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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 847 records · Page 47
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

Garnet melt viscosity, surface tension and drainage

Good surface morphology and layer uniformity of LPE-grown Bi YIG films are favored by fast melt removal after growth. Three flux modifying oxides: MoO3, V2O3, and WO3 are compared with respect to their effect on viscosity, surface tension and melt drainage. All three oxides increased the viscosities of Bi-garnet melts, but the viscosities and drainage times of V2O3 and MoO3 modified melts were smaller than those of WO3 modified melts. The liquid-gas surface tension was found to be temperature independent. The drainage process was strongly temperature dependent, 40 to 60 kcal/mol, whereas the viscosities of melts had activation energies of 11 to 16 kcal/mol. Contact angles of 16 + or - 2 deg were measured on frozen melt drops.

Luther, L. C.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Magellan - Mission summary

The surface morphology, electrical properties, and related processes of Venus are the major areas of investigation of the Magellan Mission. The spacecraft employs a SAR for imaging, altimetry, and radiometry, and the mapping of 83 percent of the surface was complete after one of Venus' sidereal days. The strips of image data can provide a global map of Venus to permit the determination of such geologic features as volcanic and tectonic patterns.

Saunders, R. S.↗
DOE OSTI2011

Thermally Switchable Thin Films of an ABC Triblock Copolymer of Poly(n-butyl methacrylate)-poly(methyl methacrylate)-poly(2-fluoroethyl methacrylate)

The thermo-responsive behavior of polymer films consisting of novel linear triblock copolymers of poly(n-butyl methacrylate)-poly(methyl methacrylate)-poly(2-fluoroethyl methacrylate) (PnBuMA-PMMA-P2FEMA) are reported using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), atomic forcing microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contacting angle (CA) measurements. The surface morphology, wettability and chemical structure of thin films of these triblock copolymers on silicon wafers as a function of temperature have been investigated. It has been shown that the wettability of the films is thermally switchable. Detailed structural analysis shows that thermo-responsive surface composition changes are produced. The underlying mechanism of the thermoresponsive behavior is discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Influence of Boron doping on the structural, optical and electrical properties of CdO thin films by spray pyrolysis technique

Cadmium oxide and Boron (B) doped Cadmium oxide thin films were deposited using spray pyrolysis technique. The structural, morphological, electrical and optical properties of undoped and B doped CdO films are analyzed by varying the dopant concentration in the solution. The structural study shows the polycrystalline nature and cubic structure of undoped and B doped CdO thin films. Surface morphological study reveals that the grains are spherical in shape. Optical and electrical studies showed n-type semiconducting nature and optical band gap of 2.44 eV of deposited thin films.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Nucleation and growth of ZnO on PMMA by low-temperature atomic layer deposition

ZnO films were grown by atomic layer deposition at 35 °C on poly(methyl methacrylate) substrates using diethylzinc and water precursors. The film growth, morphology, and crystallinity were studied using Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, time-of-flight elastic recoil detection analysis, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction. The uniform film growth was reached after several hundreds of deposition cycles, preceded by the precursor penetration into the porous bulk and island-type growth. After the full surface coverage, the ZnO films were stoichiometric, and consisted of large grains (diameter 30 nm) with a film surface roughness up to 6 nm (RMS). The introduction of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} seed layer enhanced the initial ZnO growth substantially and changed the surface morphology as well as the crystallinity of the deposited ZnO films. Furthermore, the water contact angles of the ZnO films were measured, and upon ultraviolet illumination, the ZnO films on all the substrates became hydrophilic, independent of the film crystallinity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Effect of defects on reaction of NiO surface with Pb-contained solution

In order to understand the role of defects in chemical reactions, we used two types of samples, which are molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) grown NiO(001) film on Mg(001) substrate as the defect free NiO prototype and NiO grown on Ni(110) single crystal as the one with defects. In-situ observations for oxide-liquid interfacial structure and surface morphology were performed for both samples in water and Pb-contained solution using high-resolution X-ray reflectivity and atomic force microscopy. For the MBE grown NiO, no significant changes were detected in the high-resolution X-ray reflectivity data with monotonic increase in roughness. Meanwhile, in the case of native grown NiO on Ni(110), significant changes in both the morphology and atomistic structure at the interface were observed when immersed in water and Pb-contained solution. Our results provide simple and direct experimental evidence of the role of the defects in chemical reaction of oxide surfaces with both water and Pb-contained solution.

Kim, Jongjin↗
NASA NTRS2007

Compositions of Spherules and Rock Surfaces at Meridiani

The Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometers (APXS) on the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) have proven extremely valuable for analyzing rocks and soils on the surface of Mars. The precision of their compositional measurements has been shown to be phenomenal through analyses of the compositionally very uniform Meridiani soils. Through combined use of the rock abrasion tool (RAT) and the analytical instruments on the in-situ deployment device (IDD), analyses of the interiors of fine-grained and texturally uniform rocks with surfaces ground flat have been made under conditions that are nearly ideal for this mode of analysis. The APXS has also been used frequently to analyze materials whose characteristics, surface morphologies, and sample-detector geometries are less than ideal, but the analyses of which are nonetheless very useful for understanding the makeup of the target materials. Such targets include undisturbed rocks with irregular and sometimes coated surfaces and mixed targets such as soils that include fine-grained components as well as coarse grains and pieces of rocks. Such target materials include the well known hematite-rich concretions, referred to as blueberries because of their multispectral color, size, and mode of occurrence. In addition to non-ideal target geometry, such mixed materials also present a heterogeneous target in terms of density. These irregularities violate the assumptions commonly associated with analyses done in the laboratory to achieve the highest possible accuracy. Here we acknowledge the irregularities and we examine the inferences drawn from specific chemical trends obtained on imperfect targets in light of one of the potential pitfalls of natural materials on the surface of Mars, namely thin dust coatings.

Mittlefehldt, David W.↗
DOE OSTI2014

Plasmonic formation mechanism of periodic 100-nm-structures upon femtosecond laser irradiation of silicon in water

The formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) upon irradiation of silicon by multiple (N = 100) linearly polarized Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser pulses (duration τ = 30 fs, center wavelength λ{sub 0} ∼ 790 nm) is studied experimentally in air and water environment. The LIPSS surface morphologies are characterized by scanning electron microscopy and their spatial periods are quantified by two-dimensional Fourier analyses. It is demonstrated that the irradiation environment significantly influences the periodicity of the LIPSS. In air, so-called low-spatial frequency LIPSS (LSFL) were found with periods somewhat smaller than the laser wavelength (Λ{sub LSFL} ∼ 0.7 × λ{sub 0}) and an orientation perpendicular to the laser polarization. In contrast, for laser processing in water a reduced ablation threshold and LIPSS with approximately five times smaller periods Λ{sub LIPSS} ∼ 0.15 × λ{sub 0} were observed in the same direction as in air. The results are discussed within the frame of recent LIPSS theories and complemented by a thin film based surface plasmon polariton model, which successfully describes the tremendously reduced LIPSS periods in water.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2018

Imaging Catalytic Activation of CO 2 on Cu 2 O (110): A First-Principles Study

Balancing global energy needs against increasing greenhouse gas emissions requires new methods for efficient CO 2 reduction. While photoreduction of CO 2 is a viable approach for fuel generation, the rational design of photocatalysts hinges on precise characterization of the surface catalytic reactions. Cu 2 O is a promising next-generation photocatalyst, but the atomic-scale description of the interaction between CO 2 and the Cu 2 O surface is largely unknown, and detailed experimental measurements are lacking. In this study, density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations have been performed to identify the Cu 2 O (110) surface stoichiometry that favors CO 2 reduction. To facilitate interpretation of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and X-ray absorption near-edge structures (XANES) measurements, which are useful for characterizing catalytic reactions, we present simulations based on DFT-derived surface morphologies with various adsorbate types. STM and XANES simulations were performed using the Tersoff Hamann approximation and Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE) approach, respectively. The results provide guidance for observation of CO 2 reduction reaction on, and rational surface engineering of, Cu 2 O (110). In conclusion, they also demonstrate the effectiveness of computational image and spectroscopy modeling as a predictive tool for surface catalysis characterization.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2010

Benefits of homoepitaxy on the properties of nonpolar (Zn,Mg)O/ZnO quantum wells on a-plane ZnO substrates

We report on the properties of nonpolar (Zn,Mg)O/ZnO quantum wells (QW) homoepitaxially grown by molecular beam epitaxy on a-plane ZnO substrates. We demonstrate a drastic improvement of the structural properties. We compare the photoluminescence properties of nonpolar homoepitaxial QWs and nonpolar heteroepitaxial QWs grown on sapphire and show that the reduction in structural defects and the improvement of surface morphology are correlated with a strong enhancement of the photoluminescence properties: reduction in full width at half maximum, strong increase in the luminescence intensities and their thermal stability. The comparison convincingly demonstrates the interest of homoepitaxial nonpolar QWs for bright UV emission applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Corrosion of Chromia-Forming and Alumina-Forming Ferritic Stainless Steels under Dual Atmosphere Exposure Conditions

The surface morphology and chemistry of oxide scales formed on select chromia-forming and alumina-forming ferritic steels have been studied after exposure to a dual atmosphere of hydrogen and air. Localized Fe-rich oxide nodules with surface whiskers/platelets form at the onset of corrosion. The initiation and growth of localized nodules and breakdown of passivation are attributed to the presence of hydrogen, inclusion of iron oxide in the passivating scale, and subsequent growth of iron-rich oxide due to the establishment of redox (H 2 -H 2 O) atmosphere and modification of oxide defect chemistry.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS2001

Exploring the Martian Highlands using a Rover-Deployed Ground Penetrating Radar

The Martian highlands record a long and often complex history of geologic activity that has shaped the planet over time. Results of geologic mapping and new data from the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft reveal layered surfaces created by multiple processes that are often mantled by eolian deposits. Knowledge of the near-surface stratigraphy as it relates to evolution of surface morphology will provide critical context for interpreting rover/lander remote sensing data and for defining the geologic setting of a highland lander. Rover-deployed ground penetrating radar (GPR) can directly measure the range and character of in situ radar properties, thereby helping to constrain near-surface geology and structure. As is the case for most remote sensing instruments, a GPR may not detect water unambiguously on Mars. Nevertheless, any local, near-surface occurrence of liquid water will lead to large, easily detected dielectric contrasts. Moreover, definition of stratigraphy and setting will help in evaluating the history of aqueous activity and where any water might occur and be accessible. GPR data can also be used to infer the degree of any post-depositional pedogenic alteration or weathering, thereby enabling assessment of pristine versus secondary morphology. Most importantly perhaps, GPR can provide critical context for other rover and orbital instruments/data sets. Hence, rover-deployment of a GPR deployment should enable 3-D mapping of local stratigraphy and could guide subsurface sampling.

Grant, J. A.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Effect of Carbon Nanotube Concentration on the Corrosion Behavior of Electroless Ni-B-CNT Coating

In this study, Ni-B-CNT composite was deposited on AISI 4140 steel using different concentrations of CNTs ranging from 0.2 to 1 gr/lit in an electroless bath. The phase analysis and surface morphology of the samples were characterized using x-ray diffraction and FESEM. The corrosion behavior of the coated samples was investigated in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution through potentiodynamic polarization, EIS, and electrochemical noise (EN) analyses. The corroded surface of the samples was further analyzed via FESEM observation after 10 days of immersion in corrosive medium. It was found that although adding 0.2 gr/lit CNT in electroless solution improves corrosion resistance, increasing CNT concentration from 0.2 up to 1 gr/lit increases the corrosion rate. The FESEM observations and EN results imply that the formation of micro-galvanic cells in samples with high concentration of CNTs leads to nucleation and growth of the pits. The results revealed that no passive layer was formed on the surface of the Ni-B sample, and the corrosion occurred through ionic diffusion into the cracks and crevices. The results of potentiodynamic test show that adding CNTs into electroless bath facilitates the formation of passive layer. However, results of EN test imply that increasing CNT concentration causes repetitive breakdown and recovery of passive film.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2011

Oxynitrided Surface Layer Produced On Ti6Al4V Titanium Alloy Under Low Temperature Glow Discharge Conditions For Medical Applications

In spite that titanium oxides increase biocompatibility of titanium implants but their functional life is limited due to the problems arising from brittles and metalosis. Therefore technology, that allow to produce composite surface layer with controlled microstructure, chemical and phase composition and surface morphology on titanium alloy and eliminates the oxides disadvantages has been existing till now is searched. The requirements of titanium and its alloys implants can be fulfill by the low-temperature glow discharge assisted oxynitriding.The paper describes the surface layer of TiO{sub 2}+TiN+Ti{sub 2}N+{alpha}Ti(N) type produced at temperature 680 deg. C that preserves mechanical properties of titanium alloy Ti6Al4V. Characteristics of produced diffusion multi-phase surface layers in range of phase composition, microstructure (SEM, TEM, XRD) and its properties, such as frictional wear resistance are presented. The biological properties in dependency to the applied sterilization method are also analyzed.Properties of produced surface layers are discussed with reference to titanium alloy. The obtained data show that produced surface layers improves titanium alloy properties both frictional wear and biological. Preliminary in vitro examinations show good biocompatibility and antithrombogenic properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Influence of concentration and volume of precursor on the electrochemical properties of vanadium oxide thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis

Vanadium oxide (V{sub 2}O{sub 5}) thin films have been prepared by spray pyrolysis using different concentrations and volumes of precursor solution via aqueous route at 673K deposition temperature. The influences of concentration and volume on the structural, morphological and electrochemical properties of the deposited samples are studied well. X - ray diffraction study shows orthorhombic crystal structure with V{sub 2}O{sub 5} phase, confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy shows granular, homogeneous and dense surface morphology. Cyclic voltammetery of all samples carried at all scan rates. Samples prepared using 0.05M, 40 ml of precursor solution shows highest specific capacitance 428.25 F/gm at 5 mV/s, Charge discharge behavior exhibits specific energy 18.73 Wh/kg, specific power 36.00 kW/kg, columbic efficiency 87.50 %. Impedance spectroscopy study was carried in the frequency range 1mHz – 1MHz, reveals pseudocapacitive behavior of the electrode exhibiting internal resistance 1.34 ohm.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

The Roles of Interface, Adherend, and Adhesive in Plasma- and Other-treated Joints of Metals and FRP Materials Under Shear Deformation

This work investigated the role of interface, adherend, and adhesive in adhesively-bonded metal-metal, metal-CFRTP, and CFRTP-CFRTP combinations with plasma-treated surfaces under shear deformation. To this end, aluminum alloys (AA5052 and AA6061) and short-carbon-fiber-reinforced polyamide 66 (CFRPA66) were used as examples and performed through single lap shear testing. The results showed that air plasma surface treatment can improve the shear behavior of adhesively-bonded AA5052-CFRPA66 and CFRPA66-CFRPA66 joints with about 20% enhanced lap shear strength compared to non-treated cases. Failure surface morphology of plasma-treated CFRPA66 adherend confirmed this improvement by showing an increased amount of adhesive failure than interfacial failure between CFRPA66 and adhesive. But this is not true for AA5052-AA6061 joints with plasma-treated surfaces exhibiting almost no enhanced lap shear strength. This study also showed the importance of selecting a proper surface modification method for the enhancement of adhesive-bonded structures under shear deformation through the analysis of the results in this study and in the literature. For fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs), improving FRP/adhesive interface may be prioritized via different surface modification methods (e.g., plasma, chemical coating, etc.) than adhesive modification methods. However, for surface-cleaned metals, toughening adhesive via different enhancement methods (e.g., nano-particles, chemical enhancement, etc.) may be more important than improving metal/adhesive interface. These insightful results are valuable in the area of multi-materials joining.

Qiao, Yao↗
NASA NTRS1991

Stress analysis of Tellus Regio, Venus, based on gravity and topography - Comparison with Venera 15/16 radar images

The tectonics of the Tellus Region highland on Venus is examined using the altimetry and gravity data collected by Pioneer Venus, which were incorporated into a thin elastic shell model to calculate both the global (long-wavelength) and the regional (short-wavelength) stresses for various assumed values of crust, lithosphere, and mantle thickness and modes of compensation. The resultant stress fields were compared to the surface morphology observed in the Venera 15/16 radar images and interpreted in terms of stress history of Tellus Regio. The best fitting parameters were found to be consistent with minor amounts of lithospheric flexure being necessary to produce the observed surface features of this region.

Williams, David R.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Histological preparation of developing vestibular otoconia for scanning electron microscopy

The unique nature of vestibular otoconia as calcium carbonate biominerals makes them particularly susceptible to chemical deformation during histological processing. We fixed and stored otoconia from all three otolith endorgans of embryonic, hatchling and adult Japanese quail in glutaraldehyde containing either phosphate or non-phosphate buffers for varying lengths of time and processed them for scanning electron microscopy. Otoconia from all age groups and otolith endorgans processed in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) showed abnormal surface morphology when compared to acetone fixed controls. Otoconia processed in 0.1 M sodium cacodylate or HEPES buffered artificial endolymph (pH 7.4) showed normal morphology that was similar to controls. The degree of otoconial deformation was directly related to the time exposed to phosphate buffer. Short duration exposure produced particulate deformations while longer exposures resulted in fused otoconia that formed solid sheets. Otoconial surface deformation and fusing was independent of the glutaraldehyde component of the histological processing. These findings should help vestibular researchers to develop appropriate histological processing protocols in future studies of otoconia.

Non-NASA Center↗