Search results for " semiconductor"

Pathologies currently identified by exhaled biomarkers.

2013

Ancient Greek physicians already knew that the smell of human breath could provide a clue to the pathology. Nowadays, volatile breath biomarkers are known to be released in a broad range of diseases. However, their identification, isolation, and quantification as indicative of relevant alterations in clinical status have required the development of new techniques and analytical methods. Breath sample analysis encounters several obstacles. Particularly, there is a need of a system that could work in a continuous manner, with the low concentration and small volume of a sample. Herein we review, in the light of literature and our experience, clinical applications of the metal oxide semiconduct…

Selective quantification of humidity and ammonia by optical excitation of molecular semiconductor-doped insulator (MSDI) sensors

2015

MSDI (molecular semiconductor-doped insulator) ammonia sensors have been investigated using cyclic optical excitation as multi-signal generation method. This method enables a selective quantification of both humidity in the range of 30–70 %rh and ammonia concentration in the range of 0–30 ppm with a single sensor at room temperature.

Fundamentals of photocatalysis: The role of the photocatalysts in heterogeneous photo-assisted reactions

2021

Abstract This chapter provides some general definitions of heterogeneous photocatalysis and evaluates its performance, which is influenced by the parameters most closely related to the properties of the solid material that acts as a photocatalyst. It also discusses aspects of heterogeneous photocatalytic reactions and explains the properties that influence photoactivity. Finally, the chapter examines thermodynamic and kinetic features, including mechanistic details and parameters to define the reaction rate and correlates them to the effects of the interaction of light with the photocatalyst surface and adsorption-desorption of species involved in heterogeneous photo-assisted reactions.

Electrical transduction in phthalocyanine-based gas sensors: from classical chemiresistors to new functional structures

2009

Phthalocyanines are organic-based materials which have attracted a lot of research in recent times. In the field of sensors, they present interesting and valuable potentialities as sensing elements for real gas sensor applications. In the present article, and taking some of our experiments as representative examples, we review the different ways of transduction applied to such applications. Some of the new tendencies and transducers for gas sensing based on phthalocyanine derivatives are also reported. Among them, electrical transduction (resistors, field-effect transistors, diodes, etc.) has been, historically, the most commonly exploited way for the detection and/or quantification of gas…

Full-genome sequencing of a Hungarian canine G3P[3] Rotavirus A strain reveals high genetic relatedness with a historic Italian human strain

2015

A canine Rotavirus A strain was identified in the fecal specimen of a young dog during 2012 in Hungary. The strain RVA/Dog-wt/HUN/135/2012/G3P[3] shared complete genotype constellation (G3-P[3]-I3-R3-C3-M3-A15-N2-T3-E3-H6) and high genome sequence similarity (nt, 98.8 %) with a historic human strain, RVA/Human-tc/ITA/PA260-97/1997/G3P[3]. This study provides evidence for the canine origin of the unusual NSP1 genotype, A15, and reinforces the hypothesis of direct interspecies transmission of canine rotaviruses to humans.

PENTACENE THIN FILMS BY SOLUTION METHODS: NEW ROUTES FOR PLASTIC ELECTRONICS

2008

Exploiting the optical quadratic nonlinearity of zinc-blende semiconductors for guided-wave terahertz generation: A material comparison

2010

We present a detailed analysis and comparison of dielectric waveguides made of CdTe, GaP, GaAs and InP for modal phase matched optical difference frequency generation (DFG) in the terahertz domain. From the form of the DFG equations, we derived the definition of a very general figure of merit (FOM). In turn, this FOM enabled us to compare different configurations, by taking into account linear and nonlinear susceptibility dispersion, terahertz absorption, and a rigorous evaluation of the waveguide modes properties. The most efficient waveguides found with this procedure are predicted to approach the quantum efficiency limit with input optical power in the order of kWs.

Intrinsic Organic Semiconductors as Hole Transport Layers in p–i–n Perovskite Solar Cells

2021

Thin polymeric and small-molecular-weight organic semiconductors are widely employed as hole transport layers (HTLs) in perovskite solar cells. To ensure ohmic contact with the electrodes, the use of doping or additional high work function (WF) interlayer is common. In some cases, however, intrinsic organic semiconductors can be used without any additive or buffer layers, although their thickness must be tuned to ensure selective and ohmic hole transport. Herein, the characteristics of thin HTLs in vacuum-deposited perovskite solar cells are studied, and it is found that only very thin (<5 nm) HTLs readily result inhigh-performing devices, as the HTL acts as a WF enhancer while still ens…

FRUIT QUALITY EVALUATION OF FOUR LOQUAT CULTIVARS GROWN IN SICILY

2011

Chemical (soluble solids content, titratable acidity, pH), morphological (weight, longitudinal and transversal diameter, thickness of the flesh, number of seeds, peel colour), and sensorial characteristics of four loquat cultivars (‘Algerie’, ‘Claudia’, ‘Nespolone di Trabia’ and ‘Sanfilippara’) from mature, organically-grown trees in Sicily, were analysed. The determinations were carried out by traditional instrumental techniques, by a panel test and by an electronic olfactory system. A panel of 10 trained judges was used to determine intensity of some attributes in the sensory profile of the different cultivars, while the electronic olfactory system was used to identify possible difference…

Comparison between catalytic and photocatalytic activity in gas-solid regime of semiconductor oxides and carbon nanotubes supported Keggin heteropoly…

2015

Catalytic and photocatalytic 2-propanol dehydration was carried out by using a supported Keggin heteropolyacid H3PW12O40 (PW12). Binary materials were prepared by impregnation and/or solvothermal treatment by using commercial supports: SiO2 (Mallinckrodt), TiO2 (Evonik P25) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (Sunnano) or home solvothermically prepared SiO2 and TiO2. All the materials have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy observations (SEM) coupled with EDX microanalysis, specific surface area measurements, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. (Photo)catalytic 2-propanol dehydration was studied in gas-solid regime by usin…