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At least 559 records · Page 31

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DOE OSTI2022

Magnetic nanostructures and composites for millimeter wave absorption

A product includes a nanostructure having a core and a shell. The core has a coercive field of at least 3 kOe and the shell has a saturation magnetization of at least 50 emu per gram. A product includes a nanostructure having a core and a shell. The shell has a coercive field of at least 3 kOe and the core has a saturation magnetization of at least 50 emu per gram. A method includes forming core/shell nanostructures and forming millimeter wave absorbers including the core/shell nanostructures and a support structure.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2023

Nanostructured electrode for energy storage device

Disclosed herein is electrode comprising a current collector comprising a conductor layer having at least a first surface; and elongated metal carbide nanostructures extending from the first surface; and a carbonaceous energy storage media disposed on the first surface and in contact with the elongated metal carbide nanostructures. Disclosed herein too is an ultracapacitor comprising at least one electrode comprising a current collector comprising a conductor layer having at least a first surface; and elongated metal carbide nanostructures extending from the first surface; and a carbonaceous energy storage media disposed on the first surface and in contact with the elongated metal carbide nanostructures.

Brambilla, Nicolò Michele↗

DOE OSTI2024

Nanostructured electrode for energy storage device

Brambilla, Nicolo Michele↗

DOE OSTI2023

Cocontinuous Nanostructures by Microphase Separation of Statistically Cross-Linked Polystyrene/Poly(2-vinylpyridine) Networks

Cocontinuous polymeric nanostructures have drawn considerable attention due to their ability to combine distinct, percolation-dependent properties of two different polymer domains. Randomly end-linked copolymer networks (RECNs) have previously been shown to support the formation of disordered cocontinuous nanostructures across wide composition windows in a robust way. However, achieving highly efficient linking of telechelic polymers with excellent end-group fidelity often requires complex synthetic routes. As an alternative, we study here statistically cross-linked copolymer networks (SCCNs) composed of polystyrene and poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PS and P2VP) with cross-linkable allyl pendent groups that are conveniently synthesized by controlled radical copolymerization. Via selective extraction of P2VP, coupled with gravimetry, small-angle X-ray scattering, and electron microscopy, we find disordered cocontinuous phases across wide composition ranges (up to ≈ 35 wt %), approaching values previously determined for RECNs. Remarkably, even for samples that appear to exhibit full percolation, a substantial fraction of P2VP (≈ 20–30 wt %) cannot be removed, which we ascribe to short strands between nearby cross-linkers that are physically embedded within PS domains. Here, the resulting PS porous monoliths with residual surface P2VP layers enable facile surface modification to resist protein adsorption and templating of porous gold nanostructures.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2016

Kinetically Controlled Synthesis of Pt-Based One-Dimensional Hierarchically Porous Nanostructures with Large Mesopores as Highly Efficient ORR Catalysts

Rational design and construction of Pt-based porous nanostructures with large mesopores have triggered significant considerations because of their high surface area and more efficient mass transport. Hydrochloric acid-induced kinetic reduction of metal precursors in the presence of soft template F-127 and hard template tellurium nanowires has been successfully demonstrated to construct one-dimensional hierarchical porous PtCu alloy nanostructures with large mesopores. Furthermore, the electrochemical experiments demonstrated that the resultant PtCu hierarchically porous nanostructures with optimized composition exhibit enhanced electrocatalytic performance for oxygen reduction reaction.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2018

Surface Engineering of Nanostructured Energy Materials

All nanostructures share a common feature of large surface-to-volume ratio, which makes surface engineering a vital tool for exploring their new and important applications in many different areas. Particularly, inorganic nanostructures represent a class of intriguing catalysts that can find wide uses in energy conversion, energy storage, and environmental remediation. In this work, a number of surface engineering strategies, including morphology control, defect incorporation, and interface manipulation for tailoring the shape, facet, defect, interfacial property, and composition of nanostructures, aiming at controlling the chemical and physical properties such as energy bandgap and surface energy toward great enhancement in catalytic performance, are discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2020

Insights into the Nanostructure, Solvation, and Dynamics of Liquid Electrolytes through Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering

The fundamental understanding of nanostructures of liquid electrolytes is expected to enable transformative gains in electrochemical energy storage capacities. However, the solvation structures and molecular dynamics in electrolytes are hard to probe, which limits further performance improvements in macroscopic properties such as ionic conductivity, viscosity, and stability. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), a non-destructive method for nanostructures characterization in liquids, offers a unique perspective on molecular clusters, anion-cation pairs, solvation sheath, percolating network, aggregates, and domain sizes of electrolytes. Notably, the SAXS method has excellent time-resolution, enabling the study of molecular dynamics by operando characterization. This review focuses on the microscopic understanding of liquid electrolytes by SAXS and operando SAXS. The unique capabilities of X-ray scattering for intra- and inter-molecular relationship and nanostructure characterization of electrolytes are highlighted.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2017

Highly Porous Thermoelectric Nanocomposites with Low Thermal Conductivity and High Figure of Merit from Large-Scale Solution-Synthesized Bi 2 Te 2.5 Se 0.5 Hollow Nanostructures

To enhance the performance of thermoelectric materials and enable access to their widespread applications, it is beneficial yet challenging to synthesize hollow nanostructures in large quantities, with high porosity, low thermal conductivity (κ) and excellent figure of merit ($z$T). Herein we report a scalable (ca. 11.0 g per batch) and low-temperature colloidal processing route for Bi 2 Te 2.5 Se 0.5 hollow nanostructures. They are sintered into porous, bulk nanocomposites (phi 10 mm×h 10 mm) with low κ (0.48 W m -1 K -1 ) and the highest z T (1.18) among state-of-the-art Bi 2 Te 3-x Se x materilas. Additional benefits of the unprecedented low relative density (68–77 %) are the large demand reduction of raw materials and the improved portability. This method can be adopted to fabricate other porous phase-transition and thermoelectric chalcogenide materials and will pave the way for the implementation of hollow nanostructures in other fields.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2023

Spatiotemporal Control over Polynucleotide Brush Growth on DNA Origami Nanostructures

DNA nanotechnology provides an approach to create precise, tunable, and biocompatible nanostructures for biomedical applications. However, the stability of these structures is severely compromised in biological milieu due to their fast degradation by nucleases. Recently, we showed how enzymatic polymerization could be harnessed to grow polynucleotide brushes of tunable length and location on the surface of DNA origami nanostructures, which greatly enhances their nuclease stability. Here, in this study, we report on strategies that allow for both spatial and temporal control over polymerization through activatable initiation, cleavage, and regeneration of polynucleotide brushes using restriction enzymes. The ability to site‐specifically decorate DNA origami nanostructures with polynucleotide brushes in a spatiotemporally controlled way provides access to “smart” functionalized DNA architectures with potential applications in drug delivery and supramolecular assembly.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2018

Investigation of Transport Parameters of Graphene-Based Nanostructures

The paper presents results of computer simulation of the main transport parameters of nanostructures obtained through the row-by-row removal of carbon atoms from graphene ribbon. Research into the electrical parameters is carried out within the density functional theory using the non-equilibrium Green functions in the local-density approximation. Virtual NanoLab based on Atomistix ToolKit is used to construct structures and analyze simulation results. Current-voltage characteristics, differential conductivity and transmittance spectra of nanostructures are calculated at different values of bias voltage. It is found that there is a large region of negative differential resistance in current-voltage characteristics of nanostructures caused by resonant tunneling of quasi-particles. Differential (dI/dV) characteristic also has similar changes. The obtained results can be useful for building novel electronic devices in the field of nanoelectronics.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2014

Controlled Growth of Ordered III-Nitride Core-Shell Nanostructure Arrays for Visible Optoelectronic Devices

In our paper, we demonstrate the growth of ordered arrays of nonpolar {101 ¯ 0} core–shell nanowalls and semipolar {101 ¯ 1} core–shell pyramidal nanostripes on c-plane (0001) sapphire substrates using selective-area epitaxy and metal organic chemical vapor deposition. The nanostructure arrays are controllably patterned into LED mesa regions, demonstrating a technique to impart secondary lithography features into the arrays. Moreover, we study the dependence of the nanostructure cores on the epitaxial growth conditions and show that the geometry and morphology are strongly influenced by growth temperature, V/III ratio, and pulse interruption time. We also demonstrate the growth of InGaN quantum well shells on the nanostructures and characterize the structures by using micro-photoluminescence and cross-section scanning tunneling electron microscopy.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2013

Mechanical alloying of lanthana-bearing nanostructured ferritic steels

A novel nanostructured ferritic steel powder with the nominal composition Fe–14Cr–1Ti–0.3Mo–0.5La2O3 (wt.%) was developed via high energy ball milling. La2O3 was added to this alloy instead of the traditionally used Y2O3. The effects of varying the ball milling parameters, such as milling time, steel ball size and ball to powder ratio, on the mechanical properties and micro structural characteristics of the as-milled powder were investigated. Nanocrystallites of a body-centered cubic ferritic solid solution matrix with a mean size of approximately 20 nm were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Nanoscale characterization of the as-milled powder by local electrode atom probe tomography revealed the formation of Cr–Ti–La–O-enriched nanoclusters during mechanical alloying. The Cr:Ti:La:O ratio is considered “non-stoichiometric”. The average size (radius) of the nanoclusters was about 1 nm, with number density of 3.7 1024 m3. The mechanism for formation of nanoclusters in the as-milled powder is discussed. La2O3 appears to be a promising alternative rare earth oxide for future nanostructured ferritic steels.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2020

Large-area nanostructured surfaces with tunable zeta potentials

Through a refined fabrication protocol based on block-copolymer self-assembly we synthesize nanostructured surfaces with conical nanopillars of different height (60, 120, and 200 nm) in hexagonal arrays with uniform spacing (~50 nm) over large areas (>cm 2 ). While the nanostructured surfaces fabricated on silicon substrates display superhydrophilic behavior, superhydrophobic properties are attained by coating with octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS). Negative zeta potentials for all the studied surfaces are reported by electrokinetic flow measurements with aqueous KCl solutions at different concentrations (1 and 10 mM) and pH values between 4 and 8. While the surface nanostructure reduces the zeta potential magnitude, the hydrophobic OTS coating enhances it. Experimental results can be accounted for by a site-dissociation model for the surface charge density. The reported wetting properties and zeta potential tunability makes the studied surfaces particularly relevant for applications such as energy conversion and storage, membrane-based water treatment and molecular separation.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2025

High-temperature nanoindentation creep studies on castable and sintered nanostructured low-activation ferritic-martensitic alloys

In this article, we present the creep characteristics of two reduced activation ferritic-martensitic steels of identical starting compositions formed by different fabrication routes: a nanostructured ferritic alloy commonly referred to as a castable nanostructured alloy (CNA) and a sintered nanostructured alloy (SNA) variant. Through a series of nanoindentation experiments spanning a temperature range of 25 °C to 650 °C, with a maximum load of 100 mN, we find creep behaviors in the cast and sintered materials to be remarkably similar. The creep stress exponent (n) for CNA and SNA were found to be in the range of 8–35 and the activation volume was ∼14–42b 3 , underscoring a dominance of dislocation-mediated mechanisms in both alloys. Notably, we observed a decline in the creep stress exponent with increasing temperature, attributable to the heightened influence of thermally activated dislocations. This phenomenon suggests a potential transition in the deformation mechanism towards a thermally activated dislocation climb process, significantly impacting the observed creep behavior.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2011

Effects of surfactants on morphology in synthesis of {alpha}-Mn{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanostructures

Cubic and chain-like structure of {alpha}-Mn{sub 2}O{sub 3} with a high surface area was prepared by air oxidation of manganese chloride through sol process by adding hexamine and mercaptosuccinic acid as wetting agent, respectively. The as-synthesized products were characterized with X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The possible formation mechanism of {alpha}-Mn{sub 2}O{sub 3} cubic and chain-like nanostructures has been proposed and discussed. -- Graphical abstract: Cubic and chain-like nanostructure of {alpha}-Mn{sub 2}O{sub 3} has been synthesized by air oxidation of manganese chloride as precursor, hexamine, and mercaptosuccinic acid as wetting agent, respectively. Display Omitted Research highlights: {yields} Cubic nanostructure of {alpha}-Mn{sub 2}O{sub 3} is obtained using hexamine as surfactant. {yields} Chain-like structure of {alpha}-Mn{sub 2}O{sub 3} is obtained using mercaptosuccinic acid as surfactant. {yields} The linking nature of mercaptosuccinic acid is proved. {yields} Mercaptosuccinic acid accelerates the growth of material.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2011

Surfactant-assisted hydrothermal crystallization of nanostructured lithium metasilicate (Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3}) hollow spheres: (I) Synthesis, structural and microstructural characterization

Lithium metasilicate (Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3}) was successfully synthesized using a hydrothermal process in the presence of different surfactants with cationic, non-ionic and anionic characters. The samples obtained were compared to a sample prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction method. The structural and microstructural characterizations of different Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3} powders were performed using various techniques. Diffraction analyses revealed the successful crystallization of pure Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3} single phase by hydrothermal technique, even without further heat-treatments and independent of the surfactant used. Electron microscopy analyses revealed that Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3} powders were composed of uniform micrometric particles with a hollow sphere morphology and nanostructured walls. Finally, different thermal analyses showed that Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3} samples preserved their structure and microstructure after further thermal treatments. Specific aspects regarding the formation mechanism of the spherical aggregates under hydrothermal conditions are discussed, and there is a special emphasis on the effect of the synthesis pathway on the morphological characteristics. -- Graphical abstract: Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3} was synthesized using a hydrothermal process in the presence of different surfactants. Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3} powders were composed of uniform micrometric particles with a hollow sphere morphology and nanostructured walls. Display Omitted Highlights: {yields} Pure Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3} was synthesized by the hydrothermal method. {yields} Surfactant addition produced microstructural and morphological variations. {yields} TEM reveled the generation of nanostructured hollow spheres.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2013

Large scale synthesis of nanostructured zirconia-based compounds from freeze-dried precursors

Nanocrystalline zirconia powders have been obtained at the multigram scale by thermal decomposition of precursors resulting from the freeze-drying of aqueous acetic solutions. This technique has equally made possible to synthesize a variety of nanostructured yttria or scandia doped zirconia compositions. SEM images, as well as the analysis of the XRD patterns, show the nanoparticulated character of those solids obtained at low temperature, with typical particle size in the 10-15 nm range when prepared at 673 K. The presence of the monoclinic, the tetragonal or both phases depends on the temperature of the thermal treatment, the doping concentration and the nature of the dopant. In addition, Rietveld refinement of the XRD profiles of selected samples allows detecting the coexistence of the tetragonal and the cubic phases for high doping concentration and high thermal treatment temperatures. Raman experiments suggest the presence of both phases also at relatively low treatment temperatures. - Graphical abstract: Zr{sub 1-x}A{sub x}O{sub 2-x/2} (A=Y, Sc; 0{<=}x{<=}0.12) solid solutions have been prepared as nanostructured powders by thermal decomposition of precursors obtained by freeze-drying, and this synthetic procedure has been scaled up to the 100 g scale. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Zr{sub 1-x}A{sub x}O{sub 2-x/2} (A=Y, Sc; 0{<=}x{<=}0.12) solid solutions have been prepared as nanostructured powders. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The synthetic method involves the thermal decomposition of precursors obtained by freeze-drying. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The temperature of the thermal treatment controls particle sizes. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The preparation procedure has been scaled up to the 100 g scale. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer This method is appropriate for the large-scale industrial preparation of multimetallic systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2014

Growth of oriented vanadium pentaoxide nanostructures on transparent conducting substrates and their applications in photocatalysis

A novel, hydrothermal and hard-template-free method was developed for the first time to grow oriented, single-crystalline monoclinic VO{sub 2} (B) flower-like nanorod films on transparent conductive fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates. The length and morphology of the nanorods can be tuned by changing the growth parameters, such as growth time and initial precursor concentration. The flower-like V{sub 2}O{sub 5} films were obtained after post-calcination treatment of VO{sub 2} (B) films. The photocatalytic activity of V{sub 2}O{sub 5} films was investigated by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV and visible light. The prepared V{sub 2}O{sub 5} film exhibited good photocatalytic performance (74.6% and 63% under UV and visible light for 210 min, respectively) and more practical application in industry. - Graphical abstract: Flower nanostructured vanadium oxide film was prepared by hydrothermal reaction for photocatalysis application. - Highlights: • Monoclinic VO{sub 2} nanorod array and flower-like nanostructure were directly grown on FTO substrate by hydrothermal reaction. • The growth mechanism was analyzed by FESEM at different time. • V{sub 2}O{sub 5} flower-like nanostructure film was obtained after calcining VO{sub 2} film. • V{sub 2}O{sub 5} film exhibited good light activity and potential application in photocatalysis.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗