Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Powder diffraction”

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 955 records · Page 53
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

Spin orientation, structure, morphology, and magnetic properties of hematite nanoparticles

Monodisperse hematite (α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}) nanoparticles were synthesized by forced hydrolysis of acidic Fe{sup 3+} solution. Rietveld analysis was applied to the X-ray powder diffraction data to refine the lattice constants and atomic positions. The lattice constants for a hexagonal unit cell were determined to be a ∼ 0.50327 and c ∼ 1.37521 nm. High resolution transmission electron microscopy was employed to study the morphology of the particles. Atomic scale micrographs and diffraction patterns from several zone axes were obtained. These reveal the high degree of crystallinity of the particles. A series of observations made on the particles by tilting them through a range of ±45° revealed the particles to be micaceous with stacking of platelets with well defined crystallographic orientations. The Morin transition in these nanoparticles was found to occur at 210 K, which is lower temperature than 263 K of bulk hematite. It was ascertained from the previous Mössbauer studies that the spin orientation for nano-sized hematite particle flips from 90° to 28° with respect to the c-axis of the hexagonal structure during the Morin transition, which is in contrast to that observed in bulk hematite where spin orientation flips from 90° to 0°.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Exploring the high-pressure behavior of the three known polymorphs of BiPO{sub 4}: Discovery of a new polymorph

We have studied the structural behavior of bismuth phosphate under compression. We performed x-ray powder diffraction measurements up to 31.5 GPa and ab initio calculations. Experiments were carried out on different polymorphs: trigonal (phase I) and monoclinic (phases II and III). Phases I and III, at low pressure (P < 0.2–0.8 GPa), transform into phase II, which has a monazite-type structure. At room temperature, this polymorph is stable up to 31.5 GPa. Calculations support these findings and predict the occurrence of an additional transition from the monoclinic monazite-type to a tetragonal scheelite-type structure (phase IV). This transition was experimentally found after the simultaneous application of pressure (28 GPa) and temperature (1500 K), suggesting that at room temperature the transition might by hindered by kinetic barriers. Calculations also predict an additional phase transition at 52 GPa, which exceeds the maximum pressure achieved in the experiments. This transition is from phase IV to an orthorhombic barite-type structure (phase V). We also studied the axial and bulk compressibility of BiPO{sub 4}. Room-temperature pressure-volume equations of state are reported. BiPO{sub 4} was found to be more compressible than isomorphic rare-earth phosphates. The discovered phase IV was determined to be the less compressible polymorph of BiPO{sub 4}. On the other hand, the theoretically predicted phase V has a bulk modulus comparable with that of monazite-type BiPO{sub 4}. Finally, the isothermal compressibility tensor for the monazite-type structure is reported at 2.4 GPa showing that the direction of maximum compressibility is in the (0 1 0) plane at approximately 15° (21°) to the a axis for the case of our experimental (theoretical) study.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Titanium doped LSCM anode for hydrocarbon fuelled SOFCs

La{sub 0.75}Sr{sub 0.25}Cr{sub 0.5-x}Mn{sub 0.5}Ti{sub x}O{sub 3} (x = 0.1, 0.2) has been synthesized in solid state reaction method and tested as a potential anode material for solid oxide fuel cells. Rietveld refinement of X-ray powder diffraction data using Fullprof software shows that the materials crystallize in the rhombohedral symmetry in the R-3C space group. The cell parameters are: a = b = 5.5286 (4) Å, c = 13.408(1) Å, α = β = 90°, γ = 120°. Particle size distribution measurements show that the average particle size for x = 0.1 and 0.2 was 232.66 nm and 176.63 nm, respectively. The potential on particles were found to be −22.86 mV and −27.73 mV, for x = 0.1 and x = 0.2, respectively. Thermal expansion measurement using thermo-mechanical analyzer shows that the thermal expansion coefficient is 13.96 × 10{sup −6}/°C which is close to the thermal expansion of the state-of–the art YSZ electrolyte. Microstructure has been observed from scanning electron microscopy which shows a porous structure. Energy dispersive X-ray shows that the percentage of the different cations and anions in the structure are close to the chemical occupancies.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Structural transitions, magnetic properties, and electronic structures of Co(Fe)-doped MnNiSi compounds

The structural transitions, magnetic properties, and electronic structures of Co(Fe)-doped MnNiSi compounds are investigated by x-ray powder diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), magnetic measurements, and first-principles calculations. Results indicate that all samples undergo a martensitic transition from the Ni{sub 2}In-type parent phase to TiNiSi-type orthorhombic phase at high temperatures. The substitution of Co(Fe) for Mn in Mn{sub 1−x}Co{sub x}NiSi (x = 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4) and Mn{sub 1−y}Fe{sub y}NiSi (y = 0.26, 0.30, 0.36, 0.46, and 0.55) samples decreases the structural transition temperature and Curie temperature of martensite. The martensite phases show a typical ferromagnetic behavior with saturation field being basically unchanged with increasing Co(Fe) content, while the saturation magnetization shows a decreasing tendency. The theoretically calculated moments are in good agreement with the experimentally measured results. The orbital hybridizations between different 3d elements are analyzed from the distribution of density of states.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Oxygen stoichiometry: A key parameter to tune structural phase diagram of La{sub 0.2}Sr{sub 0.8}MnO{sub 3-δ}

Low temperature x-ray powder diffraction studies, in conjunction with transmission electron microscopy on stoichiometric (δ = 0.01) and oxygen deficient (δ =0.12) samples of La{sub 0.2}Sr{sub 0.8}MnO{sub 3-δ} manganites have been carried out. These studies revealed that oxygen stoichiometry plays a key role in controlling ground state of electron doped manganites. It is observed that the La{sub 0.2}Sr{sub 0.8}MnO{sub 2.99} undergoes a first order phase transition from cubic (Pm-3m) to JT-distorted twin tetragonal (I4/mcm) phase associated with C-type antiferromagnetic ordering at ∼260K. This JT-distortion induced cubic to tetragonal phase transition get totally suppressed in La{sub 0.2}Sr{sub 0.8}MnO{sub 2.88}. The basic perovskite lattice of the off-stoichiometric La{sub 0.2}Sr{sub 0.8}MnO{sub 2.88} remains cubic down to 80K but undergoes a well-developed charge-ordering transition with 9x9 modulations at ∼260K.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

A co-precipitation preparation, crystal structure and photoluminescent properties of Er5%:Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanorods

An inexpensive preparation method is being reported for obtaining erbium doped gadolinium oxide (Er5%:Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3}) nanoscale rods. The elongated nanoscale systems, as-formed through a co-precipitation process, are characterized by using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) patterns, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) mapping, Ultra Violet-visible (UV-vis.) absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. In addition, the Williamson–Hall (W–H) plot is also performed to distinguish the effect of crystalline size-induced broadening and strain-induced broadening at full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the XRD profile. The XRD patterns of as-formed and calcined products show that the phase confirmation. As revealed from the SEM micrographs, the morphology of the products show that the rod-like nanoparticles. The EDX micrographs show that the presence of elements in our samples. The band gap values in calcined samples are found to be in the range of 3.569 eV. Upon 230 nm excitation on calcined samples, three broad emission peaks are observed from PL studies. The possible mechanism for the formation of Er5%:Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanorods is briefly discussed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Study on synthesis and electrochemical properties of hematite nanotubes for energy storage in supercapacitor

Hematite nanotubes (α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} NTs) are synthesized via a cost-effective and environmental-friendly hydrothermal technique. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction analyses reveal the formation of α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} NTs with high crystallinity and purity. Optical behavior of α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} NTs is studied employing UV-visible spectroscopy. Electrochemical properties of the as-prepared electrode material are investigated by cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in a three electrode cell. The synthesized α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} NTs present enhanced pseudocapacitive performance with high specific capacity of 230 Fg{sup −1} at current density of 1 Ag{sup −1}. The prepared α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} NTs can be utilized as a potential electrode material for electrochemical capacitor applications.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Effect of Zn doping on structural and dielectric properties of tetragonal Ni{sub 1-x}Zn{sub x}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4} (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5)

A series of Ni-Zn ferrite with compositional formula Ni{sub 1-x}Zn{sub x}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4} (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) were prepared by solid-state reaction route. The influence of the Zn content on the structural and dielectric properties of NiFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} was investigated using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and dielectric measurements. XRD analysis reveals that the samples are polycrystalline single-phase cubic spinel in structure excluding the presence of any secondary phase corresponding to any structure. Slight variation in the lattice parameter of Zn doped NiFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} has been observed due to difference in ionic radii of cations. Raman analysis reveals the doublet like nature of A{sub 1g} mode for all synthesized samples. Small shift in Raman modes and increment in the line width has been observed with the doping ions. Furthermore, room temperature dielectric properties of all the prepared samples have been reported. It is observed that for each sample the dielectric constant decreases with an increase of frequency and becomes constant at higher frequencies.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Structural and spectroscopic investigations on deuteron glasses belonging to the potassium dihydrogen phosphate family

X-ray powder diffraction and Raman measurements were performed on the mixed crystals of deuterated potassium dihydrogen phosphate (DKDP) and deuterated ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (DADP) grown at our lab. These crystals are known to behave like deuteron glasses due to frustration between ferroelectric and antiferroelectric ordering. Both spectral as well as structural studies indicate that crystals belonging to the glassy regions of the crystal composition have stronger O-D-O hydrogen bonds as compared to those belong to the ferroelectric or antiferroelectric regions of the crystal composition.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Electron paramagnetic resonance and Raman spectroscopy studies on carbon-doped MgB{sub 2} superconductor nanomaterials

Undoped and carbon-doped magnesium diboride (MgB{sub 2}) samples were synthesized using two sets of mixtures prepared from the precursors, amorphous nanoboron, and as-received amorphous carbon-doped nanoboron. The microscopic defect structures of carbon-doped MgB{sub 2} samples were systematically investigated using X-ray powder diffraction, Raman and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Mg vacancies and C-related dangling-bond active centers could be distinguished, and sp{sup 3}-hybridized carbon radicals were detected. A strong reduction in the critical temperature T{sub c} was observed due to defects and crystal distortion. The symmetry effect of the latter is also reflected on the vibrational modes in the Raman spectra.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

The magnetic structures and transitions of a potential multiferroic orthoferrite ErFeO{sub 3}

Rare-earth orthoferrites are very interesting due to their appealing optical and multiferroic properties. In this study, the magnetic structures and transitions of a typical rare-earth orthoferrite, ErFeO{sub 3}, have been reinvestigated in detail. The spin-reorientation transition of the Fe{sup 3+} magnetic phase and the low-temperature magnetic ordering of Er{sup 3+} were observed by neutron powder diffraction. The corresponding magnetic structures have been solved anew by symmetry analysis and refinement of the diffraction results. The magnetic moments of Fe{sup 3+} align in an antiferromagnetic way along the c axis with a weak ferromagnetic component along the b axis below the Néel temperature and above the spin-reorientation transition. Below the spin-reorientation transition, the Fe{sup 3+} moments rotate into an antiferromagnetic ordering state along the b axis with weak ferromagnetic alignment along the c axis. The spin-reorientation takes place in the bc plane. The Er{sup 3+} moments align antiferromagnetically with a C{sub y} mode below 4.5 K. For the Fe{sup 3+} moments, an additional C{sub x} mode is induced by the ordering of the Er{sup 3+} moments. Namely, they change from G{sub y}F{sub z} mode into C{sub x}G{sub y}F{sub z} mode in the Pnma space-group setting. This study resolves the long-lasting dispute about the magnetic structure of ErFeO{sub 3} at low temperature.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Hybrid improper ferroelectricity in Ruddlesden-Popper Ca{sub 3}(Ti,Mn){sub 2}O{sub 7} ceramics

The hybrid improper ferroelectricity (HIF) has been proposed as a promising way to create multiferroic materials with strong magnetoelectric coupling by the first-principle calculation, and the experimental evidences of HIF in Ruddlesden-Poper Ca{sub 3}(Ti{sub 1−x}Mn{sub x}){sub 2}O{sub 7} (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.15) ceramics have been shown in the present work. The room temperature ferroelectric hysteresis loops are observed in these ceramics, and a polar orthorhombic structure with two oxygen tilting modes has been confirmed by the X-ray powder diffraction. A first-order phase transition around 1100 K in Ca{sub 3}Ti{sub 2}O{sub 7} was evidenced, and the temperatures of phase transitions decrease linearly with increasing of the contents of Mn{sup 4+} ions. Based on the result of first-principle calculations, the polarization should be reversed by switching through the mediated Amam phase in Ca{sub 3}Ti{sub 2}O{sub 7} ceramics.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Direct observation of the electronic structure in thermoelectric half-Heusler alloys Zr{sub 1−x}M{sub x}NiSn (M = Y and Nb)

This study investigates the electronic and local crystal structures of the hole-doped Zr{sub 1−x}Y{sub x}NiSn and electron-doped Zr{sub 1−x}Nb{sub x}NiSn alloys using synchrotron radiation photoemission spectroscopy (SR-PES) and synchrotron radiation X-ray powder diffraction (SR-XRD) measurements, thereby clarifying the mechanisms underlying the thermoelectric performance of the p- and n-type alloys. SR-XRD analysis reveals an interstitial Ni disorder in the half-Heusler structure and the substitution of the dopant Y and Nb atoms at the Zr site. SR-PES result shows that the variation in the electronic structure of the alloys due to doping can be explained on the basis of the rigid band model. The asymmetric pseudo-gap near the Fermi level, which is rather unexpected from the band structure calculation because of the presence of the interstitial Ni disorder, could possibly be the reason underlying poor thermoelectric performance of p-type half-Heusler ZrNiSn alloys when compared with the n-type counterparts.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Crystallographic and magnetic properties of the spinel-type ferrites Zn{sub x}Co{sub 1-x}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4} (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.75)

Ultrahigh frequencies (UHF) have applications in signal and power electronics to minimize product sizes, increase production quantity and lower manufacturing cost. In the UHF range of 300 MHz to 3 GHz, ferrimagnetic iron oxides (ferrites) are especially useful because they combine the properties of a magnetic material with that of an electrical insulator. Ferrites have much higher electrical resistivity than metallic ferromagnetic materials, resulting in minimization of the eddy current losses, and total penetration of the electromagnetic (EM) field. Hence ferrites are frequently applied as circuit elements, magnetic storage media like read/write heads, phase shifters and Faraday rotators. The electromagnetic properties of ferrites are affected by operating conditions such as field strength, temperature and frequency. The spinel system Zn{sub x}Co{sub 1-x}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4} (x=0.0, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75) has been prepared by the standard solid state sintering method. X-ray and neutron powder diffraction measurements were performed at room temperature. Neutron diffraction data analysis confirms the cubic symmetry corresponding to the space group Fd3m. The distribution of three cations Zn{sup 2+}, Co{sup 2+} and Fe{sup 3+} over the spinel lattice and other crystallographic parameters like lattice constant, oxygen position parameter, overall temperature factor and occupancies of different ions in different lattice sites for the samples have been determined from the analysis of neutron diffraction data. The lattice constant increases with increasing Zn content in the system. The magnetic structure was found to be ferrimagnetic for the samples with x≤0.50. Magnetization measurements show that with the increase of Zn content in the system the value of saturation magnetization first increases and then decreases. The variation of the magnetic moment with Zn substitution has been discussed in terms of the distribution of magnetic and non-magnetic ions over the A and B sub-lattices and their exchange coupling.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Synthesis of LaF{sub 3} nanosheets with high fluorine mobility investigated by NMR relaxometry and diffusometry

Ionically conducting lanthanum fluoride (LaF{sub 3}), displaying a nanoscopic lamellar structure, has been synthesized at the surface of an aqueous solution of LaCl{sub 3} and HF. The structure and the chemical composition of the conductor have been analyzed by SEM, electron probe microanalysis, X-ray powder diffraction, FTIR, and {sup 19}F magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The fluorine dynamics have been studied by NMR diffusometry and relaxometry in a temperature range from room temperature up to 875 K. The fluorine self-diffusion coefficient of the nanostructured LaF{sub 3} is about two orders of magnitude larger than that of bulk LaF{sub 3}. This novel material is highly promising for many typical applications of fluorine ionic systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Characterization of nickel laterite reduction from Pomalaa, Sulawesi Tenggara

The effect of using different reductors in the reduction process of nickel laterite was investigated. In this work, the author conducted the reduction of nickel laterite ores by anthracite coal, lamtoro charcoal, and carbon raiser, in air and CO{sub 2} atmosphere, within the temperature ranged from 800°C and 1000°C. The results indicate that at higher temperatures, the reduction reactions proceed more complete. According to the X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis, the type of carbon used greatly influence the rate of the reduction of nickel laterite. The order of reactivity is anthracite coal, lamtoro charcoal, and carbon raiser, respectively. The reduction atmospheric condition also greatly influences the reduction process. The reduction process in CO{sub 2} atmospheric condition gives a lot of significant decrease in hematite and magnetite presence, means that the reduction reactions proceed more complete compared to the reduction process in the air atmospheric condition.

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

Insights into the dominant factors of porous gold for CO oxidation

Three different porous Au catalysts that exhibit high catalytic activity for CO oxidation were prepared by the leaching of Al from an intermetallic compound, Al{sub 2}Au, with 10 wt. %-NaOH, HNO{sub 3}, or HCl aqueous solutions. The catalysts were investigated using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller measurements, synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Broad diffraction peaks generated during the leaching process correlated with high activity for all the porous Au catalysts. CO oxidation catalyzed by porous Au leached with NaOH and HNO{sub 3} is considered to be dominated by different mechanisms at low (< 320 K) and high (> 370 K) temperatures. Activity in the low-temperature region is mainly attributed to the perimeter interface between residual Al species (AlO{sub x}) and porous Au, whereas activity in the high-temperature region results from a high density of lattice defects such as twins and dislocations, which were evident from diffraction peak broadening and were observed with high-resolution TEM in the porous Au leached with NaOH. It is proposed that atoms located at lattice defects on the surfaces of porous Au are the active sites for catalytic reactions.

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

Near-zero temperature coefficient of resistivity associated with magnetic ordering in antiperovskite Mn{sub 3+x}Ni{sub 1−x}N

The near-zero temperature coefficient of resistivity (NZ-TCR) behavior is reported in the antiperovskite compounds Mn{sub 3+x}Ni{sub 1−x}N (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.333). Our results indicate that the broad temperature range (above 275 K extending to above 220 K) of NZ-TCR is obtained by Mn doping at the Ni site. The short-range magnetic ordering is revealed by both neutron powder diffraction and inverse magnetic susceptibility. Further, we find a strong correlation between the anomalous resistivity change of Mn{sub 3+x}Ni{sub 1−x}N from the metal-like to the NZ-TCR behavior and the lack of the long-range magnetic ordering. The possible mechanism of NZ-TCR behavior is discussed using the spin-disorder scattering model.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗