Opto-electrical characterisation of In-doped SnS thin films for photovoltaic applications

[EN] Spray pyrolised SnS thin films doped with indium were studied using various optical and electrical techniques.Structural analysis shows that all films crystallise in an orthorhombic structurewith (111) as a preferential direction, without secondary phases. The doping of SnS layers with indium results in better morphology with increased grain size. Absorption measurements indicate a dominant direct transition with energy decreasing from around 1.7 eV to 1.5 eV with increased indium supply. Apart from the direct transition, an indirect one, of energy of around 1.05 eV, independent of indiumdoping, was identified. The photoluminescence study revealed two donors to acceptor transitions between two deep defect levels and one shallower one, with an energy of around 90 meV. The observed transitions did not depend significantly on In concentration. The conductivitymeasurements reveal thermal activation of conductivity with energy decreasing from around 165 meV to 145 meV with increased In content.This work was supported by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (ENE2016-77798-C4-2-R) and Generalitat Valenciana (Prometeus 2014/044).Urbaniak, A.; Pawlowski, M.; Marzantowicz, M.; Sall, T.; Marí, B. (2017). Opto-electrical characterisation of In-doped SnS thin films for photovoltaic applications. Thin Solid Films. 636:158-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2017.06.001S15816363

The influence of uncertainty and unpredictability on logistics processes

Autorzy artykułu na podstawie teoretycznych rozważań nad zjawiskiem niepewności i nieprzewidywalności w logistyce, bazując na przeglądzie stanowisk i podejść badawczych, podjęli próbę usystematyzowania semantyki w podjętym problemie oraz wskazują na obszary logistyki szczególnie podatne na niepewność i nieprzewidywalność, uwypuklając aspekt transportu morskiego. Teoretyczne rozważania nad rolą niepewności w procesie logistycznym oraz nad relacjami między pojęciami niepewności i nieprzewidywalności stanową podstawę do koncepcyjnego podejścia do możliwości pomiaru niepewności w lądowo-morskim procesie logistycznym. Ten sposób ujęcia problemu pozwala na realizację podstawowego celu artykułu, którym jest wyznaczenie miejsca dla sytuacji niepewności w logistyce na płaszczyźnie efektywności wykorzystania czasu i związku z tym wydajności procesów logistycznych.The authors of the article on the basis of theoretical considerations on the phenomenon of uncertainty and unpredictability in logistics, based on a review of positions and research approaches, lead to attempts to systematize semantics in the taken problem and indicate the areas of logistics susceptible particularly to uncertainty and unpredictability. Theoretical considerations on the role of uncertainty in the logistics process and the relation between the concepts of uncertainty and unpredictability constitute the basis for a conceptual approach to the possibility of uncertainty’s measurement in the logistics process. The way of recognizing the problem realizes elementary aim of the article, which is to designate space for uncertainty in logistics at the area of efficiency of time and therefore productivity of logistics processes

Supply chain responses to global disruptions and its ripple effects: an institutional complexity perspective

The recent disruption of global supply chains and its ripple effects has led to multiple new, often conflicting, demands from governments, businesses, and society for more resilient supply chains, thereby elevating the debate about supply chains to a broader institutional level. As a response, this article aims to broaden how supply chain scholars view decision-making for supply chain resilience from an institutional perspective – in particular, using the construct of institutional complexity. We argue that the inherent complexity in supply chains, consisting of multiple organizations and multiple institutional environments, represents a different playing field and results in different responses, in particular when confronted with disruptions. We provide a systematic and structured understanding of how the interactions of institutional logics, influenced by field-levels structures and processes, impact global supply chains and its constituents. Using existing literature on institutional complexity and works on the effects of institutional logics, we present not only field-level structures and attributes influencing and shaping institutional logics in the supply chain, but also discuss and contrast existing theories and concepts by highlighting the differences between supply chain and organizational responses both on an institutional and an overarching operational level

Wsparcie logistyczne akcji ratunkowej w aspekcie minimalizacji śladu ekologicznego jako wymogu środowiskowego zrównoważonego rozwoju na przykładzie katastrofy naturalnej

Background: The aim of the considerations is to present the concept of the ecological footprint of logistic support for a rescue operation on the example of a natural disaster. Increasing pressure of environmental requirements placed on all logistic activities, including logistic support, justifies the attention drawn to the subject. Methods: Selecting a natural disaster - as a reference for the concept of the ecological footprint - constitutes an attempt to draw attention to the fact that logistic support for a rescue operation in the case of a natural disaster - apart from an unquestionably positive role - also negatively affects the environment, which should be exposed, and this will be manifested by creation of measuring and analysing instruments necessary within undertaken activities aimed at minimalization of the negative impact of logistic support on the environment. The ecological footprint can be considered to be such an instrument. Results: Based on the general formula of the ecological footprint and its methodology presented in "Working Guidebook to the National Footprint Accounts 2014", a formula of the ecological footprint of logistic support for a rescue operation on the example of a natural disaster was created. Conclusions: The assumptions of the concept of the ecological footprint of logistic support for a rescue operation on the example of a natural disaster were based on the assumptions of logistic support for a rescue operation and on the assumptions of the resource concept and external costs of logistic support for a rescue operation on the example of a natural disaster.Wstęp: Celem rozważań jest przedstawienie koncepcji śladu ekologicznego wsparcia logistycznego akcji ratunkowej na przykładzie katastrofy naturalnej. Coraz większa presja wymogów środowiskowych wywierana na wszelką działalność logistyczną, w tym również tą, w formie wsparcia logistycznego, uzasadnienia atencję dla podjętej problematyki. Metody: Wybór katastrofy naturalnej - jako płaszczyzny odniesienia koncepcji śladu ekologicznego - jest z kolei próbą zwrócenia uwagi, że wsparcie logistyczne akcji ratunkowej w sytuacji katastrofy naturalnej, oprócz bezsprzecznie pozytywnej roli, również oddziałuje negatywnie na środowisko, które należy eksponować, czego przejawem będzie tworzenie instrumentów pomiaru i analizy, niezbędnych przy podejmowaniu działań, mających na celu minimalizację negatywnego oddziaływania wsparcia logistycznego na środowisko. Ślad ekologiczny można uznać za taki instrument. Wyniki: W oparciu o ogólną formułę śladu ekologicznego oraz jej metodykę przedstawioną w "Working Guidebook to the National Footprint Accounts 2014", utworzono formułę śladu ekologicznego wsparcia logistycznego akcji ratunkowej na przykładzie katastrofy naturalnej. Wnioski: Założenia koncepcji śladu ekologicznego wsparcia logistycznego akcji ratunkowej na przykładzie katastrofy naturalnej oparto na założeniach wsparcia logistycznego akcji ratunkowej oraz na założeniach koncepcji zasobowej i kosztów zewnętrznych wsparcia logistycznego akcji ratunkowej na przykładzie katastrofy naturalnej

Study of the effect of V-doping on the opto-electrical properties of spray-pyrolized SnS thin films

[EN] SnS is an earth-abundant material that is a potentially suitable candidate for the absorber layer in solar cells. Here spray-pyrolized SnS thin films doped with vanadium were studied using structural and opto-electrical methods. The thin films have an orthorhombic structure with a preferential (111) crystallographic direction. SnS has an indirect bandgap of around 1.05 eV, whereas doping with vanadium changes the band edge and shifts the absorption threshold to around 1.2 eV. The photoluminescence study revealed a broad peak related to the band-to-band transition of energy at around 1.2 eV and an additional sharp peak positioned at 1.17 eV related to vanadium. Additionally, a non-radiative recombination mechanism followed by hopping through band fluctuation barriers has been proposed for photoluminescence quenching at increased temperatures. The conductivity measurements reveal that conductivity weakly increases with V-doping, whereas its activation energy decreases from around 0.38 eV to 0.35 eV.This work was supported by the Minister den Economic y Competitividad (ENE2016-77798-C4-2-R) and Generalitat Valencia (Prometeus 2014/044).Urbaniak, A.; Pawlowski, M.; Marzantowicz, M.; Marí, B.; Sall, T. (2018). Study of the effect of V-doping on the opto-electrical properties of spray-pyrolized SnS thin films. Thin Solid Films. 664:60-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2018.08.032S606566

Polymorphism in LiN(CF<inf>3</inf>SO<inf>2</inf>)<inf>2</inf>

© 2018 Elsevier B.V. The structural, thermodynamic and electrical properties of lithium bis(trifluoromethylosulfone)imide, LiTFSI, are presented. The results obtained by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction indicate that at temperatures below the melting point, the salt exhibits three different crystalline structures, denoted as α β and γ existing at low, intermediate and high temperatures, respectively. While the occurrence of a polymorphic transition between the β and γ phases has been noted previously, the existence of the low temperature α-phase is reported for the first time. The phase behaviour is complex, with slow kinetics of the γ → β transition allowing for super cooling of the γ-phase, where it exhibits a glass-like transition at intermediate temperatures and a phase transition to the α-phase at around −100 °C. There is no α ↔ β transition observed in this system and on heating the α-phase transforms directly to the γ-phase. Electrical characterization by impedance spectroscopy shows that the ionic conductivity of the γ-phase is higher than that of the room temperature stable β-phase. Supercooling of the γ-phase could be important for development of concentrated “polymer in salt” systems, in which the electrical properties of the electrolyte are determined by processes which occur in clusters of the salt

MCM-41 silica effect on gel polymer electrolytes based on thermoplastic polyurethane

Polymer electrolytes were prepared from thermoplastic polyurethane with addition of mixture of Nethyl( methylether)-N-methylpyrrolidinium trifluoromethanesulfonimide (PYRA12O1TFSI) ionic liquid, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfoneimide) salt and propylene carbonate. MCM-41 mesoporous silica was added in proportions ranging from 5 to 20 wt.% with respect to TPU. The electrolytes were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, linear voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. The MCM-41 addition to the system was found to improve the electrochemical stability of the membranes and to reduce the gel electrolyte/metallic Li interfacial resistance. The filler influence on the ion transport processes was discussed according to results obtained by equivalent circuit fitting of impedance spectra