Abstract: A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate includes a silicon substrate having a surface having a plurality of silicon nanostructures (Si-NSs). The silicon nanostructures have a plurality of microscale valleys, and a plurality of terraces in the microscale valleys. The SERS substrate also includes a plurality of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) disposed on the terraces of the silicon nanostructures. A method of preparing the SERS substrate, and a method for measuring SERS signal of an analyte.

Abstract: A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active electrode include a solid support; a porous oxide layer containing transition metal oxide nanoparticles present on a surface of the solid support and has a mean pore size of 2 to 30 nm; and at least one of noble metal nanoneedles and noble metal nanorings present on the porous oxide layer. The noble metal nanoneedles have an average length of 350-800 nm, a flat end with an average width in a range of 100-150 nm, and a pointed end. The noble metal nanorings have a thickness of 50-300 nm and are present in the form of annular clusters having various elliptical shapes with an average diameter in a range of 35-60 nm.

Abstract: A wind turbine control apparatus, method and non-transitory computer-readable medium are disclosed. The wind turbine control apparatus comprises a generator connected to a wind turbine with a drive train. The drive train comprises a rotor, a low speed shaft, a gear box, a high speed shaft, and a controller module. The controller module is configured to obtain a maximum power within a large range of varying wind velocities by operating the rotor at a neural network determined optimal angular speed for the current wind velocity.

Abstract: A wind turbine control apparatus, method and non-transitory computer-readable medium are disclosed. The wind turbine control apparatus comprises a generator connected to a wind turbine with a drive train. The drive train comprises a rotor, a low speed shaft, a gear box, a high speed shaft, and a controller module. The controller module is configured to obtain a maximum power within a large range of varying wind velocities by operating the rotor at a neural network determined optimal angular speed for the current wind velocity.

Abstract: A method of increasing a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signal of a compound is provided. The method includes dissolving the compound in water to form a solution, adding a substrate at least partially coated with gold nanoparticles to the solution to form a mixture, removing the substrate from the mixture and washing with water to form a SERS sample having at least a portion of molecules of the compound adsorbed to the gold nanoparticles on the substrate, and recording a SERS spectrum of the SERS sample. The gold nanoparticles are in a two-dimensional (2D) monolayer assembly on the substrate and are 10-250 nm in size. The SERS signal of the SERS spectrum is higher than a SERS signal of a SERS spectrum of the compound on the substrate without the gold nanoparticles.

Abstract: A hydrogen gas sensor is provided. The hydrogen gas sensor includes a polycarbonate substrate having hydrophobic nanostructures. The hydrogen gas sensor further includes a palladium layer in the form of nanoscale petals on the hydrophobic nanostructure. A method of making the hydrogen gas sensor is also provided. The method of making the hydrogen gas sensor includes fabricating the polycarbonate substrate. The method of making the hydrogen gas sensor further includes coating the polycarbonate substrate with the palladium layer. A method of using the hydrogen gas sensor is also provided. The method of using the hydrogen gas sensor includes contacting a palladium coated hydrophobic nanostructure of the hydrogen gas sensor with a gas sample comprising hydrogen gas.

Abstract: A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate and its method of formation is disclosed. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate comprises a solid support, a first noble metal nanoparticles is disposed on the solid support, a porous oxide layer comprising transition metal oxide nanoparticles is disposed on the first noble metal nanoparticles and a second noble metal nanoparticles is disposed on the porous oxide layer. The porous oxide layer prevents contact between the first noble metal nanoparticles and the second noble metal nanoparticles and has a mean pore size of 2 to 30 nm.

Abstract: A method of increasing a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signal of a compound is provided. The method includes dissolving the compound in water to form a solution, adding a substrate at least partially coated with gold nanoparticles to the solution to form a mixture, removing the substrate from the mixture and washing with water to form a SERS sample having at least a portion of molecules of the compound adsorbed to the gold nanoparticles on the substrate, and recording a SERS spectrum of the SERS sample. The gold nanoparticles are in a two-dimensional (2D) monolayer assembly on the substrate and are 10-250 nm in size. The SERS signal of the SERS spectrum is higher than a SERS signal of a SERS spectrum of the compound on the substrate without the gold nanoparticles.

Abstract: A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate and its method of formation is disclosed. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate comprises a solid support, a first noble metal nanoparticles is disposed on the solid support, a porous oxide layer comprising transition metal oxide nanoparticles is disposed on the first noble metal nanoparticles and a second noble metal nanoparticles is disposed on the porous oxide layer. The porous oxide layer prevents contact between the first noble metal nanoparticles and the second noble metal nanoparticles and has a mean pore size of 2 to 30 nm.

Abstract: A hydrogen gas sensor with a substrate and a zinc oxide nanostructured thin film deposited on the substrate, wherein the zinc oxide nanostructured thin film has a lattice structure with a weight ratio of low binding energy O2? ions to medium binding energy oxygen vacancies in a range of 0.1 to 1.0, and a method of fabricating a gas sensor by thermally oxidizing a metal thin film under low oxygen partial pressure. Various combinations of embodiments of the hydrogen gas sensor and the method of fabricating the gas sensor are provided.

Abstract: A wind turbine control apparatus, method and non-transitory computer-readable medium are disclosed. The wind turbine control apparatus comprises a generator connected to a wind turbine with a drive train. The drive train comprises a rotor, a low speed shaft, a gear box, a high speed shaft, and a controller module. The controller module is configured to obtain a maximum power within a large range of varying wind velocities by operating the rotor at a neural network determined optimal angular speed for the current wind velocity.

Abstract: A hydrogen sensor that efficiently detects hydrogen gas at room temperature comprising a gold decorated reduced graphene oxide/zinc oxide (Au/rGO/ZnO) heterostructured composite, methods for making this sensor and a method for sensitive room temperature detection of hydrogen using the sensor.

Abstract: A hydrogen gas sensor with a substrate and a zinc oxide nanostructured thin film deposited on the substrate, wherein the zinc oxide nanostructured thin film has a lattice structure with a weight ratio of low binding energy O2? ions to medium binding energy oxygen vacancies in a range of 0.1 to 1.0, and a method of fabricating a gas sensor by thermally oxidizing a metal thin film under low oxygen partial pressure. Various combinations of embodiments of the hydrogen gas sensor and the method of fabricating the gas sensor are provided.

Abstract: A hydrogen gas sensor with a substrate and a zinc oxide nanostructured thin film deposited on the substrate, wherein the zinc oxide nanostructured thin film has a lattice structure with a weight ratio of low binding energy O2? ions to medium binding energy oxygen vacancies in a range of 0.1 to 1.0, and a method of fabricating a gas sensor by thermally oxidizing a metal thin film under low oxygen partial pressure. Various combinations of embodiments of the hydrogen gas sensor and the method of fabricating the gas sensor are provided.

Abstract: A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate and its method of formation is disclosed. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate comprises a solid support, a first noble metal nanoparticles is disposed on the solid support, a porous oxide layer comprising transition metal oxide nanoparticles is disposed on the first noble metal nanoparticles and a second noble metal nanoparticles is disposed on the porous oxide layer. The porous oxide layer prevents contact between the first noble metal nanoparticles and the second noble metal nanoparticles and has a mean pore size of 2 to 30 nm.

Abstract: A room temperature nitrogen dioxide gas sensor comprising tin(IV) oxide decorated with gold nanoparticles is described. The tin(IV) oxide may have an average layer thickness of 10-1,000 nm, and is topped with dispersed gold nanoparticles having an average longest dimension of 200-650 nm. The room temperature nitrogen dioxide gas sensor may be used to detect and measure levels of nitrogen dioxide gas at room temperature and at concentrations of 100 ppb-1800 ppm, with a high stability. A method of making the room temperature nitrogen dioxide sensor is also described, and involves sputtering to deposit a tin(IV) oxide layer and a gold layer on a substrate, followed by annealing.

Abstract: A hydrogen sensor that efficiently detects hydrogen gas at room temperature comprising a gold decorated reduced graphene oxide/zinc oxide (Au/rGO/ZnO) heterostructured composite, methods for making this sensor and a method for sensitive room temperature detection of hydrogen using the sensor.

Abstract: A hydrogen gas sensor with a substrate and a zinc oxide nanostructured thin film deposited on the substrate, wherein the zinc oxide nanostructured thin film has a lattice structure with a weight ratio of low binding energy O2? ions to medium binding energy oxygen vacancies in a range of 0.1 to 1.0, and a method of fabricating a gas sensor by thermally oxidizing a metal thin film under low oxygen partial pressure. Various combinations of embodiments of the hydrogen gas sensor and the method of fabricating the gas sensor are provided.

Abstract: A method of fabricating polypyrrole-coated silver particles having a core-shell structure via in-situ oxidative polymerization using silver nanoparticles and pyrrole monomers in the presence of an oxidizing agent. A surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active substrate comprising the polypyrrole-coated silver particles is also disclosed. The surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active substrate is demonstrated to facilitate the detection and measurement of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of analytes with increased Raman signal intensity.

Abstract: A room temperature nitrogen dioxide gas sensor comprising tin(IV) oxide decorated with gold nanoparticles is described. The tin(IV) oxide may have an average layer thickness of 10-1,000 nm, and is topped with dispersed gold nanoparticles having an average longest dimension of 200-650 nm. The room temperature nitrogen dioxide gas sensor may be used to detect and measure levels of nitrogen dioxide gas at room temperature and at concentrations of 100 ppb-1800 ppm, with a high stability. A method of making the room temperature nitrogen dioxide sensor is also described, and involves sputtering to deposit a tin(IV) oxide layer and a gold layer on a substrate, followed by annealing.