Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Sn”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Study of Tritium Diffusivity in Pure and Sn-Defective Zr: A First-Principles Density Functional Theory Approach

Zirconium alloys (e.g., zircaloy-4) are used as tritium ( 3 H) getter materials in tritium-producing burnable absorber rods (TPBARs) owing to their ability to capture 3 H and chemically convert them into metal hydrides. Understanding of 3 H diffusion mechanisms in zircaloy is crucial for the optimal design of material performance in nuclear technology. Here, for this work, we perform first-principles density functional theory calculations to study the 3 H diffusion mechanism in pure and impure Zr with a low concentration of tin (Sn) atoms to determine the impact of the presence of Sn on the movement of 3 H atoms through the material. First, we calculated the diffusion barriers for 3 H in pure Zr by taking different migration pathways. We then introduced a low concentration of Sn impurity and systematically explored the impurity effect on the diffusion barriers for 3 H. Using our calculated diffusion energy barriers, we further obtained the diffusion coefficients and analyzed the results by comparing them with the experimental and previously calculated values. A diffusion coefficient of the order of 10 –8 m 2 /s is predicted. We also found that the presence of a Sn impurity could reduce the diffusivity up to 4 orders of magnitude. In conclusion, our results could serve as guidelines for further experimental investigations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Evidence for a Solid-Electrolyte Inductive Effect in the Superionic Conductor Li 10 Ge 1– x Sn x P 2 S 12

Strategies to enhance ionic conductivities in solid electrolytes typically focus on the effects of modifying their crystal structures or of tuning mobile-ion stoichiometries. A less-explored approach is to modulate the chemical bonding interactions within a material to promote fast lithium-ion diffusion. Recently, the idea of a solid-electrolyte inductive effect has been proposed, whereby changes in bonding within the solid-electrolyte host framework modify the potential energy landscape for the mobile ions, resulting in an enhanced ionic conductivity. Direct evidence for a solid-electrolyte inductive effect, however, is lacking—in part because of the challenge of quantifying changes in local bonding interactions within a solid-electrolyte host framework. Here, we consider the evidence for a solid-electrolyte inductive effect in the archetypal superionic lithium-ion conductor Li 10 Ge 1–x Sn x P 2 S 12 . Substituting Ge for Sn weakens the {Ge,Sn}–S bonding interactions and increases the charge density associated with the S 2– ions. This charge redistribution modifies the Li + substructure causing Li + ions to bind more strongly to the host framework S 2– anions, which in turn modulates the Li + ion potential energy surface, increasing local barriers for Li + ion diffusion. Each of these effects is consistent with the predictions of the solid-electrolyte inductive effect model. Density functional theory calculations predict that this inductive effect occurs even in the absence of changes to the host framework geometry due to Ge → Sn substitution. These results provide direct evidence in support of a measurable solid–electrolyte inductive effect and demonstrate its application as a practical strategy for tuning ionic conductivities in superionic lithium-ion conductors.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Cooperative Atomically Dispersed Fe–N 4 and Sn–N x Moieties for Durable and More Active Oxygen Electroreduction in Fuel Cells

One grand challenge for deploying porous carbons with embedded metal–nitrogen–carbon (M–N–C) moieties as platinum group metal (PGM)-free electrocatalysts in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells is their fast degradation and inferior activity. Here, we report the modulation of the local environment at Fe–N 4 sites via the application of atomic Sn–N x sites for simultaneously improved durability and activity. We discovered that Sn–N x sites not only promote the formation of the more stable D2 FeN 4 C 10 sites but also invoke a unique D3 SnN x –Fe II N 4 site that is characterized by having atomically dispersed bridged Sn–N x and Fe–N 4 . This new D3 site exhibits significantly improved stability against demetalation and several times higher turnover frequency for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) due to the shift of the reaction pathway from a single-site associative mechanism to a dual-site dissociative mechanism with the adjacent Sn site facilitating a lower overpotential cleavage of the O–O bond. This mechanism bypasses the formation of the otherwise inevitable intermediate that is responsible for demetalation, where two hydroxyl intermediates bind to one Fe site. Lastly, a mesoporous Fe/Sn-PNC catalyst exhibits a positively shifted ORR half-wave potential and more than 50% lower peroxide formation. This, in combination with the stable D3 site and enriched D2 Fe sites, significantly enhanced the catalyst’s durability as demonstrated in membrane electrode assemblies using complementary accelerated durability testing protocols.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Ternary aromatic and anti-aromatic clusters derived from the hypho species [Sn 2 Sb 5 ] 3-

Heterometallic clusters have attracted broad interests in the synthetic chemistry due to their various coordination modes and potential applications in heterogeneous catalysis. Here we report the synthesis, experimental, and theoretical characterizations of four ternary clusters ([M 2 (CO) 6 Sn 2 Sb 5 ] 3- (M = Cr, Mo), and [(MSn 2 Sb 5 ) 2 ] 4- , (M = Cu, Ag)) in the process of capturing the hypho - [Sn 2 Sb 5 ] 3- in ethylenediamine (en) solution. We show that the coordination of the binary anion to transition-metal ions or fragments provides additional stabilization due to the formation of locally σ-aromatic units, producing a spherical aromatic shielding region in the cages. While in the case of [Mo 2 (CO) 6 Sn 2 Sb 5 ] 3- stabilization arises from locally σ-aromatic three-centre and five-centre two-electron bonds, aromatic islands in [(AgSn 2 Sb 5 ) 2 ] 4- and [(CuSn 2 Sb 5 ) 2 ] 4- render them globally antiaromatic. This work describes the coordination chemistry of the versatile building block [Sn 2 Sb 5 ] 3- , thus providing conceptual advances in the field of metal-metal bonding in clusters.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Nanoscale visualization and spectral fingerprints of the charge order in ScV 6 Sn 6 distinct from other kagome metals

Charge density waves (CDWs) in kagome metals have been tied to many exotic phenomena. Here, using spectroscopic-imaging scanning tunneling microscopy and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we study the charge order in kagome metal ScV 6 Sn 6 . The similarity of electronic band structures of ScV 6 Sn 6 and TbV 6 Sn6 (where charge ordering is absent) suggests that charge ordering in ScV 6 Sn 6 is unlikely to be primarily driven by Fermi surface nesting of the Van Hove singularities. In contrast to the CDW state of cousin kagome metals, we find no evidence supporting rotation symmetry breaking. Differential conductance dI/dV spectra show a partial gap Δ 1 CO ≈ 20 meV at the Fermi level. Interestingly, dI/dV maps reveal that charge modulations exhibit an abrupt phase shift as a function of energy at energy much higher than Δ 1 CO , which we attribute to another spectral gap. Our experiments reveal a distinctive nature of the charge order in ScV 6 Sn 6 with fundamental differences compared to other kagome metals.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Carrier control in Sn–Pb perovskites via 2D cation engineering for all-perovskite tandem solar cells with improved efficiency and stability

All-perovskite tandem solar cells are promising for achieving photovoltaics with power conversion efficiencies above the detailed balance limit of single-junction cells, while retaining the low cost, light weight and other advantages associated with metal halide perovskite photovoltaics. However, the efficiency and stability of all-perovskite tandem cells are limited by the Sn-Pb-based narrow-bandgap perovskite cells. Here we show that the formation of quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) structure (PEA) 2 GAPb 2 I 7 from additives based on mixed bulky organic cations phenethylammonium (PEA+) and guanidinium (GA+) provides critical defect control to substantially improve the structural and optoelectronic properties of the narrow-bandgap (1.25 eV) Sn-Pb perovskite thin films. Additionally, this 2D additive engineering results in Sn-Pb-based absorbers with low dark carrier density (~1.3 x 10 14 cm -3 ), long bulk carrier lifetime (~9.2 us) and low surface recombination velocity (~1.4 cm s -1 ), leading to 22.1%-efficient single-junction Sn-Pb perovskite cells and 25.5%-efficient all-perovskite two-terminal tandems with high photovoltage and long operational stability.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

The influence of phonon softening on the superconducting critical temperature of Sn nanostructures

Abstract The increase in superconducting transition temperature (T C ) of Sn nanostructures in comparison to bulk, was studied. Changes in the phonon density of states (PDOS) of the weakly coupled superconductor Sn were analyzed and correlated with the increase in T C measured by magnetometry. The PDOS of all nanostructured samples shows a slightly increased number of low-energy phonon modes and a strong decrease in the number of high-energy phonon modes in comparison to the bulk Sn PDOS. The phonon densities of states, which were determined previously using nuclear resonant inelastic X-ray scattering, were used to calculate the superconducting transition temperature using the Allen-Dynes-McMillan (ADMM) formalism. Both the calculated as well as the experimentally determined values of T C show an increase compared to the bulk superconducting transition temperature. The good agreement between these values indicates that phonon softening has a major influence on the superconducting transition temperature of Sn nanostructures. The influence of electron confinement effects appears to be minor in these systems.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

Nb 3 Sn multicell cavity coating system at Jefferson Lab

Superconducting radio frequency niobium cavities are the building blocks of modern accelerators for scientific applications. Lower surface resistance, higher fields, and high operating temperatures advance the reach of the future accelerators for scientific discovery as well as potentially enabling cost-effective industrial solutions. We describe the design and performance of an Nb 3 Sn coating system that converts the inner surface of niobium cavities to an Nb 3 Sn film. The niobium surface, heated by radiation from the niobium retort, is exposed to Sn and SnCl 2 vapor during the heat cycle, which results in about 2 μm Nb 3 Sn film on the niobium surface. Film composition and structure as well as radio frequency properties with 1-cell R&D cavities and 5-cell practical accelerator cavities are presented.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Understanding the evolution of liquid and solid microjets from grooved Sn and Cu samples using radiography

Experiments were performed on grooved Sn and Cu samples to study the temporal evolution of microjets. Jets were generated by the impact of gun-launched flyer plates against the back of grooved targets made from either Cu or Sn (groove depth of ~250 μm). The Hugoniot states in the various Sn targets encompassed conditions where solid phases are maintained throughout (7 and 16 GPa) and also conditions where melting occurs upon the release of compression (25 and 34 GPa); the transition occurs near a Hugoniot pressure of 23 GPa. Cu targets at 27 and 56 GPa provide comparisons in which the jets move at similar speeds but remain solid. In all cases, the spatial distribution of mass within the microjets was measured using high-speed synchrotron radiography. The result is a time history of the jet thickness profile from which quantities like total jet mass and jet velocity can be derived. In both the solid and liquid states, we generally observe that an increase in the shock strength leads to an increase in jet mass. However, this trend breaks down for Hugoniot states near the transition from continuously solid to melted-on-release. This is evidenced by the observation that there was no difference in the rate of mass flow in Sn jets at 16 and 25 GPa, while similar pressure jumps on either side of this range caused substantial changes in the jet mass. This contrasts with the behavior of smaller polishing defects that were present on the same samples (~1 μm deep). From these, no ejecta mass was detected below the melt boundary, but obvious microjets were generated once melting occurred. This indicates that crossing the bulk melt-on-release threshold can alternately promote or inhibit the flow of mass into microjets based on the amplitude of the initial perturbation.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2021

Effects of Sn substitution in SrRuO 3 epitaxial films

Epitaxial SrRu 1–x Sn x O 3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) thin films were deposited on SrTiO 3 (001) substrates by sequential two-target synthesis using pulsed laser deposition to achieve stable phases in this family of quaternary perovskites. The SrRu 1–x Sn x O 3 films exhibit a good crystalline quality, a sharp interface between film and substrate, and an atomically smooth surface. A gradual expansion of the c-axis lattice parameter was observed with Sn doping serving as a means to tune chemical pressure and magnetism. With an increase in Sn doping, the resistivity of the film increased, and the ferromagnetism decreased. These results illustrate use of lattice engineering, e.g., tuning of c-axis lattice parameter with chemical doping, to control electronic and magnetic properties of epitaxial thin films for applications in oxide electronics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Anomalous Hall effect in nanoscale structures of the antiferromagnetic Weyl semimetal Mn 3 Sn at room temperature

The magnetic Weyl semimetallic state in the chiral antiferromagnet Mn 3 Sn has attracted interest for its potential in memory technology. Despite vanishingly small magnetization, the material exhibits large transverse responses that can be electrically manipulated, similar to ferromagnets. Through deposition on heated Si/SiO 2 substrates, we have fabricated polycrystalline Mn 3 Sn films that have coarse surfaces, the thinner of which have a discontinuous structure comprised of grains with diameters of the order of 100 nm. Here we confirm that these grains retain the anomalous Hall effect arising in the time reversal symmetry broken chiral antiferromagnetic phase of Mn 3 Sn at room temperature by serially connecting the grains with an additional conducting layer. These results pave the path for the potential applications of nanoscale Mn 3 Sn systems, which could be useful in the development of energy efficient memory devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Development and Understanding of Nb 3 Sn films for radiofrequency applications through a sample-host 9-cell cavity

Nb 3 Sn is a promising advanced material under development for superconducting radiofrequency cavities. Past efforts have been focused primarily on small development-scale cavities, but large, often multi-celled cavities, are needed for particle accelerator applications. In this work, we report on successful Nb 3 Sn coatings on Nb in a 1 m-long 9-cell Nb sample-host cavity at Fermilab. The geometry of the first coating with only one Sn source made it possible to study the influence of Sn flux on the microstructure. Based on these results, we postulate a connection between recently observed anomalously large thin grains and uncovered niobium spots observed in the past by other authors (Trenikhina et al 2018 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 32 015004). A phenomenological model to explain how these anomalously large grains could form is proposed. Overall, this model is invoked to provide possible explanations for literature results from several groups and to guide key process parameters to achieve uniform vapor-diffusion coatings, when applied to complex structures as the multi-cell cavity under study.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Significant reduction in the low-field magnetization of Nb 3 Sn superconducting strands using the internal oxidation APC approach

Nb 3 Sn superconductors are promising for building accelerator magnets for future energy-frontier circular colliders. A critical factor for this application is the low-field persistent-current magnetization because it leads to several critical issues: e.g. low-field instability (including flux jumps), hysteresis loss, and field errors in magnet bores. Suppression of low-field magnetization requires reduction of low-field critical current density (J c ) or effective subelement size (d eff ). However, reduction of deff of state-of-the-art Nb 3 Sn conductors—the restacked-rod-process (RRP ® ) type—below 40–50 μm without a pronounced decrease in high-field J c is difficult. On the other hand, the internal oxidation method which forms artificial pinning centers (APC) in Nb 3 Sn offers an alternative approach to reducing the low-field magnetization. Compared with a conventional Nb 3 Sn conductor whose flux pinning force versus field (F p –B) curve peaks at ~20% of its irreversibility field (B irr ), the F p –B curve peaks of APC conductors shift to higher fields due to the point pinning effect, leading to flattening of the J c –B curves. The goal of this paper is to quantitatively study how much the APC approach can reduce the low-field magnetization. Here we measured the J c –B curves of an RRP ® conductor and two APC conductors (reacted at 700 °C) from zero field to B irr using a high-field vibrating sample magnetometer. Here the results showed that the APC conductors have higher non-Cu J c at high fields (e.g. 32%–41% higher at 16 T) and simultaneously lower non-Cu Jc at low fields (e.g. 28%–34% lower at 1 T) compared with the RRP ® . This effect is due to a competition between their Nb3Sn layer fraction ratios and layer F p ratios. Suppose they reach the same 16 T non-Cu J c , then the 1 T non-Cu J c and magnetization of the APC conductors are only half or even less compared with the RRP ® conductor.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Blast from the past: constraining progenitor models of SN 1972E

ABSTRACT We present a novel technique to study Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) by constraining surviving companions of historical extragalactic SN by combining archival photographic plates and Hubble Space Telescope(HST) imaging. We demonstrate this technique for Supernova 1972E, the nearest known SN Ia in 125 yr. Some models of SNe Ia describe a white dwarf with a non-degenerate companion that donates enough mass to trigger thermonuclear detonation. Hydrodynamic simulations and stellar evolution models show that these donor stars will survive the explosion, and show increased luminosity for at least a 1000 yr. Thus, late-time observations of the exact location of a supernova can constrain the presence of a surviving donor star and progenitor models. We find the explosion site of SN 1972E by analysing 17 digitized photographic plates taken with the European Southern Observatory 1-m Schmidt and 1 plate taken with the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory 1.5-m telescope. Using the Gaia eDR3 catalogue to determine Supernova 1972E’s location yields: α = 13h39m52${_{.}^{\rm s}}$708 ± 0${_{.}^{\rm s}}$004 and δ = −31°40’9${_{.}^{\prime\prime}}$00 ± 0${_{.}^{\prime\prime}}$04 (ICRS). In 2005, HST/ACS imaged the host galaxy of SN 1972E with the F435W, F555W, and F814W filters covering the explosion site. The nearest detected source is offset by 3.0 times our positional precision, and is inconsistent with the colours expected of a surviving donor star. Thus, the limiting magnitude of the HST observation (F555W > 28 mag) rules out all He star companion models and the most luminous main-sequence companion model currently in the literature. The remaining main-sequence companion models could be tested with a 10 orbit HST exposure in the F606W filter.

Do, Aaron↗
DOE OSTI2022

The whisper of a whimper of a bang: 2400 d of the Type Ia SN 2011fe reveals the decay of 55Fe

ABSTRACT We analyse new multifilter Hubble Space Telescope (HST) photometry of the normal Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) 2011fe out to ≈2400 d after maximum light, the latest observations to date of a SN Ia. We model the pseudo-bolometric light curve with a simple radioactive decay model and find energy input from both 57Co and 55Fe are needed to power the late-time luminosity. This is the first detection of 55Fe in a SN Ia. We consider potential sources of contamination such as a surviving companion star or delaying the deposition time-scale for 56Co positrons but these scenarios are ultimately disfavored. The relative isotopic abundances place direct constraints on the burning conditions experienced by the white dwarf (WD). Additionally, we place a conservative upper limit of <10−3 M⊙ on the synthesized mass of 44Ti. Only two classes of explosion models are currently consistent with all observations of SN 2011fe: (1) the delayed detonation of a low-ρc, near-MCh (1.2–1.3 M⊙) WD, or (2) a sub-MCh (1.0–1.1 M⊙) WD experiencing a thin-shell double detonation.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
DOE OSTI2025

Comparing the DES-SN5YR and Pantheon+ SN cosmology analyses: investigation based on ‘evolving dark energy or supernovae systematics’?

Recent cosmological analyses measuring distances of type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) and baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) have all given similar hints at time-evolving dark energy. To examine whether underestimated SN Ia systematics might be driving these results, Efstathiou (2025) compared overlapping SN events between Pantheon+ and DES-SN5YR (20 per cent SNe are in common), and reported evidence for an $\sim$0.04 mag offset between the low- and high-redshift distance measurements of this subsample of events. If this offset is arbitrarily subtracted from the entire DES-SN5YR sample, the preference for evolving dark energy is reduced. In this paper, we show that this offset is mostly due to different corrections for Malmquist bias between the two samples; therefore, an object-to-object comparison can be misleading. Malmquist bias corrections differ between the two analyses for several reasons. First, DES-SN5YR used an improved model of SN Ia luminosity scatter compared to Pantheon+ but the associated scatter-model uncertainties are included in the error budget. Secondly, improvements in host mass estimates in DES-SN5YR also affected SN standardized magnitudes and their bias corrections. Thirdly, and most importantly, the selection functions of the two compilations are significantly different, hence the inferred Malmquist bias corrections. Even if the original scatter model and host properties from Pantheon+ are used instead, the evidence for evolving dark energy from CMB, DESI BAO Year 1 and DES-SN5YR is only reduced from 3.9$\sigma$ to 3.3$\sigma$, consistent with the error budget. Finally, in this investigation, we identify an underestimated systematic uncertainty related to host galaxy property uncertainties, which could increase the final DES-SN5YR error budget by 3 per cent. In conclusion, we confirm the validity of the published DES-SN5YR results.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Discovery of 98 Sn Produced by the Projectile Fragmentation of a 345-MeV/Nucleon 124 Xe Beam

We present the discovery of a new isotope of $^{98}$Sn beyond the double-magic N = Z = 50 nucleus $^{100}$Sn. $^{98}$Sn was identified among the projectile-fragmentation products of a $^{124}$Xe beam at 345 MeV/nucleon at the RI Beam Factory, RIKEN, Japan. Additionally, we have confirmed the production of $^{96}$In and $^{94}$Cd, previously reported as new isotopes at RIKEN. These highly proton-rich nuclei were separated and identified using the large-acceptance two-stage separator BigRIPS. Furthermore, we have determined the cross sections of $^{98}$Sn and its neighboring nuclei. These experimental values were compared to the semi-empirical cross-section formula EPAX3.1a, resulting in a reduction of the predicted cross sections by roughly a factor of 5.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Enhancing superconductivity of Y 5 Rh 6 Sn 18 by atomic disorder

Here, we investigate the effect of enhancement of superconducting transition temperature $T_c$ by nonmagnetic atom disorder in the filled skutterudite-related tetragonal Y 5 Rh 6 Sn 18 compound doped with Ca. We documented experimentally that Y 5 Rh 6 Sn 18 and its Ca-doped alloys are electronically inhomogeneous at the nanoscale, when Ca content is smaller than ~1.5 in the Y 5– x Ca x Rh 6 Sn 18 system, while for $\textit{x}$ ≥ 1.5 much stronger chemical phase inhomogeneity is observed with an about 20% volume fraction of the second 3:4:13 cubic phase, which we interpret as a fluctuation of stoichiometry within the bulk sample. Then the enhancement of $T_c$ vs $\textit{x}$ could be modeled by a mechanism proposed in recent theoretical reports for increasing the mean-field transition temperature $T_c$ in the presence of nonmagnetic disorder. The increase in disorder with doping increases the sample inhomogeneity and causes a systematic increase in $T_c$, while for two-phase $\textit{x}$ ≥ 1.5 samples the critical temperature $T^{\star}_c ≈ 2 × T_c$ rapidly increases. Based on band structure calculations performed under pressure, we demonstrate how the change in density of states would affect $T_c$ of Y 5 Rh 6 Sn 18 . We obtained the Grüneisen parameter $γ_G$ larger for the inhomogeneous phase with respect to $γ_G$ of the bulk $T_c$ phase and attribute the enhancement of $T_c$ to larger stiffening of the high-temperature $T^{\star}_c$ phase.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗