Characteristics of PCDD/Fs in PM2.5 from emission stacks and the nearby ambient air in Taiwan.

This study aimed to find the characteristics of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in fine particulate matter from different stationary emission sources (coal-fired boiler, CFB; municipal waste incinerator, MWI; electric arc furnace, EAF) in Taiwan and the relationship between PM2.5 and PM2.5-bound PCDD/Fs with Taiwanese mortality risk. PM2.5 was quantified using gravimetry and corresponding chemical analyses were done for PM2.5-bound chemicals. Mortality risks of PM2.5 exposure and PCDD/Fs exposure were calculated using Poisson regression. The highest concentration of PM2.5 (0.53 ± 0.39 mg/Nm3) and PCDD/Fs (0.206 ± 0.107 ng I-TEQ/Nm3) was found in CFB and EAF, respectively. Higher proportions of PCDDs over PCDFs were observed in the flue gases of CFB and MWI whereas it was reversed in EAF. For ambient air, PCDD/F congeners around the stationary sources were dominated by PCDFs in vapor phase. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis found that the sources of atmosphere PCDD/Fs were 14.6% from EAF (r = 0.81), 52.6% from CFB (r = 0.74), 18.0% from traffic (r = 0.85) and 14.8% from MWI (r = 0.76). For the dioxin congener distribution, PCDDs were dominant in flue gases of CFB and MWI, PCDFs were dominant in EAF. It may be attributed to the different formation mechanisms among wastes incineration, steel-making, and coal-burning processes.

Self-crack-filled graphene films by metallic nanoparticles for high-performance graphene heterojunction solar cells.

Graphene, with cracks filled with gold nanoparticles, is grown by chemical vapor deposition on a Cu substrate. The crack-filled graphene not only exhibits superior electrical properties but also forms a better junction with other semiconductors. A high-quality crack-filled graphene/Si Schottky junction solar cell is achieved, demonstrating the highest fill factor (0.79) and best efficiency (12.3%).

Wavelength-selective dual p- and n-type carrier transport of an organic/graphene/inorganic heterostructure.

A novel organic/graphene/inorganic -heterostructure, consisting of a graphene layer encapsulated by n- and p-type photoactive materials with complementary absorptions, enables the control of dual n- and p-typed transport behaviors of a graphene transistor under selective UV or visible light illumination. A graphene-based p-n junction created by spatially patterned wavelength-selective illumination using the organic/graphene/inorganic heterostructure is also demonstrated.

A fuzzy index model for trophic status evaluation of reservoir waters.

An index model for quality evaluation based on the formula of similarity membership functions in the fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering algorithm is proposed. Summing up the weighted similarity degrees between an observation and designed specific quality-ordered levels develops an alternative overall index. Stretching the values of the controlling parameters in the formula of the similarity membership functions causes diverse patterns of overall index models. Applying this proposed fuzzy index model to the trophic evaluation of reservoir waters is studied to demonstrate the practical application of this index. Every measurement of the variables is standardized by the membership function of quality evaluation on the interval [0,1], referring to the trophic status clarified in the Carlson Trophic State Index. The sensitivity analyses are studied both in the proposed index system and the Carlson Trophic State Index. Besides, a case study of the trophic status evaluation of the Feitsui Reservoir from 1987 to 2003 is presented to demonstrate the feasibility of applying the proposed evaluation model.