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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Kilovolt Tri-Gate GaN Junction HEMTs with High Thermal Stability

The lack of reports on the high-temperature performance of tri-gate GaN power HEMTs has raised serious concern on their competitiveness. This work demonstrates the first normally-off tri-gate GaN HEMT that can block kilovolts at 150 °C and zero gate bias. The key enabling device design is a new type of tri-gate, the junction tri-gate, which comprises p-n junction wrapping around AlGaN/GaN fins in the gate region. At 150 °C, the GaN tri-gate junction HEMT (Tri-JHEMT) retains strong gate control and stable threshold voltage, while the traditional tri-gate metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) HEMTs fabricated on the same wafer shows a large threshold voltage shift and inferior capabilities of voltage blocking. These results show the excellent thermal stability of GaN Tri-JHEMTs and their great potentials for power electronics applications.

Ma, Yunwei↗
NASA NTRS1982

Thermal stability of the surface layer and its relation to the dispersion of primary pollutants in St. Louis

The present investigation is concerned with the applicability of the vertical temperature gradient, DT, as a dispersion parameter for urban area sources. Data on DT were tabulated from temperature measurements at 5 m and 30 m obtained on 30 m towers at 12 stations. DT was obtained by subtracting the value at 5 m from that at 30 m. Positive DT values represent an inversion. Accuracy of the DT data is 0.1 K. Hourly measurements of DT along with concentrations of the primary pollutants, CO, NO, and total hydrocarbons (THC), are available from the 1976 RAPS data base for St. Louis. Linear correlations between a given pollutant species concentration and DT are developed from that data set. It could be confirmed that a strong positive correlation exists at night between the thermal stability of the lowest part of the boundary layer and the urban concentration of the primary pollutants CO, NO, and hydrocarbons.

Remsberg, E. E.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Pressure Engineering Promising Transparent Oxides with Large Conductivity Enhancement and Strong Thermal Stability

Abstract Transparent conducting oxides (TCO) with high electrical conductivity and high visible light transparency are desired for a wide range of high‐impact engineering. Yet, usually, a compromise must be made between conductivity and transparency, limiting the practical application of a TCO to the next level. Furthermore, TCO performance is highly sensitive to composition, so conventional synthesis methods, such as chemical doping, cannot unravel the mysteries of the quantitative structure–performance relationship. Thus, improving the fundamental understanding or creating materials‐by‐design has limited success. Here, a strategy is proposed to modulate the lattice and electronic and optical properties precisely by applying pressure on a TCO. Strikingly, after compression–decompression treatment on the indium titanium oxides (ITiO), a highly transparent and metastable phase with two orders of magnitude enhancement in conductivity is synthesized from an irreversible phase transition. Moreover, this phase possesses previously unattainable filter efficiency on hazardous blue light up to 600 °C, providing potential for healthcare‐related applications with strong thermal stability up to 200 °C. These results demonstrate that pressure engineering is a clean and effective tool for tailoring functional materials that are not achievable by other means, providing an exciting alternative property‐tuning dimension in materials science.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1991

Improvements in contact resistivity and thermal stability of Au-contacted InP solar cells

Specific contact resistivities for as-fabricated Au contacts on n-p InP solar cells are typically in the 10(exp -3) ohm/sq cm range, but contact resistivities in the 10(exp -6) ohm/sq cm range can be obtained if the cells are heat treated at 400 C for a few minutes. This heat treatment, however, results in a dramatic drop in the open circuit voltage of the cell due to excessive dissolution of the emitter into the metallization. It was found that low values of contact resistivity can be secured without the accompanying drop in the open circuit voltage by adding Ga and In in the Au metallization. It is shown that Au contacts containing as little as 1 percent atomic Ga can suppress the reaction that takes place at the metal-InP interface during heat treatment, while exhibiting contact resistivity values in the low 10(exp -5) ohm/sq cm. Detailed explanations for the observed superior thermal stability of these contacts are presented.

Fatemi, Navid S.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Thermal Stability of the Dot-in-Well Gain Medium for Photonic Crystal Surface Emitting Lasers

Self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) embedded in InGaAs quantum wells (QWs) are used as active regions for photonic-crystal surface-emitting lasers (PCSELs). An epitaxial regrowth method is developed to fabricate the dot-in-well (DWELL) PCSELs. Here, the epitaxial regrowth starts with the growth of a partial laser structure containing bottom cladding, waveguide, active region, and the photonic crystal (PC) layer. The PC layer is patterned to realize the cavity. Subsequently a top cladding layer is regrown to complete the laser structure. During the regrowth of the top cladding layer, the partial laser structure is subjected to high growth temperatures in excess of 600 °C resulting in an unintentional annealing of the active region. This annealing of the active region can alter the QDs by changing their size resulting in a blue shift in photoluminescence (PL) and narrowing PL emission. This effect results in the misaligning of the gain peak and the cavity resonance, resulting in sub-optimal lasing performance. DWELL active regions are known to have better thermal stability compared to both QDs and QWs and could be an ideal candidate for regrown PCSELs. We successfully demonstrate an optically-pumped epitaxially-regrown DWELL PCSEL with an emission wavelength of 1230 nm operating at room temperature. Furthermore, the DWELL active region shows excellent emission wavelength stability and intensity despite the high temperature regrowth process.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Diffused morphotropic phase boundary in relaxor-PbTiO 3 crystals: High piezoelectricity with improved thermal stability

Solid solution ferroelectrics are the most widely used piezoelectric material for numerous electromechanical applications, including sensors, actuators, and transducers. A milestone in ferroelectric research is the discovery of the morphotropic phase boundary that was first reported in Pb(Zr x Ti 1–x )O 3 , which has been extensively solicited to improve the performance of various solid solution ferroelectrics, including those having the highest piezoelectricity known today. However, due to the inherent correlation between phase transition and thermodynamic imbalance, the efforts of building the phase boundary encounter the challenge that high performance materials are generally accompanied by property instability. In this paper, we report a comprehensive study on the crystalline symmetry and polar nano-regions in relaxor-PbTiO 3 crystals by synchrotron measurements and property characterizations. In contrast to the common belief that the morphotropic phase boundary is a narrow composition region, the morphotropic phase boundary in ternary Pb(In 1/2 Nb 1/2 )O 3 -Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 -PbTiO 3 is demonstrated as an extensive region covering at least 9% of the PbTiO 3 content. Such a diffused morphotropic phase boundary is associated with the intensive interaction of polar nano-regions, leading to high piezoelectricity (>1500 pC/N) with greatly improved thermal stability, where the piezoelectric variation is ~90% over the temperature range of 273–373 K, which is about a factor of 3 lower compared to its binary counterpart Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 -PbTiO 3 . This work sheds light on the fundamental understanding of nanoscale inhomogeneity and macroscopic symmetry in relaxor-PbTiO 3 , and successfully interlinks the structure and properties in complex solid solutions. The existence of a diffused morphotropic phase boundary is also expected to benefit other ferroic systems beyond ferroelectrics, such as ferromagnetic and multiferroic materials.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

A far‐red‐emitting (Gd,Y) 3 (Ga,Al) 5 O 12 :Mn 2+ ceramic phosphor with enhanced thermal stability for plant cultivation

Abstract As for plants, far‐red (FR) light with wavelength from 700 nm to 740 nm is critical for processes of photosynthesis and photomorphogenesis. Light‐controlled development depends on light to control cell differentiation, structural and functional changes, and finally converge into the formation of tissues and organs. Phosphor converted FR emission under LED excitation is a cost‐effective and high‐efficient way to provide artificial FR light source. With the aim to develop an efficient FR phosphor that can promote the plant growth, a series of gadolinium yttrium gallium garnet (GYGAG) transparent ceramic phosphors co‐doped with Mn 2+ and Si 4+ have been fabricated via chemical co‐precipitation method, followed sintered in O 2 and hot isostatic pressing in this work. Under UV excitation, the phosphor exhibited two bright and broadband red emission spectra due to Mn 2+ : 4 T 1 → 6 A 1 spin‐forbidden transition, and one of which located in the right FR region. And then, Ce 3+ ions were co‐doped as the activator to enhance the absorption at blue light region and the emission of Mn 2+ . It turns out that the emission band of GYGAG transparent ceramic phosphors matches well with the absorption band of phytochrome P FR , which means they are promising to be applied in plant cultivation light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) for modulating plant growth. Besides, the thermal stability of this material was investigated systematically, and an energy transferring model involves defects was also proposed to explain the phenomenon of abnormal temperature quenching.

Qiu, Xuting↗
DOE OSTI2022

Thermal stability of antiferroelectric-like Al:HfO 2 thin films with TiN or Pt electrodes

HfO 2 -based antiferroelectric-like thin films are increasingly being considered for commercial devices. However, even with initial promise, the temperature sensitivity of electrical properties such as loss tangent and leakage current remains unreported. 50 nm thick, 4 at. % Al-doped HfO 2 thin films were synthesized via atomic layer deposition with both top and bottom electrodes being TiN or Pt. A study of their capacitance vs temperature showed that the Pt/Al:HfO 2 /Pt had a relative dielectric permittivity of 23.30 ± 0.06 at room temperature with a temperature coefficient of capacitance (TCC) of 78 ± 86 ppm/°C, while the TiN/Al:HfO 2 /TiN had a relative dielectric permittivity of 32.28 ± 0.14 at room temperature with a TCC of 322 ± 41 ppm/°C. The capacitance of both devices varied less than 6% over 1 to 1000 kHz from –125 to 125 °C. Both capacitors maintained loss tangents under 0.03 and leakage current densities of 10 –9 –10 –7 A/cm 2 between –125 and 125 °C. The TiN/Al:HfO 2 /TiN capacitor maintained an energy storage density (ESD) of 18.17 ± 0.79 J/cm 3 at an efficiency of 51.79% ± 2.75% over the –125 to 125 °C range. The Pt/Al:HfO 2 /Pt capacitor also maintained a stable ESD of 9.83 ± 0.26 J/cm 3 with an efficiency of 62.87% ± 3.00% over the same temperature range. Finally, such low losses in both capacitors along with their thermal stability make antiferroelectric-like, Al-doped HfO 2 thin films a promising material for temperature-stable microelectronics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2021

On the origin & thermal stability of Arrokoth's and Pluto's ice

In this paper we discuss in a thermodynamic, geologically empirical way the long-term nature of the stable majority ices that could be present in Kuiper Belt object (KBO) 2014 MU69 (also called Arrokoth; hereafter “MU(69)”) after its 4.6 Gyr residence in the Edgeworth-Kuiper belt (EKB) as a cold classical object. We compare the upper bounds for the gas production rate (~10^(24) molecules/s) measured by the New Horizons (NH) spacecraft flyby on 01 Jan 2019 to estimates for the outgassing flux rates from a suite of common cometary and KBO ices at the average ~ 40 K sunlit surface temperature of MU69, but do not find the upper limit very constraining except for the most volatile of species (e.g. CO, N2, CH4). More constraining is the stability versus sublimation into vacuum requirement over Myr to Gyr, and from this we find only 3 common ices that are truly refractory: HCN, CH3OH, and H2O (in order of increasing stability), while NH3 and H2CO ices are marginally stable and may be removed by any positive temperature excursions in the EKB, as produced every 10^(8)–10^(9) years by nearby supernovae and passing O/B stars. To date the NH team has reported the presence of abundant CH3OH and H2O on MU69's surface (Stern et al., 2019; Grundy et al., 2020). NH3 has been searched for, but not found. We predict that future absorption feature detections, if any are ever derived from higher signal-to-noise ratio spectra, will be due to an HCN or poly-H2CO based species. Consideration of the conditions present in the EKB region during the formation era of MU69 lead us to state that it is highly likely that it “formed in the dark”, in an optically thick mid-plane, unable to see the nascent, variable, highly luminous Young Stellar Object (YSO)/TTauri Sun, and that KBOs contain HCN and CH3OH ice phases in addition to the H2O ice phases found in their short period (SP) comet descendants. Finally, when we apply our ice thermal stability analysis to bodies/populations related to MU69, we find that methanol ice is likely ubiquitous in the outer solar system; that if Pluto isn't a fully differentiated body, then it must have gained its hypervolatile ices from proto-planetary disk (PPD) sources in the first few Myr of the solar system's existence; and that hypervolatile rich, highly primordial comet C/2016 R2 was placed onto an Oort Cloud orbit on a similar few Myr timescale.

Pluto↗
NASA NTRS1992

Determination of the thermal stability of perfluoropolyalkyl ethers by tensimetry

The thermal decomposition temperatures of several perfluoropolyalkyl ether fluids were determined with a computerized tensimeter. In general, the decomposition temperatures of the commercial fluids were all similar and significantly higher than those for noncommercial fluids. Correlation of the decomposition temperatures with the molecular structures of the primary components of the commercial fluids revealed that the stability of the fluids was not affected by carbon chain length, branching, or adjacent difluoroformal groups. Instead, stability was limited by the presence of small quantities of thermally unstable material and/or chlorine-containing material arising from the use of chlorine containing solvents during synthesis. Finally, correlation of decomposition temperatures with molecular weights for two fluids supports a chain cleavage reaction mechanism for one and an unzipping reaction mechanism for the other.

Helmick, Larry A.↗
NASA NTRS2002

PMR-15/Layered Silicate Nanocomposites For Improved Thermal Stability And Mechanical Properties

Montmorillonite clay was organically modified by co-exchange of an aromatic diamine and a primary alkyl amine. The clay was dispersed into a PMR (Polymerization of Monomer Reactants)-15 matrix and the glass transition temperature and thermal oxidative stability of the resulting nanocomposites were evaluated. PMR-15/ silicate nanocomposites were also investigated as a matrix material for carbon fabric reinforced composites. Dispersion of the organically modified silicate into the PMR-15 matrix enhanced the thermal oxidative stability, the flexural strength, flexural modulus, and interlaminar shear strength of the polymer matrix composite.

Campbell, Sandi↗
NASA NTRS1981

Tribological properties and thermal stability of various types of polyimide films

Thermal exposure experiments at 315 and 350 C were conducted on seven different types of polyimide films to determine which was the most thermally stable and adherent. The polyimides were ranked according to the rate at which they lost weight and how well they adhere to the metallic substrate. Friction and wear experiments were conducted at 25 C (room temperature) on films bonded to 440C HT stainless steel. Friction, film wear rates, wear mechanisms, and transfer films of the seven films were investigated and compared. The polyimides were found to fall into two groups as far as friction and wear properties were concerned. Group one had lower friction but an order of magnitude higher film wear rate than did group two. The wear mechanism was predominately adhesive, but the size of the wear particles were larger for group one polyimides.

Fusaro, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Tribological properties and thermal stability of various types of polyimide films

Thermal exposure experiments at 315 and 350 C were conducted on seven different types of polyimide films to determine which was the most thermally stable and adherent. The polyimides were ranked according to the rate of which they lost weight and how well they adhered to the metallic substrate. Friction and wear experiments were conducted at 25 C (room temperature) on films bonded to 440C HT stainless steel. Friction, film wear rates, wear mechanisms, and transfer films of the seven films were investigated and compared. The polyimides were found to fall into two groups as far as friction and wear properties were concerned. Group I had lower friction but an order of magnitude higher film wear rate than did group II. The wear mechanism was predominately adhesive, but the size of the wear particles was larger for group I polyimides.

Fusaro, R. L.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Enhanced Thermal Stability of Conductive Mercury Telluride Colloidal Quantum Dot Thin Films Using Atomic Layer Deposition

Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are valuable for their potential applications in optoelectronic devices. However, they are susceptible to thermal degradation during processing and while in use. Mitigating thermally induced sintering, which leads to absorption spectrum broadening and undesirable changes to thin film electrical properties, is necessary for the reliable design and manufacture of CQD-based optoelectronics. Here, low-temperature metal–oxide atomic layer deposition (ALD) was investigated as a method for mitigating sintering while preserving the optoelectronic properties of mercury telluride (HgTe) CQD films. ALD-coated films are subjected to temperatures up to 160 °C for up to 5 h and alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) is found to be most effective at preserving the optical properties, demonstrating the feasibility of metal–oxide in-filling to protect against sintering. HgTe CQD film electrical properties were investigated before and after alumina ALD in-filling, which was found to increase the p-type doping and hole mobility of the films. The magnitude of these effects depended on the conditions used to prepare the HgTe CQDs. With further investigation into the interaction effects of CQD and ALD process factors, these results may be used to guide the design of CQD–ALD materials for their practical integration into useful optoelectronic devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Extreme Dimensional Stability Thermal Control Test

Two observatories under consideration in the 2020 decadal survey include coronagraphs for characterizing the atmospheric composition of exoplanets. The telescope in those observatories must provide a wavefront that is stable to the picometer level for the coronagraph to provide enough starlight rejection to capture light reflected off of an Earth-like exoplanet. Therefore, picometer dimensional stability and control are required for these missions. Analysis indicates the thermal environment around the primary mirror must be stable to milliKelvin for the primary mirror’s thermally induced wavefront error to be stable to picometers. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) partnered with L3-Harris Corporation to design and build a 1.5mthermal control system capable of milliKelvin stability. MSFC tested this thermal control system in the X-Ray and Cryogenic Facility’s large chamber to characterize how well the system controlled a 1.5m ULE® mirror.

optomechanical↗
DOE OSTI2023

Thermal Stability and Outgassing Behaviors of High–nickel Cathodes in Lithium–ion Batteries

LiNiO 2 -based high-nickel layered oxide cathodes are regarded as promising cathode materials for high-energy-density automotive lithium batteries. Most of the attention thus far has been paid towards addressing their surface and structural instability issues brought by the increase of Ni content (>90 %) with an aim to enhance the cycle stability. However, the poor safety performance remains an intractable problem for their commercialization in the market, yet it has not received appropriate attention. In this review, we focus on the gas generation and thermal degradation behaviors of high-Ni cathodes, which are critical factors in determining their overall safety performance. Furthermore, a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms of outgassing and thermal runaway reactions is presented and analyzed from a chemistry perspective. Finally, we discuss the challenges and the insights into developing robust, safe high-Ni cathodes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗