Recent trends in energy production have led to a renewed interest in improving grid level energy storage solutions. Flywheel energy storage is an attractive option for grid level storage, however, it suffers from high parasitic loss. This study investigates the extent to which passive diamagnetic bearings, a form of electromagnetic bearing, can help reduce this parasitic loss. Such bearings require three main components: a weight compensation mechanism (lifter-floater), a stabilizing mechanism and an electrical machine. This study makes use of a new radial modification of an existing linear multi-plattered diamagnetic bearing. Here a prototype is built and analytical expressions derived for each of the three main components. These expressions provide a method of estimating displacements, fields, forces, energy and stiffness in the radial diamagnetic bearing. The built prototype solution is found to lift a 30 [g] mass using six diamagnetic platters for stabilization (between ring magnets) with a disc lifter and spherical floater for weight compensation. The relationship between mass and number of platters was found to be linear, suggesting that, up to a point, increases in mass are likely possible and indicating that significant potential exists for these bearings where high stiffness is not needed – for instance in flywheel energy storage. The study examines methods of reducing bearing (parasitic) losses and demonstrates that losses occur in three main forms during idling: air-friction losses, electrical machine losses, stabilizing machine losses. Low speed (158 [rpm]) air-friction losses are found to be the dominant loss at 0.1 [W/m3]. The focus of this study, however, is on loss contributions resulting from the bearing’s electrical machine and stabilizing machine. Stabilizing machine losses are found to be very low at: 1 × 10−6 [W/m3] – this leaves electrical machine losses as the dominant loss. Such electrical machine losses are analysed and divided into eddy current loss and hysteresis loss. Two components of hysteresis loss are remanent field related cogging loss and remagetization loss. Eddy current losses in silicon steel laminations in an electrical machine are quite high, especially at high speeds, with losses in the order of 1 × 105 [W/m3]. Noting the further high cost of producing single unit quantities of custom lamination-based electrical machine prototypes, this high loss prompts a look at potentially lower cost ferrite materials for building these machines. A commercial sample of soft magnetite ferrite is shown to have equivalent eddy current losses of roughly 1 × 10−13 [W/m3]. The study notes that micro-structured magnetite has significant hysteresis loss. Such loss is in the order of 1 × 10−3 [W/m3] when referring to both remanence related cogging and remagnetization. This study, thus, extends its examination of loss to nano-structured magnetite. Magnetite nano-particles have shown superparamagnetic (no hysteresis) behaviour that promises the elimination of hysteresis losses. A co-precipitation route to the synthesis of these nano-particles is examined. A detailed examination involving a series of 31 experiments is shown to demonstrate only two pathways providing close-to-superparamagnetic behaviour. After characterization by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD), Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) and crude colorimetry, the lowest coercivity and remanence found in any given sample falls at −0.17 [Oe] (below error) and 0.00165 [emu/g] respectively. These critical points can be used to estimate hysteresis related power loss, however, to produce bulk ferrite a method of sintering or bonding synthesized powder is needed. A microwave sintering solution promises to preserve nano-structure when taking synthesized powders to bulk material. A set of proof-of-concept experiments provide the ground work for proposing a future microwave sintering approach to such bulk material production. The study uses critical points measured by way of SEM, XRD, SQUID characterization (e.g. remanence and coercivity) to implement a modified Jiles-Atherton model for hysteresis curve fitting. The critical points and curve fitting model allow estimation of power loss resulting from remanent related cogging and remagnetization effects in nano-structured magnetite. Such nano-structured magnetite is shown to exhibit hysteresis losses in the order of 1 × 10−4 [W/m3] from remagnetization and 1 × 10−7[W/m3] from remanence related cogging drag. These losses are lower than those of micro-structured samples, suggesting that nano-structured materials have a significant positive effect in reducing electrical machine losses for the proposed radial multi-plattered diamagnetic bearing solution. The lower parasitic loss in these bearings suggests excellent compatibility with flywheel energy storage applications.

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are small pieces of graphene oxide whose physical dimensions are so confined (a few to a few tens nm) that they have a finite bandgap due to a quantum confinement effect. The finite bandgap of GQDs grants them pronounced absorption bands and a substantial photoluminescence. These optical properties are rarely observed in traditional carbon materials, since most of carbon materials are metallic with a near-zero bandgap and thus have broad absorption spectra with no photoluminescence. The unique optical properties of GQDs, along with GQDs’ inherited advantages from carbon material family (cheap, abundant, non-toxic), make GQDs an attractive material for various applications such as bio-imaging, photoinduced therapy, chemical and metal ion sensors, and photovoltaic devices. Despite of their great potential, several great challenges need to be overcome to enable wider applications. One challenge is the fact that GQDs prepared by typical chemical methods possess significant inhomogeneity, so the precise control of the dimension and surface functionalities is very difficult. Due to the inhomogeneity of GQDs in terms of dimensions and surface functionalities, it is challengeable to establish a precise structure-property relationship. As of today, it is still under debate how surface functional groups of GQDs are responsible for the photoluminescence mechanism, photophysics, and photochemistry. This dissertation is mainly to provide a dedicated study about the photoluminescence mechanism and structure-property relations of GQDs.

This research took place in 3 stages. In the first stage, lignin graphene (LG) was synthesized using a catalytic thermal conversion process. In stage 2, the time and temperature correlations for polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) and phenol resorcinol formaldehyde (PRF) adhesives were found and PRF showed stronger correlation when doped with carbon nanomaterials. Stage 3 evaluated the effect of the nanomaterials on radio frequency (RF) heating time and adhesive strength. It was found that all versions of the PRF adhesive resulted in higher shear strength values when cured in room temperature for 24 hours or in an oven at 170 °F for 30 minutes. The combination of PRF + 0.5 % LG and 120 s RF heating resulted in significantly higher block shear strengths when compared to the other RF heating durations. Pine lumber was selected as it is the single most important commercial/structural species in North America, by volume. A substantial portion of pine is directed to glue-laminated timber and cross-laminated timber. Both industries use or can use RF curing and as such both may benefit from improvements developed herein.

No description available.

No description available.

Although there are over 1,600 Engineered Nanomaterials (ENMs)-containing consumer products available, our understanding of ENM safety is still limited. Airborne ENMs can readily enter the human body through inhalation potentially leading to many adverse health effects such as cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. The conventional in vitro submerged cell culture method was developed decades ago and has been widely used as a fast screening method to elucidate cellular toxicity upon exposure to hazardous materials; however, it has many limitations compared with the in vivo models. Our group has previously utilized and validated an integrated low flow system capable of generating and depositing airborne nanoparticles (NPs) directly onto cells at an air-liquid interface (ALI) condition, and our results confirmed that this exposure system produced reproducible toxicological data for ENMs including gold (Au), 16% silver coated onto silica (16% Ag-SiO2), and copper oxide (CuO). To further improve this ALI method for an even closer representation of the in vivo model, a co-culture model containing three cell lines (A549, THP-1 differentiated macrophages, and EA.hy 926) was established and validated for testing ENMs toxicity. The co-culture model was exposed to 16% Ag-SiO2 and CuO NPs under the same protocol (4 h ALI exposure with a concentration of 3.5 mg/m3) as monoculture (A549 only) for comparison. Toxicity was assessed by measuring cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and interleukin (IL) 8 level. Results showed that 16% Ag-SiO2 NPs induced higher ROS generation, and CuO NPs produced a significant level of proinflammatory response compared with monoculture. In addition, the co-culture model exhibited a similar response with the primary human bronchial epithelia cell line (HBEC) in terms of ROS and IL-8 responses after CuO NPs exposure, suggesting a more advanced refinement of the conventional model for in vitro inhalation study.

abstract: In this dissertation, I described my research on the growth and characterization of various nanostructures, such as nanowires, nanobelts and nanosheets, of different semiconductors in a Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) system. In the first part of my research, I selected chalcogenides (such as CdS and CdSe) for a comprehensive study in growing two-segment axial nanowires and radial nanobelts/sheets using the ternary CdSxSe1-x alloys. I demonstrated simultaneous red (from CdSe-rich) and green (from CdS-rich) light emission from a single monolithic heterostructure with a maximum wavelength separation of 160 nm. I also demonstrated the first simultaneous two-color lasing from a single nanosheet heterostructure with a wavelength separation of 91 nm under sufficiently strong pumping power. In the second part, I considered several combinations of source materials with different growth methods in order to extend the spectral coverage of previously demonstrated structures towards shorter wavelengths to achieve full-color emissions. I achieved this with the growth of multisegment heterostructure nanosheets (MSHNs), using ZnS and CdSe chalcogenides, via our novel growth method. By utilizing this method, I demonstrated the first growth of ZnCdSSe MSHNs with an overall lattice mismatch of 6.6%, emitting red, green and blue light simultaneously, in a single furnace run using a simple CVD system. The key to this growth method is the dual ion exchange process which converts nanosheets rich in CdSe to nanosheets rich in ZnS, demonstrated for the first time in this work. Tri-chromatic white light emission with different correlated color temperature values was achieved under different growth conditions. We demonstrated multicolor (191 nm total wavelength separation) laser from a single monolithic semiconductor nanostructure for the first time. Due to the difficulties associated with growing semiconductor materials of differing composition on a given substrate using traditional planar epitaxial technology, our nanostructures and growth method are very promising for various device applications, including but not limited to: illumination, multicolor displays, photodetectors, spectrometers and monolithic multicolor lasers. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Electrical Engineering 2015

Les travaux de cette thèse se situent dans un contexte de miniaturisation des transducteurs ultrasonores micro-usinés (cMUTs). Ce type de dispositifs est utilisé depuis plusieurs décades dans le domaine de l'imagerie par échographie allant du contrôle non-destructif de structures jusqu'au domaine médical. La quête d'une imagerie hautement résolue nécessite l'utilisation de cMUTs de fréquence de résonance de l'ordre du GHz et de taille micrométrique. L'élément actif de ces cMUts est une membrane suspendue de surface micrométrique. Une étude analytique, basée sur le comportement mécanique des plaques minces, a permis de dimensionner les membranes suspendues et de souligner l'importance d'avoir une épaisseur nanométrique pour avoir un signal émis détectable électriquement. Plusieurs matériaux; à savoir des nanotubes de carbone, du graphène, du graphène oxydé, du DLC (diamond like carbon) et du silicium, ont été mis en œuvre dans la cadre de cette étude pour réaliser des membranes suspendues de taille micrométrique et d'épaisseur nanométrique. Des procédés technologiques propres à chacun de ces matériaux ont été conçus et des membranes d'épaisseurs variant de 2 à 15 nm et de largeurs variant de 1 à 2 µm ont été fabriquées. Une méthode de caractérisation innovante a été mise en place afin d'évaluer les propriétés mécaniques des différentes membranes réalisées. Un protocole de mesure a été développé pour mesurer l'amplitude de déplacement des membranes suspendues sous l'action d'une force électrostatique. Des amplitudes qui atteignent la dizaine de nanomètres ont été mesurées, amplitudes qui correspondent à des variations de capacités électriquement détectables. Plus généralement, ces travaux constituent une preuve solide de la faisabilité des nano-membranes suspendues de taille micrométrique avec un déplacement détectable. / This thesis concerns a context of miniaturization of micromachined ultrasonic transducers (cMUTs). This type of device has been used for decades in the field of ultrasound imaging for the non-destructive testing of structures for example. The quest of a highly resolved imaging requires the use of cMUTs with a resonance frequency in the order of GHz and with a micrometer size. The main part of these cMUts is a suspended membrane with a micrometric surface. An analytical study, based on the mechanical behavior of thin plates, is used for the design of the suspended membranes. This study emphasizes the importance of having a nanometric thickness to obtain a detectable electrical signal. Several materials, namely carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphene oxide, DLC (diamond like carbon ) and silicon have been implemented in this study to make a micron size suspended membranes with a nanometric thickness . Technological processes specific to each of these materials have been designed. Suspended membranes with thicknesses ranging from 2 to 15 nm and widths ranging from 1 to 2 microns were made. A novel method of characterization has been established to evaluate the mechanical properties of our membranes. A measurement protocol has been developed to measure the of displacement of the suspended membrane under the an electrostatic field . Amplitudes reaching ten nanometers were measured. More generally , this study provides a strong proof of the feasibility of suspended micrometer-sized membranes with an electrically detectable signal.

No description available.

<p>  </p> <p>In this thesis, cellulose nanofiber (CNF) reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) filaments were produced for 3D printing applications using melt extrusion. The use of CNF reinforcement has the potential to improve the mechanical properties of PLA, making it a more suitable material for various 3D printing applications. To produce the nanocomposites, a master batch with a high concentration of CNFs was premixed with PLA, and then diluted to final concentrations of 1, 3, and 5 wt% during the extrusion process. The dilution was carried out to assess the effects of varying CNF concentrations on the morphology and mechanical properties of the composites. The results showed that the addition of 3 wt.% CNF significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of the PLA composites. Specifically, the tensile strength increased by 77.7%, the compressive strength increased by 62.7%, and the flexural strength increased by 60.2%. These findings demonstrate that the melt extrusion of CNF reinforced PLA filaments is a viable approach for producing nanocomposites with improved mechanical properties for 3D printing applications. In conclusion, the study highlights the potential of CNF reinforcement in improving the mechanical properties of PLA for 3D printing applications. The results can provide valuable information for researchers and industries in the field of 3D printing and materials science, as well as support the development of more advanced and sustainable 3D printing materials.</p>