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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 361 records · Page 20
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1999

Charge Transfer Process During Collision of Riming Graupel Pellet with Small Ice Crystals within a Thundercloud

A charge transfer process during the collision of a riming graupel pellet and an ice-crystal at low temperature is proposed. During riming, the surface structure of graupel deviates from perfect crystalline structure. A concept of quasi-solid layer (QSL) formation on the surface is introduced. This QSL contains defects formed during riming. In absence of impurities, positively charged X-defect abundance is considered in the outer layer. These defects are assumed to be the charge carriers during the charge transfer process. Some part of the QSL is stripped off by the colliding ice crystals, which thereby gain some positive charge, leaving the graupel pellet negatively charged. With the proposed model, fC to pC of charge transfer is observed per collision. A transition temperature between -10 C to -15 C is also noted beyond which the QSL concept does not hold. This transition temperature is dependent on the bulk liquid water content of the cloud.

Datta, Saswati↗
NASA NTRS1984

Microcrystalline silicon growth for heterojunction solar cells

Microcrystalline Si (m-Si) films with a 1.7eV energy bandgap and crystal size of several hundred A were e-beam evaporated on single crystalline Si (c-Si) to form a heterojunction with the substrate, or a window layer to a single crystalline p-n junction (heteroface structure). The goal was to enhance Voc by such uses of the larger bandgap m-Si, with the intriguing prospect of forming heterostructures with exact lattice match on each layer. The heterojunction structure was affected by interface and shunting problems and the best Voc achieved was only 482mV, well below that of single crystal Si homojunctions. The heteroface structure showed promise for some of the samples with p m-Si/p-n structure (the complementary structure did not show any improvement). Although several runs with different deposition conditions were run, the results were inconsistent. Any Voc enhancement obtained was too small to compensate for the current loss due to the extra absorption and poor carrier transport properties of the m-Si film.

Leung, D. C.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Flexible, FEP-Teflon covered solar cell module development

Techniques and equipment were developed for the large scale, low-cost fabrication of lightweight, roll-up and fold-up, FEP-Teflon encapsulated solar cell modules. Modules were fabricated by interconnecting solderless single-crystal silicon solar cells and heat laminating them at approximately 300 C between layers of optically clear FEP and to a loadbearing Kapton substrate sheet. Modules were fabricated from both conventional and wraparound contact solar cells. A heat seal technique was developed for mechanically interconnecting modules into an array. The electrical interconnections for both roll-up and fold-up arrays were also developed. The use of parallel-gap resistance welding, ultrasonic bonding, and thermocompression bonding processes for attaching interconnects to solar cells were investigated. Parallel-gap welding was found to be best suited for interconnecting the solderless solar cells into modules. Details of the fabrication equipment, fabrication processes, module and interconnect designs, environmental test equipment, and test results are presented.

Rauschenbach, H. S.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Two-dimensional radiant energy array computers and computing devices

Two dimensional digital computers and computer devices operate in parallel on rectangular arrays of digital radiant energy optical signal elements which are arranged in ordered rows and columns. Logic gate devices receive two input arrays and provide an output array having digital states dependent only on the digital states of the signal elements of the two input arrays at corresponding row and column positions. The logic devices include an array of photoconductors responsive to at least one of the input arrays for either selectively accelerating electrons to a phosphor output surface, applying potentials to an electroluminescent output layer, exciting an array of discrete radiant energy sources, or exciting a liquid crystal to influence crystal transparency or reflectivity.

Schaefer, D. H.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Optical waveguides in oxygen-implanted buried-oxide silicon-on-insulator structures

An analysis is made of the waveguiding properties of the oxygen-implanted, buried-oxide, silicon-on-insulator structures currently being developed for use in microelectronics. It is found that in spite of the fact that the buried-oxide layer is only a few tenths of a micrometer thick, the single-crystal overlayer can support TEo guided-wave propagation, at subbandgap wavelengths, with losses due to substrate radiation leakage at or below the benchmark level of 1 dB/cm.

Kurdi, B. N.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Modeling of mechanical properties of II-VI materials

This paper reviews some new developments in the theory of alloy correlations, order-disorder transitions, and solidus phase-transition curves. It is argued that semiconductor alloys are never truly random, and the various phenomena that drive deviations from random arrangements are introduced. Likely consequences of correlations on the ability to fine-tune the lattice match of epitaxial layers to substrates, on vacancy formation, on diffusion, and on vapor-phase crystal growth are discussed. Examples are chosen for the alloys Hg(1-x)Cd(x)Te, Hg(1-x)Zn(x)Te, Cd(1-y)Zn(y)Te, and CdSe(1-y)Te(y).

Sher, A.↗
NASA NTRS2019

A Coordinated Microstructural and Isotopic Study ofa Wark-Lovering Rim on a Vigarano CAI

We carried out a coordinated mineralogical and isotopic study of a Wark-Lovering (WL) rim on a Ca,Al-rich inclusion (CAI) from the reduced CV3 chondrite Vigarano. The outermost edge of the CAI mantle is mineralogically and texturally distinct compared to the underlying mantle that is composed of coarse, zoned melilite (Åk~10-60) grains. The mantle edge contains fine-grained gehlenite with hibonite and rare grossite that likely formed by rapid crystallization from a melt enriched in Ca and Al. These gehlenite and hibonite layers are surrounded by successive layers of spinel, zoned melilite (Åk~0-10), zoned diopside that grades outwards from Al,Ti-rich to Al,Ti-poor, and forsteritic olivine intergrown with diopside. These layered textures are indicative of sequential condensation of spinel, melilite, diopside, and forsterite onto hibonite. Anorthite occurs as a discontinuous layer that corrodes adjacent melilite and Al2 diopside, and appears to have replaced them, probably even later than the forsterite layer formation. Based on these observations, we conclude that the WL rim formation was initiated by flash melting and extensive evaporation of the original inclusion edge, followed by subsequent gas-solid reactions under highly dynamic conditions. All the WL rim minerals are 16O-rich (Δ17O = ~−23‰), indicating their formation in an 16O-rich nebular reservoir. Our Al-Mg measurements of hibonite, spinel, and diopside from the WL rim, as well as spinel and Al,Ti-diopside in the core, define a single, well-correlated isochron with an inferred initial 26Al/27Al ratio of (4.94 ± 0.12) × 10−5. This indicates that the WL rim formed shortly after the host CAI. In contrast, the lack of 26Mg excesses in the WL rim anorthite suggest its later formation or later isotopic disturbance in the solar nebula, after 26Al had decayed.

Jangmi Han↗
NASA NTRS1993

Isotopic and trace element characteristics of an unusual refractory inclusion from Essebi

The isotopic and chemical properties of Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAI) provide important clues to the early solar nebula environment. While the abundances of refractory major and trace elements are similar to those expected for high temperature condensates, the variety of textural, chemical, and isotopic signatures indicate most CAI experienced complex, multi-stage histories involving repeated episodes of condensation, evaporation, and metamorphism. Evidence of multiple processes is especially apparent in an unusual refractory inclusion from Essebi (URIE) described by El Goresy et al. The melilite (mel)-rich core of URIE contains polygonal framboids of spinel (sp) and hibonite (hb) or sp and fassaite (fas) and is surrounded by a rim sequence consisting of five layers. In contrast to rims on Allende, the mineralogy of the URIE rim layers becomes increasingly refractory from the core outwards, ending in a layer of spinel-Al2O3 solid solution + Sc-rich fassaite. The chemical and mineralogical features of URIE are inconsistent with crystallization from a homogeneous melt, and El Goresy et al. proposed a multi-step history involving condensation of sp + hb and aggregation into framboids, capture of framboids by a refractory silicate melt droplet, condensation of rim layers, and alteration of mel to calcite and feldspathoid. The PANURGE ion probe was used to investigate the isotopic and trace element characteristics of URIE to develop a more complete picture of the multiple processes leading to formation and metamorphism.

Deloule, E.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Transparent magnetic state in single crystal Nd(1.85)Ce(0.15)CuO(4-y) superconductors

Several experimental studies have been reported as evidence of Josephson coupling between the superconducting layers in the highly anisotropic oxide such as the Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 and Tl2Ba2CuO6 systems. These include the large penetration depth of 100 mu m measured, ac and dc Josephson effects. Recently two critical temperatures corresponding to Josephson coupling in between the layers and the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition in the ab-plane have been directly observed in the transport measurements. If the field is applied parallel to the superconducting layers, the magnetic excitation is not the conventional Abrikosov vortices, but the Josephson vortices which extend lambda(sub ab) in the c-axis direction and lambda(sub J) = gamma s in the plane (s is the interlayer distance, gamma is the anisotropy constant). Because of the weak screening effect associated with the Josephson vortices, there have been predictions of magnetic transparent states at magnetic field above a characteristic field H(sub J), a behavior distinctively different from that of the type-II superconductors. In this paper, we report an experimental result which illustrates a transition from the Meissner state to the magnetic transparent state in single crystal of Nd(1.85)Ce(0.15)CuO(4-y). Magnetization has been measured as a function of temperature and field in the magnetic field parallel or close to ab-plane geometry. For a fixed magnetic field, the magnetization shows a two-step transition in M(T); for a fixed temperature, the magnetization shows an abrupt change to almost zero value above a characteristic field H(sub J), an indication of magnetic transparent state. The data of magnetization as a function of field clearly deviates from the behavior predicted by the Abrikosov theory for type-II superconductors. Instead, the data fit well into the picture of Josephson decoupling between the CuO2 layers.

Zuo, F.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Investigation of superlattice device structures

This report describes the investigation of growth properties, and the structure of epitaxial multilayer Si(Si(1x)Ge(x)) films grown on bulk Silicon Substrates. It also describes the fabrication and characterization of MOSFET and MESFET devices made on these epitaxial films. Films were grown in a CVD reactor using hydrides of Si and Ge with H2 and He as carrier gases. Growth temperatures were between 900 C and 1050 C with most films grown at 1000 C. Layer thickness was between 300A and 2000A and total film thickness was between 0.25 micro m and 7 micro m. The Ge content (X) in the alloy layers was between .05 and 0.2. N-type multilayer films grown on (100) p-type Si showed Hall mobility in the range 1000 to 1500 sq cm/v for an average carrier concentration of approx. 10 to the 16th power/cu cm. This is up to 50% higher than the Hall mobility observed in epitaxial Si films grown under the same conditions and with the same average carrier concentration. The mobility enhancement occurred in films with average carrier concentration (n) from 0.7 x 10 to the 16th power to 2 x 10 to the 17th power/cu cm, and total film thickness greater than 1.0 micro m. No mobility enhancement was seen in n-type multilayer films grown on (111) Si or in p-type multilayer films. The structure of the films was investigated was using SEM, TEM, AES, SIMS, and X-ray double crystal diffraction techniques. The film composition profile (AES, SIMS) showed that the transition region between layers is of the order of about 100A. The TEM examination revealed a well defined layered structure with fairly sharp interfaces and good crystalline quality. It also showed that the first few layers of the film (closest to the substrate) are uneven, most probably due to the initial growth pattern of the epitaxial film where growth occurs first in isolated islands that eventually growth and coalesce. The X-ray diffraction measurement determined the elastic strain and strain relief in the alloy layers of the film and the elastic strain in the intervening Si layers.

Gergis, I. S.↗
NASA NTRS1970

Temperature-independent resistor for microelectronic circuits

Heat treating insulating crystals in gaseous hydrogen atmosphere produce resistive device which is temperature-independent from 77 to 295 degrees K. Increasing the concentration of hydrogen within the crystal yields semiconductor, hybrid, and metallic conduction characteristics which are combined with a depletion layer at the surface.

Aegerter, S.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Photoemissive coating

Polystyrene coating is applied to holographic storage tube substrate via glow discharge polymerization in an inert environment. After deposition of styrene coating, antimony and then cesium are added to produce photoemissive layer. Technique is utilized in preparing perfectly organized polymeric films useful as single-crystal membranes.

Gange, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Reaction of amorphous Ni-W and Ni-N-W films with substrate silicon

Wiley et al. (1982) have studied sputtered amorphous films of Nb-Ni, Mo-Ni, Si-W, and Si-Mo. Kung et al. (1984) have found that amorphous Ni-Mo films as diffusion barriers between multilayer metallizations on silicon demonstrate good electrical and thermal stability. In the present investigation, the Ni-W system was selected because it is similar to the Ni-Mo system. However, W has a higher silicide formation temperature than Mo. Attention is given to aspects of sample preparation, sample characterization, the interaction between amorphous Ni-W films and Si, the crystallization of amorphous Ni(36)W(64) films on SiO2, amorphous Ni-N-W films, silicide formation and phase separation, and the crystallization of amorphous Ni(36)W(64) and Ni(30)N(21)W(49) layers.

Zhu, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Age of the Mulcahy Lake intrusion, northwest Ontario, and implications for the evolution of greenstone-granite terrains

An investigation of zircon data from the Mulcahy Lake gabbro, a 63 sq km layered mafic intrusion in the Wabigoon subprovince of Ontario, which show that the gabbro crystallized at 2733.2 +1.0, -0.9 Ma, is considered. It is shown that the gabbro intrudes tholeiites of the Crow Lake-Savant Lake greenstone belt. Whole rock samples and mineral separates from the Mulcahy Lake intrusion are dated by Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd, and Ar-30-Ar-40 techniques. Disturbances in the system are revealed by the Rb-Sr data and an initial Sr ratio of 0.7007 for an age of 2733 Ma is indicated by samples with low Rb/Sr ratios. The age determined for the Sm-Nd data is 2744 + or 55 Ma with an epsilon Nd value of +2.6 + or - 1.2 which indicates a source region depleted in a light rare earth element. Primary hornblende is analyzed for Ar-40/Ar-39 and an age of 2703 + or - 20 is obtained. Some implications for the development of greenstone-granite belts are discussed.

Morrison, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Vapor transport crystal growth of mercury-cadmium-telluride in microgravity

Two epitaxial growth experiments of Hg(1-x)Cd(x)Te layers on (100) CdTe substrates in closed ampoules using HgI2 as a transport agent have been performed during the USML-1 mission. The characterization results to date demonstrate a considerable improvement of the space-grown epitaxial layers relative to ground-control specimens in terms of morphology, compositional uniformity, and structural micro homogeneity. These results show the effects of microgravity and fluid dynamic disturbances on-ground on the deposition and growth processes. The continued analysis of this technologically important system is designed to further elucidate the observed crystallographic improvements and their relation to mass flow.

Wiedemeier, Heribert↗
NASA NTRS1996

CVD Of Thin Films From Single Organometallic Precursors

Method of forming thin inorganic films involves chemical vapor deposition (CVD) from single organometallic precursors. No toxic constituents, minimizes impurities, and yields films having substantially uniform crystal structure and composition. Especially suitable for depositing high-quality passivating or buffer layers of GaS on GaAs semiconductor substrates. Also applicable to formation of high-quality films for purposes other than buffering or passivation, and to different materials in which another element from same group in periodic table of elements substituted for all or portion of each element in GaS/GaAs system.

Hepp, Aloysius F.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Cirrus Clouds Optical, Microphysical and Radiative Properties Observed During Crystal-Face Experiment: I. A Radar-Lidar Retrieval System

A method of retrieving cloud microphysical properties using combined observations from both cloud radar and lidar is introduced. This retrieval makes use of an improvement to the traditional optimal estimation retrieval method, whereby a series of corrections are applied to the state vector during the search for an iterative solution. This allows faster convergence to a solution and is less processor intensive. The method is first applied to a synthetic cloud t o demonstrate its validity, and it is shown that the retrieval reliably reproduces vertical profiles of ice water content. The retrieval method is then applied to radar and lidar observations from the CRYSTAL-FACE experiment, and vertical profiles of ice crystal diameter, number concentration, and ice water content are retrieved for a cirrus cloud layers observed one day of that experiment. The validity of the relationship between visible extinction coefficient and radar reflectivity was examined. While synthetic tests showed such a functional relationship, the measured data only partially supported such a conclusion. This is due to errors in the forward model (as explained above) as well as errors in the data sets, including possible mismatch between lidar and radar profiles or errors in the optical depth. Empirical relationships between number concentrations and mean particle diameter were also examined. The results indicate that a distinct and robust relationship exists between these retrieved quantities and it is argued that such a relationship is more than an artifact of the retrieval process offering insight into the nature of the microphysical processes taking place in cirrus.

Mitrescu, C.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Quasi-Liquid Layer Formation on Ice under Stratospheric Conditions

Characterization of the interaction of hydrogen chloride (HCl) with ice is essential to understanding at a molecular level the processes responsible for ozone depletion involving polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) particles. To explain the catalytic role PSC particle surfaces play during chlorine activation, we proposed previously that HCl induces the formation of a disordered region on the ice surface, a quasi-liquid layer (QLL), at stratospheric conditions. The QLL is known to exist in pure ice crystals at temperatures near the melting point, but its existence at stratospheric temperatures (-85 C to -70 C) had not been reported yet. We studied the interaction of HCl with ice under stratospheric conditions using the complementary approach of a) ellipsometry to directly monitor the ice surface, using chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS) to monitor the gas phase species present in the ellipsometry experiments, and b) flow-tube experiments with CIMS detection. Here we show that trace amounts of HCl induce QLL formation at stratospheric temperatures, and that the QLL enhances the chlorine-activation reaction of HCl with chlorine nitrate (ClONO2), and also enhances acetic acid (CH3COOH) adsorption.

McNeill, V. Faye↗