Search Results (655)

The inferior electrical conductivity and elevated hardness of AgSnO₂ electrical contact materials have impeded their development. To investigate the effects of Co, Bi, and La doping on the stability and electrical properties of AgSnO₂, this study established interfacial models of doped AgSnO₂ based on first-principles calculations initiated from the atomic structures of constituent materials, subsequently computing electronic structure parameters. The results indicate that doping effectively enhances the interfacial stability and bonding strength of AgSnO₂ and thereby predicted improved electrical contact performance. Doped SnO₂ powders were prepared experimentally using the sol–gel method, and AgSnO₂ contacts were fabricated using high-energy ball milling and powder metallurgy. Testing of wettability and electrical contact properties revealed reductions in arc energy, arcing time, contact resistance, and welding force post-doping. Three-dimensional profilometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to characterize electrical contact surfaces, elucidating the arc erosion mechanism of AgSnO₂ contact materials. Among the doped variants, La-doped electrical contact materials exhibited optimal performance (the lowest interfacial energy was 1.383 eV/Ų and wetting angle was 75.6°). The mutual validation of experiments and simulations confirms the feasibility of the theoretical calculation method. This study provides a novel theoretical method for enhancing the performance of AgSnO₂ electrical contact materials. Full article

This research investigates resonator width optimization for simultaneously enhancing electrical performance and mechanical reliability in wideband RF MEMS filters through systematic evaluation of three configurations: 0% (L1), 60% (L2), and 100% (L3) matching ratios between cap and bottom wafers using Au-Au thermocompression bonding. The study demonstrates that resonator width alignment significantly influences both electromagnetic field coupling and bonding interface integrity. The L3 configuration with complete width matching achieved optimal RF performance, demonstrating 3.34 dB insertion loss across 4.5 GHz bandwidth (25% fractional bandwidth), outperforming L2 (3.56 dB) and L1 (3.10 dB), while providing enhanced electromagnetic wave coupling and minimized contact resistance. Mechanical reliability testing revealed superior bonding strength for the L3 configuration, withstanding up to 7.14 Kgf in shear pull tests, significantly exceeding L1 (4.22 Kgf) and L2 (2.24 Kgf). SEM analysis confirmed uniform bonding interfaces with minimal void formation (~180 nm), while Q-factor measurements showed L3 achieved optimal loaded Q-factor (Q_L = 3.31) suitable for wideband operation. Comprehensive environmental testing, including thermal cycling (−50 °C to +145 °C) and humidity exposure per MIL-STD-810E standards, validated long-term stability across all configurations. This investigation establishes that complete resonator width matching between cap and bottom wafers optimizes both electromagnetic performance and mechanical bonding reliability, providing a validated framework for developing high-performance, reliable RF MEMS devices for next-generation communication, radar, and sensing applications. Full article

Large turbine generators rely on shaft earthing brushes to safely divert harmful shaft currents to ground, protecting bearings from electrical damage. This paper presents a novel deep learning-based diagnostic framework to detect and classify faults in shaft earthing brushes of large turbine generators. A key innovation lies in the use of FFT-derived spectrograms from both voltage and current waveforms as dual-channel inputs to the CNN, enabling automatic feature extraction of time–frequency patterns associated with different SEB fault types. The proposed framework combines advanced signal processing and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to automatically recognize fault-related patterns in shaft grounding current and voltage signals. In the approach, raw time-domain signals are converted into informative time–frequency representations, which serve as input to a CNN model trained to distinguish normal and faulty conditions. The framework was evaluated using data from a fleet of large-scale generators under various brush fault scenarios (e.g., increased brush contact resistance, loss of brush contact, worn out brushes, and brush contamination). Experimental results demonstrate high fault detection accuracy (exceeding 98%) and the reliable identification of different fault types, outperforming conventional threshold-based monitoring techniques. The proposed deep learning framework offers a novel intelligent monitoring solution for predictive maintenance of turbine generators. The contributions include the following: (1) the development of a specialized deep learning model for shaft earthing brush fault diagnosis, (2) a systematic methodology for feature extraction from shaft current signals, and (3) the validation of the framework on real-world fault data. This work enables the early detection of brush degradation, thereby reducing unplanned downtime and maintenance costs in power generation facilities. Full article

The control of lubricity induced by electric potential is appealing for numerous applications. On the other hand, the high polarity of ionic liquids facilitates the adsorption of equally charged molecules onto polar surfaces. This phenomenon and its consequences are well understood at the nanoscale; however, they have recently garnered significant attention at the macroscale. This study investigates the lubricity of trihexyltetradecylphosphonium dicyanamide, a phosphonium ionic liquid, when used as a neat lubricant in reciprocating sliding under electrically charged conditions. Two different polarities with the same potential were applied to the friction pair of bearing steel against bearing steel while monitoring electrical contact resistance. The lubricity was evaluated through measurements of friction, wear, surface morphology, and composition. It was found that the application of electric potential significantly alters the lubricity of the investigated ionic liquid where a positive potential applied to the ball resulted in the least damaging situation. The recorded electrical contact resistance enabled the monitoring of tribofilm formation during reciprocation. It was found that there was minimal to no separation between interacting surfaces when the ball was changing direction. Full article

The no-insulation (NI) technique improves the stability and defect-tolerance of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coils by enabling current redistribution, thereby reducing the risk of quenching. NI–HTS coils are widely applied in DC systems such as high-field magnets and superconducting field coils for electric machines. However, the presence of turn-to-turn contact resistance makes current distribution uneven, rendering traditional simulation methods unsuitable. To address this, a finite element method (FEM) based on the T–A formulation is proposed. This model solves coupled equations for the magnetic vector potential (A) and current vector potential (T), incorporating turn-to-turn contact resistance and anisotropic conductivity. The thin-strip approximation simplifies second-generation HTS materials as one-dimensional conductors, and a homogenization technique further reduces computational time by averaging the properties between turns, although it may limit the resolution of localized inter-turn effects. To verify the model’s accuracy, simulation results are compared against the H formulation, distributed circuit network (DCN) model, and experimental data. The proposed T–A model accurately reproduces key transient characteristics, including magnetic field evolution and radial current distribution, in both circular and racetrack NI coils. These results confirm the model’s potential as an efficient and reliable tool for transient electromagnetic analysis of NI–HTS coils. Full article

The muzzle velocity of electromagnetic rail launchers approaches 1550 m/s, exhibiting typical hypervelocity electrical contact characteristics. During the electromagnetic launching process, extreme conditions, such as high current density, high temperature rise, and strong strain can cause wear on the surfaces of the armature and rail. Electromagnetic launch tests are conducted to study the wear conditions of the rail surface and the relationship between the wear state and contact resistance. After the rail is abraded by hundreds of launching armatures, its surface 2D profile and morphological characteristics are measured and analyzed. Based on fractal theory, the static contact resistance model is developed. Concurrently, the contact resistance at various positions is measured to reveal the evolution of the static contact resistance between the armature and the rail under wear. The research results show that along the direction of the armature launch, the rail surface wear transitions from mechanical wear to electrical wear, the fluctuation range of the 2D profile becomes smoother, and the roughness of the rail surface shows a decreasing trend. When the roughness is greater, the contact resistance is more sensitive to changes in external load. Full article

The development of thermoelectric modules based on skutterudite materials requires stable, low-resistance interfaces between segments operating at different temperature ranges. This study investigates the microstructure, thermoelectric performance, and thermal stability of the following two joints: In_0.4Co₄Sb₁₂/Co₄Sb_10.8Te_0.6Se_0.6 (n-type) and CeFe₃Co_0.5Ni_0.5Sb₁₂/In_0.25Co₃FeSb₁₂ (p-type), fabricated by pulse plasma sintering (PPS). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analyses confirmed the formation of well-bonded interfaces without pores or cracks. Aging at 773 K for 168 h did not result in morphological or chemical degradation, and phase composition remained unchanged according to X-ray diffraction (XRD). Surface Seebeck coefficient mapping and contact resistance measurements showed negligible changes after annealing, confirming electrical stability. To provide context for potential applications, theoretical energy conversion efficiencies were estimated based on measured thermoelectric properties, yielding 13.2% and 10.1% for the n- and p-type segmented legs, respectively. Additionally, measured coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) indicated low mismatch between jointed materials, supporting good mechanical compatibility. The results demonstrate that the selected material combinations are thermally, chemically, and electrically stable and can be effectively used in segmented thermoelectric legs for intermediate-temperature applications. Full article

The purpose of this work is to demonstrate that laser-induced conductive tracts in AlN ceramic can be applied for fabrication of an integrated resistive heating element. Nanosecond laser processing at a wavelength of 1064 nm of ceramic in vacuum is used for a formation of conductive areas. It is demonstrated that the applied laser fluence and the number of pulses influence strongly the electrical properties of the material in the irradiated zone. The resistance value of the produced tracks with a length of about 4 mm and width of about 1 mm may vary from 17 to about 2000 Ohms, depending on the processing conditions. The material in the processed zone is characterized by means of surface composition, morphology, and electric properties. It is found that the electrical conductivity of the formed structure is based on the ceramic decomposition and formation of aluminum layer. The analysis of the influence of the temperature on the electrical resistance value shows that the material’s conductivity could be preserved after annealing, as in the present study it is confirmed up to 300 °C. The ability of the formed tracks to serve as a basis element of ceramic integrated resistive heater is studied by applying DC voltage. It is found that the fabricated element can be used with a high reliability to about 90 °C without special requirements for contact design and encapsulation. Operation at higher temperatures is also demonstrated as the maximal one achieved is about 150 °C at 10V. The performance of the heater is investigated and discussed as the operation range is defined. The proposed element can be a basis for a design of an integrated heater in ceramic with high stability and applications in everyday life and research. Full article

The primary challenge associated with stainless steel in fuel cell operation is its susceptibility to corrosion, which leads to increased contact resistance and subsequent degradation of electrochemical performance. In general, the protective layers have been loaded onto the metal surface by widely used traditional techniques such as physical vapor deposition (PVD), or cathode arc ion plating. However, the above sputtering and evaporation ways require a high-vacuum condition, complicated experimental setups, higher costs, and an elevated temperature. Therefore, herein the achievement for uniform coatings over a large surface area has been realized by using a cost-effective strategy through a complete wet chemical process. The synergistic regulation of two conductive components and a plastic additive has been employed together with the entrapment of a surfactant to optimize the microstructure of the coating surface. The assembly of layered graphite and a polystyrene sphere could maintain both the high corrosion resistance feature and excellent electrical conductivity. In particular, the intrinsic vacant space in the above physical barriers has been filled with fine powders of indium tin oxide (ITO) due to its small size, and the interconnected conductive network with vertical/horizontal directions would be formed. All the key technical targets based on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have been achieved under the simulated operating environments of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. The corrosion current density has been measured as low as 0.52 μA/cm² (for the sample of graphite/mixed layer) over the applied potentials from −0.6 V to 1.2 V and its protective efficiency is evaluated to be 99.8%. The interfacial contact resistance between the sample and the carbon paper is much less than 10 mΩ·cm² (3.4 mΩ·cm²) under a contact pressure of 165 N/cm². The wettability has been investigated and its contact angle has been evolved from 48° (uncoated sample) to even 110°, providing superior hydrophobicity to prevent water penetration. Such an innovative approach opens up new possibilities for improving the durability and reducing the costs of carbon-based coatings. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of contact surface roughness on the performance characteristics of M12-type electrical contacts, with particular emphasis on current and thermal derating parameters. Three samples were prepared, all made from the same conductive material CuZn42, in accordance with identical geometric and technological specifications, differing in the surface roughness value: R_z = 2 μm, representing high surface finish quality, and R_z = 10 μm, representing lower quality. The results showed that the surface roughness of the contact significantly affects the thermal and electrical properties of the tested contacts. Surfaces with lower roughness (R_z = 2 μm) exhibited better electrical conductivity, lower contact resistance, and slower temperature rise as the current load increased. In contrast, contacts with higher roughness (R_z = 10 μm) showed a faster temperature rise and a reduction in the maximum allowable current at higher ambient temperatures. These results could be useful in the design of systems requiring reliability, particularly in high-power devices. Full article

Aluminum alloy AA6082 (Al-Si-Mg) is a lightweight alloy that requires thick barrier coatings to be protected from localized corrosion. Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) coating is a common anodic surface treatment used for growing protective oxides; the main process variables of PEO are the composition of the electrolytic solution and the electrical input. This work focuses on the optimization of the electrical input by comparing different coatings produced by potentiostatic PEO at the effective potential of 350 V, applied by different combinations of voltage ramps with various slopes and maintenance times at the fixed potential. All processes lasted five minutes. The innovative character of this research work is the evaluation of the combined effect of the anodizing voltage and its different trends with time on the coating structure and morphology. The corrosion resistance of coated AA6082 is assessed in contact with chlorides, reproducing seawater. The resulting anodic coatings were compared in terms of structure, composition (thickness, XRD, SEM-EDS) and corrosion resistance (potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy), finding that longer maintenance at high anodizing potentials promotes localized high-energy plasma discharges, producing larger pores and thicker, but less protective coatings. Results show that the coating thickness increases with the maintenance time (maximum thickness value~17.6 μm). Shorter maintenance periods and longer voltage ramps lead to a lower surface porosity and enhanced corrosion performances of the oxide. The thinnest and least porous coating exhibits the best corrosion behavior (CR~1.1 μm/year). Full article

The surface profile and structural alignment of fibers and yarns in fabrics are critical factors affecting the electrical properties of conductive textile surfaces. This study aimed to investigate the impact of fabric surface roughness and the geometrical parameters of woven fabrics on their electrical resistance properties. Surface roughness was assessed using the MicroSpy^® Profile profilometer FRT (Fries Research & Technology) Metrology™, while electrical resistance was evaluated using the Van der Pauw method. The findings indicate that rougher fabric surfaces exhibit higher electrical resistance due to surface irregularities and lower yarn compactness. In contrast, smoother fabrics improve conductivity by enhancing surface uniformity and yarn contact. Fabric density, particularly weft density, governs the structural alignment of yarns. A 35% increase in weft density (W19–W27) resulted in a 13–15% reduction in resistance, confirming that denser fabrics facilitate current flow. Higher weft density also increases directional resistance differences, enhancing anisotropic behavior. Angular distribution analysis showed lower resistance and greater anisotropy at perpendicular orientations (0° and 180°, the weft direction; 90° and 270°, the warp direction), while diagonal directions (45°, 135°, 225°, and 315°) exhibited higher resistance. Surface roughness further hindered current flow, whereas increased weft density and surface mass reduced resistance and improved the directional dependencies of the electrical resistances. This analysis was conducted based on research using woven fabrics produced from silver-plated polyamide yarns (Shieldex^® 117/17 HCB). These insights support the optimization of these conductive fabrics for smart textiles, wearable sensors, and e-textiles. Fabric variants W19 and W21, with lower resistance variability and better isotropic behavior under the S electrode arrangement, could be proposed as suitable materials for integration into compact sensing systems like heart rate or bio-signal monitors. Full article

With the continuous development of the new energy vehicle industry, in order to further improve the safety and range of electric vehicles, vehicle lightweighting has been a key focus of major car companies. However, research on lightweighting and the impact protection effect of battery pack protective plates is lacking. The bottom protective plate of the battery pack in this study has a sandwich-type multi-layer structure, which is mainly composed of upper and lower glass-fiber-reinforced resin protective layers, steel plate impact resistant layers, and honeycomb buffer layers. In order to study the relationship between the impact damage response and material characteristics of the multi-material battery pack protective plate, a matrix experimental design was adopted in this study to obtain the energy absorption ratio of different material properties when the protective plate is subjected to impact damage. This work innovatively used a low-cost equivalent model method. During the drop hammer impact test, a 6061-T6 aluminum plate in direct contact with the lower part of the bottom guard plate test piece was used to simulate the deformation of the water-cooled plate in practical applications. High-strength aluminum honeycomb was arranged below the aluminum plate to simulate the deformation of the battery cell. This method provides a scientific quantitative standard for evaluating the impact resistance performance of the protective plate. The most preferred specimen in this work had a surface depression deformation of only 8.44 mm after being subjected to a 400 J high-energy impact, while the simulated water-cooled plate had a depression deformation of 4.07 mm. Among them, the high-strength steel plate played the main role in absorbing energy during the impact process, absorbing energy. It can account for about 34.3%, providing reference for further characterizing the impact resistance performance of the protective plate under different working conditions. At the same time, an equivalence analysis of the damage mode between the quasi-static indentation test and the dynamic drop hammer impact test was also conducted. Under the same conditions, the protective effect of the protective plate on impact damage was better than that of static pressure marks. From the perspective of energy absorption, the ratio coefficient of the two was about 1.2~1.3. Full article

The optical, electrical, and material properties of In–Zn–O (IZO) films were optimized by adjusting the deposition power and annealing temperature. Films deposited at 125 W and annealed at 300 °C exhibited the best performance, with the lowest resistivity (1.43 × 10⁻³ Ω·cm), highest mobility (11.12 cm²/V·s), and highest carrier concentration (4.61 × 10²⁰ cm⁻³). The average transmittance and optical energy gap were 82.57% and 3.372 eV, respectively. The electrical characteristics of amorphous In-Ga-Zn-O (a-IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) using IZO source-drain (S–D) electrodes with various sputtering powers and annealing temperatures were investigated. The optimal sputtering power of 125 W and annealing temperature of 300 °C for the IZO S–D electrodes resulted in the highest field-effect mobility (~12.31 cm²/V·s) and on current (~2.09 × 10⁻⁶ A). This improvement is attributed to enhanced carrier concentration and mobility, which result from the high In/Zn ratio, the larger grain size, and low RMS roughness in the IZO films. The parasitic contact resistance (R_SD) and channel resistance (R_CH) were analyzed using the total resistance method. R_SD decreased with increasing IZO S–D sputtering power, while R_CH reached a minimum at 125 W. Both resistances decreased significantly as the annealing temperature increased from 200 °C to 300 °C. Full article

The contact condition of circuit breaker contacts directly affects their operational reliability, while circuit resistance, as a key performance indicator, reflects physical changes such as wear, oxidation, and ablation. Traditional offline measurement methods fail to accurately represent the real-time operating state of equipment due to large errors and high randomness, limiting their effectiveness for state awareness and precision maintenance. To address this, a non-contact multi-sensor fusion method for the online monitoring of circuit breaker circuit resistance is proposed, aimed at enhancing operational state awareness in power systems. The method integrates Hall effect current sensors, infrared temperature sensors, and electric field sensors to extract multiple sensing signals, combined with high-precision signal processing algorithms to enable the real-time identification and evaluation of circuit resistance changes. Experimental validation under various scenarios—including normal load, overload impact, and high-temperature and high-humidity environments—demonstrates excellent system performance, with a fast response time (≤200 ms), low measurement error (<1.5%), and strong anti-interference capability (SNR > 60 dB). In field applications, the system successfully identifies circuit resistance increases caused by contact oxidation and issues early warnings, thereby preventing unplanned outages and demonstrating a strong potential for application in the fault prediction and intelligent maintenance of power grids. Full article