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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 919 records · Page 51
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

Initial growth process of Co (Pd) layers on a Pd (Co) surface

The deposition process of ultra-thin Co and Pd layers is studied using DC magnetron sputtering and ex situ atomic force microscopy (AFM). It is found that observation with AFM in the air atmosphere is reliable to discuss nucleation of Co and Pd crystallites. It is discussed that a Co ultra-thin layer is formed primarily through the process of two-dimensional island formation, whereas a Pd ultra-thin layer is formed through the process of mixed two- and three-dimensional island formation. On the basis of those results, Co/Pd multilayers having a flat top surface are prepared successfully.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2014

In Vitro Calcite Crystal Morphology Is Modulated by Otoconial Proteins Otolin-1 and Otoconin-90

Otoconia are formed embryonically and are instrumental in detecting linear acceleration and gravity. Degeneration and fragmentation of otoconia in elderly patients leads to imbalance resulting in higher frequency of falls that are positively correlated with the incidence of bone fractures and death. In this work we investigate the roles otoconial proteins Otolin-1 and Otoconin 90 (OC90) perform in the formation of otoconia. We demonstrate by rotary shadowing and atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments that Otolin-1 forms homomeric protein complexes and self-assembled networks supporting the hypothesis that Otolin-1 serves as a scaffold protein of otoconia. Our calcium carbonate crystal growth data demonstrate that Otolin-1 and OC90 modulate in vitro calcite crystal morphology but neither protein is sufficient to produce the shape of otoconia. Coadministration of these proteins produces synergistic effects on crystal morphology that contribute to morphology resembling otoconia.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

Effect of Ar{sup +} ion irradiation on the microstructure of pyrolytic carbon

Pyrolytic carbon (PyC) coatings prepared by chemical vapor deposition were irradiated by 300 keV Ar{sup +} ions. Then, atomic force microscopy, synchrotron-based grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were employed to study how Ar{sup +} irradiation affects the microstructure of PyC, including the microstructural damage mechanisms and physics driving these phenomena. The 300 keV Ar{sup +} ion irradiation deteriorated the structure along the c-axis, which increased the interlayer spacing between graphene layers. With increasing irradiation dose, the density of defect states on the surface of PyC coating increases, and the basal planes gradually loses their initial ordering resulting in breaks in the lattice and turbulence at the peak damage dose reaches 1.58 displacement per atom (dpa). Surprisingly, the PyC becomes more textured as it becomes richer in structural defects with increasing irradiation dose.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Epitaxial Ni-Mn-Ga-Co thin films on PMN-PT substrates for multicaloric applications

Multicaloric stacks consisting of a magnetocaloric film on a piezoelectric substrate promise improved caloric properties as the transition temperature can be controlled by both magnetic and electric fields. We present epitaxially grown magnetocaloric Ni-Mn-Ga-Co thin films on ferroelectric Pb(Mg{sub 1/3}Nb{sub 2/3}){sub 0.72}Ti{sub 0.28}O{sub 3} substrates. Structure and microstructure of two samples, being in the austenitic and martensitic state at room temperature, are investigated by X-ray diffraction in two- and four-circle geometry and by atomic force microscopy. In addition, high temperature magnetometry was performed on the latter sample. The combination of these methods allows separating the influence of epitaxial growth and martensitic transformation. A preferential alignment of twin boundaries is observed already in the as-deposited state, which indicates the presence of prestress, without applying an electric field to the substrate. A temperature-magnetic field phase diagram is presented, which demonstrates the inverse magnetocaloric effect of the epitaxial Ni-Mn-Ga-Co film.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Photodetectors based on single-walled carbon nanotubes and thiamonomethinecyanine J-aggregates on flexible substrates

The present paper is devoted to observations of the photoresistive effect in multilayer structures with a sensitive layer of J-aggregates of thiamonomethinecyanine polymethine dye and a transparent electrode of a conductive carbon-nanotube network on a flexible polyethylenenaphtalate substrate. The effect of narrow-band emission with a wavelength of 465 nm on a change in the conductivity of the fabricated structures is studied. The prepared samples are studied by atomic-force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and spectrophotometry methods. It is shown that these structures are photosensitive to the indicated spectral region, and the dye layer is a film of dye J-aggregates. The change in the sample conductivity upon exposure to light one hundred times exceeds the dark conductivity. In general, the principal possibility of developing a photoresistive detector based on J-aggregates of cyanine dyes on flexible supports on account of the use of transparent and conductive carbon-nanotube layers is shown.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Influence of the pH value of a colloidal gold solution on the absorption spectra of an LSPR-assisted sensor

The localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) of gold particles assembled on a crystal plate are a powerful tool for biological sensors. Here, we prepare gold colloids in different pH solutions. We monitor the effects of the particle radius and particle coverage on the absorption spectra of AT-cut (r-face dihedral angle of about 3°) crystal plates supporting gold nanoparticles. The surface morphologies were monitored on silicon dioxide substrates using ultraviolet and visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results showed that the gold particle coverage decreases with increasing pH value of the gold colloid solution. This phenomenon demonstrates that self-assembled gold surfaces were formed via the electrostatic adsorption of gold particles on the positively charged, ionized amino groups on the crystal plates in the acidic solution. The spectrum of gold nanoparticles with different coverage degree on the crystal plates showed that the LSPR properties are highly dependent on pH.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

The process of EDC-NHS cross-linking of reconstituted collagen fibres increases collagen fibrillar order and alignment

We describe the production of collagen fibre bundles through a multi-strand, semi-continuous extrusion process. Cross-linking using an EDC (1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide), NHS (N-hydroxysuccinimide) combination was considered. Atomic Force Microscopy and Raman spectroscopy focused on how cross-linking affected the collagen fibrillar structure. In the cross-linked fibres, a clear fibrillar structure comparable to native collagen was observed which was not observed in the non-cross-linked fibre. The amide III doublet in the Raman spectra provided additional evidence of alignment in the cross-linked fibres. Raman spectroscopy also indicated no residual polyethylene glycol (from the fibre forming buffer) or water in any of the fibres.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Note: Compact and light displacement sensor for a precision measurement system in large motion

We developed a compact and light displacement sensor applicable to systems that require wide range motions of its sensing device. The proposed sensor utilized the optical pickup unit of the optical disk drive, which has been used applied to atomic force microscopy (AFM) because of its compactness and lightness as well as its high performance. We modified the structure of optical pickup unit and made the compact sensor driver attachable to a probe head of AFM to make large rotation. The feasibilities of the developed sensor for a general probe-moving measurement device and for probe-rotating AFM were verified. Moreover, a simple and precise measurement of alignment between centers of rotator and probe tip in probe-rotation AFM was experimentally demonstrated using the developed sensor.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

Evolution of nanodot morphology on polycarbonate (PC) surfaces by 40 keV Ar{sup +}

In the present paper we have discussed the effect of 40 keV Ar{sup +} ions irradiation on nanoscale surface morphology of Polycarbonate (PC) substrate. Specimens were sputtered at off normal incidences of 30°, 40° and 50° with the fluence of 1 × 10{sup 16} Ar{sup +}cm{sup −2}. The topographical behaviour of specimens was studied by using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) technique. AFM study demonstrates the evolution of nano dot morphology on PC specimens on irradiating with 1 × 10{sup 16} Ar{sup +}cm{sup −2}. Average size of dots varied from 37-95 nm in this specified range of incidence while density of dots varied from 0.17-3.0 × 107 dotscm{sup −2}. Such variations in morphological features have been supported by estimation of ion range and sputtering yield through SRIM simulations.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Ultrathin polycrystalline 6,13-Bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)-pentacene films

Ultrathin (<6 nm) polycrystalline films of 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl) pentacene (TIPS-P) are deposited with a two-step spin-coating process. The influence of spin-coating conditions on morphology of the resulting film was examined by atomic force microscopy. Film thickness and RMS surface roughness were in the range of 4.0–6.1 and 0.6–1.1 nm, respectively, except for small holes. Polycrystalline structure was confirmed by grazing incidence x-ray diffraction measurements. Near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure measurements suggested that the plane through aromatic rings of TIPS-P molecules was perpendicular to the substrate surface.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Trifluoromethylation of graphene

We demonstrate trifluoromethylation of graphene by copper-catalyzed free radical reaction. The covalent addition of CF{sub 3} to graphene, which changes the carbon atom hybridization from sp{sup 2} to sp{sup 3}, and modifies graphene in a homogeneous and nondestructive manner, was verified with Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals that CF{sub 3} groups are grafted to the basal plane of graphene, with about 4 at. % CF{sub 3} coverage. After trifluoromethylation, the average resistance increases by nearly one order of magnitude, and an energy gap of about 98 meV appears. The noninvasive and mild reaction to synthesize trifluoromethylated graphene paves the way for graphene's applications in electronics and biomedical areas.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

The effect of annealing temperature on the electrical characterization of Co/n type GaP Schottky diode

The Co/n-GaP nano-Schottky diodes have been fabricated to investigate effect of annealing temperature on the characteristics of the device. DC Magnetron sputtering technique has been used for Co metallic contact. The samples have been annealed for three minutes at 400 °C and 600 °C. XRD analyzes of the devices subjected to thermal annealing process have been investigated. Surface images have been taken with atomic force microscopy (AFM) in order to examine the morphology of the surface of the metal layer before and after the annealing the sample. The current–voltage (I–V) measurements taken at room temperature have shown that the ideality factor and series resistance decrease with the increasing annealing temperature. The ideality factor was found to be 1.02 for sample annealed at 400 °C. Before and after annealing, depending on the temperature measurement, the capacitance–frequency (C–f), and conductance–frequency (G–f) have been measured, and graphs have been plotted.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Unusual stoichiometry control in the atomic layer deposition of manganese borate films from manganese bis(tris(pyrazolyl)borate) and ozone

The atomic layer deposition (ALD) of films with the approximate compositions Mn{sub 3}(BO{sub 3}){sub 2} and CoB{sub 2}O{sub 4} is described using MnTp{sub 2} or CoTp{sub 2} [Tp = tris(pyrazolyl)borate] with ozone. The solid state decomposition temperatures of MnTp{sub 2} and CoTp{sub 2} are ∼370 and ∼340 °C, respectively. Preparative-scale sublimations of MnTp{sub 2} and CoTp{sub 2} at 210 °C/0.05 Torr afforded >99% recoveries with <0.1% nonvolatile residues. Self-limited ALD growth was demonstrated at 325 °C for MnTp{sub 2} or CoTp{sub 2} with ozone as the coreactant. The growth rate for the manganese borate process was 0.19 Å/cycle within the ALD window of 300–350 °C. The growth rate for the cobalt borate process was 0.39–0.42 Å/cycle at 325 °C. X-ray diffraction of the as-deposited films indicated that they were amorphous. Atomic force microscopy of 35–36 nm thick manganese borate films grown within the 300–350 °C ALD window showed root mean square surface roughnesses of 0.4–0.6 nm. Film stoichiometries were assessed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and time of flight-elastic recoil detection analysis. The differing film stoichiometries obtained from the very similar precursors MnTp{sub 2} and CoTp{sub 2} are proposed to arise from the oxidizing ability of the intermediate high valent manganese oxide layers and lack thereof for cobalt.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Quantum dots grown in the InSb/GaSb system by liquid-phase epitaxy

The first results of the liquid-phase epitaxial growth of quantum dots in the InSb/GaSb system and atomic-force microscopy data on the structural characteristics of the quantum dots are reported. It is shown that the surface density, shape, and size of nanoislands depend on the deposition temperature and the chemical properties of the matrix surface. Arrays of InSb quantum dots on GaSb (001) substrates are produced in the temperature range T = 450–465°C. The average dimensions of the quantum dots correspond to a height of h = 3 nm and a base dimension of D = 30 nm; the surface density is 3 × 10{sup 9} cm{sup –2}.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Density Control of InP/GaInP Quantum Dots Grown by Metal-Organic Vapor-Phase Epitaxy

We investigated structural and emission properties of self-organized InP/GaInP quantum dots (QD) grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition using an amount of deposited In from 7 to 2 monolayers (ML). In the uncapped samples, using atomic force microscopy (AFM), we observed lateral sizes of 100–200 nm, together with a bimodal height distribution having maxima at ∼5 and ∼15 nm, which we denoted as QDs of type A and B, respectively; and reduction of the density of the type-B dots from 4.4 to 1.6 μm{sup –2}. The reduction of the density of B-type dots were observed also using transmission electron microscopy of the capped samples. Using single dot low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy we demonstrated effects of Wigner localization for the electrons accumulated in these dots.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Homoepitaxial growth of β-Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3} thin films by low pressure chemical vapor deposition

This paper presents the homoepitaxial growth of phase pure (010) β-Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3} thin films on (010) β-Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3} substrate by low pressure chemical vapor deposition. The effects of growth temperature on the surface morphology and crystal quality of the thin films were systematically investigated. The thin films were synthesized using high purity metallic gallium (Ga) and oxygen (O{sub 2}) as precursors for gallium and oxygen, respectively. The surface morphology and structural properties of the thin films were characterized by atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Material characterization indicates the growth temperature played an important role in controlling both surface morphology and crystal quality of the β-Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3} thin films. The smallest root-mean-square surface roughness of ∼7 nm was for thin films grown at a temperature of 950 °C, whereas the highest growth rate (∼1.3 μm/h) with a fixed oxygen flow rate was obtained for the epitaxial layers grown at 850 °C.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Structural and electrical transport studies on CrN(001) thin films

We report the structural and electrical transport studies on CrN{sub 1-x} (CrN) thin films with varying of N{sub 2} flow (5 – 25 SCCM) in an Argon environment of 25 SCCM. CrN thin films were grown at 600°C, in a multi chamber vacuum system at working pressure of 1×10{sup −2} Torr, under the base pressure of 1×10{sup −7} Torr. Structural and electrical transport measurements were carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and SQUID magnetometer, respectively. XRD (θ-2θ, ω-2θ, and ω) patterns on CrN thin films revealed a structural phase transition which is associated with the lattice parameter variation from 4.136 to 4.168 Å. The temperature dependent resistivity measurements on CrN/MgO(001) showed a clear change in slope at ≈280 K which confirms the magneto-structural transition of CrN from paramagnetic rock salt face-centered-cubic (FCC) to antiferromagnetic orthorhombic structure.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗