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1 – 10 of 441
Article
Publication date: 19 June 2020

Kuei-Kuei Lai, Hsueh-Chen Chen, Yu-Hsin Chang, Vimal Kumar and Priyanka C. Bhatt

This study aims to propose a methodology by integrating three approaches, namely, internal core technology, external knowledge flow and industrial technology development to help…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to propose a methodology by integrating three approaches, namely, internal core technology, external knowledge flow and industrial technology development to help companies improve their decision-making quality for technology planning and enhance their research and development (R&D) portfolio efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

The primary focus of this study is thin-film solar technology and patent data is retrieved from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database. This study presents a methodology based on the proposed integrated analysis method, constructed with patent indicators, centrality analysis of social networks and main path analysis.

Findings

The results of this study can be itemized as – the core technological competency: companies involved in two specific technology fields have lower strength in R&D portfolio than leading companies with single-core technology. Knowledge flow: most companies in a network are knowledge producers/absorbers and technological development: diverse source and sink nodes were identified in the global main path during 1997-2003, 2004-2010 and 2011-2017.

Research limitations/implications

Latecomer companies can emulate leaders’ innovation and enhance their technological competence to seek niche technology. Using the global main path, companies monitor outdated technologies that can be replaced by new technologies and aid to plan R&D strategy and implement appropriate strategic decisions avoiding path dependency.

Originality/value

The knowledge accumulation process helps in identifying the change of position and the role of companies; understanding the trend of industrial technology knowledge helps companies to develop new technology and direct strategic decisions. The novelty of this research lies in the integrated approach of three methods aiding industries to find their internal core technical competencies and identify the external position in the competitive market.

Details

Journal of Knowledge Management, vol. 25 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1367-3270

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 January 1992

T. Tobita, K. Niki, K. Inouye and H. Takasago

Advanced laser micromachining techniques for a TFT‐LCD (thin film transistor‐liquid crystal display) module have been developed to repair various kinds of defects such as shorts…

Abstract

Advanced laser micromachining techniques for a TFT‐LCD (thin film transistor‐liquid crystal display) module have been developed to repair various kinds of defects such as shorts, opens, and degraded TFTs. They have also been designed to analyse failures in the TFT‐LCD. The techniques are as follows: (i) The technique of zapping the excess metal: to repair short defects and/or to isolate the TFT being tested from the adjacent TFTs. This uses a pulse Xe or a Q‐switched YAG laser. (ii) Zapping, followed by the metal deposition technique: to repair open defects and/or to form electrical testing electrodes. This uses a Q‐switched YLF and an Ar ion laser. (iii) The technique of micro‐welding two metal lines separated by an insulating layer: to repair open defects. This uses a Q‐switched YAG laser. (iv) A separation technique utilised on a TFT‐LCD panel adhered with epoxy resin. This uses a pulse Excimer laser. (v) A micro‐annealing technique for a degraded TFT: to recover the TFT characteristics. This uses a Q‐switched YAG laser. Through the study described above, the authors have confirmed that these techniques are highly effective for obtaining TFT‐LCD modules without defects. The yield of TFT‐LCD modules may therefore be expected to improve.

Details

Microelectronics International, vol. 9 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1356-5362

Article
Publication date: 4 November 2014

Marcelo R. Pagnola, Mariano Malmoria, Marcelo Barone and Hugo Sirkin

The purpose of this paper is to present a ribbons production route of composition Fe78Si9B13 (%at.) using low cost noncommercial scrap materials to obtain usable magnetic cores by…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a ribbons production route of composition Fe78Si9B13 (%at.) using low cost noncommercial scrap materials to obtain usable magnetic cores by melt spinning technique and their characterization. This way, these may compete with the materials produced by conventional casting processes.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is to design a master alloy with scrap different starting compositions, to which Fe is added to get the desired atomic ratio of components. With this starting alloy, using the method of melt spinning, in its variant of chill block melt spinning, are achieved amorphous ribbons with desired soft magnetic behavior. Then these ribbons are thermally treated for achieve nanocrystalline structures to improve the performance in the magnetic cores.

Findings

The result of this paper shows that it is possible to recycle scrap materials, and re-used efficiently as components essential in part of electrical components. This way, these may compete with the materials produced by conventional casting processes.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this work to ensure that the scrap materials used is reasonably adequate to accomplish obtaining the master alloy, i.e. having reduced impurities.

Practical implications

The implications are important, because it assures that the components are recyclable and also high-tech in reference to energy saving that involves the production of amorphous and nanocrystalline materials in the electric industry. These products may compete with those produced by conventional casting processes.

Social implications

The social implications lead to awareness in recycling and energy saving as an option for social progress in technology.

Originality/value

The originality of the study is that it takes as a starting point for the final product (ribbon) noncommercial scrap materials of known composition and the obtained results are comparable to those that also are manufactured from the pure elements. The control of impurities is necessary in the production route. This way, these may compete with the materials produced by conventional casting processes. This process achieved a production with lower cost, high efficient energy products and high added value.

Details

Multidiscipline Modeling in Materials and Structures, vol. 10 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1573-6105

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 November 2017

Ali Mohamed Ali Aboshia, Riza Atiq Rahmat, Muhammad Fauzi Mohd Zain and Amiruddin Ismail

The purpose of this paper is to develop an alternative new ternary geopolymer mortar (MKSP) to resolve a traditional mortar problem which exhibits several disadvantages, including…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an alternative new ternary geopolymer mortar (MKSP) to resolve a traditional mortar problem which exhibits several disadvantages, including poor strengths and surface microcracks and the CO2 air pollution.

Design/methodology/approach

The MKSP ternary binder was produced using metakaolin (MK), slag (S), and palm oil fuel ash (POFA) activated with an alkaline mixture of sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) and 10 M NaOH in a mass ratio of 2.5. Seven different mix proportions of MK, slag, and POFA were used to fabricate MKSP mortars. The water-to-binder ratio was varied between 0.4 and 0.5. The mortars were heat cured for 2 h at 80°C and then aged in air. Flexural stress and strain, mortars flow and compressive strength were tested. Furthermore, the mortars were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses.

Findings

The results showed that the sample MKSP6, which contained 40 percent MK, 40 percent slag, and 20 percent POFA, exhibited high compressive strength (52 MPa) without any cracks and flexural strength (6.9 MPa) at 28 days after being cured for 2 h at 80°C; however, the MKSP7 mortar with optimal strength of 55 MPa showed some surface cracks . Further, the results of the XRD, SEM, and FTIR analyses indicated that the MKSP mortars primarily consisted of a crystalline (Si+Al) phase (70 percent) and a smaller amorphous (Si+Ca) phase (30 percent).

Research limitations/implications

The MKSP ternary geopolymer mix has three limitations as an importance of heat curing for development early strength, POFA content less than 20 percent to gain high normal strength and delaying the sitting time by controlling the slag content or the alkali activator type.

Practical implications

The use of geopolymer materials binder in a real building is limited and it still under research, Thus, the first model of real applied geopolymer cement in 2008 was the E-Crete model that formed by Zeobond company Australia to take the technology of geopolymer concrete to reality. Zeobond Pty Ltd was founded by Professor Jannie S.J. van (van Deventer et al., 2013), it was used to product precast concrete for the building structure. The second model was PYRAMENT model in 2002 by American cement manufacturer Lone Star Industries which was produced from the development carried out on inorganic alumino-silicate polymers called geopolymer (Palomo et al., 1999). In 2013 the third model was Queensland’s University GCI building with three suspended floors made from structural geopolymer concrete containing slag/fly ash-based geopolymer (Pathak, 2016). In Australia, 2014, the newly completed Brisbane West Wellcamp airport becomes the greenest airport in the world. Cement-free geopolymer concrete was used to save more than 6,600 tons of carbon emissions in the construction of the airport. Therefore, the next century will see cement companies developing alternative binders that are more environmentally friendly from a sustainable development point of view.

Originality/value

Production of new geopolymer binder of mortar as alternative to traditional cement binder with high early and normal strength from low cost waste materials, less potential of cracking, less energy consumption need and low carbon dioxide emission.

Details

International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, vol. 35 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-4708

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 1991

T. Tobita, K. Niki, T. Makita, H. Takasago and H. Miki

To obtain the best moisture‐proof and most reliable protective coating for an amorphous silicon image sensor (A4 documents), three methods of coating and patterning processes and…

Abstract

To obtain the best moisture‐proof and most reliable protective coating for an amorphous silicon image sensor (A4 documents), three methods of coating and patterning processes and 15 types of resin classified into five kinds of materials were evaluated. Through this study, a screen‐printing method using silicone resin material cured under conditions of 150°C for 60 minutes to form a 60 µm thick protective coating film was selected because of the simplicity of its fabrication process compared with the other two methods. The a‐Si photodiodes were tested under conditions of 121°C‐2 atm. for 300 hours, −30°C to 100°C for 350 cycles and 85°C for 500 hours, and their characteristics were not negatively affected.

Details

Microelectronics International, vol. 8 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1356-5362

Article
Publication date: 1 April 1991

A.A. Buykx, H.M. Wentinck, W. Crans and J.W. Metselaar

For the extraction of transport parameters from Time‐of‐Flight (TOF) measurements a simulation and optimization program was developed that uses the principle of Inverse Modelling…

Abstract

For the extraction of transport parameters from Time‐of‐Flight (TOF) measurements a simulation and optimization program was developed that uses the principle of Inverse Modelling. The model describing the physical transport processes in an amorphous device is discussed as well as the implementation of the simulator in the dataprocessor and optimization driver PROFILE. As an example a simulation of TOF measurements at an amorphous p‐i‐n solar cell is shown.

Details

COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering, vol. 10 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0332-1649

Article
Publication date: 12 March 2018

Q. Wan, Y.M. Chen, H.D. Liu and B. Yang

Ti-Si-N coating with nanocomposite structure is a promising protective coating for cutting tools which will be subject to high temperature oxidation during service. This study…

178

Abstract

Purpose

Ti-Si-N coating with nanocomposite structure is a promising protective coating for cutting tools which will be subject to high temperature oxidation during service. This study aims to investigate the thermal stability of Ti-Si-N coatings and lays the foundation for its application in high speed dry cutting.

Design/methodology/approach

Nanocomposite Ti-Si-N coating was deposited on stainless substrate and silicon wafer (100) by Ti90Si10 alloy target by using cathodic arc ion plating. The microstructure of Ti-Si-N coating had been detected by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Findings

The results suggested that the coating was TiN nanocrystals with a diameter of 6.3 nm surrounded by amorphous Si3N4. The oxidation test was conducted under 550, 650, 750, 800, 850, 900 and 950°C for 2 h. The structure evolution was observed by Scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrum (EDS), XRD and XPS. The results indicated that rutile has been formed at 650°C, while Si3N4 began to oxidized at 800°C. The grain size of TiN increased from 6.3 to 13 nm as the samples oxidized from 550 to 800. Micro-crack also formed in samples oxidized over 900°C.

Originality/value

Ti-Si-N coating, in this study, was deposited by cathodic arc ion plating using alloy target at high-bias voltage. The oxidation temperature ranged from 500 to 950°C with TiN coating as reference.

Details

Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, vol. 65 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0003-5599

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 October 2018

Boyang Qu, Peng Zhang, Jianmin Luo, Shie Yang and Yongsheng Chen

The purpose of this paper is to investigate a light-trapping structure based on Ag nanograting for amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin-film solar cell. Silver nanopillar arrays on…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate a light-trapping structure based on Ag nanograting for amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin-film solar cell. Silver nanopillar arrays on indium tin oxide layer of the a-Si thin-film solar cells were designed.

Design/methodology/approach

The effects of the geometrical parameters such as nanopillar radius (R) and array period (P) were investigated by using the finite element simulation.

Findings

The optimization results show that the absorption of the solar cell with Ag nanopillar structure and anti-reflection film is enhanced up to 29.5 per cent under AM1.5 illumination in the 300- to 800-nm wavelength range compared with the reference cell. Furthermore, physical mechanisms of absorption enhancement at different wavelength range are discussed according to the electrical field amplitude distributions in the solar cells.

Research limitations/implications

The research is still in progress. Further studies mainly focus on the performance of solar cells with different nanograting materials.

Practical implications

This study provides a feasible method for light-trapping structure based on Ag nanograting for a-Si thin-film solar cell.

Originality/value

This study is promising for the design of a-Si thin-film solar cells with enhanced performance.

Details

Microelectronics International, vol. 35 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1356-5362

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 March 2021

Miao-Tzu Lin

Flexible hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) solar cells have many advantages, including lower weight, good flexibility and light sensitivity. Moreover, a-Si:H solar cells can…

Abstract

Purpose

Flexible hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) solar cells have many advantages, including lower weight, good flexibility and light sensitivity. Moreover, a-Si:H solar cells can be used as sensors, as indoor light sources and can also generate electricity. These solar cells are suitable for the design of portable systems and curved materials. The purpose of this study was to integrate flexible a-Si:H solar cells and wearable technology and to apply the dual functions of photovoltaics and photo sensors to smart clothing and eyewear.

Design/methodology/approach

The integration of flexible a-Si:H solar cells and tri-colour light-emitting diodes (LEDs) was used to develop smart auto-flashing clothing. In addition, we combined flexible a-Si:H solar cells and twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystal (LC) cells to design smart self-activation eyewear.

Findings

The maximum power resistance value of flexible a-Si:H solar cells was used to deduce the equation of solar cell voltage value generated by different percentages of SUN (100% SUN means 100 mW/cm2). A solar cell was used as a photo sensor that connects a resistor in a series to the Arduino to detect the voltage value, and then different percentages of SUN are calculated from the equation. Applying the deduced equation to the smart phone APP and Arduino code, we developed a human–machine interface (HMI) to facilitate user operation.

Originality/value

In this study, the flexible a-Si:H solar cell performs the function of not only photovoltaic power generation but also that of a photo sensor. The smart auto-flashing clothing is suitable for traffic guides, joggers and people engaging in other night activities. This smart self-activating eyewear can adjust to light and protect the eyes.

Details

International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, vol. 34 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0955-6222

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 January 2018

Kavindra Kandpal and Navneet Gupta

The purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive review on development and future trends in zinc oxide thin film transistors (ZnO TFTs). This paper presents the development…

1062

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive review on development and future trends in zinc oxide thin film transistors (ZnO TFTs). This paper presents the development of TFT technology starting from amorphous silicon, poly-Si to ZnO TFTs. This paper also discusses about transport and device modeling of ZnO TFT and provides a comparative analysis with other TFTs on the basis of performance parameters.

Design/methodology/approach

It highlights the need of high–k dielectrics for low leakage and low threshold voltage in ZnO TFTs. This paper also explains the effect of grain boundaries, trap densities and threshold voltage shift on the performance of ZnO TFT. Moreover, it also addresses the challenges like requirement of stable p-type ZnO semiconductor for various electronic applications and high value of ZnO mobility to meet growing demand of high-definition light emitting diode TV (HD-LED TV).

Findings

This review will motivate the readers to further investigate the conduction mechanism, best alternate for gate-dielectric and the deposition technique optimization for the enhancement of the performance of ZnO TFTs.

Originality/value

This is a literature review. The technological evolution of TFT in general and ZnO TFT in particular is presented in this paper.

Details

Microelectronics International, vol. 35 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1356-5362

Keywords

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