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96 records · Page 6

Processing Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconductors from amorphous state

Researchers produced superconducting ceramics of the Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system started from a glass. To form the glass, the mixed oxide powder was melted at 1200 C in air. The liquid was quenched rapidly by pouring it onto an aluminum plate and rapidly pressing with another plate. The quenched compound was in the form of black amorphous solid, whose x-ray powder pattern has no crystalline peaks. After heat treatment at high temperatures, the glass crystallized into a superconductor. The crystalline phases in the superconductor identified using x-ray diffraction patterns. These phases were that associated with the superconducting phases of T(sub c) = 80 K (Bi2Ca1Sr2Cu2Ox) and of T(sub c) = 110 K (Bi2Ca2Sr2Cu3Ox). The dc resistivity and the ac susceptibility of these superconductors were studied.

Chiang, C. K.↗

Superconducting Bi1.5Pb0.5Sr2Ca2Cu3O(x) ceramics by rapid melt quenching and glass crystallization

A glass of nominal Bi(1.5)Pb(0.5)Sr2Ca2Cu3O(x) composition, prepared by rapid quenching of the melt, showed a glass transition temperature of 383 C, crystallization temperature of 446 C, melting temperature of 855 C, and bulk density of 5.69 g/cu cm in air. The activation energy for crystallization of the glass was estimated to be 292kJ/mol from non-isothermal DSC. On heating in oxygen, the glass showed a slow and continuous weight gain starting at approximately 530 C which reached a plateau at approximately 820 C. The weight gained during heating was retained on cooling to ambient conditions indicating an irreversible oxidation step. The influence of annealing conditions on the formation of various phases in the glass has been investigated. The Bi(2)Sr(2)Ca(0)Cu(1)O(6) phase crystallized out first followed by formation of other phases at higher temperatures. The high-T(sub c) phase, isostructural with Bi(2)Sr(2)Ca(2)Cu(3)O(10) was not detected below 840 C, but its fraction increased with the annealing time at 840 C. A sample annealed at 840 C for 243h in air and furnace cooled showed the highest T(sub c)(R=0) of 107.2K and a narrow transition width, delta T(sub c)(10 to 90 percent), of approximately 2 K. The high T(sub c) phase does not seem to crystallize out directly from the glass but is rather produced at high temperature by reaction between the phases formed at lower temperatures. The kinetics of 110K phase formation was sluggish. It appears that the presence of lead helps in the formation and/or stabilization of the 110 K phase.

Bansal, Narottam P.↗

Large-Area (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se 2 Thin-Film Solar Cells with Increased Bandgap and Reduced Voltage Losses Realized with Bulk Defect Reduction and Front-Grading of the Absorber Bandgap

The 1.24 eV bandgap, 18.8% power conversion efficiency Ag-alloyed chalcopyrite (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se 2 (ACIGS) solar cells are characterized to relate voltage and efficiency improvements to electro-optical (EO) characteristics. Shockley-Read-Hall recombination center defect density, identified and characterized through deep level transient spectroscopy and time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL), is reduced through potassium and copper treatment optimization. Concomitantly, longer minority carrier lifetimes are achieved, which increases open-circuit voltage (V OC ). Near-conduction band defects associated in earlier studies with light-induced current instability are also mitigated. Analysis of charge-carrier dynamics after single- and two-photon excitation is used to separate recombination at the front interface and in the absorber bulk. From TRPL decay simulations, the authors estimate ranges of key solar cell material characteristics: bulk carrier lifetime T bulk = 110-210 ns, charge-carrier mobility u = 110-160 cm 2 V -1 s -1 , and front interface recombination velocity S front = 700-1050 cm s -1 . This lowest-reported S front for ACIGS absorbers originates from the notched conduction band grading, which also makes the impact of the back interface recombination negligible. It is suggested in the results that solar cell performance enhancements can be made most readily with two distinct strategies: improving device architecture and reducing semiconductor defect densities. Using these approaches, power conversion efficiency in large-area solar cells is improved by 1.1% absolute.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Airborne spectroscopy and spacecraft radiometry of Venus in the far infrared

The first spectral observations of the Venus disk in the 110 to 270 per cm spectral range are reported, made from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory in mid-March 1979, some three months following the start of the Pioneer Venus Orbiter mission. The instrumentation and its differences from earlier flight hardware is discussed. The brightness temperature was 275 K near 110/cm, dropping to 230 K near 270/cm. Radiance calculations, using temperature and cloud structure formation from the Pioneer Venus mission and including gaseous absorption by the collision-induced dipole of CO2, yield results consistently brighter than the observations. The atmospheric environment is reviewed with regard to the FIR opacity and possible particle distribution modifications are discussed. It is concluded that the most likely possibility for supplementing the FIR opacity is a population of large particles in the upper cloud with number densities less than one particle per cu cm which has remained undetected by in situ measurements.

Aumann, H. H.↗

Experimental Shock Decomposition of Siderite and the Origin of Magnetite in Martian Meteorite ALH84001

Shock recovery experiments to determine whether magnetite could be produced by the decomposition of iron-carbonate were initiated. Naturally occurring siderite was first characterized by electron microprobe (EMP), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Mossbauer spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility measurements to be sure that the starting material did not contain detectable magnetite. Samples were shocked in tungsten-alloy holders (W=90%, Ni=6%, Cu=4%) to further insure that any iron phases in the shock products were contributed by the siderite rather than the sample holder. Each sample was shocked to a specific pressure between 30 to 49 GPa. Previously reported results of TEM analyses on 49 GPa experiments indicated the presence of nano-phase spinel-structured iron oxide. Transformation of siderite to magnetite as characterized by TEM was found in the 49 GPa shock experiment. Compositions of most magnetites are greater than 50% Fe sup(+2) in the octahedral site of the inverse spinel structure. Magnetites produced in shock experiments display the same range of single-domain, superparamagnetic sizes (approx. 50 100 nm), compositions (100% magnetite to 80% magnetite-20% magnesioferrite), and morphologies (equant, elongated, euhedral to subhedral) as magnetites synthesized by Golden et al. (2001) or magnetites grown naturally by MV1 magnetotactic bacteria, and as the magnetites in Martian meteorite ALH84001. Fritz et al. (2005) previously concluded that ALH84001 experienced approx. 32 GPa pressure and a resultant thermal pulse of approx. 100 - 110 C. However, ALH84001 contains evidence of local temperature excursions high enough to 1 melt feldspar, pyroxene, and a silica-rich phase. This 49 GPa experiment demonstrates that magnetite can be produced by the shock decomposition of siderite as a result of local heating to greater than 470 C. Therefore, magnetite in the rims of carbonates in Martian meteorite ALH84001 could be a product of shock devolatilization of siderite as well.

Bell, Mary Sue↗