Sharif Digital Repository

In this work, we present the design and fabrication of a novel nanocomposite based on noble metal and metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed on highly porous carbon obtained via the pyrolysis of an inorganic complex and metal-organic frameworks. This nanocomposite is prepared by a two-step procedure: first, the composite support of nanoporous carbon (NPC) is obtained by the direct carbonization of the Cr-benzene dicarboxylic ligand (BDC) MOF in an Argon atmosphere at 500 °C (Cr2O3-NPC). A mixture containing Cr2O3-NPC and [PtCl(SnCl3)(SMe2)2] is then prepared, and underflow of Argon is heated to 380 °C. Finally, Pt-SnO2 nanoparticles are loaded on the Cr2O3-NPC support, and the obtained... 

Spacecraft rendezvous and docking are two processes in which a chaser pursues and meets a leader spacecraft in order to perform several mission based tasks. Although in some preliminary design analysis, these two operations may be pursued independently there could be circumstances in which the spacecraft trajectory and attitudes are coupled and interdependent. The present study is based on the presumption that the often independent translational and rotational motions of the spacecraft are coupled as a result of thrust misalignment. So the thrusters not only contribute to the rendezvous translational motion, but also affect the docking reorientation maneuver through their disturbing effects.... 

In this work, high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) coupled with multivariate image analysis (MIA) is proposed as a fast and reliable tool for authentication and adulteration detection of Iranian saffron samples based on their HPTLC fingerprints. At first, the secondary metabolites of saffron were extracted using ultrasonic-assisted solvent extraction (UASE) which was optimized using central composite design (CCD). Next, the RGB coordinates of HPTLC images were used for estimation of saffron origin based on principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA scores plot showed that saffron samples were clustered into two clear-cut groups which was 92% matched with the geographical... 

For the 4th IUPAP International Conference of Women in Physics, we report on activities in science and engineering in Iran, and conditions for women in physics, in the three years since the 3rd IUPAP International Conference of Women in Physics was held in 2008. Iran has made prominent advancements and astonishing progress in laser technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, genetics, computer software and hardware, and robotics. Iranian scientists have been very productive in several experimental fields, such as pharmaceutical, organic, and polymer chemistry. Conditions for women in physics have improved greatly in recent years. A project to improve the environment for learning physics, and... 

Core/shell structure of ZnO nanowires coated with a monolayer of TiO 2 is investigated using Density Functional Theory (DFT). The electronic states of the semiconductor is calculated and compared before and after coating of the TiO2 monolayer on a ZnO [101 0] surface. The effect of TiO2 coating induce surface states changes and shifts the conduction and valence band edges to higher energies. Our results, in qualitative agreement with the experimental work of Matt Law et al. (J. Phys. Chem. B, 110, 22652), show an increase in open circuit voltage and a decrease in short circuit current in ZnO/TiO2 core shell dye sensitized solar cells. Regarding the semiconductor density of states (DOS), TiO2... 

Due to the important role of commitment and trust in the relationship marketing, the factors which can directly result in a committed relationship along with the factors which can influence the commitment through influencing trust, according to the model of commitment and trust by (Morgan & Hunt, 1994) have been introduced and their level of importance has been investigated here. The article uses fuzzy cognitive maps (FCMs) in the proposed model to find the most important paths leading to relationship commitment. The FCM analyzes the responses of a group of 30 people including general practitioners in dentistry, managers of dental departments in some of the public clinics and hospitals who... 

Conventionally, a film of TiO2 particles of 300 nm size is employed in Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) as the back reflector film to enhance the light harvesting. Perfect reflectance of silver in visible and near infrared motivates to investigate its potential as the material for the light back reflector film in DSCs. In this study, light back reflector films consisting of 300 nm-sized silver particles, as well as vacuum evaporated silver flat film, were fabricated and compared to 300 nm-sized rutile-type TiO2 particulate reflector film to study their optical aspects. Conventional TiO2 rutile-type particulate film demonstrates slightly lower performance... 

Monolithic dye-sensitized solar cells are conventionally fabricated using carbon composite layer as the counter electrode. In the current research, the brittle carbon composite layer is replaced with a metal foil, aiming to decrease the device series resistance and using less catalyst material in counter electrode. This metallic structure has also an advantage of mechanical strength and decreases the fabrication complexity. The counter electrode is prepared by electrodepositing Cr film followed by electrodepositing Pt nanoparticles on a metal foil. As the porous spacer layer, different composite layers of SiO2, TiO2, and Al2O3 are investigated and the best results are obtained for TiO2... 

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have been a potential green energy source for a long time but one of the problems is that either the technology must be used on a large scale or special equipment have been necessary to keep the fuel cells running such as syringe pumps. Paper-based microbial fuel cells do not need to have a syringe pump to run and can run entirely by themselves when placed in contact with the fluids that are necessary for it to run. Paper-based microbial fuel cells are also more compact than traditional MFCs since the device doesn't need any external equipment to run. The goal of this paper is to develop a microbial fuel cell that does not require a syringe pump to function. This... 

This paper proposes a novel decentralized control approach for islanded direct-current (DC) microgrids (MGs) based on model predictive control (MPC) to regulate the distributed generation unit (DGU) output voltages, i.e. the voltages of the point of common coupling (PCC). A local controller is designed for each DGU, in the presence of uncertainties, disturbances, and unmodeled dynamics. First, a discrete-time state-space model of an MG is derived. Afterward, an MPC algorithm is designed to perform the PCC voltage control. The proposed MPC scheme ensures that the PCC voltages remain within an acceptable range. Several simulation studies have been conducted to illustrate the effectiveness of... 

Sophisticated surgeons are widely indicating the use of surgical robots in order to reject human error, increase precision, and speed. Among well-known robotic mechanisms, parallel robots are broadly more investigated regarding their special characters as higher acceleration, speed, and accuracy, and less weight. Specific surgical procedures confine, and restrict their workspace, while controlling and validating the robots are complicated regarding to their complex dynamic. To this end, in this paper, a 6-DOF robot, with rotary manipulators, is designed and controlled. Addressing nonlinearity of parallel robots, an innovative methodology is formulated to robustly penalize the error of... 

Sophisticated surgeons are widely indicating the use of surgical robots in order to reject human error, increase precision, and speed. Among well-known robotic mechanisms, parallel robots are broadly more investigated regarding their special characters as higher acceleration, speed, and accuracy, and less weight. Specific surgical procedures confine and restrict their workspace, while controlling and validating the robots are complicated based on their complex dynamic. To this end, in this paper, a 6-DOF robot, with linear manipulators, is designed and controlled. Addressing the inherent nonlinearity of the robot mechanism, an adaptive PID manipulator is employed and validated with nonlinear... 

Although so many advances have been proposed in the field of artificial intelligence and superconductivity, there are few reports on their combination. On the other hand, because of the nonlinear and multivariable characteristics of the superconductive elements and capabilities of neural networks in this field, it seems useful to apply the neural networks to model and control the superconductive phenomena or devices. In this paper, a new constructive neural network (CNN) trained by two different optimization algorithms; back-propagation and genetic algorithm, is proposed which models the behavior of the superconductive fault current limiters (SFCLs). Simulation results show that the proposed... 

In this paper, a new control strategy for optimal attitude tracking control of a multivariable satellite system has been presented. The approach is based on a Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network (MLPNN) and a classical PD Controller for its initial stabilization. It is shown how the network can be employed as a multivariable self-organizing and self-learning controller in conjunction with a PD controller for attitude control of a satellite. By using three thrusters and quaternion for kinematics representation, the attitude dynamics of the satellite has been presented. In contrast to the previous classical approaches, it is shown how this controller can be carried out in an on-line manner... 

ADI have been used for a wide variety of application in automotive,rail,and heavy engineering industry because of its excellent mechanical properties such as high strength with good ductility,good wear resistance,and good fatigue properties. The properties of austempered ductile iron are dependent on both chemistry and heat treatment, which has lead to invention of MADI (machinable austempered ductile iron). MADI is a new class of ductile iron with superior mechanical property than regular ductile iron with the same machinability characteristic. In this study Different cycles of austempering process (austenitization and austempering cycle) applied Due to the effect of heat treatment cycle on... 

ADI have been used for a wide variety of applications in automotive, rail, and heavy engineering industry because of its excellent mechanical properties such as high strength with good ductility, good wear resistance, and good fatigue properties. The properties of austempered ductile iron are dependent on both chemistry and heat treatment, which has lead to invention of MADI (machinable austempered ductile iron). MADI is a new class of ductile iron with superior mechanical property than regular ductile iron with the same machinability characteristic. In this study Different cycle of austempering process (austenitization and austempering cycle) applied Due to the effect of heat treatment... 

In this paper, we are planning to introduce a new method for relay selection and resource allocation in OFDM-based cooperative networks. Up to now, there have been relatively few works clearly concentrating on the combination of relay selection and resource allocation in such networks. In our work, a network with a single transmitter, a single receiver and a group of relays is considered. Relays work on Amplify and Forward (AF) method and there is no direct link between the transmitter and the receiver. The optimization problem is to maximize the throughput of the receiver with constraints on the amounts of the power of the transmitter and relays, and subcarriers. We will introduce an... 

This article, introduces a new haptic robot, wrist-RoboHab, for upper limb rehabilitation of post stroke, orthopedic and Parkinson patients., The robot is designed for hand movement therapy and could be used for both treatment and evaluation purposes in three operational states; forearm supination/pronation, wrist flexion/extension and ulnar/radial deviation. At first the mechanical design and control system are described. Then the results of a case study are demonstrated. Clinical results, showed an improvement in Fugle-Meyer, AROM, power and the biomechanical assessment of the spasticity in a chronic patient. Furthermore, it was approved that the robot can have a good interaction with...