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Carbon electrodes enable flat surface PDMS and PA6 triboelectric nanogenerators to achieve significantly enhanced triboelectric performance
No full textAs a promising nanoenergy technology to harvest mechanical energy from environment, triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has attracted much attention and various strategies focused on optimization of triboelectric materials have been proposed to further improve its output power density. This work focuses on the electrode material for improvement of TENGs. A commercial double-sided conductive carbon tape composed of carbon powder is proposed as the electrodes for TENGs, based on which a superior performance TENG comprised of spin-coated flat polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyamide-6 (PA6) films is fabricated. Owing to the strong additional interaction between carbon electrode and tribo-layer, a 20 × 20 mm2 carbon-PDMS/PA6 TENG demonstrates a peak output voltage of ~ 1760 V, a short-circuit current density of ~ 240 mA m−2, and a maximum power density of ~ 120 W m−2, much higher than those of aluminum electrode-based Al-PDMS/PA6 TENGs. Detailed investigations reveal that the dramatically enhanced performance originates from the additional interaction in the pores between coarse carbon electrode and PDMS film, and from the enhanced electric negative polarity of PDMS films with the peeling and transferring treatment. This study provides a promising simple and low-cost strategy of selecting and preparing electrode materials with special micro/nanostructures to interact with triboelectric layers to generate additional triboelectric charges for high performance TENGs.
Conductive carbon tapes with coarse surfaces are utilized as the electrodes for flat surface PDMS/PA6 triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), that demonstrate an outstanding electric output with a peak output voltage of ~ 1760 V, a short-circuit current density of ~ 240 mA m−2 and a maximum instantaneous power density of ~ 120 W m−2, the highest output for a TENG without using specific surface micro-structures and multi-layer structures so far. This study proposes a promising simple and low-cost strategy of selecting and preparing electrode materials with special micro/nanostructures to interact with triboelectric layers to generate additional triboelectric charges for high performance TENGs. [Display omitted]
•Conductive carbon tapes with coarse surface and high electric affinity have been utilized as the electrodes to enhance TENG performance.•Carbon-PDMS/PA6 TENG demonstrates ultrahigh triboelectric performance and stability.•Interaction between PDMS film and coarse carbon electrode dramatically enhances the charge density of the Carbon-PDMS/PA6 TENG
Model for matching learner and tutor expectations
No full textWe often talk about managing learner’s expectations, whether that be around attendance, achievement, career aspirations, university choices, further training or life generally. But the major issue with this is that we as educators are ‘managing’ someone else’s expectations, when we don’t necessarily have a true understanding of what is occurring with that person, writes Dr Duncan Cross, Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Bolton
A new paradigm for the dynamics of the early Universe
No full textThis paper invokes a new mechanism for reducing a coupled system of fields (including Einstein’s equations without a cosmological constant) to equations that possess solutions exhibiting characteristics of immediate relevance to current observational astronomy.Our approach is formulated as a classical Einstein-vector-scalar-Maxwell-fluid field theory on a spacetime with three-sphere spatial sections. Analytic cosmological solutions are found using local charts familiar from standard LFRW cosmological models. These solutions can be used to describe different types of evolution for the metric scale factor, the Hubble, jerk and de-acceleration functions, the scalar spacetime curvature and the Kretschmann invariant constructed from the Riemann-Christoffel spacetime curvature tensor. The cosmological sector of the theory accommodates a particular single big-bang scenario followed by an eternal exponential acceleration of the scale factor. Such a solution does not require an externally prescribed fluid equation of state and leads to a number of new predictions including a current value of the “jerk” parameter, “Hopfian-like” source-free Maxwell field configurations with magnetic helicity and distributional “bi-polar” solutions exhibiting a new charge conjugation symmetry.An approximate scheme for field perturbations about this particular cosmology is explored and its consequences for a thermalisation process and a thermal history are derived, leading to a prediction of the time interval between the big-bang and the decoupling era. Finally it is shown that field couplings exist where both vector and scalar localised linearised perturbations exhibit dispersive wave-packet behaviours. The scalar perturbation may also give rise to Yukawa solutions associated with a massive Klein-Gordon particle. It is argued that the vector and scalar fields may offer candidates for “dark-energy” and “dark-matter” respectively
An archive collection for collaborative partnership and pedagogic textile practice
No full textThis positioning paper focusses on the use of industrial and textile archive collections, examining designs, objects and related ephemera for teaching purposes, enabling students to engage with objects as part of visual and contextual investigative enquiry. This forms part of an ongoing PhD by Practice by the author, which focuses on teaching and learning, accessing the archive at the Museum of Bolton for pedagogical and creative practice. Funded by a University of Bolton, “Jenkinson Award”, this paper outlines a project with undergraduate students on the BA (Hons) Textile and Surface Design course at the University of Bolton, which forms part of the wider doctoral project. Students developed artworks responding to the broader history of textiles during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries within Bolton and surrounding areas, including textile machinery, manufacturers, mills, pattern books, textile quilts and bolt stamps which relate to global trade. An exhibition of these outcomes, was held at Bolton Museum and Art Gallery in January 2019, with part of the works going on to form a handling archive. It is hoped that some of the artworks and samples will be deposited back into the archive, alongside community education-based collaborative workshops with the museum, for future generations to learn from. From an educator perspective, discussion surrounds the students’ learning processes, models for teaching using the archive, visual enquiry, concept, project engagement, community, heritage and a sense of belonging
Trauma characteristics and posttraumatic growth: The mediating role of avoidance coping, intrusive thoughts, and social support.
No full textPrevious research suggests trauma characteristics can impact on posttraumatic growth (PTG). The current study considers whether previously identified predictors of PTG may produce different outcomes dependent on the characteristics of the trauma experienced. Active coping, avoidant coping, emotional coping, intrusive thoughts, social support, and spirituality were examined as potential mediators of relationships between trauma characteristics (interpersonal trauma, number of trauma types, and childhood trauma) and PTG. The responses of 268 adults exposed to multiple and wide-ranging stressors were used to generate three multiple mediation models. Intrusive thoughts and social support exerted small but significant indirect effects in all three multiple mediation models. Avoidant coping mediated associations between the number of trauma types and PTG, and the relationship between childhood trauma to PTG. Relationships between trauma characteristics and PTG appear to be explained through the presence of avoidant coping strategies, intrusive thoughts, and the individual's social environment, which could be the focus of intervention efforts to promote positive change
Using identity structural analysis to mentor trainee teachers
No full textThis presentation considers the potential that a combination of Identity Structure Analysis (Weinreich and Saunderson 2003) and mentoring sessions hold for exploring teacher identity. The research argues for a combined approach as a way to augment current approaches to teacher professional development. This research also argues that Identity Structure Analysis (ISA) leads to more targeted mentoring sessions which supports individual transition and ultimately leads to an increase in trainee teacher retentio
Psychological research on the experiences and effects of FGM of women currently living in the UK
No full textRemarkable Lives : Michelle Walker in conversation with Jerome Carson
No full textThe purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Michelle Walker.In this single Case Study, Michelle gives a short background to the development of her depression and is then interviewed by Jerome.Michelle sets out the reasons she developed depression. These map onto the research conducted by Brown and Harris some 50 years ago, showing how social factors can create a vulnerability to develop depression.Single case studies provide us with one person’s narrative. That narrative is however unique and can often offer us insights that are lost in large statistical surveys.Michelle found the CBT approach really helped her. However she should never have had to wait as long as she did for that help. Mental health services must respond quickly, even if only to offer a triage assessment.Brown and Harris identified four key vulnerability factors for depression in women. Michelle met three of these. How many other women are in a similar situation and are suffering in silence? We can learn a lot from the factors that helped Michelle recover from her depressive episode. Medication, CBT, the support of her mother, education and finding her soulmate and although she doesn’t say it, her own rugged determination and personal resilience