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DOE OSTI2020

(Oxy)hydroxides Formed on Aluminum Fuel Materials After Irradiation and Long-Term Wet Storage - 20354

The aluminum cladding of research-reactor fuel experiences general corrosion when in contact with water during in-reactor service and post-discharge wet storage, resulting in the formation of adherent aluminum (oxy)hydroxide films. These (oxy)hydroxides contain chemically-bound water that poses challenges for extended dry storage due to the risk of thermal or radiolytic decomposition releasing free water and/or hydrogen and oxygen gases. This study describes characterization of the (oxy)hydroxides present on several aluminum materials used in reactor operation and subsequently stored wet in the L-Basin storage facility at the Savannah River Site (SRS) for an extended period. Characterization data providing insight into the loading, composition, and morphology of (oxy)hydroxides to be expected on service-exposed aluminum cladding provides valuable benchmarks for designing adequate drying and dry-storage approaches. This work is part of a broader investigation to address knowledge gaps and technical data needs for dry storage of aluminum-clad spent nuclear fuel (ASNF), which included in-lab growth of (oxy)hydroxide films on aluminum alloy substrates to investigate formation behavior, investigation of drying methods to remove existing (oxy)hydroxides from ASNF cladding, and measurement of radiolytic yield of hydrogen from (oxy)hydroxide powders and films. In this study, (oxy)hydroxide films were characterized for three aluminum-alloy materials used in reactors and subsequently stored wet for up to approximately 40 years in L-Basin at SRS: one cropping from a Missouri University Research Reactor (MURR) fuel element (Al-6061 alloy), one cropping from a Universal Sleeve Housing (USH) (Al-6063 alloy), and one Mark-16B fuel assembly (either Al-6061 or Al- 6063). The USH and Mark-16B were used in SRS production reactors. Characterization of the as-received (oxy)hydroxides included scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in both plan-view and cross-section to characterize the (oxy)hydroxide layer's morphology, thickness, and structure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to identify the chemical composition and distinguish between the various aluminum (oxy)hydroxides known to form under reactor and storage conditions. XRD analysis revealed both bayerite (Al(OH)3) and boehmite (AlOOH) on the surface of the MURR and USH samples, as well as bayerite, boehmite, and gibbsite (another Al(OH)3 polymorph) on the surface of the Mark-16B sample. The aluminum trihydroxides, bayerite and gibbsite, are typically associated with corrosion in low-temperature (<80 deg. C) water, while boehmite is expected to form at higher water temperature (>80 deg. C). The presence of bayerite on the USH, which is believed to have operated close to 90 deg. C, suggests that boehmite formed during in-reactor exposure was not protective against further hydroxide growth in low-temperature wet storage. Cross-section scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed total (oxy)hydroxide layer thicknesses of ∼5- 10 μm for the MURR and ∼5-15 μm for the Mark-16B. The thickness of the USH's (oxy)hydroxide layer was indiscernible by the current mounting and imaging method, despite plan-view SEM and XRD confirming the presence of an (oxy)hydroxide layer. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2021

A combined theoretical and experimental study of the phase coexistence and morphotropic boundaries in ferroelectric-antiferroelectric-antiferrodistortive multiferroics

The physical nature of the ferroelectric (FE), ferrielectric (FEI) and antiferroelectric (AFE) phases, their coexistence and spatial distributions underpins the functionality of antiferrodistortive (AFD) multiferroics in the vicinity of morphotropic phase transitions. In this work, using Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire (LGD) phenomenology and a semi-microscopic four sublattice model (FSM), we explore the behavior of different AFE, FEI, and FE long-range orderings and their coexistence at the morphotropic phase boundaries in FE-AFE-AFD multiferroics. These theoretical predictions are compared with the experimental observations for dense Bi 1-y R y FeO 3 ceramics, where R is Sm or La atoms with the fraction 0 ≤ y ≤ 0.25, as confirmed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM). These complementary measurements were used to study the macroscopic and nanoscopic transformation of the crystal structure with doping. The comparison of the measured and calculated AFE/FE phase fractions demonstrate that the LGD-FSM approach well describes the experimental results obtained by XRD and PFM for Bi 1-y R y FeO 3 . Hence, this combined theoretical and experimental approach provides further insight into the origin of the morphotropic boundaries and coexisting FE and AFE states in model rare-earth doped multiferroics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2024

Improved cycle stability and high-rate capability of LiNbO 3 -coated Li 3 VO 4 as anode material for lithium-ion battery

Lithium vanadate (Li 3 VO 4 ) has garnered considerable attention as an alternative negative electrode material for non-aqueous lithium-ion batteries due to its high capacity, energy efficiency, and stable discharge voltage. Nonetheless, the Li 3 VO 4 material displays a low rate capability, attributed mainly to its poor intrinsic electronic conductivity. Here, in this study, we report the synthesis of lithium niobate LiNbO 3 -coated Li 3 VO 4 (LVO@LNO) using a one-pot sol-gel method. The resulting LVO@LNO demonstrates a high reversible capacity of approximately 530 mAh/g, which is more than double that of free Li 3 VO 4 . To explore the effect of the LNO coating process on the morphological and structural properties, Raman, XRD, operando XRD, XPS, SEM and HTEM analyses were conducted. To explain the enhancement of electronic conductivity in our modified material after a LiNbO 3 coating, we conducted an Ex-Situ electrochemical impedance (EIS) and Density Functional Theory (DFT) computational study. Additionally, we designed a full cell utilizing a 1 wt% LNO-coated LVO anode and NMC-811 cathode. The cell yielded an output voltage of approximately 2.8 V with a high initial specific capacity of 350 mAh/g versus to the anode, at 1C with a capacity retention of 85 % after 100 cycles.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2021

An investigation of the phase behaviors for quaternary U-Nb/Mo-Ti-Zr metallic fuel alloys

We report quaternary fuel alloys containing U, Nb/Mo, Ti, and Zr are proposed as fuel candidates for sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs). In this work, two Nb-bearing alloys, i.e., U-NT5Z (U-2.5Nb-2.5Ti-5.0Zr in wt%) and U-NT7Z (U-1.5Nb-1.5Ti-7.0Zr in wt%), and two Mo-bearing alloys, i.e., U-MT5Z (U-2.5Mo-2.5Ti-5.0Zr in wt%) and U-MT7Z (U-1.5Mo-1.5Ti-7.0Zr in wt%) were characterized and compared. The characterization techniques were differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). DSC was performed to obtain the transition behaviors, and XRD and SEM/EDS were applied for phase identification. The results were combined to obtain the solid-state phase transitions between 500 °C and 850 °C for the alloys. It is found that the Nb-bearing alloys comprise similar phase transition behaviors as the Mo-bearing alloys. The phase transitions in U-NT5Z are a →γ at 608 °C and U 2 Ti → γ at 627 °C, which are ~40 °C higher than that of U-MT5Z. The phase transition in U-NT7Z is a → γ at 645 °C, and is 23 °C higher than that of U-MT7Z.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Synthesis of magnesiowüstite nanocrystallites embedded in an amorphous silicate matrix via low energy multiple ion implantations

The synthesis process is presented for experimentally simulating modifications in cosmic dust grains using sequential ion implantations or irradiations followed by thermal annealing. Cosmic silicate dust analogues were prepared via implantation of 20–80 keV Fe - , Mg - , and O - ions into commercially available p-type silicon (100)wafers. The as-implanted analogues are amorphous with a Mg/(Fe+Mg) ratio of 0.5 tailored to match theoretical abundances in circumstellar dusts. Before the ion implantations were performed, Monte-Carlo-based ion-solid interaction codes were used to model the dynamic redistribution of the implanted atoms in the silicon substrate. 600 keV helium ion irradiation was performed on one of the samples before thermal annealing. Two samples were thermally annealed at a temperature appropriate for an M-class stellar wind, 1000 K, for 8.3 h in a vacuum chamber with a pressure of 1 x 10 -7 torr. The elemental depth profiles were extracted utilizing Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS) in the samples before and after thermal annealing. X-ray diffraction (XRD)analysis was employed for the identification of various phases in crystalline minerals in the annealed analogues. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis was utilized to identify specific crystal structures. RBS analysis shows redistribution of the implanted Fe, Mg, and O after thermal annealing due to incorporation into the crystal structures for each sample type. XRD patterns along with TEM analysis showed nanocrystalline Mg and Fe oxides with possible incorporation of additional silicate minerals.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Synthesis and characterization of electron beam irradiation-induced damage in polycrystalline metal thin films

High-energy physics research, industrial sterilizing, and material processing depend extensively on electron beam accelerators. Exit windows are crucial components of such electron accelerator systems, maintaining vacuum integrity inside the machine while providing mechanical strength, thermal stability, and radiation resistance at the beam-target interface. In this study, thin metallic films of Ni, Ti, Cr, and V were explored for use in electron beam exit windows, and their properties were compared with the properties of their bulk counterparts. Simulation results of metal foils predicted Ti to exhibit less beam power dissipation compared to Ni. However, Ni possesses superior mechanical and structural properties compared to Ti. The performance of these films under electron beam irradiation was examined by depositing thin layers of these films on silicon and metallic substrates using magnetron sputtering and exposing them to e-beam irradiation in a controlled setup. The deposited films were subjected to a dose of approximately 66 kGy at a beam energy of 10 MeV and characterized prior to and postexposure to the beam using field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD), and nanoindentation. Particular emphasis was given to characteristics like the grain structure, surface morphology, dislocation density, and hardness. XRD patterns revealed irradiation-induced changes in peak intensities, while the crystallinity remained largely unchanged. Nanoindentation results showed that the pristine and irradiated Ti and Ni films were twice as hard when compared to bulk Ti and Ni samples, regardless of the substrate type used (Si or bulk Ti, or Ni). These results emphasize the superior mechanical properties of thin metal films compared to their bulk counterparts. In conclusion, this study advances the optimization of thin film materials for robust and efficient e-beam applications, ensuring improved durability and operational reliability.

AFM↗

DOE OSTI2022

Synchrotron-based techniques for characterizing STCH water-splitting materials

Understanding the role of oxygen vacancy–induced atomic and electronic structural changes to complex metal oxides during water-splitting processes is paramount to advancing the field of solar thermochemical hydrogen production (STCH). The formulation and confirmation of a mechanism for these types of chemical reactions necessitate a multifaceted experimental approach, featuring advanced structural characterization methods. Synchrotron X-ray techniques are essential to the rapidly advancing field of STCH in part due to properties such as high brilliance, high coherence, and variable energy that provide sensitivity, resolution, and rapid data acquisition times required for the characterization of complex metal oxides during water-splitting cycles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is commonly used for determining the structures and phase purity of new materials synthesized by solid-state techniques and monitoring the structural integrity of oxides during water-splitting processes (e.g., oxygen vacancy–induced lattice expansion). X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is an element-specific technique and is sensitive to local atomic and electronic changes encountered around metal coordination centers during redox. While in operando measurements are desirable, the experimental conditions required for such measurements (high temperatures, controlled oxygen partial pressures, and H 2 O) practically necessitate in situ measurements that do not meet all operating conditions or ex situ measurements. Here, we highlight the application of synchrotron X-ray scattering and spectroscopic techniques using both in situ and ex situ measurements, emphasizing the advantages and limitations of each method as they relate to water-splitting processes. The best practices are discussed for preparing quenched states of reduction and performing synchrotron measurements, which focus on XRD and XAS at soft (e.g., oxygen K-edge, transition metal L-edges, and lanthanide M-edges) and hard (e.g., transition metal K-edges and lanthanide L-edges) X-ray energies. The X-ray absorption spectra of these complex oxides are a convolution of multiple contributions with accurate interpretation being contingent on computational methods. The state-of-the-art methods are discussed that enable peak positions and intensities to be related to material electronic and structural properties. Through careful experimental design, these studies can elucidate complex structure–property relationships as they pertain to nonstoichiometric water splitting. A survey of modern approaches for the evaluation of water-splitting materials at synchrotron sources under various experimental conditions is provided, and available software for data analysis is discussed.

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2021

New Insights into the High‐Performance Black Phosphorus Anode for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Abstract Black phosphorus (BP) is a promising anode material in lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) owing to its high electrical conductivity and capacity. However, the huge volume change of BP during cycling induces rapid capacity fading. In addition, the unclear electrochemical mechanism of BP hinders the development of rational designs and preparation of high‐performance BP‐based anodes. Here, a high‐performance nanostructured BP–graphite–carbon nanotubes composite (BP/G/CNTs) synthesized using ball‐milling method is reported. The BP/G/CNTs anode delivers a high initial capacity of 1375 mA h g −1 at 0.15 A g −1 and maintains 1031.7 mA h g −1 after 450 cycles. Excellent high‐rate performance is demonstrated with a capacity of 508.1 mA h g −1 after 3000 cycles at 2 A g −1 . Moreover, for the first time, direct evidence is provided experimentally to present the electrochemical mechanism of BP anodes with three‐step lithiation and delithiation using ex situ X‐ray diffraction (XRD), ex situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), ex situ X‐ray emission spectroscopy, operando XRD, and operando XAS, which reveal the formation of Li 3 P 7 , LiP, and Li 3 P. Furthermore, the study indicates an open‐circuit relaxation effect of the electrode with ex situ and operando XAS analyses.

Li, Minsi↗

DOE OSTI2022

Unveiling Charge Transport and Degradation Mechanisms of Aqueous Zn|α-MoO 3 Batteries in Conventional Concentration and Water-in-Salt Electrolytes: A Multi-Modal In Situ and Operando Study

Herein charge storage and transport properties are elucidated and cell degradation mechanisms of rechargeable aqueous Zn|alpha-MoO 3 batteries in three electrolyte systems (3 m ZnSO 4 , 3 m ZnCl 2 , and 30 m ZnCl 2 [12.5 m] water-in-salt (WIS)) are distinguished by a combination of in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), operando optoelectrochemistry, and operando energy dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDXRD). In conventional concentration 3 m electrolytes, in situ XRD and XAS, as well as ex situ scanning transmission electron microscopy data collectively support Zn 2+ as the primary charge carrier. In addition, these systems are susceptible to cathode dissolution, Zn corrosion coupled with the hydrogen evolution reaction, and the resultant formation of basic zinc salt phases. The multi-modal in situ and operando experimental analyses validate facile H+ intercalation and extraction in concentrated 30 m ZnCl 2 WIS electrolyte. Via operando EDXRD, reaction front and charge transport limitation during discharge and charge in the viscous WIS electrolyte are spatially tracked. Here this work provides new insight into the stability and degradation mechanisms of aqueous zinc batteries during static storage and upon dynamic cycling, and highlights the utility of in situ and operando techniques in understanding the superior stability of WIS electrolytes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2024

Vacancy Mediated Electrooxidation of 5‐Hydroxymethyl Furfuryl Using Defect Engineered Layered Double Hydroxide Electrocatalysts

Abstract Electrochemical biomass oxidation coupled with hydrogen evolution offers a promising route to generate value‐added chemicals and clean energy. The complex adsorption behavior of 5‐hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) and hydroxyl ions (OH − ) on the electrocatalyst surface during HMF electrooxidation reaction (HMFOR) necessitates an in‐depth understanding of active sites available for adsorption. Herein, oxygen vacancy (V O ) defects are introduced in NiFe layered double hydroxide (LDH) using Ce dopants to manipulate electronic structure. Synchrotron‐based HE‐XRD and XAS indicate negligible V O in La‐doped NiFe while Ce doping leads to V O defects due to flexible Ce redox (Ce 3+ ↔ Ce 4+ ). The V O ‐rich Ce‐NiFe exhibits higher Faradic efficiency of ≈90% to produce 2,5‐furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA), far greater than ≈60% for NiFe V O in Ce‐NiFe act as alternative active sites for OH − adsorption, hence reducing adsorption competition for the same metal sites. DFT calculation results corroborate experimental findings by showcasing that the presence of V O in Ce‐NiFe manipulates the adsorption energies and facilitates the chemical adsorption OH − in V O to improve HMFOR. In situ HE‐XRD derived pair distribution function coupled to RMC simulations confirm OH − trapping in V O and HMF adsorption on metal centers as evident by interlayer distance evolution. Taken together, this work showcases routes for dual‐site electrocatalyst design for improved biomass electrooxidation.

Chemistry↗

DOE OSTI2020

Quantification of High‐Temperature Transition Al 2 O 3 and Their Phase Transformations**

Abstract High‐temperature treatment of γ‐Al 2 O 3 can lead to a series of polymorphic transformations, including the formation of δ‐Al 2 O 3 and θ‐Al 2 O 3 . Quantification of the microstructure in the range where δ‐ and θ‐Al 2 O 3 are formed represents a formidable challenge, as both phases accommodate a high degree of structural disorder. In this work, we explore the use of an XRD recursive‐stacking formalism for the quantification of high‐temperature transition aluminas. We formulate the recursive‐stacking methodology for modelling of disorder in δ‐Al 2 O 3 and twinning in θ‐Al 2 O 3 and show that explicitly accounting for the disorder is necessary to reliably model the XRD patterns of high‐temperature transition alumina. We also use the recursive stacking approach to study phase transformation during high‐temperature (1050 °C) treatment. We show that the two different intergrowth modes of δ‐Al 2 O 3 have different transformation characteristics and that a significant portion of δ‐Al 2 O 3 is stabilized with θ‐Al 2 O 3 even after prolonged high‐temperature exposures.

Kovarik, Libor↗

DOE OSTI2023

Biopolymer‐assisted Synthesis of P‐doped TiO 2 Nanoparticles for High‐performance Lithium‐ion Batteries: A Comprehensive Study

Abstract TiO 2 material has gained significant attention for large‐scale energy storage due to its abundant, low‐cost, and environmentally friendly properties, as well as the availability of various nanostructures. Phosphorus doping has been established as an effective technique for improving electronic conductivity and managing the slow ionic diffusion kinetics of TiO 2 . In this study, non‐doped and phosphorus doped TiO 2 materials were synthesized using sodium alginate biopolymer as chelating agent. The prepared materials were evaluated as anode materials for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). The electrodes exhibit remarkable electrochemical performance, including a high reversible capacity of 235 mAh g −1 at 0.1 C and excellent first coulombic efficiency of 99 %. An integrated approach, combining operando XRD and ex‐situ XAS, comprehensively investigates the relationship between phosphorus doping, material structure, and electrochemical performance, reinforced by analytical tools and first principles calculations. Furthermore, a full cell was designed using 2 %P‐doped TiO 2 anode and LiFePO 4 cathode. The output voltage was about 1.6 V with high initial specific capacity of 148 mAh g −1 , high rate‐capability of 120 mAh g −1 at 1 C, and high‐capacity retention of 96 % after 1000 cycles at 1 C.

El Halya, Nabil↗

DOE OSTI2021

Promotion and Tuning of the Electrochemical Reduction of Hetero‐ and Homobimetallic Zinc Complexes**

Abstract Compounds containing multiple metals attract significant interest due to the useful redox and reactivity properties of such species. Here, the electrochemical properties of a family of macrocyclic complexes that feature a zinc(II) center paired with a secondary redox‐inactive metal cation in heterobimetallic (Na + , Ca 2+ , Nd 3+ , Y 3+ ) motifs or homobimetallic (Zn 2+ ) motifs have been investigated. The new complexes were prepared via a divergent strategy, isolated, and structurally characterized with single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. XRD results show that the structures of the complexes are modulated by the identity of the incorporated secondary metal ions. Cyclic voltammetry data reveal that ligand‐centered reduction is promoted in the bimetallic complexes and that the paired metal ions synergistically influence the redox properties of the complexes. Similar to prior work from our group and others, the bimetallic complexes containing stronger Lewis acids undergo more significant reduction potential shifts; contrasting with prior work on complexes containing redox‐active metals, however, the zinc(II) complexes studied here display faster electron transfer (as judged by lower reorganization energies, λ) when incorporating di‐ or tri‐valent Lewis acids in contrast to monovalent (and more weakly acidic) sodium. The quantified trends in these data offer insights that could help distinguish metal‐ versus ligand‐centered reduction of bimetallic complexes.

Kelsey, Shaun R.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Computational and Experimental Investigation of Chiral and Achiral Two‐Dimensional Organic Lead Bromide Perovskites: Octahedral Distortions and Electronic and Optical Properties

A computational investigation is presented, in conjunction with synthesis and experimental characterization, into the structural, electronic, and optical properties of layered two-dimensional organic lead bromide perovskites. Materials based on the chiral (R/S)-4-fluoro-α-methylbenzylammonium (R/S-FMBA), which have been shown to lead to bright room-temperature circularly polarized luminescence, are contrasted with the similar achiral 4-fluorobenzylammonium (FBA). Using density functional theory (DFT) with van der Waals (vdW) corrections, relaxed structures (compared with X-ray diffraction, XRD) and optical absorption spectra (compared with experiments) are studied, as well as band structure and orbital character of transitions. A Python code is developed and provided to calculate octahedral distortions and compare DFT and XRD results, finding that vdW corrections are important for accuracy and that DFT overestimates octahedral tilt angles. (FMBA) 2 PbBr 4 shows among the largest tilt angle differences (often termed Δ β ) reported, 14°–15°, indicating strong inversion symmetry-breaking, which enables its chiral emission. A large resulting Dresselhaus spin-splitting effect is found. The lowest-energy optical transitions involve the perovskite only and are polarized within the layer. This work furthers understanding of structure-property relations with applications to optoelectronics and spintronics.

UV/vis spectroscopy↗

DOE OSTI2024

Angle-Resolved Polarized Raman Study of Layered Cr 2 Se 3

The polarization-resolved Raman spectra of two-dimensional Cr 2 Se 3 synthesized via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and chemical vapor transport (CVT) techniques were investigated in detail. The samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). A distinct polarization dependence was observed in the Raman intensity of all the Cr-Cr, Cr-Se, and Se-Se modes in both samples. The observed angle-dependent Raman intensities of each peak could be related to the crystal structure-specific Raman tensor. XRD results of the bulk Cr 2 Se 3 sample synthesized via CVT confirm its trigonal crystal structure, and the Raman peaks can be fitted using the Raman tensors for the A g and E g modes for both the parallel and crossed polarizations. However, for the Cr 2 Se 3 samples directly grown on Si/SiO 2 substrates by CVD, it was necessary to assume the triclinic crystal structure in order to explain the polarized Raman dependence of all the peaks in both parallel and crossed polarization directions. Furthermore, this is the first experimental result suggesting the existence of triclinic Cr 2 Se 3 crystal structure, which has been theoretically predicted in the Materials Project database.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2021

Influence of Protection Layers on Thermal Stability of Nitride Thin Films

Nitrides are commonly studied for their properties relevant to numerous coating applications, and have been recently used to synthesize newly predicted materials in thin film form. However, thermodynamic stability of such nitride materials is difficult to experimentally evaluate, due to limited thermal budget of thin films. Here we show that thermal stability of nitride films can be extended using protection layers. Specifically, we find that zirconium nitride (ZrN) thin films are stable up to at least 1200°C annealing temperature in N2 atmosphere, if aluminum nitride (AlN) diffusion barriers and capping layers are used. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements show the expected thermodynamically stable rocksalt structure of ZrN, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirms compact microstructure of these ZrN films. Without such protection layers, transient bixbyite Zr2ON2 phase and high-temperature ZrSi2 phase are observed after annealing by XRD, SEM, and auger electron spectroscopy (AES), due to side reaction with native surface oxide (ZrOx) and substrate (Si) respectively. These results demonstrate that protection layers are beneficial to increase the thermal budget of nitride thin films, for evaluating thermodynamic stability of new nitride materials, for capturing transient metastable phases during crystallization, and for using functional nitride coatings in extreme environments.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2020

1D to 2D Transition in Tellurium Observed by 4D Electron Microscopy

A new microwave-enhanced synthesis method for the production of tellurium nanostructures is reported here—with control over products from the 1D regime (sub-5 nm diameter nanowires), to nanoribbons, to the 2D tellurene regime—along with a new methodology for local statistical quantification of the crystallographic parameters of these materials at the nanometer scale. Using a direct electron detector and image-corrected microscope, large and robust 4D scanning transmission electron microscopy datasets for accurate structural analysis are obtained. These datasets allow the adaptation of quantitative techniques originally developed for X-ray diffraction (XRD) refinement analyses to transmission electron microscopy, enabling the first demonstration of sub-picometer accuracy lattice parameter extraction while also obtaining both the size of the coherent crystallite domains and the nanostrain, which is observed to decrease as nanowires transition to tellurene. This new local analysis is commensurate with global powder XRD results, indicating the robustness of both the new synthesis approach and new structural analysis methodology for future scalable production of 2D tellurene and characterization of nanomaterials.

2D materials↗

DOE OSTI2023

Dynamic In‐Plane Heterogeneous and Inverted Response of Graphite to Fast Charging and Discharging Conditions in Lithium‐Ion Pouch Cells

Solutions for improving fast charging of lithium‐ion batteries have largely focused on alleviating through‐plane lithiation gradients while little is understood about in‐plane heterogeneities and how to resolve them. Herein, high‐speed synchrotron X‐ray diffraction (XRD) resolves graphite lithiation spatially and temporally during 6 C charging and 2 C discharging. At every point during operation, considerable differences in the state of lithiation across the pouch cell are present. Some regions are more responsive to operation than others, reaching full lithiation early during charge and full delithiation during discharge. Other regions within the cell never fully delithiate during discharge, despite a prolonged voltage hold at 2.8 V. Using time‐resolved XRD data, the calculated local current density (mA cm −2 ) at the graphite surface shows an unexpected occurrence of local inverted current densities where regions of graphite are observed to delithiate during charging and lithiate during discharging. A pseudo‐3D model is developed for the graphite electrode with spatially varying microstructural tortuosity to show how microstructural heterogeneity could influence spatial charge dynamics. The model could not predict the complex in‐plane charge behavior observed within the cell. Consequently physics‐based charging protocols based on homogeneous electrode assumptions may underestimate the local variations in charge dynamics and occurrence of lithium plating.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗