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At least 1,243 records · Page 69

Stabilizing lithium-metal electrodes with polymer coatings

Increasing the energy density of batteries can accelerate the deployment of electric vehicles, expand the utilization of renewable energy and, in turn, reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Different from commercially available lithium-ion batteries, high-energy-density lithium-metal batteries use metallic lithium instead of graphite as the negative electrode. Furthermore, the commercialization of lithium-metal batteries is hindered by the electrochemical instability of lithium metal. Polymer coatings have shown promise in addressing issues related to each step of heterogeneous lithium deposition. Here we summarize the current understanding of key design principles and highlight relevant coating compositions. Moreover, we discuss high-performing coating–electrolyte pairs and provide an outlook on interface design for novel electrolytes.

Batteries↗

Flux Synthesis of A-site Disordered Perovskite La 0.5 M 0.5 TiO 3 (M$=$Li, Na, K) Nanorods Tailored for Solid Composite Electrolytes

Inorganic fillers play an important role in improving the ionic conductivity of solid composite electrolytes (SCEs) for Li-ion batteries. Among inorganic fillers, perovskite-type lithium lanthanum titanate (LLTO) stands out for its high bulk Li + conductivity on the order of 10 -3 S cm -1 at room temperature. According to a literature survey, the optimal LLTO filler should possess the following characteristics: i) a single-crystal structure to minimize grain boundaries; ii) a small particle size to increase the filler/polymer interface area; iii) a 1D morphology for efficient interface channels; and iv) cubic symmetry to facilitate rapid bulk Li + diffusion within the filler. However, the synthesis of single crystal, 1D LLTO nanomaterials with cubic symmetry is challenging. Herein, a flux strategy is developed to synthesize La 0.5 M 0.5 TiO 3 (LMTO, M$=$Li, Na, and K) single-crystal nanorods with an A-site-disordered, cubic perovskite phase. The flux media promotes the oriented growth of nanorods, prevents nanorods from sintering, and provides multiple alkali metal ion doping at M sites to stabilize the cubic phase. SCEs compositing the Li + -conducting LMTO nanorods as fillers and poly[vinylene carbonate- co -lithium sulfonyl(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide methacrylate] matrix exhibit more than twice the conductivity of the neat polymer electrolyte (30.6 vs 14.0 µS cm -1 at 303 K).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Molecular Structure and Thermodynamics of CO 2 and Water Adsorption on Mica

The adsorption of CO 2 and water on clay surfaces plays a key role in applications, such as gas storage in saline aquifers and depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs, but is not yet fully understood. Here, we study the adsorption of CO 2 and water vapor using Grand Canonical Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations. At a bulk pressure of 100 bar, pure CO 2 adsorbs strongly on mica and forms extensive layers next to it. CO 2 adsorption is lowered substantially if introducing water vapor above mica and is largely eliminated when the relative humidity (RH) approaches about 60%. When pure water vapor is introduced above a mica surface, a subnanometer thick liquid water film develops on it to form apparent liquid–solid and liquid–vapor interfaces simultaneously. Using the identification of truly interfacial molecules (ITIM) analysis, we delineate how individual water layers develop in this film as RH increases. We highlight that the water film is spatially heterogeneous and the true liquid–vapor interface emerges only at an RH of 60–80%. Introducing 100 bar of CO 2 into the water vapor above the mica surface modulates water adsorption nonlinearly: at RH = 0.01%, the water adsorption is reduced by ∼30%; as RH increases, the reduction is weakened, and eventually, enhancement of water adsorption by about 7% occurs at RH = 90%. These variations are attributed to the interplay of film thinning by high-pressure CO 2 , competition of mica surface sites by CO 2 molecules, and energetic and entropic stabilization of interfacial water by CO 2 molecules.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Multiscale Characterization of Electrode-Induced Degradation in Perovskite Solar Cells

The stability of metal-halide-perovskite (MHP) solar cells must be understood and improved for the commercial viability of MHP technologies. Here, we apply multiscale characterization methods to study degradation modes, specifically electrode corrosion, for p-i-n MHP partial device stacks and full devices that are stored in the dark under an inert atmosphere. Our multiscale characterization approaches include full-device electro-optical performance using current-voltage (JV) curves and spatial imaging with electroluminescence (EL) and photoluminescence (PL). We further correlate interface properties using cross-sectional Kelvin probe force microscopy, which maps the nanoscale electric field properties, and electron microscopy, which demonstrates structural and chemical features. Devices stored as a full device stack degrade primarily by metal (Ag) electrode diffusion into the absorber, with formation of AgI byproducts and Ag accumulation near the indium tin oxide (ITO) contact. This causes decomposition of the perovskite absorber domains, loss of the potential drop at the electron transport layer (ETL)/perovskite interface near the metal contact, and increased equivalent resistance at the perovskite/hole transport layer (HTL) interface near the ITO contact. The devices stored without metal show a different degradation pathway dominated by corrosion of the ITO, creating voids at the ITO electrode surface with diffusion of In and Sn into the absorber. We conclude that metal electrode-induced degradation is the most severe degradation pathway under dark storage, but that ITO corrosion and absorber instability must also be mitigated. We further demonstrate mitigation of these degradation pathways by changes to the device stack, including a SnO x blocking layer at the ETL side and replacing ITO with FTO at the HTL side. These results provide a useful demonstration of specific dark degradation pathways at each electrode interface, as well as a unique multiscale example that links degradation of chemical, structural, and electrical interface properties to the full-device electro-optical characteristics.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Structural anisotropy in Sb thin films

Sb thin films have attracted wide interest due to their tunable band structure, topological phases, high electron mobility, and thermoelectric properties. We successfully grow epitaxial Sb thin films on a closely lattice-matched GaSb(001) surface by molecular beam epitaxy. We find a novel anisotropic directional dependence on their structural, morphological, and electronic properties. The origin of the anisotropic features is elucidated using first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The growth regime of crystalline and amorphous Sb thin films was determined by mapping the surface reconstruction phase diagram of the GaSb(001) surface under Sb 2 flux, with confirmation of structural characterizations. Crystalline Sb thin films show a rhombohedral crystal structure along the rhombohedral (211) surface orientation parallel to the cubic (001) surface orientation of the GaSb substrate. At this coherent interface, Sb atoms are aligned with the GaSb lattice along the [1̄10] crystallographic direction but are not aligned well along the [110] crystallographic direction, which results in anisotropic features in reflection of high-energy electron diffraction patterns, misfit dislocation formation, surface morphology, and transport properties. Our DFT calculations show that the preferential orientation of the rhombohedral Sb (211) plane may originate from the GaSb surface, where Sb atoms align with the Ga and Sb atoms on the reconstructed surface. The formation energy calculations confirm the stability of the experimentally observed structures. Our results provide optimal film growth conditions for further studies of novel properties of Bi 1-x Sb x thin films with similar lattice parameters and an identical crystal structure, as well as functional heterostructures of them with III–V semiconductor layers along the (001) surface orientation, supported by a theoretical understanding of the anisotropic film orientation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Substrate effects on phase formation and interfacial stability in superconducting vanadium silicide thin films

Thin films of vanadium silicide (V-silicide) in the A15 cubic phase (V 3 Si) are promising for superconducting quantum devices due to their high transition temperature and potential compatibility with scalable semiconductor fabrication. However, solid-phase synthesis often yields secondary silicide phases that degrade performance. Here, in this study, we investigate the influence of substrate properties using two silicon-on-insulator architectures: one with a polycrystalline HfO 2 buried layer (group A) and the other with amorphous SiO 2 (group B). Both systems exhibit superconductivity consistent with V 3 Si formation, yet structural analysis reveals mixed-phase films in both cases. Crucially, only group A maintains an atomically sharp and chemically stable interface, a prerequisite for phase purity. Prolonged annealing in group A reduces the unwanted V 5 Si 3 phase but also leads to the emergence of Si-rich VSi 2 , likely due to localized substrate degradation. Preliminary atomic-resolution imaging suggests that HfO 2 crystallinity may promote local phase-selective nucleation. These findings highlight the importance of substrate design in promoting phase control and maintaining interfacial integrity in superconducting silicides.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Stable Cuprous Hydroxide Nanostructures by Organic Ligand Functionalization

Abstract Copper compounds have been extensively investigated for diverse applications. However, studies of cuprous hydroxide (CuOH) have been scarce due to structural metastability. Herein, a facile, wet‐chemistry procedure is reported for the preparation of stable CuOH nanostructures via deliberate functionalization with select organic ligands, such as acetylene and mercapto derivatives. The resulting nanostructures are found to exhibit a nanoribbon morphology consisting of small nanocrystals embedded within a largely amorphous nanosheet‐like scaffold. The acetylene derivatives are found to anchor onto the CuOH forming CuC linkages, whereas CuS interfacial bonds are formed with the mercapto ligands. Effective electronic coupling occurs at the ligand‐core interface in the former, in contrast to mostly non‐conjugated interfacial bonds in the latter, as manifested in spectroscopic measurements and confirmed in theoretical studies based on first principles calculations. Notably, the acetylene‐capped CuOH nanostructures exhibit markedly enhanced photodynamic activity in the inhibition of bacteria growth, as compared to the mercapto‐capped counterparts due to a reduced material bandgap and effective photocatalytic generation of reactive oxygen species. Results from this study demonstrate that deliberate structural engineering with select organic ligands is an effective strategy in the stabilization and functionalization of CuOH nanostructures, a critical first step in exploring their diverse applications.

Liu, Qiming↗

Unveiling the High‐Voltage Reactivity and Gas Evolution With Aluminum‐Based Chloride and Oxychloride Catholytes in Solid‐State Sodium Batteries

All-solid-state sodium batteries (ASSBs) employing halide solid electrolytes (SEs) offer a cost-effective and energy-dense alternative to conventional liquid electrolyte systems. However, their high voltage (>4 V vs. Na/Na + ) performance remains limited by interfacial instability between the cathode active material (CAM) and the SE. We present here the electrochemical and interfacial behaviors of crystalline NaAlCl 4 and amorphous sodium–aluminum–oxychloride (NACO) SEs when combined with NaNi 0.5 Mn 0.5 O 2 cathode. While oxygen incorporation in NACO enhances ionic conductivity by nearly three orders of magnitude relative to NaAlCl 4 , it does not improve high-voltage cycling stability. Cells employing NACO exhibit accelerated capacity fade, increased cell impedance growth, and intrinsic oxygen evolution above 4.5 V vs. Na 3 Sn, as revealed by operando electrochemical mass spectrometry. In contrast, the NaAlCl 4 -based cells show no detectable gas release, underscoring their superior high-voltage stability and safety. Time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry confirms the formation of Al─O and Ni/Mn─Cl species, respectively, in the SE and CAM, indicating redox-driven anion exchange that contributes to kinetic hindrance of high-voltage phase transitions. The findings establish that while oxygen incorporation enhances ionic transport, it can compromise interfacial stability, suggesting pure chloride SEs may offer a more robust and intrinsically safer pathway for developing high-energy ASSBs.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

A new re-redistribution scheme for weighted state redistribution with adaptive mesh refinement

State redistribution (SRD) is a recently developed technique for stabilizing cut cells that result from finite-volume embedded boundary methods. SRD has been successfully applied to a variety of compressible and incompressible flow problems. When used in conjunction with adaptive mesh refinement (AMR), additional steps are needed to preserve the accuracy and conservation properties of the solution if the embedded boundary is not restricted to a single level of the mesh hierarchy. In this work, we extend the weighted state redistribution algorithm to cases where cut cells live at or near a coarse-fine interface within the domain. Here, we present numerical results that demonstrate that the algorithm is conservative when the coarse-fine interface intersects the embedded boundary. Additionally we compare the numerical solution of the Sod shock tube problem in an inclined cylinder with the analytic solution, and we compare the simulation of a shock hitting a cylindrical obstacle with experimental data. Finally we demonstrate the methodology for simulation of the multicomponent compressible Navier-Stokes equations in a piston-bowl geometry, and discuss the computational efficiency gained by not requiring the entire embedded boundary to be defined at the finest level.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Binding and Translocation of Substrate Allosterically Promotes Functional Interactions Within the AlkB–AlkG Electron Transfer Complex

The alkane monooxygenase AlkB and rubredoxin AlkG form an electron transfer complex that hydroxylates terminal alkanes to produce alcohols. The recent cryoEM study of Fontimonas thermophila AlkB-AlkG complex revealed its architecture, including a dodecane (D12) substrate at the active site. However, FtAlkBG molecular mechanism of action of remains unknown. Here, in this study, we examined its dynamics and interactions by multiscale computations, including molecular dynamics simulations, elastic network models, and QM/MM of the oxygen activation mechanism at the AlkB catalytic site. D12 maintained stable interactions within the catalytic site during two MD runs, coordinated by hydrophobic residues L263-L264, I267, I133. A third extended run revealed that D12 could translocate to a membrane-exposed site near S49/F46 along a hydrophobic channel gated by I54. During this translocation, D12 was temporarily stabilized at intermediate sites IS1 (lined by I27/L30-G31/G50/L53-I54/P59/S124/A127-V128) and IS2 (I33-G34/L37/L45-F46/S49) before nearly exiting the protein, and diffused back to the active site, assisted by L30. Substrate binding and translocation across those intermediate sites affects the coupling between the iron centers in AlkBG, and interfacial interactions between AlkB-AlkG. The channel was further connected to the cytosol, near two surface-exposed arginines, potentially allowing for O 2 passage. The allosteric effects between D12 putative entry site, catalytic site and AlkB-AlkG interface were analyzed by ENM-based methods which confirmed the cooperative perturbation-responses and strongly correlated movements of residues belonging to those distal regions. Our study provides new mechanistic insights into key sites and their interactions that could be targeted for developing AlkB-variants with desirable alkane conversion functions.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Diamine chelates for increased stability in mixed Sn–Pb and all-perovskite tandem solar cells

Perovskite tandem solar cells show promising performance but non-radiative recombination and its progressive worsening with time, especially in the mixed Sn–Pb low-bandgap layer, limit performance and stability. Here, in this study, we find that mixed Sn–Pb perovskite thin films exhibit a compositional gradient, with an excess of Sn on the surface – and we show this gradient exacerbates oxidation and increases the recombination rate. We find that diamines preferentially chelate Sn atoms, removing them from the film surface and achieving a more balanced Sn:Pb stoichiometry, making the surface of the film resistive to the oxidation of Sn. The process forms an electrically resistive low-dimensional barrier layer, passivating defects and reducing interface recombination. Further improving the homogeneity of the barrier layer using 1,2-diaminopropane results in more uniform distribution and passivation. Tandems achieve a power conversion efficiency of 28.8%. As a result, encapsulated tandems retain 90% of initial efficiency following 1000 hours of operating at the maximum power point under simulated one-sun illumination in air without cooling.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Irradiation-induced reactions at the CeO 2 /SiO 2 /Si interface

The influence of high-energy (1.6 MeV) Ar 2+ irradiation on the interfacial interaction between cerium oxide thin films (~15 nm) with a SiO 2 /Si substrate is investigated using transmission electron microscopy, ultrahigh vacuum x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and a carbon monoxide (CO) oxidation catalytic reaction using ambient pressure XPS. The combination of these methods allows probing the dynamics of vacancy generation and its relation to chemical interactions at the CeO 2 /SiO 2 /Si interface. The results suggest that irradiation causes amorphization of some portion of CeO 2 at the CeO 2 /SiO 2 /Si interface and creates oxygen vacancies due to the formation of Ce 2 O 3 at room temperature. The subsequent ultra-high-vacuum annealing of irradiated films increases the concentration of Ce 2 O 3 with the simultaneous growth of the SiO 2 layer. Interactions with CO molecules result in an additional reduction of cerium and promote the transition of Ce 2 O 3 to a silicate compound. Furthermore, thermal annealing of thin films exposed to oxygen or carbon monoxide shows that the silicate phase is highly stabile even at 450 °C.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Metasurface-enhanced photochemical activity in visible light absorbing semiconductors

Heterogeneous photocatalysis is an important research problem relevant to a variety of sustainable energy technologies. However, obtaining high photocatalytic efficiency from visible light absorbing semiconductors is challenging due to a combination of weak absorption, transport losses, and low activity. Aspects of this problem have been addressed by multilayer approaches, which provide a general scheme for engineering surface reactivity and stability independent of electronic considerations. However, an analogous broad framework for optimizing light–matter interactions has not yet been demonstrated. Here, we establish a photonic approach using semiconductor metasurfaces that is highly effective in enhancing the photocatalytic activity of GaAs, a high-performance semiconductor with a near-infrared bandgap. Our engineered pillar arrays with heights of ∼150 nm exhibit Mie resonances near 700 nm that result in near-unity absorption and exhibit a field profile that maximizes charge carrier generation near the solid–liquid interface, enabling short transport distances. Our hybrid metasurface photoanodes facilitate oxygen evolution and exhibit enhanced incident photon-to-current efficiencies that are ∼22× larger than a corresponding thin film for resonant excitation and 3× larger for white light illumination. Key to these improvements is the preferential generation of photogenerated carriers near the semiconductor interface that results from the field enhancement profile of magnetic dipolar-type modes.

Chemistry↗

Superconducting qubits for particle detection and fundamental tests of quantum mechanics

Many fundamental questions at the interface of quantum mechanics, gravity, and measurement remain relatively unexplored in the laboratory. These include whether spatial superpositions experience gravitational redshift, how the quantum Zeno effect propagates through entangled systems, and whether quantum information is globally conserved or fundamentally lost during measurement-induced wavefunction collapse. In this colloquium, I will discuss how superconducting qubits—developed primarily for quantum computing—can be repurposed as ultra sensitive detectors to probe these questions and to search for low-energy particle interactions. I will describe my work at Fermilab on stabilizing these devices to the level required for next-generation qubit-based sensors. This includes mitigating decoherence from infrared radiation and cosmic rays, using machine-learning techniques to accelerate superconducting qubit design, and leveraging the quantum Zeno effect to improve coherence times and suppress qubit frequency fluctuations. Together, these advances point toward a new class of quantum sensors capable of testing fundamental physics.

Seidel, Olivia [Fermilab]↗

In situ formation of polymer-inorganic solid-electrolyte interphase for stable polymeric solid-state lithium-metal batteries

Composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) for solid-state Li-metal batteries (SSLBs) still suffer from gradually increased interface resistance and unconstrained Li-dendrite growth. Herein, we addressed the challenges by designing a LiF-rich inorganic solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) through introducing a fluoride-salt-concentrated interlayer on CPE film. The rigid but flexible CPE helps accommodate the volume change of electrodes, while the polymeric highly concentrated electrolyte (PHCE) surface-layer regulates Li-ion flux due to the formation of a stable LiF-rich SEI via anion reduction. The designed CPE-PHCE presents enhanced ionic conductivity and high oxidation stability of >5.0 V (versus Li/Li + ). Furthermore, it dramatically reduces the interfacial resistance and achieves a high critical current density of 4.5 mA cm –2 . The SSLBs, fabricated with thin CPE-PHCE membranes (<100 μm) and Co-free LiNiO 2 cathodes, exhibit exceptional electrochemical performance and long cycling stability. Lastly, this approach of SEI design can also be applied to other types of batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Unlocking the self-supported thermal runaway of high-energy lithium-ion batteries

Layered Ni-rich LiNi x Mn y Co 1-x-y O 2 (NMC) materials are the most promising cathode materials for Li-ion batteries due to their favorable energy densities. However, the low thermal stability typically caused by detrimental oxygen release leads to significant safety concerns. Determining the pathways of oxygen evolution reaction is essential, as the ideal safety countermeasure is to break the reaction chain of thermal runaway. In this study, we demonstrate that two endogenous pathways of oxygen involved in strong exothermic reactions lead the NMC811|graphite pouch cell to an uncontrollable state, and we quantify the individual contribution of the pathways to thermal runaway. Approximately 41% of thermal-induced oxygen reacts aggressively with ethylene carbonate (EC) at the cathode/electrolyte interface with 16% heat generation, accelerating the self-heating rate and thereby further triggering thermal runaway. The residual oxygen that survives the reaction with carbonate spreads to the lithiated anode with major heat generation (65%), bringing the battery to the maximum destructive temperature during thermal runaway. By confirming the significant roles of EC and anode, a deeper understanding on battery fire was achieved. Finally, the revealed mechanism can help guide studies on stopping the two reaction pathways, allowing for the safer use of high-energy lithium-ion batteries in the future.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Elucidating Compositional Differences in Halide Perovskites for Normal and Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

Over the recent few years, extensive research efforts have shifted from normal (n-i-p) to inverted (p-i-n) perovskite solar cells (PSCs), owing to their promising efficiency and operational stability, enabled by low-temperature processing. Despite a fundamentally identical operation principle (only structurally inverted), the optimized perovskite compositions for normal and inverted PSCs differ significantly across the literature, suggesting an underlying design principle for perovskite composition. Here, we unveil the role of cesium cation in enhancing interfacial contact between the perovskite layer and the underlying hole-transporting layer (HTL) in inverted PSCs. Comprehensive in situ and device characterization reveal that cesium incorporation promotes the formation of initial nucleation seeds for heterogeneous nucleation at the perovskite/hydrophobic HTL interface, thereby improving their contact. The resulting compositional heterogeneity explains the focus of recent studies on resolving this issue. This study provides mechanistic insight into designing perovskite compositions to further enhance the performance and longevity of PSCs.

Park, Keonwoo↗

The role of deviatoric stress and dislocations on the α to ω phase transformation in Ti

Under extreme conditions, α-Ti becomes unstable and transforms either into β-Ti at high temperature or into ω-Ti at high pressure. In what concerns the α to ω phase transformation (PT), there has been a wide range of experimentally reported transition pressures from approximately 2 to 15 GPa at room temperature. Deviatoric stresses and internal defects are often assumed to be the root cause of this variation. Here, in this study, these postulates are revisited using both continuum mechanics and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. First, a simple continuum model, assuming linear elasticity and isotropic plasticity, is developed to describe the effects of applied stress and dislocations on the stability of an ω nucleus in an infinite α domain. Second, a new MD simulation method is developed to generate an ω nucleus in the α domain utilizing the displacement field identified from the topological analysis. Results from MD simulations show that despite the fact that phase diagrams typically delineate the limits between two phases in terms of only P and T, deviatoric stress promotes the α to ω phase transformation by reducing the critical radius above which an ω nucleus is stable. Furthermore, the required deviatoric stress to nucleate and stabilize a nanoscale ω nucleus is likely emanating from the internal stress of defects such as dislocations. The MD-informed micromechanics models are used to identify favorable configurations where dislocations help favor the α to ω transformation. These configurations show that the interaction with a basal or prismatic dislocation reduces the critical radius of a ω nucleus by about 10 or 16 %, respectively. In addition, prismatic edge dislocations are found to promote the growth of ω nucleus when interacting with the ($\bar{1}$$\bar{1}$20) α //(0001) ω interface. Importantly, a simple model of the arrival of dislocation at an ω nucleus suggests that PT does not necessarily require a pile-up to be present but could alternatively be mediated by a constant rapid flow of dislocations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗