Heterogeneous dynamics in a polymer solution revealed through measurement of ultraslow convection
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X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy↗
Engineering topics
Zontone, Federico
Publications and source records attributed to Zontone, Federico.
Pressure-induced nonmonotonic cross-over of steady relaxation dynamics in a metallic glass
Relaxation dynamics, as a key to understand glass formation and glassy properties, remains an elusive and challenging issue in condensed matter physics. In this work, in situ high-pressure synchrotron high-energy X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy has been developed to probe the atomic-scale relaxation dynamics of a cerium-based metallic glass during compression. Although the sample density continuously increases, the collective atomic motion initially slows down as generally expected and then counterintuitively accelerates with further compression (density increase), showing an unusual nonmonotonic pressure-induced steady relaxation dynamics cross-over at ~3 GPa. Furthermore, by combining in situ high-pressure synchrotron X-ray diffraction, the relaxation dynamics anomaly is evidenced to closely correlate with the dramatic changes in local atomic structures during compression, rather than monotonically scaling with either sample density or overall stress level. In conclusion, these findings could provide insight into relaxation dynamics and their relationship with local atomic structures of glasses.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
Concentration and velocity profiles in a polymeric lithium-ion battery electrolyte
Predictive knowledge of ion transport in electrolytes which bridges microscopic and macroscopic length scales is imperative to design new ion conductors and to simulate device performance. Here, we employed a novel approach combining operando X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy, X-ray absorption microscopy, continuum modelling, and molecular dynamics simulations to probe the ion transport in a baseline polymeric lithium-ion battery electrolyte. In a Li/PEO–LiTFSI/Li symmetric cell under polarization, we determined and rationalized microscopic properties including local electrolyte velocities and ion correlations and connected this insight to measured and simulated macroscopic ion concentration gradients. By relating our results across length scales, we suggest a fairly concentration-independent transference number of about 0.2. Our study shows the broad applicability of operando X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy to the understanding of dynamic phenomena.
25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
X-ray tracking of structural changes during a subnanosecond solid-solid phase transition in cobalt nanoparticles
This work presents measurements of laser-induced solid-solid phase transitions in Co nanoparticles, using time-resolved wide-angle x-ray scattering with <100-ps time resolution. A comparison of the experimental results with scattering simulations indicates a phase transition from the as-synthesized ε phase into a mixed phase of 2/3 hcp and 1/3 fcc character during the first 100 ps. The measured scattering signal observed at the shortest investigated time delay of 20 ps has less scattering intensity at the dominant fcc/hcp Bragg peak positions compared to the difference signal acquired at 100 ps. This suggests the formation of a partially disordered solid intermediate phase on the sub-100-ps timescale.
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗