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Theoretical Investigation of the Mechanical and Thermodynamic Properties of the Layered Yttrium Diborocarbides

The mechanical, electronic, and thermodynamic properties of typical layered structure yttrium diborocarbides (YB{sub 2}C{sub 2}) were investigated by the density functional theory. The calculated lattice constants were slightly higher than the available experimental data. The elastic constants revealed that YB{sub 2}C{sub 2} was mechanically stable. The bulk modulus (190.8 GPa), shear modulus (127.4 GPa), Young’s modulus (312.7 GPa), Poisson’s ratio (0.227), and Vickers hardness (18–19 GPa) were obtained, and the ductility, plasticity, and elastic anisotropy were further analyzed. The total and partial density of states were also calculated, indicating that the metallic character was mainly attributed to the contribution from Y-4d states and weakly hybridized with the 2p states from the B and C atoms. Finally, we obtained the Debye, melting, and the superconducting transition temperatures of YB{sub 2}C{sub 2} as 824, 2239 and 2.38 K, respectively. Our study showed that YB{sub 2}C{sub 2} offers potential in superconductivity or ultrahigh temperature applications.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

First-Principles Investigation of Ferromagnetic, Thermodynamic, Elastic, and Half-Metallic Behavior of ReCrTe and RuCrTe Half-Heusler Alloys

Calculations are realized within the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) computational approach with the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) for the exchange-correlation potential. In this work, we present investigation of structural, electronic, ferromagnetic, elastic, and thermodynamic properties and half-metallic behavior of ReCrTe and RuCrTe compounds. Analysis of band structures and densities of states show the half-metallic ferromagnetic behavior of these compounds. The values of total magnetic moments µ{sub tot} are 1 µ{sub B} per unit cell for ReCrTe and 3 µ{sub B} per unit cell for RuCrTe. The contribution of Cr is the most important. The calculated values of a total magnetic moment nicely follow the rule µ{sub tot} = Z{sub t}− 18. The study of the impacts of strains on the magnetic moment reveals that the two compounds are stable ferromagnetic compounds. RuCrTe compound preserves the half-metallic behavior when the unit cell volume is changed in the range of [ − 4%, 4%], whereas, weak strain destroys the half metallic nature for ReCrTe compound. Using the quasi-harmonic Debye model, the effects of pressure P and temperature T on thermal expansion coefficient, Debye temperature, heat capacity and Grüneisen parameter for these two compounds are investigated for the first time. The study of the elastic constants shows that ReCrTe and RuCrTe are mechanically stable. RuCrTe is stiffer than ReCrTe compounds. The obtained values of Pugh’s ratio B/G and Cauchy pressure (C{sub 12} − C{sub 44}) reveal that ReCrTe and RuCrTe are brittle. The study of the electron charge density and Poisson’s ratio proves that the ionic character dominates the atomic bonding for the two compounds.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

A Thermodynamic Model for Nd(III)–Sulfate Interaction at High Ionic Strengths and Elevated Temperatures: Applications to Rare Earth Element Extraction

Neodymium (Nd), a rare earth element (REE), is critical to numerous industries. Neodymium can be extracted from ore concentrates, waste materials, or recycled materials such as recycled Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets. In a standard process, concentrated sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ) is used as an extraction/leaching agent. Therefore, knowledge of Nd(III)–sulfate interaction at high ionic strengths is important for optimization of the extraction process. In addition, sulfate is also a major species in natural surface waters and present in nuclear waste streams. Nd(III) has been used a chemical analog to trivalent actinides in nuclear waste research and development. Consequently, knowledge of Nd(III)-sulfate interactions is also impactful to the field of nuclear waste management. Here, in this study, we have developed a thermodynamic model that can describe the interaction of Nd(III) with sulfate to ionic strengths up to ~ 16.5 mol·kg –1 and to temperatures up to 100 °C. The model adopts the Pitzer formulation to describe activity coefficients of aqueous species. This model can be used to design and optimize a chemical process for REE recovery from ore concentrates, recycled materials, and acid mine drainage (AMD) and to understand the mobility of REEs and actinides in the environment.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Thermodynamic characteristics of praseodymium in the gallium–aluminum eutectic melt

The Ga–Al eutectic melt saturated with praseodymium was studied in the temperature range 572–1076 K by electromotive force (emf) method relative to the reference electrode (In{sub L} + PrIn{sub 3}, where L is the liquid phase) in a LiCl–KCl–CsCl eutectic electrolyte. The partial molar thermodynamic functions (enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs energy) of praseo dymium in a Ga–Al eutectic melt were calculated. According to the emf measurements of the two-phase Pr–Ga–Al{sub L} + intermetallic compound alloys equilibrated with the Ga–Al eutectic melt saturated with praseodymium, there are intermetallic compounds PrGa{sub 6}, PrGa{sub 4}, and Pr{sub 0.22}Ga{sub 0.78}(PrGa{sub 2}) in the temperature ranges 572–741, 741–883, and 883–1076 K, respectively.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Thermodynamic Assessment of the Ag-Se System Aided by First-Principles Calculations

The substitution of Ag for Cu in CuIn x Ga 1-x Se 2 -based photovoltaic absorber layers can be used to adjust the bandgap energy to better optimize the overall cell efficiency. Based on available thermochemical, equilibrium, and structural data, the Ag-Se system has been assessed and modeled. Given the order-disorder structure transition Ag 2 Se, the 2- and 3-sublattice models were used to represent the low- and high-temperature phases of the intermetallic compound respectively. Density functional theory based first-principles calculations were used to calculate the Gibbs energy of formation of the end-member compounds. A set of modeling parameters was obtained by the CALculation of PHAse Diagram approach and reasonable agreement was obtained between the experimental thermodynamic properties of the stable phases and the phase relationships in the Ag-Se system.

Chemistry↗

Defect Thermodynamics and Transport Properties of Proton Conducting Oxide BaZr 1–x Y x O 3–δ (x ≤ 0.1) Guided by Density Functional Theory Modeling

Density functional theory-based thermodynamic modeling was performed to determine the effect of humidity and H 2 /O 2 gas pressure on the defect chemistry and transport properties of proton conducting oxide BaZr 1-x Y x O 3-δ (x ≤ 0.1) in the temperature range of 800–1200K, relevant for solid oxide fuel/electrolysis cell applications. The first-principles charge defect analysis was carried out to obtain the defect energetic ensembles as a function of Fermi level as well as the dependence of the hydration and oxidation reaction energies on complex defect-dopant configurations. It is shown that oxygen vacancies introduced to compensate for the extra Ba vacancies may cause a slight increase in the concentration of hydroxyl and proton species upon hydration of Ba deficient BaZr 1-x Y x O 3-δ , while the overall proton diffusivity is predicted to decrease with increased proton hopping barriers upon trapping near the Ba vacancies. The developed defect model is further demonstrated to be able to describe the bulk defect chemistry and transport properties of BaZr 0.9 Y 0.1 O 3-δ under the solid oxide cell operating conditions. Finally, the theoretical framework developed in this work further allows the inclusion of configurational, energetic and electronic characteristics of the defects that can be used as a complementary tool to experimental measurements for testing various mechanistic pathways or to provide essential mechanistic data.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Thermodynamics of radiation induced amorphization and thermal annealing of Dy 2 Sn 2 O 7 pyrochlore

Thermodynamics and annealing behavior of swift heavy ion amorphized Dy 2 Sn 2 O 7 pyrochlore were studied. Its amorphization enthalpy, defined as the total energetic difference between the irradiation amorphized and undamaged Dy 2 Sn 2 O 7 states, was determined to be 283.6 ± 6.5 kJ/mol by high temperature oxide melt drop solution calorimetry. It has been an enigma that stannate and some other pyrochlores do not follow the general r A /r B -radiation resistance relation seen in most pyrochlore systems. In this paper, we use the amorphization enthalpy, which reflects all the complex chemical and structural characteristics, as a more effective parameter to correlate the radiation damage resistance of pyrochlores with their compositions. It successfully explains the superior radiation damage resistance of the stannate pyrochlores compared with titanate pyrochlores. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) reveals a strong exothermic event starting at 978 K, which is attributed to long-range recrystallization based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, similar to the effect previously observed in Dy 2 Ti 2 O 7 . A second pronounced heat event beginning at ~1148 K, which results from local structural rearrangement, is clearly decoupled from the first event for irradiated Dy 2 Sn 2 O 7 . Both the heat releases measured by DSC on heating to 1023 and 1473 K, and the excess enthalpies of the annealed samples indicate that the recovery to the original, ordered state was not fully achieved up to even 1473 K, despite XRD showing the apparent restoration of crystalline pyrochlore structure. The remaining metastability may be attributed to local disorder in the form of weberite-like short-range domains in the recrystallized material. Intriguingly, the second event for different pyrochlores generally starts at similar temperatures while the onset of the long range recrystallization is compositionally dependent. Finally, the amorphization and thermal annealing behavior observed in irradiated Dy 2 Sn 2 O 7 may provide insights into the general mechanisms of radiation damage and recovery of pyrochlores relevant to their nuclear applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Thermodynamic and structural evolution of mechanically milled and swift heavy ion irradiated Er 2 Ti 2 O 7 pyrochlore

Design and synthesis of thermodynamically metastable yet kinetically achievable materials possessing various desired functional and physical properties have recently drawn tremendous scientific-attention. In addition to conventional heat treatments and wet chemistry approaches, energy deposition into materials can induce unique nonequilibrium phases with distinct structures, chemistry, energetics, and properties. Mechanochemical synthesis and ion beam irradiation are two processing techniques that provide access to phases and states far from equilibrium. By a combination of high temperature oxide melt solution calorimetry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), neutron pair distribution function (PDF) analysis, and supplementary powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), the energetics and multiscale structural evolution on annealing of ball milled and swift heavy ion irradiated Er 2 Ti 2 O 7 pyrochlore were investigated. Despite very similar structural modifications of local atomic arrangements and only minor differences in the long range structure, both types of damage yield significant difference in the energetics of the produced material. Here, the energy of destabilization in the milled sample (70.2 ± 8.2 kJ/mol) is much less endothermic than that in the irradiated sample (457.3 ± 8.0 kJ/mol). The DSC profiles, supported by neutron scattering, X-ray diffraction, and solution calorimetry, reveal decoupled annealing events in different temperature ranges, separating crystallization of long range pyrochlore structure from annealing of short range weberite-like domains.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Thermodynamic model of a thermal storage air conditioning system with dynamic behavior

A thermodynamic model was developed to predict transient behavior of a thermal storage system, using phase change materials (PCMs), for a novel electric vehicle climate conditioning application. The main objectives of the paper are to consider the system's dynamic behavior, such as a dynamic air flow rate into the vehicle's cabin, and to characterize the transient heat transfer process between the thermal storage unit and the vehicle's cabin, while still maintaining accurate solution to the complex phase change heat transfer. The system studied consists of a heat transfer fluid circulating between either of the on-board hot and cold thermal storage units, which we refer to as thermal batteries, and a liquid-air heat exchanger that provides heat exchange with the incoming air to the vehicle cabin. Each thermal battery is a shell-and-tube configuration where a heat transfer fluid flows through parallel tubes, which are surrounded by PCM within a larger shell. The system model incorporates computationally inexpensive semianalytic solution to the conjugated laminar forced convection and phase change problem within the battery and accounts for airside heat exchange using the Number of Transfer Units (NTUs) method for the liquid-air heat exchanger. Using this approach, we are able to obtain an accurate solution to the complex heat transfer problem within the battery while also incorporating the impact of the airside heat transfer on the overall system performance. The implemented model was benchmarked against a numerical study for a melting process and against full system experimental data for solidification using paraffin wax as the PCM. Through modeling, we demonstrate the importance of capturing the airside heat exchange impact on system performance, and we investigate system response to dynamic operating conditions, e.g., air recirculation. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fleming, E↗

CO 2 utilization potential of a novel calcium ferrite based looping process fueled with coal: Experimental evaluation of various coal feedstocks and thermodynamic integrated process analysis

Here, conversion of CO 2 to CO was performed at 800-850C via reduction of calcium ferrite (CaFe 2 O 4 ) with coal followed by oxidation of reduced CaFe 2 O 4 with CO 2 to produce CO and partially oxidized Ca ferrite. The process was evaluated with several types of coals which included lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous, anthracite and pet-coke. Reduction of CaFe 2 O 4 with sub-bituminous coal and lignite coal was more favorable than that with higher rank coals. Stable reactivity performance was demonstrated for 35-cycle test conducted with lignite coal/CaFe 2 O 4 at 800°C and with high conversion of CO 2 to CO. The rate of conversion of CO 2 to CO with reduced CaFe 2 O 4 was found to be 1st order with respect to CO 2 and had a low activation energy of 7.4 kJ/mol. Thermodynamic integrated process assessments suggest that two and three reactor process concepts can be realized and net CO 2 utilization achievable. The two reactor configuration shows the highest potential for CO 2 utilization while generating a value-added CO rich syngas stream.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Chemical and environmental stability of monazite-cheralite solid solutions Ln 1-2 x Ca x Th x PO 4 (Ln = Pr, Nd; x = 0–0.15): A thermodynamic study

Monazite-cheralite ceramics are a promising waste form for actinides. To elucidate the long-term behavior of this matrix in aqueous solutions, this study measured thermodynamic data for Th-rhabdophanes Ln 1-2 x Ca x Th x PO 4 ·nH 2 O (with Ln = Pr, Nd; x = 0–0.15) and the associated anhydrous monazite-cheralites Ln 1-2 x Ca x Th x PO 4 . Further, solubility experiments at 298K and high temperature oxide melt solution calorimetry were combined for calculation of ΔG$^°_f$, ΔH$^°_f$ and S$^°_m$ of Th-rhabdophanes and associated monazite-cheralites. Standard solubility constants were employed in a geochemical simulation using the PHREEQC software, the results of which confirmed the high chemical stability of the monazite-cheralite phases and supported their use as a specific conditioning matrix for the long-term immobilization of actinides.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Thermodynamic and NMR analyses of NADPH binding to lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase

Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) is one of the most abundant proteins in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with dual functions as a prostaglandin D{sub 2} (PGD{sub 2}) synthase and a transporter of lipophilic ligands. Recent studies revealed that L-PGDS plays important roles in protecting against various neuronal diseases induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the molecular mechanisms of such protective actions of L-PGDS remain unknown. In this study, we conducted thermodynamic and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses, and demonstrated that L-PGDS binds to nicotinamide coenzymes, including NADPH, NADP{sup +}, and NADH. Although a hydrophilic ligand is not common for L-PGDS, these ligands, especially NADPH showed specific interaction with L-PGDS at the upper pocket of its ligand-binding cavity with an unusually bifurcated shape. The binding affinity of L-PGDS for NADPH was comparable to that previously reported for NADPH oxidases and NADPH in vitro. These results suggested that L-PGDS potentially attenuates the activities of NADPH oxidases through interaction with NADPH. Given that NADPH is the substrate for NADPH oxidases that play key roles in neuronal cell death by generating excessive ROS, these results imply a novel linkage between L-PGDS and ROS. - Highlights: • Interactions of L-PGDS with nicotinamide coenzymes were studied by ITC and NMR. • The binding affinity of L-PGDS was strongest to NADPH among nicotinamide coenzymes. • NADPH binds to the upper part of L-PGDS ligand-binding cavity. • L-PGDS binds to both lipophilic and hydrophilic ligands. • This study implies a novel linkage between L-PGDS and reactive oxygen species.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Insights into ligand binding to a glutathione S-transferase from mango: Structure, thermodynamics and kinetics

We studied a mango glutathione S-transferase (GST) ( Mangifera indica ) bound to glutathione (GSH) and S-hexyl glutathione (GSX). This GST Tau class (MiGSTU) had a molecular mass of 25.5 kDa. MiGSTU Michaelis-Menten kinetic constants were determined for their substrates obtaining a K m , V max and k cat for CDNB of 0.792 mM, 80.58 mM min -1 and 68.49 s -1 respectively and 0.693 mM, 105.32 mM min -1 and 89.57 s -1 , for reduced GSH respectively. MiGSTU had a micromolar affinity towards GSH (5.2 mM) or GSX (7.8 mM). As a result, the crystal structure of the MiGSTU in apo or bound to GSH or GSX generated a model that explains the thermodynamic signatures of binding and showed the importance of enthalpic-entropic compensation in ligand binding to Tau-class GST enzymes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Solution-based thermodynamic modeling of the Ni-Al-Mo system using first-principles calculations

A solution-based thermodynamic description of the ternary Ni–Al–Mo system is developed here, incorporating first-principles calculations and reported modeling of the binary Ni–Al, Ni–Mo and Al–Mo systems. To search for the configurations with the lowest energies of the N phase, the Alloy Theoretic Automated Toolkit (ATAT) was employed and combined with VASP. The liquid, bcc and γ-fcc phases are modeled as random atomic solutions, and the γ'-Ni3Al phase is modeled by describing the ordering within the fcc structure using two sublattices, summarized as (Al,Mo,Ni)0.75(Al,Mo,Ni)0.25. Thus, γ-fcc and γ'-Ni3Al are modeled with a single Gibbs free energy function with appropriate treatment of the chemical ordering contribution. In addition, notable improvements are the following: first, the ternary effects of Mo and Al in the B2-NiAl and D0a-Ni3Mo phases, respectively, are considered; second, the N-NiAl8Mo3 phase is described as a solid solution using a three-sublattice model; third, the X-Ni14Al75Mo11 phase is treated as a stoichiometric compound. Model parameters are evaluated using first-principles calculations of zero-Kelvin formation enthalpies and reported experimental data. In comparison with the enthalpies of formation for the compounds ψ-AlMo, θ-Al8Mo3 and B2-NiAl, the first-principles results indicate that the N-NiAl8Mo3 phase, which is stable at high temperatures, decomposes into other phases at low temperature. Resulting phase equilibria are summarized in the form of isothermal sections and liquidus projections. To clearly identify the relationship between the γ-fcc and γ'-Ni3Al phases in the ternary Ni–Al–Mo system, the specific γ-fcc and γ'-Ni3Al phase fields are plotted in x(Al)–x(Mo)–T space for a temperature range 1200–1800 K.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Thermodynamic and kinetic modeling of grain boundary equilibrium segregation of P in α-Fe

Phosphorus is a primary contributor to interface fracture and embrittlement in steels because of its strong segregation tendency at grain boundaries (GBs). The lack of consistency in literature data imposes great difficulties in performing segregation modeling that is compatible with both the Langmuir-Mclean segregation theory and the thermodynamic description of the Bcc(Fe,P) phase. Our work carefully evaluated experimental data for phosphorus segregation at GBs in -Fe and provided a new formula for converting the auger electron spectroscopy (AES) peak height ratio to GBs. Furthermore, based on newly assessed literature data, this work proposes that the major driving force for phosphorus segregation is the formation of Fe 3 P-type clusters at GBs, which is supported not only by the almost equivalent Gibbs energy of _Fe using the Bcc(Fe,P) substitutional model and the Bcc(Fe,Fe 3 P, P) associate model, but also by the good agreement between thermodynamic/kinetic modeling results and experimental data.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Thermodynamic re-modelling of the Cu–Nb–Sn system: Integrating the nausite phase

Currently available Cu–Nb–Sn phase diagrams lack the recently discovered nausite phase (Cu,Nb)Sn 2 , which is an important intermediate in the course of thermal processing of superconducting Nb 3 Sn wires. Processing decisively determines the resulting microstructure of Nb 3 Sn and, thus, its superconducting properties. Lack of suitable and complete phase diagrams, however, obstructs rational design of such thermal processing procedures. To close this gap and to obtain valid knowledge of homogeneity and stability range of nausite, various Cu–Nb–Sn samples, which are heat-treated between 300 °C and 500 °C, are investigated. By means of energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), a temperature-dependent homogeneity range of nausite is observed, which covers average mole fractions of Cu between 0.09 and 0.15. This is correlated with a change in the mean atomic volume and can be seen in the lattice parameters determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Additionally performed first-principles calculations on different CuSn 2 and NbSn 2 model structures confirm this trend. Furthermore, the peritectic decomposition of nausite to NbSn 2 and liquid at 586 °C is determined by means of in situ XRD and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). By using the CALPHAD (CALculation of PHase Diagrams) approach, all these findings are used to extend a previous thermodynamic description of the Cu–Nb–Sn system by including the nausite as an additional phase. Finally, with this noteworthy integration, the updated modelling of the Cu–Nb–Sn system can be used for optimizing the multistage heat-treatment steps during processing superconducting Nb 3 Sn wires.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Magnetic BiMn-α phase synthesis prediction: First-principles calculation, thermodynamic modeling and nonequilibrium chemical partitioning

BiMn-α is promising permanent magnet. Due to its peritectic formation feature, there is a synthetic challenge to produce single BiMn-α phase. The objective of this study is to assess driving force for crystalline phase pathways under far-from-equilibrium conditions. First-principles calculations with Hubbard U correction are performed to provide a robust description of the thermodynamic behavior. The energetics associated with various degrees of the chemical partitioning are quantified to predict temperature, magnetic field, and time dependence of the phase selection. By assessing the phase transformation under the influence of the chemical partitioning, temperatures, and cooling rate from our calculations, we suggest that it is possible to synthesize the magnetic BiMn-α compound in a congruent manner by rapid solidification. The external magnetic field enhances the stability of the BiMn-α phase. In conclusion, the compositions of the initial compounds from these highly driven liquids can be far from equilibrium.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Thermodynamic analysis and atomistic modeling of subsurface cavitation in photomechanical spallation

According to the article, the thermodynamic conditions defining the spatial extent of a subsurface region affected by the nucleation and growth of voids in photomechanical spallation of metals is investigated theoretically and in atomistic simulations. A theoretical analysis of cavitation in a surface region of a target melted by laser irradiation suggests a functional form for the temperature dependence of the cavitation threshold. A series of small-scale molecular dynamics simulations performed for Al, Ag, Cr, and Ni has revealed the minimum value of the free energy barrier that results in the onset of cavitation on the timescale of 10s of ps, which is a typical duration of transient tensile stresses produced by the unloading wave generated in the spallation regime. The predictive ability of the theoretical description is verified in large-scale simulations of photomechanical spallation of a Ni target and ablation of an Al target in the phase explosion regime. The temporal and spatial evolution of the free energy barrier for the onset of cavitation under conditions of short pulse laser processing is shown to univocally define the region where the nucleation of voids takes place.

Materials Science↗