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At least 865 records · Page 48

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NASA NTRS2011

Imaging Asteroid 4 Vesta Using the Framing Camera

The Framing Camera (FC) onboard the Dawn spacecraft serves a dual purpose. Next to its central role as a prime science instrument it is also used for the complex navigation of the ion drive spacecraft. The CCD detector with 1024 by 1024 pixels provides the stability for a multiyear mission and its high requirements of photometric accuracy over the wavelength band from 400 to 1000 nm covered by 7 band-pass filters. Vesta will be observed from 3 orbit stages with image scales of 227, 63, and 17 m/px, respectively. The mapping of Vesta s surface with medium resolution will be only completed during the exit phase when the north pole will be illuminated. A detailed pointing strategy will cover the surface at least twice at similar phase angles to provide stereo views for reconstruction of the topography. During approach the phase function of Vesta was determined over a range of angles not accessible from earth. This is the first step in deriving the photometric function of the surface. Combining the topography based on stereo tie points with the photometry in an iterative procedure will disclose details of the surface morphology at considerably smaller scales than the pixel scale. The 7 color filters are well positioned to provide information on the spectral slope in the visible, the depth of the strong pyroxene absorption band, and their variability over the surface. Cross calibration with the VIR spectrometer that extends into the near IR will provide detailed maps of Vesta s surface mineralogy and physical properties. Georeferencing all these observation will result in a coherent and unique data set. During Dawn s approach and capture FC has already demonstrated its performance. The strong variation observed by the Hubble Space Telescope can now be correlated with surface units and features. We will report on results obtained from images taken during survey mode covering the whole illuminated surface. Vesta is a planet-like differentiated body, but its surface gravity and escape velocity are comparable to those of other asteroids and hence much smaller than those of the inner planets or

Keller, H. Uwe↗

NASA NTRS2026

A Study of Space Environment Effect on Highly Thermally Conductive Hybrid Carbon Fiber Polymer Composites

A set of novel highly thermally conductive hybrid carbon fiber (CF) polymer composites has been developed for lightweight thermal radiator applications in space missions. This study investigates the effects of the space environment on these materials following exposure in low-Earth orbit (LEO) during the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE)-17 flight mission, where samples experienced 159 days of combined atomic oxygen (AO), ultraviolet (UV) radiation, high vacuum, space radiation and thermal cycling. Post-flight characterization included weight loss, surface morphology, thermo-optical properties, molecular structures, glass transition temperature, thermal degradation and thermal conductivity analyses. The pyrolytic graphite sheet (PGS) samples exhibited negligible weight loss, stable thermo-optical property, and only minor oxidation signature on the exposed surface. Although AO erosion of the epoxy polymer matrix was evident, carbon nanotube (CNT)-infused PGS/CF epoxy composites retained high thermal emissivity and preserved their high thermal conductivities. These results demonstrate that the novel highly thermally conductive hybrid CF composites possess strong environmental resilience and are promising candidates for lightweight thermal radiators and thermal management components in future space exploration missions.

Space Environment↗

DOE OSTI2014

Note: A method for minimizing oxide formation during elevated temperature nanoindentation

A standardized method to protect metallic samples and minimize oxide formation during elevated-temperature nanoindentation was adapted to a commercial instrument. Nanoindentation was performed on Al (100), Cu (100), and W (100) single crystals submerged in vacuum oil at 200 °C, while the surface morphology and oxidation was carefully monitored using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results were compared to room temperature and 200 °C nanoindentation tests performed without oil, in order to evaluate the feasibility of using the oil as a protective medium. Extensive surface characterization demonstrated that this methodology is effective for nanoscale testing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2011

Polarization characteristics of surface plasmon resonance in SnO{sub 2} nanocluster films

Internal reflection features caused by the surface plasmon resonance in nanoscale films containing defect tin dioxide clusters in the stoichiometric dielectric matrix are studied by the method of polarization modulation of electromagnetic radiation. The angular and spectral characteristics of reflectances R{sub s}{sup 2} and R{sub p}{sup 2} of s- and p-polarized radiation and their polarization difference {rho} = R{sub s}{sup 2} - R{sub p}{sup 2} are measured in the wavelength range {lambda} = 400-1600 nm. The experimental characteristics {rho}({theta}, {lambda}) ({theta} is the radiation incidence angle) obtained represent the optical property features associated with the film structure and morphology. Surface plasmon polaritons and local plasmons excited by s- and p-polarized radiation are detected; their frequency and relaxation properties are determined. The structural sensitivity of the technique for studying the surface plasmon resonance for tin dioxide films is shown.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2020

Pattern formation on free surfaces via plastic buckling and periodic folding

Spontaneous formation of surface patterns such as folds and creases is widely observed in engineered systems, such as thin films and machined surfaces, as well as in natural systems such as floral petals and leaves. A recognized route for their formation is via surface elastic instabilities. Here we demonstrate an alternate route for their formation —plastic buckling and folding—that occurs when ductile materials are subject to large-strain (>1) deformation. Using in situ imaging of simple-shear deformation of polypropylene, we delineate the mechanics underlying formation of folds and the resulting surface morphology. Here, the fold pattern shows a single wavelength that scales linearly with the size of the plastic zone. An analytical model predicts onset of the plastic buckling instability and characteristics of the folds. Besides obvious applications for controllably generating surface features over large areas, our results suggest a contributing mechanism for origin of surface roughness in solids.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2015

Crystallization study of amorphous sputtered NiTi bi-layer thin film

The crystallization of Ni-rich/NiTiCu bi-layer thin film deposited by magnetron sputtering from two separate alloy targets was investigated. To achieve the shape memory effect, the NiTi thin films deposited at room temperature with amorphous structure were annealed at 773 K for 15, 30, and 60 min for crystallization. Characterization of the films was carried out by differential scanning calorimetry to indicate the crystallization temperature, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction to identify the phase structures, atomic force microscopy to evaluate surface morphology, scanning transmission electron microscopy to study the cross section of the thin films. The results show that the structure of the annealed thin films strongly depends on the temperature and time of the annealing. Crystalline grains nucleated first at the surface and then grew inward to form columnar grains. Furthermore, the crystallization behavior was markedly affected by composition variations. - Highlights: • A developed bi-layer Ni45TiCu5/Ni50.8Ti was deposited on Si substrate and crystallized. • During crystallization, The Ni{sub 45}TiCu{sub 5} layer is thermally less stable than the Ni-rich layer. • The activation energy is 302 and 464 kJ/mol for Cu-rich and Ni-rich layer in bi-layer, respectively.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2014

Electronic transport in graphene-based heterostructures

While boron nitride (BN) substrates have been utilized to achieve high electronic mobilities in graphene field effect transistors, it is unclear how other layered two dimensional (2D) crystals influence the electronic performance of graphene. In this Letter, we study the surface morphology of 2D BN, gallium selenide (GaSe), and transition metal dichalcogenides (tungsten disulfide (WS{sub 2}) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS{sub 2})) crystals and their influence on graphene's electronic quality. Atomic force microscopy analysis shows that these crystals have improved surface roughness (root mean square value of only ∼0.1 nm) compared to conventional SiO{sub 2} substrate. While our results confirm that graphene devices exhibit very high electronic mobility (μ) on BN substrates, graphene devices on WS{sub 2} substrates (G/WS{sub 2}) are equally promising for high quality electronic transport (μ ∼ 38 000 cm{sup 2}/V s at room temperature), followed by G/MoS{sub 2} (μ ∼ 10 000 cm{sup 2}/V s) and G/GaSe (μ ∼ 2200 cm{sup 2}/V s). However, we observe a significant asymmetry in electron and hole conduction in G/WS{sub 2} and G/MoS{sub 2} heterostructures, most likely due to the presence of sulphur vacancies in the substrate crystals. GaSe crystals are observed to degrade over time even under ambient conditions, leading to a large hysteresis in graphene transport making it a less suitable substrate.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2021

Effect of insulator surface conditioning on the pinch dynamics and x-ray production of a Ne-filled dense plasma focus

The dense plasma focus (DPF) can be an intense source of x rays, wherein the insulator sleeve strongly dictates the electrical breakdown, which subsequently affects the formation of a plasma sheath and a collapse phase. Experiments on a 25 kJ DPF (operated at 4.4 kJ) are carried out to demonstrate the influence of insulator surface morphology on the pinch structure, dynamics, and x-ray yield using a Ne fill. Two borosilicate insulators are directly compared, one with a smooth finish and the other machined with four circumferential grooves traversing the perimeter of the exterior insulator surface. Comparisons are made through same-shot imaging diagnostics of the evolving plasma sheath during breakdown, rundown, and at the pinch in addition to the time-resolved measurements of emitted x rays via filtered photodiodes. The presence of structures on the insulator sleeve reduces x-ray production across all fill pressures by a factor of 2.8 ± 2.4 on average and reduces the highest x ray producing shots by a factor of 5. ± 1.8. Observations of sheath asymmetry and inhomogeneity at lift-off are observed and correlated with subsequent observations of off-axis radial collapse. Taken together, this suggests that local variations in the insulator surface decrease the spatial uniformity of the sheath, leading to an azimuthally asymmetric focus, reduced electron densities, and, ultimately, degraded x-ray production.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2022

Two-Step Synthesis of Poly (urea formaldehyde) Microcapsules

Self-healing coatings have potential to reduce waste and minimize repair costs in industries where materials need to be protected from harsh environmental conditions and mechanical abrasion. These coatings can be created by embedding healing-agent filled microcapsules which release their contents and fill voids in the event of damage. To synthesize microcapsules that are ideal for self-healing coatings, they must have a diameter less than 100 microns, smooth surface morphology, and have improved dispersibility. Our current one-step method does not produce microcapsules within the desired size distribution, so a two-step route where oligomers of the shell wall material are formed prior to microcapsule formation was investigated. This was done by evaluating the effects of solution viscosity, size of reaction vessel, addition of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and core/shell ratio on microcapsule properties. Characterization of microcapsule size, morphology, and composition was done using optical microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Microcapsules with an average diameter of 78 ± 16 microns were successfully synthesized. Further work must be done to minimize PUF crystallites on the surface of the microcapsules.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2014

Synthesis, morphology and optical properties of GaN and AlGaN semiconductor nanostructures

Hexagonal Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Aluminum Gallium Nitride (AlGaN) nanoparticles were synthesized by sol-gel method using Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic acid (EDTA) complex route. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis confirms the hexagonal wurtzite structure of GaN and Al{sub 0.25}Ga{sub 0.75}N nanoparticles. Surface morphology and elemental analysis were carried out by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The room temperature Photoluminescence (PL) study shows the near band edge emission for GaN at 3.35 eV and at 3.59 eV for AlGaN nanoparticles. The Aluminum (Al) composition of 20% has been obtained from PL emission around 345 nm.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2015

Optical and morphological properties of sol gel derived titanium dioxide films

Titanium oxide (Titania) thin films were synthesized on different substrates via the sol-gel dip-coating method using alkoxide solution. Some selected samples were also prepared with different percentage of Lead (Pb). The influence of Pb addition in precursor sol on the optical properties of titanium dioxide thin films was studied. The optical transmittance in the visible region has increased with increase in weight percentage of lead. The refractive index was slightly decreased with Pb addition. Crystallization of these coatings was achieved through thermal annealing at temperatures above 400 °C. The structural properties and surface morphology of the crystallized coatings were studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy. Increase in average grain size from 250 nm to 350 nm with increase in Pb concentration is observed. Films were appeared to more coarse with increase in Pb addition. An increase in Pb addition resulted increase in average roughness from 12 nm to 25 nm.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2019

Optimizing the TiO{sub 2} Content to Obtain the Highest Corrosion Resistance in Ir-Ru-Ta-Based Mixed Metal Oxide Coating in Oxygen Evolution Reaction Application

In this article, the role of TiO{sub 2} on deactivation and corrosion mechanism of a MMO coating was assessed in 1 M Na{sub 2}SO{sub 4} solution. The Ti/40IrO{sub 2} + 30RuO{sub 2} + (30 − x)Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5} + (x)TiO{sub 2} anodes were prepared by thermal decomposition method. Surface morphology and microstructure of the coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy and grazing incidence x-ray diffraction analysis. The electrochemical properties and corrosion behavior of these coatings were performed by accelerated lifetime test, investigation of active surface area (q*) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results showed that the uniform dissolution of the active surface layers was the main reason behind the anode deactivation. Furthermore, addition of titanium oxide up to 15% to the above-mentioned composition improved the performance of the anode and increased its working life up to 200 h.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS1976

Modes of emplacement of basalt terrains and an analysis of mare volcanism in the Orientale Basin

Three distinctive types of basalt terrains can be recognized on earth on the basis of surface morphology: flood basalts, shield basalts, and plains basalts, each of which reflects unique styles of eruption and modes of emplacement. Two of these, flood basalts and plains basalts, appear to be important in the emplacement of mare basalts on the moon. Using surface features as identifying criteria, mare units in the Orientale Basin were examined and the following emplacement sequence was derived: (1) initial emplacement of impact melt in the basin center, (2) eruption of flood-type basalts in the basin center and approximately concurrent emplacement of plains type basalts in Lacus Veris, and (3) emplacement of plains type basalts in Lacus Autumni

Greeley, R.↗

DOE OSTI2018

Growth from Solution, Structure, and Optical Properties of Single-Crystal para-Quaterphenyl Films

Samples of single-crystal para-quaterphenyl films up to 8 mm long and 50 μm thick have been obtained for the first time by the solvent‒antisolvent growth method. The films have been grown both on the liquid–air interface and in the solution bulk. The morphology, surface quality, and thickness of crystal films have been investigated by the optical, laser confocal, and atomic force microscopies. The structure of the para-quaterphenyl single crystal at room temperature has been refined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The formation and growth mechanisms of crystal films on the liquid–air interface have been discussed. The opticalabsorption and photoluminescence spectra of the solutions and crystal samples have been investigated.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2014

InGaN: Direct correlation of nanoscopic morphology features with optical and structural properties

A comprehensive study on the impact of growth modes on the structural and optical properties of thick InGaN layers suitable for photovoltaic application is presented. Samples grown by metalorganic vapour phase epitaxy with different growth rates and thicknesses have been analyzed. The application of slow growth rates result in smooth layers while higher growth rates induce a meandering surface morphology. Using low-temperature cathodoluminescence, a direct correlation of the morphology to local luminescent properties is obtained: the top of meandering structures reveals a spectrally red-shifted emission compared to the emission wavelength expected from the average indium content determined by X-ray diffraction. The origin of this shift is identified and explained by increased indium incorporation on top of the meander due to a spatially localized compositional pulling effect.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2014

Surface diffusion driven morphological instability in free-standing nickel nanorod arrays

Metallic nanostructures are thermodynamically unstable due to the excess of energy of large numbers of surface atoms. Morphological instability, such as Rayleigh breakup, sintering, and coalescence, can be observed at a temperature much lower than the bulk melting point of the metal. We study the morphological and crystalline evolution of well-aligned free-standing nickel nanorod arrays at elevated temperatures up to 600 °C. The as-deposited nickel nanorods are faceted with sharp nanotips, which are deformed at annealing temperatures higher than 400 °C due to strong surface diffusion. A mud-crack like pattern is formed in the samples annealed above 400 °C, leading to the generation of interconnected porous structure. Meanwhile, the X-ray diffraction reveals the recrystallization of nickel nanocrystals when annealed from 300 to 600 °C.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2016

Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue on Sn-doped titania nanoparticles synthesized by solution combustion route

Highlights: • Series of Sn-doped titania nanoparticles were prepared by solution combustion synthesis method. • Sn-doped titania nanoparticles were tested for degradation of MB under UV light irradiation. • The maximum Sn doping in the TiO{sub 2} lattice is found to be less than 10%. • The crystallite size decreases with increase in the Sn content. • The doping of Sn into TiO{sub 2} lattice hinders the recombination of electrons and holes thus enhance the photocatalytic activity. - Abstract: Series of tin-doped titania nanoparticles with varying tin content in the range 0–20 mol% have been prepared by solution combustion synthesis route using urea as a fuel. The structure, surface morphology and optical activity of Sn-doped TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles were investigated by various analytical techniques such as powder XRD, SEM, TEM, UV–vis and N{sub 2} adsorption study. The crystalline structures of the various phases were studied by rietveld refinement of the XRD data. The photocatalytic performance of Sn-doped titania nanoparticles were tested for degradation of MB under UV and visible light irradiation. The results reveal that the photocatalytic activity increases with increase in tin content which may be due to decrease in crystallite size with increase in surface area. The doping of Sn into TiO{sub 2} lattice hinders the recombination of electrons and holes thus enhance the quantum efficiency of photocatalytic reaction.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2019

Effects of Multiple Laser Peening impacts on Mechanical Properties and Microstructure Evolution of 40CrNiMo Steel

The effects of multiple laser peening impacts on mechanical properties and microstructure of 40CrNiMo steel were investigated. The surface residual stress and microhardness of the samples with different treatments were measured. The surface morphologies, tensile behavior and microstructure of the samples before and after laser peening were compared and analyzed. The experimental results showed that laser peening, especially multiple laser peening impacts has significant effects on the microhardness, residual stress and microstructure of 40CrNiMo steel. The surface roughness and the depth of the pit increased with increasing the impact times. After 3 laser peening impacts, the surface microhardness, compressive residual stress, the strength and ductility were significantly improved. Meanwhile, some microstructures, such as sub-grains, the precipitation of carbide and dislocations were also induced in the surface layer. Additionally, the microscopic strengthening mechanism of multiple laser peening impacts on the mechanical properties of 40CrNiMo steel was analyzed in detail.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗