12023 research outputs found
Sort by
Zn-VI/Cu2O Heterojunctions for Earth-Abundant Photovoltaics
Get PDFThe need for sustainable energy production motivates the study of photovoltaic materials, which convert energy from sunlight directly into electricity. This work has focused on the development of Cu2O as an earth-abundant solar absorber due to the abundance of its constituent elements in the earth's crust, its suitable band gap, and its potential for low cost processing. Crystalline wafers of Cu2O with minority carrier diffusion lengths on the order of microns can be manufactured in a uniquely simple fashion — directly from copper foils by thermal oxidation. Furthermore, Cu2O has an optical band gap of 1.9 eV, which gives it a detailed balance energy conversion efficiency of 24.7% and the possibility for an independently connected Si/Cu2O dual junction with a detailed balance efficiency of 44.3%.
However, the highest energy conversion efficiency achieved in a photovoltaic device with a Cu2O absorber layer is currently only 5.38% despite the favorable optical and electronic properties listed above. There are several challenges to making a Cu2O photovoltaic device, including an inability to dope the material, its relatively low chemical stability compared to other oxides, and a lack of suitable heterojunction partners due to an unusually small electron affinity. We have addressed the low chemical stability, namely the fact that Cu2O is an especially reactive oxide due to its low enthalpy of formation (ΔHf0 = -168.7 kJ/mol), by developing a novel surface preparation technique. We have addressed the lack of suitable heterojunction partners by investigating the heterojunction band alignment of several Zn-VI materials with Cu2O. Finally, We have addressed the typically high series resistance of Cu2O wafers by developing methods to make very thin, bulk Cu2O, including devices on Cu2O wafers as thin as 20 microns. Using these methods we have been able to achieve photovoltages over 1 V, and have demonstrated the potential of a new heterojunction material, Zn(O,S).</p
Some Constructions, Related to Noncommutative Tori; Fredholm Modules and the Beilinson–Bloch Regulator
Get PDFA noncommutative 2-torus is one of the main toy models of noncommutative geometry, and a noncommutative n-torus is a straightforward generalization of it. In 1980, Pimsner and Voiculescu in [17] described a 6-term exact sequence, which allows for the computation of the K-theory of noncommutative tori. It follows that both even and odd K-groups of n-dimensional noncommutative tori are free abelian groups on 2n-1 generators. In 1981, the Powers-Rieffel projector was described [19], which, together with the class of identity, generates the even K-theory of noncommutative 2-tori. In 1984, Elliott [10] computed trace and Chern character on these K-groups. According to Rieffel [20], the odd K-theory of a noncommutative n-torus coincides with the group of connected components of the elements of the algebra. In particular, generators of K-theory can be chosen to be invertible elements of the algebra. In Chapter 1, we derive an explicit formula for the First nontrivial generator of the odd K-theory of noncommutative tori. This gives the full set of generators for the odd K-theory of noncommutative 3-tori and 4-tori.
In Chapter 2, we apply the graded-commutative framework of differential geometry to the polynomial subalgebra of the noncommutative torus algebra. We use the framework of differential geometry described in [27], [14], [25], [26]. In order to apply this framework to noncommutative torus, the notion of the graded-commutative algebra has to be generalized: the "signs" should be allowed to take values in U(1), rather than just {-1,1}. Such generalization is well-known (see, e.g., [8] in the context of linear algebra). We reformulate relevant results of [27], [14], [25], [26] using this extended notion of sign. We show how this framework can be used to construct differential operators, differential forms, and jet spaces on noncommutative tori. Then, we compare the constructed differential forms to the ones, obtained from the spectral triple of the noncommutative torus. Sections 2.1-2.3 recall the basic notions from [27], [14], [25], [26], with the required change of the notion of "sign". In Section 2.4, we apply these notions to the polynomial subalgebra of the noncommutative torus algebra. This polynomial subalgebra is similar to a free graded-commutative algebra. We show that, when restricted to the polynomial subalgebra, Connes construction of differential forms gives the same answer as the one obtained from the graded-commutative differential geometry. One may try to extend these notions to the smooth noncommutative torus algebra, but this was not done in this work.
A reconstruction of the Beilinson-Bloch regulator (for curves) via Fredholm modules was given by Eugene Ha in [12]. However, the proof in [12] contains a critical gap; in Chapter 3, we close this gap. More specifically, we do this by obtaining some technical results, and by proving Property 4 of Section 3.7 (see Theorem 3.9.4), which implies that such reformulation is, indeed, possible. The main motivation for this reformulation is the longer-term goal of finding possible analogs of the second K-group (in the context of algebraic geometry and K-theory of rings) and of the regulators for noncommutative spaces. This work should be seen as a necessary preliminary step for that purpose.
For the convenience of the reader, we also give a short description of the results from [12], as well as some background material on central extensions and Connes-Karoubi character.</p
Quantitative, Time-Resolved Proteomic Analysis Using Bio-Orthogonal Non-Canonical Amino Acid Tagging
Get PDFBio-orthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT) is an analytical method that allows the selective analysis of the subset of newly synthesized cellular proteins produced in response to a biological stimulus. In BONCAT, cells are treated with the non-canonical amino acid L-azidohomoalanine (Aha), which is utilized in protein synthesis in place of methionine by wild-type translational machinery. Nascent, Aha-labeled proteins are selectively ligated to affinity tags for enrichment and subsequently identified via mass spectrometry. The work presented in this thesis exhibits advancements in and applications of the BONCAT technology that establishes it as an effective tool for analyzing proteome dynamics with time-resolved precision.
Chapter 1 introduces the BONCAT method and serves as an outline for the thesis as a whole. I discuss motivations behind the methodological advancements in Chapter 2 and the biological applications in Chapters 2 and 3.
Chapter 2 presents methodological developments that make BONCAT a proteomic tool capable of, in addition to identifying newly synthesized proteins, accurately quantifying rates of protein synthesis. I demonstrate that this quantitative BONCAT approach can measure proteome-wide patterns of protein synthesis at time scales inaccessible to alternative techniques.
In Chapter 3, I use BONCAT to study the biological function of the small RNA regulator CyaR in Escherichia coli. I correctly identify previously known CyaR targets, and validate several new CyaR targets, expanding the functional roles of the sRNA regulator.
In Chapter 4, I use BONCAT to measure the proteomic profile of the quorum sensing bacterium Vibrio harveyi during the time-dependent transition from individual- to group-behaviors. My analysis reveals new quorum-sensing-regulated proteins with diverse functions, including transcription factors, chemotaxis proteins, transport proteins, and proteins involved in iron homeostasis.
Overall, this work describes how to use BONCAT to perform quantitative, time-resolved proteomic analysis and demonstrates that these measurements can be used to study a broad range of biological processes.</p
Characterization and Modeling of Premixed Turbulent n-Heptane Flames in the Thin Reaction Zone Regime
Get PDFn-heptane/air premixed turbulent flames in the high-Karlovitz portion of the thin reaction zone regime are characterized and modeled in this thesis using Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) with detailed chemistry. In order to perform these simulations, a time-integration scheme that can efficiently handle the stiffness of the equations solved is developed first. A first simulation with unity Lewis number is considered in order to assess the effect of turbulence on the flame in the absence of differential diffusion. A second simulation with non-unity Lewis numbers is considered to study how turbulence affects differential diffusion. In the absence of differential diffusion, minimal departure from the 1D unstretched flame structure (species vs. temperature profiles) is observed. In the non-unity Lewis number case, the flame structure lies between that of 1D unstretched flames with "laminar" non-unity Lewis numbers and unity Lewis number. This is attributed to effective Lewis numbers resulting from intense turbulent mixing and a first model is proposed. The reaction zone is shown to be thin for both flames, yet large chemical source term fluctuations are observed. The fuel consumption rate is found to be only weakly correlated with stretch, although local extinctions in the non-unity Lewis number case are well correlated with high curvature. These results explain the apparent turbulent flame speeds. Other variables that better correlate with this fuel burning rate are identified through a coordinate transformation. It is shown that the unity Lewis number turbulent flames can be accurately described by a set of 1D (in progress variable space) flamelet equations parameterized by the dissipation rate of the progress variable. In the non-unity Lewis number flames, the flamelet equations suggest a dependence on a second parameter, the diffusion of the progress variable. A new tabulation approach is proposed for the simulation of such flames with these dimensionally-reduced manifolds
Stability of Hypervelocity Boundary Layers
Get PDFThe early stage of laminar-turbulent transition in a hypervelocity boundary layer is studied using a combination of modal linear stability analysis, transient growth analysis, and direct numerical simulation. Modal stability analysis is used to clarify the behavior of first and second mode instabilities on flat plates and sharp cones for a wide range of high enthalpy flow conditions relevant to experiments in impulse facilities. Vibrational nonequilibrium is included in this analysis, its influence on the stability properties is investigated, and simple models for predicting when it is important are described.
Transient growth analysis is used to determine the optimal initial conditions that lead to the largest possible energy amplification within the flow. Such analysis is performed for both spatially and temporally evolving disturbances. The analysis again targets flows that have large stagnation enthalpy, such as those found in shock tunnels, expansion tubes, and atmospheric flight at high Mach numbers, and clarifies the effects of Mach number and wall temperature on the amplification achieved. Direct comparisons between modal and non-modal growth are made to determine the relative importance of these mechanisms under different flow regimes.
Conventional stability analysis employs the assumption that disturbances evolve with either a fixed frequency (spatial analysis) or a fixed wavenumber (temporal analysis). Direct numerical simulations are employed to relax these assumptions and investigate the downstream propagation of wave packets that are localized in space and time, and hence contain a distribution of frequencies and wavenumbers. Such wave packets are commonly observed in experiments and hence their amplification is highly relevant to boundary layer transition prediction. It is demonstrated that such localized wave packets experience much less growth than is predicted by spatial stability analysis, and therefore it is essential that the bandwidth of localized noise sources that excite the instability be taken into account in making transition estimates. A simple model based on linear stability theory is also developed which yields comparable results with an enormous reduction in computational expense. This enables the amplification of finite-width wave packets to be taken into account in transition prediction. </p
Light-Matter Interactions in Semiconductors and Metals: From Nitride Optoelectronics to Quantum Plasmonics
Get PDFThis thesis puts forth a theory-directed approach coupled with spectroscopy aimed at the discovery and understanding of light-matter interactions in semiconductors and metals.
The first part of the thesis presents the discovery and development of Zn-IV nitride materials.The commercial prominence in the optoelectronics industry of tunable semiconductor alloy materials based on nitride semiconductor devices, specifically InGaN, motivates the search for earth-abundant alternatives for use in efficient, high-quality optoelectronic devices. II-IV-N2 compounds, which are closely related to the wurtzite-structured III-N semiconductors, have similar electronic and optical properties to InGaN namely direct band gaps, high quantum efficiencies and large optical absorption coefficients. The choice of different group II and group IV elements provides chemical diversity that can be exploited to tune the structural and electronic properties through the series of alloys. The first theoretical and experimental investigation of the ZnSnxGe1−xN2 series as a replacement for III-nitrides is discussed here.
The second half of the thesis shows ab−initio calculations for surface plasmons and plasmonic hot carrier dynamics. Surface plasmons, electromagnetic modes confined to the surface of a conductor-dielectric interface, have sparked renewed interest because of their quantum nature and their broad range of applications. The decay of surface plasmons is usually a detriment in the field of plasmonics, but the possibility to capture the energy normally lost to heat would open new opportunities in photon sensors, energy conversion devices and switching. A theoretical understanding of plasmon-driven hot carrier generation and relaxation dynamics in the ultrafast regime is presented here. Additionally calculations for plasmon-mediated upconversion as well as an energy-dependent transport model for these non-equilibrium carriers are shown.
Finally, this thesis gives an outlook on the potential of non-equilibrium phenomena in metals and semiconductors for future light-based technologies.</p
The Structure of Hippocampal Activity During REM Sleep
Get PDFThe hippocampus is a brain structure critical for the formation of long-term episodic memories. The current predominant theory is that memories are gradually established across neocortical networks under the influence of hippocampal activity. This process of memory consolidation is conjectured to occur during sleep, which is characterized by two different modes of activation: slow-wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The functional roles of these two different sleep states remain unknown. Paradoxically, REM sleep exhibits the main features of awake activity, and is the stage of sleep when most dreams occur. Despite decades of study, the organization and function of REM sleep activity remains poorly understood. The goal of this thesis is to achieve a deeper quantitative understanding of the patterns of firing in area CA1 of the hippocampus during REM sleep using chronic multi-tetrode recordings from freely behaving and naturally sleeping rats. Our analysis shows that CA1 neurons significantly elevate their firing rate for periods that are short in relation to the duration of the REM sleep episode. Furthermore, for the majority of neurons, there is exactly one such burst per REM episode. This leads to lower overall firing rates and sparser population activity in CA1 compared to SWS. The time of onset of these bursts defines a natural order of firing across the population of recorded neurons within each REM episode. We demonstrate that this order does not repeat across REM episodes. Our results suggest that CA1 neurons are activated in random sequences across REM episodes, resulting in sparse patterns with only a small fraction of neurons active at any given time
Models of the Oxygen-Evolving Complex of Photosystem II
Get PDFIn the five chapters that follow, I delineate my efforts over the last five years to synthesize structurally and chemically relevant models of the Oxygen Evolving Complex (OEC) of Photosystem II. The OEC is nature’s only water oxidation catalyst, in that it forms the dioxygen in our atmosphere necessary for oxygenic life. Therefore understanding its structure and function is of deep fundamental interest and could provide design elements for artificial photosynthesis and manmade water oxidation catalysts. Synthetic endeavors towards OEC mimics have been an active area of research since the mid 1970s and have mutually evolved alongside biochemical and spectroscopic studies, affording ever-refined proposals for the structure of the OEC and the mechanism of water oxidation. This research has culminated in the most recent proposal: a low symmetry Mn4CaO5 cluster with a distorted Mn3CaO4 cubane bridged to a fourth, dangling Mn. To give context for how my graduate work fits into this rich history of OEC research, Chapter 1 provides a historical timeline of proposals for OEC structure, emphasizing the role that synthetic Mn and MnCa clusters have played, and ending with our Mn3CaO4 heterometallic cubane complexes.
In Chapter 2, the triarylbenzene ligand framework used throughout my work is introduced, and trinuclear clusters of Mn, Co, and Ni are discussed. The ligand scaffold consistently coordinates three metals in close proximity while leaving coordination sites open for further modification through ancillary ligand binding. The ligands coordinated could be varied, with a range of carboxylates and some less coordinating anions studied. These complexes’ structures, magnetic behavior, and redox properties are discussed.
Chapter 3 explores the redox chemistry of the trimanganese system more thoroughly in the presence of a fourth Mn equivalent, finding a range of oxidation states and oxide incorporation dependent on oxidant, solvent, and Mn salt. Oxidation states from MnII4 to MnIIIMnIV3 were observed, with 1-4 O2– ligands incorporated, modeling the photoactivation of the OEC. These complexes were studied by X-ray diffraction, EPR, XAS, magnetometry, and CV.
As Ca2+ is a necessary component of the OEC, Chapter 4 discusses synthetic strategies for making highly structurally accurate models of the OEC containing both Mn and Ca in the Mn3CaO4 cubane + dangling Mn geometry. Structural and electrochemical characterization of the first Mn3CaO4 heterometallic cubane complex— and comparison to an all-Mn Mn4O4 analog—suggests a role for Ca2+ in the OEC. Modification of the Mn3CaO4 system by ligand substitution affords low symmetry Mn3CaO4 complexes that are the most accurate models of the OEC to date.
Finally, in Chapter 5 the reactivity of the Mn3CaO4 cubane complexes toward O- atom transfer is discussed. The metal M strongly affects the reactivity. The mechanisms of O-atom transfer and water incorporation from and into Mn4O4 and Mn4O3 clusters, respectively, are studied through computation and 18O-labeling studies. The μ3-oxos of the Mn4O4 system prove fluxional, lending support for proposals of O2– fluxionality within the OEC.</p
Injection Locked Clocking and Transmitter Equalization Techniques for Chip to Chip Interconnects
Get PDFSemiconductor technology scaling has enabled drastic growth in the computational capacity of integrated circuits (ICs). This constant growth drives an increasing demand for high bandwidth communication between ICs. Electrical channel bandwidth has not been able to keep up with this demand, making I/O link design more challenging. Interconnects which employ optical channels have negligible frequency dependent loss and provide a potential solution to this I/O bandwidth problem. Apart from the type of channel, efficient high-speed communication also relies on generation and distribution of multi-phase, high-speed, and high-quality clock signals. In the multi-gigahertz frequency range, conventional clocking techniques have encountered several design challenges in terms of power consumption, skew and jitter. Injection-locking is a promising technique to address these design challenges for gigahertz clocking. However, its small locking range has been a major contributor in preventing its ubiquitous acceptance.
In the first part of this dissertation we describe a wideband injection locking scheme in an LC oscillator. Phase locked loop (PLL) and injection locking elements are combined symbiotically to achieve wide locking range while retaining the simplicity of the latter. This method does not require a phase frequency detector or a loop filter to achieve phase lock. A mathematical analysis of the system is presented and the expression for new locking range is derived. A locking range of 13.4 GHz–17.2 GHz (25%) and an average jitter tracking bandwidth of up to 400 MHz are measured in a high-Q LC oscillator. This architecture is used to generate quadrature phases from a single clock without any frequency division. It also provides high frequency jitter filtering while retaining the low frequency correlated jitter essential for forwarded clock receivers.
To improve the locking range of an injection locked ring oscillator; QLL (Quadrature locked loop) is introduced. The inherent dynamics of injection locked quadrature ring oscillator are used to improve its locking range from 5% (7-7.4GHz) to 90% (4-11GHz). The QLL is used to generate accurate clock phases for a four channel optical receiver using a forwarded clock at quarter-rate. The QLL drives an injection locked oscillator (ILO) at each channel without any repeaters for local quadrature clock generation. Each local ILO has deskew capability for phase alignment. The optical-receiver uses the inherent frequency to voltage conversion provided by the QLL to dynamically body bias its devices. A wide locking range of the QLL helps to achieve a reliable data-rate of 16-32Gb/s and adaptive body biasing aids in maintaining an ultra-low power consumption of 153pJ/bit.
From the optical receiver we move on to discussing a non-linear equalization technique for a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) based optical transmitter, to enable low-power, high-speed optical transmission. A non-linear time domain optical model of the VCSEL is built and evaluated for accuracy. The modelling shows that, while conventional FIR-based pre-emphasis works well for LTI electrical channels, it is not optimum for the non-linear optical frequency response of the VCSEL. Based on the simulations of the model an optimum equalization methodology is derived. The equalization technique is used to achieve a data-rate of 20Gb/s with power efficiency of 0.77pJ/bit.</p
Metallaboratrane Facilitated E‒H Bond Activation and Hydrogenation Catalysis
Get PDFThe E‒H bond activation chemistry of tris-phosophino-iron and -cobalt metallaboratranes is discussed. The ferraboratrane complex (TPB)Fe(N2) heterolytically activates H‒H and the C‒H bonds of formaldehyde and arylacetylenes across an Fe‒B bond. In particular, H‒H bond cleavage at (TPB)Fe(N2) is reversible and affords the iron-hydride-borohydride complex (TPB)(μ‒H)Fe(L)(H) (L = H2, N2). (TPB)(μ‒H)Fe(L)(H) and (TPB)Fe(N2) are competent olefin and arylacetylene hydrogenation catalysts. Stoichiometric studies indicate that the B‒H unit is capable of acting as a hydride shuttle in the hydrogenation of olefin and arylacetylene substrates. The heterolytic cleavage of H2 by the (TPB)Fe system is distinct from the previously reported (TPB)Co(H2) complex, where H2 coordinates as a non-classical H2 adduct based on X-ray, spectroscopic, and reactivity data. The non-classical H2 ligand in (TPB)Co(H2) is confirmed in this work by single crystal neutron diffraction, which unequivocally shows an intact H‒H bond of 0.83 Å in the solid state. The neutron structure also shows that the H2 ligand is localized at two orientations on cobalt trans to the boron. This localization in the solid state contrasts with the results from ENDOR spectroscopy that show that the H2 ligand freely rotates about the Co‒H2 axis in frozen solution. Finally, the (TPB)Fe system, as well as related tris-phosphino-iron complexes that contain a different apical ligand unit (Si, PhB, C, and N) in place of the boron in (TPB)Fe, were studied for CO2 hydrogenation chemistry. The (TPB)Fe system is not catalytically competent, while the silicon, borate, carbon variants, (SiPR3)Fe, (PhBPiPr3)Fe, and (CPiPr3)Fe, respectively, are catalysts for the hydrogenation of CO2 to formate and methylformate. The hydricity of the CO2 reactive species in the silatrane system (SiPiPr3)Fe(N2)(H) has been experimentally estimated