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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 973 records · Page 54

Expanding the capability of reaction-diffusion codes using pseudo traps and temperature partitioning: Applied to hydrogen uptake and release from tungsten

Simulating the implantation and thermal desorption evolution in a reaction-diffusion model requires solving a set of coupled differential equations that describe the trapping and release of atomic species in Plasma Facing Materials (PFMs). These fundamental equations are well outlined by the Tritium Migration Analysis Program (TMAP) which can model systems with no more than three active traps per atomic species. To overcome this limitation, we have developed a Pseudo Trap and Temperature Partition (PTTP) scheme allowing us to lump multiple inactive traps into one pseudo trap, simplifying the system of equations to be solved. For all temperatures, we show the trapping of atoms from solute is exactly accounted for when using a pseudo trap. However, a single effective pseudo trap energy can not well replicate the release from multiple traps, each with its own detrapping energy. However, atoms held in a high energy trap will remain trapped at relatively low temperatures, and thus there is a temperature range in which release from high energy traps is effectively inactive. By partitioning the temperature range into segments, a pseudo trap can be defined for each segment to account for multiple high energy traps that are actively trapping but are effectively not releasing atoms. With increasing temperature, as in controlled thermal desorption, the lowest energy trap is nearly emptied and can be removed from the set of coupled equations, while the next higher energy trap becomes an actively releasing trap. Each segment is thus calculated sequentially, with the last time step of a given segment solution being used as an initial input for the next segment as only the pseudo and actively releasing traps are modeled. This PTTP scheme is then applied to experimental thermal desorption data for tungsten (W) samples damaged with heavy ions, which display six distinct release peaks during thermal desorption. Without modifying the TMAP7 source code the PTTP scheme is shown to successfully model the D retention in all six traps. In conclusion, we demonstrate the full reconstruction from the plasma implantation phase through the controlled thermal desorption phase with detrapping energies near 0.9, 1.1, 1.4, 1.7, 1.9 and 2.1 eV for a W sample damaged at room temperature.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Characterization and properties of controlled nucleation thermochemical deposited /CNTD/ silicon carbide

Results are presented for an investigation designed to characterize the microstructure of controlled nucleation thermomechanical deposition (CNTD) produced SiC material with respect to grain structure, stoichiometry, phase analysis, etc., and to evaluate the room-temperature and high-temperature fracture and oxidation behavior. By using the CNTD process, ultrafine-grained SiC is deposited on tungsten wires as substrates, with superior surface smoothness and without the macrocolumnar growth commonly observed in conventional CVD materials. The results suggest that the high-purity, fully dense, and stable grain size SiC material produced by CNTD shows potential for high-temperature structural applications, provided that pertinent problems are resolved.

Dutta, S.↗

The mechanical design of a vapor compressor for a heat pump to be used in space

A heat pump developed for use in Spacelab as a stand-alone refrigeration unit as well as within a fluid loop system is discussed. It will provide an active thermal control for payloads. Specifications for the heat pump were established: (1) heat removal rates at the source; (2) heat source temperatures from room temperature; (3) heat-sink fluid temperatures at condenser inlet; and (4) minimum power consumption. A reversed Carnot cycle heat pump using Freon 12 as working fluid incorporating a one-cylinder reciprocating compressor was selected. The maximum crankshaft speed was fixed relatively high at 100 rpm. The specified cooling rates then made it necessary to select a cylinder volume of 10 cu cm, which was obtained with a bore of 40 mm and a stroke of 8 mm.

Berner, F.↗

Mechanism of strength degradation for hot corrosion of alpha-SiC

Sintered alpha SiC was corroded by thin films of Na2SO4 and Na2CO3 molten salts at 1000%. This hot corrosion attack reduced room temperature strengths by as much as 50%. Strength degradation was porportional to the degree and uniformity of corrosion pitting attack as controlled by the chemistry of the molten salt. Extensive fractography identified corrosion pits as the most prevalent source of failure. A fracture mechanics treatment of the strength/pit depth relationship produced an average K sub IC equal to 2.6 MPa sub m 1/2, which is consistent with published values.

Smialek, J. L.↗

Permeability and Strength Measurements on Sintered, Porous, Hollow Turbine Blades Made by the American Electro Metal Corporation under Office of Naval Research Contract N-ONR-295 (01)

An experimental investigation was made to determine the permeability and strength characteristics of a number of sintered, porous, hollow turbine rotor blades and to determine the effectiveness of the blade fabrication method on permeability control. The test blades were fabricated by the American Electro Metal Corporation under a contract with the Office of Naval Research, Department of the Navy, and were submitted to the NACA for testing. Of the 22 test blades submitted, ten were sintered but not coined, five were sintered and coined, and seven were sintered and not coined but contained perforated reinforcements integral with the blade shells. Representative samples of each group of blades were tested. Large variations in permeability in both chordwise and spanwise directions were found. Local deviations as large as 155 to -85 percent from prescribed values were found in chordwise permeability. Only one blade, an uncoined one, had a chordwise permeability variations which reasonably approached that specified. Even for this blade, local deviations exceeded 10 percent. Spanwise permeability, specified to be held constant, varied as much as 50 percent from root to tip for both an uncoined and a coined blade. Previous NACA analyses have shown that in order to maintain proper control of blade wall temperatures, permeability variations must not exceed plus or minus 10 percent. Satisfactory control of permeability in either the chordwise or the spanwise direction was not achieved in the blades tested. Spin tests made at room temperature for six blades revealed the highest material rupture strength to be 8926 pounds per square inch. This value is about one third the strength required for rotor blades in present-day turbojet engines. The lowest value of blade strength was 1436 pounds per square inch.

Richards, Hadley T.↗

Reconfigurable and writable magnetic charge crystals

Artificial ices enable the study of geometrical frustration by design and through direct observation. It has, however, proven difficult to achieve tailored long-range ordering of their diverse configurations, limiting both fundamental and applied research directions. An artificial spin structure design is described that produces a magnetic charge ice with tunable long-range ordering of eight different configurations. A technique is also developed to precisely manipulate the local magnetic charge states and demonstrate write-read-erase multi-functionality at room temperature. This globally reconfigurable and locally writable magnetic charge ice provides a setting for designing magnetic monopole defects, tailoring magnetics and controlling the properties of other two-dimensional materials.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

NBC boil-off calorimeter for measuring thermal conductivity of insulating materials

Modern temperature, pressure and flow sensors along with a high speed digital control system have been incorporated into an existing thermal conductivity apparatus (ASTM C745). The system has also been modified to include the use of liquid helium as the refrigerant, if desired. The apparatus can be used to study thermal conductivity in the temperature range from 4 K to room temperature. Preliminary results on insulating materials indicate that the system update has significantly improved the precision and operational characteristics of the apparatus. Basic principles of operation, sources of system error and the reduction of system error by application of digital control and modern sensors are discussed. Preliminary data are presented.

Dube, W. P.↗

Manipulation of Emergent Collective Excitations via Composition Control in Mixed MPX 3 Correlated 2D Antiferromagnets

Transition metal (i.e., Mn, Fe, Cr) and chalcogen (Se) substituents are introduced into single-crystalline NiPS 3 , and the evolution of the two emergent quasi-particle excitations characteristic to the XXZ correlated antiferromagnetism of NiPS 3 (i.e., spin orbit entangled exciton (SOX) and two-magnon scattering (2M )) are investigated as functions of substituent concentration through comprehensive room- and low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) and Raman spectroscopy studies. These findings are further correlated with the magnetic properties of the same set of compounds reported in prior studies. The work revealed that the SOX emission intensities and linewidths are mainly controlled by the magnetic anisotropy and spin orientations, and are strongly suppressed by the introduction of substituents. The suppression depends on the type of substituent, with Fe affecting the SOX emission more than Mn and Cr. The 2 M scattering is linked to short-range correlations and exhibits greater resiliency against metal atom substitution. While the 2M peak at low temperature gets suppressed and red-shifted in frequency with increasing concentrations of all the substituents, Fe induces the weakest suppression compared to all other substituents. Altogether, these findings revealed the introduction of substituents as a powerful route to control the emergent collective excitations in NiPS 3 and mixed-MPX 3 materials.

2D magnet↗

Ultrafast Spin Crossover in a Room-Temperature Ferrimagnet: Element-Specific Spin Dynamics in Photoexcited Cobalt Ferrite

Transition metal complexes capable of photoinduced spin crossover have been greatly investigated because of their potential to enable ultrafast optical control of information processing. Yet, any real application of photoswitchable molecules requires that spin crossover be paired with additional functionality such as long-range magnetic order. Important advances combining these functions are notably reported for a number of bimetallic Prussian Blue analogues; however, to date, PBA-based magnetic photoswitches can only operate below 150 K due to loss of magnetic order. In contrast, cobalt ferrite is a ferrimagnetic semiconductor with a Curie temperature of 790 K and extremely favorable magnetic properties by comparison to state-of-the-art PBAs. The mixed valence electronic structure of cobalt ferrite is reminiscent of cobalt–iron PBA, which is a well-known photoswitch. To investigate the potential for photoswitching in this material, we employ transient XUV spectroscopy to probe charge and spin dynamics with element-specific resolution on the femtosecond time scale. Results show that 400 nm light excites a metal-to-metal charge transfer transition, which drives the crossover of high-spin Co 2+ to low-spin Co 3+ with a time constant of 405 ± 29 fs and an internal quantum efficiency of unity. This result establishes the existence of efficient photoswitching in a new class of robust ferrimagnetic spinel ferrites.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Thermally Activated Adsorption in Metal–Organic Frameworks with a Temperature‐Tunable Diffusion Barrier Layer

Abstract Modification of the external surfaces of metal–organic frameworks offers a new level of control over their adsorption behavior. It was previously shown that capping of MOFs with ethylenediamine (EDA) can effectively retain small gaseous molecules at room temperature. Reported here is a temperature‐induced variation in the capping‐layer gate‐opening mechanism through a combination of in situ infared experiments and ab initio simulations of the capping layer. An atypical acceleration and increase in the loading of weakly adsorbed molecules upon raising the temperature above room temperature is observed. These findings show the discovery of novel temperature‐dependent kinetics that goes beyond standard kinetics and suggest a new avenue for tailoring selective adsorption by thermally tuning the surface barrier.

Tan, Kui↗

Homoepitaxial growth of 9,10-diphenylanthracene

Organic single crystals are often shown to have significantly improved optoelectronic properties over polycrystalline thin films such as exciton diffusivity and carrier mobility. There is growing interest in incorporating such crystals in organic electronics despite a number of challenges. In this work, the homoepitaxial vapor phase growth modes for 9,10-diphenylanthracene (DPA) homoepitaxy are mapped as a function of growth rate and temperature using in situ ultra-low current reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Vapor phase deposition was performed on free-standing single crystal DPA substrates, which show clear Kikuchi patterns. At room temperature, a transition from Frank-Van der Merwe layer-by-layer growth to step-flow growth is observed as the deposition rate is decreased, while at lower temperatures a Stranski-Krastanov layer-plus-island growth is observed. This is the first demonstration of true step-flow growth from room temperature vapor phase deposition for organic semiconductors and is reminiscent of traditional semiconductor growth regimes. Accordingly, these results could lead to improved control over growth and doping of organic single crystals, and lead to enhanced single crystal organic optoelectronic applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Dynamics of charged excitons in electronically and morphologically homogeneous single-walled carbon nanotubes

Significance Formation of quasiparticles, such as excitons, polarons, and trions in semiconductors are the foundation for modern optoelectronics. Unlike the widely investigated exciton and polaron, the trion, a three-body charge-exciton bound state, is less familiar due to its small binding energy in conventional inorganic semiconductors. Here, employing ultrafast spectroscopy and rigorously controlled charge-doping levels, we characterize trion creation and decay in single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), wherein trions are stable at room temperature. We show that SWNT trions derive exclusively from a precursor exciton state, and importantly, that exciton-to-trion conversion can approach unity under appropriate conditions. Because trions simultaneously carry excitation energy, charge, and spin, our findings may guide design of new SWNT-based optoelectronic devices, including photovoltaics, photodetectors, and spintronics.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Mechanism of strength degradation for hot corrosion of alpha-SiC

Sintered alpha SiC was corroded by thin films of Na2SO4 and Na2CO3 molten salts at 1000 percent. This hot corrosion attack reduced room temperature strengths by as much as 50 percent. Strength degradation was proportional to the degree and uniformity of corrosion pitting attack as controlled by the chemistry of the molten salt. Extensive fractography identified corrosion pits as the most prevalent source of failure. A fracture mechanics treatment of the strength/pit depth relationship produced an average K sub IC equal to 2.6 MPa sub m 1/2, which is cnsistent ith published values.

Smialek, James L.↗

Development of magnetostrictive active members for control of space structures

The goal of this Phase 2 Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) project was to determine the technical feasibility of developing magnetostrictive active members for use as truss elements in space structures. Active members control elastic vibrations of truss-based space structures and integrate the functions of truss structure element, actively controlled actuator, and sensor. The active members must control structural motion to the sub-micron level and, for many proposed space applications, work at cryogenic temperatures. Under this program both room temperature and cryogenic temperature magnetostrictive active members were designed, fabricated, and tested. The results of these performance tests indicated that room temperature magnetostrictive actuators feature higher strain, stiffness, and force capability with lower amplifier requirements than similarly sized piezoelectric or electrostrictive active members, at the cost of higher mass. Two different cryogenic temperature magnetostrictive materials were tested at liquid nitrogen temperatures, both with larger strain capability than the room temperature magnetostrictive materials. The cryogenic active member development included the design and fabrication of a cryostat that allows operation of the cryogenic active member in a space structure testbed.

Johnson, Bruce G.↗

Further Investigations of Control Surface Seals for the X-38 Re-Entry Vehicle

NASA is currently developing the X-38 vehicle that will be used to demonstrate the technologies required for a potential crew return vehicle (CRV) for the International Space Station. This vehicle would serve both as an ambulance for medical emergencies and as an evacuation vehicle for the Space Station. Control surfaces on the X-38 (body flaps and rudder/fin assemblies) require high temperature seals to limit hot gas ingestion and transfer of heat to underlying low-temperature structures to prevent over-temperature of these structures and possible loss of the vehicle. NASAs Johnson Space Center (JSC) and Glenn Research Center (GRC) are working together to develop and evaluate seals for these control surfaces. This paper presents results for compression. flow, scrub, and arc jet tests conducted on the baseline X-38 rudder/fin seal design. Room temperature seal compression tests were performed at low compression levels to determine load versus linear compression, preload. contact area, stiffness. and resiliency characteristics under low load conditions. For all compression levels that were tested, unit loads and contact pressures for the seals were below the 5 lb/in. and 10 psi limits required to limit the loads on the adjoining Shuttle thermal tiles that the seals will contact. Flow rates through an unloaded (i.e. 0% compression) double arrangement were twice those of a double seal compressed to the 20% design compression level. The seals survived an ambient temperature 1000 cycle scrub test over relatively rough Shuttle tile surfaces. The seals were able to disengage and re-engage the edges of the rub surface tiles while being scrubbed over them. Arc jet tests were performed to experimentally determine anticipated seal temperatures for representative flow boundary conditions (pressures and temperatures) under simulated vehicle re-entry conditions. Installation of a single seat in the gap of the test fixture caused a large temperature drop (1710 F) across the seal location as compared to an open gap condition (140 F) confirming the need for seals in the rudder/fin gap location. The seal acted as an effective thermal barrier limiting heat convection through the seal gap and minimizing temperature increases downstream of the seal during maximum heating conditions.

Dunlap, Patrick H., Jr.↗

Nonequilibrium Synthesis of TiO 2 Nanoparticle “Building Blocks” for Crystal Growth by Sequential Attachment in Pulsed Laser Deposition

Nonequilibrium growth pathways for crystalline nanostructures with metastable phases are demonstrated through the gas-phase formation, attachment, and crystallization of ultrasmall amorphous nanoparticles as building blocks in pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Temporally and spatially resolved gated-intensified charge couple device (ICCD) imaging and ion probe measurements are employed as in situ diagnostics to understand and control the plume expansion conditions for the synthesis of nearly pure fluxes of ultrasmall (~3 nm) amorphous TiO 2 nanoparticles in background gases and their selective delivery to substrates. These amorphous nanoparticles assemble into loose, mesoporous assemblies on substrates at room temperature but dynamically crystallize by sequential particle attachment at higher substrate temperatures to grow nanostructures with different phases and morphologies. Molecular dynamics calculations are used to simulate and understand the crystallization dynamics. Our report highlights that nonequilibrium crystallization by particle attachment of metastable ultrasmall nanoscale “building blocks” provides a versatile approach for exploring and controlling the growth of nanoarchitectures with desirable crystalline phases and morphologies.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

MBE growth and donor doping of coherent ultrawide bandgap AlGaN alloy layers on single-crystal AlN substrates

Single-crystal Aluminum Nitride (AlN) crystals enable the epitaxial growth of ultrawide bandgap Al(Ga)N alloys with drastically lower extended defect densities. Here, we report the plasma-MBE growth conditions for high Al-composition AlGaN alloys on single-crystal AlN substrates. An AlGaN growth guideline map is developed, leading to pseudomorphic Al x Ga 1–x N epitaxial layers with x ~0.6–1.0 Al contents at a growth rate of ~0.3 μm/h. These epitaxial layers exhibit atomic steps, indicating step flow epitaxial growth, and room-temperature band edge emission from ~4.5 to 5.9 eV. Growth conditions are identified in which the background impurity concentrations of O, C, Si, and H in the MBE layers are found to be very near or below detection limits. An interesting Si segregation and gettering behavior is observed at the epitaxial AlGaN/AlN heterojunction with significant implications for the formation and transport of 2D electron or hole gases. Well-controlled intentional Si doping ranging from ~2 × 10 17 to 3 × 10 19 atoms/cm 3 is obtained, with sharp dopant density transition profiles. In Si-doped Al 0.6 Ga 0.4 N epilayers, a room-temperature free electron concentration of ~3 × 10 19 /cm 3 , an electron mobility of ~27 cm 2 /V s, and an n-type resistivity of ~7.5 m Ω cm are obtained. Here, the implications of these findings on electronic and photonic devices on single-crystal AlN substrates are discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Room-temperature multiferroicity in sliding van der Waals semiconductors with sub-0.3 V switching

The search for van der Waals (vdW) multiferroic materials has been challenging but also holds great potential for the next-generation multifunctional nanoelectronics. The group-IV monochalcogenide, with an anisotropic puckered structure and an intrinsic in-plane polarization at room temperature, manifests itself as a promising candidate with coupled ferroelectric and ferroelastic order as the basis for multiferroic behavior. Unlike the intrinsic centrosymmetric AB stacking, we demonstrate a multiferroic phase of tin selenide (SnSe), where the inversion symmetry breaking is maintained in AA-stacked multilayers over a wide range of thicknesses. We observe that an interlayer-sliding-induced out-of-plane (OOP) ferroelectric polarization couples with the in-plane (IP) one, making it possible to control out-of-plane polarization via in-plane electric field and vice versa. Notably, thickness scaling yields a sub-0.3 V ferroelectric switching, which promises future low-power-consumption applications. Furthermore, coexisting armchair- and zigzag-like structural domains are imaged under electron microscopy, providing experimental evidence for the degenerate ferroelastic ground states theoretically predicted. Non-centrosymmetric SnSe, as the first layered multiferroic at room temperature, provides a novel platform not only to explore the interactions between elementary excitations with controlled symmetries, but also to efficiently tune the device performance via external electric and mechanical stress.

Chen, Rui [University of California, Berkeley, CA ↗