Amplitude Alternating Current Research Articles

Structure and electrochromic properties of polypyrrole films synthesized by AC electrochemical impedance spectroscopy under different amplitude

Alternating current (AC) electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was employed to synthesize polypyrrole (PPy) electrochromic films on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) transparent conductive glasses. When depositing the PPy films, a fixed initial voltage was 700 mV and AC of different amplitudes was applied. The influence of AC voltage amplitude on the structure and electrochromic performance of PPy films was investigated. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation reveals that the PPy films prepared under AC are composed of uniform-distributed nanospheres when the AC amplitude is below 400 mV, which is different from the submicron structure displayed by PPy films prepared under direct current (DC). This kind of nanospherical structure is helpful to ion transport, resulting in improved electrochromic properties of the PPy films prepared under AC compared with the PPy film prepared under DC. In particular, the PPy film prepared under 100 mV amplitude AC shows ideal electrochromic properties, with an ion diffusion coefficient of 8.13 × 10−10 cm2·s−1, a coloring efficiency of 137.4 cm2·C−1, quick coloration and bleaching switching times of 5.0 s and 6.5 s, respectively, and retains 65.7% of its optical modulation after 100 cycles.

Revealing the electrochemical impedance characteristics of lithium-ion battery (nickel-cobalt-aluminum vs. graphite) under various alternating current amplitudes

To reveal the impact of alternating current (AC) amplitude on impedance, this study investigates the electrochemical impedance with different AC amplitudes for a lithium-ion battery (NCA vs. graphite) and half cells under different states of charge (SOCs), at room and low temperatures. To determine the relationship of different polarization processes between the full cell and half cells, the symmetric cells and the distribution of relaxation times (DRT) are utilized for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis. The experimental results indicate that the medium- and low-frequency impedance arcs gradually shrink with the increase of the AC amplitude at low temperatures. DRT focuses on the anode solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI), and charge transfer processes. It is proved that the impedance arc shrinkage is determined by the nonlinear relationship that can be described by the Butler-Volmer equation between current and resistances of the SEI and the charge transfer processes. When the AC amplitude increases to a certain extent, lithium plating also causes impedance arc shrinkage. Moreover, the impedance arc shrinkage of the full cell is mainly affected by the NCA cathode under low SOC. At medium and high SOCs, it is determined jointly by the NCA cathode and graphite anode.

Cutaneous sensation of electrical stimulation waveforms

BackgroundSkin sensation is the primary factor limiting the intensity of transcranial electrical stimulation (tES). It is well established that different waveforms generate different sensations, yet transcranial stimulation has been limited to a relatively small number of prototypical waveforms. ObjectiveWe explore whether alternative stimulation waveforms could substantially reduce skin sensation and thus allow for stronger intensities in tES. MethodsWe systematically tested a range of waveforms in a series of 6 exploratory experiments stimulating human adults on the forearm and in one instance on the head. Subjects were asked to rate skin sensation level on a numerical scale from “none” to “extreme”. ResultsHigh frequency (>1 kHz) monophasic square wave stimulation was found to decrease in sensation with increasing duty cycle, baseline, and frequency, but the sensation was never lower than for constant current stimulation. For the purpose of injecting a net direct current (DC), a constant current is optimal. For stimulation with alternating current (AC), sensation decreased with increasing frequency, consistent with previous reports. Amplitude modulation did not reduce sensation below stimulation with constant AC amplitude, and biphasic square waveforms produced higher sensation levels than biphasic sinusoidal waveforms. Furthermore, for DC stimulation, sensation levels on the arm were similar to those reported on the head. ConclusionOur comparisons of various waveforms for monophasic and biphasic stimulation indicate that conventional DC and AC waveforms may provide the lowest skin sensations levels for transcutaneous electrical stimulation. These results are likely generalizable to tES applications.

In situ analysis of unsaturated fatty acids in human serum by negative-ion paper spray mass spectrometry

In situ identification and quantification of unsaturated fatty acid (FA) C=C positional isomers in human serum is herein performed by negative-ion paper spray (PS) mass spectrometry. Typically, by direct application of an alternating current (AC) voltage to the wet paper, the PS ionization could perform stably in the negative-ion mode without severe discharge. We suppose epoxidation reaction between unsaturated C=C bonds and reactive oxidative species might be initiated by a mild electrical discharge, which could be rapidly and controllably produced via a low amplitude AC voltage. Upon collision-induce dissociation (CID), the epoxide was fragmented to generate diagnostic ions indicating the C=C location. The intensity of the characteristic product ions could also be used for absolute quantification of the FA C=C positional isomers. The limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) were roughly in the range of 0.0178–0.0506 μM and 0.0218–0.3634 μM for standard FAs. Without the additional sample preparations or reactive chemical reagents, epoxidation of unsaturated FAs and ionization of the epoxide could be achieved in one-step by negative-ion mode PS, which enable a promising methodology for on-site clinical diagnosis.

Tailoring AC magnetic properties of FeCoNi(MnSi)x (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) high-entropy alloys by the addition of Mn and Si elements

In this work, we investigate the evolution with x of the microstructure and alternating current (AC) magnetic properties of FeCoNi(MnSi)x (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) high-entropy alloys (HEAs) with the motivation of exploring the potential applications of soft magnetic HEAs. The suitable addition of MnSi improves AC remanence (AC Br), AC coercivity (AC Hc) and especially specific total loss (Ps) while it suppresses amplitude permeability (μa) and AC maximum magnetic flux density (AC Bm), which suggests that the HEAs can be used as a new soft magnetic material with low Br and low Hc. Ps can be divided into two parts: hysteresis loss (Ph), eddy current loss (Pe), and further studies show that the Ph plays an important role at the frequency of 50 Hz, while the Pe is dominant in the total losses when the frequency is 950 Hz. This provides the direction of efforts to reduce the Ps. The XRD, SEM and TEM results show that these alloys contain simple FCC structure, but a new Mn6Ni16Si7 intermetallic compound appears when x ≥ 0.3, and it has a big influence on the AC magnetic properties of HEAs.

Effect of Alternating Current on the Cathodic Protection and Interface Structure of X80 Steel

This study employs potential-monitoring techniques, cyclic voltammetry tests, alternating current (AC) voltammetry methods, and surface characterization to investigate the AC corrosion of cathodically protected X80 pipeline steel. In a non-passive neutral solution at pH 7.2, a sufficiently negative potential completely protects steel at an AC current density of 100 A/m2. In an alkaline solution at pH 9.6, more serious AC corrosion occurs at more negative cathodic protection (CP) potential, whereas without CP the steel suffers negligible corrosion. In addition, the interface capacitance increases with AC amplitude. Based on these results, the AC corrosion mechanisms that function under various conditions are analyzed and described.

Simulation of YBCO Tape and Coils in HTS Maglev System

In the process of running high temperature superconducting maglev train, the AC(Alternating Current) loss of superconducting coil is directly related to its safe operation and operating cost. In this paper, the simulation model was built based on the finite element software COMSOL Multiphysics, and mainly simulated and calculated the AC losses of YBCO(Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide) tape and coils. In this model, as the solving object, the singular and infinite long YBCO tape and coils model was solved with H-formulation and the nonlinear characteristic (E-J constitutive law) and anisotrophy (B-J characteristic) were taken into consideration as the theoretical foundation. Then on the basis of the model under maglev suspension system, AC losses under different amplitude and frequence AC currents were calculated. The results shows that under different frequencies and dynamic components, the local maximum AC loss of YBCO tape and coils occurs when the steady-state DC(Direct Current) current is 30A. Then comparing with old maglev suspension system, the new system can greatly reduce the energy consumption and the material cost.

Numerical Simulation for efficient mixing of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids in an electro-osmotic micro-mixer

The present study, deals with a new mixing technique using a two-phase electrode array, which is charged with alternating current (AC) signals, located in specific parts of the geometry. This significantly contributes to a chaotic mixing mechanism using a low amplitude AC voltage within a micro-channel. Study analysis demonstrates that the optimization of the effective parameters such as geometrical features, voltage amplitude, fluid inlet velocity, AC frequency and phase lag for a defined fluid can lead to an optimum and highly efficient mixer by considerably increasing disturbances in a primary highly ordered laminar flow. Three different geometries of micro mixer are studied; one-ring type, diamond type and two-ring type and it is shown that the optimum mixing quality of 99.4, 98 and 99.8% are achievable for them, respectively. Finally all the aforementioned studies have also been done for the case of blood as a biological fluid.

AC-Induced Corrosion of Underground Steel Pipelines. Faradaic Rectification under Cathodic Protection: I. Theoretical Approach with Negligible Electrolyte Resistance

Underground pipelines protected with a thick coating and by cathodic polarisation may suffer a serious external corrosion damage in the presence of stray alternating current (AC) voltage induced by high voltage industrial electric transport system, such as power lines or electrified railroads. The origin of the corrosion enhancement comes from the nonlinearity of the currentpotential characteristics of the metal-soil interface. In this paper, we will theoretically evaluate the increase of the corrosion current density and the potential shift induced by a high amplitude AC signal to models of corroding systems: anodic polarisation curves obeying an exponential law with respect to the potential, and cathodic process under the mixed activation-diffusion kinetics. The originality of the present work lies in the use of a relatively small number of dimensionless variables to describe the faradaic rectification for the corrosion potential shift and the corrosion current enhancement. In this article, the effect of the electrolyte resistance was neglected.

The analysis of transesophageal oxygen saturation photoplethysmography from different signal sources

The photoplethysmography (PPG) signals detected by transesophageal oximetry sensor toward aorta arch (AA), descending aorta (DA), and left ventricle (LV) under the guidance of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) were investigated, and the effects of filter application on PPG signals were evaluated. Eleven cardiac surgical patients were involved. After anesthesia was induced, the TEE probe with a modified pulse oximetry sensor was inserted. Under the guidance of TEE, the AA PPG, DA PPG and LV PPG were detected respectively when ventilator was on and off. The mean alternating current (AC) amplitudes and direct current (DC) values of original and filtered PPG signals were measured. The ratio of AC and DC value (AC/DC) and ventilation-induced AC variations were calculated. Satisfactory PPG waveforms were obtained in all patients under the guidance of TEE. The AC amplitude in LV PPG was significant larger than in AA and DA PPG, and both AC/DC and ventilation-induced AC variation in LV PPG were significantly higher than in AA PPG or DA PPG either. There were no significant differences of AC amplitude between filtered and ventilation off PPG signals. The AC amplitudes and AC/DC toward LV are significantly higher than transesophageal oximeter toward AA or DA, and the effect of mechanical ventilation on transesophageal PPG can be obviously reduced by filtering techniques.

Recombination lifetime in InGaN/GaN based light emitting diodes at low current densities by differential carrier lifetime analysis

AbstractCarrier lifetimes of the recombination processes in light emitting diodes (LEDs) depend strongly on the operating point. We measure the carrier lifetimes of InGaN/GaN LEDs at low current densities by applying the differential carrier lifetime analysis. In the measurement setup the LED is driven with constant current modulated with small amplitude alternating current (AC) and the carrier lifetime is obtained from the phase difference between input AC and light output.In addition to the optical method, we also extract the lifetimes directly from the capacitance and differential resistance of the LED obtained using an impedance analyzer and compare the results to lifetimes obtained by the optical setup. The carrier lifetimes were found to increase from hundreds of nanoseconds to microseconds when the current density was decreased from tens of A/cm2 to tens of mA/cm2. Both measurement methods resulted in similar lifetimes (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

A Simple Separation Method with a Microfluidic Channel Based on Alternating Current Potential Modulation

A simple separation and detection system based on an electrochemical potential modulated microchannel (EPMM) device was developed for the first time. The application of alternating current (AC) potential to the microfluidic separation channel walls, which were composed of screen printed carbon electrodes, resulted in the oscillation and fluctuation of analytes and in the formation of a perfect flat flow front. These events resulted in an increase in the effective concentration and in the fine separation of samples. The performance of the EPMM device was examined through the analysis of endocrine disruptors (EDs) and heavy metal ions (HMIs) as model compounds. The analytical parameters that affected the separation and detection of EDs and HMIs were studied in terms of AC amplitude, AC frequency, flow rate, buffer concentration, pH, detection potential, and temperature. The separation efficiency was evaluated through measurements of the theoretical plate number (N), the retention time, and the half-peak width. Linear calibration plots for the detection of EDs and HMIs were obtained between 0.15 and 250.0 nM (detection limit 86.4 ± 2.9 pM) and between 0.01 and 10.0 nM (detection limit 9.5 ± 0.3 pM), respectively. The new device was successfully demonstrated with authentic and real samples.

Experimental study on the effect of alternating‐current amplitude on GMI output stability of Co‐based amorphous wires

AbstractThe effect of alternating‐current amplitude (ACA) on the giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) output stability of Co‐based amorphous wires is studied for highly sensitive sensor applications using a precision impedance analyzer placed in a magnetically shielded space. Experimental results indicated that the “spike” phenomenon is related to the inhomogeneous distribution of local critical magnetic fields at a lower ACA, and the GMI output stability of wires can be significantly enhanced by increasing the ACA applied by more than 15 mA. The dependencies of the maximum GMI ratio [ΔZ/Z0]max and magnetic field sensitivity ξmax on the frequency at IAC = 15 mA have been observed: [ΔZ/Z0]max has a maximum value of 117.32% at 15 MHz, and the corresponding GMI peak position Hp tends to be the saturation of 1 Oe until 12 MHz, and ξmax has the maximum of 248.34%/Oe at 12 MHz. An applied ACA of 15 mA and a working frequency of 12 MHz are therefore recommended for the circuit design of a high‐resolution magnetic‐field sensor.

Monitoring the Escape of DNA from a Nanopore Using an Alternating Current Signal

We present the use of an alternating current (AC) signal as a means to monitor the conductance of an alpha-hemolysin (alphaHL) pore as a DNA hairpin with a polydeoxyadenosine tail is driven into and released from the pore. Specifically, a 12 base pair DNA hairpin attached to a 50-nucleotide poly-A tail (HP-A(50)) is threaded into an alphaHL channel using a DC driving voltage. Once the HP-A(50) molecule is trapped within the alphaHL channel, the DC driving voltage is turned off and the conductance of the channel is monitored using an AC voltage. The escape time, defined as the time it takes the HP-A(50) molecule to transport out of the alphaHL channel, is then measured. This escape time has been monitored as a function of AC amplitude (20 to 250 mV(ac)), AC frequency (60-200 kHz), DC drive voltage (0 to 100 mV(dc)), and temperature (-10 to 20 degrees C), in order to determine their effect on the predominantly diffusive motion of the DNA through the nanopore. The applied AC voltage used to monitor the conductance of the nanopore has been found to play a significant role in the DNA/nanopore interaction. The experimental results are described by a one-dimensional asymmetric periodic potential model that includes the influence of the AC voltage. An activation enthalpy barrier of 1.74 x 10(-19) J and a periodic potential asymmetry parameter of 0.575 are obtained for the diffusion at zero electrical bias of a single nucleotide through alphaHL.

Impedance cardiography: Pulsatile blood flow and the biophysical and electrodynamic basis for the stroke volume equations

Abstract Impedance cardiography (ICG) is a branch of bioimpedance primarily concerned with the determination of left ventricular stroke volume (SV). As implemented, using the transthoracic approach, the technique involves applying a current field longitudinally across a segment of thorax by means of a constant magnitude, high frequency, low amplitude alternating current (AC). By Ohm’s Law, the voltage difference measured within the current field is proportional to the electrical impedance Z (Ω). Without ventilatory or cardiac activity, Z is known as the transthoracic, static base impedance Z0. Upon ventricular ejection, a characteristic time dependent cardiac-synchronous pulsatile impedance change is obtained, ΔZ(t), which, when placed electrically in parallel with Z0, constitutes the time-variable total transthoracic impedance Z(t). ΔZ(t) represents a dual-element composite waveform, which comprises both the radially-oriented volumetric expansion of and axially-directed forward blood flow within both great thoracic arteries. In its majority, however, ΔZ(t) is known to primarily emanate from the ascending aorta. Conceptually, commonly implemented methods assume a volumetric origin for the peak systolic upslope of ΔZ(t), (i.e. dZ/dtmax), with the presumed units of Ω·s–1. A recently introduced method assumes the rapid ejection of forward flowing blood in earliest systole causes significant changes in the velocity-induced blood resistivity variation (Δρb(t), Ωcm·s–1), and it is the peak rate of change of the blood resistivity variation dρb(t)/dtmax (Ωcm·s–2) that is the origin of dZ/dtmax. As a consequence of dZ/dtmax peaking in the time domain of peak aortic blood acceleration, dv/dtmax (cm·s–2), it is suggested that dZ/dtmax is an ohmic mean acceleration analog (Ω·s–2) and not a mean flow or velocity surrogate as generally assumed. As conceptualized, the normalized value, dZ/dtmax/Z0, is a dimensionless ohmic mean acceleration equivalent (s–2), and more precisely, the electrodynamic equivalent of peak aortic reduced average blood acceleration (PARABA, d<v>/dtmax/R, s–2). As necessary for stroke volume calculation, dZ/dtmax/Z0 must undergo square root transformation to yield an ohmic mean flow velocity equivalent. To compute SV, the square root of the dimensionless ohmic mean acceleration equivalent ([dZ/dtmax/Z0]0.5, s–1) is multiplied by a volume of electrically participating thoracic tissue (VEPT, mL) and left ventricular ejection time (TLVE, s). To find the bulk volume of the thoracic contents (i.e. VEPT), established methods implement exponential functions of measured thoracic length (L(cm)n) or height-based thoracic length equivalents (0.01×%H(cm)n). The new method conceptualizes VEPT as the intrathoracic blood volume (ITBV, mL), which is approximated through allometric equivalents of body mass (aMb). In contrast to the classical two-element parallel conduction model, the new method comprises a three-compartment model, which incorporates excess extra-vascular lung water (EVLW) as a component of both Z0 and VEPT. To fully appreciate the evolution and analytical justification for impedance-derived SV equations, a review of the basics of pulsatile blood flow is in order.

Evaluation of constant current alternating current iontophoresis for transdermal drug delivery

Previous studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that alternating current (AC) iontophoresis can significantly decrease skin electric resistance and enhance the transport of charged permeants across skin. Flux variability of neutral permeants during AC iontophoresis was also found to be less than that of conventional direct current (DC) iontophoresis. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate flux enhancement of constant current AC transdermal iontophoresis and compare the AC flux with that of constant current DC iontophoresis. Iontophoresis studies of AC amplitude of 1, 2, and 5 mA were conducted in side-by-side diffusion cells with donor solution of 0.015, 0.15, and 1.0 M tetraethylammonium (TEA) chloride and receiver solution of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) using human epidermal membrane (HEM). Conventional constant current DC iontophoresis of 0.2 mA was also performed under similar conditions. TEA and mannitol were the model permeants. The following are the major findings in the present study. The flux of TEA increased proportionally with the AC current for all three TEA chloride concentrations and at the AC frequency used in the present study. When the permeant and its counter ion were the only ionic species in the donor chamber, the fluxes during DC iontophoresis were weakly dependent of its donor concentration. The fluxes of TEA during constant current AC iontophoresis were moderately related to the donor concentration with the highest TEA flux observed under the 1.0 M TEA chloride condition although the relationship between flux and donor concentration was not linear. A trend of decreasing electroosmotic transport with increasing donor TEA chloride concentration was observed with significant sample-to-sample variability during DC iontophoresis. Mannitol permeability was also observed to decrease with increasing TEA chloride concentration in the donor under the AC conditions, but data variability under AC was significantly smaller than that under DC. The results in the present study indicate that constant current AC iontophoresis under conditions tolerable to human (2 and 5 mA) can provide predictable fluxes that were lower than but of comparable magnitude as those of conventional constant current DC iontophoresis (0.2 mA).