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At least 595 records · Page 33

Linking chemical precursors to the synthesis of erythritol tetranitrate

Erythritol tetranitrate (ETN) is a homemade explosive with high explosive performance which can easily be synthesized using widely available chemical precursors. Ascertaining the manner in which ETN is synthesized and being able to trace the ETN back to its precursor materials may aid in the forensic identification. As a proof of concept, seven different types of ETN were synthesized with laboratory grade materials as well as commercially available chemicals from the hardware store and grocery store. The seven different types of solid ETN and the reaction quenches were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was used to probe the different classes of ETN and reaction quenches. Several PLS-DA models were produced with the seven different types of ETN and quenches having their own classification, ETN and quenches based on their acid source, and ETN and the quenches based on their nitrate source. Regardless of which classification manner was used, there were no differences found between the different types of ETN or their reaction quenches. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that there is inherent variability in the synthesis of ETN making HPLC an unreliable method to determine the source of the synthesis materials. Elemental impurities were measured in seven solid ETN samples and their reaction quenches by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). No differences were discovered between the solid ETN samples, but there were trace metals found in the reaction quenches which were found to be identifiers of the source material.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Native point defects in HgCdTe infrared detector material: Identifying deep centers from first principles

We investigate the native point defects in the long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) detector material Hg0.75Cd0.25Te using a dielectric-dependent hybrid density functional combined with spin–orbit coupling. Characterizing these point defects is essential as they are responsible for intrinsic doping and nonradiative recombination centers in the detector material. The dielectric-dependent hybrid functional allows for an accurate description of the bandgap (Eg) for Hg1−xCdxTe (MCT) over the entire compositional range, a level of accuracy challenging with standard hybrid functionals. Our comprehensive examination of the native point defects confirms that cation vacancies VHg(Cd) are the primary sources of p-type conductivity in the LWIR material given their low defect formation energies and the presence of a shallow acceptor level (−/0) near the valence-band maximum. In addition to the shallow acceptor level, the cation vacancies exhibit a deep charge transition level (2−/−) situated near the midgap, characteristic of nonradiative recombination centers. Our results indicate that Hg interstitial could also be a deep center in the LWIR MCT through a metastable configuration under the Hg-rich growth conditions. While an isolated Te antisite does not show deep levels, the formation of VHg–TeHg defect complex introduces a deep acceptor level within the bandgap.

Physics↗

Precision Agriculture using Networks of Degradable Analytical Sensors (PANDAS) (Final Technical Report)

Precision agriculture, where sensing of soil, environment and crop conditions are used to precisely synchronize inputs (such as water and fertilizer) to crop needs enhances input use efficiency. This can improve yields and farm profitability while mitigating environmental losses, improving soil carbon content and substantially decreasing energy use for food, feed and fuel crops. Unfortunately, farmers are not yet able to harness the full potential of these management technologies as there is a lack of available management information, and there is therefore a need for sensors that are able to economically measure spatio-temporal variability in soil and crop properties of extremely heterogeneous farm fields precisely at high resolution and at low cost. Real-time, in-situ monitoring of agricultural soil conditions is today carried out using devices that limit the total number of nodes that can be used economically to typically one per acre or less. Higher spatio-temporal resolution sensing would enable more precise agricultural input optimization, with significant benefits to the farmer and the environment. In order to address this issue, this project focused on developing additively manufactured, biodegradable, soil sensors with predicted costs of < $\$$1 per unit to monitor crop inputs (such as water and fertilizer) that predictably, harmlessly degrade away into the soil when no longer needed. These sensor nodes should be easy to place, accurately and continuously monitor soil and crop conditions for an entire season, be read remotely using existing farm equipment, require no ongoing maintenance, not impede farm operations and produce no persistent waste. This approach could enable a >100× increase in information density over current solutions for precision farming of row and other crops, and lead to significant reductions in input energy use and provide increased yield for biofuel crops. Over the course of this project the team at the University of Colorado Boulder, University of California Berkeley, and Colorado State University/Kansas State University investigated a wide range of printable biodegradable electronic materials and sensor designs for determining soil moisture and soil nitrate concentration. These efforts expanded the available materials set for printed soil degradable electronic materials, particularly for conductors, enabling high conductivity and stability. Printed soil moisture and nitrate sensors with suitable sensitivity and selectivity were developed and characterized. Low power and passive wireless electronic systems were integrated with the soil sensors, and testing was carried out with completed sensors to understand their functionality under agricultural conditions. Additionally, other sensor types enabled by the biodegradable materials set created during this project, such as soil microbial activity sensors, were also developed and demonstrated. Project outputs include 10 peer reviewed publications, 4 patent applications, 21 technical presentations, 3 PhD thesis, 10 media reports, 8 additional grants worth over $\$$6M, and the formation of 3 start-up companies.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Massive all-atom analysis of 2D materials with quantum properties (Final report)

Improvements in microscopy have enabled the acquisition of data at a scale that is difficult to process manually, making automated machine learning approaches to analyzing experimental images essential. In this project, we developed and applied machine learning (ML) workflows for atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) images. This development included improving both methodology as well as generating user-friendly codes. We developed machine learning architectures which, after training, automatically identify the location and types of defects throughout a material. We used these data to produce class-averaged images of 2D atomic coordinates with up to 0.3 pm precision, uncovering the structure and oscillations of long-range strain fields around point defects in WSe 2-2x Te 2x . We also resolved a long-standing problem in this field in the training of ML models, a lack of labeled experimental data, by developing a cycle-GAN that transformed simulated-generated labeled data into labeled data indistinguishable from experiment and therefore suitable for training. This removed the remaining parts of the ML data processing workflow where human intervention was still critical and therefore a bottleneck to working at scale. Codes have been developed and released for this full machine learning workflow. ML approaches to partially automate STEM acquisition were also developed. Finally we applied ML and other advanced data processing methods to several materials science problems in two-dimensional materials, including studying the evolution of hyperuniformity with defect concentration in WSe2, understanding phase transformations in transition metal dichalcogenides during in-situ heating in the STEM, and exploring how 2D interfaces transform from twisted into aligned structures.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Investigation of defects in melt and solution grown perovskite CsPbBr 3 single crystals

Recently, there has been considerable interest in x-ray and gamma ray detectors with large volume and high energy resolution that operate at room temperature. To improve detector energy resolution, the carrier mobility-lifetime product needs to be increased, and the electronic trap state concentration needs to be minimized. Defect concentrations in the part per billion range can alter the charge transport and carrier recombination lifetime. In this work, thermally stimulated current spectroscopy measurements were systematically carried out in bulk halide perovskite single crystals of CsPbBr 3 over a temperature range of 80–320 K. The origins and trap parameters of CsPbBr 3 crystals from the solution growth and melt growth procedures were determined and compared. Trap concentrations were ranged from 1 × 10 11 to 1 × 10 16 cm –3 . Appreciable detector performance was observed for CsPbBr3 crystals with trap concentrations less than 1 × 10 14 cm –3 . The comparison of spectral responses of crystal samples grown using two different methods shows that, after purification, solution-grown crystals are comparable to melt-grown crystals in terms of low defect concentration and improved detector performance. Finally, for an improved mobility-lifetime product and enhanced spectral response to high energy radiation from fissile materials, trap states in either type of a crystal ingot must be reduced closer to 10 11 cm –3 .

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

High Temperature Erosion In Particle Based CSP Systems

Particle based concentrated solar power plants are increasingly being considered as an alternative to molten salts. Although these particle based systems provide the inherent safety and enhanced lifetime from reduced corrosion compared to molten salt systems, they bring in complexities associated with surface erosion from falling particle impact and sliding motion along the surfaces. Past research on particle related erosion has been limited to high velocity applications and doesn’t necessarily coincide with the operating conditions in CSP systems. In our work, we evaluate characterize the rate of erosion for particles and containment materials at 800ºC. Three different types of erosion resulting from a) impact of solid particles on receiver, particle storage, and heat exchanger walls; b) abrasion erosion from particle sliding motion along walls; and c) attrition erosion as the particles breakdown from particle-to-particle contact and particle-to-wall interactions are evaluated and compared across a varied spectrum of particle and containment material spectrum. From the results, It is noted that temperature plays a key role in the rate of erosion experienced by any material. With the increase in temperature, materials become more ductile and are more readily sheared away from particle impinging or sliding motion. Furthermore, the particles themselves have higher susceptibility to breakdown which also lowers particle thermal absorptance and thus efficiency as heat transfer fluid.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

High Temperature Erosion In Particle Based CSP Systems

Particle based concentrated solar power plants are increasingly being considered as an alternative to molten salts. Although these particle based systems provide the inherent safety and enhanced lifetime from reduced corrosion compared to molten salt systems, they bring in complexities associated with surface erosion from falling particle impact and sliding motion along the surfaces. Past research on particle related erosion has been limited to high velocity applications and doesn’t necessarily coincide with the operating conditions in CSP systems. In our work, we evaluate characterize the rate of erosion for particles and containment materials at 800ºC. Three different types of erosion resulting from a) impact of solid particles on receiver, particle storage, and heat exchanger walls; b) abrasion erosion from particle sliding motion along walls; and c) attrition erosion as the particles breakdown from particle-to-particle contact and particle-to-wall interactions are evaluated and compared across a varied spectrum of particle and containment material spectrum. From the results, It is noted that temperature plays a key role in the rate of erosion experienced by any material. With the increase in temperature, materials become more ductile and are more readily sheared away from particle impinging or sliding motion. Furthermore, the particles themselves have higher susceptibility to breakdown which also lowers particle thermal absorptance and thus efficiency as heat transfer fluid.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Valuation of Surface Coatings in High-Energy Density Lithium-ion Battery Cathode Materials

Artificial barriers, usually with either electrochemically active or inactive coating materials, are deployed on cathode material surfaces to mitigate detrimental side reactions by suppressing direct contact of cathode and electrolyte called surface coatings. These surface coatings are commonly known to increase the wettability of liquid electrolyte and reduce the interfacial charge transfer resistance. An important caveat is the selection of appropriate coating material with appropriate thickness for achieving enhanced electrochemical performance. As modern battery materials are increasingly developed with some type of surface coating, a careful and thorough examination of their role in mitigating the cycle life issues of cathode materials is paramount. Here, this comprehensive review article extensively covers the selection criteria of coating materials based on their chemical and physical properties and electrochemical functionalities. Additionally, the article discusses the concept of critical coating thickness and methods of achieving homogeneous coating architectures that deliver desired performance benefits. Furthermore, this comprehensive article summarizes the recent advancements, effectiveness, necessity of cathode surface coatings and identifies the key aspect of structure-property correlation between coating type/thickness and lithium-ion diffusion through coating layers as the linchpin that validates surface coating approaches especially for high capacity nickel-rich cathodes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Misfit p-type transparent conductive oxide (TCO) films, methods and applications

A p-type transparent conductive oxide (TCO) mixed metal oxide material layer formed upon a substrate has a formula M1xM2yOz generally, CaxCoyOz more specifically, and Ca3Co4O9 most specifically. Embodiments provide that the p-type TCO mixed metal oxide material may be formed absent an epitaxial crystalline relationship with respect to the substrate while using a sol-gel synthesis method that uses a chelating polymer material and not a block copolymer material.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Nuclear Safety [Vol. 30, No. 1, January-March 1989]

Nuclear Safety is a review journal that covers significant developments in the field of nuclear safety. Its scope includes the analysis and control of hazards associated with nuclear energy, operations involving fissionable materials, and the products of nuclear fission and their effects on the environment. Primary emphasis is on safety in reactor design, construction, and operation; however, the safety aspects of the entire fuel cycle, including fuel fabrication, spent-fuel processing, nuclear waste disposal, handling of radioisotopes, and environmental effects of these operations, are also treated. Table of Contents for this issue follows. GENERAL SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS: 1 International Conference on Thermal Reactor Safety: NUCSAFE 88 by A. P. Malinauskas and J. G. Pruett; ACCIDENT ANALYSIS: 18 Chernobyl Today: State of Research by A. Yu. Gagarinskii; CONTROL AND INSTRUMENTATION: 23 Problems Associated with Routine In-Plant Radioactive Effluent Monitoring Systems at U.S. Light-Water Reactors by Barry G. Wahlig, David M. Walker, Mahmoud R. Ghavi, and John M. Palms; DESIGN FEATURES: 34 Twentieth DOE/NRC Nuclear Air-Cleaning Conference by R. R. Bellamy, D. W. Moeller, and M. W. First, 46 Design Options for the Core Support Structure for Liquid-Metal-Cooled Reactor Plants by J. P. Burelbach, W. J. Kann, J. G. Saiveau, and R. W. Seidensticker; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS: 53 The Radiological Consequences of the Chernobyl Accident by L. V. Konstantinov and A. J. González; WASTE AND SPENT FUEL MANAGEMENT: 70 Activities Related to Waste Management Compiled by E. G. Silver; OPERATING EXPERIENCES: 80 Fuel Performance Annual Report for 1986 by W. J. Bailey, 103 Safety Considerations Related to 12-Hour Shift Schedules by S. Gould, 105 Reactor Shutdown Experience Compiled by J. W. Cletcher, 108 Operating U.S. Power Reactors Compiled by E. G. Silver; RECENT DEVELOPMENTS: 130 General Administrative Activities Compiled by E. G. Silver, 140 Reports, Standards, and Safety Guides by D. S. Queener, 145 Status of Power-Reactor Licensing Activities Compiled by E. G. Silver, 153 Proposed Rule Changes as of Sept. 30, 1988; ANNOUNCEMENTS: 69 Northwestern University Short Course on Radiation Safety, 79 International Seminar on Fission Product Transport Processes in Reactor Accidents, 129 Harvard School of Public Health Offers Short Courses, 152 MIT Offers Summer Short Courses on Reactor Safety and Nodal Analysis, 152 Seminar on Use of PCs in Probabilistic Safety Analysis, 157 The Authors, 160 Indexes to Nuclear Safety, Volume 29.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Drive-pressure optimization in ramp-wave compression experiments through differential evolution

Ramp-wave dynamic-compression experiments are used to examine quasi-isentropic loading paths in materials. The gradual and continuous increase in pressure created by ramp waves make these types of experiments ideal for studying nonequilibrium material behavior, such as solidification kinetics. In ramp-wave compression experiments, the input drive pressure to the experimental setup may be exerted through one of a number of different mechanisms (e.g., magnetic fields, gas-gun-driven impactors, or high-energy lasers) and is generally required for simulating such experiments. Yet, regardless of the specific mechanism, this drive pressure cannot be measured directly (measurements are generally taken at a location near the back of the experimental setup through a transparent window), leading to an inverse problem where one must determine the drive pressure at the front of the experimental setup (i.e., the input) that corresponds to the particle velocity (the output) measured near the back of the experimental setup. Furthermore, we solve this inverse problem using a heuristic optimization algorithm, known as differential evolution, coupled with a multiphysics, hydrodynamics code that simulates the compression of the experimental setup. By running many rounds of forward simulations of the experimental setup, our optimization process iteratively searches for a drive pressure that is optimized to closely reproduce the experimentally measured particle velocity near the back of the experimental setup. While our optimization methodology requires a significant number of hydrodynamics simulations to be conducted, many of these can be performed in parallel, which greatly reduces the time cost of our methodology. One novel aspect of our method for determining the drive pressure is that it does not require physical modeling of the drive mechanism and can thus be broadly applied to many types of ramp-compression experiments, regardless of the drive mechanism.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Photoredox Organic Synthesis Employing Heterogeneous Photocatalysts with Emphasis on Halide Perovskite

Abstract Lately, heterogeneous semiconductor materials have been explored as an emerging type of efficient photocatalyst for photoredox organic synthesis. Among these semiconductors, lead halide perovskite materials demonstrate unique properties towards excellent charge separation and charge transfer, extremely long charge carrier migration, high efficiency in visible light absorption, and long excited states lifetimes, etc., as proved in ground‐breaking solar cell applications, garnering necessary merits for an efficient catalytic system for photoredox organic reactions. Here, the latest progress in heterogeneous semiconductor materials towards this endeavor is examined, with particular emphasis on lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) in photocatalytic organic synthesis.

Lin, Yixiong↗

Mitigated Dissimilar Mass Transfer with Aluminized RAFM Steels in Flowing PbLi at 650°C

To evaluate dissimilar material interactions in flowing eutectic Pb-16at. %Li between fusion-relevant materials and to establish a maximum operating temperature of future blanket designs, a series of thermal convection loop (TCL) experiments with flowing PbLi have been conducted. Following a 1000-h, 550°C to 650°C TCL experiment, a thin reaction product was observed on the surface of monolithic, high-purity SiC. To identify the source of the observed dissimilar material interaction and to understand the reaction kinetics, an identical 2000-h TCL exposure was conducted, but less reaction of the SiC specimen was observed. Characterization of the FeCrAlMo (alloy APMT) loop tubing and the PbLi-exposed austenitic stainless steel (SS) assembly parts suggested that the formation of the reaction layer on the surface of the PbLi-exposed SiC did not originate from the coated reduced activation ferritic martensitic (RAFM) steel, but from the dissolved loop materials (liquid metal exposed APMT tubing and type 316 SS fittings). Here, the results, after 2000 h, suggest that the dissimilar material reaction between the Al-coated RAFM steel and the SiC has very slow reaction kinetics within a temperature gradient of 550°C to 650°C.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Effects of Mechanical Recycling on Carbon Fiber-Based Hybrid Composites

Carbon fiber (CF) reinforced composites are high-performing, highly utilized material systems historically used in aerospace. As the cost of CF decreases, other industries, such as automotive and energy generation, seek to adopt CF composites into their applications. A sudden increase in CF demand may create supply chain issues if the adoption happens without scaling up of the CF production. A solution for reducing the reliance on CF is to substitute some portion of the CF content with another fiber type without significantly reducing the material properties. When multiple reinforcing fillers are introduced into a composite system, the materials system is often referred to as a hybrid composite and in this case a CF-based hybrid composite. To further relieve reliance on CF and with sustainable manufacturing becoming more prominent in industry, mechanical recycling can be employed to replace all or a percentage of the virgin material content. Utilizing recycled content in place of virgin content will further aid in reducing the reliance on virgin CF and decrease overall material costs. Here, the effects of utilizing mechanically recycled feedstocks on the mechanical properties of injection molded samples are explored to understand the feasibility of re-manufacturing recycled CF-based hybrid composites. By determining the mechanical properties and mechanisms in which the properties change through varying recycled content, the assessment of how the material will perform in other manufacturing processes can be inferred. As a result, industry will gain better insight into utilizing mechanically recycled feedstocks to reduce their reliance on the CF supply chain.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Kondo interaction of quantum spin Hall edge channels with charge puddles

Under time-reversal symmetry, quantum spin Hall edge channels are protected against elastic backscattering. However, even for samples which exhibit conductance quantization due to the quantum spin Hall effect, reproducible fluctuations shape the quantization plateau when the chemical potential is tuned through the bulk gap. Here, we examine those fluctuations in micron-sized HgTe quantum well devices. By performing temperature- and gate-dependent measurements, we conclude that “charge puddles” in the narrow-gap material have a Kondo-type interaction with the edge channels resulting in the observed conductance fluctuations. Our results provide insight into the underlying mechanisms of scattering in quantum spin Hall edge channels.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Layered polymorph of titanium triiodide

A previously unreported layered spin ½ triangular lattice polymorph of TiI 3 is described, synthesized under 6 GPa of applied pressure at 900 °C, but stable at atmospheric pressure. This air-sensitive material has a CdI 2 -type layered structure (P-3m1 (no. 164), a = 4.012 Å and c = 6.641 Å at 120 K, Z = 1 of Ti 0.667 I 2 ) with an in-plane triangular lattice, related to that of TiI 4 (Ti 0.5 I 2 ). Although the TiI 3 formula is consistent with expectations for a layered honeycomb lattice of spin ½ Ti(III), there appears to be disorder in the crystal structure. Magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity measurements suggest that the material undergoes several low temperature phase transitions.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Analysis of the dependence of critical electric field on semiconductor bandgap

Abstract Understanding of semiconductor breakdown under high electric fields is an important aspect of materials’ properties, particularly for the design of power devices. For decades, a power-law has been used to describe the dependence of material-specific critical electrical field ( $${\mathcal{E}}_{\text{crit}}$$ E crit ) at which the material breaks down and bandgap ( E g ) . The relationship is often used to gauge tradeoffs of emerging materials whose properties haven’t yet been determined. Unfortunately, the reported dependencies of $${\mathcal{E}}_{\text{crit}}$$ E crit on E g cover a surprisingly wide range in the literature. Moreover, $${\mathcal{E}}_{\text{crit}}$$ E crit is a function of material doping. Further, discrepancies arise in $${\mathcal{E}}_{\text{crit}}$$ E crit values owing to differences between punch-through and non-punch-through device structures. We report a new normalization procedure that enables comparison of critical electric field values across materials, doping, and different device types. An extensive examination of numerous references reveals that the dependence $${\mathcal{E}}_{\text{crit}}$$ E crit ∝ E g 1.83 best fits the most reliable and newest data for both direct and indirect semiconductors. Graphical abstract

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The molten salt tritium transport experiment: A pumped fluoride salt loop for hydrogen isotope experimentation

Molten salt reactors (MSRs) and fusion reactors propose to use molten salts as coolants and breeder blanket materials, respectively. Tritium, however, poses safety concerns in both reactor types due to its ability to permeate through reactor materials and potential for environmental release. This manuscript addresses the tritium transport phenomena in molten salts and presents the design and analysis of the Molten Salt Tritium Transport Experiment (MSTTE). MSTTE is a forced-convection fluoride salt loop intended to measure hydrogen isotope permeation through structural materials in a flowing salt system. In the first phase, MSTTE will use FLiNaK salt and deuterium as surrogates for FLiBe and tritium, with future plans to utilize tritium and FLiBe. MSTTE couples a Copenhagen Atomics pumped salt loop with an external test section that introduces hydrogen isotopes into the loop and measures transport phenomena. The Hydrogen Injection System (HIS) controls hydrogen isotope introduction into the molten salt loop. Here, the permeation test section measures the permeation rate through stainless steel tubing in contact with flowing salt. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis ensures fully developed salt flow in the permeation test section. MSTTE is modeled with MELCOR-TMAP to predict the permeation rate as a function of experimental variables such as source term, salt flow rate, and salt temperature. Results indicate that the source term is the only parameter with a significant effect on the permeation rate. Pressure drop analysis suggests that the loop should operate below 200 LPM to maintain a pressure drop below 200 kPa. Additionally, finite-element analysis assesses thermal stress during loop operation to ensure the experiment's safe design. MSTTE will provide semi-integral data on tritium transport phenomena in molten salts and serve as a testbed for advancing molten salt technology.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗