Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Containers”

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 703 records · Page 39
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

High Photoluminescence Quantum Yield in Band Gap Tunable Bromide Containing Mixed Halide Perovskites

Hybrid organic-inorganic halide perovskite based semiconductor materials are attractive for use in a wide range of optoelectronic devices because they combine the advantages of suitable optoelectronic attributes and simultaneously low-cost solution processability. Here, we present a two-step low-pressure vapor-assisted solution process to grow high quality homogeneous CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3-x Br x perovskite films over the full band gap range of 1.6-2.3 eV. Photoluminescence light-in versus light-out characterization techniques are used to provide new insights into the optoelectronic properties of Br-containing hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites as a function of optical carrier injection by employing pump-powers over a 6 orders of magnitude dynamic range. The internal luminescence quantum yield of wide band gap perovskites reaches impressive values up to 30%. This high quantum yield translates into substantial quasi-Fermi level splitting and high "luminescence or optically implied" open-circuit voltage. Most importantly, both attributes, high internal quantum yield and high optically implied open-circuit voltage, are demonstrated over the entire band gap range (1.6 eV ≤ E g ≤ 2.3 eV). These results establish the versatility of Br-containing perovskite semiconductors for a variety of applications and especially for the use as high-quality top cell in tandem photovoltaic devices in combination with industry dominant Si bottom cells. (Figure Presented).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Protein-Containing Lipid Bilayers Intercalated with Size-Matched Mesoporous Silica Thin Films

Here, proteins are key components in a multitude of biological processes, of which the functions carried out by transmembrane (membrane-spanning) proteins are especially demanding for investigations. This is because this class of protein needs to be incorporated into a lipid bilayer representing its native environment, and in addition, many experimental conditions also require a solid support for stabilization and analytical purposes. The solid support substrate may, however, limit the protein functionality due to protein–material interactions and a lack of physical space. We have in this work tailored the pore size and pore ordering of a mesoporous silica thin film to match the native cell-membrane arrangement of the transmembrane protein human aquaporin 4 (hAQP4). Using neutron reflectivity (NR), we provide evidence of how substrate pores host the bulky water-soluble domain of hAQP4, which is shown to extend 7.2 nm into the pores of the substrate. Complementary surface analytical tools, including quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and fluorescence microscopy, revealed successful protein-containing supported lipid bilayer (pSLB) formation on mesoporous silica substrates, whereas pSLB formation was hampered on nonporous silica. Additionally, electron microscopy (TEM and SEM), light scattering (DLS and stopped-flow), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) were employed to provide a comprehensive characterization of this novel hybrid organic–inorganic interface, the tailoring of which is likely to be generally applicable to improve the function and stability of a broad range of membrane proteins containing water-soluble domains.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Synthesis and Reactivity of Palladium(II) Alkyl Complexes that Contain Phosphine-cyclopentanesulfonate Ligands

The synthesis of the phosphine-cyclopentanesulfonate pro-ligands Li/K[2-PPh 2 -cyclopentanesulfonate] (Li/K[2a]), Li/K[2-P(2-OMe-Ph) 2 -cyclopentanesulfonate] (Li/K[2b]), and H[2b], and the corresponding Pd(II) alkyl complexes (κ 2 - P , O -2a)PdMe(pyridine) (3a) and (κ 2 - P , O -2b)PdMe(pyridine) (3b) is described herein. The sulfonate-bridged base-free dimer {(2b)PdMe} 2 (4b) was synthesized by abstraction of pyridine from 3b using B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 . The borane-coordinated base-free dimer [{2b·B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 }PdMe] 2 (5b), in which B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 binds to a sulfonate oxygen, was prepared by addition of 1 equiv of B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 per Pd to 4b or addition of 2 equiv of B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 to 3b. Compounds 3b, 4b, and 5b polymerize ethylene with low activity (up to 210 kg mol –1 h –1 at 250 psi and 80 °C) to linear polyethylene ( M n = 1950–5250 Da) with predominantly internal olefin placements. 3b and 4b copolymerize ethylene with methyl acrylate to linear copolymers that contain up to 11.7 mol % methyl acrylate, which is incorporated as –CH 2 CH(CO 2 Me)CH 2 – (80%) in-chain units and –CH 2 CH(CO 2 Me)Me (8%) and –CH 2 CH=CH(CO 2 Me) (12%) chain-end units. 3b and 4b also copolymerize ethylene with vinyl fluoride to linear copolymers that contain up to 0.41 mol % vinyl fluoride, which is incorporated as –CH 2 CHFCH 2 – (~80%) in-chain units and –CH 2 CF 2 H (7%), –CH 2 CHFCH 3 (5%), and –CH 2 CH 2 F (8%) chain-end units. Complexes 3b and 4b are more stable and active in ethylene polymerization than analogous (PAr 2 - CH 2 CH 2 SO 3 )PdR catalysts, but are less active than analogous (PAr 2 - arene sulfonate)PdR catalysts. Low-temperature NMR studies show that 4b reacts with ethylene below -10 °C to form the ethylene adduct cis - P , R -(2b)PdMe(ethylene) (7b), which undergoes ethylene insertion at 5 °C. DFT calculations for a model (PMe 2 -cyclopentanesulfonate)Pd(Pr)(ethylene) species show that ethylene insertion proceeds by cis - P , R / trans - P , R isomerization followed by migratory insertion, and that the lower activity of 3b and 4b vis-à-vis analogous (PAr 2 -arenesulfonate)PdR catalysts results from a higher barrier for migratory insertion of the trans - P , R isomer.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2019

Molybdenum and Tungsten Alkylidyne Complexes Containing Mono-, Bi-, and Tridentate N -Heterocyclic Carbenes

In this work, new tungsten and molybdenum alkylidyne complexes bearing mono-, bi-, and tridentate N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have been synthesized. Formation of unprecedented structures in complexes bearing N-tert-butyl substituents on the imidazol(in)-2-ylidene was observed, leading to molybdenum complexes containing an abnormal carbene (Mo-4) and a bridging O,C,C-pincer ligand (Mo-10) and to a tungsten complex containing a cationic imidazolinium-tagged alkoxide forming an inner salt with an anionic tungsten center (W-5). Both the abnormal carbene binding in Mo-4 and the O,C,C-pincer-type structure of Mo-10 were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis, and the proposed structure of W-5 is supported by the single-crystal X-ray structure of a minor byproduct (W-8) formed during the synthesis of W-4, displaying the aforementioned inner-salt-like structure. The novel alkylidyne complexes were also investigated for their capability to form a previously postulated quasi-cationic species with a weakly coordinating anion (WCA) during the alkyne homometathesis of 1-phenyl-1-propyne. Overall, incorporation of bidentate and strongly $σ$ donating NHCs as well as introduction of better leaving groups did not lead to the expected increase in catalytic activity. Despite identical ligand spheres, changing from molybdenum to tungsten led to complete loss of activity in the bidentate systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Luminescent Properties of DOBDC Containing MOFs: The Role of Free Hydroxyls

A novel metal–organic framework (MOF), Mn-DOBDC, has been synthesized in an effort to investigate the role of both the metal center and presence of free linker hydroxyls on the luminescent properties of DOBDC (2,5-dihydroxyterephthalic acid) containing MOFs. Co-MOF-74, RE-DOBDC (RE–Eu and Tb), and Mn-DOBDC have been synthesized and analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and the fluorescent properties probed by UV–Vis spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT). Mn-DOBDC has been synthesized by a new method involving a concurrent facile reflux synthesis and slow crystallization, resulting in yellow single crystals in monoclinic space group C2/c. Mn-DOBDC was further analyzed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and photoluminescent emission. Results indicate that the luminescent properties of the DOBDC linker are transferred to the three-dimensional structures of both the RE-DOBDC and Mn-DOBDC, which contain free hydroxyls on the linker. In Co-MOF-74 however, luminescence is quenched in the solid state due to binding of the phenolic hydroxyls within the MOF structure. Finally, Mn-DOBDC exhibits a ligand-based tunable emission that can be controlled in solution by the use of different solvents.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

One-Step Synthesis of Zeolite Membranes Containing Catalytic Metal Nanoclusters

Metal-loaded zeolitic membranes are promising candidates as catalytic membrane reactors. We report a one-step synthesis method to synthesize zeolite membranes containing metal nanoclusters, that has advantages in comparison to multistep methods such as impregnation and ion exchange. Pure-silica MFI zeolite-Pt hybrid membranes were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis with addition of 3-mercaptopropyl-trimethoxysilane (MPS) and a platinum precursor. Composition analysis and mapping by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) reveal that Pt ions/clusters are uniformly distributed along the membrane cross-section. High-magnification scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) analysis shows that Pt metal clusters in the hybrid zeolite membrane have a diameter distribution in the range of 0.5–2.0 nm. In contrast, a pure-silica MFI membrane synthesized from an MPS-free solution shows negligible incorporation of Pt metal clusters. To characterize the properties of the hybrid (zeolite/metal) membrane, it was used as a catalytic membrane reactor (CMR) for high-temperature propane dehydrogenation (PDH) at 600 °C and 1 atm. The results indicate that Pt metal clusters formed within the MFI zeolite membrane can serve as effective catalysts for high-temperature PDH reaction along with H 2 removal via membrane permeation, thereby increasing both conversion and selectivity in relation to a conventional membrane reactor containing an equivalent amount of packed Pt catalyst in contact with an MFI membrane. In conclusion, the hybrid zeolite-Pt CMR also showed stable conversion and selectivity upon extended high-temperature operation (12 h), indicating that encapsulation in the zeolite allowed thermal stabilization of the Pt nanoclusters and reduced catalyst deactivation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Syngas Production at Si Hybrid Photoelectrodes Modified with Re(I) and Mn(I) Tricarbonyl Phenanthroline Complexes Containing Reactive Aryl Azide Groups

We installed molecular CO 2 reduction (CO 2 R) catalysts directly onto Si (photo)electrodes. The highly reactive M(5-azido-1,10-phenanthroline)(CO) 3 X (where M = Mn or Re, X = Br or Cl) complexes readily bubbled when dissolved in polar organic solvents, in both the presence and absence of an ultraviolet light source. When placed on hydrogen-terminated Si (H-Si) and native silicon oxide (SiOx), similar amounts of the complex were attached to the surface under illumination (367 nm, 50–200 mW/cm 2 ) or in the dark. Surprisingly, these films revealed submonolayer coverages instead of the multilayered structures we expected. DFT analyses support monolayer formation, showing that the triplet-state nitrene of the complex is more energetically favorable than the singlet state. Using controlled-potential electrolysis experiments, we showed that Re- and Mn-containing films on pSi photoelectrodes generated small amounts of CO when exposed to 1 atm of CO 2 and 1 sun illumination. These amounts of CO were an order of magnitude greater than control surfaces, producing 5.59 × 10 –7 mol CO/h for Re(az-phen) and 7.83 × 10 –7 mol CO/h for Mn(az-phen) films. Much of the charge passed at the pSi electrodes was consumed by the competing hydrogen evolution reaction, which we attribute to the low molecular coverage and the presence of native oxide on the electrode surface after attachment. Finally, this work demonstrates the feasibility of reacting azide-containing ligands with Si surfaces. Still, it highlights the need for alternative ligand structures and reaction conditions to form multilayer films.

azides↗
DOE OSTI2023

Rigorous Oxidation State Assignments for Supported Ga-Containing Catalysts Using Theory-Informed X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy Signatures from Well-Defined Ga(I) and Ga(III) Compounds

Gallium-based heterogeneous catalysts originally developed for commercial use in propane dehydroaromatization have been explored extensively as potential replacements for Pt- and Cr-based catalysts used in propane dehydrogenation for on-demand propylene production. In a large number of experimental and theoretical studies, active sites with a variety of Ga nuclearities, coordination environments, and oxidation states have been proposed. Isolated Ga(I) ions are often invoked, despite the scarcity of well-defined molecular species and their well-documented instability. In this study, we investigate the appearance of a high-intensity, low-energy white line at the Ga K-edge upon reduction of Ga/HZSM-5 by H 2 at a temperature of ca. 500 °C, accompanied by a dramatic reduction in the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) intensity. In contrast, Ga/γ-Al 2 O 3 does not show such behavior. In order to lay a rigorous foundation for characterizing these types of systems and to establish experimental signatures for the elusive Ga(I) oxidation state, we recorded Ga K-edge X-ray absorption spectra [including high-energy-resolution fluorescence detection-X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (HERFD-XANES)] for several well-defined molecular and crystalline Ga(I) compounds. XANES is essential to establishing the presence of Ga(I), despite the overlap in edge energies with organoGa(III) compounds, because Ga(I)-containing oxide materials show very weak EXAFS scattering. Compared to the XANES of trigonal Ga(III)-containing materials, Ga(I) spectra display a significantly more intense white line feature. Theoretical simulations agree well with this experimental observation and reveal that the strong XANES intensity originates from the superposition of transitions to several empty, nearly degenerate p-like states. Finally, these signatures provide compelling evidence for assigning the intense white line and dramatic loss of EXAFS intensity in Ga/HZSM-5 to the near-quantitative reduction of Ga(III) to Ga(I), while the weaker white line and conventional EXAFS signal of Ga/γ-Al 2 O 3 point to, at most, a minor fraction of Ga(I) sites.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

DFT Insights into the Competitive Adsorption of Sulfur- and Nitrogen-Containing Compounds and Hydrocarbons on Co-Promoted Molybdenum Sulfide Catalysts

The adsorption of 20 nitrogen-/sulfur-containing and hydrocarbon compounds on the sulfur edge of cobalt-promoted molybdenum sulfide (CoMoS) catalyst was studied using density functional theory, accounting for van der Waals interactions, to elicit comparative structure–property trends across different classes of molecules relevant to hydrotreating. Unhindered organosulfur compounds preferentially adsorb on a “CUS-like” site formed by the dimerization of two neighboring sulfur atoms on the edge to create a vacancy. Nitrogen-containing compounds and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene, however, prefer the brim sites. Binding energy trends indicate that nitrogen-containing compounds will inhibit hydrodesulfurization on the brim sites and, relatively weakly, on the CUS-like sites. Edge vacancies are,thus, likely to be essential for hydrodesulfurization of unhindered organosulfur compounds. Furthermore, van der Waals forces contribute significantly to the binding energy of compounds (up to 1.0 eV for large compounds such as alkyl-substituted acridines) on CoMoS.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2013

Protonation of Ferrous Dinitrogen Complexes Containing a Diphosphine Ligand with a Pendant Amine

The addition of protons to pendant amine containing ferrous dinitrogen complexes, of the type [FeX(N2)(PEtNMePEt)(dmpm)]+ (X = H, Cl, or Br; PEtNMePEt = Et2PCH2N(Me)CH2PEt2 and dmpm = Me2PCH2PMe2), was found to protonate at the pendant amine as opposed to the dinitrogen ligand. This protonation increased the νN2 of the complex by about 25 cm-1, shifting the Fe(II/I) couple 330 mV to a more positive potential. A similar shift was observed in the case of [FeX(CO)(PEtNMePEt)(dmpm)]+ (X = H, Cl, or Br). Computational analysis verified these experimental results and showed the coordination of N2 to Fe(II) centers increases the basicity of N2 (vs. free N2) by 13 and 20 pKa units for the trans halides and hydrides, respectively. Although the iron center was found to increase the basicity of the bound N2 ligand, coordinated N2 is not sufficiently basic to be protonated. In the case of ferrous dinitrogen complexes containing a basic pendant methylamine, the amine site was determined to be the most basic site by 30 pKa units compared to protonation at the N2 ligand. To increase the basicity of the N2 ligand in order to promote proton transfer from the pendant amine to the N2 ligand, chemical reduction of these ferrous dinitrogen complexes was performed and found to result in oxidative addition of the methylene C-H bond of the PEtNMePEt ligand to Fe, preventing isolation of a reduced Fe(0) N2 complex. This work was supported as part of the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences.

ammonia↗
DOE OSTI2025

Dual Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 3CL Protease and Human Cathepsin L Containing Glutamine Isosteres Are Anti-CoV-2 Agents

SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease (Main protease) and human cathepsin L are proteases that play unique roles in the infection of human cells by SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. Both proteases recognize leucine and other hydrophobic amino acids at the P 2 position of a peptidomimetic inhibitor. At the P 1 position, cathepsin L accepts many amino acid side chains, with a partial preference for phenylalanine, while 3CL-PR protease has a stringent specificity for glutamine or glutamine analogues. We have designed, synthesized, and evaluated peptidomimetic aldehyde dual-target (dual-acting) inhibitors using two peptide scaffolds based on those of two Pfizer 3CL-PR inhibitors, Nirmatrelvir, and PF-835321. Our inhibitors contain glutamine isosteres at the P 1 position, including 2-pyridon-3-yl-alanine, 3-pyridinyl-alanine, and 1,3-oxazo-4-yl-alanine groups. Inhibition constants for these new inhibitors ranged from K i = 0.6–18 nM (cathepsin L) and K i = 2.6–124 nM (3CL-PR), for which inhibitors with the 2-pyridon-3-yl-alanal substituent were the most potent for 3CL-PR. The anti-CoV-2 activity of these inhibitors ranged from EC 50 = 0.47–15 μM. X-ray structures of the peptidomimetic aldehyde inhibitors of 3CL-PR with similar scaffolds all demonstrated the formation of thiohemiacetals with Cys 145 , and hydrogen-bonding interactions with the heteroatoms of the pyridon-3-yl-alanyl group, as well as the nitrogen of the N-terminal indole and its appended carbonyl group at the P 3 position. The absence of these hydrogen bonds for the inhibitors containing the 3-pyridinyl-alanyl and 1,3-oxazo-4-yl-alanyl groups was reflected in the less potent inhibition of the inhibitors with 3CL-PR. In summary, our studies demonstrate the value of a second generation of cysteine protease inhibitors that comprise a single agent that acts on both human cathepsin L and SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease. Such dual-target inhibitors will provide anti-COVID-19 drugs that remain active despite the development of resistance due to mutation of the viral protease. Such dual-target inhibitors are more likely to remain useful therapeutics despite the emergence of inactivating mutations in the viral protease because the human cathepsin L will not develop resistance. This particular dual-target approach is innovative since one of the targets is viral (3CL-PR) required for viral protein maturation and the other is human (hCatL) which enables viral infection.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Artificial Metalloproteins Containing Co 4 O 4 Cubane Active Sites

Artificial metalloproteins (ArMs) containing Co 4 O 4 cubane active sites were constructed via biotin-streptavidin technology. Stabilized by hydrogen bonds (H-bonds), terminal and cofacial Co III -OH 2 moieties are observed crystallographically in a series of immobilized cubane sites. Solution electrochemistry provided correlations of oxidation potential and pH. For variants containing Ser and Phe adjacent to the metallocofactor, 1e - /1H + chemistry predominates until pH 8, above which the oxidation becomes pH-independent. Installation of Tyr proximal to the Co 4 O 4 active site provided a single H-bond to one of a set of cofacial Co III -OH 2 groups. With this variant, multi-e - /multi-H + chemistry is observed, along with a change in mechanism at pH 9.5 that is consistent with Tyr deprotonation. Finally, with structural similarities to both the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II (H-bonded Tyr) and to thin film water oxidation catalysts (Co 4 O 4 core), these findings bridge synthetic and biological systems for water oxidation, highlighting the importance of secondary sphere interactions in mediating multi-e - /multi-H + reactivity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Spray Mechanism of Contained-Electrospray Ionization

Analytical characteristics of contained electrospray ionization (ESI) are summarized in terms of its potential to modify the analyte solution during the stages of droplet formation to provide opportunities to generate native versus denatured biomolecular gas-phase ions, without the need for bulk-phase analyte modifications. The real-time modification of the charged microdroplets occurs in a cavity that is included in the outlet of the contained-ESI ion source. Close examination of the inside of the cavity using a high-speed camera revealed the formation of discrete droplets as well as thin liquid films in the droplets wake. When operated at 20 psi N2 pressure, the droplets were observed to move at an average speed of 8 mm/s providing ~1 s mixing time in a 10 mm cavity length. Evidence is provided for the presence of highly reactive charged droplets based on myoglobin charge state distribution, apo-myoglobin contents, and ion mobility drift time profiles under different spray conditions. Mechanistic insights for the capture of vapor-phase reagents and droplet dynamics as influenced by different operational modes are also described.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2014

Discovery of Selective and Noncovalent Diaminopyrimidine-Based Inhibitors of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Containing the T790M Resistance Mutation

Activating mutations within the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase domain, commonly L858R or deletions within exon 19, increase EGFR-driven cell proliferation and survival and are correlated with impressive responses to the EGFR inhibitors erlotinib and gefitinib in nonsmall cell lung cancer patients. Approximately 60% of acquired resistance to these agents is driven by a single secondary mutation within the EGFR kinase domain, specifically substitution of the gatekeeper residue threonine-790 with methionine (T790M). Due to dose-limiting toxicities associated with inhibition of wild-type EGFR (wtEGFR), we sought inhibitors of T790M-containing EGFR mutants with selectivity over wtEGFR. Here in this paper, we describe the evolution of HTS hits derived from Jak2/Tyk2 inhibitors into selective EGFR inhibitors. X-ray crystal structures revealed two distinct binding modes and enabled the design of a selective series of novel diaminopyrimidine-based inhibitors with good potency against T790M-containing mutants of EGFR, high selectivity over wtEGFR, broad kinase selectivity, and desirable physicochemical properties.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

A Darcy‐Brinkman‐Biot Approach to Modeling the Hydrology and Mechanics of Porous Media Containing Macropores and Deformable Microporous Regions

Abstract The coupled hydrology and mechanics of soft porous materials (such as clays, hydrogels, membranes, and biofilms) is an important research area in several fields, including water and energy technologies as well as biomedical engineering. Well‐established models based on poromechanics theory exist for describing these coupled properties, but these models are not adapted to describe systems with more than one characteristic length scale, that is, systems that contain both macropores and micropores. In this paper, we expand upon the well‐known Darcy‐Brinkman formulation of fluid flow in two‐scale porous media to develop a “Darcy‐Brinkman‐Biot” formulation: a general coupled system of equations that approximates the Navier‐Stokes equations in fluid‐filled macropores and resembles the equations for poroelasticity in microporous regions. We parameterized and validated our model for systems that contain either plastic (swelling clay) or elastic microporous regions. In particular, we used our model to predict the permeability of an idealized siliciclastic sedimentary rock as a function of pore water salinity and clay content. Predicted permeability values are well described by a single parametric relation between permeability and clay volume fraction that agrees with existing experimental data sets. Our novel formulation captures the coupled hydro‐chemo‐mechanical properties of sedimentary rocks and other deformable porous media in a manner that can be readily implemented within the framework of Digital Rock Physics.

Carrillo, Francisco J.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Liquid Containing Clouds at the North Slope of Alaska Demonstrate Sensitivity to Local Industrial Aerosol Emissions

Abstract Cloud condensation nucleus control alter cloud solar albedo through cloud droplet size. Here, we leverage anthropogenic emissions at the North Slope of Alaska as a natural laboratory to study relationships between aerosols and Arctic liquid‐containing clouds. Averaging 14 years of MODIS observations, we found a reduction in temporally averaged cloud effective radius ( ) of up to 1.0 μm related to localized pollution. Pronounced regional gradients in cloud frequency of occurrence and liquid water path prohibit the detection of potential changes of these variables. Observed changes of alter radiative fluxes and increase cloud‐reflected shortwave radiation by up to 0.8 W m − 2 in the Prudhoe Bay area for the period covered by observations (April–September). Due to the frequent occurrence of liquid‐containing clouds, this implies that enhanced local emissions in Arctic regions can impact climate processes.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Controllable 0–π Josephson junctions containing a ferromagnetic spin valve

Superconductivity and ferromagnetism are antagonistic forms of order, and rarely coexist. Many interesting new phenomena occur, however, in hybrid superconducting/ferromagnetic systems. For example, a Josephson junction containing a ferromagnetic material can exhibit an intrinsic phase shift of π in its ground state for certain thicknesses of the material. Such ‘π-junctions’ were first realized experimentally in 2001, and have been proposed as circuit elements for both high-speed classical superconducting computing and for quantum computing. Here we demonstrate experimentally that the phase state of a Josephson junction containing two ferromagnetic layers can be toggled between 0 and pi by changing the relative orientation of the two magnetizations. These controllable 0–π junctions have immediate applications in cryogenic memory, where they serve as a necessary component to an ultralow power superconducting computer. Such a fully superconducting computer is estimated to be orders of magnitude more energy-efficient than current semiconductor-based supercomputers. Here, phase-controllable junctions also open up new possibilities for superconducting circuit elements such as superconducting ‘programmable logic’, where they could function in superconducting analogues to field-programmable gate arrays.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2018

Predictive multiphase evolution in Al-containing high-entropy alloys

The ability to predict and understand phases in high-entropy alloys (HEAs) is still being debated, and primarily true predictive capabilities derive from the known thermodynamics of materials. The present work demonstrates that prior work using high-throughput first-principles calculations may be further utilized to provide direct insight into the temperature- and composition-dependent phase evolution in HEAs, particularly Al-containing HEAs with a strengthening multiphase microstructure. Using a simple model with parameters derived from first-principles calculations, we reproduce the major features associated with Al-containing phases, demonstrating a generalizable approach for exploring potential phase evolution where little experimental data exists. Neutron scattering, in situ microscopy, and calorimetry measurements suggest that our high-throughput Monte Carlo technique captures both qualitative and quantitative features for both intermetallic phase formation and microstructure evolution at lower temperatures. This study provides a simple approach to guide HEA development, including ordered multi-phase HEAs, which may prove valuable for structural applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗