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At least 235 records · Page 13

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DOE OSTI2021

Auxetic Two‐Dimensional Nanostructures from DNA**

Abstract Architectured materials exhibit negative Poisson's ratios and enhanced mechanical properties compared with regular materials. Their auxetic behaviors emerge from periodic cellular structures regardless of the materials used. The majority of such metamaterials are constructed by top‐down approaches and macroscopic with unit cells of microns or larger. There are also molecular auxetics including natural crystals which are not designable. There is a gap from few nanometers to microns, which may be filled by biomolecular self‐assembly. Herein, we demonstrate two‐dimensional auxetic nanostructures using DNA origami. Structural reconfigurations are performed by two‐step DNA reactions and complemented by mechanical deformation studies using molecular dynamics simulations. We find that the auxetic behaviors are mostly defined by geometrical designs, yet the properties of the materials also play an important role. From elasticity theory, we introduce design principles for auxetic DNA metamaterials.

Li, Ruixin↗

DOE OSTI2024

TiN‐Au/HfO 2 ‐Au Multilayer Thin Films with Tunable Hyperbolic Optical Response

Abstract Hyperbolic metamaterials (HMM) possess significant anisotropic physical properties and tunability and thus find many applications in integrated photonic devices. HMMs consisting of metal and dielectric phases in either multilayer or vertically aligned nanocomposites (VAN) form are demonstrated with different hyperbolic properties. Herein, self‐assembled HfO 2 ‐Au/TiN‐Au multilayer thin films, combining both the multilayer and VAN designs, are demonstrated. Specifically, Au nanopillars embedded in HfO 2 and TiN layers forming the alternative layers of HfO 2 ‐Au VAN and TiN‐Au VAN. The HfO 2 and TiN layer thickness is carefully controlled by varying laser pulses during pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Interestingly, tunable anisotropic physical properties can be achieved by adjusting the bi‐layer thickness and the number of the bi‐layers. Type II optical hyperbolic dispersion can be obtained from high layer thickness structure (e.g., 20 nm), while it can be transformed into Type I optical hyperbolic dispersion by reducing the thickness to a proper value (e.g., 4 nm). This new nanoscale hybrid metamaterial structure with the three‐phase VAN design shows great potential for tailorable optical components in future integrated devices.

Chemistry↗

DOE OSTI2025

Influence of build direction on the fracture mechanism of 3D printed octet lattices

Here, we investigate the effects of 3D printing build directions on the fracture properties of octet lattice metamaterials made of polylactic acid (PLA) and how these effects vary with the relative density of the lattices. Single-edge notch bend samples are 3D printed in two orthogonal build directions at various relative densities. Our results show that the work of fracture for octet lattices with build directions parallel to the crack plane is significantly higher than those with build directions perpendicular to the crack plane. We also observed that the ratio of specific work of fracture between the two build directions remains nearly constant across different relative densities. In contrast, the ratio of peak load between the two build directions decreases as relative density increases. Furthermore, the build direction dictates the fracture mechanism. While the perpendicular build direction predominantly results in a brittle (mode I) fracture, the parallel build direction leads to a complex, delamination-dominated (mode II type) fracture. This phenomenon is largely governed by the weak interfaces formed between the printed layers and their interaction with the lattice geometry. These results reveal that the build direction governs the fracture mechanism and work of fracture of these lattice metamaterials and is therefore an important design consideration.

3D printed PLA↗

DOE OSTI2024

Dynamic Nanocrystal Superlattices with Thermally Triggerable Lubricating Ligands

The size-dependent and collective physical properties of nanocrystals (NCs) and their self-assembled superlattices (SLs) enable the study of mesoscale phenomena and the design of metamaterials for a broad range of applications. However, the limited mobility of NC building blocks in dried NCSLs often hampers the potential for employing postdeposition methods to produce high-quality NCSLs. In this study, we present tailored promesogenic ligands that exhibit a lubricating property akin to thermotropic liquid crystals. The lubricating ability of ligands is thermally triggerable, allowing the dry solid NC aggregates deposited on the substrates with poor ordering to be transformed into NCSLs with high crystallinity and preferred orientations. The interplay between the dynamic behavior of NCSLs and the molecular structure of the ligands is elucidated through a comprehensive analysis of their lubricating efficacy using both experimental and simulation approaches. Coarse-grained molecular dynamic modeling suggests that a shielding layer from mesogens prevents the interdigitation of ligand tails, facilitating the sliding between outer shells and consequently enhancing the mobility of NC building blocks. Further, the dynamic organization of NCSLs can also be triggered with high spatial resolution by laser illumination. The principles, kinetics, and utility of lubricating ligands could be generalized to unlock stimuli-responsive metamaterials from NCSLs and contribute to the fabrication of NCSLs.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2020

Twisted bulk-boundary correspondence of fragile topology

A topological insulator reveals its nontrivial bulk through the presence of gapless edge states: This is called the bulk-boundary correspondence. However, the recent discovery of “fragile” topological states with no gapless edges casts doubt on this concept. We propose a generalization of the bulk-boundary correspondence: a transformation under which the gap between the fragile phase and other bands must close. We derive specific twisted boundary conditions (TBCs) that can detect all the two-dimensional eigenvalue fragile phases. We develop the concept of real-space invariants, local good quantum numbers in real space, which fully characterize these phases and determine the number of gap closings under the TBCs. Realizations of the TBCs in metamaterials are proposed, thereby providing a route to their experimental verification.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

DOE OSTI2020

Anomalous absorption of electromagnetic waves by 2D transition metal carbonitride Ti 3 CNT x (MXene)

Lightweight, ultrathin, and flexible electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials are needed to protect electronic circuits and portable telecommunication devices and to eliminate cross-talk between devices and device components. Here, we show that a two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbonitride, Ti 3 CNT x MXene, with a moderate electrical conductivity, provides a higher shielding effectiveness compared with more conductive Ti 3 C 2 T x or metal foils of the same thickness. This exceptional shielding performance of Ti 3 CNT x was achieved by thermal annealing and is attributed to an anomalously high absorption of electromagnetic waves in its layered, metamaterial-like structure. These results provide guidance for designing advanced EMI shielding materials but also highlight the need for exploring fundamental mechanisms behind interaction of electromagnetic waves with 2D materials.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

DOE OSTI2020

Plasmon-phonon coupling between mid-infrared chiral metasurfaces and molecular vibrations

Plasmon-phonon coupling between metamaterials and molecular vibrations provides a new path for studying mid-infrared light-matter interactions and molecular detection. So far, the coupling between the plasmonic resonances of metamaterials and the phonon vibrational modes of molecules has been realized under linearly polarized light. Here, mid-infrared chiral plasmonic metasurfaces with high circular dichroism (CD) in absorption over 0.65 in the frequency range of 50 to 60 THz are demonstrated to strongly interact with the phonon vibrational resonance of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) molecules at 52 THz, under both left-handed and right-handed circularly polarized (LCP and RCP) light. The mode splitting features in the absorption spectra of the coupled metasurface-PMMA systems under both circular polarizations are studied in PMMA layers with different thicknesses. The relation between the mode splitting gap and the PMMA thickness is also revealed. The demonstrated results can be applied in areas of chiral molecular sensing, thermal emission, and thermal energy harvesting.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2020

Plasmonic gold-cellulose nanofiber aerogels

Assembly of plasmonic nanomaterials into a low refractive index medium, such as an aerogel, holds a great promise for optical metamaterials, optical sensors, and photothermal energy converters. However, conventional plasmonic aerogels are opaque and optically isotropic composites, impeding them from being used as low-loss or polarization-dependent optical materials. Here we demonstrate a plasmonic-cellulose nanofiber composite aerogel that comprises of well-dispersed gold nanorods within a cellulose nanofiber network. The cellulose aerogel host is highly transparent owing to the small scattering cross-section of the nanofibers and forms a nematic liquid crystalline medium with strong optical birefringence. We find that the longitudinal surface plasmon resonance peak of gold nanorods shows a dramatic shift when probed for the cellulose aerogel compared with the wet gels. Simulations reveal the shift of surface plasmon resonance peak with gel drying can be attributed to the change of the effective refractive index of the gels. This composite material may provide a platform for three- dimensional plasmonic devices ranging from optical sensors to metamaterials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2021

Ultra-high extinction ratio polarization beam splitter with extreme skin-depth waveguide

In this Letter, we present a high extinction ratio and compact on-chip polarization beam splitter (PBS), based on an extreme skin-depth (eskid) waveguide. Subwavelength-scale gratings form an effectively anisotropic metamaterial cladding and introduce a large birefringence. The anisotropic dielectric perturbation of the metamaterial cladding suppresses the TE polarization extinction via exceptional coupling, while the large birefringence efficiently cross-couples the TM mode, thus reducing the coupling length. We demonstrated the eskid-PBS on a silicon-on-insulator platform and achieved an ultra-high extinction ratio PBS ( ≈ <#comment/> 60 d B for TE and ≈ <#comment/> 48 d B for TM) with a compact coupling length ( ≈ <#comment/> 14.5 µ <#comment/> m ). The insertion loss is also negligible ( < <#comment/> 0.6 d B ). The bandwidth is > <#comment/> 80 (30) nm for the TE (TM) extinction ratio > <#comment/> 20 d B . Our ultra-high extinction ratio PBS is crucial in implementing efficient polarization diversity circuits, especially where a high degree of polarization distinguishability is necessary, such as photonic quantum information processing.

Ahmed, Syed Z.↗

DOE OSTI2020

Efficiency Enhancing Anti-Frost Coatings for Heat Exchangers

As part of the Cyclotron Road program, the participant worked to develop geometric inorganic metamaterial coatings with functional surface energies that approached theoretical minimum. Most coating technologies chemically modify surfaces by applying a fluoropolymer to cause water to bead and roll off the surface, but the metamaterial coatings studied under this project were designed to modify local surface tension of a droplet, such that it pulls down on it at the bottom like a spring and as the droplet grows, the magnitude of the surface tension force increases to overwhelm droplet adhesion forces, causing the droplet to be repelled. These attributes make this technology ideally suited for heat transfer applications. This project’s coating experiments on evaporator coils inside an air conditioning unit demonstrated significant increases in energy efficiency.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2022

Neutron Interferometric methods and quantum sensing

Advances in material science and engineering make it possible to access artificial materials or ‘metamaterial’ properties and structures on the length scale comparable to the wavelength of ultracold neutrons ~ 100 nm. Strong neutron scattering effects such as Anderson localization, resonance scattering may be studied in the laboratory according to our recent theoretical studies. UCN interferometry and high-resolution spectroscopy (sub-pico-electronvolt resolution) in neutronic metamaterials are examples of new experimental possibilities that can probe quantum gravitational states of neutrons, and quantum sensing based on ultracold neutrons.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2023

Optical Processes behind Plasmonic Applications

Plasmonics is a revolutionary concept in nanophotonics that combines the properties of both photonics and electronics by confining light energy to a nanometer-scale oscillating field of free electrons, known as a surface plasmon. Generation, processing, routing, and amplification of optical signals at the nanoscale hold promise for optical communications, biophotonics, sensing, chemistry, and medical applications. Surface plasmons manifest themselves as confined oscillations, allowing for optical nanoantennas, ultra-compact optical detectors, state-of-the-art sensors, data storage, and energy harvesting designs. Surface plasmons facilitate both resonant characteristics of nanostructures and guiding and controlling light at the nanoscale. Plasmonics and metamaterials enable the advancement of many photonic designs with unparalleled capabilities, including subwavelength waveguides, optical nanoresonators, super- and hyper-lenses, and light concentrators. Alternative plasmonic materials have been developed to be incorporated in the nanostructures for low losses and controlled optical characteristics along with semiconductor-process compatibility. This review describes optical processes behind a range of plasmonic applications. It pays special attention to the topics of field enhancement and collective effects in nanostructures. The advances in these research topics are expected to transform the domain of nanoscale photonics, optical metamaterials, and their various applications.

2D materials↗

DOE OSTI2020

STRUCTURAL STABILITY OF MAGNETIC TUNNEL JUNCTION BASED MOLECULAR SPINTRONICS DEVICES (MTJMSD)

Harnessing the exotic properties of molecular level nanostructures to produce novel sensors, metamaterials, and futuristic computer devices can be technologically transformative. In addition, connecting the molecular nanostructures to ferromagnetic electrodes bring the unprecedented opportunity of making spin property based molecular devices. We have demonstrated that magnetic tunnel junction based molecular spintronics device (MTJMSD) approach to address numerous technological hurdles that have been inhibiting this field for decades. MTJMSD approach is based on producing a capacitor like a testbed where two metal electrodes are separated by an ultrathin insulator and subsequently bridging the molecule nanostructure across the insulator to transform a capacitor into a molecular device. Our prior work showed that MTJMSDs produced extremely intriguing phenomenon such as room temperature current suppression by six orders, spin photovoltaic effect, and evolution of new forms of magnetic metamaterials arising due to the interaction of the magnetic a molecule with two ferromagnetic thin films. However, making robust and reproducible electrical connections with exotic molecules with ferromagnetic electrodes is full of challenges and requires attention to MTJMSD structural stability. This paper focuses on MTJMSD stability by describing the overall fabrication protocol and the associated potential threat to reliability. MTJMSD is based on microfabrication methods such as (a) photolithography for patterning the ferromagnetic electrodes, (b) sputtering of metallic thin films and insulator, and (c) at the end electrochemical process for bridging the molecules between two ferromagnetic films separated by ~ 2nm insulating gap.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2020

Topological damping materials and methods thereof

The present invention features a metamaterial including a plurality of unit cells, in which each unit cell includes two interacting members to dissipate energy. Also provided herein are assemblies including such metamaterials and methods of manufacture.

Boyce, Brad↗

DOE OSTI2023

Distributed Embedded Energy Converter Technologies (DEEC-Tec)

Distributed Embedded Energy Converter Technologies (also known as DEEC-Tec) is based upon the amalgamation and combining of numerous, relatively small, distributed embedded energy converters (DEECs) that, in aggregate, can form a larger overall energy harvesting-converting structure. Such DEEC-Tec based structures can be employed to harvest and convert marine renewable energy - e.g., ocean waves - into more desirable forms such as electricity. In this way, the DEEC-Tec hierarchy can be viewed via three different technology levels: (1) individual distributed embedded energy converters, (2) DEEC-Tec metamaterials (pseudo-materials made from the interconnection of many DEECs), and (3) DEEC-Tec-based marine energy converters built from DEEC-Tec metamaterials.

BFSF↗

DOE OSTI2024

Seals for managing thermal distortion in a turbomachine and methods for building the same

A seal assembly for a component of a turbomachine and method of assembly thereof is provided. The seal assembly includes at least one mating face positioned adjacent to the component and a seal coupled to the mating face. The seal includes an outer shell defining an interior space; an inner matrix filling the interior space comprising a plurality of unit cells comprising one or more metamaterials, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of unit cells are identical, and wherein the plurality of unit cells are repeated throughout the inner matrix; and one or more support struts extending throughout the inner matrix. The method of building the seal assembly may include selecting a first material for the outer shell and selecting the one or more metamaterials for the inner matrix based on the first material.

Trivedi, Deepak↗

DOE OSTI2022

MIRaGE-Lite V.4.X

SAND2022-4254 O The goal of Multiscale Inverse Rapid Group-theory for Engineered-metamaterials (MIRaGE), funded under the DARPA EXTREME program, is to create a group theory-based multiscale simulation tool that enables the inverse design of metamaterials exhibiting exotic electromagnetic behaviors beyond the limits of conventional optics. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525.

El-Kady, Ihab↗

DOE OSTI2022

Viscoelastic Damping and Wave Cutoff of Titanium Alloy and Lattices

Here, the 3D-printed titanium alloy Ti5553 solid and octet truss lattice specimens are studied via resonant ultrasound spectroscopy, free decay of vibration and quasi-static methods to determine viscoelastic damping. Damping in solid alloy and a lattice is between 10 -4 and 10 -3 . Much of the damping at high sonic frequency is attributed to stress-induced heat flow between heterogeneities due to 3D printing. Pulsed wave ultrasound experiments disclose reverberation in the cell structure of the lattice. Continuous wave ultrasound experiments show that the transmissibility in the lattice rolls off beginning at about 50 kHz and becomes negligible above 110 kHz. By contrast, the polymer polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), though it is viscoelastic, readily transmits waves up to 1 MHz. The cutoff frequency in the lattice is associated with the structure size, not intrinsic damping in the alloy. The octet truss lattice, in addition to providing good mechanical performance, is also an ultrasonic metamaterial.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗