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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 1,225 records · Page 68
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

Multiscale Morphology of Nanoporous Copper Made from Intermetallic Phases

Many application-relevant properties of nanoporous metals critically depend on their multiscale architecture. For example, the intrinsically high step-edge density of curved surfaces at the nanoscale provides highly reactive sites for catalysis, whereas the macroscale pore and grain morphology determines the macroscopic properties, such as mass transport, electrical conductivity, or mechanical properties. Here, in this work, we systematically study the effects of alloy composition and dealloying conditions on the multiscale morphology of nanoporous copper (np-Cu) made from various commercial Zn–Cu precursor alloys. Using a combination of X-ray diffraction, electron backscatter diffraction, and focused ion beam cross-sectional analysis, our results reveal that the macroscopic grain structure of the starting alloy surprisingly survives the dealloying process, despite a change in crystal structure from body-centered cubic (Zn–Cu starting alloy) to face-centered cubic (Cu). The nanoscale structure can be controlled by the acid used for dealloying with HCl leading to a larger and more faceted ligament morphology compared to that of H 3 PO 4 . Finally, anhydrous ethanol dehydrogenation was used as a probe reaction to test the effect of the nanoscale ligament morphology on the apparent activation energy of the reaction.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

(CAAC)Copper Catalysis Enables Regioselective Three-Component Carboboration of Terminal Alkynes

Here, cyclic(alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) ligands are found to perturb regioselectivity of the copper-catalyzed carboboration of terminal alkynes, favoring the less commonly observed internal alkenylboron regiosomer through an α-selective borylcupration step. A variety of carbon electrophiles participate in the reaction, including allyl alcohols derivatives and alkyl halides. The method provides a straightforward and selective route to versatile tri-substituted alkenylboron compounds that are otherwise challenging to access.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Electrochemical Carbon Monoxide Reduction on Polycrystalline Copper: Effects of Potential, Pressure, and pH on Selectivity toward Multicarbon and Oxygenated Products

Here by understanding the surface reactivity of CO, which is a key intermediate during electrochemical CO 2 reduction, is crucial for the development of catalysts that selectively target desired products for the conversion of CO 2 to fuels and chemicals. In this study, a custom-designed electrochemical cell is utilized to investigate planar polycrystalline copper as an electrocatalyst for CO reduction under alkaline conditions. Seven major CO reduction products have been observed including various hydrocarbons and oxygenates which are also common CO 2 reduction products, strongly indicating that CO is a key reaction intermediate for these further-reduced products. A comparison of CO and CO 2 reduction demonstrates that there is a large decrease in the overpotential for C–C coupled products under CO reduction conditions. The effects of CO partial pressure and electrolyte pH are investigated; we conclude that the aforementioned large potential shift is primarily a pH effect. Thus, alkaline conditions can be used to increase the energy efficiency of CO and CO 2 reduction to C–C coupled products, when these cathode reactions are coupled to the oxygen evolution reaction at the anode. Further analysis of the reaction products reveals common trends in selectivity that indicate both the production of oxygenates and C–C coupled products are favored at lower overpotentials. These selectivity trends are generalized by comparing the results on planar Cu to current state-of-the-art high-surface-area Cu catalysts, which are able to achieve high oxygenate selectivity by operating at the same geometric current density at lower overpotentials. Combined, these findings outline key principles for designing CO and CO 2 electrolyzers that are able to produce valuable C–C coupled products with high energy efficiency.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2018

Azide–Alkyne Click Conjugation on Quantum Dots by Selective Copper Coordination

Functionalization of nanocrystals is essential for their practical application, but synthesis on nanocrystal surfaces is limited by incompatibilities with certain key reagents. The copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition is among the most useful methods for ligating molecules to surfaces, but has been largely useless for semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) because Cu+ions quickly and irreversibly quench QD fluorescence. To discover nonquenching synthetic conditions for Cu-catalyzed click reactions on QD surfaces, we developed a combinatorial fluorescence assay to screen >2000 reaction conditions to maximize cycloaddition efficiency while minimizing QD quenching. We identify conditions for complete coupling without significant quenching, which are compatible with common QD polymer surfaces and various azide/alkyne pairs. Based on insight from the combinatorial screen and mechanistic studies of Cu coordination and quenching, we find that superstoichiometric concentrations of Cu can promote full coupling if accompanied by ligands that selectively compete with the Cu from the QD surface but allow it to remain catalytically active. Applied to the conjugation of a K + channel-specific peptidyl toxin to CdSe/ZnS QDs, we synthesize unquenched QD conjugates and image their specific and voltage-dependent affinity for K + channels in live cells.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Ethanol Conversion to C 4+ Olefins over Bimetallic Copper- And Lanthanum-Containing Beta Zeolite Catalysts

We report ethanol conversion to C 4+ olefins remains a critical yet nonselective process for producing renewable middle distillates. Here, Cu–La/Beta catalysts composed of copper and lanthanum incorporated onto a dealuminated Beta support are reported for ethanol conversion to C 4+ olefins (73% selectivity, ~98% ethanol conversion, 623 K,<4% C 1 –C 3 hydrocarbons) which particularly favors C 5+ olefin formation (43% selectivity) as a distinction from the benchmarking Cu–Y/Beta catalyst. Monometallic Cu/Beta or La/Beta samples are insufficient to catalyze the C 4+ olefin formation and primarily form dehydration products (e.g., ethylene and diethyl ether), indicating the necessity of both Cu and La species for butene and C 5+ olefin formation. Increasing the bulk La loading at a fixed Cu content yields higher C 5+ olefins until the La/Cu molar ratio reaches 3.6. These findings indicate Cu–La/Beta as an effective ethanol conversion catalyst that facilitates multiple C–C bond formation events required for synthesizing C 5+ olefins (i.e., hexenes and octenes).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Copper(III) Metallacyclopentadienes via Zirconocene Transfer and Reductive Elimination to an Isolable Phenanthrocyclobutadiene

Despite the widespread use of copper catalysis for the formation of C–C bonds, debate about the mechanism persists. Reductive elimination from Cu(III) is often invoked as a key step, yet examples of its direct observation from isolable complexes remain limited to only a few examples. In this work, we demonstrate that incorporation of bulky mesityl (Mes) groups into the α-positions of a phenanthrene-appended zirconacyclopenta- diene, Cp 2 Zr(2,5-Mes 2 -phenanthro[9,10]C 4 ), enables efficient oxidative transmetalation to the corresponding, formal Cu(III) metallacyclopentadiene dimer. The dimer was quantitatively converted to a structurally analogous anionic monomer [ n Bu 4 N]- {Cl 2 Cu(2,5-Mes 2 -phenanthro[9,10]C 4 )} upon treatment with [ n Bu 4 N][Cl]. Both metallacycles undergo quantitative reductive elimination upon heating to generate phenanthrocyclobutadiene and a Cu(I) species. Due to the steric protection provided by the mesityl groups, this cyclobutadiene was isolated and thoroughly characterized to reveal antiaromaticity comparable to that of free cyclobutadiene, which imbues it with a small highest occupied molecular orbital–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy gap of 1.85 eV and accessible reduced and oxidized electronic states.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Photoelectrochemical CO 2 Reduction toward Multicarbon Products with Silicon Nanowire Photocathodes Interfaced with Copper Nanoparticles

The development of photoelectrochemical systems for converting CO 2 into chemical feedstocks offers an attractive strategy for clean energy storage by directly utilizing solar energy, but selectivity and stability for these systems have thus been limited. Here, we interface silicon nanowire (SiNW) photocathodes with a copper nanoparticle (CuNP) ensemble to drive efficient photoelectrochemical CO 2 conversion to multicarbon products. This integrated system enables CO 2 -to-C 2 H 4 conversion with faradaic efficiency approaching 25% and partial current densities above 2.5 mA/cm 2 at -0.50 V vs RHE, while the nanowire photocathodes deliver 350 mV of photovoltage under 1 sun illumination. Under 50 h of continual bias and illumination, CuNP/SiNW can sustain stable photoelectrochemical CO 2 reduction. In conclusion, these results demonstrate the nanowire/catalyst system as a powerful modular platform to achieve stable photoelectrochemical CO 2 reduction and the feasibility to facilitate complex reactions toward multicarbons using generated photocarriers.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2017

Benzoin Radicals as Reducing Agent for Synthesizing Ultrathin Copper Nanowires

Here, we report a new, general synthetic approach that uses heat driven benzoin radicals to grow ultrathin copper nanowires with tunable diameters. This is the first time carbon organic radicals have been used as a reducing agent in metal nanowire synthesis. In-situ temperature dependent electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic studies show that the active reducing agent is the free radicals produced by benzoins under elevated temperature. Furthermore, the reducing power of benzoin can be readily tuned by symmetrically decorating functional groups on the two benzene rings. When the aromatic rings are modified with electron donating (withdrawing) groups, the reducing power is promoted (suppressed). The controllable reactivity gives the carbon organic radical great potential as a versatile reducing agent that can be generalized in other metallic nanowire syntheses.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Structure of Copper–Cobalt Surface Alloys in Equilibrium with Carbon Monoxide Gas

Here, we studied the structure of the copper–cobalt (CuCo) surface alloy, formed by Co deposition on Cu(110), in dynamic equilibrium with CO. Using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we found that, in vacuum at room temperature and at low Co coverage, clusters of a few Co atoms substituting Cu atoms form at the surface. At CO pressures in the Torr range, we found that up to 2.5 CO molecules can bind on a single Co atom, in carbonyl-like configurations. Based on high-resolution STM images, together with density functional theory calculations, we determined the most stable CuCo cluster structures formed with bound CO. Such carbonyl-like formation manifests in shifts in the binding energy of the Co core-level peaks in X-ray photoelectron spectra, as well as shifts in the vibrational modes of adsorbed CO in infrared reflection absorption spectra. The multiple CO adsorption on a Co site weakens the Co–CO bond and thus reduces the C–O bond scission probability. Our results may explain the different product distribution, including higher selectivity toward alcohol formation, when bimetallic CuCo catalysts are used compared to pure Co.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2011

A Quantitative Analysis of Room Temperature Recrystallization Kinetics in Electroplated Copper Films using High Resolution X-ray Diffraction

Time-resolved in situ x-ray diffraction measurements were used to study the room-temperature recrystallization kinetics of electroplated copper thin films with thicknesses between 400 and 1000 nm. The thinnest films exhibited limited recrystallization and subsequent growth of grains, while recrystallized grains in the thicker films grew until all as-plated microstructure was consumed. For all films, recrystallized grains that belonged to the majority texture component, <111>, started growing after the shortest incubation time. These grains exhibited volumetric growth until they achieved the film thickness. After this point the growth mode became planar, with the <111>-type grains growing in the plane of the film. Grains with the <111> direction normal to the film surface started growing after the <111>-type grains switched to planar growth. However, the planar growth of this texture component finished at the same time as the growth of the <111> grains. Profile fitting of the 111 peak permitted the separation of the diffraction signals from recrystallized and as-plated grain populations. The average strains in these two populations, calculated from the peak position of the corresponding {l_brace}111{r_brace} reflections, were different, indicating a heterogeneous stress state within this texture component. The increasing volume fraction of recrystallized <111> grains with time was monitored via the variation in the diffracted intensity. This variation could be represented by the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov model.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2011

Hot hole-induced dissociation of NO dimers on a copper surface

We use reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) to study the photochemistry of NO on Cu(110) in the UV-visible range. We observe that the only photoactive species of NO on Cu(110) is the NO dimer, which is asymmetrically bound to the surface. RAIRS shows that photoinduced dissociation proceeds via breaking of the weak N-N bond of the dimer, photodesorbing one NO{sub g} to the gas phase and leaving one NO{sub ads} adsorbed on the surface in a metastable atop position. We model the measured wavelength-dependent cross sections assuming both electron- and hole-induced processes and find that the photochemistry can be described by either electron attachment to a level 0.3 eV above the Fermi energy E{sub F} or hole attachment to a level 2.2 eV below E{sub F}. While there is no experimental or theoretical evidence for an electron attachment level so close to E{sub F}, an occupied NO-related molecular orbital is known to exist at E{sub F}- 2.52 eV on the Cu(111) surface [I. Kinoshita, A. Misu, and T. Munakata, J. Chem. Phys. 102, 2970 (1995)]. We, therefore, propose that photoinduced dissociation of NO dimers on Cu(110) in the visible wavelength region proceeds by the creation of hot holes at the top of the copper d-band.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2012

Application of Laser-based Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy to Study Texture in Copper

Copper specimens having two distinct grain microstructures are investigated using laser resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (LRUS). One consists of randomly oriented crystallites and exhibits isotropic elastic behavior (two elastic constants) and the other is highly textured by rolling and exhibits anisotropic elastic behavior (three elastic constants). The elastic constants are measured using electron backscatter diffraction, LRUS, and time domain laser ultrasound (LU). The elastic constants for the isotropic sample obtained using EBSD, LU and LRUS agree closely. However, for the anisotropic sample, there is considerable disagreement between results obtained using LRUS and results obtained using LU and EBSD. Analysis revels that increasing the dimensionality of the modulus space leads to questions of whether the solution is unique to within experimental error. The consequence is that small uncertainties in the assumed symmetry of the elastic stiffness tensor for anisotropic materials can lead to large uncertainties in the calculated elastic constants.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Morphology of size-selected copper nanocluster film

We report a preliminary study of the morphology of size-selected Copper nanocluster film grown on Si substrate using a state of the art nanocluster deposition system. The clusters are produced in a dc magnetron and gasaggregation type cluster source at room temperature. The size or mass of the nanoclusters are analysed by a quadrupole mass filter. The morphology of cluster assembled surface has been investigated by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2012

Phase evolution in carbide dispersion strengthened nanostructured copper composite by high energy ball milling

In this study, high-energy ball milling was applied to synthesis in situ nanostructured copper based composite reinforced with metal carbides. Cu, M (M=W or Ti) and graphite powder mixture were mechanically alloyed for various milling time in a planetary ball mill with composition of Cu-20vol%WC and Cu-20vol%TiC. Then the as-milled powder were compacted at 200 to 400 MPa and sintered in a vacuum furnace at 900 Degree-Sign C. The results of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis showed that formation of tungsten carbides (W{sub 2}C and WC phases) was observed after sintering of Cu-W-C mixture while TiC precipitated in as-milled powder of Cu-Ti-C composite after 5 h and become amorphous with longer milling. Mechanism of MA explained the cold welding and fracturing event during milling. Cu-W-C system shows fracturing event is more dominant at early stage of milling and W particle still existed after milling up to 60 h. While in Cu-Ti-C system, cold welding is more dominant and all Ti particles dissolved into Cu matrix.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2012

A photoelectron spectroscopy study of the electronic structure evolution in CuInSe{sub 2}-related compounds at changing copper content

Evolution of the valence-band structure at gradually increasing copper content has been analysed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in In{sub 2}Se{sub 3}, CuIn{sub 5}Se{sub 8}, CuIn{sub 3}Se{sub 5}, and CuInSe{sub 2} single crystals. A comparison of these spectra with calculated total and angular-momentum resolved density-of-states (DOS) revealed the main trends of this evolution. The formation of the theoretically predicted gap between the bonding and non-bonding states has been observed in both experimental XPS spectra and theoretical DOS.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2012

Chemical and structural investigations of the incorporation of metal manganese into ruthenium thin films for use as copper diffusion barrier layers

The incorporation of manganese into a 3 nm ruthenium thin-film is presented as a potential mechanism to improve its performance as a copper diffusion barrier. Manganese ({approx}1 nm) was deposited on an atomic layer deposited Ru film, and the Mn/Ru/SiO{sub 2} structure was subsequently thermally annealed. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies reveal the chemical interaction of Mn with the SiO{sub 2} substrate to form manganese-silicate (MnSiO{sub 3}), implying the migration of the metal through the Ru film. Electron energy loss spectroscopy line profile measurements of the intensity of the Mn signal across the Ru film confirm the presence of Mn at the Ru/SiO{sub 2} interface.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2013

Structural and physical properties of vanadium doped copper bismuth borate glasses

The structural and physical properties of xCuO(30-x)Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}-70B{sub 2}O{sub 3}; x= 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mol % with 2 mol %V{sub 2}O{sub 5} glasses prepared by normal melt quench technique have been investigated by means of FT-IR and physical measurement techniques. With the addition of copper oxide (x{<=} 10 mol%), the frequency bands in the higher region shift towards lower wave number, suggest the conversion of BO{sub 3} to BO{sub 4} structural units, which in turn give rise to the formation of Non Bridging Oxygen's (NBOs). For further increase in CuO (i.e. for x{>=} 10 mol %), the frequency bands shift towards higher wave number, indicate the formation of Bridging Oxygen's (BOs). The FTIR analysis reveals that the present glass system is based on the BiO{sub 3} pyramidal, BiO{sub 6} octahedral units and also on BO{sub 3} and BO{sub 4} structural units. The systematic variation in density and molar volume in these glasses indicates the effect of CuO substitution.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗