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Open AccessArticle

CO₂ Interaction Mechanism of SnO₂-Based Sensors with Respect to the Pt Interdigital Electrodes Gap

by Adelina Stanoiu, Alexandra Corina Iacoban, Catalina Gabriela Mihalcea, Ion Viorel Dinu, Ovidiu Gabriel Florea, Ioana Dorina Vlaicu and Cristian Eugen Simion

Chemosensors 2024, 12(11), 238; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors12110238 - 16 Nov 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2215

Abstract

The tuning sensitivity towards CO₂ detection under in-field-like conditions was investigated using SnO₂-sensitive material deposited onto Al₂O₃ substrates provided with platinum electrodes with interdigital gaps of 100 µm and 30 µm. X-ray diffraction, low-magnification and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and electrical and contact potential difference investigations were employed to understand the sensing mechanism involved in CO₂ detection. The morpho-structural analysis revealed that the SnO₂ nanoparticles exhibit well-defined facets along the (110) and (101) crystallographic planes. Complex phenomenological investigations showed that moisture significantly affects the gas sensing performance. The experimental results corroborated the literature evidence, highlighting the importance of Pt within the interdigital electrodes subsequently reflected in the increase in the CO₂ sensing performance with the decrease in the interdigital gap. The catalytic efficiency is explained by the distribution of platinum at the gas-Pt-SnO₂ three-phase boundary, which is critical for enhancing the sensor performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Chemical Sensors for Gas Detection)

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11 pages, 2525 KB

Open AccessArticle

An Analytical Energy Harvester Model for Interdigitated Ring Electrode on Circular Elastic Membrane

by Hua-Ju Shih and Kuo-Ching Chen

Micromachines 2022, 13(1), 133; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13010133 - 15 Jan 2022

Viewed by 2505

Abstract

Energy harvesters are devices that accumulate ambient vibrational energy from the environment, and for the time being, variable capacitance is the most widely used mechanism. Various designs were proposed to increase the power of such devices, and in particular, the interdigitated electrode (IDE) pattern is the mainstream. Nevertheless, most IDE designs focus merely on the parallel-type vibrations of electrodes. In this study, the performance of a novel harvester, which combined circular membrane and interdigitated ring electrodes (IRE), was investigated. This design allows the device to collect energy from the rotational structure motions of electrodes through the vibrating membrane. Besides, the circular structure provides a dense capacitive arrangement that is higher than that of the arrangement obtained using regular rectangular chips. The IRE diagram is composed of many capacitive rings, each of which harvests vibrated energy simultaneously. Three gaps (1, 10, and 100 μm) of the ring are investigated for the first four vibrational modes of the membrane to understand the effect of energy output. It is found that the energy outputs are approximately the same for the three gaps; however, rings with a wider gap are easier to manufacture in MEMS. Full article

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10 pages, 239 KB

Open AccessArticle

Scabies in Resource-Poor Communities in Nasarawa State, Nigeria: Epidemiology, Clinical Features and Factors Associated with Infestation

by Uade Samuel Ugbomoiko, Samuel Adeola Oyedeji, Olarewaju Abdulkareem Babamale and Jorg Heukelbach

Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2018, 3(2), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed3020059 - 4 Jun 2018

Cited by 52 | Viewed by 8050

Abstract

Epidemiology and clinical features of scabies remain largely unknown in Nigeria’s rural communities. To fill this gap, we performed a cross-sectional study in three rural communities in north central Nigeria. A total of 500 individuals were included and examined for scabies infestation; a questionnaire was applied to collect socio-demographic and behavioral data. Scabies was diagnosed in 325 (65.0%) participants. Excoriations (68.6%), vesicles (61.8%), and papules (58.8%) were common skin lesions. Itching was the most common symptom (77.5%); 64% complained of sleep disturbances. Lymphadenopathy was identified in 48.3%. Lesions were most commonly encountered on the abdomen (35.5%), inguinal area (19.1%), and interdigital spaces (14.2%). Poverty-related variables, such as illiteracy (OR: 7.15; 95% CI: 3.71–13.95), low household income (7.25; 1.19–88.59), absence of a solid floor inside house (12.17; 2.83–52.34), and overcrowding (1.98; 1.08–2.81) were significantly associated with infestation. Individual behavior, such as sharing of beds/pillows (2.11; 1.42–3.14) and sharing of clothes (2.51; 1.57–3.99), was also highly significantly associated with scabies. Regular bathing habits (0.37; 0.24–0.56) and regular use of bathing soap (0.36; 0.21–0.53) were protective factors. Scabies is extremely common in the communities under study and is associated with considerable morbidity. The disease is intrinsically linked with extreme poverty. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Control of Communicable Diseases in Human and in Animal Populations: 70th Anniversary Year of the Birth of Professor Rick Speare (2 August 1947 – 5 June 2016))

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