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197 records · Page 11

Increased Tensile Strength of Carbon Nanotube Yarns and Sheets through Chemical Modification and Electron Beam Irradiation

The inherent strength of individual carbon nanotubes offers considerable opportunity for the development of advanced, lightweight composite structures. Recent work in the fabrication and application of carbon nanotube (CNT) forms such as yarns and sheets has addressed early nanocomposite limitations with respect to nanotube dispersion and loading; and has pushed the technology toward structural composite applications. However, the high tensile strength of an individual CNT has not directly translated to macro-scale CNT forms where bulk material strength is limited by inter-tube electrostatic attraction and slippage. The focus of this work was to assess post processing of CNT sheet and yarn to improve the macro-scale strength of these material forms. Both small molecule functionalization and e-beam irradiation was evaluated as a means to enhance tensile strength and Youngs modulus of the bulk CNT material. Mechanical testing results revealed a tensile strength increase in CNT sheets by 57 when functionalized, while an additional 48 increase in tensile strength was observed when functionalized sheets were irradiated; compared to unfunctionalized sheets. Similarly, small molecule functionalization increased yarn tensile strength up to 25, whereas irradiation of the functionalized yarns pushed the tensile strength to 88 beyond that of the baseline yarn.

composites↗

Filling in the Gaps: Xenoliths in Meteorites are Samples of "Missing" Asteroid Lithologies

We know that the stones that fall to earth as meteorites are not representative of the full diversity of small solar system bodies, because of the peculiarities of the dynamical processes that send material into Earth-crossing paths [1] which result in severe selection biases. Thus, the bulk of the meteorites that fall are insufficient to understand the full range of early solar system processes. However, the situation is different for pebble- and smaller-sized objects that stream past the giant planets and asteroid belts into the inner solar system in a representative manner. Thus, micrometeorites and interplanetary dust particles have been exploited to permit study of objects that do not provide meteorites to earth. However, there is another population of materials that sample a larger range of small solar system bodies, but which have received little attention - pebble-sized foreign clasts in meteorites (also called xenoliths, dark inclusions, clasts, etc.). Unfortunately, most previous studies of these clasts have been misleading, in that these objects have simply been identified as pieces of CM or CI chondrites. In our work we have found this to be generally erroneous, and that CM and especially CI clasts are actually rather rare. We therefore test the hypothesis that these clasts sample the full range of small solar system bodies. We have located and obtained samples of clasts in 81 different meteorites, and have begun a thorough characterization of the bulk compositions, mineralogies, petrographies, and organic compositions of this unique sample set. In addition to the standard e-beam analyses, recent advances in technology now permit us to measure bulk O isotopic compositions, and major- though trace-element compositions of the sub-mm-sized discrete clasts. Detailed characterization of these clasts permit us to explore the full range of mineralogical and petrologic processes in the early solar system, including the nature of fluids in the Kuiper belt and the outer main asteroid belt, as revealed by the mineralogy of secondary phases.

Zolensky, Mike↗

On the Alignment and Focusing of the Marshall Grazing Incidence X-ray Spectrometer (MaGIXS)

The Marshall Grazing Incidence X-ray Spectrometer (MaGIXS) is a NASA sounding rocket instrument that is designed to observe soft X-ray emissions from 24 - 6.0 A (0.5 - 2.0 keV energies) in the solar atmosphere. For the rst time, high-temperature, low-emission plasma will be observed directly with 5 arcsecond spatial resolution and 22 mA spectral resolution. The unique optical design consists of a Wolter - I telescope and a 3-optic grazing- incidence spectrometer. The spectrometer utilizes a nite conjugate mirror pair and a blazed planar, varied line spaced grating, which is directly printed on a silicon substrate using e-beam lithography. The grating design is being nalized and the grating will be fabricated by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Izentis LLC. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is producing the nickel replicated telescope and spectrometer mirrors using the same facilities and techniques as those developed for the ART-XC and FOXSI mirrors. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) will mount and align the optical sub-assemblies based on previous experience with similar instruments, such as the Hinode X-Ray Telescope (XRT). The telescope and spectrometer assembly will be aligned in visible light through the implementation of a theodolite and reference mirrors, in addition to the centroid detector assembly (CDA) { a device designed to align the AXAF-I nested mirrors. Focusing of the telescope and spectrometer will be achieved using the X-ray source in the Stray Light Facility (SLF) at MSFC. We present results from an alignment sensitivity analysis performed on the on the system and we also discuss the method for aligning and focusing MaGIXS.

solar↗

New Insights on Subsurface Imaging of Carbon Nanotubes in Polymer Composites via Scanning Electron Microscopy

Despite many studies of subsurface imaging of carbon nanotube (CNT)-polymer composites via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), significant controversy exists concerning the imaging depth and contrast mechanisms. We studied CNT-polyimide composites and, by threedimensional reconstructions of captured stereo-pair images, determined that the maximum SEM imaging depth was typically hundreds of nanometers. The contrast mechanisms were investigated over a broad range of beam accelerating voltages from 0.3 to 30 kV, and ascribed to modulation by embedded CNTs of the effective secondary electron (SE) emission yield at the polymer surface. This modulation of the SE yield is due to non-uniform surface potential distribution resulting from current flows due to leakage and electron beam induced current. The importance of an external electric field on SEM subsurface imaging was also demonstrated. The insights gained from this study can be generally applied to SEM nondestructive subsurface imaging of conducting nanostructures embedded in dielectric matrices such as graphene-polymer composites, silicon-based single electron transistors, high resolution SEM overlay metrology or e-beam lithography, and have significant implications in nanotechnology.

Zhao, Minhua↗

Method of Fabricating X-Ray Absorbers for Low-Energy X-Ray Spectroscopy

A method of forming low-energy x-ray absorbers. Sensors may be formed on a semiconductor, e.g., silicon, wafer. A seed metal layer, e.g., gold, is deposited on the wafer and patterned into stem pads for electroplating. Stems, e.g., gold, are electroplated from the stem seed pads through a stem mask. An absorber layer, e.g., gold, is deposited on the wafer, preferably e-beam evaporated. After patterning the absorbers, absorber and stem mask material is removed, e.g., in a solvent bath and critical point drying.

Stevenson, Thomas R.↗

Novel Applications of Focused Ion Beam Technique for Planetary Sample Analyses

We are using innovative FIB techniques to prepare samples of planetary materials for different types of coordinated analyses using ion microprobes, synchrotron beamlines, and specialized transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. In these cases, the FIB sample preparation is the critical step in enabling these specialized analyses. We discuss several examples below utilizing the FEI Quanta3D instrument at the NASA Johnson Space Center. Trace element analyses utilizing synchrotron x-ray fluorescence. The trace element content of mineral grains in comet dust provides important clues on their formation and processing in the early solar system. We preformed coordinated analyses of a comet dust particle that had been prepared using ultramicrotomy for TEM analysis. Following the TEM analyses, we extracted a 70 nm thick section from a region of the carbon (C) film of the TEM grid, for additional analyses. A carbon ring ~2-3 μm thick was deposited on top of the C film using the FIB. The C film on the outer rim of the ring was milled away using various patterns to uniformly release the stresses on the film, preventing rupture and collapse, and was attached to the micromanipulator needle. We then isolated the ring completely and transferred the section to a silicon sample holder for analysis using the HXN (hard X-ray nanoprobe) beamline at NSLSII at Brookhaven National Lab. Coordinated Analyses of Presolar Grains. Rare sub-m presolar grains that originate in evolved stars and supernovae, occur in primitive astromaterials and are identified by their exotic isotopic compositions. Coordinated analyses of these grains using NanoSIMS, TEM, and other techniques on the same grain is enabled by innovative FIB sample preparation. In order to obtain subsequent isotopic analyses of Mg and Fe, contributions from surrounding grains were minimized. We precisely deposited a protective cap of Pt on top of the grain to preserve the grain of interest and then milled away about 5 μm diameter of the surrounding material. Following the isotopic analyses, the spindle was extracted and thinned to electron transparency for TEM microstructural analyses. In situ heating TEM experiments on lunar samples. We extracted a FIB thin section from Apollo 17 lunar rock 76015. To avoid ion-beam damage, e-beam deposition was used to deposit the first 500 nm of the C strap, followed by ion beam-assisted deposition of ~3 μm carbon. We performed an ex situ lift-out of the section and placed the section on one of the elements of a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) - specialized heating substrate and attached the section to the substrate by depositing small C straps with the FIB. The heating chips utilize silicon nitride windows to support the samples and provide uniform heating while enabling TEM imaging. The heating chip was loaded into a Hitachi “Blaze” heating holder and analyzed using a Hitachi HF5000 at the University of Arizona.

Rahman, Z.↗

Anomalous and Ungrouped Carbonaceous Chondrites in the US Antarctic Meteorite Collection and their Potential Relevance to Ryugu and Bennu

With two different carbonaceous asteroid sample return missions in full swing, attention has focused on what connections can be made between the asteroid samples and the wide range of carbonaceous chondrite meteorites in worldwide collections. The US Antarctic meteorite collection contains nearly 1000 carbonaceous chondrites of various types including many in well-established groups as well as ungrouped, unusual or anomalous groups [1]. Some of the latter have been included in, or are possibly related to, recently proposed new carbonaceous chondrite classifications – CA and CY chondrites [2,3]. In addition to these, there are numerous ungrouped samples that have properties intermediate between established groups (like CM and CO; [4]), distinct from any other groups [5], or have anomalous properties that might be attributable to parent body processes such as heating, fluid interaction, or impacts [6]. Some CM anomalous or ungrouped chondrites share spectral features with Ryugu, which has a small hydration peak arguably due to hydrated minerals left after either impact heating or shock in carbonaceous chondrites [7]. PCA 91008, PCA 02012, GRO 95566, and LEW 85311 are all CMs that have experienced heating or metamorphism that may be due to impacts, solar radiation, or radiogenic decay [6]. These samples all have low H contents, C/H (bulk), and low 17O [6,8] and may hold clues to understanding the mineralogy of Ryugu, or interpretations of its spectral properties. WIS 91600, on the other hand, appears to be related to several other highly altered CM [6], and shares properties with the newly proposed CY chondrites [6]. An understanding of this grouplet will also aid in the interpretation of Bennu samples which have strong hydration features. In addition, ungrouped carbonaceous chondrites may provide valuable insights into the aqueous alteration potentially recorded in Bennu and Ryugu samples; such as the relatively moderate aqueous alteration recognized and dated at 4-5 myr after CAIs in MAC 88107 (C2-ungrouped) by [9] to the extensive aqueous alteration apparent in MIL 090292 (C1-ungrouped) [10]. Finally, LON 94101/94102 is a brecciated CM chondrite with numerous lithologies. Its appearance is similar to some of the brecciated lithologies visible at the surface of Bennu and Ryugu [11]. Although CM chondrites with multiple lithologies are common (e.g., [12]), the lithologies are often difficult to resolve at the hand specimen scale and only after some detailed e-beam characterization are the subtle lithologic differences evident (e.g., [13]). LON 94102 contains visibly distinct clasts at the hand specimen scale, relatively rare for CM breccias. The largest CM chondrites by mass from the U.S. Antarctic meteorite collection may provide insights into the extent of brecciation and heterogeneity within more typical CM chondrite-like source asteroids. For example, recent curation CT scans [14] show possible clasts within in a subsplit of ALH 83100 (CM1/2) which is the largest CM chondrite or CM chondrite pairing group in the U.S. Antarctic collection with an original mass of 3.019 kg. Similar work on additional subsplits or meteorites may aid our understanding of heterogeneity within CM chondrites from Antarctica. Initial classification of CM chondrites in U.S. Antarctic meteorite collection includes preliminary pairing when petrographically similar CM chondrites that have been previously found in the same field area. The two largest CM chondrite preliminary pairing groups by mass are the ALH 83102 (CM2) pairing group with an original mass of 2.554 kg and the EET 96005 (CM2) pairing group with an original mass of 1.125 kg. However, preliminary pairing groups assigned at classification—intrinsically— do not include stones that are petrographically distinct. Rigorous pairing group studies of CM chondrites from specific field sites are needed to investigate if there is unrecognized heterogeneity in CM chondrites from Antarctica that may represent common asteroid impactors (pre-atmospheric entry asteroids/meteoroids). Detailed pairing studies have the potential to recognize initial stones with multiple lithologies and investigate if there are stones that only sample one of those respective lithologies in the collection. These groups of heated CMs, extensively hydrated CMs, intermediate between CM and CO chondrites, and brecciated samples are all potentially relevant to Bennu and Ryugu samples, where heating, hydration, and brecciation have all come into play. These bodies might also be comprised of material intermediate to CM and CO chondrites, or at least distinct from the well-established CC groups. These small and unusual groups of carbonaceous chondrites may help to unlock new information about early solar system processes and aid in the understanding of the evolution of these carbonaceous asteroids.

meteorites↗

Analysis of RF high power sources for 1MW – range, 10 MeV CW industrial accelerator.

Cobalt-60 is the dominant source of ionizing radiation for sterilizing products in the $200B/year medical device industry. Security and accessibility concerns around this radioactive material - sourced from countries including Russia and China - present national security and economic risks. There is a continued national urgency to replace such high-risk sources with low-risk alternatives such as electron or x-ray beams driven by accelerators. While e-beam sources have been in use for many years, they still represent a small portion of the market. X-ray sources are becoming economical alternatives. Meeting the processing capacity required to replace Co-60 requires a step-change in the capability, efficiency, and overall operating cost of electron accelerators to make adoption feasible. The radiofrequency (RF) power that drives accelerating cavities represents significant capital and operating costs for these accelerators. For accelerator-based systems to be a viable alternative for these applications, RF systems must be economical to manufacture, deploy, and operate.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Positron Sources for Future High Energy Physics Colliders

An unprecedented positron average current is required to fit the luminosity demands of future $e^+e^-$ high energy physics colliders. In addition, in order to access precision-frontier physics, these machines require positron polarization to enable exploring the polarization dependence in many HEP processes cross sections, reducing backgrounds and extending the reach of chiral physics studies beyond the standard model. The ILC has a mature plan for the polarized positron source based on conversion in a thin target of circularly polarized gammas generated by passing the main high energy e-beam in a long superconducting helical undulator. Compact colliders (CLIC, C3 and advanced accelerator-based concepts) adopt a simplified approach and currently do not plan to use polarized positrons in their baseline design, but could greatly benefit from the development of compact alternative solutions to polarized positron production. Increasing the positron current, the polarization purity and simplifying the engineering design are all opportunities where advances in accelerator technology have the potential to make a significant impact. This white-paper describes the current status of the field and provides R&D short-term and long-term pathways for polarized positron sources.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

In Situ Study of the Impact of Aberration-Corrected Electron-Beam Lithography on the Electronic Transport of Suspended Graphene Devices

The implementation of aberration-corrected electron beam lithography (AC-EBL) in a 200 keV scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) is a novel technique that could be used for the fabrication of quantum devices based on 2D atomic crystals with single nanometer critical dimensions, allowing to observe more robust quantum effects. In this work we study electron beam sculpturing of nanostructures on suspended graphene field effect transistors using AC-EBL, focusing on the in situ characterization of the impact of electron beam exposure on device electronic transport quality. When AC-EBL is performed on a graphene channel (local exposure) or on the outside vicinity of a graphene channel (non-local exposure), the charge transport characteristics of graphene can be significantly affected due to charge doping and scattering. While the detrimental effect of non-local exposure can be largely removed by vigorous annealing, local-exposure induced damage is irreversible and cannot be fixed by annealing. We discuss the possible causes of the observed exposure effects. Our results provide guidance to the future development of high-energy electron beam lithography for nanomaterial device fabrication.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Low Power, Wide Dynamic Range Carbon Nanotube Vacuum Gauges

This slide presentation presents carbon nanotube vacuum pressure sensor gauges that operate at low power and exhibit a wide-dynamic range based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The fabrication facility, and the formation process are shown. Pressure sensitivity was found to increase rapidly as the bias power was increased. In addition, by etching part of the thermal SiO2 beneath the tubes and minimizing heat conduction through the substrate, pressure sensitivity was extended toward lower pressures. Results are compared to a conventional thin film meander resistor, which was fabricated and whose pressure response was also measured for comparative purposes.

JEOL E-beam aligner↗

Imaging Secondary Electron Emission from a Single Atomic Layer

Graphene-based devices hold promise for a wide range of technological applications. Yet characterizing the structure and the electrical properties of a material that is only one atomic layer thick still poses technical challenges. Recent investigations indicate that secondary-electron electron-beam-induced current (SE-EBIC) imaging can reveal subtle details regarding electrical conductivity and electron transport with high spatial resolution. Here, it is shown that the SEEBIC imaging mode can be used to detect suspended single layers of graphene and distinguish between different numbers of layers. Pristine and contaminated areas of graphene are also compared to show that pristine graphene exhibits a substantially lower SE yield than contaminated regions. In conclusion, this SEEBIC imaging mode may provide valuable information for the engineering of surface coatings where SE yield is a priority.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Doping transition-metal atoms in graphene for atomic-scale tailoring of electronic, magnetic, and quantum topological properties

Atomic-scale fabrication is an outstanding challenge and overarching goal for the nanoscience community. The practical implementation of moving and fixing atoms to a structure is non-trivial considering that one must spatially address the positioning of single atoms, provide a stabilizing scaffold to hold structures in place, and understand the details of their chemical bonding. Free-standing graphene offers a simplified platform for the development of atomic-scale fabrication and the focused electron beam in a scanning transmission electron microscope can be used to locally induce defects and sculpt the graphene. In this scenario, the graphene forms the stabilizing scaffold and the experimental question is whether a range of dopant atoms can be attached and incorporated into the lattice using a single technique and, from a theoretical perspective, we would like to know which dopants will create technologically interesting properties. Here in this paper, we demonstrate that the electron beam can be used to selectively and precisely insert a variety of transition metal atoms into graphene with highly localized control over the doping locations. We use first-principles density functional theory calculations with direct observation of the created structures to reveal the energetics of incorporating metal atoms into graphene and their magnetic, electronic, and quantum topological properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Fabrication of field-effect transistors with transfer-free nanostructured carbon as semiconducting channel material

Carbon nanostructures as active channel material in field effect transistors (FETs) are appealing in microelectronics for their improved performance such as high speed and low energy dissipation. However, these devices require the incorporation of nanostructure transfer steps in the fabrication process flow, which makes difficult its application in large scale integration circuits. Here we present a novel method for the fabrication of FETs with nanostructured carbon in the channel with p-type semiconducting properties and intermediate drain-source current (IDS) on/off ratio. The method is based on the use of Ni nanoparticles in the source-drain gap region as seed material for the formation of carbon nanostructures in the FET channel. FETs without Ni nanoparticles in the channel showed no modulation of IDS as a function of gate voltage. The device fabrication process does not require any carbon nanostructure transfer steps since it directly forms carbon nanostructures electrically connected to the device's source and drain electrodes via electron-beam evaporation of carbon and conventional lithographic processes. Since all device fabrication steps are compatible with Si technology processes, they are capable of being further optimized following process development protocols practiced by the semiconductor industry.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Mitigating challenges in aberration-corrected electron-beam lithography on electron-opaque substrates

Aberration-corrected electron-beam lithography (AC-EBL) using ultra-thin electron transparent membranes has achieved single-digit nanometer resolution in two widely used electron-beam resists: poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and hydrogen silsesquioxane. On the other hand, AC-EBL implementation on thick, electron-opaque substrates is appealing for conventional top-down fabrication of quantum devices with nanometer-scale features. To investigate the performance of AC-EBL on thick substrates, we measured the lithographic point spread function of a 200 keV aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope by defining both positive and negative patterns in PMMA thin films, spin-cast on thick SiO 2 /Si substrates. We present the problems encountered during pre-exposure beam focusing and discuss methods to overcome them. In addition, applying some of these methods using commercial 50 nm thick SiN X membranes with thick Si support frames, we printed arrays of holes in PMMA with pitches around 26 nm on SiN X /Si substrates with increasing Si thickness. Here, our results show that proximity effects from even 50 nm thick SiN X membranes limit hole arrays to 20 nm pitch; however, down to this limit, the effect of the substrate thickness on the pattern quality is minimal. These results highlight the need for novel resists less susceptible to proximity effects, or resists which can be used directly, after development, as the dielectric material in periodic gates in 2D quantum devices.

2D quantum devices↗

Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU): Electron Beam Welding of the Portable Life Support System (PLSS) Ti-6Al-4V Backplate with Integrated Cooling Channels

The Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) is the first clean sheet redesign of the astronaut spacesuit in approximately 40 years. NASA Langley Research Center’s electron beam welding team, of which the author is a member, is leading the development of the weld technology required to manufacture the backplate component of the Portable Life Support System (PLSS). This backplate will provide both structural support and integral cooling for the life support systems, communications, and other electronics inside the spacesuit.

electron beam welding↗