Fabrication of CZTSe/CIGS Nanowire Arrays by One-Step Electrodeposition for Solar-Cell Application

The paper reports some preliminary results concerning the manufacturing process of CuZnSnSe (CZTSe) and CuInGaSe (CIGS) nanowire arrays obtained by one-step electrodeposition for p-n junction fabrication. CZTSe nanowires were obtained through electrodeposition in a polycarbonate membrane by applying a rectangular pulsed current, while their morphology was optimized by appropriately setting the potential and the electrolyte composition. The electrochemical parameters, including pH and composition of the solution, were optimized to obtain a mechanically stable array of nanowires. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and energy-dispersion spectroscopy. The nanostructures obtained showed a cylindrical shape with an average diameter of about 230 nm and a length of about 3 m, and were interconnected due to the morphology of the polycarbonate membrane. To create the p-n junctions, first a thin film of CZTSe was electrodeposited to avoid direct contact between the ZnS and Mo. Subsequently, an annealing process was carried out at 500 °C in a S atmosphere for 40 min. The ZnS was obtained by chemical bath deposition at 95 °C for 90 min. Finally, to complete the cell, ZnO and ZnO:Al layers were deposited by magnetron-sputtering

Charge Transfer Properties Through Graphene Layers in Gas Detectors

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice with remarkable mechanical, electrical and optical properties. For the first time graphene layers suspended on copper meshes were installed into a gas detector equipped with a gaseous electron multiplier. Measurements of low energy electron and ion transfer through graphene were conducted. In this paper we describe the sample preparation for suspended graphene layers, the testing procedures and we discuss the preliminary results followed by a prospect of further applications.Comment: 2014 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference with the 21st Symposium on Room-Temperature Semiconductor X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Detectors, 4 pages, 8 figure

Behavior of a forest of NiFe nanowires in KOH and NaCl solution for water electrolysis

The present work investigates the behavior of nanostructured electrodes consisting of an array of nanowires of NiFe alloy in KOH + 0.5 M NaCl solution. The aim is to explore the possibility of using these electrodes for hydrogen production by seawater electrolysis. Seawater splitting requires a highly selective electrode on the anode side, where the evolution of molecular chlorine or the formation of other active chlorine compounds can compete with the oxygen evolution reaction. Nanostructured electrodes, obtained by template electrosynthesis, were tested at room temperature in KOH + 0.5 M NaCl solution, and the results were compared with those obtained in pure KOH. The results showed that the presence of NaCl does not affect the electrocatalytic behavior of the nanostructured NiFe alloy. Furthermore, the chemical–physical characterizations carried out after the long-term galvanostatic tests, have shown that the nanostructured electrodes are also stable in terms of morphology and composition. In addition, the solution used to perform the long-term galvanostatic tests was analyzed to investigate the possible formation of chlorine compounds. The absence of these compounds, together with the measured potential value measured for the oxygen evolution reaction, which was always lower than the thermodynamic redox potential for the hypochlorite formation reaction, leads us to conclude that these electrodes are potentially suitable for seawater electrolysis

Charge Transfer Properties Through Graphene for Applications in Gaseous Detectors

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice with remarkable mechanical and electrical properties. Regarded as the thinnest and narrowest conductive mesh, it has drastically different transmission behaviours when bombarded with electrons and ions in vacuum. This property, if confirmed in gas, may be a definitive solution for the ion back-flow problem in gaseous detectors. In order to ascertain this aspect, graphene layers of dimensions of about 2x2cm$^2$, grown on a copper substrate, are transferred onto a flat metal surface with holes, so that the graphene layer is freely suspended. The graphene and the support are installed into a gaseous detector equipped with a triple Gaseous Electron Multiplier (GEM), and the transparency properties to electrons and ions are studied in gas as a function of the electric fields. The techniques to produce the graphene samples are described, and we report on preliminary tests of graphene-coated GEMs.Comment: 4pages, 3figures, 13th Pisa Meeting on Advanced Detector

Ternary alloys of Ni-Fe-P for alkaline electrolyzer

Renewable energy resources (solar, wind, ect) could replace fossil fuels but have the disadvantage of being intermittent. From this perspective, the role of hydrogen is crucial. It could fill the role of fuel, storage medium and energy carrier. Prominent among the various methods of hydrogen production is the water-splitting process. This process represents a clean, zero-emission way to produce hydrogen if the electricity comes from renewable sources. However, green hydrogen production by water electrolysis is not economically sustainable. Many researchers are focusing their work on developing low-cost electrode/electrocatalysts with high catalytic activity toward the water-splitting reaction. The main attention is focused on non-noble metal catalysts. In particular, transition metals-based electrocatalysts are considered one of the best options thanks to their stability in alkaline media and electrocatalytic activity. Currently, the most investigated transition metal catalysts includes sulfide, phosphide, and nitride. In addition to the type of material, electrode morphology is another important aspect. Nanostructured shapes have a very high surface area improving the electrocatalytic performance of the electrodes. In this work, a ternary alloy of Ni-Fe-P with nanowires morphology was investigated. The synergistic effect between the three elements ensures a very high electrocatalytic activity. Electrodes were obtained by template electrosynthesis which is a simple, cheap and scalable method. Electrodes morphology was studied by scanning electrode microscopy (SEM). Energy dipersive spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the presence of three elements. Electrodes were tested both as cathodes and anodes by Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Quasi Steady State Polarization (QSSP) and Galvanostatic Test. All the tests were performed in 30% w/w KOH aqueous solution and at room temperature. The obtained results were compared with those obtained in our previous work relative to the behavior of binary alloy of Ni-Fe NWs. Preliminary results show a better performance of the ternary alloy than binary ones

Presenting signs and patient co-variables in Gaucher disease : outcome of the Gaucher Earlier Diagnosis Consensus (GED-C) Delphi initiative

© 2018 The Authors. Internal Medicine Journal by Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd on behalf of Royal Australasian College of Physicians.Background: Gaucher disease (GD) presents with a range of signs and symptoms. Physicians can fail to recognise the early stages of GD owing to a lack of disease awareness, which can lead to significant diagnostic delays and sometimes irreversible but avoidable morbidities. Aim: The Gaucher Earlier Diagnosis Consensus (GED-C) initiative aimed to identify signs and co-variables considered most indicative of early type 1 and type 3 GD, to help non-specialists identify ‘at-risk’ patients who may benefit from diagnostic testing. Methods: An anonymous, three-round Delphi consensus process was deployed among a global panel of 22 specialists in GD (median experience 17.5 years, collectively managing almost 3000 patients). The rounds entailed data gathering, then importance ranking and establishment of consensus, using 5-point Likert scales and scoring thresholds defined a priori. Results: For type 1 disease, seven major signs (splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, bone-related manifestations, anaemia, hyperferritinaemia, hepatomegaly and gammopathy) and two major co-variables (family history of GD and Ashkenazi-Jewish ancestry) were identified. For type 3 disease, nine major signs (splenomegaly, oculomotor disturbances, thrombocytopenia, epilepsy, anaemia, hepatomegaly, bone pain, motor disturbances and kyphosis) and one major co-variable (family history of GD) were identified. Lack of disease awareness, overlooking mild early signs and failure to consider GD as a diagnostic differential were considered major barriers to early diagnosis. Conclusion: The signs and co-variables identified in the GED-C initiative as potentially indicative of early GD will help to guide non-specialists and raise their index of suspicion in identifying patients potentially suitable for diagnostic testing for GD.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Grip Force Reveals the Context Sensitivity of Language-Induced Motor Activity during “Action Words

Studies demonstrating the involvement of motor brain structures in language processing typically focus on \ud time windows beyond the latencies of lexical-semantic access. Consequently, such studies remain inconclusive regarding whether motor brain structures are recruited directly in language processing or through post-linguistic conceptual imagery. In the present study, we introduce a grip-force sensor that allows online measurements of language-induced motor activity during sentence listening. We use this tool to investigate whether language-induced motor activity remains constant or is modulated in negative, as opposed to affirmative, linguistic contexts. Our findings demonstrate that this simple experimental paradigm can be used to study the online crosstalk between language and the motor systems in an ecological and economical manner. Our data further confirm that the motor brain structures that can be called upon during action word processing are not mandatorily involved; the crosstalk is asymmetrically\ud governed by the linguistic context and not vice versa

THGEM-based detectors for sampling elements in DHCAL: laboratory and beam evaluation

We report on the results of an extensive R&D program aimed at the evaluation of Thick-Gas Electron Multipliers (THGEM) as potential active elements for Digital Hadron Calorimetry (DHCAL). Results are presented on efficiency, pad multiplicity and discharge probability of a 10x10 cm2 prototype detector with 1 cm2 readout pads. The detector is comprised of single- or double-THGEM multipliers coupled to the pad electrode either directly or via a resistive anode. Investigations employing standard discrete electronics and the KPiX readout system have been carried out both under laboratory conditions and with muons and pions at the CERN RD51 test beam. For detectors having a charge-induction gap, it has been shown that even a ~6 mm thick single-THGEM detector reached detection efficiencies above 95%, with pad-hit multiplicity of 1.1-1.2 per event; discharge probabilities were of the order of 1e-6 - 1e-5 sparks/trigger, depending on the detector structure and gain. Preliminary beam tests with a WELL hole-structure, closed by a resistive anode, yielded discharge probabilities of <2e-6 for an efficiency of ~95%. Methods are presented to reduce charge-spread and pad multiplicity with resistive anodes. The new method showed good prospects for further evaluation of very thin THGEM-based detectors as potential active elements for DHCAL, with competitive performances, simplicity and robustness. Further developments are in course.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures, MPGD2011 conference proceedin

Parâmetros genéticos e análises de componentes principais para peso corporal e características morfológicas em bovinos de corte da raça Nelore.

Resumo: O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar as associações entre características de escores visuais de estrutura corporal ao sobreano (ES), precocidade ao sobreano (PS) e musculosidade ao sobreano (MS), e peso ajustado aos 455 dias de idade, por meio de análises de componentes principais, de forma a obter variáveis indicadoras de biotipo animal e estimar os parâmetros genéticos. Foram analisados 10.888 registros de bovinos de corte da raça Nelore, provenientes de um rebanho participante do Programa Nelore Brasil. As análises de componentes principais (PCA) foram realizadas por meio do software STATISTICA. Utilizando como autovetor o primeiro componente principal das análises, foram calculados valores para os animais com informações de escores visuais e pesos ajustados, que originaram as características de índices de biotipo INDs1, INDs2 e INDs3. Os componentes de (co) variância e os parâmetros genéticos foram estimados por inferência Bayesiana, utilizando modelo ui-característica pelo software AIREMLF90. As estimativas de herdabilidade para P455, ES, PS, MS, INDs1, INDs2 e INDs3 foram de 0,50, 0,33, 0,41, 0,34, 0,36, 0,44 e 0,30, respectivamente. As características estudadas apresentam variância genética aditiva suficiente para responderem satisfatoriamente a seleção. Mais estudos sobre as associações genéticas entre os índices de biotipo e características de importância econômica são necessários. Palavras?chave: bovinos de corte, componentes principais, estrutura corporal, herdabilidade, musculosidade, precocidade Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between visual scores of body structure (BY), finishing precocity, and muscling (MY) evaluated at yearling, and weight adjusted to 455 days of age, through principal components analysis, in order to obtain indicators of animal biotype and to estimate the genetic parameters. A total of 10.888 records of Nelore beef cattle from a herd of Nelore Brasil program were analyzed. Principal components analyzes (PCA) were performed using STATISTICA software. Using as eigenvector or the first main component of the analyzes, values were calculated for the animals with information of visual scores and adjusted weights, which gave rise to the biotype indexes characteristics INDy1, INDy2, INDy3. The (co) variance components and genetic parameters were estimated by Bayesian inference, using a uni-characteristic model by AIREMLF90 software. The estimates of heritability for W455, BY, PY, MY, INDs1, INDs2 and INDs3 were 0.50, 0.33, 0.41, 0.34, 0.36, 0.44 and 0.30, respectively. As characteristics studied, they present sufficient genetic variance to satisfy the selection. More studies on genetic associations between biotype indexes and economic importance are needed

The novel XYU-GEM to resolve ambiguities

Removing ambiguities within a single stage becomes crucial when one can not use multiple detectors behind each other to resolve them which naturally is the case for neutral radiation. An example would be RICH detectors. Commonly pixilated readout is choosen for this purpose. However, this causes a remarkable increase in quantity of channels and does not scale up well. Therefore, the XYU-GEM was proposed as a three coordinate strip-readout which is combined with a triple GEM detector. The readout complements a common XY readout with an additional projection which is tilted by 45{\deg}. The overdetermination due to three projections can be used to resovle ambiguities. Following the detector design will be explained, first measurements discussed to understand the response of the detector and a way to change the charge sharing without changing the manufacturing parameters of the readout