Using a cross-flow microfluidic chip for monodisperse UV-photopolymerized microparticles

In this paper, we report a microfluidic chip containing a cross-junction channel for the manipulation of UV-photopolymerized microparticles. Hydrodynamic-focusing is used to form a series of using 365 nm UV light to solidify the hydrogel droplets. We were able to control the size of the hydrogel droplets from 75 to 300 μm in diameter by altering the sample and by changing the flow rate ratio of the mineral oil in the center inlet channel to that of the side inlet channels. We found that the size of the emulsions increases with an increase in average velocity of the dispersed phase flow (polymer solution flow). The size of the emulsions decreases with an average velocity increase of the continuous phase flow (mineral oil flow). Experimental data show that the emulsions are very uniform. The developed microfluidic chip has the advantages of ease of fabrication, low cost, and high throughput. The emulsions generated are very uniform and have good regularity.     

Fatigue-fracture mechanism of slowly notched poly(ethylene terephthalate) polymers

Summary Fatigue fracture behavior of slowly notched polyethylene terephathalate (PET) polymers were investigated at temperatures close to their transition temperatures up to well above their glass transition temperatures. Detailed characterization on the morphology of the notched roots showed that the crack tip during crack propagation became more dull with increasing testing temperature. The failure cycle (N_f) of these samples increased with increasing temperatures until it reached the transition temperatures of PET polymers, and most of the increase in N_f is due to the increased time consumed in the initiation period. On the other hand, the initial crack growth rate increased significantly and N_f of these samples decreased dramatically as the temperature increased well above the glass transition temperature. This interesting temperature dependence of fatigue behavior is explained due to the change of molecular motion of PET polymers at this temperature range.     

Impact properties of carbon fiber reinforced linear and short-chain branched polyethylenes

Summary An investigation of the influence of short-chain branched length on impact behavior of linear high density polyethylene (HDPE), short-chain branched polyethylenes (SBPEs) and their fiber reinforced samples is reported. The result shows that the total impact energies (E_t) increased with increasing branch length at any given temperature used in this study. Similar trend was found for their fiber reinforced samples. For a given polyethylene resin, E_t increased with fiber content up to 5%, and then decreased consistently with further increase of fiber content. The amount of E_t improved due to the presence of 5% carbon fibers increased significantly with the branch length at temperatures higher than 25°C. In addition, the fracture surface morphology indicated that the adhesion between carbon fibers and PE resins increased with the branch length. However, the adhesion and the amount of E_t improved due to the presence of 5% carbon fibers reduced significantly with decreasing temperature. Finally, it was found that E_t decreased slightly with rising temperature until the temperature reached around 40°C, and then increased sharply with increasing temperature. It is suggested that this transition behavior is related to the molecular motion accounting for the transition of PE resins.     

Compact reflection-grating-based phase conjugator in KNbO(3):Fe crystals

We present the design and the results of experimental investigations of a self-pumped phase conjugator through a reflection grating in a special-cut photorefractive KNbO(3):Fe crystal. High reflectivity, good phase-conjugate fidelity, and fast response time are obtained.     

An evaluation of the algorithms for determining local cerebral metabolic rates of glucose using positron emission tomography dynamic data

Measurement of the local cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (LCMRGlc) and the individual rate constant parameters of the [(18 )F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) model can provide a clearer understanding and insight to the physiological processes in the human brain, and a quicker and more accurate means of diagnosis in clinical applications. A systematic study using simulated and clinical tissue time activity data is presented to evaluate several existing and newly developed major algorithms used for determining LCMRGlc and the individual rate constants from positron emission tomography dynamic data. The computational and statistical properties of the autoradiographic approach, weighted and unweighted nonlinear least squares methods, Patlak graphic approach, weighted integration method, linear least squares and generalized linear least squares methods are investigated and discussed in this paper.     

Interfacial Connections between Organic Perovskite/n+ Silicon/Catalyst that Allow Integration of Solar Cell and Catalyst for Hydrogen Evolution from Water

The rapidly increasing solar conversion efficiency (PCE) of hybrid organic–inorganic perovskite (HOIP) thin-film semiconductors has triggered interest in their use for direct solar-driven water splitting to produce hydrogen. However, application of these low-cost, electronic-structure-tunable HOIP tandem photoabsorbers has been hindered by the instability of the photovoltaic-catalyst-electrolyte (PV+E) interfaces. Here, photolytic water splitting is demonstrated using an integrated configuration consisting of an HOIP/n⁺silicon single junction photoabsorber and a platinum (Pt) thin film catalyst. An extended electrochemical (EC) lifetime in alkaline media is achieved using titanium nitride on both sides of the Si support to eliminate formation of insulating silicon oxide, and as an effective diffusion barrier to allow high-temperature annealing of the catalyst/TiO₂-protected-n⁺silicon interface necessary to retard electrolytic corrosion. Halide composition is examined in the (FA_1-xCs_x)PbI₃ system with a bandgap suitable for tandem operation. A fill factor of 72.5% is achieved using a Spiro-OMeTAD-hole-transport-layer (HTL)-based HOIP/n⁺Si solar cell, and a high photocurrent density of −15.9 mA cm⁻² (at 0 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode) is attained for the HOIP/n⁺Si/Pt photocathode in 1 m NaOH under simulated 1-sun illumination. While this thin-film design creates stable interfaces, the intrinsic photo- and electro-degradation of the HOIP photoabsorber remains the main obstacle for future HOIP/Si tandem PEC devices.