Bulletin of the American Physical Society
2017 Annual Spring Meeting of the APS Ohio-Region Section
Volume 62, Number 6
Friday–Saturday, May 5–6, 2017; Ypsilanti, Michigan
Session B1: Contributed Posters: Applied Physics and Materials Science |
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Chair: Jeff Dyck, John Carroll University Room: Pray-Harrold 202 |
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B1.00001: Pilot Study of Microclimates in an Artificial Structure Larry D. Borum III, Marshall Thomsen We present our observations on the feasibility of using artificial structures to study microclimates in a somewhat controlled environment. While microclimates can play a very important role in local ecology, complexities in natural structures make analysis challenging. We propose using artificial outdoor structures as an intermediate step, allowing the analysis of microclimates influenced by regular, as opposed to irregular, structures. We present some preliminary results on measurements made in a parking structure. Using an IR probe, temperatures were recorded in approximately 30 different locations in and around the parking structure. The measurements were repeated 10 times over the course of one week. Clearly visible were effects such as temperature changes in the interior of the structure lagging behind external temperature changes. Two unheated, enclosed stairwells were observed in most cases to have a temperature distribution that differed from the exposed portions of the parking structure. A third stairwell had a heat source at the base that produced a distinctive temperature signature. Developing an understanding of the microclimate of a parking structure can lead to an improved understanding of microclimates in natural systems such as shallow caves and cliff overhangs. [Preview Abstract] |
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B1.00002: Wind Turbine Design Elloria Shaw, Gabriela Popa The world runs on electricity: cell phones, lights, and the internet. Without electricity, life would grind to a halt. We rely on nonrenewable resources, such as coal or natural gas, to generate electricity. We need to decrease our dependence on nonrenewable resources and increase our dependence on renewable resources. Renewable resources, specifically wind, will never be depleted. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of wind into electricity. During this empirical research study, we tested various configurations of a wind turbine and identified which were most efficient. Each configuration varied in number of blades, size of blades, and wind speed. We found that for a certain wind speed, three blades configuration worked better. Also based on the number of blades, there is an optimal length for the blades. More work is in progress. [Preview Abstract] |
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B1.00003: New Short-Range Public Aerial Transportation System Jared Powell, Don Anderson, Blake Hendrix, Dom Lesniak Urban populations are growing throughout the world which is causing increased traffic and pollution problems in these areas. A new form of clean short-range public air travel could provide a solution to this problem by offering commuters an alternative to conventional transportation.The goal of this project was to design a new transportation system in the form of an air vehicle. The vehicle was designed to produce zero carbon dioxide emissions and does not require major advances in technology. Altanta, Georgia was chosen as the sample city for this project with the objective of allowing travel between downtown Atlanta and the surrounding metropolitan areas. Analyses of parameters such as thrust, weight, drag, and travel time between nodes (among others) were conducted to determine and optimize the performance of the vehicle. This project was part of a NASA 2017 Undergraduate Student Design Challenge. [Preview Abstract] |
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B1.00004: Microwave Power Detectors based on Graphene Michael Gasper, Nitin Parsa, Ryan Toonen We have created microwave power detectors by microfabricating Corbino disc test structures on top of commercial, CVD-grown monolayer graphene. The microstructures were fabricated by first depositing a blanket metallic thin film over the graphene in order to prevent exfoliation during the subsequent photolithographic process. The thin film consisted of a 50 nm silver conduction layer over a 5 nm titanium adhesion layer. The test structures were etched from the thin film using photoresist as an etch stop. Raman spectroscopy, performed on unprocessed and processed samples (having microstructures), revealed that the graphene remained intact during and after the microfabrication process, but the processing caused some damage to the graphene--as evidenced by spectral peaks corresponding to disordered carbon. Room temperature, power detection measurements indicate that the power detectors can reach a sensitivity of 0.87 mV/mW at 433.92 MHz. Because the drain-current-versus-gate-voltage ambipolar signature occurred out of our gate voltage range, we have attributed the mechanism of power detection to a bolometric effect. Additional experiments have been conducted over a range of Corbino disc dimensions to investigate the effects of these parameters on the power sensitivity. [Preview Abstract] |
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B1.00005: Bottom-up wet chemical synthesis and characterization of Bi$_{\mathrm{x}}$Te$_{\mathrm{y}}$ nanoparticles Brendan S. Brown, Daniel J. Volpe, Jeffrey S. Dyck, Paul C. Challen, Virgil C. Solomon Bi$_{\mathrm{x}}$Te$_{\mathrm{y}}$ is an interesting series of compounds for which certain x:y ratios result in formation of a natural superlattice structure. The different stoichiometric ratios, designated by the x and y, is better represented by (Bi$_{\mathrm{2}})_{\mathrm{m}}$(Bi$_{\mathrm{2}}$Te$_{\mathrm{3}})_{\mathrm{n}}$ where m and n are integers, and is an infinitely adaptable series. For this study, we have chosen x:y to be 1:1, 2:3 and 2:1 which are expected to form the natural superlattice with m and n values. The alternating layers of Bi$_{\mathrm{2}}$ groups and Bi$_{\mathrm{2}}$Te$_{\mathrm{3}}$ groups stack along the c-axis of the lattice according to the m:n ratio. Bi$_{\mathrm{2}}$Te$_{\mathrm{3}}$ is a well-studied thermoelectric material, and the work done in this project may have potential implications for optimizing the material. Using a bottom up wet chemical synthesis, the desired ratios have been produced in high yields. X-Ray Diffraction is consistent with the intended compounds, but also shows free tellurium as an impurity. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy, the particles are found to be nanoscale and the elemental analysis shows the stoichiometry is close to the desired ratios. [Preview Abstract] |
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B1.00006: X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopy Study of Metal Surfaces Brian Schubert, David Bernard, Nicholas McGuigan, Martin Strong, Snjezana Balaz, Kathryn Shields, Holly Martin Various titanium analogs were treated with non-carcinogenic deposition agents, acetone, heptane, ethanol, as an alternative to the carcinogenic toluene. For use in biological implants, a non-carcinogenic solution such as these would be required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The goal is to adhere chitosan to the titanium surface by various treatments involving a wash of the mentioned solvents. Surface scans were conducted to determine the activation of the compounds within each titanium surface using X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopy (XPS) in an Ultra High Vacuum (UHV). Analyzing the binding efficiency of each compound in the acetone, heptane, ethanol, or toluene solution determined that the titanium was activated by the treatment. Some contamination between samples was recorded by trace silicon and nitrogen levels, and oxygen and carbon was activated to varying extents between the different samples. With this investigation, we will determine the best solution to safely and effectively adhere chitosan. [Preview Abstract] |
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