Low Cost Nanostructured Smart Window Coatings
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Vacuum window research continues at Fermilab and this paper will examine cost effective, consistent designs which can have a huge impact on accelerator laboratories in terms of safety and cost. Issues such as the design, materials, analysis, testing and fabrication are addressed, including beam scattering plots and materials cost-benefit analysis and examining different materials which can potentially be substitutes for beryllium. A previous research paper has examined current fabrication and design techniques and also failure modes at Fermi, and this paper examines previous research in addition to emerging technologies. Many different paths have been taken by HEP Laboratories throughout the world with varying success. The history of vacuum window development is extensive and not well defined, and a matrix of what research has already been done on materials and joint design for vacuum windows will be shown. This report finally includes a treatise for vacuum window technology and a view towards emerging designs and materials and discusses future advances of research such as fabrication techniques including additive manufacturing and ultrasonic welding. Further exploration into these would prove beneficial to developing vacuum windows that are safer and stronger while being more transparent to the beam.
We discuss how x-ray Compton scattering spectra can be used for investigating the evolution of electronic states in cathode materials of Li batteries under the lithiation/delithiation process. In particular, our analysis of the Compton spectra taken from polycrystalline Li{sub x}CoO{sub 2} samples shows that the spectra are dominated by the contribution of the O-2p redox orbital. We identify a distinct signature of d-orbital delocalization, which is tied directly to the conductivity of the material, providing a descriptor based on Compton spectra for monitoring the lithiation range with improved conductivity and kinetics for electrochemical operation. Our study demonstrates that Compton scattering spectroscopy can provide a window for probing complex electronic mechanisms underlying the charging and discharging processes in Li-battery materials.
Windows are a significant path for structure-borne and air-borne noise transmission in general aviation aircraft. In this paper, numerical and experimental results are used to evaluate damped plexiglas windows for the reduction of structure-borne and air-borne noise transmitted into the interior of an aircraft. In contrast to conventional homogeneous windows, the damped plexiglas windows were fabricated using two or three layers of plexiglas with transparent viscoelastic damping material sandwiched between the layers. Transmission loss and radiated sound power measurements were used to compare different layups of the damped plexiglas windows with uniform windows of the same nominal thickness. This vibro-acoustic test data was also used for the verification and validation of finite element and boundary element models of the damped plexiglas windows. Numerical models are presented for the prediction of radiated sound power for a point force excitation and transmission loss for diffuse acoustic excitation. Radiated sound power and transmission loss predictions are in good agreement with experimental data. Once validated, the numerical models were used to perform a parametric study to determine the optimum configuration of the damped plexiglas windows for reducing the radiated sound power for a point force excitation.
The surface breakdown of dielectric windows seriously limits the transmission of high power microwaves (HPM), and has blocked the development of microwave technology in recent decades. In this paper, X-band HPM experiments of window breakdown at the vacuum/dielectric interface and the atmosphere/dielectric interface at single and repetitive pulses were conducted. The cross-linked polystyrene (CLPS) dielectric window with a periodic surface profile can significantly improve the breakdown threshold at single and repetitive pulses. Furthermore, the flat surface layer of CLPS was discovered to be carbonized to a depth of several millimeters and filled with electrical trees at repetitive pulses. Theoretical models were built to understand the underlying physics behind the phenomena in experiments. With the analysis of the electron resonance process breaking the molecular bond and the temperature rise caused by the traversing current in the dielectric material, a microscopic explanation for the carbonization of the dielectric window was introduced.
High-energy physics research, industrial sterilizing, and material processing depend extensively on electron beam accelerators. Exit windows are crucial components of such electron accelerator systems, maintaining vacuum integrity inside the machine while providing mechanical strength, thermal stability, and radiation resistance at the beam-target interface. In this study, thin metallic films of Ni, Ti, Cr, and V were explored for use in electron beam exit windows, and their properties were compared with the properties of their bulk counterparts. Simulation results of metal foils predicted Ti to exhibit less beam power dissipation compared to Ni. However, Ni possesses superior mechanical and structural properties compared to Ti. The performance of these films under electron beam irradiation was examined by depositing thin layers of these films on silicon and metallic substrates using magnetron sputtering and exposing them to e-beam irradiation in a controlled setup. The deposited films were subjected to a dose of approximately 66 kGy at a beam energy of 10 MeV and characterized prior to and postexposure to the beam using field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD), and nanoindentation. Particular emphasis was given to characteristics like the grain structure, surface morphology, dislocation density, and hardness. XRD patterns revealed irradiation-induced changes in peak intensities, while the crystallinity remained largely unchanged. Nanoindentation results showed that the pristine and irradiated Ti and Ni films were twice as hard when compared to bulk Ti and Ni samples, regardless of the substrate type used (Si or bulk Ti, or Ni). These results emphasize the superior mechanical properties of thin metal films compared to their bulk counterparts. In conclusion, this study advances the optimization of thin film materials for robust and efficient e-beam applications, ensuring improved durability and operational reliability.
Abstract Silicon nitride (SiN) is a key material for quantum photonics due to its wide transparency window, high refractive index, low optical losses, and semiconductor foundry compatibility. We study the formation of single‐photon emitters in SiN films grown by plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), exploring their photophysical properties and dependence on growth conditions. Emitters were observed across the entire range of nitrogen‐to‐silicon precursor ratios, from silicon‐rich to nitrogen‐rich conditions, enabled by the low background fluorescence. We demonstrate single‐photon emitters in SiN films with a higher refractive index (1.8–1.9) compared to our previous reports (∼1.7). Notably, nitrogen‐rich, thinner films yield particularly bright emitters with shorter emission lifetimes, likely due to more efficient annealing. Silicon‐rich SiN films exhibit red‐shifted emission, suggesting that composition may provide a mechanism for wavelength tuning. These findings establish the feasibility of emitters formation in foundry standard PECVD tools, advancing the scalability and lab‐to‐fab transition of SiN‐based quantum photonic technologies.
Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) emissions from excited plasma species can play a variety of roles in processing plasmas, including damaging the surface properties of materials used in semiconductor processing. Depending on their wavelength, VUV photons can easily transmit thin upper dielectric layers and affect the electrical characteristics of the devices. Despite their importance, measuring VUV fluxes is complicated by the fact that few materials transmit at VUV wavelengths, and both detectors and windows are easily damaged by plasma exposure. The authors have previously reported on measuring VUV fluxes in pure argon plasmas by monitoring the concentrations of Ar(3p{sup 5}4s) resonance atoms that produce the VUV emissions using noninvasive optical emission spectroscopy in the visible/near-infrared wavelength range [Boffard et al., J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A 32, 021304 (2014)]. Here, the authors extend this technique to other rare-gases (Ne, Kr, and Xe) and argon-molecular gas plasmas (Ar/H{sub 2}, Ar/O{sub 2}, and Ar/N{sub 2}). Results of a model for VUV emissions that couples radiation trapping and the measured rare-gas resonance level densities are compared to measurements made with both a calibrated VUV photodiode and a sodium salicylate fluorescence detection scheme. In these more complicated gas mixtures, VUV emissions from a variety of sources beyond the principal resonance levels of the rare gases are found to contribute to the total VUV flux.
HiRadMat (High Irradiation to Materials) is a facility at CERN designed to provide high-intensity pulsed beams to an irradiation area where material samples as well as accelerator component assemblies (e.g. vacuum windows, shock tests on high power targets, collimators) can be tested. The beam parameters (SPS 440 GeV protons with a pulse energy of up to 3.4 MJ, or alternatively lead/argon ions at the proton equivalent energy) can be tuned to match the needs of each experiment. It is a test area designed to perform single pulse experiments to evaluate the effect of high-intensity pulsed beams on materials in a dedicated environment, excluding long-time irradiation studies. The facility is designed for a maximum number of 1016 protons per year, in order to limit the activation of the irradiated samples to acceptable levels for human intervention. This paper will demonstrate the possibilities for research using this facility and go through examples of upcoming experiments scheduled in the beam period 2015/2016.
HiRadMat (High Irradiation to Materials) is a facility at CERN designed to provide high-intensity pulsed beams to an irradiation area where material samples as well as accelerator component assemblies (e.g. vacuum windows, shock tests on high power targets, collimators) can be tested. The beam parameters (SPS 440 GeV protons with a pulse energy of up to 3.4 MJ, or alternatively lead/argon ions at the proton equivalent energy) can be tuned to match the needs of each experiment. It is a test area designed to perform single pulse experiments to evaluate the effect of high-intensity pulsed beams on materials in a dedicated environment, excluding long-time irradiation studies. The facility is designed for a 10{sup 16} maximum number of protons per year, in order to limit the activation to acceptable levels for human intervention. This paper will demonstrate the possibilities for research using this facility and showing examples of upcoming experiments scheduled in the beam period 2014/2015. (authors)
Purpose: High-density materials used in dental restoration can cause significant localized dose enhancement due to electron backscatter in head-and-neck radiotherapy, increasing the risk of mucositis. The materials used in prosthetic dentistry have evolved in the last decades from metal alloys to ceramics. We aim to determine the dose enhancement caused by backscatter from currently-used dental materials. Methods: Measurements were performed for three different dental materials: lithium disilicate (Li{sub 2}Si{sub 2}O{sub 5}), zirconium dioxide (ZrO{sub 2}), and gold alloy. Small thin squares (2×2×0.15 cm{sup 3}) of the material were fabricated, and placed into a phantom composed of tissue-equivalent material. The phantom was irradiated with a single 6 MV photon field. A thin-window parallel-plate ion chamber was used to measure the dose at varying distances from the proximal interface between the material and the plastic. Results: The dose enhancement at the interface between the high-density and tissue-equivalent materials, relative to a homogeneous phantom, was 54% for the gold alloy, 31% for ZrO{sub 2}, and 9% for Li{sub 2}Si{sub 2}O{sub 5}. This enhancement decreased rapidly with distance from the interface, falling to 11%, 5%, and 0.5%, respectively, 2 mm from the interface. Comparisons with the modeling of this effect in treatment planning systems are performed. Conclusion: While dose enhancement due to dental restoration is smaller with ceramic materials than with metal alloys, it can still be significant. A spacer of about 2–3 mm would be effective in reducing this enhancement, even for metal alloys.
In the U.S., over 50% of homes were built before 1980, when minimal building codes existed. The aging of building envelopes can significantly contribute to the air leakage, moisture intrusion, and durability of buildings leading to higher energy demands. Although the durability of building materials and envelope systems has been studied extensively, the durability of specific components like window-wall flashing and sealants remains underexplored. Current standards such as ASTM, NIST, and AAMA primarily focus on durability testing considering the high temperatures only and require sealant testing on anodized aluminum panels, leaving questions about performance in cold or fluctuating temperatures unanswered. Current ASTM and AAMA standards provide guidelines for durability testing but predominantly focus on exposure to higher temperature conditions. It remains unclear how exposure to cold temperatures, or cycles of both hot and cold conditions, affect the durability of these materials. Furthermore, AAMA standards mandate that flashing materials be tested on anodized aluminum panels, which may not reflect real-world applications. Therefore, this initial study aims to explore this concern through testing by constructing two window-wall interface prototypes and applying five different flashing and sealant materials to their joints. These samples were subjected to extreme temperatures, ranging from −34 ℃ (−30 °F) to 50 ℃ (122 °F), over a 28-day period (fourteen cycles of 24 hours), with daily visual inspections to document any signs of deterioration such as wrinkling, distortion, or warping. The study has two main objectives: (1) to determine whether flashing and sealant materials lose their durability and strength when exposed to varying climate conditions, specifically cold climates, and (2) to assess whether the interaction of these materials with different substrates (e.g., lumber, PVC, insulation) affects their durability and strength under varying climate conditions. The findings demonstrate how aging impacts the durability of window-wall systems interfaces, justifying future research that potentially could lead to the development of new testing protocols if significant defects are identified.
Abstract The toroidal interferometer and polarimeter (TIP) is one of the primary electron density diagnostics on ITER. To meet measurement requirements over several thousand seconds, environmental factors such as changes in the window temperature, air temperature, and humidity, which can cause uncompensated phase drifts, must be minimized. This paper reports measurements of the phase shift induced by ZnSe and BaF₂ windows as their temperature is varied utilizing the TIP prototype. To accomplish these measurements, test pieces of BaF₂ and ZnSe are placed in a small oven that is located in one leg of the 10.59/5.22 micron two-color interferometer TIP prototype. The oven temperature was varied from room temperature to ∼90 °C, which is slightly higher than the expected window temperatures on ITER. The vibration compensated phase shifts measured for these two materials are dϕᵥ꜀ /dT/L = 0.0121 and −0.275 deg. /°C/cm −1 for BaF₂ and ZnSe, respectively. From these measurements, it was concluded that temperature variations of the environmental/secondary confinement barrier window and primary vacuum window have to be suppressed within approximately 1°C and 2°C, respectively, in order to passively meet the electron density measurement requirements in ITER.
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The absorption and photoluminescence, both steady–state and time–resolved, of CsPbX 3 (X = Cl, Br, I) nanocrystals are reported at temperatures ranging from 3 to 300 K. These measurements offer a unique window into the fundamental properties of this class of materials which is considered promising for light–emitting and detection devices. The bandgaps are shown to increase from low to high temperature, and none of the examined cesium–based perovskite nanocrystals exhibit a bandgap discontinuity in this temperature range suggesting constant crystal phase. Time–resolved measurements show that the radiative lifetime of the band–edge emission depends strongly on the halide ion and increases with heating. The increasing lifetime at higher temperatures is attributed primarily to free carriers produced from exciton fission, corroborated by the prevalence of excitonic character in absorption. Furthermore, the results particularly highlight many of the similarities in physical properties, such as low exciton binding energy and long lifetime, between CsPbI 3 and hybrid organic–inorganic plumbotrihalide perovskites.
Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) show great potential for many advanced applications on account of their structural uniqueness. To address the synthetic challenges, facile chemical routes to engineer the porosity, crystallinity, and functionality of COFs are highly sought after. Herein, we report a synthetic approach that employs the Cadogan reaction to introduce nitrogen-containing heterocycles as the linkages in the framework. Irreversible indazole and benzimidazolylidene (BIY) linkages are introduced into COFs for the first time via phosphine-induced reductive cyclization of the common imine linkages following either stepwise or one-pot reaction protocols. Further, the successful linkage transformation introduces new functionalities, as demonstrated in the case of BIY-COF, which displays excellent intrinsic proton conductivity without the need of impregnation with external proton transfer reagents. Such a general strategy will open the window to a broader class of functional porous crystalline materials.
Abstract The availability of native substrates is a cornerstone in the development of microelectronic technologies relying on epitaxial films. If native substrates are not available, virtual substrates - crystalline buffer layers epitaxially grown on a structurally dissimilar substrate - offer a solution. Realizing commercially viable virtual substrates requires the growth of high-quality films at high growth rates for large-scale production. We report the stoichiometric growth of SrTiO 3 exceeding 600 nm hr −1 . This tenfold increase in growth rate compared to SrTiO 3 grown on silicon by conventional methods is enabled by a self-regulated growth window accessible in hybrid molecular beam epitaxy. Overcoming the materials integration challenge for complex oxides on silicon using virtual substrates opens a path to develop new electronic devices in the More than Moore era and silicon integrated quantum computation hardware.
Safety concerns and costs of present-day lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are prompting the development of alternate battery technologies with different types of electrolyte ( e.g. , solid-state, gel-polymer, aqueous, etc. ); notably, systems based on aqueous electrolytes have emerged as a promising alternative, especially for grid storage applications. The last decade has witnessed a considerable spike in the research carried out on aqueous batteries. However, the narrow operating voltage window of aqueous electrolytes and the structural instability of materials in aqueous media demand proper selection of cathode materials to achieve desirable energy density. Polyanionic materials can be an ideal choice as they are structurally more stable and exhibit tunable redox potentials. This class of materials is considered as a storehouse in which many materials can be realized by substituting different polyanionic subunits. Here, this review highlights some of the recent advances made in the polyanionic class of cathode materials for rechargeable aqueous batteries (Li-, Na- and Zn-ion batteries). The challenges facing the field, possible remedies to overcome them and future perspectives are also presented.