There’s an embargo on sharing my MS thesis because of a patent application so I thought I might at least go ahead and share some of the work I presented at the NCSU graduate poster symposium 2011.
Click here for full poster.
Not the best of posters but it does provide an overview of the work I did. I was able to synthesize and purify at least one dye, called NCSU-10 that performs better than the benchmark dye for DSCs called N-719.
The new dye called NCSU-10 was called RAAP during the course of my work but is being patented under a name that reflects the name of the university where the work was carried out. In simple terms, NCSU-10 performs better because it absorbs light at longer wavelengths compared to N-719. This is because it is able to harness wavelengths that N-719 can’t as it just doesn’t absorb longer wavelengths. Proof for this is shown in the the IPCE spectra in my poster.
For those who ask me what the connection between solar cells and textiles is, i’m closing this post with an image of a working solar cell I made with NCSU-10 that resembles the College of Textiles logo.
A dye sensitized solar cell fabricated at NCSU resembling the College of Textiles logo shown on top right.
Red Chilli being dried on technical textiles in interior Sindh.
An article published by National Foods’ staff highlights results from some of our research at TRIC. Shahzad Dadabhoy from TIP made significant contributions to the work from our end.
More on Quack! Online: Technical Textile Research at TRIC.
Another article on Express Tribune: The collaboration that opened up EU for National Foods.
Of recent I’ve been trying to analyze some FT-IR spectra for my research on plasma and have been facing trouble trying to figure out which peaks correspond to what groups.
Luckily I came across this great tool which lists possible bonds that correspond with wave numbers which you can enter. It even has an option to perform a comprehensive search if you’re looking for a broader range of possibilities.
Spectroscopic Analysis Tool
Want to study surface analysis? Here’s an excellent forum with details on techniques along with some very nice tutorials.
UK surface analysis forum
And I hope you all feel fine. Word is that my paper was enjoyed by most of the candidates. Students have performed such that I have had to award marks ranging from 9-37/40.
Read more…
Polyester Technology
polyester-technology: Slides from presentation by Mr. Zainul Abideen, SDM (Product Development), Gatron Industries
Electrospinning
In the electrospinning process a high voltage is used to create an electrically charged jet of polymer solution or melt, which dries or solidifies to leave a polymer fiber. One electrode is placed into the spinning solution/melt and the other attached to a collector. Electric field is subjected to the end of a capillary tube that contains the polymer fluid held by its surface tension. This induces a charge on the surface of the liquid. Mutual charge repulsion causes a force directly opposite to the surface tension. As the intensity of the electric field is increased, the hemispherical surface of the fluid at the tip of the capillary tube elongates to form a conical shape known as the Taylor cone. With increasing field, a critical value is attained when the repulsive electrostatic force overcomes the surface tension and a charged jet of fluid is ejected from the tip of the Taylor cone. The discharged polymer solution jet undergoes a whipping process wherein the solvent evaporates, leaving behind a charged polymer fiber, which lays itself randomly on a grounded collecting metal screen. In the case of the melt the discharged jet solidifies when it travels in the air and is collected on the grounded metal screen. [http://www.che.vt.edu/Wilkes/electrospinning/electrspinning.html]
Note: To avoid confusion ignore the figure on electrospinning from the above source. Instead, here is a link to a better, and more easy to understand diagram.
Spider Silk
Here’s a link to the youtube video we saw and discussed in class showing the spinning of spider silk from the milk of genetically modified goats.
Ok so here they are. The last few remaining notes and handouts for this course.
I’m posting the material on proteinic fibres, synthetic fibres and fibres for technical textiles. Here are the slides we discussed in class along with the primary reference source to study from to understand the transitions that would otherwise look like jargon to those who weren’t there in class. Read more…
Here you are. I’ll add my observations to this post in a while.
Second class test model answers
Time now to look at cotton along with other forms of regenerated cellulosic fibres which we discussed in class that include, Viscose Rayon, High Wet Modulus Viscose (Modal) and Lyocell. Read more…
Finally… I’ve managed to put something together to post online for you people to go through. Although I’ve been telling in class time and again which pages from which book need to be referred to, here’s a more elaborate description of what needs to be studied. Read more…
