Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “solution processable”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,261 records · Page 70

Marine Renewable Energy Applications for Restorative Ocean Farming: Kelp

Kelp farming and kelp forest restoration have both been proposed as a solution to locally decrease the impacts of ocean acidification and eutrophication, often with co-benefits to other forms of aquaculture and mariculture. Compared to global markets, the kelp industry in the United States is still in its early phases, with the first commercial kelp farm founded in Casco Bay, Maine in 2010. Since then, interest and effort in kelp production has been increasing, with farms now present in Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, Washington, and Alaska. Many research projects are underway in the United States to explore benefits of 3D ocean farming, tackle logistical problems of working in the ocean, autonomous farming, and explore viable end uses for kelp products. In seaweed farming, to remove the stored carbon or excess nutrients from the system, the biomass needs to be harvested at the optimal time to avoid the release of CO 2 that comes with decomposition. Timing of the harvest is also important for maximum crop yield, which can vary based on the final product. Additional monitoring needs can include a variety of water quality metrics, growth measurements, and visuals to ensure the health of the farm, comply with permits, support operations and maintenance functions. The variables measured may vary by desired end use of the product, location of farm, and operational design. Monitoring all of these parameters requires specialized devices that can be costly and challenging to maintain. Monitoring devices often face power and logistical constraints that could prevent kelp farmers from adopting these technologies or receiving accurate, efficient monitoring to assess ecosystem benefits and valuation. Marine energy has been identified as a possible power source for these devices. This project investigates the power needs for conducting kelp farm environmental monitoring compared with the available marine energy resource to evaluate if locally generated ocean energy could provide a solution to these monitoring challenges and benefit kelp farmers. This process was structured as follows: 1. Define what data is needed for farmers and their communities through desk research and interviews with end users. 2. Identify sensors and power requirements currently in use or available for commercial purchase. 3. Analyze current kelp and other mariculture farm locations for the potential marine energy resource. 4. Analyze farm designs and associated structures to make recommendations for marine energy design. 5. Quantify value that investment in sensors could provide in terms of carbon credit possibilities.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Bio-Based Phase Change Materials (PCMs) for Thermal Energy Storage (Final Scientific/Technical Report)

The goal of this project is to develop a novel bio-based phase change material (PCM) derived from squid ring teeth (SRT) proteins, and design a prototype heat exchanger based on these bio-based PCMs for energy storage and dynamic heat exchange for building thermal energy storage systems. The PCMs, derived from SRT proteins, will demonstrate room temperature energy storage capacities and switchable thermal conductivities that redefine the current state-of-the-art (SOA) for building thermal energy storage. Further, in a single material and with a single manufacturing processes, our proposed thermal battery will be developed with “on demand” thermal conductivity for rapid charging/discharging but superior insulation during energy storage periods. More specifically, our bio-based PCMs have demonstrated: 1) the potential for increased energy storage capacity (i.e., greater than paraffines at room temperature); 2) tunability in thermal conductivity with the largest thermal conductivity switching ratios for an intrinsic material reported to date, and 3) a 100% recyclable and biodegradable PCM with low volatility and toxicity and scalability in its manufacture for both residential and commercial applications. The already established ability for roll-to-roll processing of these non-toxic, non-flammable SRT composites along with their carbon-neutral manufacturing processes that has been pioneered by our team make this solution a disruptive and impactful technology to redefine the current SOA of energy storage technologies. The outcomes of this effort have been: 1) the identification of new bio-based PCM that establishes a new SOA for thermal conductivity and energy storage density at room temperature and 2) the development of a new experimental technique to measure the energy storage density via latent heat measurements during melting of thin films. This new technique can be applied to thin films (as thin as < 1 micrometer), and represents a novel approach for thin film energy storage density measurements. Dynamic thermal energy storage is the missing technology that will enable a grid- interactive efficient building (GEB). For a “smart” building capable of connecting with the power grid, the media must be inexpensive and possess thermal switching capabilities to control the time-dependent heat flow into (and out of) the PCM on demand. Unique to the material system in this program, programmable SRT-based PCM show improvements as compared to traditionally used PCMs, and thus its technical performance will represent a leap forward for the future GEB concept.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Macro-micro multiscale modeling to assist the design of HPDC Al castings microstructure and alloys for EV super-large body structures (Phase 1)

Implementation of High Pressure Die Casting (HPDC) Aluminum (Al) body structures for high volume electrified vehicles (EV) to improve electric efficiency remains a key strategy within many original equipment manufacturers (OEM)s. In addition to high strength for safety requirements, superior Self Piercing Riveting (SPR) performance is demanded for HPDC Al alloys to be compatible with high volume SPR joining. In this work, it is proposed to extend and validate an existing Contractor finite element multiscale macro-micro modeling approach to quantify the influence of the microstructure of HPDC alloys on the fracture strain/displacement under 3-point bend and clinch testing. The success of this work will allow to replace solution treatment stage with low energy consumption heat treatment (HT) processes, or to design new non heat treatable (NHT) HPDC Al alloys to eliminate HT requirements. Ultimately, this project will facilitate the application of HPDC Al alloys for super-large vehicle structures to significantly reduce vehicle weight and thus improving energy efficiency. The purpose of this project is to extend and validate an existing f

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Macro-micro multiscale modeling to assist the design of HPDC Al castings microstructure and alloys for EV super-large body structures (Phase 1)

Implementation of High Pressure Die Casting (HPDC) Aluminum (Al) body structures for high volume electrified vehicles (EV) to improve electric efficiency remains a key strategy within many original equipment manufacturer (OEM)s. In addition to high strength for safety requirements, superior Self-Piercing Riveting (SPR) performance is demanded for HPDC Al alloys to be compatible with high volume SPR joining. In this work, it is proposed to extend and validate an existing Contractor finite element multiscale macro-micro modeling approach to quantify the influence of the microstructure of HPDC alloys on the fracture strain/displacement under 3-point bend and clinch testing. The success of this work will allow to replace solution treatment stage with low energy consumption heat treatment (HT) processes, or to design new non heat treatable (NHT) HPDC Al alloys to eliminate HT requirements. Ultimately, this project will facilitate the application of HPDC Al alloys for super-large vehicle structures to significantly reduce vehicle weight, and thus improving energy efficiency. The purpose of this project is to extend and validate an existing finite element code, which is based on the Contractor developed macro-micro multi-scale modeling approach, to numerically simulate the three-point bending and clinch test and study the influences of material microstructural characteristics and phase properties on the rivetability. The macro-micro modeling approach begins with a sample scale model and identify the location, which is mostly prone to failure, the deformation history of the boundaries of that location calculated will be used to drive a microstructure-based sub-models where the material microstructure and microscale properties are considered. Using this approach, the wrap-bending failure for two Al alloys are correctly predicted for the first time. This will start with phase I effort of building a framework of macro-micro three point bending test and clinch test of Al10SiMgMn HPDC alloy in the as-cast and T7 heat treated conditions. Those results will then be validated with experimental test results. The phase II effort will involve the utilization of the knowledge learned in phase I to establish the quantitative correlation between the microstructure characteristics and the riveting performance, which will be further used to guide the optimization of HPDC Al alloy microstructure using heat treatment process to achieve sufficient rivetability to join large thin-wall HPDC alloys.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Energy Efficiency Analysis and Grid Service Results for Commercial Buildings using the VOLTRON IoT Platform

In fiscal year 2021 (FY21), the Commercial Buildings Integration Program (CBI) within the Building Technologies Office (BTO), funded PNNL to conduct a field evaluation of the AIRCx and ILC using an Internet-of-Things (IoT) platform, VOLTTRON. The primary goal of the project is to show that software solutions deployed and delivered through an IoT-platform can identify energy efficiency opportunities and manage peak load (beyond the traditional demand response) in commercial buildings. There are also two secondary goals: 1) show that the energy efficiency solutions will result in identification of significant savings opportunities (10% to 30%) as well as energy cost reductions (10% to 15%) by managing the peak load in commercial buildings, and 2) show that an IoT-based software solution is more cost-effective compared to a manual process in meeting the Re-tuning/retro commissioning (RCx) mandates and there is a pathway for broader adoption of this approach. This report provides AIRCx and ILC results for two building located in District of Columbia managed by the energy service provider Intellimation.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Corral Summit Pumped Storage Hydropower Hybrid: Site Suitability Assessment

In 2024, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) initiated a technical-assistance project to support Cat Creek Energy, LLC, (CCE) in evaluating site suitability for the proposed Corral Summit Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) project in south-central Idaho near Mackay Reservoir. The Corral Summit facility incorporates battery storage and photovoltaic (PV) solar arrays in a Trybrid configuration to deliver large-volume long-duration (LVLD) storage solutions for rural electric cooperatives in eastern Idaho. The evaluation process focused on determining the most-suitable location for the upper reservoir of the PSH system, guided by a comprehensive assessment framework spanning multiple categories, including physical characteristics, environmental constraints, building infrastructure, regulatory constraints, cultural resources and sensitivity, social factors, and power market and grid integration. Each site was analyzed based on a ranking scale (0–1), which scores ranging from “severely disfavored” to “highly favored,” allowing detailed comparisons of site-specific conditions. Categories such as hydraulic head, utilities corridor, land ownership, and transmission-grid limitations emerged as key contributors to the overall assessment. Site 2 (Idaho Trust) demonstrated a slight advantage over Site 1 (Bureau of Land Management) primarily due to favorable outcomes in regulatory constraints, building infrastructure, and power-market integration. However, Site 1 outperformed Site 2 in factors related to physical characteristics and social factors. The report emphasizes the need for further evaluation of both sites before clear determination of which site is preferred, due to the limited information available on either site at the time of this report. Key areas of evaluation to clearly define the preferred site are ecological impacts, cultural-resource surveys, and economic-feasibility assessments. For successful project execution, recommended follow-up actions include seismic and geotechnical surveys, groundwater and habitat monitoring, regulatory reviews of water rights and right-of-way agreements, cultural engagement with local tribal governments, and enhanced stakeholder strategies. These efforts will ensure the Corral Summit Trybrid facility meets local energy needs while balancing environmental, social, and regulatory responsibilities.

13 - HYDRO ENERGY↗

Corral Summit Pumped Storage Hydropower Hybrid Site Suitability Assessment (Rev.1)

In 2024, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) initiated a technical-assistance project to support Cat Creek Energy, LLC, (CCE) in evaluating site suitability for the proposed Corral Summit Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) project in south-central Idaho near Mackay Reservoir. The Corral Summit facility incorporates battery storage and photovoltaic (PV) solar arrays in a Trybrid configuration to deliver large-volume long-duration (LVLD) storage solutions for rural electric cooperatives in eastern Idaho. The evaluation process focused on determining the most-suitable location for the upper reservoir of the PSH system, guided by a comprehensive assessment framework spanning multiple categories, including physical characteristics, environmental constraints, building infrastructure, regulatory constraints, cultural resources and sensitivity, social factors, and power market and grid integration. Each site was analyzed based on a ranking scale (0–1), which scores ranging from “severely disfavored” to “highly favored,” allowing detailed comparisons of site-specific conditions. Categories such as hydraulic head, utilities corridor, land ownership, and transmission-grid limitations emerged as key contributors to the overall assessment. Site 2 (Idaho Trust) demonstrated a slight advantage over Site 1 (Bureau of Land Management) primarily due to favorable outcomes in regulatory constraints, building infrastructure, and power-market integration. However, Site 1 outperformed Site 2 in factors related to physical characteristics and social factors. The report emphasizes the need for further evaluation of both sites before clear determination of which site is preferred, due to the limited information available on either site at the time of this report. Key areas of evaluation to clearly define the preferred site are ecological impacts, cultural-resource surveys, and economic-feasibility assessments. For successful project execution, recommended follow-up actions include seismic and geotechnical surveys, groundwater and habitat monitoring, regulatory reviews of water rights and right-of-way agreements, cultural engagement with local tribal governments, and enhanced stakeholder strategies. These efforts will ensure the Corral Summit Trybrid facility meets local energy needs while balancing environmental, social, and regulatory responsibilities.

13 - HYDRO ENERGY↗

Strategic Petroleum Reserve Cavern Leaching Monitoring CY25

This report provides an analysis of the effects of raw water leaching at the U.S. SPR during calendar year 2025 using the Sandia Solution Mining Code (SANSMIC). The setup, running, and post-processing of leaching modeling has now been streamlined into a single Python notebook environment for each cavern run. A comprehensive investigation of nearest neighbor cavern distances is included.

Maurer, Hannah Grace [Sandia National Laboratories↗

An automated integrated web-based smart tool for open stope design

The Stability Graph is a widely used tool for the design of open stopes in underground mining. Many users of the Stability Graph still apply this design method manually. Although the manual approach has benefits, using multiple graphs and stability number computation charts for each stope surface is time-consuming, even for the experienced mining engineer. Current practice in the use of the method also limits data sharing. This paper presents a StopeSoft web-based tool for open stope stability prediction that is developed on the basis of the Stability Graph method and is available at openstope.com. StopeSoft incorporates flexibility in terms of Stability Graph options and incorporates additional critical factors often overlooked. As a web-based tool, StopeSoft encourages and makes data sharing possible globally, focused on expanding the database and improving the current limitations of the Stability Graph to provide practical, reliable solutions for mining engineers, consultants, and academics. The StopeSoft automated process facilitates the process of open stope stability prediction, saving time and minimizing potential human errors. Statistical treatment of the data accounts for the variability of input parameters to emphasize the probabilistic nature of the Stability Graph method. The probabilistic interpretation of the stability states of stope surfaces eliminates the false feeling of absolute stope performance based on its location on the Stability Graph , as implied by the deterministic approach.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Evaluation of H-Canyon Ventilation Exhaust Tunnel Inspection at the Savannah River Site - 20052

The Department of Energy (DOE) H-Canyon Facility at the Savannah River Site (SRS) is operated by Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS). The Facility Structural Integrity Program [1] provides a process to inspect, evaluate, and document the conditions of passive safety related structural systems and components, their degradation mechanisms and their impact on the safety envelope. The Structural Integrity Program performs periodic visual inspections to confirm the systems and components can perform their safety function and recommend corrective actions before the function is compromised. The H-Canyon Exhaust Tunnel is part of the H-Canyon Ventilation System and is periodically inspected under the Structural Integrity Program. The Tunnel performs a Safety Class passive design feature function that is available 100% of the time. The underground reinforced concrete Tunnel directs Canyon process air from the Canyon to the Sand Filter System. The radiological and chemical airborne activity coupled with the physical configuration of the tunnel precludes a manned entry into the tunnel to perform the inspection. Unlike active systems that can be subjected to physical testing to confirm capability, qualification calculations, including modeling, is performed to assess passive design feature capabilities relative to operational, accident and natural phenomena hazards events. Input for these calculations come from knowledge of field conditions, design drawings and conservative assumptions. The knowledge of field conditions comes from concrete and soil testing activities as well as inspection data. The use of cameras on crawlers to obtain inspection data and how that data is used in qualification calculations is the focus of this discussion. Remote Tunnel inspections have been performed using cameras on a stick, referred to as pole cameras, prior to Calendar Year 2003 (CY2003). Since CY2003, six camera equipped crawlers have been used. Crawlers have evolved and improved by incorporating lessons learned from the previous inspections. The latest 2019 crawler successfully traveled the entire length of the tunnel between the Canyon and Sand Filter System and captured images that were previously unseen, thus providing key visual data for the Structural Integrity Program report [2]. The inspection data serves as 1) input to qualification calculations, 2) validates current conditions remain bounded by qualification calculations, and 3) documents a record of change over time. This data is vital for the effective evaluation of the tunnel structure and aids with predicting the life cycle service life safety envelope to protect the public, environment, and facility worker. The goal of the 2019 deployment was to use a more robust vehicle to ensure travel over obstacles, perform the inspection with higher resolution cameras, and have the ability to elevate the cameras to view surfaces previously obscured by abandon-in-place ducts in the tunnel. The inspection information will serve to strengthen the input basis for qualification calculations, versus using excessive conservative calculation assumptions. This 2019 inspection was compared with previous crawler visual evidence to identify change over time to project remaining service life and confirm field conditions remain bounded by qualification calculations. The results of the 2019 Exhaust Tunnel inspection continue to improve and provide a firm basis to make sound engineering judgements regarding tunnel capability and approaches in projecting remaining service life with an aging system and component. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

The Computational Analysis of a Generic Hypersonic Store Separation

Many current hypersonic vehicles involve a main vehicle from which components separate during flight and presents simulation challenges such as shock-shock interactions, highly nonlinear interactions, and shock wave boundary layer interactions. These aerodynamic phenomena influence the attitude and trajectory of each object, which needs to be understood before large-scale experiments can be run. To gain a generic understanding of the process, high-fidelity Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes solutions are performed on a conical vehicle geometry passing through an oblique shock wave that is representative of different configurations and scenarios. Trajectory and applied forces are tracked and show the vehicle’s dynamics are predominantly the result of differential flow incidence angles causing a strong shock; this leads to a large pressure increase over a fraction of the vehicle, which influences pitch. The vehicle appears to follow conventional stability theory with detached eddy simulation and small disturbances in initial attitude shown to have minimal influence on the scenario.

Savery, Ryan↗

Advanced Interactive 3D Visualization Tool for Customizable Analyses of Tomography Datasets in Material Science

Current methods for visualizing and analyzing 3D tomography datasets in materials science often lack the interactivity and depth required for detailed structural insights. This limitation restricts a researchers' ability to accurately interpret complex data, which is critical for advancing material innovations and understanding structural properties. To address this issue, we have developed a novel, web-based interactive 3D visualization and analysis tool from the Trame framework that offers customizable features to enhance data interpretability. The tool allows users to adjust parameters such as visible range, slice planes, data rotation, and layering, providing a more detailed and dynamic view of complex structures. Its user-friendly web interface increases the accessibility and ease of use for both novice and experienced researchers, to visualize large volumetric datasets. The tool supports a diverse range of data formats, making it versatile for various research applications. Unique capabilities include real-time data manipulation, automated feature detection, context-sensitive feedback, and real-time volume calculations and distributions per sliced region or layer, alongside the ability to quickly generate high-quality screenshots and videos for presentations and reports. These advancements offer a comprehensive solution for enhanced 3D data exploration, significantly improving the analysis process and communication of results in materials science.

36 - MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A process to verify numerical models for seismic fluid-structure interaction in advanced reactor vessels

Seismic design and qualification of a liquid-filled advanced nuclear reactor will have to account for fluid-structure interaction (FSI). Interaction between the tank, internal components, and contained liquid will rely on analysis of numerical models that must be verified and validated. Here this study demonstrates a verification process for models of a base-supported cylindrical tank by comparing numerical predictions and analytical solutions. The numerical models are consistent with the assumptions made to derive analytical solutions, namely, either a rigid or a linear elastic tank, ideal fluid, and small-amplitude, unidirectional, horizontal inputs. One software platform is used to illustrate the process. Seismic FSI analysis is performed using the Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) and Incompressible Computational Fluid Dynamics (ICFD) solvers in LS-DYNA. Reported responses are those used for design, including hydrodynamic pressures on the tank wall, shear forces and moments at the tank base, and wave heights of the contained liquid. The accuracy of the numerical results is discussed. The numerical models are verified for calculating the pressures on the tank wall and reactions at its base. Accurate simulation of wave action is challenging for both solvers. Recommendations for modeling, code development, and steps for verification are provided. Although focused on reactor vessels and one software platform, the verification process described herein is broadly applicable to liquid-filled vessels and other finite element codes.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Tin sensitization and silver activation on indium tin oxide surfaces

Adhesion of electrical contacts on electronic and optoelectronic devices is important for reliable device operation. Sn-sensitization is a widely used process that improves uniformity and adhesion of plated metals to glass and polymer surfaces. Electrically conductive substrates can significantly benefit from improved uniformity, adhesion, and contact resistance to metallic contact layers. In this study, we investigate the process of Sn-sensitization and Ag-activation on indium tin oxide (ITO) surfaces—a dominant transparent conducting oxide used in optoelectronic devices. Here, our results show that ITO films exposed to Sn-sensitization solutions with HCl concentrations below 10 mM effectively modify the surface termination through the process of Sn-sensitization (Sn-bonding at the surface hydroxide sites) without etching the ITO film. However, the subsequent Ag-activation on an ITO surface does not seem to follow the typical response on a glass substrate, suggesting that Ag-activation of an ITO surface is likely limited by the Ag ion size relative to the area density of surface hydroxide sensitization sites.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Enhanced electro-osmosis in propylene carbonate salt solutions

Properties of solid–liquid interfaces and surface charge characteristics mediate ionic and molecular transport through porous systems, affecting many processes such as separations. Herein, we report experiments designed to probe the electrochemical properties of solid–liquid interfaces using a model system of a single polyethylene terephthalate (PET) pore in contact with aqueous and propylene carbonate solutions of LiClO 4 . First, the existence and polarity of surface charges were inferred from current–voltage curves recorded when a pore was placed in contact with a LiClO4 concentration gradient. Second, the electro-osmotic transport of uncharged polystyrene particles through the PET pore provided information on the polarity and the magnitude of the pore walls’ zeta potential. Our experiments show that the PET pores become effectively positively charged when in contact with LiClO 4 solutions in propylene carbonate, even though in aqueous LiClO 4 , the same pores are negatively charged. Additionally, the electro-osmotic velocity of the particles revealed a significantly higher magnitude of the positive zeta potential of the pores in propylene carbonate compared to the magnitude of the negative zeta potential in water. The presented methods of probing the properties of solid–liquid interfaces are expected to be applicable to a wide variety of solid and liquid systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Link Scheduling in Satellite Networks via Machine Learning Over Riemannian Manifolds

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites play a crucial role in enhancing global connectivity, serving a complementary solution to existing terrestrial systems. In wireless networks, scheduling is a vital process that allocates time-frequency resources to users for interference management. However, LEO satellite networks face significant challenges in scheduling their links towards ground users due to the satellites’ mobility and overlapping coverage. This paper addresses the dynamic link scheduling problem in LEO satellite networks by considering spatio-temporal correlations introduced by the satellites’ movements. The first step in the proposed solution involves modeling the network over Riemannian manifolds, thanks to their representation as symmetric positive definite matrices. We introduce two machine learning (ML)-based link scheduling techniques that model the dynamic evolution of satellite positions and link conditions over time and space. To accurately predict satellite link states, we present a recurrent neural network (RNN) over Riemannian manifolds, which captures spatio-temporal characteristics over time. Furthermore, we introduce a separate model, the convolutional neural network (CNN) over Riemannian manifolds, which captures geometric relationships between satellites and users by extracting spatial features from the network topology across all links. Simulation results demonstrate that both RNN and CNN over Riemannian manifolds deliver comparable performance to the fractional programming-based link scheduling (FPLinQ) benchmark. Remarkably, unlike other ML-based models that require extensive training data, both models only need 30 training samples to achieve over 99% of the sum rate while maintaining similar computational complexity relative to the benchmark.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Thermally Insulating Transparent Barrier (THINNER) coatings on single pane windows

Conventional silica aerogel monoliths can provide remarkable thermal insulation but the presence of large pores (> 30 nm) tends to scatter visible light and render the material opaque or translucent instead of transparent. In addition, they are prone to cracking during synthesis and handling which makes them difficult to integrate in products and in particular in window solutions. This project developed two new solgel synthesis methods using silica precursors or preformed silica nanoparticles and ambient drying to produce mesoporous organo-silica monoliths. The monoliths were (i) thermally insulating, (ii) optically transparent, (iii) flexible, and (iv) hydrophobic. They feature porosity ranging from 50% to 90% with narrow pore size distribution with pore less than 20 nm resulting in excellent optical clarity (haze < 2%) and very low thermal conductivity (< 30 mW/mK). Interestingly, not only porosity but also pore size and mass fractal dimension were found to affect the thermal conductivity of the mesoporous silica. The superior transparency of the monoliths was shown to be attributed to dependent scattering among silica nanoparticles. Flexibility was achieved through trimethylchlorosilane surface modification. Furthermore, process scale-up and integration of the ambigel monoliths into window solutions using optically clear adhesives were also demonstrated in 6”x6” double-pane windows. The aerogel and the window solution were shown to be durable to accelerated aging under UV, moisture, and/or temperature gradient and thermal cycling. Overall, the window solution achieved the technical performance and the cost target of $10/sqft set for the SHIELD program. However, scaling to industry relevant scale (> 10’x10’) remains a challenge due to requirements on the drying process and fume hood size and to the propensity of large aerogel slab to crack during drying.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Effect of fabrication processes on BaTiO 3 capacitor properties

There is an increasing desire to utilize complex functional electronic materials such as ferroelectrics in next-generation microelectronics. As new materials are considered or introduced in this capacity, an understanding of how we can process these materials into those devices must be developed. Here, the effect of different fabrication processes on the ferroelectric and related properties of prototypical metal oxide (SrRuO 3 )/ferroelectric (BaTiO 3 )/metal oxide (SrRuO 3 ) heterostructures is explored. Two different types of etching processes are studied, namely, wet etching of the top SrRuO 3 using a NaIO 4 solution and dry etching using an Ar + -ion beam (i.e., ion milling). Polarization-electric-field hysteresis loops for capacitors produced using both methods are compared. For the ion-milling process, it is found that the Ar + beam can introduce defects into the SrRuO 3 /BaTiO 3 /SrRuO 3 devices and that the milling depth strongly influences the defect level and can induce a voltage imprint on the function. Realizing that such processing approaches may be necessary, work is performed to ameliorate the imprint of the hysteresis loops via ex situ “healing” of the process-induced defects by annealing the ferroelectric material in a barium-and-oxygen-rich environment via a chemical-vapor-deposition-style process. This work provides a pathway for the nanoscale fabrication of these candidate materials for next-generation memory and logic applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗