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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 127 records · Page 7

Resolving the Impact of Hydrogen Bonding on the Phylloquinone Cofactor through Two-Dimensional Infrared Spectroscopy

Phylloquinone (PhQ) is a molecule involved in photosynthetic electron transfer, where the local protein environment is known to tune the properties of PhQ through various noncovalent interactions. In this work, we determine how hydrogen bonding, one of these noncovalent interactions, alters the vibrational potential energy surface of PhQ. In addition, this work demonstrates how hydrogen bonding to PhQ manifests in ultrafast multidimensional vibrational spectra, which is an important step towards using ultrafast vibrational based spectroscopies to probe PhQ embedded in the binding pocket of photosynthetic reaction centers.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Determining the Structure-Property Relationships of Quasi-Two-Dimensional Semiconductor Nanoplatelets.

We report a theoretical study of CdSe nanoplatelets aimed at identifying the main factors determining their photophysical properties. Using atomic configurations optimized with density functional theory calculations, we computed quasiparticle and exciton binding energies of nanoplatelets with two to seven monolayers. We employed many body perturbation theory at the GW level and solved the Bethe-Salpeter equation to obtain absorption spectra and excitonic properties. Our results, which agree well with recent experiments, were then used to design a model that allows us to disentangle the effects of quantum confinement, strain induced by passivating ligands, and dielectric environment on the electronic properties of nanoplatelets. We found that, for the model to accurately reproduce our first principle results, it is critical to account for surface stress and consider a finite potential barrier and energy-dependent effective masses when describing quantum confinement. Our findings call into question previous assumptions on the validity of an infinite barrier to describe carrier confinement in nanoplatelets, suggesting that it may be possible to optimize interfacial charge transfer and extraction by appropriately choosing passivating ligands. The model developed here is generalizable to core-shell platelets and enables the description of system sizes not yet directly treatable by first-principles calculations.

Greenwood, Arin R.↗

High-Resolution Three-Dimensional Sculpting of Two-Dimensional Graphene Oxide by E-Beam Direct Write

On demand switchable additive/subtractive patterning of 2D nanomaterials is an essential capability for developing new concepts of functional nanomaterials and their device realizations. Traditionally, this is performed via a multi-step process using photoresist coating and patterning by conventional photo or electron beam lithography, which is followed by bulk dry/wet etch or deposition. This limits the range of functionalities and structural topologies that can be achieved, as well as increases the complexity, cost, and possibility of contamination which are significant barriers to device fabrication from highly sensitive 2D materials. Focused electron beam induced processing (FEBIP) enables a material chemistry/site-specific, high-resolution multi-mode atomic scale processing and provides unprecedented opportunities for direct-write, single-step surface patterning of 2D nanomaterials with an in-situ imaging capability. It allows for realizing a rapid multi-scale/multi-mode approach, ranging from an atomic scale manipulation (e.g., via targeted defect introduction as an active site) to a large-area surface modification on nano and micro scales, including patterned doping and material removal/deposition with 2D (in-plane)/3D (out-of-plane) control. In this work, we report on a new capability of FEBIP for nanoscale patterning of graphene oxide via removal of oxygenated carbon moieties with no use of reactive gas required for etching complemented by carbon atom deposition using focused electron beam. The mechanism of experimentally observed phenomena is explored using the density functional theory (DFT) calculations, revealing that interactions of e-beam liberated reactive oxygen radicals with carbon atoms on graphene basal plane lead to creation of atomic vacancies in the material. The reaction by-products are volatile carbon di-oxides, which are dissociated and volatilized from the graphene oxide surface functional groups by interactions with an energetic focused electron beam. Along with selective “subtractive” patterning of graphene oxide, the same electron beam with increased irradiation doses can deposit out-of-plane 3D carbon nanostructures on top of or around the 2D etched pattern, thus forming a hybrid 2D/3D nanocomposite with feature control down to a few nanometers. Furthermore, this in-operando dual nanofabrication capability of FEBIP is unmatched by any other nanopatterning techniques and opens a new design window for forming 2D/3D complex nanostructures and functional nanodevices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Colloidal Three-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks and Their Application as Porous Liquids

Developing solid porous materials into free-flowing liquids with permanent porosity is a promising strategy for overcoming certain limitations of conventional sorbent materials employed in gas storage and separation applications. The ability to control the pore size and chemical functionalities of organic frameworks gives these particular nanoporous materials distinct advantages over other small cage-like molecules or hollow particles that have been developed into porous liquids. Here, we describe the synthesis of a 3D imine-linked colloidal covalent organic framework (COF)-based porous liquid, designed for efficient size-exclusion of solvent, as well as for long-term stability. By tethering ionic liquids to the colloid surface, the colloids can be dried, purified, and resuspended in a variety of solvents without irreversible aggregation typically observed of COF colloids. Colloid size could be controlled between 50 and 400 nm, with surface areas as high as 800 m2/g. The 3D intertwining morphology of the colloids had pore sizes ranging from 5 to 14 Å, allowing them to efficiently sizeexclude bulky ionic liquids. The COF colloids were stable towards flocculation in an ionic liquid for > 1 year. Permanent porosity was confirmed with a combination of 19F NMR measurements and gas sorption techniques. CO2 and CH4 uptake in these porous liquids increased more than 10 and 20-fold, respectively, over non-porous, neat ionic liquid control samples. The work not only advances the state of COF-based colloid science but also represents a practical advance towards developing more robust, tunable framework-based porous liquid materials for a host of gas storage and separation applications.

Mow, Rachel E.↗