Refractive index evaluation of multi-walled carbon nanotube arrays

Transmission terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) measurements of carbon nanotube arrays are presented. A relatively thin film with vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes has been prepared and measured using THz-TDS. Experimental results were obtained from 80GHz to 2.5THz, and the sample has been characterized by extracting the relative permittivity of the carbon nanotubes. A combination of the Maxwell-Garnett and Drude models within the frequency range provide a good fit to the measured permittivity.

The effect of Ln(III)/An(III) separation on TRU multi-recycling in CONFU assembly

This work examines the basic feasibility of the net-zero-balance TRU multi-recycling concept in which trivalent lanthanide fission products (Ln(III) ) are not separated from trivalent actinides (An(III)). The TRU together with Eu and Gd isotopes are recycled in a standard PWR using Combined Non-Fertile and UO2 (CONFU) assembly design. The assembly assumes a heterogeneous structure where about 20% of U02 fuel pins on the assembly periphery are replaced with Inert Matrix Fuel (IMF) pins hosting TRU, Gd, and Eu generated in the previous cycles. The 2-D neutronic analysis show potential feasibility of Ln / An recycling in PWR using CONFU assembly. Recycling of Ln reduces the fuel cycle length by about 30 effective full power days (EFPD) and TRU destruction efficiency by about 5%. Power peaking factors and reactivity feedback coefficients are close to those of CONFU assembly without Ln recycling.

Multi scale shape index for 3D object recognition

We present Multi Scale Shape Index (MSSI), a novel feature for 3D object recognition. Inspired by the scale space filtering theory and Shape Index measure proposed by Koenderink & Van Doorn [6], this feature associates different forms of shape, such as umbilics, saddle regions, parabolic regions to a real valued index. This association is useful for representing an object based on its constituent shape forms. We derive closed form scale space equations which computes a characteristic scale at each 3D point in a point cloud without an explicit mesh structure. This characteristic scale is then used to estimate the Shape Index. We quantitatively evaluate the robustness and repeatability of the MSSI feature for varying object scales and changing point cloud density. We also quantify the performance of MSSI for object category recognition on a publicly available dataset. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.

Toxicity and imaging of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in human macrophage cells.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) have been proposed for use in many applications and concerns about their potential effect on human health have led to the interest in understanding the interactions between MWNTs and human cells. One important technique is the visualisation of the intracellular distribution of MWNTs. We exposed human macrophage cells to unpurified MWNTs and found that a decrease in cell viability was correlated with uptake of MWNTs due to mainly necrosis. Cells treated with purified MWNTs and the main contaminant Fe(2)O(3) itself yielded toxicity only from the nanotubes and not from the Fe(2)O(3). We used 3-D dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (DF-STEM) tomography of freeze-dried whole cells as well as confocal and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to image the cellular uptake and distribution of unpurified MWNTs. We observed that unpurified MWNTs entered the cell both actively and passively frequently inserting through the plasma membrane into the cytoplasm and the nucleus. These suggest that MWNTs may cause incomplete phagocytosis or mechanically pierce through the plasma membrane and result in oxidative stress and cell death.

High speed liquid crystal over silicon display based on the flexoelectro-optic effect.

One of the key technologies to evolve in the displays market in recent years is liquid crystal over silicon (LCOS) microdisplays. Traditional LCOS devices and applications such as rear projection televisions, have been based on intensity modulation electro-optical effects, however, recent developments have shown that multi-level phase modulation from these devices is extremely sought after for applications such as holographic projectors, optical correlators and adaptive optics. Here, we propose alternative device geometry based on the flexoelectric-optic effect in a chiral nematic liquid crystal. This device is capable of delivering a multilevel phase shift at response times less than 100 microsec which has been verified by phase shift interferometry using an LCOS test device. The flexoelectric on silicon device, due to its remarkable characteristics, enables the next generation of holographic devices to be realized.

Multi-field simulations and characterization of CMOS-MEMS high-temperature smart gas sensors based on SOI technology

This paper describes multiple field-coupled simulations and device characterization of fully CMOS-MEMS-compatible smart gas sensors. The sensor structure is designated for gas/vapour detection at high temperatures (>300 °C) with low power consumption, high sensitivity and competent mechanic robustness employing the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer technology, CMOS process and micromachining techniques. The smart gas sensor features micro-heaters using p-type MOSFETs or polysilicon resistors and differentially transducing circuits for in situ temperature measurement. Physical models and 3D electro-thermo-mechanical simulations of the SOI micro-hotplate induced by Joule, self-heating, mechanic stress and piezoresistive effects are provided. The electro-thermal effect initiates and thus affects electronic and mechanical characteristics of the sensor devices at high temperatures. Experiments on variation and characterization of micro-heater resistance, power consumption, thermal imaging, deformation interferometry and dynamic thermal response of the SOI micro-hotplate have been presented and discussed. The full integration of the smart gas sensor with automatically temperature-reading ICs demonstrates the lowest power consumption of 57 mW at 300 °C and fast thermal response of 10 ms. © 2008 IOP Publishing Ltd.

A detailed chemistry multi-cycle simulation of a gasoline fueled HCCI engine operated with NVO

A previously developed Stochastic Reactor Model (SRM) is used to simulate combustion in a four cylinder in-line four-stroke naturally aspirated direct injection Spark Ignition (SI) engine modified to run in Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) mode with a Negative Valve Overlap (NVO). A portion of the fuel is injected during NVO to increase the cylinder temperature and enable HCCI combustion at a compression ratio of 12:1. The model is coupled with GT-Power, a one-dimensional engine simulation tool used for the open valve portion of the engine cycle. The SRM is used to model in-cylinder mixing, heat transfer and chemistry during the NVO and main combustion. Direct injection is simulated during NVO in order to predict heat release and internal Exhaust Gas Recycle (EGR) composition and mass. The NOx emissions and simulated pressure profiles match experimental data well, including the cyclic fluctuations. The model predicts combustion characteristics at different fuel split ratios and injection timings. The effect of fuel reforming on ignition timing is investigated along with the causes of cycle to cycle variations and unstable operation. A detailed flux analysis during NVO unearths interesting results regarding the effect of NOx on ignition timing compared with its effect during the main combustion. © 2009 SAE International.

Multi-colour switching of polymer stabilized chiral nematic liquid crystal devices

We have fabricated a series of polymer stabilized chiral nematic test cells for use as flexoelectro-optic devices. The devices fabricated were based on commercial chiral nematic mixtures which were polymer stabilized so as to enhance the uniformity and stability of the uniform lying helix texture in the cells. During fabrication and test procedures a series of unusual scattering states have been observed within the devices at different viewing angles. The observations made so far indicate that the properties of the scattering state lies somewhere between the focal conic texture and the Grandjean or planar texture and that the devices exhibit both a helical pitch selective reflection and scattering effect. What is even more dramatic is that the wavelength selectivity of the scattering effect can be tuned by an applied field. In addition, we show that it is possible to achieve good uniform lying helix textures from such devices. Moreover, we show that in certain cases the spontaneous alignment of the helix in the plane of the device opens up the possibility of a new mode of switching. Flexoelectric, Redshift, Coloured scattering, Liquid crystal, Polymer-stabilized liquid-crystal;.

Two-photon absorption and self-phase modulation in InGaAsP/InP multi-quantum-well waveguides

We report the first measurement of two-photon absorption (TPA) and self-phase modulation in an InGaAsP/InP multi-quantum-well waveguide. The TPA coefficient, β2, was found to be 60±10 cm/GW at 1.55 μm. Despite operating at 200 nm from the band edge, self-phase modulation as high as 8±2 rad was observed for 30-ps optical pulses at 3.8-W peak input power. A theoretical calculation indicates that this enhanced phase modulation is primarily due to bandfilling in the quantum wells and the free-carrier plasma effect.

Analysis of in-cylinder hydrocarbons in a multi-cylinder gasoline HCCI engine using gas chromatography

Gasoline Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) combustion has been studied widely in the past decade. However, in HCCI engines using negative valve overlap (NVO), there is still uncertainty as to whether the effect of pilot injection during NVO on the start of combustion is primarily due to heat release of the pilot fuel during NVO or whether it is due to pilot fuel reformation. This paper presents data taken on a 4-cylinder gasoline direct injection, spark ignition/HCCI engine with a dual cam system, capable of recompressing residual gas. Engine in-cylinder samples are extracted at various points during the engine cycle through a high-speed sampling system and directly analysed with a gas chromatograph and flame ionisation detector. Engine parameter sweeps are performed for different pilot injection timings and quantities at a medium load point. Results show that for lean engine running conditions, earlier pilot injection timing leads to partial oxidation of the injected pilot fuel during NVO, while the fraction of light hydrocarbons remains constant for all parameter variations investigated. The same applies for a variation in pilot fuel amount. Thus there is evidence that in lean conditions, pilot injection-related NVO effects are dominated by heat release rather than fuel reformation. © 2009 SAE International.

Electric conduction improvement of well-structured multi-walled carbon nanotubes

We characterized the electrical conductance of well-structured multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) which had post-treated by a rapid vacuum arc thermal annealing process and structure defects in these nanotubes are removed. We found that the after rapid vacuum arc annealing, the conductivity of well-structured MWCNTs can be improved by an order of magnitude. We also investigated the conductivity of MWCNTs bundle by the variation of temperatures. These results show that the conductance of annealed defect-free MWCNTs is sensitive to temperature imply the phonon scatting dominated the electron conductions. Compare to the well-structured MWCNTs, the defect scattering dominated the electron conduction in the as-grown control sample which has large amount of structure defects. A detail measurement of electron conduction from an individual well-structured MWCNT shows that the conductivity increases with temperatures which imply such MWCNTs exhibited semiconductor properties. We also produced back-gated field-effect transistors using these MWCNTs. It shows that the well-structured MWCNT can act as p-type semiconductor. © 2010 IEEE.