Search results for "figure of merit"
showing 10 items of 59 documents
Development and characterization of a thermal inkjet-based aerosol generator for micro-volume sample introduction in analytical atomic spectrometry
2011
A novel system for the introduction of liquid samples into analytical plasmas for atomic spectrometric analysis is presented in this manuscript for the first time. The proposed “drop-on-demand” (DOD) aerosol generator is based on the use of a modified thermal inkjet cartridge. This system employs a lab-built microcontroller, which allows accessing all parameters important for driving the dosing cartridge for the generation of pL-droplets from sample volumes in the μL range. The droplet generation frequency, thus the resulting liquid flow rate, is variable over a wide range from the generation of isolated droplets up to a theoretical flow rate of approximately 2 mL min−1, with parallel opera…
Thermal conductivity of half-Heusler superlattices
2014
Thin films and superlattices (SLs) of TiNiSn and ZrHfNiSn layers have been grown by dc magnetron sputtering on MgO (100) substrates to reduce the thermal conductivity, aiming for improvement of the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT. The thermal conductivity of 1 Wm−1K−1 was measured by the differential 3ω method for an SL with a periodicity of 8.8 nm. In addition to x-ray diffraction analysis of the SL crystal structure, smooth interfaces were confirmed by scanning/transmission electron microscopy.
Phase separation as a key to a thermoelectric high efficiency
2012
This work elucidates the possible reasons for the outstanding, but never reproduced thermoelectric properties of the doped Ti(0.5)Zr(0.25)Hf(0.25)NiSn Heusler compounds. The structural investigations done via synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements and scanning electron microscope measurements, which clearly show that the microstructure consists of three temperature stable C1(b) phases with possible semi-coherent interfaces, are presented. The exceptional thermoelectric properties are due to this intrinsic phase separation. It is possible to reproduce the high Figure of Merit values with ZT = 1.2 at 830 K. Furthermore, the influence of doping different elements on the Sn position in this…
Thermoelectric properties of Zn-doped Ca_(3)AlSb_(3)
2012
Polycrystalline samples of Ca_(3)Al_(1)−_(x)Zn_(x)Sb_(3), with x = 0.00, 0.01, 0.02, and 0.05 were synthesized via a combined ball milling and hot pressing technique and the influence of zinc as a dopant on the thermoelectric properties was studied and compared to the previously reported transport properties of sodium-doped Ca_(3)AlSb_(3). Consistent with the transport in the sodium-doped material, substitution of aluminum with zinc leads to p-type carrier conduction that can be sufficiently explained with a single parabolic band model. It is found that, while exhibiting higher carrier mobilities, the doping effectiveness of zinc is lower than that of sodium and the optimum carrier concentr…
HEMT for low-noise microwaves: CAD-oriented performance evaluation
1995
This paper shows how a graphic processing of low-noise HEMT's small signal parameters, allows evaluating and comparing the actual performance obtainable in front-end applications. HEMT's tradeoff charts which solve tradeoffs among the basic low-noise amplifier performance are reported. Figures of merit for microwave low-noise HEMT which represent a fast way of evaluating HEMT in actual working conditions and of selecting the proper transistor, are defined. As an example, the tradeoff charts and the figures of merit of two HEMT's (Fujitsu FHR02FH, Sony 2SK677) and a pseudomorphic-HEMT (Celeritek CFB001-03) are reported and compared with the data sheets. © 1995, IEEE. All rights reserved.
2-D approach to the analysis of semianechoic chambers using a hybrid technique
2003
Semianechoic chambers are the most widely used emplacements for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) tests. In this work a new and efficient technique for the analysis of 2-D simplified model of a chamber with arbitrary absorber is introduced and validated Some advanced results are presented, and a 2-D figure of merit for studying the overall behaviour of the chamber is proposed.
Enhanced thermoelectric performance in the p-type half-Heusler (Ti/Zr/Hf)CoSb0.8Sn0.2 system via phase separation
2014
A novel approach for optimization of the thermoelectric properties of p-type Heusler compounds with a C1b structure was investigated. A successful recipe for achieving intrinsic phase separation in the n-type material based on the TiNiSn system is isoelectronic partial substitution of Ti with its heavier homologues Zr and Hf. We applied this concept to the p-type system MCoSb0.8Sn0.2 by a systematic investigation of samples with different compositions at the Ti position (M = Ti, Zr, Hf, Ti0.5Zr0.5, Zr0.5Hf0.5, and Ti0.5Hf0.5). We thus achieved an approximately 40% reduction of the thermal conductivity and a maximum figure of merit ZT of 0.9 at 700 °C. This is a 80% improvement in peak ZT fr…
Scaling the Analytical Information Given by Several Types of Colorimetric and Spectroscopic Instruments Including Smartphones: Rules for Their Use an…
2021
The analytical information given by different types of instruments was scaled in order to establish suitably the figures of merit of a given methodology based on color measurements. Different lab and portable instruments, including smartphones with and without a miniaturized spectrophotometer accessory, have been tested. In order to obtain broad information and using objective criteria, these instruments have been compared from (1) the analytical point of view, considering mainly the detection limit (limits of detection [LODs]), selectivity, accuracy and intra- and interday precision, size, components, and costs; and (2) the environmental point of view, based on their footprint as kilograms…
Effects of Masking on Open-Circuit Voltage and Fill Factor in Solar Cells
2019
Guidelines for the correct measurement protocol of novel photovoltaic technologies such as perovskites are becoming more frequent in literature. This because, as will be confirmed in this perspective, it is not straightforward to correctly measure the efficiency parameters of these and many other novel solar cells. This is particularly the case for small area research devices which are prone to overestimate the short circuit current density, due to edge effects of various types. To reduce the inaccuracy of current density determination, the common recommended practice is to utilize masks with well‐defined apertures, often smaller than the device active area. Herein we show both experimental…
Towards higher zT in early transition metal oxides: optimizing the charge carrier concentration of the WO3-x compounds
2018
Abstract Thermoelectric devices are believed to play an important role in the energy research for the next decades. Thanks to their low costs coupled with high stability and sustainability, metal oxides are very promising materials even if their efficiencies still need improvements to ensure a wide applicability. Slightly reduced early transition metal oxides show intrinsic defects in the crystal structure which guarantee very low values of the thermal conductivity. The challenge to fulfil the “phonon-glass electron-crystal” concept is to decouple the optimization of the electronic properties from the thermal transport properties. In this contribution we report the optimization of the charg…