Scanning tunneling spectroscopy of ${\mathrm{Bi}}_2{\mathrm{Se}}_3$ and ${\mathrm{Bi}}_2{\mathrm{Te}}_3$ layered narrow gap semiconductors reveals finite in-gap density of states and suppressed conduction in the energy range of high valence-band states. Electronic structure calculations suggest that the surface effects are responsible for these properties. Conversely, the interlayer coupling has a strong effect on the bulk near-gap electronic structure. These properties may prove to be important for the thermoelectric performance of these and other related chalcogenides.

Scanning tunneling spectroscopy images of ${\mathrm{Bi}}_2{\mathrm{Se}}_3$ doped with excess Bi reveal electronic defect states with a striking shape resembling clover leaves. With a simple tight-binding model, we show that the geometry of the defect states in ${\mathrm{Bi}}_2{\mathrm{Se}}_3$ can be directly related to the position of the originating impurities. Only the Bi defects at the Se sites five atomic layers below the surface are experimentally observed. We show that this effect can be explained by the interplay of defect and surface electronic structure.

With the aim of increasing the efficiency of maintenance and fuel usage in airplanes, structural health monitoring (SHM) of critical composite structures is increasingly expected and required. The optimized usage of this concept is subject of intensive work in the framework of the EU COST Action CA18203 “Optimising Design for Inspection” (ODIN). In this context, a thorough review of a broad range of energy harvesting (EH) technologies to be potentially used as power sources for the acoustic emission and guided wave propagation sensors of the considered SHM systems, as well as for the respective data elaboration and wireless communication modules, is provided in this work. EH devices based on the usage of kinetic energy, thermal gradients, solar radiation, airflow, and other viable energy sources, proposed so far in the literature, are thus described with a critical review of the respective specific power levels, of their potential placement on airplanes, as well as the consequently necessary power management architectures. The guidelines provided for the selection of the most appropriate EH and power management technologies create the preconditions to develop a new class of autonomous sensor nodes for the in-process, non-destructive SHM of airplane components.