Advances in silicon nanowire applications in energy generation, storage, sensing, and electronics: a review.

Nanowire-based technological advancements thrive in various fields, including energy generation and storage, sensors, and electronics. Among the identified nanowires, silicon nanowires (SiNWs) attract much attention as they possess unique features, including high surface-to-volume ratio, high electron mobility, bio-compatibility, anti-reflection, and elasticity. They were tested in domains of energy generation (thermoelectric, photo-voltaic, photoelectrochemical), storage (lithium-ion battery (LIB) anodes, super capacitors), and sensing (bio-molecules, gas, light, etc).

Realization of Microfluidic Preconcentrator for N-Pentane Traces Impurities from the Gaseous Media.

In this paper, we present the work of designing and fabricating a new generation of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based microfluidic preconcentrators (MFP) for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) quantification. The main objective of this work is to quantify the n-pentane impurities using MFP for sample preparation. The MFP was analyzed using Hewlett-Packard 5890 gas chromatography, having a flame ionization detector under isothermal conditions.

Analysis of Security Issues in Wireless Body Area Networks in Heterogeneous Networks.

Body Area Network (BAN) is one of the most important techniques for observing patient health in real time and identifying and analyzing diseases. For effective implementation of this technology in practice and to benefit from it, there are some key issues which are to be addressed, and among those issues, security is highly critical. WBAN will have to operate in a cooperative networking model of multiple networks such as those of homogeneous networks, for the purpose of performance and reliability, or those of heterogeneous networks, for the purpose of data transfer and processing from application point of view, with the other networks such as the networks of hospitals, clinics, medical experts, etc.

A Simple Technique for the Precise Establishment of the Working Gap in an Electrochemical Discharge Machining Process and Some Experimental Results Thereof.

The working gap (Wg) between a tooltip and a substrate surface is a critical process parameter affecting the quality metrics and precision of microstructures fabricated using an electrochemical discharge machining (ECDM) process. Despite the extensive investigation carried out on ECDM processes for the last several years, only a few researchers have explicitly explained the technique used to establish the Wg. In the present work, the authors propose a simple, cost-effective technique using a commercially available metallic feeler gauge and a multimeter to precisely establish a Wg in an ECDM process.

A Reconfigurable Surface-Plasmon-Based Filter/Sensor Using D-Shaped Photonic Crystal Fiber.

A reconfigurable surface-plasmon-based filter/sensor using D-shaped photonic crystal fiber is proposed. Initially a D-shaped PCF is designed and optimized to realize the highly birefringence and by ensuring the single polarization filter. A tiny layer of silver is placed on the flat surface of the D-shaped fiber with a small half-circular opening to activate the plasmon modes.

Silver Nanowires in Stretchable Resistive Strain Sensors.

Silver nanowires (AgNWs), having excellent electrical conductivity, transparency, and flexibility in polymer composites, are reliable options for developing various sensors. As transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs), AgNWs are applied in optoelectronics, organic electronics, energy devices, and flexible electronics. In recent times, research groups across the globe have been concentrating on developing flexible and stretchable strain sensors with a specific focus on material combinations, fabrication methods, and performance characteristics.

A review on three-dimensional graphene: Synthesis, electronic and biotechnology applications-The Unknown Riddles.

In the last decade, carbon-based nanostructures such as buckyball (C ), carbon nanotube (CNT), graphene and three-dimensional (3D) graphene have been identified as promising materials for electronic, electrochemical energy storage (batteries and supercapacitors), optical and sensing applications. Since the discovery of graphene in 2004, scientists have devised mass production techniques and explored graphene as a promising material for a wide range of applications. Most of the electronic and solar cell applications require materials with good electronic conductivity, mobility and finite bandgap.

A Review on Surface Stress-Based Miniaturized Piezoresistive SU-8 Polymeric Cantilever Sensors.

In the last decade, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) SU-8 polymeric cantilevers with piezoresistive readout combined with the advances in molecular recognition techniques have found versatile applications, especially in the field of chemical and biological sensing. Compared to conventional solid-state semiconductor-based piezoresistive cantilever sensors, SU-8 polymeric cantilevers have advantages in terms of better sensitivity along with reduced material and fabrication cost. In recent times, numerous researchers have investigated their potential as a sensing platform due to high performance-to-cost ratio of SU-8 polymer-based cantilever sensors.

Water-mediated green synthesis of PbS quantum dot and its glutathione and biotin conjugates for non-invasive live cell imaging.

This study addresses the cellular uptake of nanomaterials in the field of bio-applications. In the present study, we have synthesized water-soluble lead sulfide quantum dot (PbS QD) with glutathione and 3-MPA (mercaptopropionic acid) as the stabilizing ligand using a green approach. 3-MPA-capped QDs were further modified with streptavidin and then bound to biotin because of its high conjugation efficiency.

Impact of Isolation and Immobilization Layers on the Electro-Mechanical Response of Piezoresistive Nano Cantilever Sensors.

In the last decade, piezoresistive nano cantilever sensors have been extensively explored, especially for chemical and biological sensing applications. Piezoresistive cantilever sensors are multi-layer structures with different constituent materials. Performance of such sensors is a function of their geometry and constituent materials.

Piezoresistive Composite Silicon Dioxide Nanocantilever Surface Stress Sensor: Design and Optimization.

In this paper, we present the design and optimization of a rectangular piezoresistive composite silicon dioxide nanocantilever sensor. Unlike the conventional design approach, we perform the sensor optimization by not only considering its electro-mechanical response but also incorporating the impact of self-heating induced thermal drift in its terminal characteristics. Through extensive simulations first we comprehend and quantify the inaccuracies due to self-heating effect induced by the geometrical and intrinsic parameters of the piezoresistor.

Atomic force microscopy and nanoindentation investigation of polydimethylsiloxane elastomeric substrate compliancy for various sputtered thin film morphologies.

Crack free electrically continuous metal thin films over soft elastomeric substrates play an integral part in realization of modern day flexible bioelectronics and biosensors. Under nonoptimized deposition conditions, delamination, and/or cracking of the top film as well as the underlying soft substrate hinders optimal performance of these devices. Hence it is very important to understand and control not only the various deposition factors like power, time, or deposition pressure but also investigate the various interfacial physics playing a critical role in assuring thin film adhesion and substrate compliancy.

Classification of pulmonary pathology from breath sounds using the wavelet packet transform and an extreme learning machine.

Background: Auscultation is a medical procedure used for the initial diagnosis and assessment of lung and heart diseases. From this perspective, we propose assessing the performance of the extreme learning machine (ELM) classifiers for the diagnosis of pulmonary pathology using breath sounds.

Methods: Energy and entropy features were extracted from the breath sound using the wavelet packet transform.

Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system for breath phase detection and breath cycle segmentation.

Background: The monitoring of the respiratory rate is vital in several medical conditions, including sleep apnea because patients with sleep apnea exhibit an irregular respiratory rate compared with controls. Therefore, monitoring the respiratory rate by detecting the different breath phases is crucial.

Objectives: This study aimed to segment the breath cycles from pulmonary acoustic signals using the newly developed adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) based on breath phase detection and to subsequently evaluate the performance of the system.