University of Akron

About: University of Akron is a education organization based out in Akron, Ohio, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Polymer & Polymerization. The organization has 17401 authors who have published 29127 publications receiving 702386 citations. The organization is also known as: The University of Akron.

Donor–Acceptor Conjugated Polymer Based on Naphtho[1,2-c:5,6-c]bis[1,2,5]thiadiazole for High-Performance Polymer Solar Cells

Abstract: Donor–acceptor conjugated polymers PBDT-DTBT and PBDT-DTNT, based on 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BT) and naphtho[1,2-c:5,6-c]bis[1,2,5]thiadiazole (NT), have been designed and synthesized for polymer solar cells NT contains two fused 1,2,5-thiadiazole rings that lower the band gap, enhance the interchain packing, and improve the charge mobility of the resulting polymer Consequently, the NT-based polymer PBDT-DTNT exhibited considerably better photovoltaic performance with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 600% when compared with the BT-based polymer PBDT-DTBT, which gave a PCE of 211% under identical device configurations

Electrospinning of Nanofibers from Polymer Solutions and Melts

Abstract: A straightforward, cheap and unique method to produce novel fibers with a diameter in the range of 100 nm and even less is related to electrospinning. For this goal, polymer solutions, liquid crystals, suspensions of solid particles and emulsions, are electrospun in the electric field of about 1 kV/cm. The electric force results in an electrically charged jet of polymer solution flowing out from a pendant or sessile droplet. After the jet flows away from the droplet in a nearly straight line, it bends into a complex path and other changes in shape occur, during which electrical forces stretch and thin it by very large ratios. After the solvent evaporates, birefringent nanofibers are left. Nanofibers of ordinary, conducting and photosensitive polymers were electrospun. The present review deals with the mechanism and electrohydrodynamic modeling of the instabilities and related processes resulting in electrospinning of nanofibers. Also some applications are discussed. In particular, a unique electrostatic field-assisted assembly technique was developed with the aim to position and align individual conducting and light-emitting nanofibers in arrays and ropes. These structures are of potential interest in the development of novel polymer-based light-emitting diodes (LED), diodes, transistors, photonic crystals and flexible photocells. Some other applications discussed include micro-aerodynamic decelerators and tiny flying objects based on permeable nanofiber mats (smart dust), nanofiber-based filters, protective clothing, biomedical applications including wound dressings, drug delivery systems based on nanotubes, the design of solar sails, light sails and mirrors for use in space, the application of pesticides to plants, structural elements in artificial organs, reinforced composites, as well as nanofibers reinforced by carbon nanotubes.

Two Quantitative Approaches for Estimating Content Validity

Abstract: Instrument content validity is often established through qualitative expert reviews, yet quantitative analysis of reviewer agreements is also advocated in the literature. Two quantitative approaches to content validity estimations were compared and contrasted using a newly developed instrument called the Osteoporosis Risk Assessment Tool (ORAT). Data obtained from a panel of eight expert judges were analyzed. A Content Validity Index (CVI) initially determined that only one item lacked interrater proportion agreement about its relevance to the instrument as a whole (CVI = 0.57). Concern that higher proportion agreement ratings might be due to random chance stimulated further analysis using a multirater kappa coefficient of agreement. An additional seven items had low kappas, ranging from 0.29 to 0.48 and indicating poor agreement among the experts. The findings supported the elimination or revision of eight items. Pros and cons to using both proportion agreement and kappa coefficient analysis are examined.

Carbon nanotube-based synthetic gecko tapes

Abstract: We have developed a synthetic gecko tape by transferring micropatterned carbon nanotube arrays onto flexible polymer tape based on the hierarchical structure found on the foot of a gecko lizard. The gecko tape can support a shear stress (36 N/cm 2 ) nearly four times higher than the gecko foot and sticks to a variety of surfaces, including Teflon. Both the micrometer-size setae (replicated by nanotube bundles) and nanometer-size spatulas (individual nanotubes) are necessary to achieve macroscopic shear adhesion and to translate the weak van der Waals interactions into high shear forces. We have demonstrated for the first time a macroscopic flexible patch that can be used repeatedly with peeling and adhesive properties better than the natural gecko foot. The carbon nanotube-based tape offers an excellent synthetic option as a dry conductive reversible adhesive in microelectronics, robotics, and space applications.

Real-Time Detection of False Data Injection Attacks in Smart Grid: A Deep Learning-Based Intelligent Mechanism

Abstract: Application of computing and communications intelligence effectively improves the quality of monitoring and control of smart grids However, the dependence on information technology also increases vulnerability to malicious attacks False data injection (FDI), that attack on the integrity of data, is emerging as a severe threat to the supervisory control and data acquisition system In this paper, we exploit deep learning techniques to recognize the behavior features of FDI attacks with the historical measurement data and employ the captured features to detect the FDI attacks in real-time By doing so, our proposed detection mechanism effectively relaxes the assumptions on the potential attack scenarios and achieves high accuracy Furthermore, we propose an optimization model to characterize the behavior of one type of FDI attack that compromises the limited number of state measurements of the power system for electricity theft We illustrate the performance of the proposed strategy through the simulation by using IEEE 118-bus test system We also evaluate the scalability of our proposed detection mechanism by using IEEE 300-bus test system