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Kamm, Gabrielle (ORCID:0000000151496526)

Publications and source records attributed to Kamm, Gabrielle (ORCID:0000000151496526).

The RAPTR furnace: a rapid heating and cooling sample furnace for in situ X-ray scattering studies of temperature-induced reactions

In situX-ray scattering provides valuable insights into the mechanisms and kinetics of reactions and structural transformations. For reactions and structural transformations primarily driven by temperature, and not coupled to chemical/electrochemical triggers, our ability to initiate and quench processes thermally is a practical limit for probing fast reactive phenomena. Meaningful quantitative analysis requires the dynamic phenomena to be triggered on fast time scales relative to the reaction/transformation kinetics. This article describes a new sample furnace, the Rapid-Actuating Pneumatic Thermal Reactor or RAPTR, for time-resolvedin situX-ray scattering studies initiated by temperature. The RAPTR quickly heats and cools samples by translating them into and out of a pre-heated hot zone. Using diffraction thermometry, it is shown that the samples can be heated/cooled in 10 s or less, with temperatures up to ∼1000°C being accessible. The application of the RAPTR furnace is demonstrated by exploring a fast solid-state reaction: the synthesis of scheelite-type lead tungstate, PbWO 4 , from PbO and WO 3 for which Pb 3 WO 6 is identified as a previously unrecognized reaction intermediate.

Chemistry↗

Considerations for quantitative in situ X-ray powder diffraction studies of solid-state reactions

The importance of sample preparation in collecting high-fidelity powder diffraction data suitable for quantitative structure and phase analysis is well established. Such powder diffraction experiments are increasingly being appliedin situ, during reactions, to explore solid-state reactivity. When appliedin situ, X-ray diffraction is widely used to gain insight into the mechanism and kinetics, and to identify dynamic intermediate states. Here, using a model ion-exchange reaction (NaFeO 2 + LiCl → LiFeO 2 + NaCl), we show that sample preparation not only influences the fidelity of powder diffraction analysis but also impacts the observed reaction progress. Specifically, we found that the observed reaction progress can differ by ∼50% depending on the capillary sample preparation. Thus, forin situdiffraction studies of solid-state reactions, packing fraction is an important and previously unrecognized consideration that impacts reproducibility and fidelity of the reaction study.

Chemistry↗