Measurement of effective piezoelectric coefficients of PZT thin films for energy harvesting application with interdigitated electrodes

Interdigitated electrode (IDE) systems with lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin films play an increasingly important role for two reasons: first, such a configuration generates higher voltages than parallel plate capacitor-type electrode (PPE) structures, and second, the application of an electric field leads to a compressive stress component in addition to the overall stress state, unlike a PPE structure, which results in tensile stress component. Because ceramics tend to crack at relatively moderate tensile stresses, this means that IDEs have a lower risk of cracking than PPEs. For these reasons, IDE systems are ideal for energy harvesting of vibration energy, and for actuators. Systematic investigations of PZT films with IDE systems have not yet been undertaken. In this work, we present results on the evaluation of the in-plane piezoelectric coefficients with IDE systems. Additionally, we also propose a simple and measurable figure of merit (FOM) to analyze and evaluate the relevant piezoelectric parameter for harvesting efficiency without the need to fabricate the energy harvesting device. Idealized effective coefficients e(IDE) and h(IDE) are derived, showing its composite nature with about one-third contribution of the transverse effect, and about two-thirds contribution of the longitudinal effect in the case of a PZT film deposited on a (100)-oriented silicon wafer with the in-plane electric field along one of the <011> Si directions. Randomly oriented 1-μm-thick PZT 53/47 film deposited by a sol-gel technique, was evaluated and yielded an effective coefficient e(IDE) of 15 C???m(???2). Our FOM is the product between effective e and h coefficient representing twice the electrical energy density stored in the piezoelectric film per unit strain deformation (both for IDE and PPE systems). Assuming homogeneous fields between the fingers, and neglecting the contribution from below the electrode fingers, the FOM for IDE structures with larger electrode gap is derived to be twice as large as for PPE structures, for PZT-5H properties. The experiments yielded an FOM of the IDE structures of 1.25 × 10(10) J/m(3) and 14 mV/μ strain.     

Controlled release of drugs from gradient hydrogels for high-throughput analysis of cell-drug interactions

In this paper, we report a method to fabricate microengineered hydrogels that contain a concentration gradient of a drug for high-throughput analysis of cell-drug interactions. A microfluidic gradient generator was used to create a concentration gradient of okadaic acid (OA) as a model drug within poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate hydrogels. These hydrogels were then incubated with MC3T3-E1 cell seeded glass slides to investigate the cell viability through the spatially controlled release of OA. The drug was released from the hydrogel in a gradient manner and induced a gradient of the cell viability. The drug concentration gradient containing hydrogels developed in this study have the potential to be used for drug discovery and diagnostics applications due to their ability to simultaneously test the effects of different concentrations of various chemicals.     

Effect of Blend Ratio, Loop Length, and Yarn Linear Density on Thermal Comfort Properties of Single Jersey Knitted Fabrics

The effect of the linear density, loop length, and blend proportion on thermal comfort properties (air permeability, thermal conductivity, thermal resistance, and water-vapor permeability) have been studied. Cotton, bamboo fiber, and blends of the two fibers (100 % cotton, 50:50 % bamboo/cotton, 100 % bamboo) were spun into yarns of linear densities ( $20^{\mathrm{s}},\; 25^{\mathrm{s}},\; 30^{\mathrm{s}}$ Ne). Each of the yarns so produced was converted to single jersey knitted fabrics with three loop lengths. The thermal conductivity of the fabrics was generally found to decrease with an increase in the proportion of bamboo fiber. The water-vapor permeability and air permeability of the fabrics were observed to increase with an increase in bamboo fiber content. An increasing presence of bamboo fiber in the fabric causes a reduction in the fabric thickness and mass per unit area for all linear densities of yarn. As the constituent yarn gets finer, both the fabric air and water-vapor permeability increase while the thermal conductivity decreases.     

Silver nanoparticle/r-graphene oxide deposited mesoporous-manganese oxide nanocomposite for pollutant removal and supercapacitor applications

Mesoporous manganese oxide was prepared by a non-ionic surfactant route using Triton X-100, followed by Ag nanoparticle (NP) and graphene oxide incorporation by an ultra-sonication-assisted process. Fine Ag NPs were incorporated into the tubular texture of mesoporous manganese oxide. The crystalline phase, particle size, and morphology of the prepared materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Barrett–Joyner–Halenda–Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis, scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The XRD results confirmed the formation of the Mn₂O₃ phase for the as-prepared mesoporous manganese oxide and its nanocomposite. Very fine Ag NPs (<5–10 nm) were obtained. The mesoporous MnO₂ and graphene-incorporated Ag NPs/meso-MnO₂ had a tubular structure and “flaky pastry”-type morphology for the synthesized nanocomposites. HR-TEM images further confirmed the beautiful structural formation upon graphene addition and spherical/dot-shaped NP incorporation into the matrix of MnO₂. Improved surface area was obtained for the Ag NPs and graphene-incorporated mesoporous MnO₂ as compared to bulk MnO₂. The Cr(VI) removal analysis was performed using a batch technique, and enhanced removal of Cr(VI) was achieved (>98% removal of Cr(VI) within 1–2 h of reaction time) for Ag NP-incorporated mesoporous MnO₂. Efficient activity was observed because of the fine Ag NPs present in mesoporous manganese oxide, as opposed to the case of graphene oxide-doped meso-MnO₂ and pristine mesoporous meso-MnO₂.     

Microfluidic devices harboring unsealed reactors for real-time isothermal helicase-dependent amplification

High-throughput microchip devices used for nucleic-acid amplification require sealed reactors. This is to prevent evaporative loss of the amplification mixture and cross-contamination, which may occur among fluidically connected reactors. In most high-throughput nucleic-acid amplification devices, reactor sealing is achieved by microvalves. Additionally, these devices require micropumps to distribute amplification mixture into an array of reactors, thereby increasing the device cost, and adding complexity to the chip fabrication and operation processes. To overcome these limitations, we report microfluidic devices harboring open (unsealed) reactors in conjunction with a single-step capillary based flow scheme for sequential distribution of amplification mixture into an array of reactors. Concern about evaporative loss in unsealed reactors have been addressed by optimized reactor design, smooth internal reactor surfaces, and incorporation of a localized heating scheme for the reactors, in which isothermal, real-time helicase-dependent amplification (HDA) was performed.     

Effect of black tea on histological and immunohistochemical changes in pancreatic tissues of normal and streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice (Mus musculus)

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of hot water extract of black tea in regenerating β cells in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice. Light microscopic examination of pancreatic sections of streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice showed the acinar cells to be small, shrunken, and with deteriorated β cells. The dose of streptozotocin not only altered the function of β cells but also damaged the acinar region. The changes in acinar cells were coarsening of endoplasmic reticulation suggesting alteration in their secretory function. The control pancreatic tissue showed well‐defined granulated islets and dark β cells when stained with chrome hematoxylin and phloxine. Interestingly, pancreatic sections of diabetic mice fed with black‐tea extract showed regeneration of β cells and acinar region appeared normal with increased numbers of β cells. To understand the probable mechanism of action of black‐tea extract, we analyzed inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression by immunohistochemistry and the results showed an increased iNOS levels in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic pancreas, and such high iNOS levels were inhibited in black‐tea extract treated mice. According to histological results obtained, it can be concluded that the black‐tea extract helps in regeneration of damaged pancreas and protects pancreatic β cells by its antioxidant action against nitrosative stress in streptozotocin‐induced diabetes. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.