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At least 721 records · Page 40

Chemical Frustration: A Design Principle for the Discovery of New Complex Alloy and Intermetallic Phases (Final Report)

A limiting factor in the design of new metallic materials for energy applications is the inability to predict or control the crystal structures of intermetallic phases. These compounds exhibit an immense structural diversity, which continues to expand with progress in synthetic exploration. In this project, a concept has been developed through experimental and theoretical endeavors to explain and predict how complex structures can arise in these systems: chemical frustration. Competing interactions were induced synthetically through the selection of ternary combinations of elements, in which incompatibilities are anticipated to arise between the preferred bonding or packing modes of the binary subsystems. These experiments led to a variety of new compounds which were structurally characterized and interpreted in terms of the chemical frustration concept. Theoretical models based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) and semiempircal tightbinding calculations were also developed to account for new compounds encountered during these experimental investigations, as well as relevant intermetallic structures in the literature. Examples include the μ3-acidity model and the reversed approximation Molecular Orbital approach. This research has contributed to the field by proposing an approach to navigating the structural diversity of intermetallics, which has long been difficult to explain or control, and demonstrating its usefulness in the discovery of new compounds. At the same time, it has provided new tools for explaining structural phenomena in metals and forged deeper connections between the fields of materials and molecular chemistry. In terms of technical effectiveness and economic feasibility, the chemical frustration approach is promising. Several of the compounds discovered illustrate the structural features expected for frustration, and can be prepared simply from the elemental metals as thermodynamically stable phases. The future effectiveness of this approach will require criteria for reliably determining which systems will yield chemically-frustrated phases, and which will result in simple phase segregation. One outcome of the project is the refined guidelines for identifying such systems, which will be tested in future research. In addition to the scientific impacts of this research, there are also long-term benefits to the public: this project has opened routes to compounds based on intergrowths of simple intermetallics. When applied to the intergrowth of intermetallic phases with useful properties, this approach could yield new functional composites whose nanostructuring is extremely resilient as it is dictated by thermodynamics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Complex Phase Transitions of Fully Rigid Sphere–Rod Amphiphiles Induced by Solvent Polarity in Dilute Solutions

Here we report complex macrophase and microphase transitions of rigid amphiphiles with spherical Keggin molecular clusters as the solvophilic block and rod-like rigid oligofluorene (OF) as the solvophobic block in mixed solvents of water and polar organic solvent. By properly adjusting the solvent polarity, the amphiphiles are found to respond accordingly by self-assembling into multilayered incomplete onion-like structures (10–25 vol % THF), single-layered vesicular structures (60 vol % THF), and an unexpected macrophase separation in the middle (40–50 vol % THF), which is due to the anomalous trends in Keggin solubility as a result of the nature of TBA + counterions. The rigidity of the OF block prevents the amphiphile from assembling by following the rule of packing parameters; instead, interdigitation among different rods leads to the formation of the solvophobic domain to achieve self-assembly. The incomplete onion structures are controlled by the interdigitation of rigid rods for the number of layers and the electrostatic interaction among Keggin head groups for the interlayer distance. When the degree of interdigitation becomes lower, the self-assembly process shows a trend that can be explained by the traditional rule of packing parameter. This study demonstrates the formation of different self-assembled structures by rigid amphiphiles and their transitions induced by solvent composition. The self-assembly (microphase separation) of rigid amphiphiles in a dilute solution could indeed represent a broad area containing complicated, uncharted rules.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Structural and Electronic Effect Driven Distortions in Visible Light Absorbing Polar Materials A Ta 2 V 2 O 11 ( A = Sr, Pb)

Complex vanadates of tantalum(V), such as ATa 2 V 2 O 11 (A = Sr, Pb), are rare and underrated materials, which have potential application domains that could be substantially expanded, mitigating the existing controversy on their atomic and electronic organization. Herein, we present a thorough structural examination combining synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction-aided distortion mode analysis with computational methods to study hettotypes of SrTa 2 V 2 O 11 (STVO) and PbTa 2 V 2 O 11 (PTVO). Being distinct from the perovskite family due to the presence of [VO 4 ] groups, both compounds are polar dielectric materials with certain similarities to SBT and PBT Aurivillius phases. Applying the model of anions of metallic matrices to the analysis of electron localization functions calculated on top of as-established equilibrium structures helps retrace the effects in the Sr and Pb surroundings on the respective crystal packings of STVO and PTVO.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

High pressure synthesis of a hexagonal close-packed phase of the high-entropy alloy CrMnFeCoNi

High-entropy alloys, near-equiatomic solid solutions of five or more elements, represent a new strategy for the design of materials with properties superior to those of conventional alloys. However, their phase space remains constrained, with transition metal high-entropy alloys exhibiting only face- or body-centered cubic structures. Here, we report the high-pressure synthesis of a hexagonal close-packed phase of the prototypical high-entropy alloy CrMnFeCoNi. This martensitic transformation begins at 14 GPa and is attributed to suppression of the local magnetic moments, destabilizing the initial fcc structure. Similar to fcc-to-hcp transformations in Al and the noble gases, the transformation is sluggish, occurring over a range of >40 GPa. However, the behaviour of CrMnFeCoNi is unique in that the hcp phase is retained following decompression to ambient pressure, yielding metastable fcc-hcp mixtures. This demonstrates a means of tuning the structures and properties of high-entropy alloys in a manner not achievable by conventional processing techniques.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

SpRoUTS (Space Robot Universal Truss System): Reversible Robotic Assembly of Deployable Truss Structures of Reconfigurable Length

Automatic deployment of structures has been a focus of much academic and industrial work on infrastructure applications and robotics in general. This paper presents a robotic truss assembler designed for space applications - the Space Robot Universal Truss System (SpRoUTS) - that reversibly assembles a truss from a feedstock of hinged andflat-packed components, by folding the sides of each component up and locking onto the assembled structure. We describe the design and implementation of the robot and show that the assembled truss compares favorably with prior truss deployment systems.

Deployable↗

Highly Stable Battery Pack via Insulated, Reinforced, Buckling-Enabled Interconnect Array

This work describes a flexible and stretchable battery pack configuration that exhibits highly stable performance under large deformation up to 100% biaxial stretching. Using stress-enduring printable inks and serpentine interconnects, the new screen-printing route offers an attractive solution for converting rigid battery units into a flexible, stretchable energy storage device. Coin-cell lithium ion batteries are thus assembled onto the island regions of a screen-printed, buckling-enabled, polymer-reinforced interconnect “island-bridge” array. Most of the strain on the new energy-storage device is thus accommodated by the stress-enduring serpentine structures, and the array is further reinforced by mechanically strong “backbone” layers. Battery pack arrays are assembled and tested under different deformation levels, demonstrating a highly stable performance (<2.5% change) under all test conditions. Additionally, a light emitting diode band powered by the battery pack is tested on-body, showing uninterrupted illumination regardless of any degrees of deformation. Moreover, battery-powered devices that are ultrastable under large deformation can be easily fabricated by incorporating different electronics parts such as sensors or integrated circuits on the same platform. Such ability to apply traditionally rigid, bulky lithium ion batteries onto flexible and stretchable printed surfaces holds considerable promise for diverse wearable applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Competitive Adsorption of Lubricant Base Oil and Ionic Liquid Additives at Air/Liquid and Solid/Liquid Interfaces

Oil-soluble ionic liquids (ILs) have been proved as effective additives in lubricant oils through tribological experiments and post-test analytical analyses. Here, surface structures of lubricant base oil, oil-soluble ILs, and their mixtures at the air/liquid and solid/liquid interfaces have been studied using sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy. At the air/base oil and air/IL interfaces, the alkyl chains of the studied compounds were shown to be conformationally disordered and their terminal methyl groups point outward at the liquid surface. The base oil dominates the air/(base oil + IL) interface due to its higher surface excess propensity and larger bulk concentration. At the solid (silica) surface, ILs adopt a structure with their charged headgroups in contact with the silica surface, while their alkyl chains are more conformationally ordered or packed compared to the air/IL interface. At the interface between silica and (base oil + IL) mixtures, ILs also preferentially adsorb to the silica surface with their layer structures somewhat different from those of ILs alone. These results showed that ILs can adsorb onto the solid surface even before tribological contacts are made. The insights obtained from this SFG study provide a better understanding of the role of ionic liquids in lubrication.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Repairable and Reconfigurable Structured Liquid Circuits

The advance of printed electronics is significantly bolstered by the development of liquid-state electronics that overcome the inherent limitations in flexibility and reconfigurability of solid-state electronics. By integrating the biocompatibility and conductivity of sulfonated polyaniline (S-PANI) and phytic acid (PA) with the reconfigurability of structured liquids, highly conductive all-liquid threads are developed. The dense packing and overlap of PA/S-PANI complexes at an oil/water interface promotes in-plane electron transport, and standard four-point probe measurements of PA/S-PANI interfacial assemblies demonstrate enhanced electrical properties. Notably, the rapid jetting of the ink phase into the matrix phase allows for liquid threads to be printed, enabling the fabrication of large-scale, conductive pathways between two electrodes and liquid circuits. Upon mechanical cleavage of the liquid wires, circuits can be broken, but will easily self-repair using an electric field, making this motif useful in the design of switches as well as restoring conductive pathways in series or in parallel. In conclusion, the demonstrated flexibility and reconfigurability these PA/S-PANI wires possess hold significant promise for their practical use in the design of flexible and adaptive bioelectronics that can be repaired on demand, signifying a transformative step in the evolution of liquid electronic materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Combined Normal and Disruption, Electromagnetic Transient, Thermal, and Structural Analysis of COMPASS Upgrade

We report that COMPASS Upgrade is a replacement for the COMPASS device at the Institute of Plasma Physics (IPP) of the Czech Academy of Sciences. It is a cryogenic copper machine with a major radius of 0.89 m, with 5 T at the plasma centerline and 2-MA plasma current. It is intended to develop ITER relevant plasma densities and high power fluxes in the divertor region. The entire vacuum vessel is planned to reach 500 °C. The COMPASS-U TF coil is a bitter plate-like design with radial conductor plates that extend the width of the TF inner leg. Currents redistribute radially based on resistive and inductive effects. This necessitates an electromagnetic (EM) transient analysis of the coil current distribution. For copper coils like COMPASS Upgrade, the solution must be coupled with a thermal solution to properly include the temperature-dependent resistive effects. The EM transient solution includes the TF magnetic loads, and a stress pass on the results produces in-plane loads. The EM solution chosen requires inclusion of all the conducting and nonconducting regions surrounding the TF coil. With the TF current distribution solved, the addition of the poloidal coils and resulting background fields allows the determination of the out-of-plane loads. Integration of the Joule heating produced from the EM solution produces temperature distributions throughout the shot, which can be read in to a structural pass to include thermal stresses in the evaluation. This is true of both TF and PF temperature prediction with appropriate packing fractions. Currents in the PF coils, with computed background fields, produce Lorentz loads. Time transients of the PF currents produce startup eddy currents in the structures included in the model; inclusion of the vessel and other passive structures allows these to be included in a stress pass. The EM transient solution includes all the elements needed for a disruption analysis with prescribed motions and quench of the plasma. From a model originally intended to simulate current diffusion in the TF coil, the analysis can be refined to be used to predict the performance of most of the components of the tokamak or provide boundary conditions for more detailed submodels. In this article, the use of the current diffusion model for bounding assessments of the COMPASS Upgrade TF, PF, vessel, external structure, and disruption analyses will be presented.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Direct numerical simulations in solid mechanics for quantifying the macroscale effects of microstructure and material model-form error

Two fundamental approximations in macroscale solid-mechanics modeling are (1) the assumption of scale separation in homogenization theory and (2) the use of a macroscopic plasticity material model that represents, in a mean sense, the multitude of inelastic processes occurring at the microscale. With the goal of quantifying the errors induced by these approximations on engineering quantities of interest, we perform a set of direct numerical simulations (DNS) in which polycrystalline microstructures are embedded throughout a macroscale structure. The largest simulations model over 50,000 grains. The microstructure is idealized using a randomly close-packed Voronoi tessellation in which each polyhedral Voronoi cell represents a grain. An face centered cubic crystal-plasticity model is used to model the mechanical response of each grain. The overall grain structure is equiaxed, and each grain is randomly oriented with no overall texture. The detailed results from the DNS simulations are compared to results obtained from conventional macroscale simulations that use homogeneous isotropic plasticity models. The macroscale plasticity models are calibrated using a representative volume element of the idealized microstructure. Furthermore, we envision that DNS modeling will be used to gain new insights into the mechanics of material deformation and failure.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Separation of Xylene Isomers through Multiple Metal Site Interactions in Metal–Organic Frameworks

Purification of the C 8 alkylaromatics o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene, and ethylbenzene remains among the most challenging industrial separations, due to the similar shapes, boiling points, and polarities of these molecules. We report the evaluation of the metal-organic frameworks Co 2 (dobdc) (dobdc 4- = 2,5-dioxido-1,4-benzenedicarboxylate) and Co 2 ( m-dobdc) ( m-dobdc 4- = 4,6-dioxido-1,3-benzenedicarboxylate) for the separation of xylene isomers using single-component adsorption isotherms and multicomponent breakthrough measurements. Remarkably, Co 2 (dobdc) distinguishes among all four molecules, with binding affinities that follow the trend o-xylene > ethylbenzene > m-xylene > p-xylene. Multicomponent liquid-phase adsorption measurements further demonstrate that Co 2 (dobdc) maintains this selectivity over a wide range of concentrations. Structural characterization by single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that both frameworks facilitate the separation through the extent of interaction between each C 8 guest molecule with two adjacent cobalt(II) centers, as well as the ability of each isomer to pack within the framework pores. Moreover, counter to the presumed rigidity of the M 2 (dobdc) structure, Co 2 (dobdc) exhibits an unexpected structural distortion in the presence of either o-xylene or ethylbenzene that enables the accommodation of additional guest molecules.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Cr 2.37 Ga 3 Se 8 : A Quasi-Two-Dimensional Magnetic Semiconductor

We present a novel magnetic semiconductor, Cr 2.37 Ga 3 Se 8 , synthesized by partially replacing magnetic Cr 3+ in antiferromagnetic Cr 5+δ Se 8 with nonmagnetic Ga 3+ . The crystal structure of Cr 2.37 Ga 3 Se 8 was determined by both powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The title compound crystallizes in a monoclinic structure with space group C2/m (No. 12). In Cr 2.37 Ga 3 Se 8 , the Cr atoms are surrounded by 6 Se atoms and form filled octahedral clusters, while Ga atoms are centered in the Se 4 tetrahedral clusters. The two kinds of clusters pack alternatingly along the c-axis, which results in a quasi-two-dimensional layered structure. The magnetization (M) measurement shows the development of short-range ferromagnetic coupling below the Curie-Weiss (CW) temperature θ CW ~ 92 K, evidenced by the nonlinear field dependence of M. However, the magnetic susceptibility exhibits a peak at low fields at ~18 K, indicating the existence of an antiferromagnetic interaction as well. Electronic structure calculations using the WIEN2k program in the local spin density approximation indicate that the magnetism arises exclusively from local moments of the Cr atoms. Here, the electrical resistivity measurement of the Cr 2.37 Ga 3 Se 8 sample confirms that this material is a semiconductor with the band gap ~0.26 eV. Meanwhile, the experimental band gap (~0.26 eV) is close to the theoretical prediction using the WIEN2k program (~0.35 eV).

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Electric-Field Assisted Assembly of Colloidal Particles into Ordered Nonclose-Packed Arrays

Nonclose-packed colloidal arrays have many potential applications ranging from plasmonic sensors, light trapping for photovoltaics, to transparent electrodes. However, scalable fabrication of those structures remains a challenge. In this Article, we investigate the robustness of an electric-field assisted approach systematically. A monolayer of nonclose-packed crystalline array is first created under a low-frequency alternating-current electric field in solution. We then apply a sequence of direct-current pulses to fix the particle array onto the substrate so that it remains intact even after both field removal and solvent evaporation. Key process parameters such as the alternating-current field strength, direct-current magnitude, particle concentration, and solvent-evaporation rate that affect both ordering and fixing of colloidal particles have been studied systematically. Here, we find that direct currents with an intermediate magnitude induce electrophoretic motion of particles toward the substrate and facilitate their permanent adhesion on the substrate due to strong van der Waals attraction. A higher current, however, causes lateral aggregation of particles arising from electroosmotic flow of solvent and destroys the periodic ordering between particles. This approach, in principle, can be conveniently adapted into the continuous convective assembly process, thus making the fabrication of nonclose-packed colloidal arrays scalable.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Subwavelength films for standoff radiation dosimetry

We present optical subwavelength nanostructure architecture suitable for standoff radiation dosimetry with remote optical readout in the visible or infrared spectral regions. To achieve this, films of subwavelength structures are fabricated over several square inches via the creation of a 2D non-close packed (NCP) array template of radiation-sensitive polymeric nanoparticles, followed by magnetron sputtering of a metallic coating to form a 2D array of separated hemispherical nanoscale metallic shells. The nanoshells are highly reflective at resonance in the visible or infrared depending on design. These structures and their behavior are based on the open ring resonator (ORR) architecture and have their analog in resonant inductive-capacitive (LC) circuits, which display a resonance wavelength that is inversely proportional to the square root of the product of the inductance and capacitance. Therefore, any modification of the nanostructure material properties due to radiation alters the inductive or capacitive behavior of the subwavelength features, which in turn changes their optical properties resulting in a shift in the optical resonance. This shift in resonance may be remotely interrogated actively using either laser illumination or passively by hyperspectral or multispectral sensing with broadband illumination. These structures may be designed to be either anisotropic or isotropic, which can also offer polarization-sensitive interrogation. We present experimental measurements of a radiation induced shift in the optical resonance of a subwavelength film after exposure to an absorbed dose of gamma radiation from 2 Mrad up to 62 Mrad demonstrating the effect. Interestingly the resonance shift is non-monotonic for this material system and possible radiation damage mechanisms to the nanoparticles are discussed.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Anisotropic Vapor-Deposited Glasses: Hybrid Organic Solids

CONSPECTUS: The term "organic solids" encompasses both crystals and glasses. Organic crystals are commonly grown for purification and structure determination and are being extensively explored for applications in organic electronics including field effect transistors. The ability to control the packing of one molecule relative to its neighbors is of critical importance for most uses of organic crystals. Often, anisotropic packing is also highly desirable as it enhances charge transport and optimizes light absorption/emission. When compared to crystals, the local packing in organic glasses is highly disordered and often isotropic. Glasses, however, offer two key advantages with respect to crystals. First, glasses typically lack grain boundaries and thus exhibit better macroscopic homogeneity. Second, glass composition can often be varied over a wide range while maintaining homogeneity. Besides electronic materials, many modern plastics used in a wide range of technologies are organic glasses, and the glassy state is being increasingly utilized to deliver pharmaceuticals because of higher bioavailability. In this article, we introduce vapor-deposited organic glasses as hybrid materials that combine some of the useful features of crystals and traditional liquid-cooled glasses. Physical vapor deposition produces glasses by directly condensing molecules from the gas phase onto a temperature-controlled substrate and allows film thickness to be controlled with nanometer precision. Just as liquid-cooled glasses, vapor-deposited glasses have smooth surfaces and lack grain boundaries. These attributes are critical for applications such as organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), in which vapor-deposited glasses of organic semiconductors form the active layers. In common with crystals, vapor-deposited glasses can exhibit anisotropic packing, and the extent of anisotropy can be comparable to that of the typical organic crystal. For vapor-deposited glasses, in contrast to crystals, anisotropic packing can generally be controlled as a continuous variable. Deposition conditions can be chosen to produce glasses with significant molecular orientation (molecules "standing up" or "lying down" relative to the substrate), and pr-stacking can be directed along different directions relative to the substrate. Over the last five years, we have gained a fundamental understanding of the mechanism that controls the anisotropy of vapor-deposited glasses and learned how to control many aspects of anisotropic packing. Two key elements that enable such control are the high mobility present at the surface of an organic glass and the tendency of the surface to promote anisotropic packing of molecules. In contrast to traditional epitaxial growth, for vapor-deposited glasses, the free surface (not the substrate) acts as a template that controls the structure of a growing film. Lastly, the structure of any given layer is decoupled from those beneath it, thereby providing considerable freedom in producing layered glassy structures.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Multistep modeling of protein structure: application to bungarotoxin

Modelling of bungarotoxin in atomic details is presented in this article. The model-building procedure utilizes the low-resolution crystal coordinates of the c-alpha atoms of bungarotoxin, sequence homology within the neurotoxin family, as well as high-resolution x-ray diffraction data of cobratoxin and erabutoxin. Our model-building procedure involves: (a) principles of comparative modelling, (b) embedding procedures of distance geometry, and (c) use of molecular mechanics for optimizing packing. The model is not only consistent with the c-alpha coordinates of crystal structure, but also agrees with solution conformational features of the triple-stranded beta sheet as observed by NOE measurements.

NASA Discipline Exobiology↗

Dataset of simulated vibrational density of states and X-ray diffraction profiles of mechanically deformed and disordered atomic structures in Gold, Iron, Magnesium, and Silicon

This dataset is comprised of a library of atomistic structure files and corresponding X-ray diffraction (XRD) profiles and vibrational density of states (VDoS) profiles for bulk single crystal silicon (Si), gold (Au), magnesium (Mg), and iron (Fe) with and without disorder introduced into the atomic structure and with and without mechanical loading. Included with the atomistic structure files are descriptor files that measure the stress state, phase fractions, and dislocation content of the microstructures. All data was generated via molecular dynamics or molecular statics simulations using the Large-scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator (LAMMPS) code. This dataset can inform the understanding of how local or global changes to a materials microstructure can alter their spectroscopic and diffraction behavior across a variety of initial structure types (cubic diamond, face-centered cubic (FCC), hexagonal close-packed (HCP), and body-centered cubic (BCC) for Si, Au, Mg, and Fe, respectively) and overlapping changes to the microstructure (i.e., both disorder insertion and mechanical loading).

96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION↗

In situ studies on heavy ion irradiation and partial oxidation induced stacking faults and nanograins in tungsten nanolaminates

Understanding the microstructural evolution of tungsten (W) under extreme irradiation environments is critical for its application as a plasma-facing material in future fusion reactors. Heavy ion irradiation study offers expedited damage accumulation and thus allows irradiation tolerance property prediction in a short period of time. In this study we explore in situ Kr ion irradiation of W nanolaminates at 800 °C and uncover a complex interplay of irradiation-induced transformations, including the emergence of stacking faults, nanograin formation, and generation of thickened grain boundaries defined as GB regions with the thickness of up to 15 nm. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy studies reveal the formation of extended planar faults and a metastable hexagonal close-packed (hcp) phase within the body-centered cubic (bcc) matrix. These structural transitions are facilitated by irradiation-induced shear. They are further stabilized by the presence of oxygen, which promotes stacking fault formation and vacancy trapping. Elevated temperatures enhance defect mobility, enabling dynamic recrystallization into ultrafine grains and the thickening of GBs due to defect absorption and impurity segregation. These findings unravel non-equilibrium phase transformation pathways in heavy ion irradiated W and highlight the critical role of impurity-mediated defect dynamics in governing its radiation tolerance properties.

Wazeer, Adil [Purdue University]↗