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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 1,531 records · Page 85
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2014

Novel bias-field-free spin transfer oscillator

Two versions of magnetic field free spin torque oscillators with in- and out-of-plane spin polarizers are proposed. The field free spin torque oscillators comprise two spin valve stacks with a common free magnetic layer featuring an out-of-plane anisotropy. Their operation frequencies are controlled by the dimensions of the free layer and can also be tuned by the applied currents. Large and stable magnetization precessional motion of the whole shared free layer for both oscillators are obtained. The structure with in-plane polarizers allows more efficient microwave power extraction of the large in-plane magnetization precession of the free layer.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2014

Response of microscale turbulence and transport to the evolution of resistive magnetohydrodynamic magnetic island

Nonlinear evolution of microscale turbulence interacting with a naturally growing MHD magnetic island is simulated based on a Landau-fluid model. Here, we report on a new short wavelength magnetic-island-induced ion temperature gradient (ITG) instability triggered by a critical threshold of magnetic island width in multiscale turbulence, which is referred to as sw-MITG mode. The sw-MITG mode is characterized by a substantially low stability threshold and a global structure propagating along the ion diamagnetic drift direction. Its generation results from the response of microscale fluctuations to turbulent cross-field heat transport associated with increasing boundary layer width about the island separatrix. An intermittency of heat transport is caused by the sw-MITG mode interacting with dynamical magnetic island and microturbulence.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Optical properties of magnetic photonic crystals with an arbitrary magnetization orientation

We have studied the peculiarities of diffraction of light in magnetic photonic crystals at large values of magnetooptical activity parameter and modulation depth. We have considered the case of an arbitrary angle between the directions of the external static magnetic field and the normal to the layer. The problem has been solved by the modified Ambartsumyan layer summation method. It has been shown that the given system is nonreciprocal with respect to not only circular, but linear polarizations also. In this case, a new type of nonreciprocity is observed (namely, the relation R(α) ≠ R(–α) holds, where R is the reflection coefficient and α is the angle of incidence). It has been demonstrated that in the case of oblique incidence, there appears a new photonic forbidden band that is not selective relative to the polarization of incident light. We have detected strong dependences of reflectance, absorbance, transmittance nonreciprocity, and other characteristics on the angle between the direction of the external static magnetic field and the normal to the layer boundary. Such a system can be used as a controllable polarization filter and a mirror, as well as a source of circular (elliptic) polarization, a controllable optical diode, and so on.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2014

Simplified Physics Based Models Research Topical Report on Task #2

We present a simplified-physics based approach, where only the most important physical processes are modeled, to develop and validate simplified predictive models of CO2 sequestration in deep saline formation. The system of interest is a single vertical well injecting supercritical CO2 into a 2-D layered reservoir-caprock system with variable layer permeabilities. We use a set of well-designed full-physics compositional simulations to understand key processes and parameters affecting pressure propagation and buoyant plume migration. Based on these simulations, we have developed correlations for dimensionless injectivity as a function of the slope of fractional-flow curve, variance of layer permeability values, and the nature of vertical permeability arrangement. The same variables, along with a modified gravity number, can be used to develop a correlation for the total storage efficiency within the CO2 plume footprint. Similar correlations are also developed to predict the average pressure within the injection reservoir, and the pressure buildup within the caprock.

Mishra, Srikanta↗
DOE OSTI2026

Fabrication of Catalytic Distillation Membranes with Atomic Layer Deposition

The integration of catalysts onto the surface of membranes enables simultaneous physical separation and catalytic transformation of constituents in a feed stream, facilitating improved contaminant removal and fouling mitigation. Distillation membranes are a particularly attractive platform for catalytic membranes because they reject nonvolatile species and exhibit exceptional resistance to oxidative and radical-driven degradation. However, imparting catalytic functionality onto hydrophobic, porous distillation membranes has proven challenging since the membranes used are chemically inert and difficult to modify. Furthermore, catalysts on the membrane surface can decrease hydrophobicity and increase the membrane’s susceptibility to pore wetting and failure. In this work, we create a catalytic distillation membrane by coating a polytetrafluoroethylene membrane surface with titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) via plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition (ALD). By precisely tuning the ALD parameters, we demonstrate localized growth of TiO 2 near (within approximately 1 μm) the surface of polytetrafluoroethylene membranes, forming a catalytically active interface while preserving the underlying hydrophobic pore structure. Localized growth of TiO 2 is confirmed by electron microscopy and spectroscopy techniques, and membranes coated with 500 cycles of ALD show pressure tolerance up to 12.8 bar and higher than 95% salt rejection in pressure-driven distillation. Photocatalytic activity is demonstrated via the degradation of methylene blue dye under UV irradiation, where increasing TiO2 loading leads to an enhancement in dye degradation. These results establish a general strategy for integrating catalytic functionality into chemically inert, hydrophobic membranes without compromising distillation performance, providing a pathway toward multifunctional membranes that couple advanced oxidation with membrane separation for water treatment.

atomic layer deposition↗
DOE OSTI2019

Boron–oxygen complex yields n-type surface layer in semiconducting diamond

Diamond is a wide-bandgap semiconductor possessing exceptional physical and chemical properties with the potential to miniaturize high-power electronics. Whereas boron-doped diamond (BDD) is a well-known p-type semiconductor, fabrication of practical diamond-based electronic devices awaits development of an effective n-type dopant with satisfactory electrical properties. Here we report the synthesis of n-type diamond, containing boron (B) and oxygen (O) complex defects. We obtain high carrier concentration (~0.778 × 10 21 cm -3 ) several orders of magnitude greater than previously obtained with sulfur or phosphorous, accompanied by high electrical conductivity. In high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) boron-doped diamond single crystal we formed a boron-rich layer ~1–1.5 μm thick in the {111} surface containing up to 1.4 atomic % B. We show that under certain HPHT conditions the boron dopants combine with oxygen defects to form B–O complexes that can be tuned by controlling the experimental parameters for diamond crystallization, thus giving rise to n-type conduction. First-principles calculations indicate that B 3 O and B 4 O complexes with low formation energies exhibit shallow donor levels, elucidating the mechanism of the n-type semiconducting behavior.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Cryogenic hydrogen fuel for controlled inertial confinement fusion (formation of reactor-scale cryogenic targets)

In inertial fusion energy research, considerable attention has recently been focused on low-cost fabrication of a large number of targets by developing a specialized layering module of repeatable operation. The targets must be free-standing, or unmounted. Therefore, the development of a target factory for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) is based on methods that can ensure a cost-effective target production with high repeatability. Minimization of the amount of tritium (i.e., minimization of time and space at all production stages) is a necessary condition as well. Additionally, the cryogenic hydrogen fuel inside the targets must have a structure (ultrafine layers—the grain size should be scaled back to the nanometer range) that supports the fuel layer survivability under target injection and transport through the reactor chamber. To meet the above requirements, significant progress has been made at the Lebedev Physical Institute (LPI) in the technology developed on the basis of rapid fuel layering inside moving free-standing targets (FST), also referred to as the FST layering method. Owing to the research carried out at LPI, unique experience has been gained in the development of the FST-layering module for target fabrication with an ultrafine fuel layer, including a reactor- scale target design. This experience can be used for the development of the next-generation FST-layering module for construction of a prototype of a target factory for power laser facilities and inertial fusion power plants.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2019

High-Rate Spinel LiMn 2 O 4 (LMO) Following Carbonate Removal and Formation of Li-Rich Interface by ALD Treatment

Recent work has identified enhanced charge-storage capacity in the spinel lithium manganese oxide (LiMn 2 O 4 ; LMO) lithium-ion battery cathode upon a single atomic layer deposition (ALD) cycle composed of one chemical exposure of trimethylaluminum (TMA) and one exposure of water (H 2 O). In this paper, we report further study of the rate capability following one TMA/H 2 O exposure and identify enhanced rate capability versus pristine LMO. To understand this effect, we experimentally probe the surface composition of LMO with TMA/H 2 O treatment using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements with inert transfer. This includes a study of the LMO surface properties following TMA exposure before exposure to H 2 O. We identify the removal of a surface carbonate layer from LMO upon TMA exposure and the formation of a Li-rich aluminum oxide surface layer upon subsequent H 2 O exposure. We also observe a previously undescribed phenomenon of Li ions depleting from the LMO surface upon TMA exposure and returning upon H 2 O exposure. These effects are connected with the enhanced rate capability of ALD-coated LMO and are related to a range of emerging studies on carbonate surface layers in battery cathodes, as well as the use of ALD to stabilize battery interfaces.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2014

Remote imaging of concealed objects

Optical detection of objects hidden behind opaque screening layers is a challenging problem. We demonstrate an optically detected echographic-like method that combines collimated acoustic and laser beams. The acoustic waves cross the screening layers and their back-reflection from the hidden objects is detected through the analysis of a dynamic laser speckle pattern created at the outer surface of the screening layer. Real-time remote detection of moving targets 15 meters away, with a few mm resolutions is demonstrated using a very sensitive camera detection scheme.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2014

Tunable ultracompact chip-integrated multichannel filter based on plasmon-induced transparencies

Nanoscale multichannel filter is realized in plasmonic circuits directly, which consists of four plasmonic nanocavities coupled via a plasmonic waveguide etched in a gold film. The feature device size is only 1.35 μm, which is reduced by five orders of magnitude compared with previous reports. The optical channels are formed by transparency windows of plasmon-induced transparencies. A shift of 45 nm in the central wavelengths of optical channels is obtained when the plasmonic coupled-nanocavities are covered with a 100-nm-thick poly(methyl methacrylate) layer. This work opens up the possibility for the realization of solid quantum chips based on plasmonic circuits.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2014

Elementary stratified flows with stability at low Richardson number

We revisit the stability analysis for three classical configurations of multiple fluid layers proposed by Goldstein [“On the stability of superposed streams of fluids of different densities,” Proc. R. Soc. A. 132, 524 (1931)], Taylor [“Effect of variation in density on the stability of superposed streams of fluid,” Proc. R. Soc. A 132, 499 (1931)], and Holmboe [“On the behaviour of symmetric waves in stratified shear layers,” Geophys. Publ. 24, 67 (1962)] as simple prototypes to understand stability characteristics of stratified shear flows with sharp density transitions. When such flows are confined in a finite domain, it is shown that a large shear across the layers that is often considered a source of instability plays a stabilizing role. Presented are simple analytical criteria for stability of these low Richardson number flows.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2024

Communication engine for hybrid interconnect technologies

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for dynamically selecting between wired and wireless interconnects for sending packets are disclosed. A system includes at least a hybrid communication engine and a plurality of interconnects for connecting to various end-points. The communication engine dynamically discovers and utilizes the best interconnect technology available in between given end-points. The communication engine dynamically chooses the physical interconnect that is best suited at any given time to send data from one source to one or multiple destinations. This communication can be either on-chip or across nodes. The communication engine makes a decision based on a set of predetermined parameters that can be re-adjusted by the application layer, such as latency of the transmission, message data size, physical distance from source to destination, the energy cost, and the current congestion on the alternative interconnects.

Blagodurov, Sergey↗
DOE OSTI2014

Direct imaging of thermally-activated grain-boundary diffusion in Cu/Co/IrMn/Pt exchange-bias structures using atom-probe tomography

Magnetic devices are often subject to thermal processing steps, such as field cooling to set exchange bias and annealing to crystallize amorphous magnetic electrodes. These processing steps may result in interdiffusion and the subsequent deterioration of magnetic properties. In this study, we investigated thermally-activated diffusion in Cu/Co/IrMn/Pt exchange biased polycrystalline thin-film structures using atom probe tomography. Images taken after annealing at 400 °C for 60 min revealed Mn diffusion into Co grains at the Co/IrMn interface and along Pt grain boundaries for the IrMn/Pt stack, i.e., a Harrison type C regime. Annealing at 500 °C showed further Mn diffusion into Co grains. At the IrMn/Pt interface, annealing at 500 °C led to a type B behavior since Mn diffusion was detected both along Pt grain boundaries and also into Pt grains. The deterioration of the films' exchange bias properties upon annealing was correlated to the observed diffusion. In particular, the topmost Pt capping layer thickness turned out to be crucial since a faster deterioration of the exchange bias properties for thicker caps was observed. This is consistent with the idea that Pt acts as a getter for Mn, drawing Mn out of the IrMn layer.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Perovskite LaRhO{sub 3} as a p-type active layer in oxide photovoltaics

Perovskite-type transition-metal oxides have a wide variety of physical properties and triggered intensive research on functional devices in the form of heteroepitaxial junctions. However, there is a missing component that is a p-type conventional band semiconductor. LaRhO{sub 3} (LRO) is one of very few promising candidates having its bandgap between filled t{sub 2g} and empty e{sub g} of Rh in low-spin state, but there has been no report on the synthesis of large-size single crystals or thin films. Here, we report on the junction properties of single-crystalline thin films of LRO grown on (110) oriented Nb-doped SrTiO{sub 3} substrates. The external quantum efficiency of the photo-electron conversion exceeds 1% in the visible-light region due to the wide depletion layer and long diffusion length of minority carriers in LRO. Clear indication of p-type band semiconducting character in a perovskite oxide of LRO will pave a way to explore oxide electronics of perovskite heterostructures.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

Dimensionally driven crossover from semimetal to direct semiconductor in layered SbAs

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted a great deal of attention because they exhibit intriguing physical and chemical properties with great potential applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices, and even energy conversion. Due to the high anisotropy and unique crystal structure of layered materials, the properties can be effectively tuned by simply reducing dimensions to 2D. In this work, a unique 2D semiconductor, namely, monolayered SbAs, with high stability and indirect band gap, is predicted on the basis of first-principles calculations together with cluster expansion and Monte Carlo simulations. Interestingly, although the bulk antimony arsenide compound SbAs is known to exhibit semimetallic behavior, our calculations find that it is transformed into a direct semiconductor with a band gap of 1.28 eV when thinned down to a single atomic layer. The monolayer with antisite defects is transformed from indirect into a direct band-gap semiconductor. Such dramatic changes in the electronic structure could pave the way for SbAs to play a role in electronic device applications. Moreover, we find that the interlayer interactions in SbAs lead to a higher exfoliation energy than typical transition metal dichalcogenides such as MoS 2 , and hence we suggest that chemical deposition methods might be better than mechanical exfoliation methods for obtaining monolayer samples.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗