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Results for “layered materials”

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 127 records · Page 7

Interleaving device

An interleaving device for processing energy signals between various logic devices has a first number of spaced energy carrying layer mateials. Each of the first layer materials has a number of juxtaposed conduits passing energy signals through which are passed. Each of the conduits has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a diagonal of each of the first layers. A second group of energy carrying materials is arranged between adjacent ones of the spaced first layer materials. Each of the second layer materials has a number of juxtaposed conduits through which the energy signals are also passed. Each of the conduits in the second layer has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a diagonal of each of the second layer materials and substantially perpendicular to the axes of the conduits of the first layer materials.

Fischer, J. R.↗

Charge dissipative dielectric for cryogenic devices

A Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) is disclosed comprising a pair of resistively shunted Josephson junctions connected in parallel within a superconducting loop and biased by an external direct current (dc) source. The SQUID comprises a semiconductor substrate and at least one superconducting layer. The metal layer(s) are separated by or covered with a semiconductor material layer having the properties of a conductor at room temperature and the properties of an insulator at operating temperatures (generally less than 100 Kelvins). The properties of the semiconductor material layer greatly reduces the risk of electrostatic discharge that can damage the device during normal handling of the device at room temperature, while still providing the insulating properties desired to allow normal functioning of the device at its operating temperature. A method of manufacturing the SQUID device is also disclosed.

Cantor, Robin Harold↗

Low Thermal Conductivity in Heteroanionic Materials with Layers of Homoleptic Polyhedra

Although BiAgOSe, an analogue of a well-studied thermoelectric material BiCuOSe, is thermodynamically stable, its synthesis is complicated by the low driving force of formation from the stable binary and ternary intermediates. Here we have developed a “subtraction strategy” to suppress byproducts and produce pure phase BiAgOSe using hydrothermal methods. Electronic structure calculations and optical characterization show that BiAgOSe is an indirect bandgap semiconductor with a bandgap of 0.95 eV. The prepared sample exhibits lower lattice thermal conductivities (0.61 W·m –1 ·K –1 at room temperature and 0.35 W·m –1 ·K –1 at 650 K) than BiCuOSe. Further, lattice dynamical simulations and variable temperature diffraction measurements demonstrate that the low lattice thermal conductivity arises from both the low sound velocity and high phonon–phonon scattering rates in BiAgOSe. These in turn result primarily from the soft Ag–Se bonds in the edge-sharing AgSe 4 tetrahedra and large sublattice mismatch between the quasi-two-dimensional [Bi 2 O 2 ] 2+ and [Ag 2 Se 2 ] 2– layers. These results highlight the advantages of manipulating the chemistry of homoleptic polyhedra in heteroanionic compounds for electronic structure and phonon transport control.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Modeling of deformation of battery cells using thick shell element formulation

Here, we describe a new approach for modeling nonlinear deformation and stress distribution of battery cells using a new thick shell finite element formulation with a through-thickness calculation of stresses and strains that satisfy equilibrium conditions. Battery cells are transversely layered materials that contain numerous thin layers in a repeating sequence. The layers are made of materials with significantly different mechanical responses. Explicit discretization of the layers is computationally impractical except for very small domains, while homogenized material models cannot account for stress and strain variations and partition through the thickness. The new formulation allows for calculation of the transverse and interlayer stresses based on the material properties of the individual cell layers. The application to problems where the transverse stresses have strong influence is also possible.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Defect formation and microstructure tuning via proton irradiation to control electrochemical and phase reversibility in layered battery materials

The reversibility of phase transformation influences the functionality of electrode materials in batteries. In many battery materials, nanosized grains favor phase reversibility but at the cost of cyclability due to aggravated side reactions with the electrolyte. Here, in this study, we present a novel approach to enhance the phase transformation reversibility of layered oxide cathodes, exemplified by Na 2/3 Fe 1/2 Mn 1/2 O 2 through proton irradiation. In addition to forming defects, proton irradiation at sufficiently high doses can subdivide single grains into multiple nanodomains without physically rupturing them. Hence, the single grains of the material assume a pseudo-secondary particle nature without reducing the overall grain size. Preserving the grain size is advantageous, as it reduces side reactions, which is not possible with conventional grain size reduction methods. While chemical transformations and defect formation induced through proton irradiation can influence the stability of battery materials, it is expected that structural reorganization due to cycling-induced phase transformation will be contained within these nanodomains. Such confinement of phase transformation is potentially responsible for enhancing the reversibility of layered oxide materials in our study. Thus, our study suggests that grain subdivision could become an effective microstructure tuning strategy for managing electrochemical cycling-induced phase changes in battery electrodes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Unexpected structural/motional mode of water intercalated into an α-crystalline zirconium phosphate deduced by 31 P and 2 H solid-state MAS NMR spectra

Here, in developing the approach to understanding dynamics of intercalates in layered materials, crystalline-layered zirconium phosphate Zr (HPO 4 ) 2 ·0.35D2O has been prepared and characterized by the 1 H, 31 P, and 2 H solid-state MAS NMR spectra, including 31 P and 2 H T 1 measurements. At temperatures >253 K, the intercalated water shows two spectrally-distinguished deuterons unprecedentedly with different DQCC's and 2 H T 1 times, one of which is hydrogen bonded. The collected data allowed to identify an unexpected bonding/dynamic mode of water molecules, which experience fast rotation around the hydrogen bond, formed with a zirconium-coordinated oxygen. The low-temperature 2 H MAS NMR experiments have demonstrated the presence of additional hydrogen bond P—(H)O˙˙˙ DO, population of which grows on cooling to 195 K corresponding to the doubly hydrogen-bonded immobile water molecule.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

The local ordering of polar solvents around crystalline carbon nitride nanosheets in solution

The crystalline graphitic carbon nitride, poly-triazine imide (PTI) is highly unusual among layered materials since it is spontaneously soluble in aprotic, polar solvents including dimethylformamide (DMF). The PTI material consists of layers of carbon nitride intercalated with LiBr. When dissolved, the resulting solutions consist of dissolved, luminescent single to multilayer nanosheets of around 60–125 nm in diameter and Li+ and Br- ions originating from the intercalating salt. To understand this unique solubility, the structure of these solutions has been investigated by high-energy X-ray and neutron diffraction. Although the diffraction patterns are dominated by inter-solvent correlations there are clear differences between the X-ray diffraction data of the PTI solution and the solvent in the 4–6 Å -1 range, with real space differences persisting to at least 10 Å. Structural modelling using both neutron and X-ray datasets as a constraint reveal the formation of distinct, dense solvation shells surrounding the nanoparticles with a layer of Br - close to the PTI-solvent interface. This solvent ordering provides a configuration that is energetically favourable underpinning thermodynamically driven PTI dissolution.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Nanostructured layer for graded index freeform optics

The present disclosure relates to a method for creating an optical component having a spatially controlled refractive index. The method may involve applying a thin metal material layer to a substrate. The thin metal material layer may then be heated to create a mask having a spatially varying nano-particle distribution. The substrate may then be etched, using the mask, to imprint a spatially patterned nanostructure pattern on a surface the substrate.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Porous and Microporous Honeycomb Composites as Potential Boundary-Layer Bleed Materials

Results of an experimental investigation are presented in which the use of porous and microporous honeycomb composite materials is evaluated as an alternate to perforated solid plates for boundary-layer bleed in supersonic aircraft inlets. The terms "porous" and "microporous," respectively, refer to bleed orifice diameters roughly equal to and much less than the displacement thickness of the approach boundary-layer. A Baseline porous solid plate, two porous honeycomb, and three microporous honeycomb configurations are evaluated. The performance of the plates is characterized by the flow coefficient and relative change in boundary-layer profile parameters across the bleed region. The tests were conducted at Mach numbers of 1.27 and 1.98. The results show the porous honeycomb is not as efficient at removing mass compared to the baseline. The microporous plates were about equal to the baseline with one plate demonstrating a significantly higher efficiency. The microporous plates produced significantly fuller boundary-layer profiles downstream of the bleed region for a given mass flow removal rate than either the baseline or the porous honeycomb plates.

Davis, D. O.↗

Protective coatings for lithium metal electrodes

Double-layered protective coatings for lithium metal electrodes, as well as methods of formation relating thereto, are provided. The negative electrode assembly includes an electroactive material layer including lithium metal and a protective dual-layered coating. The protective dual-layered coating includes a polymeric layer disposed on a surface of the electroactive material layer and an inorganic layer disposed on an exposed surface of the polymeric layer. The polymeric layer has an elastic modulus of greater than or equal to about 0.01 GPa to less than or equal to about 410 GPa. The inorganic layer has an elastic modulus of greater than or equal to about 10 GPa to less than or equal to about 1000 GPa.

Xiao, Xingcheng↗

Tracking the Influence of Thermal Expansion and Oxygen Vacancies on the Thermal Stability of Ni-Rich Layered Cathode Materials

The ever-growing demand for high-energy lithium-ion batteries in portable electronics and electric vehicles has triggered intensive research efforts over the past decade. An efficient strategy to boost the energy and power density of lithium-ion batteries is to increase the Ni content in the cathode materials. However, a higher Ni content in the cathode materials gives rise to safety issues. Herein, thermal expansion and oxygen vacancies are proposed as new critical factors that affect the thermal stability of charged Ni-rich cathode materials based on a systematic synchrotron-based X-ray study of Li 0.33 Ni 0.5+x Co 0.2 Mn 0.3-x O 2 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2) cathode materials during a heating process. Charged cathode materials with higher Ni contents show larger thermal expansion, which accelerates transition metal migration to the Li layers. Oxygen vacancies are formed and accumulate mainly around Ni ions until the layered-to-spinel phase transition begins. The oxygen vacancies also facilitate transition metal migration to the Li layers. Thermal expansion and the presence of oxygen vacancies decrease the energy barrier for cation migration and facilitate the phase transitions in charged cathode materials during the heating process. These results provide valuable guidance for developing new cathode materials with improved safety characteristics.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Electromagnetic device having layered magnetic material components and methods for making same

A micro fabricated electromagnetic device and method for fabricating its component structures, the device having a layered magnetic core of a potentially unlimited number of alternating insulating and magnetic layers depending upon application, physical property and performance characteristic requirements for the device. Methods for fabricating the high performing device permit cost effective, high production rates of the device and its component structures without any degradation in device performance resulting from component layering.

Mehrotra, Vivek↗

Ferroelectric Schottky diodes of CuInP 2 S 6 nanosheet

Ferroelectricity in van der Waals (vdW) layered material has attracted a great deal of interest recently. CuInP 2 S 6 (CIPS), the only vdW layered material whose ferroelectricity in the bulk was demonstrated by direct polarization measurements, was shown to remain ferroelectric down to a thickness of a few nanometers. However, its ferroelectric properties have just started to be explored in the context of potential device applications. Here, we report here the preparation and measurements of metal-ferroelectric semiconductor-metal heterostructures using nanosheets of CIPS obtained by mechanical exfoliation. Four bias voltage and polarization dependent resistive states were observed in the current–voltage characteristics, which we attribute to the formation of ferroelectric Schottky diode, along with switching behavior.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Extreme In-Plane Thermal Conductivity Anisotropy in Titanium Trisulfide Caused by Heat-Carrying Optical Phonons

High in-plane anisotropies arise in layered materials with large structural difference along different in-plane directions. Here, we report an extreme case in layered TiS 3 , which features tightly bonded atomic chains along the b-axis direction, held together by weaker, interchain bonding along the a-axis direction. Experiments show thermal conductivity along the chain twice as high as between the chain, an in-plane anisotropy higher than any other layered materials measured to date. We found that in contrast to most other materials, optical phonons in TiS 3 conduct an unusually high portion of heat (up to 66% along the b-axis direction). The large dispersiveness of optical phonons along the chains, contrasted to many fewer dispersive optical phonons perpendicular to the chains, is the primary reason for the observed high anisotropy in thermal conductivity. The finding discovers materials with unusual thermal conduction mechanism, as well as provides new material platforms for potential heat-routing or heat-managing devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The Creation of True Two-Dimensional Silicon Carbide

This paper reports the successful synthesis of true two-dimensional silicon carbide using a top-down synthesis approach. Theoretical studies have predicted that 2D SiC has a stable planar structure and is a direct band gap semiconducting material. Experimentally, however, the growth of 2D SiC has challenged scientists for decades because bulk silicon carbide is not a van der Waals layered material. Adjacent atoms of SiC bond together via covalent sp3 hybridization, which is much stronger than van der Waals bonding in layered materials. Additionally, bulk SiC exists in more than 250 polytypes, further complicating the synthesis process, and making the selection of the SiC precursor polytype extremely important. This work demonstrates, for the first time, the successful isolation of 2D SiC from hexagonal SiC via a wet exfoliation method. Unlike many other 2D materials such as silicene that suffer from environmental instability, the created 2D SiC nanosheets are environmentally stable, and show no sign of degradation. 2D SiC also shows interesting Raman behavior, different from that of the bulk SiC. Our results suggest a strong correlation between the thickness of the nanosheets and the intensity of the longitudinal optical (LO) Raman mode. Furthermore, the created 2D SiC shows visible-light emission, indicating its potential applications for light-emitting devices and integrated microelectronics circuits. We anticipate that this work will cause disruptive impact across various technological fields, ranging from optoelectronics and spintronics to electronics and energy applications.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Rinse-Free, Sodium-Efficient Synthesis of O3-Type Layered Oxide Materials Enabled by Acetate Precursors

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are a sustainable alternative to lithium-ion systems for global electrification, with O3-type layered oxide cathodes offering high specific capacity and feasibility of scalable synthesis. Industrial co-precipitation synthesis of these cathodes typically uses transition metal sulfates, requiring extensive water rinsing to remove Na 2 SO 4 impurities, a process that consumes significant water and risks residual inactive phases if incomplete. Here, this work introduces a rinse-free, resource-efficient approach using metal acetate precursors. Residual sodium acetate in non-rinsed precursors decomposes during sintering to generate Na 2 CO 3 in situ, partially substituting an external sodium resource (e.g., NaOH and Na 2 CO 3 ) and reducing its consumption by ∼18–20%. Phase-pure O3-Na 1.0 Ni 1/3 Fe 1/3 Mn 1/3 O 2 (NFM111) cathodes synthesized via this method exhibit microstructure and electrochemical performance comparable to rinsed sulfate-derived counterparts, with initial capacities of 141 mAh g −1 at C/20 (7.5 mA g −1 ). By eliminating rinsing and minimizing sodium reagent use, this acetate-based route enhances sustainability and scalability of layered oxide production for SIBs.

acetate vs. sulfate↗

Advances in Clayff Molecular Simulation of Layered and Nanoporous Materials and Their Aqueous Interfaces

As a general-purpose force field for molecular simulations of layered materials and their fluid interfaces, Clayff continues to see broad usage in atomistic computational modeling for numerous geoscience and materials science applications due to its (1) success in predicting properties of bulk nanoporous materials and their interfaces, (2) transferability to a range of layered and nanoporous materials, and (3) simple functional form which facilitates incorporation into a variety of simulation codes. Here, we review applications of Clayff to model bulk phases and interfaces not included in the original parameter set and recent modifications for modeling surface terminations such as hydroxylated nanoparticle edges. Overall, we conclude with a discussion of expectations for future developments.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗