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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 1,135 records · Page 63
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

Origin of the high performance of perovskite solar cells with large grains

Due to excellent carrier transport characteristics, CH{sub 3}NH{sub 3}PbI{sub 3} film made of large single crystal grains is considered as a key to improve upon already remarkable perovskite solar cell (PSC) efficiency. We have used a simple and efficient solvent vapor annealing method to obtain CH{sub 3}NH{sub 3}PbI{sub 3} films with grain size over 1 μm. PSCs with different grain size films have been fabricated and verified the potential of large grains for improving solar cells performance. Moreover, the larger grain films have shown stronger light absorption ability and more photon-generated carriers under the same illumination. A detailed temperature-dependent PL study has indicated that it originates from larger radius and lower binding energy of donor-acceptor-pair (DAP) in larger grains, which makes the DAP is easily to be separated and difficult to be recombine.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Ultrahigh efficiencies in vertical epitaxial heterostructure architectures

Optical to electrical power converting semiconductor devices were achieved with breakthrough performance by designing a Vertical Epitaxial Heterostructure Architecture. The devices are featuring modeled and measured conversion efficiencies greater than 65%. The ultrahigh conversion efficiencies were obtained by monolithically integrating several thin GaAs photovoltaic junctions tailored with submicron absorption thicknesses and grown in a single crystal by epitaxy. The heterostructures that were engineered with a number N of such ultrathin junctions yielded an optimal external quantum efficiencies approaching 100%/N. The heterostructures are capable of output voltages that are multiple times larger than the corresponding photovoltage of the input light. The individual nanoscale junctions are each generating up to ∼1.2 V of output voltage when illuminated in the infrared. We compare the optoelectronic properties of phototransducers prepared with designs having 5 to 12 junctions and that are exhibiting voltage outputs between >5 V and >14 V.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Infrared study of α–SiO{sub 2} single crystal under high pressure

We have measured high pressure α-quartz reflectance spectra in the mid infrared. We used single crystals, taking full profit of polarization. The quality of the spectra allows fitting the reflectance spectra. We have characterized the pressure evolution of E and A{sub 2} modes with increased precision, even in the spectral regions where they overlap. In addition, we have determined the TO-LO splitting of each mode. Some of the A{sub 2} modes show dramatic pressure variations of the LO-TO splitting, which cannot be explained only by changes in length and ionicity of individual bonds, requiring a new mechanism. We suggest that rotation of the SiO{sub 4} tetrahedra plays a fundamental role. We have also determined the evolution of the electronic dielectric constant under high pressure. We find that its pressure increment is mainly a volume effect, although the small increase in birefringence points to secondary changes associated to the electronic resonances.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Research Update: Structural and transport properties of (Ca,La)FeAs{sub 2} single crystal

Structural and transport properties in the normal and superconducting states are investigated in a Ca{sub 0.8}La{sub 0.2}FeAs{sub 2} single crystal with T{sub c} = 27 K, belonging to the newly discovered 112 family of iron based superconductors. The transport critical current density J{sub c} for both field directions measured in a focused ion beam patterned microbridge reveals a weakly field dependent and low anisotropic behaviour with a low temperature value as high as J{sub c}(B = 0) ∼ 10{sup 5} A/cm{sup 2}. This demonstrates not only bulk superconductivity but also the potential of 112 superconductors towards applications. Interestingly, this superconducting compound undergoes a structural transition below 100 K which is evidenced by temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction measurements. Data analysis of Hall resistance and magnetoresistivity indicate that magnetotransport properties are largely dominated by an electron band, with a change of regime observed in correspondence of the onset of a structural transition. In the low temperature regime, the contribution of a hole band to transport is suggested, possibly playing a role in determining the superconducting state.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Schottky barrier heights at the interfaces between pure-phase InAs nanowires and metal contacts

Understanding of the Schottky barriers formed at metal contact-InAs nanowire interfaces is of great importance for the development of high-performance InAs nanowire nanoelectronic and quantum devices. Here, we report a systematical study of InAs nanowire field-effect transistors (FETs) and the Schottky barrier heights formed at the contact-nanowire interfaces. The InAs nanowires employed are grown by molecular beam epitaxy and are high material quality single crystals, and the devices are made by directly contacting the nanowires with a series of metals of different work functions. The fabricated InAs nanowire FET devices are characterized by electrical measurements at different temperatures and the Schottky barrier heights are extracted from the measured temperature and gate-voltage dependences of the channel current. We show that although the work functions of the contact metals are widely spread, the Schottky barrier heights are determined to be distributed over 35–55 meV, showing a weak but not negligible dependence on the metals. The deduced Fermi level in the InAs nanowire channels is found to be in the band gap and very close to the conduction band. The physical origin of the results is discussed in terms of Fermi level pinning by the surface states of the InAs nanowires and a shift in pinned Fermi level induced by the metal-related interface states.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

An effective approach to synthesize monolayer tungsten disulphide crystals using tungsten halide precursor

The synthesis of large-area monolayer tungsten disulphide (WS{sub 2}) single crystal is critical for realistic application in electronic and optical devices. Here, we demonstrate an effective approach to synthesize monolayer WS{sub 2} crystals using tungsten hexachloride (WCl{sub 6}) as a solid precursor in atmospheric chemical vapor deposition process. In this technique, 0.05M solution of WCl{sub 6} in ethanol was drop-casted on SiO{sub 2}/Si substrate to create an even distribution of the precursor, which was reduced and sulfurized at 750 °C in Ar atmosphere. We observed growth of triangular, star-shaped, as well as dendritic WS{sub 2} crystals on the substrate. The crystal geometry evolves with the shape and size of the nuclei as observed from the dendritic structures. These results show that controlling the initial nucleation and growth process, large WS{sub 2} single crystalline monolayer can be grown using the WCl{sub 6} precursor. Our finding shows an easier and effective approach to grow WS{sub 2} monolayer using tungsten halide solution-casting, rather than evaporating the precursor for gas phase reaction.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Anisotropic transport in the quasi-one-dimensional semiconductor Li{sub 0.33}MoO{sub 3}

Transport measurements (electrical resistivity, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity) in the temperature range 80–500 K are presented for single crystals of the quasi-one-dimensional (Q1D) semiconductor Li{sub 0.33}MoO{sub 3}. Opposite signs are observed for the Seebeck coefficient along the trinclinic a and c axes, with S{sub c} − S{sub a} ≃ 250 μV/K near room temperature and ≃100 μV/K at 380 K. The thermal conductivity at room temperature in the a-c planes was ∼2 W/m K and ∼10 times smaller along b*. A weak structural anomaly at T{sub s} ≈ 355 K, identified in the temperature-dependent lattice constants, coincides with anomalies in the electrical properties. Analysis of the electronic transport at T > T{sub s} favors an intrinsic semiconductor picture for transport along the most conducting Q1D axis and small-polaronic transport along the other directions, providing insight into the origin of the Seebeck anisotropy.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Pulsed laser deposition of single layer, hexagonal boron nitride (white graphene, h-BN) on fiber-oriented Ag(111)/SrTiO{sub 3}(001)

We report on the growth of 1–10 ML films of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), also known as white graphene, on fiber-oriented Ag buffer films on SrTiO{sub 3}(001) by pulsed laser deposition. The Ag buffer films of 40 nm thickness were used as substitutes for expensive single crystal metallic substrates. In-situ, reflection high-energy electron diffraction was used to monitor the surface structure of the Ag films and to observe the formation of the characteristic h-BN diffraction pattern. Further evidence of the growth of h-BN was provided by attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy, which showed the characteristic h-BN peaks at ∼780 cm{sup −1} and 1367.4 cm{sup −1}. Ex-situ photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the surface of the h-BN films is stoichiometric. The physical structure of the films was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The h-BN films grew as large, sub-millimeter sheets with nano- and micro-sheets scattered on the surface. The h-BN sheets can be exfoliated by the micromechanical adhesive tape method. Spectral analysis was performed by energy dispersive spectroscopy in order to identify the h-BN sheets after exfoliation. The use of thin film Ag allows for reduced use of Ag and makes it possible to adjust the surface morphology of the thin film prior to h-BN growth.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Thermal stability of the prominent compensating (Al{sub Zn}–V{sub Zn}) center in ZnO

Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy is used to investigate the thermal stability of the Aluminum–Zinc vacancy (Al{sub Zn}–V{sub Zn}) complex created in bulk single crystalline ZnO by room temperature electron irradiation with an energy of 1.2 MeV. Two different stages in the annealing process at 160 and 250 °C with apparent activation energies of E{sub A1} = 1.5 ± 0.2 eV and E{sub A2} = 1.9 ± 0.2 eV, respectively, are observed. The second stage leads to the complete annealing out of the (Al{sub Zn}–V{sub Zn}) complex and is accompanied by restoration of the concentration of the Al{sub Zn} shallow donor centers to its initial value in as-grown (i.e., not irradiated) material. The obtained results prove that the (Al{sub Zn}–V{sub Zn}) complex is the dominant acceptor responsible for compensation of n-type-dopants in the studied Al-containing ZnO samples.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

High vacuum tip-enhanced Raman spectroscope based on a scanning tunneling microscope

In this paper, we present the construction of a high-vacuum tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (HV-TERS) system that allows in situ sample preparation and measurement. A detailed description of the prototype instrument is presented with experimental validation of its use and novel ex situ experimental results using the HV-TERS system. The HV-TERS system includes three chambers held under a 10{sup −7} Pa vacuum. The three chambers are an analysis chamber, a sample preparation chamber, and a fast loading chamber. The analysis chamber is the core chamber and contains a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and a Raman detector coupled with a 50 × 0.5 numerical aperture objective. The sample preparation chamber is used to produce single-crystalline metal and sub-monolayer molecular films by molecular beam epitaxy. The fast loading chamber allows ex situ preparation of samples for HV-TERS analysis. Atomic resolution can be achieved by the STM on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite. We demonstrate the measurement of localized temperature using the Stokes and anti-Stokes TERS signals from a monolayer of 1,2-benzenedithiol on a gold film using a gold tip. Additionally, plasmonic catalysis can be monitored label-free at the nanoscale using our device. Moreover, the HV-TERS experiments show simultaneously activated infrared and Raman vibrational modes, Fermi resonance, and some other non-linear effects that are not observed in atmospheric TERS experiments. The high spatial and spectral resolution and pure environment of high vacuum are beneficial for basic surface studies.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

Spin-glass transition in Ni carbide single crystal nanoparticles with Ni{sub 3}C − type structure

Hexagonal shaped nanoparticles about 60 nm in size were successfully synthesized in tetraethylene glycol solution containing polyvinylpyrrolidone. By the analysis of the electron diffraction pattern, these were identified as a single crystal of Ni carbide with Ni{sub 3}C − type structure. Their magnetization curve at 5 K was not completely saturated under a magnetic field of 5 T. The thermomagnetization curves after zero-field cooling and after field cooling exhibited the magnetic cooling effect at low temperatures. Furthermore, the 2nd order nonlinear term of AC magnetic susceptibility exhibited a negative divergence at about 17 K. It is concluded that Ni carbide single crystal nanoparticles with the Ni{sub 3}C − type structure exhibit spin-glass transition at low temperatures.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Transport in organic single-crystal microbelt for conformal electronics

We showed the advantages of flexible rubrene organic single-crystal microbelts in high-performance devices and circuits towards conformal electronics. The anisotropic transport based on the only one organic microbelt was studied by a “cross-channel” method, and the rubrene microbelt showed the highest mobility up to 26 cm{sup 2}/V s in the length direction. Based on an individual rubrene microbelt, the organic single-crystal circuit with good adherence on a pearl ball and the gain as high as 18 was realized. These results present great potential for applications of organic single-crystal belts in the next-generation conformal electronics.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Anomalous Hall effect in the noncollinear antiferromagnet Mn{sub 5}Si{sub 3}

Metallic antiferromagnets with noncollinear orientation of magnetic moments provide a playground for investigating spin-dependent transport properties by analysis of the anomalous Hall effect. The intermetallic compound Mn{sub 5}Si{sub 3} is an intinerant antiferromagnet with collinear and noncollinear magnetic structures due to Mn atoms on two inequivalent lattice sites. Here, magnetotransport measurements on polycrstalline thin films and a single crystal are reported. In all samples, an additional contribution to the anomalous Hall effect attributed to the noncollinear arrangment of magnetic moments is observed. Furthermore, an additional magnetic phase between the noncollinear and collinear regimes above a metamagnetic transition is resolved in the single crystal by the anomalous Hall effect.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Atomic resolution strain analysis in highly textured FePt thin films

In this work, we present a detailed investigation of FePt-substrate interfaces and their influence towards the microstructural and magnetic configurations of the resulting metallic films. Discontinuous FePt films of roughly 15 nm thickness are deposited at 750 °C on MgO, MgAl{sub 2}O{sub 4}, SrTiO{sub 3}, and (La,Sr)(Al,Ta)O{sub 3} single-crystalline substrates. All of these films mainly show out-of-plane textured FePt islands; however, fractions of L1{sub 2} and in-plane oriented crystals are observed for the films on substrates with reduced lattice mismatch. Reduced easy axis coercivities and enhanced hard axis remanence values affirm this observation. Moreover, quantitative high-resolution transmission electron microscope analysis reveals that the reduced lattice mismatch results in a decreased density of dislocations, especially misfit dislocations, at the FePt-substrate interface. To further extend the research, carbon-doped FePt+32%C films are deposited on single-crystalline and sputtered MgO at 750 °C and 650 °C, respectively, to characterize the influence of a segregating media and reduced grain size. A comparison to the pure FePt sample reveals that the presence of seed layer grain boundaries leads to an increased fraction of in-plane oriented material, while the density of misfit dislocations solely depends on the degree of lattice mismatch.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Theoretical and experimental studies of the molecular orbital bonding coefficients for Cu{sup 2+} ion in cesium hydrogen oxalate single crystals

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical absorption spectra of Cu{sup 2+} ions in cesium hydrogen oxalate single crystals have been investigated at room temperature. The spin-Hamiltonian parameters (g and A), have been determined. Crystalline field around the Cu{sup 2+} ion is almost axially symmetric. The results show a single paramagnetic site which confirms the triclinic crystal symmetry. Molecular orbital bonding coefficients are studied from the EPR and optical data. Theoretical octahedral field parameter and the tetragonal field parameters have been evaluated from the superposition model. Using these parameters, various bonding parameters are analyzed and the nature of bonding in the complex is discussed. The theoretical results are supported by experimental results.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Theoretical and experimental EPR and optical studies of [Cu(1-meim){sub 4}(H{sub 2}O)]·2Cl·H{sub 2}O single crystals

[Cu(1-meim){sub 4}(H{sub 2}O)]·2Cl·H{sub 2}O (1-meim: 1-methylimidazole) complex has been investigated by EPR and UV techniques. EPR spectra of [Cu(1-meim){sub 4}(H{sub 2}O)]·2Cl·H{sub 2}O single crystal have been studied at room temperature. The spin Hamiltonian parameters (g and hyperfine (A) values) have been calculated. The results indicate the rhombic symmetry around the paramagnetic Cu{sup 2+} center. The perturbation approach has been applied to spin Hamiltonian to calculate the g and A values theoretically. Crystal field parameters were also obtained both experimentally and theoretically. Using both types of spectroscopic techniques the molecular bonding coefficients were calculated. The consistency of results with some other studies was reached.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Electron paramagnetic resonance spectral study of [Mn(acs){sub 2}(2–pic){sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 2}] single crystals

Acesulfame potassium salt is a synthetic and non-caloric sweetener. It is also important chemically for its capability of being ligand in coordination compounds, because it can bind over Nitrogen and Oxygen atoms of carbonyl and sulfonyl groups and ring oxygen. Some acesulfame containing transition metal ion complexes with mixed ligands exhibit solvato and thermo chromic properties and these properties make them physically important. In this work single crystals of Mn{sup +2} ion complex with mixed ligand, [Mn(acs){sub 2}(2-pic){sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 2}], was studied with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. EPR parameters were determined. Zero field splitting parameters indicated that the complex was highly symmetric. Variable temperature studies showed no detectable chance in spectra.

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

Ferromagnetic ordered phase of quantum spin ice system Yb{sub 2}Ti{sub 2}O{sub 7} under [001] magnetic field

Measurements of magnetization (M) and specific heat (C) under a [001] magnetic field were carried out on a single crystal of a quantum spin ice system Yb{sub 2}Ti{sub 2}O{sub 7} in order to investigate a feature of the transition occurred at T{sub C} ∼ 0.2 K. As a result of applying the magnetic field μ{sub 0}H < 0.1 T, the C/T − T curve structure and transition temperature barely changed. On the other hand, applying the more than 0.1 T magnetic field, the C/T − T curve structure drastically change from sharp peak structure to broad peak one, and the broad peak temperature of C/T − T curves linearly increases with increasing magnetic field (H). In the magnetic field μ{sub 0}H < 0.1 T, the magnetization drastically increases around T{sub C} ∼ 0.2 K with decreasing T, and a thermal hysteresis loop of the M − T curve is observed. With increasing H, the thermal hysteresis loop of the M − T curves disappears above μ{sub 0}H{sub C} = 0.1 T. We can understand these results, where Yb{sub 2}Ti{sub 2}O{sub 7} exhibits a first-order ferromagnetic transition associated with the latent heat corresponding to the energy of μ{sub 0}H{sub C} = 0.1 T. Basis of the H − T phase diagram along [001] magnetic field, the feature of the transition occurred at T{sub C} ∼ 0.2 K in quantum spin ice system Yb{sub 2}Ti{sub 2}O{sub 7} is discussed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗