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In order to help keep readers up to date in the field, each issue of Progress in Photovoltaics will contain a list of recently published journal articles most relevant to its aims and scope. This list is drawn from an extremely wide range of journals, including IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, Journal of Applied Physics, Applied Physics Letters, Progress in Photovoltaics and Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. To assist the reader, the list is separated into broad categories, but please note that these classifications are by no means strict. Also note that inclusion in the list is not an endorsement of a paper's quality. If you have any suggestions, please email Santosh Shrestha at s.shrestha@unsw.edu.au.

In this paper, we investigate how to apply industrial unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for autonomous power line inspection in smart grid from an energy efficiency perspective. Firstly, the energy consumption minimization problem is formulated as a joint optimization problem, which involves both the large-timescale optimization and the small-timescale optimization. Then, the NP-hard joint optimization problem is transformed to a two- stage optimization problem based on energy consumption magnitude and optimization timescale differences. Next, the first-stage and second-stage problems are solved by exploring dynamic programming (DP) and auction matching, respectively. Finally, the proposed algorithm is verified based on realistic power grid topology. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme achieves significant energy consumption reduction.

AbstractExamination of results from the pilot production of buried‐contact solar cells (BCSC) allows several new insights into the effects of the substrate resistivity, the differences between upright and inverted pyramid texturing, the reflection after encapsulation and the doping level at which the emitter begins to dominate the overall recombination. A lower substrate resistivity in conjunction with thicker wafers reduces the effects of a high back surface recombination velocity and allows both higher voltages and efficiencies. In BCSCs with low substrate resistivities, the voltage is not limited by the back but by the emitter diffusion and the dislocation formation at the surface. Contrary to previous reports, best results have been realized with upright pyramids rather than inverted pyramids. In addition, the relative performance of the upright pyramids improves after encapsulation owing to the less than optimal unencapsulated reflection of these surfaces in the regions of the pyramid peaks where oxide layers are too thin to gain benefits as an antireflection layer. Recent results also indicate that the contributions to the dark saturation current from both the heavily phosphorus‐diffused region beneath the metal contact and the more lightly diffused top surface emitter are less than indicated previously. Finally, comparison between experimentally obtained voltages and those predicted through modelling with PC‐1D provides an estimate of the bulk material lifetimes in the pilot line cells.

Abstract Distributed optimization algorithms contribute to an insight for the optimal coordination of distributed energy resources (DERs). To tackle the DER coordination problem, this paper studies a composite constrained optimization problem over multi-agent networks, where all agents independently maintain convex objective functions while satisfying the local and coupled constraints. Within the Peaceman-Rachford splitting (PRS) framework, a distributed algorithm based on the relaxed ADMM method is proposed for the considered problem, where agents in the network commonly share a fixed step-size instead of the diminishing one. Finally, the simulations on the optimal coordination of DERs including distributed generators (DGs) and energy storages (ESs) are conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

This paper presents an attempt to quantify the relationship between porosity and interparticle forces. In particular, it concerns the packing of wet mono-sized spheres where capillary force is dominant. The interrelationships between capillary force, porosity, and liquid content are first analyzed based on well-established theories and experimental observations. The resultant data are then used to correlate porosity with the force ratio defined as the average capillary force to the gravity of a particle. Application of this correlation is finally demonstrated by examples of porosity prediction. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

The catalytic active sites of NiFe and NiFeCr (oxy)hydroxides are revealed byoperandospectroscopic techonologies for alkaline water oxidation.

Abstract This paper addresses the issue of awareness of Green buildings, Green lifestyle and environmental matters with the aim to depict if GM (Green Mark) rating tool operates in a consumer climate that is knowledgeable. The post-occupancy evaluation of 11 office buildings in Singapore documented a range of performance indicators but also included questions concerning well-being, occupants’ expectations, awareness of GM and public expectations. This is augmented with a public survey that asked how GM and Green living are perceived. Over 2200 building occupants are surveyed in the 11 case studies, plus another 315 members of public at various locations across Singapore. Results suggest that although the awareness of Green Mark rating tool was not established well the awareness of Green lifestyle is closely connected to self-reported wellness. The implications and possible effects of raising the awareness of GM on strengthening the GM tool are discussed. Since GM buildings should visibly reflect public expectations, a revision of what GM rewards through its credit structure might be required in the future. In conclusion, the awareness of Green lifestyle is connected to positive mood regarding GM rated buildings and therefore essential for further development and fine-tuning of the GM rating tool.