Minimal Hysteresis Research Articles

Evidence for ion migration in hybrid perovskite solar cells with minimal hysteresis.

Ion migration has been proposed as a possible cause of photovoltaic current–voltage hysteresis in hybrid perovskite solar cells. A major objection to this hypothesis is that hysteresis can be reduced by changing the interfacial contact materials; however, this is unlikely to significantly influence the behaviour of mobile ionic charge within the perovskite phase. Here, we show that the primary effects of ion migration can be observed regardless of whether the contacts were changed to give devices with or without significant hysteresis. Transient optoelectronic measurements combined with device simulations indicate that electric-field screening, consistent with ion migration, is similar in both high and low hysteresis CH3NH3PbI3 cells. Simulation of the photovoltage and photocurrent transients shows that hysteresis requires the combination of both mobile ionic charge and recombination near the perovskite-contact interfaces. Passivating contact recombination results in higher photogenerated charge concentrations at forward bias which screen the ionic charge, reducing hysteresis.

Large electrostrictive effect in (Ba1-xGd2x/3)Zr0.3Ti0.7O3 relaxor towards moderate field actuator and energy storage applications

The need of lead-free high performance ceramics with large electrostrictive effect, minimum hysteresis loss and energy storage ability at room temperature has become indispensable. At room temperature one of the key challenges in ceramic materials is to enhance the electrostrictive and energy storage properties simultaneously. In this regards, lead-free gadolinium modified barium zirconate titanate (Ba1-xGd2x/3)(Zr0.3Ti0.7)O3 (x = 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10) ceramic was experimentally investigated to gain the competent electromechanical parameters near room temperature. Dielectric measurements exhibit a diffuse type of phase transition of relaxor phenomena and slim hysteresis loop with low remnant polarization and low hysteresis loss were observed. A moderate electric field of 30 kV/cm, recoverable energy and storage efficiency increases with Gd content. Strain-electric field hysteresis curves such as S-E, S-E2, and S-P2 profiles indicate improved electrostrictive characteristic of the ceramics. Results show that a maximum strain S ∼ 0.083% with large electrostrictive coefficient Q11 ∼ 0.054 m4/C2 and M11 ∼ 0.142 × 10−16 m2/V2 were obtained for x = 0.02 based BGdZT composition near relaxor-paraelectric phase boundary. The behavior of electrostrictive effect and energy storage efficiency suggested new possibilities of high precision lead-free ceramic actuator in a moderate field.

High current density 2D/3D MoS2/GaN Esaki tunnel diodes

The integration of two-dimensional materials such as transition metal dichalcogenides with bulk semiconductors offer interesting opportunities for 2D/3D heterojunction-based device structures without any constraints of lattice matching. By exploiting the favorable band alignment at the GaN/MoS2 heterojunction, an Esaki interband tunnel diode is demonstrated by transferring large area Nb-doped, p-type MoS2 onto heavily n-doped GaN. A peak current density of 446 A/cm2 with repeatable room temperature negative differential resistance, peak to valley current ratio of 1.2, and minimal hysteresis was measured in the MoS2/GaN non-epitaxial tunnel diode. A high current density of 1 kA/cm2 was measured in the Zener mode (reverse bias) at −1 V bias. The GaN/MoS2 tunnel junction was also modeled by treating MoS2 as a bulk semiconductor, and the electrostatics at the 2D/3D interface was found to be crucial in explaining the experimentally observed device characteristics.

Humidity sensing using vertically oriented arrays of ReS2 nanosheets deposited on an interdigitated gold electrode

We report a novel humidity sensor featuring vertically oriented arrays of ReS2 nanosheets grown on an interdigitated gold electrode by chemical vapor deposition. The vertical orientation of the nanosheets is important since it maximizes the exposed surface area for water adsorption/desorption. We find that the resistance of the ReS2 film decreases sensitively with increasing relative humidity, which we attribute to charge transfer from the absorbed H2O molecules to the n-doped ReS2 nanosheets. In addition to high sensitivity, the ReS2 sensors exhibit fast response/recovery time and excellent reversibility with minimal hysteresis. Moreover, our fabrication approach involving the direct (1-step) growth of the ReS2 films on an interdigitated electrode (without any transfer using wet chemistry or lithography) greatly simplifies the device architecture and has important practical benefits for the low-cost and scalable deployment of such sensor devices.

Cyanoethyl cellulose-based nanocomposite dielectric for low-voltage, solution-processed organic field-effect transistors (OFETs)

Low voltage organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) using solution-processed cyanoethyl cellulose (CEC) and CEC-based nanocomposites as the gate dielectric are demonstrated. Barium strontium titanate (BST) nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed in CEC to form the high-k (18.0 ± 0.2 at 1 kHz) nanocomposite insulator layer. The optimised p-channel DPPTTT OFETs with BST-CEC nanocomposite as the gate dielectric operate with minimal hysteresis, display field-effect mobilities in excess of 1 cm2 V−1 s−1 at 3 V, possess low subthreshold swings (132 ± 8 mV dec−1), and have on/off ratios greater than 103. Addition of a 40–50 nm layer of cross-linked poly(vinyl phenol) (PVP) on the surface of the nanocomposite layer significantly decreases the gate leakage current (<10−7 A cm−2 at ±3 V) and the threshold voltage (< −0.7 V) enabling operation of the OFETs at 1.5 V. The presented bilayer BST-CEC/PVP dielectrics are a promising alternative for the fabrication of low voltage, solution-processed OFETs that are suitable for use in low power, portable electronics.

Dopant-Free Hole-Transporting Material with a C3h Symmetrical Truxene Core for Highly Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells.

Herein we present a new structural design of hole-transporting material, Trux-OMeTAD, which consists of a C3h Truxene-core with arylamine terminals and hexyl side-chains. This planar, rigid, and fully conjugated molecule exhibits excellent hole mobility and desired surface energy to the perovskite uplayer. Perovskite solar cells fabricated using the p-i-n architecture with Trux-OMeTAD as the p-layer, show a high PCE of 18.6% with minimal hysteresis.

Nanostructural Free-Volume Effects in Humidity-Sensitive MgO-Al2O3 Ceramics for Sensor Applications

Technologically modified spinel MgO-Al2O3 ceramics were prepared from Al2O3 and 4MgCO3·Mg(OH)2·5H2O powders at sintering temperatures of 1200, 1300, and 1400 °C. Free-volume structural effects in MgO-Al2O3 ceramics and their electrophysical properties were studied using combined x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Hg-porosimetry, and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy. It is shown that increasing of sintering temperature from 1200 to 1400 °C results in the transformation of pore size distribution in ceramics from tri- to bi-modal including open macro- and meso(micro)pores with sizes from ten to hundreds nm and nanopores with sizes up to a few nm. Microstructure of these ceramics is improved with the increase of sintering temperature, which results in decreased amount of additional phases located near grain boundaries. These phase extractions serve as specific trapping centers for positrons penetrating the ceramics. The positron trapping and ortho-positronium decaying components are considered in the mathematical treatment of the measured spectra. Classic Tao-Eldrup model is used to draw the correlation between the ortho-positronium lifetime and the size of nanopores, which is complementary to porosimetry data. The studied ceramics with optimal nanoporous structure are highly sensitive to humidity changes in the region of 31-96% with minimal hysteresis in adsorption-desorption cycles.

Composition, Compatibility, and the Functional Performances of Ternary NiTiX High-Temperature Shape Memory Alloys

A general procedure to optimize shape memory alloys (SMAs) for specific engineering performance metrics is outlined and demonstrated through a study of ternary, NiTiX high-temperature SMAs, where X = Pd, Hf, Zr. Transformation strains are calculated using the crystallographic theory of martensite and compared to the cofactor conditions, both requiring only lattice parameters as inputs. Measurements of transformation temperatures and hysteresis provide additional comparisons between microstructural-based and transformation properties. The relationships between microstructural-based properties and engineering performance metrics are then thoroughly explored. Use of this procedure demonstrates that SMAs can be tuned for specific applications using relatively simple, fast, and inexpensive measurements and theoretical calculations. The results also indicate an overall trade-off between compatibility and strains, suggesting that alloys may be optimized for either minimal hysteresis or large transformation strains and work output. However, further analysis of the effects of aging shows that better combinations of uncompromised properties are possible through solid solution strengthening.

Threshold Switching Characteristics of Nb/NbO2/TiN Vertical Devices

We have observed threshold switching (TS) with minimal hysteresis and a small threshold electric field (60–90 kV/cm) in Nb/NbO2/TiN structures. The TS was unipolar with certain repeatability. A less sharp but still sizable change in the device resistance can be observed up to 150 °C. The TS without Nb capping layer exhibited hysteretic characteristics. It was proposed that the surface Nb2O5 layer on NbO2 could significantly modify the TS in this vertical device. This understanding of the surface effect will allow further control of the non-linear IV characteristics for NbO2-based switches or selector devices.

Simple horizontal magnetic tweezers for micromanipulation of single DNA molecules and DNA-protein complexes.

We report the development of a simple-to-implement magnetic force transducer that can apply a wide range of piconewton (pN) scale forces on single DNA molecules and DNA-protein complexes in the horizontal plane. The resulting low-noise force-extension data enable very high-resolution detection of changes in the DNA tether's extension: ~0.05 pN in force and <10 nm change in extension. We have also verified that we can manipulate DNA in near equilibrium conditions through the wide range of forces by ramping the force from low to high and back again, and observing minimal hysteresis in the molecule's force response. Using a calibration technique based on Stokes' drag law, we have confirmed our force measurements from DNA force-extension experiments obtained using the fluctuation-dissipation theorem applied to transverse fluctuations of the magnetic microsphere. We present data on the force-distance characteristics of a DNA molecule complexed with histones. The results illustrate how the tweezers can be used to study DNA binding proteins at the single molecule level.

A high-resolution and large force-range load cell by means of nonlinear cantilever beams

In the present work, we describe a nonlinear stiffening load cell with high resolution (the ability to detect 1% changes in the force) that can function over a large force range (5 orders of magnitude), and exhibit minimal hysteresis and intrinsic geometric protection from force overload. The stiffening nature of the load cell causes its deflection and strain to be very sensitive to small forces and less sensitive to large forces. High stiffness at high forces prevents the load cell from over-straining. We physically implement the nonlinear springs with cantilever beams that increasingly contact rigid surfaces with carefully chosen curvatures as more force is applied. We analytically describe the performance of the load cell as a function of its geometric and material parameters. We also describe a method for manufacturing the mechanical component of the load cell out of one monolithic part, which decreases hysteresis and assembly costs. We experimentally verify the theory for two load cells with two different sets of parameters.

&lt;b&gt;Construction and calibration of a bar weighing lysimeter

Generally, standard lysimeters include a lever-load cell scale, which has become expensive compared to new electronic equipment available for experimental purposes. Currently, lysimeters containing weighing bars with up to 4 load cells are economically feasible. This goal of this study was to present the construction and calibration of four weighing lysimeters built using two rectangular tanks, with a surface area of 1.35 m 2 (1 m by 1.35 m) and a depth of 1.5 m, loaded on two weighing bars. Each bar had two high accuracy loading cells connected to a junction box and a datalogger by a coaxial cable. Calibration of each lysimeter was performed after field installation. The results showed a linear response (R 2 > 0.9999) of electric signal (mV) to mass increase or decrease (kg) with minimum hysteresis. The mean absolute error of the mass estimate (0.0245 to 0.2844 equivalent-mm) and a Willmott index between the observed and estimated data (d = 1.0000) indicate the high precision of the new equipment. The results allow concluding that the lysimeters in this study are appropriate for estimating evapotranspiration and other components of soil water balance.

Toward Intraoperative Breast Endomicroscopy With a Novel Surface-Scanning Device.

New optical biopsy methods such as confocal endomicroscopy represent a promising tool for breast conserving surgery, allowing real-time assessment of tumor margins. However, it remains difficult to scan over a large surface area because of the small field-of-view. This paper presents a novel robotic instrument to perform automated scanning with a fiber bundle endomicroscope probe to expand the effective imaging area. The device uses a rigid concentric tube scanning mechanism to facilitate large-area mosaicking. It has a compact design with a diameter of 6mm, incorporating a central channel with a diameter of 3mm for passing through a fiber bundle probe. A bespoke bearing, an inflated balloon, and a passive linear structure are used to control image rotation and ensure consistent tool-tissue contact. Experimental results show that the device is able to scan a spiral trajectory over a large hemispherical surface. Detailed performance evaluation was performed and the bending angle ranges from -90° to 90° with high repeatability and minimal rotational hysteresis errors. The device has also been validated with breast phantom and ex vivo human breast tissue, demonstrating the potential clinical value of the system.

Graphene transfer in vacuum yielding a high quality graphene

The importance of proper graphene transfer process cannot be emphasized more because it is so closely related to the performance and stability of graphene devices. In this work, a new transfer method utilizing a voluntary bonding of a graphene film to a target substrate in vacuum is demonstrated. The problems originated from water and air molecules which prevent a robust bonding and degrade the electrical characteristics could be drastically alleviated. As a result, graphene field-effect transistors showed nearly symmetric Id–Vg characteristics with a minimal hysteresis and drastically improved device stability in air for more than a month could be obtained.

Cr-substituted Ni–Zn ferrites via oxalate decomposition. Structural, electrical and magnetic properties

A series of Cr-substituted Ni–Zn ferrites; Ni0.8Zn0.2CrxFe2−xO4 (x=0.0–1.0) were prepared via oxalate decomposition route to characterize the effect of Cr-substitution on structural, magnetic and electrical properties. The prepared powders were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD indicated single-phase cubic ferrites. The lattice parameters (aExp) exhibited a gradual decrease with increasing chromium, attributed to the smaller ionic radii of Cr3+ substituent. According to the obtained structural data, an appropriate cation distribution was suggested and fortified through FT-IR spectroscopy besides magnetic and electrical measurements. TEM image showed agglomerated cubic crystals with an average size of about 20nm. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements indicated minimal hysteresis characteristic for soft magnetic material. The decrease in saturation magnetization (Ms) with Cr-substitution was discussed in view of Neel’s two sub-lattice model. The change in the coercivity with Cr-content was discussed in view of estimated cation distribution and magnetization values. The obvious fall in the Curie temperature, estimated from molar susceptibility measurements, with increasing Cr-concentrations was assigned to the gradual replacement of Fe3+ ions on the octahedral sites by paramagnetic Cr3+ ions. ac-conductivity as a function of both frequency and absolute temperature exhibited a semi-conducting behavior. The decrease in conductivity with increasing Cr-content was attributed to the preferential occupation of Cr3+ ions by octahedral sites which replacing Fe3+ ions and limiting Fe2+–Fe3+ conduction.

Gate-tunable high mobility remote-doped InSb/In1−xAlxSb quantum well heterostructures

Gate-tunable high-mobility InSb/In1−xAlxSb quantum wells (QWs) grown on GaAs substrates are reported. The QW two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) channel mobility in excess of 200 000 cm2/V s is measured at T = 1.8 K. In asymmetrically remote-doped samples with an HfO2 gate dielectric formed by atomic layer deposition, parallel conduction is eliminated and complete 2DEG channel depletion is reached with minimal hysteresis in gate bias response of the 2DEG electron density. The integer quantum Hall effect with Landau level filling factor down to 1 is observed. A high-transparency non-alloyed Ohmic contact to the 2DEG with contact resistance below 1 Ω·mm is achieved at 1.8 K.

Influence of Sintering Temperature on Pore Structure and Electrical properties of Technologically Modified MgO-Al2O3 Ceramics

Technologically modified spinel ceramics are prepared from Al2O3 and 4MgCO3×Mg(OH)2×5H2O powders at 1200, 1300 and 1400 oC. The influence of sintering temperature on porous structure and exploitation properties of obtained humidity-sensitive MgO-Al2O3 ceramics are studied. It is shown that increasing of preparing temperature from 1200 to 1400 oC result in transformation of pore size distribution in ceramics from tri- to bi-modal including the open macro- and mesopores with sizes from tem to hundreds nm and nanopores until to a few nm. The studied ceramic elements with electrical resistances ~ 10-2-102 MОhm are high humidity sensitive in the region of 30-95 % with minimal hysteresis in adsorption-desorption cycles. It is established that increasing of humidity sensitivity in ceramics are related to achievement near to optimum pore size distribution and quantity of pores in the all regions. Prolonged degradation transformation in ceramics at higher temperature and relative humidity result in lose sensitivity up to 40-50 %.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ms.21.1.5189

Hysteresis of the resonance frequency of magnetostrictive bending cantilevers

Magnetostrictive bending cantilevers are applicable for wirelessly measuring physical quantities such as pressure and strain. Exploiting the ΔE-effect, the resonance frequency of the cantilevers is shifted because of a change in the magnetic biasing field. The biasing field, in turn, depends on the applied pressure or strain, respectively. With a view to the application as a reliable sensor, maximum sensitivity but minimum hysteresis in the biasing field/resonance frequency dependence is preferred. In this contribution, monomorph bending cantilevers fabricated using magnetostrictive Fe49Co49V2 and Metglas 2605SA1 are investigated regarding their applicability for future sensors. For this purpose, the biasing field-dependent polarization of the magnetostrictive materials and bending of the cantilevers are determined. Furthermore, a setup to magnetically bias the cantilevers and determine the bending resonance frequency is presented. Here, the resonance frequency is identified by measuring the impulse response employing a laser Doppler vibrometer. The measurement results reveal that cantilevers made of Fe49Co49V2 possess a distinct hysteretic behaviour at low magnetic biasing field magnitudes. This is ascribed to the polarization and bending hysteresis. Cantilevers fabricated using Metglas 2605SA1 feature a lower resonance frequency shift compared to cantilevers with Fe49Co49V2, which would result in a lower sensitivity of the sensor. However, their resonance frequency hysteresis is almost negligible.

Real-time detection of lipid bilayer assembly and detergent-initiated solubilization using optical cavities.

The cellular membrane governs numerous fundamental biological processes. Therefore, developing a comprehensive understanding of its structure and function is critical. However, its inherent biological complexity gives rise to numerous inter-dependent physical phenomena. In an attempt to develop a model, two different experimental approaches are being pursued in parallel: performing single cell experiments (top down) and using biomimetic structures (bottom up), such as lipid bilayers. One challenge in many of these experiments is the reliance on fluorescent probes for detection which can create confounds in this already complex system. In the present work, a label-free detection method based on an optical resonant cavity is used to detect one of the fundamental physical phenomena in the system: assembly and solubilization of the lipid bilayer. The evanescent field of the cavity strongly interacts with the lipid bilayer, enabling the detection of the bilayer behavior in real-time. Two independent detection mechanisms confirm the formation and detergent-assisted solubilization of the lipid bilayers: (1) a refractive index change and (2) a material loss change. Both mechanisms can be monitored in parallel, on the same device, thus allowing for cross-confirmation of the results. To verify the proposed method, we have detected the formation of self-assembled phosphatidylcholine lipid bilayers from small unilamellar vesicles on the device surface in real-time. Subsequently, we exposed the bilayers to two different detergents (non-ionic Triton X-100 and anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate) to initiate solubilization, and this process was also detected in real-time. After the bilayer solubilization, the device returned to its initial state, exhibiting minimal hysteresis. The experimental wash-off was also collected and analyzed using dynamic light scattering.

Pressure-induced conductivity and yellow-to-black piezochromism in a layered Cu-Cl hybrid perovskite.

Pressure-induced changes in the electronic structure of two-dimensional Cu-based materials have been a subject of intense study. In particular, the possibility of suppressing the Jahn-Teller distortion of d(9) Cu centers with applied pressure has been debated over a number of decades. We studied the structural and electronic changes resulting from the application of pressures up to ca. 60 GPa on a two-dimensional copper(II)-chloride perovskite using diamond anvil cells (DACs), through a combination of in situ powder X-ray diffraction, electronic absorption and vibrational spectroscopy, dc resistivity measurements, and optical observations. Our measurements show that compression of this charge-transfer insulator initially yields a first-order structural phase transition at ca. 4 GPa similar to previous reports on other Cu(II)-Cl perovskites, during which the originally translucent yellow solid turns red. Further compression induces a previously unreported phase transition at ca. 8 GPa and dramatic piezochromism from translucent red-orange to opaque black. Two-probe dc resistivity measurements conducted within the DAC show the first instance of appreciable conductivity in Cu(II)-Cl perovskites. The conductivity increases by 5 orders of magnitude between 7 and 50 GPa, with a maximum measured conductivity of 2.9 × 10(-4) S·cm(-1) at 51.4 GPa. Electronic absorption spectroscopy and variable-temperature conductivity measurements indicate that the perovskite behaves as a 1.0 eV band-gap semiconductor at 39.7 GPa and has an activation energy for electronic conduction of 0.232(1) eV at 40.2 GPa. Remarkably, all these changes are reversible: the material reverts to a translucent yellow solid upon decompression, and ambient pressure powder X-ray diffraction data taken before and after compression up to 60 GPa show that the original structure is maintained with minimal hysteresis.