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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 649 records · Page 36
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

First (p,n) reaction measurement in inverse kinematics with SECAR

Nucleosynthesis in the νp-process occurs in regions of slightly proton-rich nuclei in the neutrino-driven wind of core-collapse supernovae. The process proceeds via a sequence of (p,γ) and (n,p) reactions, and depending on the conditions, may produce elements between Ni and Sn. Recent studies show that a few key (n,p) reactions regulate the efficiency of the neutrino-p process (νp-process). We performed a study of one of such (n,p) reactions via the measurement of the reverse (p,n) in inverse kinematics with SECAR at NSCL/FRIB.Such proton-induced reaction measurements are particularly challenging, as the recoils and the unreacted projectiles have nearly identical masses. An appropriate separation level can be achieved with SECAR, and along with the incoincidence detection of neutrons these measurements become attainable. The preparation of the SECAR system for accommodating its first (p,n) reaction measurement, including the development of alternative ion beam optics, and the setup of the in-coincidence neutron detection, along with discussion on preliminary results from the p(58Fe,n)58Co reaction measurement are presented and discussed.

Tsintari, P↗
DOE OSTI2013

Interferometric hard x-ray phase contrast imaging at 204 nm grating period

We report on hard x-ray phase contrast imaging experiments using a grating interferometer of approximately 1/10th the grating period achieved in previous studies. We designed the gratings as a staircase array of multilayer stacks which are fabricated in a single thin film deposition process. We performed the experiments at 19 keV x-ray energy and 0.8 {mu}m pixel resolution. The small grating period resulted in clear separation of different diffraction orders and multiple images on the detector. A slitted beam was used to remove overlap of the images from the different diffraction orders. The phase contrast images showed detailed features as small as 10 {mu}m, and demonstrated the feasibility of high resolution x-ray phase contrast imaging with nanometer scale gratings.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2013

Properties of boron-doped thin films of polycrystalline silicon

The properties of polycrystalline-silicon films deposited by low pressure chemical vapor deposition and doped heavily in situ boron-doped with concentration level of around 2×10{sup 20}cm{sup −3} has been studied. Their properties are analyzed using electrical and structural characterization means by four points probe resistivity measurements and X-ray diffraction spectra. The thermal-oxidation process are performed on sub-micron layers of 200nm/c-Si and 200nm/SiO{sub 2} deposited at temperatures T{sub d} ranged between 520°C and 605°C and thermally-oxidized in dry oxygen ambient at 945°C. Compared to the as-grown resistivity with silicon wafers is known to be in the following sequence <ρ{sub 200nm/c−Si}> < <ρ{sub 200nm/SiO2}> and <ρ{sub 520}> < <ρ{sub 605}>. The measure X-ray spectra is shown, that the Bragg peaks are marked according to the crystal orientation in the film deposited on bare substrates (poly/c-Si), for the second series of films deposited on bare oxidized substrates (poly/SiO{sub 2}) are clearly different.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Investigation of combinatorial coevaporated thin film Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4}. I. Temperature effect, crystalline phases, morphology, and photoluminescence

Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4} is a promising low-cost, nontoxic, earth-abundant absorber material for thin-film solar cell applications. In this study, combinatorial coevaporation was used to synthesize individual thin-film samples spanning a wide range of compositions at low (325 °C) and high (475 °C) temperatures. Film composition, grain morphology, crystalline-phase and photo-excitation information have been characterized by x-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence imaging and mapping. Highly textured columnar grain morphology is observed for film compositions along the ZnS-Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4}-Cu{sub 2}SnS{sub 3} tie line in the quasi-ternary Cu{sub 2}S-ZnS-SnS{sub 2} phase system, and this effect is attributed to structural similarity between the Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4}, Cu{sub 2}SnS{sub 3}, and ZnS crystalline phases. At 475 °C growth temperature, Sn-S phases cannot condense because of their high vapor pressures. As a result, regions that received excess Sn flux during growth produced compositions falling along the ZnS-Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4}-Cu{sub 2}SnS{sub 3} tie line. Room-temperature photoluminescence imaging reveals a strong correlation for these samples between film composition and photoluminescence intensity, where film regions with Cu/Sn ratios greater than ∼2 show strong photoluminescence intensity, in comparison with much weaker photoluminescence in regions that received excess Sn flux during growth or subsequent processing. The observed photoluminescence quenching in regions that received excess Sn flux is attributed to the effects of Sn-related native point defects in Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4} on non-radiative recombination processes. Implications for processing and performance of Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4} solar cells are discussed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2014

Multiple-shocks induced nanocrystallization in iron

We found that multiple shots of femtosecond laser-driven shock pulses changed coarse crystalline iron grains with a size of 140 μm into nanocrystals with a high density of dislocations, which had never been observed in conventional shock processes. We performed metallurgical microstructure observations using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and hardness measurements using nanoindentation on cross-sections of shocked iron. TEM images showed that grains with sizes from 10 nm through 1 μm exist within 2 μm of the surface, where the dislocation density reached 2 × 10{sup 15 }m{sup −2}. Results of the hardness measurements showed a significant increase in hardness in the nanocrystallized region. We suggest that the formation of a high density of dislocations, which is produced by a single shock, induces local three-dimensional pile-up by the multiple-shocks, which causes grain refinement at the nanoscale.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Alignment of the diamond nitrogen vacancy center by strain engineering

The nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond is a sensitive probe of magnetic field and a promising qubit candidate for quantum information processing. The performance of many NV-based devices improves by aligning the NV(s) parallel to a single crystallographic direction. Using ab initio theoretical techniques, we show that NV orientation can be controlled by high-temperature annealing in the presence of strain under currently accessible experimental conditions. We find that (89 ± 7)% of NVs align along the [111] crystallographic direction under 2% compressive biaxial strain (perpendicular to [111]) and an annealing temperature of 970 °C.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Generative electronic background music system

In this short paper-extended abstract the new approach to generation of electronic background music has been presented. The Generative Electronic Background Music System (GEBMS) has been located between other related approaches within the musical algorithm positioning framework proposed by Woller et al. The music composition process is performed by a number of mini-models parameterized by further described properties. The mini-models generate fragments of musical patterns used in output composition. Musical pattern and output generation are controlled by container for the mini-models - a host-model. General mechanism has been presented including the example of the synthesized output compositions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Development of characterization protocol for mixed liquid radioactive waste classification

Mixed liquid organic waste generated from health-care and research activities containing tritium, carbon-14, and other radionuclides posed specific challenges in its management. Often, these wastes become legacy waste in many nuclear facilities and being considered as ‘problematic’ waste. One of the most important recommendations made by IAEA is to perform multistage processes aiming at declassification of the waste. At this moment, approximately 3000 bottles of mixed liquid waste, with estimated volume of 6000 litres are currently stored at the National Radioactive Waste Management Centre, Malaysia and some have been stored for more than 25 years. The aim of this study is to develop a characterization protocol towards reclassification of these wastes. The characterization protocol entails waste identification, waste screening and segregation, and analytical radionuclides profiling using various analytical procedures including gross alpha/ gross beta, gamma spectrometry, and LSC method. The results obtained from the characterization protocol are used to establish criteria for speedy classification of the waste.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2015

Effect of gamma irradiation on HPMC/ZnO nanocomposite films

The present work looks into the structural and mechanical properties modification in ZnO nanoparticle incorporated Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) polymer films, induced by gamma irradiation. The irradiation process was performed in gamma chamber at room temperature by use of Cobalt-60 source (Average energy of 1.25MeV) at different doses: 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kGy respectively. The changes in structural parameters and mechanical properties in pure and gamma irradiated HPMC/ZnO nanocomposite films have been studied using X-ray scattering (XRD) data and universal testing machine (UTM). It is found that gamma irradiation decreases the structural parameters and improves the mechanical properties of nanocomposite films.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Simultaneous fabrication of nanogap electrodes using field-emission-induced electromigration

We present a simple technique for simultaneous control of the electrical properties of multiple Ni nanogaps. This technique is based on electromigration induced by a field emission current and is called “activation.” Simultaneous tuning of the tunnel resistance of multiple nanogaps was achieved by passing a Fowler–Nordheim (F-N) field emission current through an initial group of three Ni nanogaps connected in series. The Ni nanogaps, which had asymmetrical shapes with initial gap separations in the 80–110-nm range, were fabricated by electron-beam lithography and a lift-off process. By performing the activation procedure, the current–voltage properties of the series-connected nanogaps were varied simultaneously from “insulating” to “metallic” via “tunneling” properties by increasing the preset current of the activation procedure. We can also simultaneously control the tunnel resistances of the series-connected nanogaps, which range from a resistance of the order of 100 TΩ–100 kΩ, by increasing the preset current from 1 nA to 30 μA. This tendency is quite similar to that of individually activated nanogaps, and the tunnel resistance values of the simultaneously activated nanogaps were almost the same at each preset current. These results clearly imply that the electrical properties of the series-connected nanogaps can be controlled simultaneously via the activation procedure.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

A first-principles study of cementite (Fe{sub 3}C) and its alloyed counterparts: Elastic constants, elastic anisotropies, and isotropic elastic moduli

A comprehensive computational study of elastic properties of cementite (Fe{sub 3}C) and its alloyed counterparts (M{sub 3}C (M = Al, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hf, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ni, Si, Ta, Ti, V, W, Zr, Cr{sub 2}FeC and CrFe{sub 2}C) having the crystal structure of Fe{sub 3}C is carried out employing electronic density-functional theory (DFT), all-electron PAW pseudopotentials and the generalized gradient approximation for the exchange-correlation energy (GGA). Specifically, as a part of our systematic study of cohesive properties of solids and in the spirit of materials genome, following properties are calculated: (i) single-crystal elastic constants, C{sub ij}, of above M{sub 3}Cs; (ii) anisotropies of bulk, Young’s and shear moduli, and Poisson’s ratio based on calculated C{sub ij}s, demonstrating their extreme anisotropies; (iii) isotropic (polycrystalline) elastic moduli (bulk, shear, Young’s moduli and Poisson’s ratio) of M{sub 3}Cs by homogenization of calculated C{sub ij}s; and (iv) acoustic Debye temperature, θ{sub D}, of M{sub 3}Cs based on calculated C{sub ij}s. We provide a critical appraisal of available data of polycrystalline elastic properties of alloyed cementite. Calculated single crystal properties may be incorporated in anisotropic constitutive models to develop and test microstructure-processing-property-performance links in multi-phase materials where cementite is a constituent phase.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Study of photoluminescence properties of thin films DR1

Fabrication of thin films DR1 have been carried out by the EFA-PDF (Electric Field-Assisted Physical Vapor Deposition) method to obtain films with parallel dipole arrangement. Molecular deposition process is performed by applying an electric field that is placed between the substrate ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) and copper mesh. The resulting films were characterized by using a spectrofluorometer. Analysis of the emission spectrum, indicate that DR1 molecules in the film oriented perpendicular to the substrate and arranged in parallel order (H-aggregate). As an effect, the peak of the emission spectrum appears stronger along with the increase of electric field strength.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Temperature and compression effects on electron heat capacity and electron-phonon coupling in aluminum and beryllium: Insights from ab initio simulations

Ultrafast laser experiments on metals usually induce a high electron temperature and a low ion temperature and, thus, an energy relaxation process. The electron heat capacity and electron-phonon coupling factor are crucial thermal quantities to describe this process. We perform ab initio theoretical studies to determine these thermal quantities and their dependence on density and electron temperature for the metals aluminum and beryllium. The heat capacity shows an approximately linear dependence on the temperature, similar to free electron gas, and the compression only slightly affects the capacity. The electron-phonon coupling factor increases with both temperature and density, and the change observed for beryllium is more obvious than that for aluminum. The connections between thermal quantities and electronic/atomic structures are discussed in detail, and the different behaviors of aluminum and beryllium are well explained.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Thermal and mechanical properties of TPU/PBT reinforced by carbon fiber

In this study, thermal, mechanical properties and processability were performed on a series of carbon fiber (CF) filled thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)/poly (butylene terephthalate) (PBT) composites to identify the effect of CF weight fraction on the properties of TPU/PBT. Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM) show that CFs are uniformly dispersed in TPU/PBT matrix and there are no agglomerations. Melt flow index (MFI) show that the melt viscosity increased with the CF loading. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that the introduction of CF into organic materials tend to improve their thermal stability. The mechanical properties indicated that tensile strength and modulus, flexural strength and modulus, improved with an increase in CF loading, but the impact strength decreased by the loading of CF.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Numerical evaluation of Auger recombination coefficients in relaxed and strained germanium

The potential applications of germanium and its alloys in infrared silicon-based photonics have led to a renewed interest in their optical properties. In this letter, we report on the numerical determination of Auger coefficients at T = 300 K for relaxed and biaxially strained germanium. We use a Green's function based model that takes into account all relevant direct and phonon-assisted processes and perform calculations up to a strain level corresponding to the transition from indirect to direct energy gap. We have considered excess carrier concentrations ranging from 10{sup 16} cm{sup −3} to 5 × 10{sup 19} cm{sup −3}. For use in device level simulations, we also provide fitting formulas for the calculated electron and hole Auger coefficients as functions of carrier density.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Single-crystal-like GdNdO{sub x} thin films on silicon substrates by magnetron sputtering and high-temperature annealing for crystal seed layer application

Single-crystal-like rare earth oxide thin films on silicon (Si) substrates were fabricated by magnetron sputtering and high-temperature annealing processes. A 30-nm-thick high-quality GdNdO{sub x} (GNO) film was deposited using a high-temperature sputtering process at 500°C. A Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Nd{sub 2}O{sub 3} mixture was used as the sputtering target, in which the proportions of Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Nd{sub 2}O{sub 3} were controlled to make the GNO’s lattice parameter match that of the Si substrate. To further improve the quality of the GNO film, a post-deposition annealing process was performed at a temperature of 1000°C. The GNO films exhibited a strong preferred orientation on the Si substrate. In addition, an Al/GNO/Si capacitor was fabricated to evaluate the dielectric constant and leakage current of the GNO films. It was determined that the single-crystal-like GNO films on the Si substrates have potential for use as an insulator layer for semiconductor-on-insulator and semiconductor/insulator multilayer applications.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Synthesis of self-organized TiO{sub 2} nanotube arrays: Microstructural, stereoscopic, and topographic studies

In this work, titanium dioxide nanotubes were prepared by using titanium foils via electrochemical anodization in ethylene glycol solutions containing different amounts of water and fluoride in the ranges of 1%–3% and 0.15%–0.5%, respectively, to determine their effects on morphology, optical, and crystalline structure properties. Annealing processes were performed on all samples in the range between 273 and 723 K. Morphology and structure properties of the samples were studied by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy. Titanium dioxide (TiO{sub 2}) nanotubes, through anodization method, are strongly influenced by conditions, like fluoride concentration and applied voltages. Tube lengths between 2 and 7 μm were obtained, exhibiting different diameters and wall thicknesses. When alternating voltage was applied, the outer surface of the nanotubes exhibited evenly spaced ring-shaped regions, while smooth tubes were observed when constant voltage was applied. Reflection peaks, corresponding to Brookite, Anatase, and Rutile, of TiO{sub 2} phases, were observed from the XRD pattern. These phases were corroborated via μXRD measurements, and the Ti{sub 3}O{sub 5} phase was also observed in detail. Absorption coefficient (α), optical band gap (Eg), and extinction coefficient (ε) of TiO{sub 2} nanotubes were calculated by transmittance spectra in the UV–Vis range. Strong absorption was noted in the UV region from reflectance and absorbance measurements. A correlation between synthesis parameters and physical properties is presented.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Experimental observations of shock-wave-induced bubble collapse and hot-spot formation in nitromethane liquid explosive

We studied the collapse of individual helium gas bubbles in the homogeneous explosive nitromethane (NM) to investigate effects of hot-spot formation on the detonation process. A bubble was injected into a NM sample, and a shock wave from an explosive detonator compressed the bubble, creating a localized hot spot. We measured shock and detonation wave speeds with optical velocimetry, and we used a high-speed camera to image the shock propagation and the pre- and post-bubble collapse processes. An infrared camera image showed the residual radiance temperature distribution after the bubble collapse, and an optical fiber pyrometer measured the time-resolved thermal radiance. We measured the optical spectra of light emitted from detonating NM without a bubble and from a collapsing bubble in shocked, undetonated NM. We estimated temperatures of the detonation fronts and of the hot spots formed by bubble collapse. To study the incipient detonation process, we performed all bubble collapse experiments at pressures below the threshold for creating a sustained detonation. Where the bubble collapsed, we observed an opaque, thermally emissive region believed to be chemical reaction products. Chemical reactions in NM can be produced with lower shock pressures (~1 GPa) when a helium bubble is present than without a bubble (~10 GPa). We used hydrodynamic modeling to predict shock wave propagation, extent of chemical reaction, and subsequent temperature rise from the collapsing bubble. Simulations using a temperature-dependent Arrhenius burn model gave much better results than reactive burn models that depend only on pressure and density.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗