A method for the thermal analysis of spacecraft, including all multiple reflections and shading among diffuse, gray surfaces
Computer program for thermal analysis of spacecraft surfaces
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Computer program for thermal analysis of spacecraft surfaces
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Penta-twinned metal nanowires are finding widespread application in existing and emerging technologies. However, little is known about their growth mechanisms. Here, we probe the origins of chloride- and alkylamine-mediated, solution-phase growth of penta-twinned Cu nanowires from first principles using multi-scale theory. Using quantum density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we characterize the binding and surface diffusion of Cu atoms on chlorine-covered Cu(100) and Cu(111) surfaces. We find stronger binding and slower diffusion of Cu atoms on chlorinated Cu(111) than on chlorinated Cu(100) – a reversal of the trend for bare Cu surfaces. We also probe inter-facet diffusion and find this proceeds faster from Cu(100) to Cu(111) than the reverse. Using the DFT rates for hopping between individual sites at Ångstrom scales, we calculate coarse-grained, inter-facet rates for nanowires of various lengths – up to hundreds of μm – and diameters in the 10-nm range. We predict nanowires with aspect ratios around 100 based on surface diffusion, alone. We also account for the influence of a self-assembled alkylamine layer that covers most of the {100} facets, but is absent or thin and disordered on the {111} facets and in an “end zone” near the {100}-{111} boundary. With an end zone, we predict a wide range of nanowire aspect ratios in the experimental ranges. Our work reveals the mechanisms by which a halide – chloride – promotes the growth of high-aspect-ratio nanowires.
Oxygen atoms on transition metal surfaces are highly mobile under the demanding pressures and temperatures typically employed for heterogeneously catalyzed oxidation reactions. This mobility allows for rapid surface diffusion of oxygen atoms, as well as absorption into the subsurface and reemergence to the surface, resulting in variable reactivity. Subsurface oxygen atoms play a unique role in the chemistry of oxidized metal catalysts, yet little is known about how subsurface oxygen is formed or returns to the surface. Furthermore, if oxygen diffusion between the surface and subsurface is mediated by defects, there will be localized changes in the surface chemistry due to the elevated oxygen concentration near the emergence sites. We observed that oxygen atoms emerge preferentially along the boundary between surface phases and that subsurface oxygen is depleted before the surface oxide decomposes.
The asymmetric tip morphology of a creep microcrack propagating along a bimaterial interface is presented based on the assumptions that the near-tip shapes are developed from surface diffusion controlled crack growth and that a steady state prevails. A single master curve still can adequately describe the near-tip shapes to within 6 percent accuracy, but four cases of crack-tip morphology emerge depending on the ratios of surface to interfacial free energy and diffusivity of the adjoining phases. For fixed ratios of the two surface diffusivities, crack tip morphology maps in the space of specific surface energies are constructed with which areas associated with each individual case are indicated. Predicted cases on a set of bimaterial systems are tabulated and discussed.
Ni coarsening in the fuel electrode of solid oxide cells (SOCs) is an important degradation mechanism. In this talk, density-functional theory and kinetic Monte Carlo methods are used to explore the hypothesis that the surface diffusion of NiH on Ni may promote Ni coarsening in the SOC operated in electrolysis cell mode. Using both methods and defining the diffusivity as the product of the surface coverage and single-molecule diffusivity, the diffusivity of NiH on Ni (111) is found to be sufficiently large under a significant overpotential to support the above hypothesis. Also, the time between the formation and dissociation of NiH on Ni (111) is predicted to be short at low coverages of H on Ni (111). Thus, significant progress is made toward developing a model of Ni coarsening considering both molecular and dissociated forms of NiH on Ni (111).
Axial flow turbine blade loading using surface diffusion parameters, determining solidity
Abstract All plasma facing surfaces in a fusion reactor, whether initially pure or an alloy, will rapidly evolve into a mixed material due to plasma-induced erosion, migration and redeposition. Beryllium (Be) erosion from the main chamber, and its transport and deposition on to a tungsten (W) divertor results in the growth of mixed Be-W layers, which can evolve to form beryllides. These Be-W mixed materials exhibit generally less desirable properties than pure tungsten or pure beryllium, such as lower melting points. In order to better understand the parameter space for growth of these alloys, this paper reviews the literature on Be-W mixed material formation experiments—in magnetically confined fusion reactors, in linear plasma test stands, and during thin-film deposition—and on computational modeling of Be-W interactions, as well as briefly assesses the Be-W growth kinetics. We conclude that the following kinetic steps drive the material mixing: adsorption of the implanted/deposited ion on the metal surface; diffusion of the implanted/deposited ion from surface into the bulk, which is accelerated by defects; and loss of deposited material through erosion. Adsorption dominates (or prevents) material mixing in thin-film deposition experiments, whereas diffusion drives material mixing in plasma exposures due to the energetic ion implantation.
All plasma facing surfaces in a fusion reactor, whether initially pure or an alloy, will rapidly evolve into a mixed material due to plasma-induced erosion, migration and redeposition. Beryllium (Be) erosion from the main chamber, and its transport and deposition on to a tungsten (W) divertor results in the growth of mixed Be-W layers, which can evolve to form beryllides. These Be-W mixed materials exhibit generally less desirable properties than pure tungsten or pure beryllium, such as lower melting points. In order to better understand the parameter space for growth of these alloys, this paper reviews the literature on Be-W mixed material formation experiments—in magnetically confined fusion reactors, in linear plasma test stands, and during thin-film deposition—and on computational modeling of Be-W interactions, as well as briefly assesses the Be-W growth kinetics. We conclude that the following kinetic steps drive the material mixing: adsorption of the implanted/deposited ion on the metal surface; diffusion of the implanted/deposited ion from surface into the bulk, which is accelerated by defects; and loss of deposited material through erosion. Adsorption dominates (or prevents) material mixing in thin-film deposition experiments, whereas diffusion drives material mixing in plasma exposures due to the energetic ion implantation.
We explore the kinetic processes that sustain equilibrium in a microscopic, finite system. This is accomplished by monitoring the spontaneous, time-dependent frequency evolution (the frequency autocorrelation) of a single OH oscillator, embedded in a water cluster held in a temperature-controlled ion trap. The measurements are carried out by applying two-color, IR-IR photodissociation mass spectrometry to the D3O+?(HDO)(D2O)19 isotopologue of the “magic number” protonated water cluster, H+?(H2O)21. The OH group can occupy any one of the five spectroscopically distinct sites in the distorted pentagonal dodecahedron cage structure. The OH frequency is observed to evolve over tens of milliseconds in the temperature range (90-120 K). Starting at 100 K, large “jumps” are observed between two OH frequencies separated by ~300 cm-1 indicating migration of the OH group from the bound OH site at 3350 cm-1 to the free position at 3686 cm-1. Increasing the temperature to 110 K leads to partial interconversion among many sites. All sites are observed to interconvert at 120 K such that the distribution of the unique OH group among them adopts the form one would expect for a canonical ensemble. The spectral dynamics displayed by the clusters thus offer an unprecedented view into the molecular-level processes that drive spectral diffusion in an extended network of water molecules.
Oxidation of Ni-Cr and Ni-Cr-Mo was studied in operando with near ambient pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in the Cabrera-Mott regime. The oxidation temperature was 200 °C - a severely diffusion limited regime. The near-surface alloy is Cr-enriched after reduction of natives oxide in vacuum, and especially so for Ni-15Cr-6Mo. Mo-cations are integrated in the oxide and Mo(VI) dominates at the surface. The surface chemistry driven promotion of chromia by Mo predicted by theory is negated by the limited surface diffusion of reactants. Furthermore, pre-oxidation processing is proposed to control the oxide properties for use of Ni-Cr superalloys at low temperatures.
The objective of this project is to investigate the fundamental degradation methods occurring in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cathodes when exposed to chromium and carbon dioxide contamination and to rationally design alkaline earth-based catalysts to increase stability and tolerance to contaminate poisoning. With a mechanistic and fundamental understanding of the degradation methods, advanced catalytic surface modifications can be applied to reduce degradation. The specific technical objectives are: (1) To identify/develop new catalysts (alkaline-earth based-) that are compatible chemically with the state-of-the-art cathode materials at high temperatures required for fabrication and with contaminates commonly encountered under operating conditions; (2) To improve the infiltration process for optimal control of the thickness, composition, and uniformity of the catalyst coatings; (3) To evaluate the electro-catalytic activity toward ORR of the chemically-stable materials when exposed to different types of contaminants using electrical conductivity relaxation measurements on bar samples and performance evaluation of catalyst-infiltrated cathodes; (4) To unravel the contamination-tolerant mechanisms of the new catalyst coatings under realistic environmental conditions (with different types of contaminants) using powerful in situ and in operando characterization techniques performed on model cells with thin-film/pattern electrodes, as guided by modeling and simulation; (5) To establish scientific basis for rational design of new catalysts of high tolerance to contaminants; (6) To validate the long term stability of modified LSCF cathodes in commercially available cells/stacks under ROC. Alkaline earth-based catalysts have been systematically explored and tested under various contamination conditions. BaCoO 3-δ (BCO) was shown to produce the best catalytic activity enhancement as well as stability in a variety of contaminating conditions, including CO 2 and chromium. The microstructural evolution was investigated with SEM, EDS, and Raman spectroscopy, showing the BCO catalyst prevents the formation of insulating SrCrO 4 by forming electrically conductive BaCrO 4 . Electrochemical relaxation measurements determined the BCO catalyst coatings increased the surface diffusion coefficient but did not significantly affect the diffusion coefficient and determined an optimum surface modification layer of 100 nm. A novel Ba 0.9 Co 0.7 Fe 0.2 Nb 0.1 O x (BCFN) catalyst was also shown to have excellent stability in chromium containing atmospheres. A novel surface sol-gel (SSG) surface modification, which offers superior thickness and compositional control, was applied to SOFCs to produce BaO catalyst coatings. SSG BaO coatings were shown to produce conformal coatings on the electrode surface, greatly increasing stability in chromium containing atmospheres. An atomic level mechanistic approach was applied to investigate the stability of PrBa 0.8 Ca 0.2 Co2O 5+δ (PBCC) with respect to a variety of common contaminants, demonstrating thermodynamically its superior stability in CO2 containing atmospheres. Finally, the best catalyst coatings demonstrated in this project, BCO and PBCC, were applied to full cells which demonstrated superior stability for over 300 hours in CO 2 and Cr atmospheres.
The objective of this project is to investigate the fundamental degradation methods occurring in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cathodes when exposed to chromium and carbon dioxide contamination and to rationally design alkaline earth-based catalysts to increase stability and tolerance to contaminate poisoning. With a mechanistic and fundamental understanding of the degradation methods, advanced catalytic surface modifications can be applied to reduce degradation. The specific technical objectives are: (1) To identify/develop new catalysts (alkaline-earth based-) that are compatible chemically with the state-of-the-art cathode materials at high temperatures required for fabrication and with contaminates commonly encountered under operating conditions; (2) To improve the infiltration process for optimal control of the thickness, composition, and uniformity of the catalyst coatings; (3) To evaluate the electro-catalytic activity toward ORR of the chemically-stable materials when exposed to different types of contaminants using electrical conductivity relaxation measurements on bar samples and performance evaluation of catalyst-infiltrated cathodes; (4) To unravel the contamination-tolerant mechanisms of the new catalyst coatings under realistic environmental conditions (with different types of contaminants) using powerful in situ and in operando characterization techniques performed on model cells with thin-film/pattern electrodes, as guided by modeling and simulation; (5) To establish scientific basis for rational design of new catalysts of high tolerance to contaminants; (6) To validate the long term stability of modified LSCF cathodes in commercially available cells/stacks under ROC. Alkaline earth-based catalysts have been systematically explored and tested under various contamination conditions. BaCoO 3-δ (BCO) was shown to produce the best catalytic activity enhancement as well as stability in a variety of contaminating conditions, including CO 2 and chromium. The microstructural evolution was investigated with SEM, EDS, and Raman spectroscopy, showing the BCO catalyst prevents the formation of insulating SrCrO 4 by forming electrically conductive BaCrO 4 . Electrochemical relaxation measurements determined the BCO catalyst coatings increased the surface diffusion coefficient but did not significantly affect the diffusion coefficient and determined an optimum surface modification layer of 100 nm. A novel Ba 0.9 Co 0.7 Fe 0.2 Nb 0.1 O x (BCFN) catalyst was also shown to have excellent stability in chromium containing atmospheres. A novel surface sol-gel (SSG) surface modification, which offers superior thickness and compositional control, was applied to SOFCs to produce BaO catalyst coatings. SSG BaO coatings were shown to produce conformal coatings on the electrode surface, greatly4 increasing stability in chromium containing atmospheres. An atomic level mechanistic approach was applied to investigate the stability of PrBa 0.8 Ca 0.2 Co 2 O 5+δ (PBCC) with respect to a variety of common contaminants, demonstrating thermodynamically its superior stability in CO 2 containing atmospheres. Finally, the best catalyst coatings demonstrated in this project, BCO and PBCC, were applied to full cells which demonstrated superior stability for over 300 hours in CO 2 and Cr atmospheres.
The objective of this project is to investigate the fundamental degradation methods occurring in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cathodes when exposed to chromium and carbon dioxide contamination and to rationally design alkaline earth-based catalysts to increase stability and tolerance to contaminate poisoning. With a mechanistic and fundamental understanding of the degradation methods, advanced catalytic surface modifications can be applied to reduce degradation. The specific technical objectives are: (1) To identify/develop new catalysts (alkaline-earth based-) that are compatible chemically with the state-of-the-art cathode materials at high temperatures required for fabrication and with contaminates commonly encountered under operating conditions; (2) To improve the infiltration process for optimal control of the thickness, composition, and uniformity of the catalyst coatings; (3) To evaluate the electro-catalytic activity toward ORR of the chemically-stable materials when exposed to different types of contaminants using electrical conductivity relaxation measurements on bar samples and performance evaluation of catalyst-infiltrated cathodes; (4) To unravel the contamination-tolerant mechanisms of the new catalyst coatings under realistic environmental conditions (with different types of contaminants) using powerful in situ and in operando characterization techniques performed on model cells with thin-film/pattern electrodes, as guided by modeling and simulation; (5) To establish scientific basis for rational design of new catalysts of high tolerance to contaminants; (6) To validate the long term stability of modified LSCF cathodes in commercially available cells/stacks under ROC. Alkaline earth-based catalysts have been systematically explored and tested under various contamination conditions. BaCoO 3-δ (BCO) was shown to produce the best catalytic activity enhancement as well as stability in a variety of contaminating conditions, including CO 2 and chromium. The microstructural evolution was investigated with SEM, EDS, and Raman spectroscopy, showing the BCO catalyst prevents the formation of insulating SrCrO 4 by forming electrically conductive BaCrO 4 . Electrochemical relaxation measurements determined the BCO catalyst coatings increased the surface diffusion coefficient but did not significantly affect the diffusion coefficient and determined an optimum surface modification layer of 100 nm. A novel Ba 0.9 Co 0.7 Fe 0.2 Nb 0.1 O x (BCFN) catalyst was also shown to have excellent stability in chromium containing atmospheres. A novel surface sol-gel (SSG) surface modification, which offers superior thickness and compositional control, was applied to SOFCs to produce BaO catalyst coatings. SSG BaO coatings were shown to produce conformal coatings on the electrode surface, greatly 4 increasing stability in chromium containing atmospheres. An atomic level mechanistic approach was applied to investigate the stability of PrBa 0.8 Ca 0.2 Co 2 O 5+δ (PBCC) with respect to a variety of common contaminants, demonstrating thermodynamically its superior stability in CO 2 containing atmospheres. Finally, the best catalyst coatings demonstrated in this project, BCO and PBCC, were applied to full cells which demonstrated superior stability for over 300 hours in CO 2 and Cr atmospheres
Ni coarsening and migration is the most important degradation in the hydrogen electrode of solid oxide cells. This presentation reviews our works on Ni coarsening and migration in NETL over the past years. We used simulation techniques including phase-field modeling and density function theory to investigate possible mechanisms of Ni coarsening and migration, including self-diffusion of Ni, diffusion of gaseous Ni(OH)2, surface diffusion of Ni(OH)x and Ni-YSZ wettability change, and examined the effect of operating conditions on these mechanisms. So far, none of the mechanisms can fully explain the experiments. Remaining questions and possible paths forward are summarized and discussed.
The presentation is intended for a graduate class in Georgia Southern University taught by Dr. Hayri Sezer on electrochemistry, SOFC and Li ion battery. It summaries NETL's recent works on microstructure-based modeling of degradation in solid oxide cells. It covers the degradation mechanism of Ni coarsening, Ni migration and the build-up of oxygen partial pressure inside the electrolyte. The phase-field models developed for Ni coarsening and migration are reviewed and the results are compared to experiments in literature to examine different diffusion mechanisms (Ni self-diffusion, Ni(OH)2 diffusion in pores and Ni(OH) surface diffusion) and driving forces (Ni(OH)x concentration and Ni-YSZ contact angle change). It also demonstrates the developed model for oxygen partial pressure and shows that the predicted oxygen partial pressure can explain the Ni oxidation in the hydrogen electrode and crack growth on the electrolyte-oxygen electrode interface under certain operating conditions.
Ni coarsening is an important degradation mechanism in solid oxide cells. It is reported that Ni coarsening is faster under a humid atmosphere experimentally, but the underline mechanism is not well understood. In this work, Ni coarsening through Ni(OH)x surface diffusion was investigated by a combination of density-functional theory (DFT) and phase-field modeling (PFM). DFT is used to evaluate the surface coverage and diffusivity of Ni(OH)x on Ni (111) surface and the results are used as an input to the PFM to simulate Ni coarsening under humid atmospheres on both reconstructed and synthetic microstructures. It is found that steam partial pressure and microstructure effect alone cannot explain the faster Ni coarsening under a humid atmosphere observed experimentally. Large local overpotential in fuel cell mode is needed to explain the fast Ni coarsening.
Thermal desorption and surface diffusion of cesium coated tungsten substrate using field emission microscopy