Electronic Engineering Research Articles

Balancing the Binding of Intermediates Enhances Alkaline Hydrogen Oxidation on D-Band Center Modulated Pd Sites.

Exploring efficient alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) electrocatalysts is of great concern for constructing anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). Herein, d-band center modulated PdCo alloys with ultralow Pd content anchored onto the defective carbon support (abbreviated as PdCo/NC hereafter) are proposed as highly efficient HOR catalyst. The as-prepared catalyst exhibits exceptional HOR performance compared to the Pt/C catalyst, achieving thermodynamically spontaneous and kinetically preferential reactions. Specifically, the resultant PdCo/NC demonstrates a marked enhancement in alkaline HOR performance, with the highest mass and specific activities of 1919.6 mA mgPd-1 and 1.9 mA cm-2, 51.1 and 4.2 times higher than those of benchmark of Pt/C, along with an excellent stability in a chronoamperometry test. In the analysis of in situ Raman spectra, it was discovered that tetrahedrally coordinated H-bonded water molecules were formed during the HOR process. This indicates that the promotion of interfacial water molecule formation and enhancement of HOR activities in PdCo/NC are facilitated by defect engineering and the turning of d-band center in PdCo alloy. The essential knowledge obtained in this study could open up a new direction for modifying the electronic structure of cost-effective HOR catalysts through electronic structure engineering.

Enhancing Ethiopian power distribution with novel hybrid renewable energy systems for sustainable reliability and cost efficiency

Economic development relies on access to electrical energy, which is crucial for society’s growth. However, power shortages are challenging due to non-renewable energy depletion, unregulated use, and a lack of new energy sources. Ethiopia’s Debre Markos distribution network experiences over 800 h of power outages annually, causing financial losses and resource waste on diesel generators (DGs) for backup use. To tackle these concerns, the present study suggests a hybrid power generation system, which combines solar and biogas resources, and integrates Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) and Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHES) technologies into the system. The study also thoroughly analyzes the current and anticipated demand connected to the distribution network using a backward/forward sweep load flow analysis method. The results indicate that the total power loss has reached its absolute maximum, and the voltage profiles of the networks have dropped below the minimal numerical values recommended by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards (i.e., 0.95–1.025 p.u.). After reviewing the current distribution network’s operation, additional steps were taken to improve its effectiveness, using metaheuristic optimization techniques to account for various objective functions and constraints. In the results section, it is demonstrated that the whale optimization algorithm (WOA) outperforms other metaheuristic optimization techniques across three important objective functions: financial, reliability, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This comparison is based on the capability of the natural selection whale optimization algorithm (NSWOA) to achieve the best possible values for four significant metrics: Cost of Energy (COE), Net Present Cost (NPC), Loss of Power Supply Probability (LPSP), and GHG Emissions. The NSWOA achieved optimal values for these metrics, namely 0.0812 €/kWh, 3.0017 × 106 €, 0.00875, and 7.3679 × 106 kg reduced, respectively. This is attributable to their thorough economic, reliability, and environmental evaluation. Finally, the forward/backward sweep load flow analysis employed during the proposed system’s integration significantly reduced the impact of new energy resources on the distribution network. This was evident in the reduction of total power losses from 470.78 to 18.54 kW and voltage deviation from 6.95 to 0.35 p.u., as well as the voltage profile of the distribution system being swung between 1 and 1.0234 p.u., which now comply with the standards set by the IEEE. Besides, a comparison of the cost and GHG emission efficiency of the proposed hybrid system with existing (grid + DGs) and alternative (only DGs) scenarios was done. The findings showed that, among the scenarios examined, the proposed system is the most economical and produces the least amount of GHG emissions.

Electronic Structure Engineering of Pt-Ni Alloy NPs by Coupling of Gold Single Atoms on N-Doped Carbon for Highly Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction and Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

Improving the catalytic activity and durability of platinum-based alloy catalysts remains a formidable challenge in the context of renewable energy electrolysis applications. Herein, a facile and rapid photochemical deposition strategy for the synthesis of gold single atoms (Au SAs) anchored on N-doped carbon is presented. These Au SAs serve as a charge redistribution support for Pt-Ni alloy nanoparticles (PtNiNPs/AuSA-NDC), creating an extended electron-donating interface with Pt-Ni alloy sites. Consequently, the PtNiNPs/AuSA-NDC hybrid catalyst manifests exceptional catalytic performance and durability in both the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under acidic conditions. Specifically, in ORR, it exhibits a half-wave potential (0.92V vs RHE), with a mass activity 20.4 times superior to Pt/C at 0.9V. In HER, PtNiNPs/AuSA-NDC demonstrates a notably reduced overpotential of 19.1mV vs RHE at 10mAcm-2 and a mass activity 38 times higher than Pt/C (at 0.25mV). Furthermore, this hybrid catalyst displays outstanding durability, with only an 8.0mV decay observed for ORR and a 6.9mV decay for HER after 10000 cycles. Theoretical calculations provide insight into the mechanism, demonstrating that isolated Au sites effectively modulate the electronic structure of Pt-Ni alloy sites, facilitating intermediate adsorption and enhancing reaction kinetics.

Reconstruction of Electric Double Layer on the Anode Interface by Localized Electronic Structure Engineering for Aqueous Zn Ion Batteries

AbstractThe electric double layer (EDL) at the electrode/electrolyte interface plays a crucial role to the electrochemical reactions of zinc ion batteries. For Zn anode, the EDL consists of H2O dipoles, which can cause Zn corrosion and passivation. Herein, the localized electronic‐rich (LER) structure performing as soild electrolyte interphase (SEI) changes the electron distribution, leading to the rapid capture of Zn2+, thus promoting the desolvation of the cH2O shell. Moreover, the LER generates an electrostatic repulsion effect to SO42−. Consequently, a unique H2O‐poor EDL is reconstructed with the distribution of Zn2+‐H2O‐SO42−, which inhibits side reactions and improves the deposition kinetics of Zn2+. In situ Raman intuitively confirms that the zinc‐ion‐flux is uniform during the whole electroplating process. LER as regulator for EDL structure, leads to smooth and fast Zn2+ deposition. The performance enhancement is demonstrated by LER@Zn//LER@Zn cells, which exhibit exceptional lifespan for 4800 h. Furthermore, the LER@Zn///MnO2 cell shows improved cycling stability over 1500 cycles, with a high capacity of 124 mAh g−1 at 5 C.

Development of the Bipolar Junction Transistor Diagnostic Test (BJTDT) to explore the second-year undergraduate Myanmar electronic and Thai electrical engineering students’ understanding of BJT working principles and applications

ABSTRACT A bipolar junction transistor (BJT) and its operation are fundamental concepts for the understanding of power electronics (industrial electronics), transistor-transistor logic (TTL), electronic switching, and signal amplification in modern electronics. Previous research showed that non-major engineering, computer, electronic, and electrical engineering students could not understand the basic concepts involved in a BJT. This paper describes the development of a two-tier diagnostic test, the test’s administration, limitations, the participants’ detailed context, and findings from a study that explores Myanmar and Thai second-year undergraduate students’ understanding of BJT working principles and applications. The results revealed that many students in both countries had the same alternative conceptions about collector current in each operation mode of the BJT. Some alternative conceptions differ from the previous research, such as a) the collector current does not depend on the base current in cut-off mode, and b) changing the collector current does not depend on the base current in active mode, but it depends on the collector supply voltage. These research findings provide valuable information and instruments for teachers to insight, prevent, and correct the alternative conceptions proposed by students.

Unleashing Innovation in Electrical and Electronic Engineering: The Role of New Technology in Driving Progress

This research paper explores the dynamic landscape of electrical and electronic engineering, focusing on the pivotal role of new technologies in driving progress and innovation. The study conducts a comprehensive review of recent technological innovations, with a particular emphasis on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), the pervasive influence of the Internet of Things (IoT), and the transformative capabilities of 5G technology. Through a meticulous evaluation, the paper underscores the profound impact of these innovations on the field, emphasizing their contributions to enhanced efficiency, reliability, and communication capabilities within electrical and electronic systems. The implications for the future are discussed in the context of fostering continued innovation. Recommendations are presented to address the challenges and opportunities posed by these advancements. Key suggestions include investing in research and development, promoting collaboration through industry-academia partnerships, and encouraging interdisciplinary research to address complex challenges. The paper concludes by envisioning a future where electrical and electronic engineering, propelled by ongoing innovation and collaboration, plays a central role in addressing global challenges and driving societal advancements.

A multigrid waveform relaxation method for solving the nonlinear silicon problem with relaxing boundary conditions

This paper introduces a multigrid FAS Waveform Relaxation method (FAS-MGWR) for solving a heat transfer model in a thin and homogeneous silicon bar with constant density and heat capacity. This method exhibits versatility, making it applicable to a range of problems including electronic device engineering, numerical simulation of nanofluids, among others. The Finite Difference Method with central differences (CDS) for spatial discretization and the Crank-Nicolson method for temporal approximation were utilized. Comparison with literature results and code verification demonstrated that irrespective of the combinations of physical and numerical parameters, the apparent order of discretization error converges to the theoretical asymptotic order. The study underscores the superior performance of the proposed FAS-MGWR method, notable for its parallel architecture, particularly in terms of computational time, compared to existing literature. Notably, the FAS-MGWR method was found to have excellent convergence factor and speed-up in relation to its singlegrid version, underscoring its efficiency and practical advantage in addressing complex thermal problems.

Engineering Education in the Age of AI: Analysis of the Impact of Chatbots on Learning in Engineering

The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of using AI chatbots on learning within the context of engineering education. We framed this study on the principles of how learning works in order to describe the contributions and challenges of AI chatbots in five categories: (1) facilitating the acquisition, completion, or activation of prior knowledge and helping organize knowledge and making connections; (2) enhancing student motivation to learn; (3) fostering self-directed learning and the acquisition, practice, and application of the skills and knowledge they acquire; (4) supporting goal-directed practice and feedback; and (5) addressing student diversity and creating a positive classroom environment. To elicit the uses, benefits, and drawbacks of using AI chatbots in students’ learning, we conducted a thematic analysis of qualitative data gathered from surveying 38 student volunteers from 5 different electronic and mechatronic engineering courses at a South American university. Based on a literature review and an evidence-based discussion, we offer practical suggestions for instructors who want to promote the use of AI to enhance their students’ learning.

Electron and surface engineering of Ni2P/MnP4 heterojunction as high performance bifunctional electrocatalyst for amperage-level overall water splitting

Producing hydrogen through electrocatalytic overall water splitting with ampere-level current density is still limited by the high cost and poor stability of electrocatalysts. In this work, a new type Ni2P/MnP4 heterojunction composite material was designed and prepared as bifunctional electrocatalyst. Based on XPS spectra and theoretical calculation, the formation of Ni2P/MnP4 heterojunction successfully modulates the local electronic structure of Ni2P and enhances the ionization of H and Ni by increasing the electron transfer rate. Moreover, the special nanovilli structure and superhydropholic/superaerophobic surface of Ni2P/MnP4 heterojunction accelerates the transfer of electrolyte and gaseous products. Benefiting from these advantages, the as-prepared Ni2P/MnP4/CF not only exhibits superior electrocatalytic performance, which can release 10 mA/cm2 current density with a low overpotential of 69 mV and 247 mV for HER and OER respectively, but also shows admirable stability of continuous overall water splitting to drive 1000 mA/cm2 for 180 h without notable activity degradation. We believe this material possesses outstanding potential for industrial applications, and our strategy may provide a new pathway to design relative materials.

Study Assessing Viability of Installing 20kw Solar Power for the Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo

The practicality of solar power supply to the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technology department at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, is the main topic of this article. Some other sources of power were put into consideration. Solar power was selected as an alternative supply to the department due to its numerical advantages over others. The authors looked into the various effects in the past by different researchers in ensuring that the best is obtained from solar energy. The load estimation was carried out by considering the possible load from various units within the department. The power consumption demand was calculated. Also, the photovoltaic panel capacity and quantity were estimated. Data collection was done over the course of three days. The voltages generated by the photovoltaic panel on an hourly basis were recorded. These form the basis for plotting graphs that reveal the feasibility of the project in the institution.

Design and Fabrication of Automated Counting Machine

Abstract: The design and fabrication of an automatic counting device specifically for wedges are presented in this work. The device effectively counts wedges in a variety of industrial processes by utilizing electronic control systems and precise engineering concepts. The design incorporates a user-friendly interface for smooth operation and sensors for precise detection. In order to assure dependable operation, fabrication entails programming embedded systems and assembling specialized components. For businesses producing wedges, the automated counting machine provides a workable way to improve efficiency and quality assurance.

The Evolution of Tourism in Afghanistan: A Review of the Last 50 Years

The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive review of the evolution of tourism in Afghanistan over the past 50 years, examining the factors, challenges, and opportunities that have shaped the industry's development and impact on the country's cultural, social, and economic landscapes. This review paper employed a systematic approach, including comprehensive searches using electronic databases and search engines, screening of articles based on inclusion criteria, full-text review, systematic analysis of included articles, and synthesis of key findings, methodologies, reports, news, and best practices to provide a comprehensive overview of the Evolution of Tourism in Afghanistan: A Review of the Last 50 Years. The review reveals the profound impact of the political and security situation, the influence of factors on tourist arrivals such as heritage sites and geopolitical factors, the evolution of marketing strategies and promotion efforts, and the challenges and opportunities faced by Afghanistan's tourism industry, including political instability, security concerns, inadequate infrastructure, limited financing, and negative perceptions, with the potential for sustainable development through strengthened security measures, improved infrastructure, enhanced marketing efforts, and international partnerships. In conclusion, Afghanistan has the potential to develop a thriving and sustainable tourism sector by addressing challenges, capitalizing on unique attractions, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, leading to economic growth, cultural preservation, and employment opportunities. Strengthen security, preserve heritage, enhance marketing, collaborate with agencies, improve infrastructure, foster partnerships, and involve local communities for Afghan tourism development

Association of Entamoeba gingivalis with Periodontal Disease—Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The oral cavity is a habitat to a diverse range of organisms that make up an essential element of the human microbiota. There are up to 1000 species of micro-organisms capable of colonizing the mouth. Thirty percent of them are uncultivable. The genus Entamoeba includes several species, out of which at least seven of them are able to inhabit the human body (Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar, Entamoeba moshkovskii, Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba polecki, Entamoeba hartmann, Entamoeba gingivalis). It was shown that only E. gingivalis is able to colonize the oral cavity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association and prevalence of E. gingivalis in periodontal disease using two electronic database search engines. In order to have a broader view of the subject, a comprehensive manual search was conducted between 15th February 2023 and 1 April 2023 on these content aggregators and the initial search resulted in 277 articles using the keywords “E. gingivalis”, “periodontitis”, “E. gingivalis”, “periodontal disease”, “prevalence”, and “incidence”, in different combinations. The results showed that 755 patients were infected with E. gingivalis out of a total number of 1729 patients diagnosed with periodontal disease, indicating a global prevalence of 43% in the set of patients analyzed. E. gingivalis was prevalent in 58% of the patients that had gingivitis and in 44% of the patients with periodontitis. Prevalence of E. gingivalis based on gender was 43% in female patients and 47% in male patients. The results indicate that the higher incidence of E. gingivalis in people with periodontal disease compared to healthy people is more than just a sign of the disease; it could also be linked to the severity of the condition and the disease propensity to progress.

Stabilizing Anionic Redox and Tuning Its Extent in Na-Rich Cathode Materials through Electronic Structure Engineering

Stabilizing Anionic Redox and Tuning Its Extent in Na-Rich Cathode Materials through Electronic Structure Engineering

The Impact of Building Information Modeling Technology on Cost Management of Civil Engineering Projects: A Case Study of the Mombasa Port Area Development Project

Introduction: This study examines the impact of building information modeling on the cost management of engineering projects, focusing specifically on the Mombasa Port Area Development Project. The objective of this research is to determine the mechanisms through which building information modeling facilitates stakeholder collaboration, reduces construction-related expenses, and enhances the precision of cost estimation. Furthermore, this study investigates barriers to execution, assesses the impact on the project’s transparency, and suggests approaches to maximize resource utilization. Methodology: This study employed a mixed-method research design comprising document reviews and surveys. During the document review, credible databases including ScienceDirect and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Xplore were explored. The survey included 69 professionals, among which were project managers, cost estimators, and building information modeling administrators. The mixed-methods approach prioritized ethical considerations and the statistical Package for the Social Sciences and Microsoft Excel were used in the analysis. Results: The results show that building information modeling is a valuable system for organizations looking to reduce project costs. The results note that the technology improves cost estimation accuracy, facilitates the identification of cost-related risks, and promotes collaborative decision-making. Conclusions: Building information modeling is an effective cost-estimating technology that positively impacts additional project aspects such as decision-making, collaboration, performance, and delivery time. Therefore, the Mombasa Port Area Development Project should inspire other stakeholders in engineering and construction to embrace building information modeling.

Bibliometric Analysis of Microgrid Control Strategy from 2007 to 2022 Based on CiteSpace

Efficient and reliable control strategy is the key to the stable operation of microgrids. Most studies on microgrid control strategy are from single perspectives, lacking integrated views. Thus, we use CiteSpace to process a multidimensional bibliometric analysis to depict the publication statistics, collaboration dynamics, research status, and development trends; we also construct a panorama knowledge framework and show future research features. We discover that microgrid control strategy is a hot domain with global cooperation. Besides, electrical and electronic engineering is the most distinctive discipline, and droop control is one of the most critical control methods. In addition, future studies may focus on engineering application and sustainability; some ongoing hotspots have generated new trends, such as battery, stability analysis, and renewable energy sources. This research is innovative; we provide comprehensive and integrated knowledge details, show the clear theoretical logical structure, and pinpoint future practical frontiers: the research is objective, quantitative, full-scale, multidimensional, and future-oriented, making up for the shortcomings of previous review studies. The results provide valuable theory and practice references for scholars new and interested in this field.

A scoping review of digital fabrication techniques applied to prosthetics and orthotics: Part 1 of 2-Prosthetics.

Traditionally, the manufacture of prostheses is time-consuming and labor-intensive. One possible route to improving access and quality of these devices is the digitalizing of the fabrication process, which may reduce the burden of manual labor and bring the potential for automation that could help unblock access to assistive technologies globally. To identify where there are gaps in the literature that are creating barriers to decision-making on either appropriate uptake by clinical teams or on the needed next steps in research that mean these technologies can continue on a pathway to maturity. Scoping literature review. A comprehensive search was completed in the following databases: Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health Archive, CINAHL Plus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Association for Computing Machinery, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and Engineering Village, resulting in 3487 articles to be screened. After screening, 130 lower limb prosthetic articles and 117 upper limb prosthetic articles were included in this review. Multiple limitations in the literature were identified, particularly a lack of long-term, larger-scale studies; research into the training requirements for these technologies and the necessary rectification processes; and a high range of variance of production workflows and materials which makes drawing conclusions difficult. These limitations create a barrier to adequate evidence-based decision-making for clinicians, technology developers, and wider policymakers. Increased collaboration between academia, industry, and clinical teams across more of the pathway to market for new technologies could be a route to addressing these gaps.

Bimetal organic framework derived CoM@N–C composites as bifunctional oxygen catalysts for Zn-air batteries

Metal-loaded nitrogen-doped carbon (M@N–C) catalysts have shown promise as electrocatalysts for replacing noble metal catalysts in industrial processes. To study the influence on structural and performance caused by different bimetal doping, a family of bimetals CoM@N–C (M = Cu/Ni/Fe) composites with porous surface and abundant C defects were well-designed. After bimetallic doping, more defects are introduced into the carbon frameworks, and the metal-N species are fixed. As such, efficient utilization of active sites and rapid mass transfer make the reaction kinetics process more favorable and stable. Density functional theory calculations indicate that Cu/Ni doping optimizes the electronic environment of the Co–N, resulting in the balanced adsorption and dissociation of oxygen intermediates. While the synergy of FeCo activates the O=O, which promotes the sharp decrease in free energy of ∗OOH to ∗O, shifting the rate-determining step for oxygen reduction reaction. This indicates the adsorption site transfer of CoFe0.05@N–C in oxygen reduction and evolution reactions. The CoFe0.05@N–C catalyst exhibits superior bifunctional catalytic activity (with a potential gap of 0.80 V) than that of Pt catalysts. This work presents a simple strategy to fabricate well-defined bimetals doping in bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts and it is expected to inspire future work on the role of electronic structure modulation and interface engineering.

Regulating the Phase and Optical Properties of Mixed‐Halide Perovskites via Hot‐Electron Engineering

AbstractThe rapid development of mixed‐halide perovskites has established a versatile optoelectronic platform owing to their extraordinary physical properties, but there remain challenges toward achieving highly reliable synthesis and performance, in addition, post‐synthesis approaches for tuning their photoluminescence properties after device fabrication remain limited. In this work, an effective approach is reported to leveraging hot electrons generated from plasmonic nanostructures to regulate the optical properties of perovskites. A plasmonic metasurface composed of Au nanoparticles can effectively tailor both photoluminescence and location‐specific phase segregation of mixed‐halide CsPbI2Br thin films. The ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy measurements reveal hot electron injection on the timescale of hundreds of femtoseconds. Photocurrent measurements confirm the hot‐electron‐enhanced photon‐carrier conversion, and in addition, gate‐voltage tuning of phase segregation is observed because of correlated carrier injection and halide migration in the perovskite films. Finally, the characteristics of the gate‐modulated light emission are found to conform to a rectified linear unit function, serving as nonlinear electrical‐to‐optical converters in artificial neural networks. Overall, the hot electron engineering approach demonstrated in this work provides effective location‐specific control of the phase and optical properties of halide perovskites, underscoring the potential of plasmonic metasurfaces for advancing perovskite technologies.

Portable Air Quality Detector Using DSM501A Dust Sensor and Arduino Uno

Aims: The primary feature of this research is to design a circuit that can analyze the air around the system and determine the quality of the air.
 Study Design: This paper reports on the design and implementation of a portable air pollution analyzer using Arduino Uno, DSM501A dust sensor, LCD, switches, buzzer, and multiple LEDs. The air pollution analyzer system was designed using a combination of hardware and software techniques to measure air pollution properly.
 Place and Period of Study: The research was accomplished by the authors in a group of two students under the grasp of a professor as a part of one of his course capstone projects for the Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering degree at the American International University Bangladesh (AIUB), Dhaka, Bangladesh. The authors performed their investigative tasks at AIUB from September 2023 to February 2024.
 Methodology: The air pollution analyzer was implemented using an Arduino Uno and dust sensor to generate and determine accurate air quality based on specific air contents. The system that was developed used a PM10 detection system that identified the amount of dust particles in the area. Based on PM10 readings, the air quality was identified. Moreover, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was determined using the PM10 readings. The LCD, buzzer, and multiple LEDs were used to display and indicate the air quality condition and levels.
 Results: The portable air pollution analyzer was successfully tested and found to be accurate and reliable in determining air quality. To indicate different hazardous states of air, red, green, and yellow color LEDs are used. The test outcomes were very satisfactory.
 Conclusion: This system demonstrates the use of a microcontroller in building a simple yet effective portable air quality detector. It can be scaled up for commercial production.