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Results for “Liquid crystals”

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.

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At least 541 records · Page 30
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

In Liquid Infrared Scattering Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy for Chemical and Biological Nanoimaging

Imaging biological systems with simultaneous intrinsic chemical specificity and nanometer spatial resolution in their typical native liquid environment has remained a long-standing challenge. In this paper we demonstrate a general approach of chemical nanoimaging in liquid based on infrared scattering scanning near-field optical microscopy (IR $s$-SNOM). It is enabled by combining AFM operation in a fluid cell with evanescent IR illumination via total internal reflection, which provides spatially confined excitation for minimized IR water absorption, reduced far-field background, and enhanced directional signal emission and sensitivity. We demonstrate in-liquid IR $s$-SNOM vibrational nanoimaging and conformational identification of catalase nano-crystals and spatio-spectral analysis of biomimetic peptoid sheets with monolayer sensitivity and chemical specificity at the few zeptomole level. This work establishes the principles of in-liquid and in-situ IR $s$-SNOM spectroscopic chemical nano-imaging and its general applicability to biomolecular, cellular, catalytic, electrochemical, or other interfaces and nano-systems in liquids or solutions.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Use of Frit‐Disc Crucible Sets to Make Solution Growth More Quantitative and Versatile

The recent availability of step‐edge, frit‐disc crucible sets (generally sold as Canfield Crucible Sets or CCS) has led to multiple innovations associated with the group's use of solution growth. The use of CCS allows for the clean separation of liquid from solid phases during the growth process. This clean separation enables the reuse of the decanted liquid, either allowing for simple, economic, savings associated with recycling expensive precursor elements or allowing for the fractionation of a growth into multiple, small steps, revealing the progression of multiple solidifications. Clean separation of liquid from solid phases also allows for the determination of the liquidus line (or surface) and the creation, or correction, of composition–temperature phase diagrams. The reuse of clean decanted liquid has also allowed to prepare liquids ideally suited for the growth of large single crystals of specific phases by tuning the composition of the melt to the optimal composition for growth of the desired phase, often with reduced nucleation sites. Finally, it is discussed how solution growth and CCS use can be harnessed to provide a plethora of composition–temperature data points defining liquidus lines or surfaces with differing degrees of precision to either test or anchor artificial intelligence and/or machine‐learning‐based attempts to augment and extend the limited experimentally determined database.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Near-Threshold Photoemission from Graphene-Coated Cu(110)

In this article, the brightness of electron beams emitted from photocathode sources plays a critical role in determining the performance of x-ray free-electron lasers and ultrafast electron-diffraction applications. In order to achieve the maximum brightness, the electrons need to be emitted from a photocathode with the lowest-possible mean transverse energy (MTE). Recent investigations have shown that capping a Cu(110) photocathode with a monolayer of graphene can protect the quantum efficiency (QE) from long-term exposure to varying vacuum conditions. However, there have been no studies that investigate the effects that a monolayer of graphene has on the MTE. Here, we report on measurements of a graphene-coated Cu(110) single crystal near the photoemission threshold for room and liquid-nitrogen temperatures. At room temperature, a minimum MTE of 25 meV is measured at 295 nm. At liquid-nitrogen temperatures, a minimum MTE of 9 meV is measured at the photoemission threshold of 290 nm.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Toward a neutrino-limited dark matter search with crystalline xenon

Experiments searching for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter are now detecting background events from solar neutrino-electron scattering. However, the dominant radioactive background in state-of-the-art experiments such as LZ and XENONnT is beta decays from radon contamination. In spite of careful detector material screening, radon progenitor atoms are ubiquitous and long-lived, and radon is extremely soluble in liquid xenon. We propose a change of phase and demonstrate that crystalline xenon offers more than a factor × 500 exclusion against radon ingress, compared with the liquid state. This level of radon exclusion would allow crystallized versions of existing experiments to probe spin-independent cross sections near 10 − 47 cm 2 in roughly 11 years, as opposed to the 35 years required otherwise. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Orbital correlations in ultrathin films of late transition metals

We develop a two-orbital Hubbard model of electron correlations in ultrathin (111)-oriented fcc films of late transition metals such as Co and Ni. Our model indicates that the Mott-Hund’s interaction results in ferromagnetic nearest-neighbor orbital correlations. Frustration associated with the mismatch between orbital and crystal symmetries prevents orbital ordering, resulting in the orbital liquid state. This state can be manifested in phenomena involving spin-orbit coupling, such as magnetic anisotropy.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Bayesian force fields from active learning for simulation of inter-dimensional transformation of stanene

Abstract We present a way to dramatically accelerate Gaussian process models for interatomic force fields based on many-body kernels by mapping both forces and uncertainties onto functions of low-dimensional features. This allows for automated active learning of models combining near-quantum accuracy, built-in uncertainty, and constant cost of evaluation that is comparable to classical analytical models, capable of simulating millions of atoms. Using this approach, we perform large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of the stability of the stanene monolayer. We discover an unusual phase transformation mechanism of 2D stanene, where ripples lead to nucleation of bilayer defects, densification into a disordered multilayer structure, followed by formation of bulk liquid at high temperature or nucleation and growth of the 3D bcc crystal at low temperature. The presented method opens possibilities for rapid development of fast accurate uncertainty-aware models for simulating long-time large-scale dynamics of complex materials.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2021

Quasi-One-Dimensional Structure and Possible Helical Antiferromagnetism of RbMn 6 Bi 5

Quasi-one-dimensional materials exhibit not only unique crystal structure but also abundant physical properties such as charge density wave, Luttinger liquid, and superconductivity. In this study, we report the discovery, structure, and physical properties of a new manganese-based quasi-one-dimensional material RbMn 6 Bi 5 , which crystallizes in a monoclinic space group C 2/ m (No. 12) with lattice parameters a = 23.286(5) Å, b = 4.6215(9) Å, c = 13.631(3) Å, and β = 125.00(3)°. The structure features [Mn 6 Bi 5 ] –1 double-walled column extending along the [010] direction, together with Bi–Bi homoatomic bonds linking the columns and the countercation Rb + . The temperature-dependent resistivity clearly indicates a significant resistivity anisotropy for RbMn 6 Bi 5 , whereas the magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements show that RbMn 6 Bi 5 is antiferromagnetic below 82 K. The density functional theory calculations indicate that RbMn 6 Bi 5 is a quasi-one-dimensional metal with possible helical antiferromagnetic configuration. The discovery of RbMn 6 Bi 5 confirms the viability of discovering new quasi-one-dimensional materials in manganese-based compounds.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

High-fidelity topochemical polymerization in single crystals, polycrystals, and solution aggregates

Topochemical polymerization (TCP) emerges as a leading approach for synthesizing single crystalline polymers, but is traditionally restricted to transformations in solid-medium. The complexity in achieving single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformations due to lattice disparities and the untapped potential of performing TCP in a liquid medium with solid-state structural fidelity present unsolved challenges. Herein, by using X-rays as the primary means to overcome crystal disintegration, we reveal the details of SCSC transformation during the TCP of chiral azaquinodimethane (AQM) monomers through in situ crystallographic analysis while spotlighting a rare metastable crystalline phase. Complementary in situ investigations of powders and thin films provide critical insights into the side-chain dependent polymerization kinetics of solid-state reactions. Furthermore, we enable TCP of AQM monomers in a liquid medium via an antisolvent-reinforced aggregated state, yielding polymer nanofibers with high crystallinity akin to that of solid-state. This study testifies high structural precision of TCP performed in different states and media, offering critical insights into the synthesis of processable nanostructured polymers with desired structural integrity.

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

Synthesis, disorder and Ising anisotropy in a new spin liquid candidate PrMgAl 11 O 19

Here we report the successful synthesis of large single crystals of triangular frustrated PrMgAl 11 O 19 using the optical floating zone technique. Single crystal x-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements unveiled the presence of quenched disorder within the mirror plane, specifically ~7% of Pr ions deviating from the ideal 2d site towards the 6h site. Magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed an Ising anisotropy with the c-axis being the easy axis. Despite a large spin–spin interaction that develops below ~10 K and considerable site disorder, the spins do not order or freeze down to at least 50 mK. The availability of large single crystals offers a distinct opportunity to investigate the exotic magnetic state on a triangular lattice with an easy axis out of the plane.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Iron isotope fractionation between solid and liquid metal in the Fe-P±Ni system: Experimental constraints and implications for meteorites

Iron meteorites record a range of Fe isotope compositions that hold valuable information regarding the evolution of their parent bodies. Interpreting this isotopic variability, however, requires experimental constraints on the equilibrium isotope fractionation between phases. It is thought that the cores of many iron meteorite parent bodies experienced fractional crystallization, during which crystallization of solid iron-nickel occurs from an increasingly non-metal-rich liquid alloy. Phosphorus is one component of this alloy, and this study provides the first constraints on Fe-isotope fractionation between solid and liquid alloys in the Fe-Ni-P system. Experiments comprising Fe and P show a clear enrichment in the light isotopes of Fe in the liquid phase, which increases with the amount of phosphorus. Nickel-bearing samples are offset from the trend defined by Ni-free experiments, which is accounted for by the change in the solid alloy phase from a body-centered cubic to face-centered cubic structure upon the addition of Ni. The increasing light isotope enrichment of the liquid with increasing P content suggests interstitial solution of P, which is known to lengthen Fe-Fe bonds in Fe-P liquids (Waseda and Shiraishi 1977). Results suggest a negligible effect of P on Fe isotope fractionation during planetesimal core crystallization. Iron isotopes may, however, prove useful for identifying the petrogenesis of schreibersite in pallasites and iron meteorites.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Interface velocity dependent solute trapping and phase selection during rapid solidification of laser melted hypo-eutectic Al-11at.%Cu alloy

Microstructure formation of a hypo-eutectic Al-11Cu (atom percent) alloy during solidification after laser melting has been studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The evolution of the solid-liquid-interface velocity, V SL , during the solidification process has been determined from direct observation by in-situ TEM. This enabled correlating V SL with development of four distinct microstructure zones. Crystal growth mode transitions from planar to cellular, cellular to dendritic, dendritic to cellular, and cellular to planar, have been observed for the accelerating solid-liquid-interface. The transition from coupled two-phase growth to the single-phase growth occurred for V SL = V a = (0.80±0.05) m/s, where V a is the velocity of absolute stability, at the onset of banded morphology grain formation. The in-situ and post-mortem TEM uniquely permitted determination of the non-equilibrium solidus for the rapidly solidifying Al-11Cu alloy. Experimental evidence for solute clustering and chemical ordering tendencies at length scales on the order of ≤ 5nm has been detected in the single-phase regions of the banded grains. The structural features of the single-phase bands have been interpreted as signatures of ‘frozen in’ configurations present in the liquid boundary layer adjacent to the growing crystal, which has a width of about 3nm. Finally, the nano-scale spatiotemporal resolution experimental TEM studies performed here provided quantitative metrics, e.g. the solidification interface velocity dependent solute concentration of the α-Al phase and the near-atomic scale structure in the single-phase bands, that are uniquely suitable for comparison with theory and model predictions for solidification microstructure development in multicomponent alloys after laser melting.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Improved liquid lithium surfaces in the Lithium Tokamak Experiment-β

Advances in vacuum, surface, and lithium conditioning techniques throughout five years of continuous operations in LTX-β have produced mirror-like liquid lithium surfaces and demonstrated the feasibility of high-performance tokamak discharges fully surrounded by liquid metal without significant operational problems. Improvements in conditioning techniques and procedures, including many weeks of baking and accumulation of 70 g of Li, led to reduced residual gasses and clean Li surfaces - all while still maintaining enough operational flexibility for multiple in-vacuum diagnostic upgrades and calibrations. Coatings had a visibly clean appearance, with reflective liquid metal demonstrating good wetting and surface adhesion with films that were now macroscopically thick. Solidified Li showed large crystal grains, while surface science measurements observed reduced impurities in the lithium. Steadily improved plasma performance was achieved with liquid lithium, with discharges able to match solid Li in terms of evolution of I p and n e , including rapid density pumping indicating low recycling. There were indications of moderately increased Li impurity influx, though few significant disturbances by the large liquid surfaces on tokamak operations over hundreds of discharges. Liquid metal plasma facing components are a potential solution to the extreme heat and particle fluxes that could cause unacceptable damage to solid materials, while liquid lithium also has the potential for greatly increased confinement in the low-recycling regime. While many liquid metal approaches are possible, and numerous experiments have been conducted in test stands and small modules in fusion devices, LTX-β is the only tokamak operated while fully surrounded by liquid metal.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Molecular Reaction Imaging of a Surface Recombination Process Explains Performance Variation Among Smooth MoS 2 Photoelectrodes

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD) such as WSe 2 and MoS 2 are highly efficient and stable light absorbers in TMD∣I − ,I 3 − ∣Pt liquid junction solar cells. It is generally accepted that TMD crystals with a large fraction of exposed edge sites exhibit lower power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) than apparently smooth crystals. However, one open question is why does the PCE vary significantly from one crystal to another? Answering this critical question could lead to robust syntheses for high quality and uniform TMD samples. In this work, we apply nanoscale photoelectrochemical microscopy techniques to study n-type TMD nanoflake∣I − ,I 3 − ∣Pt cells. Using a combination of near-diffraction-limited photocurrent mapping and molecular reaction imaging techniques, we reveal a previously hidden surface recombination process: photogenerated holes in hidden p-type domains travel micron-scale distances parallel to the solid/liquid interface and preferentially react with iodide at step-edges. The overall efficiency of the nanoflake, as evidenced from whole nanoflake-level photoelectrochemical measurements, is dictated by the size, efficiency, and location of n- and p-type domains. Furthermore, these results provide a unifying view of efficiency losses in smooth TMD photoelectrodes and open the possibility to design electrode architectures that leverage the long-range lateral charge transport property for photoelectrocatalysis.

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

In Situ Alloying Enabled by Active Liquid Metal Filler for Self‐Healing Composite Polymer Electrolytes

Abstract Solid inorganics, known for kinetically inhibiting polymer crystallization and enhancing ionic conductivity, have attracted significant attention in solid polymer electrolytes. However, current composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) are still facing challenges in Li metal batteries, falling short of inhibiting severe dendritic growth and resulting in very limited cycling life. This study introduces Ga 62.5 In 21.5 Sn 16 (Galinstan) liquid metal (LM) as an active liquid alternative to conventional passive solid fillers, aiming at realizing self‐healing protection against dendrite problems. Compared to solid inorganics, for example silica, LM droplets could more significantly reduce polymer crystallinity and enhance Li‐ion conductivity due to their liquid nature, especially at temperatures below the polymer melting point. More importantly, LMs are unraveled as dynamic chemical traps, which are capable of blocking and consuming lithium dendrites upon contact via in situ alloying during battery operation and further inhibiting dendritic growth due to the lower deposition energy barrier of the formed Li‐LM alloy. As a proof of concept, by strategically designing an asymmetric CPE with the active LM filling, a solid‐state Li/LiFePO 4 battery achieves promising full‐cell functionality with notable rate performance and stable cycle life. This active filler‐mediated self‐healing approach could bring new insights into the battery design in versatile solid‐state systems.

Wu, Kai↗
DOE OSTI2026

Magnetosynthesis Effect on the Structure and Ground State of Cu 2+ -Based Antiferromagnets

Synthetic variables can have an outsized influence on the crystal structure and magnetic properties of a material, particularly those of quantum materials. In this work, we investigate the impact of synthesis under a magnetic field (magnetosynthesis) on the crystal structure and magnetic properties of several Cu 2+ (S = 1/2)-based materials with antiferromagnetic interactions and varying levels of magnetic frustration, from simple antiferromagnets to a quantum spin liquid. Here, we develop methods to apply small (0.09–0.37 T) magnetic fields during low-temperature hydrothermal, evaporative, and rehydration syntheses of the simple antiferromagnet CuCl 2 ·2H 2 O, the canted antiferromagnet (Cu,Zn) 3 Cl 4 (OH) 2 ·2H 2 O, the frustrated and canted antiferromagnet atacamite Cu 2 (OH) 3 Cl, and the highly frustrated quantum spin liquid herbertsmithite Cu 3 Zn(OH) 6 Cl 2 . We report the first single-crystal X-ray structural determination of the Cu 3 Cl 4 (OH) 2 ·2H 2 O structure type and probe the stability of this phase both experimentally and computationally. Atacamite Cu 2 (OH) 3 Cl synthesized under a 0.19 T field experiences a 0.15 K (∼3%) decrease in its Néel transition temperature. This result suggests that magnetosynthesis with small applied fields may have a very subtle influence upon the magnetic properties of moderately magnetically frustrated 3 d materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Ice-slurry production for solar-ice systems using supercooling with an in-stream crystallizer

Using ice slurry produced from supercooled water with an in-stream crystallizer opens a new path for solarice systems, increasing efficiency and reducing investment cost compared to ice-on-coil systems. Power needs are decoupled from the stored energy since the heat exchangers are not evenly distributed in the ice storage vessel but directly placed as the heat pump evaporator, which depends on the heat pump capacity and not on the ice storage volume. The novel ice storage design can serve as a heat source for a heat pump, where its evaporator is used to supercool water below 0 °C, or for refrigeration. The supercooled water at a temperature around −2 °C, maintained in a meta-stable liquid state, is triggered to nucleate in an in-stream crystallizer. The current design of the ice crystallizer allows for continuous operation of the system and scalability. Experimental results obtained with a gasketed plate heat exchanger used to supercool water and an in-stream crystallizer operated at a power of up to 6.5 kW are presented.

Thamm, Ann-Katrin↗
DOE OSTI2024

Structural Distortions and Short‐Range Magnetism in a Honeycomb Iridate Cu 3 ZnIr 2 O 6

Layered honeycomb iridates receive significant attention in the materials chemistry and physics fields due to the relevance of their crystal structures to the Kitaev model of a quantum spin liquid (QSL). In quest of liquid‐like magnetic ground state signatures, first‐generation alkali metal iridates A 2 IrO 3 ≡ A 3 [AIr 2 ]O 6 (A = Li, Na) and second‐generation iridates T 3 [AIr 2 ]O 6 ( T = Cu, Ag, H) are developed. T 3 [AIr 2 ]O 6 is synthesized from A 3 [AIr 2 ]O 6 via metathesis reactions replacing alkali ions located between honeycomb layers. Herein, the next level of chemical and structural complexity is introduced by synthesizing the honeycomb iridate, Cu 3 ZnIr 2 O 6 , in which alkali ions between and within the honeycomb layers are both selectively exchanged with two different transition metals. Analysis of powder X‐Ray diffraction data reveals corrugation of the honeycomb layers in Cu 3 ZnIr 2 O 6 that hinders complete magnetic frustration and results in a spin glass behavior observed from magnetization and specific heat data. Thus, Cu 3 ZnIr 2 O 6 represents yet another model, which broadens understanding of intricate relationships between intralayer distortions and magnetism of prospective Kitaev QSL compounds.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Measurement of Compton Scattering at MAMI for the Extraction of the Electric and Magnetic Polarizabilities of the Proton

A precise measurement of the differential cross sections dσ/dΩ and the linearly polarized photon beam asymmetry Σ 3 for Compton scattering on the proton below pion threshold has been performed with a tagged photon beam and almost 4π detector at the Mainz Microtron. The incident photons were produced by the recently upgraded Glasgow-Mainz photon tagging facility and impinged on a cryogenic liquid hydrogen target, with the scattered photons detected in the Crystal Ball/TAPS setup. Using the highest statistics Compton scattering data ever measured on the proton along with two effective field theories (both covariant baryon and heavy-baryon) and one fixed-t dispersion relation model, constraining the fits with the Baldin sum rule, we have obtained the proton electric and magnetic polarizabilities with unprecedented precision: α E1 = 10.99 ± 0.16 ± 0.47 ± 0.17 ± 0.34, β M1 = 3.14 ± 0.21 ± 0.24 ± 0.20 ± 0.35; in units of 10 -4 fm 3 where the errors are statistical, systematic, spin polarizability dependent, and model dependent.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗