• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2020

Ambient backscatter communication has a drawback in which the transmission power is limited because the data is transmitted using the ambient RF signal. In order to improve transmission efficiency between transceiver, a channel estimator capable of estimating channel state at a receiver is needed. In this paper, we consider the K-means algorithm to improve the performance of the channel estimator based on EM algorithm. The simulation uses MSE as a performance parameter to verify the performance of the proposed channel estimator. The initial value setting through K-means shows improved performance compared to the channel estimation method using the general EM algorithm.

• Rapid Communication in Photoscience
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.16-19
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• 2014

Anodic self-organized titania nanotube (TNT) arrays have a great potential as efficient electron-transport materials for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). Herewith we report the photovoltaic and kinetic investigations for a series of heteroleptic ruthenium complexes (RD16-RD18) sensitized on TNT films for DSSC applications. We found that the RD16 device had an enhanced short-circuit current density ($J_{SC}/mAcm^{-2}=15.0$) and an efficiency of power conversion (${\eta}=7.2%$) greater than that of a N719 device (${\eta}=7.1%$) due to the increasing light-harvesting and the broadened spectral features with thiophene-based ligands. However, the device made of RD17 (adding one more hexyl chain) showed smaller $J_{SC}(14.1mAcm^{-2})$ and poorer ${\eta}(6.8%)$ compare to those of RD16 due to smaller amount of dye-loading and less efficient electron injection for the RD17 device than for the RD16 device. For the RD18 dye (adding one more thiophene unit and one more hexyl chain), we found that the device showed even lower $J_{SC}(13.2mAcm^{-2}) $ that led to a poorest device performance (${\eta}=6.2%$) for the RD18 device. These results are against to those obtained from the same dyes sensitized on $TiO_2$ nanoparticle films and they can be rationalized according to the electron transport kinetics measured using the methods of charge extraction and transient photovoltage decays.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.2329-2337
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• 2009

Three heteroleptic ruthenium sensitizers, Ru(L)($L^1)(NCS)_2$ [L = 4,4'-dicarboxylic acid-2,2'-bipyridine, Ru-T1: $L^1$ = (E)-2-(4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridin-4-yl)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)acrylonitrile, Ru-T2: $L^2$ = (E)-3-(5'-hexyl-2,2'-bithiophen-5- yl)-2-(4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridin-4-yl)acrylonitrile, and Ru-T3: $L^3$ = (E)-3-(5"-hexyl-2,2':5',2"-terthiophen-5-yl)-2- (4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridin-4-yl)acrylonitrile)], were synthesized and used as photosensitizers in nanocrystalline dyesensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The introduction of the 3-(5-hexyloligothiophen-5-yl)acrylonitrile group increased the conjugation length of the bipyridine donor ligand and thus improved their molar absorption coefficient and light harvesting efficiency. DSSCs with the configuration of Sn$O_2$: F/Ti$O_2$/ruthenium dye/liquid electrolyte/Pt devices were fabricated using these Ru-$T1{\sim}T3$ as a photosensitizers. Among the devices, the DSSCs composed of Ru-T2 exhibited highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 2.84% under AM 1.5 G illumination (100 mW/$cm^2$).

• Journal of Communications and Networks
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.162-168
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• 2012

This paper considers the scenario in which a set of nodes share a common channel. Some nodes have a rechargeable battery and the others are plugged to a reliable power supply and, thus, have no energy limitations. We consider two source-destination pairs and apply the concept of cognitive radio communication in sharing the common channel. Specifically, we give high-priority to the energy-constrained source-destination pair, i.e., primary pair, and low-priority to the pair which is free from such constraint, i.e., secondary pair. In contrast to the traditional notion of cognitive radio, in which the secondary transmitter is required to relinquish the channel as soon as the primary is detected, the secondary transmitter not only utilizes the idle slots of primary pair but also transmits along with the primary transmitter with probability p. This is possible because we consider the general multi-packet reception model. Given the requirement on the primary pair's throughput, the probability p is chosen to maximize the secondary pair's throughput. To this end, we obtain two-dimensional maximum stable throughput region which describes the theoretical limit on rates that we can push into the network while maintaining the queues in the network to be stable. The result is obtained for both cases in which the capacity of the battery at the primary node is infinite and also finite.

• Journal of Communications and Networks
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.188-194
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• 2012

Cognitive networks (CNs) are capable of enabling dynamic spectrum allocation, and thus constitute a promising technology for future wireless communication. Whereas, the implementation of CN will lead to the requirement of an increased energy-arrival rate, which is a significant parameter in energy harvesting design of a cognitive user (CU) device. A well-designed spectrum-sensing scheme will lower the energy-arrival rate that is required and enable CNs to self-sustain, which will also help alleviate global warming. In this paper, spectrum sensing in a multi-user cognitive ad hoc network with a wide-band spectrum is considered. Based on the prospective spectrum sensing, we classify CN operation into two modes: Distributed and centralized. In a distributed network, each CU conducts spectrum sensing for its own data transmission, while in a centralized network, there is only one cognitive cluster header which performs spectrum sensing and broadcasts its sensing results to other CUs. Thus, a wide-band spectrum that is divided into multiple sub-channels can be sensed simultaneously in a distributed manner or sequentially in a centralized manner. We consider the energy consumption for spectrum sensing only of an analog-to-digital convertor (ADC). By formulating energy consumption for spectrum sensing in terms of the sub-channel sampling rate and whole-band sensing time, the sampling rate and whole-band sensing time that are optimal for minimizing the total energy consumption within sensing reliability constraints are obtained. A power dissipation model of an ADC, which plays an important role in formulating the energy efficiency problem, is presented. Using AD9051 as an ADC example, our numerical results show that the optimal sensing parameters will achieve a reduction in the energy-arrival rate of up to 97.7% and 50% in a distributed and a centralized network, respectively, when comparing the optimal and worst-case energy consumption for given system settings.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 1994

A tobacco ripeness grading meter was designed and constructed using the color sensor, its performance was evaluated. A degree of ripeness grading of a leaf is very closely related to the measured tobacco leaf color. Measuring the small amount of the reflectance precisely depends on the apparatus including color sensor, light source, detector sensitivity, and geometric characteristics of appratus. To analyze and minimize the variational effects, experiments to select the proper condition were performed. Because of the combined effect mentioned above, the system has some variation on its response. Basis on the results of the experiments, prototype was developed and interfaced to a computer system. The main components of prototype included a tungsten lamp as a light source, Amorphous full color sensor with three filters, regulated D.C. power supply, OP - AMP(741 TC) for amplification, AR - B3001 board for interfacing to a computer with analog to digital conversion, and a compatible IBM PC XT computer. The experimental results of the developed ripeness tobacco leaf measurement system are summarized as following: [1] The output readings of ripeness grade meter for tobacco leaf, which is based on harvesting time, showed the apparent difference in variety of different quality. It was considered suitable that three filters(red, green, blue) in Amorphous full color sensor could be used in four different ripeness degree measurement of tobacco leaf. [2] The output readings of ripeness grade meter for tobacco leaf, which is based on government procurement, showed apparent difference in variety of different quality. Tobacco leaf varieties to stalk position are divided into tips, leaf, cutters, and primings, It is considered suitable that only red filter in the sensor could be used to classify the grade of tobacco leaf within the same kind tobacco stalk. However, the ripeness grade meter was not adequate to classify all the tobacco grades in the four different tobacco leaves.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.6 no.5_6
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• pp.439-459
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• 2010

Structural health monitoring (SHM) of civil infrastructure using wireless smart sensor networks (WSSNs) has received significant public attention in recent years. The benefits of WSSNs are that they are low-cost, easy to install, and provide effective data management via on-board computation. This paper reports on the deployment and evaluation of a state-of-the-art WSSN on the new Jindo Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge in South Korea with a 344-m main span and two 70-m side spans. The central components of the WSSN deployment are the Imote2 smart sensor platforms, a custom-designed multimetric sensor boards, base stations, and software provided by the Illinois Structural Health Monitoring Project (ISHMP) Services Toolsuite. In total, 70 sensor nodes and two base stations have been deployed to monitor the bridge using an autonomous SHM application with excessive wind and vibration triggering the system to initiate monitoring. Additionally, the performance of the system is evaluated in terms of hardware durability, software stability, power consumption and energy harvesting capabilities. The Jindo Bridge SHM system constitutes the largest deployment of wireless smart sensors for civil infrastructure monitoring to date. This deployment demonstrates the strong potential of WSSNs for monitoring of large scale civil infrastructure.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.125-128
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• 2021

A means of enhancing the performance of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) is increasing the differences in work functions between contacting materials. Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) exhibits excellent mechanical properties and high chemical stability as well as a high work function. As a result, engineers in the field of energy harvesting have envisioned using h-BN in the electrification layer in TENGs. For the industrial application of h-BN in TENGs, large-scale production is necessary, and h-BN is generally exfoliated and dispersed in various solvents. In this study, we evaluate the performance of a TENG with h-BN nanoflakes in the polyimide (PI) layer. To synthesize a PI composite containing h-BN nanoflakes, h-BN powders are exfoliated and dispersed in poly(amic acid) (PAA), which is the precursor of PI. Then, h-BN dispersion is spin-coated onto the PI film and cured for 2 h under 300℃. This composite material can then be used for the electrification layer in TENGs. Below the electrification layer, an aluminum foil is placed and used as an electrode. When the contact and separation processes with polyethylene terephthalate are repeated, the fabricated TENG shows a maximum power density of 190.8 W/m². This study shows that h-BN is a promising material for enhancing the performance of the electrification layer in TENGs.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.419-424
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• 2022

Halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have improved rapidly over the past few years, and research on the optoelectrical properties of halide perovskite thin films has grown as well. Among the characterization techniques, photoluminescence (PL), a method of collecting emitted photons to evaluate the properties of materials, is widely applied to evaluate improvements in the performance of PSCs. However, since only photons emitted from the film in the escape cone are included, the photons collected in PL are a small fraction of the total photons emitted from the film. Unlike PSCs power conversion efficiency, PL measuring methods have not been standardized, and have been evaluated in a variety of ways. Thus, an in-depth study is needed of the methods used to evaluate materials using PL spectra. In this study, we examined the PL spectra of the perovskite light harvesting layer with different measurement protocols and analyzed the features. As the incident angle changed, different spectra were observed, indicating that the PL emission spectrum can depend on the measuring method, not the material. We found the intensity and energy of the PL spectra changes were due to the path of the emitted photons. Also, we found that the PL of halide perovskite thin films generally contains limited information. To solve this problem, the emitted photons should be collected using an integrating sphere. The results of this study suggest that the emission spectrum of halide perovskite films should be carefully interpreted in accordance with PL measuring method, since PL data is mostly affected by the method.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.130-139
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• 2023

Thermoelectric materials and devices are energy-harvesting devices that can effectively recycle waste heat into electricity. Thermoelectric power generation is widely used in factories, engines, and even in human bodies as they continuously generate heat. However, thermoelectric elements exhibit poor performance and low energy efficiency; research is being conducted to find new materials or improve the thermoelectric performance of existing materials, that is, by ensuring a high figure-of-merit (zT) value. For increasing zT, higher σ (electrical conductivity) and S (Seebeck coefficient) and a lower κ (thermal conductivity) are required. Here, interface engineering by atomic layer deposition (ALD) is used to increase zT of n-type BiTeSe (BTS) thermoelectric powders. ALD of the BTS powders is performed in a rotary-type ALD reactor, and 40 to 100 ALD cycles of ZnO thin films are conducted at 100℃. The physical and chemical properties and thermoelectric performance of the ALD-coated BTS powders and pellets are characterized. It is revealed that electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity are decoupled, and thus, zT of ALD-coated BTS pellets is increased by more than 60% compared to that of the uncoated BTS pellets. This result can be utilized in a novel method for improving the thermoelectric efficiency in materials processing.