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At least 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Chemically and mechanically recyclable polyester-based multilayer plastics

Approximately 100 million tons of multilayered plastics (MLPs) are produced each year worldwide but are not recycled due to their complex structure. Here, this work aims to design polyester-based multilayer plastics (80–100 % polyester) that provide barrier performance comparable to typical 9–12-layer commercial MLPs, while also enabling both chemical recycling (back to parent monomer) and mechanical recycling (grind-and-melt reprocessing). Such dual recyclability is not achievable with non-polyester multilayers, such as all-polyolefin systems. Furthermore, we emphasize how the multilayer architecture was tailored to balance barrier properties, mechanical integrity, and end-of-life recyclability for both flexible and rigid packaging applications. Two main categories of polyester-based MLPs are reported; in the first type, poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)-70 % polyglycolic acid (PGA) is used as middle barrier layer, while in second type, middle barrier layer is Ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymers. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was used as a structural layer, while either PBAT or poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) was used to enable thermal sealing and serve as the product contact layer. These MLPs are recycled by both chemical and mechanical recycling processes. Techno-economic analysis (TEA) shows that MLPs incorporating EVOH as barrier layer have similar or lower selling costs (0.32 $\$$/m 2 ) than commercial MLPs. Life cycle assessment (LCA) indicates EVOH-based MLPs have a lower carbon footprint and lower energy consumption relative to commercial MLP benchmarks. This work offers simplified MLPs that are easy to manufacture and ready to recycle, which will significantly reduce environmental impact of MLP packaging while also providing a cost-effective and practical solution for industry.

Barrier properties↗
DOE OSTI2025

Quantifying the effects of artificial aging on the ignition and self-propagating reactions of Ni(V)/Al multilayers

Bimetallic, reactive multilayers are uniformly structured materials composed of alternating nanoscale layers that may be ignited to produce self-propagating intermetallic-formation reactions. When reactive multilayers age, there is a change in local composition and loss of stored chemical energy due to mass transport and rearrangement at the interfaces. Here, to quantify the long-term reliability of commercial Ni(V)/Al multilayers, the effects of accelerated aging on both ignition sensitivity and self-propagating reactions have been examined. Thermally aged samples were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and laser ignition combined with high-speed videography. The analytically quantifiable nature of both continuous wave laser ignition and reactive wave propagation enabled calculations of Arrhenius rate constants for as-received and various heat-treated multilayers. With heat treatment, there is a change in the intermixed thickness and interfacial chemistry that decreases the activation energy for point ignition but increases it for self-propagating reactions. This finding implies that with increased thermal aging, the reaction becomes easier to facilitate in the solid state but harder in the liquid phase.

Energetic material↗
DOE OSTI2017

Self-assembled Li 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 /reduced graphene oxide multilayer composite prepared by sequential adsorption

Here in this paper, we report on Li 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 (LVP)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) multilayer composites prepared via a sequential adsorption method and subsequent heat treatment, and their use as cathodes for high-rate lithium-ion batteries. The sequential adsorption process includes adsorbing oppositely charged components of anionic inorganic species and cationic head of a surfactant adsorbed to graphite oxide sheets, which is a key step in the fabrication of the LVP/rGO multilayer composites. The multilayer structure has open channels between the highly conductive rGO layers while achieving a relatively high tap density, which could effectively improve the rate capability. Consequently, the LVP/rGO multilayer composites exhibit a high tap density (0.6 g cm -3 ) and good electrochemical properties. Specifically, in the voltage range of 3.0–4.3 V, the composite exhibits a specific capacity of 131 mAh g -1 at 0.1C, a good rate capabilities (88% capacity retention at 60C), and long cycling performance (97% capacity retention after 500 cycles at 10C). Moreover, in the extended voltage range of 3.0–4.8 V, it exhibits a high specific capacity of 185 mAh g -1 at 0.2C, a good rate capability (66% capacity retention at 30C), and stable cycling performance (96% capacity retention after 500 cycles at 10C).

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Fabrication of graphene/polyaniline composite multilayer films by electrostatic layer-by-layer assembly

A novel graphene/polyaniline composite multilayer film was fabricated by electrostatic interactions induced layer-by-layer self-assembly technique, using water dispersible and negatively charged chemically converted graphene (CCG) and positively charged polyaniline (PANI) as building blocks. CCG was achieved through partly reduced graphene oxide, which remained carboxyl group on its surface. The remaining carboxyl groups not only retain the dispersibility of CCG, but also allow the growth of the multilayer films via electrostatic interactions between graphene and PANI. The structure and morphology of the obtained CCG/PANI multilayer film are characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, Ultraviolet–visible absorption spectrum (UV–vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The electrochemical properties of the resulting film are studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV), which showed that the resulting CCG/PANI multilayer film kept electroactivity in neutral solution and showed outstanding cyclic stability up to 100 cycles. Furthermore, the composite film exhibited good electrocatalytic ability toward ascorbic acid (AA) with a linear response from 1×10{sup −4} to 1.2×10{sup −3} M with the detect limit of 5×10{sup −6} M. This study provides a facile and effective strategy to fabricate graphene/PANI nanocomposite film with good electrochemical property, which may find potential applications in electronic devices such as electrochemical sensor. - Graphical abstract: A novel graphene/polyaniline (CCG/PANI) film was prepared by layer-by-layer assembly. - Highlights: • A novel graphene/polyaniline (CCG/PANI) film was prepared by layer-by-layer assembly. • The water dispersible and negatively charged graphene (CCG) was used as building block. • CCG was achieved through partly reduced graphene oxide with carboxyl group on its surface. • CCG/PANI film kept electroactivity in neutral solution and showed good stability. • Good electrocatalytic ability toward ascorbic acid was also demonstrated.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Multilayer Network Clarifies Prevailing Water Consumption Telecouplings in the United States

Virtual water flows are used to map the indirect water consumption connections implied by the supply chain of a city, region, or country. This information can be used to manage supply chains to achieve environmental policy objectives and mitigate environmental risks to critical supply chains. A limitation of prior work is that these flows are typically analyzed using monolayer networks, which ignores crucial intersectoral or interlayer couplings. Here, in this study, we use a multilayer network to account for such couplings when analyzing blue virtual water flows in the United States. Our multilayer network consists of 115 different regions (nodes), covering the entire conterminous United States; 41 coupled economic sectors (layers); and ∼2 × 10 7 possible links. To analyze the multilayer network, we focus on three fundamental network properties: topological connectivity, mesoscale structure, and node centrality. The network has a high connectivity, with each node being on average connected to roughly 2/3 of the network's nodes. Interlayer flows are a major driver of connectivity, representing ∼54% of all the network's connections. Five different groups of tightly connected nodes (communities) characterize the network. Each community represents a preferred spatial mode of long-range virtual water interaction within the United States. We find that large (populous) cities have a stronger influence than small ones on network functioning because they attract and recirculate more virtual water through their supply chains. Our results also highlight differences between the multilayer and monolayer virtual water network, which overall show that the former provides a more realistic representation of virtual water flows.

Garcia Gonzalez, Susana↗
DOE OSTI2021

Development and characterization of Nb3Sn/Al2O3 superconducting multilayers for particle accelerators

Abstract Superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) resonator cavities provide extremely high quality factors > 10 10 at 1–2 GHz and 2 K in large linear accelerators of high-energy particles. The maximum accelerating field of SRF cavities is limited by penetration of vortices into the superconductor. Present state-of-the-art Nb cavities can withstand up to 50 MV/m accelerating gradients and magnetic fields of 200–240 mT which destroy the low-dissipative Meissner state. Achieving higher accelerating gradients requires superconductors with higher thermodynamic critical fields, of which Nb 3 Sn has emerged as a leading material for the next generation accelerators. To overcome the problem of low vortex penetration field in Nb 3 Sn, it has been proposed to coat Nb cavities with thin film Nb 3 Sn multilayers with dielectric interlayers. Here, we report the growth and multi-technique characterization of stoichiometric Nb 3 Sn/Al 2 O 3 multilayers with good superconducting and RF properties. We developed an adsorption-controlled growth process by co-sputtering Nb and Sn at high temperatures with a high overpressure of Sn. The cross-sectional scanning electron transmission microscope images show no interdiffusion between Al 2 O 3 and Nb 3 Sn. Low-field RF measurements suggest that our multilayers have quality factor comparable with cavity-grade Nb at 4.2 K. These results provide a materials platform for the development and optimization of high-performance SIS multilayers which could overcome the intrinsic limits of the Nb cavity technology.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2013

Multilayer Microfluidic Devices Created From A Single Photomask

The time and expense associated with high quality photomask production can discourage the creation of multilayer microfluidic devices, as each layer currently requires a separate photomask. Here we describe an approach in which multilayer microfabricated devices can be created from a single photomask. The separate layers and their corresponding alignment marks are arranged in separate halves of the mask for two layer devices or quadrants for four layer devices. Selective exposure of the photomask features and rotation of the device substrate between exposures result in multiple copies of the devices on each wafer. Subsequent layers are aligned to patterned features on the substrate with the same alignment accuracy as when multiple photomasks are used. We demonstrate this approach for fabricating devices employing multilayer soft lithography (MSL) for pneumatic valving. MSL devices containing as many as 5 layers (4 aligned fluidic layers plus a manually aligned control layer) were successfully created using this approach. Device design is also modularized, enabling the presence or absence of features as well as channel heights to be selected independently from one another. The use of a single photomask to create multilayer devices results in a dramatic savings of time and/or money required to advance from device design to completed prototype.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2012

A multilayer grating with a novel layer structure for a flat-field spectrograph attached to transmission electron microscopes in energy region of 2-4 keV

A multilayer mirror with a novel layer structure to uniformly enhance the reflectivity in a few keV energy range at a fixed angle of incidence is invented and applied to a multilayer grating for use in a flat-field spectrograph attached to a conventional electron microscope. The diffraction efficiency of the fabricated multilayer grating having the new layer structure is evaluated at the angle of incidence of 88.65 deg. in the energy region of 2.1-4.0 keV. It is shown that the multilayer grating is effective to uniformly enhance the diffraction efficiency and able to be practically used in this energy region.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2012

Layering and temperature-dependent magnetization and anisotropy of naturally produced Ni/NiO multilayers

Ni/NiO multilayers were grown by magnetron sputtering at room temperature, with the aid of the natural oxidation procedure. That is, at the end of the deposition of each single Ni layer, air is let to flow into the vacuum chamber through a leak valve. Then, a very thin NiO layer ({approx}1.2 nm) is formed. Simulated x-ray reflectivity patterns reveal that layering is excellent for individual Ni-layer thickness larger than 2.5 nm, which is attributed to the intercalation of amorphous NiO between the polycrystalline Ni layers. The magnetization of the films, measured at temperatures 5-300 K, has almost bulk-like value, whereas the films exhibit a trend to perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) with an unusual significant positive interface anisotropy contribution, which presents a weak temperature dependence. The power-law behavior of the multilayers indicates a non-negligible contribution of higher order anisotropies in the uniaxial anisotropy. Bloch-law fittings for the temperature dependence of the magnetization in the spin-wave regime show that the magnetization in the multilayers decreases faster as a function of temperature than the one of bulk Ni. Finally, when the individual Ni-layer thickness decreases below 2 nm, the multilayer stacking vanishes, resulting in a dramatic decrease of the interface magnetic anisotropy and consequently in a decrease of the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2012

Enhanced radiation tolerance in nitride multilayered nanofilms with small period-thicknesses

This paper demonstrates a substantial enhancement in radiation tolerance for small period-thickness of CrN/AlTiN multilayered nanofilms. CrN/AlTiN multilayered nanofilms with period-thicknesses of 3, 5, 7, and 9 nm were irradiated by 190 keV Ar{sup +} ions to fluences ranging from 1 to 5 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 16} ions/cm{sup 2}. Nanofilm with 3 nm period-thickness begins to be amorphized under 5 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 16} ions/cm{sup 2}, while those with larger period-thicknesses are amorphized under 3 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 16} ions/cm{sup 2}. Our results show that multilayered ceramic nanofilms are potential radiation tolerant materials with good properties. The interfaces in the multilayered nanofilms act as good sinks to absorb the radiation-induced defects.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

Optimization of Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5}/Ag/Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5} multilayers as transparent composite electrode on flexible substrate with high figure of merit

Different multilayer structures of Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5}/Ag/Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5} have been deposited onto flexible substrates by sputtering at room temperature to develop an indium free transparent composite electrode. The effect of Ag thickness on the electrical and optical properties of the multilayer stack has been studied in accordance with the Ag morphology. The critical thickness of Ag to form a continuous conducting layer is found to be 9.5 nm. A new conduction mechanism has been proposed to describe the conduction before and after the critical thickness. The effective Hall resistivity of the optimized films is as low as 6.44 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -5} Ohm-Sign -cm with a carrier concentration and mobility of 7.4 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 21} cm{sup -3} and 13.1 cm{sup 2} /V-s, respectively, at the critical Ag layer thickness. The multilayer stack has been optimized to obtain a sheet resistance of 7.2 Ohm-Sign /sq and an average optical transmittance of 86% at 550 nm without any substrate heating or post-annealing process. The Haacke figure of merit (FOM) has been calculated for the films, and the multilayer with a 9.5 nm thick Ag layer has the highest FOM at 31.5 Multiplication-Sign 10-3 {Omega}{sup -1}, which is one of the highest FOM values reported for TCE deposited at room temperature on a flexible substrate.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2013

Surface roughness and interface width scaling of magnetron sputter deposited Ni/Ti multilayers

Using an indigenously built r.f. magnetron sputtering system, several single layer Ti and Ni films have been deposited at varying deposition conditions. All the samples have been characterized by Grazing Incidence X-ray Reflectivity (GIXR) and Atomic Force Microscopy to estimate their thickness, density, and roughness and a power law dependence of the surface roughness on the film thickness has been established. Subsequently, at optimized deposition condition of Ti and Ni, four Ni/Ti multilayers of 11-layer, 21-layer, 31-layer, and 51-layer having different bilayer thickness have been deposited. The multilayer samples have been characterized by GIXR and neutron reflectivity measurements and the experimental data have been fitted assuming an appropriate sample structure. A power law correlation between the interface width and bilayer thickness has been observed for the multilayer samples, which was explained in the light of alternate roughening/smoothening of multilayers and assuming that at the interface the growth “restarts” every time.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Magnetic spin structure and magnetoelectric coupling in BiFeO{sub 3}-BaTiO{sub 3} multilayer

Magnetic spin structures in epitaxial BiFeO{sub 3} single layer and an epitaxial BaTiO{sub 3}/BiFeO{sub 3} multilayer thin film have been studied by means of nuclear resonant scattering of synchrotron radiation. We demonstrate a spin reorientation in the 15 × [BaTiO{sub 3}/BiFeO{sub 3}] multilayer compared to the single BiFeO{sub 3} thin film. Whereas in the BiFeO{sub 3} film, the net magnetic moment m{sup →} lies in the (1–10) plane, identical to the bulk, m{sup →} in the multilayer points to different polar and azimuthal directions. This spin reorientation indicates that strain and interfaces play a significant role in tuning the magnetic spin order. Furthermore, large difference in the magnetic field dependence of the magnetoelectric coefficient observed between the BiFeO{sub 3} single layer and multilayer can be associated with this magnetic spin reorientation.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Thermal stability and photoconductive properties of photosensors with an alternating multilayer structure of amorphous Se and As{sub x}Se{sub 1−x}

In this study, we fabricated a-Se based photosensors with an alternating multilayer structure of a-Se and As{sub x}Se{sub 1−x} by rotational thermal evaporation deposition. During the deposition of the amorphous As{sub x}Se{sub 1−x} layers, As diffuses into the underlying a-Se component layers, thereby improving the thermal stability of the multilayer photosensor and thus increasing the breakdown electric field. Although the As doping introduces carrier traps in the a-Se layers, the multilayer photosensors demonstrate an effective quantum efficiency comparable to the single-layered a-Se sensor under the blue light illumination but are with a lower dark current density by two orders of magnitude. In addition to the top As{sub x}Se{sub 1−x} layer being functioning as an electron blocking layer, carrier traps present in the multilayer structure may decrease the drift mobility of charge carriers and disturb electric field distribution in the photosensors, thereby suppressing the dark current.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Modeling and sensitivity analysis of mass transfer in active multilayer polymeric film for food applications

The barrier performance of multilayer polymeric films for food applications has been significantly improved by incorporating oxygen scavenging materials. The scavenging activity depends on parameters such as diffusion coefficient, solubility, concentration of scavenger loaded and the number of available reactive sites. These parameters influence the barrier performance of the film in different ways. Virtualization of the process is useful to characterize, design and optimize the barrier performance based on physical configuration of the films. Also, the knowledge of values of parameters is important to predict the performances. Inverse modeling and sensitivity analysis are sole way to find reasonable values of poorly defined, unmeasured parameters and to analyze the most influencing parameters. Thus, the objective of this work was to develop a model to predict barrier properties of multilayer film incorporated with reactive layers and to analyze and characterize their performances. Polymeric film based on three layers of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), with a core reactive layer, at different thickness configurations was considered in the model. A one dimensional diffusion equation with reaction was solved numerically to predict the concentration of oxygen diffused into the polymer taking into account the reactive ability of the core layer. The model was solved using commercial software for different film layer configurations and sensitivity analysis based on inverse modeling was carried out to understand the effect of physical parameters. The results have shown that the use of sensitivity analysis can provide physical understanding of the parameters which highly affect the gas permeation into the film. Solubility and the number of available reactive sites were the factors mainly influencing the barrier performance of three layered polymeric film. Multilayer films slightly modified the steady transport properties in comparison to net PET, giving a small reduction in the permeability and oxygen transfer rate values. Scavenging capacity of the multilayer film increased linearly with the increase of the reactive layer thickness and the oxygen absorption reaction at short times decreased proportionally with the thickness of the external PET layer.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Fabrication of multilayer nanowires

Multilayer nanowires were fabricated by potentiostate ectrodeposition template synthesis method into the pores of polycarbonate membrane. In present work layer by layer deposition of two different metals Ni and Cu in polycarbonate membrane having pore size of 600 nm were carried out. It is found that the growth of nanowires is not constant, it varies with deposition time. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is used to study the morphology of fabricated multilayer nanowires. An energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) results confirm the composition of multilayer nanowires. The result shows that multilayer nanowires formed is dense.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Characterization of ion beam sputtered deposited W/Si multilayers by grazing incidence x-ray diffraction and x-ray reflectivity technique

W/Si multilayers four samples have been deposited on silicon substrate using ion beam sputtering system. Thickness of tungsten (W) varies from around 10 Å to 40 Å while the silicon (Si) thickness remains constant at around 30 Å in multilayers [W-Si]{sub x4}. The samples have been characterized by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) and X-ray reflectivity technique (XRR). GIXRD study shows the crystalline behaviour of W/Si multilayer by varying W thickness and it is found that above 20 Å the W film transform from amorphous to crystalline phase and X-ray reflectivity data shows that the roughnesses of W increases on increasing the W thicknesses in W/Si multilayers.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Electrically controlled band gap and topological phase transition in two-dimensional multilayer germanane

Electrically controlled band gap and topological electronic states are important for the next-generation topological quantum devices. In this letter, we study the electric field control of band gap and topological phase transitions in multilayer germanane. We find that although the monolayer and multilayer germananes are normal insulators, a vertical electric field can significantly reduce the band gap of multilayer germananes owing to the giant Stark effect. The decrease of band gap eventually leads to band inversion, transforming them into topological insulators with nontrivial Z{sub 2} invariant. The electrically controlled topological phase transition in multilayer germananes provides a potential route to manipulate topologically protected edge states and design topological quantum devices. This strategy should be generally applicable to a broad range of materials, including other two-dimensional materials and ultrathin films with controlled growth.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗