title: Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) properties of hornet cuticle as dependent on relative humidity.
abstract: This paper deals with the thermophotovoltaic (TPV) properties of the cuticle of the Oriental hornet as assessed over time under different regimens of relative humidity (RH). The tests were run at two levels of RH, namely, 30% vs. 90%. Each experiment entailed measuring the cuticular voltage and current in the dark as compared to under illumination (white light = 700 Lux), and at a temperature range of 20-30 degrees C. It was found that increase in the RH level boosts the current values by 2-3 orders of magnitude; contrariwise, the voltage values rise by about three times with drop in the RH. At high RH, the changes in current become rhythmical and each cycle of warming-cooling assumes a distinctly cyclic pattern. Under illumination, the current decreases, the polarity reverses and the resistance increases. The obtained results are describable by a model of electric conductance upon a surface, in this case the hornet cuticle; the findings are also discussed and compared with similar phenomena recorded from other substances possessing the properties of organic semiconductors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv, 69978, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sverdlov
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Litinetsky
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pertsis
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ishay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003624:Darkness; D006813:Humidity; D008027:Light; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008566:Membranes / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D017956:Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013696:Temperature; D014863:Wasps / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*