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At least 163 records · Page 9

Spin-orbit coupling in molecular complexes beyond van der Waals regime: Key factors for further splitting of 2 P 3/2 ground state

Here, we report a joint spectroscopic and theoretical study probing spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in a variety of molecular complexes between an iodine atom and a ligand (L) with L ranging from Ar, HF to formic/acetic acids, and glycine/N-methylated glycine derivatives. Cryogenic photoelectron spectroscopy of L·I - (L=HCOOH, CH 3 COOH) reveals three distinct peaks, identified as three SOC states, denoted as X(1/2), A(3/2), and B(l/2) for the corresponding neutrals. The X and A separation ΔE XA is measured to be 0.10 eV for both, whereas the X and B gap ΔE XB is 0.98 and 0.97 eV for formic and acetic acid, respectively. These new ΔE XA values are compared with the previously reported values for the molecular complexes L·I· with L=Ar, HF, glycine, and A-methylated glycines. All together these complexes encompass a diversity of intermolecular interactions, from van der Waals to weak and strong hydrogen bonding. While the ΔE XB remains similar, the ΔE XA is shown to be extremely sensitive to the type of ligands and interactions, spanning from 5 meV to 150 meV. High-level relativistic quantum calculations including explicit SOC formulism nicely reproduce all experimental SOC splitting. A direct correlation between the magnitude of ΔE XA with the intermolecular interaction strength or bond distance of the neutral complexes—the stronger interaction (shorter bond length), the greater splitting, is established.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

An uncertainty-aware strategy for plasma mechanism reduction with directed weighted graphs

In this work, we present a framework for the analysis and reduction of plasma mechanisms by means of weighted directed graphs, in which reactions and species are both treated as nodes. The methodology consists of two distinct analyses. The first, which is qualitative, relies on graph spatializations via force-directed algorithms to discover the predominant global patterns in the chemical model. The second ranks the reactions based on their shortest paths' lengths from/to the species of interest and their relative contributions to the power balance. Further, this quantitative investigation enables a strategy for mechanism reduction that is fully automatized, as it does not require any expert knowledge, highly effective, as it generates reduced mechanisms that are highly accurate while relying on a small number of processes, and easily interpretable, as the algorithm justifies the importance of the retained reactions by outputting their related chemical pathways. Additionally, the work proposes a methodology extension that employs ensembles of graphs to improve the robustness of the reduced mechanism to reaction parameter uncertainties. The approach, here tested for steady-state predictions of a plasma system characterizing negative hydrogen ion sources, is general and can be used in a wide variety of applications outside the particular nuclear fusion context demonstrated in this work.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Attosecond Time Delay Trends across the Isoelectronic Noble Gas Sequence

The analysis and measurement of Wigner time delays can provide detailed information about the electronic environment within and around atomic and molecular systems, with one the key differences being the lack of a long-range potential after a halogen ion undergoes photoionization. In this work, we use relativistic random-phase approximation to calculate the average Wigner delay from the highest occupied subshells of the atomic pairings (2p, 2s in Fluorine, Neon), (3p, 3s in Chlorine, Argon), (4p, 4s, 3d, in Bromine, Krypton), and (5p, 5s, 4d in Iodine, Xenon). The qualitative behaviors of the Wigner delays between the isoelectronic pairings were found to be similar in nature, with the only large differences occurring at photoelectron energies less than 20 eV and around Cooper minima. Interestingly, the relative shift in Wigner time delays between negatively charged halogens and noble gases decreases as atomic mass increases. All atomic pairings show large differences at low energies, with noble gas atoms showing large positive Wigner delays, while negatively charged halogen ions show negative delays. The implications for photoionization studies in halide-containing molecules is also discussed.

Grafstrom, Brock↗

Widespread Negative Longitudinal Piezoelectric Responses in Ferroelectric Crystals with Layered Structures

In this study, we investigate the underlying mechanisms of the universal negative piezoelectricity in low-dimensional layered materials by carrying out first-principles calculations. Two-dimensional layered ferroelectric CuInP 2 S 6 is analyzed in detail as a typical example, but the theory can be applied to any other low-dimensional layered piezoelectrics. Consistent with the theory proposed in [Phys. Rev. Lett. 119, 207601 (2017), the anomalous negative piezoelectricity in CuInP 2 S 6 also results from its negative clamped-ion term, which cannot be compensated by the positive internal-strain part. Here, we focus on a more general rule by proposing that having a negative clamped-ion term should be universal among piezoelectric materials, which is attributed to the “lag of Wannier center” effect. The internal-strain term, which is the change in polarization due to structural relaxation in response to strain, is mostly determined by the spatial structure and chemical bonding of the material. In a low-dimensional layered piezoelectric material such as CuInP 2 S 6 , the internal-strain term is approximately zero. This is because the internal structure of the molecular layers, which are bonded by the weak van der Waals interaction, responds little to the strain. As a result, the magnitude of the dipole, which depends strongly on the dimension and structure of the molecular layer, also has a small response with respect to strain. An equation bridging the internal strain responses in low-dimensional and three-dimensional piezoelectrics is also derived to analytically express this point. This work aims to deepen our understanding about this anomalous piezoelectric effect, especially in low-dimensional layered materials, and provide strategies for discovering materials with novel electromechanical properties.

2-dimensional systems↗

Effect of anisotropic fast ions on internal kink stability in DIII-D negative and positive triangularity plasmas

Recent DIII-D experiments show that sawtooth stability is strongly affected by anisotropic fast ions from neutral beam injection (NBI) in both negative and positive triangularity plasmas. Fast ions from co-current NBI are stabilizing for the sawtooth stability, resulting in longer sawtooth periods. On the other hand, fast ions from counter-current NBI are destabilizing, leading to small and frequent sawteeth. The relative change of sawtooth period and amplitude is more than a factor of two. These observations appear to hold in both plasma shapes. Non-perturbative toroidal modeling, utilizing the magnetohydrodynamic-kinetic hybrid stability code MARS-K (Liu et al 2008 Phys. Plasmas 15 112503), reveals an asymmetric dependence of the stability of the n = 1 (n is the toroidal mode number) internal kink mode on the injection direction of NBI, being qualitatively consistent with the experimentally observed sawtooth behavior. The MARS-K modeling results suggest that anisotropic fast ions affect the mode growth rate and frequency through both adiabatic and non-adiabatic contributions. Here, the asymmetry of the internal kink mode instability relative to the NBI direction is mainly due to the non-adiabatic contribution of passing fast ions, which stabilize (destabilize) the internal kink with the co-(counter-) current NBI as compared to the fluid counterpart. However, finite orbit width (FOW) correction to passing particles partially cancels the asymmetry. Trapped particles are always stabilizing due to precessional drift resonance. Modeling also shows that fast ions affect the internal kink in a similar manner in both negative and positive triangularity plasmas, although being slightly more unstable in the negative triangularity configuration already in the fluid limit. The similarity is mainly attributed to the fact that the mode is localized in the plasma core region, with very similar eigenmode structures in both negative and positive configurations. Furthermore, MARS-K modeling indicates that other factors, such as the plasma rotation and the drift kinetic effects of thermal plasmas, weakly modify the mode stability as compared to the drift kinetic resonance effects and FOW correction of fast ions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Ion Number Density Quantification Utilizing Pulsing Frequency in Negative Differential Resistance (NDR) Regime of Microplasma Operation

A mathematical model is presented for quantifying the ion number density over a range of discharge current in microplasma discharges. The ion number density is determined from measured discharge voltage, current, pulsing frequency, and trace impurity that is injected into the system deliberately. Experiments are conducted in pure helium with nitrogen being introduced as the trace species. The ion number density is estimated over a range of discharge current and is compared with multidimensional simulation results.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Role of the ionic environment in enhancing the activity of reacting molecules in zeolite pores

Tailoring the molecular environment around catalytically active site allows the enhancement of catalytic reactivity via a hitherto unexplored pathway. In zeolites, the presence of water creates an ionic environment via the formation of hydrated hydronium ions and the negatively charged framework Al tetrahedra. The high density of cation-anion pairs determined by the aluminum concentration of a zeolite induces a high local ionic strength that increases the excess chemical potential of sorbed and uncharged organic reactants. Charged transition states (as for example, the carbenium ions in the discussed alcohol dehydration) are stabilized, reducing the energy barrier and leading to a higher reaction rate. Using the intramolecular dehydration of cyclohexanol on H-MFI in water, we show quantitatively the enhancement of the reaction rate by the presence of high ionic strength as well as potential limitations of this strategy. The approach opens a new pathway to systematically enhance catalytic reactivity rates and has wide-ranging implications for understanding catalysis in condensed phase.

Pfriem, Niklas↗

Global gyro-kinetic ion temperature gradient and trapped electron mode turbulence modelling in X -point geometry in negative and positive triangularity

Comparative modelling of ion temperature gradient (ITG)/trapped electron mode (TEM) turbulence in negative (NT) and positive (PT) triangularity plasma shapes was done using the nonlinear global full-f gyrokinetic particle code JOREK-GK in the realistic X-point tokamak geometry including the Scrape Off Layer (SOL) for TCV and DIII-D parameters. A comparison of JOREK-GK code with the gyrokinetic codes GS2 and GENE was done using NT/PT triangularity TCV L-modes parameters showing good agreement between codes in linear growth rates and clear beneficial effect of NT as compared to PT. Global non-linear modelling of the ITG/TEM saturated turbulence for realistic DIII-D NT pulses was done and compared with numerically constructed PT equilibrium with the same plasma profiles. Existence of longer correlation length of density fluctuations in PT compared to NT was demonstrated. Stronger and more sheared zonal flows are generated via Reynolds stress in NT compared to PT. These factors are stabilizing for TEM/ITG turbulence in NT and lead to smaller heat fluxes and heat conductivities in NT compared to PT configuration. Weak dependence of plasma confinement on collisionality and plasma rotation was found in modelling of DIII-D NT shots similar to the experiment. The confinement scaling with normalized ion gyro-radius ρ* was estimated both for NT and PT. Bohm-like scaling was obtained in both configurations, however with better confinement for NT compared to PT which could be favourable factor for reactor size machines.

ITG↗

Morphology and Crystallinity Effects of Nanochanneled Niobium Oxide Electrodes for Na-Ion Batteries

Niobium pentoxide (Nb 2 O 5 ) is a promising negative electrode for sodium ion batteries (SIBs). By engineering the morphology and crystallinity of nanochanneled niobium oxides (NCNOs) the kinetic behavior and charge storage mechanism of Nb 2 O 5 electrodes were investigated. Amorphous and crystalline NCNO samples were made by modulating anodization conditions (20 - 40V and 140 - 180 °C) to synthesize nanostructures of differing pore sizes and wall thicknesses with identical chemical composition. The electrochemical energy storage properties of the NCNOs were studied with the amorphous samples showing better overall rate performance than the crystalline samples. The enhanced rate performance of the amorphous samples is attributed to the higher capacitive contributions and Na-ion diffusivity analyzed from cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT). It was found that the amorphous samples with smaller wall thicknesses facilitated improved kinetics. Among samples with similar pore size and wall thickness, the difference in their power performance stems from crystallinity effect, which plays a more significant role in the resulting kinetics of the materials for Na-ion batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Examining Effects of Negative to Positive Capacity Ratio in Three-Electrode Lithium-Ion Cells with Layered Oxide Cathode and Si Anode

The negative to positive electrode capacity ratio (N:P) is crucial for lithium-ion cell design because it affects both energy density and long-term performance. Here, the effect of N:P ratio on electrochemical performance has been investigated for NMC 532 /Si cells containing a reference electrode. By monitoring individual electrode potentials, depths of lithiation/delithiation at the anode and cathode could be determined. The superior performance of the higher N:P cell, including greater reversibility, better capacity retention and lower impedance rise, can be attributed to smaller volume changes in the silicon particles during electrochemical cycling.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Diffusion in intact secondary cell wall models of plants at different equilibrium moisture content

Secondary plant cell walls are composed of carbohydrate and lignin polymers, and collectively represent a significant renewable resource. Leveraging these resources depends in part on a mechanistic understanding for diffusive processes within plant cell walls. Common wood protection treatments and biomass conversion processes to create biorefinery feedstocks feature ion or solvent diffusion within the cell wall. X-ray fluorescence microscopy experiments have determined that ionic diffusion rates are dependent on cell wall hydration as well as the ionic species through non-linear relationships. In this work, we use classical molecular dynamics simulations to map the diffusion behavior of different plant cell wall components (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin), ions (Na + , K + , Cu2 + , Cl - ) and water within a model for an intact plant cell wall at various hydration states (3-30 wt% water). From these simulations, we analyze the contacts between different plant cell wall components with each other and their interaction with the ions. Generally, diffusion increases with increasing hydration, with lignin and hemicellulose components increasing diffusion by an order of magnitude over the tested hydration range. Ion diffusion depends on charge. Positively charged cations preferentially interact with hemicellulose components, which include negatively charged carboxylates. As a result, positive ions diffuse more slowly than negatively charged ions. Measured diffusion coefficients are largely observed to best fit piecewise linear trends, with an inflection point between 10 and 15% hydration. These observations shed light onto the molecular mechanisms for diffusive processes within secondary plant cell walls at atomic resolution.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Ionic Control over Ferroelectricity in 2D Layered van der Waals Capacitors

The van der Waals layered material CuInP 2 S 6 features interesting functional behavior, including the existence of four uniaxial polarization states, polarization reversal against the electric field through Cu ion migration, a negative-capacitance regime, and reversible extraction of Cu ions. At the heart of these characteristics lies the high mobility of Cu ions, which also determines the spontaneous polarization. Therefore, Cu migration across the lattice results in unusual ferroelectric behavior. Here, we demonstrate how the interplay of polar and ionic properties provides a path to ionically controlled ferroelectric behavior, achieved by applying selected DC voltage pulses and subsequently probing ferroelectric switching during fast triangular voltage sweeps. Using current measurements and theoretical calculations, we observe that increasing DC pulse duration results in higher ionic currents, the buildup of an internal electric field that shifts polarization loops, and an increase in total switchable polarization by ~50% due to the existence of a high polarization phase which is stabilized by the internal electric field. Apart from tuning ferroelectric behavior by selected square pulses, hysteretic polarization switching can even be entirely deactivated and reactivated, resulting in three-state systems where polarization switching is either inhibited or can be performed in two different directions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Chemical identification of new particle formation and growth precursors through positive matrix factorization of ambient ion measurements

Abstract. In the lower troposphere, rapid collisions between ions and trace gases result in the transfer of positive charge to the highest proton affinity species and negative charge to the lowest proton affinity species. Measurements of the chemical composition of ambient ions thus provide direct insight into the most acidic and basic trace gases and their ion–molecule clusters – compounds thought to be important for new particle formation and growth. We deployed an atmospheric pressure interface time-of-flight mass spectrometer (APi-ToF) to measure ambient ion chemical composition during the 2016 Holistic Interactions of Shallow Clouds, Aerosols, and Land Ecosystems (HI-SCALE) campaign at the United States Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement facility in the Southern Great Plains (SGP), an agricultural region. Cations and anions were measured for alternating periods of ∼ 24 h over 1 month. We use binned positive matrix factorization (binPMF) and generalized Kendrick analysis (GKA) to obtain information about the chemical formulas and temporal variation in ionic composition without the need for averaging over a long timescale or a priori high-resolution peak fitting. Negative ions consist of strong acids including sulfuric and nitric acid, organosulfates, and clusters of NO3- with highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOMs) derived from monoterpene (MT) and sesquiterpene (SQT) oxidation. Organonitrates derived from SQTs account for most of the HOM signal. Combined with the diel profiles and back trajectory analysis, these results suggest that NO3 radical chemistry is active at this site. SQT oxidation products likely contribute to particle growth at the SGP site. The positive ions consist of bases including alkyl pyridines and amines and a series of high-mass species. Nearly all the positive ions contained only one nitrogen atom and in general support ammonia and amines as being the dominant bases that could participate in new particle formation. Overall, this work demonstrates how APi-ToF measurements combined with binPMF analysis can provide insight into the temporal evolution of compounds important for new particle formation and growth.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Molten fluid apparatus with solid non-brittle electrolyte

A battery includes a fluid negative electrode and a fluid positive electrode separated by a solid electrolyte at least when the electrodes and electrolyte are at an operating temperature. The solid electrolyte includes ions of the negative electrode material forming the fluid negative electrode and has a softness less than beta-alumina solid electrolyte (BASE) ceramics. In one example, the fluid negative electrode comprises lithium (Li), the fluid positive electrode comprises sulfur (S) and the solid electrolyte comprises lithium iodide (LiI).

Vissers, Daniel R.↗

Molten fluid electrode apparatus

A battery includes negative electrode material and positive electrode material where the materials are in a solid phase except for selected portions that are heated to transform the selected portions into a fluid. The fluid portion of negative electrode material is directed to a negative electrode region of a reaction chamber and the fluid portion of positive electrode material is directed to a positive electrode region of the reaction chamber where a solid electrolyte containing ions of the negative electrode separates the positive electrode region from the negative electrode region.

Vissers, Daniel R.↗

Molten fluid apparatus with solid non-brittle electrolyte

A battery includes a fluid negative electrode and a fluid positive electrode separated by a solid electrolyte at least when the electrodes and electrolyte are at an operating temperature. The solid electrolyte comprises a salt formed by ions of the negative electrode material forming the fluid negative electrode. In one example, the fluid negative electrode comprises lithium (Li), the fluid positive electrode comprises sulfur (S) and the solid electrolyte comprises lithium iodide (LiI).

Vissers, Daniel R.↗