transport related light detection. It turns out a strong in-plane anisotropy detection performance with photoresponsivity of 0.3 A/W excited by near-infrared light. The presented results extend the understanding of interaction mechanism of built-in and external electric fields which signifies future lightweight, high-performance, and cost-effective next-generation self-powered detection applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A new reduction methodology to prepare pentacene from pentacenequinone, has been developed. In order to solve the problems of solubility and stability of pentacene occurring when using pentacene in OTFTs, a Diels–Alder adduct of pentacene and thiophosgene, has been prepared. The retro-Diels–Alder reaction, which converts the adduct back to pentacene, has been studied.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar-driven evaporative seawater desalination is considered as a promising technology to alleviate the global water crisis with minimal carbon footprint. However, the design of evaporators still faces significant challenges, such as complex preparation processes and the tendency of salt accumulation. Here, we propose an anti-salt accumulation 2.5D arch solar-driven evaporator based on the Marangoni effect for efficient seawater desalination. Using a 2D planar, flexible, and mechanically stable copper mesh coated with biomass-derived carbon microspheres, the evaporator is easily shaped into a 2.5D arch, which expands the evaporation area and accelerates the escape of steam, thus increasing the evaporation rate. Importantly, the curvature of the 2.5D arch evaporator can be easily modulated by changing the height-diameter (H/D) ratio, which in turn regulates the temperature gradient along the arch surface, leading to a Marangoni effect for long-term anti-salt accumulation. The optimal 2.5D arch (H/D = 3/4) displays a competitive evaporation rate of 1.94 kg m−2 h−1 and an excellent evaporation efficiency of 125.6 % for 3.5 wt% NaCl aqueous solution under one-sun irradiation, as well as long-term anti-salt accumulation performance (3.5 wt% brine for 30 h). This work provides new ideas for the design of efficient, salt-resistant, and environmentally friendly solar-driven evaporators, advancing their practical application in sustainable water production.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), at six molecular weights varying from 5kDa to 72kDa (M w ), was used to prepare P3HT: phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) nanoparticulate organic photovoltaic (NP OPV) devices and the effect of this variation on device performance is reported. Power conversion efficiency (PCE) is observed to peak for the mid-range of molecular weights tested, this behaviour varies from the trend generally observed with bulk heterojunction (BHJ) devices, where high molecular weight polymers deliver the highest PCEs. Here we demonstrate that polymer molecular weight affects the electronic, morphological and compositional structure of the nanoparticulate film. Significantly, it is the domain composition that is most highly correlated with device performance and this composition is driven by the PCBM mobility and aggregation within the nanoparticulate structure.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Photovoltaic (PV) systems face a paradox in which they require sunlight to generate electricity, but their performance decreases as the operating temperature increases. Implementing cooling techniques can potentially prevent extreme heating of PV cell and lower cell temperature. Current chapter provides a thorough and up-to-date analysis of research on cooling systems aimed at augmenting the efficiency of PV panels. The findings suggest that effective cooling technologies should maintain a low and stable operating temperature, be reliable and easy to use, and ideally, allow for the employ of extracted thermal heat. Current chapter provides a detailed overview of various cooling techniques for PV modules, offering valuable insights and guidelines for researchers seeking to improve or optimize cooling methods. As the global demand for solar PV electricity continues to increase, it is becoming increasingly important to use a suitable cooling system to maximize energy harvest and utilization.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The bonding rearrangement upon thermal annealing of amorphous silicon nitride (a-SiN x :H) films deposited by hot-wire chemical vapor deposition was studied. A wide range of N/Si atom ratio between 0.5 and 1.6 was obtained for the a-SiN x :H sample series by varying the source gases ratio only. Evolutions of Si–N, Si–H and N–H bonds upon annealing were found to depend strongly on the N/Si atom ratio of the films. According to the above observations, we propose possible reaction pathways for bonding rearrangement in a-SiN x :H with different N/Si ratios.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Large share of solar energy imposes a higher system flexibility to resolve the increased demand/supply imbalance due to the inherent intermittency and variability of the resource. In this work, we demonstrate that the additional solar-induced flexibility requirement can be fully provided by a special kind of solar farms, namely flexible PV. These plants are able to provide ancillary services by proactive generation curtailment and storage power injection and they can be managed exactly as the secondary reserve currently used. At the current and future penetration levels, we sized the flexible PV fleet required to reduce the Italian imbalance by 36 % (with respect to its 2016 value) while keeping the curtailment at 6 % of the national PV generation. We show how this result can be achieved at an equal or lower dispatching cost than current cost (depending on the solar share). In addition, we found that a fleet composed of many flexible PV plants with different capacity randomly distributed throughout the country provides an optimal solar regulation performance. Finally, we showed that the effectiveness of the proposed imbalance mitigation strategy depends only slightly on the year-specific load, wind, PV and energy prices profiles used to size the capacity of the flexible fleet.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The key objective of this study is the examination of the regulatory and policy framework of the feed-in-tariff (FiT) scheme, specifically its effect on both the electricity pricing as well as the local and European renewable energy sources (RES) market, and accordingly the definition of its feasibility as a scheme for the further development and promotion of renewable energy technologies (RETs). This work discusses the FiT scheme implementation for photovoltaics (PVs) in four case study countries - Denmark, Germany, Cyprus, and Spain. A model describing the conditions under which a FiT scheme is led to collapse is also introduced and a parametric analysis towards revealing the sensitivity of the different parameters affecting it, is delivered. The study concludes with significant policy implications that should be considered for future implementation of the scheme. For the prevention of the collapse of the scheme, the tariff's value ought to be determined by each country's government based on a set of influencing factors including the operational, capital and investment costs of each RET, the standard cost of renewable energy (RE) generation and the avoidance cost, which would be regularly reviewed depending on the excess of the annual capacity.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "With multiple band valleys and intrinsic low thermal conductivity, rock-salt SnSe possesses great potential as a promising thermoelectric material. Herein, we prepare cubic SnSe–AgSbTe2 alloy and demonstrate the synergistically optimized electronic and thermal transport properties. For the former, AgSbTe2 alloying can tune the Fermi surface and promote the band flattening, concurrently improving the density of state effective mass and carrier concentration. For the latter, the strong phonon-defect scattering caused by AgSbTe2 alloying contributes to a great reduction of lattice thermal conductivity. Collectively, an obviously enhanced ZT max of 1.00 at 820 K and ZT ave of 0.70 (300–820 K) are achieved in Sn0.5Ag0.25Sb0.25Se0.5Te0.5. Moreover, AgSbTe2 alloying can also improve the mechanical property and the Vickers hardness reaches 1.90 Gpa, which is over four times higher than that of pristine SnSe.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The performances of luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) made with two versions of quantum dots (QDs) with CdSe cores and ZnS shells are compared to LSCs containing the organic dye, Lumogen® F Red 300 (LR), to assess the viability of QD LSCs. In addition to spectroscopic and light collection measurements, the photo-degradation response of the version I (vI) QD LSC is compared to the LR LSC. The measured fluorescence quantum yield of the version II (vII) QDs (57%) is about half that of LR (>90%) and twice that of the vI QDs (31%). Though the quantum yield for vII QDs is lower than LR, the vII QD LSC has nearly twice the short-circuit current of the LR LSCs or the vI QD LSCs when their respective red-peak optical densities are the same in 6.2×6.2×0.6cm LSCs. This is a reflection of the main advantage of QDs for use in LSCs, that QDs collect considerably more sunlight than LR due to their broad absorption spectrum. Despite the fact that the QD LSCs absorbs more photons than the LR LSCs, the slow phase of the photo-degradation rate of the QD LSC is approximately five times slower than the LR LSC under nearly constant light exposure. Most surprising is the observation that the photo-degradation of the QD LSC’s absorption completely recovers during a prolonged dark cycle. In a normal day/night cycle, this will benefit the performance of the QD LSC.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Nanorods/nanoparticles TiO2 with mesoporous structure were synthesized by hydrothermal method at 150°C for 20h. The samples characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, SAED, HRTEM, and BET surface area. The nanorods had diameter about 10–20nm and the lengths of 100–200nm, the nanoparticles had diameter about 5–10nm. The prepared material had average pore diameter about 7–12nm. The BET surface area and pore volume of the sample are about 203m2/g and 0.655cm3/g, respectively. The nanorods/nanoparticles TiO2 with mesoporous structure showed higher photocatalytic activity (I3 − concentration) than the nanorods TiO2, nanofibers TiO2, mesoporous TiO2, and commercial TiO2 (ST-01, P-25, JRC-01, and JRC-03). The solar energy conversion efficiency (η) of the cell using nanorods/nanoparticles TiO2 with mesoporous structure was about 7.12% with J sc of 13.97mA/cm2, V oc of 0.73V, and f f of 0.70; while η of the cell using P-25 reached 5.82% with J sc of 12.74mA/cm2, V oc of 0.704V, and f f of 0.649.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We present the Raman spectroscopic characterization of thermally sintered CdTe/CdS-colloids in thin films. From the spectral data one can conclude that the thermal sintering of the CdTe/CdS-films between 100°C and 200°C initiates the CdTe cluster growth. Sintering temperatures of 300–400°C lead to a release of the Tributylphosphin- (TBP) capping ligands and to the formation of bare CdS- and CdTe nanocrystals. Above 400°C, the CdTe part of the nanostructures sublimates, leaving behind nearly pure CdS nanocrystallites.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The heterostructure n-CdO/a-C/p-Si is proposed for use as a solar cell device. The heterostructure consists of two semiconductor layers having different optical band gaps. An ultrathin layer of a-C with a narrow optical band gap is located between these layers. The photovoltaic effect in this device has been investigated. It is shown that the short-circuit current I sc =46 mA/cm2 for heterostructure n-CdO/a-C/p-Si corresponds to the values obtained in the best solar cells based on crystalline silicon. It is also shown that the heterostructure n-CdO/p-Si (without a-C) has a short circuit current which is much weaker.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The thermoelectric building envelope (TBE) integrates thermoelectric materials with the building envelope for active space heating and cooling. The advantage of TBE heating and cooling includes its significantly low-profile design and no refrigerant use. Although there are existing studies evaluating TBE performance, they were based on limited operating conditions. The study aims to experimentally evaluate the heating and cooling performance of a TBE prototype under various operating conditions. The TBE prototype was installed between two psychrometric chambers, which simulated indoor and outdoor conditions. The prototype was tested at an indoor temperature of around 22.35–23.58 °C and outdoor temperatures from −7.35 °C and 16.99 °C for heating and from 28.36 °C to 40.95 °C for cooling, with varied power inputs and fan conditions. The maximum coefficient of performance (COP) of TBE in heating mode is 3.2. The average heating COP of TBE with a current of 1.5 A in four winter scenarios is 1.37. The average heating COP of TBE operating with the current of 0.3–1.5 A at an outdoor temperature of 12 °C is 2.27. The TBE system demonstrates a better heating efficiency than an auxiliary electric heater for the heat pump system. The experimental results and evaluation obtained provide critical guidance for the deployment of TBE applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We have demonstrated that it is possible to program π-conjugated molecules to self-assemble into cylindrical aggregates in solution. By incorporating energy or electron traps in our stacks, energy and electron transfer processes in these one-dimensional assemblies have been studied in solution. The transfer of the single OPV cylinders from solution to a solid support as isolated objects was only possible when specific concentrations and specific solid supports were used. So far, however, we have not been able to measure any current through our fibers.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Inorganic semiconductors and conducting polymers are described by band conduction models with delocalized electrons, whereas small-molecule organic compounds are described by hopping conduction between localized molecular orbitals. However, the latter devices can reproduce fully the characteristics of semiconductor devices. Why are they so different and yet so similar? We will try to answer this question using Category theory and considering the meaning of electrical transport in electronic materials. The meaning of the category theory in physics is to consider different mathematical entities under a common mathematical structure. In this paper, the basic idea of category theory is first explained in detail using the example of complex impedance, and then four examples of its application are discussed. The derivation of the Mott-Gurney equation and the negative capacitance in OLED are discussed as examples of solving problems by moving to different categories. After those simple examples of formal rewriting from physical entity to mathematical entity, it is shown that electrical connection and electrical contact lead to direct sums and direct products of conducting states, based on the duality concept. We conclude that small-molecule organic compounds are not a mere branch of semiconductors, but rather equal counterparts of semiconductors in duality that are necessary to clarify the origin of the difference and similarity between organic electronics and semiconductor physics. Finally, by considering the electrical responses of OLEDs and OFETs in the immittance category, we show that they can be described under a common operating dynamic and propose a new operating model for OFETs.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Ion-beam deposition of tourmaline on glass substrate was investigated. X-ray fluorescence has been used to characterize surface composition of glass before and after deposition. The surface morphologies of glass were investigated by atomic force microscope. The crystallographic properties of the prepared films were evaluated by X-ray diffraction. Fourier infrared spectroscopy was used to determine infrared transmission. It is concluded that symmetrical island structure tourmaline film can be deposited on the glass substrate. The average size of the tourmaline grain is about 1μm.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Although coal blends are increasingly utilized at power plants, ash slagging propensity is a non-additive property of the pure coals and hence difficult to predict. Coal ash tendency to slag is related to its bulk chemistry and ash fusion temperatures, and the present study aims to compare the results obtained from thermodynamic simulation with characterization of samples obtained as outcomes of plant-based coal-blend combustion trials at three utilities located in the Centre and North of Chile. Pulverized coal and plant residues samples from five families of binary blends tested in an experimental program were characterized for chemistry, mineralogy and maceral composition. The slagging was evaluated by determination of fusion curves using the MTDATA software and NPLOX3 database for the main coal ash oxides. The ranking obtained was approximately the same as obtained from carbon in the fly ashes and from plant residues observations. The thermodynamic modeling was a valid option to predict the fusibility during the combustion of blends.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Although the Mediterranean region is blessed with abundant solar resources, photovoltaic energy currently represents a very small share of power production. In Germany however, a much less sunny country, the photovoltaic (PV) industry is booming. This country has become a front runner in the adoption of PV because of effective policy incentives. Based on a cross-case study analysis of the German, Spanish and Greek PV markets, this paper investigates factors determining the effectiveness of PV policies. Our analysis shows that, above a certain level of return, risk-related factors (such as policy instability and administrative hurdles) play a more important role in influencing investment decisions than return-related factors (such as the level of a feed-in tariff).",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Organic Photovoltaics provides a superb and comprehensive perspective on the basic concepts and latest research in this rapidly expanding field.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This review describes a number of different, largely catalytic approaches for producing H2. Since a major fraction of the world's H2 is produced by catalytic processes, involving multiple steps with different types of catalysts, it is clear that catalysis plays a critical role in the production of H2. This review is focused on the use of catalysis for the current and future production of H2. Some background will be provided to give a perspective of the dramatic change in the supply and demand for H2 in the past decade, followed by a review of how it is produced commercially, with a view to how multiple types of catalysis contribute to the total process for H2 production. Steam methane reforming, the major approach for H2 manufacture, will be a focal point for most of the discussion in pointing out the large number of catalytic steps that are used in this major technology. Finally, some alternative catalytic approaches for H2 production will be described.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Floating solar photovoltaic systems are rapidly gaining traction due to their potential for higher energy yield and efficiency compared to conventional land-based solar photovoltaic systems. Recent studies indicate that this technology generates 0.6% to 4.4% more energy and exhibits efficiency improvements ranging from 0.1% to 4.45% over its land-based counterpart. Numerous studies conducted on evaluating this innovative technology have been reported, providing various insights required for further development. Unfortunately, these important pieces of information have been scattered: a comprehensive compilation of these findings is currently unavailable, resulting in a significant gap in knowledge and information. Thus, the main objective of this work is to provide a comprehensive insight into this new technology, various research and developments that have been reported and potential future development. The critical review indicates that advancements in this technology shall focus on improved floating structure design, robust instrumentation, wireless monitoring, and sensing capabilities. Moreover, novel technological solutions such as tracking systems, bi-facial solar panels, satellite-based array optimization, programming algorithms for grid integration, and artificial intelligence shall be further explored. Additionally, it was found that the integration of floating photovoltaic in marine environments and hydropower reservoirs holds significant promise for transforming global energy production. Despite these advancements, several hurdles remain, including safety concerns, risks associated with electricity–water interactions, standardization issues, national policy considerations, and potential increases in surrounding ground temperatures. It is vital to address the remaining challenges and leverage technological innovations to realize the full potential of floating photovoltaics in the transition towards sustainable energy production.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This paper presents the decision support technique and influencing factors in the design of an integrated solar-wind power system for stand-alone applications. Results of investigations on application of alternative energy facility like wind, photovoltaic (PV), and Integration of wind–PV power generating systems for Remote Area Power Supply have been presented. A weather model-based site matching of equipment and a simple numerical algorithm for generation unit sizing have been presented. The program has been used to determine the optimum generation capacity and storage needs for a stand-alone Wind, PV, and integrated wind–PV system for a remote site in India (Sukhalai situated near Suktawa in Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh) that satisfies a typical load. Generation and storage units for each system are properly sized in order to meet the annual load demand for the above three scenarios. Annual average hourly values for load, wind speed, and insolation have been used for analysis. The results are used to justify the use of renewable energy source as a reliable option for remote areas.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Cold sintering parameters such as, temperature, pressure, aqueous phase, heating rate and dwelling time has been widely discussed in the literature but the role of starting powder with respective microstructure development is mostly overlooked. There is a need for understanding the effect of powder agglomerates and the role of inter particle friction on the densification behavior during cold sintering process. Present study encompasses investigation and optimization of these parameters for ZnO which enabled > 99 % of relative density with grain sizes below 200 nm. Additionally, role of external atmosphere was also studied to investigate its impact on densification during the process. All cold sintering experiments were carried out in a FAST/SPS device for studying aqueous phase evaporation and ensuring the reproducibility of process parameters. Microstructure characterization (scanning and transmission electron microscopy) showed – without any post heat treatment– defect free grain boundary structure opposite to what documented by previous studies.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Cadmium sulphide (CdS) thin films are prepared onto glass substrates by chemical bath deposition technique (CBD). Thin films of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) are also sublimed onto glass substrates in high vacuum at room temperature. Hybrid CdS/CuPc (organic–inorganic) thin films are obtained from CdS films grown on glass substrates by CBD technique and subsequently vacuum subliming CuPc onto them. These films are annealed in air at different temperatures. Optical studies are separately done on CdS, CuPc and hybrid CdS/CuPc thin films. Optical properties are studied (between 300 and 900 nm) in a UV–VIS Spectrophotometer and the absorbance recorded as a function of photon energy. The optical band gap and maximum absorption coefficient of the as-deposited and annealed samples are determined.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "To improve the utilization rate of geothermal resource using organic Rankine cycle (ORC), an organic Rankine flash cycle (ORFC) combined with insufficient evaporation and flash process is proposed to reduce the irreversibility of the power generation cycle. The thermodynamic performance and techno-economic performance of ORFC and two-stage series organic Rankine cycle (TSORC) are optimized, respectively. The effects of evaporation temperature, flash temperature and outlet dryness on the performance of two systems are discussed. The results show that with the increase of heat source temperature, the optimal operating condition value of the system increases, which leads to improving the thermodynamic and techno-economic performance significantly. R601a and R601 are the most suitable working fluids for TSORC and ORFC, respectively. The heat exchanger is the main component that causes the exergy destruction of the system, and its improvement potential is the highest in all components. The thermodynamic performance and techno-economic performances of ORFC are better than those of TSORC. The irreversible loss of the system can be reduced by the insufficient evaporation combined with flash separator.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report herein the preparation, the electrochemical, the absorption and the emission properties of a new heteroleptic bisterpyridine ruthenium complex. The first terpyridine is functionalized, on the 4′ position, by a phosphonic acid group and the second terpyridine bears in the 4′ position a tert-thiophenyl unit attached via an ethanyl spacer. The latter complex was tested in dye-sensitized solar cells using the liquid electrolyte (I2/LiI/tert-butylpyridine/propylene carbonate) or the solid poly(3-octylthiophene) as a hole conductor. It displays an improved photovoltaic photoconversion efficiency compared to the analogous complex in which the tert-thiophene is directly linked to the terpyridine ligand. This study shows that the covalent attachment of a thiophene residue on the sensitizer is a promising strategy for the development of solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells and it highlights the benefit of introducing a non-conjugated spacer between the thiophenyl unit and the polypyridine ruthenium sensitizer.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "We report here a facile, template-free and one-step solvothermal approach for the synthesis of high-temperature stable gold/titania nanocomposite (NCs), providing a new, simple, quick and inexpensive wet-chemical route. Our approach is based on the assembly of gold salt and titanium butoxide in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Also, we present here, for the first time, a cathodically activated Au/TiO2 catalyst with Pt/C activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in 0.5 M H2SO4 in the dark. The as-prepared (unactivated) Au/TiO2 NCs exhibits considerable electrocatalytic activity for H2 generation in the dark, with a low onset potential (E HER) of −64 mV vs. RHE, a Tafel slope (-b c) of 60 mV dec−1 and an exchange current density (j o) of 0.12 mA cm−2. Long-term stability and durability tests in 0.5 M H2SO4, employing cyclic voltammetry technique (10,000 of repetitive cycling) and 72 h of chronoamperometry measurements at a high cathodic potential (cathodic activation), reveal that the electrocatalyst activates during such aging processes yielding an activated Au/TiO2 catalyst with Pt/C-like activity for H2 generation (E HER -3 mV, -b c: 35 mV dec−1, and j o: 0.95 mA cm−2). The outstanding HER activity of the activated catalyst is discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Accurate and reliable fault detection procedures are crucial for optimizing photovoltaic (PV) system performance. Establishing a trustworthy PV array model is the primary step and a vital tool for monitoring and diagnosing PV systems. This paper outlines a two-step approach for creating a reliable PV array model and implementing a fault detection procedure using Random Forest Classifiers (RFCs). Firstly, we extracted the five unknown parameters of the one-diode model (ODM) by combining the current–voltage translation method to predict the reference curve and employing the modified grey wolf optimization (MGWO) algorithm. In the second step, we simulated the PV array to obtain maximum power point (MPP) coordinates and construct operational databases through co-simulations in PSIM/MATLAB. We developed two RFCs: one for fault detection (a binary classifier) and another for fault diagnosis (a multiclass classifier). Our results confirmed the accuracy of the PV array modeling approach. We achieved a root mean square error (RMSE) value of 0.0122 for the ODM parameter extraction and RMSEs lower than 0.3 in dynamic PV array output current simulations under cloudy conditions. Regarding the fault detection procedure, our results demonstrate exceptional classification accuracy rates of 99.4% for both fault detection and diagnosis, surpassing other tested models like Support Vector Machines (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Neural Networks (MLP Classifier), Decision Trees (DT), and Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGDC).",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Thermogalvanic corrosion negatively affects the corrosion resistance of the hot anode. ► Thermogalvanic corrosion of copper in heavy brine LiBr solutions is severe. ► The negative values of Seebeck coefficient are indicative of hot anodes. ► Seebeck coefficient was not dependent on LiBr concentration. ► EIS diagrams revealed three time constants.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The integrated design of gas heat exchanger and after-treatment unit can reduce the size and weight of the engine waste heat recovery system, releasing the back pressure of exhaust gas and enhancing net benefit of the waste heat recovery system. In this study, we propose a silencing heat exchanger that integrates an exhaust heat exchanger with an impedance composite muffler in the post-treatment system, using metal foam material instead of the sound absorbing material in the impedance composite muffler. By adapting ANSYS Fluent and LMS Virtual.Lab, thermal simulation and acoustic simulation of the silencing heat exchanger were realized, and comparative analysis of the modified structure and the basic structure was carried out. The modified silencing heat exchanger was then designed and fabricated, and the thermal and acoustic performance were tested. The results show that the modified silencing heat exchanger can achieve improved heat transfer and flow performance, and more uniform temperature distribution at the hot side, simultaneously resulting in an 8.4% reduction in exhaust pressure drop. Even more, the improvement of silence effect in the middle and high frequency band is fairly obvious, and the overall transmission loss is 44.4% higher than that of the basic structure.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The effect of [Ga]/[Cd] ratio on the structural, morphological, optical and electrical properties of chemically sprayed Ga-doped CdO thin films is investigated. XRD studies reveal that the films are polycrystalline with cubic structure and exhibit (200) preferential orientation. It is inferred that the Ga3+ ions replace the lattice sites at lower concentrations and interstitial sites at high concentrations. There is considerable broadening of (200) peak and shift of Bragg's angle with respect to [Ga]/[Cd] ratio. The electrical studies confirm degenerate, n-type semiconductor nature of Ga-doped CdO thin films with minimum resistivity of 3.7×10−4 Ωcm. The optical gap varies from 2.27 to 2.44eV due to Moss–Burstein effect. The highest figure of merit observed in the present study is 1.69×10−4 Ω−1. PL intensity of green emission around 470nm has found to be increased with increase in [Ga]/[Cd] ratio.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We report the modification of electrical properties of chemical-bath-deposited antimony sulphide (Sb2S3) thin films by thermal diffusion of carbon. Sb2S3 thin films were obtained from a chemical bath containing SbCl3 and Na2S2O3 salts at room temperature (27°C) on glass substrates. A carbon thin film was deposited on Sb2S3 film by arc vacuum evaporation and the Sb2S3–C layer was subjected to heating at 300°C in nitrogen atmosphere or in low vacuum for 30min. The value of resistivity of Sb2S3 thin films was substantially reduced from 108 Ωcm for undoped condition to 102 Ωcm for doped thin films. The doped films, Sb2S3:C, retained the orthogonal stibnite structure and the optical band gap energy in comparison with that of undoped Sb2S3 thin films. By varying the carbon content (wt%) the electrical resistivity of Sb2S3 can be controlled in order to make it suitable for various opto-electronic applications.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter presents an overview of green energetic materials and discusses their role in the circular economy to achieve sustainability and mitigate climate change. By reducing, reusing, and recycling, circular economy practices can minimize waste and maximize resource utilization. Green materials, such as low-cost feedstock from renewable sources, can be applied to energy production, storage, and transportation to provide multiple advantages to societies. Different sources of green energy materials such as biomass, biogas, solar, wind, and hydro energy demonstrate the potential for resource-efficient societies. The chapter also highlights the importance of eco-friendly production and utilization strategies for high-energy materials. Additionally, the future of circular economy used in various sectors is discussed, highlighting the need for standardized safety requirements, large-scale infrastructural developments, and effective policy making.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are promising thermoelectric materials that exhibit flexibility and high performance. To realize improved structural and thermoelectric properties, we fabricated PEDOT/SWCNT bilayers consisting of drop-cast SWCNTs and electropolymerized PEDOT. We prepared two types of PEDOT layers using electrolyte solvents of water/methanol (Sample A) and acetonitrile (Sample B). Sample B achieved a flexible freestanding state, whereas Sample A was broken with part of the sample remaining on the substrate. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the PEDOT layer in Sample A filled the gaps between the SWCNT bundles. The PEDOT layer in Sample B consisted of chain-like structures that mostly covered the surface of the SWCNT layer, which were speculated to increase the strength of the freestanding state. The structural properties of the bilayers were examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Although slight structural differences were observed between Samples A and B, both samples exhibited the characteristics of PEDOT and SWCNTs. Measurement of the thermoelectric properties near 300 K afforded power factors of 12.5 and 13.9 μW/(m·K2) for Samples A and B, respectively. Therefore, we demonstrated the successful fabrication of freestanding PEDOT/SWCNT bilayers (Sample B) with relatively high thermoelectric performance.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "pK sp for CBaApOH and CBaApCl as a function of carbonate content, using the B-type substitution formula Ba10− x (PO4)6− x (CO3) x (Z)2− x . Highlights ► Structures of barium chlor- and hydroxylapatites little affected by carbonate. ► Unit cell a-axis for chlorapatites decreases as carbonate content increases. ► B-type substitution occurs for barium chlor- and hydroxylapatites. ► Solubilities of carbonated derivatives are slightly higher than noncarbonated.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights • Thermal spin Seebeck effect is observed in VSe2 monolayer based device. • Temperature dependent giant magnetoresistance is observed in VSe2 monolayer based device and increases with ΔT. • Higher spin-injection efficiency at lower value of ΔT and TL (left electrode temperature)",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Epitaxial CdSe films have been electrodeposited on the (100) face of InP and GaAs single crystals. The quality of the epitaxy and chemical composition of CdSe films have been investigated by reflection high-energy electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction and XPS measurements. A good stability of the InP and GaAs surfaces, in presence of the deposition electrolytes, was found. The choice of the deposition parameters is crucial for the growth of epitaxial and stoichiometric layers.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Solar energy-driven desalination is one of sustainable means to produce reusable water. Recently, solar distiller formally known as a solar still (SS) has been commonly employed to get freshwater through evaporation and consequent condensation process. However, such passive systems are typically slow on the distillation process, because bulk heating requirement and other energy losses. To increase the fresh water productivity of the passive distillation systems, researchers have usually adopted concentrators, reflecting mirrors, evacuated tube collectors (ETC), energy absorbing-engineered nanoparticles and energy storage (sensible and latent heat) materials. In this manner, water in a distiller can obtain additional heat and speedy evaporation take place immediately. Thus, efficient integration of passive distillation is highly useful to achieve appreciable production rate of fresh water for human daily needs. In this aspect, many researchers continuously tried to develop new innovative technologies for effective solar desalination. The main objective of this assessment is to review the current integration strategies and consequences for improving the productivity of solar distillers. Here, the term integration comprises additional heat sources, including heat confinement to broadband nanoparticles (micro-integration), concentrators, reflecting-mirrors (macro-integration), latent heat storage (LHS), sensible heat storage (SHS), and wicking cloth-based absorbers. This review exclusively focused on the newest results in the year of 2020–2021. In addition, the challenges, limitations, and requirements for future prospects are discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In most countries of equatorial Africa, it is difficult to satisfy power demand all year long by hydro sources alone. In some remote areas, where this is the case, a judicious combination of other renewable sources to form a hybrid system can help solve rural electrification problems. One of these combinations is the use of PV together with a diesel and batteries. We highlight the use of an optimization model to size such a system in a village in Cameroon.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "This chapter describes the results obtained from two modules namely from a monocrystalline module and from an amorphous module. The module efficiencies as obtained under standard test conditions are 12.4 and 6.26% respectively. The STC powers are found to be 107.8 and 29.8 W. It is noted that as compared to results of other modules, these two modules perform very well. However, regarding the amorphous module, it is still uncertain whether the degradation process is complete. The monocrystalline module demonstrates an attractive part load behavior and its efficiency exhibits a maximum value at an insolation intensity of approximately 600 Wm-2.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Vanadium Oxides nanomaterial has shown a great potential in numerous application due to its high light absorption phenomena in the visible range. Among all the possible phases of vanadium oxides, herein we report a simple and facile hydrothermal route for the synthesis of vanadium pentaoxide (V2O5) synthesis at low temperatures. Thread like nanostructures of V2O5 were developed by calcination of vanadyl glycolate (VO(CH2O)2) which was synthesized by hydrothermal route using ammonium vanadate as precursor in the presence of hydrochloric acid (HCL) at low temperature 180 °C. Our develop process of synthesis is free from any templates and reduction agents. Further, the morphology, chemical and structural properties was characterized using Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman profile and FTIR spectroscopy. The FESEM studies confirms the formation of vanadium pentaoxide in thread shape with thickness in the range of 80 ± 20 nm and length in 4–5 µm. Also, X-Ray diffraction and Raman profile reveals the formation of the orthohombic phase of V2O5.The above synthesized nanostructure materials can be further used in enhancing li-ion batteries efficiency and various thermal and optoelectronic applications.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Dye-sensitized solar cells based on a tantalum (Ta)-doped TiO2 thin film prepared by the hydrothermal method show a photovoltaic efficiency of 8.18%, which is higher than that of the undoped TiO2 thin film (7.40%). The Mott–Schottky plot indicates that the Ta-doped TiO2 photoanode shifts the flat band potential positively and increases the electron density. The positive shift of the flat band potential improves the driving force of injected electrons from the LUMO of the dye to the conduction band of TiO2. Furthermore, the increased electron density caused by the Ta-doped TiO2 improves the fill factor of the solar cell. The increased electron density accelerates the transfer rate of electrons in the Ta-doped TiO2 thin films by comparison to undoped films, which is confirmed by intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy measurements.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► Periodically quenching was employed to investigate the performance stability of Ba and In double-filled skutterudite materials. ► We examine changes in microstructure and composition on the grain boundaries. ► Secondary precipitates decrease σ, κ, and κ E and increase |α|. ► Separation of Ba from the Sb-icosahedron voids enables increase of κ L. ► The double-filled skutterudite materials remain excellent thermoelectric performance under periodically fluctuating environmental temperature.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A new soluble polythiophene copolymer with phenylene–vinylene conjugated side chain (PEHOPVTh-Th) was synthesized. Polymer photovoltaic solar cells using PEHOPVTh-Th as donor and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) as acceptor was demonstrated. The absorption spectrum of the PEHOPVTh-Th showed strong absorption in the visible region and a 55nm red-shift in comparison with that of its homopolymer (PEHOPVTh). By adjusting the ratio of PEHOPVTh-Th to PC61BM, the polymer solar cells based on PEHOPVTh-Th showed a power conversion efficiency of 0.37% under 100mW/cm2 AM 1.5G simulated sunlight when the weight ratio of the polymer to PC61BM equals to 1:3.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "First-principles (Density Functional Theory and SQS) calculations and the Calphad method are combined to obtain a thermodynamic description of the Cr-Mn-Si system. Especially the mixing enthalpies and the magnetic moments in solid solutions with substitutions of Cr by Mn are calculated at 0K using the DFT for different structures. Such data are then used together with the available literature data to obtain a general description of the ternary system.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Cleavage of phosphatidylinositol (PI) to inositol 1,2-(cyclic)-phosphate (cIP) and cIP hydrolysis to inositol 1-phosphate by Bacillus thuringiensis phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C are activated by the enzyme binding to phosphatidylcholine (PC) surfaces. Part of this reflects improved binding of the protein to interfaces. However, crystallographic analysis of an interfacially impaired phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase (W47A/W242A) suggested protein dimerization might occur on the membrane. In the W47A/W242A dimer, four tyrosine residues from one monomer interact with the same tyrosine cluster of the other, forming a tight dimer interface close to the membrane binding regions. We have constructed mutant proteins in which two or more of these tyrosine residues have been replaced with serine. Phospholipid binding and enzymatic activity of these mutants have been examined to assess the importance of these residues to enzyme function. Replacing two tyrosines had small effects on enzyme activity. However, removal of three or four tyrosine residues weakened PC binding and reduced PI cleavage by the enzyme as well as PC activation of cIP hydrolysis. Crystal structures of Y247S/Y251S in the absence and presence of myo-inositol as well as Y246S/Y247S/Y248S/Y251S indicate that both mutant proteins crystallized as monomers, were very similar to one another, and had no change in the active site region. Kinetic assays, lipid binding, and structural results indicate that either (i) a specific PC binding site, critical for vesicle activities and cIP activation, has been impaired, or (ii) the reduced dimerization potential for Y246S/Y247S/Y248S and Y246S/Y247S/Y248S/Y251S is responsible for their reduced catalytic activity in all assay systems.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "One-dimensional semiconductor materials Bi2Te3 nanotubes were synthesized via an ultrasonic-assisted hydrothermal method at 180°C for 48h. The products were characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS, TEM, and HRTEM. The results indicate the size of as-prepared Bi2Te3 nanotubes is about 500–1000nm in length and 50–100nm in diameter. Bi2Te3 nanotubes grow spirally along the (001) direction, whose angle with the tube axis is about 20°. The probable formation model of Bi2Te3 nanotubes is proposed based on the experimental results. The synthetic approach could be used to synthesize other one-dimensional nanomaterials.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "A gallium phosphide (GaP) photovoltaic junction is grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on a GaP substrate. An anti-reflection coating of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is applied and the cell is measured under concentrations of 1× and 10.7× in an outdoor setting. Efficiencies up to 2.6% and open circuit voltages up to 1.57V are reported.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Photovoltaic (PV) simulators are indispensable for the operational evaluation of PV energy production system components (e.g. battery chargers, DC/AC inverters, etc.), in order to avoid the time-consuming and expensive field-testing process. In this paper, the development of a novel real-time PV simulator based on Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), is presented. The proposed system consists of a Buck-type DC/DC power converter, which is controlled by an FPGA-based unit using the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) principle. The system operator is able to define both the PV module type to be simulated and the environmental conditions under which the selected PV module operates. The proposed design method enhances the rapid system prototyping capability and enables the reduction of the power converter size and cost due to the high clock speed feature of the FPGA-based control unit. The experimental results indicate that, using the proposed method, the PV module current–voltage characteristics examined are reproduced with an average accuracy of 1.03%.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Organic–inorganic hybrid materials based on poly(3-methylthiophene) (P3MeT) and TiO2 were developed and investigated. The TiO2 nanoparticles were deposited on ITO-coated glass by spin coating, and characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) equation. The P3MeT films were then electrodeposited onto the porous TiO2 film for junction formation. Instruments of AFM and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) were utilized to examine the surface morphology and chemical composition of the P3MeT/TiO2 hybrids, respectively. The performance of the photovoltaic cell fabricated from as-prepared donor/acceptor hybrid was evaluated.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The high cost of photovoltaic solar power makes it necessary, before undertaking any subsequent study, to dimension photovoltaic installations as accurately as possible. We here present a procedure to estimate the required dimension of a photovoltaic installation designed to power a pumping system for the drip irrigation of an olive tree orchard in SW Spain. The method consists of three main stages: (1) One determines the irrigation requirements of the specific estate according to the characteristics of its soil-type and climate. (2) A hydraulic analysis of the pumping system is made according to the depth of the aquifer and the height needed to stabilize the pressure in the water distribution network. (3) Finally, one determines the peak photovoltaic power required to irrigate a 10 ha sub-plot of the estate taking into account the overall yield of the photovoltaic-pump-irrigation system. We call this arrangement “photoirrigation”, and believe that it may be of great utility to improve the output of such socially significant crops as olives and wine grapes, optimizing the use of water and solar energy resources at the same time as preserving the environment.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A bulk alloy which consists of the single icosahedral quasicrystalline phase (I-phase) in Ti45Zr35Ni17Cu3 alloy has been fabricated by mechanical alloying and subsequent pulse discharge sintering technique. Crystallographic structure analyses show that the bulk alloy is an I-phase. The transport properties of the bulk alloy are examined, and the results show that the room-temperature thermal conductivity is 5.347WK−1 m−1, and the electrical conductivity decreases with increasing the temperature from 300 to 450K. The Seebeck coefficient is negative at the temperature range from 300 to 360K, and changes to positive from 370 to 450K. Hall effect measurements indicate the bulk I-phase alloy has a high carrier concentration. The specific heat capacity increases when the temperature increases from 280 to 324K.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "In this research, the effects of using nanofluid as a coolant on the thermal and electrical efficiencies of a PV/T (photovoltaic thermal unit) are experimentally studied. Coolant fluids in the experiments are pure water and silica (SiO2)/water nanofluid 1% and 3% by weight (wt%). A brief uncertainty analysis is performed which shows that the measurements are sufficiently accurate. By converting the output electrical energy of the PV/T system into an equivalent thermal energy, it is found that the overall energy efficiency for the case with a silica/water nanofluid of 1 wt% is increased by 3.6% compared to the case with pure water. When using the silica/water nanofluid of 3 wt%, however, the increase is 7.9%. The thermal efficiency of the PV/T collector for the two cases of 1 wt% and 3 wt% of silica/water nanofluids are increased by 7.6% and 12.8%, respectively. The total exergy of the PV/T system, with and without nanofluids, is also compared with that of the PV system with no collector. It is observed that by adding a thermal collector to a PV system, the total exergy for the three cases with pure water, 1 wt% silica/water nanofluid, and 3 wt% silica/water nanofluid is increased by 19.36%, 22.61% and 24.31%, respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Harvesting energy from transport of water and ions at ambient environment is promising towards sustainable perspective, yet an easy-fabrication and high-performance water-enabled energy generation device remains largely unexplored. Herein, we report a simple method to fabricate a 2D/0D graphene/carbon black (GCB) nanofluidic membrane for high-performance electrokinetic energy generation (EKEG), driven by capillary action and water evaporation. The results obtained suggest that the GCB membrane features enhanced ion transport, owing to the synergistic effects of horizontally oriented 2D confined channels, highly conductive graphene, and high surface charge of GCB. Therefore, dropping 100 μL of natural seawater on one side of a GCB nanofluidic membrane is capable of achieving a considerable current of ∼121 μA and a voltage of ∼0.49 V at ambient environment (25 ± 1 °C and 55 ± 5% relative humidity), surpassing the state-of-the-art evaporation-driven EKEG devices. More amazingly, connecting ten GCB membranes in parallel can produce an ultrahigh current at the mA level. Applications in lighting up various colors of light-emitting diodes and powering electronics are demonstrated as well. This work paves new avenues for next-generation high-performance water-enabled electrokinetic energy generators.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The aim of this research is to make a simulation design for a hybrid PV/T assisted desiccant integrated HA-IR drying system (HPIRD) which has two components: a photovoltaic air collector (PVAC), and a desiccant silica gel bed (DB). The PVAC and DB have been improved by fins and different bed shapes for improved performance of the drying system. The designed simulation system used TRNSYS and CFX programs with new PVAC and DB components. The two new models were used to develop a new drying system and compared it with a common system. The drying test chose the optimal simulated case and compared it with the experimental results. The simulation results indicated that the PVACAF and v-shape DB were suitable, and they also indicated consistent results when compared to the experiment. Thus, the HPIRD used the optimal case to develop a system. The performance evaluation studies indicated that the HPIRD drying test at 60°C and velocity of 0.6m/s reduced the drying time by 44% with less energy consumption (63%) compared to hot air drying. HPIRD drying also gave better results over hot air-infrared drying. Finally, drying time, drying rate and energy consumption were reduced considerably with the hybrid drying system.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Despite counter examples in nature, it has been argued that total recycling is impossible for an industrial society as a consequence of the second law of thermodynamics. In this paper it is shown that there is no such limitation. However, it is also shown that there must be a large stockpile of inactive materials as well as an exogenous source of exergy (e.g. from the sun) for a stable steady-state recycling system to function. The paper also discusses (briefly) some of the implications for economic growth.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The well-crystallized α-Cu2Se thermoelectric thin films have been synthesized by sputtering copper implant selenium precursor method and the preferred growth orientation of the thin films can be efficiently adjusted by the annealing temperature, which has significant effect on the carrier concentration resulting in the decrease of electrical conductivity and increase of Seebeck coefficient.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": null,
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Background Interaction of the plant alkaloid aristololactam-β-d-glucoside and the antitumor drug daunomycin with single stranded RNAs poly(G), poly(I), poly(C) and poly(U) has been investigated. Methods Biophysical techniques of absorption, fluorescence, competition dialysis, circular dichroism, and microcalorimetry have been used. Results Absorption and fluorescence studies have revealed noncooperative binding of ADG and DAN to the single stranded RNAs. The binding affinity of ADG varied as poly(G) > poly(I) > > poly(C) > poly(U). The affinity of DAN was one order higher than that of ADG and varied as poly(G) > poly(I) > poly(U) > poly(C). This binding preference was further confirmed by competition dialysis assay. The thermodynamics of the binding was characterised to be favourable entropy and enthalpic terms but their contributions were different for different systems. The major non-polyelectrolytic contribution to the binding revealed from salt dependent data appears to be arising mostly from stacking of DAN and ADG molecules with the bases leading to partial intercalation to single stranded RNA structures. Small negative heat capacity values have been observed in all the four cases. Conclusions This study presents the comparative structural and thermodynamic profiles of the binding of aristololactam-β-d-glucoside and daunomycin to single stranded polyribonucleotides. General significance These results suggest strong, specific but differential binding of these drug molecules to the single stranded RNAs and highlight the role of their structural differences in the interaction profile.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Electrochemical cells of the type (Ag | Ag+ electrolyte | Ag-Sb-compounds) have been applied to determine the thermodynamic properties of the intermetallic compounds in Ag-Sb system. Both AgI and β”-alumina were used as fast Ag+ ion conducting solid electrolytes. The usage of these two different electrolytes, in their respective ionic conduction domains, allowed emf measurements in the Ag-Sb system over a significantly wide temperature range. For the first time, emf values of the intermetallic compounds in the Ag-Sb system have been measured above 450K. Several different cell arrangements were applied to ensure reproducibility of the experiments and to evaluate the effects of different cell arrangements. The parasitic cell potential contributions to the emf values, resulting from thermovoltage and contact potential differences were measured by using symmetric cells. The results obtained with the symmetric cells were analyzed and compensated from the measured emf values of the actual experimental electrochemical cells.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Seawater and brackish water desalination technology has become an important and ever-increasing industry, which has contributed to the social, economic, environmental, and human health aspects. Despite the many benefits that water desalination has to offer, still challenging to all desalination plants is the environmentally sensitive effects attributed to the rejected brine discharge into the sea, which can very often severely damage the receiving environment, the air pollutant emissions attributed to the energy demand of the processes, the noise pollution and the use of land, among other. In order to promote a sustainable use of desalination technology, the environmental impacts of desalination facilities should be investigated and mitigated. This chapter provides an overview of environmental concerns of seawater and brackish water reverse osmosis desalinations plants, focusing on some Spanish cases studies, and describing the major impacts identified.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "We propose an optical fiber-based localized surface plasmon resonance sensor to overcome limitations with hydrogen gas explosions in various types of hydrogen sensors and minimize human damage caused by exposure to hazardous environments. For selective detection of hydrogen, a simple palladium-capping process was applied on a fiber-optic localized surface plasmon resonance. After the palladium-capping, the sensor was exposed to various refractive index solutions to confirm the linearity of the response. Hydrogen gas reactivity was measured at concentrations from 0.8% to 4%; the reaction time at each concentration was observed as 116 s until the signal stabilized. The coefficient of variation (CV) and limit of detection (LOD) were calculated based on the results obtained through repeated measurements. The reproducibility was verified with an average CV of 11%. In addition, the developed sensor showed a low LOD of 0.086%. The hysteresis characteristic was observed within 1% in the output change, which was similar to the fluctuation range allowed by the light source per time. The proposed sensor based on the optical principle is expected to reduce the risk of explosions and has advantages in a simple configuration and low-cost production based on optical fiber.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) has been used to determine the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels of a series of related 2,2′-bipyridyl-substituted ruthenium dyes utilized in the fabrication of photovoltaic devices. UPS analysis of nanocrystalline TiO2 thin films sensitized with a monolayer of cis-dithiocyanato-N,N-bis-(2,2′-bipyridyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid)–ruthenium(II), commonly referred to as “N3”, indicates that the HOMO is located 5.47eV below the vacuum level. Combination of the UPS results with measurement of the bandgap of the dye by UV–Vis absorbance spectroscopy yields an estimated lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy of 3.93eV below the vacuum level. Similar analyses have been performed for the related dyes, (5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline)bis-(2,2′-bipyridyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid)-ruthenium(II), (1,10-phenanthroline)bis-(2,2′-bipyridyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid)-ruthenium(II), and (5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline)bis-(2,2′-bipyridine)-ruthenium(II); giving values of 3.35, 3.08, and 3.43eV, respectively, for the positions of the LUMOs below the vacuum level. These results indicate that the LUMO of N3 has better overlap with the conduction band of TiO2 located 3.70eV below the vacuum level, and this may at least partially be responsible for its outstanding photovoltaic performance.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "The room temperature values of the Ettingshausen (P), Hall (R H) and Seebeck (S) coefficients have been measured for La2−x Sr x CuO4 superconductor (x=0.03–0.35). It was found that in the whole composition range P is of the order of 10−7 m 3 K/J , which is characteristic of typical metals. The Ettingshausen coefficient is positive for x<0.07 and negative for higher Sr content. The Hall coefficient changes sign for much higher Sr concentration of x≈0.32, whereas the thermopower remains positive for all samples. The compositional dependences of the measured transport coefficients have been described in terms of simple tight-binding model with smooth variation of the Fermi surface curvature from positive to negative.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The presence of deep defects in CdS/CdTe thin film solar cells strongly affects the electrical properties and as a result the performance of the cells. Therefore, it is desirable to understand the role of these defect states. This paper describes the detection of electron traps in CdS/CdTe thin film solar cells using deep level transient spectroscopy. Two series of samples with a different activation step (activation in air vs. activation in vacuum) are compared. Electrical injection DLTS uses an electrical pulse to inject electrons in the CdTe. This way a new electron trap could be characterized at 0.44 eV below conduction band in the air activated cells. Optical DLTS uses an optical laser pulse (λ=635 nm) to create minority carriers. In this case minority traps are found in both kinds of samples. In the air activated cells two closely spaced defects are detected (0.44 and 0.42 eV below conduction band) with concentrations of a few percent of the background concentration. In the vacuum activated cells a broad band is detected. However, not fully characterized, it is located at approximately 0.4 eV below conduction band. Using the DLTS results, simulations were performed to explain the forward J–V-characteristics of the solar cells. These simulations are in close agreement with the experimental results if the concentrations of the deep traps are taken sufficiently high.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlights ► The AC power production of the standalone 19.8kW PV system was 61.2kWh/d. ► PV array power output ratio and system overall energy utilization ratio was 9.5% and 7.7%. ► The SMC and SI operated well with high efficiencies. ► The roundtrip efficiency of the battery bank during the year was 74.3%. ► The final yield and reference yield was 2.49h/d and 4.94h/d, respectively.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Theoretical investigation on the photovoltaic power conversion of SiGe solar cells was carried out focusing on the impact of the compositional distribution. The absorption coefficient and the intrinsic carrier concentration were assumed to be macroscopically uniform parameters controlled by the compositional distribution. Under an assumption with finite minority carrier diffusion length, solar cell based on SiGe was revealed to have power conversion superior to that based on Si in a limited compositional window on the Si-rich side. In the window, the increase in the photocurrent density overcompensates the decrease in the voltage, and controls the overall conversion efficiency. The width of the window was greatly affected by the compositional distribution in SiGe. A comparison was made with experiments to support the existence of such a compositional window.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "A single step, nontoxic, non-hydrothermal, low temperature and reproducible method for the preparation of carbon-coated selenium and tellurium nanowires (Se/C and Te/C, respectively), and selenium–telluride (Se–Te/C) nanorods, is presented. Sodium dodecyl sulfate is used as the surfactant, and glucose is employed as the reducing and carbonizing agent. Uncoated nanowires of trigonal Se and Te without the carbon shell are obtained as products, at lower glucose concentrations, whereas at higher glucose concentrations carbon-coated nanowires of trigonal Se and Te are formed. Structural, morphological and compositional properties of the prepared products are examined using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, respectively. The formation of amorphous carbon shell and the model depicting the growth of core–shell nanowires and nanorods are discussed on the basis of the experimental results. Nonlinear optical transmission of the samples is studied at 532nm using the open-aperture Z-scan technique employing 5ns laser pulses. Results show that the samples are efficient optical limiters, and that a three-to-four-fold enhancement in the value of the effective two-photon absorption coefficient (β) can be achieved by coating the nanowires and nanorods with carbon.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "This work describes measurements of the solar irradiance made during cloudy periods in order to improve the amount of solar energy captured during such periods. It is well-known that 2-axis tracking, in which solar modules are pointed at the sun, improves the overall capture of solar energy by a given area of modules by 30–50% versus modules with a fixed tilt. On sunny days the direct sunshine accounts for up to 90% of the total solar energy, with the other 10% from diffuse (scattered) solar energy. However, during overcast conditions nearly all of the solar irradiance is diffuse radiation that is isotropically-distributed over the whole sky. An analysis of our data shows that during overcast conditions, tilting a solar module or sensor away from the zenith reduces the irradiance relative to a horizontal configuration, in which the sensor or module is pointed toward the zenith (horizontal module tilt), and thus receives the highest amount of this isotropically-distributed sky radiation. This observation led to an improved tracking algorithm in which a solar array would track the sun during cloud-free periods using 2-axis tracking, when the solar disk is visible, but go to a horizontal configuration when the sky becomes overcast. During cloudy periods we show that a horizontal module orientation increases the solar energy capture by nearly 50% compared to 2-axis solar tracking during the same period. Improving the harvesting of solar energy on cloudy days is important to using solar energy on a daily basis for fueling fuel-cell electric vehicles or charging extended-range electric vehicles because it improves the energy capture on the days with the lowest hydrogen generation, which in turn reduces the system size and cost.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Nowadays, energy harvesting is widely used in several sectors, including automobile, civil and industrial systems. It’s about improving their energy efficiency and reducing their carbon footprint. Harvesting energy from environmental vibrations is achievable today due to natural oscillations such as the flow of air or liquids, the exhalation or the human body motion. This vibration frequency is generally low. Consequently, energy harvesting systems based on low frequency vibrations are an important research topic, as they can be used to power up portable or implantable devices. In this paper, a simulation of piezoelectric energy harvester is investigated using finite element method. The harvester is composed of a piezoelectric polymer (PVDF), and a flexible substrate (PVC). Based on simulation results, the maximum output power, the displacement and the output voltage are achieved at 0.19 µW, 49 µm and 1 V, respectively, at low resonant frequency of 0.3 Hz.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Summary With the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) era, flexible sensors are regarded as one of the most important technologies for the development of human-friendly wearable devices. Organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) based on conjugated polymers or small molecules are promising sensor platforms because they have various advantages, including high sensitivity, mechanical flexibility, and low-cost fabrication processes. OFET-based sensors enable continuous monitoring of external stimuli or target analytes with superior detection capabilities. This review describes the working principles and sensing mechanisms of various OFET-based sensors, including chemical, biological, photo, pressure, and temperature sensors, and introduces the recent progress in this field. In addition, the technical challenges and future outlook of OFET-based sensors for next-generation flexible electronics are briefly discussed.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Mg2Sn (100) surfaces were investigated using ab-initio method based on density functional theory in order to explore the surface properties. It is found that both the eleven-layers for Mg-termination surfaces and the nine-layers for Sn-termination surfaces are all converged very well. The effects of relaxation mainly occurred within the three outermost atomic layers for both Mg and Sn terminations during the surface relaxation. Mg-termination surfaces are more stable than Sn-termination surfaces according to the analysis of surface energy. The density of states reveals the metallic property of both Mg-termination and Sn-termination surfaces. Covalent bonding exists in Mg2Sn (100) surfaces according to the analysis of partial density of states.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Cuprous oxide (Cu2O) and zinc oxide (ZnO) hold a very crucial position in the field of materials research because of their immense potential in many acoustic, electronic and optical applications. Cu2O is a direct-gap semiconducting material with forbidden energy gap around 2.0 eV. It has been considered as one of the most promising materials for photovoltaic applications, especially for use at the top in a cascade cell structure. The enchantment of Cu2O and ZnO as photovoltaic materials is due to fact that their constituent materials are nontoxic, abundantly available and of relatively low cost. In this work, Cu2O thin films in polycrystalline form were prepared in radio-frequency (rf) reactive magnetron sputtering route on glass substrates at different substrate temperatures. After the samples were prepared, these were taken through a crown-ether cyanide (CN) treatment. Presence of oxygen in excess compared to stoichiometry is the major active impurity in Cu2O and consequently holes are the majority charge carriers in it. With the aid of crown-ether cyanide treatment of the prepared samples, hole-mobility was found to increase and resistivity was found to decrease considerably. Finally, polycrystalline p-Cu2O/n-ZnO heterojunctions were fabricated for use in solar cells. Results of Hall measurement strongly support the observations made from DLTS studies and photocurrent measurements. Thus, our present study confirms the improvement of device performance of the p-Cu2O /n-ZnO heterojunctions on chemical cyanide treatment.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "The preparation and characterization of composite MEH-PPV/PCBM nanoparticles with doping levels up to 75wt% PCBM is reported. These nanoparticles represent structures in between single molecules and bulk that allow for a detailed investigation of the role of nanostructure on the properties of the corresponding functional materials. Combining this material system with single particle spectroscopy studies reveals molecular scale information on the extent to which variations in polymer chain folding and interactions between polymer chains and fullerenes affect material morphology and photophysical properties. Key observations are that the single particle ensemble spectra shift with respect to each other depending on PCBM doping levels, and that the vibronic structure of the single particle ensemble spectra changes with PCBM doping levels. These observations are indicative of a reduction in conducting polymer conjugation length and interchain interactions due to steric effects caused by the presence of PCBM that result in reduced exciton transport.",
        "label": 0
    },
    {
        "text": "Processing of textured Ca3Co4O9 (Ca349) thermoelectric ceramics with a good platelet orientation by spark plasma sintering (SPS) consolidation is reported. Two configurations wherein: (i) the oxide powder, being directly introduced into the graphite mould and (ii) placing a compact pellet prepared from the oxide powder in the centre of the mould have been investigated. The free deformation configuration route is found to improve the microstructure and transport properties of Ca3Co4O9 TE oxides. The material prepared exhibited a better performance than the sample obtained by conventional SPS way.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Double-filled skutterudites In x Nd y Co4Sb12 have been synthesized by the inductive melting method. The thermal conductivity of these compounds is significantly depressed as compared to that of unfilled CoSb3, while their Seebeck coefficient is remarkably enhanced. We explore simultaneously enhancing the power factor and thermoelectric figure of merit ZT through Nd and In double filling. The attained largest power factor 3.2mWm−1 K−2 (360K) is comparable to Ba and In double-filled skutterudites which possess very high ZT values. ZT=0.11 achieved in In0.09Nd0.03Co4Sb12.16 and In0.16Nd0.06Co4Sb11.93 at 360K is about two times larger than that of In single-filled skutterudites.",
        "label": 1
    },
    {
        "text": "Highlight ► The effect of residual Pd catalyst in PFB-co-FT pristine films as wells as in PFB-co-FT:PCBM solar cells is reported. ► Hole mobility decreases and transport dispersion increases with the Pd content. ► The efficiency of solar cells is reduced by half when a Pd-rich donor is employed. ► Light-dependent investigation and LESR demonstrate increased charge trapping due to Pd content. ► For the first time the PCBM triplet state is employed as a probe of the donor environment in donor/acceptor blends.",
        "label": 0
    }
]