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Results for “controllable synthesis”

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 109 records · Page 6

Robust model-based controller synthesis for the SCOLE configuration

The design of a robust compensator is considered for the SCOLE configuration using a frequency-response shaping technique based on the LQG/LTR algorithm. Results indicate that a tenth-order compensator can be used to meet stability-performance-robustness conditions for a 26th-order SCOLE model without destabilizing spillover effects. Since the SCOLE configuration is representative of many proposed spaceflight experiments, the results and design techniques employed potentially should be applicable to a wide range of large space structure control problems.

Armstrong, E. S.↗

L2 Earth Atmosphere Observatory: Formation Guidance, Metrology and Control Synthesis

The Earth Observatory Formation at L2, a Lagrange libration point, is a unique large aperture (25 m diameter) space telescope concept that will improve the knowledge and understanding of dynamic, chemical and radiative mechanisms that cause changes in the atmosphere, and can lead to the development of models and techniques to predict short and long-term climate changes. The results of this concept definition study show that the telescope concept is feasible, and can have technology readiness in the 2020 time frame. Further advanced development in several subsystems is needed, such as higher efficiency Xenon ion thrusters with throttling, and optical quality large membrane mirror with active shape control. It presents an analysis and solution of guidance, sensing, control, and propulsion problems for a formation of two spacecraft on the Sun-Earth line in the neighborhood of the Sun-Earth L2 point, that observes Earth s atmosphere during continuous solar occultation by the Earth. A system architecture is described for the observatory, and its components that include unique mission specific metrology. The formation must follow a powered trajectory with strictly limited fuel use to observe solar occultation. A configuration of ion thrusters and reaction wheels for translation and attitude control is designed along with algorithms for orbit following and formation control. Simulation results of the orbital and formation dynamics are presented that verify performance of the control systems.

Earth Atmosphere Observatory Formation↗

Modal methods in optimal control synthesis

Efficient algorithms for solving linear smoother-follower problems with quadratic criteria are presented. For time-invariant systems, the algorithm consists of one backward integration of a linear vector equation and one forward integration of another linear vector equation. Furthermore, the backward and forward Riccati matrices can be expressed in terms of the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the Euler-Lagrange equations. Hence, the gains of the forward and backward Kalman-Bucy filters and of the optimal state-feedback regulator can be determined without integration of matrix Riccati equations. A computer program has been developed, based on this method of determining the gains, to synthesize the optimal time-invariant compensator in the presence of random disturbance inputs and random measurement errors. The program also computes the rms state and control variables of the optimal closed-loop system.

Bryson, A. E., Jr.↗

Machine learning assisted phase and size-controlled synthesis of iron oxide particles

Synthesis of iron oxides with specific phases and particle sizes is a crucial challenge in various fields, including materials science, energy storage, biomedical applications, environmental science, and earth science. However, despite significant advances in this area, much of the current palette of particle outcomes has been based on time-consuming trial-and-error exploration of synthesis conditions. The present study was designed to explore a very different approach to 1) predict the outcome of synthesis from specified reaction parameters based on using machine learning (ML) techniques, and 2) correlate sets of parameters to obtain products with desired outcomes by a newly designed recommendation algorithm. To achieve this, four ML algorithms were tested, namely random forest, logistic regression, support vector machine, and k-nearest neighbor. Among the models, random forest outperformed the others, attaining 96% and 81% accuracy when predicting the phase and size of iron oxide particles in the test dataset. Surprisingly, the permutation feature importance analysis revealed that volume, which may strongly relate to pressure, was one of the important features, along with precursor concentration, pH, temperature, and time, influencing the phase and size of iron oxide particles during synthesis. To verify the robustness of the random forest models, prediction and experimental results were compared based on 24 randomly generated methods in additive and non-additive systems not included in the datasets. The predictions of product phase and particle size from the models agreed well with the experimental results. Furthermore, a searching and ranking algorithm was developed to recommend potential synthesis parameters for obtaining iron oxide products with the desired phase and particle size from previous studies in the dataset. Furthermore, this study lays the foundation for a closed-loop approach in materials synthesis and preparation, beginning with suggesting potential reaction parameters from the dataset and predicting potential outcomes, followed by conducting experiments and analyses, and ultimately enriching the dataset.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Few-layer tin sulfide (SnS): Controlled synthesis, thickness dependent vibrational properties, and ferroelectricity

Group IV monochalcogenides, anisotropic van der Waals crystals (and black phosphorus analogues), are attracting increasing interest due to a number of exceptional properties including anisotropic optoelectronics and multiferroicity predicted and in part realized in the ultrathin limit. Due to their enhanced chemical reactivity, both exfoliation and synthesis of monolayer and few-layer crystals pose challenges not found in other 2D/layered materials, such as the transition metal dichalcogenides. In this work, we show that SnS synthesis on SnS 2 van der Waals substrates can address these challenges and consistently produces few-layer flakes, a capability that is explained via analysis of real-time microscopy of the growth process. Raman spectroscopy combined with efficient computations of the Raman-active modes across an extended thickness range enables a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of the vibrational properties of SnS with number of layers. Lateral piezoresponse force microscopy provides unprecedented insight into the stacking-dependent polarization and ferroelectric domain structures in large few-layer SnS flakes. The combined results establish a basis for further fundamental studies and applications of SnS and other group IV monochalcogenides in the few-layer regime.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Surface Passivation by Excess Sulfur for Controlled Synthesis of Large, Thin SnS Flakes

Tin sulfide (SnS) is part of the group IV chalcogenides (SnX, GeX; X: S, Se), a family of anisotropic layered materials considered for thin film photovoltaics, optoelectronics, and valleytronics, and predicted narrow bandgap multiferroic materials. Large ultrathin SnS flakes, suitable for a variety of applications, are challenging to synthesize because of the enhanced surface reactivity due to the open layer structure of SnS which gives rise to a competition between lateral and vertical growth. Here we investigate the effects of added sulfur on passivating the surface and modifying the balance between lateral expansion and thickening of SnS flakes in chemical vapor transport from a SnS precursor. In addition, we investigate the growth of SnS flakes and compare the results of synthesis from a pure SnS precursor with growth, in which a slight excess of sulfur is supplied in different ways. Our results demonstrate that small amounts of excess sulfur can profoundly affect the size and thickness distributions of SnS flakes. The largest and thinnest flakes are obtained if (i) traces of sulfur are added and (ii) the sulfur source consists either of small Sx fragments released at high temperatures from the reactor walls, or atomic S supplied by sublimation from SnS 2 . The likely mechanism for the observed growth modifications is a transient surface passivation of SnS flakes during growth, which reduces the reactivity of the top facet of the flakes, limits vertical growth, and thus gives rise to ensembles with increased lateral size and reduced thickness.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Phase-Controllable Synthesis of Ultrathin Molybdenum Nitride Crystals Via Atomic Substitution of MoS 2

MXenes are emerging members in the two-dimensional (2D) material family and are highlighted by their high electrical conductivity. Among different MXenes, molybdenum-based MXenes, especially molybdenum nitrides (MoN x ), are rarely accessible through the common synthetic approach of selective etching due to the absence of stable MAX phase precursors. In this work, we apply the atomic substitution approach to synthesize two phases of ultrathin nonlayered molybdenum nitrides (i.e., Mo 5 N 6 and δ-MoN) from 1.6 to 42.9 nm thickness by converting layered MoS 2 under different temperatures. The morphology and 2D nature of MoS 2 are well remained in both phases. These newly created 2D materials are further characterized using Raman spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and electrical measurements, suggesting that both phases are highly crystalline and highly conductive down to the thickness of a few nanometers. Moreover, Ohmic contacts are formed between the ultrathin nitrides and Cr/Au electrodes, suggesting the great potential of the obtained nitrides for nanoelectronic device applications. The stability test shows that the Ohmic contact is well maintained after 4 weeks under ambient conditions with a slight degradation in conductivity. Furthermore, this study extends the 2D family by providing highly conductive members, offering desired building blocks for solid-state nanoelectronic devices.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Design-controlled synthesis of IrO 2 sub-monolayers on Au nanoflowers: marrying plasmonic and electrocatalytic properties

We develop herein plasmonic–catalytic Au–IrO 2 nanostructures with a morphology optimized for efficient light harvesting and catalytic surface area; the nanoparticles have a nanoflower morphology, with closely spaced Au branches all partially covered by an ultrathin (1 nm) IrO 2 shell. This nanoparticle architecture optimizes optical features due to the interactions of closely spaced plasmonic branches forming electromagnetic hot spots, and the ultra-thin IrO 2 layer maximizes efficient use of this expensive catalyst. This concept was evaluated towards the enhancement of the electrocatalytic performances towards the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) as a model transformation. The OER can play a central role in meeting future energy demands but the performance of conventional electrocatalysts in this reaction is limited by the sluggish OER kinetics. We demonstrate an improvement of the OER performance for one of the most active OER catalysts, IrO 2 , by harvesting plasmonic effects from visible light illumination in multimetallic nanoparticles. We find that the OER activity for the Au–IrO 2 nanoflowers can be improved under LSPR excitation, matching best properties reported in the literature. Our simulations and electrocatalytic data demonstrate that the enhancement in OER activities can be attributed to an electronic interaction between Au and IrO 2 and to the activation of Ir–O bonds by LSPR excited hot holes, leading to a change in the reaction mechanism (rate-determinant step) under visible light illumination.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗