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prof. dr hab. inż. Janusz Smulko
Employment
- Head of Department at Department of Metrology and Optoelectronics
- Professor at Department of Metrology and Optoelectronics
Research fields
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total: 187
Catalog Publications
Year 2024
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Flicker Noise in Resistive Gas Sensors—Measurement Setups and Applications for Enhanced Gas Sensing
PublicationWe discuss the implementation challenges of gas sensing systems based on low-frequency noise measurements on chemoresistive sensors. Resistance fluctuations in various gas sensing materials, in a frequency range typically up to a few kHz, can enhance gas sensing by considering its intensity and the slope of power spectral density. The issues of low-frequency noise measurements in resistive gas sensors, specifically in two-dimensional...
Year 2023
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Enhanced gas sensing by graphene-silicon Schottky diodes under UV irradiation
PublicationThe effect of ultraviolet (UV) or blue irradiation on graphene/n-doped silicon Schottky junctions toward gas sensing was investigated. Schottky diodes were subjected to oxidizing nitrogen dioxide (NO2, 1–3 ppm) and reducing tetrahydrofuran (THF, 50–200 ppm), showing significantly different responses observed on the currentvoltage (I-V) characteristics, especially under UV light (275 nm). NO2 affected the resistive part of the forward region...
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Low-frequency noise in Au-decorated graphene–Si Schottky barrier diode at selected ambient gases
PublicationWe report results of the current–voltage characteristics and low-frequency noise in Au nanoparticle (AuNP)-decorated graphene–Si Schottky barrier diodes. Measurements were conducted in ambient air with addition of either of two organic vapors, tetrahydrofuran [(CH2)4O; THF] and chloroform (CHCl3), as also during yellow light illumination (592nm), close to the measured particle plasmon polariton frequency of the Au nanoparticle...
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Low-frequency noise in ZrS3 van der Waals semiconductor nanoribbons
PublicationWe report the results of the investigation of low-frequency electronic noise in ZrS3 van der Waals semiconductor nanoribbons. The test structures were of the back-gated field-effect-transistor type with a normally off n-channel and an on-to-off ratio of up to four orders of magnitude. The current–voltage transfer characteristics revealed significant hysteresis owing to the presence of deep levels. The noise in ZrS3 nanoribbons...
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Optimum Choice of Randomly Oriented Carbon Nanotube Networks for UV-Assisted Gas Sensing Applications
PublicationWe investigated the noise and photoresponse characteristics of various optical transparencies of nanotube networks to identify an optimal randomly oriented network of carbon nanotube (CNT)-based devices for UV-assisted gas sensing applications. Our investigation reveals that all of the studied devices demonstrate negative photoconductivity upon exposure to UV light. Our studies confirm the effect of UV irradiation on the electrical...
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Probability distribution of flicker noise in AuNPdecorated graphene–Si Schottky barrier diode
PublicationWe present results of the probability distribution analysis of flicker noise generated in Au nanoparticle (AuNP) decorated graphene–Si Schottky barrier diodes with and without yellow light illumination (592 nm), close to the localized surface plasmon resonance in the AuNPs (586 nm). The AuNPs occupy imperfections in the single-layer graphene and reduce the flicker noise intensity generated in the graphene layer. The estimated probability...
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Study of ZrS3-based field-effect transistors toward the understanding of the mechanisms of light-enhanced gas sensing by transition metal trichalcogenides
PublicationExtending knowledge of the properties of low-dimensional van der Waals materials, including their reactivity to the ambiance, is important for developing innovative electronic and optoelectronic devices. Transition metal trichalcogenides with tunable optical band gaps and anisotropic conductivity are an emerging class among low- dimensional structures with the possibility of gate tunability and photoreactivity. These properties...
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The effects of gas exposure on the graphene/AlGaN/GaN heterostructure under UV irradiation
PublicationThis work demonstrates a graphene/AlGaN/GaN sensing device with two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) toward nitrogen dioxide (NO2), tetrahydrofuran, and acetone detection under UV light irradiation. We propose combining measurements of the DC characteristics with a fluctuation-enhanced sensing method to provide insight into the gas detection mechanisms in the synergistic structure of highly stable GaN and gas-sensitive graphene....
Year 2022
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A review of design approaches for the implementation of low-frequency noise measurement systems
PublicationElectronic noise has its roots in the fundamental physical interactions between matter and charged particles, carrying information about the phenomena that occur at the microscopic level. Therefore, Low-Frequency Noise Measurements (LFNM) are a well-established technique for the characterization of electron devices and materials and, compared to other techniques, they offer the advantage of being non-destructive and of providing...
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Analysis of exhaled breath for dengue disease detection by low-cost electronic nose system
PublicationThis paper presents a procedure and a set-up of an electronic nose system analyzing exhaled breath to detect the patients suffering from dengue – a mosquito-borne tropical disease. Low-power resistive gas sensors (MiCS-6814, TGS8100) were used to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the exhaled breath. The end-tidal phase of patients exhaled breath was collected with a BioVOCTM breath sampler. Two strategies were assessed...
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Clinical studies of detecting COVID-19 from exhaled breath with electronic nose
PublicationThe COVID‑19 pandemic has attracted numerous research studies because of its impact on society and the economy. The pandemic has led to progress in the development of diagnostic methods, utilizing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as the gold standard for coronavirus SARS‑CoV‑2 detection. Numerous tests can be used at home within 15 min or so but of with lower accuracy than PCR. There is still a need for point‑of‑care tests available...
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Combined chemoresistive and in situ FTIR spectroscopy study of nanoporous NiO films for light-activated nitrogen dioxide and acetone gas sensing
PublicationThe chemoresistive sensor response of nanoporous NiO films prepared by advanced gas deposition was investigated by combined resistivity and in situ FTIR spectroscopy, with and without simultaneous light illumination, to detect NO2 and acetone gases. The sensitivity towards NO2 increased dramatically under UV irradiation employing 275 nm light. Improved sensitivity was observed at an elevated temperature of 150 °C. In situ FTIR...
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Effects of UV light irradiation on fluctuation enhanced gas sensing by carbon nanotube networks
PublicationThe exceptionally large active surface-to-volume ratio of carbon nanotubes makes it an appealing candidate for gas sensing applications. Here, we studied the DC and low-frequency noise characteristics of a randomly oriented network of carbon nanotubes under NO2 gas atmosphere at two different wavelengths of the UV light-emitting diodes. The UV irradiation allowed to sense lower concentrations of NO2 (at least 1 ppm) compared to...
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Novel Interpolation Method of Multi-DFT-Bins for Frequency Estimation of Signal with Parameter Step Change
PublicationThe IpDFT(Interpolation Discrete Fourier Trans-form) method is one of the most commonly used non-parametric methods. However, when a parameter (frequency, amplitude or phase) step changes in the DFT period, the DFT coefficients will be distorted seriously, resulting in the large estimation error of the IpDFT method. Hence, it is a key challenge to find an IpDFT method, which not only can eliminate the effect of the step-changed...
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Organic Vapor Sensing Mechanisms by Large-Area Graphene Back-Gated Field-Effect Transistors under UV Irradiation
PublicationThe gas sensing properties of graphene back-gated field-effect transistor (GFET) sensors toward acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, and chloroform vapors were investigated with the focus on unfolding possible gas detection mechanisms. The FET configuration of the sensor device enabled gate voltage tuning for enhanced measurements of changes in DC electrical characteristics. Electrical measurements were combined with a fluctuation-enhanced...
Year 2021
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An Instantaneous Engine Speed Estimation Method Using Multiple Matching Synchrosqueezing Transform
PublicationInstantaneous rotational speed measurement of the engine is crucial in routine inspection and maintenance of an automobile engine. Since the contact measurement of rotational speed is not always available, the vibration measurement has been used for noncontact rotational speed estimation methods. Unfortunately, the accuracy of the noncontact estimation methods by analyzing engine vibration frequency is not satisfactory due to the...
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Assessment of Fuel Cells’ State of Health by Low-Frequency Noise Measurements
PublicationWe proposed applying low-frequency (flicker) noise in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells under selected loads to assess their state of health. The measurement set-up comprised a precise data acquisition board and was able to record the DC voltage and its random component at the output. The set-up estimated the voltage noise power spectral density at frequencies up to a few hundred mHz. We observed the evolution of the electrical...
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Design of Intelligent Low-Voltage Load Switch for Remote Control System in Smart Grid
PublicationCurrent low-voltage load switches do not support remote disconnect/connect and real-time monitoring of a disconnect/connect state. Addressing to these issues, this paper presents a low-voltage load switch for a smart remote control system, which uses a one-chip microcontroller board and a DC step motor drive mechanism and provides the feedback on the switch status also. Arrears disconnect and full-pay connect control is implemented...
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Embedded gas sensing setup for air samples analysis
PublicationThis paper describes a measurement setup (eNose) designed to analyze air samples containing various volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The setup utilizes a set of resistive gas sensors of divergent gas selectivity and sensitivity. Some of the applied sensors are commercially available and were proposed recently to reduce their consumed energy. The sensors detect various VOCs at sensitivities determined by metal oxide sensors’ technology...
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Generation-recombination and 1/f noise in carbon nanotube networks
PublicationThe low-frequency noise is of special interest for carbon nanotubes devices, which are building blocks for a variety of sensors, including radio frequency and terahertz detectors. We studied noise in as-fabricated and aged carbon nanotube networks (CNNs) field-effect transistors. Contrary to the majority of previous publications, as-fabricated devices demonstrated the superposition of generation-recombination (GR) and 1/f noise...
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Pulsed UV-irradiated Graphene Sensors for Ethanol Detection at Room Temperature
PublicationA graphene-based gas sensor fabricated in a FET (GFET) configuration and its sensitivity towards ethanol and methane is reported. Detection of ethanol at the level of 100 ppm was observed under pulsed UV irradiation and after cleaning by UV light in the N2 ambient. Reduction of the frequency of UV irradiation pulses resulted in increased changes in sensor resistance in the presence of ethanol. Improved sensing behavior was ascribed...
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Risk Analysis by a Probabilistic Model of the Measurement Process
PublicationThe aim of the article is presentation of the testing methodology and results of examination the probabilistic model of the measurement process. The case study concerns the determination of the risk of an incorrect decision in the assessment of the compliance of products by measurement. Measurand is characterized by the generalized Rayleigh distribution. The model of the meas-urement process was tested in parallel mode by six risk...
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Room temperature depinning of the charge-density waves in quasi-two-dimensional 1T-TaS2 devices
PublicationWe report on the depinning of nearly commensurate charge-density waves in 1T-TaS2 thin films at room temperature. A combination of the differential current–voltage measurements with the low-frequency noise spectroscopy provides unambiguous means for detecting the depinning threshold field in quasi-2D materials. The depinning process in 1T-TaS2 is not accompanied by an observable abrupt increase in electric current—in striking contrast...
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Utilizing pulse dynamics for non-invasive Raman spectroscopy of blood analytes
PublicationNon-invasive measurement methods offer great benefits in the field of medical diagnostics with molecular-specific techniques such as Raman spectroscopy which is increasingly being used for quantitative measurements of tissue biochemistry in vivo. However, some important challenges still remain for label-free optical spectroscopy to be incorporated into the clinical laboratory for routine testing. In particular, non-analyte-specific...
Year 2020
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Advanced operating methods
PublicationSelected operating methods of resistive gas sensors were presented. The methods utilize flicker noise (1/f noise), which gives additional information about ambient gas when compared with the recorded changes of DC resistance only. Methods of flicker noise measurements were outlined. Recently developed prototype gas sensors comprising golden nanoparticle functionalized with organic ligands can generate intense flicker noise induced...
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Ammonia Gas Sensors: Comparison of Solid-State and Optical Methods
PublicationHigh precision and fast measurement of gas concentrations is important for both understanding and monitoring various phenomena, from industrial and environmental to medical and scientific applications. This article deals with the recent progress in ammonia detection using in-situ solid-state and optical methods. Due to the continuous progress in material engineering and optoelectronic technologies, these methods are among the most...
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Analysis of Vibration and Acoustic Signals for Noncontact Measurement of Engine Rotation Speed
PublicationThe non-contact measurement of engine speed can be realized by analyzing engine vibration frequency. However, the vibration signal is distorted by harmonics and noise in the measurement. This paper presents a novel method for the measurement of engine rotation speed by using the cross-correlation of vibration and acoustic signals. This method can enhance the same frequency components in engine vibration and acoustic signal. After...
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Assessment of Electronic Sensing Techniques for the Rapid Identification of Alveolar Echinococcosis through Exhaled Breath Analysis
PublicationHere we present a proof-of-concept study showing the potential of a chemical gas sensors system to identify the patients with alveolar echinococcosis disease through exhaled breath analysis. The sensors system employed comprised an array of three commercial gas sensors and a custom gas sensor based on WO3 nanowires doped with gold nanoparticles, optimized for the measurement of common breath volatile organic compounds. The measurement...
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Comparability of Raman Spectroscopic Configurations: A Large Scale Cross-Laboratory Study
PublicationThe variable configuration of Raman spectroscopic platforms is one of the major obstacles in establishing Raman spectroscopy as a valuable physicochemical method within real-world scenarios such as clinical diagnostics. For such real world applications like diagnostic classification, the models should ideally be usable to predict data from different setups. Whether it is done by training a rugged model with data from many setups...
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Fluctuation-Enhanced Sensing
PublicationFluctuation-enhanced sensing (FES) is an exciting and relatively new research field that promises to extend the range of information that can be extracted from a single sensor. In FES, the stochastic fluctuations of the sensor signal, rather than its average value, are recorded and analyzed. Typical components of such fluctuations are due to interactions at the microscopic level. Proper statistical analysis provides optimum sensory...
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Fluctuation-Enhanced Sensing (FES): A Promising Sensing Technique
PublicationFluctuation-enhanced sensing (FES) is a very powerful odor and gas sensing technique and as such it can play a fundamental role in the control of environments and, therefore, in the protection of health. For this reason, we conduct a comprehensive survey on the state-of-the-art of the FES technique, highlighting potentials and limits. Particular attention is paid to the dedicated instrumentation necessary for the application of...
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Formaldehyde detection with chemical gas sensors based on WO3 nanowires decorated with metal nanoparticles under dark conditions and UV light irradiation
PublicationWe report results of formaldehyde gas (CH2O) detection under dark conditions and UV light irradiation with pristine tungsten trioxide nanowires (WO3 NWs) and metal nanoparticles decorated WO3 NWs gas sensing layers. The resistive layers were deposited by one step aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) on commercial alumina substrates with 10-pair interdigitated platinum electrodes. The elaborated gas sensors, based...
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Ocena jakości superkondensatorów wybranymi metodami, wykorzystując zjawiska losowe i badania rozkładu temperatury
PublicationW artykule przedstawiono metody analizy jakości wykonania próbek superkondensatorów na podstawie pomiarów szumów generowanych w ich strukturach oraz rozkładów temperatury na ich powierzchni. Prezentowane metody zostały porównane z obecnie stosowanymi parametrami oceny jakości tych elementów. Wyniki uzasadniają wprowadzenie dodatkowych parametrów, pozwalających oceniać jakość superkondensatorów.
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Temperature distribution of supercapacitors prepared by various technologies
PublicationSupercapacitors, also known by different names such as electrostatic double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) or ultra-capacitors, are electrical storage devices still in development. These devices require fast and reliable methods of assessing their state-of-health. Thermographic imaging is a method which can be applied with this aim due to its popularity, and the high negative impact of overheating on a supercapacitor’s parameters. Moreover,...
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UV Light-Modulated Fluctuation-Enhanced Gas Sensing by Layers of Graphene Flakes/TiO2 Nanoparticles
PublicationWe present experimental results of fluctuation-enhanced gas sensing by low-cost resistive sensors made of a mixture of graphene flakes and TiO2 nanoparticles. Both components are photocatalytic and activated by UV light. Two UV LEDs of different wavelengths (362 and 394 nm) were applied to modulate the gas sensing of the layers. Resistance noise was recorded at low frequencies, between 8 Hz and 10 kHz. The sensors’ response was...
Year 2019
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A Simplified Method of Trend Removal to Determine Noise Observed During a Supercapacitor’s Discharging
PublicationIn this paper, new method of trend removal is proposed. This is a simplified method based on Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD). The method was applied for voltage time series observed during supercapacitor discharging process. It assured the determination of an additive noise component after subtracting the identified trend component. We analyzed voltage time series observed between the terminals of the supercapacitor when discharged...
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Effects of mechanical stress on electrical arameters and noise of supercapacitors
PublicationResults of noise and electrical parameters measurements of prototype electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLC) are reported at the presence of selected mechanical stress. This issue is of great importance due to future applications in wearable technology. The measurement results are compared, and we may conclude than flicker noise is more sensitive to any stress than other considered electrical parameters.
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Influence of silver-core gold-shell nanoparticle parameters on the variation of surface-enhanced Raman spectra
PublicationThe detection of molecules by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is dependent on the nanomaterial used to induce the enhancement effect. This depends on a variety of parameters of the substrate such as the metal used for their creation, their shape, size and size distribution, concentration, as well as the parameters of the solution, such as packing of the nanoparticles, the complexity of the sample, the solvent, etc. It...
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Methods of Assessing Degradation of Supercapacitors by Using Various Measurement Techniques
PublicationThis article presents the qualitative analyses of the construction of supercapacitor samples. The analyses are based on the suggested thermographic measurements as well as the technique of testing the inherent noise of the investigated element. The indicated assessment methods have been referred to the currently used parameters for the qualitative evaluation of supercapacitors. The approach described in this paper, which introduces...
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Methods of trend removal in electrochemical noise data – overview
PublicationIn this paper we shall review popular methods of trend removal from electrochemical noise time records. The basic principles of operation of the six most popular methods are explained. The proposed methods are: high - pass filtering, Moving Average Removal, polynomial detrending, wavelet detrending, Empirical Mode Decomposition and Variational Mode Decomposition. Estimation of trend removal quality...
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Noise in electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs)
PublicationWe present methods and problems of noise measurements in electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLC). Detailed noise equivalent electronic circuit is considered, and two possible ways of observations of random processes generated in the EDLCs structures are studied. We conclude that noise is a useful tool for characterization of the EDLC structures and their state-of-health, as in other materials and electronic devices. Eventual,...
Year 2018
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APPLICATION OF STATISTICAL FEATURES AND MULTILAYER NEURAL NETWORK TO AUTOMATIC DIAGNOSIS OF ARRHYTHMIA BY ECG SIGNALS
PublicationAbnormal electrical activity of heart can produce a cardiac arrhythmia. The electrocardiogram (ECG) is a non-invasive technique which is used as a diagnostic tool for cardiac diseases. Non-stationarity and irregu- larity of heartbeat signal imposes many difficulties to clinicians (e.g., in the case of myocardial infarction arrhythmia). Fortunately, signal processing algorithms can expose hidden information within ECG signal contaminated...
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Exhaled breath gas sensing using pristine and functionalized WO3 nanowire sensors enhanced by UV-light irradiation
PublicationThe development of advanced metal-oxide-semiconductor sensing technologies for the detection of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) present in exhaled breath is of great importance for non-invasive, cheap and fast medical diagnostics. Our experimental studies investigate the effects of operating temperature selection and UV-light irradiation on improving the response of WO3 nanowire sensors towards exhaled breath exposure. Herein,...
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Portable exhaled breath analyzer employing fluctuation-enhanced gas sensing method in resistive gas sensors
PublicationThis paper presents a portable exhaled breath analyser, developed to detect selected diseases. The set-up employs resistive gas sensors: commercial MEMS sensors and prototype gas sensors made of WO3 gas sensing layers doped with various metal ingredients. The set-up can modulate the gas sensors by applying UV light to induce physical changes of the gas sensing layers. The sensors are placed in a tiny gas chamber of a volume...
Year 2017
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Assessment of Supercapacitor’s Quality by Means of Low Frequency Noise
PublicationLow frequency noise is a well-known tool for quality and reliability assessment of electronic devices. This phenomenon is observed in different electrochemical devices as well (e.g., smart windows, electrochemical corrosion processes). Thus, we can assume that the same tool can be used to asses quality of supercapacitors. Their quality is usually determined only by capacitance and/or equivalent series resistance (ESR), or impedance....
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Corrosion process monitoring by AFM higher harmonic imaging
PublicationThe atomic force microscope (AFM) was invented in 1986 as an alternative to the scanning tunnelling microscope, which cannot be used in studies of non-conductive materials. Today the AFM is a powerful, versatile and fundamental tool for visualizing and studying the morphology of material surfaces. Moreover, additional information for some materials can be recovered by analysing the AFM's higher cantilever modes when the cantilever...
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Feasibility study of a Raman spectroscopic route to drug detection
PublicationWe present an surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) approach for detection of drugs of abuse in whole human blood. We utilize a near infrared laser with 830 nm excitation wavelength in order to reduce the influence of fluorescence on the spectra of blood. However, regular plasmon resonance peak of plasmonic nanoparticles, such as silver or gold fall in a much lower wavelength regime about 400 nm. Therefore, we have shifted...
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Fluctuation-enhanced and conductometric gas sensing with nanocrystalline NiO thin films: A comparison
PublicationNanocrystalline thin films of NiO were prepared by advanced reactive gas deposition, and their responses to formaldehyde, ethanol and methane gases were studied via fluctuation-enhanced and conductometric methods Thin films with thicknesses in the 200–1700-nm range were investigated in as-deposited form and after annealing at 400 and 500 °C. Morphological and structural analyses showed porous deposits with NiO nanocrystals having...
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Measurements of flicker noise in supercapacitor cells
PublicationFlicker noise (1/f-like noise) is often used to assess the quality of various materials and devices. This phenomenon has been observed in different electrochemical devices or reactions (e.g., smart windows, pitting corrosion events). In our exploratory studies we consider how to measure and utilize 1/f noise for the quality assessment of supercapacitors. This task requires special attention because of enormous capacitance of the...
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Noise sources in Raman spectroscopy of biological objects
PublicationWe present an overview of noise sources deteriorating the quality of the recorded biological Raman spectra and the ability to determine the specimen composition. The acquired Raman spectra exhibit intense additive noise components or drifts because of low intensity of the scattered light. Therefore we have to apply expensive or bulky measurement setups to limit their inherent noise or to apply additional signal processing to reduce...
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Non-Gaussian Resistance Fluctuations in Gold-Nanoparticle-Based Gas Sensors: An Appraisal of Different Evaluation Techniques
PublicationVolatile organic compounds, such as formaldehyde, can be used as biomarkers in human exhaled breath in order to non-invasively detect various diseases, and the same compounds are of much interest also in the context of environmental monitoring and protection. Here, we report on a recently-developed gas sensor, based on surface-functionalized gold nanoparticles, which is able to generate voltage noise with a distinctly non-Gaussian...
Year 2016
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ANALYSIS OF EFFECTIVENESS AND COMPUTATIONAL COMPLEXITY OF TREND REMOVAL METHODS
PublicationThe paper presents a method of processing measurement data due to remove slowly varying component of the trend occurring in the recorded waveforms. Comparison of computational complexity and trend removal efficiency between some commonly used methods is presented. The impact of these procedures on probability distribution and power spectral density is shown. Effectiveness and computational complexity of these methods depend essentially...
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Anti-theft lab security system based on RFID
PublicationThe aim of the project is to design and create an electronic system, which can be used to protect laboratory equipment against theft. The main task of the system is to warn a person responsible for the facilities about any attempts made to steal equipment from a laboratory. In a case of an alarm situation, the system emits a sound signal. The concept of the anti-theft security system based on RFID was developed on the basis of...
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Detection of gaseous compounds with different techniques
PublicationSensing technology has been developed for detection of gases in some environmental, industrial, medical, and scientific applications. The main tasks of these works is to enhance performance of gas sensors taking into account their different applicability and scenarios of operation. This paper presents the descriptions, comparison and recent progress in some existing gas sensing technologies. Detailed introduction to optical sensing...
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Fluctuation enhanced gas sensing with WO3-based nanoparticle gas sensors modulated by UV light at selected wavelengths
PublicationThe sensitivity and selectivity of WO3-based gas sensors can be enhanced by UV-irradiation-induced modulation, especially if different wavelengths are employed. We used fluctuation-enhanced gas sensing, based on measurements of resistance fluctuations in the gas sensor, to study the effects of such modulation on the noise intensity for ambient atmospheres of synthetic air without and with additions of small amounts of ethanol,...
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Fluctuation-Enhanced Sensing with Organically Functionalized Gold Nanoparticle Gas Sensors Targeting Biomedical Applications
PublicationDetection of volatile organic compounds is a useful approach to non-invasive diagnosis of diseases through breath analysis. Our experimental study presents a newly developed prototype gas sensor, based on organically-functionalized gold nanoparticles, and results on formaldehyde detection using fluctuation-enhanced gas sensing. Formaldehyde was easily detected via intense fluctuations of the gas sensor’s resistance, while the cross-influence...
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Gas Detection Using Resistive Gas Sensors And Radial Basis Function Neural Networks
PublicationWe present a use of Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural networks and Fluctuation Enhanced Sensing (FES) method in gas detection system utilizing a prototype resistive WO3 gas sensing layer with gold nanoparticles. We investigated accuracy of gas detection for three different preprocessing methods: no preprocessing, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and wavelet transformation. Low frequency noise voltage observed in resistive gas...
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Resistive gas sensors – Perspectives on selectivity and sensitivity improvement
PublicationResistive gas sensors are very popular and relatively inexpensive; they can operate at elevated or room temperature for years on end. The main disadvantage of resistive gas sensors is their limited selectivity and sensitivity, but various methods have been applied to improve their behavior. The composition of the porous gas sensing layer, or changes in the sensor’s operating temperature, can enhance the gas detection ability. Furthermore, emerging...
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System of breath collection and analysis for diseases detection
PublicationCollection and study of composition of the exhaled air is now intensively investigated to develop non-invasive medical diagnostics based on presence of metabolic compounds in the exhaled air. The process of collecting and processing of the exhaled air must fulfill relevant conditions to achieve satisfactory results. The paper presents the system of collecting samples of exhaled breath and the proposed methods of its analysis, using...
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UV-Light-Induced Fluctuation Enhanced Sensing by WO3-Based Gas Sensors
PublicationWO3-based gas sensors were investigated under UV-light irradiation and at different working temperatures with the object of achieving superior sensitivity and selectivity. Resistance fluctuations in the WO3 layer were studied together with dc resistance measurements. The data were taken in synthetic air, ethanol, nitrogen dioxide, and mixtures of these gases. We conclude that UV irradiation can easily be applied to enhance the...
Year 2015
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Analysis of an Attenuator Artifact in an Experimental Attack by Gunn–Allison–Abbott Against the Kirchhoff-Law–Johnson-Noise (KLJN) Secure Key Exchange System
PublicationA recent paper by Gunn–Allison–Abbott (GAA) [L. J. Gunn et al., Scientific Reports 4 (2014) 6461] argued that the Kirchhoff-law–Johnson-noise (KLJN) secure key exchange system could experience a severe information leak. Here we refute their results and demonstrate that GAA’s arguments ensue from a serious design flaw in their system. Specifically, an attenuator broke the single Kirchhoff-loop into two coupled loops, which is an...
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Analytical fluctuation enhanced sensing by resistive gas sensors
PublicationResistance fluctuations across polarised resistive gas sensors were studied in detail to evaluate sensor working conditions for detecting methane and ammonia at various concentrations. The 1/f noise component typically dominates other noise sources up to a few kHz and can be utilised to improve gas selectivity when compared with measurements of the sensor DC resistance. The Arrhenius plot was created and the activation energy for...
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Computational complexity and length of recorded data for fluctuation enhanced sensing method in resistive gas sensors
PublicationThis paper considers complexity and accuracy of data processing for gas detection using resistance fluctuation data observed in resistance gas sensors. A few selected methods were considered (Principal Component Analysis – PCA, Support Vector Machine – SVM). Functions like power spectral density or histogram were used to create input data vector for these algorithms from the observed resistance fluctuations. The presented considerations...
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Critical Remarks on Landauer’s principle of erasure– dissipation: Including notes on Maxwell demons and Szilard engines
PublicationWe briefly address Landauer’s Principle and some related issues in thermal demons. We show that an error-free Turing computer works in the zero-entropy limit, which proves Landauer’s derivation incorrect. To have a physical logic gate, memory or information-engine, a few essential components necessary for the operation of these devices are often neglected, such as various aspects of control, damping and the fluctuation–dissipation...
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Determination Of Gas Mixture Components Using Fluctuation Enhanced Sensing And The LS-SVM Regression Algorithm
PublicationThis paper analyses the effectiveness of determining gas concentrations by using a prototype WO3 resistive gas sensor together with fluctuation enhanced sensing. We have earlier demonstrated that this method can determine the composition of a gas mixture by using only a single sensor. In the present study, we apply Least-Squares Support-Vector-Machine-based (LS-SVM-based) nonlinear regression to determine the gas concentration...
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Efficiency of gas detection algorithms using fluctuation enhanced sensing
PublicationEfficiency of various gas detection algorithms by applying fluctuation enhanced sensing method was discussed. We have analyzed resistance noise observed in resistive WO3- nanowires gas sensing layers. Power spectral densities of the recorded noise were used as the input data vectors for two algorithms: the principal component analysis (PCA) and the support vector machine (SVM). The data were used to determine gas concentration...
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Gas selectivity enhancement by sampling-and-hold method in resistive gas sensors
PublicationCommercial resistive gas sensors exhibit various sensitivity to numerous gases when working at different elevated temperatures. That effect is due to a change in velocity of adsorption and desorption processes which can be modulated by temperature. Thus, to reach better selectivity of gas detection, we propose to apply a known method (called the sampling-and-hold method) of cooling down the gas sensor in the presence of the investigated...
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Method of selecting the LS-SVM algorithm parameters in gas detection process
PublicationIn this paper we showed the method of resistive gas sensors data processing. The UV irradiation and temperature modulation was applied to improve gas sensors’ selectivity and sensitivity. Noise voltage across the sensor’s terminals (proportional to its resistance fluctuations) was recorded to estimate power spectral density. This function was an input data vector for LS-SVM (least squares – support vector machine) algorithm, which...
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New approaches for improving selectivity and sensitivity of resistive gas sensors: a review
PublicationPurpose – This paper aims to present the methods of improving selectivity and sensitivity of resistance gas sensors. Design/methodology/approach – This paper compares various methods of improving gas sensing by temperature modulation, UV irradiation or fluctuation-enhanced sensing. The authors analyze low-frequency resistance fluctuations in commercial Taguchi gas sensors and the recently developed tungsten trioxide (WO3) gas-sensing...
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Nickel Oxide Thin Film Sensor for Fluctuation-Enhanced Gas Sensing of Formaldehyde
PublicationNanocrystalline nickel-oxide-based thin films were prepared by advanced reactive gas deposition, and the response of these films to formaldehyde was studied by fluctuationenhanced sensing. Morphological and structural analyses showed porous deposits of nickel oxide particles with face-centered cubic structure. Resistance fluctuations were measured upon exposure to ethanol, formaldehyde and methane at 200 °C. Power density spectra...
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Noise in biological Raman spectroscopy
PublicationRaman spectroscopy is a widely used method to investigate chemical molecules by analyzing their vibrational transitions. It utilizes inelastic scattering of the laser light irradiating the investigated object. The scattered light requires appropriate filtering to reduce dominant laser light and expose much weaker components having shifted wavelengths of a characteristic spectral pattern. These components are measured by dispersing...
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Sensing of anesthetic drugs in blood with Raman spectroscopy
PublicationA proof-of-concept study of a Raman spectroscopy-based approach for measuring the content of anesthesia drugs in blood is presented. Spectra of spiked blood from several patients exhibit prominent changes in regions associated with the drug.
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Waves in a short cable at low frequencies, or just hand-waving? What does physics say? (Invited paper)
PublicationWe address the question of low-frequency signals in a short cable, which are often considered as waves in engineering calculations. Such an assumption violates several laws of physics, but exact calculations can be carried out via linear network theory.
Year 2014
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Anatomy of noise in quantitative biological Raman spectroscopy
PublicationRaman spectroscopy is a fundamental form of molecular spectroscopy that is widely used to investigate structures and properties of molecules using their vibrational transitions. It relies on inelastic scattering of monochromatic laser light irradiating the specimen. After appropriate filtering the scattered light is dispersed onto a detector to determine the shift from the excitation wavelength, which appears in the form of...
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AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR FLUCTUATION ENHANCED GAS SENSING
PublicationResistance gas sensors exhibit random phenomena (resistance noise) which can be utilized to improve gas sensitivity and selectivity. That new emerging technique has to be investigated to recognize optimal parameters for gas detection. It means that a measurement system has to have ability of numerous parameters adjustment (e.g., sampling frequency, heater voltage, polarization current, voltage noise amplification). That fact induced...
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Detection of Denatonium Benzoate (Bitrex) Remnants in Noncommercial Alcoholic Beverages by Raman Spectroscopy
PublicationIllegal alcoholic beverages are often introduced into market using cheap technical alcohol, which is contaminated by denatonium benzoate (Bitrex) of very small concentration. Bitrex is the most bitter chemical compound and has to be removed before alcohol consumption. The home-made methods utilize sodium hypochlorite to disintegrate particles of denatonium benzoate in alcohol and to remove bitter taste before trading. In this experimental...
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Efficiency of gas mixtures detection by resistive gas sensors
PublicationResistive gas sensors are very popular and are commonly used to detect various gases and their mixtures. Theeir main disadvantage is very limited selectivity. Practical use of gas sensors in environenmental applications requires determination of concentration of a few mixed gases at the same time. We would like to present recent results of gas detection improvement by utilizing a single gas sensor and additional measurements to...
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EFFICIENCY OF GAS MIXTURES DETECTION BY RESISTIVE GAS SENSORS
PublicationResistive gas sensors are very popular and are commonly used to detect various gases and their mixtures. Their main disadvantage is very limited selectivity. Practical use of gas sensors in environmental applications (e.g., in sewage systems to protect workers, in air conditioning systems to monitor atmosphere quality) requires determination of concentration of a few mixed gases at the same time. We would like to present recent...
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Fluctuation enhanced gas sensing using UV irradiated Au-nanoparticle-decorated WO3-nanowire films
PublicationWO3 nanowires (WO3-NWs) decorated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were utilized in resistive gas sensor devices to detect ethanol by use of fluctuation enhanced sensing (FES). The experimental system records both DC resistance and fluctuations of the sensing film. Our data verify that the sensitivity and selectivity of the gas sensor are improved by applying FES when the sensor is stimulated with a combination of UV light and heating....
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New approaches for improving selectivity and sensitivity of resistive gas sensors: A review
PublicationResistive gas sensors are very popular and reliable but suffer from low selectivity and sensitivity. Various methods have been suggested to improve both features without increasing the number of sensors in gas detection systems. Fluctuation enhanced gas sensing was proposed to improve gas detection efficiency by analyzing low-frequency resistance fluctuations, and noise parameters can be more informative than the single DC resistance...
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Performance Analysis of the "Intelligent" Kirchhoff- Law - Johnson-Noise Secure Key Exchange
PublicationThe Kirchhoff-law - Johnson-noise (KLJN) secure key distribution system provides a way of exchanging theoretically secure keys by measuring random voltage and current through the wire connecting two different resistors at Alice’s and Bob’s ends. Recently new advanced protocols for the KLJN method have been proposed with enhanced performance. In this paper, we analyze the KLJN system and compare with the „intelligent” KLJN (iKLJN)...
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Quality assessment of ZnO-based varistors by 1/f noise
PublicationNoise has been used as a diagnostic tool of surge arrester varistor structures comprising of ZnO grains of various type and size. The physical and electrical properties of the measured samples have been described. In the experimental study, the applied measurement system and the results of noise measurements for the selected structures of varistors designed for the continuous working voltage 280 V, 440 V and 660 V have been presented....
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SAMPLE-AND-HOLDING METHOD FOR GAS SENSING APPLIED FOR RESISTANCE GAS SENSORS
PublicationThe DC resistance of a Taguchi gas sensor is influenced by the ambient gas. To improve the selectivity and sensitivity of a sensor the fluctuation enhanced sensing (FES) was used. The paper proposes a novel methodology of utilizing FES technique that sample composition of an ambient atmosphere and hold it for further processing (sample-and-holding technique). The method uses the heated gas sensor to sample an ambient atmosphere...
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Supercapacitors - charge redistribution and restoring voltage
PublicationThe charge in supercapacitor is stored on electrodes and in electrolyte. The charges on electrodes create the Helmholtz double layer which is formed immediately with time constant of the order of seconds, while the charge storage in electrolyte is going on with time constant of the order of hundreds seconds. When the charged supercapacitor is shorted for few seconds, the charge from electrodes is discharged while the charge in...
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Szumy czujników : Metody pomiarów i analizy
PublicationW pracy przedstawiono problematykę pomiarów i analizy szumów w wybranych rodzajach czujników. Przedstawiono mechanizmy powstawania szumów, metody ich pomiarów oraz analizy. W pracy występuje szereg przykładów w których szumy są źródłem informacji o zjawiskach zachodzących w otoczeniu czujnika. Praca będzie przydatna dla osób zajmujących się problematyką pomiarów i analizy sygnałow o niewielkiej intensywności.
Year 2013
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A measurement system for nonlinear surface spectroscopy with an atomic force microscope during corrosion process monitoring
PublicationIn addition to traditional imaging the surface, atomic force microscopy (AFM) enables wide variety of additional measurements. One of them is higher harmonic imaging. In tapping mode the nonlinear contact between tip and specimen results in higher frequency vibrations. More information available from the higher harmonics analysis proves to be helpful for more detailed imaging. Such visualization is espe-cially useful for heterogeneous...
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Enhancing capabilities of Atomic Force Microscopy by tip motion harmonics analysis
PublicationMotion of a tip used in an atomic force microscope can be described by the Lennard-Jones potential, approximated by the van der Waals force in a long-range interaction. Here we present a general framework of approximation of the tip motion by adding three terms of Taylor series what results in non-zero harmonics in an output signal. We have worked out a measurement system which allows recording of an excitation tip signal and its...
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Measurement system for nonlinear surface spectroscopy by atomic force microscopy for corrosion processes monitoring
PublicationIn addition to traditional imaging the surface, atomic force microscopy (AFM) enables wide variety of additional measurements. One of them is higher harmonic imaging. In tapping mode the nonlinear contact between tip and specimen results in higher frequency vibrations. More information available from the higher harmonics analysis proves to be helpful for more detailed imaging. Such visualization is especially useful for heterogeneous...
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Metody usuwania zakłóceń podczas pomiarów polowych widm Ramana
PublicationW pracy zostały scharakteryzowane źródła zakłóceń występujące podczas pomiarów widm Ramana w warunkach polowych. Zaprezentowano wpływ czasu integracji na jakość rejestrowanych widm w przypadkach, gdy szumy własne spektrometru mają składową typu 1/f, dominującą w zakresie małych częstotliwości. Przedstawiono także wyniki uzyskane podczas pomiarów z detekcją synchroniczną, stosowaną w przenośnych spektrometrach Ramana, w pomiarach...
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Metody usuwania zakłóceń podczas pomiarów polowych widm Ramana
PublicationW pracy zostały scharakteryzowane źródła zakłóceń występujące podczas pomiarów widm Ramana w warunkach polowych oraz sposoby redukcji ich wpływu na jakość rejestrowanych widm. Zaprezentowano wpływ czasu integracji na jakość rejestrowanych widm w przypadkach, gdy szumy własne spektrometru mają składową typu 1/f, dominującą w zakresie małych częstotliwości. Przedstawiono także wyniki uzyskane podczas pomiarów z detekcją synchroniczną,...
Year 2012
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Improving AFM images with harmonic interference by spectral analysis
PublicationPrzedstawiono sposób usunięcia zakłóceń pojawiających się na obrazach uzyskiwanych z mikroskopu sił atomowych (AFM). Przybliżono kilka metod stosowanych do redukcji zakłóceń w obrazach. Następnie opisano zidentyfikowane zakłócenia harmoniczne oraz zaproponowany sposób ich znaczącej redukcji. W pracy zamieszczono szereg obrazów uzyskanych z mikroskopu AFM ilustrujących efekty powodowane zakłóceniami oraz skuteczność zaproponowanej...
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Investigation of Noise-Induced Instabilities in Quantitative BiologicalSpectroscopy and Its Implications for Noninvasive Glucose Monitoring
PublicationPrzedstawiono sposób oceny błędów jakie pojawiają się przy estymacji poziomu glukozy we krwi za pomocą pomiarów widm Ramana. Zastosowano nieliniowy algorytm regresji według maszyny wektorów nośnych. Określono jak na wyznaczenie stężenia glukozy we krwi wpływają błędy pomiarów widmach Ramana oraz błędów pomiaru referencyjnego stężenia glukozy podczas etapu kalibracji modelu (etapu uczenia algorytmu maszyny wektorów nośnych). Określono...
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Low Current Transformer Utilizing Co-Based Amorphous Alloys
PublicationMetal oxide surge arresters have been widely used for protection of power system networks against overvoltages due to atmospheric discharges or malfunction of devices connected to the network. During its operation a surge arrester structure is degradated, what can be observed as an increase of a surge arrester leakage current. Paper presents an implementation of a new, high-permeability, Co64Fe4Ni1Si15B14 amorphous alloy as a current...
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Problems of varistor quality assessment during exploitation
PublicationVaristors are commonly used elements which protect power supply networks against high-voltage surges or lightning. Therefore, quality and endurance of these elements is important to avoid losses when an expensive laboratory equipment would not be protected from random overvoltages. Additionally, excessive leakage currents generate serious costs due to high energy consumption. The paper presents shortly properties of varistors that...
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Quality testing methods of foil-based capacitors
PublicationKondensatory foliowe są powszechnie stosowanymi elementami pasywnymi w ukłądach zasilania. Dotychczasowe metody oceny ich jakości są długotrwałe oraz zużywają energię. W pracy przedstawiono propozycje szeregu nowych, bardziej efektywnych metod, które mogą być z sukcesem stosowane podczas ich produkcji.
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Testowanie jakości warystorów niskonapięciowych
PublicationW pracy przedstawiono budowę warystorów, z uwzględnieniem procesów zachodzących w ich strukturach i prowadzących do zmiany ich parametrów elektrycznych oraz wybrane sposoby testowania ich jakości.
Year 2011
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Acoustic emission for detecting deterioration of capacitors under aging
PublicationW pracy przedstawiono wyniki pomiarów kondensatorów foliowych poddanych przyśpieszonemu procesowi starzenia na ramie trwałości. Stwierdzono, że w niektórych typach kondensatorów foliowych istnieje związek między intensywnością sygnału emisji akustycznej mierzonego w kondensatorach po ich wytworzeniu oraz rezystancji izolacji mierzonej po procesie ich starzenia.
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Detection of illicit chemicals by portable Raman spectrometer
PublicationThe Raman spectrometers can be built as the portable devices and can be used in various places to detect illicit chemicals. This method has become popular due to deficiency of other fast methods that could be applied against terrorist attacks or could help police at their work. The conception of a portable Raman spectrometer has been presented. The description enclosures presentation of the prepared device and its possible applications...
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Detekcja gazów za pomocą zjawisk fluktuacyjnych w rezystancyjnych czujnikach gazów
PublicationOpracowanie przedstawia problemy wykrywania gazów oraz substancji zapachowych, realizowanych za pomocą układów z czujnikami gazów. Opisano zasady działania tych czujników oraz stosowane układy detekcji. Przedstawiono metodę wykrywania gazów za pomocą analizy zjawisk fluktuacyjnych obserwowanych w rezystancyjnych czujnikach gazów. Proponowaną metodę zastosowano, wykorzystując czujniki dostępne na rynku oraz konstrukcje prototypowe....
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Diagnostics of zno varistors by means of nondestructive testing
PublicationStandard industrial testing of high-voltage varistors for surge arresters demands application of high voltages and intensive currents. Nondestructive methods for varistor quality and endurance evaluation have been proposed and described. They rely on the application of resonant ultrasound spectroscopy, electro-ultrasonic spectroscopy, noise measurement and nonlinearity testing at voltages lower than continuous operating range....
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