Particulate counter electrode system for enhanced light harvesting in dye-sensitized solar cells

A particulate counter electrode with photo scattering and redox catalytic properties is applied to dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) in order to improve photo conversion efficiency and simplify the assembly process. Our particulate counter electrode acts as both a photo reflecting layer and a catalyst for reduction of electrolyte. The reflective and catalytic properties of the electrode are investigated through optical and electrochemical analysis, respectively. A short circuit current density enhancement is observed in the DSSCs without the need to add an additional reflecting layer to the electrode. This leads to a simplified assembly process. (C) 2013 Optical Society of Americ

Location Tracking of Moving Crew Members for Effective Damage Control in an Emergency

In an emergency, the commanding officer may have limited information, and crew members may behave differently compared to how they behaved during training. In an emergency situation, if the commanding officer is aware of each crew member's location and role in that situation, he can disseminate orders expeditiously and precisely. To realise a faster and more precise dissemination of orders through better awareness of each crew member's location and role, real-time crew member tracking is needed. The technical feasibility of a real time crew-tracking system based on a wireless sensor network has been studied, with the intent to improve effective commanding in an emergency. Herein, location tracking was achieved using instrumentation consisting of ZigBee tags, routers, and gateways, which were used to record the location and role data of moving crew members on a full-scale ship.Defence Science Journal, 2011, 61(1), pp.57-61, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.61.50

A Study on Thermal Modeling and Heat Load Mitigation for Satellite Electronic Components

Since most of the satellite components are using various EEE (Electrical, Electronic and Electromechanical) parts, the reliability of EEE parts acts very important in the satellite system. There are many factors that influence the reliability of EEE parts in the satellite system. Excessively dissipated heat can cause the failure of EEE parts and consequently, leading to a failure of total satellite system. In this paper, the thermal modeling using nodal network was compared with that using plate modeling to find out which one is the most suitable methodology. For a comparison, KOMPSAT- 1 SAR was modeled by two different modeling and the result was discussed. There was almost no difference in the numerical results between the two modeling methods. However, while it took much more time to perform thermal analysis using the nodal network modeling method, and the debugging was more difficult in the plate modeling method when the error is occurred. The computation time was considerably reduced by developing and implementing the input file format transfer code when using nodal network modeling method. It was found that the nodal network modeling method is suitable for the complicated components, such as SAR or transponder, because of its simple debugging ability. Excessive heat load was expected on some EEE parts of SAR such as high heat-dissipated diodes, transistors, and inductors due to increased power requirements of KOMPSAT-2 satellite system. The methods for the mitigation of heat load were studied through the design change of housing or the layout change of high power parts

Methods for Making an Electroactive Device Fabricated with a Nanotube Film Electrode

Disclosed is a single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) film electrode (FE), all-organic electroactive device systems fabricated with the SWNT-FE, and methods for making same. The SWCNT can be replaced by other types of nanotubes. The SWCNT film can be obtained by filtering SWCNT solution onto the surface of an anodized alumina membrane. A freestanding flexible SWCNT film can be collected by breaking up this brittle membrane. The conductivity of this SWCNT film can advantageously be higher than 280 S/cm. An electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator layered with the SWNT-FE shows a higher electric field-induced strain than an EAP layered with metal electrodes because the flexible SWNT-FE relieves the restraint of the displacement of the polymeric active layer as compared to the metal electrode. In addition, if thin enough, the SWNT-FE is transparent in the visible light range, thus making it suitable for use in actuators used in optical devices