Search Results (182)

In recent years, 3D pixel sensors have been a topic of increasing interest within the High Energy Physics community. Due to their inherent radiation hardness, demonstrated up to a fluence of $3\times {10}^{16}$ 1 MeV equivalent neutrons per square centimeter, 3D pixel sensors have been used to equip the innermost tracking layers of the ATLAS and CMS detector upgrades at the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider. Additionally, the next generation of vertex detectors calls for precise measurement of charged particle timing at the pixel level. Owing to their fast response times, 3D sensors present themselves as a viable technology for these challenging applications. Nevertheless, both radiation hardness and fast timing require 3D sensors to be operated with high bias voltages on the order of ∼150 V and beyond. Special attention should therefore be devoted to avoiding problems that could cause premature electrical breakdown, which could limit sensor performance. In this paper, TCAD simulations are used to gain deep insight into the impact of surface isolation layers (i.e., p-stop and p-spray) used by different vendors on the high-voltage tolerance of small-pitch 3D sensors. Results relevant to different geometrical configurations and irradiation scenarios are presented. The advantages and disadvantages of the available technologies are discussed, offering guidance for design optimization. Experimentalmeasurements from existing samples based on both isolation techniques show good agreement with simulated breakdown voltages, thereby validating the simulation approach. Full article

Ensuring the security of agricultural systems is essential for achieving national food security and sustainable development. Given that agricultural systems are inherently complex and composed of coupled subsystems—such as water, land, and energy—a comprehensive and multidimensional assessment of system security is necessary. This study focuses on Northeast China, a major food-producing region, and introduces the concept of agricultural system coupling security, defined as the integrated performance of an agricultural system in terms of resource adequacy, internal coordination, and adaptive resilience under external stress. To operationalize this concept, a coupling security evaluation framework is constructed based on three key dimensions: reliability (Rel), coordination (Cor), and resilience (Res). An Agricultural System Coupling Security Index (AS-CSI) is developed using the entropy weight method, the Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) method, and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method, while obstacle factor diagnosis is employed to identify key constraints. Furthermore, bivariate and trivariate Copula models are used to estimate joint risk probabilities. The results show that from 2001 to 2022, the AS-CSI in Northeast China increased from 0.38 to 0.62, indicating a transition from insecurity to relative security. Among the provinces, Jilin exhibited the highest CSI due to balanced performance across all Rel-Cor-Res dimensions, while Liaoning experienced lower Rel, hindering its overall security level. Five indicators, including area under soil erosion control, reservoir storage capacity per capita, pesticide application amount, rural electricity consumption per capita, and proportion of agricultural water use, were identified as critical threats to regional agricultural system security. Copula-based risk analysis revealed that the probability of Rel–Cor reaching the relatively secure threshold (0.8) was the highest at 0.7643, and the probabilities for Rel–Res and Cor–Res to reach the same threshold were lower, at 0.7164 and 0.7318, respectively. The probability of Rel–Cor-Res reaching the relatively secure threshold (0.8) exceeds 0.54, with Jilin exhibiting the highest probability at 0.5538. This study provides valuable insights for transitioning from static assessments to dynamic risk identification and offers a scientific basis for enhancing regional sustainability and economic resilience in agricultural systems. Full article

A composite photocatalyst of ceria–cadmium supported on mesoporous SBA-15 silica was synthesized and employed for the aqueous methylene blue (MB) degradation. The composites were prepared using an incipient wetness impregnation technique and a conventional sol–gel approach with triblock copolymer P123 as a structure-directing agent for SBA-15 preparation, enabling the uniform dispersion of CeO₂ and Cd species within the SBA-15 framework. The physicochemical properties of both CeO₂/SBA-15 and Cd-CeO₂/SBA-15 composites were analyzed using small-angle and wide-angle XRD, FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, EDX spectroscopy, N₂ physisorption at 77 K, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The findings revealed that the SBA-15 support retained its well-ordered hexagonal mesostructure in both the ceria–SBA-15 and SBA-15-supported cadmium–ceria (Cd-CeO₂) composites. The highest degradation efficiency of 96.40% was achieved under optimal conditions, and kinetic analysis using the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model indicated that the MB degradation process followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, with a strong correlation coefficient (R² = 0.9925) and a rate constant (k) of 0.02532 min⁻¹. Under irradiation, the Cd-CeO₂/SBA-15 composites exhibited superior photocatalytic activity compared to the pristine components, owing to the synergistic interaction between ceria and cadmium, enhanced light absorption, and improved charge carrier separation. The recyclability test demonstrated that the degradation efficiency decreased slightly from 96.40% to 94.86% after three cycles, confirming the stability and reusability of Cd-CeO₂/SBA-15 composites. The photocatalytic process demonstrated a favorable electrical energy per order (EE/O) value of 281.8 kWh m⁻³, indicating promising energy efficiency for practical wastewater treatment. These results highlight the excellent photocatalytic performance and durability of the synthesized Cd-CeO₂/SBA-15 composites, making them promising candidates for facilitating the photocatalytic decomposition of MB and other dye molecules in water treatment applications. Full article

This paper constructs a modified hypothesis extraction method (MHEM)–structural decomposition analysis (SDA)–structural path decomposition (SPD) analytical framework and employs the 2018–2022 Chinese input–output tables to discuss sectoral consumption correlations, driving forces of consumption, and the transmission paths of carbon energy (CE), oil and gas energy (OGE) and electric energy (EE). The results of the study indicate that energy-exporting sectors are primarily energy production or conversion industries, while energy-importing sectors are mainly in the construction sector. China’s energy consumption has shown consistent year-on-year growth, with the primary driving force being the intensity of energy consumption and the secondary factor being per capita demand. The consumption of all three types of energy is primarily directed toward domestic consumption and capital formation. Regarding energy consumption transmission paths, the first-order path with the largest overall impact on CE is “electricity, gas, and water supply sector → domestic consumption”, while higher-order paths are primarily subpaths of “electricity, gas, and water supply sector → capital formation”. For OGE, the main supply and transfer path is “coke, refined petroleum, and nuclear fuel sector → domestic consumption”, along with its subpaths. In contrast, EE transmission is more balanced, with a high demand for electricity across all sectors. Full article

Heterogeneous photocatalysis has emerged as a versatile and sustainable technology for the degradation of emerging contaminants in water. This review highlights recent advancements in photocatalysts design, including band gap engineering, heterojunction formation, and plasmonic enhancement to enable visible-light activation. Various reactor configurations, such as slurry, immobilized, annular, flat plate, and membrane-based systems, are examined in terms of their efficiency, scalability, and operational challenges. Hybrid systems combining photocatalysis with membrane filtration, adsorption, Fenton processes, and biological treatments demonstrate improved removal efficiency and broader applicability. Energy performance metrics such as quantum yield and electrical energy per order are discussed as essential tools for evaluating system feasibility. Special attention is given to solar-driven reactors and smart responsive materials, which enhance adaptability and sustainability. Additionally, artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches are explored as accelerators for catalyst discovery and process optimization. Altogether, these advances position photocatalysis as a key component in future water treatment strategies, particularly in decentralized and low-resource contexts. The integration of material innovation, system design, and data-driven optimization underlines the potential of photocatalysis to contribute to global efforts in environmental protection and sustainable development. Full article

The maritime industry, following several conventions, regulations, and initiatives, is trying to adapt and limit its GHG and other local polluting emissions. A crucial aspect of these decarbonisation efforts is the provision of electric energy to vessels, either in port or stationed at anchorages. The latter prevents the option of receiving shore power to support their needs without operating their generators. Research and innovation efforts are attempting to fill this gap through several technology options. This study focuses on the systematic definition of the power and energy demands at anchorage to drive the design of such solutions, focusing on the materialisation of a modular and scalable power barge serving as an offshore power supply solution. Data for various ports and ship types were collected and analysed properly to extract significant insights. Results formulated baselines, per ship type and port, to be used for selecting power modules’ configurations and meeting these demands. This study, considering the lack of industry data regarding power demand, relies on existing studies, guidelines, and other literature to define power demand, which in turn introduces a great deal of uncertainty. Thus, a detailed statistical analysis was employed, together with probability modelling, in order to limit the uncertainty and provide a baseline for the power and energy demands to be verified by future studies capitalising on the accumulation of actual industry data. Full article

As the world’s ecological situation worsens, the development of environmentally friendly renewable energy (RE) is becoming increasingly important. The main directions of scientific research devoted to the topic of RE are national socio-economic development of the country; development in the context of sustainable development; development policy and planning; evaluation of the achieved level of development; the situation in individual countries, etc. The analysis of literature sources conducted in this article shows that problems related to RE have not been sufficiently examined at the country or regional level, including in European Union (EU) countries. Such analysis helps to highlight regularities that are important for the further development of RE. The main purpose of this paper is to develop a comprehensive methodology for the quantitative assessment of RE development during the period under review and to validate it using the example of EU countries. The present research was conducted based on the methodology proposed in this article. In order to adequately assess the development of RE, it is necessary to rely on its scale and changes that occurred during the considered period (CP), i.e., to examine this development as a process. It is reflected by two parameters—the intensity of development and uniformity. The first is determined based on a value that assesses not the RE activeness at the end of the CP, but the general nature of the fluctuations that occurred during it. The uniformity of development is the sum of the ratios of its ideal and actual development values at the end of the time periods (years). The generalized RE development index is obtained by combining the values of the above parameters in an appropriate way. This helped to highlight the regularities and trends in the further development of RE: First, the level of economic development achieved by the country, measured by the gross domestic product per capita (correlation coefficient r = 0.7), has a significant influence on the development of RE. Second, on average, developed EU countries produce 52% of the RE from all electricity production, while for developing EU countries, the figure is 42%. Third, the development of RE is 1.7 times faster in developed EU countries compared to developing EU countries. Fourth, the country’s economic development has a significant influence on the development of RE in developing countries. Based on the research conducted, some contradictory results regarding the interaction between RE and countries’ economic development have been clarified. The practical benefit of the methodology is manifested in the following aspects: allows for the identification of factors that promote or hinder RE development; allows for the prediction of measures for further RE development. Thus, the methodology can serve as a methodological basis for the assessment and analysis of RE development in countries. Full article

This study addresses the challenge of the scalable, cost-effective synthesis of high-quality turbostratic graphene from low-cost carbon sources, including biomass waste such as sugarcane leaves, bagasse, corncobs, and palm bunches, using the Direct Current Long Pulse Joule Heating (DC-LPJH) technique. By optimizing the carbonization process and blending biomass-derived carbon with carbon black and turbostratic graphene, the gram-scale production of turbostratic graphene was achieved in just a few seconds. The synthesis process involved applying an 18 kJ electrical energy pulse for 1.5 s, resulting in temperatures of approximately 3000 K that facilitated the transformation of the carbon atoms into well-ordered turbostratic graphene. Structural and morphological characterization via Raman spectroscopy revealed low-intensity or absent D bands, with a high I_2D/I_G ratio (~0.8–1.2), indicating monolayer turbostratic graphene formation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) identified sp²-hybridized carbon and oxygenated functional groups, while NEXAFS spectroscopy confirmed the presence of graphitic features and both sp² and sp³ bonding states. Energy consumption calculations for the DC-LPJH process demonstrated approximately 10 kJ per gram, demonstrating the potential for cost-effective production. This work presents an efficient approach for producing high-quality turbostratic graphene from low-cost carbon sources, with applications in enhancing the properties of composites, polymers, and building materials. Full article

The worldwide growing adoption of Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs) indicates that such technology might in the near future be decisive for improving the sustainability of transportation. The segment of LEVs has some peculiar features compared to electric mobility in general, which then deserve a devoted investigation. Stakeholders are called to implement the most appropriate technology depending on the context, by taking into account multi-faceted factors, which are the investigation object of this work. At first, a methodology is formulated for estimating the power and energy impact of LEVs recharging. Based on this, and assessed that the load constituted by LEVs is in general modest but might create some problems in lowly structured networks, it becomes conceivable to develop Charging Station (CS) technologies which are alternative to the grid connection at a point of delivery. Yet, it is fundamental to develop accurate methodologies for the techno-economic and environmental analysis. This work considers a use case developed at the University of Brescia (Italy): a CS operating off-grid, powered by PhotoVoltaics (PV). Its peculiarity is that it is transportable, which makes it more appealing for rural/remote areas or when the charging demand is highly not homogeneous in time. On these grounds, this work specializes to a context where the proposed solution might be more appealing: small isolated islands, in particular Favignana in Sicily (Italy). It is estimated that the adoption of the proposed off-grid CS is by far advantageous as regards the greenhouse gases emissions but it is more economically profitable than the grid connection only if the number of users per day is less than order of 200. Hence this work provides meaningful indications on the usefulness of off-grid CS powered by PV in peculiar contexts and furnishes a general method for their techno-economic and environmental assessment. Full article

Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM) includes a set of methods orientated to disaggregating the power consumption of a household per appliance. It is commonly based on a single metering point, typically a smart meter at the entry of the electrical grid of the building, where signals of interest, such as voltage or current, can be measured and analyzed in order to disaggregate and identify which appliance is turned on/off at any time. Although this information is key for further applications linked to energy efficiency and management, it may also be applied to social and health contexts. Since the activation of the appliances in a household is related to certain daily activities carried out by the corresponding tenants, NILM techniques are also interesting in the design of remote monitoring systems that can enhance the development of novel feasible healthcare models. Therefore, these techniques may foster the independent living of elderly and/or cognitively impaired people in their own homes, while relatives and caregivers may have access to additional information about a person’s routines. In this context, this work describes an intelligent solution based on deep neural networks, which is able to identify the daily activities carried out in a household, starting from the disaggregated consumption per appliance provided by a commercial smart meter. With the daily activities identified, the usage patterns of the appliances and the corresponding behaviour can be monitored in the long term after a training period. In this way, every new day may be assessed statistically, thus providing a score about how similar this day is to the routines learned during the training interval. The proposal has been experimentally validated by means of two commercially available smart monitors installed in real houses where tenants followed their daily routines, as well as by using the well-known database UK-DALE. Full article

In order to save the large amount of energy consumption associated with traditional water-bath LNG vaporizer, this paper proposes a novel design for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) vaporizer by comprehensively applying the exothermic property of hydrogen storage metals and the high efficiency of solar energy storage devices. In this paper, the working theory of the proposed LNG vaporizer is first addressed; then, a system featuring a new LNG vaporizer with 1312 mm diameter and 4000 mm length is designed, and its feasibility is demonstrated through technical and economic analysis. After comparison, Mg₂Ni has higher economic benefits as a hydrogen storage metal than Mg. When Mg₂Ni is used as the hydrogen storage metal, the daily power consumption for vaporizing 1000 m³ of LNG at night during winter is just 89.78 kW·h, with an energy efficiency of about 50%. Combined with solar energy storage devices, for a northern city in China (about 40° N), the savings in electricity costs could be about $2200 per year. Full article

Offshore wind (OSW) technology has recently been included in California’s plans to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045. As an emerging technology, many features of OSW are changing more rapidly than established renewable options and are shaped by local circumstances in unique ways that limit transferrable experiences globally. This paper fills a gap in the literature by providing an updated technological assessment of OSW in California to determine its viability and competitiveness in the state’s electricity generation mix to achieve its near-term energy and environmental goals. Through a critical synthesis and extrapolation of technical, social, and economic analyses, we identify several major improvements in its potential. First, we note that while estimates of OSW’s costs per MWh of installed capacity have generally documented and projected a long-term decline, recent technical, microeconomic, and macroeconomic factors have caused significant backsliding of this momentum. Second, we project that the potential dollar value benefits of OSW’s greenhouse gas reduction capabilities have increased by one to two orders of magnitude, primarily due to major upward revisions of the social cost of carbon. Several co-benefits, including enhanced reliability, economic growth, and environmental justice, look to be increasingly promising due to a combination of technological advances and policy initiatives. Despite these advancements, OSW continues to face several engineering and broader challenges. We assess the current status of these challenges, as well as current and future strategies to address them. We conclude that OSW is now overall an even more attractive electricity-generating option than at the beginning of this decade. Full article

This research studies the production of charcoal from a by-product of viticulture such as the vine pruning remains of vine (vine shoots). During this study, several carbonisation tests were carried out in an electric muffle furnace where vine shoot samples were tested at different temperature ranges (150–450 °C) and with test durations of 2 h and 3 h. From these tests, the mass yields and carbon yields were studied, as well as the characterisation of the chemical composition of the resulting charcoals, obtaining the maximum results of the fixed carbon content of up to 80.4%. Subsequently, the tests’ energy consumptions were also recorded in order to optimise the amount of grammes of carbon per kWh of energy used. The average value obtained in the trials was 18.55 g of carbon per kWh of energy used in the carbonisation process. Finally, special emphasis was placed on studying the sustainability of this charcoal through the net balance of CO₂ eq emissions. To this end, the CO₂ eq emissions associated with the energy consumption of the trials and how, through the use of this waste to produce 10–12 g of charcoal, the negative net emission values of up to −522.74 g of CO₂ eq were achieved were evaluated. This demonstrates the possibility of charcoal production with a zero-carbon footprint. This acts as evidence of the possibility of zero carbon footprint charcoal production, a key innovative aspect that helps to achieve greater sustainability in industrial sectors with a high impact on the region. Full article

Global warming and CO₂ emissions have become increasingly pressing concerns, with the aviation industry contributing significantly to these issues. In response, efforts have been made to develop environmentally sustainable aviation solutions. This paper examines the Direct Operating Costs (DOCs) of the Wright Spirit, one of the options for electric flight, compared to the conventional BAe 146 on which the Wright Spirit is based. Utilising methodologies adapted from previous studies (largely the AEA method), the analysis investigates various factors influencing DOC including battery prices, flight duration, and charging time. The results indicate a 73% increase in overall DOCs from the BAe 146 to the Wright Spirit, largely influenced by battery costs and lifespan. However, an 83% reduction in fuel/energy costs suggests the potential viability of the Wright Spirit, particularly with anticipated reductions in battery prices. For instance, a quartering of battery prices could result in a GBP 5 increase in costs for 1 h flights; compared to the BAe 146. Moreover, the analysis finds the battery lifespan and charging time to be the most important factors to control in order to increase commercial feasibility. Ticket price comparisons suggest that the Wright Spirit’s costs align closely with current market prices, with a flight from Paris to Heathrow predicted to cost the airline GBP 136.10 per passenger. Future research could explore alternative electric aircraft designs to further assess their impact on DOCs and ticket prices Full article

Increasing penetration of distributed energy resources is manifesting as voltage regulation challenges in many LV networks. Appropriate regulation of supply voltage magnitude is essential to ensure efficacy and efficiency in the operation of electricity supply networks and consumer equipment. While the theoretical impacts of supply voltage magnitude on the performance of consumer equipment, which include additional energy consumption and decreased equipment lifespan as voltage magnitude increases, are relatively well known, this has not been translated into quantitative impacts. This paper applies the outcomes of previous impact of supply voltage magnitude studies by the authors, in conjunction with domestic load models, to develop algorithms to estimate the quantitative impacts of supply voltage magnitude on consumers. The paper then applies these algorithms to calculate quantitative economic impacts that can be associated with the magnitude of the supply voltage. The outcomes of this research suggest that the per-annum impact of supply voltage magnitude on consumer equipment loss of life is potentially an order of magnitude greater than the resultant increased energy consumption based on case studies using Australian data. Full article