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At least 343 records · Page 19

A general flame aerosol route to high-entropy nanoceramics

High-entropy ceramics are an emerging class of materials with fascinating characteristics. However, elemental immiscibility and crystal complexity limit the development of a general synthesis strategy, and common methods yield bulk materials. Here, we introduce a transformative non-equilibrium flame aerosol technique for synthesizing high-entropy nanoceramics. This scalable, one-step process enables the production of high-entropy oxide nanoceramics with an unprecedented diversity of crystal structures, including fluorite-phase materials that integrate up to 22 distinct cation elements. The method’s capacity for entropic stabilization and grain refinement significantly improves the thermal stability of these nanostructures. In a representative application, a Pt-(MgCoNiCuZn)O high-entropy single-atom catalyst showed superior activity and long-term stability, maintaining constant CO 2 conversion over 670 h and dramatically outperforming conventional catalysts. Finally, the general approach opens a vast composition and structure space for the creation of high-entropy oxide nanomaterials for application across diverse fields, including catalysis, energy storage, sensing, and thermal management.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Unraveling the pathway towards superionic transport in polymer electrolytes

Ionic transport in polymers is critical for Li-ion batteries, fuel cells, flow batteries and many other energy storage and conversion technologies. A significant enhancement of ion conductivity in polymers may be achieved through an increase in the polarity of side chains and their self-organization into specific morphologies, which can potentially act as percolated ionic structures. However, higher polarity increases attractive interactions within a polymer matrix and slows down its segmental dynamics, which conversely hinders ionic transport. To overcome this tradeoff, we designed the functionalization of a Li salt-doped polymer matrix by tailored amounts of zwitterionic (ZI) groups. Our results suggest the emergence of a self-assembled percolation conductivity regime above a specific ZI concentration, in which ion hopping decouples from segmental dynamics by up to ten orders of magnitude. Consequently, in the highly concentrated ZI regime, our polymeric materials exhibit in their glassy state energy barriers for ion hopping similar to, or even smaller than, those reported for superionic ceramics. Our study also reveals that ion dynamics in the poly(zwitterion) with all monomers carrying ZI groups is significantly faster than that of a monomeric ZI compound, although the latter has much faster structural relaxation. Furthermore, this result highlights the crucial role played by the local morphology on the ion transport of polymer electrolytes and opens a new pathway for the design of superionic polymers, significantly expanding the current limited portfolio of solid-state electrolytes for energy applications.

Ion conductivity↗

Resin chemistry and particle size influence on stereolithography with silicon carbide

Stereolithography (SLA) is an established process able to produce high resolution polymer parts with complex geometries. Silicon carbide (SiC) has uses in a variety of applications, but traditionally was difficult to manufacture into complex geometries. There have been advances in producing SiC through SLA using a SiC-derived ceramic such as silicon oxycarbide (SiOC). In this study, a slurry using a commercially available resin as the base material with additional modifiers was investigated to create a SiC slurry ready for pressureless sintering. The effects of photoinitiator, dispersant and a bimodal distribution of SiC particle sizes was studied using a design of experiments (DOE). A slurry with a bimodal distribution of 70 % coarse and 30 % fine SiC powder at 40 % solids loading by volume was prepared and successfully printed. Rheology measurements show the slurry to have viscoelastic shear thinning behavior below the recommended 1000 Pas necessary for printing. Printing parameters for the new material on a commercially available SLA printer were studied parametrically. The laser marking speeds found to print the slurry was 260 mm/s and 130 mm/s. A slurry and printing parameters were determined to produce a green part with a proposed debinding cycle.

Herd, Tien [ORNL]↗

Alloying effects on the microstructure and properties of laser additively manufactured tungsten materials

A large body of literature within the additive manufacturing (AM) community has focused on successfully creating stable tungsten (W) microstructures due to significant interest in their application for extreme environments. However, cracking and additional embrittling features at grain boundaries have resulted in poorly performing materials, stymying the application of AM as a manufacturing technique for W. Several alloying strategies, such as ceramic particles and ductile elements, have emerged with the promise to eliminate cracking while simultaneously enhancing stability against recrystallization. Here, in this work, we provide new insights regarding the defects and microstructural features that result from the introduction of ZrC for grain refinement and NiFe as a ductile reinforcement phase – in addition to the resulting thermophysical and mechanical properties. ZrC is shown to promote microstructural stability with increased hardness due to the formation of ZrO 2 dispersoids. Conversely, NiFe forms into micron-scale FCC phase regions within a BCC W matrix, producing enhanced toughness relative to pure AM W. A combination of these effects is realized in the WNiFe + ZrC system and demonstrates that complex chemical environments coupled with the tuning of AM microstructures provides an effective pathway for enabling laser AM W materials with enhanced stability and performance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

New class of tritium breeders for fusion applications: Metal-reinforced composite breeders

Commercial fusion reactors operating on a D-T fuel cycle will require a steady supply of tritium to maintain the burning plasma required for continuous power generation. Since tritium has a short half-life, there is negligible natural abundance which necessitates fusion reactors to produce their own source of tritium. Tritium is most easily produced by surrounding a fusion reactor core with lithium (Li), which reacts under the intense neutron flux leaving the reactor core to form tritium and helium. Due to the hazards and technical challenges associated with surrounding a fusion reactor core with many tons of molten Li, other Li-bearing tritium breeder materials have been pursued. Unfortunately, most of the liquid breeders historically examined are exceedingly corrosive to reactor structural materials while many solid breeders in the form of ceramics are forced to make tradeoffs between Li content and mechanical integrity. In this work, to break the historic limit between Li-density and mechanical integrity of traditional solid breeders, a new class of solid tritium breeders is developed: metal-reinforced composite (MERC) breeders. Specifically, the high Li-density of lithium oxide (Li 2 O) is exploited through the addition of a metal reinforcing phase, producing a composite breeder material exhibiting high splitting tensile strength and quasi-ductility with a Li-density greater than other leading solid breeder candidates, including lithium orthosilicate (Li 4 SiO 4 ) and lithium metatitanate (Li 2 TiO 3 ). Mechanical testing, microstructural characterization, and neutronic simulation results are presented and discussed in light of fusion reactor design considerations.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Transient fuel performance analysis for the preliminary fuel concept of general atomics fast modular reactor

This study investigates the transient fuel performance of General Atomics Fast Modular Reactor (GA-FMR) during accident scenarios, focusing on the behavior of its innovative fuel system that combines high-assay low enriched uranium dioxide (HALEUO2) fuel with SiGA® ceramic matrix composite silicon carbide cladding. The preliminary fuel design’s response was analyzed during reactivity-initiated accidents (RIA) and loss of coolant accidents (LOCA) using BISON fuel performance analysis code, which included both the diffusion enhanced and BISON-FASTGRASS coupled UO 2 models. The RIA analysis demonstrated that effective reactivity control reduced fuel temperature, though with transient fission gas release resulting in additional tensile stress state on the cladding. LOCA simulations revealed differing predictions between the two models: the BISON UO 2 model showed more transient fission gas release but minimal pellet expansion, while the BISON-FASTGRASS UO 2 model predicted less pronounced fission gas release but more fuel swelling and thermal expansion, potentially leading to pellet-cladding mechanical interaction. Here, these findings highlight critical areas for fuel design optimization and identify knowledge gaps requiring further experimental and computational investigation to advance GA-FMR fuel development.

Lee, Soon K. [Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), A↗

Unraveling the multi-step crystallization mechanism of polytetrafluoroethylene, modified polytetrafluoroethylene, and their nanocomposites with boron nitride nanobarbs: Experimental insights and theoretical analysis

The non-isothermal crystallization behavior and kinetics of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composites with boron nitride nanobarb (BNNB), a new generation nanostructure with unique surface morphology and mechanical “barbs” have been analyzed, understanding these properties is essential for their high-end applications as thermal interface materials (TIM) for microwave, 5G and microelectronic devices. The analysis of the crystallization parameters includes crystallization onset, peak and end temperatures, crystallization half-life and overall crystallinity of PTFE, modified PTFE and their BNNB composites. The results were further analyzed using theoretical models such as the combined Avrami-Ozawa model. It was found that BNNB supports crystallization in the modified PTFE but shows minimal effect on the crystallization of PTFE. Due to the limitation of the classical theoretical models used above in fully characterizing the multi-step crystallization process of PTFE, an in-depth analysis using the model-free advanced isoconversional computation was used to characterize the PTFE crystallization based on the evolution of activation energy with fractional crystallinity and for the first time with temperature. Three kinetic regions were identified in the crystallization mechanism. Here, this study investigated the molecular organization and microstructural evolution of PTFE, modified PTFE and their composites during non-isothermal crystallization using advanced X-ray scattering measurements. An insight into the changes undergone by the material's microstructural units including crystallite size and morphology, lamellar thickness and lamellar interfacial layer thickness, and crystallographic phase dynamics during non-isothermal cooling from the melt, was provided here in this work. The effect of copolymer modification of PTFE and the inclusion of pristine and functionalized BNNB (a thermally conductive and electrically insulating ceramic) are both new investigations that provide valuable knowledge for the development of materials with strong matrix-nanofiller interaction and guidance for optimizing sintering and cooling cycles, two key steps in PTFE processing that largely affect the material microstructural features. Overall, the result of the three-part investigation demonstrates that BNNB supports crystallization in the modified PTFE up to 20 wt% concentration and at low and high cooling rates typically used in the industrial processing of PTFE.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Reducing waste of the hydride-dehydride process for U-6 wt% Nb spherical powders through lower impact and targeted milling

The breakdown of solid metal into powder during the hydride-dehydride process is commercially important for the formation of titanium and other metal powders. Typically, the milling of the brittle hydride powder occurs in a ball mill, where milling media impacts powder particles to break them down. The milling media can impact particles that are larger than desired, as desired, or smaller than desired, indiscriminately making all particles smaller. In this work, we investigate how to minimize waste powder production during milling using two different milling methods, planetary ball milling and milling in a sieve shaker (sieve-milling). Both processes yielded similar amounts of 20–75 μm diameter powder (the target size range); however, sieve-milling generated a significantly smaller amount of undersized waste powder. The powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, SEM/STEM, and magnetic susceptibility. Several differences between ball milling and sieve-milling processes are discussed. We then conclude that the decreased yield of undersized powder in sieve-milling was due to a combination of lower impact energy in sieve-milling, unreacted metallic cores in the hydride flakes, and the ability to mill target particle sizes during sieve-milling. While these results are from the milling of brittle hydride powder, similar methods may be applicable to other brittle powders, including ceramics or salts.

Chemistry↗

A comparative review on cold sprayed cermet coatings and their applications in high temperature corrosion, oxidation and wear resistance

This review article explores the properties and bonding mechanisms specific to cold sprayed cermet coatings, highlighting its contrast with that of pure metals, and pure ceramics. The general cost structure of cold spraying is compared with other thermal spray techniques and the advantages are highlighted. Several cold sprayed cermet coatings with good corrosion, oxidation and wear resistance behavior in elevated temperatures show convincing potential for applications in power generation industries. The important factors that are attributed to producing highly functional cold sprayed cermet coatings are discussed. A strategic approach involving material, equipment, and application specific optimization of the cold spray process is currently relevant and of utmost importance to meet the coating requirements in several industrial applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Melting temperature, emissivity, and thermal conductivity of rare-earth silicates for thermal and environmental barrier coatings

In recent years, rare-earth silicates have become the industry standard for coating state-of-the-art SiC ceramic matrix composite (CMC) gas turbine engine components, due to their low volatility, high melting point, and thermal shock resistance. Current research is focused on designing rare-earth silicate based thermal-environmental barrier coatings (T/EBCs) with improved resistance to CMAS (CaO-MgO-Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 ), steam, and crack formation, while maintaining high temperature performance and stability. Here, in this work we compare the high temperature performance of a variety of single and multi-component rare-earth mono- and disilicates (MS, DS) and rare earth apatites by measuring their melting points and spectrally averaged visible emissivities using laser heating and radiation pyrometry. We also report room temperature thermal conductivity measured by time-domain thermoreflectance (TDTR).

Environmental barrier coatings↗

A reversible solvent segregation transition at grain boundaries in gold-platinum alloys

Solute segregation to grain boundaries in polycrystalline metals and ceramics is a well-known phenomenon that reduces the total energy of the material. In this letter, the segregation of the solvent (Au) to grain boundaries in a binary Au 1-x Pt x (x = 0.15 to 0.18) alloy is demonstrated. After heating in the range of 500 °C to 600 °C and quenching to room temperature, grain boundaries in the alloy are enriched in Au at a mean level of ∼ 4 atoms/nm 2 . When the alloy is annealed at 300 °C and quenched, the mean grain boundary composition is closer to the bulk composition. When the alloy is reheated to 500 °C, the segregation is reestablished, demonstrating that the transformation from the strongly segregated complexion to the weakly segregated complexion is reversible. The driving force for the solvent segregation is likely the lower grain boundary energy of Au in comparison to Pt.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Computational simulation of asymmetric phase transformation in cracked Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂: Variant selection and chemo-mechanical implications

Coupling between microcracks and phase transformation in ion-conducting ceramics can jointly affect mechanical responses and ion transport. In this work we investigate the cubic-to-tetragonal phase transformation in Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ in the presence of a microcrack under hydrostatic loading and quantify its implications for crack-tip stress concentration and Li-ion transport using phase-field and molecular dynamics simulations. The phase transformation exhibits a strong asymmetry between hydrostatic tension and compression. Under tension, the crack edge nucleates one tetragonal variant that amplifies the crack-tip stress intensity and promotes crack opening. Under compression, the crack tip nucleates a different tetragonal variant that enhances the stress-induced crack-closure tendency. Effective Li diffusivity analysis shows faster transport degradation under compression due to accelerated transformation kinetics, exposing a trade-off between mechanical stability and ionic conductivity. These results highlight the intertwined nature of cracking, phase transformation, and ionic transport in ion-conducting oxides and provide mechanistic insights into chemo-mechanical degradation of solid electrolytes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A high-temperature heat flux sensor using the transverse Seebeck effect in elemental rhenium

Heat flux sensors compatible with hot environments are critical to advance aerospace, materials, and energy generation technologies that cope with extreme thermal conditions. In this work, we report on the development and characterization of a high-temperature heat flux sensor using the transverse Seebeck effect in rhenium single crystals. The sensor leverages refractory alloys and ceramics compatible with temperatures exceeding 1000 °C. The heat flux sensor was characterized from room temperature to 500 °C using a temperature-controlled calibration facility. At constant temperature, the sensor’s voltage output is linear with respect to the absorbed heat flux. The responsivity of the sensor varies with temperature, from 1.3 μV/(W/cm 2 ) at room temperature to −3.2 μV/(W/cm 2 ) at 500 °C, increasing monotonically in magnitude after changing sign from positive to negative at approximately 300 °C. The experimental results are in good agreement with analytical predictions of the sensor’s temperature-dependent responsivity, which suggest a further increase in magnitude up to −7.4 μV/(W/cm 2 ) at 1000 °C. These results highlight the unique characteristics of rhenium as a TSE transducer. The design offers compatibility with a wide range of operating temperatures and yields a measurement sensitivity that increases as the environmental conditions become more challenging.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

Controlling matric potential in microfluidics to examine microbial dynamics in unsaturated porous media

The use of microfluidics for the study of soil microbial ecology is an emerging field. Most microfluidic studies of biological systems, however, have been performed under fully saturated conditions that are not representative of natural soil. Therefore, while microfluidics offer many unique capabilities that other methodologies cannot, they are not currently suited to address the effects of matric potential, an important variable defining the microbial moisture niche. Here, a methodology is presented that allows the user to control the aqueous conditions within microfluidic networks by manipulating matric potential using a hanging water column. The method relies on hydrophilic surface treatment of the microfluidic device using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and incorporating a bed of small pores at the network boundaries, which serve as a porous ceramic plate analogue (PPA). The method was validated on a simple capillary bundle and then on a more complex pore network. A water retention curve, exhibiting hysteresis, was generated for the pore network over a narrow matric potential range of 0 to – 5 kPa. Both the drainage and wetting curves were reproducible, as were the spatial configuration and the number of fragmented moisture niches in the pore network, particularly on the drainage curve. In contrast, the wetting curve exhibited greater variability in spatial configuration due to the “ink bottle effect,” where capillarity was interrupted by wider pore bodies. Ultimately, the methodology provides realistic pore-scale moisture conditions that can be easily manipulated and maintained, enabling new opportunities to explore soil biophysics and microbial biogeography in unsaturated porous media. As a brief example, images showing the localization of fluorescently tagged Pantoea sp. YR343 at −4.3 kPa are presented, highlighting bacterial distributions in water films and air-water interfaces.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Thermodynamics, local structure, and transport of protons in triple-conducing oxide, BaCo 0.4 Fe 0.4 Zr 0.1 Y 0.1 O 3-δ (BCFZY4411)

Triple-conducting oxides (TCOs) are an emerging class of mixed ionic and electronically conducting materials that show great promise for oxygen reduction/oxygen evolution (ORR/OER) electrocatalysis—primarily in high-temperature ceramic electrochemical cells— but also in aqueous alkaline environments. Their high activity is attributed, at least in part, to their ability to incorporate and transport three mobile charge carriers: protons, oxygen vacancies, and electron-holes Despite their promise, fundamental studies of TCOs are challenging, as transport dynamics from three charge carriers cannot be fully disentangled via traditional electrical measurement techniques. Characterizing proton dynamics in TCOs is particularly difficult as protons are generally the minority carrier, and their conduction response is typically obscured by the oxygen vacancies and electron holes. Here, we demonstrate successful isolation of the proton behavior in an archetypal TCO, BaCo 0.4 Fe 0.4 Zr 0.1 Y 0.1 O 3-δ (BCFZY4411), using a combination of non-electrical techniques. We determine proton uptake and oxygen non-stoichiometry (δ) using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and neutron diffraction (ND) are used to validate the oxidation state of Co and the δ values obtained through TGA. We apply 1H solid-state magic-angle-spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to provide insights into local structure, dynamics, and proton kinetics. Finally, the proton transport properties are further quantified using tracer isotope exchange with time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Despite the very low proton concentrations in BCFZY4411 (<0.2% under most conditions), our analysis suggests that the oxygen Manuscript File Click here to view linked References 2 reduction and evolution reactions are nevertheless limited by the oxygen ion kinetics (e.g., oxygen surface exchange) rather than the proton kinetics at the reduced operating temperatures (<500 °C) that are targeted for electrochemical cell applications. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of proton behavior in BCFZY4411 and pave the way for advancing the fundamental study of TCOs.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Tuning Perovskites’ Hydration-Induced Chemical Expansion with Octahedral Tilt Angles

Hydration-induced strains in proton-conducting oxides compromise chemo-mechanical stability when these materials are applied in protonic ceramic electrochemical cells. Here, to develop design principles for zero-strain materials, we systematically studied the hydration coefficients of chemical expansion (CCEs) in perovskite (Sr, Ba)(Ce, Zr, Y)O 3–x solid solutions with in situ dilatometry and thermogravimetric analysis in the range of 430–630 °C. By including and decoupling a wide range of tolerance factors and lattice parameters, we were able to identify a minimum in hydration CCEs (0–0.02) at intermediate tolerance factor values (t ≈ 0.95). Conversely, despite expectations of lower CCEs in larger unit cells, no general trend in CCE versus lattice parameter was found, and opposite trends could be seen for Sr(Ce, Zr, Y)O 3–x versus Ba(Ce, Zr, Y)O 3–x separately. In situ neutron diffraction (ND) enabled atomistic insight. Upon decreasing t, chemical strain anisotropy increased, but this trend did not match the U-shaped dependence of macroscopic CCEs on t. Instead, perovskites with intermediate t, hosting intermediate octahedral tilt angles in the nominally dry state, underwent the largest change in the B–O–B angles during hydration. Accommodating hydration through decreasing B–O–B angles is beneficial because it does not result in large lattice parameter changes. We propose an intermediate tolerance factor as a simple structural descriptor to enable near-zero hydration strains in proton-conducting perovskites.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Tunable Growth of Layered Double Hydroxide Nanosheets through Hydrothermal Conversion of Atomic Layer Deposition Seed Layers

To enable the design and manufacturing of hierarchical nanomaterial architectures, there is a need for synthesis and processing methods that can enable tunable geometric control at the nanoscale while maintaining conformality on complex 3-D templates. Here, in this study, we explore the programmable control of vertically oriented Zn-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheet arrays using atomic layer deposition (ALD) to deposit a seed layer of Al 2 O 3 , which is subsequently consumed and converted into the LDH phase under hydrothermal growth conditions. We demonstrate tunable control over the spacing and length of the nanosheets by varying the thickness of the initial ALD seed layer with subnanometer precision. This can be viewed as a nanoscale titration reaction, where Al acts as the limiting reagent during the hydrothermal synthesis of the nanosheets. Elemental mapping demonstrates the dynamic evolution of the resulting morphology, which is driven by surface diffusion and nucleation processes. The conformal nature of ALD allows for hierarchical growth of nanosheets on the surface of a variety of nonplanar substrate geometries, including microposts, paper fibers, and porous ceramic supports. This illustrates the power of ALD to enable bottom-up growth of 3-D nanoarchitectures with tunable geometries by controlling nucleation and growth in subsequent solution reactions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Electrochemical Oxidation in Garnet-Type Solid Electrolyte by Formation of Point Defects

All-solid-state batteries hold greater promise for improving safety and energy density over conventional battery technology employing organic liquid electrolytes. One of the required features of a Li + conducting solid electrolyte is electrochemical stability, attained thermodynamically or kinetically, within the targeted operating voltage and temperature ranges. Therefore, understanding of the oxidative or reductive degradation mechanism is important to allow the design of stable solid electrolyte materials. This work contributes to building an understanding of the oxidative degradation mechanism in lithium solid electrolytes at cell operating conditions. Here, we have focused on resolving the oxidative decomposition mechanism of Al-doped lithium garnet Li 6.28 Al 0.24 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 (LLZO) as a state-of-the-art inorganic ceramic electrolyte. By combining experimental and computational analyses, we show that oxidation of LLZO occurs by simultaneous loss of oxygen and lithium from the structure, resulting in substoichiometric LLZO, at a moderate temperature (80 °C) and a high electrode potential (4.3 V vs Li/Li + ). Based on X-ray absorption and diffraction analyses, we find that the zirconium coordination shells in LLZO contract while the crystal structure experiences positive chemical strain upon electrochemical oxidation. The results from ex situ structural characterization of both the local structure and crystal symmetry are supported by a substoichiometric LLZO with lithium and oxygen vacancies, modeled by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. These chemical and structural changes in LLZO suppress effective lithium-ion conductivity by an order of magnitude. Formation of lithium and oxygen vacancies in LLZO upon electrochemical oxidation is different from prior thermodynamic predictions of phase decomposition of LLZO. The difference here is that the experiments were conducted at near-room temperature, which can hinder the kinetics of phase separation, and thus, the resultant LLZO solid electrolyte is still single-phase but substoichiometric in Li and O. In conclusion, these findings contribute an important degradation mechanism of the electrolyte, relevant for practical operational conditions of solid-state batteries.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗