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At least 127 records · Page 7

Large area silicon sheet by EFG

The influence of parameters such as CO2 concentration, gas flow patterns, quartz in the bulk melt, melt doping level and growth speed on ribbon properties was examined for 10 cm wide ribbon. Ribbon quality is optimized for ambient CO2 in argon concentrations in the range from 1000 to 5000 ppm. Cell performance degrades at CO2 concentrations above 5000 ppm and IR interstitial oxygen levels decrease. These experiments were done primarily at a growth speed of 3.5 cm/minute. Cartridge parameters influencing the ribbon thickness were studied and thickness uniformity at 200 micrometers (8 mils) has been improved. Growth stability at the target speed of 4.0 cm/minute was improved significantly.

Source record↗

POSS(Registered TradeMark) Coatings for Solar Cells: An Update

Presently, solar cells are covered with Ce-doped microsheet cover glasses that are attached with Dow Corning DC 93-500 silicone adhesive. Various antireflection coatings are often applied to the cover glass to increase cell performance. This general approach has been used from the beginning of space exploration. However, it is expensive and time consuming. Furthermore, as the voltage of solar arrays increases, significant arcing has occurred in solar arrays, leading to loss of satellite power. The cause has been traced to differential voltages between strings and the close spacing between them with no insulation covering the edges of the solar cells. In addition, this problem could be ameliorated if the cover glass extended over the edges of the cell, but this would impact packing density. An alternative idea that might solve all these issues and be less expensive and more protective is to develop a coating that could be applied over the entire array. Such a coating must be resistant to atomic oxygen for low earth orbits below about 700 km, it must be resistant to ultraviolet radiation for all earth and near-sun orbits and, of course, it must withstand the damaging effects of space radiation. Coating flexibility would be an additional advantage. Based on past experience, one material that has many of the desired attributes of a universal protective coating is the Dow Corning DC 93-500. Of all the potential optical plastics, it appears to be the most suitable for use in space. As noted above, DC 93-500 has been extensively used to attach cover glasses to crystalline solar cells and has worked exceptionally well over the years. It is flexible and generally resistant to electrons, protons and ultraviolet (UV and VUV) radiation; although a VUV-rejection coating or VUV-absorbing ceria-doped cover glass may be required for long mission durations. It can also be applied in a thin coating (< 25 m) by conventional liquid coating processes. Unfortunately, when exposed to atomic oxygen (AO) DC 93-500 develops a frosty surface. Such frosting can lead to a loss of light transmitted into the cells and destroy the essential clarity needed for a concentrator lens.

Brandhorst, Henry↗

Recombination luminescence from electron-irradiated Li-diffused Si

Lithium doping has a dramatic effect on the low-temperature photoluminescence of electron-irradiated Si. In oxigen-lean Si with Li doping, a new irradiation-dependent luminescence band between 0.75 and 1.05 eV is observed, which is dominated by a zero-phonon peak at 1.045 eV. This band is believed to be due to radiative transitions involving a Li-modified divacancy. This band is present also in oxygen-rich, Li-diffused Si and is accompanied by bands previously related to the Si-G15(K) center and the divacancy. The intensities of the Li-modified divacancy and Si-G15(K) center bands are relatively weak in the oxygen-rich material, apparently due to the formation of lithium-oxygen complexes which reduce the concentration of unassociated interstitial Li and O.

Johnson, E. S.↗

Transition metals in superheat melts

A series of experiments with silicate melts doped with transition element oxides was carried out at atmospheric pressures of inert gas at temperatures exceeding liquidus. As predicted from the shape of fO2 buffer curves in T-fO2 diagrams the reducing conditions for a particular oxide-metal pair can be achieved through the T increase if the released oxygen is continuously removed. Experimental studies suggest that transition metals such as Cr or V behave as siderophile elements at temperatures exceeding liquidus temperatures if the system is not buffered by the presence of other oxide of more siderophile element. For example the presence of FeO prevents the reduction of Cr2O3. The sequence of decreasing siderophility of transition elements at superheat conditions (Mo, Ni, Fe, Cr) matches the decreasing degree of depletion of siderophile elements in mantle rocks as compared to chondrites.

Jakes, Petr↗

Characterization of iron-doped lithium niobate for holographic storage applications

A comprehensive characterization of chemical and holographic properties of eight systematically chosen Fe:LiNbO3 crystals is performed in order to determine optimum performance of the crystals in holographic storage and display applications. The discussion covers determination of Fe(2+) and Fe(3+) ion concentrations in Fe:LiNbO3 system from optical absorption and EPR measurements; establishment of the relation between the photorefractive sensitivity of Fe(2+) and Fe(3+) concentrations; study of the spectral dependence, the effect of oxygen annealing, and of other impurities on the photorefractive sensitivity; analysis of the diffraction efficiency curves for different crystals and corresponding sensitivities with the dynamic theory of hologram formation; and determination of the bulk photovoltaic fields as a function of Fe(2+) concentrations. In addition to the absolute Fe(2+) concentration, the relative concentrations of Fe(2+) and Fe(3+) ions are also important in determining the photorefractive sensitivity. There exists an optimal set of crystal characteristics for which the photorefractive sensitivity is most favorable.

Shah, R. R.↗

Radiation damage and defect behavior in ion-implanted, lithium counterdoped silicon solar cells

Boron doped silicon n+p solar cells were counterdoped with lithium by ion implanation and the resultant n+p cells irradiated by 1 MeV electrons. The function of fluence and a Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS) was studied to correlate defect behavior with cell performance. It was found that the lithium counterdoped cells exhibited significantly increased radiation resistance when compared to boron doped control cells. It is concluded that the annealing behavior is controlled by dissociation and recombination of defects. The DLTS studies show that counterdoping with lithium eliminates at least three deep level defects and results in three new defects. It is speculated that the increased radiation resistance of the counterdoped cells is due primarily to the interaction of lithium with oxygen, single vacancies and divacancies and that the lithium-oxygen interaction is the most effective in contributing to the increased radiation resistance.

Weinberg, I.↗

Radiation damage and defect behavior in ion-implanted, lithium counterdoped silicon solar cells

Boron doped silicon n+p solar cells were counterdoped with lithium by ion implantation and the resuitant n+p cells irradiated by 1 MeV electrons. The function of fluence and a Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS) was studied to correlate defect behavior with cell performance. It was found that the lithium counterdoped cells exhibited significantly increased radiation resistance when compared to boron doped control cells. It is concluded that the annealing behavior is controlled by dissociation and recombination of defects. The DLTS studies show that counterdoping with lithium eliminates at least three deep level defects and results in three new defects. It is speculated that the increased radiation resistance of the counterdoped cells is due primarily to the interaction of lithium with oxygen, single vacanies and divacancies and that the lithium-oxygen interaction is the most effective in contributing to the increased radiation resistance.

Weinberg, I.↗

Radiation tolerance of boron doped dendritic web silicon solar cells

The potential of dendritic web silicon for giving radiation hard solar cells is compared with the float zone silicon material. Solar cells with n(+)-p-P(+) structure and approximately 15% (AMl) efficiency were subjected to 1 MeV electron irradiation. Radiation tolerance of web cell efficiency was found to be at least as good as that of the float zone silicon cell. A study of the annealing behavior of radiation-induced defects via deep level transient spectroscopy revealed that E sub v + 0.31 eV defect, attributed to boron-oxygen-vacancy complex, is responsible for the reverse annealing of the irradiated cells in the temperature range of 150 to 350 C.

Rohatgi, A.↗

Valence State Partitioning of V between Pyroxene and Melt for Martian Melt Compositions Y 980459 and QUE 94201: The Effect of Pyroxene Composition and Crystal Structure

A spiked (with REE, V, Sc) martian basalt Y980459 composition was used to synthesize olivine, spinel, and pyroxene at 1200 C at 5 oxygen fugacities: IW-1, IW, IW+1, IW+2, and QFM. The high spike levels for REE were used for two specific reasons. First, we wanted to be able to analyze REE by both electron microprobe and ion probe. Second, we wanted the most important "Others" components, (i.e., those outside the pyroxene quadrilateral such as Al, Cr3+, Fe3+, REE3+, V3+, V4+, etc.) to be REE3+Mg (Si,Al)2O6. At the doped levels we used, the most important "Others" component is REE3+ in the M2 site coupled with Al in the tetrahedral site. The goal of this paper is to explain the significant increase in the value of D(sub V)(sup pyroxene/melt) with increased Wo content of the pyroxene. We compare augite (Wo approx. 33), pigeonite (Wo approx. 13) and orthopyroxene (Wo approx 3.8). We also show olivine for comparison. The crystal chemical factors which account for this remarkable increase of DV with Wo are twofold. First, with Ca in the M2 site (as in diopside, CaMgSi2O6) the site is large and 8-coordinated while Mg in the M2 site (as in enstatite, Mg2Si2O6) the site is smaller and 6- coordinated. Second, tetrahedral Al in the pyroxene chains provides charge balance and makes the M2 site larger and more compliant for the introduction of REE.

Papike, J. J.↗

Effect of water on hydrogen permeability

Doping of hydrogen with CO or CO2 was developed to reduce hydrogen permeation in Stirling engines by forming low permeability oxide coatings in the heater tubes. An end product of this process is water - which can condense in the cold parts of the engine system. If the water vapor is reduced to a low enough level, the hydrogen can reduce the oxide coating resulting in increased permeability. The equilibrium level of water (oxygen bearing gas) required to avoid reduction of the oxide coating was investigated. Results at 720 C and 13.8 MPa have shown that: (1) pure hydrogen will reduce the coating; (2) 500 ppm CO (500 ppm water equivalent) does not prevent the reduction; and (3) 500 ppm CO2 (1000 ppm water) appears to be close to the equilibrium level. Further tests are planned to define the equilibrium level more precisely and to extend the data to 820 C and 3.4, 6.9, and 13.8 MPa.

Hulligan, D. D.↗

NOx formation from the combustion of monodisperse n-heptane sprays doped with fuel-nitrogen additives

A series of experiments with simulated synthetic fuels were conducted in order to investigate the effect of droplet size on the conversion of fuel-nitrogen to NOx. Pyridine and pyrrole were added to n-heptane as nitrogen-containing additives and burned as monodisperse fuel droplets under various operating conditions in a spray combustion facility. The experimental results indicate that under stoichiometric and fuel-rich conditions, reducing the droplet size increases the efficiency of fuel-N conversion to NOx. This observation is associated with improved oxidation of the pyrolysis fragments of the additive by better oxygen penetration through the droplet flame zone. The dominant reactions by which fuel-N is transformed to NOx were also considered analytically by a premixed laminar flame code. The calculations are compared to the small droplet size results.

Sarv, Hamid↗

Increased radiation resistance in lithium-counterdoped silicon solar cells

Lithium-counterdoped n(+)p silicon solar cells are found to exhibit significantly increased radiation resistance to 1-MeV electron irradiation when compared to boron-doped n(+)p silicon solar cells. In addition to improved radiation resistance, considerable damage recovery by annealing is observed in the counterdoped cells at T less than or equal to 100 C. Deep level transient spectroscopy measurements are used to identify the defect whose removal results in the low-temperature aneal. It is suggested that the increased radiation resistance of the counterdoped cells is primarily due to interaction of the lithium with interstitial oxygen.

Weinberg, I.↗

NASA Tech Briefs, June 2005

Topics covered include: Apparatus Characterizes Transient Voltages in Real Time; Measuring Humidity in Sealed Glass Encasements; Adaptable System for Vehicle Health and Usage Monitoring; Miniature Focusing Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer; Cryogenic High-Sensitivity Magnetometer; Wheel Electrometer System; Carbon-Nanotube Conductive Layers for Thin-Film Solar Cells; Patch Antenna Fed via Unequal-Crossed-Arm Aperture; LC Circuits for Diagnosing Embedded Piezoelectric Devices; Nanowire Thermoelectric Devices; Code for Analyzing and Designing Spacecraft Power System Radiators; Decision Support for Emergency Operations Centers; NASA Records Database; Real-Time Principal- Component Analysis; Fuzzy/Neural Software Estimates Costs of Rocket- Engine Tests; Multicomponent, Rare-Earth-Doped Thermal-Barrier Coatings; Reactive Additives for Phenylethynyl-Containing Resins; Improved Gear Shapes for Face Worm Gear Drives; Alternative Way of Shifting Mass to Move a Spherical Robot; Parylene C as a Sacrificial Material for Microfabrication; In Situ Electrochemical Deposition of Microscopic Wires; Improved Method of Manufacturing SiC Devices; Microwave Treatment of Prostate Cancer and Hyperplasia; Ferroelectric Devices Emit Charged Particles and Radiation; Dusty-Plasma Particle Accelerator; Frozen-Plug Technique for Liquid-Oxygen Plumbing; Shock Waves in a Bose-Einstein Condensate; Progress on a Multichannel, Dual-Mixer Stability Analyzer; Development of Carbon- Nanotube/Polymer Composites; Thermal Imaging of Earth for Accurate Pointing of Deep-Space Antennas; Modifications of a Composite-Material Combustion Chamber; Modeling and Diagnostic Software for Liquefying- Fuel Rockets; and Spacecraft Antenna Clusters for High EIRP.

Source record↗

Airborne Demonstration of Atmospheric Oxygen Optical Depth Measurements with an Integrated Path Differential Absorption Lidar

We report on an airborne demonstration of atmospheric oxygen (O2) optical depth measurements with an Integrated Path Differential Absorption (IPDA) lidar using a fiber-based laser transmitter and photon counting detectors. Accurate atmospheric temperature and pressure measurements are needed for NASA's Active Sensing of CO2 Emissions over Nights, Days and Seasons (ASCENDS) mission. Since O2 is uniformly mixed in the atmosphere, its spectrum can be used to estimate the dry mixing ratio of CO2. In its airborne configuration, the IPDA lidar uses an Erbium Doped Fiber amplifier, a frequency doubler and single photon counting detectors to measure O2 absorption at multiple wavelengths near 765 nm. This instrument was deployed in 2013 and 2014 aboard NASA's DC-8 airborne laboratory as part of two campaigns to measure CO2 mixing ratios over a wide range of topography and weather conditions from altitudes ranging between 3 km and 13 km. In this paper we will review a summary of the results from our flights, discuss the errors that limit the precision and accuracy of the measurement and identify possible areas of improvement.

Methane↗

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.↗

Lunar mining of oxygen using fluorine

An important aspect of lunar mining will be the extraction of volatiles, particularly oxygen, from lunar rocks. Thermodynamic data show that oxygen could readily be recovered by fluorination of abundant lunar anorthite, CaAl2Si2O8. Fluorine is the most reactive element, and the only reagent able to extract 100 percent of the oxygen from any mineral, yet it can safely be stored or reacted in nickel or iron containers. The general fluorination reaction, mineral + 2F2 = mixed fluorides = O2, has been used for more than 30 years at a laboratory scale by stable-isotope geochemists. For anorthite, metallic Al and Si may be recovered from the mixed fluorides by Na-reduction, and CaO via exchange with Na2O; the resulting NaF may be recycled into F2 and Na by electrolysis, using lanthanide-doped CaF2 as the inert anode.

Burt, Donald M.↗

Magnetism and superconductivity of some Tl-Cu oxides

Many copper oxide based Thallium compounds have now been discovered. In comparison to the Bi-compounds, the Tl-system shows a richer diversity; viz., High Temperature Superconductors (HTSC) can be obtained with either one or two Tl-0 layers (m = 1,2); also, the triple-digit phases are easier to synthesize. The value of d, oxygen stoichiometry, is critical to achieving superconductivity. The Tl system is robust to oxygen loss; Tl may be lost or incorporated by diffusion. A diffusion coefficient equal to 10 ms at 900 C was determined. Both ortho-rhombic and tetragonal structures are evidenced, but HTSC behavior is indifferent to the crystal symmetry. This system has the highest T(sub c) confirmed. T(sub c) generally increases with p, the number of CuO layers, but tends to saturate at p = 3. Zero resistance as high as 125K has been observed. Most of these HTSC's are hole type, but the Ce-doped specimens may be electronic. The magnetic aspects were studied; because in addition to defining the perfectly diamagnetic ground state as in the conventional superconductors, magnetism of the copper oxides show a surprising variety. This is true of both the normal and the superconducting states. Also, due to the large phonon contribution to the specific heat at the high T(sub c) accurate thermal measurement of important parameters such as the sp. heat jump, electronic density of states, D(Ef) and coherence length are uncertain, and thus, are estimated from the magnetic results. Results from the Tl-system CuO, LaBaCuO, 120 and the Bi-CuO compounds are discussed. The emphasis is on the role of magnetism in the TlCuO HTSC, but technological aspects are also pointed out.

Datta, Timir↗

Creep Resistance of ZrO2 Ceramic Improved by the Addition of a Small Amount of Er2O3

Zirconia (ZrO2) has great technological importance in structural, electrical, and chemical applications. It is the crucial component for state-of-the art thermal barrier coatings and an enabling component as a solid electrolyte for solid-oxide fuel cell systems. Pure ZrO2 is of limited use for industrial applications because of the phase transformations that occur. Upon the addition of stabilizers, cubic (c-ZrO2) and tetragonal (t-ZrO2) forms can be preserved. It is the stabilized and partially stabilized forms of zirconia that function as thermal barrier coatings, solid electrolytes, and oxygen sensors and that have numerous applications in the electrochemical industry. The cubic form of ZrO2 is typically stabilized through Y2O3 additions. However, Y2O3-stabilized zirconia is susceptible to deformation at high temperatures (greater than 900 C) because of the large number of slip systems and the high oxygen diffusion rates, which result in high creep rates at high temperatures. Successful use of ZrO2 at high temperatures requires that new dopant additives be found that will retain or enhance the desirable properties of cubic ZrO2 and yet produce a material with lower creep rates. At the NASA Glenn Research Center, erbium oxide (Er2O3) was identified as a promising dopant for improving the creep resistance of. ZrO2. The selection of Er2O3 was based on the strong interactions of point defects and dislocations. Single crystals of 5 mol% Er2O3- doped ZrO2 rods (4 mm in diameter) and monofilaments (200 to 300 mm in diameter and 30 cm long) were grown using the laser-heated float zone technique, and their creep behavior was measured as a function of temperature. The addition of 5 mol% Er2O3 to single-crystal ZrO2 improved its creep resistance at high temperatures by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude over state-of-the-art Y2O3-doped crystals. Detailed microstructural characterization of ZrO2-Er2O3 single crystals has identified new mechanisms for improving the creep resistance of this class of materials. Adding Er2O3 to ZrO2 results in microstructure of stable and metastable tetragonal precipitates that with thermal treatment evolve to a tweed structure of nanosize tetragonal lamellae. The superior high-temperature creep resistance of Er2O3-doped ZrO2 is attributed to nanoscale precipitation hardening. Doping with Er2O3 will significantly increase the upper-use temperature limit of ZrO2. Potential applications include using Er2O3-doped ZrO2 as a high-temperature fiber for structural applications and adding Er2O3 to reduce the sintering rates of ZrO2 thermal barrier coatings. This work was conducted at Dpto. de F sica de la Materia Condensada, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain, and at NASA Glenn.

Martinez-Fernandez, Julian↗