Engineering topics

Ichitsubo, Tetsu

Publications and source records attributed to Ichitsubo, Tetsu.

3 records

DOE OSTI2021

Electrochemically Induced Strain Evolution in Pt–Ni Alloy Nanoparticles Observed by Bragg Coherent Diffraction Imaging

Strain is known to enhance the activity of the oxygen reduction reaction in catalytic platinum alloy nanoparticles, whose inactivity is the primary impediment to efficient fuel cells and metal–air batteries. Here, Bragg coherent diffraction imaging (BCDI) was employed to reveal the strain evolution during the voltammetric cycling in Pt–Ni alloy nanoparticles composed of Pt 2 Ni 3 , Pt 1 Ni 1 , and Pt 3 Ni 2 . Analysis of the 3D strain images using a core–shell model shows that the strain as large as 5% is induced on Pt-rich shells due to Ni dissolution. The composition dependency of the strain on the shells is in excellent agreement with that of the catalytic activity. The present study demonstrates that BCDI enables quantitative determination of the strain on alloy nanoparticles during electrochemical reactions, which provides a means to exploit surface strain to design a wide range of electrocatalysts.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2016

Two distinct crystallization processes in supercooled liquid

Using molecular dynamics simulations we show that two distinct crystallization processes, depending on the temperature at which crystallization occurs, appear in a supercooled liquid. As a model for glass-forming materials, an Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} model system, in which both the glass transition and crystallization from the supercooled liquid can be well reproduced, is employed. Simulations in the framework of an isothermal-isobaric ensemble indicate that the calculated time-temperature-transformation curve for the crystallization to γ(defect spinel)-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} exhibited a typical nose shape, as experimentally observed in various glass materials. During annealing above the nose temperature, the structure of the supercooled liquid does not change before the crystallization, because of the high atomic mobility (material transport). Thus, the crystallization is governed by the abrupt crystal nucleation, which results in the formation of a stable crystal structure. In contrast, during annealing below the nose temperature, the structure of the supercooled liquid gradually changes before the crystallization, and the formed crystal structure is less stable than that formed above the nose temperature, because of the restricted material transport.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2014

Research Update: Retardation and acceleration of phase separation evaluated from observation of imbalance between structure and valence in LiFePO{sub 4}/FePO{sub 4} electrode

LiFePO{sub 4} is a potential positive electrode material for lithium ion batteries. We have experimentally observed an imbalance between the valence change of Fe ions and the structure change from the LiFePO{sub 4} phase to the FePO{sub 4} phase during delithiation by simultaneous in situ XRD and XANES measurements in an LiFePO{sub 4}/FePO{sub 4} electrode. The ratio of structure change to valence change clearly indicates that the phase separation from LiFePO{sub 4} to FePO{sub 4} is suppressed at the beginning of delithiation, while it is accelerated at the latter stage, which is due to the coherent strain caused by the lattice misfit between the two phases.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗