Engineering topics
Lu, Gang
Publications and source records attributed to Lu, Gang.
Au/Pt Bimetallic Nanowires with Stepped Pt Sites for Enhanced C–C Cleavage in C2+ Alcohol Electro-oxidation Reactions
Efficient C–C bond cleavage and oxidation of alcohols to CO 2 is the key to developing highly efficient alcohol fuel cells for renewable energy applications. In this work, we report the synthesis of core/shell Au/Pt nanowires (NWs) with stepped Pt clusters deposited along the ultrathin (2.3 nm) stepped Au NWs as an active catalyst to effectively oxidize alcohols to CO 2 . The catalytic oxidation reaction is dependent on the Au/Pt ratios, and the Au 1.0 /Pt 0.2 NWs have the largest percentage (~75%) of stepped Au/Pt sites and show the highest activity for ethanol electro-oxidation, reaching an unprecedented 196.9 A/mg Pt (32.5 A/mg Pt+Au ). This NW catalyst is also active in catalyzing the oxidation of other primary alcohols, such as methanol, n-propanol, and ethylene glycol. In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy are used to characterize the catalyst structure and to identify key reaction intermediates, providing concrete evidence that the synergy between the low-coordinated Pt sites and the stepped Au NWs is essential to catalyze the alcohol oxidation reaction, which is further supported by DFT calculations that the C–C bond cleavage is indeed enhanced on the undercoordinated Pt–Au surface. Here, our study provides important evidence that a core/shell structure with stepped core/shell sites is essential to enhance electrochemical oxidation of alcohols and will also be central to understanding electro-oxidation reactions and to the future development of highly efficient direct alcohol fuel cells for renewable energy applications.
Hydrogen induced dislocation core reconstruction in bcc tungsten
Dislocation, playing a crucial role in the plastic deformation of metals, can be significantly affected by introducing solute elements. Hydrogen (H) embrittlement is one such example, while the underlying mechanism for H affected dislocation structural stability and mobility remains unclear and the role of H has been controversial. Here, using first-principles calculations, we demonstrate that the effect of H on screw dislocation in bcc tungsten (W) is H concentration-dependent, signified by a H-induced transition of SD core structure. At low concentrations of H segregation, dislocation maintains the intrinsic easy-core structure, and H atoms are attached to the “periphery” of dislocation to enhance dislocation motion. In contrast, at high H concentrations, dislocation transforms into a hard-core, metal hydride-like structure, as H atoms become the “body” of dislocation to significantly reduce the dislocation mobility in W. Further, such local easy-to-hard transition can also be induced by the other solutes, including helium, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen. Our work sheds new light on the H-dislocation interactions in bcc W, having broad implications in the interstitial solute-related phenomena.
Quantifying Storm-Time Thermospheric Density and Neutral Wind Variations - Importance of Accurate Specification of Magnetospheric Forcing
Describes energy inputs to magnetic storms.
Challenges in Forecasting the Quiescent Thermosphere-Ionosphere Variability that Underlies Responses to Extreme Space Weather Events
Reviews solar atmospheric tidal forces and modeling challenges and requirements for accurate tidal predictions.
A High-resolution Model of Field-aligned Currents Through Empirical Orthogonal Functions Analysis (MFACE)
Ten years of CHAMP magnetic field measurements are integrated into MFACE, a model of field-aligned currents (FACs) using empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs). EOF1 gives the basic Region-1/Region-2 pattern varying mainly with the interplanetary magnetic field Bz component. EOF2 captures separately the cusp current signature and By-related variability. Compared to existing models, MFACE yields significantly better spatial resolution, reproduces typically observed FAC thickness and intensity, improves on the magnetic local time (MLT) distribution, and gives the seasonal dependence of FAC latitudes and the NBZ current signature. MFACE further reveals systematic dependences on By, including 1) Region-1/Region-2 topology modifications around noon; 2) imbalance between upward and downward maximum current density; 3) MLT location of the Harang discontinuity. Furthermore, our procedure allows quantifying response times of FACs to solar wind driving at the bow shock nose: we obtain 20 minutes and 35-40 minutes lags for the FAC density and latitude, respectively.
High-performance field effect transistors with self-assembled nanodielectrics
Field effect transistor devices comprising III-V semiconductors and organic gate dielectric materials, such dielectric materials as can afford flexibility in device design and fabrication.
Electron Impact Ionization: A New Parameterization for 100 eV to 1 MeV Electrons
Low, medium and high energy electrons can penetrate to the thermosphere (90-400 km; 55-240 miles) and mesosphere (50-90 km; 30-55 miles). These precipitating electrons ionize that region of the atmosphere, creating positively charged atoms and molecules and knocking off other negatively charged electrons. The precipitating electrons also create nitrogen-containing compounds along with other constituents. Since the electron precipitation amounts change within minutes, it is necessary to have a rapid method of computing the ionization and production of nitrogen-containing compounds for inclusion in computationally-demanding global models. A new methodology has been developed, which has parameterized a more detailed model computation of the ionizing impact of precipitating electrons over the very large range of 100 eV up to 1,000,000 eV. This new parameterization method is more accurate than a previous parameterization scheme, when compared with the more detailed model computation. Global models at the National Center for Atmospheric Research will use this new parameterization method in the near future.
Energy Transport in the Thermosphere During the Solar Storms of April 2002
The dramatic solar storm events of April 2002 deposited a large amount of energy into the Earth's upper atmosphere, substantially altering the thermal structure, the chemical composition, the dynamics, and the radiative environment. We examine the flow of energy within the thermosphere during this storm period from the perspective of infrared radiation transport and heat conduction. Observations from the SABER instrument on the TIMED satellite are coupled with computations based on the ASPEN thermospheric general circulation model to assess the energy flow. The dominant radiative response is associated with dramatically enhanced infrared emission from nitric oxide at 5.3 microns from which a total of approx. 7.7 x 10(exp 23) ergs of energy are radiated during the storm. Energy loss rates due to NO emission exceed 2200 Kelvin per day. In contrast, energy loss from carbon dioxide emission at 15 microns is only approx. 2.3% that of nitric oxide. Atomic oxygen emission at 63 microns is essentially constant during the storm. Energy loss from molecular heat conduction may be as large as 3.8% of the NO emission. These results confirm the "natural thermostat" effect of nitric oxide emission as the primary mechanism by which storm energy is lost from the thermosphere below 210 km.