Engineering Commons^™

Additive Manufacturing Of Sensors For Extreme Environments, Kiyo Tiffany Fujimoto

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Advanced manufacturing based direct-write technologies have emerged as the predominant enabler for the fabrication of active and passive sensors for use in harsh operating environments. The ability to directly write and integrate electronic components onto physical packaging can be achieved with additive manufacturing (AM) methods such as direct write technologies (DWT) which include aerosol jet printing (AJP), Ink Jet Printing (IJP), Plasma Jet Printing (PJP), and Micro-Dispense Printing (MDP). In this work, we investigate the use of these methods to accelerate, modernize, and enhance the functionality of sensors and instrumentation to achieve the goal of improving the safety and efficiency …

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Of Zirconium Oxidation For In-Situ Nuclear Sensing Applications, Michael Andrew Reynolds

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

To meet the ever-growing energy demands of the modern world, alternative forms of producing power are necessary, and the field of nuclear engineering holds promise to answer this call. Nuclear fuel cladding in light water reactors (LWRs) currently draws a large amount of attention from scientists and researchers, as it provides many challenges to design around. Since the 1950s, zirconium and its protective oxide layer have been utilized as an effective material for the task, possessing good mechanical strengths, high corrosion resistance, and a low neutron absorption cross section. Despite these beneficial properties, however, fuel cladding remains vulnerable to several …

Enhancing Stability Of High-Nickel Cathodes For Lithium-Ion Batteries Through Additive Manufacturing Of Cathode Structure, Matthew Sullivan

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are currently the best method to store electrical energy for use in portable electronics and electronic vehicles. New cathode materials for LIBs are consistently studied and researched, but few are as promising and attainable as nickel-rich transition metal oxides such as LiNi1-x-yMnxCoyO2 (NMC). NMC materials exist with many different mass ratios, but higher nickel content materials provide higher energy density. With this increase in capacity comes a sacrifice with cyclability, as high-nickel NMC variants are prone to structure collapse, transition metal dissolution, and cracks due to volume change. In this report, mechanical modification of the electrode by …

Durability Of Non-Metallic Materials For Additively Manufactured Heat Spreader Fabrication, Rafael Estrella

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Power electronics are necessary to convert power from DC sources for AC applications. As this technology trends toward smaller packaging for denser power loads, the increased electrical losses result in deleterious excess heat. Thermal management devices are required to prevent the effects of thermal runaway from shortening the longevity of these modules. Nonmetallic jet impingement heat spreaders provide several benefits in terms of weight and performance over conventional cold plates while not accentuating EMI from the switches in the power module; however, the polymer makeup of the materials previously used for fabricating these devices raises durability concerns under the high …

Energy Science & Engineering: 10 Years Of Excellence, Yun Hang Hu

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

No abstract provided.

Diffusive Dynamics Of Biological Macromolecules In The Cytoplasm Of Live Bacteria, Asmaa Sadoon

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Bacteria are small organisms that play important roles in our bodies and in maintaining our surrounding environment. However, bacterial infections are considered as one of the health diseases that threatens the lives of humans. Resistance of bacteria to antibiotics has made treating bacterial infections more challenging. With the emergence of many developed optical techniques, it has become possible to study various biological mechanisms of molecules inside these small organisms with high resolution and precise localization. In this research, single particle tracking photoactivation localization microscopy (sptPALM) technique was used to investigate the dynamics of fluorescent histonelike nucleoid-structuring proteins (H-NS) in live …

Design, Fabrication, And Characterization Of An Array Of Graphene Based Variable Capacitors, Millicent Nkirote Gikunda

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Since it was first isolated and characterized in 2004, graphene has shown the potential for a technological revolution. This is due to its amazing physical properties such as high electrical conductivity, high thermal conductivity, and extreme flexibility. Freestanding graphene membranes naturally possesses an intrinsic rippled structure, and these ripples are in constant random motion even room temperatures. Occasionally, the ripples undergo spontaneous buckling (change of curvature from concave to convex and vice versa) and the potential energy associated with this is a double well potential. This movement of graphene is a potential source of vibrational energy.

In this dissertation, we …

Development Of High Conductivity Copper Coatings For Srf Cavity, Himal Pokhrel

Physics Theses & Dissertations

The development of metallic coatings with high purity and high thermal conductivity at cryogenic temperature could be very important for application to the superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavity technology. The deposition of such bulk coatings on the outer surface of a niobium cavity could result in higher heat conductance and mechanical stiffness, both of which are crucial for enhancing the cavity performance at a reduced cost.

Cold spray technology was used to deposit bulk coatings of pure copper and copper-tungsten alloys on the niobium substrate and the samples of size 2 mm × 2 mm cross section were cut and subjected …

Mechanical Behavior Of Clay Soil Stabilized With Fly Ash And Bottom Ash, Soewignjo Agus Nugroho, Azra Zulnasari, Ferry Fatnanta, Andius Dasa Putra

Makara Journal of Technology

Soil is one of the most important aspects of an infrastructure given its functions of receiving and holding structural loads. However, not all soils have good physical and mechanical properties. To overcome those conditions, stabilization of the soil is practiced to meet the technical requirements. This study aims to determine the behavior of high plasticity clay stabilized with lime, fly ash, and bottom ash. These additives can be used as a stabilizing agent to increase soil strength. The percentage of additives varied from 5%–25% then mixed with clay and were tested through the (Unconfined Compression Strength (UCS) test. The UCS …

Enhancement Of Biogas Production Through Solid-State Anaerobic Co-Digestion Of Food Waste And Corn Cobs, Lukhi Mulia Shitophyta, Anisa Salsabila, Firanita Angraini Putri, Siti Jamilatun

Makara Journal of Technology

Although biogas has been primarily produced through liquid anaerobic digestion, this method leads to the floating and stratification of fibers and non-homogeneous mixing, which can reduce the biogas yield. Alternatively, biogas can be produced by the solid-state anaerobic digestion (SS-AD) of organic material with a high solid content, such as corn cobs. We investigated the co-digestion of food waste and corn cobs as a biomass feedstock for SS-AD in biogas production. We measured the effects of the total solid (TS) content, percentage of food waste, and reduction in volatile solids (VS), from which we determined its appropriate kinetic model. We …

Control Strategy For Solar Energy-Saving Lamps For Optimized Energy Utilization And Sustainability Of Operation Durability: Indonesia Case, Burhanuddin Halimi, Agus Purwadi, Nana Heryana

Makara Journal of Technology

To solve the electrification ratio issue, the Indonesian government has promoted the use of solar energy-saving lamps. This study proposes a control strategy that adopts current reference time-based profiling for solar energy-saving lamps. For optimal energy consumption, the current reference profile is determined according to users’ daily energy requirements. From the aspect of user comfort, a gradual step reference profile is also introduced to provide a subtle change in lighting intensity level. The proposed control strategy can minimize energy consumption and optimize the operation durability of the system. The concept is verified by simulating four scenarios, the results of which …

Investigation On Electrochemical Processes Of P-Aminothiophenol On Gold Electrode Of Nanostructures, Hui-Yuan Peng, Jia-Zheng Wang, Jia Liu, Huan-Huan Yu, Jian-De Lin, De-Yin Wu, Zhong-Qun Tian

Journal of Electrochemistry

Electrochemical reactions on nanostructured noble electrodes have received much attention, however, the reaction mechanism and reaction kinetics are still difficult to be studied. Probe molecule can give an insight to the investigation of electrochemical reactions on noble electrodes with nanostructures. In this paper, the electrochemical process of p-aminothiophenol (PATP) adsorbed on the gold electrode was studied by electrochemical cyclic voltammetry and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Here, we used one-step sodium citrate reduction method (Frens method) to synthesize gold nanoparticles, which are used to construct the nanostructured gold electrode. The Raman electrolytic cell used was based on the traditional three-electrode electrolytic …

Study On Electrochemical Conversion Of Ammonium Sulfate To Ammonium Persulfate In Acetylpyrazine Wastewater, Yi-Jie Wang, Dong-Fang Niu, Xin-Sheng Zhang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Acetylpyrazine is an important spice and also plays important roles in biology, medicine and other fields. However, the wastewater containing ammonium persulfate, ferric ion (Fe³⁺), pyrazine, and a large amount of ammonium sulfate was produced during the production of acetylpyrazine. In this study, ammonium sulfate in acetylpyrazine wastewater was electrolytically converted into ammonium persulfate for economic benefits. Using platinum as an anode and graphite as a cathode, the influence factors of the electrolysis process (including the composition of the anolyte, the current density, the temperature, etc.) were firstly investigated without interference from other compositions. Under the optimal condition, …

Study On Electrodeposition Of Antimony In Choline Chloride-Ethylene Glycol Eutectic Solvent, Hao Wang, Xiao-Zhou Cao, Xiang-Xin Xue

Journal of Electrochemistry

Antimony is a chemically stable metal that has been widely used in industry, military and other fields. The use of electrodeposition to prepare antimony coating has the advantages of simple operation and low cost. The deep eutectic solvent (DES) is a eutectic mixture composed of a hydrogen bond donor and a hydrogen bond acceptor at a fixed molar ratio. It has the advantages of wide electrochemical window, high thermal stability, easy preparation, and low cost. Selecting DES as the electrolyte for electrodeposition can avoid the hydrogen evolution reaction of the aqueous system and the toxicity of ionic liquids. In recent …

Adjusting The Alloying Degree Of Pt3Zn To Improve Acid Oxygen Reduction Activity And Stability, Tian-En Zhang, Ya-Ni Yan, Jun-Ming Zhang, Xi-Ming Qu, Yan-Rong Li, Yan-Xia Jiang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is a new type of energy device, a relatively excellent way to achieve carbon neutrality. However, due to the relatively slow reaction rate of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode, platinum (Pt) is the key material of the cathode catalyst. However, Pt is a kind of noble metal, and its high cost restricts the PEMFC commercialization process. At present, the main approach is to combine transition metals with Pt to prepare Pt-based alloys and to reduce the use of Pt. Pt-based alloys are excellent catalysts for ORR, improving both the activity and stability, …

Preparation Of Pt@Basrtio3 Nanostructure And Its Properties Towards Photoelectrochemical Ammonia Synthesis, Jing Zhang, Rui-Xia Guo, Jian-Jun Fu, Shi-Bin Yin, Pei-Kang Shen, Xin-Yi Zhang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Ammonia is an important industrial raw material and a potential green energy. Using renewable energy to convert nitrogen into ammonia under ambient condition is an attractive method. However, the development of efficient photoelectrochemical ammonia synthesis catalysts remains a challenge. Perovskite such as BaSrTiO₃ (BST) is a good photocatalytic material. However, BST is active under ultraviolet light and has a high recombination rate of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. By dispersing precious metals, it can effectively regulate the absorption of sunlight by BST. In this work, we used a two-step method to prepare BST. The H₂PtCl₆·6H₂O …

Multi-Scale Simulation Revealing The Decomposition Mechanism Of Electrolyte On Lithium Metal Electrode, Yan-Yan Zhang, Yue Liu, Yi-Ming Lu, Pei-Ping Yu, Wen-Xuan Du, Bing-Yun Ma, Miao Xie, Hao Yang, Tao Cheng

Journal of Electrochemistry

Lithium metal is considered as an ideal anode material for next-generation high energy density batteries with its high specific capacity and low electrode potential. However, the high activity of lithium metal can lead to a series of safety issues. For example, lithium metal will continuously react chemically with the electrolyte, forming unstable the solid electrolyte (SEI) films. In addition, lithium dendrites can be formed during cycling, which can puncture the SEI film and cause short circuits in the battery. These drawbacks greatly hinder the commercial application of lithium metal. To solve the above problems, it is important to understand the …

Effects Of Electrode Shape On Lithiation Process Of Lithium-Ion Battery Electrodes, Shi-Wei Sun, Jian-Jun Nie, Yi-Cheng Song

Journal of Electrochemistry

This paper studies the influence of electrode shape on the lithiation process of lithium ion batteries. Both experimental observation and numerical simulation are employed to investigate the competitive interaction between the diffusion of lithium ions in both solid and liquid phases and the lithium intercalation reaction at the electrode surface. Experimental cells were prepared with the anode and cathode being placed parallel, leaving the latter embracing the former. An experimental device based on CCD camera was set up for in situ observation of electrode lithiation. The lithiation levels of the graphite anodes were estimated according to the observed color profile. …

Controlling Unequal Surface Energy Results Caused By Test Liquids: The Case Of Uv/O3 Treated Pet, Bilge N. Altay, Paul D. Fleming, Md Arifur Rahman, Alexandra Pekarovicova, Bruce Myers, Cem Aydemir, Arif Karademir

Articles

Ultraviolet/ozone (UV/O3) treatment has been reported to be an effective method to modify properties such as wettability, adhesion or adsorption of plastic surfaces. The change in the surface is measured by contact angle analysis, which employs liquids and their surface tensions (ST) to estimate the surface energy (SE). We found two different practices in the scientific community: (1) the majority of researchers adopted the ST value of liquids from the literature, while (2) other researchers conducted real-time measurements in the lab under ambient conditions prior to SE estimation. To the best of our knowledge, there is no study that compares …

Metal Complexes Of Redox Active Ligands, Alexandra Chaparro, Parker Keller

Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Scholarship

Alexandra Chaparro ’22, Major: Biochemistry

Parker Keller ’24, Major: Chemistry

Mentor: Dr. Maria Carroll, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Our research focuses on synthesizing and studying the properties of metal complexes that contain redox active ligands. Ligands are molecules or ions that can bind to a metal ion, and this particular class of ligands is interesting because they can either accept or lose electrons. We synthesized zinc complexes, in order to measure the reduction potentials of the ligands, which provide information about the ease with which they accept electrons. We then synthesized iron complexes and determined their structures. These complexes are potentially …

Lattice Dynamics, Mechanical Properties, Electronic Structure And Magnetic Properties Of Equiatomic Quaternary Heusler Alloys Crticoz (Z = Al, Si) Using First Principles Calculations, Eesha Andharia, Hind Alqurashi, Bothina Hamad

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

First principles calculations are performed to investigate the thermodynamical stability, dynamical, mechanical, electronic and magnetic properties of CrTiCoZ (Z = Al/Si) novel quaternary Heusler alloys. A Y-type III atomic configuration is found to be the most stable structure for both compounds. The lattice constant values obtained using GGA-PBE approach are 5.9368 Å and 5.7853 Å for CrTiCoAl and CrTiCoSi, respectively. Using the value of elastic moduli for both the compounds, the computed Pugh’s ratio value is 2.5 and 2.7 for CrTiCoAl and CrTiCoSi, respectively, which is higher than 1.75, indicating both the compounds are ductile in nature. The melting temperatures …

Detection And Identification Of Disturbances By Spectral Analysis Of Structure-Borne Noise During The Production Of A Sealing Seam, Felix Kruppa, Lars Meisenbach, Berend Oberdorfer Dr.-Ing., Bernd Wilke Prof. Dr.-Ing.

Journal of Applied Packaging Research

When sealing, disturbances or errors can occur that impair the quality of the sealing seam and, in the worst case, lead to leaks. It is therefore important to identify and eliminate defective packages during production and to minimize the elimination by readjusting machine parameters. The aim of this article is the clear identification of seam quality problems on a vertical forming, filling and sealing machine SVE2520 by evaluating process parameters during the manufacturing process. For this purpose, the structure-borne noise is measured for each seal in order to identify not-usual curves. These not-usual curves are related to different disturbances or …

Simplified Synthesis Of Conjugated Polymers Enabled Via 1,4-Dihydropyrrolo[3,2-B]Pyrrole, Kenneth-John Jack Bell

Master of Science in Chemical Sciences Theses

Conjugated polymers have attracted significant attention as the active layer material in organic electronics, such as organic photovoltaics and light-emitting diodes, partly due to the ability to influence a broad range of properties through structural design motifs. However, high performance conjugated polymers suffer from numerous synthetic steps, generation of toxic waste, and harsh reaction conditions all of which impart additional costs that inhibit their widespread utilization. Therefore, an emphasis on reducing synthetic complexity and utilizing abundant, commercially available starting materials is needed for organic electronics to reach their full potential. Dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole (H₂DPP) chromophores offer a simple one-pot synthesis …

Development Of Synergistic Electrochemical Catalysis For Advancing Co2 Utilization, Naohiro Fujinuma

Theses and Dissertations

Electrochemical CO2 utilization is an attractive process for realizing carbon-neutral chemical production due to its electricity-driven ambient conditions, compatibility with renewable energy, and diversified products. This study aims to address unmet challenges hindering the wide adaptation of the process: (I) the absence of a highly selective and scalable catalyst for CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), (II) the large number of laborious experiments needed to optimize electrochemical materials/devices, and (III) the lack of an effective scheme for upgrading CO2-derived products. First, a bio-mimicking multi-component catalyst is explored, leading to the discovery of a highly selective Co-pyridine-derived catalyst for CO2RR into CO. The …

Optimizing The Self-Healing Efficiency Of Hydrogel Encapsulated Bacteria In Concrete, Ricardo Hungria

LSU Master's Theses

Calcium carbonate precipitation through microbial means is a promising pathway for concrete self-healing technologies, mainly for its microcrack sealing attributes. The main goal of this project was to study and optimize the crack healing efficiency of hydrogel encapsulated bacteria in concrete. To achieve this purpose, Bacillus pseudiformus was implemented as the bacteria strain at a concentration of 10⁸ cells/ml. This bacterium strain along with yeast extract was combined along with three different mineral precursors corresponding to magnesium acetate, calcium lactate, and sodium lactate. All these three precursors were evaluated at two concentrations (67.76 mM/l and 75 mM/l). For each …

Detection Of Trace Heavy Metals In Water: Development Of Electrochemical Sensors, Quang Lam, Joel Mututeke

Symposium of Student Scholars

The presence of heavy metals in our ecosystem poses significant ecological and physiological consequences. As a result, numerous techniques are developed for the detection of contaminants in aqueous solutions. However, early and trace detection of such contaminants still remains a challenge. Amongst many techniques, electrochemistry driven sensors have shown promise due to their possibility of miniaturization and low-cost. Our research investigates the use of electrically conducting polymer and atomically thin carbon materials as electrodes towards the development of electrochemical sensor. Nanocomposite electrode films have been synthesized and fabricated using in-situ polymerization technique and the relationship between number of cycles of …

Novel Thermal Coating For High-Speed Airplanes, Abinash Satapathy, Lakshay Battu, Liam Watson, Nazanin Rajabi

Symposium of Student Scholars

In comparison to various other materials, Carbon Fiber, specifically Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP), is pre-eminent amongst other materials for use on aeronautical systems. Due to its high specific strength (strength-to-weight ratio), CFRP is prominent for carrying heavy loads while maintaining a lightweight build. However, when influenced by heat resulting from air resistance, CFRP is known to undergo serious degradation that would significantly decrease the effectiveness of the polymers. To prevent this degradation and maintain the strength of the CFRP, thermal protective layers (TPLs) are designed to shield the CFRP from heat exposure. This research is focused on the examination …

Prospects For Using Metal-Polymer Composite Structures In The Gear Manufacturing, Umid Mamasobirov, Shoraxmat Shoobidov, A F. Husanboyev

Technical science and innovation

In this paper, some thermoplastic polymer composites and filler composites for the production of metal-polymer gear transmissions are presented. Efforts have been made to expand the raw material base and identify ways to increase the durability of gears through technological and design measures.

Effect Of Micro-Structural Dispersity Of Simo Ductile Iron On High Temperature Performance During Static Oxidation, Semen Naumovich Lekakh, Asebi Bofah, Larry A. Godlewski, Mei Li

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

High silicon and molybdenum (SiMo) ductile iron is commonly used for car exhaust systems, and its micro-structural dispersity depends on intrinsic parameters, which include alloy composition and inoculation efficiency, as well as extrinsic factors, such as casting wall thickness and molding material, which define cooling rate during solidification. Micro-structural dispersity is referred to as the degree of heterogeneity of sizes of structural constituencies within the microstructure. A variation in the micro-structural dispersity could impact the high temperature performance of SiMo ductile iron during static oxidation and transient thermo-mechanical loading conditions. In this study, static high temperature tests were performed on …

Zero-Power Ac Current Sensor, Omar Aragonez

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

In this study, a magnetic piezoelectric cantilever powered AC current and frequency sensor is proposed. This paper covers the configuration of the experimental setup, finite element modeling of the magnetic coupling, and the optimal spatial location of the magnetic proof mass in relation to the wire for smart grid applications. Solid and stranded copper wires of various gauges were used and carried current up to 30A. The magnets act as a proof mass to lower the frequency while also coupling to the magnetic field generated by the current carrying wire. The frequency of the AC current produces a sinusoidal force …