SEARCH · Search NASA
Results for “electronics analysis”
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.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Site Disorder as a Predictor for Compositionally Complex 5RE 2 Zr 2 O 7 Ceramic Phase Stability
Here, phase formation and stability of five component compositionally complex rare earth zirconates (5RE 2 Zr 2 O 7 ) were investigated by X-ray diffraction and electron microprobe analysis. Zirconates with different rare earth compositions (LaNdSmEuDy, LaNdSmEuYb, LaNdEuErYb, LaNdDyErYb, SmEuDyYHo, LaYHoErYb, and DyYHoErYb) were synthesized at 1700°C and 2000°C by the solid-state method to investigate the effect of A-site site disorder (δ A ) on phase stability. Increased site disorder results from mixed cation occupancy with localized crystallographic strain and bond disorder. Compositions LaNdSmEuDy (δ A = 4.6) and LaNdSmEuYb (δ A = 6.0) produced a single pyrochlore phase and compositions SmDyYHoErYb (δ A = 2.8), LaYHoErYb (δ A = 6.2), and DyYHoErYb (δ A = 1.7) produced a single fluorite phase. High δ A compositions LaNdEuErYb (δ A = 6.9) and LaNdDyErYb (δ A = 7.2) produced a pyrochlore and fluorite phase mixture at 1700°C. Single phase was obtained for the latter composition at 2000°C. Of the single phase compositions calcined at 1700°C, LaNdSmEuYb and LaYHoErYb (both with largest δ A ) showed decomposition to mixed fluorite and pyrochlore phases during lower temperature anneals, indicating entropic stabilization. Comparison with prior work shows a temperature dependence of the critical δ A for phase stability, and compositions near it are expected to be entropy stabilized.
Polarization effects associated with thermal processing of HY-80 structural steel using high-power laser diode array
Localized heating of roughened steel surfaces using disperse laser light emitted from high power laser diode arrays was experimentally demonstrated and compared with theoretical predictions. The Fresnel equations were used to analyze the optical absorptivity in terms of the angle of incidence and polarization state to understand the laser-induced temperature rise of HY-80 steel plates under 383-612 W laser irradiation. Laser-induced, transient temperature distributions were directly measured using bulk thermocouple probes and thermal imaging. Finite element analysis yielded quantitative assessment of energy deposition and heat transport in HY-80 steel using absorptivity as a tuning parameter. The extracted absorptivity values ranged from 0.62 to 0.75 for S-polarized and 0.63 to 0.85 for P-polarized light, in agreement with partially oxidized iron surfaces. Microstructural analysis using electron backscatter diffraction revealed a heat affected zone for the highest temperature conditions (612 W, P-polarized) as evidence of rapid quenching and an austenite to martensite transformation. In conclusion, the efficient use of diode arrays for laser-assisted advanced manufacturing technologies such as hybrid friction stir welding is discussed.
Determining Roles of Accessory Genes in Denitrification by Mutant Fitness Analyses
Enzymes of the denitrification pathway play an important role in the global nitrogen cycle, including release of nitrous oxide, an ozone-depleting greenhouse gas. In addition, nitric oxide reductase, maturation factors, and proteins associated with nitric oxide detoxification are used by pathogens to combat nitric oxide release by host immune systems. While the core reductases that catalyze the conversion of nitrate to dinitrogen are well understood at a mechanistic level, there are many peripheral proteins required for denitrification whose basic function is unclear. A bar-coded transposon DNA library from Pseudomonas stutzeri strain RCH2 was grown under denitrifying conditions, using nitrate or nitrite as an electron acceptor, and also under molybdenum limitation conditions, with nitrate as the electron acceptor. Analysis of sequencing results from these growths yielded gene fitness data for 3,307 of the 4,265 protein-encoding genes present in strain RCH2. The insights presented here contribute to our understanding of how peripheral proteins contribute to a fully functioning denitrification pathway. We propose a new low-affinity molybdate transporter, OatABC, and show that differential regulation is observed for two MoaA homologs involved in molybdenum cofactor biosynthesis. We also propose that NnrS may function as a membrane-bound NO sensor. Finally, the dominant HemN paralog involved in heme biosynthesis is identified, and a CheR homolog is proposed to function in nitrate chemotaxis. In addition, new insights are provided into nitrite reductase redundancy, nitric oxide reductase maturation, nitrous oxide reductase maturation, and regulation.
Shell structure of {sup 107,109}Ag nuclei and spin–parities nuclei in which the 1{sub g9/2} orbit is being filled
Occupation numbers and energies of proton and neutron orbits in the isotopes {sup 107}Ag and {sup 109}Ag were obtained on the basis of data on nucleon-stripping and nucleon-pickup reactions. A special data-analysis method reducing systematic and statistical uncertainties was applied in relevant calculations. It is shown that, in this region, the spin–parity of nuclei is determined by shells, pairing, and polarization. The schemes of proton and neutron (sub)orbits were constructed. These schemes explain the ground-state spin–parities of N, Z = 39–49 nuclei.
Spinodal Decomposition of Ga{sub x}In{sub 1-x}As{sub y}P{sub 1-y}Quaternary Alloys
Using X-ray structural analysis, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and photoluminescent spectroscopy, it is shown that it is possible to obtain a small-scale domain structure on the surface of liquid-phase epitaxial heterostructures. The domain structure emerges as a result of spinodal decomposition of the Ga{sub x}In{sub 1-x}As{sub y}P{sub 1-y} quaternary alloy due to immiscibility of its components and relaxation of its lattice parameter to surrounding layers.
Comparative analysis of the effects of electron and hole capture on the power characteristics of a semiconductor quantum-well laser
The operating characteristics of a semiconductor quantum-well laser calculated using three models are compared. These models are (i) a model not taking into account differences between the electron and hole parameters and using the electron parameters for both types of charge carriers; (ii) a model, which does not take into account differences between the electron and hole parameters and uses the hole parameters for both types of charge carriers; and (iii) a model taking into account the asymmetry between the electron and hole parameters. It is shown that, at the same velocity of electron and hole capture into an unoccupied quantum well, the laser characteristics, obtained using the three models, differ considerably. These differences are due to a difference between the filling of the electron and hole subbands in a quantum well. The electron subband is more occupied than the hole subband. As a result, at the same velocities of electron and hole capture into an empty quantum well, the effective electron-capture velocity is lower than the effective hole-capture velocity. Specifically, it is shown that for the laser structure studied the hole-capture velocity of 5 × 10{sup 5} cm/s into an empty quantum well and the corresponding electron-capture velocity of 3 × 10{sup 6} cm/s into an empty quantum well describe the rapid capture of these carriers, at which the light–current characteristic of the laser remains virtually linear up to high pump-current densities. However, an electron-capture velocity of 5 × 10{sup 5} cm/s and a corresponding hole-capture velocity of 8.4 × 10{sup 4} cm/s describe the slow capture of these carriers, causing significant sublinearity in the light–current characteristic.
The Gas-Phase Synthesis of a New Functional Hybrid Material on the Basis of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Decorated with Faceted Aluminum Nanocrystals
The deposition of polyhedral aluminum nanocrystals onto the surface of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) via metalorganic chemical vapor deposition with the use of triisobutylaluminum as the precursor has been performed for the first time. The new hybrid nanomaterial (Al/MWCNTs) has been characterized by X-ray phase analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The obtained Al/MWCNTs hybrid materials were tested as the filler for the creation of threedimensional composites on the basis of an AMg2 alloy via powder metallurgy. It has been shown that the use of Al/MWCNTs as the filler increases the hardness of the composites by 18% in comparison with the initial MWCNTs.
Quantitative Characterization of the Microstructure-Property Relationships in Ni and MIEC Nanocatalyst-Infiltrated Ni/YSZ Anodes
The performance of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anodes can be improved by infiltration of nanoscale electrocatalysts, which increases triple phase boundary (TPB) density, but only when the added TPBs are active. Quantitative characterization of the microstructure of infiltrated nanocatalysts remains a critical challenge in understanding their role in improved performance. This paper explores the relationship between electrochemical performance and microstructure for Ni/YSZ anodes infiltrated with Ni, gadolinium-doped-ceria (GDC), and Ni/GDC nanocatalysts using a combination of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) microstructural characterization, and three-dimensional (3-D) anode reconstruction. Estimated polarization resistance improvements as a result of nickel nanoparticle infiltration are discussed.
Editors’ Choice—Examining Performance and Durability of Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells with Novel Spirocyclic Anion Exchange Membranes
A series of spirocyclic copolymer membranes with varying ion exchange capacities (IECs) were investigated to probe the impact of polymer properties on in situ fuel cell performance and stability. In-situ electrochemical tests and post-mortem electron microscopy analysis of cross-sectioned membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) have been combined with voltage loss breakdown analysis to evaluate the performance and degradation of different MEAs, and to probe the catalyst morphology and electrode structure at different stages of operation. Voltage loss breakdown results show that membrane degradation and kinetic losses played only a minor role in observed performance degradation and that performance losses were primarily related to increasing mass transport losses. From microscopy studies, carbon corrosion and Pt nanoparticle growth were identified at both the cathode and anode although more pronounced on the cathode resulting in significant structural changes. The membrane with the lowest IEC (1.3 mmolg −1 ) demonstrated the lowest peak power density ~ 1.16 W cm −2 , however, it showed the most stable performance (constant 0.6 A cm −2 hold) with ~ 5% degradation over 540 h. Isolation of performance losses and microscopic analysis of electrodes for anion exchange membrane fuel cells has not been reported previously, and these results help identify critical performance degradation concerns.
Three-dimensional structure determination of gold nanotriangles in solution using X-ray free-electron laser single-particle analysis
Please check the README file for more information about the dataset.
Epidote Rare Earth Element Analyses from Wells RN-12 and RN-19 - Reykjanes, Iceland
Results for laser ablation measurement of rare earth elements and electron microprobe analysis of major elements in hydrothermal epidote from the Reykjanes geothermal system in Iceland. Laser ablation measurements were completed using an Agilent 7700 quadrupole ICP-MS coupled with 193nm Photon Instruments Excimer laser.
Effects of rhodium doping on dislocation nucleation in a [001] SrNi 2 P 2 single crystal under spherical nanoindentation
Nanoindentation was performed on SrNi 2 P 2 single crystals and their dilute solid solutions, Sr(Ni 1–x Rh x ) 2 P 2 (x = 0 ~ 0.055), under [001] loading to investigate the effects of elemental doping on Young’s modulus and dislocation nucleation stress. The results show that Young’s modulus and the dislocation nucleation stress decrease as the Rh content increases, and their Rh content dependence also varies with the Rh content. Electron diffraction analysis and the anisotropic lattice distortion calculations revealed that a local structural transition from the orthorhombic superstructure to the tetragonal structure and local compressive residual stresses could be the main reasons for the decrease in Young’s modulus and dislocation nucleation stress, respectively. The overlap of stress–strain fields between Rh atoms and the associated local structural transition contribute to their Rh content dependence. Here, the results also indicate that elemental doping does not necessarily strengthen materials if the incipient plasticity is controlled by dislocation nucleation, unlike conventional solid solution strengthening.
Quantification of water in majoritic garnet
Majoritic garnet, characterized by an excess of silicon (>3 Si per formula unit), is considered one of the major phases of the Earth’s transition zone from 410-660 km depth. Quantifying the H 2 O content of nominally anhydrous mantle minerals is necessary to evaluate their water storage capacity from experiments and modeling the Earth’s deep water cycle. We present mineral-specific infrared absorption coefficients for the purpose of quantifying the amount of water incorporated into majorite as hydroxyl point defects. A suite of majoritic garnet samples with varying proportions of Si, Fe, Al, Cr and H 2 O was synthesized at conditions of 18-19 GPa and 1500-1800°C. Single-crystals were characterized using X-ray diffraction, electron microprobe analysis, secondary Ion Mass spectrometry (SIMS), IR, Raman and Mössbauer spectroscopy. We utilize SIMS and Raman spectroscopy in combination with IR spectroscopy to provide IR absorption coefficients for water in majoritic garnets with the general mineral formula (Mg,Fe) 3 (Si,Mg,Fe,Al,Cr) 2 [SiO4] 3 . Furthermore, the IR absorption coefficient for majoritic garnet in the OH stretching region is frequency-dependent and ranges from 10 470 ± 3100 Lmol-1cm-2 to 23 400 ± 2300 Lmol -1 cm -2 .
High-pressure behavior of cuprospinel CuFe 2 O 4 : Influence of the Jahn-Teller effect on the spinel structure
The Jahn-Teller-effect at Cu 2+ in cuprospinel CuFe 2 O 4 was investigated using high-pressure, single crystal synchrotron x-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques at beamline BL10A at the Photon Factory, KEK, Japan. Six data sets were collected in the pressure range from ambient to 5.9 GPa at room temperature. Structural refinements based on the data were performed at 0.0, 1.8, 2.7, and 4.6 GPa. The unit cell volume of cuprospinel decreases continuously from 590.8 (6) Å 3 to 579.5 (8) Å 3 up to 3.8 GPa. Leastsquares fitting to a third-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state yields zero-pressure volume V 0 = 590.7 (1) Å 3 and bulk modulus K 0 = 188.1 (4.4) GPa with K’ fixed at 4.0. The crystal chemical composition determined by electron-probe analysis and x-ray site-occupancy refinement is represented as [Cu 0.526 Fe 0.474 ] [6] [Cu 0.074 Fe 1.926 ]O 4 . Most of the Cu 2+ are preferentially distributed onto the tetrahedral (T) site of the spinel structure. At 4.6 GPa, a cubic-tetragonal phase transition is indicated by a splitting of the a axis of the cubic structure into a smaller a axis and a longer c axis, with unit cell parameters a = 5.882 (1) Å and c = 8.337 (1) Å. The tetragonal crystal structure with space group I4 1 /amd was refined to R1 = 0.0182 and wR2 = 0.0134 using observed 35 x-ray reflections. At the T site, the tetrahedral O-T-O bond angles along the c-axis direction of the unit cell decreases slightly from 109.47 ° to 108.7 (4) °, which generates a stretched tetrahedral geometry along the c-axis. The cubic-totetragonal transition induced by the Jahn-Teller effect at Cu 2+ is attributable to the angular distortion at the tetrahedral site. At the octahedral (M) site, on the other hand, the two M-O bonds parallel to the caxis are shortened with respect to the four M-O bonds parallel to the ab-plane, which are lengthened as a result of the phase transition, leading to a compressed octahedral geometry along the c-axis. With the competing distortions between the stretched tetrahedron and the compressed octahedron along the c-axis, the a unit cell parameter is shortened with respect to the c unit cell parameter, giving a c/a ratio slightly greater than unity as referred to cubic lattice (c/a = 1.002). The c/a value increases to 1.007 with pressure, suggesting a further evolution of the stretched tetrahedron and the compressed octahedron. The variation of c/a ratio of the cuprospinel is similar to that observed in the tetragonally distorted cuprospinel with Cu 2+ fully occupying the octahedral site of the structure.
Transition metals in the transition zone: Crystal chemistry of minor element substitution in wadsleyite
As the most abundant solid phase at depths of 410 to 525 km, wadsleyite constitutes a large geochemical reservoir in the Earth. In order to better understand the implications of minor element substitution and cation ordering in wadsleyite, we have synthesized wadsleyites coexisting with pyroxenes with about 3 wt% of either TiO 2 , Cr 2 O 3 , V 2 O 3 , CoO, NiO, or ZnO under hydrous conditions in separate experiments at 1300 °C and 15 GPa. We have refined the crystal structures of these wadsleyites by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, analyzed the compositions by electron microprobe, and estimated M3 vacancy concentration from b/a cell-parameter ratios. According to the crystal structure refinements, trivalent cations Fe 3+ , Cr 3+ and V 3+ , show a strong preference for M3 over M1 and M2 and significant substitution up to 2.7 % (atomic percent) at the tetrahedral site (T site). Divalent cations, Ni 2+ , Co 2+ , and Zn 2+ show site preferences similar to those of Fe2+ with M1≈ M3 > M2 > T. Transition metal site preferences appear to correlate with crystal field stabilization energies (CFSE) and are inconsistent with cation radius effects. The avoidance of Ni 2+ , Co 2+ and Fe 2+ for the M2 site in both wadsleyite and olivine can be influenced by CFSE, which has a positive correlation with site preferences at octahedral sites, indicating that avoidance of the lower-symmetry M2 site is stronger for cations having lower (greater absolute value) CFSE. Ti 4+ substitutes primarily into the M3 octahedron, rather than M1, M2, or T sites. Electron microprobe analysis reveals that Ti 4+ , Cr 3+ , and V 3+ have greater solubility in wadsleyite than in olivine. Furthermore these transition metal cations may be enriched in a melt or an accessory phase if hydrous melting occurs on upward convection across the wadsleyite-olivine boundary and may be useful as indicators of high pressure origin.
Bobfinchite, Na[(UO2)8O3(OH)11]·10H2O, a new Na-bearing member of the schoepite family
Abstract The new mineral bobfinchite (IMA2020-082), Na[(UO2)8O3(OH)11]·10H2O, was found in the Burro mine, Slick Rock district, San Miguel County, Colorado, U.S.A., where it occurs as an oxidation product of uraninite on asphaltite matrix in intimate association with gypsum, natrozippeite, metaschoepite, and uranopilite. Bobfinchite crystals are transparent to translucent, yellow, lozenge-shaped disks up to 0.3 mm wide. Crystals are flattened on [100] and exhibit the forms {100}, {011}, {021}, {021}, and {011}. Bobfinchite has a pale-yellow streak and emits very dim yellow fluorescence under 365 nm ultraviolet illumination. The crystals are brittle with very good {100} cleavage and irregular, stepped fracture. The Mohs hardness is ca. 2 based on scratch tests. The calculated density is 5.044 g/cm3 based on the empirical formula and 5.036 g/cm3 for the ideal formula. Bobfinchite is optically biaxial (–), with α = 1.690(5), β = 1.7205(5), and γ = 1.730(5) (white light). The measured 2V, estimated from the interference figure, is 55(5)° and the calculated value is 59.1°. Dispersion is moderate, r > v; orientation: X = a, Y = b, Z = c; pleochroism: X nearly colorless, Y yellow, Z yellow; X < Y ≈Z. Electron microprobe analysis provided the empirical formula (Na0.99Pb0.02)[(UO2)7.99O3(OH)11]·10H2O. The five strongest X-ray powder diffraction lines are [dobs in Å(I)(hkl)]: 7.34(100)(200), 3.59(50)(024), 3.23(60)(224), 3.18(36)(240), and 2.01(23)(624,551,208,640,346). Bobfinchite is orthorhombic, Pbcn, a = 14.6249(9), b = 14.0389(10), c = 16.6923(10) Å, V = 3427.2(4) Å3, and Z = 4. The structure of bobfinchite (R1 = 0.0330 for 3770 I > 4σI) is built from uranyl oxide-hydroxide sheets that adopt the fourmarierite topology, with interlayer Na+ and H2O groups. Both the sheet and interlayer topology mimic those observed in natural and synthetic Na-metaschoepites studied previously, and as seen in other uranyl oxide hydrate minerals, charge balance is achieved at specific sites in the sheet through the substitution O2– ↔ (OH)–.
Characterizing the Nanoscale Layers of Tomorrow's Electronics An Application of Fourier Analysis
Thin film applications are of great interest to the semiconductor industry due to the important role they play in cutting edge technology such as thin film solar cells. X-Ray Reflectivity (XRR) characterizes thin films in a non-destructive and efficient manner yet complications exist in extracting these characteristics from raw XRR data. This study developed and tested two different algorithms to extract quantity of layers and thickness information on the nanometer scale from XRR data. It was concluded that an algorithm involving a local averaging technique revealed this information clearly in Fourier space.