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At least 631 records · Page 35

Low interface defect density of atomic layer deposition BeO with self-cleaning reaction for InGaAs metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors

In this paper, we discuss atomic configuration of atomic layer deposition (ALD) beryllium oxide (BeO) using the quantum chemistry to understand the theoretical origin. BeO has shorter bond length, higher reaction enthalpy, and larger bandgap energy compared with those of ALD aluminum oxide. It is shown that the excellent material properties of ALD BeO can reduce interface defect density due to the self-cleaning reaction and this contributes to the improvement of device performance of InGaAs MOSFETs. The low interface defect density and low leakage current of InGaAs MOSFET were demonstrated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and the corresponding electrical results.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Cleaning of optical surfaces by capacitively coupled RF discharge plasma

In this paper, we report cleaning of carbon capped molybdenum (Mo) thin film by in-house developed radio frequency (RF) plasma reactor, at different powers and exposure time. Carbon capped Mo films were exposed to oxygen plasma for different durations at three different power settings, at a constant pressure. After each exposure, the thickness of the carbon layer and the roughness of the film were determined by hard x-ray reflectivity measurements. It was observed that most of the carbon film got removed in first 15 minutes exposure. A high density layer formed on top of the Mo film was also observed and it was noted that this layer cannot be removed by successive exposures at different powers. A significant improvement in interface roughness with a slight improvement in top film roughness was observed. The surface roughness of the exposed and unexposed samples was also confirmed by atomic force microscopy measurements.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Cleaning graphene with a titanium sacrificial layer

Graphene is a promising material for future electronic applications and chemical vapor deposition of graphene on copper is a promising method for synthesizing graphene on the wafer scale. The processing of such graphene films into electronic devices introduces a variety of contaminants which can be difficult to remove. An approach to cleaning residues from the graphene channel is presented in which a thin layer of titanium is deposited via thermal e-beam evaporation and immediately removed. This procedure does not damage the graphene as evidenced by Raman spectroscopy, greatly enhances the electrical performance of the fabricated graphene field effect transistors, and completely removes the chemical residues from the surface of the graphene channel as evidenced by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Clean surface processing of rubrene single crystal immersed in ionic liquid by using frequency modulation atomic force microscopy

Surface processing of a rubrene single crystal immersed in ionic liquids is valuable for further development of low voltage transistors operated by an electric double layer. We performed a precise and clean surface processing based on the tip-induced dissolution of rubrene molecules at the ionic liquid/rubrene single crystal interfaces by using frequency modulation atomic force microscopy. Molecular resolution imaging revealed that the tip-induced dissolution proceeded via metastable low density states derived from the anisotropic intermolecular interactions within the crystal structure.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Reliable wet-chemical cleaning of natively oxidized high-efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se{sub 2} thin-film solar cell absorbers

Currently, Cu-containing chalcopyrite-based solar cells provide the highest conversion efficiencies among all thin-film photovoltaic (PV) technologies. They have reached efficiency values above 20%, the same performance level as multi-crystalline silicon-wafer technology that dominates the commercial PV market. Chalcopyrite thin-film heterostructures consist of a layer stack with a variety of interfaces between different materials. It is the chalcopyrite/buffer region (forming the p-n junction), which is of crucial importance and therefore frequently investigated using surface and interface science tools, such as photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning probe microscopy. To ensure comparability and validity of the results, a general preparation guide for “realistic” surfaces of polycrystalline chalcopyrite thin films is highly desirable. We present results on wet-chemical cleaning procedures of polycrystalline Cu(In{sub 1-x}Ga{sub x})Se{sub 2} thin films with an average x = [Ga]/([In] + [Ga]) = 0.29, which were exposed to ambient conditions for different times. The hence natively oxidized sample surfaces were etched in KCN- or NH{sub 3}-based aqueous solutions. By x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we find that the KCN treatment results in a chemical surface structure which is – apart from a slight change in surface composition – identical to a pristine as-received sample surface. Additionally, we discover a different oxidation behavior of In and Ga, in agreement with thermodynamic reference data, and we find indications for the segregation and removal of copper selenide surface phases from the polycrystalline material.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Cleaning graphene: A first quantum/classical molecular dynamics approach

Graphene outstanding properties created a huge interest in the condensed matter community and unprecedented fundings at the international scale in the hope of application developments. Recently, there have been several reports of incomplete removal of the polymer resists used to transfer as-grown graphene from one substrate to another, resulting in altered graphene transport properties. Finding a large-scale solution to clean graphene from adsorbed residues is highly desirable and one promising possibility would be to use hydrogen plasmas. In this spirit, we couple here quantum and classical molecular dynamics simulations to explore the kinetic energy ranges required by atomic hydrogen to selectively etch a simple residue—a CH{sub 3} group—without irreversibly damaging the graphene. For incident energies in the 2–15 eV range, the CH{sub 3} radical can be etched by forming a volatile CH{sub 4} compound which leaves the surface, either in the CH{sub 4} form or breaking into CH{sub 3} + H fragments, without further defect formation. At this energy, adsorption of H atoms on graphene is possible and further annealing will be required to recover pristine graphene.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Pollution inequality 50 years after the Clean Air Act: the need for hyperlocal data and action

Fifty years ago the Clean Air Act amendments of 1970 were the first major US legislation that authorized regulation of air pollutants, creating National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQSs) to protect public health and the environment. While US air quality has improved, with average PM 2.5 concentrations in 2016 a third of 1981 levels, air pollution remains a major health risk in the US and globally. Moreover, air pollution impacts are still uneven, with the most polluted US communities of 50 years ago still so today. Air pollution “hot spots” result in disproportionate exposure at neighborhood scales within cities, particularly in disadvantaged communities, but an in-depth understanding at these scales is lacking. This policy perspective discusses how trends in sensor technology, spatial data collection, analytics and retrieval are converging to enable the production of hyperlocal air pollution data, and that this needs to be done in a manner that enables marginalized communities to shape decision making.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Hydrogen as Part of a 100% Clean Energy System: Exploring Its Decarbonization Roles

Today's energy system uses a variety of fuels and energy carriers in molecular forms, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, each contributing to CO2 emissions (Figure 1). As solar and wind levels grow and the energy system becomes more electrified, fossil molecular fuels will contribute a progressively smaller fraction of overall energy. As shown in Figure 2, hydroelectric storage and molecules, such as coal and natural gas, provide substantial storage and dispatch functionality today that will become increasingly critical for electricity operation and stability. Emerging low-carbon gases, such as hydrogen, can support the efficient integration of renewables in the transition from today's energy system to one that is 100% clean from a carbon emissions perspective.

clean energy system↗

Laser space debris cleaning: elimination of detrimental self-focusing effects

A ground-based laser system for space debris cleaning requires pulse power well above the critical power for self-focusing in the atmosphere. Self-focusing results in beam quality degradation and is detrimental for the system operation. We demonstrate that, for the relevant laser parameters, when the thickness of the atmosphere is much less than the focusing length (that is, of the orbit scale), the beam transit through the atmosphere produces the phase distortion only. The model thus developed is in very good agreement with numerical modeling. This implies that, by using phase mask or adaptive optics, it may be possible to eliminate almost completely the impact of self-focusing effects in the atmosphere on the laser beam propagation.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Fiber laser cleaning of metal mirror surfaces for optical diagnostic systems of the ITER

The results of experimental studies into efficiency of removal of films with a complex composition from metal mirrors by pulsed fiber laser irradiation are presented. It is shown that the initial reflectivity of optical elements can be restored by the selection of modes of irradiation impacting the surface with the sputtered film. Effective cleaning is performed by radiation with a power density lower than 10{sup 7} W/cm{sup 2}. The removal of contaminations at such a relatively low power density occurs in a solid phase, owing to which the thermal effect on the mirror is insignificant.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Estimation of Qualitative and Quantitative Parameters of Air Cleaning by a Pulsed Corona Discharge Using Multicomponent Standard Mixtures

The efficiency of removal of volatile organic impurities in air by a pulsed corona discharge is investigated using model mixtures. Based on the method of competing reactions, an approach to estimating the qualitative and quantitative parameters of the employed electrophysical technique is proposed. The concept of the “toluene coefficient” characterizing the relative reactivity of a component as compared to toluene is introduced. It is proposed that the energy efficiency of the electrophysical method be estimated using the concept of diversified yield of the removal process. Such an approach makes it possible to substantially intensify the determination of energy parameters of removal of impurities and can also serve as a criterion for estimating the effectiveness of various methods in which a nonequilibrium plasma is used for air cleaning from volatile impurities.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Key performance metrics for clean energy application centers: fiscal year 2011

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funds nine Clean Energy Application Centers (CEACs) that promote and assist in transforming the market for Combined Heat and Power (CHP), waste heat to power, and district energy (DE) technologies and concepts throughout the United States. The key services provided by the CEACs are market assessments, education and outreach, and technical assistance. There are eight regional centers that serve specific areas of the country and a separate center operated by the International District Energy Association (IDEA) which supports the regional centers with technical assistance related to district energy and provides education, training, publicity, and outreach about that technology.

Clean Energy Application Centers↗

Clean Energy Application Centers: Annual Metrics Report for Fiscal Year 2012

Between fiscal year (FY) 2010 and 2013, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funded nine Clean Energy Application Centers (CEACs) with national coverage to promote and assist in transforming the market for Combined Heat and Power (CHP), Waste Heat to Power CHP, and district energy (DE) with CHP1. Prior to that, similar services were provided by eight Regional Application Centers (RACs). The key services that the CEACs provided were market assessments, education and outreach, and technical assistance. There were eight regional CEACs, each of which served a specific area of the country, and a separate center operated by the International District Energy Association (IDEA) which supported the regional centers with technical assistance, education, training, publicity, and outreach related to district energy with CHP. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has performed four previous studies of CEAC activities. The first one examined what the centers had done each year from the initiation of the program through FY 2008; the second addressed center activities for FY 2009; the third one focused on what was accomplished in FY 2010; and the fourth looked at the CEACs’ FY 2011 accomplishments, with a heightened emphasis on the adoption of CHP\DE technologies and the activities thought to be most closely related to CHP/DE development and use. The most recent study, documented in this report, examines CEAC activities in FY 2012.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Clean Cities Now: Vol. 18, No. 1, Spring 2014 (Newsletter)

Spring 2014 edition of the biannual newsletter of the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities program. Each issue contains program news, success stories, and information about tools and resources to assist in the deployment of alternative fuels, advanced vehicles, idle reduction, fuel efficiency improvements, and other measures to cut petroleum use in transportation.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Developing an Online Database of National and Sub-National Clean Energy Policies

The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) was established in 1995 to provide summaries of energy efficiency and renewable energy policies offered by the federal and state governments. This primer provides an overview of the major policy, research, and technical topics to be considered when creating a similar clean energy policy database and website.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Clean Cities 2013 Annual Metrics Report

Each year, the U.S. Department of Energy asks its Clean Cities program coordinators to submit annual reports of their activities and accomplishments for the previous calendar year. Data and information are submitted via an online database that is maintained as part of the Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Coordinators submit a range of data that characterize the membership, funding, projects, and activities of their coalitions. They also submit data about sales of alternative fuels, deployment of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), idle-reduction (IR) initiatives, fuel economy activities, and programs to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT). NREL analyzes the data and translates them into petroleum-use reduction impacts, which are summarized in this 2013 Annual Metrics Report.

2013 DATA↗

Clean Cities 2014 Annual Metrics Report

Each year, the U.S. Department of Energy asks its Clean Cities program coordinators to submit annual reports of their activities and accomplishments for the previous calendar year. Data and information are submitted via an online database that is maintained as part of the Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Coordinators submit a range of data that characterize the membership, funding, projects, and activities of their coalitions. They also submit data about sales of alternative fuels, deployment of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), idle-reduction (IR) initiatives, fuel economy activities, and programs to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT). NREL analyzes the data and translates them into petroleum-use reduction impacts, which are summarized in this 2014 Annual Metrics Report.

2014 data↗