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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 325 records · Page 18

Dynamic Pattern Formation in Electron-Beam-Induced Etching [Emergent formation of dynamic topographic patterns in electron beam induced etching]

Here, we report highly ordered topographic patterns that form on the surface of diamond, span multiple length scales, and have a symmetry controlled by the precursor gas species used in electron-beam-induced etching (EBIE). The pattern formation dynamics reveals an etch rate anisotropy and an electron energy transfer pathway that is overlooked by existing EBIE models. Therefore, we, modify established theory such that it explains our results and remains universally applicable to EBIE. Furthermore, the patterns can be exploited in controlled wetting, optical structuring, and other emerging applications that require nano- and microscale surface texturing of a wide band-gap material.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Pattern formation during electrochemical and liquid metal dealloying

Dealloying has evolved from a problematic corrosion process to a versatile tool for scalable fabrication of nanostructured metals. While the original, and majority of, work in the area has focused on electrochemical dealloying, a powerful variation of dealloying—liquid metal dealloying—has recently gained popularity. This process relies on a melt to carry out selective dissolution, replacing the traditional electrolyte solution. While electrolytes and molten metals are both suitable dealloying media, they can lead to very different morphologies. In this article, we compare and contrast what is known about the microscale physics and chemistry controlling microstructural evolution in electrochemical and liquid metal dealloying. Here, we conclude that the core phenomenology of porosity evolution—a competition between dissolution and interface diffusion—is similar in both dealloying processes, but that the relative magnitudes of these two processes control interfacial pattern formation.

McCue, Ian↗

Insights into hydrocarbon chain and aromatic ring formation in the interstellar medium: computational study of the isomers of C{sub 4}H{sub 3}{sup +} C{sub 6}H{sub 3}{sup +} and C{sub 6}H{sub 5}{sup +} and their formation pathways

Small hydrocarbons such as acetylene is present in circumstellar envelopes of carbon-rich stars, but the processes that yield larger molecules, and eventually polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), remain poorly understood. To gain additional insight into the early steps of such processes, electronic structure calculations were performed on the potential energy surfaces of C{sub 4}H{sub 3}{sup +}, C{sub 6}H{sub 3}{sup +} and C{sub 6}H{sub 5}{sup +}. The results establish reactive pathways from acetylene and its ion to formation of the first aromatic ring. We characterize the stable isomers, their spectroscopic properties, and many of the transition structures that represent barriers to isomerization. The pathways to stabilized C{sub 4}H{sub 3}{sup +} and C{sub 6}H{sub 3}{sup +} are most likely to arise from unimolecular decomposition of hot C{sub 4}H{sub 4}{sup +} and C{sub 6}H{sub 4}{sup +} by H atom elimination. By contrast, we found an ion-molecule pathway to C{sub 6}H{sub 5}{sup +} to be very stable to fragmentation and elimination reactions even without collisional stabilization. This aromatic species is a good nucleation center for the growth of larger PAHs in interstellar conditions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Formation of Globular Clusters with Internal Abundance Spreads in r -Process Elements: Strong Evidence for Prolonged Star Formation

Several globular clusters (GCs) in the Galaxy are observed to show internal abundance spreads in r -process elements (e.g., Eu). We propose a new scenario that explains the origin of these GCs (e.g., M5 and M15). In this scenario, stars with no/little abundance variations first form from a massive molecular cloud (MC). After all of the remaining gas of the MC is expelled by numerous supernovae, gas ejected from asymptotic giant branch stars can be accumulated in the central region of the GC to form a high-density intracluster medium (ICM). Merging of neutron stars then occurs to eject r -process elements, which can be efficiently trapped in and subsequently mixed with the ICM. New stars formed from the ICM can have r -process abundances that are quite different from those of earlier generations of stars within the GC. This scenario can explain both (i) why r -process elements can be trapped within GCs and (ii) why GCs with internal abundance spreads in r -process elements do not show [Fe/H] spreads. Our model shows (i) that a large fraction of Eu-rich stars can be seen in Na-enhanced stellar populations of GCs, as observed in M15, and (ii) why most of the Galactic GCs do not exhibit such internal abundance spreads. Our model demonstrates that the observed internal spreads of r -process elements in GCs provide strong evidence for prolonged star formation (∼10{sup 8} yr).

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The Formation of IRIS Diagnostics. IX. The Formation of the C i 135.58 NM Line in the Solar Atmosphere

The C i 135.58 nm line is located in the wavelength range of NASA’s Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph ( IRIS ) small explorer mission. We study the formation and diagnostic potential of this line by means of non local-thermodynamic-equilibrium modeling, employing both 1D and 3D radiation-magnetohydrodynamic models. The C i/C ii ionization balance is strongly influenced by photoionization by Ly α emission. The emission in the C i 135.58 nm line is dominated by a recombination cascade and the line forming region is optically thick. The Doppler shift of the line correlates strongly with the vertical velocity in its line forming region, which is typically located at 1.5 Mm height. With IRIS , the C i 135.58 nm line is usually observed together with the O i 135.56 nm line, and from the Doppler shift of both lines, we obtain the velocity difference between the line forming regions of the two lines. From the ratio of the C i/O i line core intensity, we can determine the distance between the C i and the O i forming layers. Combined with the velocity difference, the velocity gradient at mid-chromospheric heights can be derived. The C i/O i total intensity line ratio is correlated with the inverse of the electron density in the mid-chromosphere. We conclude that the C i 135.58 nm line is an excellent probe of the middle chromosphere by itself, and together with the O i 135.56 nm line the two lines provide even more information, which complements other powerful chromospheric diagnostics of IRIS such as the Mg ii h and k lines and the C ii lines around 133.5 nm.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Formation of β-NiAl Phase During Casting of a Ni-Based Superalloy

A high-refractory Ni-based superalloy prototype was melted on a research scale while simulating industry practices. Ingots were vacuum induction melted and subjected to a computationally optimized homogenization heat treatment prior to fabrication which consisted of forging and hot rolling. Failure of one of the ingots at the early stage of the forging process was attributed to the precipitation of the β-NiAl phase during melting which stabilized the eutectic constituent.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Understanding Film Formation Morphology and Orientation in High Member 2D Ruddlesden-Popper Perovskites for High-Efficiency Solar Cells

We report that 2D Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) perovskites have recently emerged as promising candidates for hybrid perovskite photovoltaic cells, realizing power-conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of over 10% with technologically relevant stability. To achieve solar cell performance comparable to the state-of-the-art 3D perovskite cells, it is highly desirable to increase the conductivity and lower the optical bandgap for enhanced near-IR region absorption by increasing the perovskite slab thickness. Here, the use of the 2D higher member (n = 5) RP perovskite (n-butyl-NH 3 ) 2 (MeNH 3 ) 4 Pb 5 I 16 in depositing highly oriented thin films from dimethylformamide/dimethylsulfoxide mixtures using the hot-casting method is reported. In addition, they exhibit superior environmental stability over thin films of their 3D counterpart. These films are assembled into high-efficiency solar cells with an open-circuit voltage of ≈1 V and PCE of up to 10%. This is achieved by fine-tuning the solvent ratio, crystal growth orientation, and grain size in the thin films. Finally, the enhanced performance of the optimized devices is ascribed to the growth of micrometer-sized grains as opposed to more typically obtained nanometer grain size and highly crystalline, densely packed microstructures with the majority of the inorganic slabs preferentially aligned out of plane to the substrate, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering mapping.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗