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Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) run on pure hydrogen and oxygen (or air), producing electricity, water, and some heat. This makes PEMFC an attractive option for clean power generation. PEMFCs also operate at low temperature which makes them quick to start up and easy to handle. PEMFCs have several

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) run on pure hydrogen and oxygen (or air), producing electricity, water, and some heat. This makes PEMFC an attractive option for clean power generation. PEMFCs also operate at low temperature which makes them quick to start up and easy to handle. PEMFCs have several important limitations which must be overcome before commercial viability can be achieved. Active areas of research into making them commercially viable include reducing the cost, size and weight of fuel cells while also increasing their durability and performance. A growing and important part of this research involves the computer modeling of fuel cells. High quality computer modeling and simulation of fuel cells can help speed up the discovery of optimized fuel cell components. Computer modeling can also help improve fundamental understanding of the mechanisms and reactions that take place within the fuel cell. The work presented in this thesis describes a procedure for utilizing computer modeling to create high quality fuel cell simulations using Ansys Fluent 12.1. Methods for creating computer aided design (CAD) models of fuel cells are discussed. Detailed simulation parameters are described and emphasis is placed on establishing convergence criteria which are essential for producing consistent results. A mesh sensitivity study of the catalyst and membrane layers is presented showing the importance of adhering to strictly defined convergence criteria. A study of iteration sensitivity of the simulation at low and high current densities is performed which demonstrates the variance in the rate of convergence and the absolute difference between solution values derived at low numbers of iterations and high numbers of iterations.
ContributorsArvay, Adam (Author) / Madakannan, Arunachalanadar (Thesis advisor) / Peng, Xihong (Committee member) / Liang, Yong (Committee member) / Subach, James (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2011
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Description
Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are the third generation solar cells expected to outperform the first two generations of solar cells with their advantages of comparative higher efficiency and lower manufacturing costs. The manufacturing cost of Dye sensitized solar cells is one fifth of the conventional silicon solar cell. However,

Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are the third generation solar cells expected to outperform the first two generations of solar cells with their advantages of comparative higher efficiency and lower manufacturing costs. The manufacturing cost of Dye sensitized solar cells is one fifth of the conventional silicon solar cell. However, DSSCs have problems of low conversion efficiency, stability and reliability. Some effective approaches are required to improve their performance. This paper projects the work related to assessment and verification of the repeatability of the semi-automated fabrication process. Changes were introduced in to the fabrication process to enhance the efficiency and stability. The sealant step in the fabrication process was remodeled to a newer version with an improvement in efficiency from 11% to 11.8%. Sputtering was performed on counter electrode in 30 seconds intervals. Cells were fabricated to assess the performance & time dependent characteristics from EIS experiments. Series resistance increased three times in sputtered Pt electrode as compared to standard platinum electrode. This resulted in the degradation of conductive surface on glass electrode due to heavy bombardment of ions. The second phase of the project work relates to the incorporation of SWCNT on the TiO2 electrode and its effect on the cell efficiency. Different weight loadings (0.1 wt %, 0.2 wt%, 0.4 wt %) of SWCNTs were prepared and mixed with the commercial TiO2 paste and ethanol solvent. The TiO2-SWCNT layer was coated on the electrode using screen-printing technique. Both open circuit voltage and photocurrent were found to have measurable dependence on the TiO2 layer loading. Photo voltage ranged from ~0.73 V to ~0.43 V and photocurrent from ~8 to ~33 mA depending on weight percent loading. This behavior is due to aggregation of particles and most TiO2 aggregate particles are not connected to SWCNT. Transparency loss was observed leading to saturation in the photo current and limiting the light absorption within the TiO2 film.
ContributorsKinhal, Kartik (Author) / Munukutla, Lakshmi V (Thesis advisor) / Subach, James (Committee member) / Peng, Xihong (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2011
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Description

This thesis identifies and explains two main problems students face during their internships. The first problem relates to feeling bored at internships due to the simplicity of projects or lack of work. From the interviews conducted, several strategies to avoid this boredom were created, including having employers design education plans

This thesis identifies and explains two main problems students face during their internships. The first problem relates to feeling bored at internships due to the simplicity of projects or lack of work. From the interviews conducted, several strategies to avoid this boredom were created, including having employers design education plans for interns to further their knowledge in programs such as excel during their downtime. The second problem with internships discovered focuses on the gap between what is taught in schools versus what is expected of interns in practice. This thesis identifies several opportunities for improvement in education and strategies on how to handle feeling overwhelmed on intern projects due to lack of knowledge.

ContributorsKomarnyckyj, Katya (Author) / Byrne, Jared (Thesis director) / Crawford, Cassidy (Committee member) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
Description

The purpose of this study is to create and establish an efficient and cost-effective solution to decrease the effects of sedentarism in pregnant women. Our team was given a propelling question, from which we had to narrow down our scope and conduct primary and secondary research to determine our ideal

The purpose of this study is to create and establish an efficient and cost-effective solution to decrease the effects of sedentarism in pregnant women. Our team was given a propelling question, from which we had to narrow down our scope and conduct primary and secondary research to determine our ideal customers. The design of our study intends to imitate the development of a startup where ideas are created from scratch and the final deliverable is a business model plan that shows some sort of traction. Our first major finding is that a sedentary lifestyle can be treated without major challenges in low risk pregnancies. We determined that uncertainty and lack of concise and clear information is one of the main causes of an increased level of sedentary behavior in low risk pregnancies. A significant driver for women to do some sort of activity or exercise stems from feeling supported, which doesn’t necessarily come from their partner or couple, but instead from other women that are going to a similar process as them. There are apps in the market that intend to serve pregnant women; however, there is not one that incorporates a social aspect to achieve their goal. In conclusion, there is opportunity in the market for a socially integrated pregnancy fitness app. The Gleam concept has been consciously developed to decrease sedentary behavior through concise, clear, and reliable information and by encouraging women through a socialization platform.

ContributorsMosier, Jacob Ryan (Co-author) / Flores, Valeria (Co-author) / McCreary, Liam (Co-author) / Byrne, Jared (Thesis director) / Hall, Rick (Committee member) / Silverstein, Taylor (Committee member) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
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Description

The digital education market has been expanding rapidly during the last few years, providing ample opportunity in the future. There are many technologies involved in this market, with the most significant being cloud client services, edge computing, and interactive flat panel displays (IFPDs). Combined, these technologies represent ninety-two percent of

The digital education market has been expanding rapidly during the last few years, providing ample opportunity in the future. There are many technologies involved in this market, with the most significant being cloud client services, edge computing, and interactive flat panel displays (IFPDs). Combined, these technologies represent ninety-two percent of the Serviceable Available Market with IFPDs as the largest opportunity with sixty-nine percent (Company X Data). Cloud computing provides anytime/anywhere services that can be accessed from any device: e-portfolios, content access, and creation. Edge computing processes data closer to its source and the point of service delivery, providing ultra-low latency to help boost efficiency, mainly used for data processing. Lastly, IFPDs are touchscreen display devices ideal for collaborative spaces and meeting rooms. They are a substitute for outdated projector technology and provide better connectivity and built-in software solutions. <br/>We decided to develop a strategy to expand the market share in the IFPD market because it is the largest, and we consider Company X has a significant advantage in this sector. Company X manufactures the processors used in IFPDs and has established good relationships with manufacturers of these devices.

ContributorsPhillips, Maya (Co-author) / Hauck, Tanner (Co-author) / Morales Rincon, Herwin (Thesis director) / Koroli, Eri (Thesis director) / Simonson, Mark (Committee member) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / Department of Management and Entrepreneurship (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
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Description

Analyzing Incident Rates of COVID-19 Before and After Stay-At-Home Orders Throughout the Southwestern U.S. with Respect to Limited Mobility Models

ContributorsTilleman, Karl Benson (Author) / Albuquerque, Fabio Suzart de (Thesis director) / Powers, Brian (Committee member) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
Description

Edge computing is a new and growing market that Company X has an opportunity to expand their presence. Within this paper, we compare many external research studies to better quantify the Total Addressable Market of the Edge Computing space. Furthermore, we highlight which Segments within Edge Computing have the most

Edge computing is a new and growing market that Company X has an opportunity to expand their presence. Within this paper, we compare many external research studies to better quantify the Total Addressable Market of the Edge Computing space. Furthermore, we highlight which Segments within Edge Computing have the most opportunities for growth, along with identify a specific market strategy that Company X could do to capture market share within the most opportunistic segment.

ContributorsRaimondi, Ronald Frank (Co-author) / Hamkins, Sean (Co-author) / Gandolfi, Michael (Co-author) / Simonson, Mark (Thesis director) / Hertzel, Mike (Committee member) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor) / Department of Management and Entrepreneurship (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
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Description

Over the course of 2020, individuals and organizations were thrown various unprecedented obstacles that necessitated flexibility, empathy, and understanding. Many organizations were forced to reevaluate their financial status, their purpose, and how they could provide for their employees. The COVID-19 pandemic meant that most companies had to introduce a ‘work

Over the course of 2020, individuals and organizations were thrown various unprecedented obstacles that necessitated flexibility, empathy, and understanding. Many organizations were forced to reevaluate their financial status, their purpose, and how they could provide for their employees. The COVID-19 pandemic meant that most companies had to introduce a ‘work from home’ policy, drastically decreasing the face-to-face contact that employees had with each other and leadership. The virus, coupled with the social and political unrest in the U.S. in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and the 2020 presidential election, inspired many companies to reframe their organization and redefine their goals.<br/> The B2B (business-to-business) Marketing Agency, The Mx Group, is preparing for a change in leadership, with the current Chief Executive Officer and Founder stepping down, being replaced by the President of the company. The company plans to execute the transition in the spring of 2022, allowing them the rest of 2021 to plan for the change, catering to employees’ individual and the company’s collective needs. It was also prompted by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic to reevaluate the values that it upholds as an organization, coinciding with the change in leadership. Leaders of the company are actively encouraging employees to engage with these values by recognizing when a colleague performs in alignment with a value.<br/> In reframing their organization, The Mx Group has a significant opportunity to uniquely position itself in the industry. Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. Deal (2017) introduced four frames: human resources, symbolic, structural, and political, as a way to guide a transformative application of leadership and management in business. Analyzed from these perspectives, The Mx Group can utilize contemporary ideas to efficiently and effectively seize its opportunity of embedding new values and a change in leadership.

ContributorsLanghorn, Chloe Nicole (Author) / deLusé, Stephanie (Thesis director) / Fishburne, Kate (Committee member) / School of Politics and Global Studies (Contributor) / Department of Management and Entrepreneurship (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
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Description

Edge computing is a new and growing market that Company X has an opportunity to expand their presence. Within this paper, we compare many external research studies to better quantify the Total Addressable Market of the Edge Computing space. Furthermore, we highlight which Segments within Edge Computing have the most

Edge computing is a new and growing market that Company X has an opportunity to expand their presence. Within this paper, we compare many external research studies to better quantify the Total Addressable Market of the Edge Computing space. Furthermore, we highlight which Segments within Edge Computing have the most opportunities for growth, along with identify a specific market strategy that Company X could do to capture market share within the most opportunistic segment.

ContributorsHamkins, Sean (Co-author) / Raimondi, Ronnie (Co-author) / Gandolfi, Micheal (Co-author) / Simonson, Mark (Thesis director) / Hertzel, Mike (Committee member) / School of Accountancy (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor, Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
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Description

This thesis examines the value creation potential of renovating an existing commercial real estate asset to a medical office. It begins by examining commercial real estate and the medical sector at a high level. It then discusses the various criteria used to select a subject property for renovation. This renovation

This thesis examines the value creation potential of renovating an existing commercial real estate asset to a medical office. It begins by examining commercial real estate and the medical sector at a high level. It then discusses the various criteria used to select a subject property for renovation. This renovation is then depicted through a modified pitch book that contains a financial model and pro forma.

ContributorsPeters, Matthew Scott (Co-author) / Larrea, Justin (Co-author) / Berger, Nicholas (Co-author) / Simonson, Mark (Thesis director) / Gray, William (Committee member) / Department of Finance (Contributor, Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05