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At least 55 records · Page 3

Radiofrequency-sputtered coatings for lubrication system components and other complex surfaces

Irregularly shaped surfaces, such as lubrication system components (ball bearings, seals, gears, etc.), can be coated on all surfaces, including irregular shapes, when radiofrequency sputtering is used. When the specimen is properly located with respect to the sputtering target, the sputtered material covers the entire surface of the object irrespective of its geometrical configuration. An adherent, dense film is formed. The film thickness varies from 20 to 50 percent on, for example, a hearing cage or race depending on its geometry. When sputtered solid film lubricants such as molybdenum disulfide are used, a film thickness only of the order of 10 to the minus 7th power m (thousands of angstroms) is required at the contacting areas. It is only essential to determine the required film thickness at the critical areas in need of lubrication. The sections outside the areas to be lubricated fall within the thickness deviation range of 20 to 50 percent, which still constitutes a negligible change respect to tolerance requirements.

Spalvins, T.↗

Preliminary study of the effect of the turbulent flow field around complex surfaces on their acoustic characteristics

Fairly extensive measurements have been conducted of the turbulent flow around various surfaces as a basis for a study of the acoustic characteristics involved. In the experiments the flow from a nozzle was directed upon various two-dimensional surface configurations such as the three-flap model. A turbulent flow field description is given and an estimate of the acoustic characteristics is provided. The developed equations are based upon fundamental theories for simple configurations having simple flows. Qualitative estimates are obtained regarding the radiation pattern and the velocity power law. The effect of geometry and turbulent flow distribution on the acoustic emission from simple configurations are discussed.

Olsen, W. A.↗

Lunar and Planetary Science XXXV: Weird Martian Minerals: Complex Mars Surface Processes

The session "Complex Mars Surface" included the following reports:A Reappraisal of Adsorbed Superoxide Ion as the Cause Behind the Reactivity of the Martian Soils; Sub-Surface Deposits of Hydrous Silicates or Hydrated Magnesium Sulfates as Hydrogen Reservoirs near the Martian Equator: Plausible or Not?; Thermal and Evolved Gas Analysis of Smectites: The Search for Water on Mars; Aqueous Alteration Pathways for K, Th, and U on Mars; Temperature Dependence of the Moessbauer Fraction in Mars-Analog Minerals; Acid-Sulfate Vapor Reactions with Basaltic Tephra: An Analog for Martian Surface Processes; Iron Oxide Weathering in Sulfuric Acid: Implications for Mars; P/Fe as an Aquamarker for Mars; Stable Isotope Composition of Carbonates Formed in Low-Temperature Terrestrial Environments as Martian Analogs; Can the Phosphate Sorption and Occlusion Properties Help to Elucidate the Genesis of Specular Hematite on the Mars Surface?; Sulfate Salts, Regolith Interactions, and Water Storage in Equatorial Martian Regolith; Potential Pathways to Maghemite in Mars Soils: The Key Role of Phosphate; and Mineralogy, Abundance, and Hydration State of Sulfates and Chlorides at the Mars Pathfinder Landing Site.

Source record↗

Molecular-level understanding of metal ion retention in clay-rich materials

Clay minerals retain or adsorb metal ions in the Earth’s critical zone. Rocks, sediments and soils rich in clay minerals can concentrate rare earth elements (REEs) in ion adsorption-type deposits (IADs) and are similarly effective at metallic contaminant remediation. However, the molecular-scale chemical and physical mechanisms of metal ion retention remain only partly understood. Here, we describe the nature, location and energy requirements of metal retention at clay mineral surfaces. Retention originates mainly from electrostatic interactions during cation exchange at low pH and chemical bonding in surface complexation and precipitation at neutral and high pH. Surface complexation can induce surface redox reactions and precipitation mechanisms including neoformation of clay mineral layered structures. In IADs, outer-sphere adsorption is the major retention mechanism of REE ions. By contrast, the use of clay minerals in pollution control relies on various mechanisms that can coexist, including cation exchange, surface complexation and nucleation growth. To more effectively leverage clay mineral–metal interactions in resource recovery and contaminant remediation, complex mechanisms such as surface precipitation and redox reactions must be better understood; for instance, by utilizing advances in quantum mechanical calculations, close combination between synchrotron and simulation techniques, and upscaling of molecular-level information in macroscopic thermokinetic predictive models.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Adsorption of Neodymium, Dysprosium, and Ytterbium to Goethite under Varying Aqueous Chemistry Conditions

The adsorption of rare earth elements (REEs) to iron oxides can regulate the mobility of REEs in the environment and is heavily influenced by water chemistry. This study utilized batch experiments to examine the adsorption of Nd, Dy, and Yb to goethite under varying pH, electrolyte (type and concentration), and concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon and citrate. REE adsorption was strongly influenced by pH, with an increase from essentially no adsorption at pH 3.0 to nearly complete adsorption at pH 6.5 and higher. Citrate enhanced the adsorption of REEs at low pH (<5.0), likely by forming goethite-REE-citrate ternary surface complexes. However, citrate inhibited the adsorption of REEs at higher pH (>5.0) by forming aqueous REE-citrate complexes. Ionic strength had a small influence on REE adsorption, and the presence of dissolved inorganic carbon had no discernible effect. Equilibrium adsorption was interpreted with a triple-layer surface complexation model (SCM). The selection of surface complexation reactions was guided by extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectra. An SCM with a single bidentate inner-sphere surface complexation reaction for Nd and two inner-sphere surface complexation reactions (one monodentate and one bidentate reaction) for Dy and Yb effectively simulated adsorption across a broad range of conditions in the absence of citrate. Accounting for the effects of citrate on REE adsorption required the addition of up to two ternary REE-citrate-goethite surface complexes. The SCM can enable predictions of REE transport in subsurface environments that have goethite as an important adsorbent mineral. Furthermore, this predictive capability could contribute to identifying potential REE sources and facilitating efficient extraction of REEs.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

On the reflectivity of complex mesh surfaces

Poorer than expected surface reflectivity was observed in an early Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System antenna utilizing a tricot mesh weave. This poor reflectivity was determined to be caused by inadequate electrical contact at wire crossover points. A proper mathematical and numerical approach to assess the impact of wire junctions on reflectivity performance is developed. A mathematical method is presented for computing the surface reflectivity of complex mesh configurations like those on unfurlable-type spacecraft antennas. The method is based on the Floquet mode expansion to establish an integral equation for mesh wire currents. The equation is solved using the method of moments with triangular basis functions. It is observed that it is necessary to give special attention to the junction treatment among different branches of the mesh configurations. A vector junction current approach that resulted in satisfactory solutions for the current is described. The results of numerical simulations are compared against measured data and excellent agreement is observed.

Imbriale, William A.↗

Adsorption of neodymium, dysprosium, and ytterbium to goethite under varying aqueous chemistry conditions [dataset]

The adsorption of rare earth elements (REEs) to iron oxides can regulate the mobility of REEs in the environment and is heavily influenced by water chemistry. This study utilized batch experiments to examine the adsorption of Nd, Dy, and Yb to goethite under varying pH, electrolyte (type and concentration), and concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon and citrate. REE adsorption was strongly influenced by pH, with an increase from essentially no adsorption at pH 3.0 to nearly complete adsorption at pH 6.5 and higher. Citrate enhanced the adsorption of REEs at low pH (< 5.0), likely by forming goethite-REE-citrate ternary surface complexes. However, citrate inhibited the adsorption of REEs at higher pH (> 5.0) by forming aqueous REE-citrate complexes. Ionic strength had a small influence on REE adsorption, and the presence of dissolved inorganic carbon had no discernible effect. Equilibrium adsorption was interpreted with a triple layer surface complexation model (SCM). The selection of surface complexation reactions was guided by extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectra. A SCM with a single bidentate inner-sphere surface complexation reaction for Nd and two inner-sphere surface complexation reactions (one monodentate and one bidentate reaction) for Dy and Yb effectively simulated adsorption across a broad range of conditions in the absence of citrate. Accounting for the effects of citrate on REE adsorption required the addition of up to two ternary REE-citrate-goethite surface complexes. The SCM can enable predictions of REE transport in subsurface environments that have goethite as an important adsorbent mineral. This predictive capability could contribute to identifying potential REE sources and facilitating efficient extraction of REEs.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

An Efficient Ray-Tracing Method for Determining Terrain Intercepts in EDL Simulations

The calculation of a ray's intercept from an arbitrary point in space to a prescribed surface is a common task in computer simulations. The arbitrary point often represents an object that is moving according to the simulation, while the prescribed surface is fixed in a defined frame. For detailed simulations, this surface becomes complex, taking the form of real-world objects such as mountains, craters or valleys which require more advanced methods to accurately calculate a ray's intercept location. Incorporation of these complex surfaces has commonly been implemented in graphics systems that utilize highly optimized graphics processing units to analyze such features. This paper proposes a simplified method that does not require computationally intensive graphics solutions, but rather an optimized ray-tracing method for an assumed terrain dataset. This approach was developed for the Mars Science Laboratory mission which landed on the complex terrain of Gale Crater. First, this paper begins with a discussion of the simulation used to implement the model and the applicability of finding surface intercepts with respect to atmosphere modeling, altitude determination, radar modeling, and contact forces influencing vehicle dynamics. Next, the derivation and assumptions of the intercept finding method are presented. Key assumptions are noted making the routines specific to only certain types of surface data sets that are equidistantly spaced in longitude and latitude. The derivation of the method relies on ray-tracing, requiring discussion on the formulation of the ray with respect to the terrain datasets. Further discussion includes techniques for ray initialization in order to optimize the intercept search. Then, the model implementation for various new applications in the simulation are demonstrated. Finally, a validation of the accuracy is presented along with the corresponding data sets used in the validation. A performance summary of the method will be shown using the analysis from the Mars Science Laboratory's terminal descent sensing model. Alternate uses will also be shown for determining horizon maps and orbiter set times.

Shidner, Jeremy D.↗

Machine‐Learning‐Driven Exploration of Surface Reconstructions of Reduced Rutile TiO 2

Abstract Titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) is widely used as a catalyst support due to its stability, tunable electronic properties, and surface oxygen vacancies, which are crucial for catalytic processes such as the reverse water‐gas shift (RWGS) reaction. Reduced TiO 2 surfaces undergo complex surface reconstructions that endow unique properties but are computationally challenging to describe. In this study, we utilize machine‐learning interatomic potentials (MLIPs) integrated with an active‐learning workflow to efficiently explore reduced rutile TiO 2 surfaces. This approach enabled the prediction of a phase diagram as a function of oxygen chemical potential, revealing a variety of reconstructed phases, including a previously unreported subsurface shear plane structure. We further investigate the electronic properties of these surfaces and validate our results by comparing experimental and theoretical high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Our findings provide new insights into how extreme surface reductions influence the structural and electronic properties of TiO 2 , with potential implications for catalyst design.

Lee, Yonghyuk [Chemistry and Biochemistry Universi↗

Machine‐Learning‐Driven Exploration of Surface Reconstructions of Reduced Rutile TiO 2

Titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) is widely used as a catalyst support due to its stability, tunable electronic properties, and surface oxygen vacancies, which are crucial for catalytic processes such as the reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction. Reduced TiO 2 surfaces undergo complex surface reconstructions that endow unique properties but are computationally challenging to describe. In this study, we utilize machine-learning interatomic potentials (MLIPs) integrated with an active-learning workflow to efficiently explore reduced rutile TiO 2 surfaces. This approach enabled the prediction of a phase diagram as a function of oxygen chemical potential, revealing a variety of reconstructed phases, including a previously unreported subsurface shear plane structure. We further investigate the electronic properties of these surfaces and validate our results by comparing experimental and theoretical high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Our findings provide new insights into how extreme surface reductions influence the structural and electronic properties of TiO 2 , with potential implications for catalyst design.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Prediction of alkaline earth metal ion adsorption on goethite for various background electrolytes with the CD-MUSIC model

As water scarcity drives the use of more saline water sources, contaminant fate and transport models must capture the impact of high concentrations of alkaline earth metal ions (AEMs) and background electrolytes in these more complex waters. By utilizing macroscopic adsorption data from various electrolyte systems, a Charge Distribution – Multisite Complexation (CD-MUSIC) model, capable of incorporating electrolyte adsorption, was able to accurately simulate the adsorption behavior of alkaline earth metal ions onto goethite. The modeling effort was guided by previous spectroscopic and surface complexation modeling of alkaline earth metal adsorption and built on previous CD-MUSIC modeling that accounted for changes in crystal face contributions to the surface site density as a function of specific surface area. Further, the model was constrained to consider only two dominant surface complex species for each metal ion adsorption reaction. These two species were selected from 44 possible species through objective curve fitting of single-solute macroscopic adsorption data. While most of the alkaline earth metal surface complexes formed outer-sphere complexes at the goethite surface, an inner-sphere species was utilized for Mg 2+ . With the surface complex species and equilibrium constants obtained from this study, the calibrated model successfully predicted alkaline earth metal ion adsorption over a wide range of solution and surface conditions; the model predictions encompassed a wide range of pH (5–11), solute/solid ratio (1.37 × 10 -5 – 8.33 × 10 -4 mol -solute /g -solid ), ionic strengths (0.01 M – 0.7 M), and background electrolytes (Na + , Cs + , Rb + , Cl - , and NO 3 - ) using the same crystal face contribution methodology for site density, capacitance values, and surface acidity constants adopted for proton and cadmium adsorption in previous work (Han and Katz, 2019). Model simulations for a range of background water chemistries demonstrated the potential for Mg 2+ to reduce Cd 2+ adsorption to goethite in model seawater and oil- and gas-produced waters.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Adsorption of Rare Earth Elements to Kaolinite [dataset]

Rare earth elements (REEs) are critical components of modern technology behind renewable energy, transportation, and electronics but have a limited current supply. A substantial portion of global REE production relies on ion adsorption deposits. A high abundance of kaolinite in REE enrichment zones within these deposits suggests that kaolinite controls the subsurface migration of REEs. This study aimed to improve the current understanding of REE binding to kaolinite under varying water chemistry conditions. We conducted batch experiments with kaolinite (KGa-2) and three REEs (Nd, Dy, and Yb) at varying pH, electrolyte concentration, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), low molecular weight organic acids (citric and oxalic acids), and total REE concentration conditions. Increasing electrolyte concentration inhibits REE adsorption at pH 7, suggesting that ion exchange contributes to adsorption at these pH values. DIC affects adsorption above pH 7−8 by forming strong aqueous complexes with heavy REEs. Citric acid decreases REE adsorption via aqueous complexation of REEs at pH 5 but does not affect adsorption at pH 5. The surface complexation model captures the main adsorption trends with two mechanisms: ion exchange on basal planes at pH ∼6 and inner-sphere surface complexation to edge sites at pH ∼6. Equilibrium constants for surface complexation increase in the order of Yb Dy Nd, indicating a higher strength of adsorption for heavy REEs. This study demonstrates how water chemistry conditions control the adsorption mechanisms that may determine the mobility of REEs in subsurface environments rich in kaolinite.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

The interactive role of subsynoptic scale jet streak and planetary boundary layer processes in organizing an isolated convective complex

Surface analyses and numerical simulation sensitivity studies are compared in order to determine the role played by deep, well-mixed, and well-heated boundary layers in perturbing a weak jet streak in proximity to the development of an isolated but intense convective complex associated with the Grand Island, Nebraska tornado outbreak of June 3-4, 1980. A brief description of the case is first presented, emphasizing three-hourly surface analyses, radar, and satellite data. The results of numerical experiments comparing differences in the runs with and without diurnal surface sensible heating are discussed and related to observations. The dynamical processes responsible for these simulation differences are discussed, and the significance of these differences are considered in terms of their effect on the preconvective environment.

Kaplan, M. L.↗

Surface Complexation/Ion Exchange Hybrid Model for Radionuclide Sorption to Clay Minerals (M4SF-23LL010301062)

This progress report (Level 4 Milestone Number M4SF-23LL010301062) summarizes research conducted at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) within the Argillite International Collaborations Activity Number SF-23LL01030106. The activity is focused on our long-term commitment to engaging our partners in international nuclear waste repository research. The focus of this milestone is the establishment of international collaborations for surface complexation modeling and the associated impacts of unlocking larger, community-based datasets. More specifically, we are developing a database framework for Spent Fuel and Waste and Science Technology (SFWST) that is aligned with the Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden Rossendorf (HZDR) sorption database development group in support of the database needs of the SFWST program. In our FY22 effort, we described a detailed analysis of U(VI) sorption to quartz through both traditional surface complexation modeling and through a hybrid ML framework. In FY23, effort was placed on publication of these results and expansion of the LLNL surface complexation and ion exchange database (L-SCIE) in order to assess mineral-based radionuclide retardation under a wider variety of geochemical conditions (e.g., ionic strength, varying electrolyte compositions). Efforts were initiated to expand L-SCIE to include radionuclide surface complexation and ion exchange to clays that are relevant to subsurface geochemical processes occurring at nuclear waste repositories. In particular, a large source of sorption data for clays resides at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) (work primarily by Bradbury and Baeyens) and we initiated discussions on how to retrieve those data and apply FAIR principles to those datasets. In addition to L-SCIE development, two hybrid models that incorporate AI/ML were investigated and compared to discern the most promising approaches for accurate and precise estimations of radionuclide retardation. Key considerations for future model development include (1) the ability to reduce computational burden on determining retardation coefficients for PA and (2) the ability to quantify and predict radionuclide-mineral partitioning at a more efficient, rapid pace due to automated workflows. Upon the careful consideration of the most effective modeling approaches, we are identifying ways to implement these approaches into PA. Ultimately, the data science-based workflows will provide a major incentive for other institutions to adopt a FAIR-formatted, interoperable database. LLNL will play a key role in disseminating sorption data and acting as good data stewards by updating the database in a consistent format and assessing the quality of the newly assimilated data in an organized fashion. To this end, all data and workflows are open access and made available on the LLNL Seaborg research website (https://seaborg.llnl.gov/resources/geochemical-databases-modeling-codes).

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

Partitioning of Fe(II) in reduced nontronite (NAu-2) to reactive sites: Reactivity in terms of Tc(VII) reduction

Abstract Clay minerals impart important chemical properties to soils, in part, by virtue of changes in the redox state of Fe in their crystal structures. Therefore, measurement of Fe(III)/Fe(II) and partitioning of Fe(II) in different reactive sites in clay minerals (during biological and chemical Fe(III) reduction) is essential to understand their role and their relative reactivity in terms of reduction and immobilization of heavy metal contaminants such as technetium. This study had three objectives: (1) to understand the degree of dissolution of nontronite (Fe-rich smectite) as a result of chemical and biological reduction of Fe(III) in the structure; (2) to quantify partitioning of chemically and biologically produced Fe(II) into different reactive sites in reduced nontronite, including aqueous Fe 2+ , ammonium chloride-extractable Fe(II) (mainly from the ion-exchangeable sites, denoted as Fe ( II ) NH 4 Cl ${\rm{Fe}}{\left( {{\rm{II}}} \right)_{{\rm{N}}{{\rm{H}}_4}{\rm{Cl}}}}$ ), sodium acetate-extractable Fe(II) (mainly from the surface complexation sites, denoted as Fe(II) acetate ), and structural Fe(II) (denoted as Fe(II) str ); and (3) to evaluate the reactivity of these Fe(II) species in terms of Tc(VII) reduction. Chemical and biological reduction of Fe(III) in nontronite (NAu-2) was performed, and reduced nontronite samples with different extents of Fe(III) reduction (1.2–71%) were prepared. The extent of reductive dissolution was measured as a function of the extent of Fe(III) reduction. Our results demonstrated that chemically and biologically produced Fe(II) in NAu-2 may be accommodated in the NAu-2 structure if the extent of Fe(III) reduction is small (< ∼30%). When the extent of reduction was >∼30%, dissolution of nontronite occurred with a corresponding decrease in crystallinity of residual nontronite. The Fe(II) produced was available for partitioning into four species: Fe ( ab ) 2 + ${\rm{Fe}}_{\left( {{\rm{ab}}} \right)}^{2 + }$ , Fe(II) acetate , Fe ( II ) NH 4 Cl ${\rm{Fe}}{\left( {{\rm{II}}} \right)_{{\rm{N}}{{\rm{H}}_4}{\rm{Cl}}}}$ , and Fe(II) str . The increase in Fe(II) acetate during the early stages of Fe(III) reduction indicated that the Fe(II) released had the greatest affinity for the surface-complexation sites, but this site had a limited capacity (∼60 µmol of Fe(II)/g of NAu-2). The subsequent increase in Fe ( II ) NH 4 Cl ${\rm{Fe}}{\left( {{\rm{II}}} \right)_{{\rm{N}}{{\rm{H}}_4}{\rm{Cl}}}}$ indicated that the released Fe(II) partitioned into the exchangeable sites once the amount of Fe at the surface-complexation sites reached half of its maximum site capacity. The fraction of Fe(II) str decreased concomitantly, as a result of Fe(II) release from the NAu-2 structure, from 100% when the extent of Fe(III) reduction was <30% to nearly 65% when the extent of Fe(III) reduction reached 71%. The Fe(II) acetate and Fe(II) str exhibited greater reactivity in terms of Tc(VII) reduction than the Fe ( II ) NH 4 Cl ${\rm{Fe}}{\left( {{\rm{II}}} \right)_{{\rm{N}}{{\rm{H}}_4}{\rm{Cl}}}}$ . Clearly, the surface-complexed and structural Fe(II) are the desirable species when reduced clay minerals are used to reduce and immobilize soluble heavy metals in contaminated groundwater and soils. These results have important implications for understanding microbe—clay mineral interactions and heavy metal immobilization in clay-rich natural environments.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Atomically precise control of rotational dynamics in charged rare-earth complexes on a metal surface

Abstract Complexes containing rare-earth ions attract great attention for their technological applications ranging from spintronic devices to quantum information science. While charged rare-earth coordination complexes are ubiquitous in solution, they are challenging to form on materials surfaces that would allow investigations for potential solid-state applications. Here we report formation and atomically precise manipulation of rare-earth complexes on a gold surface. Although they are composed of multiple units held together by electrostatic interactions, the entire complex rotates as a single unit when electrical energy is supplied from a scanning tunneling microscope tip. Despite the hexagonal symmetry of the gold surface, a counterion at the side of the complex guides precise three-fold rotations and 100% control of their rotational directions is achieved using a negative electric field from the scanning probe tip. This work demonstrates that counterions can be used to control dynamics of rare-earth complexes on materials surfaces for quantum and nanomechanical applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗