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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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The design and fabrication of the 8585 InSb charge coupled infrared imaging device (CCIRID) chip are reported. The InSb material characteristics are described along with mask and process modifications. Test results for the 2- and 20-element CCIRID's are discussed, including gate oxide characteristics, charge transfer efficiency, optical mode of operation, and development of the surface potential diagram.
The modifications in the pressure distributions and the aerodynamic coefficients associated with additions of heat to the two-dimensional supersonic in viscid flow field adjacetnt to the lower surface of of a 5-percent-thickness symmetrical circular-arc wing are presented in this report. The pressure distributions are obtained by the use of graphical method which gives the two-dimensional supersonic inviscid flow field obtained with moderate heat addition. The variation is given of the lift-drag ratio and of the aerodynamic coefficients of lift, drag, and moment with free stream Mach number, angle of attack, and parameters defining extent and amount of heat addition. The six graphical solutions used in this study included Mach numbers of 3.0 and 5.0 and angles of attack of 0 degrees and 2 degrees.
A unique configuration of the P&W SSME Alternate Fuel Turbopump turbine disk/blade assembly, combined with a severe thermal environment, resulted in several structural anomalies that were driven by frictional contact forces. Understanding the mechanics of these problems provides new quality checks for future turbo machinery designs. During development testing in 1997 of the SSME alternate fuel turbopump at Stennis Space Center, several potentially serious problems surfaced with the turbine disk/blade assembly that had not been experienced in extensive earlier testing. Changes to the operational thermal environment were noted based on analytical prediction of modifications that affected performance and on stationary thermal measurements adjacent to the rotor assembly. A detailed structural investigation was required to reveal the mechanism of distress induced by the change. The turbine disk experienced cracking in several locations due to increased thermal gradient induced stress during start and shutdown transients. This was easily predictable using standard analysis procedures and expected once the thermal environment was characterized. What was not expected was the curling of a piston ring used for blade axial retention in the disk, indentation of the axial face of the blade attachment by a spacer separating the first and second stage blades, and most significantly, galling and cracking of the blade root attachment that could have resulted in blade release. Past experience, in gas turbine environments, set a precedent of never relying on friction for help and to evaluate it only in specific instances where it was obvious that it would degrade capability. In each of the three cases above, friction proved to be a determining factor that pushed the components into an unsatisfactory mode of operation. The higher than expected temperatures and rapid thermal transients combined with friction to move beyond past experience. The turbine disk/blade assembly configuration contributed to the potential for these problems to occur by limiting the radial deflection from thermals and centrifugal loading. The cooled solid bore configuration was chosen to improve rotordynamic stability by limiting the length of rotor overhang while still protecting the roller bearing by maintaining zero slope under the inner race. During a start transient, the rim area of the disk heats rapidly and expands axially and circumferentially and requires corresponding radial and axial growth of the disk to maintain relative positioning of the disk, blades, spacers and retainer rings. The stiffness, large thermal mass, and bore cooling flow combine to severely limit the disk rim radial growth which results in the potential for relative movement between these parts. Friction then becomes a player in the determination of component stress.
The PhaseCam is a dynamic phase shifting interferometer system manufactured by 4D Technology Corporation that is capable of very fast data acquisition. This rapid acquisition extends the capability of conventional interferometry to enable measurement in unstable environments, the generation of phase movies of surface shape and to facilitate modal analysis of structures. The PhaseCam hardware and software have been modified for MSFC to include synchronous modal optical measurement and analysis. These modifications will be discussed and data presented. The dynamic range of a phase shifting measurement is limited by local slope and pixel sampling to lambda/4 wave steps. Two-wavelength techniques can increase the effective measurement wavelength from microns to tens of centimeters and permit the phasing of mirror segments. A two wavelength PhaseCam will be discussed and measurement results presented.
There are several techniques currently used to localize glycosylated surface molecules by scanning electron microscopy (Grinnell, 1980; Molday, 1976; Linthicum and Sell, 1975; Nicolson, 1974; Lo Buglio, et al, 1972). A simple and rapid method, using a modification of Grinnell's technique is reported here. Essentially, microspheres coated with Concavalin A are used to bind to glycosylated regions of the palatal shelf epithelium and are visualized in the scanning electron microscope (SEM).
Optical velocimetry systems play a crucial role in studying the dynamic behavior of materials under extreme conditions. Two prominent systems used at the Nevada National Security Site are the velocity interferometer system for any reflector(VISAR) and the photon Doppler velocimeter (PDV) system. Their ability to accurately measure surface motion ranging from 0 to > 20km=s without interacting with material flow enables experimenters to construct thermodynamic equations of state for materials of interest. A number of modifications to VISAR and PDV have taken place over the past five decades, leading to improved performance, increased recording capacity, and a reduction in operational burden. Prior efforts to develop a hybrid velocimeter combining the advantages of both PDV and VISAR into a single diagnostic did not take into account progress in PDV technology or new optical components that had not been developed. This thesis describes the design and implementation of a multiplexed hybrid velocimeter (MHV) based on time-multiplexing techniques, an optical hybrid, and polarization-maintaining fiber and components. Data from experiments, compared with current velocity systems, serve to demonstrate the hybrid's performance.
The scattering from coated, conducting structures, specifically the coated dihedral corner reflector configuration and the coated strip/plate configuration is examined. The formulation uses impedance-wedge Uniform Theory of Diffraction scattering coefficients to calculate the diffracted fields. A finite-thickness coating is approximated using the impedance boundary condition to arrive at an equivalent impedance for the coating. The formulation of the impedance wedge coefficients is outlined. Far-field, perfectly conducting approximations are discussed. Problems with the present dihedral corner reflector model for certain angles of incidence and observation are discussed along with a potentially rectifying modification. Also, the capacity to measure the electromagnetic properties of lossy materials was developed. The effects of using multiple material coatings on the radiation pattern of the horn antenna were studied. Numerous computations were devoted toward the inverse problem of synthesizing desired radiation patterns using the impedance surfaces. Stabilizing the equivalent sheet impedance using the linear control condition was attempted, and it was found to be a very difficult task.
A rise in the condensation surface temperature during film growth is a result of energy dissipation on the condensation surface. An example of energy dissipation is the dissipation of chemical reaction heat, which releases during film deposition by reactive magnetron sputtering. The monitoring of the surface temperature during TiN film deposition by reactive (Ti–in–N{sub 2}) and nonreactive (TiN–in–Ar or TiN–in–N{sub 2}) sputtering methods has shown that this temperature is higher in the reactive case and decreases in the (TiN–in–Ar)–(TiN–in–N{sub 2}) sequence of nonreactive sputtering modifications. It has been found that the composition and crystal structure of TiN films do not depend on the growth method and are identical to those of bulk titanium nitride. Based on these results, a formation mechanism of films obtained by the above methods has been suggested. In the case of reactive sputtering, the film was supposed to grow on the condensation surface through a reaction between titanium and nitrogen atoms. In the cases of nonreactive sputtering, the film forms from TiN molecules.
An appropriate filler is a key component required to achieve an useful composite with expected properties. Not only sophisticated types of filler, like graphene are popular, but also more common ones, like silica flour or fly ash because of their low costs. Besides production costs, adequate size and possibility of functionalization of particles surface to create stable bonds with a matrix are essential in filler selection. To create an useful filler for epoxy resin based composites with use of a waste material, namely fly ash, two-step procedure was proposed. In the first part, raw material was sieved and five different ranges of the filler size were obtained. After mechanical tests with fracture toughness, tensile strength and Young Modulus, as well thermal conductivity, the best size of the fly ash was chosen for further modification. During the second step, filler was modified with coupling agent [3-(2-aminoethylamino)propyl]trimethoxysilane in order to enhance the coupling between particular components of composite. Presence of the silane layer was confirmed with infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy measurements, whilst prepared epoxy composite filled with silanized fly ash was examined similarly as previous composites. Obtained results have proved the significant influence of size of a filler and bonding to the matrix on mechanical and thermal properties of fly ash-epoxy resin composite. Proposed simple method of fly ash modification is an environmentally friendly way for utilization of the fly ash. Moreover, it creates an alternative material applicable in electrical devices as functional composite.
Microscale patterning of solution-processed nanomaterials is important for integration in functional devices. Colloidal lead halide perovskite (LHP) nanocrystals (NCs) can be particularly challenging to pattern due to their incompatibility with polar solvents and lability of surface ligands. Here, we introduce a direct photopatterning approach for LHP NCs through the binding and subsequent cleavage of a photosensitive oxime sulfonate ester (-C=N-OSOO-). The photosensitizer binds to the NCs through its sulfonate group and is cleaved at the N-O bond during photoirradiation with 405 nm light. This bond cleavage decreases the solubility of the NCs, which allows patterns to emerge upon development with toluene. Postpatterning ligand exchange results in photoluminescence quantum yields of up to 79%, while anion exchange provides tunability in the emission wavelength. Finally, the patterned NC films show photoconductive behavior, demonstrating that good electrical contact between the NCs can be established.
Recently, there has been a considerable effort to study the Casimir and van der Waals forces, enabled by the improved ability to measure small forces near surfaces. Because of the continuously growing role of micro- and nanomechanical devices, the focus of this activity has shifted towards the ability to control these forces. Possible approaches to manipulating the Casimir force include development of composite materials, engineered nanostructures, mixed-phase materials, or active elements. So far, practical success has been limited. The role of geometrical factors in the Casimir force is significant. It is known, for example, that the Casimir force between two spherical shells enclosed one into the other is repulsive instead of normal attractive. Unfortunately, nanosurfaces with this topology are very difficult to make. A more direct approach to manipulating and neutralizing the Casimir force is using external mechanical or electromagnetic forces. Unfortunately, the technological overhead of such an approach is quite large. Using electromagnetic compensation instead of mechanical will considerably reduce this overhead and at the same time provide the degree of control over the Casimir force that mechanical springs cannot provide. A mechanical analog behind Casimir forces is shown.
Abstract Dimensional modifications play a crucial role in various applications, especially in the context of device miniaturization, giving rise to novel quantum phenomena. The many-body dynamics induced by dimensional modifications, including electron-electron, electron-phonon, electron-magnon and electron-plasmon coupling, are known to significantly affect the atomic and electronic properties of the materials. By reducing the dimensionality of orthorhombic CoSe 2 and forming heterostructure with bilayer graphene using molecular beam epitaxy, we unveil the emergence of two types of phase transitions through angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy measurements. We disclose that the 2 × 1 superstructure is associated with charge density wave induced by Fermi surface nesting, characterized by a transition temperature of 340 K. Additionally, another phase transition at temperature of 160 K based on temperature dependent gap evolution are observed with renormalized electronic structure induced by electron-boson coupling. These discoveries of the electronic and atomic modifications, influenced by electron-electron and electron-boson interactions, underscore that many-body physics play significant roles in understanding low-dimensional properties of non-van der Waals Co-chalcogenides and related heterostructures. Graphical Abstract
The single-cell Stentor coeruleus contracts in response to mechanical taps but habituates and learns to ignore the taps after repeated stimulation. Here, we explored the molecular changes that occur during the formation of this cellular memory in order to improve our understanding of non-synaptic learning. We impaired cellular protein synthesis with cycloheximide and puromycin and found that, contrary to the effects of such treatments on metazoa, these drugs accelerate habituation and prolong memory retention in Stentor . Exploratory proteomic and transcriptomic analyses identified candidate proteins and genes that changed over the course of habituation and response recovery, pointing toward the regulation of Stentor learning by calcium signaling and protein phosphorylation. Building on these results, we found that using RNA interference to knock down the calcium-binding, EF-hand domain-containing protein SteCoe_6763 accelerated habituation. Furthermore, increased extracellular calcium improved Stentor learning, while treatment with kinase and phosphatase inhibitors impaired learning. In particular, KN-93, a drug known to inhibit calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II and voltage-gated calcium channels, decreased both the rate and extent of habituation in Stentor , similar to its effects on learning in metazoa. We also discovered that habituation memory can be maintained in progeny following cell division. Taken together, these results suggest that response recovery in Stentor requires new protein synthesis and that memory formation involves the modification of delocalized mechanoreceptors by phosphorylation and calcium signaling. This is consistent with our previous model of Stentor learning, in which habituation occurs through the inactivation of cell-surface receptors.
The recent surge in interest of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) for heavy-duty vehicles increases the demand on the durability of oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysts used in the fuel cell cathode. This prioritizes efforts aimed at understanding and subsequently controlling catalyst degradation. Identical-location scanning transmission electron microscopy (IL-STEM) is a powerful method that enables precise characterization of degradation processes in individual catalyst nanoparticles across various stages of cycling. Recreating the degradation processes that occur in PEMFC membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) within the aqueous cell used for IL-STEM experiments is vital for generating an accurate understanding of these processes. In this work, we investigate the type and degree of catalyst degradation achieved by cycling in an aqueous cell compared to a PEMFC MEA. While significant degradation is observed in IL-STEM experiments performed on a traditional Pt catalyst using the standard accelerated stress test potential window (0.6-0.95 VRHE), degradation of a PtCo catalyst designed for heavy-duty vehicle use is very limited compared to that observed in MEAs. We therefore explore various experimental parameters such as temperature, acid type, acid concentration, ionomer content, and potential window to identify conditions that reproduce the degradation observed in MEAs. We find that by extending the cycling potential window to 0.4-1.0 V RHE in an electrolyte containing Pt ions, the degraded particle size distribution and alloy composition better match that observed in MEAs. In particular, these conditions increase the relative contribution of Ostwald ripening, which appears to play a more significant role in the degradation of larger alloy particles supported on high-surface-area carbons than coalescence. Results from this work highlight the potential for discrepancies between ex situ aqueous experiments and MEA tests. While different catalysts may require a unique modification to the AST protocol, strategies provided in this work enable future in situ and identical-location experiments that will play an important role in the development of robust catalysts for heavy-duty vehicle applications.
The ability to control thin-film growth has led to advances in our understanding of fundamental physics as well as to the emergence of novel technologies. However, common thin-film growth techniques introduce a number of limitations related to the concentration of defects on film interfaces and surfaces that limit the scope of systems that can be produced and studied experimentally. Here, we developed an ion-beam based subtractive fabrication process that enables creation and modification of thin films with pre-defined thicknesses. To accomplish this we transformed a multimodal imaging platform that combines time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry with atomic force microscopy to a unique fabrication tool that allows for precise sputtering of the nanometer-thin layers of material. To demonstrate fabrication of thin-films with in situ feedback and control on film thickness and functionality we systematically studied thickness dependence of ferroelectric switching of lead-zirconate-titanate, within a single epitaxial film. Lastly, our results demonstrate that through a subtractive film fabrication process we can control the piezoelectric response as a function of film thickness as well as improve on the overall piezoelectric response versus an untreated film.
The stoichiometric hydrogen deficiency of carbohydrate feedstock implies that all conversion processes must remove oxygen and concurrently increase hydrogen content to form liquid hydrocarbon products. With support from the DOE Early Career program (DE-SC0008418) we have investigated the use of transition metal carbides for hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) chemistries using CH 4 and H 2 as co-reactants. We report that concurrently processing CH 4 and C 1 -C 3 oxygenates (oxygenate/CH 4 = 0.01-0.1) at 950 K on molybdenum carbide clusters encapsulated in zeolite micropores results in a staged bed with upstream CH 4 reforming and downstream CH 4 dehydroaromatization. Forward rates of CH 4 pyrolysis limited by CH 4 activation are unperturbed by the introduction of oxygenates with a (C/H) eff <0.25 after rigorously accounting for the thermodynamic reversibility caused by the H 2 produced in oxygenate reforming reactions and the fraction of the active catalyst bed deemed unavailable for CH 4 dehydroaromatization. A binomial distribution of 12 C/ 13 C isotopologues of CO is observed upon introduction of CH 3 13 COOH/CH 4 reactants suggesting that the introduction of oxygenates with a (C/H) eff <0.25 results in complete fragmentation of the oxygenate at these temperatures which in turn results in the invariance of forward rates of CH 4 pyrolysis when using CO 2 , HCOOH, or CH 3 COOH co-feeds. The stoichiometric loss of oxygen as CO when co-processing C 1 -C 3 oxygenates and CH 4 at these temperatures demonstrates that (C/H) eff =(C-O)/H is a single valued descriptor for oxygen removal on Mo/HZSM-5 catalysts. Separately, we have demonstrated the utility of transition metal carbides for vapor phase catalytic hydrodeoxygenation using molecular hydrogen with high selectivity for C-O cleavage and near absence of sequential hydrogenation reactions at atmospheric hydrogen pressure and illustrated that the faculty of transition metal carbides for selective hydrodeoxygenation arises due to oxygen-modification of the catalyst in situ. The oxophilic characteristics of these materials engender both the observed acid-metal catalytic bifunctionality and selectivity for hydrodeoxygenation. The evolution of catalyst surface composition and catalytic function under oxidative reaction environments proffers unique challenges in structural characterization of these materials and in this context, we developed and demonstrated the use of chemical titration and chemical transient studies to assess catalytic site identity and densities.
The Seasat-A spacecraft, scheduled for launch in May 1978, will produce a global ocean data set covering a one-year nominal mission. Because this is a proof-of-concept mission, data processing algorithms are expected to evolve as the data base grows. To support the evolution and evaluation of algorithms, and to experiment with various techniques for processing the data, an algorithm development facility (ADF) is being developing. The ADF will provide access to the data base and to highly modularized processing programs. The processing programs will be subject to easy and frequent modification by a remote user community of sensor managers and experiment teams, who will use this capability to evaluate the overall performance of the sensors and the algorithms using surface truth data. The ADF concepts of software standardization and interface control are expected to have general applicability for adaptive data processing systems.
The study of neutron and proton nuclear activation in low-Earth orbit reported in NASA CR-162051 has been continued with increasing emphasis given to primary and secondary neutron activation. The previously reported activation due to protons has been modified to include: (1) flux attenuation caused by all inelastic reactions; (2) the modification of the proton flux distribution caused by sample covering material; and (3) the activation of the sample as a function of the distance into the sample from the surface of incidence. A method has been developed for including the effects on the activation of the finite width and length of the samples. The reactant product spectra produced by proton-induced reactions has been studied. Cross sections needed for neutron induced reactions leading to long-lived (half-life 1 day) radioisotopes have been identified and, in some cases, compiled.