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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 109 records · Page 6

Increased Static Charge–Induced Threshold Voltage Shifts and Memristor Activity in Pentacene OFETs Comprising Polystyrene–Based Gate Dielectrics Containing Electroactive Small Molecule Crystallites

Top-contact bottom-gate pentacene OFETs are fabricated with single layer dielectrics comprised of either polystyrene (PS), poly(4-methylstyrene) (P4MS), or poly(4-tert-butylstyrene) (P4TBS). The polystyrenes are blended with varying concentrations of two different small molecules, dibenzotetrathiafulvalene (DBTTF) and 2,8-difluoro-5,11-bis(triethylsilylethynyl)anthradithiophene (diF-TES-ADT), to form small, separated crystallites contained throughout the polymer dielectric layer. The OFET characteristics of these devices are investigated and their threshold voltage shifts are measured after –70 V static charging for 5 min. Two-terminal measurements are conducted using multiple different gate biases in the range of –50 to +50 V to investigate memristor behavior in the devices. OFETs containing DBTTF exhibited ΔVth increases as large as 330% relative to control OFETs containing no DBTTF, while OFETs containing at least 7.5 wt.% DBTTF exhibited memristor activity, with currents ranging from 20 nA to 44 µA depending on the applied bias. Furthermore, this work demonstrates that including small, separated crystallites in polymer dielectrics enhances their charge storage ability and can be promising for creating nonbinary memory devices for data processing. Additionally, the observed memristor activity indicates the OFETs in this work can be used in development of neuromorphic systems that aim to mimic the synaptic behavior of the human nervous system.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

High Performance Bioanode Development for Fermentable Substrates via Controlled Electroactive Biofilm Growth

A bioanode was optimized to generate current densities reaching 38.4 4.9 A m-2, which brings bioelectrochemical systems closer to commercial consideration. Glucose and lactate were fed together in a continuous or fed-batch mode. The current density increased from 2.3 A m-2 to 38.4 A m-2 over a 33 day period and remained stable thereafter. The coulombic efficiency ranged from 50% to 80%. A change in substrate concentration from 200 mg L-1 to 5 mg L-1 decreased maximum current density from 38.4 A m-2 to 12.3 A m-2. The anode consortia included Firmicutes (55.0%), Proteobacteria (41.8%) and Bacteroidetes (2.1%) constituting two potential electrogenic genera: Geobacter (6.8%) and Aeromonas (31.9%). The current production was found to be limited by kinetics during the growth period (33 days), and mass transfer, thereafter. The results indicate the necessity of removing spent biomass for efficient long term operation and treatment of wastewater streams.

bioelectrochemical systems↗

Dual-Responsive Reversible Plasmonic Behavior of Core–Shell Nanostructures with pH-Sensitive and Electroactive Polymer Shells

In this paper, we report novel dual-responsive plasmonic core–shell anisotropic nanostructures composed of gold nanorod (AuNR) and responsive polyaniline (PANI) shells with plasmonic mode appearance reversibly modulated through orthogonal stimuli (i.e., electrical potential and pH change). In this system, the PANI shells provide AuNR cores with three different refractive index environments depending on stimuli (pH and electrical potential). Therefore, no additional secondary responsive component is necessary to induce the dual-responsive properties of AuNR cores. Furthermore, in this study, dual-responsive properties can be realized for nanostructures fixed on substrates, whereas previously reported dual-responsive plasmonic systems can only be controlled in solution. Here, the highest localized surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) shift of the AuNR cores can be induced by changing both local pH and applying electric potential. Notably, a significant plasmon band shift by 107 nm is realized with only 8 nm thick PANI shell due to the large refractive index change at the gold–polymer interface. A maximum shift of the longitudinal plasmon mode of 149 nm is obtained by applying a modest electrical potential (below ±1 V), a large shift rarely reported in the literature for metal nanostructures. Moreover, our anisotropic core/shell nanostructures exhibit stable and reversible dual-responsive LSPR behavior over 100 cycles without degradation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Selective Removal of Perfluorobutyric Acid Using an Electroactive Ion Exchanger Based on Polypyrrole@Iron Oxide on Carbon Cloth

Perfluorabutyric acid (PFBA) is one classify of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), which is applied to wide-spread industry compounds. The removal of PFBA has attracted considerable scientific interest in recent decades because it caused environmental pollutions and human diseases. For removing PFASs from wastewater, the adsorption method has been commonly used for the remediation of PFASs. However, it is usually limited by the inevitable “secondary waster” produced in this treatment process. In this work, PFBA can be removed effectively by synergizing the electrically switched ion exchange (ESIX) and a novel nanostructured ion exchanger. Herein, the nanostructured ion exchanger is designed by coating polypyrrole (PPy) @ Fe 2 O 3 nanoneedle on carbon cloth (PPy@Fe 2 O 3 NN-CC). Overall, results show that PPy@Fe 2 O 3 NN-CC film enhances ion exchange speed and efficiency, which endures its high-capacity adsorption ability and rapid regeneration property, thereby reducing secondary waste. Moreover, ESIX based on PPy@Fe 2 O 3 NN-CC has high selectivity for adsorption of PFBA over Cl - , SO 4 2- and NO 3 - .

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

On the mechanism of performance improvement of electroactive polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gel actuators via conductive fillers

Abstract The electromechanical actuation of transparent plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gels with conductive fillers were studied. The effects of functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim]BF 4 ) ionic liquid (IL) on both the electrical conduction and dielectric processes within PVC gels were investigated, and the differences between the two were clarified. Both CNTs and IL were shown to increase the conductivity of the gels and produce larger electromechanical transduction of a contraction actuator, but only CNTs were shown to increase the electrostatic adhesion force of the PVC gels. The addition of charge carriers to the gel via the inclusion of ILs was shown to significantly reduce the conductivity relaxation time, and the transient current upon voltage polarity reversal indicated multiple peaks corresponding to the introduction of carriers with different polarities and mobilities into the gel. This is believed to cause a screening effect, reducing the charge accumulation at the anode that is the foundational basis for PVC gels’ actuation mechanism. A recommendation for preferable conductive fillers for various applications is made.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗