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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 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2000

Homoepitaxial ZnO Film Growth

ZnO films have high potential for many applications, such as surface acoustic wave filters, UV detectors, and light emitting devices due to its structural, electrical, and optical properties. High quality epitaxial films are required for these applications. The Al2O3 substrate is commonly used for ZnO heteroepitaxial growth. Recently, high quality ZnO single crystals are available for grow homoepitaxial films. Epitaxial ZnO films were grown on the two polar surfaces (O-face and Zn-face) of (0001) ZnO single crystal substrates using off-axis magnetron sputtering deposition. As a comparison, films were also deposited on (0001) Al2O3 substrates. It was found that the two polar ZnO surfaces have different photoluminescence (PL) spectrum, surface structure and morphology, which strongly influence the epitaxial film growth. The morphology and structure of homoepitaxial films grown on the ZnO substrates were different from heteroepitaxial films grown on the Al2O3. An interesting result shows that high temperature annealing of ZnO single crystals will improve the surface structure on the O-face surface rather than the opposite surface. The measurements of PL, low-angle incident x-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy of ZnO films indicate that the O-terminated surface is better for ZnO epitaxial film growth.

Zhu, Shen↗
NASA NTRS2006

Pulsed Laser Deposition of BaCe(sub 0.85)Y(sub 0.15)0(sub 3) FILMS

Pulsed laser deposition has been used to grow nanostructured BaCe(sub 0.85)Y(sub 0.15)0(sub 3) films. The objective is to enhance protonic conduction by reduction of membrane thickness. Sintered samples and laser targets were prepared by sintering BaCe(sub 0.85)Y(sub 0.15)O(sub 3) powders derived by solid state synthesis. Films 2 to 6 m thick were deposited by KrF excimer laser on Si and porous Al2O3 substrates. Nanocrystalline films were fabricated at deposition temperatures of 600-800 C deg at O2 pressure of 30 mTorr and laser fluence of 1.2 J/cm square. Films were characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and electrical impedance spectroscopy. Dense single phase BaCe(sub 0.85)Y((sub 0.15) 0(sub 3) films with a columnar growth morphology is observed, preferred crystal growth was found to be dependent upon deposition temperature and substrate type. Electrical conductivity of bulk samples produced by solid state sintering and thin film samples were measured over a temperature range of 100 C deg to 900 C deg in moist argon. Electrical conduction of the fabricated films was 1 to 4 orders of magnitude lower than the sintered bulk samples. With respect to the film growth direction, activation energy for electrical conduction is 3 times higher in the perpendicular direction than the parallel direction.

Dynys, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Stability of Y-Ba-Cu-oxide phases in salt flux

The results of an investigation into the possibility of growing YBa2Cu3O7 (or Y123) single crystals from a NaCl-KCl flux (salt flux) are presented. They are compared with results for Y123 crystals grown from a Ba-Cu-oxide flux system. The chosen salt flux composition was 1:1 (NaCl:KCl). The preparation method of the solutes is presented, with particular attention given to the compounds surrounding the Y123 phase, such as Y2BaCuO6 (Y211). Optical microscopy was introduced to study the morphology of the sample; X-ray diffraction was used for phase identification; and a chemical analysis was effected. The Y123, Y211, and BaCuO2 phases were shown to be dissociated in the NaCl-KCl flux, and could not be recrystallized. A small amount of the flux could be added to create large-grain Y123 crystals, but single-crystal growth was not possible in a top-seeded NaCl-KCl solution. This is attributed to significant differences in solubility of the crystal elements, and phase separation caused by CuO crystal formation.

Tao, Y. K.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The study of 'microsurfaces' using thermal desorption spectroscopy

The use of a newly combined ultrahigh vacuum technique for studying continuous and particulate evaporated thin films using thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and transmission electron diffraction (TED) is discussed. It is shown that (1) CO thermal desorption energies of epitaxially deposited (111) Ni and (111) Pd surfaces agree perfectly with previously published data on bulk (111) single crystal, (2) contamination and surface structural differences can be detected using TDS as a surface probe and TEM as a complementary technique, and (3) CO desorption signals from deposited metal coverages of one-thousandth of a monolayer should be detectable. These results indicate that the chemisorption properties of supported 'microsurfaces' of metals can now be investigated with very high sensitivity. The combined use of TDS and TEM-TED experimental methods is a very powerful technique for fundamental studies in basic thin film physics and in catalysis.

Thomas, M. E.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Electronic state and superconductivity of YBa2Cu3-xO7-y (M=Al,Zn and Sn) systems

A series of YBa2Cu(3-x)MxO(7-y) (M=Al,Zn and Sn) single phase samples were prepared, and the measurements of the crystal structure, oxygen content, electric resistivity, thermoelectric power, Mossbauer spectrum, XPS and superconductivity were performed. The experimental results of X ray powder diffraction, Mossbauer spectrum and oxygen content show that the Zn(2+) and the Al(3+) occupy the Cu(2) site in Cu-O planes and the Cu(1) site in Cu-O chains respectively, but the Sn(4+) occupies both the Cu(1) sites. As regards the properties in superconducting state, both the Zn(2+) and the Al(3+) depress T(sub c) strongly, but the Sn(4+) does not. As for the electronic transport properties in normal state, the system doped by Al(3+) displays a rapid increase of resistivity and some electron localization-like effects, and the thermoelectric power enhances obviously; the series contained Zn(2+) almost shows no changes of electric resistivity but the sign of the thermoelectric power is reversed. Other results are given and briefly discussed.

Zhao, Y.↗
NASA NTRS2011

CIRS-lite, a Fourier Transform Spectrometer for Low-Cost Planetary Missions

Passive spectroscopic remote sensing of planetary atmospheres and surfaces in the thermal infrared is a powerful tool for obtaining information about surface and atmospheric temperatures, composition, and dynamics (via the thermal wind equation). Due to its broad spectral coverage, the Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) is particularly suited to the exploration and discovery of molecular species. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) developed the CIRS (Composite Infrared Spectrometer) FTS for the NASA/ESA Cassini mission to the Saturnian system. CIRS observes Saturn, Titan, icy moons such as Enceladus, and the rings in thermal self-emission over the spectral range of 7 to 1000 ell11. CIRS has given us important new insights into stratospheric composition and jets on Jupiter and Saturn, the cryo-geyser and thermal stripes on Enceladus, and the winter polar vortex on Titan. CIRS has a mass of 43 kg, contrasted with the earlier GSFC FTS, pre-Voyager IRIS (14 kg). Future low-cost planetary missions will have very tight constraints on science payload mass, thus we must endeavor to return to IRIS-level mass while maintaining CIRS-level science capabilities ("do more with less"). CIRS-lite achieves this by pursuing: a) more sensitive infrared detectors (high Tc superconductor) to enable smaller optics. b) changed long wavelength limit from 1000 to 300 microns to reduce diffraction by smaller optics. c) CVD (chemical vapor deposition) diamond beam-splitter for broad spectral coverage. d) single FTS architecture instead of a dual FTS architecture. e) novel materials, such as single crystal silicon for the input telescope primary.

Brasunas, J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The effect of mechanical surface and heat treatments on the erosion resistance of 6061 aluminum alloy

The effects of both mechanical surface treatments and heat treatments on the erosion resistance of 6061 aluminum alloy were studied in order to gain a better understanding of material properties which affect erosion behavior. It was found that mechanical surface treatments have little or no effect on the erosion resistance. This is due to the formation by particle impact of a work-hardened surface layer, independent of the initial surface condition. The erosion resistance of aluminum single crystals was found to be independent of orientation, which is due to destruction of the surface microstructure and formation of a polycrystalline surface layer by the particle impact as observed by X-ray diffraction. Although on solution treatment of annealed aluminum 6061 the increase in hardness is accompanied by an increase in erosion resistance, precipitation treatment (which causes a further increase in hardness) results in a slightly lower erosion resistance.

Salik, J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Temperature dependence of gamma-gamma prime lattice mismatch in nickel-base superalloys

High temperature X-ray diffraction techniques were used to determine the gamma-gamma prime lattice mismatch of three different nickel-base superalloys at temperatures between 18 and 1000 C. The measurements were performed on oriented single-crystal disks which had been aged to produce a semicoherent gamma-gamma prime structure. The thermal expansion of the lattice parameters of the gamma and gamma-prime phases was described by a second-order polynomial expression. The expansion of the gamma-prime phase was consistently smaller than that of the gamma phase, which caused the lattice mismatch to become more negative at higher temperatures. It was also shown that high values of lattice mismatch resulted in increased rates of directional gamma-prime coarsening during elevated temperature creep exposure.

Nathal, M. V.↗
NASA NTRS1995

ZnSe Window Layers for GaAs and GaInP2 Solar Cells

This report concerns studies of the use of ZnSe as a window layer for GaAs solar cells. Well-oriented crystalline ZnSe films on (100) single crystal GaAs substrates were grown by MOCVD. In particular, ZnSe films were grown by reacting a zinc adduct with hydrogen selenide at temperatures in the range of 200 C to 400 C. X-ray diffraction studies and images obtained with an atomic force microscope determined that the films were highly oriented but were polycrystalline. Particular emphasis was placed on the use of a substrate temperature of 350 C. Using iodine as a dopant, n-type ZnSe films with resistivities in the range of .01 to .05 ohm-cm were grown on semi-insulating GaAs. Thus procedures have been developed for investigating the utility of n-type ZnSe window layers on n/p GaAs structures. Studies of recombination at n-ZnSe/n-GaAs interfaces in n-ZnSe/n-GaAs/p-GaAs cell structures are planned for future work.

Olsen, Larry C.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Over-Expression, Purification and Crystallization of Human Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase

Dehydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3; dihydrolipoan-tide:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.8.1.4) is a common catalytic component found in pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, and branched-chain cc-keto acid dehydrogenase complex. E3 is also a component (referred to as L protein) of the glycine cleavage system in bacterial metabolism (2). Active E3 forms a homodimer with four distinctive subdomain structures (FAD binding, NAD+ binding, central and interface domains) with non-covalently but tightly bound FAD in the holoenzyme. Deduced amino acids from cloned full-length human E3 gene showed a total of 509 amino acids with a leader sequence (N-terminal 35 amino acids) that is excised (mature form) during transportation of expressed E3 into mitochondria membrane. So far, three-dimensional structure of human E3 has not been reported. Our effort to achieve the elucidation of the X-ray crystal structure of human E3 will be presented. Recombinant pPROEX-1 expression vector (from GIBCO BRL Life Technologies) having the human E3 gene without leader sequence was constructed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and subsequent ligation, and cloned in E.coli XL1-Blue by transformation. Since pPROEX-1 vector has an internal His-tag (six histidine peptide) located at the upstream region of a multicloning site, one-step affinity purification of E3 using nickelnitriloacetic acid (Ni-NTA) agarose resin, which has a strong affinity to His-tag, was feasible. Also a seven-amino-acid spacer peptide and a recombinant tobacco etch virus protease recognition site (seven amino acids peptide) found between His-tag and first amino acid of expressed E3 facilitated the cleavage of His-tag from E3 after the affinity purification. By IPTG induction, ca. 15 mg of human E3 (mature form) was obtained from 1L LB culture with overnight incubation at 25C. Over 98% of purity of E3 from one-step Ni-NTA agarose affinity purification was confirmed by SDS-PAGE analysis. For crystallization, E3 samples were prepared with and without His-tag. To minimize the aggregation of E3, apo- and holo- forms of E3s were tested, as well as a mutated E3. Dynamic light scattering measurements revealed that the E3 preparations without His-tag and substrate are highly monodispersive with regard to homodimers. Consequent crystallization trials of this E3 preparation led to single crystals of E3 grown by the vapor diffusion method. Crystals were obtained within a few days from solution containing poly (ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether 5000 as a precipitant. Autoindexing and integration of the X-ray diffraction data showed that E3 crystals belong to an orthorhombic system with unit cell parameters a-- 123. 1, b= 165.3 and c=214.3A. Further optimization of protein preparation and crystallization experiments for the structural determination will be discussed.

Hong, Y. S.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Effect of mechanical surface and heat treatments on erosion resistance

The effects of mechanical surface treatments as well as heat treatments on the erosion resistance of 6061 aluminum alloy and 1045 steel were studied. Mechanical surface treatments were found to have little or no effect on the erosion resistance. This is due to the formation by particle impact of a work hardened surface layer regardless of the initial surface condition. The erosion resistance of Al single crystals is found to be independent of orientation. This is due to destruction of the surface microstructure and formation of a polycrystalline surface layer by the impact of erodant particles as observed by X-ray diffraction. While upon solution treatment of annealed 6061 aluminum the increase in hardness is accompanied by an increase in erosion resistance, precipitation treatment which causes a further increase in hardness results in slightly lower erosion resistance. Using two types of erodant particles, glass beads and crushed glass, the erosion rate is found to be strongly dependent on erodant particle shape, being an order of magnitude higher for erosion with crushed glass as compared to glass beads. While for erosion with glass beads heat treatment of 1045 steel had a profound effect on its erosion resistance, little or no such effect was observed for erosion with crushed glass.

Salik, J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

The effects of small ice crystals on cirrus infrared radiative properties

Using a model that combines single-scattering properties for spheroidal and hexagonal ice crystals, the thermal infrared radiative properties of cirrus clouds have been investigated. Infrared scattering and absorption properties for randomly oriented spheroids and hexagons are parameterized based on the anomalous diffraction theory and a geometric ray-tracing method, respectively. Using observed ice crystal size distributions, upwelling radiances at the top of cirrus cloudy atmospheres have been computed. Results show that the presence of small ice crystals can produce significant brightness temperature differences between two infrared wavelengths in the 10-micron window. Theoretical results have been compared with observed brightness temperature differences between 8.35 and 11.16 microns and between 11.16 and 12 microns. The observed values were obtained from the high-spectral resolution interferometer sounder. It is shown that the use of the present nonspherical model for ice crystals in radiative transfer calculations leads to a significantly better interpretation of the observed data than does the use of the spherical model.

Takano, Y.↗
NASA NTRS2024

Ternary Feldspar Within Felste Clasts From Apollo Impact Melt Breccia 72255

Granitic clasts with unique ternary feldspar compositions have been identified within samples of the layered impact melt breccia from Apollo 17 Station 2 Boulder 1 (72215, 72235, 72255 and 72275), and in a felsite clast from station 3 (73215). These “ternary” compositions seemingly plot within the miscibility gap of the albite-anorthite-orthoclase (Ab-An-Or) system. Feldspars with these compositions have not been identified in terrestrial samples, and equilibrium feldspar compositions from laboratory experiments indicate they would not be thermodynamically stable. Thus, the physiochemical processes involved in forming these unique ternary feldspars remain poorly understood. To better constrain the formation of ternary feldspar within lunar breccias, we have undertaken a coordinated scanning electron microscope (SEM)-based coupled electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), electron microprobe analyzer (EPMA) wavelength dispersive spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study. The goals of this study are twofold: 1) confirm whether ternary feldspar is present as coherent, single-crystals or sub-microscopic intergrowths of normal compositions, and 2) better constrain the formation conditions of clasts containing ternary feldspar.

T. M. Erickson↗
NASA NTRS1982

Influence of cobalt, tantalum, and tungsten on the microstructure and mechanical properties of superalloy single crystals

The influence of Co, Ta, and W on the microstructure and mechanical properties of nickel base super-alloy single crystals was investigated. A matrix of alloys was based on Mar-M 247 stripped of C, B, Zr, and Hf. The microstructures of the alloys were examined using optical and electron microscopy, phase extraction, X-ray diffraction, and differential thermal analysis. Tensile and creep-rupture tests were performed at 1000 C. An increase in tensile and creep strength resulted when Co was removed from alloys containing high refractory metal contents, but Co effects were negligible for alloys with lower refractory metal levels. In the composition range studied, W was more effective than Ta in increasing the creep resistance. The mechanical properties are discussed in relation to the microstructures of the alloys.

Nathal, M. V.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Structural Characterization of Crystalline Ice Nanoclusters

Water ice nanoclusters are useful analogs for studying a variety of processes that occur within icy grains in the extraterrestrial environment. The surface of ice nanoclusters prepared in the laboratory is similar to the surface of interstellar ice grains. In cold molecular clouds, the silicate cores of interstellar grains are typically approx. 100 nm in diameter and have a coating of impure amorphous water ice. Depositional, thermal and radiolytic processes leave the surface and subsurface molecules in a disordered state. In this state, structural defects become mobile and reactions of trapped gases and small molecules can occur. The large surface area of nanocluster deposits relative to their bulk allows for routine observation of such surface-mediated processes. Furthermore, the disordered surface and subsurface layers in nanocluster deposits mimic the structure of amorphous ice rinds found on interstellar dust grains. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM has been used tn characterize the crystallinity, growth mechanism, and size distribution of nanoclusters formed from a mixture of water vapor with an inert carrier gas that has been rapidly cooled to 77K. E M imaging reveals a Gaussian size distribution around a modal diameter that increases from approx. 15 to 30 nm as the percentage of water vapor within the mixture increases from 0.5 to 2.007, respectively . TEM bright and dark field imaging also reveals the crystalline nature of the clusters. h4any of the clusters show a mosaic structure in which crystalline domains originate at the center Other images show mirror planes that are separated by approx. 10 nm. Electron diffraction patterns of these clusters show that the clusters are composed of cubic ice with only a small hexagonal component. Further, the crystalline domain size is approximately the same as the modal diameter suggesting that the clusters are single crystals.

Blake, David↗
NASA NTRS1977

The adsorption and early stages of condensation of Ag and Au on W single-crystal surfaces

Silver and gold were evaporated up to several monolayers in thickness onto W single-crystal surfaces of the 110 and 100 plane types in the temperature range between 300 and 1300 K. The mode of growth and the structure of the layers were studied by Auger electron spectroscopy and low-energy electron diffraction. The results are compared with thermal desorption spectroscopy data and work-function change measurements. They show certain similarities but also some striking differences between the two systems Ag/W and Au/W as well as a strong crystallographic anisotropy of adsorption and condensation.

Bauer, E.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Study of the photovoltaic effect in thin film barium titanate

Ferroelectric films of barium titanate were synthesized on silicon and quartz substrates, and the photoelectric effect in the structure consisting of metal deposited ferroelectric barium titanate film silicon was studied. A photovoltage with polarity that depends on the direction of the remanent polarization was observed. The deposition of BaTiO3 on silicon and fused quartz substrates was accomplished by an rf sputtering technique. A series of experiments to study the growth of ferroelectric BaTiO3 films on single crystal silicon and fused quartz substrates were conducted. The ferroelectric character in these films was found on the basis of evidence from the polarization electric field hysteresis loops, capacitance voltage and capacitance temperature techniques and from X-ray diffraction studies.

Grannemann, W. W.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Laser scattering induced holograms in lithium niobate

A 3.0-mm thick poled single crystal of lithium niobate doped with 0.1 mole% iron was exposed to a single beam and then to two intersecting beams of an argon ion laser operating at 515-nm wavelength. Laser scattering induced holograms were thus written and analyzed. The presence of diffraction cones was observed and is shown to result from the internally recorded interference pattern resulting from the interference of the original incident laser beam with light scattered from material inhomogeneities. This phenomenon is analyzed using Ewald sphere construction techniques which reveal the geometrical relationships existing for the diffraction cones.

Magnusson, R.↗