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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Structural heterogeneity in non-crystalline Te x Se1−x thin films

Rapid crystallization behavior of amorphous TexSe1−x thin films limits the use of these alloys as coatings and in optoelectronic devices. Understanding the short- and medium-range ordering of the amorphous structure and the fundamental physics governing the crystallization of the films is crucial. Although the lack of long range crystalline order restricts the characterization of the amorphous films, electron microscopy offers a way to extract information about the nanoscale ordering. In this paper, the local ordering of amorphous TexSe1−x thin films with x=0.22, 0.61, 0.70, 0.90, and 1 grown by thermal evaporation is investigated using radial distribution function (RDF) and fluctuation electron microscopy (FEM) analysis. RDF results show that the nearest-neighbor distances of selenium (Se) and tellurium (Te) in their crystalline structure are preserved, and their bond lengths increase with the addition of Te. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations predict structures with interatomic distances similar to those measured experimentally. Additionally, fluctuations in atomic coordination are analyzed. Medium range order (MRO) analysis obtained from FEM and DFT calculations suggests that there are at least two populations within the chain network structure, which are close to the Se–Se and Te–Te intrachain distances. For the binary alloy with x > 0.61, TexSe1−x, Te–Te like populations increase and Te fragments might form, suggesting that the glass forming ability decreases rapidly.

Sari, Bengisu (ORCID:0000000244217098)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Shock compression of crystalline TeO 2 to the high-pressure fluid regime: Insights from ab initio molecular dynamics simulations

The shock response of fully-dense and porous crystalline tellurium dioxide (TeO 2 ⁠) to the high-pressure and high-temperature fluid regime was investigated within the framework of density functional theory with Mermin’s generalization to finite temperatures. The principal and porous shock Hugoniot curves were predicted from canonical ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations, with the phase space sampled along isotherms up to 80 000 K, for densities ranging from ρ = 3 to 17 g/cm 3 . The polymorphs investigated are α-TeO 2 paratellurite (⁠P4 1 2 1 2), TeO 2 cotunnite (⁠Pnma⁠), and TeO 2 post-cotunnite (⁠P2 1 /m⁠). Based on the discontinuity found in the calculated U s – u p slope of TeO 2 post-cotunnite at a shock velocity of U s ≃ 8.35km/s and a particle velocity of u p ≃ 3.64 km/s, the shock melting temperature and pressure are predicted to be ≃ 6500 K and ≃ 170 GPa. Results from the AIMD simulations are in line with the static compression data of TeO 2 paratellurite and cotunnite, and with the recent shock Hugoniot data for single-crystal α- TeO 2 for pressures up to 85 GPa, obtained using the inclined-mirror method and the velocity interferometer system for any reflector combined with powder gun and two-stage light-gas gun.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Detection of Isotopes in Urban Source Search Low-Count Gamma Spectra Using Hopfield Neural Networks

Source search campaigns involve measurements of background gamma-ray spectra with a mobile detector-spectrometer traveling along arbitrarily chosen trajectories over a wide screening area. Radiation counts are typically measured with a tellurium-doped sodium iodide [NaI(Tl)] scintillator detector-spectrometer in short acquisition intervals, usually 1 s. The objective is to detect orphan isotopes with half-lives shorter than those of the isotopes in the natural background. In principle, radioisotopes can be identified by their unique gamma emission spectrum. However, detecting orphan isotopes in search data is challenging because low counts measured in short acquisition intervals result in incomplete spectral lines. In this study, we investigate the performance of a Hopfield neural network (HNN) that implements an auto-associative memory for the detection of isotopes of interest in an urban search campaign. The HNN is trained on one example of gamma spectra with well-resolved spectral lines of each isotope of interest. During testing, the auto-associative memory implementation of the HNN processes low-count gamma spectra with partially complete isotopic lines by matching incoming measurements to the closest one of its memory-stored patterns. The testing database consisted of almost 10 000 1-s gamma spectra, including measurements of orphan isotopes 137 Cs, 241 Am, and 131 I, obtained during two urban search surveys with a NaI(Tl) detector. The performance of the HNN detection algorithm was evaluated using precision, recall, and F1 scores, and benchmarked with a multiple linear regression (MLR) identification algorithm. In conclusion, the test results demonstrate that HNN outperforms MLR in the detection of all the isotopes of interest.

Auto associative memory↗
DOE OSTI2025

Realizing tunable Fermi level in SnTe by defect control

The tuning of the Fermi level in tin telluride, a topological crystalline insulator, is essential for accessing its unique surface states and optimizing its electronic properties for applications such as spintronics and quantum computing. In this study, we demonstrate that the Fermi level in tin telluride can be effectively modulated by controlling the tin concentration during chemical vapor deposition synthesis. By introducing tin-rich conditions, we observed a blue shift in the x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy core-level peaks of both tin and tellurium, indicating an upward shift in the Fermi level. Further, this shift is corroborated by a decrease in work function values measured via ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, confirming the suppression of Sn vacancies. Our findings provide a low-cost, scalable method to achieve tunable Fermi levels in tin telluride, offering a significant advancement in the development of materials with tailored electronic properties for next-generation technological applications.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2026

Characterization of lateral amorphous selenium photodetectors for low-photon and VUV detection at cryogenic temperatures

The performance of amorphous selenium (a-Se) as a cryogenic photodetector material is evaluated through a series of experiments using laterally structured devices operated in a custom optical test stand. These studies investigate the response of a-Se detectors to low-photon fluxes at high electric fields near avalanche conditions, the linearity of the photoconductive response over a wide dynamic range and the direct detection of narrowband 130 nm vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) illumination. At 87 K, matched-filter analysis shows reliable single-shot detection with efficiencies ≥80% and area under the curve (AUC) ≥ 0.85 using as few as ∼ 6800 incident 401 nm photons, corresponding to ∼ 3400 photons within field-active regions after accounting for geometric constraints. Measurements are performed at cryogenic temperatures using calibrated photon fluxes derived from a silicon photomultiplier reference and a characterized optical filter stack. Additional experiments using a tellurium-doped a-Se (a-SeTe) device explore the material's behavior under identical test conditions and demonstrate that avalanche is achievable in a-SeTe at cryogenic temperatures. The results demonstrate reproducible low-noise operation, VUV sensitivity and field-dependent gain behavior in a lateral a-Se architecture, representing the first reported observation of avalanche multiplication in laterally structured a-Se and a-SeTe devices at cryogenic temperatures. These findings support the potential integration of laterally structured a-Se devices into next-generation pixelated liquid-argon time projection chambers (TPCs) requiring scalable, high-field-compatible photon detection systems.

Amorphous selenium↗
DOE OSTI2023

Optical activity of solids from first principles

Within the framework of independent particle approximation, the optical activity tensor of solids is formulated as from different contributions: the magnetic dipole, electric quadrupole, and band dispersion terms. The first two terms have similar counterparts in the theory of finite systems, whereas the last term is unique for crystals. Further, the magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole transition moments are calculated with a sum-over-states formulation. We apply the formulation to calculate and analyze the optical rotation of elemental tellurium and the circular dichroism of the (6,4) carbon nanotube. Decomposed optical activity into different contributions is discussed. The calculated spectra agree well with experiments. As a showcase of achiral crystals, we calculate the optical activity of wurtzite GaN.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

Evolution of collectivity in 118 Xe

A recoil-distance Doppler shift experiment has been performed using the Pd 102 ( F 19 , p 2 n ) reaction at a beam energy of 73 MeV to measure the lifetime of excited states in Xe 118 . Additionally, the differential decay-curve method using γ γ coincidences and a gating procedure that allows to extract the lifetime without feeding assumptions has been employed. The lifetimes obtained for the yrast states up to spin-parity 8 + are compared with interacting boson model calculations and Xe 118 can be classified as a transitional nucleus between the spherical and a deformed shape. Systematics of the B ( E 2 ) values for the 2 + → 0 + and 4 + → 2 + transitions in the isotopic chains of tin, tellurium and xenon are presented. It is proposed that a “critical point” exists at which the B ( E 2 ; 4 + → 2 + ) / B ( E 2 ; 2 + → 0 + ) ratio drops to unity for lower neutron numbers within the isotopic chain. The position of the “critical point” varies with proton number, i.e., it is presumed to be located at the same mass number A = 114 in the Sn, Te, and Xe isotopes.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Search for neutrinoless β-plus-EC decay of 120 Te with CUORE

The Cryogenic Underground Observatory for Rare Events (CUORE) is a large-scale cryogenic experiment searching for neutrinoless double-beta decay (0νββ) in 130 Te. The CUORE detector is made of natural tellurium, providing the possibility of rare event searches on isotopes other than 130 Te. In this work we describe a search for neutrinoless positron-emitting electron capture (β + EC ) decay in 120 Te with a total TeO 2 exposure of 355.7 kg yr, corresponding to 0.2405 kg yr of 120 Te. Albeit 0νββ with two final-state electrons represents the most promising channel, the emission of a positron and two 511-keV γ 's make 0νβ + EC decay signature extremely clear. To fully exploit the potential offered by the detector modularity we include events with different topology and perform a simultaneous fit of five selected signal signatures. Using blinded data we extract a median exclusion sensitivity of 3.4 × 10 22 yr at 90% credibility interval (C.I.). After unblinding we find no evidence of 0νβ + EC signal and set a 90% C.I. Bayesian lower limit of 2.9 × 10 22 yr on 120 Te half-life. This result improves by an order of magnitude the existing limit from the combined analysis of CUORE-0 and Cuoricino.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Emergence of Topologically Nontrivial Spin-Polarized States in a Segmented Linear Chain

The synthesis of new materials with novel or useful properties is one of the most important drivers in the fields of condensed matter physics and materials science. Discoveries of this kind are especially significant when they point to promising future basic research and applications. Van der Waals bonded materials comprised of lower-dimensional building blocks have been shown to exhibit emergent properties when isolated in an atomically thin form. Here, we report the discovery of a transition metal chalcogenide in a heretofore unknown segmented linear chain form, where basic building blocks each consisting of two hafnium atoms and nine tellurium atoms (Hf 2 Te 9 ) are van der Waals bonded end-to-end. First-principle calculations based on density functional theory reveal striking crystal-symmetry-related features in the electronic structure of the segmented chain, including giant spin splitting and nontrivial topological phases of selected energy band states. In this work, atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy reveals single segmented Hf 2 Te 9 chains isolated within the hollow cores of carbon nanotubes, with a structure consistent with theoretical predictions. Van der Waals-bonded segmented linear chain transition metal chalcogenide materials could open up new opportunities in low-dimensional, gate-tunable, magnetic and topological crystalline systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Oxidative Segregation of Group V Dopants in CdTe Solar Cells

Transparent conductive oxides are used in many technologies and it is important to understand their interfacial chemical reactions. Here, we use recently developed thermomechanical cleaving and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to probe oxidation states at the SnO 2 interface of CdTe solar cells. We show that tin oxide promotes the formation of nanometer-scale oxides of tellurium and sulfur, largely during CdCl 2 /O 2 activation. Surprisingly, in copper-doped devices, relatively low temperature anneals (180-260 degrees C) to diffuse and activate copper acceptors also cause significant oxidation changes at the front interface, providing a heretofore missing aspect of how back contact processes can modify device transport, recombination, and performance. For Group V-doped devices, this same oxidation process causes segregation of the dopants to the SnO 2 interface in their oxidized states, implying that adjacent regions in the absorber have been depleted of dopants. Intriguingly, we demonstrate that because of their layered, van der Walls-bonded crystal structure, spatially segregated Group V oxides may represent a mechanically weak layer in a finished device.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

A composite electrodynamic mechanism to reconcile spatiotemporally resolved exciton transport in quantum dot superlattices

Quantum dot (QD) solids are promising optoelectronic materials; further advancing their device functionality requires understanding their energy transport mechanisms. The commonly invoked near-field Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) theory often underestimates the exciton hopping rate in QD solids, yet no consensus exists on the underlying cause. In response, we use time-resolved ultrafast stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy, an ultrafast transformation of STED to spatiotemporally resolve exciton diffusion in tellurium-doped cadmium selenide–core/cadmium sulfide–shell QD superlattices. We measure the concomitant time-resolved exciton energy decay due to excitons sampling a heterogeneous energetic landscape within the superlattice. The heterogeneity is quantified by single-particle emission spectroscopy. This powerful multimodal set of observables provides sufficient constraints on a kinetic Monte Carlo simulation of exciton transport to elucidate a composite transport mechanism that includes both near-field FRET and previously neglected far-field emission/reabsorption contributions. Uncovering this mechanism offers a much-needed unified framework in which to characterize transport in QD solids and additional principles for device design.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Signatures of a spin-active interface and a locally enhanced Zeeman field in a superconductor-chiral material heterostructure

A localized Zeeman field, intensified at heterostructure interfaces, could play a crucial role in a broad area including spintronics and unconventional superconductors. Conventionally, the generation of a local Zeeman field is achieved through magnetic exchange coupling with a magnetic material. However, magnetic elements often introduce defects, which could weaken or destroy superconductivity. Alternatively, the coupling between a superconductor with strong spin-orbit coupling and a nonmagnetic chiral material could serve as a promising approach to generate a spin-active interface. Here, we leverage an interface superconductor, namely, induced superconductivity in noble metal surface states, to probe the spin-active interface. Our results unveil an enhanced interface Zeeman field, which selectively closes the surface superconducting gap while preserving the bulk superconducting pairing. The chiral material, i.e., trigonal tellurium, also induces Andreev bound states (ABS) exhibiting spin polarization. The field dependence of ABS manifests a substantially enhanced interface Landég-factor (g eff ~ 12), thereby corroborating the enhanced interface Zeeman energy.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2025

Thickness-dependent polaron crossover in tellurene

Polarons, quasiparticles from electron-phonon coupling, are crucial for material properties including high-temperature superconductivity and colossal magnetoresistance. However, scarce studies have investigated polaron formation in low-dimensional materials with phonon polarity and electronic structure transitions. In this work, we studied polarons of tellurene, composed of chiral Te chains. The frequency and linewidth of the A 1 phonon, which becomes increasingly polar for thinner tellurene, change abruptly for thickness below 10 nanometers, where field-effect mobility drops rapidly. These phonon and transport signatures, combined with phonon polarity and band structure, suggest a crossover from large polarons in bulk tellurium to small polarons in few-layer tellurene. Effective field theory considering phonon renormalization in the small-polaron regime semiquantitatively reproduces the phonon hardening and broadening effects. This polaron crossover stems from the quasi–one-dimensional nature of tellurene, where modulation of interchain distance reduces dielectric screening and promotes electron-phonon coupling. Our work provides valuable insights into the influence of polarons on phononic, electronic, and structural properties in low-dimensional materials.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Covalent surface modifications and superconductivity of two-dimensional metal carbide MXenes

Versatile chemical transformations of surface functional groups in two-dimensional transition-metal carbides (MXenes) open up a previously unexplored design space for this broad class of functional materials. We introduce a general strategy to install and remove surface groups by performing substitution and elimination reactions in molten inorganic salts. Successful synthesis of MXenes with oxygen, imido, sulfur, chlorine, selenium, bromine, and tellurium surface terminations, as well as bare MXenes (no surface termination), was demonstrated. These MXenes show distinctive structural and electronic properties. For example, the surface groups control interatomic distances in the MXene lattice, and Ti n +1 C n ( n = 1, 2) MXenes terminated with telluride (Te 2− ) ligands show a giant (>18%) in-plane lattice expansion compared with the unstrained titanium carbide lattice. The surface groups also control superconductivity of niobium carbide MXenes.

Kamysbayev, Vladislav↗
DOE OSTI2020

Materials Data on K3NaTh2O6 by Materials Project

K3NaTh2O6 is High Pressure (4-7GPa) Tellurium-derived structured and crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/c space group. The structure is three-dimensional. there are two inequivalent K1+ sites. In the first K1+ site, K1+ is bonded to six O2- atoms to form distorted KO6 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent NaO6 octahedra, corners with four ThO6 octahedra, edges with two equivalent NaO6 octahedra, edges with four ThO6 octahedra, and edges with six equivalent KO6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 13–18°. There are two shorter (2.70 Å) and four longer (2.95 Å) K–O bond lengths. In the second K1+ site, K1+ is bonded to six O2- atoms to form distorted KO6 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent NaO6 octahedra, corners with four ThO6 octahedra, edges with two equivalent NaO6 octahedra, edges with four ThO6 octahedra, and edges with six KO6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 14–17°. There are a spread of K–O bond distances ranging from 2.76–2.97 Å. Na1+ is bonded to six O2- atoms to form NaO6 octahedra that share corners with six KO6 octahedra, edges with six KO6 octahedra, and edges with six ThO6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 17–18°. There are four shorter (2.64 Å) and two longer (2.65 Å) Na–O bond lengths. There are two inequivalent Th4+ sites. In the first Th4+ site, Th4+ is bonded to six O2- atoms to form ThO6 octahedra that share corners with six KO6 octahedra, edges with three equivalent NaO6 octahedra, edges with three equivalent ThO6 octahedra, and edges with six KO6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 13–14°. There are four shorter (2.35 Å) and two longer (2.36 Å) Th–O bond lengths. In the second Th4+ site, Th4+ is bonded to six O2- atoms to form ThO6 octahedra that share corners with six KO6 octahedra, edges with three equivalent NaO6 octahedra, edges with three equivalent ThO6 octahedra, and edges with six KO6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 13–14°. All Th–O bond lengths are 2.35 Å. There are three inequivalent O2- sites. In the first O2- site, O2- is bonded to three K1+, one Na1+, and two Th4+ atoms to form a mixture of distorted edge and corner-sharing OK3NaTh2 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 0–12°. In the second O2- site, O2- is bonded to three K1+, one Na1+, and two Th4+ atoms to form a mixture of distorted edge and corner-sharing OK3NaTh2 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 0–12°. In the third O2- site, O2- is bonded to three K1+, one Na1+, and two Th4+ atoms to form a mixture of distorted edge and corner-sharing OK3NaTh2 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 0–10°.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Materials Data on Na5OsO6 by Materials Project

Na5OsO6 is High Pressure (4-7GPa) Tellurium-derived structured and crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/m space group. The structure is three-dimensional. there are three inequivalent Na1+ sites. In the first Na1+ site, Na1+ is bonded to six O2- atoms to form distorted NaO6 octahedra that share corners with six NaO6 octahedra, edges with three equivalent OsO6 octahedra, and edges with nine NaO6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 18–22°. There are a spread of Na–O bond distances ranging from 2.35–2.41 Å. In the second Na1+ site, Na1+ is bonded to six O2- atoms to form NaO6 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent OsO6 octahedra, corners with four equivalent NaO6 octahedra, edges with two equivalent OsO6 octahedra, and edges with ten NaO6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 1–22°. There are a spread of Na–O bond distances ranging from 2.35–2.61 Å. In the third Na1+ site, Na1+ is bonded to six O2- atoms to form distorted NaO6 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent OsO6 octahedra, corners with four equivalent NaO6 octahedra, edges with two equivalent OsO6 octahedra, and edges with ten NaO6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 0–18°. There are four shorter (2.31 Å) and two longer (2.80 Å) Na–O bond lengths. Os7+ is bonded to six O2- atoms to form OsO6 octahedra that share corners with six NaO6 octahedra and edges with twelve NaO6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 0–1°. There is two shorter (1.90 Å) and four longer (1.94 Å) Os–O bond length. There are two inequivalent O2- sites. In the first O2- site, O2- is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to five Na1+ and one Os7+ atom. In the second O2- site, O2- is bonded to five Na1+ and one Os7+ atom to form a mixture of distorted corner and edge-sharing ONa5Os octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra tilt angles range from 0–17°.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Materials Data on HgCl2 by Materials Project

HgCl2 is High Pressure (4-7GPa) Tellurium structured and crystallizes in the orthorhombic Pnma space group. The structure is zero-dimensional and consists of four mercuric chloride molecules. Hg2+ is bonded in a distorted linear geometry to two Cl1- atoms. Both Hg–Cl bond lengths are 2.32 Å. There are two inequivalent Cl1- sites. In the first Cl1- site, Cl1- is bonded in a distorted single-bond geometry to one Hg2+ atom. In the second Cl1- site, Cl1- is bonded in a distorted single-bond geometry to one Hg2+ atom.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Materials Data on P4S7 by Materials Project

P4S7 is High Pressure (4-7GPa) Tellurium structured and crystallizes in the monoclinic P2_1/c space group. The structure is zero-dimensional and consists of four P4S7 clusters. there are four inequivalent P+3.50+ sites. In the first P+3.50+ site, P+3.50+ is bonded in a water-like geometry to two S2- atoms. Both P–S bond lengths are 2.12 Å. In the second P+3.50+ site, P+3.50+ is bonded in a water-like geometry to two S2- atoms. Both P–S bond lengths are 2.12 Å. In the third P+3.50+ site, P+3.50+ is bonded to four S2- atoms to form corner-sharing PS4 tetrahedra. There are a spread of P–S bond distances ranging from 1.93–2.14 Å. In the fourth P+3.50+ site, P+3.50+ is bonded to four S2- atoms to form corner-sharing PS4 tetrahedra. There are a spread of P–S bond distances ranging from 1.93–2.13 Å. There are seven inequivalent S2- sites. In the first S2- site, S2- is bonded in a water-like geometry to two P+3.50+ atoms. In the second S2- site, S2- is bonded in a water-like geometry to two P+3.50+ atoms. In the third S2- site, S2- is bonded in a water-like geometry to two P+3.50+ atoms. In the fourth S2- site, S2- is bonded in a water-like geometry to two P+3.50+ atoms. In the fifth S2- site, S2- is bonded in a single-bond geometry to one P+3.50+ atom. In the sixth S2- site, S2- is bonded in a single-bond geometry to one P+3.50+ atom. In the seventh S2- site, S2- is bonded in a water-like geometry to two P+3.50+ atoms.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗