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At least 883 records · Page 49

The Thermo-Elastic Properties and Damping of U-6wt%Nb

While thermal expansion data exists for quenched (as well as aged) U-6wt%Nb, there is wide variation in the reported room temperature elastic moduli. To better understand the room temperature elastic behavior and to address the complete absence of data on the temperature dependence of the elastic moduli, room temperature and in-situ elevated temperature resonant ultrasonic spectroscopy (RUS) was performed along with x-ray diffraction (XRD) and dilatometry using a thermomechanical analyzer (TMA). An in-situ small- and wide-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) experiment was performed on a companion sample to help interpret the results. The room temperature polycrystalline dynamic moduli were measured to be E = 95.4 ± 4.5 GPa and G = 35.2 ± 0.2 GPa, respectively. As the temperature is raised, the stiffness slowly decreases, consistent with the empirical rule proposed by Varshni, up to the point of precipitation of the equilibrium α-U phase, which is stiffer than the martensitic phases. Homogenization theory of composites can be used to rationalize the observed response at high temperatures and after high-temperature exposures. Further, aging of the material at low temperatures (≤200°C) does not affect the linear elastic stiffness, but does impact the damping behavior which can be measured through RUS. This change in damping provides another perspective on the microstructure changes induced by low-temperature aging which also result in significant strengthening.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Synthesis and Photophysics of Phenylene Based Triplet Donor–Acceptor Dyads: ortho vs. para Positional Effect on Intramolecular Triplet Energy Transfer

Two phenylene based geometrical/isomeric triplet ortho- and para–dyads (o–3 and p–3, respectively) were synthesized and fully characterized using advanced photophysical tools and computations. In dyad o–3, the through-space donor-acceptor interactions led to simultaneous triplet energy transfer and charge transfer with identical kinetics. On the other hand, in the dyad p–3, it was found that the phenylene spacer favors a fast triplet energy delocalization over the charge transfer process. Furthermore, analysis of the results from the present investigation indicates that the deactivation of the photo-excited species (o–3)* occurs through both the intrinsic channel viz. S0←S1 and charge recombination. In the case of dyad p–3, the results indicate that the primary deactivation pathway is self-quenching or triplet-triplet annihilation involving the acceptor unit(s).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Photometric sensing of heavy metal ions using a naphthoquinodimethyl- bis -thioamide dye: Selectivity & photophysics of the metal organic complexes

As Mother Nature is experiencing catastrophic environmental pollutions from both natural sources and anthropogenic activities, many scientists have been working around the clock to develop environmentally benign and cost-effective, yet sensitive, detection techniques for pollutants, especially heavy metal species (e.g. lead, cadmium, mercury, among others) that are deleterious to human health. Herein, we report a novel sulfur-containing small organic dye/sensor naphthoquinodimethyl-bis-thioamide (QDM), which was found to be particularly selective toward mercury ion (Hg 2+ ). Using a combination of UV-vis absorption, photoluminescence, and time-resolved pump-probe techniques, we established that QDM and Hg 2+ can form stable complex(es) due to the strong affinity of sulfur toward mercury. In this investigation, while a higher ratio of QDM:Hg 2+ was necessary to fully quench the fluorescence emission of QDM, only 1 equiv of the Hg 2+ ion was necessary to observe the sensing effect on the excited state photo-behavior(s) of QDM. Furthermore, the present results highlight a synergy between molecular sensors' selectivity/sensitivity and sensor-analytes dynamics.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Copper(I) photosensitizer-silica nanoparticle assembly towards enhanced aqueous photoluminescence

Harnessing the luminescence potential of Cu(I) complexes in aqueous media is typically hindered by their poor photostability and altered properties. Here, we report the synthesis, engineering and morphological characterization of a hydrophobic homoleptic copper(I) complex entrapped into silica nanoparticles, Cu-I@SiO 2 (where “Cu-I” designates [Cu(2,9-diiodo-1,10-phenanthroline) 2 ] + ), as a promising stabilisation strategy towards water-compatible, Cu(I) complex-based luminescence. The polyether chain-decorated nano-objects are spherical with an average diameter of ca. 10.8 ± 1.9 nm. Upon dispersion in water, clear solution-like suspensions were obtained. Significantly, the aqueous suspensions photo-luminesce (Φ em = 5×10 -4 ) upon excitation through the Metal-to-Ligand Charge-Transfer transition (MLCT) of the embedded copper(I) complexes. In contrast, the corresponding silica-free molecular complex dissolved in an aqueous environment revealed fully quenched emission. Finally, the use of Cu-I@SiO 2 suspensions as luminescent probes is reported, first by assessing their potential use as electrochemiluminescent probes, and second by monitoring the photoluminescence from Cu-I@SiO 2 in the presence of whole blood.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A fully ro-vibrationally resolved corona model for the molecular hydrogen Fulcher-𝛼 system

A ro-vibrationally resolved corona model for the molecular hydrogen Fulcher-𝛼 transition based on the Yacora solver is introduced. The model couples 1365 ro-vibrational levels of the 𝑋 1 ⁢𝛴$^+_𝑔$, 𝑑 3⁢ 𝛱 𝑢 and 𝑎 3 ⁢𝛴$^+_𝑔$ states via electron impact excitation from the ground state into the 𝑑 3⁢ 𝛱 𝑢 state and subsequent spontaneous emission into the 𝑎 3 ⁢𝛴$+_𝑔$ state. For the process of electron impact excitation a set of 45260 fully ro-vibrationally resolved cross sections calculated with the molecular convergent close-coupling (MCCC) method in the adiabatic-nuclei formulation is applied. The MCCC cross sections are compared with results of a scaling method used in other works, demonstrating the need for dedicated ro-vibrationally resolved cross sections. By post-processing the model output, entire Fulcher spectra can be simulated. These spectra are benchmarked with measurements from an inductively coupled plasma discharge at a pressure between 1.1–10 Pa and a RF power of 700 W. The model results agree very well with the experiment both in relative shape and in absolute value. A non-ro-vibrationally resolved, purely electronically resolved collisional radiative model for molecular hydrogen (including further states and reaction channels) is applied to investigate the validity of the corona approximation for the benchmark plasmas and the relevance of possible process extensions of the corona model. Furthermore, the influence of collisional quenching, autoionization and predissociation is discussed.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Unraveling the formation mechanism of NaCoPO 4 polymorphs

Phosphate compounds are one of the attractive classes of cathodes for their potential application in rechargeable Na-ion batteries (NIBs) due to their high insertion voltages and stabilities. Unlike olivine-LiMPO 4 (M = Fe, Mn, Co, Ni) cathodes, maricite-NaMPO 4 phases are electrochemically inactive due to lack of sodium diffusion channels. Interestingly, cobalt bearing compounds exhibit rich polymorphism (α-, β-, ABW- and Red-NaCoPO 4 ). However, the preparation of NaCoPO 4 single phases is challenging due to their closer enthalpies of formation. In this study, we have attempted to understand the formation mechanism of NaCoPO 4 polymorphs during solid state reaction using two different cobalt precursors (Co(OH) 2 and CoCO 3 ). The temperature dependent in-situ powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD) studies showed the formation of β-NaCoPO 4 at a much lower temperature compared to the one reported in the literature, whilst we have discovered a new high temperature polymorph gamma-NaCoPO 4 . The choice of precursors was also found to be important for the preparation of ABW-NaCoPO 4 , i.e., the rapid decomposition of Co(OH) 2 has resulted in its formation whilst the high stability of CoCO 3 prohibited the same. The order of the formation of the NaCoPO 4 polymorphs during heating was found to be ABW→β→α →$\gamma$. During normal cooling, gamma-NaCoPO 4 transformed primarily into alpha-polymorph whilst quenching in liquid N-2 resulted in the formation of β-NaCoPO 4 The as-synthesized beta- and ABW-NaCoPO 4 phases exhibited high sodium (de)-intercalation voltages (similar to 4.2 and 4.5 V vs. Na + /Na 0 , respectively), albeit with limited reversible capacities. This study is expected to open new avenues to harvest metastable polymorphs based on other transition metals (Fe, Mn and Ni).

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Effect of aging on failure mechanism of Alloy 709 at various temperatures

Alloy 709 is a novel austenitic stainless steel with high temperature creep strength, weldability, and corrosion resistance. These properties make the material suitable for applications in the structure of next-generation nuclear power plants. Enduring high temperatures for an extended period of time in the harsh environments of a nuclear power plant results in thermal aging of the material. Therefore, it is imperative to study the effect of thermal aging on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Alloy 709 before its application in the next generation power plants. In this study, hot-processed (forged + rolled), annealed and quenched ingots of Alloy 709 are aged at 650 °C for 2000 h in air and then tested at various temperatures up to 850 °C in an in-situ heating-loading Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD). The effect of testing temperature and aging on microstructural evolutions during tensile testing of as-received and aged samples are studied. Furthermore, both as-received and aged samples displayed serrations and drop in ductility at elevated temperatures, due to the effect of dynamic strain aging (DSA). The occurrence of DSA activity was found within temperatures range of 500 °C–750 °C in as-received and 550 °C - 650 °C in aged samples. The aged samples showed less elongation accompanied by shallower dimples on the fractured surface, indicating less ductile failure mechanism compared to as-received samples. Failure mechanism observations on the fracture surface using SEM fractography are correlated to the observations made on the sample surface using in-situ SEM to achieve a complementary set of information to better understand the failure mechanism of this novel alloy.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Examining the creep strengthening nanoprecipitation in novel highly reinforced heat resistant steels

Here we studied the creep strengthening nanoprecipitation in novel heat resistant steels strengthened by a high density of stable nanoprecipitates. The results show that the high number density of MX nanoprecipitates within the martensitic laths in these steels comes from the great amount of MX former elements present in their chemical compositions and the high dislocation density generated by the martensitic transformation that takes place during cooling after austenitization. These dislocations act as nucleation sites for these nanoprecipitates during the tempering applied after the austenitization and quenching. Atom probe tomography measurements show that these nanoprecipitates are rich in Nb, V, Cr and N for the HDSN1 and HDSN2 steels and V, Cr and N for the HDSN3 steel. The distribution of the nanoprecipitates within the martensitic laths suggests that the creep strengthening produced by the Nb, V, Cr and N nanoprecipitates in the HDSN1 and HDSN2 steels is more effective at pinning dislocations at high temperature than that obtained in the HDSN3 steel by the V, Cr and N nanoprecipitates. However, the high amount of W in the HDSN3 steel enhances the solid solution strengthening at high temperatures, resulting in a similar high temperature strength for all HDSN steels.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Evolution of the mechanical properties of a cobalt-based alloy under thermal shocks

A cobalt-base alloy manufactured by hot isostatic pressing sintering (HIP) was investigated in the present work. A series of quenching thermal-shock experiments were carried out to study the effects of thermal-cycle shocks on this new cobalt-based alloy. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersion Spectrum (EDS) were employed to observe the evolution of microstructures under thermal-shock cycles. Results show that some floccus Co 3 W 3 C precipitated around the WC particles after several thermal-shock cycles. These precipitates and the carbide particles correspond to the locations with the high-stress concentration. The mechanical properties evolution under thermal-shock cycles was analyzed by Nanoindentation tests. The nanohardness presents no noticeable change with thermal-shock cycles. However, the reduced modulus demonstrates a decreasing trend with the thermal-shock cycles. The variation of the mechanical properties has an unestimated relationship with the residual stress and densities of dislocations caused by thermal shocks. Furthermore, the present work pointed out that the precipitates around the carbides are the places where the thermal fatigue crack initiated. How to deal with the precipitates will be the optimized way for this material.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Machine learning bridges local static structure with multiple properties in metallic glasses

A long-standing challenge in the metallic glass (MG) community has been how to quantitatively gauge the influence of the intricate local packing environment on the response (such as the propensity for atomic rearrangement) of the atomic configuration to external stimuli. Here we establish this structure–property relation by representing the complex amorphous structure using a single, flexibility-orientated structural quantity. This structural flexibility (SF) couples to a bona fide structural representation, the pair distribution function (PDF) of individual atoms, through a weighting function that reflects what matters in the static atomic configuration to dynamic responses. Machine learning is used, employing microscopic flexibility volume as the supervisory signal, to establish via direct regression an optimized weighting vector, which is proven robust for all quenching rates, deformation conditions, and different compositions in a given (e.g., Cu x Zr 100-x ) alloy system. Additionally, the SF is evaluated solely from the particle positions (PDF), for any structure variation, from the atomic scale up to sample average. Strong correlations are demonstrated between SF and a broad range of properties, including vibrational, diffusional, as well as elastic and plastic relaxation responses.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Degradation mechanisms of 1.3 μm C-doped quantum dot lasers grown on native substrate

Here, the aim of this paper is to analyse the degradation modes of 1.3 μm InAs quantum dot laser diodes (QD LDs) grown by using carbon as a p-type dopant, as an alternative to beryllium. The devices were stressed at high current densities, to favor the onset of excited-state (ES) emission, and to study the related degradation phenomena. The study of QD LDs is of fundamental importance for the photonic integrated circuits (PICs). The investigation is based on two types of stress tests: 1) a current step stress and 2) a constant current stress. With these experiments we demonstrate that a) the current is a determining factor for the onset of the ES during the operation of such devices. b) the onset of ES is responsible for a rapid quenching of the ground state (GS) emission. c) stress induces a significant increase in the threshold current of the devices, that is ascribed to the lowering of the injection efficiency, which in turn can be explained by the easier escape of carriers from quantum dots (QDs) from ES energy levels. d) the contribution of defects on the optical and electrical degradation is also discussed.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Investigation of CO2 Sorption Characteristics of Imidazolium Ionic Liquid Crystals

This work is focused on advancing of the understanding the carbon dioxide (CO2) sorption characteristics of imidazolium ionic liquid crystals based on the 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium (Cnmim) ionic liquid family. Specifically, the mechanism of sorption across the melting, liquid crystal, and isotropic liquid transitions is investigated for 1-tetradecyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BF4-) and hexafluorophosphate (PF6-). A unique reversible CO2 occlusion was observed in 1-tetradecyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (C14mim BF4) under rapid temperature quench from the liquid phases to the solid phase, while complete desorption occurred upon heating above the melting point (40 degrees C). In situ wide-angle x-ray scattering revealed that the lamellar structure of C14mim BF4 liquid crystal phases provides a high concentration of dynamically accessible anion and cation interaction sites for CO2, facilitating CO2 occlusion upon rapid solidification. The selective occlusion of CO2 in C14mim BF4 suggests a new mechanism for CO2 sorption processes.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Influence of microstructure and temperature on impact toughness of H13 steel produced by binder jet additive manufacturing

Binder Jet Additive Manufacturing (BJAM) is a promising manufacturing pathway to produce H13 steel dies and tooling with complex geometries for applications in high pressure aluminum die casting, hot stamping, and injection molding. While fully dense H13 coupons produced using BJAM have been subjected to detailed microstructure characterization, properties which are critical and relevant to the aforementioned applications, such as impact toughness, have not been reported. Here, this work evaluated the influence of microstructural characteristics and test temperature on the impact toughness of H13 produced by BJAM. Coupons were produced from three different powder size distributions (PSDs), with nominal powder size ranges of −22 μm, 10-32 μm, and 15-53 μm. Coupons were printed, sintered, hot isostatically pressed (HIPed), and heat treated by quenching and tempering. After HIPing, the measured porosities of the different PSDs were all less than 0.015 vol%. The −22 μm PSD BJAM material exhibited the best impact toughness of all three PSDs across the entire test temperature range from 25 to 400 °C, and also exhibited an ambient temperature impact toughness of 10.9 J at a hardness of 46 HRC, equivalent to minimum threshold requirements for premium grade H13. However, all three BJAM PSDs exhibited moderately lower impact toughness than premium grade wrought H13 from RT to 400 °C. We attribute this in part due to the very large prior-austenite grain (PAG) sizes near 400 μm and segregation from former liquid channels leading to greater amounts of carbide precipitation on PAG boundaries. Technical pathways for optimizing processing and chemistry of BJAM H13 to further improve impact toughness are discussed.

Binder jet additive manufacturing↗

Amorphous complexion-aided sintering enables scalable processing of bulk nanocrystalline Cu-Zr with high strength and compressive plasticity

Nanocrystalline alloys can have exceptional strengths, yet due to limited microstructural stability it is difficult to fabricate bulk pieces through traditional processing routes that retain nanosized grains. In this study, centimeter-sized Cu-Zr alloy pellets were fabricated via a simple and improved powder metallurgy processing route. Different consolidation temperatures and times were employed to investigate the effect of amorphous grain boundary complexions on densification and the resulting mechanical properties. Bulk compression tests were carried out, with the samples that were hot pressed at 900 °C for 10 h exhibiting an excellent combination of average yield strength of 722 ± 45 MPa and average failure strain of 25.3 ± 2.4 %. Furthermore, we find that a powder processing route which enables amorphous complexion-assisted sintering leads to samples that (1) reach full density without requiring quenching treatments or other complex processing, (2) demonstrate appreciable plasticity, and (3) have strength that competes with commercially available high-strength Cu alloys.

Bulk nanocrystalline alloy↗

Differences in the response of two light guide technologies and two readout technologies after an exchange of liquid argon in the dewar

In this investigation the response to the scintillation light generated by through-going cosmic muons in liquid argon (LAr) was measured by two light guide technologies and two readout technologies after five weeks of running in the TallBo dewar at Fermilab. The response was remeasured after the dewar was drained of LAr, refilled, and then run again for an additional four weeks. After the dewar was refilled, there was clear evidence that the scintillation signal had dropped significantly. The two light guide technologies were developed at Indiana University and MIT/Fermilab. The two readout technologies were boards that passively or actively ganged 12 Hamamatsu MPPCs. Two possible explanations were identified for the degraded signal: the response of the two light guide technologies degraded due to damage caused by thermal cycling, and/or unknown differences in the trace residual Xe contamination in the fills of LAr led to the observed drop in scintillation light. Neither absorption nor quenching by N 2 , O 2 , and H 2 O contamination can account for the degradation. Neither the individual Hamamatsu MPPCs nor the passive/active ganging boards appear to have been affected by the thermal cycling. The path length distributions of the cosmics traversing the dewar appear quite similar in both event samples.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

SuperKEKB beam final focus superconducting magnet system

The SuperKEKB was designed and constructed as the upgraded accelerator of KEKB. In this accelerator design, the nano-beam scheme of collision was applied and a luminosity of 8 x10 35 cm -2 s -1 was targeted. In the design, the beam final focus system was the key component in the accelerator hardware elements. This final focus system consists of 55 superconducting magnets. In this paper, the designs of the magnets, the cryostats and the cryogenic system are shown, and the field measurement results are reported. The SuperKEKB beam operation with the final focus system started on 2018 March 19, and the magnet quench events up to 2020 December 16 are described.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Status of the SABRE South experiment at the Stawell underground physics laboratory

The SABRE (Sodium iodide with Active Background REjection) experiments aim to detect an annual rate modulation from dark matter interactions in ultra-high purity NaI(Tl) crystals. The SABRE South experiment is located at the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory (SUPL), Australia, and is the first deep underground laboratory in the Southern Hemisphere. SABRE South is designed to disentangle seasonal or site-related effects from the dark matter-like modulated signal first observed by DAMA/LIBRA in the Northern Hemisphere using an active veto and muon detection system. It is a partner to the SABRE North effort at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS). SABRE South is instrumented with ultra-high purity NaI(Tl) crystals immersed in a linear alkyl benzene (LAB) based liquid scintillator veto, further surrounded by passive steel and polyethylene shielding and a plastic scintillator muon veto. Significant work has been undertaken to understand the experimental backgrounds and performance of the crystals. The SABRE South experiment is under construction, and will be commissioned from late 2022 to early 2023. We will present the final design of SABRE South, the status of its construction, its expected background, and its sensitivity to a DAMA/LIBRA like modulation. We will also present recent quenching factor measurements of sodium nuclear recoils in NaI(Tl) crystals measured at the Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility, and a report on the status of SUPL.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Benchmarking fast-neutron response of 7 Li-enriched C 7 LYC scintillators: Simulations and experiment

New insights into the fast neutron response of 7 Li-enriched C 7 LYC scintillators have been obtained through detailed Geant4 simulations of 35 Cl(n,p) and 35 Cl(n, α) reactions that are primarily responsible for the fast neutron response of C 7 LYC. The light output of a 1” x1” C 7 LYC detector was simulated using the Birks equation for light quenching in scintillators. The simulations were benchmarked against neutron scattering data from a 12 C target obtained with a white neutron beam at the Los Alamos LANSCE facility and fourteen 1”x1” C 7 LYC detectors. Incident neutron energies extracted from time-of-flight measurements, and appropriate recoil corrections for the different detector angles were used to map the response of C 7 LYC to mono-energetic neutrons. Resonances in the 35 Cl(n,p) reaction cross-section below 3 MeV incident neutron energy were directly observed in C 7 LYC. The experimental data and simulations are compared with ENDF databases, as well as recent direct cross-section measurements of neutrons scattered from a 35 Cl target. In conclusion, the results suggest a scrutiny of the 35 Cl(n,p) and 35 Cl(n, α) cross sections at low energy in the ENDF library.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗