Indian Institute of Technology Ropar

About: Indian Institute of Technology Ropar is a education organization based out in Ropar, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Computer science. The organization has 1014 authors who have published 2878 publications receiving 35715 citations.

Experimental Analysis of a Novel Solar Pond Driven Thermoelectric Energy System

Abstract: This paper describes an experimental study on a combined assembly of a solar pond and two-phase thermosyphon toward thermoelectric power generation under actual weather conditions and proposes its mandatory association with the biomass energy-based system. Experiments under the studied solar radiation intensity ranging between 26 W/m2 and 976 W/m2 reveal that the maximum steady-state temperature potential during the actual operation of a solar pond is not sufficient to generate the minimum threshold thermoelectric voltage for deriving necessary power needed to recharge a 12 V battery. It is also highlighted that solar radiation heats both the upper and the lower layers nearly equally; however, the heat is lost at a faster rate from the upper layer than the lower layer. Consequently, with the passage of time, the temperature of the lower layer rises, and interestingly, the probability of obtaining maximum voltage during a day is maximum during the early morning. Under the present set of conditions, the maximum temperature gain is 26.58 °C, whereas a minimum temperature potential of 45.62 °C is found necessary to produce the required voltage. The economic analysis of the proposed system reveals that the electricity generation obtained from the proposed system is better than diesel power generation. In particular, the system is suitable for locations where access to the conventional grid-based power is difficult. The work opens opportunities and establishes the necessity of developing low-cost thermoelectric materials for further improving the cost of power generation.

Airgap Interconnects: Modeling, Optimization, and Benchmarking for Backplane, PCB, and Interposer Applications

Abstract: Frequency and time domain models are developed for backplane (BP), printed circuit board (PCB), and silicon interposer (SI) links using six-port transfer matrices (ABCD matrices) for bumps, vias and connectors, and coupled multiconductor transmission lines for traces. The six-port transfer matrix approach enables easy computation of the transfer function, as well as near-end and far-end crosstalk. The intersymbol interference is accounted for by computing the pulse response for the worst case bit pattern. Furthermore, the models developed here are used to optimize the data-rate and trace width for each of the links, so that the aggregate bandwidth obtained per joule of energy supplied to the link is maximized. The modeling and optimization approach developed here serves as a good platform to compare the air-gap interconnects against BP, PCB, and SI interconnects on lossy dielectrics. It is shown that air-gap interconnects can provide an aggregate bandwidth improvement of 3x-4x for BP links at a comparable energy per bit, and a 5x-9x improvement in aggregate bandwidth of PCB links at the expense of 20% higher energy per bit. For SI links, airgap interconnects are shown to provide a 2x-3x improvement in aggregate bandwidth and a 1x-1.5x improvement in energy per bit.

Carbon dots as analytical tools for sensing of thioredoxin reductase and screening of cancer cells

Abstract: Thioredoxin Reductase (TrxR) is a redox regulating enzyme which is predestined for the maintenance of redox homeostasis of mammalian cells However, the elevated level of TrxR is associated with the progress of various types of tumors and therefore, this is a significant target for the detection of cancer cells Herein, an easily engineered 'Turn ON' fluorescent sensor probe has been synthesized for the detection of TrxR and cell imaging using carbon dots The emission intensity of fCDs on complexation with Cu2+ ions was drastically quenched Subsequently, the addition of TrxR to the solution of the fCDs-Cu2+ complex leads to the cleavage of the disulfide bond of the fCDs, which acclaim the release of 3-mercaptopropionic acid 3-Mercaptopropionic acid, being a strong bi-dentate chelating agent for Cu2+ ions, extracted Cu2+ from the coordination sphere of fCDs and restored the original fluorescence intensity of fCDs Thus, the probe is operating with a simple process of "ON-OFF" emission switching due to Cu2+ and "OFF-ON" switching with TrxR The probe has been successfully used for real-time application to monitor TrxR activities in the complex biological system The fluorescence images of MCF-7 and HeLa cells after incubation with the fCDs-Cu2+ complex were recorded under a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) as a function of time Enhancement in the emission intensity of cancer cells after 2 h of treatment demonstrates the potential application of the sensor probe for the bioimaging of endogenous TrxR in living cells and screening of cancer cells Such fluorescent probes will open the door for the development of promising clinical devices for the diagnosis of cancer cells