Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Film microstructures”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 685 records · Page 38
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

Nanoscale selective growth and microstructural control of indium nitride (InN)

Selective area growth (SAG) is a phenomenon in thin film deposition where the sample surface is masked by a dielectric or refractory layer such that growth takes place only in the exposed window regions. As the opening window is pushed to nano-scale, it becomes possible to confine and control epitaxial evolution with lithographically engineered geometry with a feature size comparable to that ofa single nucleus. Two fundamental questions in nano-scale SAG are studied. The first one is how does nano-scale constriction in one direction impact the microstructure evolution in the other orthogonal directions. The other question is how does the presence of nano-scale geometric boundaries affect the crystallographic orientation in selective area epitaxy? InN is chosen as a case study to demonstrate the efficacy and unveil the science in nano-scale SAG. For the first time, we achieve uniform InN nanowires in the large scale with nano-trenches. The engineering of InN nuclei with interfacial energy and the possibility of orientation filtering are also studied.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Substrate-dependent thermal conductivity of aluminum nitride thin-films processed at low temperature

In this paper, we report on investigation concerning the substrate-dependent thermal conductivity (k) of Aluminum Nitride (AlN) thin-films processed at low temperature by reactive magnetron sputtering. The thermal conductivity of AlN films grown at low temperature (<200 °C) on single-crystal silicon (Si) and amorphous silicon nitride (SiN) with thicknesses ranging from 100 nm to 4000 nm was measured with the transient hot-strip technique. The k values for AlN films on SiN were found significantly lower than those on Silicon consistently with their microstructures revealed by X-ray diffraction, high resolution scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The change in k was due to the thermal boundary resistance found to be equal to 10 × 10{sup −9} Km{sup 2}W{sup −1} on SiN against 3.5 × 10{sup −9} Km{sup 2}W{sup −1} on Si. However, the intrinsic thermal conductivity was determined with a value as high as 200 Wm{sup −1}K{sup −1} whatever the substrate.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Gd5Si4-PVDF nanocomposite films and their potential for triboelectric energy harvesting applications

The triboelectric energy generators prepared using the combination of self-polarized, high β-phase nanocomposite films of Gd 5 Si 4 -PVDF and polyamide-6 (PA-6) films have generated significantly higher voltage of ~425 V, short-circuit current density of ~30 mA/m 2 and a charge density of ~116.7 μC/m 2 as compared to corresponding values of ~300 V, 30 mA/m 2 and 94.7 μC/m 2, respectively for the pristine PVDF-(PA-6) combination. The magnetic measurements of the Gd 5 Si 4 -PVDF films display a ferromagnetic behavior as compared to diamagnetic nature of pristine PVDF. The presence of magnetic nanoparticles in the polymeric matrix allows for some control over the microstructural properties during the preparation process. The results open new routes for multiferroic composite films to be suitable for multi-functional magnetic and triboelectric energy harvesting applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Visualization of molecular packing and tilting domains and interface effects in tetracene thin films on H/Si(001)

Visualizing molecular crystalline domains and influence of substrate defects are important in understanding the charge transport in organic thin film devices. Vacuum evaporated tetracene films of four monolayers on hydrogen-terminated Si(001)-2x1 substrate, as a prototypical system, have been studied with ex situ atomic force microscopy (AFM), transverse shear microscopy (TSM), friction force microscopy (FFM), and low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM). Two differently oriented in-plane lattice domains are found due to the symmetry of the substrate lattice, with no visible azimuthal twist between adjacent molecular layers in surface islands, indicating significant bulk-like crystallization in the film. Meanwhile, two types of subdomains are observed inside of each in-plane lattice domain. The subdomains are anisotropic in shape, and their sizes and distribution are highly influenced by the substrate atomic steps. TSM and FFM measurements indicate that these subdomains result from molecule-tilt orderings within the bulk-like lattice domains. Lastly, TSM evidently shows a sensitivity to probe vertical molecule-tilt anisotropy for the molecular crystals, in addition to its known ability to map the lateral lattice orientations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

The relation between Mn additions, microstructure and corrosion behavior of new wrought Mg-5Al alloys

Highlights: • The influence of high Mn content (1.4 and 3.1 wt%) on Mg-5Al wrought alloys. • Core and shell Al-Mn particles formed when Mn content was 1.4 wt%. • 3.1 wt% Mn effectively mitigate the effect of Fe when it exceeds the tolerance limit. • Large Mn content stabilize the passive layer in long immersion periods. - Abstract: Three wrought Mg-5Al alloys with different Mn contents (0.5, 1.4, and 3.1 wt%) were examined and compared with a reference wrought Mg-5Al alloy. Additions of Mn decreased the grain size and caused precipitation of various Al-Mn intermetallide with different Al/Mn ratio. The corrosion resistance of the Mn-containing alloys significantly increased in comparison to the reference alloy. This contributed to a reduced harmful effect of the impurities, refined microstructure and formation of corrosion products layer. However, further increasing of Mn content caused greater precipitation of the Al-Mn intermetallics, which in its turn increased the galvanic micro-coupling. The alloy with 3.1 wt% Mn additions formed a relatively protective oxide film, which balances the increased number of cathodic particles, and its corrosion rate was very close to that of alloy with 1.4 wt% Mn content.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Strain induced room temperature ferromagnetism in epitaxial magnesium oxide thin films

We report on the epitaxial growth and room-temperature ferromagnetic properties of MgO thin films deposited on hexagonal c-sapphire substrates by pulsed laser deposition. The epitaxial nature of the films has been confirmed by both θ-2θ and φ-scans of X-ray diffraction pattern. Even though bulk MgO is a nonmagnetic insulator, we have found that the MgO films exhibit ferromagnetism and hysteresis loops yielding a maximum saturation magnetization up to 17 emu/cc and large coercivity, H{sub c} = 1200 Oe. We have also found that the saturation magnetization gets enhanced and that the crystallization degraded with decreased growth temperature, suggesting that the origin of our magnetic coupling could be point defects manifested by the strain in the films. X-ray (θ-2θ) diffraction peak shift and strain analysis clearly support the presence of strain in films resulting from the presence of point defects. Based on careful investigations using secondary ion mass spectrometer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies, we have ruled out the possibility of the presence of any external magnetic impurities. We discuss the critical role of microstructural characteristics and associated strain on the physical properties of the MgO films and establish a correlation between defects and magnetic properties.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Evaporation-driven clustering of microscale pillars and lamellae

As a liquid film covering an array of micro- or nanoscale pillars or lamellae evaporates, its meniscus pulls the elastic patterns together because of capillary effects, leading to clustering of the slender microstructures. While this elastocapillary coalescence may imply various useful applications, it is detrimental to a semiconductor manufacturing process called the spin drying, where a liquid film rinses patterned wafers until drying. To understand the transient mechanism underlying such self-organization during and after liquid evaporation, we visualize the clustering dynamics of polymer micropatterns. Our visualization experiments reveal that the patterns clumped during liquid evaporation can be re-separated when completely dried in some cases. This restoration behavior is explained by considering adhesion energy of the patterns as well as capillary forces, which leads to a regime map to predict whether permanent stiction would occur. This work does not only extend our understanding of micropattern stiction, but also suggests a novel path to control and prevent pattern clustering.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Target Configuration Effect on Microstructures and Properties of Vertically Aligned Nanocomposites

Vertically aligned nanocomposites (VANs) are unique thin films with vertical nanostructures embedded in a matrix material, allowing for the integration of two distinct materials. These nanocomposites offer novel combined physical properties, such as nanocomposite-based multiferroics and strongly coupled physical properties, such as magneto-optic coupling. Much work has been conducted in exploring different two-phase combinations and various processing conditions to achieve novel tunable properties that cannot be obtained by any single-phase material alone. Here, in this work, the target configuration effects are explored for the growth of LaFeO 3 –CoNi 2 O 4 VANs. Both mixed and pie-shaped targets are utilized to compare the target configuration effects on the phase separation, morphology tuning, and their resulting physical properties, including optical and magnetic properties. This work suggests that the target configuration is another important parameter for achieving the desired VAN morphology and can be used to design different two-phase VANs with tailorable properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Compressive intrinsic stress originates in the grain boundaries of dense refractory polycrystalline thin films

Intrinsic stresses in vapor deposited thin films have been a topic of considerable scientific and technological interest owing to their importance for functionality and performance of thin film devices. The origin of compressive stresses typically observed during deposition of polycrystalline metal films at conditions that result in high atomic mobility has been under debate in the literature in the course of the past decades. In this study, we contribute towards resolving this debate by investigating the grain size dependence of compressive stress magnitude in dense polycrystalline Mo films grown by magnetron sputtering. Although Mo is a refractory metal and hence exhibits an intrinsically low mobility, low energy ion bombardment is used during growth to enhance atomic mobility and densify the grain boundaries. Concurrently, the lateral grain size is controlled by using appropriate seed layers on which Mo films are grown epitaxially. The combination of in situ stress monitoring with ex situ microstructural characterization reveals a strong, seemingly linear, increase of the compressive stress magnitude on the inverse grain size and thus provides evidence that compressive stress is generated in the grain boundaries of the film. These results are consistent with models suggesting that compressive stresses in metallic films deposited at high homologous temperatures are generated by atom incorporation into and densification of grain boundaries. However, the underlying mechanisms for grain boundary densification might be different from those in the present study where atomic mobility is intrinsically low.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

A comparative analysis of YOLOv8 and U-Net image segmentation approaches for transmission electron micrographs of polycrystalline thin films

Metallic thin films offer a platform to experimentally study the dynamics of microstructural evolution, but the required transmission electron microscopy (TEM)-based imaging generates complex images that are challenging to segment and quantify. This work provides a comparative analysis of a new YOLOv8 model and an established U-Net model for bright-field TEM images of polycrystals, employing a framework leveraging physical observables to evaluate performance against two hand-traced benchmark datasets. This methodology obviates the comparison of large, diversely structured, and manually labeled datasets that are required to assess performance on a per-image/per-pixel basis. It is found that the YOLOv8 model, adapted for real-time instance segmentation, has up to 43× faster inferencing (NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090) compared to U-Net and reconstructs hand-traced grain size distributions (GSDs) with excellent fidelity, finding mean diameter within 3% for grains near an optimal magnification; for grains that deviate from the optimal pixel-diameter, the size of small- (large)-diameter grains is systematically over- (under)-estimated. This is partially mitigated by including scale-aware augmentations during training. Moreover, when the bias is corrected post-inference by a rigid shift in distribution, the YOLOv8 model reproduces ground truth GSDs with exceptional fidelity, with statistical tests indicating <5% probability that the distributions are distinct. Based on ground truth data, calibration curves pertaining to this shift can be constructed for a given model. This issue is not present in the U-Net model’s results, indicating that for quantitative measurements where the true size of objects is of interest, special procedures must be implemented for YOLO-based models.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2002

K-Band Reflectarray Antenna Based on Ferroelectric Thin Films: What Have We Learned so Far

The Applied RF Technology Branch of the NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio, has an on-going effort in the area of thin film ferroelectric technology for microwave applications. Particular attention has been given to developing ferroelectric phase shifters for the implementation and experimental demonstration of an electronically steerable reflectarray antenna. In the process of optimizing these material to fit the implementation requirements of the aforementioned antenna, we have accumulated a great deal of information and knowledge in areas such as the effect of the composition of the ferroelectric thin films on phase shifter performance, self assembled monolayers (SAMs) in the metallic/ferroelectric interface and their impact on phase shifter performance, correlation between microstructure and microwave properties, and the effect of selective etching on the overall performance of a thin film-ferroelectric based microwave component, amongst others. We will discuss these issues and will provide an up-dade of the current development status of the reflect-array antenna.

Miranda, Felix A.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Role of Alkali-Metal Cations in Electronic Structure and Halide Segregation of Hybrid Perovskites

The ability to control or prevent phase segregation in perovskites is crucial to realizing stable and tunable mixed-halide optoelectronic devices. Here, we systematically examine the impact of alkali-metal-cation (Cs + and K + ) concentration on the band structure, chemical composition, phase segregation, and polycrystalline microstructure on formamidinium-dominated mixed-halide mixed-cation perovskite films. It was found that the incorporation of Cs + and K + cations decreases the work function and the core levels of all components shift toward higher binding energy consistent with n-doping the perovskite film, which facilitates electron transfer to the electron transport layer TiO 2 . A concentration-dependent film structure was observed by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy and grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering where the halides and cations are distributed evenly across perovskite films at low metallic cation concentration (5%). A high metal-cation ratio (20%) leads to halide segregation within the perovskite film and the surface becomes bromide-poor, whereas the bromide and metal cations diffuse more deeply within the film. These differences in electronic properties, element distribution, and film morphology were reflected in the device performance where the power conversion efficiency of low-metallic-cation concentration (5% of Cs + and K + ) perovskite solar cells is ≈5% higher than the high-concentration ones (20%). This study provides valuable chemical and physical insight into the underlying trade-offs in the careful tuning of electrical properties and film structure to optimize multication and mixed-halide hybrid perovskites.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Solution–Doped Donor–Acceptor Copolymers Based on Diketopyrrolopyrrole and 3, 3'–Bis (2–(2–(2–Methoxyethoxy) Ethoxy) ethoxy)–2, 2'–Bithiophene Exhibiting Outstanding Thermoelectric Power Factors with p –Dopants

The design of polymeric semiconductors exhibiting high electrical conductivity (σ) and thermoelectric power factor (PF) will be vital for flexible large-area electronics. In this work, four polymers based on diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP), 2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxine (EDOT), thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (TT), and 3, 3'-bis (2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethoxy) ethoxy)-2, 2'-bithiophene (MEET) are investigated as side-chains, with the MEET polymers newly synthesized for this study. These polymers are systematically doped with tetrafluorotetracyanoquinodimethane ( F 4 TCNQ), CF3SO3H, and the synthesized dopant Cp(CN) 3 -(COOMe) 3 , differing in geometry and electron affinity. The DPP-EDOT-based polymer containing MEET as side-chains exhibits the highest conductivity (σ) ≈700 S cm–1 in this series with the acidic dopant (CF 3 SO 3 H). This polymer also shows the lowest oxidation potential by cyclic voltammetry (CV), the strongest intermolecular interactions evidenced by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and has the most oxygen-based functionality for possible hydrogen bonding and ionic screening. Other polymers exhibit high σ ≈300–500 S cm–1 and power factor up to 300 µW m –1 K –2 . The mechanism of conductivity is predominantly electronic, as validated by time-dependent conductance studies and transient thermo voltage monitoring over time, including for those doped with the acid. Furthermore, these materials maintain significant thermal stability and air stability over ≈6 weeks. Density functional theory calculations reveal molecular geometries and inform about frontier energy levels. Raman spectroscopy, in conjunction with scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) and x-ray diffraction, provides insight into the solid-state microstructure and degree of phase separation of the doped polymer films. Infrared spectroscopy enables this study to further quantify the degree of charge transfer from polymer to dopant.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

3D-Printed Hydrogel Composites for Predictive Temporal (4D) Cellular Organizations and Patterned Biogenic Mineralization

Materials chemistries for hydrogel scaffolds that are capable of programming temporal (4D) attributes of cellular decision-making in supported 3D microcultures are described. The scaffolds are fabricated using direct-ink writing (DIW)-a 3D-printing technique using extrusion to pattern scaffolds at biologically relevant diameters (<= 100 mu m). Herein, DIW is exploited to variously incorporate a rheological nanoclay, Laponite XLG (LAP), into 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)-based hydrogels-printing the LAP-HEMA (LH) composites as functional modifiers within otherwise unmodified 2D and 3D HEMA microstructures. The nanoclay-modified domains, when tested as thin films, require no activating (e.g., protein) treatments to promote robust growth compliances that direct the spatial attachment of fibroblast (3T3) and preosteoblast (E1) cells, fostering for the latter a capacity to direct long-term osteodifferentiation. Cell-to-gel interfacial morphologies and cellular motility are analyzed with spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM). Through combination of HEMA and LH gels, high-resolution DIW of a nanocomposite ink (UniH) that translates organizationally dynamic attributes seen with 2D gels into dentition-mimetic 3D scaffolds is demonstrated. These analyses confirm that the underlying materials chemistry and geometry of hydrogel nanocomposites are capable of directing cellular attachment and temporal development within 3D microcultures-a useful material system for the 4D patterning of hydrogel scaffolds.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Direct molecular diffusion and micro-mixing for rapid dewatering of LiBr solution

A slow molecular diffusion rate often limits the desorption process of an absorbate molecule from a liquid absorbent. To enhance the desorption rate, the absorbent is often boiled to increase the liquid vapor interfacial area. However, the growth of bubbles generated during the nucleate boiling process still remains mass-diffusion limited. Here, it is shown that a desorption rate higher than that of boiling can be achieved, if the vapor absorbent interface is continuously replenished with the absorbate-rich solution to limit the concentration boundary layer growth. The study is conducted in a LiBr-water-solution, in which the water molecules' diffusion rate is quite slow. The manipulation of the vapor solution interface concentration distribution is enabled by the mechanical confinement of the solution flow within microchannels, using a hydrophobic vapor-venting membrane and the implementation of microstructures on the flow channel's bottom wall. The microstructures stretch and fold the laminar streamlines within the solution film and produce vortices. The vortices continuously replace the concentrated solution at the vapor solution interface with the water-rich solution brought from the bottom and middle of the flow channel. The physics of the process is described using a combination of experimental and numerical studies. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Bigham, S↗
DOE OSTI2018

An improved three-point bending test method for the investigation of nanosecond laser dicing of ultrathin Si dies with Cu stabilization layer

Highlights: • A selective chemical etching method has been developed for removal of metallization layers on ultrathin Si dies for three-point bending test. • The complex elastoplastic stress distribution in the die is simplified to an elastic stress distribution. • The die sidewall fracture strength can be determined using the standard three-point bending tensile stress equation. • The characteristic fracture strengths of ultrathin Si dies were correlated to the laser-induced microstructures of the die sidewall. - Abstract: The sidewall fracture strength of ultrathin Si dies with frontside and backside metallization layers cannot be determined directly from three-point bending (3PB) test. The complex 3PB elastoplastic stress distribution makes it difficult to determine the die sidewall fracture strength by analytical method or finite element analysis due to various theoretical and practical constraints. In this work, a selective chemical etching method has been developed for complete removal of the frontside and backside metallization layers on the ultrathin die without affecting the critical microstructure and strength of the die sidewall induced by laser dicing. By removing all the metallization layers on the die, the complex 3PB elastoplastic stress distribution is simplified to an elastic stress distribution. This enables a straightforward calculation of the die sidewall fracture strength using the standard 3PB tensile stress equation for a homogeneous linear elastic material with a rectangular cross section. Two chemical etchants were evaluated and found to be suitable but FeCl{sub 3} is preferred because of the much faster etching time. With this improved 3PB test method, the effect of nanosecond laser dicing on ultrathin Si dies with backside Cu layer was investigated. The die frontside and backside characteristic fracture strengths of ultrathin Si dies with varying backside Cu thickness were determined and correlated to TEM analyses of the compositions and microstructures at the fracture origins.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/ CaCu{sub 3}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 12} and La doped CaCu{sub 3}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 12} composites with improved dielectric and mechanical properties

Highlights: • High ϵ′ PVDF/CCTO and La doped CCTO composites prepared by Extrusion. • With addition of ceramic, there is substantial increase in the ϵ′ of matrix PVDF. • Composites exhibit double relaxation behavior. - Abstract: Melt extrusion process has been used to prepare high relative permittivity, ϵ' PVDF–CCTO and PVDF–LaCCTO composites. Phase composition has been studied using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). Microstructural, dielectric and mechanical properties have also been studied. Young's modulus of PVDF increases with the ceramic reinforcement. Dielectric measurements are made in the frequency range 10{sup −2}–10{sup 6} Hz using two probe Novocontrol impedance analyser (ZG4) from room temp to 120 °C to study the dielectric relaxation. There is a substantial increase in ϵ' of the matrix PVDF on addition of LaCCTO.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗