Electronics Industry Research Articles

A New Low-Cost Piezoelectric Ceramic Strain Detection Method

With the rapid development of the electronic information industry, more and more attention has been paid to piezoelectric ceramic materials, but the electrical properties and characteristics of piezoelectric ceramic materials have problems such as high cost and inconvenient measurement. In this paper, a new method of electroinduced strain measurement of piezoelectric ceramics is proposed, and an innovative measuring device is constructed based on the working mode and testing principle of an optical displacement sensor and piezoelectric ceramics. An optical displacement measuring device with a simple structure, convenient operation, high measurement accuracy, and good cost benefit was designed and manufactured, and the electroinduced strain performance of piezoelectric ceramics was effectively measured. It is verified by experimental analysis that the device can accurately measure the axial displacement of various piezoelectric ceramics, the measurement accuracy is comparable to the existing equipment, the error is less than 10%, and has good stability and repeatability, which provides a reliable technical means for the performance measurement of piezoelectric ceramics.

Biobased Strategies for E-Waste Metal Recovery: A Critical Overview of Recent Advances

The increasing e-waste volumes represent a great challenge in the current waste management landscape, primarily due to the massive production and turnover of electronic devices and the complexity of their components and constituents. Traditional strategies for e-waste treatment focus on metal recovery through costly, energetically intensive, and environmentally hazardous processes, such as pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical approaches, often neglecting other e-waste constituents. As efforts are directed towards creating a more sustainable and circular economic model, biobased alternative approaches to these traditional techniques have been increasingly investigated. This critical review focuses on recent advances towards sustainable e-waste treatment, exclusively considering studies using e-waste sources. It addresses, from a critical perspective, approaches using inactive biomass, live biomass, and biogenic compounds, showcasing the diversity of strategies and discussing reaction parameters, advantages and disadvantages, challenges, and potential for valorization of generated by-products. While ongoing research focuses on optimizing operational times and metal recovery efficiencies, bioprocessing approaches still offer significant potential for metal recovery from e-waste. These approaches include lower environmental impact by reducing energy consumption and effluent treatments and the ability to recover metals from complex e-waste streams, paving the way for a more circular economy in the electronics industry.

Optimizing electrical resistivity in flexible conductive films via silver nanowire doping

Silver nanowires (AgNWs) have attracted significant research interest due to their potential in conductive films, flexible electronics, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, sensors, energy storage, and integration into wearable devices. This study developed conductive inks with tailored viscosities for fabricating films with stable electrical resistance. The formulations were optimized for screen printing, inkjet printing, and direct writing by doping AgNWs into carbon paste dispersed in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Flexible conductive circuits were printed on silk film substrates, and their electrical resistance was evaluated by varying AgNWs concentration and the number of printed layers. Cyclic bending and energizing heating experiments were conducted to assess durability. The results demonstrated that doping with AgNWs significantly reduced film resistivity, with a concentration of 30 mg/ml being optimal for screen-printing, inkjet, and direct printing. Screen-printed films exhibited the lowest resistivity, decreasing from 1.2 × 10-4 Ω·cm to 3.5 × 10-5 Ω·cm with increasing AgNWs concentration from 5 to 30 mg/ml. The resistivity of inkjet-printed and direct-written films at 30 mg/ml AgNWs was 5.8 × 10-5 Ω·cm and 7.2 × 10-5 Ω·cm, respectively. Increasing the number of printed layers from 1 to 7 further reduced resistivity by 62% for screen printing, 58% for inkjet printing, and 55% for direct writing. Cyclic bending tests showed that after 1000 bending cycles, the resistance increased by 18% for screen-printed films, 25% for inkjet-printed films, and 30% for direct-written films. Screen-printed films exhibited the lowest resistivity and longest service life, highlighting their potential for diverse applications in flexible electronics and the broader electronics industry.

Reverse osmosis membrane fouling caused by typical surfactants in the integrated circuit industry: Fouling mechanism and control strategies.

In the integrated circuit manufacturing process, reverse osmosis (RO) membranes are widely used for wastewater reclamation. However, fouling by typical surfactants significantly reduces membrane efficiency and lifespan. This study investigates the fouling mechanisms of typical surfactants-cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB, cationic), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS, anionic), and polyoxyethylene octyl phenyl ether (TX, nonionic)-on RO membranes. Quartz crystal microbalance analysis results show that CTAB and TX exhibit significantly stronger adhesion to RO membranes than SDS. The order of adsorption mass on the membrane surface is CTAB > TX > SDS, with CTAB causing the most severe fouling. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations indicate that unclustered CTAB molecules contribute to severe fouling by inserting into the membrane surface. As surfactant concentration increases, clustered CTAB is less likely to enter the membrane's surface layer. A comparison of oxidative technologies-continuous dual-wavelength ultraviolet (VUV/UV), intermittent VUV/UV, and intermittent VUV/UV with chlorine, ozone alone, chlorine alone, and ozone combined with chlorine (ozone/chlorine)- reveals that pre-treating surfactants with ozone/chlorine (simultaneous dosing at 10 mg/L each) before membrane filtration effectively controls fouling. After 30 min of treatment, 29 % of CTAB and 86 % of TX were degraded, respectively. Ozone/chlorine oxidation significantly alleviates membrane fouling, increasing the normalized steady-state permeate flux (Jpss) of CTAB and TX by 245 % and 151 %, respectively. The extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory calculations and MD simulations show that oxidation weakens the adhesion of CTAB and TX to RO membranes, reducing fouling. Ozone/chlorine treatment also effectively mitigates membrane fouling in actual wastewater from the electronics industry. Post-oxidation, the flux ratio (J/J0) increased from 0.28 to 0.52, resulting in a 116.7 % improvement in the Jpss. This study combines experimental data, theoretical calculations, and MD simulations, highlighting the significance of molecular clustering in surfactant-induced fouling before and after oxidation.

Quantification and source apportionment of atmospheric oxidation capacity in urban atmosphere by considering reactive chlorine species and photochemical loss of VOCs.

Atmospheric oxidation capacity (AOC) reflects the potential of the atmosphere in converting primary pollutants into secondary aerosols and ozone (O3). In this study, the AOC at an urban supersite in Wuhan, a megacity in central China, was quantified by considering the reactions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon monoxide (CO) with atmospheric oxidants (OH, NO3, O3, and Cl). Photochemical loss of total VOCs (13.7-23.7%) during transport was accounted for by monitoring the concentration ratio of o-xylene and ethylbenzene, a VOC pair with diverse reaction rate constants with OH. AOC would be underestimated by 9.0-25.2% in the 4 seasons if being estimated from the observed VOCs instead of photochemical-loss corrected VOCs. The atmospheric oxidants were measured or indirectly estimated using well-established parameterizations. In particular, hourly reactive chlorine species were measured using an iodide-based chemical ionization mass spectrometer (I-CIMS). Cl radical concentration was calculated by assuming a steady-state between the production from reactive chlorine species and the removal by O3 and VOCs. The result showed that AOC would be underestimated by 14.5% and 1.9% in winter and spring if Cl radicals were neglected. Based on the above quantification, the composition of AOC was further apportioned to atmospheric oxidants, VOC categories, as well as the sources of VOC and CO. In winter, CNG combustion exhaust, electronics industry, and secondary formation were critical for regulating the AOC. In spring, secondary formation was the most important AOC source, followed by electronics industry and biogenic sources.

Investigating the impact of crystal face on SnO2/GO-A humidity sensor via adsorption kinetics and DFT calculations

Ranging from monitoring indoor air quality to controlling processes in the food, pharmaceutical, and electronics industries, humidity-sensitive sensors play a pivotal role in various industrial and environmental applications. The crystallographic orientation of their surfaces is one of the key factors influencing the performance of metal oxide-based humidity sensors. However, the study of different crystal faces of metal oxides is rarely discussed, such as surface energy, charge distribution and reactivity, which can significantly affect their water absorption behavior and thus affect the sensitivity and response time of the humidity sensor. Hence, the present study introduces a meticulously designed SnO2/GO-A sensor that not only validates the successful fabrication of SnO2/GO-A sensor featuring optimized crystal alignment but also delves into the intricate water absorption mechanisms operative across various SnO2 crystal faces. The First-principles results show that (110) face of SnO2 is more sensitive to the water molecule than others. Consequently, due to the (110) crystal surface growth with annealing process, the SnO2/GO-A sensor demonstrates significant performance enhancements, especially in response speed, recovery time, linearity, and repeatability. In particular, the SnO2/GO-A sensor exhibiting faster response and recovery times of 20s and 18s, respectively, which is higher than SnO2 and SnO2/GO sensor. This advantage makes SnO2/GO-A sensor a potential candidate for humidity sensing applications.

Source-tracing of industrial and municipal wastewater effluent in river water via fluorescence fingerprinting.

Fluorescence fingerprinting is a technique to uniquely characterize water samples based on their distinct composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) measured via 3D fluorescence spectroscopy. It is an effective tool for monitoring the chemical composition of various water systems. This study examines a river affected by several municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents and aims to source-tracing them via fluorescence fingerprints based on parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) components. Additional principal component analysis (PCA) clusters the WWTP effluents according to similarity. The results yield seven PARAFAC components characterizing the WWTP effluents. Considering the ratios among the components, these distinct fluorescence fingerprints are attributable to the studied industrial sectors: leather industry, meat processing, electronics industry, and municipal wastewater treatment. Furthermore, the fluorescence signal of the receiving river is examined by PCA and assessment of flow-weighted fluorescence intensities for source-tracing the fingerprints of the WWTP effluents. An analysis of the contribution of each WWTP effluent shows that during low flow, the fluorescence signal in the river is dominated by WWTP emissions. In contrast, during high flow events, the impact of WWTP emissions is masked by diffuse emissions. The techniques presented in this study have the potential to define generalizable fluorescence fingerprints for WWTP effluents of various industrial sectors and source-trace them in the receiving river. This approach represents a step closer to implementing complex fluorescence monitoring tools in rivers, tracing the impact of municipal and industrial WWTP effluents on riverine OM.

A survey of flow-based energy harvesters for powering sustainable wireless sensor nodes

Self-powered wireless monitoring systems, wireless electronic devices, and embedded microsystems have gained enormous interest in recent years due to the vast sensing and monitoring applications in various fields, including civil infrastructure, oil and gas industry, healthcare, environment, military, agriculture, and consumer electronics. The main component of these systems is a wireless sensor node (WSN). The continuous operation of WSN depends on an uninterrupted power source, which is now delivered from electrochemical batteries with short life cycles and related major environmental problems. One potential solution to avoid replacing batteries in WSNs is to explore energy harvesting as a sustainable method for either directly replacing batteries or enabling regular battery recharge. Various energies surround the wireless sensor nodes, including thermal, solar, vibrational, acoustic, and fluid flow. This paper discusses the recent advancements in the field of flow energy harvesters based on fluid flow in open environments as well as in pipelines and channels. Flow energy harvesters (FEHs) transform the energy from fluid flow into electrical energy. This electrical energy is then utilized to power WSN. Mainly, two types of FEHs, flow-induced rotation-based energy harvesters (mini turbines) and flow-induced vibration-based energy harvesters (electromagnetic, piezoelectric, and hybrid mechanisms-based harvesters), have been reviewed and discussed in detail concerning device architecture, fluid type, bluff body shapes, fluid pressure and velocity, conversion mechanism, performance parameters, and implementation. Most of the reported piezoelectric energy harvesters have overall sizes ranging from millimeters to centimeters. The power output of the flow-induced rotation-based energy harvester ranges from 0.1 to 170 mW, whereas the power output of piezoelectric flow-induced vibration-based energy harvesters ranges from 0.38 nW to 20 mW, and the power output of the reported electromagnetic flow-induced vibration-based energy harvester ranges from 2 nW to 234 mW. However, the reported output of hybrid flow energy harvesters (HFEHs) ranges from 16.55 μW to 648 mW. HFEHs can produce the highest power densities because of their combined piezoelectric and electromagnetic energy conversions.

Structural changes during wake-up and polarization switching in a ferroelectric Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 film

Ferroelectric polycrystalline hafnium oxide films hold great promise for the electronics industry, though an understanding of ferroelectricity in this unconventional material is still lacking. Here, by an in situ synchrotron X-ray microdiffraction experiment, we reveal an important role of reversible and irreversible ferroelastic switching in the mechanism of polarization reversal in a 10 nm thick Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 film and in the origin of the so called wake-up effect consisting in a gradual increase in the remanent polarization of as-prepared memory structures. During the wake-up, the oblique polar axis irreversibly rotates in some ferroelectric orthorhombic grains and becomes more vertical on average in the film, which is the mechanism of the increase in measured polarization. This effect originates from the tensile stress emerging in the film during crystallization annealing and its gradual decrease via the rearrangement of the crystal lattice, which is consistent with first-principles calculations. In the woken-up structures, the polar axis also rotates during polarization switching, but reversibly, which means a different crystal structure of Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 in the upward and downward polarization states and breaking the inversion symmetry. The results provide insight into fundamentals of ferroelectric hafnium oxide and points the way for intelligent material engineering in the field of ferroelectrics-based devices.

IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics Information for Authors

IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics Information for Authors

Mathematical modelling and a greedy heuristic for harmonic mixing and popularity-based playlist generation problem

The rise of the electronic music industry has led to a need for creative playlist-generation methods, particularly for DJs aiming to deliver seamless and harmonically enhanced performances. Harmonic mixing, a crucial process of DJing, involves synchronizing and aligning songs based on musical harmony, making the mix sound soft and clear. In harmonic mixing, the DJ has to select songs from the extensive music archive, considering notes, tempo, length, and popularity of the songs. However, manually generating playlists that adhere to harmonic mixing principles can be time-consuming. This paper introduces a mixed-integer mathematical model and a novel greedy heuristic to automate playlist generation, considering factors like popularity, tempo, and harmonic mixing rules. We compare the novel greedy heuristic's performance to the mathematical model on 16 test problems created with Spotify's API, incorporating real-world data on song characteristics. The results show that the heuristic method generates playlists at least seven times faster and has an average gap of 13.84% with the mathematical model.

Product Quality Output Measurement for Preventive Maintenance on Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machines at an Electronic Manufacturing Industry

Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines remove material from a blank or workpiece using digital controls to produce custom-designed parts. Maintaining their accuracy and precision under challenging conditions after long-term usage is crucial. This study aims to evaluate CNC product quality using Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and enhance long-term performance through data-driven approaches. The method of this study focuses on analyzing scrap rate data, employing a u-chart to monitor stability, and applying machine learning regression models—K-Nearest Neighbour (KNN) and Random Forest (RF)—to forecast scrap rates. These forecasts help identify when preventive maintenance is necessary, preserving machine precision over time. This study also applied visualization of results with Microsoft Power BI to enhance data interpretation, aiding quick responses to potential problems. Results indicate that RF outperforms KNN in predicting scrap rates. Stacking these models further improves accuracy, offering a more reliable decision-making tool for anticipating quality issues. By detecting anomalies early, manufacturers can implement timely maintenance, minimizing downtime and prolonging CNC machine lifespan. In conclusion, integrating scrap rate analysis, statistical process control, and advanced machine learning techniques can maintain product quality and reduce inaccuracies. Companies should include more proactive maintenance planning by employing better forecasting.

Ultra‐High in‐Plane Thermal Conductivity of Epoxy Composites Reinforced by Three‐Dimensional Carbon Fiber/Graphene Hybrid Felt

ABSTRACTThe heat dissipation problem brought about by high heat density components is a key bottleneck restricting the development of the new electronics industry. At present, traditional low thermal conductivity (TC) polymer composites can no longer meet the heat dissipation demand. The requirements for their thermal performance are also increasing. In this work, the epoxy resin/carbon fiber /graphene hybrid felt (Epoxy/CF/G) composites with high in‐plane TC were constructed through the synergistic interaction of one‐dimensional carbon fiber (CF) and two‐dimensional graphene (G). The synergistic effect of CF and G on thermal conductivity is explored. Graphene can bridge adjacent carbon fibers (CFs) to reduce phonon scattering and build multistage heat transfer paths, facilitating the thermal properties. The thermal conductivity value (K) of the prepared composites reaches 24.09 W/mK at a packing load of 35.25 wt%, which is superior to that of Epoxy/CF composites (12.73 W/mK). The heat transport mechanism is analyzed using infrared thermography. The heat dissipation effect is verified by light emitting diodes, further understanding the internal heat flow conduction process. This synergistic effect strategy provides a promising approach for further constructing thermal conduction networks with industrial application value.

The Impact of E-commerce Platform Tax Governance on Economic Development

With the rapid development of the electronic technology industry in the new era of digitalization, a series of emerging e-commerce platforms such as Google, Amazon, and Taobao have emerged. Digital platforms have created huge economic benefits for various countries and promoted economic development. However, with the increase in e-commerce platforms, many problems have begun to surface, the most representative of which is the tax issue. This article discusses the current status of taxation on e-commerce platforms and summarizes the existing problems. The main problems with taxation at present are the slow pace of system updates and the serious problem of tax evasion on cross-border platforms. Applying specific mathematical models is a way to observe the future trend of taxation issues. Finally, some possible measures to solve taxation problems in the future are proposed, as well as how countries should jointly deal with e-commerce platform taxation issues under the trend of globalization.

Stabilizing Electron Transport of 2D Materials.

2D materials are promising candidates for beyond-Si electronic devices. However, their stability is a key bottleneck in their industrial applications. The instability of 2D materials is mainly attributed to their intrinsic susceptibility to O2 and H2O-particularly to reactive oxygen species (ROS), which have strong oxidizing properties. Inspired by the antioxidant effect of vitamin C (VC) in organisms, a strategy based on the use of VC to stabilize electron transport in 2D materials is developed, which significantly improves the performance and stability of these materials and devices. The mobility is increased by more than an order of magnitude, and excellent performance of the device is maintained in air for >327 days, which is the best reported stability for MoS2 field-effect transistors to date. VC scavenges existing ROS via oxidation reactions and inhibits the generation of ROS by shielding excitons from oxygen quenching, which provides 2D materials lasting protection from electron trapping and oxidative damage, stabilizing electron transport. This approach, which is based on the simple utilization of readily available VC, has considerable potential for large-scale applications in the 2D material electronics industry.

Race for critical minerals: China’s ambitions and challenges

The global push toward carbon net-neutrality has made certain minerals strategic for a variety of reasons. These critical minerals are crucial in the automotive, electronics industry and in clean energy technologies in addition to having applications in advanced defense systems. The competition surrounding the supply and access to critical minerals is shaping global geopolitics. China, which has long dominated the rare earth market, is working to extend its domination over new critical minerals supply chains. The West is trying to counter China’s dominance through a coordinated strategy of forging new supply chains and alliances. This has resulted in a competition over acquisition of mines across the globe between the West and China. China’s dependence on critical mineral imports is a vulnerability for its global ambitions, which it is looking to overcome despite several challenges.

Minimum and Stable Coefficient of Thermal Expansion by Three-Step Heat Treatment of Invar 36

The low coefficient of thermal expansion of Invar 36 represents a significant consideration in light of its potential effects, particularly in industrial applications where thermal stability is of paramount importance. In light of this, a three-step heat treatment was employed, to reduce the thermal expansion coefficient, and enhance the thermal dimensional stability. The ingots produced by vacuum induction melting were subjected to a warm-rolling process at 900 °C, followed by a three-step heat treatment consisting of water quenching at 850 °C, tempering at 350 °C with a holding time of 1 h, and aging at 100 °C for 24 h. This process enabled the coefficient of thermal expansion to remain almost unchanged, exhibiting values between 0.5 and 0.6 × 10−6/°C up to 150 °C. Following the heat treatment, the total elongation increased up to 40% as a natural consequence of the reduction of residual stresses, while a slight decrease in tensile strength was observed. The implementation of a three-step heat treatment process has facilitated an enhancement of the soft magnetic property, which has exhibited a decline in coercivity and an increase in saturation magnetization. As a consequence, three-step heat-treated Invar 36 alloys are emerging as a potential candidate for utilization in the aerospace and precision electronics industries, given their satisfactory physical and mechanical characteristics.

Application of the Phase Field Approach for Crack Propagation in Viscoelastic Solid Materials under Thermal Stress: A Case Study of Solder Fracturing

To date, solder has been a crucial component for interconnecting circuit boards (PCBs) and electronic components in the electronics industry. However, solder faces certain challenges, such as cracking due to thermal changes. This paper investigates solder cracking under thermal expansion. We employ a phase field model to study crack propagation under thermal stress in a square domain and in solder with a fillet shape. The model is based on those proposed by Takaishi-Kimura and Alfat, where the stress and strain tensors are modified to account for variations in the temperature field. In this study, we consider the solder material to be viscoelastic, while the other materials are treated as homogeneous and isotropic. A numerical example is computed using the adaptive mesh finite element method, with the code implemented in FreeFEM software. The results of this study are in good agreement with previous numerical and experimental findings.

Intrafirm collaboration network dynamics, external cooperation network embeddedness, and firm knowledge search

ABSTRACT In the context of open innovation, firms urgently expand knowledge search and acquisition externally, forming complex interactions between internal networks and their knowledge exploration behaviours. However, prior research has overlooked network dynamics and treated internal networks as static. Drawing upon social network theory and the knowledge-based view, our study constructs a theoretical model that links intrafirm collaboration network dynamics with knowledge search within firms. We also investigated external contextual mechanisms such as the relationship strength, relationship breadth, and network centrality of corporate external networks. These moderate the relationship between intrafirm collaboration network dynamics and firms’ knowledge search. We empirically test the hypotheses using data from listed firms in the Chinese computer, communication, and electronic equipment manufacturing industry (C39) between 2014 and 2021. The results indicate that the intrafirm collaboration network dynamic has an inverted U-shaped effect on firms’ knowledge search breadth and depth. Relationship strength and network centrality weaken these effects.

India in the Global Microelectronics Market

The Indian government attaches high importance to the development of microelectronics industry in order to achieve the goals of Self-reliant India Campaign (Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan) announced in May 2020. The main objectives of special programs and measures are to give an impetus to the domestic manufacturing sector, attract investments, and generate direct and indirect employment. The BJP government’s vision for electronics industry is focused on expanding production facilities to meet local demand and ramp up exports. It is important to note the impact of external/global factors as well. In searching for alternative options to China, large electronic companies are considering the possibility of transferring manufacturing operations to India, noting such country’s advantages like the fastest economic growth, large workforce, rapidly expanding middle class and stable political system. Step by step India keens to become a prominent player in the global microelectronics market. The article analyzes the key stages of the development of electronics industry in India, explores taken by the current central government efforts to promote electronics system design and IT hardware manufacturing in the country.