Influence of tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (TBAPF6) doping level on the performance of organic light emitting diodes based on PVK:PBD blend films

The effect of doping level of tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (TBAPF₆) on the performance of single-layer organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) with ITO/PVK:PBD:TBAPF₆/Al structure were investigated where indium tin oxide (ITO) was used as anode, poly(9-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) as hole-transporting polymeric host, 2-(4-biphenylyl)-5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD) as electron-transporting molecule and aluminium (Al) as cathode. It was found that the doped devices underwent a unique transition at the first voltage scan as indicated by drastically increasing of current at certain applied voltage. After the transition, the threshold voltage for current injection as well as the turn-on voltage decreased significantly as compared to the undoped device. The current injection threshold voltage and turn-on voltage decreased with the increase of TBAPF₆ doping level. More importantly, a relatively low current injection threshold voltage of 3 V has been achieved by doping a significant amount of TBAPF₆ (weight ratio greater than five) in the single-layer OLED based on PVK:PBD blend films with high work function Al metal as cathode. The significant improvement was attributed to the reduction of both electron and hole injection energy barriers caused by accumulation of ionic species at the interface.     

Properties of Some Families of Meromorphic Multivalent Functions Associated with Generalized Hypergeometric Functions

We introduce and study two subclasses ?_([α_1])(A, B, λ) and ?_([α_1])~+ (A, B, λ) of meromorphic p-valent functions defined by certain linear operator involving the generalized hypergeometric function. The main object is to investigate the various important properties and characteristics of these subclasses of meromorphically multivalent functions. We extend the familiar concept of neighborhoods of analytic functions to these subclasses. We also derive many interesting results for the Hadamard products of functions belonging to the class ?_([α_1])~+(α, β, γ, λ).     

MHD stagnation-point flow and heat transfer towards stretching sheet with induced magnetic field

The problem of the steady magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stagnation-point flow of an incompressible viscous fluid over a stretching sheet is studied. The effect of an induced magnetic field is taken into account. The nonlinear partial differential equations are transformed into ordinary differential equations via the similarity transformation. The transformed boundary layer equations are solved numerically using the shooting method. Numerical results are obtained for various magnetic parameters and Prandtl numbers. The effects of the induced magnetic field on the skin friction coefficient, the local Nusselt number, the velocity, and the temperature profiles are presented graphically and discussed in detail.     

Mixed Convection Boundary-Layer Flow in a Porous Medium Filled with Water Close to its Maximum Density

The steady mixed convection boundary-layer flow over a vertical impermeable surface in a porous medium saturated with water close to its maximum density is considered for uniform wall temperature and outer flow. The problem can be reduced to similarity form and the resulting equations are examined in terms of a mixed convection parameter λ and a parameter δ which measures the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature at the maximum density. Both assisting (λ > 0) and opposing flows (λ < 0) are considered. A value δ₀ is found for which there are dual solutions for a range λ_c < λ < 0 of λ (the value of λ_c dependent on δ) and single solutions for all λ ≥ 0. Another value of δ₁ of δ, with δ₁ > δ₀, is found for which there are dual solutions for a range 0 < λ < λ_c of positive values of λ, with solutions for all λ≤ 0. There is also a range δ₀ <  δ < δ₁ where there are solutions only for a finite range of λ, with critical points at both positive and negative values of λ, thus putting a finite limit on the range of existence of solutions.     

Unsteady three-dimensional boundary layer flow due to a permeable shrinking sheet

The unsteady viscous flow over a continuously permeable shrinking surface is studied. Similarity equations are obtained through the application of similar transformation techniques. Numerical techniques are used to solve the similarity equations for different values of the unsteadiness parameter, the mass suction parameter, the shrinking parameter and the Prandtl number on the velocity and temperature profiles as well as the skin friction coefficient and the Nusselt number. It is found that, different from an unsteady stretching sheet, dual solutions exist in a certain range of mass suction and unsteadiness parameters.     

Mixed Convection of Water at 4°C Along a Wedge with Variable Surface Flux in a Porous Medium

In this study, the mixed convection of water at 4°C along a wedge in a porous medium is investigated numerically using finite difference method. In order to explore the effect of mixed convection, both forced and free convection-dominated regimes are considered. Non-similarity solutions are obtained for the variable wall flux boundary condition. Velocity and temperature profiles as well as local dimensionless skin friction and Nusselt number are obtained and compared with the available numerical results for various values of different parameters. The wedge angle geometry parameter m and mixed convection parameter ξ are ranged from 0 to 1 in both regimes whereas different values of λ are considered for the purpose of comparison of heat transfer results.     

Mixed convection boundary layer flow along vertical moving thin needles with variable heat flux

The problem of steady laminar mixed convection boundary layer flow of an incompressible viscous fluid along vertical moving thin needles with variable heat flux for both assisting and opposing flow cases is theoretically considered in this paper. The governing boundary layer equations are first transformed into non-dimensional forms. The curvature effects are incorporated into the analysis whereas the pressure variation in the axial direction has been neglected. These equations are then transformed into similarity equations using the similarity variables, which are solved numerically using an implicit finite-difference scheme known as the Keller-box method. The solutions are obtained for a blunt-nosed needle (m = 0). Numerical calculations are carried out for various values of the dimensionless parameters of the problem, which include the mixed convection parameter λ, the Prandtl number Pr and the parameter a representing the needle size. It is shown from the numerical results that the skin friction coefficient, the surface (wall) temperature and the velocity and temperature profiles are significantly influenced by these parameters. The results are presented in graphical form and are discussed in detail.     

A compact square-shaped left-handed passive metamaterial with optimized quintuple resonance frequencies for satellite applications

The research aims to develop a more sophisticated novel left-handed and compact square-shaped metamaterial (SM) inspired multi-frequency bands like C-, X- and Ku-band applications. Even though the performance of existing satellite application devices are adequate, significant changes in technology over the past decades require advanced and more accurate techniques or devices. Hence, we approach the problem with a broader perspective by integrating a metamaterial structure in satellite application devices. As a general rule, the unconventional material known as metamaterial has extraordinary electromagnetic properties which are impracticable in commercially available materials. It represents an important study topic because this type of peculiar material is generally used in many field applications which encouraged us to experiment with the stated frequency bands by introducing a novel SM design. The novel SM design structure involved a 1.6 mm Epoxy Resin Fibre (FR-4) substrate material. This compact metamaterial design contains nine square rings with an altered small square ring joined in it. The numerical simulation of the SM design for satellite frequencies was performed using the Computer Simulation Technology (CST) Microwave Studio. The scattering parameters of the suggested SM design were determined by utilising Finite Integration Technique (FIT) in CST software. Several parametric studies that were analysed in this study include various design structure, types of substrate materials and SM array arrangement. Based on the adapted simulated frequency range (4 to 18 GHz), the unit cell SM exhibited five resonance frequencies at 5.49 and 7.33 GHz (in C-Band), 9.05 and 11.38 GHz (in X-Band) and 13.48 GHz (in Ku-Band). The measured resonance frequencies of the unit cell were 5.62 and 7.39 GHz (in C-Band), 9.15 and 11.32 GHz (in X-Band) and 13.51 GHz (in Ku-Band). The resonance frequencies obtained from both methods were similar. According to all three resonance frequencies, the SM design manifested a left-handed characteristic. Hence, on this basis, the proposed SM design with unique characteristics is deemed suitable for C-, X- and Ku-bands applications.     

Cellulose nanofibre enabled natural rubber composites: Microstructure,curing behaviour and dynamic mechanical properties

Traditional rubber industries rely heavily on petroleum-based materials, such as carbon black (CB). The present study aims at mitigating the environmental challenges, through partial replacement of CB, while simultaneously consuming an easily accessible agricultural waste. Accordingly, cellulose nanofibre (CNF) was extracted from wheat-straw using chemo-mechanical process, which in-turn was used for fabrication of CNF enabled rubber nanocomposites. Microstructural observation of CNF confirmed nanometric defibrillation of cellulose. A variety of tests were performed on the nanocomposites towards exploring their structure-property correlations, curing-behaviour, thermal degradability and mechanical (static and dynamic) properties. Overall, considerable enhancement in properties such as tensile strength and strain energy density could be realized, owing to synergistic use of CNF and CB in rubber, allowing for replacement of up to 15 phr CB. These were further augmented by significant improvements in dynamic rolling-resistance, traction and stress-softening behaviour. The results were especially significant, considering that the improvements could be achieved without any modification of CNF surface, thereby establishing its potential for development of environment friendly rubber nanocomposites.     

Stability analysis of unsteady MHD stagnation point flow and heat transfer over a shrinking sheet in the presence of viscous dissipation

The unsteady MHD stagnation-point flow and heat transfer over a shrinking sheet was carried out. This study also was conducted in the existence of suction and viscous dissipation. In order to convert the governing partial differential equations to an ordinary differential equation, an appropriate similarity transformation was applied in this study. Then, the resulting equations are worked out by Bvp4c solver in Matlab. The impacts of the parameters involved in this study towards skin friction, Nusselt number, velocity and temperature profile are showed graphically and thoroughly discussed. Remarkably, there were dual solutions present in this study which made us continue deeper in performing the stability analysis. As expected, our study proves that the solution is stable only in the first one while not in the second solution.