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At least 397 records · Page 22

Single Lens Dual-Aperture 3D Imaging System: Color Modeling

In an effort to miniaturize a 3D imaging system, we created two viewpoints in a single objective lens camera. This was accomplished by placing a pair of Complementary Multi-band Bandpass Filters (CMBFs) in the aperture area. Two key characteristics about the CMBFs are that the passbands are staggered so only one viewpoint is opened at a time when a light band matched to that passband is illuminated, and the passbands are positioned throughout the visible spectrum, so each viewpoint can render color by taking RGB spectral images. Each viewpoint takes a different spectral image from the other viewpoint hence yielding a different color image relative to the other. This color mismatch in the two viewpoints could lead to color rivalry, where the human vision system fails to resolve two different colors. The difference will be closer if the number of passbands in a CMBF increases. (However, the number of passbands is constrained by cost and fabrication technique.) In this paper, simulation predicting the color mismatch is reported.

bipartite filter↗

Radiation Tolerance Studies of Long Wavelength Infrared InAs/GaSb Detectors

In this work we investigated the effect of proton irradiation on the performance of long wavelength infrared (LWIR) InAs/GaSb photodiodes (λ(sub c) = 10.2µm) based on the complementary barrier infrared detector (CBIRD) design. We found that irradiation with 68MeV protons up to the total ionizing dose TID = 200 kRad results in only small (about 15%) decrease of the Quantum Efficiency and does not increase the operational bias of the photodiodes. However, the irradiation causes a significant increase of the dark current from j(sub d) = 5x10(exp -5) A/sq cm at V(sub b) = 0.1V and T = 80K to j(sub d) = 6x10(exp -3) A/sq cm at TID = 200 kRad. This change in the dark current mechanism can be attributed to the onset of surface leakage current, generated by the trap assisted tunneling processes in the proton displacement damage areas near the device sidewalls.

InAs/GaSb photodiodes↗

Environmental and economic analyses of chemical recycling via dissolution of waste polyethylene terephthalate

Globally, more than 1000 organizations and 175 nations are facing the plastic waste problem and have realized the need to transition from “linear-to-circular” economy of plastics. While the current mechanical recycling technologies for plastics are struggling to increase the U.S. plastic recycling rates beyond 9%, chemical recycling technologies become important complementary technologies to the predominant mechanical recycling that are needed to realize the circular economy in plastics supply chains. Dissolution is one such chemical recycling technology that can recycle waste plastic back into high-quality virgin grade plastic. However, the environmental and economic impacts of chemical recycling of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) via dissolution technology using a green solvent are unknown. Our study evaluated environmental metrics such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and cumulative energy demand, and economic metrics such as net present value (NPV), minimum selling price, payback period, return on investment, and discounted internal rate of return for three dissolution processes with polymer recovery via anti-solvent, evaporation, and cooling precipitation techniques. The dissolution process with evaporation technique was the most economically favorable, whereas that with cooling technique was the most environmentally favorable. The anti-solvent approach had low economic performance and the highest environmental impacts. The NPV for all of these technologies ranged from $2.67 MM to $10.93 MM for a capacity of 8,400 MT/year and was found to be the highest for dissolution with evaporation approach and the least for anti-solvent approach. The cradle-to-gate GHG emissions and energy demand for PET dissolution processes ranged from 1.33-3.77 kg CO2-eq/kg of chemically recycled (CR) PET and18.9-56.1 MJ/kg of CR-PET, respectively. These economic and environmental metrics will be helpful in evaluating the sustainability of circular PET supply chains in the U.S.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

The Toughness of Interlocking Metasurfaces

Interlocking metasurfaces (ILMs) are arrays of autogenous latching unit cells patterned across a surface. These create structural joints similar to bioinspired suture joints but patterned over a 2D surface rather than a 1D seam. This enables ILMs to be an alternative to conventional joining technologies such as bolts, welds, and adhesives. However, compared to conventional joining methods, relatively little is known of the engineering considerations for designing structural ILMs. Herein, the interfacial toughness of an archetypal ILM is examined for the first time. Under the conditions studied here, the ILM is substantially tougher than the material from which it is made, in this case, exhibiting up to a 50% increase in interfacial crack initiation energy over the solid base material, a photocured 3D‐printed polymer. Through experimental tests using in‐situ digital image correlation along with complementary computational analyses, the mechanism of toughening in the ILM structure and the origins of toughness anisotropy are revealed. The increase in toughness is associated with cross‐cell interactions, that is, load‐sharing across unit cells, which give rise to a finite process zone length with different effective material properties. In this way, ILM toughening is analogous to crack blunting in ductile materials or fiber bridging in composites; yet here, the ILM is composed of a single‐phase base material and so the architected toughening is geometric in nature and hence amenable to future topological optimization.

fracture↗

Half‐Fused Diketopyrrolopyrrole‐Based Conjugated Donor–Acceptor Polymer for Ambipolar Field‐Effect Transistors

Abstract A novel building block, denoted as half‐fused diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) (9‐(3‐octadecylhenicosyl)‐8‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)‐7 H ‐pyrrolo[3,4‐ a ]thieno[3,2‐ g ]indolizine‐7,10(9 H )‐dione), in which one of the flanking thiophene units is fused to one of the DPP rings via a carbon‐carbon double bond at the N‐position is reported. The half‐fused DPP is successfully utilized as an electron acceptor to prepare the conjugated donor–acceptor polymer PTFDFT , which exhibits ambipolar semiconducting behavior in ambient air. Theoretical calculations and absorption spectral studies show that the backbone of PTFDFT is more planar compared to the reference polymer with conventional DPP units. As a result, PTFDFT shows a narrow bandgap and low lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level. The more planar backbone with fewer side chains favors the dense packing of the polymer chains of PTFDFT with a short π–π stacking distance (3.49 Å). Grazing‐incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering data further confirm the predominant edge‐on packing mode of the PTFDFT polymer chains on the substrate. As expected, the PTFDFT thin film shows excellent ambipolar semiconducting properties under ambient conditions, reaching 2.23 and 1.08 cm 2 V −1 s −1 for the n‐ and p‐channels, respectively. In addition, complementary‐like inverter with gain value as high as 141 is successfully constructed using the PTFDFT thin film.

Shi, Dandan↗

Understanding Degradation Mechanisms in SrIrO 3 Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysts: Chemical and Structural Microscopy at the Nanoscale

Designing acid-stable oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts is key to developing sustainable energy technologies such as polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzers but has proven challenging due to the high applied anodic potentials and corrosive electrolyte. This work showcases advanced nanoscale microscopy techniques supported by complementary structural and chemical characterization to develop a fundamental understanding of stability in promising SrIrO 3 thin film electrocatalyst materials. Cross-sectional high-resolution transmission electron microscopy illustrates atomic-scale bulk and surface structure, while secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging using a helium ion microscope provides the nanoscale lateral elemental distribution at the surface. After accelerated degradation tests under anodic potential, the SrIrO 3 film thins and roughens, but the lateral distribution of Sr and Ir remains homogeneous. A layer-wise dissolution mechanism is hypothesized, wherein anodic potential causes the IrO x -rich surface to dissolve and be regenerated by Sr leaching. Finally, the characterization approaches utilized herein and mechanistic insights into SrIrO 3 are translatable to a wide range of catalyst systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Strain as a Global Factor in Stabilizing the Ferroelectric Properties of ZrO 2

Since the discovery of ferroelectricity in doped HfO 2 and ZrO 2 thin films over a decade ago, fluorite-structured ferroelectric thin films have attracted much research attention due to their excellent scalability and complementary metal-oxide semiconductor compatibility compared to conventional perovskite ferroelectric materials. Although various factors influencing the formation of the ferroelectric properties are identified, a clear understanding of the causes of the phase formation have been difficult to determine. In this work, ZrO 2 films deposited by atomic layer deposition and chemical solution deposition have resulted in films with completely different structural properties. Regardless of these differences, a general relationship between strain and phase formation is established, leading to a more unified understanding of ferroelectric phase formation in undoped ZrO 2 films, which can be applied to other fluorite-structured films.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Photoluminescence Probes Ion Insertion into Amorphous and Crystalline Regions of Organic Mixed Conductors

Abstract Organic mixed ionic‐electronic conductors (OMIECs) have emerged as promising materials for a wide range of next‐generation technologies, including bioelectronics and neuromorphic computing. The performance of these materials depends on the transport of ions through the polycrystalline polymer matrix as well as how the distribution of ions and polarons in crystalline and amorphous regions impacts electronic transport. However, it is often challenging to distinguish whether ions enter crystalline or amorphous regions. In this work, steady‐state and time‐resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroelectrochemistry is used to probe initial ion insertion in crystalline and amorphous regions of the OMIEC material poly(3‐[2‐[2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethyl]thiophene ‐2,5‐diyl) (P3MEEET) as a function of applied voltage. It is found that PL spectroelectrochemistry reports on the initial stages of electrochemical doping through the quenching of PL emission. By distinguishing between amorphous and crystalline contributions to the PL spectrum, ion insertion in crystalline and amorphous regions as a function of voltage is tracked. It is found that PL spectroelectrochemistry is much more sensitive to the initial injection of ions than complementary methods, highlighting its potential as a sensitive tool for interrogating ion injection in OMIECs.

Collins, Garrett W.↗

Benzene Ring Knitting Achieved by Ambient-Temperature Dehalogenation via Mechanochemical Ullmann-Type Reductive Coupling

The current approaches capable of affording conjugated porous networks (CPNs) still rely on solution-based coupling reactions promoted by noble metal complexes or Lewis acids, on-surface polymerization conducted in ultrahigh-vacuum environment at very high temperatures (>200 °C), or mechanochemical Scholl-type reactions limited to electron-rich substrates. To develop simple and scalable approaches capable of making CPNs under neat and ambient conditions, herein, a novel and complementary method to the current oxidative Scholl coupling processes is demonstrated to afford CPNs via direct aromatic ring knitting promoted by mechanochemical Ullmann-type reactions. The key to this strategy lies in the dehalogenation of aromatic halides in the presence of Mg involving the formation of Grignard reagent intermediates. Products (Ph-CPN-1) obtained via direct C-C bond formation between 1,2,4,5-tetrabromobenzene (TBB) monomer feature high surface areas together with mesoporous architecture. The versatility of this approach is confirmed by the successful construction of various CPNs via knitting of the corresponding aromatic rings (e.g., pyrene and triphenylene), and even highly crystalline graphite product was obtained. The CPNs exhibit good electrochemical performance as the anode material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Overall, this approach expands the frontiers of CPN synthesis and provides new opportunities to their scalable applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Synergistic Integration of Chemo-Resistive and SERS Sensing for Label-Free Multiplex Gas Detection

Practical sensing applications such as real-time safety alerts and clinical diagnoses require sensor devices to differentiate between various target molecules with high sensitivity and selectivity, yet conventional devices such as oxide-based chemo-resistive sensors and metal-based surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensors usually do not satisfy such requirements. In this report a label-free, chemo-resistive/SERS multimodal sensor based on a systematically assembled 3D cross-point multifunctional nanoarchitecture (3D-CMA), which has unusually strong enhancements in both “chemo-resistive” and “SERS” sensing characteristics is introduced. 3D-CMA combines several sensing mechanisms and sensing elements via 3D integration of semiconducting SnO 2 nanowire frameworks and dual-functioning Au metallic nanoparticles. It is shown that the multimodal sensor can successfully estimate mixed-gas compositions selectively and quantitatively at the sub-100 ppm level, even for mixtures of gaseous aromatic compounds (nitrobenzene and toluene) with very similar molecular structures. This is enabled by combined chemo-resistive and SERS multimodal sensing providing complementary information.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Uncommon Behavior of Li Doping Suppresses Oxygen Redox in P2-Type Manganese-Rich Sodium Cathodes

Utilizing both cationic and anionic oxygen redox reactions is regarded as an important approach to exploit high-capacity layered cathode materials with earth abundant elements. It has been popular strategies to effectively elevate the oxygen redox activities by Li-doping to introduce unhybridized O 2p orbitals in Na x MnO 2 -based chemistries or enabling high covalency transition metals in P2-Na 0.66 Mn x TM 1-x O 2 (TM = Fe, Cu, Ni) materials. Here, we investigated the effect of Li doping on regulating the oxygen redox activities P2-structured Na 0.66 Ni 0.25 Mn 0.75 O 2 materials. Systematic X-ray characterizations and ab initio simulations have shown that the doped Li has uncommon behavior in modulating the density of states of the neighboring Ni, Mn and O, leading to the suppression of the existing oxygen and Mn redox reactivities and the promotion of the Ni redox. Furthermore, the findings provide a complementary scenario to current oxygen redox mechanisms and shed lights on developing new routes for high-performance cathodes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Topological Antiferromagnetic Van der Waals Phase in Topological Insulator/Ferromagnet Heterostructures Synthesized by a CMOS-Compatible Sputtering Technique

Breaking time-reversal symmetry by introducing magnetic order, thereby opening a gap in the topological surface state bands, is essential for realizing useful topological properties such as the quantum anomalous Hall and axion insulator states. In this work, a novel topological antiferromagnetic (AFM) phase is created at the interface of a sputtered, c-axis-oriented, topological insulator/ferromagnet heterostructure—Bi 2 Te 3 /Ni 80 Fe 20 because of diffusion of Ni in Bi 2 Te 3 (Ni-Bi 2 Te 3 ). The AFM property of the Ni-Bi2Te3 interfacial layer is established by observation of spontaneous exchange bias in the magnetic hysteresis loop and compensated moments in the depth profile of the magnetization using polarized neutron reflectometry. Analysis of the structural and chemical properties of the Ni-Bi2Te3 layer is carried out using selected-area electron diffraction, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These studies, in parallel with first-principles calculations, indicate a solid-state chemical reaction that leads to the formation of Ni=Te bonds and the presence of topological antiferromagnetic (AFM) compound NiBi 2 Te 4 in the Ni-Bi 2 Te 3 interface layer. The Neél temperature of the Ni-Bi 2 Te 3 layer is ≈ 63 K, which is higher than that of typical magnetic topological insulators (MTIs). The presented results provide a pathway toward industrial complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-process-compatible sputtered-MTI heterostructures, leading to novel materials for topological quantum devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Versatile Sequential Casting Processing for Highly Efficient and Stable Binary Organic Photovoltaics

Forming an ideal bulk heterojunction (BHJ) morphology is a critical issue governing the photon to electron process in organic solar cells (OSCs). Complementary to the widely-used blend casting (BC) method for BHJ construction, sequential casting (SC) can also enable similar or even better morphology and device performance for OSCs. Here, BC and SC methods on three representative donor:acceptor (D:A) blends are utilized, that is, PM6:PC 71 BM, PM6:IT-4F and PM6:L8-BO. Higher power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) in all cases by taking advantage of beneficial morphology from SC processing are achieved, and a champion PCE of 18.86% (certified as 18.44%) based on the PM6:L8-BO blend is reached, representing the record value among binary OSCs. The observations on phase separation and vertical distribution inspire the proposal of the swelling–intercalation phase-separation model to interpret the morphology evolution during SC processing. Further, the vertical phase segregation is found to deliver an improvement of device performance via affecting the charge transport and collection processes, as evidenced by the D:A-ratio-dependent photovoltaic properties. Besides, OSCs based on SC processing show advantages on device photostability and upscale fabrication. Finally, this work demonstrates the versatility and efficacy of the SC method for BHJ-based OSCs.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

All‐Polymer Bulk‐Heterojunction Organic Electrochemical Transistors with Balanced Ionic and Electronic Transport

Abstract The rapid development of organic electrochemical transistor (OECTs)‐based circuits brings new opportunities for next‐generation integrated bioelectronics. The all‐polymer bulk‐heterojunction (BHJ) offers an attractive, inexpensive alternative to achieve efficient ambipolar OECTs, and building blocks of logic circuits constructed from them, but have not been investigated to date. Here, the first all‐polymer BHJ‐based OECTs are reported, consisting of a blend of new p‐type ladder conjugated polymer and a state‐of‐the‐art n‐type ladder polymer. The whole ladder‐type polymer BHJ also proves that side chains are not necessary for good ion transport. Instead, the polymer nanostructures play a critical role in the ion penetration and transportation and thus in the device performance. It also provides a facile strategy and simplifies the fabrication process, forgoing the need to pattern multiple active layers. In addition, the development of complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS)‐like OECTs allows the pursuit of advanced functional logic circuitry, including inverters and NAND gates, as well as for amplifying electrophysiology signals. This work opens a new approach to the design of new materials for OECTs and will contribute to the development of organic heterojunctions for ambipolar OECTs toward high‐performing logic circuits.

Chemistry↗

Stable Anode–Free All–Solid–State Lithium Battery through Tuned Metal Wetting on the Copper Current Collector

A stable anode-free all-solid-state battery (AF-ASSB) with sulfide-based solid-electrolyte (SE) (argyrodite Li 6 PS 5 Cl) is achieved by tuning wetting of lithium metal on “empty” copper current-collector. Lithiophilic 1 µm Li 2 Te is synthesized by exposing the collector to tellurium vapor, followed by in situ Li activation during the first charge. The Li 2 Te significantly reduces the electrodeposition/electrodissolution overpotentials and improves Coulombic efficiency (CE). During continuous electrodeposition experiments using half-cells (1 mA cm –2 ), the accumulated thickness of electrodeposited Li on Li 2 Te–Cu is more than 70 µm, which is the thickness of the Li foil counter-electrode. Full AF-ASSB with NMC811 cathode delivers an initial CE of 83% at 0.2C, with a cycling CE above 99%. Additionally, cryogenic focused ion beam (Cryo-FIB) sectioning demonstrates uniform electrodeposited metal microstructure, with no signs of voids or dendrites at the collector-SE interface. Electrodissolution is uniform and complete, with Li 2 Te remaining structurally stable and adherent. By contrast, an unmodified Cu current-collector promotes inhomogeneous Li electrodeposition/electrodissolution, electrochemically inactive “dead metal,” dendrites that extend into SE, and thick non-uniform solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) interspersed with pores. Density functional theory (DFT) and mesoscale calculations provide complementary insight regarding nucleation-growth behavior. Unlike conventional liquid-electrolyte metal batteries, the role of current collector/support lithiophilicity has not been explored for emerging AF-ASSBs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Reconfigurable Cascaded Thermal Neuristors for Neuromorphic Computing

While the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology is the mainstream for the hardware implementation of neural networks, an alternative route is explored based on a new class of spiking oscillators called “thermal neuristors”, which operate and interact solely via thermal processes. Utilizing the insulator-to-metal transition (IMT) in vanadium dioxide, a wide variety of reconfigurable electrical dynamics mirroring biological neurons is demonstrated. Notably, inhibitory functionality is achieved just in a single oxide device, and cascaded information flow is realized exclusively through thermal interactions. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the neuristors, a detailed theoretical model is developed, which accurately reflects the experimental results. In conclusion, this study establishes the foundation for scalable and energy-efficient thermal neural networks, fostering progress in brain-inspired computing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗