Enhanced voltage generation through electrolyte flow on liquid-filled surfaces.

The generation of electrical voltage through the flow of an electrolyte over a charged surface may be used for energy transduction. Here, we show that enhanced electrical potential differences (i.e., streaming potential) may be obtained through the flow of salt water on liquid-filled surfaces that are infiltrated with a lower dielectric constant liquid, such as oil, to harness electrolyte slip and associated surface charge. A record-high figure of merit, in terms of the voltage generated per unit applied pressure, of 0.043 mV Pa-1 is obtained through the use of the liquid-filled surfaces. In comparison with air-filled surfaces, the figure of merit associated with the liquid-filled surface increases by a factor of 1.4. These results lay the basis for innovative surface charge engineering methodology for the study of electrokinetic phenomena at the microscale, with possible application in new electrical power sources

Anisotropic Wetting Property of Superhydrophobic Surfaces and Electrokinetic Flow on Liquid-Filled Surfaces

Understanding the wetting property of rough surface is critical in guiding droplets and novel superhydrophobic surface design. The Cassie-Baxter model and Wenzel model are always used to describe the totally non-wetting and completely wetting states, however, there were few discussions about the intermediate state. Through measuring the contact angles of groove patterned surfaces in different groove orientations, the anisotropic wetting properties of groove patterned superhydrophobic surface were investigated. The degree of water penetration into the grooves was experimentally observed and it was found that the degree of water penetration was different with groove orientations, which would affect the corresponding contact angle. Besides guiding droplets, superhydrophobic surfaces are also very important in microfluidic due to their ability to generate fluid slip and flow enhancement. After a deeper understanding of the wetting property of groove patterned superhydrophobic surface, I further investigated its important role in microfluidics. In this dissertation, I mainly focus on electrokinetics on groove patterned surface and liquid-filled slippery surfaces, a new kind of surface by filling low surface tension oil into the interstices of groove patterned surfaces. I experimentally measured the streaming potential on flat parylene surface, air-filled groove patterned surface and liquid-filled surfaces and compared their effects in streaming potential enhancement. The liquid-filled surfaces were shown to be able to enhance the generated streaming potential due to its slippery property and liquid-oil interface charges. As the electrokinetic on liquid-filled surfaces is a new phenomenon, the underlying physics is still not clear. I further investigated the influences of filled oil properties and groove orientation on streaming potentials and fluid slip. Oils with different densities, viscosities, dielectric constant, conductivities and surface tensions were filled into the interstices of groove patterned surfaces to make different types of liquid-filled surfaces. The streaming potentials on liquid-filled surfaces with different oils were experimentally measured. An empirical relationship between streaming potential and oil properties was found and the effects of electrical properties, such as interface charge density and dielectric constant of filled oil, on fluid slip were also studied. Finally, the groove orientation was varied to study the tensorial effects on streaming potential. Through both streaming potential measurement and theoretical analysis, it was found that the streaming potential at 45° was always smaller than the arithmetic mean of those at 0° and 90°, and the pressure gradient in the transvers direction generated by tensorial effects was important in the streaming potential modification. My work will be important in guiding droplets, flow patterning, lab-on-chip devices and the development of electrokientic based power sources

Seebeck Effect in Magnetic Tunnel Junctions

Creating temperature gradients in magnetic nanostructures has resulted in a new research direction, i.e., the combination of magneto- and thermoelectric effects. Here, we demonstrate the observation of one important effect of this class: the magneto-Seebeck effect. It is observed when a magnetic configuration changes the charge based Seebeck coefficient. In particular, the Seebeck coefficient changes during the transition from a parallel to an antiparallel magnetic configuration in a tunnel junction. In that respect, it is the analog to the tunneling magnetoresistance. The Seebeck coefficients in parallel and antiparallel configuration are in the order of the voltages known from the charge-Seebeck effect. The size and sign of the effect can be controlled by the composition of the electrodes' atomic layers adjacent to the barrier and the temperature. Experimentally, we realized 8.8 % magneto-Seebeck effect, which results from a voltage change of about -8.7 {\mu}V/K from the antiparallel to the parallel direction close to the predicted value of -12.1 {\mu}V/K.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures, 2 table

Photochromic spiropyran monolithic polymers: Molecular photo-controllable electroosmotic pumps for micro-fluidic devices

A novel photo-controllable micro-fluidic electroosmotic pump based on spiropyran monolithic polymers is presented here for the first time. Photochromic monolithic scaffolds have been synthesised within poly(tetrafluoroethylene) coated fused silica capillaries. These monoliths have a photochromic spiropyran monomer incorporated in the bulk by thermally induced copolymerisation with a cross-linking agent (divinylbenzene) and were encased in micro-fluidic devices to function as photo-controllable electroosmotic pumps (EOPs). Due to the presence of the spiropyran the monolith can exist in two forms: a zwitterionic merocyanine (MC) form and an uncharged spiropyran (SP). As both forms bare a net overall zero charge, an acidic electrolyte was used to produce a stable anodic electroosmotic flow (EOF), while still retaining the ability to switch between the SP and the MC forms, which exhibit different charge distributions. It was confirmed that visible light, which produces the SP form, caused an increase in EOF while UV light, which generates the MC form, caused a decrease in EOF. In this way the EOF from the chip was modified by light and not by changing the electric field, temperature or buffer pH, some of the more common methods of altering the EOF

A Highly Integrated Gate Driver with 100% Duty Cycle Capability and High Output Current Drive for Wide-Bandgap Power Switches in Extreme Environments

High-temperature integrated circuits fill a need in applications where there are obvious benefits to reduced thermal management or where circuitry is placed away from temperature extremes. Examples of these applications include aerospace, automotive, power generation, and well-logging. This work focuses on the automotive applications, in which the growing demand for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) has increased the need for high-temperature electronics that can operate at the extreme ambient temperatures that exist under the hood, which can be in excess of 150°C. Silicon carbide (SiC) and other wide-bandgap power switches that can function at these temperature extremes are now entering the market. To take full advantage of their potential, high-temperature capable circuits that can also operate in these environments are required. This work presents a high-temperature, high-voltage, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) based gate driver designed for SiC and other wide-bandgap power switches for DC-DC converters and traction drives in HEVs. This highly integrated gate driver integrated circuit (IC) has been designed to operate at ambient temperatures up to 200ºC, have a high on-chip drive current, require a minimum complement of off-chip components, and be capable of operating at a 100% high-side duty cycle. Successful operation of the gate driver circuit across temperature with minimal or no thermal management will help to achieve higher power-to-weight and power-to-volume ratios for the power electronics modules in HEVs and, therefore, higher efficiency

Design and development of auxiliary components for a new two-stroke, stratified-charge, lean-burn gasoline engine

A unique stepped-piston engine was developed by a group of research engineers at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), from 2003 to 2005. The development work undertaken by them engulfs design, prototyping and evaluation over a predetermined period of time which was iterative and challenging in nature. The main objective of the program is to demonstrate local R&D capabilities on small engine work that is able to produce mobile powerhouse of comparable output, having low-fuel consumption and acceptable emission than its crankcase counterpart of similar displacement. A two-stroke engine work was selected as it posses a number of technological challenges, increase in its thermal efficiency, which upon successful undertakings will be useful in assisting the group in future powertrain undertakings in UTM. In its carbureted version, the single-cylinder aircooled engine incorporates a three-port transfer system and a dedicated crankcase breather. These features will enable the prototype to have high induction efficiency and to behave very much a two-stroke engine but equipped with a four-stroke crankcase lubrication system. After a series of analytical work the engine was subjected to a series of laboratory trials. It was also tested on a small watercraft platform with promising indication of its flexibility of use as a prime mover in mobile platform. In an effort to further enhance its technology features, the researchers have also embarked on the development of an add-on auxiliary system. The system comprises of an engine control unit (ECU), a directinjector unit, a dedicated lubricant dispenser unit and an embedded common rail fuel unit. This support system was incorporated onto the engine to demonstrate the finer points of environmental-friendly and fuel economy features. The outcome of this complete package is described in the report, covering the methodology and the final characteristics of the mobile power plant