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Article
Publication date: 3 January 2017

Mubeen Zafar, Muhammad Naeem Awais, Muhammad Asif, Amir Razaq and Gul Amin

The purpose of this research work is to harvest energy using the piezoelectric properties of ZnO nanowires (NW). Fabrication and characterization of the piezoelectric…

319

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research work is to harvest energy using the piezoelectric properties of ZnO nanowires (NW). Fabrication and characterization of the piezoelectric nanogenerator (NG), based on Al/ZnO/Au structure without using hosting layer, were done to harvest energy. The proposed method has full potential to harvest the cost-effective energy.

Design/methodology/approach

ZnO NW were fabricated between the thin layers of Al- and Au-coated substrates for the development of piezoelectric NG. To grow ZnO NW, ZnO seed layer was prepared on the Al-coated substrate, and then ZnO NW were grown by aqueous chemical growth method. Finally, Au top electrode was used to conclude the Al/ZnO/Au NG structure. The Al and Au electrodes were used to establish the ohmic and Schottky contacts with ZnO NW, respectively.

Findings

Surface morphology of the fabricated device was done by using scanning electron microscopy, and electrical characterization of the sample was performed with digital oscilloscope, picoammeter and voltmeter. The energy harvesting experiment was performed to excite the presented device. The fabricated piezoelectric-sensitive device revealed the maximum open circuit voltage up to 5 V and maximum short circuit current up to 30 nA, with a maximum power of 150 nW. Consequently, it was also shown that the output of the fabricated device was increased by applying the stress. The presented work will help for the openings to capture the mechanical energy from the surroundings to power up the nano/micro-devices. This research work shows that NGs have the competency to build the self-powered nanosystems. It has potential applications in biosensing and personal electronics.

Originality/value

The fabrication of simple and cost-effective piezoelectric NG is done with a structure of Al/ZnO/Au without using hosting layer. The presented method elucidates an efficient and cost-effective approach to harvest the mechanical energy from the native environment.

Details

Microelectronics International, vol. 34 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1356-5362

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Article
Publication date: 1 May 2023

Farhana Sajjad Kiani and Saima Ehsan

This study aimed to identify which positive psychological factors are associated with the mental health of older adult retirees. Positive psychology is an emerging discipline of…

259

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to identify which positive psychological factors are associated with the mental health of older adult retirees. Positive psychology is an emerging discipline of psychology. The study and identification of such factors could lead to increased mental health and lower stress levels of individuals (Ho et al., 2014; Abbas et al., 2019).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors searched the following electronic databases: Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus. Thematic synthesis was used for analysis. Database search resulted in the recruitment of 948 articles; after the screening process, only 7 articles were left for further analysis.

Findings

Thematic synthesis of resulting articles from systematic literature review revealed that “staying active after retirement, participation in social activities, volunteering, and presence of loved ones” are positive psychological factors that are positively associated with the mental health of older adult retirees. A few positive psychological factors and their association with the mental health of older adult retirees have been examined. Other positive psychological factors and their association with the mental health of older adult retirees are yet to be investigated in future research.

Research limitations/implications

First, many studies have investigated meaning and purpose in life, relationships or having intimacy, well-being, transcendence, flow or engagement, spirituality and flourishing (pleasant life, engaged life and meaningful life, relationship and achievement) (LeBon, 2014). However, many other positive psychological constructs need to be studied yet in this age group examples include wisdom, courage, mindfulness, forgiveness, resilience, emotional intelligence, hope and humor. Second, there is need of theory in the field of successful aging with respect to the positive psychology. Third, which factors negatively contributed toward the mental health of older adult could be another area of future systematic literature review. Finally, role of culture needs to be examined with reference to which positive psychological factor could be important in a specific given cultural context.

Practical implications

The findings of the current research will be useful for clinical psychologist, counselors and gerontologists to understand which factors positively contributed toward the mental health of older adult retirees, which in turn will help to improve mental health of older adult retirees. Findings of the present study set grounds for future research in the field of gerontology in specific cultural context. The findings of this study have added to scientific body of existing literature. Better understanding of retirement can lead to increase in use of positive intervention-based programs for retirees that can facilitate them with life after retirement.

Social implications

Policymaker working on the well-being of older adult retirees can take help from this study’s evidence-based findings for developing any policy.

Originality/value

Systematic literature review consolidated the existing literature review on the present topic of research. This systematic literature review highlighted factors that are associated with the enhanced mental health of older adults’ retirees. Furthermore, findings revealed the important gap in literature that is many positive psychological constructs are need to be studied yet in this age group examples includes wisdom, courage, mindfulness, forgiveness, resilience, emotional intelligence, hope and humor. Hence, this study has implications for future research.

Details

International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, vol. 17 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2056-4902

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Article
Publication date: 18 January 2019

Abdul Rehman

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between electricity access, population growth and economic growth in Pakistan.

359

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between electricity access, population growth and economic growth in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

Phillips–Perron unit root test was applied to check the stationarity of the variables and an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach to co-integration was used to investigate the causality link between the study variables. Finally, a projection method was applied to check the future trend of the variables.

Findings

The study results show the long-term connections among the variables; further, the results illustrate that the electricity access to the urban population and the urban population growth has a significant impact on the economic growth, while the electricity access to the rural population and the rural population growth has a negative impact on the economic growth in Pakistan.

Research limitations/implications

The electricity sector needs further attention from the Government of Pakistan to boost the production from different energy sources, such as oil, gas, solar, nuclear and hydropower to be able to fulfill the country’s growing demand.

Originality/value

By using the ARDL bounds testing approach to co-integration, this study addressed the literature gap regarding electricity access, population growth and economic growth in Pakistan.

Details

International Journal of Energy Sector Management, vol. 13 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6220

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Article
Publication date: 12 December 2024

Muhammad Yasir, Muhammad Naveed Khan, Mostafa A.H. Abdelmohimen and N. Ameer Ahammad

The heat transport phenomenon in which energy transfers due to temperature differences is an important topic of interest for scientists in recent times. It is because of its wide…

8

Abstract

Purpose

The heat transport phenomenon in which energy transfers due to temperature differences is an important topic of interest for scientists in recent times. It is because of its wide range of applications in numerous domains such as electronics, heat dispersion, thermoregulation, cooling mechanism, the managing temperature in automotive mobile engines, climate engineering, magnetoresistance devices, etc. On account of such considerations, the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) entropy rate for nanomaterial (CoFe2O4/C2H6O2) and hybrid nanomaterial (CoFe2O4+MoS4/C2H6O2) is analyzed. The Darcy–Forchheimer relation is utilized to describe the impact of a porous medium on a stretched sheet. Two nanoparticles molybdenum (MoS4) and cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) are combined to make hybrid nanomaterial (CoFe2O4+MoS4/C2H6O2). Heat flux corresponds to the Cattaneo–Christov model executed through heat transfer analysis. The influence of dissipation and heat absorption/generation on energy expression for nanomaterial (CoFe2O4+MoS4/C2H6O2) and hybrid nanomaterial (CoFe2O4+MoS4/C2H6O2) is described.

Design/methodology/approach

Nonlinear partial differential expressions have been exchanged into dimensionless ordinary differential expressions using relevant transformations. Newton’s built-in shooting method is employed to achieve the required results.

Findings

Concepts of fluid flow, energy transport and entropy optimization are discussed. Computational analysis of local skin friction and Nusselt number against sundry parameters for nanomaterial (CoFe2O4/C2H6O2) and hybrid nanomaterial (CoFe2O4+MoS4/C2H6O2) is engrossed. Larger magnetic field parameters decay fluid flow and entropy generation, while an opposite behavior is observed for temperature. Variation in magnetic field variables and volume fractions causes the resistive force to boost up. Intensification in entropy generation can be seen for higher porosity parameters, whereas a reverse trend follows for fluid flow. Heat and local Nusselt numbers rise with an increase in thermal relaxation time parameters.

Originality/value

No such work is yet published in the literature.

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Article
Publication date: 14 April 2014

Ahmad Asad Ibrahim, Radwan Jamal Elatrash and Mohammad Omar Farooq

The purpose of the paper was to explore the issue of hoarding and dishoarding in a modern context, especially as it relates to circulation of wealth, an important economic…

1604

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the paper was to explore the issue of hoarding and dishoarding in a modern context, especially as it relates to circulation of wealth, an important economic objective from the Islamic viewpoint.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a survey of scholarly positions on the issue of hoarding and circulation of wealth from Islamic perspectives and analyzes how these positions affect the shaping of financial and economic dimensions of life in our contemporary time. The paper draws on the primary sources, the Qur'an and hadith, and examines the positions of the classical and contemporary scholars, especially in the context of the growing interest in finance, the financial system and economy from the Islamic perspective.

Findings

The paper identifies the fact that the notion of hoarding (kanz) needs significantly revised understanding, as money as a concept and tool has evolved substantively in modern times. It also examines variant positions regarding the concept of hoarding and finds more merit in favor of the position that paying zakat is not enough to be exempted from the Qur'anic implications about hoarding. It also identifies and examines securitization, such as sukuk, as an important tool for better circulation of wealth.

Originality/value

Hoarding and dishoarding are not widely explored topics in contemporary literature on Islamic economics and finance. This paper makes a valuable contribution in its attempt to highlight the problem of hoarding and the challenge toward greater circulation of wealth.

Details

International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, vol. 7 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-8394

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