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At least 91 records · Page 5

Vacancy formation and extraction energies in semiconductor compounds and alloys

A model for calculating the extraction energies and vacancy-formation energies in diamond-cubic and zinc-blende semiconductors is developed on the basis of Harrison's (1980, 1983) tight-binding theory. The extraction energies provide a reference from which other final states of the removed atoms can be calculated. The results of calculations show that, in a given compound, the calculated extraction energies are larger for the anion than for the cation, with the difference between the cation and the anion being larger in the II-VI than in the III-V compounds. This is in agreement with experimental results.

Berding, M. A.↗

Some results of the oxidation investigation of copper and silver samples flown on LDEF

The Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) Mission provides a unique opportunity to study the long term effects of the space environment on materials. The LDEF has been deployed in orbit on 7 April 1984 by the shuttle Challenger in an almost circular orbit with a mean altitude of 477 km and an inclination of 28.5 degrees. It was retrieved from its decayed orbit of 335 km by the shuttle Columbia on 12 January 1990 after almost 6 years in space. The LDEF is a 12-sided, 4.267 m diameter, and 9.144 m long structure. The experiments, placed on trays, are attached to the twelve sides and the two ends of the spacecraft. The LDEF was passively stabilized with one end of the spacecraft always pointing towards the earth center and one of the sides (row 9) always facing the flight direction. The materials investigated originate from the Ultra-Heavy Cosmic Ray Experiment (UHCRE). The main objective is a detailed study of the charge spectra of ultraheavy cosmic-ray nuclei from zinc to uranium and beyond, using solid-state track detectors. Besides the aluminium alloy used for the experiment, UHCRE comprises several other materials. The results of space exposure for two of them, the copper grounding strips and the thermal covers (FEP Teflon/Ag/Inconel) painted black on the inner side (Chemglaze Z306), are presented.

Derooij, A.↗

Power Sources Symposium, 31st, Atlantic City, NJ, June 11-14, 1984, Proceedings

The present conference on electrochemical power sources encompasses systems of such types as the thermoelectric, advanced rechargeable, lithium reserve, rechargeable, and nonrechargeable, nickel-cadmium and nickel-hydrogen rechargeable, lead-acid, nickel-zinc and nickel-iron rechargeable, nickel-cadmium and nickel-hydrogen rechargeable, and fuel cells. Attention is given to Si-Ge alloy multicouple technology, sodium-sulfur battery development status, the safety aspects of a rechargeable lithium C cell, fiber-structure electrodes for nickel-cadmium batteries, energy density improvements in Li/carbon monofluoride cells, zinc-air button cell technology, catalyzed cathodes for Li/SOCl2 cells, the effect of polymer structure on the rate capability of the lithium-iodine cell, and a methanol fuel cell powerplant.

Source record↗

Material-Dependent Antagonistic Effects between Soot and ZDDP

While soot in engine oil is known to accelerate the wear of diesel and gasoline direct-injection compression-ignition engines, there is a lack of consensus on the wear mechanism though various hypotheses have been proposed in the literature. Particularly, some recently observed antagonistic effects between soot and a common lubricant antiwear additive, zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP), while others did not. The discrepancy is, in part, explained by the strong alloy dependence of such antagonism discovered in this study. Specifically, four alloys, 52100 steel and M2, M50, and A2 tool steels, are tested in lubricants containing carbon black (CB, a soot surrogate) with and without ZDDP present. Adding the CB alone to the oil increases the wear rate for all steel alloys as expected. However, distinct wear performance is observed for the four steel alloys when ZDDP is introduced to the CB-containing oil: while the 52100 steel has notable wear reduction, the three tool steels suffer significant wear increase. Comprehensive tribofilm characterization suggests that the Mo content in the steel alloy and the sulfur from ZDDP strongly influence wear behavior. The combination of CB/Mo-catalyzed sulfidation and CB-accelerated abrasion is hypothesized to be responsible for the high wear of the Mo-alloyed tool steels.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Corrosion-Prevention Capabilities of a Water-Borne, Silicone-Based, Primerless Coating

Comparative tests have been performed to evaluate the corrosion-prevention capabilities of an experimental paint of the type described in Water-Borne, Silicone-Based, Primerless Paints, NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 26, No. 11 (November 2002), page 30. To recapitulate: these paints contain relatively small amounts of volatile organic solvents and were developed as substitutes for traditional anticorrosion paints that contain large amounts of such solvents. An additional desirable feature of these paints is that they can be applied without need for prior application of primers to ensure adhesion. The test specimens included panels of cold-rolled steel, stainless steel 316, and aluminum 2024-T3. Some panels of each of these alloys were left bare and some were coated with the experimental water-borne, silicone-based, primerless paint. In addition, some panels of aluminum 2024-T3 and some panels of a fourth alloy (stainless steel 304) were coated with a commercial solvent-borne paint containing aluminum and zinc flakes in a nitrile rubber matrix. In the tests, the specimens were immersed in an aerated 3.5-weight-percent aqueous solution of NaCl for 168 hours. At intervals of 24 hours, the specimens were characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and measurements of corrosion potentials. The specimens were also observed visually. As indicated by photographs of specimens taken after the 168-hour immersion (see figure), the experimental primerless silicone paint was effective in preventing corrosion of stainless steel 316, but failed to protect aluminum 2024-T3 and cold-rolled steel. The degree of failure was greater in the case of the cold-rolled steel. On the basis of visual observations, EIS, and corrosion- potential measurements, it was concluded that the commercial aluminum and zinc-filled nitrile rubber coating affords superior corrosion protection to aluminum 2024-T3 and is somewhat less effective in protecting stainless steel 304.

Calle, Luz Marina↗

Micrometeoroid Impacts on the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2: Smaller Particle Impacts

The radiator shield on the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) was subject to optical inspection following return from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in 2009. The survey revealed over 600 impact features of > 300 micrometers diameter, from exposure in space for 16 years. Subsequently, an international collaborative programme of analysis was organized to determine the origin of hypervelocity particles responsible for the damage. Here we describe examples of the numerous smaller micrometeoroid (MM) impact features (< 700 micrometers diameter) which excavated zinc orthotitanate (ZOT) paint from the radiator surface, but did not incorporate material from underlying Al alloy; larger impacts are described by [3]. We discuss recognition and interpretation of impactor remains, and MM compositions found on WFPC2.

Ross, D. K.↗

Electron mobility in n-type Hg(1-x)Cd(x)Te and Hg(1-x)Zn(x)Te alloys

Calculations of electron mobility in n-type mercury cadmium telluride (MCT), a candidate material for IR detectors, and n-type mercury zinc telluride (MZT) are compared. It is found that electron mobilities in MCT and MZT are nearly the same for equivalent energy gaps. The results are also found to compare will with experimental data. Directions of future research are briefly discussed.

Patterson, J. D.↗

Corrosion study of bare and coated stainless steel

A program was conducted at Kennedy Space Center from February 1968 to February 1971 to evaluate the performance of austenitic stainless steel alloys used in fluid systems lines. For several years, there had been numerous failures of stainless steel hardware caused by pitting and stress corrosion cracking. Several alloys were evaluated for effectiveness of certain sacrificial-type protective coverings in preventing corrosion failures. Samples were tested in specially designed racks placed 91 meters (100 yards) above high-tide line at Cape Kennedy. It is concluded that: (1) unprotected tubing samples showed evidence of pitting initiation after 2 weeks; (2) although some alloys develop larger pits than others, it is probable that the actual pitting rate is independent of alloy type; (3) the deepest pitting occurred in the sheltered part of the samples; and (4) zinc-rich coatings and an aluminum-filled coating have afforded sacrificial protection against pitting for at least 28 months. It is believed that a much longer effective coating life can be expected.

Morrison, J. D.↗

Monotectic and syntectic alloys: ASTP experiment MA-044

A postflight preliminary technical evaluation is presented of the returned samples of aluminum antimonide (AlSb) syntectic compound and lead-zinc (PbZn) monotectic immiscible processed during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) mission. The returned cartridges, extracted ampoules, and removed samples were examined in detail. A genesis of the experiment is given along with a summary of the efforts and various scheduled tests up to the ASTP mission. A tentative characterization plan is developed from the postflight preliminary examination which makes use of the limited number of available samples and is based on the initial observations. It is indicated that a higher degree of compositional homogeneity in aluminum antimonide was achieved under flight test conditions.

Ang, C. Y.↗

Ohmic contact for P type indium phosphide

A body including P type indium phosphide has an ohmic contact thereon of an alloy of by weight 81% to 86% gold (Au), 11% to 14% germanium (Ge) and 2% to 5% zinc (Zn). This contact has a low resistance and good adhesion to the indium phosphide body.

Hawrylo, Frank Z.↗

Aluminum Alloy and Article Cast Therefrom

A cast article from an aluminum alloy, which has improved mechanical properties at elevated temperatures, has the following composition in weight percent: Silicon 14 - 25.0, Copper 5.5 - 8.0, Iron 0.05 - 1.2, Magnesium 0.5 - 1.5, Nickel 0.05 - 0.9, Manganese 0.05 - 1.0, Titanium 0.05 - 1.2, Zirconium 0.05 - 1.2, Vanadium 0.05 - 1.2, Zinc 0.05 - 0.9, Phosphorus 0.001 - 0.1, and the balance is Aluminum, wherein the silicon-to-magnesium ratio is 10 - 25, and the copper-to-magnesium ratio is 4 - 15. The aluminum alloy contains a simultaneous dispersion of three types of Al3X compound particles (X=Ti, V, Zr) having a LI2, crystal structure, and their lattice parameters are coherent to the aluminum matrix lattice. A process for producing this cast article is also disclosed, as well as a metal matrix composite, which includes the aluminum alloy serving as a matrix and containing up to about 60% by volume of a secondary filler material.

Lee, Jonathan A.↗

High Strength Aluminum Alloy For High Temperature Applications

A cast article from an aluminum alloy has improved mechanical properties at elevated temperatures. The cast article has the following composition in weight percent: Silicon 6.0-25.0, Copper 5.0-8.0, Iron 0.05-1.2, Magnesium 0.5-1.5, Nickel 0.05-0.9, Manganese 0.05-1.2, Titanium 0.05-1.2, Zirconium 0.05-1.2, Vanadium 0.05-1.2, Zinc 0.05-0.9, Strontium 0.001-0.1, Phosphorus 0.001-0.1, and the balance is Aluminum, wherein the silicon-to-magnesium ratio is 10-25, and the copper-to-magnesium ratio is 4-15. The aluminum alloy contains a simultaneous dispersion of three types of Al3X compound particles (X=Ti, V, Zr) having a LI2 crystal structure, and their lattice parameters are coherent to the aluminum matrix lattice. A process for producing this cast article is also disclosed, as well as a metal matrix composite, which includes the aluminum alloy serving as a matrix containing up to about 60% by volume of a secondary filler material.

Jonathan A Lee↗

Electrical and structural properties of binary Ga–Sb phase change memory alloys

Material properties of Ga–Sb binary alloy thin films deposited under ultra-high vacuum conditions were studied for analog phase change memory (PCM) applications. Crystallization of this alloy was shown to occur in the temperature range of 180–264 °C, with activation energy >2.5 eV depending on the composition. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies showed phase separation upon crystallization into two phases, Ga-doped A7 antimony and cubic zinc-blende GaSb. Synchrotron in situ XRD analysis revealed that crystallization into the A7 phase is accompanied by Ga out-diffusion from the grains. X-ray absorption fine structure studies of the local structure of these alloys demonstrated a bond length decrease with a stable coordination number of 4 upon amorphous-to-crystalline phase transformation. Mushroom cell structures built with Ga–Sb alloys on ø110 nm TiN heater show a phase change material resistance switching behavior with resistance ratio >100 under electrical pulse measurements. TEM and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) studies of the Ga–Sb cells after ∼100 switching cycles revealed that partial SET or intermediate resistance states are attained by the variation of the grain size of the material as well as the Ga content in the A7 phase. A mechanism for a reversible composition control is proposed for analog cell performance. These results indicate that Te-free Ga–Sb binary alloys are potential candidates for analog PCM applications.

Ume, Rubab (ORCID:0000000324766900)↗

Microstructural evolution and intermetallic formation in Zn-3Mg (wt%) powder mixture processed by high-pressure torsion

Severe plastic deformation (SPD) techniques have been used extensively over the past 40 years for producing strong metals and alloys. High-pressure torsion (HPT) is one of the most promising SPD techniques for achieving high strength through nanoscale grain refinement and phase transformation. In this research, a mixture of pure zinc (Zn) and magnesium (Mg) powders, Zn-3Mg (wt%), was HPT-processed under a pressure of 6 GPa for 1, 5, 10, 20, and 30 turns at room temperature to achieve a high strength biodegradable material. In order to understand the effects of pre-consolidation on the resulting microstructure and hardness, HPT processing was performed on loose powders placed in the die and also on a pre-compacted powder mixture and the resulting HPT disks were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, atom probe tomography, and Vickers microhardness. In both cases, the HPT disk microstructures contained nanoscale grains, and stable and metastable strain-induced intermetallics, but an unusual softening appeared at large shear strains. Grain size, grain morphology, and the formation of different intermetallics were analyzed to explain the unusual hardness distribution, and it was found that an inverse Hall-Petch relationship between hardness and grain size exists. It is suggested that thermally-activated phenomena such as grain boundary sliding contributed to the strain-induced softening of this nano-structured biomaterial due to its low melting point. Finally, the current results are compared with those for HPT-processed cast alloys and hybrids of the same composition.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Zinc treatment to enhance nickel electrode performance for liquid alkaline water electrolyzers

Raney Ni treatment is introduced to the surface of Ni mesh anode electrodes, enhancing liquid alkaline water electrolyzer performance. The surface of the Ni mesh is alloyed with Zn, deposited by either an aqueous infiltration of Zn salt or direct reaction with Zn foil. The extent of alloying is controlled by a heat treatment step. For both processes, fine porosity and enhanced surface area are obtained after leaching the Zn out of the surface alloy layer. The observed electrode surface structure and performance is quite sensitive to the thermal treatment temperature. The enhanced surface area improves full cell performance by 90 mV for infiltrated Zn treated at 600 °C and by 185 mV for Zn foil reacted at 425 °C (at 2 A cm −2 and 80 °C). In conclusion, the Zn treatment methods produce stable operating performance, exhibiting no decay after 150 h for the infiltrated Zn treated at 600 °C, and a decay rate of 4.6 μV h −1 over 100 h for the Zn foil reacted at 425 °C (at 1 A cm −2 and 80 °C).

LAWE↗

Ignition and combustion of bulk metals under elevated, normal and reduced gravity conditions

This research effort is aimed at providing further insight into this multi-variable dependent phenomena by looking at the effects of gravity on the ignition and combustion behavior of metals. Since spacecraft are subjected to higher-than-1g gravity loads during launch and reentry and to zero-gravity environments while in orbit, the study of ignition and combustion of bulk metals at different gravitational potentials is of great practical concern. From the scientific standpoint, studies conducted under microgravity conditions provide simplified boundary conditions since buoyancy is removed, and make possible the identification of fundamental ignition mechanisms. The effect of microgravity on the combustion of bulk metals has been investigated by Steinberg, et al. on a drop tower simulator. However, no detailed quantitative work has been done on ignition phenomena of bulk metals at lower or higher-than-normal gravitational fields or on the combustion characteristics of metals at elevated gravity. The primary objective of this investigation is the development of an experimental system capable of providing fundamental physical and chemical information on the ignition of bulk metals under different gravity levels. The metals used in the study, iron (Fe), titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) were selected because of their importance as elements of structural metals and their simple chemical composition (pure metals instead of multi-component alloys to avoid complication in morphology and spectroscopic studies). These samples were also chosen to study the two different combustion modes experienced by metals: heterogeneous or surface oxidation, and homogeneous or gas-phase reaction. The experimental approach provides surface temperature profiles, spectroscopic measurements, surface morphology, x-ray spectrometry of metals specimens and their combustion products, and high-speed cinematography of the heating, ignition and combustion stages of the metal specimen. This paper summarizes the results obtained to date from experiments conducted under normal and high-gravity conditions.

Abbud-Madrid, Angel↗

From Inside Out: How the Buried Interface, Shell Defects, and Surface Chemistry Conspire to Determine Optical Performance in Nonblinking Giant Quantum Dots

“Giant” or core/thick‐shell quantum dots (gQDs) are an important class of solid‐state quantum emitter characterized by strongly suppressed blinking and photobleaching under ambient conditions, and reduced nonradiative Auger processes. Together, these qualities provide distinguishing and useful functionality as single‐ and ensemble‐photon sources. For many applications, operation at elevated temperatures and under intense photon flux is desired, but performance is strongly dependent on the synthetic method employed for thick‐shell growth. Here, a comprehensive analysis of gQD structural properties “from the inside out” as a function of shell‐growth method is reported: successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) and high‐temperature continuous injection (HT‐CI), or sequential combinations of the two. Key correlations across synthesis methods, structural features (interfacial alloying, stacking‐fault density and surface‐ligand identity), and performance metrics (quantum yield, single‐gQD photoluminescence under thermal/photo stress, charging behavior and quantum‐optical properties) are identified. Surprisingly, it is found that interfacial alloying is the strongest indicator of gQD stability under stress, but this parameter is not the determining factor for Auger suppression. Furthermore, quantum yield is strongly influenced by surface chemistry and can approach unity even in the case of high shell‐defect density, while introduction of zinc‐blende stacking faults increases the likelihood that a gQD exhibits charged‐state emission.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

The 1.1 micrometer and visible emission semiconductor diode lasers

In (AlGa)As, the first of three alloy systems studied, Continuous Wave (CW) operation was obtained at room temperature at a wavelength as low as 7260 A. Reliability in this system was studied in the incoherent mode. Zinc doped devices had significant degradation, whereas Ge or Ge plus Zi doped devices had none. The Al2O3 facet coatings were shown to significantly reduce facet deterioration in all types of lasers, longer wavelength units of that type having accumulated (at the time of writing) 22,000 hours with little if any degradation. A CL study of thin (AlGa)As layers revealed micro fluctuation in composition. A macro-scale fluctuation was observed by electroreflectance. An experimental and theoretical study of the effect of stripe width on the threshold current was carried out. Emission below 7000 A was obtained in VPE grown Ga(AsP) (In,Ga)P with CW operation at 10 C. Lasers and LED's were made by LPE in (InGa) (AsP). Laser thresholds of 5 kA/cm2 were obtained, while LED efficiences were on the order of 2%. Incoherent life test over 6000 hours showed no degradation.

Ladany, I.↗