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Lu, Ping

Publications and source records attributed to Lu, Ping.

At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Wet-chemical etching of FIB lift-out TEM lamellae for damage-free analysis of 3-D nanostructures

Reducing ion beam damage from the focused ion beam (FIB) during fabrication of cross sections is a well-known challenge for materials characterization, especially cross sectional characterization of nanostructures. To address this, a new method has been developed for cross section fabrication enabling high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis of 3-D nanostructures free of surrounding material and free of damage detectable by TEM analysis. Before FIB processing, nanopillars are encapsulated in a sacrificial oxide which acts as a protective layer during FIB milling. Furthermore, the cross sectional TEM lamella containing the nanopillars is then mounted and thinned with some modifications to conventional FIB sample preparation that provide stability for the lamella during the following wet-chemical dip etch. The wet-chemical etch of the TEM lamella removes the sacrificial oxide layer, freeing the nanopillars from any material that would obscure TEM imaging. Both high resolution TEM and aberration corrected scanning TEM images of Si/SiGe pillars with diameters down to 30 nm demonstrate the successful application of this approach.

3-d nanostructure analysis↗
DOE OSTI2020

Low friction in bcc metals via grain boundary sliding

In this work, low friction is demonstrated with pure polycrystalline tantalum sliding contacts in both molecular dynamics simulations and ultrahigh vacuum experiments. This phenomenon is shown to be correlated with deformation occurring primarily through grain boundary sliding and can be explained using a recently developed predictive model for the shear strength of metals. Specifically, low friction is associated with grain sizes at the interface being smaller than a critical, material-dependent value, where a crossover from dislocation mediated plasticity to grain-boundary sliding occurs. Low friction is therefore associated with inverse Hall-Petch behavior and softening of the interface. Direct quantitative comparisons between experiments and atomistic calculations are used to illustrate the accuracy of the predictions.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

Nanoengineering room temperature ferroelectricity into orthorhombic SmMnO 3 films

Orthorhombic R MnO 3 ( R = rare-earth cation) compounds are type-II multiferroics induced by inversion-symmetry-breaking of spin order. They hold promise for magneto-electric devices. However, no spontaneous room-temperature ferroic property has been observed to date in orthorhombic R MnO 3 . Here, using 3D straining in nanocomposite films of (SmMnO 3 ) 0.5 ((Bi,Sm) 2 O 3 ) 0.5 , we demonstrate room temperature ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism with T C,FM ~ 90 K, matching exactly with theoretical predictions for the induced strain levels. Large in-plane compressive and out-of-plane tensile strains (-3.6% and +4.9%, respectively) were induced by the stiff (Bi,Sm) 2 O 3 nanopillars embedded. The room temperature electric polarization is comparable to other spin-driven ferroelectric R MnO 3 films. Also, while bulk SmMnO 3 is antiferromagnetic, ferromagnetism was induced in the composite films. The Mn-O bond angles and lengths determined from density functional theory explain the origin of the ferroelectricity, i.e. modification of the exchange coupling. Our structural tuning method gives a route to designing multiferroics.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

Room-Temperature Ferroelectric LiNb 6 Ba 5 Ti 4 O 30 Spinel Phase in a Nanocomposite Thin Film Form for Nonlinear Photonics

Tetragonal tungsten bronze (TTB) materials are one of the most promising classes of materials for ferroelectric and nonlinear optical devices, owing to their very unique noncentrosymmetric crystal structure. In this work, a new TTB phase of LiNb 6 Ba 5 Ti 4 O 30 (LNBTO) has been discovered and studied. A small amount of a secondary phase, LiTiO 2 (LTO), has been incorporated as nanopillars that are vertically embedded in the LNBTO matrix. The new multifunctional nanocomposite thin film presents exotic highly anisotropic microstructure and properties, e.g., strong ferroelectricity, high optical transparency, anisotropic dielectric function, and strong optical nonlinearity evidenced by the second harmonic generation results. An optical waveguide structure based on the stacks of α-Si on SiO 2 /LNBTO–LTO has been fabricated, exhibiting low optical dispersion with an optimized evanescent field staying in the LNBTO–LTO active layer. Lastly, this work highlights the combination of new TTB material designs and vertically aligned nanocomposite structures for further enhanced anisotropic and nonlinear properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Enhanced magnetocaloric performance in manganite bilayers

Bilayer films of La 0.8 Sr 0.2 MnO 3 and La 0.7 Ca 0.3 MnO 3 with different layer thicknesses and stacking sequences were synthesized via pulsed laser deposition. The magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects were systematically investigated. We found that the phase transition associated with the layers tends to merge together at an optimal thickness and a stacking sequence. The operating temperature span of the entropy change broadens at the expense of its magnitude, leading to an enhancement of the refrigerant capacity by over 40%. The optimized bilayer film possesses a refrigerant capacity of ~6.0J/kg, compared to a value of ~4.2J/kg for the single-phase films. The phase transition broadening induced by epitaxial strain is responsible for the enhanced window of operating temperature as well as refrigerant capacity. Finally, the design principle developed here may be applied to ferroelastic and ferroelectric materials to enhance elastocaloric and electrocaloric effects.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Optical Fiber Sensor Technology Development and Field Validation for Distribution Transformer and Other Grid Asset Health Monitoring

Power transformers are critical pieces of infrastructure in the electric grid that are both extremely expensive and difficult to replace. These transformers often have long lead times for replacement, and failures can create long service disruptions. This project has developed a new suite of sensors designed to give early warning of the impending failure of these important power transformers before it is too late and a major failure occurs. By using novel fiber optic sensors instead of conventional existing technologies, we are able to measure transformer characteristics indicative of impending failures in ways that were not previously possible. These new optical fiber-based sensors are completely immune to the strong magnetic fields present in power transformers, as well as being capable of using distributed measurement techniques. Distributed measurement techniques enable the fiber to return information all along its length as opposed to only collecting data at a single point; as would a thermocouple or standard pressure sensor.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Large-Scale Plasmonic Hybrid Framework with Built-In Nanohole Array as Multifunctional Optical Sensing Platforms

Light coupling with patterned subwavelength hole arrays induces enhanced transmission supported by the strong surface plasmon mode. In this work, a nanostructured plasmonic framework with vertically built-in nanohole arrays at deep-subwavelength scale (6 nm) is demonstrated using a two-step fabrication method. The nanohole arrays are formed first by the growth of a high-quality two-phase (i.e., Au–TiN) vertically aligned nanocomposite template, followed by selective wet-etching of the metal (Au). Such a plasmonic nanohole film owns high epitaxial quality with large surface coverage and the structure can be tailored as either fully etched or half-way etched nanoholes via careful control of the etching process. The chemically inert and plasmonic TiN plays a role in maintaining sharp hole boundary and preventing lattice distortion. Optical properties such as enhanced transmittance and anisotropic dielectric function in the visible regime are demonstrated. Numerical simulation suggests an extended surface plasmon mode and strong field enhancement at the hole edges. Furthermore, two demonstrations, including the enhanced and modulated photoluminescence by surface coupling with 2D perovskite nanoplates and the refractive index sensing by infiltrating immersion liquids, suggest the great potential of such plasmonic nanohole array for reusable surface plasmon-enhanced sensing applications.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Vertical Strain-Driven Antiferromagnetic to Ferromagnetic Phase Transition in EuTiO 3 Nanocomposite Thin Films

Three-dimensional (3D) strain induced in self-assembled vertically aligned nanocomposite (VAN) epitaxial films provides an unrivaled method to induce very large strains in thin films. Here, by growing VAN films of EuTiO 3 (ETO)–Eu 2 O 3 (EO) with different EO fractions, the vertical strain was systematically increased in ETO, up to 3.15%, and the Eu–Ti–Eu bond angle along $\langle$111$\rangle$ decreased by up to 1°, leading to a weakening of the antiferromagnetic interactions and switching from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic behavior. Our work has shown for the first time that Eu–Ti–Eu superexchange interactions play a key role in determining the magnetic ground state of ETO. Broadly, our work serves as an exemplar to show that multifunctionalities in strong spin–lattice coupling perovskite oxides can be uniquely tuned at the atomic scale using simple VAN structures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2020

Pterodactyl: The Development and Performance of Guidance Algorithms for a Mechanically Deployed Entry Vehicle

Pterodactyl is a NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) project focused on developing a design capability for optimal, scalable, Guidance and Control (G&C) solutions that enable precision targeting for Deployable Entry Vehicles (DEVs). This feasibility study is unique in that it focuses on the rapid integration of targeting performance analysis with structural & packaging analysis, which is especially challenging for new vehicle and mission designs. This paper will detail the guidance development and trajectory design process for a lunar return mission, selected to stress the vehicle designs and encourage future scalability. For the five G&C configurations considered, the Fully Numerical Predictor-Corrector Entry Guidance (FNPEG) was selected for configurations requiring bank angle guidance and FNPEG with Uncoupled Range Control (URC) was developed for configurations requiring angle of attack and sideslip angle guidance. Successful G&C configurations are defined as those that can deliver payloads to the intended descent and landing initiation point, while abiding by trajectory constraints for nominal and dispersed trajectories.

Johnson, Breanna J.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Mid Lift-to-Drag Ratio Rigid Vehicle 6-DoF Performance for Human Mars Entry, Descent, and Landing: A Fractional Polynomial Powered Descent Guidance Approach

Defining a feasible vehicle design and mission architecture capable of reliably delivering apayload of 20 metric tons (mt) or more is a great challenge for landing humans on Mars. TheMid Lift-to-Drag Rigid Vehicle (MRV), a rigid decelerator studied in NASA’s Entry, Descent,and Landing Architecture Study (EDLAS), has shown to be a viable vehicle candidate forfuture human Mars missions. As the vehicle concept matures, models of increasing fidelity areadded to the six-degree-of-freedom (6DoF) EDL simulation. This paper presents 6DoFsimulation results using model updates for vehicle mass properties, fineness ratio, andaerodynamic-propulsive interactions. Additionally, an assessment of the Fractional-Polynomial Powered Descent Guidance (FP2DG) performance is presented, and the vehicleperformance is compared with the Tunable Apollo Powered Descent Guidance (TAPDG).Finally, Monte Carlo results of the vehicle design trades are presented.

Johnson, Breanna J.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Hybrid plasmonic Au–TiN vertically aligned nanocomposites: a nanoscale platform towards tunable optical sensing

Tunable plasmonic structure at the nanometer scale presents enormous opportunities for various photonic devices. In this work, we present a hybrid plasmonic thin film platform: i.e., a vertically aligned Au nanopillar array grown inside a TiN matrix with controllable Au pillar density. Compared to single phase plasmonic materials, the presented tunable hybrid nanostructures attain optical flexibility including gradual tuning and anisotropic behavior of the complex dielectric function, resonant peak shifting and change of surface plasmon resonances (SPRs) in the UV-visible range, all confirmed by numerical simulations. Lastly, the tailorable hybrid platform also demonstrates enhanced surface plasmon Raman response for Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and photoluminescence (PL) measurements, and presents great potentials as designable hybrid platforms for tunable optical-based chemical sensing applications.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

Uncompensated Polarization in Incommensurate Modulations of Perovskite Antiferroelectrics

Complex polar structures of incommensurate modulations (ICMs) are revealed in chemically modified PbZrO 3 perovskite antiferroelectrics using advanced transmission electron microscopy techniques. The Pb-cation displacements, previously assumed to arrange in a fully compensated antiparallel fashion, are found to be either antiparallel, but with different magnitudes, or in a nearly orthogonal arrangement in adjacent stripes in the ICMs. Ab initio calculations corroborate the low-energy state of these arrangements. Our discovery corrects the atomic understanding of ICMs in PbZrO 3 -based perovskite antiferroelectrics.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗