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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 955 records · Page 53

A mechanically driven form of Kirigami as a route to 3D mesostructures in micro/nanomembranes

Assembly of 3D micro/nanostructures in advanced functional materials has important implications across broad areas of technology. Existing approaches are compatible, however, only with narrow classes of materials and/or 3D geometries. This article introduces ideas for a form of Kirigami that allows precise, mechanically driven assembly of 3D mesostructures of diverse materials from 2D micro/nanomembranes with strategically designed geometries and patterns of cuts. Theoretical and experimental studies demonstrate applicability of the methods across length scales from macro to nano, in materials ranging from monocrystalline silicon to plastic, with levels of topographical complexity that significantly exceed those that can be achieved using other approaches. A broad set of examples includes 3D silicon mesostructures and hybrid nanomembrane-nanoribbon systems, including heterogeneous combinations with polymers and metals, with critical dimensions that range from 100 nm to 30 mm. Lastly, a 3D mechanically tunable optical transmission window provides an application example of this Kirigami process, enabled by theoretically guided design.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The elaborate route for UDP-arabinose delivery into the Golgi of plants

Significance Nucleotide sugars, the activated sugar donors essential for processes such as cell wall biosynthesis and protein and lipid glycosylation are predominantly made in the cytosol. However, a highly diverse range of glycosyltransferases that are located within the Golgi lumen, mediate the above-mentioned glycosylation reactions. Thus, transport of nucleotide sugars across the Golgi membrane into the lumen is crucial for growth and development of many species including microorganisms, plants, and humans. In this study, we identify and functionally characterize four UDP-arabinofuranose transporters from Arabidopsis that are responsible for the delivery of activated arabinose, a critical sugar of plant cell walls, glycoproteins, and signaling peptides.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Sum-rule corrections: A route to error cancellations in correlation matrix renormalisation theory

Here, we recently proposed the correlation matrix renormalisation (CMR) theory to efficiently and accurately calculate ground state total energy of molecular systems, based on the Gutzwiller variational wavefunction (GWF) to treat the electronic correlation effects. To help reduce numerical complications and better adapt the CMR to infinite lattice systems, we need to further refine the way to minimise the error originated from the approximations in the theory. This conference proceeding reports our recent progress on this key issue, namely, we obtained a simple analytical functional form for the one-electron renormalisation factors, and introduced a novel sum-rule correction for a more accurate description of the intersite electron correlations. Benchmark calculations are performed on a set of molecules to show the reasonable accuracy of the method.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

CuCr 2 O 4 particle growth and evolution across sol–gel routes and calcination profiles

CuCr 2 O 4 spinel is a candidate coating material for central receivers in concentrating solar power to protect structural alloys against high temperature oxidation and related degradation. Coating performance and microstructure of dip-coated and sintered coatings is dictated by the initial particle size of the CuCr 2 O 4 and sintering temperature, but can be compromised by particle agglomeration. Here in this study, sub-micron particles were synthesised through the Pechini and modified Pechini sol–gel methods. Phase composition was confirmed via X-ray diffraction. Particle growth during calcination of the nanoparticles at different temperatures (650°C, 750°C, 850°C) and times (between 1 and 24 h) was measured via laser diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The modified Pechini method displayed evidence of smaller particle sizes and greater agglomeration. The kinetics of particle growth observed are consistent with a diffusion limited inhibited grain growth model.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Accurate spectroscopic characterization of oxirane: A valuable route to its identification in Titan's atmosphere and the assignment of unidentified infrared bands

In an effort to provide an accurate spectroscopic characterization of oxirane, state-of-the-art computational methods and approaches have been employed to determine highly accurate fundamental vibrational frequencies and rotational parameters. Available experimental data were used to assess the reliability of our computations, and an accuracy on average of 10 cm{sup –1} for fundamental transitions as well as overtones and combination bands has been pointed out. Moving to rotational spectroscopy, relative discrepancies of 0.1%, 2%-3%, and 3%-4% were observed for rotational, quartic, and sextic centrifugal-distortion constants, respectively. We are therefore confident that the highly accurate spectroscopic data provided herein can be useful for identification of oxirane in Titan's atmosphere and the assignment of unidentified infrared bands. Since oxirane was already observed in the interstellar medium and some astronomical objects are characterized by very high D/H ratios, we also considered the accurate determination of the spectroscopic parameters for the mono-deuterated species, oxirane-d1. For the latter, an empirical scaling procedure allowed us to improve our computed data and to provide predictions for rotational transitions with a relative accuracy of about 0.02% (i.e., an uncertainty of about 40 MHz for a transition lying at 200 GHz).

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Accurate spectroscopic characterization of ethyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulfide isotopologues: a route toward their astrophysical detection

Using state-of-the-art computational methodologies, we predict a set of reliable rotational and torsional parameters for ethyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulfide monosubstituted isotopologues. This includes rotational, quartic, and sextic centrifugal-distortion constants, torsional levels, and torsional splittings. The accuracy of the present data was assessed from a comparison to the available experimental data. Generally, our computed parameters should help in the characterization and the identification of these organo-sulfur molecules in laboratory settings and in the interstellar medium.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Routes to high-performance operation in Wendelstein 7-X: turbulence suppression with shaping of the density profile

Steep density gradients generally lead to improved plasma performance in the neoclassically optimized stellarator W7-X. This is evident in the global energy confinement time as well as in the ion temperature and can be explained by a strong reduction of the ion temperature gradient turbulence. Such conditions can experimentally be realized by several methods: injection of cryogenic hydrogen pellets, appropriate combination of neutral beam and electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) and, in some cases, with low power of ECRH after preconditioning of the first wall. The duration of the improved phases is determined by the ability to sustain the steep density gradient, by technical limitations of the involved systems and, eventually, by the plasma stability. This paper gives an overview of relevant experimental results and presents example discharges where the improved confinement conditions could be extended to multiple seconds: up to 4 s using neutral beam injection and from 14 to 40 s with steady state pellet injection. In these plasmas the turbulent thermal diffusivity is reduced by a factor of 3 to 4 in a broad radial range, which allows high ion temperatures of up to 3 keV at the densities of about 1.5 • 10 20 m −3 .

high performance plasma↗

Synthesis routes to eliminate oxide impurity segregation and their influence on intergrain connectivity in K-doped BaFe 2 As 2 polycrystalline bulks

The poor reproducibility of intergrain critical current density $J_c$ in Fe-based superconductors is often believed to result from uncontrolled grain boundary (GB) connectivity degraded by extrinsic factors such as the local or global impurity concentration or GB porosity or cracks. Earlier we found that Ba and K can appear as oxide impurities at GBs, along with GB-wetting FeAs. In this study, we evaluated how the sample preparation environment and purity of the starting materials influence the polycrystalline $J_c$ in K-doped BaFe 2 As 2 (Ba122) bulks. Using a high-performance glovebox, the oxygen and water levels were significantly reduced, eliminating traces of FeAs. We report oxide impurities and Ba (or K) segregation associated with oxygen in the starting materials were significantly reduced by using high purity starting materials. This combination essentially doubled the best $J_c$(4.2 K) values to 2.3 × 10 5 at self-field and 1.6 × 10 4 A cm –2 at 10 T and analytical scanning transmission electron microscopy showed no GB or O segregation in the best samples, but did show dark Z-contrast and distinct nanoscale porosity. Our work shows that an inert synthesis environment and high purity K and Ba do reduce current-blocking oxygen impurity and GB impurity phases, allowing deeper exploration of the role of extrinsic and intrinsic GB blocking effects in controlling the $J_c$ of polycrystalline Ba122.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Route to high-$T_c$ superconductivity via CH 4 -intercalated H 3 S hydride perovskites

While exploring potential superconductors in the C-S-H ternary system using first-principles crystal structure prediction methods, we uncovered a class of hydride perovskites based on the intercalation of methane into an H 3 S framework. These intriguing H 3 S–CH 4 structures emerge as metastable at ~100 GPa. Further, electron-phonon coupling calculations indicate that phases with CSH 7 stoichiometry are potential superconductors with $T_c$ values ranging from 100 K to 190 K at megabar pressures. The results are expected to guide the experimental search for new high-$T_c$ superconductors, including those stable at lower pressures than previously documented superconducting hydrides such as H 3 S and LaH 10 .

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Skyrmion superconductivity: DMRG evidence for a topological route to superconductivity

It was recently suggested that the topology of magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene's (MATBG) flat bands could provide a novel mechanism for superconductivity distinct from both weakly coupled BCS theory and the d-wave phenomenology of the high-T c cuprates. In this work, we examine this possibility using a density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) study of a model which captures the essential features of MATBG's symmetry and topology. Here, using large-scale cylinder-DMRG calculations to obtain the ground state and its excitations as a function of the electron doping, we find clear evidence for superconductivity driven by the binding of electrons into charge-2e skyrmions. Remarkably, this binding is observed even in the regime where the unscreened Coulomb repulsion is by far the largest energy scale, demonstrating the robustness of this topological, all-electronic pairing mechanism.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Multiple transient memories in sheared suspensions: Robustness, structure, and routes to plasticity

Multiple transient memories, first discovered in charge-density-wave conductors, are a remarkable and initially counterintuitive example of how a system can store information about its driving. In this class of memories, a system can learn multiple driving inputs, nearly all of which are eventually forgotten despite their continual input. If sufficient noise is present, the system regains plasticity so that it can continue to learn new memories indefinitely. Recently, Keim and Nagel [Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 010603 (2011)] showed how multiple transient memories could be generalized to a generic driven disordered system with noise, giving as an example simulations of a simple model of a sheared non-Brownian suspension. Here, we further explore simulation models of suspensions under cyclic shear, focusing on three main themes: robustness, structure, and overdriving. We show that multiple transient memories are a robust feature independent of many details of the model. The steady-state spatial distribution of the particles is sensitive to the driving algorithm; nonetheless, the memory formation is independent of such a change in particle correlations. Finally, we demonstrate that overdriving provides another means for controlling memory formation and retention.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Layer-by-layer assembly of patchy particles as a route to nontrivial structures

Here, we propose a strategy for robust high-quality self-assembly of nontrivial periodic structures out of patchy particles and investigate it with Brownian dynamics simulations. Its first element is the use of specific patch-patch and shell-shell interactions between the particles, which can be implemented through differential functionalization of patched and shell regions with specific DNA strands. The other key element of our approach is the use of a layer-by-layer protocol that allows one to avoid the formation of undesired random aggregates. As an example, we design and self-assemble in silico a version of a double diamond lattice in which four particle types are arranged into bcc crystal made of four fcc sublattices. The lattice can be further converted to cubic diamond by selective removal of the particles of certain types. These results demonstrate that by combining the directionality, selectivity of interactions, and the layer-by-layer protocol, a high-quality robust self-assembly can be achieved.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Disordered Route to the Coulomb Quantum Spin Liquid: Random Transverse Fields on Spin Ice in Pr 2 Zr 2 O 7

Inelastic neutron scattering reveals a broad continuum of excitations in Pr 2 Zr 2 O 7 , the temperature and magnetic field dependence of which indicate a continuous distribution of quenched transverse fields ( Δ ) acting on the non-Kramers Pr 3 + crystal field ground state doublets. Spin-ice correlations are apparent within 0.2 meV of the Zeeman energy. In a random phase approximation an excellent account of the data is provided and contains a transverse field distribution ρ ( Δ ) ∝ ( Δ 2 + Γ 2 ) - 1 , where Γ = 0.27 ( 1 ) meV . Established during high temperature synthesis due to an underlying structural instability, it appears disorder in Pr 2 Zr 2 O 7 actually induces a quantum spin liquid.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Nanostructured complex oxides as a route towards thermal behavior in artificial spin ice systems

Here, we have used soft x-ray photoemission electron microscopy to image the magnetization of single-domain La 0.7 Sr 0.3 MnO 3 nanoislands arranged in geometrically frustrated configurations such as square ice and kagome ice geometries. Upon thermal randomization, ensembles of nanoislands with strong interisland magnetic coupling relax towards low-energy configurations. Statistical analysis shows that the likelihood of ensembles falling into low-energy configurations depends strongly on the annealing temperature. Annealing to just below the Curie temperature of the ferromagnetic film (T C = 338 K) allows for a much greater probability of achieving low-energy configurations as compared to annealing above the Curie temperature. At this thermally active temperature of 325 K, the ensemble of ferromagnetic nanoislands explore their energy landscape over time and eventually transition to lower energy states as compared to the frozen-in configurations obtained upon cooling from above the Curie temperature. Thus, this materials system allows for a facile method to systematically study thermal evolution of artificial spin ice arrays of nanoislands at temperatures modestly above room temperature.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

La 4 Co 4 X ( X = Pb , Bi , Sb ) : A demonstration of antagonistic pairs as a route to quasi-low-dimensional ternary compounds

We outline how pairs of strongly immiscible elements, referred to here as antagonistic pairs, can be used to synthesize ternary compounds with low or quasi-reduced-dimensional motifs intrinsically built into their crystal structures. By identifying third elements that are mutually compatible with a given antagonistic pair, ternary compounds can be formed in which the third element segregates the immiscible atoms into spatially separated substructures. Quasi-low-dimensional structural units, such as sheets, chains, or clusters are a natural consequence of the immiscible atoms seeking to avoid close contact in the solid state. Further, as proof of principle, we present the discovery, crystal growth, and basic physical properties of La 4 ⁢Co 4 ⁢$\mathrm{X}$ (X = Pb, Bi, Sb), a family of intermetallic compounds based on the antagonistic pairs Co-Pb and Co-Bi. La 4 ⁢Co 4 ⁢$\mathrm{X}$ adopts an orthorhombic crystal structure (space group Pbam) containing quasi-two-dimensional Co slabs and La-X polyhedra that stack in an alternating manner along the α axis. Consistent with our proposal, the La atoms separate the Co and X substructures, ensuring there are no direct contacts between the members of the immiscible (antagonistic) pair. Within the Co slabs, the atoms occupy the vertices of corner sharing tetrahedra and triangles, and this bonding motif produces narrow electronic bands near the Fermi level that favor magnetism. The Co is moment bearing in each La 4 ⁢Co 4 $\mathrm{X}$ compound studied, and we show that whereas La 4 ⁢Co 4 ⁢Pb behaves as a three-dimensional antiferromagnet with T N =220K, La 4 ⁢Co 4 ⁢Bi and La 4⁢ Co 4 ⁢Sb have behavior consistent with low-dimensional magnetic coupling and ordering, with T N =153K and 143 K, respectively. In addition to the Pb-, Bi-, and Sb-based La 4 ⁢Co 4 ⁢$\mathrm{X}$ compounds, we also were likely able to produce an analogous La 4 ⁢Co 4 ⁢Sn in polycrystalline form, although we were unable to isolate single crystals. We anticipate that identifying and using mutually compatible third elements together with an antagonistic pair represents a generalizable design principle for discovering new materials and new structure types containing low-dimensional substructures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗