Layer optimization in wight organic light emitting diodes (WOLEDs) to reduce the portion of guided waves in ITO/Glass interface

In this paper, our main attempt was to reduce Total Internal Reflection (TIR) happening at Indium Tin Oxide (ITO, n_ito = 1.8 + 0.01i) and Glass (n_glass = 1.51) interface, which is due to ITO's higher index in comparison with Glass's, that makes light guided in ITO layer, 50% of generated light in Wight Organic Light Emitting Diodes (WOLED) are trapped in ITO layer; here we tried to reduce this portion of trapped light by implying 12-fold quasi-photonic crystal to the mentioned interface. With some gentle changes in 12-fold's structure we could reduce TIR in this interface to less than 9%. Also, far field results before and after adding the structure to WOLED were studied, which represents suitability of using this structure for lighting applications.     

The influence of the surface roughness on dielectric function of two-dimensional electron gas: a Lindhard model approach

Low field response function calculations have been performed on a two-dimensional electron gas with well-defined electron-surface roughness scattering. The Lindhard model was employed to compute the response function. In particular, detailed investigations were made on the system searching for an interplay between surface roughness with well-defined correlation function, (characterizes by asperity height and correlation length) spatial confinement and the dielectric function. We analyze to what extent the normal behavior and functionality of dielectric function of two-dimensional devices are modified by random scattering events caused by the contribution from the surface roughness. Results of the current work indicate that contribution of the surface roughness on scattering and absorption process could not be considered as an underestimating effect. We find, however, that functionality of the dielectric function seems to be quite independent of the particular roughness features.     

Imperialist competitive algorithm combined with chaos for global optimization

A novel chaotic improved imperialist competitive algorithm (CICA) is presented for global optimization. The ICA is a new meta-heuristic optimization developed based on a socio-politically motivated strategy and contains two main steps: the movement of the colonies and the imperialistic competition. Here different chaotic maps are utilized to improve the movement step of the algorithm. Seven different chaotic maps are investigated and the Logistic and Sinusoidal maps are found as the best choices. Comparing the new algorithm with the other ICA-based methods demonstrates the superiority of the CICA for the benchmark functions.     

Computational investigation toward selective collection of water particles containing odorous molecules by electrostatic spraying

The necessity of odor sensing has been increasing from environmental and health standpoints. Here, we propose the novel concept of a small device which can select odor molecules based on electrostatic spraying. For high selectivity of the target gas or odor, we conducted computational fluid dynamics coupled with an electrostatic field, as well as measurements by particle image velocimetry and anemometry. The computational model successfully reproduced characteristic features of ionic wind. Different trajectories of charged particles were computationally obtained owing to their electrical mobility. The results imply that different materials might be separated by the arrangement of the collecting electrode.     

A computational study of the electronic structure and the chemical activity of curcumin and some novel curcuminoids by density functional theory

Structural modification of curcumin represents a strategy to improve its stability, water solubility, pharmaceutical properties and bioactivity. In this context, numerous structural analogues of curcumin, including curcuminoids, have been developed. In this paper, the precise density functional theory computations were used for investigating the electronic and geometrical structure of curcumin and some of its derivatives. The chemical activity of the considered molecules was investigated with the help of the global softness and hardness concepts. Among the studied molecules, bisdemethoxycurcumin had the most chemical activity and hexahydrocurcumin had the most stable structure. Among two isomers of the curcumin, the enol isomer was found to be active.     

Green and one‐pot surface coating of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles with natural amino acids and biocompatibility investigation

We report the synthesis of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (IONPs) coated with various natural amino acids (AAs) using a one‐pot reaction in an aqueous medium. Several AAs, which contained hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups, were selected to study their effects on size, morphology and toxicity of IONPs. Functionalized IONPs were characterized using X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning and transmission electron microscopies. Furthermore, vibrating sample magnetometry analysis shows these nanoparticles have excellent magnetic properties. Cellular toxicity of IONPs was also investigated on HFF2 cell lines. The AA‐coated IONPs are non‐toxic and biocompatible. Natural AA‐coated IONPs show a potential for their development in in vitro and in vivo biomedical fields due to their non‐toxicity, good ζ‐potential and related small size and narrow size distribution.     

Effect of Al2O3 nanoparticles on the steel-glass/epoxy composite joint bonded by a two-component structural acrylic adhesive

This paper reports a study on the effect of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles on the adhesion strength of steel-glass/epoxy composite joints bonded by a two-component structural acrylic adhesive. The addition of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles to the two-component acrylic adhesive led to a remarkable enhancement in the shear and tensile strength of the composite joints. The shear and tensile strength of the adhesive joints increased by addition of Al₂O₃ up to 1.5 wt%, which decreased by further addition of the nanofiller. Introduction of the nanoparticles caused a reduction in the peel strength of the joints. DSC analysis revealed that the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the adhesives rose by increasing the nanofiller content. The advancing water contact angle was decreased for adhesives containing nanoparticles. SEM micrographs indicated good dispersions of the Al₂O₃ nanoparticles within the acrylic matrix in the specimens with up to 1.5 wt% Al₂O₃ and revealed that addition of nanoparticles altered the fracture morphology from smooth to rough fracture surfaces.     

A handheld mid-infrared methane sensor using a dual-step differential method for additive/multiplicative noise suppression

A miniature mid-infrared (mid-IR) methane (CH₄) sensor system was developed by employing a wide-band wire-source and a semi-ellipsoid multi-pass gas cell. A dual-step differential method instead of the traditional one-step differential method was adopted by this sensor to tune measuring range/zero point and to suppress the additive/multiplicative noise. This method included a first subtraction operation between the two output signals (including a detection signal and a reference signal) from the dual-channel detector and a second subtraction operation on the amplitudes of the first-subtraction signal and the reference signal, followed by a ratio operation between the amplitude of the second-subtraction signal and the reference signal. Detailed experiments were performed to assess the performance of the sensor system. The detection range is 0–50 k ppm, and as the concentration gets larger than 12 k ppm, the relative detection error falls into the range of −3% to +3%. The Allan deviation is about 4.65 ppm with an averaging time of 1 s, and such value can be further improved to 0.45 ppm with an averaging time of 124 s. Due to the cost-effective incandescence wire-source, the small-size ellipsoid multi-pass gas cell and the miniature structure of the sensor, the developed standalone device shows potential applications of CH₄ detection under coal-mine environment.     

Experimental and numerical study on nucleate bubble deformation in subcooled flow boiling

Experimental and numerical study was conducted to investigate the bubble behaviors in subcooled flow nucleate boiling. The bubble behaviors in subcooled flow boiling in an upward annular channel were investigated in the range of subcooling degree 5–30 K by visualization with high spatial and temporal resolutions using a high speed video camera and Cassegrain tele-microscope. Obvious deformation on the upstream side surface of the bubble during its growth process was frequently observed. This deformation phenomenon was caused by the condensation occurring at the upstream side bottom of the bubble, which results from the Marangoni flow along the bubble surface from the bubble bottom to the top. Since the Marangoni flow cannot be directly observed by the current experiments because it occurs in a very thin interface along the bubble surface, the numerical simulations of bubble growth and departure behaviors in subcooled flow boiling were carried out. As a result, it was confirmed that the bubble deformation was caused by the Marangoni flow along the bubble surface. Moreover, the phenomenon of wave propagation on the bubble surface during the condensation process was observed, and it can enhance the heat transfer between the bubble and the surrounding subcooled liquid.