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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 163 records · Page 9

Quantifying the impact of operating temperature on cracking in battery electrodes, using super-resolution of microscopy images and stereology

There are numerous factors that can have an impact on the degradation behavior of batteries, such as the number of recharge cycles or the charge rate. Here, we investigate the influence of operating temperature on the structural degradation of the microstructure in lithium-ion positive electrodes. For that purpose, the microstructure is characterized for cathodes which have been cycled for 200 cycles under 6C (10-minute) charging at different operating temperatures, namely, 20°C, 30°C, 40°C, and 50°C. For each operating condition scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of cross-sectioned Li x Ni 0.5 Mn 0.3 Co 0.2 O 2 (NMC532) electrodes have been analyzed, to determine structural descriptors such as global particle porosity, crack size/length/width distribution, and porosity and specific surface area distribution of individual particles. Additionally, a stereological method has been deployed to investigate the local particle porosity as a function of distance to the particle center. Results show that particle porosity increases with increasing cycling temperature. Particle porosity is greatest at the particle center and decreases along the particle radius to the exterior. Particle surface area is similar across the four cycling-temperature aging conditions.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Super-resolution quantum interference pattern of a distributed object

Classically, the spatial resolution of the image of an object is usually determined by the Rayleigh criterion. However, quantum properties of light have been exploited to form images with resolutions exceeding this criterion and beating the standard quantum limit, which allow high measurement sensitivity. We found that it is possible to super-resolve a distributed object made of two parts that are spatially separated but when superposed over each other form an object. A coincidence interference pattern of a nonlocal two-photon system with periodicity proportional to {lambda}/2 was measured even when each photon, with wavelength of {lambda}, has been scattered by different parts of an object, none of them being the object itself.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Plasmonic photoconductive terahertz focal-plane array with pixel super-resolution

Abstract Imaging systems operating in the terahertz part of the electromagnetic spectrum are attractive due to their ability to penetrate many opaque materials and provide unique spectral signatures of various chemicals. However, the use of terahertz imagers in real-world applications has been limited by the slow speed, large size, high cost and complexity of present systems, largely due to the lack of suitable terahertz focal-plane array detectors. Here we report a terahertz focal-plane array that can directly provide the spatial amplitude and phase distributions, along with the ultrafast temporal and spectral information of an imaged object. It consists of a two-dimensional array of ~0.3 million plasmonic photoconductive nanoantennas optimized to rapidly detect broadband terahertz radiation with a high signal-to-noise ratio. We utilized the multispectral nature of the amplitude and phase data captured by these plasmonic nanoantennas to image different objects, including super-resolved etched patterns in a silicon substrate and defects in battery electrodes. By eliminating the need for raster scanning and spatial terahertz modulation, our terahertz focal-plane array offers more than a 1,000-fold increase in the imaging speed compared with the state of the art and potentially suits a broad range of applications in industrial inspection, security screening and medical diagnosis, among others.

Optics↗

Super-Resolution Microscopy Reveals Shape and Distribution of Dislocations in Single Crystal Nanocomposites

With their potential to offer new properties, single crystals containing nanoparticles provide an attractive class of nanocomposite materials. Yet, to fully profit from these, it is essential that we can characterise their 3D structures, identifying the locations of individual nanoparticles, and the defects present within the host crystals. With calcite crystals containing quantum dots as a model system, we here use 3D stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) to locate the positions of the nanoparticles within the host crystal. The nanoparticles are shown to preferentially associate with dislocations in a manner previously recognised for atomic impurities, rendering these defects visible by STORM. Our images also demonstrate that the types of dislocations formed at the crystal/ substrate interface vary according to the nucleation face, and dislocation loops are observed that have entirely different geometries to classic misfit dislocations. This approach offers a rapid, easily accessed, and non-destructive method for visualising the dislocations present within crystals, and gives insight into the mechanisms by which additives become occluded within crystals.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Super-Resolution Mapping of Photogenerated Electron and Hole Separation in Single Metal-Semiconductor Nanocatalysts

Metal–semiconductor heterostructures are promising visible light photocatalysts for many chemical reactions. Here, we use high-resolution superlocalization imaging to reveal the nature and photocatalytic properties of the surface reactive sites on single Au–CdS hybrid nanocatalysts. We experimentally reveal two distinct, incident energy-dependent charge separation mechanisms that result in completely opposite photogenerated reactive sites (e– and h+) and divergent energy flows on the hybrid nanocatalysts. We find that plasmon-induced hot electrons in Au are injected into the conduction band of the CdS semiconductor nanorod. The specifically designed Au-tipped CdS heterostructures with a unique geometry (two Au nanoparticles at both ends of each CdS nanorod) provide more convincing high-resolution single-turnover mapping results and clearly prove the two charge separation mechanisms. Engineering the direction of energy flow at the nanoscale can provide an efficient way to overcome important challenges in photocatalysis, such as controlling catalytic activity and selectivity. These results bear enormous potential impact on the development of better visible light photocatalysts for solar-to-chemical energy conversion.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Super-resolution microscopy reveals structural diversity in molecular exchange among peptide amphiphile nanofibres

The dynamic behaviour of supramolecular systems is an important dimension of their potential functions. Here, we report on the use of stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy to study the molecular exchange of peptide amphiphile nanofibres, supramolecular systems known to have important biomedical functions. Solutions of nanofibres labelled with different dyes (Cy3 and Cy5) were mixed, and the distribution of dyes inserting into initially single-colour nanofibres was quantified using correlative image analysis. Our observations are consistent with an exchange mechanism involving monomers or small clusters of molecules inserting randomly into a fibre. Different exchange rates are observed within the same fibre, suggesting that local cohesive structures exist on the basis of beta-sheet discontinuous domains. The results reported here show that peptide amphiphile supramolecular systems can be dynamic and that their intermolecular interactions affect exchange patterns. Lastly, this information can be used to generate useful aggregate morphologies for improved biomedical function.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Long-term super-resolution inner mitochondrial membrane imaging with a lipid probe

The inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) generates power to drive cell function, and its dynamics control mitochondrial health and cellular homeostasis. Here, we describe the cell-permeant, lipid-like small molecule MAO-N 3 and use it to assemble high-density environmentally sensitive (HIDE) probes that selectively label and image the IMM in live cells and multiple cell states. MAO-N 3 pairs with strain-promoted azide–alkyne click chemistry-reactive fluorophores to support HIDE imaging using confocal, structured illumination, single-molecule localization and stimulated emission depletion microscopy, all with significantly improved resistance to photobleaching. These probes generate images with excellent spatial and temporal resolution, require no genetic manipulations, are non-toxic in model cell lines and primary cardiomyocytes (even under conditions that amplify the effects of mitochondrial toxins) and can visualize mitochondrial dynamics for 12.5 h. This probe will enable comprehensive studies of IMM dynamics with high temporal and spatial resolution.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Chemical imaging of molecular changes in a hydrated single cell by dynamic secondary ion mass spectrometry and super-resolution microscopy

Chemical imaging of single cells is important in capturing biological dynamics. Single cell correlative imaging is realized between structured illumination microscopy (SIM) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) using System for Analysis at the Liquid Vacuum Interface (SALVI), a multimodal microreactor. SIM characterized cells and guided subsequent ToF-SIMS analysis. Dynamic ToF-SIMS provided time- and space-resolved cell molecular mapping. Lipid fragments were identified in the hydrated cell membrane. Principal component analysis was used to elucidate chemical component differences among mouse lung cells that uptake zinc oxide nanoparticles. Our results provided submicron chemical spatial mapping for investigations of cell dynamics at the molecular level.

correlative chemical imaging • microfluidic • surf↗