Search NASA⌕ Search
Home/Archive/DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI · 1632154

Fast nonthermal processes in pulsed laser deposition

Ulbrandt, Jeffrey G.·Zhang, Xiaozhi·Headrick, Randall L.·Liu, Rui·Dawber, Matthew·Evans-Lutterodt, Kenneth
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) is typically used to grow epitaxial thin films of quantum materials. In this research, we use in situ x-ray scattering to study homoepitaxy of SrTiO 3 by energetic deposition (e-PLD) versus PLD thermalized by a He background gas (th-PLD). Energetic PLD suppresses the lateral growth of two-dimensional islands, which suggests that particles with kinetic energies of ~ 100 eV break up smaller islands. Fast interlayer transport occurs for th-PLD as well as e-PLD, implying a process operating on submicrosecond time scales for incident particles with kinetic energies below 10 eV.

Explore related subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCEcrystal growthlaser ablationoxide surfacespulsed laser depositionx-ray scattering

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Ulbrandt, Jeffrey G., Zhang, Xiaozhi, Headrick, Randall L., Liu, Rui, Dawber, Matthew, Evans-Lutterodt, Kenneth. 2020-06-01. Fast nonthermal processes in pulsed laser deposition. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.101.241406

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related reports

DOE OSTI2026

Cyclic moisture reactivation of calcium sorbents for long duration thermochemical energy storage

The transition to a flexible and reliable energy infrastructure, using electro-thermal energy generation technologies such as geothermal, concentrated solar power, and nuclear, usually demands simultaneous advancement of thermal energy storage (TES) to support on-demand electricity generation and industrial applications while mitigating the inherent intermittency of renewable energy sources and power outages from direct energy generation. Among TES technologies, thermochemical energy storage (TCES) based on calcium looping emerges as a compelling high-power energy storage candidate due to its high reaction enthalpy, compatibility with elevated operating temperatures, and abundance of low-cost materials. However, the long-term durability of calcium-based sorbents for TCES is hindered by surface sintering and particle aggregation, leading to performance degradation over repeated thermal cycles. This study explores a moisture hydration-based strategy to regenerate a degraded calcium sorbent and mitigate performance degradation for long duration TCES. The addition of moisture transforms calcium oxide into calcium hydroxide and produces intercalation water layers, associated with a regenerated surface area and reduced calcium oxide crystallite size. Both these effects are beneficial in restoring the sorbents' reactivity for carbonization. Additionally, an optimized hydration-assisted reactivation protocol balances the recovered energy storage capacity with heating penalty required for moisture removal from hydrated samples, resulting in an enhanced energy storage capacity up to 176% compared to benchmark sorbents that undergo cycling without reactivation after 60 cycles. In conclusion, these results highlight the potential of hydration-assisted reactivation to enhance the long-term performance of TCES, providing an effective pathway to advancing electro-thermal storage technologies.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗