Topics - e-Bulletin
Topics - e-Bulletin

University of Electro-Communications publishes September 2015 issue of e-Bulletin.

The contents of the September 2015 issue of the University of Electro-Communications e-Bulletin include: feature article on innovative organolead halide perovskite solar cells solar cells with conversion efficiencies over 20%; research highlights on quantum dot solar cells, and a paper on the analysis of apparently smooth movements that may help to understand jerky motor motion; news summaries on the launch of the UEC Info-Powered Energy System Research Center (iPERC), the visit of delegates from Binghamton University, State University of New York, and proceedings of the Japanese Neural Network Society Workshop on "Data-driven approach for understanding cerebellar mechanisms on eye movement control" held at UEC; topical spotlights on UEC students receiving awards at an international conference, and Professor Takayoshi Kobayashi's pioneering research on ultrashort pulse lasers, ultrafast spectroscopy, and quantum information.

http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/

Feature article
Frontiers of research on solar cells: Lead (Pb) perovskites with efficiencies over 20%

http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/feature/2015/frontiers-of-research-on-solar-cells.html

Frontiers of research on solar cells

25 April 1954 was a seminal day in the history of research on solar cells. On this date scientists at Bell Labs, Murray Hill, USA, announced the invention of the world's first practical panel of solar cells for converting sunlight into electricity. The solar cells were made of silicon and had an efficiency of 6 percent--a tremendous achievement even by today's standards. Notably, the solar cells were used to power a radio transmitter and energize a motor to drive a Ferris wheel--both practical applications of solar cells.

Research Highlights
Nanowire quantum dot solar cells: oxide layer boosts performance

http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/research-highlights/2015/nanowire-quantum-dot-solar-cells.html

Nanowire quantum dot solar cells

Attempts to improve solar cells can seem a balancing act, as optimising one variable can compromise another. The introduction of nanowires to colloidal quantum-dot solar cells (CQDSCs) aroused interest as a means of improving a limitation in the charge-collection layer thickness. However the high nanowire surface area brings other inhibiting factors. Now Jin Chang, Qing Shen and colleagues demonstrate how a further modification using an oxide layer can reduce the nanowire surface area effects for better-performing solar cells.

Motor behaviour: understanding the jerks that lurk in smooth movements

http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/research-highlights/2015/motor-behaviour.html

Motor behaviour

Apparently smooth continuous movements to trace moving objects harbour jerks. These jerks are absent when there is no object to be traced and so are thought to stem from changes in motor instructions anticipated and fed forward by the brain to compensate for sensorimotor time lags. However so far there is no conclusive evidence that this is the case. Now Yasuyuki Inoue and Yutaka Sakaguchi at the University of Electro-communications have demonstrated a method for analysing apparently smooth movements that may help to understand their jerky components.

News and Events
UEC hosts Japanese Neural Network Society Workshop on "Data-driven approach for understanding cerebellar mechanisms on eye movement control"

http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/news/2015/joint-workshop.html

UEC launches the Info-Powered Energy System Research Center (iPERC)

http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/news/2015/iperc.html

Delegates from Binghamton University, State University of New York, visit UEC

http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/news/2015/delegates-from-binghamton-university-state-university-of-new-york-visit-uec.html

Topics
UEC students receive prestigious awards at international conference

http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/topics/2015/uec-students-receive-prestigious-awards-at-international-conference.html

UEC students receive prestigious awards at international conference

Two UEC graduate students studying at the same laboratory were awarded prizes for their presentations at the 23rd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering, held in Chiba, Japan, 17-21 May 2015.

A career in ultrashort pulse lasers, ultrafast spectroscopy, and quantum information

http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/topics/2015/a-career-in-ultrashort-pulse-lasers-ultrafast-spectroscopy-and-quantum-information.html

A career in ultrashort pulse lasers, ultrafast spectroscopy, and quantum information

Professor Takayoshi Kobayashi joined the University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo (UEC, Tokyo) as a Specially Appointed Professor after retiring from The University of Tokyo in 2002. "Over my 49 year research career I have published about 580 original papers on a wide range of optical phenomena," says Kobayashi. "I even broke my own world record for generating sub- femtosecond laser pulses."