Intermixing at the InxSy/Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 Heterojunction and Its Impact on the Chemical and Electronic Interface Structure

We report on the chemical and electronic structure of the interface between a thermally co-evaporated InxSy buffer and a Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) absorber for thin-film solar cells. To date, such cells have achieved energy conversion efficiencies up to 8.6%. Using surface-sensitive X-ray and UV photoelectron spectroscopy, combined with inverse photoemission and bulk-sensitive soft X-ray emission spectroscopy, we find a complex character of the buffer layer. It includes oxygen, as well as selenium and copper that diffused from the absorber into the InxSy buffer, exhibits an electronic band gap of 2.50 ± 0.18 eV at the surface, and leads to a small cliff in the conduction band alignment at the InxSy/CZTSSe interface. After an efficiency-increasing annealing step at 180 °C in nitrogen atmosphere, additional selenium diffusion leads to a reduced band gap at the buffer layer surface (2.28 ± 0.18 eV)

Modelling and Experimental Study of Dissimilar Arc Stud Welding of AISI 304L to AISI 316L Stainless Steel

This paper has aimed to try and establish a successful weld joint between AISI 304L stainless steel as a stud and AISI 316L stainless steel as a plate by using an arc stud welding process. The effect of different current and time welding on the torque results was experimentally studied, by using three-level of each process parameter. The post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) was carried out on the optimum sample of torque, to study the effect of PWHT on mechanical properties (torque and hardness) and microstructure of the welding zone. In the present work, A 3-D finite element model was developed by using ANSYS software version 18 to analyze the influence of time and current welding on the temperature distribution and residual stresses of the resultant welded joints. A transient thermal model was built to predict the temperature distribution whereas the residual stresses were determined by using a static structural model. The PWHT has been used to reduce the amount of residual stresses and enhance the mechanical properties of the welded joint. The micro-hardness based on the Vickers test and the microstructure of welded specimens with and without PWHT have been investigated. The simulation results reveal that the generated temperature and the residual stress is strongly affected by the time and current welding. The mechanical test results indicated that the PWHT prompted an improvement in the hardness values

Modelling and Experimental Study of Dissimilar Arc Stud Welding of AISI 304L to AISI 316L Stainless Steel

This paper has aimed to try and establish a successful weld joint between AISI 304L stainless steel as a stud and AISI 316L stainless steel as a plate by using an arc stud welding process. The effect of different current and time welding on the torque results was experimentally studied, by using three-level of each process parameter. The post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) was carried out on the optimum sample of torque, to study the effect of PWHT on mechanical properties (torque and hardness) and microstructure of the welding zone. In the present work, A 3-D finite element model was developed by using ANSYS software version 18 to analyze the influence of time and current welding on the temperature distribution and residual stresses of the resultant welded joints. A transient thermal model was built to predict the temperature distribution whereas the residual stresses were determined by using a static structural model. The PWHT has been used to reduce the amount of residual stresses and enhance the mechanical properties of the welded joint. The micro-hardness based on the Vickers test and the microstructure of welded specimens with and without PWHT have been investigated. The simulation results reveal that the generated temperature and the residual stress is strongly affected by the time and current welding. The mechanical test results indicated that the PWHT prompted an improvement in the hardness values

A sub-regional outlook of renewable energy potential: the case of Jordan, Syria and Lebanon

This paper addresses the current status and the potentials of renewable energy applications in the selected Middle East countries; Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. The energy and environmental situations within these primary target areas reflect many similarities and share serious common problems. These include an almost total dependence on imported oil products as the primary energy source, rapidly growing populations that are escalating the demand for energy, and only rudimentary efforts currently underway to mitigate the greenhouse and other adverse environmental effects of energy utilization. Lebanon is highly urbanized compared to Syria and Jordan with much smaller area and has not been fully engaged in pilot projects for use of renewable energy. Applications of solar energy in that region have been growing since 1970. Solar water heating with support of policies in Jordan has achieved measurable market penetration. Lebanon and Syria have not made reasonable progress in solar applications due to subsidized electricity supply to the end user. The technical and economic feasibility of wind energy utilization in Lebanon has not been yet fully explored, while it has advanced with two operating wind farms in Jordan, and one pilot wind farm in Syria. Similarly, the transfer of biomass technology has been successful in Jordan while it remains at the assessment level in Lebanon and Syria coupled with small pilot projects

Restructuring of amygdala subregion apportion across adolescence

Total amygdala volumes develop in association with sex and puberty, and postmortem studies find neuronal numbers increase in a nuclei specific fashion across development. Thus, amygdala subregions and composition may evolve with age. Our goal was to examine if amygdala subregion absolute volumes and/or relative proportion varies as a function of age, sex, or puberty in a large sample of typically developing adolescents (N = 408, 43 % female, 10–17 years). Utilizing the in vivo CIT168 atlas, we quantified 9 subregions and implemented Generalized Additive Mixed Models to capture potential non-linear associations with age and pubertal status between sexes. Only males showed significant age associations with the basolateral ventral and paralaminar subdivision (BLVPL), central nucleus (CEN), and amygdala transition area (ATA). Again, only males showed relative differences in the proportion of the BLVPL, CEN, ATA, along with lateral (LA) and amygdalostriatal transition area (ASTA), with age. Using a best-fit modeling approach, age, and not puberty, was found to drive these associations. The results suggest that amygdala subregions show unique variations with age in males across adolescence. Future research is warranted to determine if our findings may contribute to sex differences in mental health that emerge across adolescence

Investigation of enhanced double weight code in point to point access networks

© 2020 Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd. In this paper, an investigation and evaluation to enhanced double weight (EDW) code is performed, a new technique for code structuring and building using modified arithmetical model has been given for the code in place of employing previous technique based on Trial Inspections. Innovative design has been employed for the code into P2P networks using diverse weighted EDW code to be fitting into optical CDMA relevance applications. A new developed relation for EDW code is presented, the relation is based on studying and experimenting the effect of input transmission power with code weight, and the relation developed using numerical analysis method. This relation makes the estimation for the system input power needed more efficient. The results of the code has been explained by eye diagram and parametric illustrations from the simulated results. The result shows a magnificent performance of the code during high number of users and weight. On the other hand, the relation developed for power measurement helps to prevent power loss and consumption

Investigation the nonlinear optical properties of silver nanoparticles using femtosecond laser

© 2020 Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd. In this research, the fabrication of silver nanoparticles and experimental nonlinear response (NLO). The fabrication of the silver nanoparticles has been done using E-Beam evaporation on a glass substrate (Ag-NPs) and investigation of their nonlinear optical response (NLO). The silver nanoparticles was evaluated by optical spectrum (UV-Vis) that shows localized surface Plasmon band at 375 nm. The experiment shows the nonlinear absorption and nonlinear refraction effect of silver nanoparticles, the silver nanoparticles is analysed by Z-Scan technique using a femtoseconds laser with 800 nm wavelength. The result shows the nonlinear absorption (NLA) is at 4.8710-4cmW-1, while (NLR) is at 7.9410-9cmW-1

Genetic folding for solving multiclass SVM problems

Genetic Folding (GF) algorithm is a new class of evolutionary algorithms specialized for complicated computer problems. GF algorithm uses a linear sequence of numbers of genes structurally organized in integer numbers, separated with dots. The encoded chromosomes in the population are evaluated using a fitness function. The fittest chromosome survives and is subjected to modification by genetic operators. The creation of these encoded chromosomes, with the fitness functions and the genetic operators, allows the algorithm to perform with high efficiency in the genetic folding life cycle. Multi-classification problems have been chosen to illustrate the power and versatility of GF. In classification problems, the kernel function is important to construct binary and multi classifier for support vector machines. Different types of standard kernel functions have been compared with our proposed algorithm. Promising results have been shown in comparison to other published works

Quality Management Initiatives in Europe: an Empirical Analysis according to Their Structural Elements

"This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Total Quality Management and Business Excellence on 10 June 2010, available online: http://wwww.tandfonline.com/10.1080/14783363.2010.483064."In recent years, managers have opted for implementing Quality Management in their firms. The market offers different alternatives for QM implementation, such as EFQM model, ISO standards, Malcolm Baldrige or the recent Six Sigma methodology. Implementation difficulty of each initiative varies from case to case. This article designs a criterion for choosing among four alternatives (Quality Control, EFQM, Six Sigma and ISO 9000), according to the degree of development required for the elements that structure the alternatives. To do so, using an ANOVA analysis and mean comparison T-tests, it analyses 234 organizations in Europe that have implemented the four alternatives mentioned and observes the degree of development of nine of the elements that compose them. From the research, one can conclude that Quality Control is the simplest initiative, followed by ISO 9000 and, finally, the EFQM model and Six Sigma methodology