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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 703 records · Page 39
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Antimicrobial properties of nanostructured surfaces – demonstrating the need for a standard testing methodology

Bioinspired nanostructured materials that exhibit antimicrobial properties are being synthesized and tested at increasing rates for use in healthcare, manufacturing processes, and diagnostics. Although progress has been made in improving and understanding their bactericidal activity, arguably, the biggest problem currently in the field is the lack of a standard testing methodology that allows for optimal characterization and better comparison of emerging nanostructures. In this work, we examine two forms of nanostructured silicon that vary in their ability to kill certain bacterial species due to different physical mechanisms and derive guidelines for the comparative testing. We perform a comprehensive evaluation of methodologies used extensively in the field (e.g., colony counting and live dead analysis) and the novel application of high-throughput flow cytometry. The data reveal how the techniques are complementary but not always directly equivalent or correlative. Therefore, comparison of results obtained using different methodologies on different materials can be grossly misleading. We report significant variations in bactericidal efficiencies depending on experimental environments (medium type, etc.) and methodologies employed. In addition, we demonstrate how cytometry is yet another powerful complementary tool that can aid the mechanistic understanding of antimicrobial activities of rough surfaces. Besides standardization for comparison, ultimately, evaluation methods need to consider anticipated applications. Then and only then can the true potential (or limitation) of a novel material be determined for its suitability for advancement in a particular field of use.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Chirality and dislocation effects in single nanostructures probed by whispering gallery modes

Nanostructures such as nanoribbons and -wires are of interest as components for building integrated photonic systems, especially if their basic functionality as dielectric waveguides can be extended by chiroptical phenomena or modifications of their optoelectronic properties by extended defects, such as dislocations. However, conventional optical measurements typically require monodisperse (and chiral) ensembles, and identifying emerging chiral optical activity or dislocation effects in single nanostructures has remained an unmet challenge. Here we show that whispering gallery modes can probe chirality and dislocation effects in single nanowires. Wires of the van der Waals semiconductor germanium(II) sulfide (GeS), obtained by vapor–liquid–solid growth, invariably form as growth spirals around a single screw dislocation that gives rise to a chiral structure and can modify the electronic properties. Cathodoluminescence spectroscopy on single tapered GeS nanowires containing joined dislocated and defect-free segments, augmented by numerical simulations and ab-initio calculations, identifies chiral whispering gallery modes as well as a pronounced modulation of the electronic structure attributed to the screw dislocation. Further, our results establish chiral light-matter interactions and dislocation-induced electronic modifications in single nanostructures, paving the way for their application in multifunctional photonic architectures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Superior metal storage behavior of Zn-containing porous carbon nanostructures for Na and Li metal batteries

Na and Li metals are ideal anodes for high-energy rechargeable batteries. However, their poor coulombic efficiency and the associated safety issues due to dendritic metal deposition and large volume changes during metallic plating/stripping are the major causes that persistently hinder their practical energy-storage applications. Herein, Zn-containing carbon nanostructures derived from typical zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) are proposed as advanced metal anode materials for both Na and Li metal batteries. In this study; the three-dimensional interconnected porous surfaces confine metallic Na and Li within the nanostructures, filling the carbon scaffold, and covering the electrode surface to form stable solid electrolyte interphases. Based on the metal nucleation and growth results obtained through various electrochemical tests, Zn incorporation and pore morphology have been revealed to be the key factors that regulate the metal nucleation and metallic plating/stripping during cycling. Thus, the incorporation of Zn in the closed pores of a carbon nanostructure improves the cycle performance, even in carbonate electrolytes, and produces stable Na and Li metallic anodes for next-generation rechargeable batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2012

Emission spectra analysis of arc plasma for synthesis of carbon nanostructures in various magnetic conditions

Arc discharge supported by the erosion of anode materials is one of the most practical and efficient methods to synthesize various high-quality carbon nanostructures. By introducing a non-uniform magnetic field in arc plasmas, high-purity single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and large-scale graphene flakes can be obtained in a single step. In this paper, ultraviolet-visible emission spectra of arc in different spots under various magnetic conditions are analyzed to provide an in situ investigation for transformation processes of evaporated species and growth of carbon nanostructures in arc. Based on the arc spectra of carbon diatomic Swan bands, vibrational temperature in arc is determined. The vibrational temperature in arc center was measured around 6950 K, which is in good agreement with our simulation results. Experimental and simulation results suggest that SWCNT are formed in the arc periphery region. Transmission electronic microscope and Raman spectroscope are also employed to characterize the properties of carbon nanostructures.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Ion-modulated nonlinear electronic transport in carbon nanotube bundle/RbAg{sub 4}I{sub 5} thin film composite nanostructures

We have explored the ion-modulated electronic transport properties of mixed ionic-electronic conductor (MIEC) composite nanostructures made of superionic conductor RbAg{sub 4}I{sub 5} films and carbon nanotube (CNT) bundle spiderwebs. Our experimental and theoretical studies indicate that the formation of ion-electron bound states (IEBSs) leads to strong ion-electron interference effect and interesting electronic transport of CNT, such as nonlinear current-voltage (I–V) characteristics and novel temperature dependence of the current. With increasing temperature, the hybrid nanostructures show rich phases with different dependence of current on temperature, which is related to the structural phase transition of RbAg{sub 4}I{sub 5} and the transition of dissociation of IEBSs. The ion-modulation of the electric conductivity in such MIEC composite nanostructures with great tunability has been used to design new ionic-electronic composite nano-devices with function like field effect transistor.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2014

N-V{sub Si}-related center in non-irradiated 6H SiC nanostructure

We present the first findings of the vacancy-related centers identified by the electron spin resonance (ESR) and electrically-detected (ED) ESR method in the non-irradiated 6H-SiC nanostructure. This planar 6H-SiC nanostructure represents the ultra-narrow p-type quantum well confined by the δ-barriers heavily doped with boron on the surface of the n-type 6H-SiC (0001) wafer. The EDESR method by measuring the only magnetoresistance of the 6H SiC nanostructure under the high frequency generation from the δ-barriers appears to allow the identification of the silicon vacancy centers as well as the triplet center with spin state S=1. The same triplet center that is characterized by the larger value of the zero-field splitting constant D and anisotropic g-factor is revealed by the ESR (X-band) method. The hyperfine (hf) lines in the ESR and EDESR spectra originating from the hf interaction with the {sup 14}N nucleus allow us to attribute this triplet center to the N-V{sub Si} defect.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2014

To the understanding of the formation of the droplet-epitaxial III-V based nanostructures

In this work, we discuss the evolution of the self-assembling III-V based nanostructures. These nano-structures were prepared by droplet epitaxial technique. The different nanostructures such as quantum dot, quantum ring, double quantum ring, or nanohole form similarly from an initial Ga droplet but under different substrate temperature and various arsenic pressures. Started from few atomic courses, we give here a qualitative description of the key processes for all of the aforementioned nanostructures.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Influence of in-plane and bridging oxygen vacancies of SnO{sub 2} nanostructures on CH{sub 4} sensing at low operating temperatures

Role of “O” defects in sensing pollutant with nanostructured SnO{sub 2} is not well understood, especially at low temperatures. SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles were grown by soft chemistry route followed by subsequent annealing treatment under specific conditions. Nanowires were grown by chemical vapor deposition technique. A systematic photoluminescence (PL) investigation of “O” defects in SnO{sub 2} nanostructures revealed a strong correlation between shallow donors created by the in-plane and the bridging “O” vacancies and gas sensing at low temperatures. These SnO{sub 2} nanostructures detected methane (CH{sub 4}), a reducing and green house gas at a low temperature of 50 °C. Response of CH{sub 4} was found to be strongly dependent on surface defect in comparison to surface to volume ratio. Control over “O” vacancies during the synthesis of SnO{sub 2} nanomaterials, as supported by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and subsequent elucidation for low temperature sensing are demonstrated.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Oxygen vacancy mediated enhanced photo-absorption from ZnO(0001) nanostructures fabricated by atom beam sputtering

The nanoscale patterns created on the ZnO(0001) surfaces during atom beam irradiation have been investigated here for their photo absorption response. Preferential sputtering, during irradiation, promotes Zn-rich zones that serve as the nucleation centers for the spontaneous creation of nanostructures. Nanostructured surfaces with bigger (78 nm) nanodots, displaying hexagonal ordering and long ranged periodic behavior, show higher photo absorption and a ∼0.09 eV reduced bandgap. These nanostructures also demonstrate higher concentration of oxygen vacancies which are crucial for these results. The enhanced photo-response, as observed here, has been achieved in the absence of any dopant elements.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2017

Synthesis and superconductivity of In-doped SnTe nanostructures

In x Sn 1-x Te is a time-reversal invariant candidate 3D topological superconductor derived from doping the topological crystalline insulator SnTe with indium. The ability to synthesize low-dimensional nanostructures of indium-doped SnTe is key for realizing the promise they hold in future spintronic and quantum information processing applications. But hitherto only bulk synthesized crystals and nanoplates have been used to study the superconducting properties. Here for the first time we synthesize In x Sn 1-x Te nanostructures including nanowires and nanoribbons, which show superconducting transitions. In some of the lower dimensional morphologies, we observe signs of more than one superconducting transition and the absence of complete superconductivity. We propose that material inhomogeneity, such as indium inhomogeneity and possible impurities from the metal catalyst, is amplified in the transport characteristics of the smaller nanostructures and is responsible for this mixed behavior. Our work represents the first demonstration of In x Sn 1-x Te nanowires with the onset of superconductivity, and points to the need for improving the material quality for future applications

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2018

Crystal-phase intergradation in InAs nanostructures grown by van der Waals heteroepitaxy on graphene

In this study, we demonstrate the crystal-phase intergradation of InAs nanostructures grown on graphene via van der Waals epitaxy. InAs nanostructures with diverse diameters are yielded on graphene. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) reveals two crystallographic features of (i) wurtzite (WZ)-to-zinc blende (ZB) intergradation along the growth direction of InAs nanostructures and (ii) an increased mean fraction of ZB according to diameter increment. Based on the HR-TEM observations, a crystal-phase intergradation diagram is depicted. We discuss how the formation of a WZ-rich phase during the initial growth stage is an effective way of releasing heterointerfacial stress endowed by the lattice mismatch of InAs/graphene for energy minimization in terms of less in-plane lattice mismatching between WZ-InAs and graphene. Lastly, the WZ-to-ZB evolution is responsible for the attenuation of the bottom-to-top surface charge interaction as growth proceeds.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Selective amorphization of SiGe in Si/SiGe nanostructures via high energy Si+ implant

Here, the selective amorphization of SiGe in Si/SiGe nanostructures via a 1 MeV Si + implant was investigated, resulting in single-crystal Si nanowires (NWs) and quantum dots (QDs) encapsulated in amorphous SiGe fins and pillars, respectively. The Si NWs and QDs are formed during high-temperature dry oxidation of single-crystal Si/SiGe heterostructure fins and pillars, during which Ge diffuses along the nanostructure sidewalls and encapsulates the Si layers. The fins and pillars were then subjected to a 3 × 10 15 ions/cm 2 1 MeV Si + implant, resulting in the amorphization of SiGe, while leaving the encapsulated Si crystalline for larger, 65-nm wide NWs and QDs. Interestingly, the 26-nm diameter Si QDs amorphize, while the 28-nm wide NWs remain crystalline during the same high energy ion implant. This result suggests that the Si/SiGe pillars have a lower threshold for Si-induced amorphization compared to their Si/SiGe fin counterparts. However, Monte Carlo simulations of ion implantation into the Si/SiGe nanostructures reveal similar predicted levels of displacements per cm 3 . Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the total stress magnitude in Si QDs encapsulated in crystalline SiGe is higher than the total stress magnitude in Si NWs, which may lead to greater crystalline instability in the QDs during ion implant. The potential lower amorphization threshold of QDs compared to NWs is of special importance to applications that require robust QD devices in a variety of radiation environments.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Spherical gold nanoparticles and SiO{sub 2}/Au core/shell microparticles under intense femtosecond laser excitation: relaxation dynamics of gold nanoparticles and nanostructuring of borosilicate glass using SiO{sub 2}/Au microparticles

This paper reports surface nanostructuring of borosilicate glass covered with a water layer and the production of ∼150 nm diameter pits using SiO{sub 2}/Au core/shell microparticles under excitation with 50 fs pulses (λ = 780 nm) using the optical scheme of an inverted microscope with a 100{sup ×}, NA = 1.4 objective. We compare the thresholds for hole formation in glass with the use of SiO{sub 2}/Au and uncoated SiO{sub 2} microparticles. The threshold is 0.7 J cm{sup -2} for SiO{sub 2}/Au and 2.9 J cm{sup -2} for SiO{sub 2} microparticles, which coincides with the threshold for nanostructuring by a focused femtosecond pulse without microparticles: 3 J cm{sup -2}. Femtosecond pump – probe spectroscopy has been used to study the relaxation dynamics of laser pulse energy absorbed in a Au nanoparticle and the dynamics of energy dissipation to the ambient medium. The threshold for cavitation bubble formation in water with SiO{sub 2}/Au has been determined to be 0.06 mJ cm{sup -2}, which is a factor of 30 lower than the bubble formation threshold in the case of uncoated SiO{sub 2} microparticles. (nanostructures)

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Prediction of carbon nanostructure mechanical properties and the role of defects using machine learning

Graphene-based nanostructures hold immense potential as strong and lightweight materials, however, their mechanical properties such as modulus and strength are difficult to fully exploit due to challenges in atomic-scale engineering. This study presents a database of over 2,000 pristine and defective nanoscale CNT bundles and other graphitic assemblies, inspired by microscopy, with associated stress–strain curves from reactive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using the reactive INTERFACE force field (IFF-R). These 3D structures, containing up to 80,000 atoms, enable detailed analyses of structure-stiffness-failure relationships. By leveraging the database and physics- and chemistry-informed machine learning (ML), accurate predictions of elastic moduli and tensile strength are demonstrated at speeds 1,000 to 10,000 times faster than efficient MD simulations. Hierarchical Graph Neural Networks with Spatial Information (HS-GNNs) are introduced, which integrate chemistry knowledge. HS-GNNs as well as extreme gradient boosted trees (XGBoost) achieve forecasts of mechanical properties of arbitrary carbon nanostructures with only 3 to 6% mean relative error. The reliability equals experimental accuracy and is up to 20 times higher than other ML methods. Predictions maintain 8 to 18% accuracy for large CNT bundles, CNT junctions, and carbon fiber cross-sections outside the training distribution. The physics- and chemistry-informed HS-GNN works remarkably well for data outside the training range while XGBoost works well with limited training data inside the training range. The carbon nanostructure database is designed for integration with multimodal experimental and simulation data, scalable beyond 100 nm size, and extendable to chemically similar compounds and broader property ranges. The ML approaches have potential for applications in structural materials, nanoelectronics, and carbon-based catalysts.

Winetrout, Jordan J.↗
DOE OSTI2013

Structural and magnetic properties of Pr-alloyed MnBi nanostructures

The structural and magnetic properties of Pr-alloyed MnBi (short MnBi-Pr) nanostructures with a range of Pr concentrations are investigated. The nanostructures include thin films having Pr concentrations 0, 2, 3, 5 and 9 at.% and melt-spun ribbons having Pr concentrations 0%, 2%, 4% and 6%, respectively. Addition of Pr into the MnBi lattice has produced a significant change in the magnetic properties of these nanostructures including an increase in coercivity and structural phase transition temperature, and a decrease in saturation magnetization and anisotropy energy. The highest value of coercivity measured in the films is 23 kOe and in the ribbons is 5.6 kOe. The observed magnetic properties are explained as the consequences of competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions.

Kharel, P↗
DOE OSTI2017

A path for synthesis of boron-nitride nanostructures in volume of arc plasma

We find a possible channel for direct nanosynthesis of boron-nitride (BN) nanostructures, including growth of BN nanotubes from a mixture of BN diatomic molecules by quantum–classical molecular dynamics simulations. No catalyst or boron nanoparticle is needed for this synthesis, however the conditions for the synthesis of each of the nanostructures, such as temperature and flux of the BN feedstock are identified and are compatible with the conditions in an electric arc at high pressure. We also find that BN nanostructures can be synthetized by feeding a boron nanoparticle by BN diatomic molecules, however if hydrogen rich molecules like NH3 or HBNH are used as a feedstock, two-dimensional nanoflake stable structures are formed.

Materials Science↗
DOE OSTI2019

Focused-helium-ion-beam blow forming of nanostructures: radiation damage and nanofabrication

Targeted irradiation of nanostructures by a finely focused ion beam provides routes to improved control of material modification and understanding of the physics of interactions between ion beams and nanomaterials. Here, we studied radiation damage in crystalline diamond and silicon nanostructures using a focused helium ion beam, with the former exhibiting extremely long-range ion propagation and large plastic deformation in a process visibly analogous to blow forming. We report significant dependence of damage morphology on material, geometry, and irradiation conditions (ion dose, ion energy, ion species, and location). In this work, we suggest that our approach and findings will not only improve the understanding of radiation damage in isolated nanostructures, but will also support the design of new engineering materials and devices for current and future applications in nanotechnology.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Temperature-dependent thermal conductivity in silicon nanostructured materials studied by the Boltzmann transport equation

Nanostructured materials show low thermal conductivity because of the additional scattering due to phonon-boundary interactions. As these interactions are highly sensitive to the mean free path (MFP) of phonons, MFP distributions in nanostructures can be dramatically distorted relative to bulk. Here we calculate the MFP distribution in periodic nanoporous Si for different temperatures, using the recently developed MFP-dependent Boltzmann transport equation. After analyzing the relative contribution of each phonon branch to thermal transport in nanoporous Si, we find that at room temperature optical phonons contribute 17 % to heat transport, compared to 5 % in bulk Si. Interestingly, we observe a constant thermal conductivity over the range 200 K < T < 300 K . Furthermore, we attribute this behavior to the ballistic transport of acoustic phonons with long intrinsic MFP and the temperature dependence of the heat capacity. Our findings, which are in qualitative agreement with the temperature trend of thermal conductivities measured in nanoporous Si-based systems, shed light on the origin of the reduction of thermal conductivity in nanostructured materials and demonstrate the necessity of multiscale heat transport engineering, in which the bulk material and geometry are optimized concurrently.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗