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At least 1,243 records · Page 69

Modulation of dielectric properties of hexagonal/cubic boron nitride composites

In this work, we synthesized mixed-phase hexagonal-boron nitride (h-BN)/cubic-BN (c-BN) composites with varying ratios and investigated their frequency and temperature-dependent dielectric properties. As the ratio of c-BN increased, we observed a corresponding increase in the dielectric constant of the composites. Furthermore, we used spark-plasma sintering (SPS) to treat the mixed-phase composite, which resulted in a phase transformation from mixed phase to pure h-BN phase. Remarkably, the composite exhibited an increase in dielectric constant after the SPS process, which can be attributed to the densification of the composite and the enhancement in grain size. Our approach presents a promising strategy for effectively modulating the dielectric properties of BN, which is crucial for advanced electronics.

Physics↗

Erosion and cathodic arc plasma of Nb–Al cathodes: composite versus intermetallic

Many properties of cathodic arcs from single-element cathodes show a correlation to the cohesive energy of the cathode material. For example, the burning voltage, the erosion rate, or, to a lesser extent, plasma properties like electron temperatures or average ion energy and charge states. For multi-element cathodes, various phases with different cohesive energies can initially be present in the cathode, or form due to arc exposure, complicating the evaluation of such correlations. To test the influence of morphology and phase composition of multi-element cathodes on cathodic arc properties, a Nb–Al cathode model system was used that includes: pure Nb and Al cathodes; intermetallic Nb 3 Al, Nb 2 Al and NbAl 3 cathodes; and three composite Nb–Al cathodes with atomic ratios corresponding to the stoichiometric ratios of the intermetallic phases. Pulsed cathodic arc plasmas from these cathodes were examined using a mass-per-charge and energy-per-charge analyzer, showing that charge-state-resolved ion energy distributions of plasmas from the intermetallic and corresponding composite cathodes are nearly identical. An examination of converted layers of eroded cathodes using x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy indicates the formation of a surface layer with similar phase composition for intermetallic and their corresponding composite cathode types. The average arc voltages do not follow the trend of cohesive energies of Nb, Al and intermetallic Nb–Al phases, which have been calculated using density functional theory. Possible reasons for this effect are discussed based on the current knowledge of multi-element arc cathodes and their arc plasma available in literature.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Aluminium composites prepared by laser cladding assisted by friction stir processing

Abstract A laser cladding and friction stir processing hybrid method was employed to produce an Al matrix composite layer. The microstructure, phase composition, microhardness and conductivity of the composites were investigated. A laser cladding layer with a thickness of approximately 200 μ m was prepared on a 1060 aluminium plate and it was broken up and distributed on the Al matrix after friction stir processing. The particle/Al interfaces exhibited extremely good interfacial integrity. Microstructural observations revealed that an obvious in situ reaction occurred at the particle/Al interfaces, which effectively improved the bonding between the reinforcement phase and the matrix. TEM analysis and selected area diffraction enabled the identification of the intermetallic compounds and confirmed them to be Al 5 Fe 2 and Al 3 Fe. The average microhardness values of the friction stir processed composites reached approximately 85 HV. The electrical resistivity of the friction stir processed composites is slightly higher than that of the aluminium matrix.

Wei, Yanni (ORCID:0000000244443642)↗

Composition dependence of atomic order in strain-relaxed, metastable GeSn alloys

Extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements of single-crystal Ge/GeSn radial heterostructure nanowires are used to examine the effects of composition on both short-range order (SRO) and longer-range disorder in GeSn alloys. GeSn has prompted significant interest because it can achieve a direct band gap for sufficient Sn concentrations beyond the equilibrium solid solubility limit in an all-group IV system. Short-range order in this material is particularly interesting as it has been predicted to affect the band gap independent of average composition or strain effects. By independently controlling the Sn composition and GeSn thickness during chemical vapor deposition of misfitting GeSn shells around ultrathin, elastically compliant, Ge core nanowires, the elastic misfit strain in the GeSn is minimized for Sn compositions over the studied range ≈Ge 0.96 Sn 0.04 to Ge 0.88 Sn 0.12 . The degree of SRO was found to decrease with increasing Sn composition. Additionally, damping of the EXAFS signal was observed as the Sn content increased, particularly for increasingly distant atomic shells about the absorbing atom, even for scattering paths not involving Sn atoms. This result is quantified as an increase in the mean-squared relative displacement parameters of the shells. These measurements reveal the accommodation of local strain due to the presence of the highly size-mismatched Sn atoms in the Ge diamond cubic lattice (≈14%), which may have effects on the band structure of the material in addition to the influence of short-range atomic order. Comparison among the nanowire samples allows for calculation of the topological rigidity parameter, a ∗∗ , for the first-neighbor bond lengths. Furthermore, these exhibit chemically distinct values for Ge-Ge, Ge-Sn, and Sn-Sn, and they are consistent with the value a ∗∗ = 0.75 ± 0.07 confirming the general applicability of the model to alloys with both large amounts of natural misfit strain and the potential for short-range order.

Crystal structure Semiconductors Transmission elec↗

Composite Qdrift-product formulas for quantum and classical simulations in real and imaginary time

Recent study has shown that it can be advantageous to implement a composite channel that partitions the Hamiltonian H for a given simulation problem into subsets A and B such that H = A + B , where the terms in A are simulated with a Trotter-Suzuki channel and the B terms are randomly sampled via the Qdrift algorithm. Here we extend Qdrift and composite product formulas to imaginary time, formulating candidate classical algorithms for quantum Monte Carlo calculations. We upper bound the induced Schatten- 1 → 1 norm on both imaginary-time Qdrift and composite channels. Another recent result demonstrated that simulations of lattice Hamiltonians containing geometrically local interactions can be improved using a Lieb-Robinson argument to decompose H into subsets that contain only terms supported on that subset of the lattice. Here, we provide a quantum algorithm by unifying this result with the composite approach into “local composite channels” and we upper bound the diamond distance. We provide exact numerical simulations of algorithmic cost by counting the number of gates of the form e − i H j t and e − H j β to meet a certain error tolerance ε . In doing so, we optimize the partitioning into sets A and B using gradient boosted tree models from machine learning. These numerical studies are important given that product formulas have been historically known to outperform analytic upper bounds. We show constant factor advantages for a variety of interesting Hamiltonians, the maximum of which is a ≈ 20 -fold speedup that occurs in the simulation of Jellium. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Pocrnic, Matthew (ORCID:0000000203089376)↗

Composition Quantification of SiGeSn Alloys Through Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry: Calibration Methodologies and Validation With Atom Probe Tomography

Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) is a powerful technique for elemental compositional analysis and depth profiling of materials. However, it encounters the problem of matrix effects that hinder its application. In this work, we introduce a pioneering ToF-SIMS calibration method tailored for SixGeySnz ternary alloys. SixGe1-x and Ge1-zSnz binary alloys with known compositions are used as calibration reference samples. Through a systematic SIMS quantification study of SiGe and GeSn binary alloys, we unveil a linear correlation between secondary ion intensity ratio and composition ratio for both SiGe and GeSn binary alloys, effectively mitigating the matrix effects. Extracted relative sensitivity factor (RSF) value from SixGe1-x (0.07 < x < 0.83) and Ge1-zSnz (0.066 < z < 0.183) binary alloys are subsequently applied to those of SixGeySnz (0.011 < x < 0.113, 0.863 < y < 0.935 and 0.023 < z < 0.103) ternary alloys for elemental compositions quantification. These values are cross-checked by Atom Probe Tomography (APT) analysis, an indication of the great accuracy and reliability of as-developed ToF-SIMS calibration process. Furthermore, the proposed method and its reference sample selection strategy in this work provide a low-cost as well as simple-to-follow calibration route for SiGeSn composition analysis, thus driving the development of next-generation multifunctional SiGeSn-related semiconductor devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Stress rupture of SiC/SiC composite tubes under high-temperature steam

SiC-fiber–reinforced SiC matrix composite cladding for light water reactor fuel elements must withstand high-temperature steam oxidation in a loss-of-coolant accident scenario (LOCA). Current composite designs include an outer monolithic SiC layer, in part, to increase steam oxidation resistance. However, it is not clear how such a structure would behave under high-temperature steam in the case when the monolithic layer cracks and carbon interphases and SiC fibers are exposed to the environment. To fill this knowledge gap, stress-rupture tests of prototypic SiC composite cladding at 1000°C under steam and inert environments were conducted. The applied stress was ~120 MPa, which was beyond the initial cracking stress. The failure lifetime under steam was 400–1300 s, while 75% of the composite specimens did not fail after 3 h of total exposure under inert gases. Microstructural observations suggest that steam oxidation activated slow crack growth in the fibers, which led to failure of the composite. The results from this study suggest that stress rupture in steam environments could be a limiting factor of the cladding under reactor LOCA conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Sulphate resistance of low‐clinker engineered cementitious composites examined by MicroXRF imaging

Abstract Engineered cementitious composites (ECC) are a class of high‐performing fibre‐reinforced cementitious materials recognised for their increased ductility and durability compared to conventional cement‐based materials, owing to their autogenously controlled tight crack widths, even when subjected to high strains. To reduce ECC's environmental impact, this research examines the use of a low‐clinker binder − limestone‐calcined clay cement (LC3) − as an alternative to portland cement (PC), along with fly ash to further reduce the clinker proportion and the embodied CO 2 of the formulations. In conventional concrete, LC3 hydrates to a denser microstructure resulting from the synergistic reaction between limestone and calcined clay. At the lower water contents typical of ECC and with the presence of fly ash, the influence of the binder composition on the microstructure is difficult to anticipate. To examine the influence of these compositional variables on microstructure, permeability and durability, the sulphate resistance of LC3‐based ECC is explored. Specifically, the ECC‐LC3 blends are designed with high clinker replacement rate of 75% by mass of binder and contain either conventional fly ash or reclaimed fly ash at 50% by mass of binder. Expansion of ECC‐LC3 samples subjected to standard sodium sulphate test conditions was measured up to 12 months and the depth of penetration of sulphates into the ECC‐LC3 of varying compositions was quantified using micro‐X‐Ray Fluorescence (microXRF) imaging and modelling. The expansion results show that the ECC‐LC3 formulations performed better than the PC samples and can provide adequate resistance to external sulphate attack, even when reclaimed fly ashes are used in place of the conventional ash. In addition, the shallow penetration of sulphate into these cementitious composites demonstrates the low diffusion coefficients values that were determined using the quantitative data from MicroXRF imaging.

Microscopy↗

Effective medium approximation for the refractive index of stratified metal oxide composites synthesized by atomic layer deposition

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a unique method for synthesizing conformal layers with precise composition. It is especially useful for the synthesis of mixed metal oxides for functional materials. One application of interest is the use of ALD for tailoring the refractive index of coatings. In homogeneously distributed composites of metal oxides, the refractive properties can be approximated as the average of the indices of the components. This is known as an effective medium approximation (EMA) and can be used to design the macroscopic properties of composites. ALD produces layered, anisotropic films, so the validity of an EMA in describing these films is not clear. Here, we use optical simulations and experimental characterization of stratified composites of TiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 to study the application of an EMA to the transmission and reflection behavior of ALD-prepared mixed metal oxide thin films. We found that when the characteristic layer thickness is smaller than roughly 10 nm, the optical spectra of theoretical and experimental ALD films match the equivalent theoretical spectra for a material with a refractive index calculated from a simple, compositionally weighted EMA. Hence, this EMA could describe the transmission and reflectance spectra in ALD-derived TiO2–Al 2 O 3 nanolaminates when the films were sufficiently stratified even without thorough characterization of the real layers in the films. As a result, we demonstrated that ALD can be used to prepare effectively homogenous mixed metal oxide films with a predictable, tailorable refractive index of any value between those of the TiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 component materials.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Infrared thermography NDT for in-situ defect detection in sandwich composite panel manufacturing

Composite manufacturing presents numerous challenges, as defects can arise from various sources throughout the process. In sandwich composite structures, the integration of a foam core introduces additional complexity and increases the likelihood of defect formation like delamination. To mitigate these issues and reduce the risk of future structural failures, in-situ monitoring during manufacturing is essential. This study investigates infrared (IR) thermography as a non-destructive technique for detecting manufacturing defects in foam-core sandwich composite panels under thermally excited conditions representative of in-situ processing. A stationary FLIR A8590 IR camera (640 × 512 pixels, 30Hz, 17mm lens, 9 ft stand-off distance) was used to monitor prefabricated panels subjected to controlled external heating simulating compression molding and resin cure exotherm. Interlaminar delamination defects with characteristic sizes ranging from 0.25 × 0.25in² to 5 × 5in² produced measurable surface temperature depressions of approximately 4–10°C during transient cooling, exceeding the effective noise floor of the camera by more than two standard deviations. Thicker laminates exhibited prolonged defect detectability windows due to increased thermal diffusion time. In contrast, embedded Teflon inclusions generated weak thermal contrasts of ≤ 3°C, approaching the measurement noise floor, due to limited thermal property contrast with the surrounding glass fiber composite. These results establish quantitative detectability limits for stationary thermographic inspection of sandwich composite panels under manufacturing-representative thermal cycles.

Barakat, Abdallah [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000296141398)↗

Design Trade-Offs in Composite Fuel Cell Membranes: Effects of Reinforcement and Chemical Additives

Perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes are critical components in proton exchange membrane fuel cells, where performance depends on balancing ionic conductivity, mechanical durability, and chemical stability. This study characterizes a composite membrane (NC700) featuring PFSA-impregnated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) reinforcement and cerium-based radical scavengers, benchmarked against unreinforced NR211. Complementary techniques, including electron microscopy, X-ray scattering, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and dynamic mechanical analysis, identify the structural and compositional strategies employed in NC700. Water sorption isotherms reveal lower water uptake for NC700 across all conditions, attributed to reinforcement and cerium incorporation. Reinforcement reduces in-plane swelling from 11% to 2.1% at 90% RH, confirming strong swelling anisotropy, while maintaining mechanical properties at elevated temperatures. While the ionic conductivity of NC700 is approximately 10% lower than that of NR211, the reduced thickness yields a 40% decrease in calculated area-specific resistance, suggesting the composite architecture can favorably shift the conductivity-stability trade-off. The composite structure also reduces gas permeability, indicating potential for improved separator function alongside favorable transport properties. Systematic deconvolution of reinforcement and additive contributions shows that conductivity losses from cerium incorporation are largely offset by gains from the lower equivalent-weight polymer, providing quantitative relationships that may guide composite membrane design for fuel cells and other electrochemical applications.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Transverse Young's modulus of carbon/glass hybrid fiber composites

Hybrid fiber composites offer designers a means of tailoring the stress–strain behavior of lightweight materials used in high-performance structures. While the longitudinal stress–strain behavior of unidirectional hybrid fiber composites has been thoroughly evaluated experimentally and analytically, relatively little information is available on the transverse behavior. The objective of the current investigation is to present data on the transverse modulus of elasticity of unidirectional composites with five different ratios of carbon and glass fiber and to compare the data with predictive and fitted models. The transverse modulus increases monotonically with the proportion of glass fiber in the composite. Finite element analysis was used to evaluate different ways to model voids in the matrix and allowed the unknown transverse properties of the carbon fibers to be backed out using experimental data from the all-carbon composite. The finite element results show that the transverse modulus can be accurately modeled if voids are modeled explicitly in the matrix region and if modulus is calculated based on stress applied along the minimum interfiber distance path between adjacent fibers arranged in a rectangular array. The transverse modulus was under-predicted by the iso-stress model and was well predicted by a modified iso-stress model and a modified Halpin–Tsai model.

Materials Science↗

Enhanced lightning strike protection using vertically oriented carbon fiber melded with conventional carbon fiber-reinforced composite and its validation through damage analysis

Lightning strike protection (LSP) is one of the prime factors in aerospace and wind industries concerning safety, enhanced service life, and reduced downtime. To ensure better LSP, high electrical conductivity is required to dissipate the current, which is always a challenge for polymer composites due to the inherent insulating nature of the polymer matrix. Conventional carbon fiber-reinforced composites (CFRP) offer electrical conductivity in the planar direction while the vertical i.e. through-thickness conductivity still remains a challenge. Having been motivated by this fact, we have fabricated CFRP interleaved with vertically oriented CF (Z-fiber) for the lightning strike test (100 kA). A paint was applied to mimic the actual service condition of the composite laminates. We have prepared two Z-fiber composites: (a) Z-1 containing one Z-fiber layer on the top along with conventional CF layers and (b) Z-5 containing five interleaved Z-fiber layers and compared the properties with conventional CFRP (Z-0). Interestingly, even a single Z-fiber layer (Z-1) showed lower damage (visual damage diameter 22 mm) than Z-0 (visual damage diameter 26 mm). Z-5 displayed the lowest damage (visual damage diameter 16.7 mm), which was further confirmed by cross-sectional optical microscopy. Improved LSP was attributed to the higher through-thickness electrical conductivity in the case of Z-5 (9 times with respect to Z-0) reflecting a lower electrical anisotropy for Z-fiber composites. The residual mechanical property after the lightning test was analyzed through the flexural test, and the retention of flexural strength and modulus was 66% and 86%, respectively for Z-5 showing a significant improvement in comparison to Z-0 (>40% for both).

Saha, Subhabrata↗

Label-free single-vesicle based surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy: A robust approach for investigating the biomolecular composition of small extracellular vesicles

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are cell-released vesicles ranging from 30-150nm in size. They have garnered increasing attention because of their potential for both the diagnosis and treatment of disease. The diversity of sEVs derives from their biological composition and cargo content. Currently, the isolation of sEV subpopulations is primarily based on bio-physical and affinity-based approaches. Since a standardized definition for sEV subpopulations is yet to be fully established, it is important to further investigate the correlation between the biomolecular composition of sEVs and their physical properties. In this study, we employed a platform combining single-vesicle surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and machine learning to examine individual sEVs isolated by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). The biomolecular composition of each vesicle examined was reflected by its corresponding SERS spectral features (biomolecular “fingerprints”), with their roots in the composition of their collective Raman-active bonds. Origins of the SERS spectral features were validated through a comparative analysis between SERS and mass spectrometry (MS). SERS fingerprinting of individual vesicles was effective in overcoming the challenges posed by EV population averaging, allowing for the possibility of analyzing the variations in biomolecular composition between the vesicles of similar and/or different sizes. Using this approach, we uncovered that each of the size-based fractions of sEVs contained particles with predominantly similar SERS spectral features. Indeed, more than 84% of the vesicles residing within a particular group were clearly distinguishable from that of the other EV sub-populations, despite some spectral variations within each sub-population. Our results suggest the possibility that size-based EV fractionation methods produce samples where similarly eluted sEVs are correlated with their respective biochemical contents, as reflected by their SERS spectra. Our findings therefore highlight the possibility that the biogenesis and respective biological functionalities of the various sEV fractions may be inherently different.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Topography and canopy cover influence soil organic carbon composition and distribution across a forested hillslope in the discontinuous permafrost zone

This dataset contains data used for the paper "Topography and canopy cover influence soil organic carbon composition and distribution across a forested hillslope in the discontinuous permafrost zone". The Related References field will be updated with a full citation when available. Topography and canopy cover influence ground temperature in warming permafrost landscapes, yet soil temperature heterogeneity introduced by meso-topographic slope positions, microtopographic differences in vegetation cover, and the subsequent impact of contrasting temperature conditions to soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics are understudied. Buffering of permafrost-affected soils against warming air temperatures in boreal forests can reflect surface soil characteristics (e.g., thickness of organic material) as well as the degree and type of canopy cover (e.g., open cover vs closed cover). Both landscape and soil properties interact to determine meso- and micro-scale heterogeneity of ground warming. We sampled a hillslope catena transect in a discontinuous permafrost zone near Fairbanks, Alaska to test the small-scale (1 to 3 meter) impacts of slope position and cover type on soil organic matter composition. Mineral active layer samples were collected from backslope, low backslope, and footslope positions at depths spanning 19 to 60 cm. We examined soil mineralogical composition, soil moisture, total carbon and nitrogen content, and organic mat thickness in conjunction with an assessment of SOC composition using Fourier-transform ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS). Soils in the footslope position had a higher relative contribution of lignin-like compounds while backslope soils had more aliphatic and condensed aromatic compounds as determined by FT-ICR-MS. The effect of open versus closed tree canopy cover varied with slope position. On the backslope, we found higher oxidation of molecules under open cover compared with closed cover, indicating an effect of warmer soil temperature on decomposition. Little to no effect of canopy was observed for soils at the footslope position, which we attributed, in part, to the strong impact of soil moisture content in SOC dynamics in the water-gathering footslope position. The thin organic mat under open cover on the backslope position may have contributed to differences in soil temperature and thus SOC oxidation under open and closed canopy. Here, the thinner organic mat did not appear to buffer the underlying soil against warm season air temperatures and thus increased SOC decomposition as indicated by higher oxidation of SOC molecules and a lower contribution of simple molecules under open cover compared with the closed canopy sites. Our findings suggest that the role of canopy cover in SOC dynamics varies as a function of landscape position and soil properties, namely organic mat thickness and soil moisture. Condition-specific heterogeneity of SOC composition under open and closed canopy cover highlights the protective effect of canopy cover for soils on backslope positions. This dataset contains a compressed (.zip) archive of the data and R scripts used for this manuscript. The dataset includes files in .csv format, which can be accessed and processed using MS Excel or R. This archive can also be accessed on GitHub at https://github.com/Erin-Rooney/Y1_fairbanks (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8071247).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Data from Stewart et al. 2026 "Organic Colloid Composition in Variable-Redox Porewaters within a Mountainous Floodplain"

Redox gradients, often driven by changes in sediment moisture levels in porous, heterogeneous groundwater systems, create dynamic conditions that may promote the production and transport of colloids within natural waters. While much research has focused on the inorganic composition of colloids, the organic composition remains less well understood. Organic matter (OM) in colloids may associate with minerals, complex metal ions, and serve as an electron donor for microbial respiration; therefore, its composition is of high interest. We examined the composition of porewater OM along a redox gradient in a riparian soil located along the Slate River in Crested Butte, Colorado, USA as a function of depth (90, 130, 200, and 350 cm below ground surface). All depths were oxic to suboxic, except 200 cm, where the products of iron and sulfate reduction were observed concomitant with an increase in dissolved and/or colloidal OM, pH, alkalinity, and conductivity. We investigated the composition of porewater using correlated scanning transmission X-ray microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. We observed a change in the OM chemistry from carboxylate-rich at the 200 cm depth (where it was also enmeshed with non-crystalline iron) to phenol- and substituted-aromatic-rich at other depths. Radiocarbon dating revealed carbon in porewater at 200 cm was younger than depths above and below. Soil porewater can flow down into the underlaying gravel bed during baseflow conditions, thus we speculate whether riparian porewater could transport iron- and carboxylate-rich organic colloids into surrounding surface waters through the gravel bed conduit. This data package includes geochemical data (.csv) as a function of depth from porewaters in OBJ1. Measurements included are pH, conductivity, TOC, Fe concentration, sulfate concentration, dissolved oxygen. Additionally radiocarbon dating age of carbon in samples is provided. Additionally, this dataset contains metadata files (.csv) describing the methods, file contents, and column headers.

alpine floodplain↗

Highly Recyclable Thermosets for Lightweight Composites: CRADA 517 [Abstract only]

Lightweight composites are of increasing need to enable reduced fuel usage, reduced carbon emissions and increased range in air and ground transportation. The superior weight savings of carbon fiber thermoset composites are impeded by material and production costs and the limited options available for composite repair and recycle. The materials recovery and recycling sector is currently overwhelmed by an abundance of low-value materials and limited market opportunities for downcycled content, rendering landfilling a more attractive alternative. Vitrimers represent a new paradigm for repairable and recyclable thermosets, but this relatively new technology will require development, including government investment, to reduce risks for its adoption by aerospace and automotive OEMs. The overall goal of the project is to create recyclable carbon fiber composites using vitrimer resins that are more energy efficient to produce and have improved properties over baseline technology. The targeted composites will retain their tensile strength after multiple recycling and reprocessing steps. In addition, monomer will be recoverable through depolymerization and re-usable carbon fibers will be retrieved.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Compositional Methods for Schrödinger's Equation with Application to Optimal Control

The evolution of the state of a quantum computer is governed by Schrödinger's equation. We introduce compositional methods, a way to increase the order of symmetric methods by replacing one timestep by multiple timesteps. We perform several numerical experiments, including a simulation of a two qubit CNOT gate, using compositional variants of Störmer-Verlet and the implicit midpoint rule. We observe that the compositional methods demonstrate greater computational efficiency than the base methods when the desired error tolerance is less than ~ 10 -4 to 10 -5 . We discuss the trade-offs of using each compositional method, as well as differences between using Störmer-Verlet or the implicit midpoint rule as the base integrator of the compositional methods.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗