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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2011

Large-area SnO{sub 2}: F thin films by offline APCVD

Highlights: {yields} Large-area (1245 mm x 635 mm) FTO thin films were successfully deposited by offline APCVD process. {yields} The as-prepared FTO thin films with sheet resistance 8-11 {Omega}/{open_square} and direct transmittance more than 83% exhibited better than that of the online ones. {yields} The maximum quantum efficiency of the solar cells based on offline FTO substrate was 0.750 at wavelength 540 nm. {yields} The power of the solar modules using the offline FTO as glass substrates was 51.639 W, higher than that of the modules based on the online ones. -- Abstract: In this paper, we reported the successful preparation of fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) thin films on large-area glass substrates (1245 mm x 635 mm x 3 mm) by self-designed offline atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) process. The FTO thin films were achieved through a combinatorial chemistry approach using tin tetrachloride, water and oxygen as precursors and Freon (F-152, C2H4F2) as dopant. The deposited films were characterized for crystallinity, morphology (roughness) and sheet resistance to aid optimization of materials suitable for solar cells. We got the FTO thin films with sheet resistance 8-11 {Omega}/{open_square} and direct transmittance more than 83%. X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization suggested that the as-prepared FTO films were composed of multicrystal, with the average crystal size 200-300 nm and good crystallinity. Further more, the field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) images showed that the films were produced with good surface morphology (haze). Selected samples were used for manufacturing tandem amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin film solar cells and modules by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). Compared with commercially available FTO thin films coated by online chemical vapor deposition, our FTO coatings show excellent performance resulting in a high quantum efficiency yield for a-Si:H solar cells and ideal open voltage and short circuit current for a-Si:H solar modules.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Direct graphene growth from highly ordered pyrolytic graphite using pulsed Nd: YAG laser on p-Si (100) substrate at 700°c

Few layer graphene was deposited on p-type Si (100) substrates by pulsed laser deposition of highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) target at a relatively low temperature of 700 °C, without any catalytic layer. Effect of laser energy on the ability to produce the crystalline graphene was studied. It was observed that a laser energy of 220 mJ/pulse lead to form few layer graphene while higher laser energy of 440 mJ/pulse was detrimental to precipitation process. The reasons behind this observation are also discussed. Graphene samples were analyzed using Raman spectroscopy and surface morphology of graphene samples was confirmed using field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM).

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

First-principles calculations of metal surfaces. II. Properties of low-index platinum surfaces toward understanding electron emission

The stability of low-index platinum surfaces and their electronic properties is investigated with density functional theory, toward the goal of understanding the surface structure and electron emission, and identifying precursors to electrical breakdown, on nonideal platinum surfaces. Propensity for electron emission can be related to a local work function, which, in turn, is intimately dependent on the local surface structure. The (1×N) missing row reconstruction of the Pt(110) surface is systematically examined. The (1×3) missing row reconstruction is found to be the lowest in energy, with the (1×2) and (1×4) slightly less stable. In the limit of large (1×N) with wider (111) nanoterraces, the energy accurately approaches the asymptotic limit of the infinite Pt(111) surface. Furthermore, this suggests a local energetic stability of narrow (111) nanoterraces on free Pt surfaces that could be a common structural feature in the complex surface morphologies, leading to work functions consistent with those on thermally grown Pt substrates.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Nanopinhole Passivating Contact Si Solar Cells Fabricated with Metal-Assisted Chemical Etching

Monocrystalline Si (c-Si) solar cells with passivating contacts based on doped polycrystalline Si (poly-Si) on ≈2.0 nm silicon oxide (SiO x ) require >1000 °C thermal processing to create conducting pinholes in the SiO x layer. However, this high thermal budget can induce bulk defects in the Czochralski c-Si wafers used as the cell absorber layer. We demonstrate that pinholes can instead be created using metal-assisted chemical etching on planar or textured morphologies, at room temperature. This wet process creates up to 200 nm wide conducting pinholes that are directly observed with transmission electron and atomic force microscopies. High-performance hole-selective poly-Si/SiN y /SiO x and electron-selective poly-Si/SiO x passivating contacts are fabricated and implemented in laboratory-scale solar cells. This process development significantly broadens the range of passivation layer materials, their thicknesses, and surface morphologies, which enables the design of poly-Si contacts with superior passivating quality.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Relationship of Chemical Composition and Moisture Sensitivity in LiNi x Mn y Co 1-x-y O 2 for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Chemical composition–moisture sensitivity relationship of LiNi x Mn y Co 1-x-y O 2 (NMC) cathode materials was investigated by exploring crystal structures, surface properties, and electrochemical performance behaviors of various commercial NMC powders: LiNi 1/3 Mn 1/3 Co 1/3 O 2 (NMC111), LiNi 0.5 Mn 0.3 Co 0.2 O 2 (NMC532), LiNi 0.6 Mn 0.2 Co 0.2 O 2 (NMC622), and LiNi 0.8 Mn 0.1 Co 0.1 O 2 (NMC811). The NMC powders were stored in different moisture conditions: moisture-free, humidified air, or immersed in water. Rietveld refinement analysis of X-ray diffraction (XRD) data and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the crystal structure changes and the evolution of particle surfaces morphologies. The effect of moisture contamination on the electrochemical properties of NMC cathodes was studied by galvanostatic cycling and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The moisture contamination resulted in either structural disorder or unwanted surficial deposition products, which increased a charge-transfer impedance and consequent performance degradation of battery cells. The results showed that NMC’s moisture vulnerability increased with Ni content (x) despite protective coatings on commercial particles, which stressed the necessity of alternative surface passivation strategies of Ni-rich NMC for broad applications such as electric vehicles and electrified aircraft propulsion.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Overview of Algorithms for Using Particle Morphology in Pre-Detonation Nuclear Forensics

A major goal in pre-detonation nuclear forensics is to infer the processing conditions and/or facility type that produced radiological material. This review paper focuses on analyses of particle size, shape, texture (“morphology”) signatures that could provide information on the provenance of interdicted materials. For example, uranium ore concentrates (UOC or yellowcake) include ammonium diuranate (ADU), ammonium uranyl carbonate (AUC), sodium diuranate (SDU), magnesium diuranate (MDU), and others, each prepared using different salts to precipitate U from solution. Once precipitated, UOCs are often dried and calcined to remove adsorbed water. The products can be allowed to react further, forming uranium oxides UO3, U3O8, or UO2 powders, whose surface morphology can be indicative of precipitation and/or calcination conditions used in their production. This review paper describes statistical issues and approaches in using quantitative analyses of measurements such as particle size and shape to infer production conditions. Statistical topics include multivariate t tests (Hotelling’s T 2 ), design of experiments, and several machine learning (ML) options including decision trees, learning vector quantization neural networks, mixture discriminant analysis, and approximate Bayesian computation (ABC). ABC is emphasized as an attractive option to include the effects of model uncertainty in the selected and fitted forward model used for inferring processing conditions.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗
DOE OSTI2012

Structural, morphological, and magnetic characterization of In{sub 1-x}Mn{sub x}As quantum dots grown by molecular beam epitaxy

In this paper, we present a method to order low temperature (LT) self-assembled ferromagnetic In{sub 1-x}Mn{sub x}As quantum dots (QDs) grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The ordered In{sub 1-x}Mn{sub x}As QDs were grown on top of a non-magnetic In{sub 0.4}Ga{sub 0.6}As/GaAs(100) QDs multi-layered structure. The modulation of the chemical potential, due to the stacking, provides a nucleation center for the LT In{sub 1-x}Mn{sub x}As QDs. For particular conditions, such as surface morphology and growth conditions, the In{sub 1-x}Mn{sub x}As QDs align along lines like chains. This work also reports the characterization of QDs grown on plain GaAs(100) substrates, as well as of the ordered structures, as function of Mn content and growth temperature. The substitutional Mn incorporation in the InAs lattice and the conditions for obtaining coherent and incoherent structures are discussed from comparison between Raman spectroscopy and x-ray analysis. Ferromagnetic behavior was observed for all structures at 2 K. We found that the magnetic moment axis changes from [110] in In{sub 1-x}Mn{sub x}As over GaAs to [1-10] for the ordered In{sub 1-x}Mn{sub x}As grown over GaAs template.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS2004

The Effect of Impacts on the Early Martian Climate

The first images returned by the Mariner 7 spacecraft of the Martian surface showed a landscape heavily scared by impacts. Mariner 9 imaging revealed geomorphic features including valley networks and outflow channels that suggest liquid water once flowed at the surface of Mars. Further evidence for water erosion and surface modification has come from the Viking Spacecraft, Mars Pathfinder, Mars Global Surveyor's (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC), and Mars Odyssey's THEMIS instrument. In addition to network channels, this evidence includes apparent paleolake beds, fluvial fans and sedimentary layers. The estimated erosion rates necessary to explain the observed surface morphologies present a conundrum. The rates of erosion appear to be highest when the early sun was fainter and only 75% as luminous as it is today. All of this evidence points to a very different climate than what exists on Mars today. The most popular paradigm for the formation of the valley networks is that Mars had at one time a warm (T average > 273), wetter and stable climate. Possible warming mechanisms have included increased surface pressures, carbon dioxide clouds and trace greenhouse gasses. Yet to date climate models have not been able to produce a continuously warm and wet early Mars. The rates of erosion appear to correlate with the rate at which Mars was impacted thus an alternate possibility is transient warm and wet conditions initiated by large impacts. It is widely accepted that even relatively small impacts (approx. 10 km) have altered the past climate of Earth to such an extent as to cause mass extinctions. Mars has been impacted with a similar distribution of objects. The impact record at Mars is preserved in the abundance of observable craters on it surface. Impact induced climate change must have occurred on Mars.

Colaprete, A.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Air Flow and Pressure Drop Measurements Across Porous Oxides

This report summarizes the results of air flow tests across eight porous, open cell ceramic oxide samples. During ceramic specimen processing, the porosity was formed using the sacrificial template technique, with two different sizes of polystyrene beads used for the template. The samples were initially supplied with thicknesses ranging from 0.14 to 0.20 in. (0.35 to 0.50 cm) and nonuniform backside morphology (some areas dense, some porous). Samples were therefore ground to a thickness of 0.12 to 0.14 in. (0.30 to 0.35 cm) using dry 120 grit SiC paper. Pressure drop versus air flow is reported. Comparisons of samples with thickness variations are made, as are pressure drop estimates. As the density of the ceramic material increases the maximum corrected flow decreases rapidly. Future sample sets should be supplied with samples of similar thickness and having uniform surface morphology. This would allow a more consistent determination of air flow versus processing parameters and the resulting porosity size and distribution.

Fox, Dennis S.↗
DOE OSTI2014

Cell–scaffold interaction within engineered tissue

The structure of a tissue engineering scaffold plays an important role in modulating tissue growth. A novel gelatin–chitosan (Gel–Cs) scaffold with a unique structure produced by three-dimensional printing (3DP) technology combining with vacuum freeze-drying has been developed for tissue-engineering applications. The scaffold composed of overall construction, micro-pore, surface morphology, and effective mechanical property. Such a structure meets the essential design criteria of an ideal engineered scaffold. The favorable cell–matrix interaction supports the active biocompatibility of the structure. The structure is capable of supporting cell attachment and proliferation. Cells seeded into this structure tend to maintain phenotypic shape and secreted large amounts of extracellular matrix (ECM) and the cell growth decreased the mechanical properties of scaffold. This novel biodegradable scaffold has potential applications for tissue engineering based upon its unique structure, which acts to support cell growth. - Highlights: • The scaffold is not only for providing a surface for cell residence but also for determining cell phenotype and retaining structural integrity. • The mechanical property of scaffold can be affected by activities of cell. • The scaffold provides a microenvironment for cell attachment, growth, and migration.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Electrical characteristic of spin coated Fe-Porphyrin on Cu substrates

This paper describes the electrical-characteristics of Fe-Porphyrin thin films on Cu substrates. The thin layer samples used were deposited by spin coating methods on Cu-substrates at room temperature with and without induced magnetic field in the plane direction of the surface films. Fe-porphyrin was dissolved in chloroform and mixed with a magnetic stirrer for 60 min at a rotational speed of 200 rpm. The experimental results show that the mobility carrier charge of the Fe-Porphyrin layer with induced magnetic field during deposition has lower value than that without induced magnetic field case. The decrease of the mobility can be attribute to the change of the surface morphology in Fe-porphyrin films by means of increase in the nano-granular/nano-molecular size caused by the induce magnetic field.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2014

Modification of Bi:YIG film properties by substrate surface ion pre-treatment

Highlights: • Effects of substrates ion beam treatment on magnetoptical properties Bi:YIG films. • Substrate surface damage results in sign inversion of the magneto-optical effects. • Atomically smooth films growth takes place on low energy ions treated substrates. • High energy ions treatment results in selective nucleation mechanism of the growth. - Abstract: The effect of a controlled ion beam pre-treatment of (1 1 1)-oriented Gd{sub 3}Ga{sub 5}O{sub 12} substrates on the magneto-optical properties and surface morphology of the ultrathin bismuth-substituted yttrium–iron garnet films with a composition Bi{sub 2.8}Y{sub 0.2}Fe{sub 5}O{sub 12} was studied. It has been shown that the observed sign inversion of magneto-optical effects (Faraday rotation and magnetic circular dichroism) observed in films that were deposited on the GGG substrate pre-treated by 1 keV and 4 keV Ar{sup +} ion beams is a result of the substrate surface amorphization caused by the ion bombardment.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

DNA-mediated engineering of multicomponent enzyme crystals

The ability to predictably control the coassembly of multiple nanoscale building blocks, especially those with disparate chemical and physical properties such as biomolecules and inorganic nanoparticles, has far-reaching implications in catalysis, sensing, and photonics, but a generalizable strategy for engineering specific contacts between these particles is an outstanding challenge. This is especially true in the case of proteins, where the types of possible interparticle interactions are numerous, diverse, and complex. In this paper, we explore the concept of trading protein–protein interactions for DNA–DNA interactions to direct the assembly of two nucleic-acid–functionalized proteins with distinct surface chemistries into six unique lattices composed of catalytically active proteins, or of a combination of proteins and DNA-modified gold nanoparticles. The programmable nature of DNA–DNA interactions used in this strategy allows us to control the lattice symmetries and unit cell constants, as well as the compositions and habit, of the resulting crystals. Finally, this study provides a potentially generalizable strategy for constructing a unique class of materials that take advantage of the diverse morphologies, surface chemistries, and functionalities of proteins for assembling functional crystalline materials.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1984

Chronology, morphology and stratigraphy of pumiceous pyroclastic-flow (ignimbrite) deposits from the eruption of Mount St. Helens on 18 May 1983

Between 1217 and 1620 hours (PDT), on May 18, 1980, the magmatic eruption column of Mount St. Helens formed an ash fountain and pyroclastic flows dominated the eruption process over tephra ejection. Eurption-rate pulsations generally increased to a maximum at 1600 to 1700 hrs. After 1620 hrs, the eruption assumed an open-vent discharge with strong, vertical ejection of tephra. Relative eruption rates (relative mass flux rates) of the pyroclastic flows were determined by correlating sequential photographs and SLAR images, obtained during the eruption, with stratigraphy and surface morphology of the deposits.

Criswell, C. W.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Structural studies on the substitution of Ag, Na doped LCSMO CMR manganites

Synthesis and characterization of colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) materials has been a subject of scientific research due to the unique transport, magnetotransport, and magnetic properties. The single phase polycrystalline La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.1}Sr{sub 0.1}M{sub 0.1}MnO{sub 3} (LCSMO) (M=Ag and Na) samples prepared using nitrate route method. The structural properties are studied at different dopants by X-ray diffraction. The surface morphology and elemental analysis of both samples were carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray technique (EDAX) respectively. The structural analysis shows that the LCSMO is crystallized in an orthorhombic perovskite structure belonging to Pnma space group. The crystal size of the sample is calculated using Scherrer formula. The SEM images show that the polycrystalline grains are observed to be near spherical shape and uniform in size. EDAX spectra taken from the surface of the synthesized powders show a nominal composition near the desired one for M=Na sample where as some vacancies are present in the A-site in the case of Ag substitution as will be discussed in this paper.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

Surface Characteristics and Hardness Variations in Electrical Discharge Machining of Enhanced Nitrogen in Vanadium Steels

Enhanced nitrogen in steels containing vanadium causes fine precipitates of vanadium nitride, which improve the hardenability properties. However, understanding the response of such steels to electrical discharge machining (EDM) is incomplete and needs further investigation. Therefore, EDM of enhanced nitrogen in steels containing vanadium was compared with a similar compositional steel that was free of nitrogen. The surface morphology, microstructural alterations, microhardness variation, and compositional depth profiling of the samples machined by EDM in oil and deionized water dielectric liquids were examined. Microscopic studies were carried out using optical and scanning electron microscopy. Phases were identified by X-ray diffractometry, and elemental depth profiling was performed using glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy. The hardness of the resolidified and heat-affected layers was measured using a Vickers type microhardness tester. The results of this study revealed that the dissolved nitrogen in steel decreased the probability of surface cracks and resulted in a softer resolidified layer structure when machining in the oil dielectric liquid. Thus, the presence of nitrogen reduced the formation of tension-induced martensite in the resolidified layer. Moreover, the heat-affected zone below the resolidified layer exhibited a uniform and harder structure, compared with the steel without nitrogen content, indicating the fast nature of the thermal cycles in EDM. The free nitrogen in steel did not dissociate during sparking; therefore, precipitation strengthening occurred in the heat-affected zone.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2026

Investigation of Bipropellant Plume-Induced Contamination Effects on Coverglass Materials

Contamination and degradation of external spacecraft materials by unburned and partially combusted species from bipropellant thruster plumes has long been observed as a key component of the induced space environment. Space shuttle flight experiments and returned flight hardware from the International Space Station (ISS) have both experienced microscopic impact features induced by high-velocity thruster plume droplets. Analytical results have shown that droplet impingement angle relative to a receiving surface plays a key role in the surface damage. Although impacts with normal impingement angles contribute more severely to surface degradation than highly oblique angles, surface effects at higher impingement angles should not be dismissed. Thruster plume-induced materials degradation is a complex phenomenon that depends on a variety of parameters, including but not limited to material type, system temperature and pressure, plume composition, and thruster firing specifications such as number of pulses, pulse duration, and sample distance from the thruster. For space applications, attaining the vacuum pressure and temperature conditions necessary for flight-like plume expansion and exposure conditions is not a trivial task. The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR) is a facility uniquely capable of simulating such conditions. Test coupons were exposed to bipropellant thruster firings under high vacuum at the DLR facility. Percent area coverage (PAC) and droplet size distributions were evaluated for the uncoated and coated solar array coverglass materials over a range of impingement angles (0̊ to 75̊). A post-test imaging workflow was developed that aimed to quantify changes in sample surface morphology obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images using the Image Processing and Analysis in Java (ImageJ) tool; an opensource image processing software. The goal was to create a framework through which to evaluate the effect of bipropellant-induced PAC and droplet size distribution on solar array coverglass optical transmission losses. Understanding this relationship is important because optical transmission losses are known to lead to current reduction in solar power generation systems. In addition to the development of surface characterization workflows, valuable lessons learned as they pertain to future investigations and experiments will be discussed. The authors hope that sharing these lessons will facilitate more utilization of DLR’s unique capabilities as well as open the conversation for how best to address experimental characterization of flight-like plume expansion and its impacts on materials surface degradation effects.

Gateway↗
DOE OSTI2014

Effect of growth temperature on defects in epitaxial GaN film grown by plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy

We report the effect of growth temperature on defect states of GaN epitaxial layers grown on 3.5 μm thick GaN epi-layer on sapphire (0001) substrates using plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The GaN samples grown at three different substrate temperatures at 730, 740 and 750 °C were characterized using atomic force microscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The atomic force microscopy images of these samples show the presence of small surface and large hexagonal pits on the GaN film surfaces. The surface defect density of high temperature grown sample is smaller (4.0 × 10{sup 8} cm{sup −2} at 750 °C) than that of the low temperature grown sample (1.1 × 10{sup 9} cm{sup −2} at 730 °C). A correlation between growth temperature and concentration of deep centre defect states from photoluminescence spectra is also presented. The GaN film grown at 750 °C exhibits the lowest defect concentration which confirms that the growth temperature strongly influences the surface morphology and affects the optical properties of the GaN epitaxial films.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗