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At least 505 records · Page 28

Complex Intergrowths of Non-Stoichiometric Defect-Structured Hibonite and Al-Rich Spinel in an Allende Ca-Al-Rich Inclusion

Hibonite is a primary ultra-refractory mineral occurring in many Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) and is predicted to condense as the second major phase from a cooling gas of solar composition. Our previous microstructural studies of hibonite in carbonaceous chondrites revealed its unique microstructures consisting of numerous defects that contain Mg-enriched, wider spinel blocks in stoichiometric hibonite. Han, J. et al. [2 items] demonstrated experimentally that defect-structured hibonites can grow easily in the presence of minor Mg and are kinetically more stable than equilibrium assemblages predicted by thermodynamic calculations. However, a thermo-dynamic vs. structural stability of defect-structured hibonite relative to other early-condensed Al-rich phases such as corundum, grossite, and spinel remains poorly constrained. Here, we present the results of atomic resolution TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy) imaging of hibonite in a compact Type A CAI in the Allende CV3 chondrite in order to better understand the crystal structure and chemistry of defect-structured hibonite and its associated Al-rich phases, especially non-stoichiometric, Al-rich spinel, in the context of the formation of first refractory solids in the early solar nebula.

Han, J.↗

Modeling of Radiative Emission from Shallow Color Centers in Single Crystalline Diamond

Optically active defects in diamond are widely used as bright single-photon sources for quantum sensing, computing, and communication. For many applications, it is useful to place the emitter close to the diamond surface, where the radiative properties of the emitter are strongly modified by its dielectric environment. It is well-known that the radiative power from an electric dipole decreases as the emitter approaches an interface with a lower-index dielectric, leading to an increase in the radiative lifetime. For emitters in crystalline solids, modeling of this effect needs to take into account the crystal orientation and direction of the surface cut, which can greatly impact the emission characteristics. In this paper, a framework for analyzing the emission rates of shallow (<100 nm) defects is provided, in which optical transitions are derived from electric dipoles in a plane perpendicular to their spin axis. The calculations for the depth-dependent radiative lifetime for color centers in (100)-, (110)-, and (111)-cut diamond are presented, which can be extended to other vacancy defects in diamond.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Site-Selective Modification of Lanthanum Oxychloride to Modulate Halide-Ion Conduction

Design principles for solid-state halide-ion conduction remain poorly defined despite the increasing importance of halide ions as charge carriers in a variety of energy storage and electrochemical computing technologies. Here, we employ a siteselective modification strategy in which aliovalent cations are preferentially introduced at the La 3+ crystallographic site of LaOCl in the 2c Wyckoff position, enabling controlled generation of chloride vacancies and modification of lattice dynamics to enhance chloride-ion conductivity. Aliovalent substitution of La 3+ with Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , and Sr 2+ generates charge-compensating Cl vacancies while preserving the matlockite crystal structure. X-ray excited optical luminescence measurements with Dy 3+ as a reporter chromophore evidence vacancy-derived midgap electronic states and an extended energy range of radiation-less Auger electron emission corresponding to substantial modification of electronic structure and local electrostatic potentials. Ca alloying at 8−10 at. % increases the chloride-ion conductivity by three- to 4 orders of magnitude as compared to unalloyed LaOCl, whereas comparable amounts of Sr- and Mg-alloying in LaOCl imbue less pronounced conductivity enhancements. Temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy measurements reveal that Ca- and Sr-alloying substantially soften the La−Cl sublattice and yield a more compliant crystal lattice that can deform to accommodate Cl-ion migration. Structure solutions derived from Rietveld refinements to powder Xray diffraction reveal larger O−La−Cl bond-angle deviations and enhanced out-of-plane cation displacements for Ca- and Sr-alloyed compositions as compared to Mg-alloyed LaOCl. Such local distortions enhance chloride-ion mobility by reshaping and flattening vacancy migration energy landscapes and by modulating lattice dynamics governing anion conduction. We further illustrate that coalloying of Ca with Mg and Sr induces a nonmonotonic conductivity−defect stoichiometry relationship that can be rationalized based on cooperative interactions. Together, these results establish site-selective aliovalent alloying of LaOCl as an effective route to halide-ion solid electrolytes and provide broadly generalizable design principles for site-selective modification to induce vacancy formation and lattice softening to engender facile anion transport

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Uptake of aqueous heavy metal ions (Co2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+) by calcium-aluminium-silicate-hydrate gels

Highlights: • C-A-S-H gels containing metal ions (Co{sup 2+}, Cu{sup 2+} or Zn{sup 2+}) were precipitated by a sol-gel technique. • Uptake mechanism and immobilization capacity of divalent metal ions by C-A-S-H are elucidated. • Up to ~55–60 mol% of Zn can be incorporated in defective tobermorite-type C-A-S-H. • Metal uptake by C-A-S-H is controlled mainly by isomorphous substitution for Ca ions. • Crystal-chemical features of C-A-S-H gels and implications for practical application are discussed. Calcium-aluminium-silicate-hydrate (C-A-S-H) gels containing heavy metal ions (Me: Co{sup 2+}, Cu{sup 2+} or Zn{sup 2+}) were precipitated at different Me/Si molar ratios to study the uptake mechanism and immobilization capacity. Aqueous solution chemistry and solid-phase characterization using XRD, FTIR, ESEM-EDX, TEM-HAADF and TG-DSC methods reveal threshold values for ion substitution of ~55–60 mol% for Zn, ~30–40 mol% for Co and ~25–30 mol% for Cu in defective tobermorite-type C-A-S-H with (Ca + Me)/(Si + Al) molar ratios from 0.86 to 1.04. At higher aqueous Me concentrations, Me (chloride) hydroxides start to co-precipitate. The uptake mechanism of Me ions by C-A-S-H is based on (i) isomorphous substitution of Me for Ca in the CaO layer, (ii) ion exchange in the interlayer, (iii) tetrahedral substitution (Zn) within the dreierketten chains and (iv) surface adsorption onto the C-A-S-H gel structure. Systematics in crystal-chemistry of Me-bearing C-A-S-H and implications for application and performance in natural and man-made settings are discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Microstructural Engineering of Cu-Rich Nanoprecipitate formation in NiCoFeCrCu0.12 High-Entropy Alloy via Severe Plastic Deformation for Enhanced Irradiation Tolerance

This study demonstrates a defect-engineering approach for controlling Cu-rich precipitates in FeNiCrCoCu0.2 high-entropy alloys (Cu-HEAs), delivering a novel pathway for next-generation nuclear reactor materials with superior irradiation resistance. This work establishes that severe plastic deformation (SPD) processing via Shear Assisted Processing and Extrusion (ShAPE) and Friction Stir Layer Deposition (FSLD) creates dense dislocation networks and subgrain boundaries that fundamentally alter precipitation behavior under identical thermal treatments. Atom probe tomography (APT) indicates that SPD produces a metastable, atomically homogeneous solid solution that, upon moderate heat treatment (500°C/10 hour), develops remarkedly stronger Cu clustering than the as-cast counterpart. High-temperature exposure (800°C/100 h) produces near-pure Cu precipitates (~90 at% Cu) with significantly enhanced defect-sink efficacy in SPD-processed alloys: precipitate sizes of 50-60 nm and number densities of 2.7-3.8 × 10¹7 m?³, compared to 89 nm and 0.44 × 10¹7 m?³ in as-cast materials. Collectively, the findings establish defect-mediated precipitation control as a scalable, high-impact route to tailor sink density and distribution in HEAs, enabling microstructures optimized for irradiation tolerance and mechanical robustness in nuclear reactor environments.

Meher, Subhashish↗

Anomalous interfacial dynamics of single proton charges in binary aqueous solutions

Our understanding of the dynamics of charge transfer between solid surfaces and liquid electrolytes has been hampered by the difficulties in obtaining interface, charge, and solvent-specific information at both high spatial and temporal resolution. Here, we measure at the single charge scale the dynamics of protons at the interface between an hBN crystal and binary mixtures of water and organic amphiphilic solvents (alcohols and acetone), evidencing a marked influence of solvation on interfacial dynamics. Applying single-molecule localization microscopy to emissive crystal defects, we observe correlated activation between adjacent ionizable surface defects, mediated by the transport of single excess protons along the solid/liquid interface. Solvent content has a nontrivial effect on interfacial dynamics, leading at intermediate water fraction to an increased surface diffusivity, as well as an increased affinity of the proton charges to the solid surface. Our measurements evidence the notable role of solvation on interfacial proton charge transport.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Impact of Oxygen Non-Stoichiometry on Near-Ambient Temperature Ionic Mobility in Polaronic Mixed-Ionic-Electronic Conducting Thin Films

Enhanced ionic mobility in mixed ionic and electronic conducting solids contributes to improved performance of memristive memory, energy storage and conversion, and catalytic devices. Ionic mobility can be significantly depressed at reduced temperatures, for example, due to defect association and therefore needs to be monitored. Measurements of ionic transport in mixed conductors, however, proves to be difficult due to dominant electronic conductivity. This study examines the impact of different levels of quenched-in oxygen deficiency on the oxygen vacancy mobility near room temperature as measured by a novel dynamic current-voltage analysis. A Pr 0.1 Ce 0.9 O 2-δ film was grown by pulsed laser deposition and subsequently annealed, from 400-600° C, in various oxygen partial pressures to modify its oxygen vacancy concentration while minimizing microstructural growth and cation segregation. To monitor changes in film non-stoichiometry, we leverage the existence of an optical absorption center, related to the oxidation state of Pr ions in Pr0.1Ce0.9O2-δ. The oxygen vacancy migration enthalpy was found to exhibit a small increase from 0.73± 0.04 to 0.79 ± 0.02 eV with increasing oxygen deficiency, while the pre-factor was found to increase by a factor of 135. Here, a nearly 13-fold increase in ionic mobility at 60 °C for increases in oxygen non-stoichiometry from 0.032 ± 0.001 to 0.042± 0.001 was thereby detected. Raman spectroscopy was employed to rule out changes in strain as the primary cause for the significant change in mobility. Several factors potentially contributing to the large pre-factor changes are examined and discussed. Insights into how ionic defect concentration can markedly impact ionic mobility should help in elucidating the origins of variations seen in nanoionic devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Density functional study of atomic arrangements in CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloy and their impact on vacancy formation energy and segregation

Here, using the density functional theory-coupled Monte Carlo approach, we explored the chemical short-range order (SRO) and element segregation in equimolar CrMnFeCoNi alloy. We found that state-of-the-art approximation of random element distribution is only applicable at > 1100 K close to the melting temperature, while the Cr-Cr repulsion driving the system stabilization and accompanying the formation of cubic Cr sublattice, and mild Ni-Ni attraction are the most prominent pair interactions at lower temperatures. Chemical potential and vacancy formation energy calculations indicate that Cr is most sensitive to the local chemical environment, making Cr atoms most stabilized when the preferred SRO is introduced. While the vacancy formation is predicted equally probable among five constituting elements in the random solid solution, Cr and Ni atoms show the lowest vacancy formation energies in the structure with SRO. Furthermore, distinct element segregation was predicted in the vicinity of planar defects, including symmetric tilt grain boundary and stacking fault, which we correlated to the site- and chemistry-dependent atomic volume and bond lengths. It suggests that the local mechanical strain and bond energy induce the SRO development and element segregation: Namely, the system takes advantage of segregation of Ni atoms having large atomic volume or Cr-Cr pairs having elongated bond lengths to fill in the excess volume at defects that relaxes the mechanical strain field and optimizes bond energy distribution. The correlation between the SRO and properties of CrMnFeCoNi alloy needs further investigations, which is expected to greatly help understand and control the properties of high-entropy alloys.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Hotspot formation due to shock-induced pore collapse in 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazoctane (HMX): Role of pore shape and shock strength in collapse mechanism and temperature

The shock to detonation transition in heterogeneous high energy density solids starts with the spatial localization of mechanical energy into so-called hotspots that form due to the interaction between the leading wave and microstructural features and defects. We used large-scale molecular dynamics to characterize the hotspots resulting from the shock-induced collapse of cylindrical voids and elongated cracks focusing on the effect of shock strength, defect shape, and size. The temperature fields resulting from the collapse of cracks elongated along the shock direction show significantly higher sensitivity to both shock strength and size than cylindrical voids. Cracks 80 nm in length result in temperatures almost three times higher than voids 80 nm in diameter, reaching values corresponding to the ideal case of isentropic recompression of a gas. The molecular dynamics trajectories reveal the atomic origin of this contrasting behavior. While circular voids undergo a transition from viscoelastic pore collapse to a hydrodynamic regime with increasing shock strength, shock focusing in elongated cracks results in jetting and vaporization which, upon recompression, leads to increased heating.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Isolation of Single Donors in ZnO

The shallow donor in zinc oxide (ZnO) is a promising semiconductor spin qubit with optical access. Single indium donors are isolated in a commercial ZnO substrate using plasma focused ion beam (PFIB) milling. Quantum emitters are identified optically by spatial and frequency filtering. The indium donor assignment is based on the optical bound exciton transition energy and magnetic dependence. The emission stability of these single donors in terms of both intensity and frequency, alongside their transition linewidths less than twice the lifetime limit, highlight the promise of single In donors as optically accessible spin qubits. Here, the optical stability of single donors after FIB fabrication is promising for optical device integration required for scalable quantum technologies based on single donors in direct band gap semiconductors.

42 ENGINEERING↗

X-ray Diffraction Studies of Single-Crystal Materials for Broad Battery Applications

Single-crystal materials have attracted growing interest in battery research due to their well-defined crystallographic orientation, absence of grain boundaries, and enhanced mechanical and electrochemical stability. This Review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the synthesis, structural evolution, and performance optimization of single-crystal electrodes and solid electrolytes. Particular focus is placed on the application of advanced X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques, including operando synchrotron diffraction, reciprocal space mapping, and Bragg coherent diffraction imaging, which have enabled in-depth investigations of lattice strain, cation disorder, phase transitions, and defect formation. Representative case studies across Ni-rich layered oxides, spinel-type cathodes, and garnet-based electrolytes are examined to highlight the structural features unique to single crystals. Additionally, the synergistic integration of XRD with machine learning, tomography, and spectroscopy is discussed as a powerful direction for real-time analysis and predictive modeling. Furthermore, these insights provide critical guidance for the rational design of high-performance single-crystal materials in lithium, sodium, and solid-state battery systems.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Enhancing HT-WGS catalyst performance with stable monovalent copper species via electron supply from defect-induced MgO

Magnesium oxide (MgO) exhibits excellent synergy with cerium oxide (CeO2), serving as either textural or electronic promoters during catalytic reactions. However, achieving well-dispersed CeO2-MgO is technically challenging because they are known not to form solid solutions, and the crystal growth of CeO2 suppresses the structure formation of MgO, leading to MgO being in an inhomogeneous amorphous state within CeO2-MgO. For this reason, most of research groups have been struggling with synthesizing well-dispersed CeO2-MgO. This leads them to focusing on the interaction between the active metal and cerium, overlooking the true role of magnesium. In this study, we successfully synthesized well-dispersed CeO2-MgO via a spray pyrolysis-assisted evaporation-induced self-assembly method, followed by the impregnation of Cu. The location and dispersion of Cu nanoparticles were highly dependent on the MgO distribution. Additionally, we revealed that this significantly influenced the catalytic activity and stability towards the HTS reaction and furthermore supplies electrons to monovalent Cu species, helping maintain the stable electron structure and oxidation state of Cu species considered as active sites. These findings suggest that optimizing the MgO distribution in CeO2-MgO is a promising strategy for developing efficient catalysts for the HTS reaction, emphasizing the role of MgO in designing high-performance catalysts.

Kim, Min-Jae↗

Direct Observation of Ammonia Storage in UiO-66 Incorporating Cu(II) Binding Sites

The presence of active sites in metal–organic framework (MOF) materials can control and affect their performance significantly in adsorption and catalysis. However, revealing the interactions between the substrate and active sites in MOFs at atomic precision remains a challenging task. Here, we report the direct observation of binding of NH 3 in a series of UiO-66 materials containing atomically dispersed defects and open Cu(I) and Cu(II) sites. While all MOFs in this series exhibit similar surface areas (1111–1135 m 2 g –1 ), decoration of the -OH site in UiO-66-defect with Cu(II) results in a 43% enhancement of the isothermal uptake of NH 3 at 273 K and 1.0 bar from 11.8 in UiO-66-defect to 16.9 mmol g –1 in UiO-66-Cu II . A 100% enhancement of dynamic adsorption of NH 3 at a concentration level of 630 ppm from 2.07 mmol g –1 in UiO-66-defect to 4.15 mmol g –1 in UiO-66-Cu II at 298 K is observed. In situ neutron powder diffraction, inelastic neutron scattering, and electron paramagnetic resonance, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared spectroscopies, coupled with modeling reveal that the enhanced NH 3 uptake in UiO-66-Cu II originates from a {Cu(II)···NH 3 } interaction, with a reversible change in geometry at Cu(II) from near-linear to trigonal coordination. This work represents the first example of structural elucidation of NH 3 binding in MOFs containing open metal sites and will inform the design of new efficient MOF sorbents by targeted control of active sites for NH 3 capture and storage.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

First-Principles Thermodynamic Assessments of Sr-Containing Secondary Phase Formation in La1-xSrxMnO3±δ Perovskites for Solid Oxide Cell Applications

Sr-secondary phase formation is a potentially significant degradation mode threatening solid-oxide cell (SOC) commercial viability. A first-principles thermodynamic study was performed for rhombohedral perovskite (La1-xSrx) MnO3±δ (LSM) to assess its stability against Sr secondary phase formation in SOC applications. In this work, the Sr secondary phase formation reaction free energies were determined by combining ab initio lattice dynamics calculations for the solid phases and an ab initio thermodynamics approach for the gas phases. Furthermore, this approach goes beyond previous thermodynamic modeling studies by integrating first-principles based point-defect equilibria into the analyses. The modeling results indicate an increased tendency to form SrO oxide from LSM upon decreasing the oxygen partial pressure. Additionally, enhancing factors to form the Sr-related secondary phase from the associated SrO activity in LSM are further quantified by considering the equilibrium of SrO reacting with contaminant gas species as a function of temperature and gas pressure.

Defect and phase stability↗

Correlating Macro and Atomic Structure with Elastic Properties and Ionic Transport of Glassy Li 2 S‐P 2 S 5 (LPS) Solid Electrolyte for Solid‐State Li Metal Batteries

Abstract A combination of high ionic conductivity and facile processing suggest that sulfide‐based materials are promising solid electrolytes that have the potential to enable Li metal batteries. Although the Li 2 S‐P 2 S 5 (LPS) family of compounds exhibit desirable characteristics, it is known that Li metal preferentially propagates through microstructural defects, such as particle boundaries and/or pores. Herein, it is demonstrated that a near theoretical density (98% relative density) LPS 75‐25 glassy electrolyte exhibiting high ionic conductivity can be achieved by optimizing the molding pressure and temperature. The optimal molding pressure reduces porosity and particle boundaries while preserving the preferred amorphous structure. Moreover, molecular rearrangements and favorable Li coordination environments for conduction are attained. Consequently, the Young's Modulus approximately doubles (30 GPa) and the ionic conductivity increases by a factor of five (1.1 mS cm −1 ) compared to conventional room temperature molding conditions. It is believed that this study can provide mechanistic insight into processing‐structure‐property relationships that can be used as a guide to tune microstructural defects/properties that have been identified to have an effect on the maximum charging current that a solid electrolyte can withstand during cycling without short‐circuiting.

Garcia‐Mendez, Regina↗

Digestion processes and elemental analysis of oxide and sulfide solid electrolytes

Detailed elemental analysis is essential for a successful development and optimization of material systems and synthesis methods. This is especially relevant for Li- and Na-containing compounds, found in state-of-the-art and next-generation battery systems. Their materials’ properties and thus the final device performance strongly depend on the crystal structure, the stoichiometry, and defect chemistry, e.g., influencing charge carrier concentration and activation energies for vacancy transport. However, a detailed quantitative analysis of light elements in a heavy matrix, featuring a broad range of solubilities and vapor pressures, is often difficult and associated with large uncertainties and thus neglected in favor of just reporting the stoichiometry as “weighed in.” Here, in this work, we report several approaches to digest and dissolve various oxide and sulfide-based materials, used in next-generation Li batteries, for elemental analysis via optical emission spectroscopy. These include the most common solid electrolytes Li-La-Ti–O, a perovskite material (LLTO), and Li-La-Zr-O which has garnet structure (LLZO). Additionally, a facile thermal digestion process is reported for a surrogate sulfide solid electrolyte (Na 2 S). The digestion procedures reported here are suitable for almost any laboratory environment and, when applied, will improve understanding of the synthesis-structure–property correlations needed to advanced batteries with all solid-state configurations.

Malkowski, Thomas F.↗

Predicting Oxygen Off-Stoichiometry and Hydrogen Incorporation in Complex Perovskite Oxides

Chemically and structurally complex solid compounds, including those with significant off-stoichiometry, are rapidly extending new material functionality across a variety of applications. Accelerated development of these compounds requires accurate predictions of material defect properties including effective defect formation energies and equilibrium defect concentrations. Traditional first-principles approaches typically examine dilute defect concentrations and relatively ordered atomic structures to identify the lowest energy defect sites. These approaches are rarely suitable for describing the disorder present in these systems and its influence on defect formation, which can lead to unphysically large predictions for defect concentrations. Here, we demonstrate a new method to accurately predict the temperature and pressure dependence of oxygen vacancy concentrations and proton interstitial concentrations in complex oxides. This method extends standard dilute defect calculations to incorporate atomic and magnetic disorder, employs the ensemble descriptions of defect sites resulting in improved predictions of defect formation energies, and accounts for effects beyond the dilute defect limit. To demonstrate our method, we show that the predicted defect concentrations in perovskites used as ceramic fuel cell cathodes, including Ba0.5Sr0.5Fe0.8Zn0.2O3-d, Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-d, and BaCo1-x-y-zFexZryYzO3-d, are in good agreement with experimental values, thereby opening the door for predictive design of complex oxides by these applications.

DFT↗

A thermochemical study of iron aluminate-based materials: a preferred class for isothermal water splitting

The use of hydrogen as a renewable fuel has been stymied by our inability to produce it cleanly and economically. The conventional solar thermochemical approach considers a two-step redox cycle with benchmark ceria or a perovskite in a temperature swing configuration, where reduction occurs at a temperature much higher than oxidation. Isothermal redox cycling is feasible and avoids the solid–solid heat recuperation and material stability challenges associated with temperature swing; yet, it has long been thought to be inefficient due to the thermodynamic unfavorability of operating the exothermic oxidation reaction at higher temperatures. Here, in this work, we show that this setback can be overcome with iron aluminate-based spinel solid solutions that preferentially exhibit large changes in oxygen content within the range of oxygen partial pressures expected in large-scale systems. We explain the experimental results with a defect model that assigns cation – not oxygen – vacancies as the predominant point defect responsible for their superior water-splitting ability. When operated isothermally at 1400 °C, the iron aluminate-based materials demonstrate a capacity for hydrogen production greater than 500 μmol g–1 and, as a result, remain viable even under high conversion conditions (i.e., pO 2 < 500 : 1 H 2 O : H 2 ), exceeding the hydrogen yields of ceria and two attractive perovskite candidates following a 400 °C (or less) temperature swing. Isothermal water splitting using iron aluminate-based materials opens the door for more simple, robust, and efficient production of renewable hydrogen.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗