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MnRhBi3: A Cleavable Antiferromagnetic Metal
This dataset contains DFT input and output files supporting the theoretical modeling in the associated publication (Chem. Mater. 2024, 36, 11306-11316). The calculations characterize MnRhBi3, an orthorhombic (Cmmm) van der Waals-layered intermetallic compound that cleaves easily between neighboring Bi layers. The dataset is organized into three calculation types: (i) Bulk: Structural relaxations of the periodic MnRhBi3 crystal in antiferromagnetic (AFM) and ferromagnetic (FM) configurations, using the vdW-DF-optB86b functional. These provide the equilibrium lattice constants, magnetic energy differences (AFM is 0.5 meV/f.u. lower than FM), and magnetic moments (4.4 µB/Mn, 0.17 µB/Rh, 0.18 µB/Bi) reported in Table 1 of the main text. (ii) Slab: Same magnetic configurations computed with an 18 Ang vacuum layer introduced between Bi layers, used to calculate the cleavage energy Ec = 0.56 J/m2 (AFM) and 0.57 J/m2 (FM), establishing MnRhBi3 as a van der Waals-layered material comparable to graphite, MoS2, and CrI3. (iii) ELF: Single-point calculation on the relaxed bulk AFM geometry with LELF=.TRUE., producing the ELFCAR file used to generate electron localization function isosurfaces and contour maps (Fig. 2, main text) showing Bi lone pairs directed into the van der Waals gaps. All folders contain CONTCAR, INCAR, KPOINTS, OUTCAR, and POSCAR. The ELF/ folder additionally contains ELFCAR. Calculations were performed using VASP 6.3.2 with PBE + vdW-DF-optB86b, PAW potentials, and an energy cutoff of 800 eV.
A new approach for resonance treatment of doubly heterogeneous fuel using the RSE method
A new resonance calculation method for the doubly-heterogeneous (DH) fuels such as high- temperature gas-cooled reactor fuel is proposed based on the resonance calculation based on Spectral Expansion (RSE) method. The concept of pointwise disadvantage factor for fuel grain is taken into account to treat the DH fuels. The verification calculation is carried out for simplified single fuel cell and fuel compact consisting of five fuel cells and graphite moderator. The calculation results indicate that the present method can appropriately handle the space- dependent self-shielding effect for DH fuels. (authors)
Thermal Neutron Scattering Law Evaluation for Zirconium Carbide and Critical Mass Calculations
Zirconium carbide (ZrC) is a candidate material for use in advanced high temperature reactors, including space nuclear thermal propulsion applications. Thermal neutron scattering laws (TSLs) are generated for carbon bound in ZrC, C(ZrC), and zirconium bound in ZrC, Zr(ZrC), using ab initio lattice dynamics methods. These evaluations are to be submitted for inclusion in ENDF/B-VIII.1 and use the incoherent approximation for inelastic scattering as well as the new mixed elastic scattering treatment. The application of disordered alloy theory is introduced to appropriately capture the isotopic composition of Zr and C in the elastic scattering cross section. Localized higher energy vibrations in the C(ZrC) phonon density of states that are separated from lower energy modes result in quantized oscillations in the inelastic contributions to the TSL with a significant likelihood of large energy down-scattering and up-scattering interactions, where the latter increases in probability with temperature. The quanta of energy transfer during neutron thermalization is substantially greater than classically expected within the thermal neutron energy range. MC21 critical mass calculations of ZrC mixtures with high-enriched uranium demonstrate an impact of the TSLs when compared to free-gas treatment for 235 U concentrations less than 0.2 g/cm 3 . Additional MC21 critical mass calculations with homogenous mixtures of ZrC and reactor-grade graphite also demonstrate sensitivity to the ZrC TSL for thermal spectrum driven fission systems.
Correcting for digital image correlation speckle inversion at high temperature using color cameras
Digital image correlation (DIC) is a popular, noncontacting technique to measure full-field deformation by using cameras to track the motion of an applied surface pattern. Because it is noncontacting, DIC can be performed for extreme temperature applications (e.g., hot-fire rocket testing of carbon composite rocket nozzles) under harsh conditions during which bonded gauges are damaged. Speckle pattern inversion is a phenomenon that sometimes occurs while performing high-temperature DIC. During speckle pattern inversion, portions of the surface pattern that were initially darker at room temperature (e.g., graphite) may emit more light due to blackbody radiation than the portions that were initially paler, thereby producing images in which the pattern appears inverted at high temperature relative to the initial pattern at room temperature. This phenomenon can prevent the correlation algorithm from being able to resolve the displacements between images. This work compares three methods to mitigate speckle pattern inversion: (A) the subtraction method, a recently-published technique in which two high-temperature images are subtracted to remove unwanted light; (B) the filtering method, a popular technique in which optical bandpass filters screen out unwanted light; and (C) the histogram rescaling method, a proposed new method that pairs a color camera with a blue light source and uses information from the green sensor of the camera to correct against inversion in the blue sensor through postprocessing. The histogram rescaling method is shown to successfully eliminate speckle pattern inversion and has the added advantages that it does not require quasi-static loading to be able to compensate for speckle pattern inversion, nor does it impose thick-glass distortions caused by the optical filter.
Determination of mode-projected electron-phonon coupling from time-domain observations of microscopic scattering processes
Using a femtosecond extreme ultraviolet source with a narrow linewidth, we observe electrons in graphite scattering with the A' 1 phonon from optically-populated initial states to well-defined final states, and extract the electron-phonon matrix element.
Old Woman Creek Wetland Sediment and Electrochemical Sensor Microbial Community, 2023
We are developing a technique to monitor microbiological activities referred to as zero resistance ammetry, which entails the deployment of graphite electrodes in sediments. Measurement of current between electrodes of contrasting redox regimes and/or predominant terminal electron accepting processes can be used as an indicator of the extents of microbiological activity. We deployed an electrode array at depths of 2 mm, 4 mm, 76 mm, 78 mm, 152 mm, 154 mm, 227 mm, and 229 mm below the wetland sediment water interface in the Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Center, Huron, OH, USA (Lat. = 41.380833, Long. = -82.508889). A core was collected from adjacent sediment and subsamples were collected from depth intervals of 0 – 25 mm, 25 – 127 mm, 127 – 128 mm, and below 178 mm. To determine if the microbial communities attached to the electrodes were reflective of the adjacent sediment-associated microbial community, we conducted a 16S rRNA gene-based (V4 region) survey of these respective materials. This data package contains the results of these surveys, including metadata on the depths from which samples were collected (samples.csv), DNA extraction and sequencing information (OWC_DEPTH_AMPLICON_SEQUENCING_METADATA), sequence processing information (OWC_DEPTH_BIOINFORMATIC_METADATA.csv), an operational taxonomic unit (OTU) table (OWC_DEPTH_97OTUS_TABLE.csv), and nucleotide sequences of OTUs (OWC_DEPTH_97OTUS_SEQS.fasta). All files can be opened using a text-editing application. The fasta file is compatible with bioinformatics applications.
A high-temperature Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry apparatus for in situ material characterization
A new methodology for high-temperature Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (HT-RBS) has been developed to enable in situ material characterization at elevated temperatures. A 3.5 MeV proton beam penetrates a 10-µm-thick 316L stainless steel foil mounted on a graphite substrate, with backscattered signals detected using an HT-RBS system. Conventional semiconductor detectors, primarily based on silicon, suffer significant performance degradation at temperatures higher than ~ 60 °C due to increased leakage current and noise, leading to signal distortion and failure. Here, to preserve spectral quality, a 5 µm aluminum foil shields the detector from thermal radiation, allowing reliable operation up to 900 °C at the target. A rotatable shutter provides additional thermal isolation during data collection pauses. In situ measurements of areal density changes of 316L stainless steel were conducted to validate the technique, revealing consistency with the known thermal expansion coefficient. The method facilitates seamless switching between irradiation and analysis, enabling continuous studies. This approach supports in situ investigations of diffusion, void swelling, creep, and corrosion, offering a versatile tool for advanced materials research.
Insights into Designing an Efficient and Reliable Microwave-Assisted Methane Dehydroaromatization Process: Effect of Microwave Absorber on Catalyst Performance
Microwave-assisted methane dehydroaromatization has the potential to address challenges of traditional dehydroaromatization reactions. However, catalysts for microwave-enhanced reaction systems require effective coupling of fields with the catalyst to produce heat and reach reaction temperatures. Here, this work presents an in-depth understanding of the effect of the addition of silicon carbide as a microwave absorber on catalyst performance among other variables, the viability of the microwave reactor configuration, and insights into designing an effective and reliable microwave-based methane dehydroaromatization process. The effect of other parameters including temperature, weight hourly space velocity, role of microwave absorber, and methane concentration during microwave-assisted methane dehydroaromatization reaction are studied. Mo/ZSM-5 was found to suffer from low permittivity and nonuniform heating under microwave conditions. Mixing silicon carbide powder as a microwave absorber with the catalyst was found to provide more uniform heating. When assessing the catalytic performance of the mixture, it was found that higher methane partial pressures at 2000 cc/g cat .h and a temperature range of 500-600°C produced the highest amount of benzene. The formation of graphitic carbon on the spent catalyst increased with temperature, gas-solid contact period, and methane concentration, which resulted in higher methane conversion and benzene selectivity. The study indicates that under microwave heating the presence of localized carbon enhanced catalyst life by coupling with microwave energy, leading to localized heating, and improving benzene selectivity.
Materials Data on C by Materials Project
C is rhombohedral graphite structured and crystallizes in the trigonal R-3m space group. The structure is two-dimensional and consists of three C sheets oriented in the (0, 0, 1) direction. C is bonded in a trigonal planar geometry to three equivalent C atoms. All C–C bond lengths are 1.43 Å.
Materials Data on C by Materials Project
C is rhombohedral graphite-like structured and crystallizes in the hexagonal P6_3/mmc space group. The structure is two-dimensional and consists of two C sheets oriented in the (0, 0, 1) direction. C is bonded in a trigonal planar geometry to three equivalent C atoms. All C–C bond lengths are 1.42 Å.
Materials Data on C by Materials Project
C is rhombohedral graphite-like structured and crystallizes in the orthorhombic Fmmm space group. The structure is two-dimensional and consists of two C sheets oriented in the (0, 0, 1) direction. C is bonded in a trigonal planar geometry to three equivalent C atoms. All C–C bond lengths are 1.42 Å.
Materials Data on C by Materials Project
C is Graphite-like structured and crystallizes in the orthorhombic Cmme space group. The structure is two-dimensional and consists of two C sheets oriented in the (0, 0, 1) direction. C is bonded in a trigonal planar geometry to three equivalent C atoms. All C–C bond lengths are 1.42 Å.
Materials Data on C by Materials Project
C is rhombohedral graphite-like structured and crystallizes in the hexagonal P6/mmm space group. The structure is two-dimensional and consists of one C sheet oriented in the (0, 0, 1) direction. C is bonded in a trigonal planar geometry to three equivalent C atoms. All C–C bond lengths are 1.42 Å.
Materials Data on C by Materials Project
C is Graphite-like structured and crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/m space group. The structure is two-dimensional and consists of one C sheet oriented in the (0, 0, 1) direction. C is bonded in a trigonal planar geometry to three equivalent C atoms. There is one shorter (1.42 Å) and two longer (1.43 Å) C–C bond length.
Materials Data on CuH3NCl by Materials Project
CuNH3Cl is Graphite-like structured and crystallizes in the cubic I2_13 space group. The structure is zero-dimensional and consists of eight CuNH3Cl clusters. Cu1+ is bonded in a linear geometry to one N3- and one Cl1- atom. The Cu–N bond length is 1.91 Å. The Cu–Cl bond length is 2.12 Å. N3- is bonded in a distorted tetrahedral geometry to one Cu1+ and three equivalent H1+ atoms. All N–H bond lengths are 1.03 Å. H1+ is bonded in a single-bond geometry to one N3- atom. Cl1- is bonded in a single-bond geometry to one Cu1+ atom.
Materials Data on C by Materials Project
C is rhombohedral graphite-like structured and crystallizes in the hexagonal P6/mmm space group. The structure is two-dimensional and consists of one C sheet oriented in the (0, 0, 1) direction. C is bonded in a trigonal planar geometry to three equivalent C atoms. All C–C bond lengths are 1.43 Å.
Materials Data on SnGe by Materials Project
GeSn is graphite-derived structured and crystallizes in the trigonal P3m1 space group. The structure is two-dimensional and consists of one GeSn sheet oriented in the (0, 0, 1) direction. Sn is bonded in a trigonal non-coplanar geometry to three equivalent Ge atoms. All Sn–Ge bond lengths are 2.63 Å. Ge is bonded in a trigonal non-coplanar geometry to three equivalent Sn atoms.