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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 91 records · Page 5

Multi-band quantum well infrared photodetectors

The GaAs/AlGaAs based Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors (QWIPs) afford greater flexibility than the usual extrinsically doped semiconductor IR detectors because the wavelength of the peak response and cutoff can be continuously tailored over any wavelength between 6-20 mu m.

IR quantum well thermal imaging multi-spectral↗

Photovoltaic driven multiple quantum well optical modulator

Multiple quantum well (MQW) structures (12) are utilized to provide real-time, reliable, high-performance, optically-addressed spatial-light modulators (SLM) (10). The optically-addressed SLM comprises a vertical stack of quantum well layers (12a) within the penetration depth of an optical write signal 18, a plurality of space charge barriers (12b) having predetermined tunneling times by control of doping and thickness. The material comprising the quantum well layers has a lower bandgap than that of the space charge barrier layers. The write signal modulates a read signal (20). The modulation sensitivity of the device is high and no external voltage source is required. In a preferred embodiment, the SLM having interleaved doped semiconductor layers for driving the MQW photovoltaically is characterized by the use of a shift analogous to the Moss-Burnstein shift caused by the filling of two-dimensional states in the multiple quantum wells, thus allowing high modulation sensitivity in very narrow wells. Arrays (30) may be formed with a plurality of the modulators.

Maserjian, Joseph↗

Disordered Zinc in Zn4Sb3 with Phonon-Glass and Electron-Crystal Thermoelectric Properties

By converting waste heat into electricity, thermoelectric generators could be an important part of the solution to today's energy challenges. The compound Zn4Sb3 is one of the most efficient thermoelectric materials known. Its high efficiency results from an extraordinarily low thermal conductivity in conjunction with the electronic structure of a heavily doped semiconductor. Previous structural studies have been unable to explain this unusual combination of properties. Here, we show through a comprehensive structural analysis using single-crystal X-ray and powder-synchrotron-radiation diffraction methods, that both the electronic and thermal properties of Zn4Sb3 can be understood in terms of unique structural features that have been previously overlooked. The identification of Sb3- ions and Sb-2(4-) dimers reveals that Zn4Sb3 is a valence semiconductor with the ideal stoichiometry Zn13Sb10. In addition, the structure contains significant disorder, with zinc atoms distributed over multiple positions. The discovery of glass-like interstitial sites uncovers a highly effective mechanism for reducing thermal conductivity. Thus Zn4Sb3 is in many ways an ideal 'phonon glass, electron crystal' thermoelectric material.

phases↗

Understanding Novel Lewis Acid Doping Mechanisms in Organic Semiconductors

Recent studies supported by this DOE grant have provided a more detailed understanding of the doping mechanism of organic semiconductors by the Lewis acid, tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (BCF). Our studies have examined the intermolecular semiconductor-dopant interactions as well as the thermodynamic feasibility of different doping mechanisms. Most notably, we found a different proposed doping scheme is much more thermodynamically favoured (exergonic) than our proposed two-step BCF doping mechanism. The state-of-the-art experimental and theoretical techniques of High-Field Multi-Dimensional Solid State NMR spectroscopy and Time-Dependent Density Functional theory (TD-DFT) and DFT were employed in this work. The data obtained helped identify the structural details and intermolecular interactions which impact the organic semiconductor doping efficiency for BCF and how these compare to the case of doping by the standard integer charge transfer dopant molecule F 4 TCNQ. We have, for the first time, assigned specific chemical shift values for the F 4 TCNQ molecules clustered outside of polymer chains as well as those intercalated between the polymer backbones. Further, we provide theoretical support for a novel doping mechanism which combines those proposed in previous literature involving the evolution of hydrogen gas along with a doping species more complex than the simple BCF·H 2 O. While our previously proposed doping mechanism was found to be highly thermodynamically unfavorable, the formation of large anion [BCF(OH)(OH 2 )BCF]- is the key change making the proposed mechanism exergonic while the elimination of gaseous H 2 helps drive the doping reaction.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Dopant for improving casting and electroplating performance

Systems, methods, components, and parts are provided for improving casting and electroplating performance of a plated cast part by doping a semiconductor material with an electrically active dopant before mixing the semiconductor material into a base material. The doped semiconductor material improves the castability of the base material and has an improved electrical conductivity which is closer to that of the base material such that a consistency of a subsequent plating on the part is improved.

Young, Barbara Diane↗

Spatial BCS-BEC crossover in superconducting $\textit{p–n}$ junctions

Here, we present a theory of superconducting $\textit{p–n}$ junctions. To this end, we consider a two band model of doped bulk semiconductors with attractive interactions between the charge carriers and derive the superconducting order parameter, the quasiparticle density of states, and the chemical potential as a function of the semiconductor gap $Δ_0$ and the doping level ε. We verify previous results for the quantum phase diagram for a system with constant density of states in the conduction and valence band, which show BCS-superconductor to Bose-Einstein-condensation (BEC) and BEC-to-insulator transitions as a function of doping level and the size of the band gap. Then, we extend this formalism to a density of states which is more realistic for 3D systems and derive the corresponding quantum phase diagram, where we find that a BEC phase can only exist for small band gaps $Δ_0 < Δ ^{\ast}_0$. For larger band gaps, we find rather a direct transition from an insulator to a BCS phase. Next, we apply this theory to study the properties of superconducting $\textit{p–n}$ junctions. We derive the spatial variation of the superconducting order parameter along the $\textit{p–n}$ junction. As the potential difference across the junction leads to energy band bending, we find a spatial crossover between a BCS and BEC condensate, as the density of charge carriers changes across the $\textit{p–n}$ junction. For the two-dimensional system, we find two possible regimes, when the bulk is in a BCS phase, a BCS-BEC-BCS junction with a single BEC layer in the space charge region, and a BCS-BEC-I-BEC-BCS junction with two layers of BEC condensates separated by an insulating layer. In three dimensions we find that there can also be a conventional BCS-I-BCS junction for semiconductors with band gaps exceeding $Δ^{\ast}_0$. Thus, we find that there can be BEC layers in the well controlled setting of doped semiconductors, where the doping level can be varied to change and control the thickness of BEC and insulator layers, making Bose-Einstein condensates thereby possibly accessible to experimental transport and optical studies in solid-state materials.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Ultrafast exciton and trion dynamics in highly 𝑛-doped Mo⁢S 2 monolayers: Many-body effects

Understanding many-body interactions of excitons and charge carriers in monolayer semiconductors is crucial for tuning their unique optical properties and optimizing their performance in optoelectronic devices. However, the sensitivity of these atomically thin semiconductors to doping, defects, and strain–arising from synthesis, substrate, and environmental conditions–hinders consistent observation of many-body effects. In this work, we employed linear and ultrafast transient optical absorption spectroscopy to investigate the influence of background doping on exciton many-body interactions in Mo⁢S 2 monolayers. Using reversible molecular physisorption gating, we achieved a high background doping density of 4.9 × 10 13 c⁢m −2 in an argon environment, which is significantly higher than those attainable with conventional electrical gating. Our results reveal a photoinduced 𝐴-exciton resonance redshift, attributed to band-gap renormalization at a low background-doping density of 4.3 × 10 12 c⁢m −2 in an air environment, transitioning to a blueshift at a high background-doping density of 4.9 × 10 13 c⁢m −2 due to dominant Pauli blocking effects and vertical excitation shifts. We further observed transient energy splitting between free-exciton and -trion states up to 57 meV due to exciton-electron interactions. The ultrafast spectroscopy further revealed exciton and trion dynamics, including fast energy splitting of exciton and trion resonances within 1 picosecond (ps) followed by a rapid decay having a lifetime of ∼5.4 ps. Furthermore, our results demonstrate the critical role of background-doping conditions in tuning many-body interactions and quasiparticle dynamics in 2D semiconductors, providing valuable insights for future device design and material engineering.

Doped semiconductors↗

Ferromagnetism in a Semiconductor with Mobile Carriers via Low-Level Nonmagnetic Doping

We show that doped cubic iron pyrite, which is a diamagnetic semiconductor, becomes ferromagnetic when p-type doped. We furthermore find that this material can exhibit high spin polarization both for tunneling and transport devices. These results are based on first-principles electronic structure and transport calculations. This illustrates the use of p-type doping without magnetic impurities as a strategy for obtaining ferromagnetic semiconducting behavior, with implications for spintronic applications that require both magnetic ordering and good mobility. This is a combination that has been difficult to achieve by doping semiconductors with magnetic impurities. We show that phosphorus and arsenic may be effective dopants for achieving this behavior.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Photonuclear transmutation doping in gallium-based semiconductor materials

The present invention relates to various high quality n-type and p-type doped gallium-based semiconductor materials, electronic components incorporating these materials, and processes of producing these materials. In particular, The present invention relates processes to achieve high quality, uniform doping of a whole wafer or a thin layer of gallium-based semiconductor materials for various applications such as a vertical power transistor or diode.

Kwon, Jae Wan↗

Local p‐ and n‐Type Doping of an Oxide Semiconductor via Electric‐Field‐Driven Defect Migration

Layered oxides exhibit high ionic mobility and chemical flexibility, attracting interest as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries and the pairing of hydrogen production and carbon capture. Recently, layered oxides emerged as highly tunable semiconductors. For example, by introducing anti-Frenkel defects, the electronic hopping conductance in hexagonal manganites is increased locally by orders of magnitude. Here, local acceptor and donor doping in Er(Mn,Ti)O3 is demonstrated, facilitated by the controlled splitting of anti-Frenkel defects under applied d.c. voltage. By combining density functional theory calculations, scanning probe microscopy, atom probe tomography, and scanning transmission electron microscopy, it is shown that the oxygen defects can readily be moved through the layered crystal structure, leading to nano-sized interstitial-rich (p-type) and vacancy-rich (n-type) regions. The resulting pattern is comparable to dipolar npn-junctions and stable on the timescale of days. These findings reveal the possibility of temporarily functionalizing oxide semiconductors at the nanoscale, giving additional opportunities for the field of oxide electronics and the development of transient electronics in general.

He, Jiali↗

Critical analysis of self-doping and water-soluble n-type organic semiconductors: structures and mechanisms

Self-doping organic semiconductors provide a promising route to avoid instabilities and morphological issues associated with molecular n-type dopants. Structural characterization of a naphthalenetetracarboxylic diimide (NDI) semiconductor covalently bound to an ammonium hydroxide group is presented. The dopant precursor was found to be the product of an unexpected base catalyzed hydrolysis, which was reversible. The reversible hydrolysis had profound consequences on the chemical composition, morphology, and electronic performance of the doped films. In addition, we investigated the degradation mechanism of the quaternary ammonium group and the subsequent doping of NDI. These findings reveal that the products of more than one chemical reaction during processing of films must be considered when utilizing this promising class of water-soluble semiconductors.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

High temperature thick film sensor development based on doped lanthanum chromites refractory semiconductors materials

High temperature advanced sensing materials have generated high demand due the high accuracy temperature measurements requirements for process optimization, controlling and sensing. Some technological applications of harsh conditions sensing include monitoring tiles of space shuttles, rotating bearings in aircraft engines, turbines, jet engines dynamics and chemical reactors. High temperature conditions limit the sensing strategies, where typically traditional metal thermocouples are unstable, and the sensing options are limited to optical spectroscopy methods. Recently, refractory semiconductors thick- and thin-film thermocouples have been developed and, in many cases, preferred over conventional metallic thermocouples due their spatial resolution, and capability of direct deposition on any surface. Rare earth chromites ceramics materials, exhibit some properties of interest for high temperature sensing technologies development, such as: high microstructure and sintering stability, excellent conductive behavior at high temperatures, and matching thermal expansion coefficients relative to other conductors and refractory ceramics. In this work, high performance ultra-high temperature thermocouples using p-type and n-type doped lanthanum chromites materials were fabricated and tested at temperatures up to 1500 o C. Thermoelectric voltage, Seebeck Coefficients were established for all devices, evidencing high stability and performance in prolongated operational time and harsh conditions.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗