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This research presents two laser-based photoacoustic approaches for analyzing exhaled breath isoprene and acetone. The integration of a PTR-ToF-MS as a reference device ensured the reliability and accuracy of the PAS systems that is based on an ICL for isoprene and a QCL for acetone detection. The calibration yielded limits of detection of 26.9 ppbV and 1.7 ppbV, respectively, and corresponding normalized noise equivalent absorption coefficients (NNEAs) of 5.0E-9 Wcm-1Hz-0.5 and 4.9E-9 Wcm-1Hz-0.5. Laboratory as well as real breath sample measurements from alveolar breath revealed a robust system performance, with only one outlier within the static isoprene measurements. However, discrepancies emerged under dynamic breath sampling conditions, emphasizing the need for further optimization. Especially by knowing the dynamic nature and endogenous origin of exhaled isoprene our findings highlight the potential of breath analysis for non-invasive physio-metabolic and pathophysiological monitoring towards point-of-care devices.
Academic self-regulation is a key factor for motivation and learning achievement. Yet with the large range of individual factors, this is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. This study of L2 Technical English students at two German universities explored learners’ expectations and motivations, in particular regarding self-regulation and self-efficacy via the individual’s time investment in self-led study. In an initial survey, learners (N=1646) reported on their English skill levels and anticipated learning habits. Complementarily, the retrospective survey investigated learners’ (N=796) actual behavior during the course, their perceptions of language skill improvement, and their satisfaction. The initial survey indicates a clear understanding that time investment in self-regulated study will lead to greater improvement, an outcome confirmed in the retrospective survey. Additionally, students who invested more time in their coursework were more satisfied with their achievement, although most learners acknowledge they should have studied more. The results verify that learners recognize the nexus between self-regulation and language skill improvement, yet university students are not satisfied with their capacity to self-regulate their language learning strategies. While differences in students’ skill levels and academic self-efficacy result in divergent degrees of progress, students of all types report benefits to their language skills when motivated to self-regulated study.
We investigate the influence of the geometry and doping level on the performance of n-type silicon nanowire field emitters on silicon pillar structures. Therefore, multiple cathodes with 50 by 50 pillar arrays (diameter: 5 μm, height: 30 μm, spacing: 50 μm) were fabricated and measured in diode configuration. In the first experiment, we compared two geometry types using the same material. Geometry 1 is black silicon, which is a highly dense surface covering a forest of tightly spaced silicon needles resulting from self-masking during a plasma etching process of single crystal silicon. Geometry 2 are silicon nanowires, which are individual spaced-out nanowires in a crownlike shape resulting from a plasma etching process of single crystal silicon. In the second experiment, we compared two different silicon doping levels [n-type (P), 1–10 and <0.005 Ω cm] for the same geometry. The best performance was achieved with lower doped silicon nanowire samples, emitting 2 mA at an extraction voltage of 1 kV. The geometry/material combination with the best performance was used to assemble an integrated electron source. These electron sources were measured in a triode configuration and reached onset voltages of about 125 V and emission currents of 2.5 mA at extraction voltages of 400 V, while achieving electron transmission rates as high as 85.0%.
An inexpensive UV-LED photoacoustic based real-time sensor-system detecting exhaled trace-acetone
(2024)
n this research we present a low-cost system for breath acetone analysis based on UV-LED photoacoustic spectroscopy. We considered the end-tidal phase of exhalation, which represents the systemic concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – providing clinically relevant information about the human health. This is achieved via the development of a CO2-triggered breath sampling system, which collected alveolar breath over several minutes in sterile and inert containers. A real-time mass spectrometer is coupled to serve as a reference device for calibration measurements and subsequent breath analysis. The new sensor system provided a 3σ detection limit of 8.3 ppbV and an NNEA of 1.4E-9 Wcm 1Hz 0.5. In terms of the performed breath analysis measurements, 12 out of 13 fell within the error margin of the photoacoustic measurement system, demonstrating the reliability of the measurements in the field.
An Inexpensive Uv-Led Photoacoustic Based Real-Time Sensor-System Detecting Exhaled Trace-Acetone
(2024)
In this research we present a low-cost system for breath acetone analysis based on UV-LED photoacoustic spectroscopy. We considered the end-tidal phase of exhalation, which represents the systemic concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – providing clinically relevant information about the human health. This is achieved via the development of a CO2-triggered breath sampling system, which collected alveolar breath over several minutes in sterile and inert containers. A real-time mass spectrometer is coupled to serve as a reference device for calibration measurements and subsequent breath analysis. The new sensor system provided a 3σ detection limit of 6.4 ppbV and an NNEA of 1.1E-9 Wcm-1Hz-0.5. In terms of the performed breath analysis measurements, 12 out of 13 fell within the error margin of the photoacoustic measurement system, demonstrating the reliability of the measurements in the field.
Für den sicheren Betrieb eines Brennstoffzellenfahrzeugs sind Sensoren wichtig, welche die Wasserstoffkonzentration im Fahrzeuginterieur kontinuierlich überwachen, um möglichen Entzündungen bzw. Explosionen vorzubeugen. Dafür wurden von verschiedenen nationalen und internationalen Instanzen bestimmte Kriterien definiert, die Wasserstoffsensoren für einen Einsatz in Brennstoffzellenfahrzeugen erfüllen müssen. Im Jahr 2020gab es noch keinen einzigen kommerziell erhältlichen Sensor, der alle diese Kriterien bedienen konnte.
In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde für zwei verschiedene Sensoren die Eignung des thermischen Wirkprinzips für die Detektion von Wasserstoff im Kontext dieser Sicherheitskriterien untersucht. Dabei wurden mit einem MEMS-Sensor und einem Mikrodrahtsensor zwei vergleichsweise einfache Geometrien herangezogen, welche den eindimensionalen und zylindersymmetrischen Fall abbilden sollen. Für zwei dynamische Operationsmodi (gepulste Ströme und 3ω-Methode) wurden darauf aufbauend analytische Modelle basierend auf vereinfachten Sensorgeometrien entwickelt, um die Temperaturentwicklung des
Sensorelements in Abhängigkeit der Zeit zu charakterisieren. Diese Studien wurden anschließend anhand von detaillierteren Modellen mithilfe von FEM-Simulationen ergänzt und spezifiziert. Darin konnte gezeigt werden, dass für den gepulsten Betrieb sowohl die Pulshöhe als auch die Zeitkonstante des gemessenen Widerstands- bzw. Temperaturpulses als Messgröße herangezogen werden kann. Beim 3ω-Betrieb konnte zudem eine starke Frequenzabhängigkeit dieser Widerstands- bzw. Temperaturcharakteristik beobachtet werden. Die analytischen und numerischen Studien wurden anschließend durch experimentelle Ergebnisse bestätigt. Im Hinblick auf die zuvor definierten Kriterien stellte sich heraus, dass die Auswertung der Zeitkonstante beim gepulsten Betrieb im Hinblick auf Sensitivität und Auflösungsgrenze der Auswertung der Pulshöhe deutlich unterlegen ist. Beim 3ω-Betrieb können durch die hochintegrierte Messumgebung deutlich höhere Genauigkeiten und Auflösungsgrenzen erzielt werden. Für den MEMS-Sensor wurde bei einer Anregungsfrequenz von 1 Hz mit 55 ppm die bislang geringste in der Literatur berichtete Auflösungsgrenze für einen thermischen Wasserstoffsensor erreicht. Der Leistungsverbrauch ist dabei im Vergleich zum Pulsbetrieb entsprechend des jeweiligen Tastgrads leicht bis mäßig erhöht, die Ansprechzeit wird bei beiden Operationsmodi maßgeblich durch die Sensorgeometrie beeinflusst. Die geometrischen Parameter der jeweiligen Sensoren haben ferner einen starken Einfluss auf die Sensitivität, womit die Divergenz in der
Performance von MEMS-Chip und Drahtsensor erklärt werden kann. Es besteht ferner eine starke Temperatur- und Feuchtigkeitsabhängigkeit des Sensorsignals, welches bei beiden Operationsmodi indirekt proportional zur Wärmeleitfähigkeit des betrachteten Gasgemischs ist. Die Abhängigkeit vom definierten Umgebungsdruck ist lediglich für die
Zeitkonstante relevant, bei der Pulshöhe besteht keine Druckabhängigkeit. Es konnte eine grundsätzliche Eignung des thermischen Messprinzips für den Einsatz eines Wasserstoffsensors im Automobilbereich festgestellt werden. Für eine Anwendung müssen allerdings Referenzsensoren für Temperatur, Feuchtigkeit und Druck implementiert werden und eine Kalibrierung in Abhängigkeit dieser Größen erfolgen. Der 3ωBetrieb ist aufgrund der höheren Genauigkeit zu bevorzugen. Während der MEMSSensor im Hinblick auf Sensitivität, Ansprechzeit und Leistungsaufnahme gut abschneidet, liegen die Vorteile des Mikrodrahtsensors in seiner Robustheit und der vergleichsweise einfachen Realisierbarkeit
The article presents the process of developing a silicon electron source designed for high-vacuum microelectromechanical system (HV MEMS) devices, i.e., MEMS electron microscope and MEMS x-ray source. Technological constraints and issues of such an electron source are explained. The transition from emitters made of carbon nanotubes to emitters made of pure silicon is described. Overall, the final electron source consists of a silicon tip emitter and a silicon gate electrode integrated on the same glass substrate. The source generates an electron beam without any carbon nanotube coverage. It generates a high and stable electron current and works after the final bonding process of an HV MEMS device.
In this work, high-current field emission electron source chips were fabricated using laser-micromachining and MEMS technology. The resulting chips were combined with commercially available printed circuit boards (PCBs) to obtain a multichip electron source. By controlling the separate electron sources using an external current control circuit, we were able to divide the desired total current evenly across the individual chips deployed in the PCB-carrier. In consequence, we were able to show a decreased degradation due to the reduced current load per chip. First, a single electron source chip was measured without current regulation. A steady-state emission current of 1 mA with a high stability of ±1.3% at an extraction voltage of 250 V was observed. At this current level, a mean degradation slope of −0.7 μA/min with a nearly perfect transmission ratio of 99% ± 0.4% was determined. The measurements of a fully assembled multichip PCB-carrier electron source, using a current control circuit for regulation, showed that an even distribution of the desired total current led to a decreased degradation. This was determined by the increase in the required extraction voltage over time. For this purpose, two current levels were applied to the electron source chips of the PCB-carrier using an external current control circuit. First, 300 μA total current was evenly distributed among the individual electron source chips followed by the emission of 300 μA per electron source chip. This allows the observation of the influence of a distributed and nondistributed total current, carried by the electron source chips. Thereby, we obtained an increase in the mean degradation slope from +0.011 V/min (300 μA distributed) to +0.239 V/min (300 μA per chip), which is approximately 21 times higher. Moreover, our current control circuit improved the current stability to under 0.1% for both current levels, 300 μA distributed and 300 μA per chip.
Media watchdog weblogs can play an important role in media accountability, provided that the bloggers are regularly active and have an appropriate awareness of their role in the media landscape. The following article examines the presence and influence of media watchblogs in selected nations, as well as the operators’ standards and perceptions of their roles. In semi-structured qualitative interviews, operators of watchblogs in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the United Kingdom discussed their perceptions of their role, their ethical guidelines, their financing and any conflicts of interest, and their projections for the future. The interviews reveal that most media watchbloggers do not interpret their role to be a Fifth Estate with a mandate to monitor the mass media. The watchbloggers are reluctant to accept and uphold formal ethical and quality criteria, and limitations on time and money make them unable to guarantee ongoing critical media analysis. For these reasons, media watchblogs are determined to be a weak instrument of media accountability.
Eine Herausforderung performancebasierter Prüfverfahren zur Bewertung der Dauerhaftigkeit ist die Beschleunigung natürlicher Mechanismen. Dies ist notwendig, um innerhalb kurzer Zeit die Langzeit-Leistungsfähigkeit ermitteln zu können. Die Bestimmung der Frost-Tausalzbeständigkeit von Beton kann durch den CDF-Test erfolgen, welcher für Betone mit ausreichendem Frost-Tausalz-Widerstand sehr gut funktioniert. Bei Proben mit einer unzureichenden bzw. unbekannten Performance können erhöhte Randabwitterungen auftreten, welche durch das Ablösen des seitlichen Abdichtbands entstehen. Der zunehmende Randeinfluss führt so zu einer Verfälschung der Ergebnisse und zu einer Unterschätzung der tatsächlichen Performance des Bauteils. In diesem Beitrag werden Mörtel- und Betonprobekörper mit unterschiedlichen Abwitterungsraten in Anlehnung an das CDF-Verfahren untersucht. Zusätzlich wird die Oberflächenschädigung der Proben anhand einer neuartigen Messmethode mittels hochauflösendem 3D-Laserscanning ausgewertet. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Randeffekte mit der Laserscan-Methode umgangen und vergleichbare Ergebnisse zu den CDF-Untersuchungen erzielt werden können. Somit können Betone ohne Randeinflüsse charakterisiert und eine präzise Prognose der Langzeitbeständigkeit getroffen werden.
Hochschulen für angewandte Wissenschaften (HAW) kommt als regionalen Innovationstreibern eine gesellschaftliche Verantwortung durch ihre Zusammenarbeit mit Unternehmen und Gesellschaft zu. Diese Zusammenarbeit geschieht im Rahmen von Aktivitäten des Wissens- und Technologietransfers. Die Beurteilung des Erfolgs dieser Transferaktivitäten verursacht jedoch regelmäßig Schwierigkeiten, da geeignete Indikatoren zur Erfolgsmessung fehlen. Im Rahmen des vom Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) geförderten Verbundforschungsprojektes Transfer_i wurde ein Modell zur Objektivierung und Messung von Forschungsleistung, forschungsbasiertem Transfer sowie dessen Umsetzung am Markt in Form von Innovationen erarbeitet. Mit dem Forschungsprojekt wurden kausale Zusammenhänge für das Gelingen von Transfer identifiziert und daraufhin entsprechende Indikatoren definiert, um auf dieser Basis die Steuerung von Transferprozessen zu ermöglichen.
In diesem Beitrag werden zwei im Projekt Transfer_i entwickelte Modelle und Indikatoren vorgestellt, die die Voraussetzungen für einen erfolgreichen Transferprozess abbilden können. Auf dieser Grundlage zeigen wir anhand eines Projekts (MAGGIE) der Ostbayerischen Technischen Hochschule (OTH) Regensburg mit mehreren regionalen Partnern, wie die vorher definierten Modelle und Indikatoren in einem konkreten Anwendungsfall verwendet werden können. Abschließend beschreiben wir die erforderlichen Rahmenbedingungen für die erfolgreiche Umsetzung von Transfer an Hochschulen und wie darauf bezogene Indikatoren effektiv eingeführt werden können.
The performance of nanoelectronic and molecular electronic devices relies strongly on the employed functional units and their addressability, which is often a matter of appropriate interfaces and device design. Here, we compare two promising designs to build solid-state electronic devices utilizing the same functional unit. Optically addressable Ru-terpyridine complexes were incorporated in supramolecular wires or employed as ligands of gold nanoparticles and contacted by nanoelectrodes. The resulting small-area nanodevices were thoroughly electrically characterized as a function of temperature and light exposure. Differences in the resulting device conductance could be attributed to the device design and the respective transport mechanism, that is, thermally activated hopping conduction in the case of Ru-terpyridine wire devices or sequential tunneling in nanoparticle-based devices. Furthermore, the conductance switching of nanoparticle-based devices upon 530 nm irradiation was attributed to plasmon-induced metal-to-ligand charge transfer in the Ru-terpyridine complexes used as switching ligands. Finally, our results reveal a superior device performance of nanoparticle-based devices compared to molecular wire devices based on Ru-terpyridine complexes as functional units.
Field emitter arrays (FEAs) are a promising component for novel vacuum micro- and nanoelectronic devices, such as microwave power amplifiers or fast-switching X-ray sources. However, the interrelated mechanisms responsible for FEA degradation and failure are not fully understood. Therefore, we present a measurement method for quantitative observation of individual emission sites during integral operation using a low-cost, commercially available CMOS imaging sensor. The emission and degradation behavior of three differently doped FEAs is investigated in current-regulated operation. The measurements reveal that the limited current of the p-doped emitters leads to an activation of up to 55% of the individual tips in the array, while the activation of the n-type FEA stopped at around 30%. This enhanced activation results in a more continuous and uniform current distribution for the p-type FEA. An analysis of the individual emitter characteristics before and after a constant current measurement provides novel perspectives on degradation behavior. A burn-in process that trims the emitting tips to an integral current-specific ideal field enhancement factor is observed. In this process, blunt tips are sharpened while sharp tips are dulled, resulting in homogenization within the FEA. The methodology is described in detail, making it easily adaptable for other groups to apply in the further development of promising FEAs.
Silicon nanowire field emission arrays (50 × 50 pillars) were fabricated on a silicon glass hybrid wafer. The glass acts both as the support for the whole structure and insulator between cathode and extraction grid. The extraction grid matches the emitter structures and is optically aligned and adhered to the emitter chip by a vacuum compatible epoxide adhesive. These chips exhibit an emission current of about 600 μA at an extraction voltage of 300 V. The electron transmission through the grid is above 80 %. 58-hour longtime measurements were conducted showing low degradation of the emission current and high stability of electron transmission.
It is common practice to use maximum FAST time-weighted sound pressure levels to assess transient impact noise, as these levels correlate well with human perception of impact noise. Maximum FAST time-weighted levels are known to be dependent on the reverberation time of the receiving room. In previous studies, an analytical correction term was developed using a Dirac impulse. The correction term is used to calculate the maximum FAST time-weighted levels from peak sound pressure levels. Peak levels are independent of the reverberation time of the room. Applying the correction term makes it possible to compare measurement results from different rooms. The correction term has been validated in several studies for the standard rubber impact ball. In this paper, the influence of the source signal (Dirac impulse) on the correction term is studied. Analytical and numerical models are employed to investigate the consequences of stretching the impulse in time and of changing its shape. The results are compared with empirical solutions developed in other studies.
A silicon field emission electron source consisting of a cathode and a grid electrode has been fabricated by laser micromachining. The cathode features 21×21 tips on an area of 4×4 mm 2 , With a self-aligning MEMS technology for the aperture grid, a high electron transmission (99 %) was achieved. Onset voltages of 50…70 V were observed for an emission current of 1 nA. A stable emission current of 1 mA ± 1.3 % at an extraction voltage of 250 V was observed during a 30-min operation.
To decrease the number of kilometers driven during the development of autonomous cars or driving assistance systems, performant simulation tools are necessary. Currently, domain distance effects between simulation and reality are limiting the successful application of rendering engines in data-driven perception tasks. In order to mitigate those domain distance effects, simulation tools have to be as close to reality as possible for the given task. For optical sensors like cameras, the luminance of the scene is essential. We provide within this paper a method to measure the luminance of rendered scenes within CARLA, an often used open-source simulation environment. Thereby, it is possible to validate the environment and weather models by taking real-world measurements with photometric sensors or with the help of open-source weather data, published e.g. by the German federal service for weather data (DWD - "Deutscher Wetterdienst"). Employing our proposed luminance measurement, the domain gap resulting from the simulation can be specified, which makes it possible to evaluate the statements about the safety of the automated driving system determined within the simulation. We show that the ratio between global and diffuse radiation modeled by the default atmosphere models within CARLA are under limited conditions similar to real-world measurements taken by the DWD. Nevertheless, we show, that the ratio’s temporal variability in real-world situations is not modeled by CARLA.
In our experiments we grew electron emitting carbon nanostructures on tungsten tips. Subsequently, we transferred the growth process to pre-structured phosphorus-doped n-type silicon and obtained emitting carbon nanostructures directly grown on silicon. After growth of the nanostructures, the silicon field emitters showed increased emission currents of 76 nA at 1.1 kV (compared to 6 nA under the same conditions before growth).
A new concept for a miniaturized planar ion source based on a surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) is presented. A fabrication method based on a stamping process is described, and the plasma actuators are characterized based on their power in dependence of the applied voltage. The voltage for plasma ignition is approx. 1 kV with a maximum plasma power of 40 W/m at 3,4 kV.
With an atmospheric concentration of approximately 2000 parts per billion (ppbV, 10−9), methane (CH4) is the second most abundant greenhouse gas (GHG) in the atmosphere after carbon dioxide (CO2). The task of long-term and spatially resolved GHG monitoring to verify whether climate policy actions are effective is becoming more crucial as climate change progresses. In this paper we report the CH4 concentration readings of our photoacoustic (PA) sensor over a 5 d period at Hohenpeißenberg, Germany. As a reference device, a calibrated cavity ring-down spectrometer, Picarro G2301, from the meteorological observatory of the German Weather Service (DWD) was employed. Trace gas measurements with photoacoustic instruments promise to provide low detection limits at comparably low costs. However, PA devices are often susceptible to cross-sensitivities related to fluctuating environmental conditions, e.g. ambient humidity. The obtained results show that for PA sensor systems non-radiative relaxation effects induced by varying humidity are a non-negligible factor. Applying algorithm compensation techniques, which are capable of calculating the influence of non-radiative relaxation effects on the photoacoustic signal, increase the accuracy of the photoacoustic sensor significantly. With an average relative deviation of 1.11 % from the G2301, the photoacoustic sensor shows good agreement with the reference instrument.
In recent years Graphene-Oxide-Semiconductor (GOS) electron emitters have attracted a lot of interest due to their outstanding durability in modest vacuum conditions. However, the performance at ambient pressure remains largely unexplored. In this study GOS-emitters are characterized in nitrogen and air at atmospheric pressure, and compared with their vacuum characteristics. For this purpose, lifetime and IV-characteristics measurements are shown. Furthermore, the GOS-emitter was operated as an ionization source for ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) at ambient conditions.
Beta Factor Mapping of Individual Emitting Tips During Integral Operation of Field Emission Arrays
(2023)
Emission uniformity mappings of field emitter arrays provide important insight into degradation mechanisms, but are often laborious, non-integral, costly, or not quantifiable. Here, a low-cost Raspberry Pi HQ camera is used as an extraction anode to quantify the emission distribution in field emitter arrays. A verification measurement using controlled SEM electron beams proves, that current-voltage characteristics of individual emission sites can be determined by combining the integral electrical data with the image data. The characteristics are used to quantify the field enhancement factors of an 30x30 silicon field emitter array during integral operation. Comparison of the field enhancement factor distributions before and after a one-hour constant current operation at 1 µA shows an increase from 50 actively emitting tips before to 156 after the measurement. It is shown, that the distribution of field enhancement factors shifts towards lower values, due to the increasing degradation for high field enhancement tips, especially above 1500.
Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are used in quantitative infrared gas spectroscopy to predict concentrations on multi-component absorption spectra. Training of ANNs requires vast amounts of labelled training data which may be elaborate and time consuming to obtain. Additional data can be gained by the utilization of synthetically generated spectra, but at the cost of systematic deviations to measured data. Here, we present two approaches to train ANNs with a combination of comparatively small, measured data sets and synthetically generated data. For the first approach a neural network is trained hybridly with synthetically generated infrared absorption spectra of mixtures of N2O and CO and measured zero-gas spectra, taken with a mid-infrared dual comb spectrometer. This improves the mean absolute error (MAE) of the network predictions from 0.46 to 0.01 ppmV and 0.24 to 0.01 ppmV for the concentration predictions of N2O and CO respectively for zero-gas measurements which was previously observed for training with purely synthetic data. At the same time a similar performance on spectra from gas mixtures of 0–100 ppmV N2O and 0 to 60 ppmV CO was achieved. For the second approach an ANN pre-trained on synthetic infrared spectra of mixtures of acetone and ethanol is retrained on a small dataset consisting of 26 spectra taken with a mid-infrared photoacoustic spectrometer. In this case the MAE for the concentration predictions of ethanol and acetone are improved by 45 % and 20 % in comparison to purely synthetic training. This shows the capability of using synthetically generated data to train ANNs in combination with small amounts of measured data to further improve neural networks for gas sensing and the transferability between different sensing approaches.
A comparative analysis of two different approaches developed to deal with molecular relaxation in photoacoustic spectroscopy is here reported. The first method employs a statistical analysis based on partial least squares regression, while the second method relies on the development of a digital twin of the photoacoustic sensor based on the theoretical modelling of the occurring relaxations. Methane detection within a gas matrix of synthetic air with variable humidity level is selected as case study. An interband cascade laser emitting at 3.345 µm is used to target methane absorption features. Two methane concentration ranges are explored targeting different absorptions, one in the order of part-per-million and one in the order of percent, while water vapor absolute concentration was varied from 0.3 % up to 2 %. The results achieved employing the detection techniques demonstrated the possibility to efficiently retrieve the target gas concentrations with accuracy > 95 % even in the case of strong influence of relaxation effects.
In process analytics or environmental monitoring, the real-time recording of the composition of complex samples over a long period of time presents a great challenge. Promising solutions are label-free techniques such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy. They are, however, often limited due to poor reversibility of analyte binding. In this work, we introduce how SPR imaging in combination with a semi-selective functional surface and smart data analysis can identify small and chemically similar molecules. Our sensor uses individual functional spots made from different ratios of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide, which generate a unique signal pattern depending on the analyte due to different binding affinities. These patterns allow four purine bases to be distinguished after classification using a convolutional neural network (CNN) at concentrations as low as 50 μM. The validation and test set classification accuracies were constant across multiple measurements on multiple sensors using a standard CNN, which promises to serve as a future method for developing online sensors in complex mixtures.
The anisotropy ΔS of the thermopower in thin films of the high-Tc superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 is investigated using off–c-axis epitaxial film growth and the off-diagonal Seebeck effect. The measurements represent a new method for the investigation of anisotropic transport properties in solids, taking advantage of the availability of oriented grown crystalline thin films instead of using bulk crystals. First results for the temperature dependence ΔS(T) in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 thin films are presented and described within a two-band model. Subjecting the films to heat treatments in different gases at relatively low temperatures, ΔS could reversibly be changed in a wide range.
Laterally coupled distributed feedback lasers with self-aligned ohmic contacts show the advantage of a considerably simplified fabrication process. These lasers exhibit superior spectral properties with full benefit from the gain coupling mechanism. Side-mode suppression ratios up to 55- and 3-dB bandwidths beyond 15 GHz were obtained for these devices.
This is one of a series of special issues published in Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, focusing on the latest advances of smart materials and their applications.
Evolution of engineering materials is strongly depending on the growing transformation of complexity in engineering products. New materials being designed are required to provide specific properties and demonstrate certain functional characteristics by manipulating their dimension, chemistry, and structure through various advanced technologies. Therefore, “smartness” of a material has become the topic of interest. Properties of smart materials may change accordingly to the applied external stimuli.
Under the direction of the editorial team, we showcase advances of organic and inorganic based smart materials and their applications in areas of specific interest such as energy, environment, and health. A total of 9 articles are published in this special issue. Six articles are focused on production, synthesis, and optimization of smart materials; and the remaining are dedicated to application of smart materials.
A simple method for fabricating gain coupled DFB lasers with lateral surface chromium Bragg gratings and self-aligned low capacitance ohmic contacts is reported. These InGaAsP/InP lasers show monomode emission with a sidemode suppression ratio of 40 dB. For 243 µm long devices a continuous wave threshold current of 17 mA was measured at room temperature.
A new method for fabrication of tunable InGaAsP-InP single-mode lasers without epitaxial overgrowth is reported. These devices show the advantage of a considerably simplified fabrication process compared to conventional tunable laser types. The lasers comprise an active Bragg reflector integrated with an uncorrugated separately pumped gain region. By adjusting the current through the Bragg reflector, the wavelength can be tuned between 1590.8 and 1595.2 nm.
We report on the investigation and realization of photonic filters based on the combination of fractional compositions of a few basic grating periods. Using a minimum set of two basic periods Lambda(1) and Lambda(2) we demonstrate comb-like few mode photonic band gap structures with arbitrary numbers of bands and frequency spacing between the bands. Optically integrated filters of different comb periods result in switchable wavelength filters for channel selection in WDM applications.
Die Anleitung zum selbständigen wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten ist ein fester Bestandteil in der naturwissenschaftlichen Ausbildung, der im letzten Jahr durch Distanz‐Unterricht stark vernachlässigt wurde. Wir stellen hier einen Ansatz vor, bei dem Studierende zu Hause mit Alltagsgegenständen in Teilaufgaben die Aktivität von Hefe in Abhängigkeit von Temperatur und Substrat untersucht haben. Die Ergebnisse des gesamten Kurses wurden in einem Google‐Dokument gesammelt und zentral ausgewertet. Gleichzeitig fand ein Erfahrungsaustausch unter den Lernenden statt und Probleme konnten öffentlich diskutiert werden. Darüber hinaus wurden grundlegende Fähigkeiten wie Beobachten, Protokollieren und detailgetreues Berichten geübt. Die Online‐Dokumentation und ‐Erfassung der Ergebnisse stellt somit eine geeignete Methode dar, die Durchführung von Heimexperimenten zu aktivieren und zu koordinieren.
Trace gas analysis in breath is challenging due to the vast number of different components. We present a highly sensitive quantum cascade laser based photoacoustic setup for breath analysis. Scanning the range between 8260 and 8270 nm with a spectral resolution of 48 pm, we are able to quantify acetone and ethanol within a typical breath matrix containing water and CO2. We photoacoustically acquired spectra within this region of mid-infra-red light and prove that those spectra do not suffer from non-spectral interferences. The purely additive behavior of a breath sample spectrum was verified by comparing it with the independently acquired single component spectra using Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients. A previously presented simulation approach is improved and an error attribution study is presented. With a 3σ detection limit of 6.5 ppbV in terms of ethanol and 250 pptV regarding acetone, our system is among the best performing presented so far.
Würdevolles Sterben muss an jedem Ort möglich sein, auch im Krankenhaus, und hier nicht nur auf einer Palliativstation. Immer noch kommt es am Lebensende zu unnötigen, nicht dem Patientenwohl dienenden, Verlegungen vom Heim oder der eigenen Wohnung in das Krankenhaus, vom Krankenhaus bspw. in ein Hospiz oder innerhalb des Krankenhauses von einer Normal- auf die Intensivstation. Damit die Zahl vermeidbarer Verlegungen im Krankenhaus reduziert wird, wurden im Rahmen eines Projektes zur Versorgungsforschung (Avenue-Pal), gefördert über den Gemeinsamen Bundesausschuss aus dem Innovationsfonds des Bundes, Entscheidungshilfen erarbeitet.
We report on our progress to develop and optimize electron sources for practical applications. A simple fabrication process is introduced based on a wafer dicing saw and a wet chemical etch step without the need for a clean room. Due to the formation of crystal facets the samples show a homogeneous geometry throughout the array. Characterization techniques are developed to systematically compare various arrays. A very defined measurement procedure based on current controlled IV-sweeps as well as lifetime measurements at various currents is proposed. To investigate the current distribution in the array a commercial CMOS detector is used and shows the potential for in depth analysis of the arrays. Finally, a compact hermetically sealed housing is presented enabling electron generation in atmospheric pressure environments.
With an atmospheric concentration of approximately 2000 parts per billion (ppbV, 10−9) methane (CH4) is the second most abundant greenhouse gas (GHG) in the atmosphere after carbon dioxide (CO2). The task of long-term and spatially resolved GHG monitoring to verify whether climate policy actions are effective, is becoming more crucial as climate change progresses. In this paper we report the CH4 concentration readings of our photoacoustic (PA) sensor over a five day period at Hohenpeißenberg, Germany. As a reference device a calibrated cavity ringdown spectrometer Picarro G2301 from the meteorological observatory was employed. Trace gas measurements with photoacoustic instruments promise to provide low detection limits at comparably low costs. However, PA devices are often susceptible to cross-sensitivities related to environmental influences. The obtained results show that relaxation effects due to fluctuating environmental conditions, e.g. ambient humidity, are a non-negligible factor in PA sensor systems. Applying algorithm compensation techniques, which are capable of calculating the influence of relaxational effects on the photoacoustic signal, increase the accuracy of the photoacoustic sensor significantly. With an average relative deviation of 1.11 % from the G2301, the photoacoustic sensor shows good agreement with the reference instrument.
We present first experimental results of the successful transfer of our monolithic integrated double-stack multi quantum well laser-modulator approach from the traditional InGaAsP/InP to the more promising InGaAlAs/InP material system. In continuous wave operation at room temperature, the devices achieved threshold currents of <21 mA, fiber coupled optical power levels up to 570 μW and static extinction ratios in the range of 15 dB/V. The measured small-signal modulation bandwidth of about 10 GHz is capacitance limited due to a conservative device layout.
We present a new method for fabrication of tunable InGaAsP-InP single mode lasers without epitaxial overgrowth. These devices show the advantage of a considerably simplified fabrication process compared to conventional tunable laser types. The lasers comprise an active Bragg reflector integrated with an uncorrugated separately pumped gain region. To overcome the extensive and expensive overgrowth step we realized a surface grating on both sides of the ridge mesa, which provides DFB operation. By adjusting the current through the Bragg reflector, the wavelength can be tuned between 1590.8 nm and 1595.2 nm. A maximum of 11 wavelength channels with an average spacing of ~0.5 nm and a constant optical output power of ~0.5 mW are addressable.
We report on dynamic measurements on antiphase complex coupled 1.55 /spl mu/m DFB lasers. The antiphase complex coupling mechanism is realized by periodically etching the active layer and quarternary InGaAsP overgrowth. This new fabrication approach results in very narrow linewidths measured on devices with rather short resonator lengths. The minimum linewidth for a 375 /spl mu/m long ridge waveguide laser was only 250 kHz at an optical output power of 4 mW. The RC-limited 3dB-bandwidth for those devices was /spl sim/6 GHz. Using circuit model corrections, the intrinsic bandwidth limitation of those lasers was found to be 17.4 GHz.
Trace gas analysis in breath is challenging due to the vast number of different components. We present a highly sensitive quantum cascade laser based photoacoustic setup for breath analysis. Scanning the range between 8263 and 8270 nm with a spectral resolution of 48 pm, we are able to quantify acetone and ethanol within a typical breath matrix containing water and CO2. We photoacoustically acquired spectra within this region of mid-infra-red light and prove that those spectra do not suffer from non-spectral interferences. The purely additive behavior of a breath sample spectrum was verified by comparing it with the independently acquired single component spectra using Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients. A previously presented simulation approach is improved and an error attribution study is presented. With a 3σ detection limit of 6.5 ppbv in terms of ethanol and 250 pptv regarding acetone, our system is among the best performing presented so far.
Self-assembled and coherently strained Ge dots were grown on a Si/SiGe superlattice, which was deposited on a flat Si(001) substrate surface patterned with a regular array of straight trenches. The superlattice translates the surface modulation of the substrate into a strain-field modulation, which causes the Ge dots on its surface to form along straight lines above the buried trenches. This approach provides self-assembled Ge dots with excellent lateral periodicity, which might be useful for fabricating dot-based field-effect-transistors (DotFETs). Here, we propose the concept of a modulation-doped p-channel DotFET (p-MOD-DotFET). The p-MOD-DotFET relies on embedded Ge-rich nanostructures, which provide p-channels through the Ge-rich dots. A high Ge concentration in the dots is desirable in order to exploit the high hole mobility of Ge-rich material. We show that the commonly observed Si–Ge intermixing during Si capping of Ge dots can be suppressed by overgrowing the islands at low temperature.
Feldemissionselektronenquellen sind aufgrund ihrer prinzipiellen Vorteile gegenüber Glühkathoden bereits seit längerer Zeit Gegenstand der Forschung und werden bisher nur in einigen Spezialanwendungen erfolgreich eingesetzt. Hierbei werden Einzelspitzen mit Spannungen im kV-Bereich und Strömen im nA-Bereich betrieben. Dagegen werden für miniaturisierte Sensorsysteme eher Spannungen von ca. 100 V und Ströme von ca. 1 mA benötigt. Dazu wurden bisher meist Feldemissionskathoden mit CNTs vorgeschlagen, welche für Anwendungen in der Halbleiterindustrie aufgrund des Kohlenstoffanteils nicht erwünscht sind. Ziel unserer Arbeit ist es, Si-basierte Elektronenquellen zu realisieren, die mit anderen miniaturisierten Vakuumsensoren auf einem Chip integrierbar sind. Mithilfe eines optimierten Herstellungsprozesses konnten wir p-Si-Spitzenarrays mit Spitzenradien von wenigen nm realisieren [1]. Messungen an diesen Strukturen zeigen ein sehr homogenes Emissionsverhalten, das vor allem im Sättigungsbereich bei Emissionsströmen von ca. 10 nA pro Spitze zeitlich stabil (Schwankungen < 5 %) und optisch schaltbar (Faktor > 2.5) ist [2].