Porous boron-doped diamond/carbon nanotube electrodes.

Nanostructuring boron-doped diamond (BDD) films increases their sensitivity and performance when used as electrodes in electrochemical environments. We have developed a method to produce such nanostructured, porous electrodes by depositing BDD thin film onto a densely packed "forest" of vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The CNTs had previously been exposed to a suspension of nanodiamond in methanol causing them to clump together into "teepee" or "honeycomb" structures. These nanostructured CNT/BDD composite electrodes have been extensively characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Not only do these electrodes possess the excellent, well-known characteristics associated with BDD (large potential window, chemical inertness, low background levels), but also they have electroactive areas and double-layer capacitance values ∼450 times greater than those for the equivalent flat BDD electrodes.

Acoustic properties of carbon nanotube electrodes in BAW resonators

In this paper the acoustic characterization of a layer of carbon nanotubes (CNT) deposited on AlN solidly mounted resonators is described. The structure of the CNT layer is analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The electrical sheet resistance is derived from 4 point probe measurements and from the fitting of the electrical response of the resonators. Values of sheet resistance around 100 Ω/□ are measured. The longitudinal acoustic velocity is derived from the fitting of the electrical response of the resonators using Mason's model, by adjusting the overtones produced in the CNT layer. A mean value of 62000 m·s-1 is obtained, although some devices show values around 90000 m·s -1, close to the theoretical value of 100000 m·s-1. Some results on the deposition of CNT layers on metallic top electrodes and their influence on the performance of the resonator are also presented. © 2013 IEEE.

Electrical addressing of polymer stabilized hyper-twisted chiral nematic liquid crystals with interdigitated electrodes: Experiment and model

Electro-optic switching in short-pitch polymer stabilized chiral nematic liquid crystals was studied and the relative contributions of flexoelectric and dielectric coupling were investigated: polymer stabilization was found to effectively suppress unwanted textural transitions of the chiral nematic liquid crystal and thereby enhance the electro-optical performance (high optical contrast for visible light, a near ideal optical hysteresis, fast electro-optic response). Test cells were studied that possessed interdigitated electrodes to electrically address the liquid crystal. Based on simulations, a well-fitted phenomenological description of the electro-optic response was derived considering both flexoelectro-optic and Kerr-effect based electro-optic response. © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

Analysis and retrofitting design of a single-span R.C. bridge

This paper deals with the case history of a damaged one-span prestressed concrete bridge on a crucial artery near the city of Cagliari (Sardinia), along the sea-side. After being involved in a disastrous flood, attention has arisen on the worrying safety state of the deck, submitted to an intense daily traffic load. Evident signs of this severe condition were the deterioration of the beams concrete and the corrosion, the lack of tension and even the rupture of the prestressing cables. After performing a limited in situ test campaign, consisting of sclerometer, pull out and carbonation depth tests, a first evaluation of the safety of the structure was performed. After collecting the data of dynamic and static load tests as well, a comprehensive analysis have been carried out, also by means of a properly calibrated F.E. model. Finally the retrofitting design is presented, consisting of the reparation and thickening of the concrete cover, providing flexural and shear FRP external reinforcements and an external prestressing system, capable of restoring a satisfactory bearing capacity, according to the current national codes. The intervention has been calibrated by the former F.E. model with respect to transversal effects and influence of local and overall deformation of reinforced elements. © 2012 Taylor & Francis Group.