Ceramic TBS/porous metal compliant layer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tolokan, Robert P.; Jarrabet, G. P.

1992-01-01

Technetics Corporation manufactures metal fiber materials and components used in aerospace applications. Our technology base is fiber metal porous sheet material made from sinter bonded metal fibers. Fiber metals have percent densities (metal content by volume) from 10 to 65 percent. Various topics are covered and include the following: fiber metal materials, compliant layer thermal bayer coatings (TBC's), pad properties, ceramic/pad TBC design, thermal shock rig, fabrication, and applications.

Surface plasmons based terahertz modulator consisting of silicon-air-metal-dielectric-metal layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Wei; Yang, Dongxiao; Qian, Zhenhai

2018-05-01

An optically controlled modulator of the terahertz wave, which is composed of a metal-dielectric-metal structure etched with circular loop arrays on both the metal layers and a photoexcited silicon wafer separated by an air layer, is proposed. Simulation results based on experimentally measured complex permittivities predict that modification of complex permittivity of the silicon wafer through excitation laser leads to a significant tuning of transmission characteristics of the modulator, forming the modulation depths of 59.62% and 96.64% based on localized surface plasmon peak and propagating surface plasmon peak, respectively. The influences of the complex permittivity of the silicon wafer and the thicknesses of both the air layer and the silicon wafer are numerically studied for better understanding the modulation mechanism. This study proposes a feasible methodology to design an optically controlled terahertz modulator with large modulation depth, high speed and suitable insertion loss, which is useful for terahertz applications in the future.

[The bonding mechanisms of base metals for metal-ceramic crown microstructure analysis of bonding agent and gold bond between porcelain and base metals].

PubMed

Wang, C C; Hsu, C S

1996-06-01

The use of base metal alloys for porcelain fused to a metal crown and bridges has increased recently because of lower price, high hardness, high tensile strength and high elastic modulus. The addition of beryllium to base metal alloys increased fluidity and improved casting fitness. Beryllium also controlled surface oxidation and bonding strength. The bonding agent and gold bonding agent also affected the bonding strength between porcelain and metal alloys. Four commercially available ceramic base alloys were studied (two alloys contained beryllium element, another two did not). The purpose of this investigation was to study the microstructure between porcelain matrix, bonding agent and alloy matrix interfaces. A scanning electron micro-probe analyzer and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) were used to study the distribution of elements (Ni, Cr, Mo, Cu, O, Si, Sn, Al) in four base alloys. The following results were obtained: 1. The thickness of the oxidized layer of Rexillium III alloy and Unitbond alloy (contained beryllium) was thinner than Unibond alloy and Wiron 88 alloy (no beryllium). 2. The thickness of the oxidized layer of alloys in air (10 minutes and 30 minutes) was thinner in Unitbond (2.45 microns and 3.80 microns) and thicker in Wiron 88 (4.39 microns and 5.96 microns). 3. The thickness of the oxidized layer occurring for a duration of ten minutes (in vaccum) showed that the Rexillium III alloy was the thinnest (1.93 microns), and Wiron 88 alloy was the thickest (2.30 microns). But in thirty minutes (vacuum), Unitbond alloy was the thinnest (3.37 microns), and Wiron 88 alloy was the thickest (5.51 microns). 4. The intensity of Cr elements was increased obviously near the interface between Unitbond alloy, Wiron 88 alloy (no beryllium) and oxidized layer, but the intensity of Ni and Mo elements was slightly increased. The intensity of Cr element was not increased markedly between Rexillium III alloy, Unitbond alloy (beryllium) and oxidized layer. 5. A white-grayish oxidized layer appeared at the metal-ceramic interfaces but the thickness of oxidized layer was not obviously different. 6. The use of bonding agent at metal-ceramic interface leads to the deposition of many Sn elements at about 40 microns range within the porcelain surface. 7. Second interaction phases at the porcelain layer appeared when gold bonding agent was used, and a 50-100 microns microleakage occurred at the metal-ceramic interface.

Influence of metal bonding layer on strain transfer performance of FBG

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Hao; Chen, Weimin; Zhang, Peng; Liu, Li; Shu, Yuejie; Wu, Jun

2013-01-01

Metal bonding layer seriously affects the strain transfer performance of Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG). Based on the mode of FBG strain transfer, the influence of the length, the thickness, Poisson's ratio, elasticity modulus of metal bonding layer on the strain transfer coefficient of FBG is analyzed by numerical simulation. FBG is packaged to steel wire using metal bonding technology of FBG. The tensile tests of different bonding lengths and elasticity modulus are carried out. The result shows the strain transfer coefficient of FBGs are 0.9848,0.962 and their average strain sensitivities are 1.076 pm/μɛ,1.099 pm/μɛ when the metal bonding layer is zinc, whose lengths are 15mm, 20mm, respectively. The strain transfer coefficient of FBG packaged by metal bonding layer raises 8.9 percent compared to epoxy glue package. The preliminary experimental results show that the strain transfer coefficient increases with the length of metal bonding layer, decreases with the thickness of metal bonding layer and the influence of Poisson's ratio can be ignored. The experiment result is general agreement with the analysis and provides guidance for metal package of FBG.

New metal phthalocyanines/metal simple hydroxide multilayers: experimental evidence of dipolar field-driven magnetic behavior.

PubMed

Bourzami, Riadh; Eyele-Mezui, Séraphin; Delahaye, Emilie; Drillon, Marc; Rabu, Pierre; Parizel, Nathalie; Choua, Sylvie; Turek, Philippe; Rogez, Guillaume

2014-01-21

A series of new hybrid multilayers has been synthesized by insertion-grafting of transition metal (Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II)) tetrasulfonato phthalocyanines between layers of Cu(II) and Co(II) simple hydroxides. The structural and spectroscopic investigations confirm the formation of new layered hybrid materials in which the phthalocyanines act as pillars between the inorganic layers. The magnetic investigations show that all copper hydroxide-based compounds behave similarly, presenting an overall antiferromagnetic behavior with no ordering down to 1.8 K. On the contrary, the cobalt hydroxide-based compounds present a ferrimagnetic ordering around 6 K, regardless of the nature of the metal phthalocyanine between the inorganic layers. The latter observation points to strictly dipolar interactions between the inorganic layers. The amplitude of the dipolar field has been evaluated from X-band and Q-band EPR spectroscopy investigation (Bdipolar ≈ 30 mT).

Conformal bi-layered perovskite/spinel coating on a metallic wire network for solid oxide fuel cells via an electrodeposition-based route

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Beom-Kyeong; Song, Rak-Hyun; Lee, Seung-Bok; Lim, Tak-Hyoung; Park, Seok-Joo; Jung, WooChul; Lee, Jong-Won

2017-04-01

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) require low-cost metallic components for current collection from electrodes as well as electrical connection between unit cells; however, the degradation of their electrical properties and surface stability associated with high-temperature oxidation is of great concern. It is thus important to develop protective conducting oxide coatings capable of mitigating the degradation of metallic components under SOFC operating conditions. Here, we report a conformal bi-layered coating composed of perovskite and spinel oxides on a metallic wire network fabricated by a facile electrodeposition-based route. A highly dense, crack-free, and adhesive bi-layered LaMnO3/Co3O4 coating of ∼1.2 μm thickness is conformally formed on the surfaces of wires with ∼100 μm diameter. We demonstrate that the bi-layered LaMnO3/Co3O4 coating plays a key role in improving the power density and durability of a tubular SOFC by stabilizing the surface of the metallic wire network used as a cathode current collector. The electrodeposition-based technique presented in this study offers a low-cost and scalable process to fabricate conformal multi-layered coatings on various metallic structures.

Coating with overlay metallic-cermet alloy systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gedwill, M. A.; Levine, S. R.; Glasgow, T. K. (Inventor)

1984-01-01

A base layer of an oxide dispersed, metallic alloy (cermet) is arc plasma sprayed onto a substrate, such as a turbine blade, vane, or the like, which is subjected to high temperature use. A top layer of an oxidation, hot corrosion, erosion resistant alloy of nickel, cobalt, or iron is then arc plasma sprayed onto the base layer. A heat treatment is used to improve the bonding. The base layer serves as an inhibitor to interdiffusion between the protective top layer and the substrate. Otherwise, the 10 protective top layer would rapidly interact detrimentally with the substrate and degrade by spalling of the protective oxides formed on the outer surface at elevated temperatures.

Effect of laser power on clad metal in laser-TIG combined metal cladding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Utsumi, Akihiro; Hino, Takanori; Matsuda, Jun; Tasoda, Takashi; Yoneda, Masafumi; Katsumura, Munehide; Yano, Tetsuo; Araki, Takao

2003-03-01

TIG arc welding has been used to date as a method for clad welding of white metal as bearing material. We propose a new clad welding process that combines a CO2 laser and a TIG arc, as a method for cladding at high speed. We hypothesized that this method would permit appropriate control of the melted quantity of base metal by varying the laser power. We carried out cladding while varying the laser power, and investigated the structure near the boundary between the clad layer and the base metal. Using the laser-TIG combined cladding, we found we were able to control appropriately the degree of dilution with the base metal. By applying this result to subsequent cladding, we were able to obtain a clad layer of high quality, which was slightly diluted with the base metal.

Changes of electrical conductivity of the metal surface layer by the laser alloying with foreign elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kostrubiec, Franciszek; Pawlak, Ryszard; Raczynski, Tomasz; Walczak, Maria

1994-09-01

Laser treatment of the surface of materials is of major importance for many fields technology. One of the latest and most significant methods of this treatment is laser alloying consisting of introducing foreign atoms into the metal surface layer during the reaction of laser radiation with the surface. This opens up vast possibilities for the modification of properties of such a layer (obtaining layers of increased microhardness, increased resistance to electroerosion in an electric arc, etc.). Conductivity of the material is a very important parameter in case of conductive materials used for electrical contacts. The paper presents the results of studies on change in electrical conductivity of the surface layer of metals alloyed with a laser. A comparative analysis of conductivity of base metal surface layers prior to and following laser treatment has been performed. Depending on the base metal and the alloying element, optical treatment parameters allowing a required change in the surface layer conductivity have been selected. A very important property of the contact material is its resistance to plastic strain. It affects the real value of contact surface coming into contact and, along with the material conductivity, determines contact resistance and the amount of heat generated in place of contact. These quantities are directly related to the initiation and the course of an arc discharge, hence they also affect resistance to electroerosion. The parameter that reflects plastic properties with loads concentrated on a small surface, as is the case with a reciprocal contact force of two real surfaces with their irregularities being in contact, is microhardness. In the paper, the results of investigations into microhardness of modified surface layers compared with base metal microhardness have been presented.

Core-protective half-metallicity in trilayer graphene nanoribbons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeon, Gi Wan; Lee, Kyu Won; Lee, Cheol Eui

2017-07-01

Half-metals, playing an important role in spintronics, can be described as materials that enable fully spin-polarized electrical current. Taking place in graphene-based materials, half-metallicity has been shown in zigzag-edged graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) under an electric field. Localized electron states on the edge carbons are a key to enabling half-metallicity in ZGNRs. Thus, modification of the localized electron states is instrumental to the carbon-based spintronics. Our simple model shows that in a trilayer ZGNRs (triZGNRs) only the middle layer may become half-metallic leaving the outer layers insulating in an electric field, as confirmed by our density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Due to the different circumstances of the edge carbons, the electron energies at the edge carbons are different near the Fermi level, leading to a layer-selective half-metallicity. We believe that triZGNRs can be the tiniest electric cable (nanocable) form and can open a route to graphene-based spintronics applications.

Trace metal in sediment from a deep-sea floor of Makassar Strait

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Budianto, F.; Lestari

2018-02-01

Makassar Strait is located in the entrance of Indonesian Through Flow (ITF). However, the geochemistry of metals in sediment within Makassar Strait remains unexplored. The aim of this study was to measure the concentration of metals in sediment and to assess the sediment quality based on those metals concentrations. The sediment was collected from 632-4730 m in depth using giant piston corer on R/V Baruna Jaya VIII in December 2014. In each observation point, three layers of sediment were sub-sampled from the core i.e. surface layer (0-5 cm), middle layer (45-55 cm) and bottom layer. The metals were analyzed using acid digestion procedure followed by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The result indicated that the metal has spatially insignificant differences in sediment and the increase of metal concentration by depth was noticed. The Enrichment factor presented as no enrichment to minor enrichment of metal in sediment.

Laser modification of macroscopic properties of metal surface layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kostrubiec, Franciszek

1995-03-01

Surface laser treatment of metals comprises a number of diversified technological operations out of which the following can be considered the most common: oxidation and rendering surfaces amorphous, surface hardening of steel, modification of selected physical properties of metal surface layers. In the paper basic results of laser treatment of a group of metals used as base materials for electric contacts have been presented. The aim of the study was to test the usability of laser treatment from the viewpoint of requirements imposed on materials for electric contacts. The results presented in the paper refer to two different surface treatment technologies: (1) modification of infusible metal surface layer: tungsten and molybdenum through laser fusing of their surface layer and its crystallization, and (2) modification of surface layer properties of other metals through laser doping of their surface layer with foreign elements. In the paper a number of results of experimental investigations obtained by the team under the author's supervision are presented.

Solid state transport-based thermoelectric converter

DOEpatents

Hu, Zhiyu

2010-04-13

A solid state thermoelectric converter includes a thermally insulating separator layer, a semiconducting collector and an electron emitter. The electron emitter comprises a metal nanoparticle layer or plurality of metal nanocatalyst particles disposed on one side of said separator layer. A first electrically conductive lead is electrically coupled to the electron emitter. The collector layer is disposed on the other side of the separator layer, wherein the thickness of the separator layer is less than 1 .mu.m. A second conductive lead is electrically coupled to the collector layer.

Method For Improving The Oxidation Resistance Of Metal Substrates Coated With Thermal Barrier Coatings

DOEpatents

Thompson, Anthony Mark; Gray, Dennis Michael; Jackson, Melvin Robert

2003-05-13

A method for providing a protective coating on a metal-based substrate is disclosed. The method involves the application of an aluminum-rich mixture to the substrate to form a discontinuous layer of aluminum-rich particles, followed by the application of a second coating over the discontinuous layer of aluminum-rich particles. Aluminum diffuses from the aluminum-rich layer into the substrate, and into any bond coat layer which is subsequently applied. Related articles are also described. A method for providing a protective coating on a metal-based substrate is disclosed. The method involves the application of an aluminum-rich mixture to the substrate to form a discontinuous layer of aluminum-rich particles, followed by the application of a second coating over the discontinuous layer of aluminum-rich particles. Aluminum diffuses from the aluminum-rich layer into the substrate, and into any bond coat layer which is subsequently applied. Related articles are also described.

Recent Advances in Gas Barrier Thin Films via Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Polymers and Platelets.

PubMed

Priolo, Morgan A; Holder, Kevin M; Guin, Tyler; Grunlan, Jaime C

2015-05-01

Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly has emerged as the leading non-vacuum technology for the fabrication of transparent, super gas barrier films. The super gas barrier performance of LbL deposited films has been demonstrated in numerous studies, with a variety of polyelectrolytes, to rival that of metal and metal oxide-based barrier films. This Feature Article is a mini-review of LbL-based multilayer thin films with a 'nanobrick wall' microstructure comprising polymeric mortar and nano-platelet bricks that impart high gas barrier to otherwise permeable polymer substrates. These transparent, water-based thin films exhibit oxygen transmission rates below 5 × 10(-3) cm(3) m(-2) day(-1) atm(-1) and lower permeability than any other barrier material reported. In an effort to put this technology in the proper context, incumbent technologies such as metallized plastics, metal oxides, and flake-filled polymers are briefly reviewed. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Capacitors Would Help Protect Against Hypervelocity Impacts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Edwards, David; Hubbs, Whitney; Hovater, Mary

2007-01-01

A proposal investigates alternatives to the present bumper method of protecting spacecraft against impacts of meteoroids and orbital debris. The proposed method is based on a British high-voltage-capacitance technique for protecting armored vehicles against shaped-charge warheads. A shield, according to the proposal, would include a bare metal outer layer separated by a gap from an inner metal layer covered with an electrically insulating material. The metal layers would constitute electrodes of a capacitor. A bias potential would be applied between the metal layers. A particle impinging at hypervelocity on the outer metal layer would break apart into a debris cloud that would penetrate the electrical insulation on the inner metal layer. The cloud would form a path along which electric current could flow between the metal layers, thereby causing the capacitor to discharge. With proper design, the discharge current would be large enough to vaporize the particles in the debris cloud to prevent penetration of the spacecraft. The shield design can be mass optimized to be competitive with existing bumper designs. Parametric studies were proposed to determine optimum correction between bias voltage, impacting particle velocity, gap space, and insulating material required to prevent spacecraft penetration.

Ultra-thin ohmic contacts for p-type nitride light emitting devices

DOEpatents

Raffetto, Mark; Bharathan, Jayesh; Haberern, Kevin; Bergmann, Michael; Emerson, David; Ibbetson, James; Li, Ting

2014-06-24

A flip-chip semiconductor based Light Emitting Device (LED) can include an n-type semiconductor substrate and an n-type GaN epi-layer on the substrate. A p-type GaN epi-layer can be on the n-type GaN epi-layer and a metal ohmic contact p-electrode can be on the p-type GaN epi-layer, where the metal ohmic contact p-electrode can have an average thickness less than about 25 .ANG.. A reflector can be on the metal ohmic contact p-electrode and a metal stack can be on the reflector. An n-electrode can be on the substrate opposite the n-type GaN epi-layer and a bonding pad can be on the n-electrode.

Diode-based additive manufacturing of metals using an optically-addressable light valve.

PubMed

Matthews, Manyalibo J; Guss, Gabe; Drachenberg, Derrek R; Demuth, James A; Heebner, John E; Duoss, Eric B; Kuntz, Joshua D; Spadaccini, Christopher M

2017-05-15

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) of metal powder bed layers, whereby 3D metal objects can be printed from a digital file with unprecedented design flexibility, is spurring manufacturing innovations in medical, automotive, aerospace and textile industries. Because SLM is based on raster-scanning a laser beam over each layer, the process is relatively slow compared to most traditional manufacturing methods (hours to days), thus limiting wider spread use. Here we demonstrate the use of a large area, photolithographic method for 3D metal printing, using an optically-addressable light valve (OALV) as the photomask, to print entire layers of metal powder at once. An optical sheet of multiplexed ~5 kW, 20 ms laser diode and ~1 MW, 7 ns Q-switched laser pulses are used to selectively melt each layer. The patterning of near infrared light is accomplished by imaging 470 nm light onto the transmissive OALV, which consists of polarization-selective nematic liquid crystal sandwiched between a photoconductor and transparent conductor for switching.

Metallic Contact between MoS2 and Ni via Au Nanoglue.

PubMed

Shi, Xinying; Posysaev, Sergei; Huttula, Marko; Pankratov, Vladimir; Hoszowska, Joanna; Dousse, Jean-Claude; Zeeshan, Faisal; Niu, Yuran; Zakharov, Alexei; Li, Taohai; Miroshnichenko, Olga; Zhang, Meng; Wang, Xiao; Huang, Zhongjia; Saukko, Sami; González, Diego López; van Dijken, Sebastiaan; Alatalo, Matti; Cao, Wei

2018-05-01

A critical factor for electronics based on inorganic layered crystals stems from the electrical contact mode between the semiconducting crystals and the metal counterparts in the electric circuit. Here, a materials tailoring strategy via nanocomposite decoration is carried out to reach metallic contact between MoS 2 matrix and transition metal nanoparticles. Nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) are successfully joined to the sides of a layered MoS 2 crystal through gold nanobuffers, forming semiconducting and magnetic NiNPs@MoS 2 complexes. The intrinsic semiconducting property of MoS 2 remains unchanged, and it can be lowered to only few layers. Chemical bonding of the Ni to the MoS 2 host is verified by synchrotron radiation based photoemission electron microscopy, and further proved by first-principles calculations. Following the system's band alignment, new electron migration channels between metal and the semiconducting side contribute to the metallic contact mechanism, while semiconductor-metal heterojunctions enhance the photocatalytic ability. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

I-III-VI.sub.2 based solar cell utilizing the structure CuInGaSe.sub.2 CdZnS/ZnO

DOEpatents

Chen, Wen S.; Stewart, John M.

1992-01-07

A thin film I-III-VI.sub.2 based solar cell having a first layer of copper indium gallium selenide, a second layer of cadmium zinc sulfide, a double layer of zinc oxide, and a metallization structure comprised of a layer of nickel covered by a layer of aluminum. An optional antireflective coating may be placed on said metallization structure. The cadmium zinc sulfide layer is deposited by means of an aqueous solution growth deposition process and may actually consist of two layers: a low zinc content layer and a high zinc content layer. Photovoltaic efficiencies of 12.5% at Air Mass 1.5 illumination conditions and 10.4% under AMO illumination can be achieved.

Characterisation of well-adhered ZrO2 layers produced on structured reactors using the sonochemical sol-gel method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jodłowski, Przemysław J.; Chlebda, Damian K.; Jędrzejczyk, Roman J.; Dziedzicka, Anna; Kuterasiński, Łukasz; Sitarz, Maciej

2018-01-01

The aim of this study was to obtain thin zirconium dioxide coatings on structured reactors using the sonochemical sol-gel method. The preparation method of metal oxide layers on metallic structures was based on the synergistic combination of three approaches: the application of ultrasonic irradiation during the synthesis of Zr sol-gel based on a precursor solution containing zirconium(IV) n-propoxide, the addition of stabilszing agents, and the deposition of ZrO2 on the metallic structures using the dip-coating method. As a result, dense, uniform zirconium dioxide films were obtained on the FeCrAlloy supports. The structured reactors were characterised by various physicochemical methods, such as BET, AFM, EDX, XRF, XRD, XPS and in situ Raman spectroscopy. The results of the structural analysis by Raman and XPS spectroscopy confirmed that the metallic surface was covered by a ZrO2 layer without any impurities. SEM/EDX mapping revealed that the deposited ZrO2 covered the metallic support uniformly. The mechanical and high temperature tests showed that the developed ultrasound assisted sol-gel method is an efficient way to obtain thin, well-adhered zirconium dioxide layers on the structured reactors. The prepared metallic supports covered with thin ZrO2 layers may be a good alternative to layered structured reactors in several dynamics flow processes, for example for gas exhaust abatement.

Composite oxygen ion transport element

DOEpatents

Chen, Jack C [Getzville, NY; Besecker, Charles J [Batavia, IL; Chen, Hancun [Williamsville, NY; Robinson, Earil T [Mentor, OH

2007-06-12

A composite oxygen ion transport element that has a layered structure formed by a dense layer to transport oxygen ions and electrons and a porous support layer to provide mechanical support. The dense layer can be formed of a mixture of a mixed conductor, an ionic conductor, and a metal. The porous support layer can be fabricated from an oxide dispersion strengthened metal, a metal-reinforced intermetallic alloy, a boron-doped Mo.sub.5Si.sub.3-based intermetallic alloy or combinations thereof. The support layer can be provided with a network of non-interconnected pores and each of said pores communicates between opposite surfaces of said support layer. Such a support layer can be advantageously employed to reduce diffusion resistance in any type of element, including those using a different material makeup than that outlined above.

A Model of the THUNDER Actuator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Curtis, Alan R. D.

1997-01-01

A THUNDER actuator is a composite of three thin layers, a metal base, a piezoelectric wafer and a metal top cover, bonded together under pressure and at high temperature with the LaRC SI polyimid adhesive. When a voltage is applied between the metal layers across the PZT the actuator will bend and can generate a force. This document develops and describes an analytical model the transduction properties of THUNDER actuators. The model development is divided into three sections. First, a static model is described that relates internal stresses and strains and external displacements to the thermal pre-stress and applied voltage. Second, a dynamic energy based model is described that allows calculation of the resonance frequencies, developed force and electrical input impedance. Finally, a fully coupled electro-mechanical transducer model is described. The model development proceeds by assuming that both the thermal pre-stress and the piezoelectric actuation cause the actuator to deform in a pure bend in a single plane. It is useful to think of this as a two step process, the actuator is held flat, differential stresses induce a bending moment, the actuator is released and it bends. The thermal pre-stress is caused by the different amounts that the constituent layers shrink due to their different coefficients of thermal expansion. The adhesive between layers sets at a high temperature and as the actuator cools, the metal layers shrink more than the PZT. The PZT layer is put into compression while the metal layers are in tension. The piezoelectric actuation has a similar effect. An applied voltage causes the PZT layer to strain, which in turn strains the two metal layers. If the PZT layer expands it will put the metal layers into tension and PZT layer into compression. In both cases, if shear force effects are neglected, the actuator assembly will experience a uniform in-plane strain. As the materials each have a different elastic modulus, different stresses will develop in each layer and these stresses will induce a bending moment. When the actuator is released from its flat configuration, the differential stresses are relieved as the actuator bends.

Large capacitance enhancement induced by metal-doping in graphene-based supercapacitors: a first-principles-based assessment.

PubMed

Paek, Eunsu; Pak, Alexander J; Hwang, Gyeong S

2014-08-13

Chemically doped graphene-based materials have recently been explored as a means to improve the performance of supercapacitors. In this work, we investigate the effects of 3d transition metals bound to vacancy sites in graphene with [BMIM][PF6] ionic liquid on the interfacial capacitance; these results are compared to the pristine graphene case with particular attention to the relative contributions of the quantum and electric double layer capacitances. Our study highlights that the presence of metal-vacancy complexes significantly increases the availability of electronic states near the charge neutrality point, thereby enhancing the quantum capacitance drastically. In addition, the use of metal-doped graphene electrodes is found to only marginally influence the microstructure and capacitance of the electric double layer. Our findings indicate that metal-doping of graphene-like electrodes can be a promising route toward increasing the interfacial capacitance of electrochemical double layer capacitors, primarily by enhancing the quantum capacitance.

Polymer based tunneling sensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Jing (Inventor); Zhao, Yongjun (Inventor); Cui, Tianhong (Inventor)

2006-01-01

A process for fabricating a polymer based circuit by the following steps. A mold of a design is formed through a lithography process. The design is transferred to a polymer substrate through a hot embossing process. A metal layer is then deposited over at least part of said design and at least one electrical lead is connected to said metal layer.

Performance limits of tunnel transistors based on mono-layer transition-metal dichalcogenides

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jiang, Xiang-Wei, E-mail: xwjiang@semi.ac.cn; Li, Shu-Shen; Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026

2014-05-12

Performance limits of tunnel field-effect transistors based on mono-layer transition metal dichalcogenides are investigated through numerical quantum mechanical simulations. The atomic mono-layer nature of the devices results in a much smaller natural length λ, leading to much larger electric field inside the tunneling diodes. As a result, the inter-band tunneling currents are found to be very high as long as ultra-thin high-k gate dielectric is possible. The highest on-state driving current is found to be close to 600 μA/μm at V{sub g} = V{sub d} = 0.5 V when 2 nm thin HfO{sub 2} layer is used for gate dielectric, outperforming most of the conventional semiconductor tunnelmore » transistors. In the five simulated transition-metal dichalcogenides, mono-layer WSe{sub 2} based tunnel field-effect transistor shows the best potential. Deep analysis reveals that there is plenty room to further enhance the device performance by either geometry, alloy, or strain engineering on these mono-layer materials.« less

Isomolybdate conversion coatings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Minevski, Zoran (Inventor); Maxey, Jason (Inventor); Nelson, Carl (Inventor); Eylem, Cahit (Inventor)

2002-01-01

A conversion coating solution and process forms a stable and corrosion-resistant layer on metal substrates or layers or, more preferably, on a boehmite layer or other base conversion coating. The conversion coating process involves contacting the substrate, layer or coating with an aqueous alkali metal isomolybdate solution in order to convert the surface of the substrate, layer or coating to a stable conversion coating. The aqueous alkali metal molybdates are selected from sodium molybdate (Na.sub.2 MoO.sub.4), lithium molybdate (Li.sub.2 MoO.sub.4), potassium molybdate (K.sub.2 MoO.sub.4), or combinations thereof, with the most preferred alkali metal molybdate being sodium molybdate. The concentration of alkali metal molybdates in the solution is preferably less than 5% by weight. In addition to the alkali metal molybdates, the conversion coating solution may include alkaline metal passivators selected from lithium nitrate (LiNO.sub.3), sodium nitrate (NaNO.sub.3), ammonia nitrate (NH.sub.4 NO.sub.3), and combinations thereof; lithium chloride, potassium hexafluorozirconate (K.sub.2 ZrF.sub.6) or potassium hexafluorotitanate (K.sub.2 TiF.sub.6).

Analysis of the metal layer thickness influence on the dispersion characteristics of acoustic waves propagating in the layered piezoelectric structure "Me/AlN/Me/diamond".

PubMed

Burkov, S I; Zolotova, O P; Sorokin, B P

2018-02-01

The paper presents the results of computer simulation of the acoustic waves propagation in piezoelectric layered structures based on diamond substrate under the influence of various metal film deposition. It has been observed that the maximum phase velocity change Δv/v is achieved with an "Au/(001) AlN/Au/(100) diamond" PLS configuration. However, if the acoustic impedance of the metal layer is greater than the acoustic impedance of the substrate, an elastic wave reflection can be observed, reducing the Δv/v quantities. Obtained results may be useful in the development of resonant and sensor acousto-electronic devices based on the Rayleigh and Love waves. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Method of making multilayered titanium ceramic composites

DOEpatents

Fisher, G.T. II; Hansen, J.S.; Oden, L.L.; Turner, P.C.; Ochs, T.L.

1998-08-25

A method making a titanium ceramic composite involves forming a hot pressed powder body having a microstructure comprising at least one titanium metal or alloy layer and at least one ceramic particulate reinforced titanium metal or alloy layer and hot forging the hot pressed body followed by hot rolling to substantially reduce a thickness dimension and substantially increase a lateral dimension thereof to form a composite plate or sheet that retains in the microstructure at least one titanium based layer and at least one ceramic reinforced titanium based layer in the thickness direction of the composite plate or sheet. 3 figs.

Method of making multilayered titanium ceramic composites

DOEpatents

Fisher, George T., II; Hansen; Jeffrey S.; Oden; Laurance L.; Turner; Paul C.; Ochs; Thomas L.

1998-08-25

A method making a titanium ceramic composite involves forming a hot pressed powder body having a microstructure comprising at least one titanium metal or alloy layer and at least one ceramic particulate reinforced titanium metal or alloy layer and hot forging the hot pressed body follwed by hot rolling to substantially reduce a thickness dimension and substantially increase a lateral dimension thereof to form a composite plate or sheet that retains in the microstructure at least one titanium based layer and at least one ceramic reinforced titanium based layer in the thickness direction of the composite plate or sheet.

Method of making multilayered titanium ceramic composites

DOEpatents

Fisher, II, George T.; Hansen, Jeffrey S.; Oden, Laurance L.; Turner, Paul C.; Ochs, Thomas L.

1998-01-01

A method making a titanium ceramic composite involves forming a hot pressed powder body having a microstructure comprising at least one titanium metal or alloy layer and at least one ceramic particulate reinforced titanium metal or alloy layer and hot forging the hot pressed body follwed by hot rolling to substantially reduce a thickness dimension and substantially increase a lateral dimension thereof to form a composite plate or sheet that retains in the microstructure at least one titanium based layer and at least one ceramic reinforced titanium based layer in the thickness direction of the composite plate or sheet.

Electrodeposition of biaxially textured layers on a substrate

DOEpatents

Bhattacharya, Raghu N; Phok, Sovannary; Spagnol, Priscila; Chaudhuri, Tapas

2013-11-19

Methods of producing one or more biaxially textured layer on a substrate, and articles produced by the methods, are disclosed. An exemplary method may comprise electrodepositing on the substrate a precursor material selected from the group consisting of rare earths, transition metals, actinide, lanthanides, and oxides thereof. An exemplary article (150) may comprise a biaxially textured base material (130), and at least one biaxially textured layer (110) selected from the group consisting of rare earths, transition metals, actinides, lanthanides, and oxides thereof. The at least one biaxially textured layer (110) is formed by electrodeposition on the biaxially textured base material (130).

Graphene based resonance structure to enhance the optical pressure between two planar surfaces.

PubMed

Hassanzadeh, Abdollah; Azami, Darya

2015-12-28

To enhance the optical pressure on a thin dielectric sample, a resonance structure using graphene layers coated over a metal film on a high index prism sputtered with MgF2 was theoretically analyzed. The number of graphene layers and the thicknesses of metal and MgF2 films were optimized to achieve the highest optical pressure on the sample. Effects of three different types of metals on the optical pressure were investigated numerically. In addition, simulations were carried out for samples with various thicknesses. Our numerical results show that the optical pressure increased by more than five orders of magnitude compared to the conventional metal-film-base resonance structure. The highest optical pressure was obtained for 10 layers of graphene deposited on 29-nm thick Au film and 650 nm thickness of MgF2 at 633nm wavelength, The proposed graphene based resonance structure can open new possibilities for optical tweezers, nanomechnical devices and surface plasmon based sensing and imaging techniques.

Thin metal bilayer for surface plasmon resonance sensors in a multimode plastic optical fiber: the case of palladium and gold metal films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cennamo, Nunzio; Zuppella, Paola; Bacco, Davide; Corso, Alain J.; Pelizzo, Maria G.; Pesavento, Maria; Zeni, Luigi

2016-05-01

A novel sensing platform based on thin metal bilayer for surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in a D-shaped plastic optical fiber (POF) has been designed, implemented and tested. The experimental results are congruent with the numerical studies. This platform has been properly optimized to work in the 1.38 -1.42 refractive index range and it exhibits excellent sensitivity. This refractive index range is very interesting for bio-chemical applications, where the polymer layer are used as receptors (e.g. molecularly imprinted polymer) or to immobilize the bio-receptor on the metal surface. The proposed metallic bilayer is based on palladium and gold films and replaces the traditional gold by exhibiting higher performances. Furthermore, the deposition of the thin bilayer is a single process and no further manufacturing step is required. In fact, in this case the photoresist buffer layer between the POF core and the metal layer, usually required to increase the refractive index range, is no longer necessary.

Diode-based additive manufacturing of metals using an optically-addressable light valve

DOE PAGES

Matthews, Manyalibo J.; Guss, Gabe; Drachenberg, Derrek R.; ...

2017-05-10

We present that Selective Laser Melting (SLM) of metal powder bed layers, whereby 3D metal objects can be printed from a digital file with unprecedented design flexibility, is spurring manufacturing innovations in medical, automotive, aerospace and textile industries. Because SLM is based on raster-scanning a laser beam over each layer, the process is relatively slow compared to most traditional manufacturing methods (hours to days), thus limiting wider spread use. Here we demonstrate the use of a large area, photolithographic method for 3D metal printing, using an optically-addressable light valve (OALV) as the photomask, to print entire layers of metal powdermore » at once. An optical sheet of multiplexed ~5 kW, 20 ms laser diode and ~1 MW, 7 ns Q-switched laser pulses are used to selectively melt each layer. Finally, the patterning of near infrared light is accomplished by imaging 470 nm light onto the transmissive OALV, which consists of polarization-selective nematic liquid crystal sandwiched between a photoconductor and transparent conductor for switching.« less

Role of nanorods insertion layer in ZnO-based electrochemical metallization memory cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mangasa Simanjuntak, Firman; Singh, Pragya; Chandrasekaran, Sridhar; Juanda Lumbantoruan, Franky; Yang, Chih-Chieh; Huang, Chu-Jie; Lin, Chun-Chieh; Tseng, Tseung-Yuen

2017-12-01

An engineering nanorod array in a ZnO-based electrochemical metallization device for nonvolatile memory applications was investigated. A hydrothermally synthesized nanorod layer was inserted into a Cu/ZnO/ITO device structure. Another device was fabricated without nanorods for comparison, and this device demonstrated a diode-like behavior with no switching behavior at a low current compliance (CC). The switching became clear only when the CC was increased to 75 mA. The insertion of a nanorods layer induced switching characteristics at a low operation current and improve the endurance and retention performances. The morphology of the nanorods may control the switching characteristics. A forming-free electrochemical metallization memory device having long switching cycles (>104 cycles) with a sufficient memory window (103 times) for data storage application, good switching stability and sufficient retention was successfully fabricated by adjusting the morphology and defect concentration of the inserted nanorod layer. The nanorod layer not only contributed to inducing resistive switching characteristics but also acted as both a switching layer and a cation diffusion control layer.

Alkali metal-refractory metal biphase electrode for AMTEC

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, Roger M. (Inventor); Bankston, Clyde P. (Inventor); Cole, Terry (Inventor); Khanna, Satish K. (Inventor); Jeffries-Nakamura, Barbara (Inventor); Wheeler, Bob L. (Inventor)

1989-01-01

An electrode having increased output with slower degradation is formed of a film applied to a beta-alumina solid electrolyte (BASE). The film comprises a refractory first metal M.sup.1 such as a platinum group metal, suitably platinum or rhodium, capable of forming a liquid or a strong surface adsorption phase with sodium at the operating temperature of an alkali metal thermoelectric converter (AMTEC) and a second refractory metal insoluble in sodium or the NaM.sup.1 liquid phase such as a Group IVB, VB or VIB metal, suitably tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum or niobium. The liquid phase or surface film provides fast transport through the electrode while the insoluble refractory metal provides a structural matrix for the electrode during operation. A trilayer structure that is stable and not subject to deadhesion comprises a first, thin layer of tungsten, an intermediate co-deposited layer of tungsten-platinum and a thin surface layer of platinum.

Method of Fabricating Schottky Barrier solar cell

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stirn, R. J.; Yeh, Y. C. M. (Inventor)

1982-01-01

On a thin substrate of low cost material with at least the top surface of the substrate being electrically conductive is deposited a thin layer of heavily doped n-type polycrystalline germanium, with crystalline sizes in the submicron range. A passivation layer may be deposited on the substrate to prevent migration of impurities into the polycrystalline germanium. The polycrystalline germanium is recrystallized to increase the crystal sizes in the germanium layer to not less than 5 micros to serve as a base layer on which a thin layer of gallium arsenide is vapor epitaxially grown to a selected thickness. A thermally-grown oxide layer of a thickness of several tens of angstroms is formed on the gallium arsenide layer. A metal layer, of not more about 100 angstroms thick, is deposited on the oxide layer, and a grid electrode is deposited to be in electrical contact with the top surface of the metal layer. An antireflection coating may be deposited on the exposed top surface of the metal layer.

Computer-aided study of key factors determining high mechanical properties of nanostructured surface layers in metal-ceramic composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Konovalenko, Igor S.; Shilko, Evgeny V.; Ovcharenko, Vladimir E.; Psakhie, Sergey G.

2017-12-01

The paper presents the movable cellular automaton method. It is based on numerical models of surface layers of the metal-ceramic composite NiCr-TiC modified under electron beam irradiation in inert gas plasmas. The models take into account different geometric, concentration and mechanical parameters of ceramic and metallic components. The authors study the contributions of key structural factors in mechanical properties of surface layers and determine the ranges of their variations by providing the optimum balance of strength, strain hardening and fracture toughness.

Smooth Interfacial Scavenging for Resistive Switching Oxide via the Formation of Highly Uniform Layers of Amorphous TaOx.

PubMed

Tsurumaki-Fukuchi, Atsushi; Nakagawa, Ryosuke; Arita, Masashi; Takahashi, Yasuo

2018-02-14

We demonstrate that the inclusion of a Ta interfacial layer is a remarkably effective strategy for forming interfacial oxygen defects at metal/oxide junctions. The insertion of an interfacial layer of a reactive metal, that is, a "scavenging" layer, has been recently proposed as a way to create a high concentration of oxygen defects at an interface in redox-based resistive switching devices, and growing interest has been given to the underlying mechanism. Through structural and chemical analyses of Pt/metal/SrTiO 3 /Pt structures, we reveal that the rate and amount of oxygen scavenging are not directly determined by the formation free energies in the oxidation reactions of the scavenging metal and unveil the important roles of oxygen diffusibility. Active oxygen scavenging and highly uniform oxidation via scavenging are revealed for a Ta interfacial layer with high oxygen diffusibility. In addition, the Ta scavenging layer is shown to exhibit a highly uniform structure and to form a very flat interface with SrTiO 3 , which are advantageous for the fabrication of a steep metal/oxide contact.

Method of producing solution-derived metal oxide thin films

DOEpatents

Boyle, Timothy J.; Ingersoll, David

2000-01-01

A method of preparing metal oxide thin films by a solution method. A .beta.-metal .beta.-diketonate or carboxylate compound, where the metal is selected from groups 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of the Periodic Table, is solubilized in a strong Lewis base to form a homogeneous solution. This precursor solution forms within minutes and can be deposited on a substrate in a single layer or a multiple layers to form a metal oxide thin film. The substrate with the deposited thin film is heated to change the film from an amorphous phase to a ceramic metal oxide and cooled.

Development of Cu Clad Cu-Zr Based Metallic Glass and Its Solderability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Terajima, Takeshi; Kimura, Hisamichi; Inoue, Akihisa

Soldering is a candidate technique for joining metallic glasses. It can be processed far below the crystallization temperatures of the various metallic glasses so that there is no possibility of crystallization. However, wettability of Cu-Zr based metallic glass by Pb free solder is poor because a strong surface oxide film interferes direct contact between them. To overcome the problem, Cu thin film clad metallic glass was developed. It was preliminary produced by casting a melt of Cu36Zr48Al8Ag8 pre-alloy into Cu mold cavity, inside which Cu thin film with 2 mm in thickness was set on the wall. Cu36Zr48Al8Ag8 metallic glass, whose surface Cu thin film was welded to, was successfully produced. From the microstructure analyses, it was found that reaction layer was formed at the interface between Cu and Cu36Zr48Al8Ag8 metallic glass, however, there was no oxide in the Cu clad layer. Solderability to the metallic glass was drastically increased. The Cu clad layer played an important role to prevent the formation of surface oxide film and consequently improved the solderability.

Phospho-silicate and silicate layers modified by hydroxyapatite particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rokita, M.; Brożek, A.; Handke, M.

2005-06-01

Common used metal materials do not ensure good connection between an implant and biological neighbourhood. Covering implants by thin silicate or phosphate layers enable to improve biological properties of implants and create conditions for producing the non-concrete bonding between the implant and tissue. The project includes preparing silicate sols of different concentrations and proper (powder) fraction of synthetic as well as natural ox hydroxyapatite, depositing the sol mixed with hydroxyapatite onto the base material (metal, ceramic carbon) and heat treatment. Our work includes also preparation of phospho-silicate layers deposited onto different base materials using sol-gel method. Deposited sols were prepared regarding composition, concentration and layer heat treatment conditions. The prepared layers are examined to determine their phase composition (XRD, IR spectroscopy methods), density and continuity (scanning microscopy with EDX methods). Biological activity of layers was evaluated by means of estimation of their corrosive resistance in synthetic body fluids ('in vitro' method) and of bone cells growth on the layers surface. Introducing hydroxyapatite to the layer sol should improve connection between tissue and implant as well as limit the disadvantageous, corrosive influence of implant material (metal) on the tissue.

Investigation of charge injection and transport behavior in multilayer structure consisted of ferromagnetic metal and organic polymer under external fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Hua; Meng, Wei-Feng

2017-10-01

In this paper a five layer organic electronic device with alternately placed ferromagnetic metals and organic polymers: ferromagnetic metal/organic layer/ferromagnetic metal/organic layer/ferromagnetic metal, which is injected a spin-polarized electron from outsides, is studied theoretically using one-dimensional tight binding model Hamiltonian. We calculated equilibrium state behavior after an electron with spin is injected into the organic layer of this structure, charge density distribution and spin polarization density distribution of this injected spin-polarized electron, and mainly studied possible transport behavior of the injected spin polarized electron in this multilayer structure under different external electric fields. We analyze the physical process of the injected electron in this multilayer system. It is found by our calculation that the injected spin polarized electron exists as an electron-polaron state with spin polarization in the organic layer and it can pass through the middle ferromagnetic layer from the right-hand organic layer to the left-hand organic layer by the action of increasing external electric fields, which indicates that this structure may be used as a possible spin-polarized charge electronic device and also may provide a theoretical base for the organic electronic devices and it is also found that in the boundaries between the ferromagnetic layer and the organic layer there exist induced interface local dipoles due to the external electric fields.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Papp, A., E-mail: apapp@nd.edu; Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Faculty of Information Technology, Budapest 1088; Porod, W., E-mail: porod@nd.edu

We study coupled ferromagnetic layers, which could facilitate low loss, sub 100 nm wavelength spin-wave propagation and manipulation. One of the layers is a low-loss garnet film (such as yttrium iron garnet (YIG)) that enables long-distance, coherent spin-wave propagation. The other layer is made of metal-based (Permalloy, Co, and CoFe) magnetoelectronic structures that can be used to generate, manipulate, and detect the spin waves. Using micromagnetic simulations, we analyze the interactions between the spin waves in the YIG and the metallic nanomagnet structures and demonstrate the components of a scalable spin-wave based signal processing device. We argue that such hybrid-metallic ferromagnetmore » structures can be the basis of potentially high-performance, ultra low-power computing devices.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Deng, Huixu; Li, Zhigang; Stan, Liliana

Broadband perfect absorber based on one ultrathin layer of the refractory metal chromium without structure pat- terning is proposed and demonstrated. The ideal permittivity of the metal layer for achieving broadband perfect absorption is derived based on the impedance transformation method. Since the permittivity of the refractory metal chromium matches this ideal permittivity well in the visible and near-infrared range, a silica-chromium-silica three-layer absorber is fabricated to demonstrate the broadband perfect absorption. The experimental results under normal incidence show that the absorption is above 90% over the wavelength range of 0.4–1.4 μm, and the measurements under angled incidence within 400–800more » nm prove that the absorber is angle-insensitive and polarization- independent.« less

Method for improving the oxidation-resistance of metal substrates coated with thermal barrier coatings

DOEpatents

Thompson, Anthony Mark; Gray, Dennis Michael; Jackson, Melvin Robert

2002-01-01

A method for providing a protective coating on a metal-based substrate is disclosed. The method involves the application of an aluminum-rich mixture to the substrate to form a discontinuous layer of aluminum-rich particles, followed by the application of a second coating over the discontinuous layer of aluminum-rich particles. Aluminum diffuses from the aluminum-rich layer into the substrate, and into any bond coat layer which is subsequently applied. Related articles are also described.

Amorphous SiC as a structural layer in microbridge-based RF MEMS switches for use in software-defined radio

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parro, Rocco J.; Scardelletti, Maximilian C.; Varaljay, Nicholas C.; Zimmerman, Sloan; Zorman, Christian A.

2008-10-01

This paper reports an effort to develop amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC) films for use in shunt capacitor RF MEMS microbridge-based switches. The films were deposited using methane and silane as the precursor gases. Switches were fabricated using 500 nm and 300 nm-thick a-SiC films to form the microbridges. Switches made from metallized 500 nm-thick SiC films exhibited favorable mechanical performance but poor RF performance. In contrast, switches made from metallized 300 nm-thick SiC films exhibited excellent RF performance but poor mechanical performance. Load-deflection testing of unmetallized and metallized bulk micromachined SiC membranes indicates that the metal layers have a small effect on the Young's modulus of the 500 nm and 300 nm-thick SiC MEMS. As for residual stress, the metal layers have a modest effect on the 500 nm-thick structures, but a significant affect on the residual stress in the 300 nm-thick structures.

Spectroscopic investigation and luminescent properties of Schiff base metal complex for OLED

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gondia, N. K.; Priya, J.; Sharma, S. K.

2018-05-01

Organic light emitting diode (OLED) display technology has demonstrated high efficiency and brightness, is leading to a strong commercial interest. One of the remaining problems with the OLED technology is efficiency and colour saturation. The efficiency of OLED devices can be improved by doping the host organic layer with a suitable phosphorescent material in the emissive layer. We have synthesized a Schiff base zinc metal complex for OLEDs applications. Metal complex was characterized by FTIR, HNMR technique. PL emission spectra were recorded by keeping excitation wavelength fixed at 240 nm. A strong intense emission peak was observed at 410 nm. CIE chromaticity colour coordinates were observed at x =0.239 & y = 0.159. HOMO/LUMO energy gap were found to be -0.223 and -0.067 respectively for prepared zinc metal complex. It could be considered as a good light emitting phosphor material for possible application as emissive layer in OLEDs.

Computer Modeling of the Dynamic Strength of Metal-Plastic Cylindrical Shells Under Explosive Loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abrosimov, N. A.; Novosel'tseva, N. A.

2017-05-01

A technique for numerically analyzing the dynamic strength of two-layer metal-plastic cylindrical shells under an axisymmetric internal explosive loading is developed. The kinematic deformation model of the layered package is based on a nonclassical theory of shells. The geometric relations are constructed using relations of the simplest quadratic version of the nonlinear elasticity theory. The stress and strain tensors in the composite macrolayer are related by Hooke's law for an orthotropic body with account of degradation of the stiffness characteristics of the multilayer package due to local failure of some its elementary layers. The physical relations in the metal layer are formulated in terms of a differential theory of plasticity. An energy-correlated resolving system of dynamic equations for the metal-plastic cylindrical shells is derived by minimizing the functional of total energy of the shells as three-dimensional bodies. The numerical method for solving the initial boundary-value problem formulated is based on an explicit variational-difference scheme. The reliability of the technique considered is verified by comparing numerical results with experimental data. An analysis of the ultimate strains and strength of one-layer basalt-and glass-fiber-reinforced plastic and two-layer metalplastic cylindrical shells is carried out.

Numerical investigation of metal-semiconductor-insulator-semiconductor passivated hole contacts based on atomic layer deposited AlO x

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ke, Cangming; Xin, Zheng; Ling, Zhi Peng; Aberle, Armin G.; Stangl, Rolf

2017-08-01

Excellent c-Si tunnel layer surface passivation has been obtained recently in our lab, using atomic layer deposited aluminium oxide (ALD AlO x ) in the tunnel layer regime of 0.9 to 1.5 nm, investigated to be applied for contact passivation. Using the correspondingly measured interface properties, this paper compares the theoretical collection efficiency of a conventional metal-semiconductor (MS) contact on diffused p+ Si to a metal-semiconductor-insulator-semiconductor (MSIS) contact on diffused p+ Si or on undoped n-type c-Si. The influences of (1) the tunnel layer passivation quality at the tunnel oxide interface (Q f and D it), (2) the tunnel layer thickness and the electron and hole tunnelling mass, (3) the tunnel oxide material, and (4) the semiconductor capping layer material properties are investigated numerically by evaluation of solar cell efficiency, open-circuit voltage, and fill factor.

Solar cells with perovskite-based light sensitization layers

DOEpatents

Kanatzidis, Mercouri G.; Chang, Robert P.H.; Stoumpos, Konstantinos; Lee, Byunghong

2018-05-08

Solar cells are provided which comprise an electron transporting layer and a light sensitizing layer of perovskite disposed over the surface of the electron transporting layer. The perovskite may have a formula selected from the group consisting of A₂MX₆, Z₂MX₆ or YMX₆, wherein A is an alkali metal, M is a metal or a metalloid, X is a halide, Z is selected from the group consisting of a primary ammonium, an iminium, a secondary ammonium, a tertiary ammonium, and a quaternary ammonium, and Y has formula M_b(L)₃, wherein M_b is a transition metal in the 2+ oxidation state L is an N--N neutral chelating ligand. Methods of making the solar cells are also provided, including methods based on electrospray deposition.

GaN Micromechanical Resonators with Meshed Metal Bottom Electrode.

PubMed

Ansari, Azadeh; Liu, Che-Yu; Lin, Chien-Chung; Kuo, Hao-Chung; Ku, Pei-Cheng; Rais-Zadeh, Mina

2015-03-17

This work describes a novel architecture to realize high-performance gallium nitride (GaN) bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonators. The method is based on the growth of a thick GaN layer on a metal electrode grid. The fabrication process starts with the growth of a thin GaN buffer layer on a Si (111) substrate. The GaN buffer layer is patterned and trenches are made and refilled with sputtered tungsten (W)/silicon dioxide (SiO₂) forming passivated metal electrode grids. GaN is then regrown, nucleating from the exposed GaN seed layer and coalescing to form a thick GaN device layer. A metal electrode can be deposited and patterned on top of the GaN layer. This method enables vertical piezoelectric actuation of the GaN layer using its largest piezoelectric coefficient ( d 33 ) for thickness-mode resonance. Having a bottom electrode also results in a higher coupling coefficient, useful for the implementation of acoustic filters. Growth of GaN on Si enables releasing the device from the frontside using isotropic xenon difluoride (XeF₂) etch and therefore eliminating the need for backside lithography and etching.

Systems and Methods for Fabricating Objects Including Amorphous Metal Using Techniques Akin to Additive Manufacturing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hofmann, Douglas (Inventor)

2017-01-01

Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention fabricate objects including amorphous metals using techniques akin to additive manufacturing. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating an object that includes an amorphous metal includes: applying a first layer of molten metallic alloy to a surface; cooling the first layer of molten metallic alloy such that it solidifies and thereby forms a first layer including amorphous metal; subsequently applying at least one layer of molten metallic alloy onto a layer including amorphous metal; cooling each subsequently applied layer of molten metallic alloy such that it solidifies and thereby forms a layer including amorphous metal prior to the application of any adjacent layer of molten metallic alloy; where the aggregate of the solidified layers including amorphous metal forms a desired shape in the object to be fabricated; and removing at least the first layer including amorphous metal from the surface.

Thermal barrier coatings

DOEpatents

Alvin, Mary Anne [Pittsburg, PA

2010-06-22

This disclosure addresses the issue of providing a metallic-ceramic overlay coating that potentially serves as an interface or bond coat layer to provide enhanced oxidation resistance to the underlying superalloy substrate via the formation of a diffusion barrier regime within the supporting base material. Furthermore, the metallic-ceramic coating is expected to limit the growth of a continuous thermally grown oxide (TGO) layer that has been primarily considered to be the principal cause for failure of existing TBC systems. Compositional compatibility of the metallic-ceramic with traditional yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) top coats is provided to further limit debond or spallation of the coating during operational use. A metallic-ceramic architecture is disclosed wherein enhanced oxidation resistance is imparted to the surface of nickel-based superalloy or single crystal metal substrate, with simultaneous integration of the yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) within the metallic-ceramic overlayer.

Application of Rapid Prototyping and Wire Arc Spray to the Fabrication of Injection Mold Tools (MSFC Center Director's Discretionary Fund)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cooper, K. G.

2000-01-01

Rapid prototyping (RP) is a layer-by-layer-based additive manufacturing process for constructing three-dimensional representations of a computer design from a wax, plastic, or similar material. Wire arc spray (WAS) is a metal spray forming technique, which deposits thin layers of metal onto a substrate or pattern. Marshall Space Flight Center currently has both capabilities in-house, and this project proposed merging the two processes into an innovative manufacturing technique, in which intermediate injection molding tool halves were to be fabricated with RP and WAS metal forming.

Metallic and nonmetallic shine in luster: An elastic ion backscattering study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pradell, T.; Climent-Font, A.; Molera, J.

2007-05-15

Luster is a metal glass nanocomposite layer first produced in the Middle East in early Islamic times (9th AD) made of metal copper or silver nanoparticles embedded in a silica-based glassy matrix. These nanoparticles are produced by ion exchange between Cu{sup +} and Ag{sup +} and alkaline ions from the glassy matrix and further growth in a reducing atmosphere. The most striking property of luster is its capability of reflecting light like a continuous metal layer and it was unexpectedly found to be linked to one single production parameter: the presence of lead in the glassy matrix composition. The purposemore » of this article is to describe the characteristics and differences of the nanoparticle layers developed on lead rich and lead free glasses. Copper luster layers obtained using the ancient recipes and methods are analyzed by means of elastic ion backscattering spectroscopy associated with other analytical techniques. The depth profile of the different elements is determined, showing that the luster layer formed in lead rich glasses is 5-6 times thinner and 3-4 times Cu richer. Therefore, the metal nanoparticles are more densely packed in the layer and this fact is related to its higher reflectivity. It is shown that lead influences the structure of the metal nanoparticle layer through the change of the precipitation kinetics.« less

Excellent Resistive Switching Performance of Cu-Se-Based Atomic Switch Using Lanthanide Metal Nanolayer at the Cu-Se/Al2O3 Interface.

PubMed

Woo, Hyunsuk; Vishwanath, Sujaya Kumar; Jeon, Sanghun

2018-03-07

The next-generation electronic society is dependent on the performance of nonvolatile memory devices, which has been continuously improving. In the last few years, many memory devices have been introduced. However, atomic switches are considered to be a simple and reliable basis for next-generation nonvolatile devices. In general, atomic switch-based resistive switching is controlled by electrochemical metallization. However, excess ion injection from the entire area of the active electrode into the switching layer causes device nonuniformity and degradation of reliability. Here, we propose the fabrication of a high-performance atomic switch based on Cu x -Se 1- x by inserting lanthanide (Ln) metal buffer layers such as neodymium (Nd), samarium (Sm), dysprosium (Dy), or lutetium (Lu) between the active metal layer and the electrolyte. Current-atomic force microscopy results confirm that Cu ions penetrate through the Ln-buffer layer and form thin conductive filaments inside the switching layer. Compared with the Pt/Cu x -Se 1- x /Al 2 O 3 /Pt device, the optimized Pt/Cu x -Se 1- x /Ln/Al 2 O 3 /Pt devices show improvement in the on/off resistance ratio (10 2 -10 7 ), retention (10 years/85 °C), endurance (∼10 000 cycles), and uniform resistance state distribution.

Long range wetting transparency on top of layered metal dielectric substrates

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-11-20

multi-layered stacks were deposited onto glass substrates ( silica -based Micro cover glass , 22mmx22mm from VWR (48366-067), index of refraction n...necessarily endorsed by the United States Government. Long-range wetting transparency on top of layered metal-dielectric substrates M. A...as far as ~100 nm beneath the water/MgF2 interface. We refer to this phenomenon as long range wetting transparency . The latter effect cannot be

Laser pumping of thyristors for fast high current rise-times

DOEpatents

Glidden, Steven C.; Sanders, Howard D.

2013-06-11

An optically triggered semiconductor switch includes an anode metallization layer; a cathode metallization layer; a semiconductor between the anode metallization layer and the cathode metallization layer and a photon source. The semiconductor includes at least four layers of alternating doping in the form P-N-P-N, in which an outer layer adjacent to the anode metallization layer forms an anode and an outer layer adjacent the cathode metallization layer forms a cathode and in which the anode metallization layer has a window pattern of optically transparent material exposing the anode layer to light. The photon source emits light having a wavelength, with the light from the photon source being configured to match the window pattern of the anode metallization layer.

Review of the Potential of the Ni/Cu Plating Technique for Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells

PubMed Central

Rehman, Atteq ur; Lee, Soo Hong

2014-01-01

Developing a better method for the metallization of silicon solar cells is integral part of realizing superior efficiency. Currently, contact realization using screen printing is the leading technology in the silicon based photovoltaic industry, as it is simple and fast. However, the problem with metallization of this kind is that it has a lower aspect ratio and higher contact resistance, which limits solar cell efficiency. The mounting cost of silver pastes and decreasing silicon wafer thicknesses encourages silicon solar cell manufacturers to develop fresh metallization techniques involving a lower quantity of silver usage and not relying pressing process of screen printing. In recent times nickel/copper (Ni/Cu) based metal plating has emerged as a metallization method that may solve these issues. This paper offers a detailed review and understanding of a Ni/Cu based plating technique for silicon solar cells. The formation of a Ni seed layer by adopting various deposition techniques and a Cu conducting layer using a light induced plating (LIP) process are appraised. Unlike screen-printed metallization, a step involving patterning is crucial for opening the masking layer. Consequently, experimental procedures involving patterning methods are also explicated. Lastly, the issues of adhesion, back ground plating, process complexity and reliability for industrial applications are also addressed. PMID:28788516

Review of the Potential of the Ni/Cu Plating Technique for Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells.

PubMed

Rehman, Atteq Ur; Lee, Soo Hong

2014-02-18

Developing a better method for the metallization of silicon solar cells is integral part of realizing superior efficiency. Currently, contact realization using screen printing is the leading technology in the silicon based photovoltaic industry, as it is simple and fast. However, the problem with metallization of this kind is that it has a lower aspect ratio and higher contact resistance, which limits solar cell efficiency. The mounting cost of silver pastes and decreasing silicon wafer thicknesses encourages silicon solar cell manufacturers to develop fresh metallization techniques involving a lower quantity of silver usage and not relying pressing process of screen printing. In recent times nickel/copper (Ni/Cu) based metal plating has emerged as a metallization method that may solve these issues. This paper offers a detailed review and understanding of a Ni/Cu based plating technique for silicon solar cells. The formation of a Ni seed layer by adopting various deposition techniques and a Cu conducting layer using a light induced plating (LIP) process are appraised. Unlike screen-printed metallization, a step involving patterning is crucial for opening the masking layer. Consequently, experimental procedures involving patterning methods are also explicated. Lastly, the issues of adhesion, back ground plating, process complexity and reliability for industrial applications are also addressed.

Silicon metal-semiconductor-metal photodetector

DOEpatents

Brueck, Steven R. J.; Myers, David R.; Sharma, Ashwani K.

1997-01-01

Silicon MSM photodiodes sensitive to radiation in the visible to near infrared spectral range are produced by altering the absorption characteristics of crystalline Si by ion implantation. The implantation produces a defected region below the surface of the silicon with the highest concentration of defects at its base which acts to reduce the contribution of charge carriers formed below the defected layer. The charge carriers generated by the radiation in the upper regions of the defected layer are very quickly collected between biased Schottky barrier electrodes which form a metal-semiconductor-metal structure for the photodiode.

Silicon metal-semiconductor-metal photodetector

DOEpatents

Brueck, Steven R. J.; Myers, David R.; Sharma, Ashwani K.

1995-01-01

Silicon MSM photodiodes sensitive to radiation in the visible to near infrared spectral range are produced by altering the absorption characteristics of crystalline Si by ion implantation. The implantation produces a defected region below the surface of the silicon with the highest concentration of defects at its base which acts to reduce the contribution of charge carriers formed below the defected layer. The charge carriers generated by the radiation in the upper regions of the defected layer are very quickly collected between biased Schottky barrier electrodes which form a metal-semiconductor-metal structure for the photodiode.

Metallicity of Ca 2Cu 6P 5 with single and double copper-pnictide layers

DOE PAGES

Li, Li; Parker, David; Chi, Miaofang; ...

2016-02-16

We report thermodynamic and transport properties, and also theoretical calculations, for Cu-based compound Ca 2Cu 6P 5 and compare with CaCu 2-δP 2. Both materials have layers of edge-sharing copper pnictide tetrahedral CuP 4, similar to Fe–As and Fe–Se layers (with FeAs 4, FeSe 4) in the iron-based superconductors. Despite the presence of this similar transition-metal pnictide layer, we find that both Ca 2Cu 6P 5 and CaCu 2-δP 2 have temperature-independent magnetic susceptibility and show metallic behavior with no evidence of either magnetic ordering or superconductivity down to 1.8 K CaCu 2-δP 2 is slightly off-stoichiometric, with δ =more » 0.14. Theoretical calculations suggest that unlike Fe 3d-based magnetic materials with a large density of states (DOS) at the Fermi surface, Cu have comparatively low DOS, with the majority of the 3d spectral weight located well below Fermi level. The room-temperature resistivity value of Ca 2Cu 6P 5 is only 9 μΩ-cm, due to a substantial plasma frequency and an inferred electron-phonon coupling λ of 0.073 (significantly smaller than that of metallic Cu). Also, microscopy result shows that Cu–Cu distance along the c-axis within the double layers can be very short (2.5 Å), even shorter than metallic elemental copper bond (2.56 Å). The value of dρ/dT for CaCu 2-δP 2 at 300 K is approximately three times larger than in Ca 2Cu 6P 5, which suggests the likelihood of stronger electron-phonon coupling. Lastly, this study shows that the details of Cu–P layers and bonding are important for their transport characteristics. In addition, it emphasizes the remarkable character of the DOS of ‘122’ iron-based materials, despite much structural similarities.« less

Schottky barrier solar cell

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stirn, R. J.; Yeh, Y. C. M. (Inventor)

1981-01-01

A method of fabricating a Schottky barrier solar cell is described. The cell consists of a thin substrate of low cost material with at least the top surface of the substrate being electrically conductive. A thin layer of heavily doped n-type polycrystalling germanium is deposited on the substrate after a passivation layer is deposited to prevent migration of impurities into the polycrystalline germanium. The polycrystalline germanium is recrystallized to increase the crystal sizes to serve as a base layer on which a thin layer of gallium arsenide is vapor-epitaxilly grown followed by a thermally-grown oxide layer. A metal layer is deposited on the oxide layer and a grid electrode is deposited to be in electrical contact with the top surface of the metal layer.

Surface Modification Enhanced Reflection Intensity of Quartz Crystal Microbalance Sensors upon Molecular Adsorption.

PubMed

Kojima, Taisuke

2018-01-01

Molecular adsorption on a sensing surface involves molecule-substrate and molecule-molecule interactions. Combining optical systems and a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) on the same sensing surface allows the quantification of such interactions and reveals the physicochemical properties of the adsorbed molecules. However, low sensitivity of the current reflection-based techniques compared to the QCM technique hinders the quantitative analysis of the adsorption events. Here, a layer-by-layer surface modification of a QCM sensor is studied to increase the optical sensitivity. The intermediate layers of organic-inorganic molecules and metal-metal oxide were explored on a gold (Au) surface of a QCM sensor. First, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-derivatives that served as the organic-inorganic intermediate layer were synthesized and modified on the Au-QCM surface. Meanwhile, titanium oxide, fabricated by anodic oxidation of titanium, was used as a metal-metal oxide intermediate layer on a titanium-coated QCM surface. The developed technique enabled interrogation of the molecular adsorption owing to the enhanced optical sensitivity.

Ferroelectric control of metal-insulator transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Xu; Jin, Kui-juan; Ge, Chen; Ma, Zhong-shui; Yang, Guo-zhen

2016-03-01

We propose a method of controlling the metal-insulator transition of one perovskite material at its interface with another ferroelectric material based on first principle calculations. The operating principle is that the rotation of oxygen octahedra tuned by the ferroelectric polarization can modulate the superexchange interaction in this perovskite. We designed a tri-color superlattice of (BiFeO3)N/LaNiO3/LaTiO3, in which the BiFeO3 layers are ferroelectric, the LaNiO3 layer is the layer of which the electronic structure is to be tuned, and LaTiO3 layer is inserted to enhance the inversion asymmetry. By reversing the ferroelectric polarization in this structure, there is a metal-insulator transition of the LaNiO3 layer because of the changes of crystal field splitting of the Ni eg orbitals and the bandwidth of the Ni in-plane eg orbital. It is highly expected that a metal-transition can be realized by designing the structures at the interfaces for more materials.

Core–Shell Nanoparticle Coating as an Interfacial Layer for Dendrite-Free Lithium Metal Anodes

DOE PAGES

Liu, Wei; Li, Weiyang; Zhuo, Denys; ...

2017-02-08

Lithium metal based batteries represent a major challenge and opportunity in enabling a variety of devices requiring high-energy-density storage. However, dendritic lithium growth has limited the practical application of lithium metal anodes. Here we report a nanoporous, flexible and electrochemically stable coating of silica@poly(methyl methacrylate) (SiO 2@PMMA) core–shell nanospheres as an interfacial layer on lithium metal anode. This interfacial layer is capable of inhibiting Li dendrite growth while sustaining ionic flux through it, which is attributed to the nanoscaled pores formed among the nanospheres. Lastly, enhanced Coulombic efficiencies during lithium charge/discharge cycles have been achieved at various current densities andmore » areal capacities.« less

Core–Shell Nanoparticle Coating as an Interfacial Layer for Dendrite-Free Lithium Metal Anodes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Wei; Li, Weiyang; Zhuo, Denys

Lithium metal based batteries represent a major challenge and opportunity in enabling a variety of devices requiring high-energy-density storage. However, dendritic lithium growth has limited the practical application of lithium metal anodes. Here we report a nanoporous, flexible and electrochemically stable coating of silica@poly(methyl methacrylate) (SiO 2@PMMA) core–shell nanospheres as an interfacial layer on lithium metal anode. This interfacial layer is capable of inhibiting Li dendrite growth while sustaining ionic flux through it, which is attributed to the nanoscaled pores formed among the nanospheres. Lastly, enhanced Coulombic efficiencies during lithium charge/discharge cycles have been achieved at various current densities andmore » areal capacities.« less

Charge-density study on layered oxyarsenides (LaO)MAs (M = Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takase, Kouichi; Hiramoto, Shozo; Fukushima, Tetsuya; Sato, Kazunori; Moriyoshi, Chikako; Kuroiwa, Yoshihiro

2017-12-01

Using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, we investigate the charge-density distributions of the layered oxypnictides (LaO)MnAs, (LaO)FeAs, (LaO)NiAs, and (LaO)ZnAs, which are an antiferromagnetic semiconductor, a parent material of an iron-based superconductor, a low-temperature superconductor, and a non-magnetic semiconductor, respectively. For the metallic samples, clear charge densities are observed in both the transition-metal pnictide layers and the rare-earth-oxide layers. However, in the semiconducting samples, there is no finite charge density between the transition-metal element and As. These differences in charge density reflect differences in physical properties. First-principles calculations using density functional theory reproduce the experimental results reasonably well.

Eddy Current Testing for Detecting Small Defects in Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Obeid, Simon; Tranjan, Farid M.; Dogaru, Teodor

2007-03-01

Presented here is a technique of using Eddy Current based Giant Magneto-Resistance sensor (GMR) to detect surface and sub-layered minute defects in thin films. For surface crack detection, a measurement was performed on a copper metallization of 5-10 microns thick. It was done by scanning the GMR sensor on the surface of the wafer that had two scratches of 0.2 mm, and 2.5 mm in length respectively. In another experiment, metal coatings were deposited over the layers containing five defects with known lengths such that the defects were invisible from the surface. The limit of detection (resolution), in terms of defect size, of the GMR high-resolution Eddy Current probe was studied using this sample. Applications of Eddy Current testing include detecting defects in thin film metallic layers, and quality control of metallization layers on silicon wafers for integrated circuits manufacturing.

Ultra-thin ohmic contacts for p-type nitride light emitting devices

DOEpatents

Raffetto, Mark [Raleigh, NC; Bharathan, Jayesh [Cary, NC; Haberern, Kevin [Cary, NC; Bergmann, Michael [Chapel Hill, NC; Emerson, David [Chapel Hill, NC; Ibbetson, James [Santa Barbara, CA; Li, Ting [Ventura, CA

2012-01-03

A semiconductor based Light Emitting Device (LED) can include a p-type nitride layer and a metal ohmic contact, on the p-type nitride layer. The metal ohmic contact can have an average thickness of less than about 25 .ANG. and a specific contact resistivity less than about 10.sup.-3 ohm-cm.sup.2.

Substrate Structures For Growth Of Highly Oriented And/Or Epitaxial Layers Thereon

DOEpatents

Arendt, Paul N.; Foltyn, Stephen R.; Groves, James R.; Jia, Quanxi

2005-07-26

A composite substrate structure including a substrate, a layer of a crystalline metal oxide or crystalline metal oxynitride material upon the substrate, a layer of an oriented cubic oxide material having a rock-salt-like structure upon the crystalline metal oxide or crystalline metal oxynitride material layer is provided together with additional layers such as one or more layers of a buffer material upon the oriented cubic oxide material layer. Jc's of 2.3×106 A/cm2 have been demonstrated with projected Ic's of 320 Amperes across a sample 1 cm wide for a superconducting article including a flexible polycrystalline metallic substrate, an inert oxide material layer upon the surface of the flexible polycrystalline metallic substrate, a layer of a crystalline metal oxide or crystalline metal oxynitride material upon the layer of the inert oxide material, a layer of an oriented cubic oxide material having a rock-salt-like structure upon the crystalline metal oxide or crystalline metal oxynitride material layer, a layer of a buffer material upon the oriented cubic oxide material layer, and, a top-layer of a high temperature superconducting material upon the layer of a buffer material.

Metal oxide-encapsulated dye-sensitized photoanodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hupp, Joseph T.; Son, Ho-Jin

2016-01-12

Dye-sensitized semiconducting metal oxide films for photoanodes, photoanodes incorporating the films and DSCs incorporating the photoanodes are provided. Also provided are methods for making the dye sensitized semiconducting metal oxide films. The methods of making the films are based on the deposition of an encapsulating layer of a semiconducting metal oxide around the molecular anchoring groups of photosensitizing dye molecules adsorbed to a porous film of the semiconducting metal oxide. The encapsulating layer of semiconducting metal oxide is formed in such a way that it is not coated over the chromophores of the adsorbed dye molecules and, therefore, allows themore » dye molecules to remain electrochemically addressable.« less

Role of intermediate metallic sub-layers in improving the efficiency of kesterite solar cells: concept and optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferhati, H.; Djeffal, F.

2018-03-01

In this work, versatile CdS/Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) solar cell designs based on intermediate metallic sub-layers (Au, Ti, and Ag) engineering are proposed for enhancing light-scattering behavior and reducing recombination losses. The idea behind this work is to generate optical confinement regions in the CZTS absorber layer to achieve an improved absorption and appropriate antireflection effects. Moreover, the ultra-thin metal at the CZTS/Mo interface can be helpful for reducing the series resistance, where it behaves like a blocking layer for the Sulfur diffusion. We further combine the proposed designs with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO)-based approach to achieve broadband absorption and boost the conversion efficiency. It is found that the optimized design with Ti sub-layer improves the CZTS solar cell properties, where it yields 31% improvement in short-circuit current and 60% in the power efficiency over the conventional one. Therefore, the optimized designs provide the opportunity for bridging the gap between improving the optical behavior and reducing the recombination losses.

Management of light absorption in extraordinary optical transmission based ultra-thin-film tandem solar cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mashooq, Kishwar; Talukder, Muhammad Anisuzzaman, E-mail: anis@eee.buet.ac.bd

2016-05-21

Although ultra-thin-film solar cells can be attractive in reducing the cost, they suffer from low absorption as the thickness of the active layer is usually much smaller than the wavelength of incident light. Different nano-photonic techniques, including plasmonic structures, are being explored to increase the light absorption in ultra-thin-film solar cells. More than one layer of active materials with different energy bandgaps can be used in tandem to increase the light absorption as well. However, due to different amount of light absorption in different active layers, photo-generated currents in different active layers will not be the same. The current mismatchmore » between the tandem layers makes them ineffective in increasing the efficiency. In this work, we investigate the light absorption properties of tandem solar cells with two ultra-thin active layers working as two subcells and a metal layer with periodically perforated holes in-between the two subcells. While the metal layer helps to overcome the current mismatch, the periodic holes increase the absorption of incident light by helping extraordinary optical transmission of the incident light from the top to the bottom subcell, and by coupling the incident light to plasmonic and photonic modes within ultra-thin active layers. We extensively study the effects of the geometry of holes in the intermediate metal layer on the light absorption properties of tandem solar cells with ultra-thin active layers. We also study how different metals in the intermediate layer affect the light absorption; how the geometry of holes in the intermediate layer affects the absorption when the active layer materials are changed; and how the intermediate metal layer affects the collection of photo-generated electron-hole pairs at the terminals. We find that in a solar cell with 6,6-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester top subcell and copper indium gallium selenide bottom subcell, if the periodic holes in the metal layer are square or polygon, total absorption remains approximately the same. However, the total absorption suffers significantly if the holes are triangle. The transmission spectra of incident light into the bottom subcell, and hence the absorption, change significantly for square and circle holes if the active materials change to cadmium selenide (CdSe) and cadmium telluride (CdTe) in the top and bottom subcells, respectively. Although the intermediate metal layer may induce electron-hole pair recombination due to surface defects, the short-circuit current density of an ultra-thin plasmonic solar cell with an intermediate metal layer with two-dimensional hole array is >9% of that of a structure without the intermediate metal layer.« less

A base-metal conductor system for silicon solar cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Coleman, M. G.; Pryor, R. A.; Sparks, T. G.

1980-01-01

Solder, copper, and silver are evaluated as conductor layer metals for silicon solar cell metallization on the basis of metal price stability and reliability under operating conditions. Due to its properties and cost, copper becomes an attractive candidate for the conductor layer. It is shown that nickel operates as an excellent diffusion barrier between copper and silicon while simultaneously serving as an electrical contact and mechanical contact to silicon. The nickel-copper system may be applied to the silicon by plating techniques utilizing a variety of plating bath compositions. Solar cells having excellent current-voltage characteristics are fabricated to demonstrate the nickel-copper metallization system.

Metal Matrix Composite Material by Direct Metal Deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Novichenko, D.; Marants, A.; Thivillon, L.; Bertrand, P. H.; Smurov, I.

Direct Metal Deposition (DMD) is a laser cladding process for producing a protective coating on the surface of a metallic part or manufacturing layer-by-layer parts in a single-step process. The objective of this work is to demonstrate the possibility to create carbide-reinforced metal matrix composite objects. Powders of steel 16NCD13 with different volume contents of titanium carbide are tested. On the base of statistical analysis, a laser cladding processing map is constructed. Relationships between the different content of titanium carbide in a powder mixture and the material microstructure are found. Mechanism of formation of various precipitated titanium carbides is investigated.

Method of fabricating conductive electrodes on the front and backside of a thin film structure

DOEpatents

Tabada, Phillipe J [Roseville, CA; Tabada, legal representative, Melody; Pannu, Satinderpall S [Pleasanton, CA

2011-05-22

A method of fabricating a thin film device having conductive front and backside electrodes or contacts. Top-side cavities are first formed on a first dielectric layer, followed by the deposition of a metal layer on the first dielectric layer to fill the cavities. Defined metal structures are etched from the metal layer to include the cavity-filled metal, followed by depositing a second dielectric layer over the metal structures. Additional levels of defined metal structures may be formed in a similar manner with vias connecting metal structures between levels. After a final dielectric layer is deposited, a top surface of a metal structure of an uppermost metal layer is exposed through the final dielectric layer to form a front-side electrode, and a bottom surface of a cavity-filled portion of a metal structure of a lowermost metal layer is also exposed through the first dielectric layer to form a back-side electrode.

Ultrashort hybrid metal-insulator plasmonic directional coupler.

PubMed

Noghani, Mahmoud Talafi; Samiei, Mohammad Hashem Vadjed

2013-11-01

An ultrashort plasmonic directional coupler based on the hybrid metal-insulator slab waveguide is proposed and analyzed at the telecommunication wavelength of 1550 nm. It is first analyzed using the supermode theory based on mode analysis via the transfer matrix method in the interaction region. Then the 2D model of the coupler, including transition arms, is analyzed using a commercial finite-element method simulator. The hybrid slab waveguide is composed of a metallic layer of silver and two dielectric layers of silica (SiO2) and silicon (Si). The coupler is optimized to have a minimum coupling length and to transfer maximum power considering the layer thicknesses as optimization variables. The resulting coupling length in the submicrometer region along with a noticeable power transfer efficiency are advantages of the proposed coupler compared to previously reported plasmonic couplers.

Layer-by-Layer Molecular Assemblies for Dye-Sensitized Photoelectrosynthesis Cells Prepared by Atomic Layer Deposition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Degao; Sheridan, Matthew V.; Shan, Bing

2017-08-30

In a Dye Sensitized Photoelectrosynthesis Cell (DSPEC) the relative orientation of catalyst and chromophore play important roles. Here we introduce a new, robust, Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) procedure for the preparation of assemblies on wide bandgap semiconductors. In the procedure, phosphonated metal complex precursors react with metal ion bridging to an external chromophore or catalyst to give assemblies bridged by Al(III), Sn(IV), Ti(IV), or Zr(IV) metal oxide units as bridges. The procedure has been extended to chromophore-catalyst assemblies for water oxidation catalysis. A SnO2 bridged assembly on SnO2/TiO2 core/shell electrodes undergoes water splitting with an incident photon conversion efficiency (IPCE)more » of 17.1% at 440 nm. Reduction of water at a Ni(II)-based catalyst on NiO films has been shown to give H2. Compared to conventional solution-based procedures, the ALD approach offers significant advantages in scope and flexibility for the preparation of stable surface structures.« less

A flexible ligand-based wavy layered metal-organic framework for lithium-ion storage.

PubMed

An, Tiance; Wang, Yuhang; Tang, Jing; Wang, Yang; Zhang, Lijuan; Zheng, Gengfeng

2015-05-01

A substantial challenge for direct utilization of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as lithium-ion battery anodes is to maintain the rigid MOF structure during lithiation/delithiation cycles. In this work, we developed a flexible, wavy layered nickel-based MOF (C20H24Cl2N8Ni, designated as Ni-Me4bpz) by a solvothermal approach of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethyl-4,4'-bipyrazole (H2Me4bpz) with nickel(II) chloride hexahydrate. The obtained MOF materials (Ni-Me4bpz) with metal azolate coordination mode provide 2-dimensional layered structure for Li(+) intercalation/extraction, and the H2Me4bpz ligands allow for flexible rotation feature and structural stability. Lithium-ion battery anodes made of the Ni-Me4bpz material demonstrate excellent specific capacity and cycling performance, and the crystal structure is well preserved after the electrochemical tests, suggesting the potential of developing flexible layered MOFs for efficient and stable electrochemical storage. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Transient liquid phase ceramic bonding

DOEpatents

Glaeser, Andreas M.

1994-01-01

Ceramics are joined to themselves or to metals using a transient liquid phase method employing three layers, one of which is a refractory metal, ceramic or alloy. The refractory layer is placed between two metal layers, each of which has a lower melting point than the refractory layer. The three layers are pressed between the two articles to be bonded to form an assembly. The assembly is heated to a bonding temperature at which the refractory layer remains solid, but the two metal layers melt to form a liquid. The refractory layer reacts with the surrounding liquid and a single solid bonding layer is eventually formed. The layers may be designed to react completely with each other and form refractory intermetallic bonding layers. Impurities incorporated into the refractory metal may react with the metal layers to form refractory compounds. Another method for joining ceramic articles employs a ceramic interlayer sandwiched between two metal layers. In alternative embodiments, the metal layers may include sublayers. A method is also provided for joining two ceramic articles using a single interlayer. An alternate bonding method provides a refractory-metal oxide interlayer placed adjacent to a strong oxide former. Aluminum or aluminum alloys are joined together using metal interlayers.

Dynamically tunable dendritic graphene-based absorber with thermal stability at infrared regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Hailong; Xia, Hui; Guo, Zhibo; Xie, Ding; Li, Hongjian

2018-06-01

The infrared polarization-insensitive absorber, which is composed of dendritic metal, graphene layer, silicon dioxides layer, gallium arsenide substrate, and metal plate, is investigated theoretically and numerically. The tunability can be realized by loading a graphene layer into the structure. The position of absorption peak can be tuned by manipulating the graphene's Fermi energy. Compared with the previously reported graphene-based absorbers, the system has the advantage of temperature-independent high absorption. The results indicate that the proposed absorber can be used in the applications of the refractive index sensor with a sensitivity of 587.8 nm/refractive index unit and temperature-insensitive infrared absorber.

Durable metallized polymer mirror

DOEpatents

Schissel, Paul O.; Kennedy, Cheryl E.; Jorgensen, Gary J.; Shinton, Yvonne D.; Goggin, Rita M.

1994-01-01

A metallized polymer mirror construction having improved durability against delamination and tunneling, comprising: an outer layer of polymeric material; a metal oxide layer underlying the outer layer of polymeric material; a silver reflective layer underneath the metal oxide layer; and a layer of adhesive attaching the silver layer to a substrate.

Corrosion resistant solar mirror

DOEpatents

Medwick, Paul A.; Abbott, Edward E.

2016-07-19

A reflective article includes a transparent substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface. A base coat is formed over at least a portion of the second major surface. A primary reflective coating having at least one metallic layer is formed over at least a portion of the base coat. A protective coating is formed over at least a portion of the primary reflective coating. The article further includes a solar cell and an anode, with the solar cell connected to the metallic layer and the anode.

PHOTONICS AND NANOTECHNOLOGY Choice of a target with metal coating for laser-induced transfer of ultradispersed materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kononenko, Taras V.; Kamalov, M. A.; Popovich, M. Yu; Konov, Vitalii I.; Sentis, M. L.

2010-12-01

The ejection of ultradispersed diamond from a metallised target surface irradiated by nano- and subnanosecond laser pulses is experimentally investigated. Several targets with different transparent bases (quartz, polymethylmethacrylate) and absorbing metal coatings (titanium, aluminium) are investigated. The effect of the metal layer thickness and pulse width on the range of energy densities in which the ejection of diamond nanopowder is due to the transverse strain of metal layer is analysed. The heating of the target rear surface from which transfer occurs, in dependence of the target and laser pulse parameters, is estimated.

Pure AlN layers in metal-polar AlGaN/AlN/GaN and AlN/GaN heterostructures grown by low-temperature ammonia-based molecular beam epitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaun, Stephen W.; Mazumder, Baishakhi; Fireman, Micha N.; Kyle, Erin C. H.; Mishra, Umesh K.; Speck, James S.

2015-05-01

When grown at a high temperature (820 °C) by ammonia-based molecular beam epitaxy (NH3-MBE), the AlN layers of metal-polar AlGaN/AlN/GaN heterostructures had a high GaN mole fraction (∼0.15), as identified by atom probe tomography in a previous study (Mazumder et al 2013 Appl. Phys. Lett. 102 111603). In the study presented here, growth at low temperature (<740 °C) by NH3-MBE yielded metal-polar AlN layers that were essentially pure at the alloy level. The improved purity of the AlN layers grown at low temperature was correlated to a dramatic increase in the sheet density of the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) at the AlN/GaN heterointerface. Through application of an In surfactant, metal-polar AlN(3.5 nm)/GaN and AlGaN/AlN(2.5 nm)/GaN heterostructures grown at low temperature yielded low 2DEG sheet resistances of 177 and 285 Ω/□, respectively.

Effect of embedded metal nanocrystals on the resistive switching characteristics in NiN-based resistive random access memory cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yun, Min Ju; Kim, Hee-Dong; Man Hong, Seok

2014-03-07

The metal nanocrystals (NCs) embedded-NiN-based resistive random access memory cells are demonstrated using several metal NCs (i.e., Pt, Ni, and Ti) with different physical parameters in order to investigate the metal NC's dependence on resistive switching (RS) characteristics. First, depending on the electronegativity of metal, the size of metal NCs is determined and this affects the operating current of memory cells. If metal NCs with high electronegativity are incorporated, the size of the NCs is reduced; hence, the operating current is reduced owing to the reduced density of the electric field around the metal NCs. Second, the potential wells aremore » formed by the difference of work function between the metal NCs and active layer, and the barrier height of the potential wells affects the level of operating voltage as well as the conduction mechanism of metal NCs embedded memory cells. Therefore, by understanding these correlations between the active layer and embedded metal NCs, we can optimize the RS properties of metal NCs embedded memory cells as well as predict their conduction mechanisms.« less

New Failure Mode of Flip-Chip Solder Joints Related to the Metallization of an Organic Substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jang, J. W.; Yoo, S. J.; Hwang, H. I.; Yuk, S. Y.; Kim, C. K.; Kim, S. J.; Han, J. S.; An, S. H.

2015-10-01

We report a new failure phenomenon during flip-chip die attach. After reflow, flip-chip bumps were separated between the Al and Ti layers on the Si die side. This was mainly observed at the Si die corner. Transmission electron microscopy images revealed corrosion of the Al layer at the edge of the solder bump metallization. The corrosion at the metallization edge exhibited a notch shape with high stress concentration factor. The organic substrate had Cu metallization with an organic solderable preservative (OSP) coating layer, where a small amount of Cl ions were detected. A solder bump separation mechanism is suggested based on the reaction between Al and Cl, related to the flow of soldering flux. During reflow, the flux will dissolve the Cl-containing OSP layer and flow up to the Al layer on the Si die side. Then, the Cl-dissolved flux will actively react with Al, forming AlCl3. During cooling, solder bumps at the Si die corner will separate through the location of Al corrosion. This demonstrated that the chemistry of the substrate metallization can affect the thermomechanical reliability of flip-chip solder joints.

Durable metallized polymer mirror

DOEpatents

Schissel, P.O.; Kennedy, C.E.; Jorgensen, G.J.; Shinton, Y.D.; Goggin, R.M.

1994-11-01

A metallized polymer mirror construction is disclosed having improved durability against delamination and tunneling, comprising: an outer layer of polymeric material; a metal oxide layer underlying the outer layer of polymeric material; a silver reflective layer underneath the metal oxide layer; and a layer of adhesive attaching the silver layer to a substrate. 6 figs.

Composite metal membrane

DOEpatents

Peachey, Nathaniel M.; Dye, Robert C.; Snow, Ronny C.; Birdsell, Stephan A.

1998-01-01

A composite metal membrane including a first metal layer of Group IVB met or Group VB metals, the first metal layer sandwiched between two layers of an oriented metal of palladium, platinum or alloys thereof is provided together with a process for the recovery of hydrogen from a gaseous mixture including contacting a hydrogen-containing gaseous mixture with a first side of a nonporous composite metal membrane including a first metal of Group IVB metals or Group VB metals, the first metal layer sandwiched between two layers of an oriented metal of palladium, platinum or alloys thereof, and, separating hydrogen from a second side of the nonporous composite metal membrane.

Composite metal membrane

DOEpatents

Peachey, N.M.; Dye, R.C.; Snow, R.C.; Birdsell, S.A.

1998-04-14

A composite metal membrane including a first metal layer of Group IVB met or Group VB metals, the first metal layer sandwiched between two layers of an oriented metal of palladium, platinum or alloys thereof is provided together with a process for the recovery of hydrogen from a gaseous mixture including contacting a hydrogen-containing gaseous mixture with a first side of a nonporous composite metal membrane including a first metal of Group IVB metals or Group VB metals, the first metal layer sandwiched between two layers of an oriented metal of palladium, platinum or alloys thereof, and, separating hydrogen from a second side of the nonporous composite metal membrane.

Photolithography-Based Patterning of Liquid Metal Interconnects for Monolithically Integrated Stretchable Circuits.

PubMed

Park, Chan Woo; Moon, Yu Gyeong; Seong, Hyejeong; Jung, Soon Won; Oh, Ji-Young; Na, Bock Soon; Park, Nae-Man; Lee, Sang Seok; Im, Sung Gap; Koo, Jae Bon

2016-06-22

We demonstrate a new patterning technique for gallium-based liquid metals on flat substrates, which can provide both high pattern resolution (∼20 μm) and alignment precision as required for highly integrated circuits. In a very similar manner as in the patterning of solid metal films by photolithography and lift-off processes, the liquid metal layer painted over the whole substrate area can be selectively removed by dissolving the underlying photoresist layer, leaving behind robust liquid patterns as defined by the photolithography. This quick and simple method makes it possible to integrate fine-scale interconnects with preformed devices precisely, which is indispensable for realizing monolithically integrated stretchable circuits. As a way for constructing stretchable integrated circuits, we propose a hybrid configuration composed of rigid device regions and liquid interconnects, which is constructed on a rigid substrate first but highly stretchable after being transferred onto an elastomeric substrate. This new method can be useful in various applications requiring both high-resolution and precisely aligned patterning of gallium-based liquid metals.

Spin dependent transport properties of Mn-Ga/MgO/Mn-Ga magnetic tunnel junctions with metal(Mg, Co, Cr) insertion layer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liang, S. H.; Tao, L. L.; Liu, D. P., E-mail: dpliu@iphy.ac.cn

We report a first principles theoretical investigation of spin polarized quantum transport in Mn{sub 2}Ga/MgO/Mn{sub 2}Ga and Mn{sub 3}Ga/MgO/Mn{sub 3}Ga magnetic tunneling junctions (MTJs) with the consideration of metal(Mg, Co, Cr) insertion layer effect. By changing the concentration of Mn, our calculation shows a considerable disparity in transport properties: A tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) ratio of 852% was obtained for Mn{sub 2}Ga-based MTJs, however, only a 5% TMR ratio for Mn{sub 3}Ga-based MTJs. In addition, the influence of insertion layer has been considered in our calculation. We found the Co insertion layer can increase the TMR of Mn{sub 2}Ga-based MTJ tomore » 904%; however, the Cr insertion layer can decrease the TMR by 668%; A negative TMR ratio can be obtained with Mg insertion layer. Our work gives a comprehensive understanding of the influence of different insertion layer in Mn-Ga based MTJs. It is proved that, due to the transmission can be modulated by the interfacial electronic structure of insertion, the magnetoresistance ratio of Mn{sub 2}Ga/MgO/Mn{sub 2}Ga MTJ can be improved by inserting Co layer.« less

A metal-semiconductor-metal detector based on ZnO nanowires grown on a graphene layer.

PubMed

Xu, Qiang; Cheng, Qijin; Zhong, Jinxiang; Cai, Weiwei; Zhang, Zifeng; Wu, Zhengyun; Zhang, Fengyan

2014-02-07

High quality ZnO nanowires (NWs) were grown on a graphene layer by a hydrothermal method. The ZnO NWs revealed higher uniform surface morphology and better structural properties than ZnO NWs grown on SiO2/Si substrate. A low dark current metal-semiconductor-metal photodetector based on ZnO NWs with Au Schottky contact has also been fabricated. The photodetector displays a low dark current of 1.53 nA at 1 V bias and a large UV-to-visible rejection ratio (up to four orders), which are significantly improved compared to conventional ZnO NW photodetectors. The improvement in UV detection performance is attributed to the existence of a surface plasmon at the interface of the ZnO and the graphene.

Iron-based alloy and nitridation treatment for PEM fuel cell bipolar plates

DOEpatents

Brady, Michael P [Oak Ridge, TN; Yang, Bing [Oak Ridge, TN; Maziasz, Philip J [Oak Ridge, TN

2010-11-09

A corrosion resistant electrically conductive component that can be used as a bipolar plate in a PEM fuel cell application is composed of an alloy substrate which has 10-30 wt. % Cr, 0.5 to 7 wt. % V, and base metal being Fe, and a continuous surface layer of chromium nitride and vanadium nitride essentially free of base metal. A oxide layer of chromium vanadium oxide can be disposed between the alloy substrate and the continuous surface nitride layer. A method to prepare the corrosion resistant electrically conductive component involves a two-step nitridization sequence by exposing the alloy to a oxygen containing gas at an elevated temperature, and subsequently exposing the alloy to an oxygen free nitrogen containing gas at an elevated temperature to yield a component where a continuous chromium nitride layer free of iron has formed at the surface.

A liquid metal reaction environment for the room-temperature synthesis of atomically thin metal oxides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zavabeti, Ali; Ou, Jian Zhen; Carey, Benjamin J.; Syed, Nitu; Orrell-Trigg, Rebecca; Mayes, Edwin L. H.; Xu, Chenglong; Kavehei, Omid; O'Mullane, Anthony P.; Kaner, Richard B.; Kalantar-zadeh, Kourosh; Daeneke, Torben

2017-10-01

Two-dimensional (2D) oxides have a wide variety of applications in electronics and other technologies. However, many oxides are not easy to synthesize as 2D materials through conventional methods. We used nontoxic eutectic gallium-based alloys as a reaction solvent and co-alloyed desired metals into the melt. On the basis of thermodynamic considerations, we predicted the composition of the self-limiting interfacial oxide. We isolated the surface oxide as a 2D layer, either on substrates or in suspension. This enabled us to produce extremely thin subnanometer layers of HfO2, Al2O3, and Gd2O3. The liquid metal-based reaction route can be used to create 2D materials that were previously inaccessible with preexisting methods. The work introduces room-temperature liquid metals as a reaction environment for the synthesis of oxide nanomaterials with low dimensionality.

Metallic multilayers at the nanoscale

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jankowski, A.F.

1994-11-01

The development of multilayer structures has been driven by a wide range of commercial applications requiring enhanced material behaviors. Innovations in physical vapor deposition technologies, in particular magnetron sputtering, have enabled the synthesis of metallic-based structures with nanoscaled layer dimensions as small as one-to-two monolayers. Parameters used in the deposition process are paramount to the Formation of these small layer dimensions and the stability of the structure. Therefore, optimization of the desired material properties must be related to assessment of the actual microstructure. Characterization techniques as x-ray diffraction and high resolution microscopy are useful to reveal the interface and layermore » structure-whether ordered or disordered crystalline, amorphous, compositionally abrupt or graded, and/or lattice strained Techniques for the synthesis of metallic multilayers with subnanometric layers will be reviewed with applications based on enhancing material behaviors as reflectivity and magnetic anisotropy but with emphasis on experimental studies of mechanical properties.« less

Embedded cluster metal-polymeric micro interface and process for producing the same

DOEpatents

Menezes, Marlon E.; Birnbaum, Howard K.; Robertson, Ian M.

2002-01-29

A micro interface between a polymeric layer and a metal layer includes isolated clusters of metal partially embedded in the polymeric layer. The exposed portion of the clusters is smaller than embedded portions, so that a cross section, taken parallel to the interface, of an exposed portion of an individual cluster is smaller than a cross section, taken parallel to the interface, of an embedded portion of the individual cluster. At least half, but not all of the height of a preferred spherical cluster is embedded. The metal layer is completed by a continuous layer of metal bonded to the exposed portions of the discontinuous clusters. The micro interface is formed by heating a polymeric layer to a temperature, near its glass transition temperature, sufficient to allow penetration of the layer by metal clusters, after isolated clusters have been deposited on the layer at lower temperatures. The layer is recooled after embedding, and a continuous metal layer is deposited upon the polymeric layer to bond with the discontinuous metal clusters.

Automated array assembly task, phase 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carbajal, B. G.

1977-01-01

Various aspects of a sensitivity analysis, in particular, the impact of variations in metal sheet resistivity, metal line width, diffused layer sheet resistance, junction depth, base layer lifetime, optical coating thickness and optical coating refractive index and on process reproducibility for A's diffusion from a polymer dopant source and on module fabrication were studied. Model calculations show that acceptable process windows exist for each of these parameters.

Electric field-triggered metal-insulator transition resistive switching of bilayered multiphasic VOx

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Won, Seokjae; Lee, Sang Yeon; Hwang, Jungyeon; Park, Jucheol; Seo, Hyungtak

2018-01-01

Electric field-triggered Mott transition of VO2 for next-generation memory devices with sharp and fast resistance-switching response is considered to be ideal but the formation of single-phase VO2 by common deposition techniques is very challenging. Here, VOx films with a VO2-dominant phase for a Mott transition-based metal-insulator transition (MIT) switching device were successfully fabricated by the combined process of RF magnetron sputtering of V metal and subsequent O2 annealing to form. By performing various material characterizations, including scanning transmission electron microscopy-electron energy loss spectroscopy, the film is determined to have a bilayer structure consisting of a VO2-rich bottom layer acting as the Mott transition switching layer and a V2O5/V2O3 mixed top layer acting as a control layer that suppresses any stray leakage current and improves cyclic performance. This bilayer structure enables excellent electric field-triggered Mott transition-based resistive switching of Pt-VOx-Pt metal-insulator-metal devices with a set/reset current ratio reaching 200, set/reset voltage of less than 2.5 V, and very stable DC cyclic switching upto 120 cycles with a great set/reset current and voltage distribution less than 5% of standard deviation at room temperature, which are specifications applicable for neuromorphic or memory device applications. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Anomalous electron transport in metal/carbon multijunction devices by engineering of the carbon thickness and selecting metal layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dwivedi, Neeraj; Dhand, Chetna; Rawal, Ishpal; Kumar, Sushil; Malik, Hitendra K.; Lakshminarayanan, Rajamani

2017-06-01

A longstanding concern in the research of amorphous carbon films is their poor electrical conductivity at room temperature which constitutes a major barrier for the development of cost effective electronic and optoelectronic devices. Here, we propose metal/carbon hybrid multijunction devices as a promising facile way to overcome room temperature electron transport issues in amorphous carbon films. By the tuning of carbon thickness and swapping metal layers, we observe giant (upto ˜7 orders) reduction of electrical resistance in metal/carbon multijunction devices with respect to monolithic amorphous carbon device. We engineer the maximum current (electrical resistance) from about 10-7 to 10-3 A (˜107 to 103 Ω) in metal (Cu or Ti)/carbon hybrid multijunction devices with a total number of 10 junctions. The introduction of thin metal layers breaks the continuity of relatively higher resistance carbon layer as well as promotes the nanostructuring of carbon. These contribute to low electrical resistance of metal/carbon hybrid multijunction devices, with respect to monolithic carbon device, which is further reduced by decreasing the thickness of carbon layers. We also propose and discuss equivalent circuit model to explain electrical resistance in monolithic carbon and metal/carbon multijunction devices. Cu/carbon multijunction devices display relatively better electrical transport than Ti/carbon devices owing to low affinity of Cu with carbon that restricts carbide formation. We also observe that in metal/carbon multijunction devices, the transport mechanism changes from Poole-Frenkel/Schottky model to the hopping model with a decrease in carbon thickness. Our approach opens a new route to develop carbon-based inexpensive electronic and optoelectronic devices.

Thin-film chemical sensors based on electron tunneling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khanna, S. K.; Lambe, J.; Leduc, H. G.; Thakoor, A. P.

1985-01-01

The physical mechanisms underlying a novel chemical sensor based on electron tunneling in metal-insulator-metal (MIM) tunnel junctions were studied. Chemical sensors based on electron tunneling were shown to be sensitive to a variety of substances that include iodine, mercury, bismuth, ethylenedibromide, and ethylenedichloride. A sensitivity of 13 parts per billion of iodine dissolved in hexane was demonstrated. The physical mechanisms involved in the chemical sensitivity of these devices were determined to be the chemical alteration of the surface electronic structure of the top metal electrode in the MIM structure. In addition, electroreflectance spectroscopy (ERS) was studied as a complementary surface-sensitive technique. ERS was shown to be sensitive to both iodine and mercury. Electrolyte electroreflectance and solid-state MIM electroreflectance revealed qualitatively the same chemical response. A modified thin-film structure was also studied in which a chemically active layer was introduced at the top Metal-Insulator interface of the MIM devices. Cobalt phthalocyanine was used for the chemically active layer in this study. Devices modified in this way were shown to be sensitive to iodine and nitrogen dioxide. The chemical sensitivity of the modified structure was due to conductance changes in the active layer.

Preparations, structures and properties of heterobimetallic complexes based on tetrahydrofuran-2,3,4,5-tetracarboxylate

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jia, Tian-Jing; Li, Shu-Mu; Cao, Wei

2013-05-01

Transition heterobimetallic metal-organic frameworks based on tetrahydrofuran-2,3,4,5-tetracarboxylicate (FTA), namely [M(H₂O)₆][Cu₂M(FTA)₂(H₂O)₂]·4H₂O [M=Mn (1), Co (2)], and [CuZn(FTA)(H₂O)₅]·H₂O (3) have been synthesized and characterized. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction indicates that complexes 1 and 2 are isomorphic. In 1 and 2, FTA ligand links the metal ions to a 2-D wave-like negative-charged layer with a topology of (4;6²)₂(4;6³;8²)₂(6). They possess 1-D channels with [M(H₂O)₆]²⁺ and lattice water molecules enclathrated. While in the complex 3, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions are bridged by FTA to a 2-D neutral layer structure with a (8)₂(8⁴;12²) topology. Magnetic properties of 1–3 were analyzed in connection with their structures, whichmore » show that there exist weak antiferromagnetic interactions between metal ions. - Graphical abstract: Three heterobimetallic MOFs were constructed through the size-selectivity of TFA coordination sites for different transition metal ions based on the concept of “Hard and Soft Acids and Bases”. Highlights: • Complexes 1 and 3 contain 2-D wave-like negative-charged layers. • Complex 2 is a 2-D neutral layer structure with a (8)₂(8⁴;12²) topology. • Complexes 1–3 are the first example of heterobimetallic MOFs based on FTA. • The coordination sites of FTA show size-selectivity to metal ions.« less

Temperature distribution around thin electroconductive layers created on composite textile substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korzeniewska, Ewa; Szczesny, Artur; Krawczyk, Andrzej; Murawski, Piotr; Mróz, Józef; Seme, Sebastian

2018-03-01

In this paper, the authors describe the distribution of temperatures around electroconductive pathways created by a physical vacuum deposition process on flexible textile substrates used in elastic electronics and textronics. Cordura material was chosen as the substrate. Silver with 99.99% purity was used as the deposited metal. This research was based on thermographic photographs of the produced samples. Analysis of the temperature field around the electroconductive layer was carried out using Image ThermaBase EU software. The analysis of the temperature distribution highlights the software's usefulness in determining the homogeneity of the created metal layer. Higher local temperatures and non-uniform distributions at the same time can negatively influence the work of the textronic system.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Matthews, Manyalibo J.; Guss, Gabe; Drachenberg, Derrek R.

We present that Selective Laser Melting (SLM) of metal powder bed layers, whereby 3D metal objects can be printed from a digital file with unprecedented design flexibility, is spurring manufacturing innovations in medical, automotive, aerospace and textile industries. Because SLM is based on raster-scanning a laser beam over each layer, the process is relatively slow compared to most traditional manufacturing methods (hours to days), thus limiting wider spread use. Here we demonstrate the use of a large area, photolithographic method for 3D metal printing, using an optically-addressable light valve (OALV) as the photomask, to print entire layers of metal powdermore » at once. An optical sheet of multiplexed ~5 kW, 20 ms laser diode and ~1 MW, 7 ns Q-switched laser pulses are used to selectively melt each layer. Finally, the patterning of near infrared light is accomplished by imaging 470 nm light onto the transmissive OALV, which consists of polarization-selective nematic liquid crystal sandwiched between a photoconductor and transparent conductor for switching.« less

Environmentally-assisted technique for transferring devices onto non-conventional substrates

DOEpatents

Lee, Chi-Hwan; Kim, Dong Rip; Zheng, Xiaolin

2016-05-10

A device fabrication method includes: (1) providing a growth substrate including an oxide layer; (2) forming a metal layer over the oxide layer; (3) forming a stack of device layers over the metal layer; (4) performing fluid-assisted interfacial debonding of the metal layer to separate the stack of device layers and the metal layer from the growth substrate; and (5) affixing the stack of device layers to a target substrate.

Back contact to film silicon on metal for photovoltaic cells

DOEpatents

Branz, Howard M.; Teplin, Charles; Stradins, Pauls

2013-06-18

A crystal oriented metal back contact for solar cells is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a photovoltaic device and methods for making the photovoltaic device are disclosed. The photovoltaic device includes a metal substrate with a crystalline orientation and a heteroepitaxial crystal silicon layer having the same crystal orientation of the metal substrate. A heteroepitaxial buffer layer having the crystal orientation of the metal substrate is positioned between the substrate and the crystal silicon layer to reduce diffusion of metal from the metal foil into the crystal silicon layer and provide chemical compatibility with the heteroepitaxial crystal silicon layer. Additionally, the buffer layer includes one or more electrically conductive pathways to electrically couple the crystal silicon layer and the metal substrate.

Meta-structure and tunable optical device including the same

DOEpatents

Han, Seunghoon; Papadakis, Georgia Theano; Atwater, Harry

2017-12-26

A meta-structure and a tunable optical device including the same are provided. The meta-structure includes a plurality of metal layers spaced apart from one another, an active layer spaced apart from the plurality of metal layers and having a carrier concentration that is tuned according to an electric signal applied to the active layer and the plurality of metal layers, and a plurality of dielectric layers spaced apart from one another and each having one surface contacting a metal layer among the plurality of metal layers and another surface contacting the active layer.

Selectivity Enhancement by Using Double-Layer MOX-Based Gas Sensors Prepared by Flame Spray Pyrolysis (FSP).

PubMed

Rebholz, Julia; Grossmann, Katharina; Pham, David; Pokhrel, Suman; Mädler, Lutz; Weimar, Udo; Barsan, Nicolae

2016-09-06

Here we present a novel concept for the selective recognition of different target gases with a multilayer semiconducting metal oxide (SMOX)-based sensor device. Direct current (DC) electrical resistance measurements were performed during exposure to CO and ethanol as single gases and mixtures of highly porous metal oxide double- and single-layer sensors obtained by flame spray pyrolysis. The results show that the calculated resistance ratios of the single- and double-layer sensors are a good indicator for the presence of specific gases in the atmosphere, and can constitute some building blocks for the development of chemical logic devices. Due to the inherent lack of selectivity of SMOX-based gas sensors, such devices could be especially relevant for domestic applications.

Selectivity Enhancement by Using Double-Layer MOX-Based Gas Sensors Prepared by Flame Spray Pyrolysis (FSP)

PubMed Central

Rebholz, Julia; Grossmann, Katharina; Pham, David; Pokhrel, Suman; Mädler, Lutz; Weimar, Udo; Barsan, Nicolae

2016-01-01

Here we present a novel concept for the selective recognition of different target gases with a multilayer semiconducting metal oxide (SMOX)-based sensor device. Direct current (DC) electrical resistance measurements were performed during exposure to CO and ethanol as single gases and mixtures of highly porous metal oxide double- and single-layer sensors obtained by flame spray pyrolysis. The results show that the calculated resistance ratios of the single- and double-layer sensors are a good indicator for the presence of specific gases in the atmosphere, and can constitute some building blocks for the development of chemical logic devices. Due to the inherent lack of selectivity of SMOX-based gas sensors, such devices could be especially relevant for domestic applications. PMID:27608028

Effect of native oxide layers on copper thin-film tensile properties: A reactive molecular dynamics study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Skarlinski, Michael D., E-mail: michael.skarlinski@rochester.edu; Quesnel, David J.; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627

2015-12-21

Metal-oxide layers are likely to be present on metallic nano-structures due to either environmental exposure during use, or high temperature processing techniques such as annealing. It is well known that nano-structured metals have vastly different mechanical properties from bulk metals; however, difficulties in modeling the transition between metallic and ionic bonding have prevented the computational investigation of the effects of oxide surface layers. Newly developed charge-optimized many body [Liang et al., Mater. Sci. Eng., R 74, 255 (2013)] potentials are used to perform fully reactive molecular dynamics simulations which elucidate the effects that metal-oxide layers have on the mechanical propertiesmore » of a copper thin-film. Simulated tensile tests are performed on thin-films while using different strain-rates, temperatures, and oxide thicknesses to evaluate changes in yield stress, modulus, and failure mechanisms. Findings indicate that copper-thin film mechanical properties are strongly affected by native oxide layers. The formed oxide layers have an amorphous structure with lower Cu-O bond-densities than bulk CuO, and a mixture of Cu{sub 2}O and CuO charge character. It is found that oxidation will cause modifications to the strain response of the elastic modulii, producing a stiffened modulii at low temperatures (<75 K) and low strain values (<5%), and a softened modulii at higher temperatures. While under strain, structural reorganization within the oxide layers facilitates brittle yielding through nucleation of defects across the oxide/metal interface. The oxide-free copper thin-film yielding mechanism is found to be a tensile-axis reorientation and grain creation. The oxide layers change the observed yielding mechanism, allowing for the inner copper thin-film to sustain an FCC-to-BCC transition during yielding. The mechanical properties are fit to a thermodynamic model based on classical nucleation theory. The fit implies that the oxidation of the films reduces the activation volume for yielding.« less

Tests on Double Layer Metalization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woo, D. S.

1983-01-01

28 page report describes experiments in fabrication of integrated circuits with double-layer metalization. Double-layer metalization requires much less silicon "real estate" and allows more flexibility in placement of circuit elements than does single-layer metalization.

Method of depositing an electrically conductive oxide buffer layer on a textured substrate and articles formed therefrom

DOEpatents

Paranthaman, M. Parans; Aytug, Tolga; Christen, David K.

2005-10-18

An article with an improved buffer layer architecture includes a substrate having a textured metal surface, and an electrically conductive lanthanum metal oxide epitaxial buffer layer on the surface of the substrate. The article can also include an epitaxial superconducting layer deposited on the epitaxial buffer layer. An epitaxial capping layer can be placed between the epitaxial buffer layer and the superconducting layer. A method for preparing an epitaxial article includes providing a substrate with a metal surface and depositing on the metal surface a lanthanum metal oxide epitaxial buffer layer. The method can further include depositing a superconducting layer on the epitaxial buffer layer, and depositing an epitaxial capping layer between the epitaxial buffer layer and the superconducting layer.

Method of depositing an electrically conductive oxide buffer layer on a textured substrate and articles formed therefrom

DOEpatents

Paranthaman, M. Parans; Aytug, Tolga; Christen, David K.

2003-09-09

An article with an improved buffer layer architecture includes a substrate having a textured metal surface, and an electrically conductive lanthanum metal oxide epitaxial buffer layer on the surface of the substrate. The article can also include an epitaxial superconducting layer deposited on the epitaxial buffer layer. An epitaxial capping layer can be placed between the epitaxial buffer layer and the superconducting layer. A method for preparing an epitaxial article includes providing a substrate with a metal surface and depositing on the metal surface a lanthanum metal oxide epitaxial buffer layer. The method can further include depositing a superconducting layer on the epitaxial buffer layer, and depositing an epitaxial capping layer between the epitaxial buffer layer and the superconducting layer.

Direct Probing of the Dielectric Scavenging-Layer Interface in Oxide Filamentary-Based Valence Change Memory.

PubMed

Celano, Umberto; Op de Beeck, Jonathan; Clima, Sergiu; Luebben, Michael; Koenraad, Paul M; Goux, Ludovic; Valov, Ilia; Vandervorst, Wilfried

2017-03-29

A great improvement in valence change memory performance has been recently achieved by adding another metallic layer to the simple metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure. This metal layer is often referred to as oxygen exchange layer (OEL) and is introduced between one of the electrodes and the oxide. The OEL is believed to induce a distributed reservoir of defects at the metal-insulator interface thus providing an unlimited availability of building blocks for the conductive filament (CF). However, its role remains elusive and controversial owing to the difficulties to probe the interface between the OEL and the CF. Here, using Scalpel SPM we probe multiple functions of the OEL which have not yet been directly measured, for two popular VCMs material systems: Hf/HfO 2 and Ta/Ta 2 O 5 . We locate and characterize in three-dimensions the volume containing the oxygen exchange layer and the CF with nanometer lateral resolution. We demonstrate that the OEL induces a thermodynamic barrier for the CF and estimate the minimum thickness of the OEL/oxide interface to guarantee the proper switching operations is ca. 3 nm. Our experimental observations are combined to first-principles thermodynamics and defect kinetics to elucidate the role of the OEL for device optimization.

Prospects of zero Schottky barrier height in a graphene-inserted MoS2-metal interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chanana, Anuja; Mahapatra, Santanu

2016-01-01

A low Schottky barrier height (SBH) at source/drain contact is essential for achieving high drive current in atomic layer MoS2-channel-based field effect transistors. Approaches such as choosing metals with appropriate work functions and chemical doping are employed previously to improve the carrier injection from the contact electrodes to the channel and to mitigate the SBH between the MoS2 and metal. Recent experiments demonstrate significant SBH reduction when graphene layer is inserted between metal slab (Ti and Ni) and MoS2. However, the physical or chemical origin of this phenomenon is not yet clearly understood. In this work, density functional theory simulations are performed, employing pseudopotentials with very high basis sets to get insights of the charge transfer between metal and monolayer MoS2 through the inserted graphene layer. Our atomistic simulations on 16 different interfaces involving five different metals (Ti, Ag, Ru, Au, and Pt) reveal that (i) such a decrease in SBH is not consistent among various metals, rather an increase in SBH is observed in case of Au and Pt; (ii) unlike MoS2-metal interface, the projected dispersion of MoS2 remains preserved in any MoS2-graphene-metal system with shift in the bands on the energy axis. (iii) A proper choice of metal (e.g., Ru) may exhibit ohmic nature in a graphene-inserted MoS2-metal contact. These understandings would provide a direction in developing high-performance transistors involving heteroatomic layers as contact electrodes.

Integrated resonant tunneling diode based antenna

DOEpatents

Hietala, Vincent M.; Tiggers, Chris P.; Plut, Thomas A.

2000-01-01

An antenna comprising a plurality of negative resistance devices and a method for making same comprising employing a removable standoff layer to form the gap between the microstrip antenna metal and the bottom contact layer.

Self-Formed Hybrid Interphase Layer on Lithium Metal for High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

PubMed

Li, Guoxing; Huang, Qingquan; He, Xin; Gao, Yue; Wang, Daiwei; Kim, Seong H; Wang, Donghai

2018-02-27

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are promising candidates for high-energy storage devices due to high theoretical capacities of both the sulfur cathode and lithium (Li) metal anode. Considerable efforts have been devoted to improving sulfur cathodes. However, issues associated with Li anodes, such as low Coulombic efficiency (CE) and growth of Li dendrites, remain unsolved due to unstable solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) and lead to poor capacity retention and a short cycling life of Li-S batteries. In this work, we demonstrate a facile and effective approach to fabricate a flexible and robust hybrid SEI layer through co-deposition of aromatic-based organosulfides and inorganic Li salts using poly(sulfur-random-1,3-diisopropenylbenzene) as an additive in an electrolyte. The aromatic-based organic components with planar backbone conformation and π-π interaction in the SEI layers can improve the toughness and flexibility to promote stable and high efficient Li deposition/dissolution. The as-formed durable SEI layer can inhibit dendritic Li growth, enhance Li deposition/dissolution CE (99.1% over 420 cycles), and in turn enable Li-S batteries with good cycling stability (1000 cycles) and slow capacity decay. This work demonstrates a route to address the issues associated with Li metal anodes and promote the development of high-energy rechargeable Li metal batteries.

Structure for HTS composite conductors and the manufacture of same

DOEpatents

Cotton, J.D.; Riley, G.N. Jr.

1999-06-01

A superconducting oxide composite structure including a superconducting oxide member, a metal layer surrounding the superconducting oxide member, and an insulating layer of a complex oxide formed in situ adjacent to the superconducting oxide member and the metal layer is provided together with a method of forming such a superconducting oxide composite structure including encapsulating a superconducting oxide member or precursor within a metal matrix layer from the group of: (1) a reactive metal sheath adjacent to the superconducting oxide member or precursor, the reactive metal sheath surrounded by a second metal layer or (2) an alloy containing a reactive metal; to form an intermediate product, and, heating the intermediate product at temperatures and for time sufficient to form an insulating layer of a complex oxide in situ, the insulating layer to the superconducting oxide member or precursor and the metal matrix layer. 10 figs.

Structure for hts composite conductors and the manufacture of same

DOEpatents

Cotton, James D.; Riley, Jr., Gilbert Neal

1999-01-01

A superconducting oxide composite structure including a superconducting oxide member, a metal layer surrounding the superconducting oxide member, and an insulating layer of a complex oxide formed in situ adjacent to the superconducting oxide member and the metal layer is provided together with a method of forming such a superconducting oxide composite structure including encapsulating a superconducting oxide member or precursor within a metal matrix layer from the group of: (i) a reactive metal sheath adjacent to the superconducting oxide member or precursor, the reactive metal sheath surrounded by a second metal layer or (ii) an alloy containing a reactive metal; to form an intermediate product, and, heating the intermediate product at temperatures and for time sufficient to form an insulating layer of a complex oxide in situ, the insulating layer to the superconducting oxide member or precursor and the metal matrix layer.

Laser-Induced Fabrication of Metallic Interlayers and Patterns in Polyimide Films

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miner, Gilda A. (Inventor); Stoakley, Diane M. (Inventor); Gaddy, Gregory A. (Inventor); Koplitz, Brent D. (Inventor); Simpson, Steven M. (Inventor); Lynch, Michael F. (Inventor); Ruffner, Samuel C. (Inventor)

2010-01-01

Self-metallizing polyimide films are created by doping polyamic acid solutions with metallic ions and solubilizing agents. Upon creating a film, the film is exposed to coherent light for a specific time and then cured. The resulting film has been found to have a metallic surface layer and a metallic subsurface layer (interlayer). The layer separating the metallic layer has a uniform dispersion of small metal particulates within the polymer. The layer below the interlayer has larger metal particulates uniformly distributed within the polymer. By varying the intensity or time of exposure to the coherent light, three-dimensional control of metal formation within the film is provided.

Predictions and Experimental Microstructural Characterization of High Strain Rate Failure Modes in Layered Aluminum Composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khanikar, Prasenjit

Different aluminum alloys can be combined, as composites, for tailored dynamic applications. Most investigations pertaining to metallic alloy layered composites, however, have been based on quasi-static approaches. The dynamic failure of layered metallic composites, therefore, needs to be characterized in terms of strength, toughness, and fracture response. A dislocation-density based crystalline plasticity formulation, finite-element techniques, rational crystallographic orientation relations and a new fracture methodology were used to predict the failure modes associated with the high strain rate behavior of aluminum layered composites. Two alloy layers, a high strength alloy, aluminum 2195, and an aluminum alloy 2139, with high toughness, were modeled with representative microstructures that included precipitates, dispersed particles, and different grain boundary (GB) distributions. The new fracture methodology, based on an overlap method and phantom nodes, is used with a fracture criteria specialized for fracture on different cleavage planes. One of the objectives of this investigation, therefore, was to determine the optimal arrangements of the 2139 and 2195 aluminum alloys for a metallic layered composite that would combine strength, toughness and fracture resistance for high strain-rate applications. Different layer arrangements were investigated for high strain-rate applications, and the optimal arrangement was with the high toughness 2139 layer on the bottom, which provided extensive shear strain localization, and the high strength 2195 layer on the top for high strength resistance. The layer thickness of the bottom high toughness layer also affected the bending behavior of the roll-boned interface and the potential delamination of the layers. Shear strain localization, dynamic cracking and delamination were the mutually competing failure mechanisms for the layered metallic composite, and control of these failure modes can be optimized for high strain-rate applications. The second major objective of this investigation was the use of recently developed dynamic fracture formulations to model and analyze the crack nucleation and propagation of aluminum layered composites subjected to high strain rate loading conditions and how microstructural effects, such as precipitates, dispersed particles, and GB orientations affect failure evolution. This dynamic fracture approach is used to investigate crack nucleation and crack growth as a function of the different microstructural characteristics of each alloy in layered composites with and without pre-existing cracks. The zigzag nature of the crack paths were mainly due to the microstructural features, such as precipitates and dispersed particles distributions and orientations ahead of the crack front, and it underscored the capabilities of the fracture methodology. The evolution of dislocation density and the formation of localized shear slip contributed to the blunting of the propagating crack. Extensive geometrical and thermal softening due to the localized plastic slip also affected crack path orientations and directions. These softening mechanisms resulted in the switching of cleavage planes, which affected crack path orientations. Interface delamination can also have an important role in the failure and toughening of the layered composites. Different scenarios of delamination were investigated, such as planar crack growth and crack penetration into the layers. The presence of brittle surface oxide platelets in the interface region also significantly influenced the interface delamination process. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Optical Microscopy (OM) characterization provided further physical insights and validation of the predictive capabilities. The inherent microstructural features of each alloy play a significant role in the dynamic fracture, shear strain localization, and interface delamination of the layered metallic composite. These microstructural features, such as precipitates, dispersed particles, and GB orientations and distributions can be optimized for desired behavior of metallic composites.

Conducting tin halides with a layered organic-based perovskite structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitzi, D. B.; Feild, C. A.; Harrison, W. T. A.; Guloy, A. M.

1994-06-01

THE discovery1 of high-temperature superconductivity in layered copper oxide perovskites has generated considerable fundamental and technological interest in this class of materials. Only a few other examples of conducting layered perovskites are known; these are also oxides such as (La1-xSrx)n+1 MnnO3n+1 (ref. 2), Lan+1NinO3n+1 (ref. 3) and Ban+1PbnO3n+1 (ref. 4), all of which exhibit a trend from semiconducting to metallic behaviour with increasing number of perovskite layers (n). We report here the synthesis of a family of organic-based layered halide perovskites, (C4H9NH3)2(CH3NH3)n-1Snnl3n+1 which show a similar transition from semiconducting to metallic behaviour with increasing n. The incorporation of an organic modulation layer between the conducting tin iodide sheets potentially provides greater flexibility for tuning the electrical properties of the perovskite sheets, and we suggest that such an approach will prove valuable for exploring the range of transport properties possible with layered perovskites.

Cathodes for lithium-air battery cells with acid electrolytes

DOEpatents

Xing, Yangchuan; Huang, Kan; Li, Yunfeng

2016-07-19

In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a layered metal-air cathode for a metal-air battery. Generally, the layered metal-air cathode comprises an active catalyst layer, a transition layer bonded to the active catalyst layer, and a backing layer bonded to the transition layer such that the transition layer is disposed between the active catalyst layer and the backing layer.

Method for bonding thin film thermocouples to ceramics

DOEpatents

Kreider, Kenneth G.

1993-01-01

A method is provided for adhering a thin film metal thermocouple to a ceramic substrate used in an environment up to 700 degrees Centigrade, such as at a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The method includes the steps of: depositing a thin layer of a reactive metal on a clean ceramic substrate; and depositing thin layers of platinum and a platinum-10% rhodium alloy forming the respective legs of the thermocouple on the reactive metal layer. The reactive metal layer serves as a bond coat between the thin noble metal thermocouple layers and the ceramic substrate. The thin layers of noble metal are in the range of 1-4 micrometers thick. Preferably, the ceramic substrate is selected from the group consisting of alumina and partially stabilized zirconia. Preferably, the thin layer of reactive metal is in the range of 0.015-0.030 micrometers (15-30 nanometers) thick. The preferred reactive metal is chromium. Other reactive metals may be titanium or zirconium. The thin layer of reactive metal may be deposited by sputtering in ultra high purity argon in a vacuum of approximately 2 milliTorr (0.3 Pascals).

On the Existence of Our Metals-Based Civilization: I. Phase Space Analysis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

D.D. Macdonald

2005-06-22

The stability of the barrier layers of bilayer passive films that form on metal and alloy surfaces, when in contact with oxidizing aqueous environments, is explored within the framework of the Point Defect Model (PDM) using phase-space analysis (PSA), in which the rate of growth of the barrier layer into the metal, (dL{sup +}/dt), and the barrier layer dissolution rate, (dL{sup -}/dt), are plotted simultaneously against the barrier layer thickness. A point of intersection of dL{sup -}/dt with dL{sup +}/dt indicates the existence of a metastable barrier layer with a steady state thickness greater than zero. If dL{sup -}/dt >more » (dL{sup +}/dt){sub L=0}, where the latter quantity is the barrier layer growth rate at zero barrier layer thickness, the barrier layer cannot exist, even as a metastable phase, as the resulting thickness would be negative. Under these conditions, the surface is depassivated and the metal may corrode at a rapid rate. Depassivation may result from a change in the oxidation state of the cation upon dissolution of the barrier layer, such that the dissolution rate becomes highly potential dependent (as in the case of transpassive dissolution of chromium-containing alloys, for example, in which the reaction Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3} + 5H{sub 2}O {yields} 2CrO{sub 4}{sup 2-} + 10H {sup +} + 6e{sup -} results in the destruction of the film), or by the action of some solution-phase species (e.g., H{sup +}, Cl{sup -}) that enhances the dissolution rate to the extent that dL{sup -}/dt > (dL{sup +}/dt){sub L=0}. The boundaries for depassivation may be plotted in potential-pH space to develop Kinetic Stability Diagrams (KSDs) as alternatives to the classical Pourbaix diagrams for describing the conditions under which metals or alloys exist in contact with an aqueous environment. The advantage of KSDs is that they provide kinetic descriptions of the state of a metal or alloy that is in much closer concert with the kinetic phenomenon of passivity and depassivation than are equilibrium thermodynamic diagrams. Thus, KSDs more accurately account for the limits of passivity in highly acidic systems, where acid depassivation occurs, and at high potentials, where transition to the transpassive state may occur in some systems. In any event, phase space analysis of the PDM permits specification of the conditions over which reactive metals will remain passive in contact with aqueous systems and hence of the conditions that must be met for the existence of our metals-based civilization.« less

Mode propagation in optical nanowaveguides with dielectric cores and surrounding metal layers.

PubMed

Lapchuk, Anatoly S; Shin, Dongho; Jeong, Ho-Seop; Kyong, Chun Su; Shin, Dong-Ik

2005-12-10

The mode spectrum in an optical nanowaveguide consisting of a dielectric-core layer surrounded by two identical metal layers is investigated. A simple model based on mode matching to predict the properties of mode propagation in such optical nanowaveguides is proposed. It is shown that quasi-TM00 and quasi-TM10 modes supported by an optical microstrip line do not have a cutoff frequency, regardless of the size of the metal strips, the thickness of the dielectric slab, and the cross-sectional shape. The transverse size of the TM00 mode supported by a nanosized microstrip line was found to be approximately equal to the transverse dimension of the microstrip line. In closed rectangular and elliptical nanowaveguides, i.e., in which all dielectric surfaces are covered with metal films, the cross-sectional shape of the waveguide should be stretched along one side to produce propagation conditions for the fundamental mode.

Cermet based metamaterials for multi band absorbers over NIR to LWIR frequencies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pradhan, Jitendra K.; Behera, Gangadhar; Agarwal, Amit K.; Ghosh, Amitava; Ramakrishna, S. Anantha

2017-06-01

Cermets or ceramic-metals are known for their use in solar thermal technologies for their absorption across the solar band. Use of cermet layers in a metamaterial perfect absorber allows for flexible control of infra-red absorption over the short wave infra-red, to long wave infra-red bands, while keeping the visible/near infra-red absorption properties constant. We design multilayered metamaterials consisting of a conducting ground plane, a low metal volume fraction cermet/ZnS as dielectric spacer layers, and a top structured layer of an array of circular discs of metal/high volume metal fraction cermet that give rise to specified absorption bands in the near-infra-red (NIR) frequencies, as well as any specified band at SWIR-LWIR frequencies. Thus, a complete decoupling of the absorption at optical/NIR frequencies and the infra-red absorption behaviour of a structured metamaterial is demonstrated.

Thermally tolerant multilayer metal membrane

DOEpatents

Dye, Robert C.; Snow, Ronny C.

2001-01-01

A composite metal membrane including a first metal layer of a Group IVB or Group VB metal sandwiched between two layers of a Group VIIIB metal selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, nickel, rhodium, iridium, cobalt, and alloys thereof, and a non-continuous layer of a metal chalcogenide upon one layer of the Group VIIIB metal is disclosed together with a process for the recovery of hydrogen from a gaseous mixture using such a composite membrane and a process for forming such a composite metal membrane.

High Precision Metal Thin Film Liftoff Technique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, Ari D. (Inventor); Patel, Amil A. (Inventor)

2015-01-01

A metal film liftoff process includes applying a polymer layer onto a silicon substrate, applying a germanium layer over the polymer layer to create a bilayer lift off mask, applying a patterned photoresist layer over the germanium layer, removing an exposed portion of the germanium layer, removing the photoresist layer and a portion of the polymer layer to expose a portion of the substrate and create an overhanging structure of the germanium layer, depositing a metal film over the exposed portion of the substrate and the germanium layer, and removing the polymer and germanium layers along with the overlaying metal film.

Six-band terahertz metamaterial absorber based on the combination of multiple-order responses of metallic patches in a dual-layer stacked resonance structure.

PubMed

Wang, Ben-Xin; Wang, Gui-Zhen; Sang, Tian; Wang, Ling-Ling

2017-01-25

This paper reports on a numerical study of the six-band metamaterial absorber composed of two alternating stack of metallic-dielectric layers on top of a continuous metallic plane. Six obvious resonance peaks with high absorption performance (average larger than 99.37%) are realized. The first, third, fifth, and the second, fourth, sixth resonance absorption bands are attributed to the multiple-order responses (i.e., the 1-, 3- and 5-order responses) of the bottom- and top-layer of the structure, respectively, and thus the absorption mechanism of six-band absorber is due to the combination of two sets of the multiple-order resonances of these two layers. Besides, the size changes of the metallic layers have the ability to tune the frequencies of the six-band absorber. Employing the results, we also present a six-band polarization tunable absorber through varying the sizes of the structure in two orthogonal polarization directions. Moreover, nine-band terahertz absorber can be achieved by using a three-layer stacked structure. Simulation results indicate that the absorber possesses nine distinct resonance bands, and average absorptivities of them are larger than 94.03%. The six-band or nine-band absorbers obtained here have potential applications in many optoelectronic and engineering technology areas.

Study of all-angle negative refraction of light in metal-dielectric-metal multilayered structures based on generalized formulas of reflection and refraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Jiangwei; Liu, Jun; Xu, Weidong

2017-09-01

In this paper, refraction behaviors of light in both metal single-layered film and metal-dielectric-metal multilayered films are investigated based on the generalized formulas of reflection and refraction. The obtained results, especially, dependence of power refractive index on incident angles for a light beam traveling through a metal-dielectric-metal multilayered structure, are well consistent with the experimental observations. Our work may offer a new angle of view to understand the all-angle negative refraction of light in metal-dielectric-metal multilayered structures, and provide a convenient approach to optimize the devised design and address the issue on making the perfect lens.

Measurement and simulation of top- and bottom-illuminated solar-blind AlGaN metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors with high external quantum efficiencies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brendel, Moritz, E-mail: moritz.brendel@fbh-berlin.de; Helbling, Markus; Knigge, Andrea

2015-12-28

A comprehensive study on top- and bottom-illuminated Al{sub 0.5}Ga{sub 0.5}N/AlN metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetectors having different AlGaN absorber layer thickness is presented. The measured external quantum efficiency (EQE) shows pronounced threshold and saturation behavior as a function of applied bias voltage up to 50 V reaching about 50% for 0.1 μm and 67% for 0.5 μm thick absorber layers under bottom illumination. All experimental findings are in very good accordance with two-dimensional drift-diffusion modeling results. By taking into account macroscopic polarization effects in the hexagonal metal-polar +c-plane AlGaN/AlN heterostructures, new insights into the general device functionality of AlGaN-based MSM photodetectors are obtained. The observedmore » threshold/saturation behavior is caused by a bias-dependent extraction of photoexcited holes from the Al{sub 0.5}Ga{sub 0.5}N/AlN interface. While present under bottom illumination for any AlGaN layer thickness, under top illumination this mechanism influences the EQE-bias characteristics only for thin layers.« less

Plasmonically sensitized metal-oxide electron extraction layers for organic solar cells.

PubMed

Trost, S; Becker, T; Zilberberg, K; Behrendt, A; Polywka, A; Heiderhoff, R; Görrn, P; Riedl, T

2015-01-16

ZnO and TiOx are commonly used as electron extraction layers (EELs) in organic solar cells (OSCs). A general phenomenon of OSCs incorporating these metal-oxides is the requirement to illuminate the devices with UV light in order to improve device characteristics. This may cause severe problems if UV to VIS down-conversion is applied or if the UV spectral range (λ < 400 nm) is blocked to achieve an improved device lifetime. In this work, silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are used to plasmonically sensitize metal-oxide based EELs in the vicinity (1-20 nm) of the metal-oxide/organic interface. We evidence that plasmonically sensitized metal-oxide layers facilitate electron extraction and afford well-behaved highly efficient OSCs, even without the typical requirement of UV exposure. It is shown that in the plasmonically sensitized metal-oxides the illumination with visible light lowers the WF due to desorption of previously ionosorbed oxygen, in analogy to the process found in neat metal oxides upon UV exposure, only. As underlying mechanism the transfer of hot holes from the metal to the oxide upon illumination with hν < Eg is verified. The general applicability of this concept to most common metal-oxides (e.g. TiOx and ZnO) in combination with different photoactive organic materials is demonstrated.

Plasmonically sensitized metal-oxide electron extraction layers for organic solar cells

PubMed Central

Trost, S.; Becker, T.; Zilberberg, K.; Behrendt, A.; Polywka, A.; Heiderhoff, R.; Görrn, P.; Riedl, T.

2015-01-01

ZnO and TiOx are commonly used as electron extraction layers (EELs) in organic solar cells (OSCs). A general phenomenon of OSCs incorporating these metal-oxides is the requirement to illuminate the devices with UV light in order to improve device characteristics. This may cause severe problems if UV to VIS down-conversion is applied or if the UV spectral range (λ < 400 nm) is blocked to achieve an improved device lifetime. In this work, silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are used to plasmonically sensitize metal-oxide based EELs in the vicinity (1–20 nm) of the metal-oxide/organic interface. We evidence that plasmonically sensitized metal-oxide layers facilitate electron extraction and afford well-behaved highly efficient OSCs, even without the typical requirement of UV exposure. It is shown that in the plasmonically sensitized metal-oxides the illumination with visible light lowers the WF due to desorption of previously ionosorbed oxygen, in analogy to the process found in neat metal oxides upon UV exposure, only. As underlying mechanism the transfer of hot holes from the metal to the oxide upon illumination with hν < Eg is verified. The general applicability of this concept to most common metal-oxides (e.g. TiOx and ZnO) in combination with different photoactive organic materials is demonstrated. PMID:25592174

Metal based gas diffusion layers for enhanced fuel cell performance at high current densities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hussain, Nabeel; Van Steen, Eric; Tanaka, Shiro; Levecque, Pieter

2017-01-01

The gas diffusion layer strongly influences the performance and durability of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. A major drawback of current carbon fiber based GDLs is the non-controlled variation in porosity resulting in a random micro-structure. Moreover, when subjected to compression these materials show significant reduction in porosity and permeability leading to water management problems and mass transfer losses within the fuel cell. This study investigated the use of uniform perforated metal sheets as GDLs in conjunction with microchannel flowfields. A metal sheet design with a pitch of 110 μm and a hole diameter of 60 μm in combination with an MPL showed superior performance in the high current density region compared to a commercially available carbon paper based GDL in a single cell environment. Fuel cell testing with different oxidants (air, heliox and oxygen) indicate that the metal sheet offers both superior diffusion and reduced flooding in comparison to the carbon based GDL. The presence of the MPL has been found to be critical to the functionality of the metal sheet suggesting that the MPL design may represent an important optimisation parameter for further improvements in performance.

Deposition and thermal characterization of nano-structured aluminum nitride thin film on Cu-W substrate for high power light emitting diode package.

PubMed

Cho, Hyun Min; Kim, Min-Sun

2014-08-01

In this study, we developed AlN thick film on metal substrate for hybrid type LED package such as chip on board (COB) using metal printed circuit board (PCB). Conventional metal PCB uses ceramic-polymer composite as electrical insulating layer. Thermal conductivities of such type dielectric film are typically in the range of 1~4 W/m · K depending on the ceramic filler. Also, Al or Cu alloy are mainly used for metal base for high thermal conduction to dissipate heat from thermal source mounted on metal PCB. Here we used Cu-W alloy with low thermal expansion coefficient as metal substrate to reduce thermal stress between insulating layer and base metal. AlN with polyimide (PI) powder were used as starting materials for deposition. We could obtain very high thermal conductivity of 28.3 W/m · K from deposited AlN-PI thin film by AlN-3 wt% PI powder. We made hybrid type high power LED package using AlN-PI thin film. We tested thermal performance of this film by thermal transient measurement and compared with conventional metal PCB substrate.

Structure and Distribution of Components in the Working Layer Upon Reconditioning of Parts by Electric-Arc Metallization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skoblo, T. S.; Vlasovets, V. M.; Moroz, V. V.

2001-11-01

Reliable data on the structure of the deposited layer are very important due to the considerable instability of the process of deposition of coatings by the method of electric-arc metallization and the strict requirements for reconditioned crankshafts. The present paper is devoted to the structure of coatings obtained from powder wire based on ferrochrome-aluminum with additional alloying elements introduced into the charge.

Lightweight armor system and process for producing the same

DOEpatents

Chu, Henry S.; Bruck, H. Alan; Strempek, Gary C.; Varacalle, Jr., Dominic J.

2004-01-20

A lightweight armor system may comprise a substrate having a graded metal matrix composite layer formed thereon by thermal spray deposition. The graded metal matrix composite layer comprises an increasing volume fraction of ceramic particles imbedded in a decreasing volume fraction of a metal matrix as a function of a thickness of the graded metal matrix composite layer. A ceramic impact layer is affixed to the graded metal matrix composite layer.

Interfacial Metal-Oxide Interactions in Resistive Switching Memories.

PubMed

Cho, Deok-Yong; Luebben, Michael; Wiefels, Stefan; Lee, Kug-Seung; Valov, Ilia

2017-06-07

Metal oxides are commonly used as electrolytes for redox-based resistive switching memories. In most cases, non-noble metals are directly deposited as ohmic electrodes. We demonstrate that irrespective of bulk thermodynamics predictions an intermediate oxide film a few nanometers in thickness is always formed at the metal/insulator interface, and this layer significantly contributes to the development of reliable switching characteristics. We have tested metal electrodes and metal oxides mostly used for memristive devices, that is, Ta, Hf, and Ti and Ta 2 O 5 , HfO 2 , and SiO 2 . Intermediate oxide layers are always formed at the interfaces, whereas only the rate of the electrode oxidation depends on the oxygen affinity of the metal and the chemical stability of the oxide matrix. Device failure is associated with complete transition of short-range order to a more disordered main matrix structure.

Theoretical investigation on multilayer nanocomposite-based fiber optic SPR sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shojaie, Ehsan; Madanipour, Khosro; Gharibzadeh, Azadeh; Abbasi, Shabnam

2017-06-01

In this work, a multilayer nanocomposite based fiber optic SPR sensor is considered and especially designed for CO2 gas detection. This proposed fiber sensor consists of fiber core, gold-silver alloy and the absorber layers. The investigation is based on the evaluation of the transmitted-power derived under the transfer matrix method and the multiple-reflection in the sensing area. In terms of sensitivity, the sensor performance is studied theoretically under various conditions related to the metal layer and its gold and silver nanoparticles to form a single alloy film. Effect of additional parameters such as the ratio of the alloy composition and the thickness of the alloy film on the performance of the SPR sensor is studied, as well. Finally, a four-layer structure is introduced to detect carbon dioxide gas. It contains core fiber, gold-silver alloy layer, an absorbent layer of carbon dioxide gas (KOH) and measurement environment. Lower price and size are the main advantages of using such a sensor in compare with commercial (NDIR) gas sensor. Theoretical results show by increasing the metal layer thickness the sensitivity of sensor is increased, and by increasing the ratio of the gold in alloy the sensitivity is decreased.

Polarized edge emission from GaN-based light-emitting diodes sandwiched by dielectric/metal hybrid reflectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, L. J.; Sheu, J. K.; Huang, F. W.; Lee, M. L.

2010-12-01

Edge-emitting c-plane GaN/sapphire-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) sandwiched by two dielectric/metal hybrid reflectors on both sapphire and GaN surfaces were studied to determine their light emission polarization. The hybrid reflectors comprised dielectric multiple thin films and a metal layer. The metal layers of Au or Ag used in this study were designed to enhance the polarization ratio from S-polarization (transverse electric wave, TE) to P-polarization (transverse magnetic wave, TM). The two sets of optimized dielectric multi thin films served as matching layers for wide-angle incident light on both sapphire and GaN surfaces. To determine which reflector scheme would achieve a higher polarization ratio, simulations of the reflectance at the hybrid reflectors on sapphire (or GaN) interface were performed before the fabrication of experimental LEDs. Compared with conventional c-plane InGaN/GaN/sapphire LEDs without dielectric/metal hybrid reflectors, the experimental LEDs exhibited higher polarization ratio (ITE-max/ITM-max) with r=2.174 (˜3.37 dB) at a wavelength of 460 nm. In contrast, the original polarized light (without dielectric/metal hybrid reflectors) was partially contributed (r=1.398) by C-HH or C-LH (C band to the heavy-hole sub-band or C band to the crystal-field split-off sub-band) transitions along the a-plane or m-plane direction.

Polaron formation in normal state optical conductivity of iron-based superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choudhary, K. K.; Lodhi, Pavitra Devi; Kaurav, Netram

2018-05-01

Normal state Optical conductivity σ(ω) of Iron-Based superconductor LaFeAsO have been investigated using polaron formation mechanism. The coherent Drude free carrier excitations as well as the incoherent motion of carriers leading to a polaron formation, originated from inter and intra layer transitions of charge carriers are incorporated in the present model. Coherent motion of Drude carriers obtained from an effective interaction potential leads to a peak at zero frequency regime which is an indication of metallic conduction in superconducting materials and also produces a long tail at higher frequencies infrared region. Whereas, the incoherent motion i.e. hopping of carriers from Fe to Fe in the FeAs layer and from FeAs layer to LaO layer produces two different peaks at around 100 cm-1 and 430 cm-1 respectively. Two contributions, Drude and hopping carriers successfully explain the anomalies observed in the optical conductivity of metallic state of the iron-based superconductors.

Graphene-based multilayer resonance structure to enhance the optical pressure on a Mie particle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hassanzadeh, Abdollah; Mohammadnezhad, Mohammadbagher

2016-04-01

We theoretically investigate the optical force exerted on a Mie dielectric particle in the evanescent field of a graphene-based resonance multilayer structure using the arbitrary beam theory and the theory of multilayer films. The resonance structure consists of several thin films including a dielectric film (MgF2), a metal film (silver or gold), and several graphene layers which are located on a prism base. The effects of the metal film thickness and the number of graphene layers on the optical force are numerically investigated. The thickness of the metal layer and the number of graphene layers are optimized to reach the highest optical force. The numerical results show that an optimized composition of graphene and gold leads to a higher optical force compared to that of the graphene and silver. The optical force was enhanced resonantly by four orders of magnitude for the resonance structure containing graphene and a gold film and by three orders of magnitude for the structure containing graphene and a silver film compared to other similar resonance structures. We hope that the results presented in this paper can provide an excellent means of improving the optical manipulation of particles and enable the provision of effective optical tweezers, micromotors, and microaccelelators.

First Simultaneous and Common-Volume Lidar Observations of Na and Fe Metals, Temperatures, and Vertical Winds in Antarctica

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, X.

2017-12-01

A new STAR Na Doppler lidar will be installed to Arrival Heights near McMurdo Station, Antarctica in October 2017. This new lidar will be operated next to an existing Fe Boltzmann lidar to make simultaneous and common-volume measurements of metal Na and Fe layers, neutral temperatures, and vertical winds in the mesosphere and thermosphere, up to nearly 200 km. These measurements will be used to study a variety of science topics, e.g., the meteoric metal layers, wave dynamics, polar mesospheric clouds, constituent and heat fluxes, and cosmic dust. The discoveries of thermospheric neutral Fe layers and persistent gravity waves by the Fe Boltzmann lidar observations has opened a new door to explore the space-atmosphere interactions with ground-based instruments, especially in the least understood but crucially important altitude range of 100-200 km. These neutral metal layers provide excellent tracers for modern resonance lidars to measure the neutral wind and temperature directly. Even more exciting, the neutral metal layers in the thermosphere provide a natural laboratory to test our fundamental understandings of the atmosphere-ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling and processes. This paper will report the first summer results from the simultaneous Na and Fe lidar observations from Antarctica, and highlight important discoveries made by the Fe lidar during its first seven years of campaign at McMurdo. A thermosphere-ionosphere Fe/Fe+ (TIFe) model will be introduced to explain the TIFe layers in Antarctica.

Modification of Structure and Tribological Properties of the Surface Layer of Metal-Ceramic Composite under Electron Irradiation in the Plasmas of Inert Gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ovcharenko, V. E.; Ivanov, K. V.; Mohovikov, A. A.; Yu, B.; Xu, Yu; Zhong, L.

2018-01-01

Metal-ceramic composites are the main materials for high-load parts in tribomechanical systems. Modern approaches to extend the operation life of tribomechanical systems are based on increasing the strength and tribological properties of the surface layer having 100 to 200 microns in depth. The essential improvement of the properties occurs when high dispersed structure is formed in the surface layer using high-energy processing. As a result of the dispersed structure formation the more uniform distribution of elastic stresses takes place under mechanical or thermal action, the energy of stress concentrators emergence significantly increases and the probability of internal defects formation reduces. The promising method to form the dispersed structure in the surface layer is pulse electron irradiation in the plasmas of inert gases combining electron irradiation and ion bombardment in one process. The present work reports upon the effect of pulse electron irradiation in plasmas of different inert gases with different atomic mass and ionization energy on the structure and tribological properties of the surface layer of TiC/(Ni-Cr) metal-ceramic composite with the volume ratio of the component being 50:50. It is experimentally shown that high-dispersed heterophase structure with a fraction of nanosized particles is formed during the irradiation. Electron microscopy study reveals that refining of the initial coarse TiC particles occurs via their dissolution in the molten metal binder followed by the precipitation of secondary fine particles in the interparticle layers of the binder. The depth of modified layer and the fraction of nanosized particles increase when the atomic number of the plasma gas increases and ionization energy decreases. The wear resistance of metal-ceramic composite improves in accordance to the formation of nanocrystalline structure in the surface layer.

Li4SiO4-Based Artificial Passivation Thin Film for Improving Interfacial Stability of Li Metal Anodes.

PubMed

Kim, Ji Young; Kim, A-Young; Liu, Guicheng; Woo, Jae-Young; Kim, Hansung; Lee, Joong Kee

2018-03-14

An amorphous SiO 2 (a-SiO 2 ) thin film was developed as an artificial passivation layer to stabilize Li metal anodes during electrochemical reactions. The thin film was prepared using an electron cyclotron resonance-chemical vapor deposition apparatus. The obtained passivation layer has a hierarchical structure, which is composed of lithium silicide, lithiated silicon oxide, and a-SiO 2 . The thickness of the a-SiO 2 passivation layer could be varied by changing the processing time, whereas that of the lithium silicide and lithiated silicon oxide layers was almost constant. During cycling, the surface of the a-SiO 2 passivation layer is converted into lithium silicate (Li 4 SiO 4 ), and the portion of Li 4 SiO 4 depends on the thickness of a-SiO 2 . A minimum overpotential of 21.7 mV was observed at the Li metal electrode at a current density of 3 mA cm -2 with flat voltage profiles, when an a-SiO 2 passivation layer of 92.5 nm was used. The Li metal with this optimized thin passivation layer also showed the lowest charge-transfer resistance (3.948 Ω cm) and the highest Li ion diffusivity (7.06 × 10 -14 cm 2 s -1 ) after cycling in a Li-S battery. The existence of the Li 4 SiO 4 artificial passivation layer prevents the corrosion of Li metal by suppressing Li dendritic growth and improving the ionic conductivity, which contribute to the low charge-transfer resistance and high Li ion diffusivity of the electrode.

Metal deposition using seed layers

DOEpatents

Feng, Hsein-Ping; Chen, Gang; Bo, Yu; Ren, Zhifeng; Chen, Shuo; Poudel, Bed

2013-11-12

Methods of forming a conductive metal layers on substrates are disclosed which employ a seed layer to enhance bonding, especially to smooth, low-roughness or hydrophobic substrates. In one aspect of the invention, the seed layer can be formed by applying nanoparticles onto a surface of the substrate; and the metallization is achieved by electroplating an electrically conducting metal onto the seed layer, whereby the nanoparticles serve as nucleation sites for metal deposition. In another approach, the seed layer can be formed by a self-assembling linker material, such as a sulfur-containing silane material.

Prospects of zero Schottky barrier height in a graphene-inserted MoS{sub 2}-metal interface

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chanana, Anuja; Mahapatra, Santanu

2016-01-07

A low Schottky barrier height (SBH) at source/drain contact is essential for achieving high drive current in atomic layer MoS{sub 2}-channel-based field effect transistors. Approaches such as choosing metals with appropriate work functions and chemical doping are employed previously to improve the carrier injection from the contact electrodes to the channel and to mitigate the SBH between the MoS{sub 2} and metal. Recent experiments demonstrate significant SBH reduction when graphene layer is inserted between metal slab (Ti and Ni) and MoS{sub 2}. However, the physical or chemical origin of this phenomenon is not yet clearly understood. In this work, densitymore » functional theory simulations are performed, employing pseudopotentials with very high basis sets to get insights of the charge transfer between metal and monolayer MoS{sub 2} through the inserted graphene layer. Our atomistic simulations on 16 different interfaces involving five different metals (Ti, Ag, Ru, Au, and Pt) reveal that (i) such a decrease in SBH is not consistent among various metals, rather an increase in SBH is observed in case of Au and Pt; (ii) unlike MoS{sub 2}-metal interface, the projected dispersion of MoS{sub 2} remains preserved in any MoS{sub 2}-graphene-metal system with shift in the bands on the energy axis. (iii) A proper choice of metal (e.g., Ru) may exhibit ohmic nature in a graphene-inserted MoS{sub 2}-metal contact. These understandings would provide a direction in developing high-performance transistors involving heteroatomic layers as contact electrodes.« less

Novel Dry-Type Glucose Sensor Based on a Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Capacitor Structure with Horseradish Peroxidase + Glucose Oxidase Catalyzing Layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Jing-Jenn; Wu, You-Lin; Hsu, Po-Yen

2007-10-01

In this paper, we present a novel dry-type glucose sensor based on a metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitor (MOSC) structure using SiO2 as a gate dielectric in conjunction with a horseradish peroxidase (HRP) + glucose oxidase (GOD) catalyzing layer. The tested glucose solution was dropped directly onto the window opened on the SiO2 layer, with a coating of HRP + GOD catalyzing layer on top of the gate dielectric. From the capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics of the sensor, we found that the glucose solution can induce an inversion layer on the silicon surface causing a gate leakage current flowing along the SiO2 surface. The gate current changes Δ I before and after the drop of glucose solution exhibits a near-linear relationship with increasing glucose concentration. The Δ I sensitivity is about 1.76 nA cm-2 M-1, and the current is quite stable 20 min after the drop of the glucose solution is tested.

Optimization of figure of merit in magnetoplasmonic waveguides with Fe/Au multilayer for optical isolator based on nonreciprocal coupling on Si waveguides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shimizu, Hiromasa; Shimodaira, Takahiro

2018-04-01

We report on magnetoplasmonic Si waveguides with a ferromagnetic Fe/conductive metal Au multilayer for realizing a sizable magnetooptic effect with a low propagation loss for integrated optical isolators. By combining the ferromagnetic metal Fe with a highly conductive Au layer, the largest nonreciprocal differences in effective index were estimated for propagation lengths of 1-20 µm. Mode analysis with and without a Au layer clarified that the insertion of a Au layer on an Fe layer improves the optical confinement in the Fe layer with reduced propagation loss and is effective in enlarging the magnetooptic effect for the same propagation length. On the basis of the optimized Fe/Au multilayer structure, we designed waveguide optical isolators based on nonreciprocal coupling by the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. We estimated an optical isolation of 10.8 dB with a forward insertion loss of 13.4 dB in a 34-µm-long nonreciprocal directional coupler.

Effect of heavy metal layer thickness on spin-orbit torque and current-induced switching in Hf|CoFeB|MgO structures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Akyol, Mustafa; Jiang, Wanjun; Yu, Guoqiang

We study the heavy metal layer thickness dependence of the current-induced spin-orbit torque (SOT) in perpendicularly magnetized Hf broken vertical bar CoFeB broken vertical bar MgO multilayer structures. The damping-like (DL) current-induced SOT is determined by vector anomalous Hall effect measurements. A non-monotonic behavior in the DL-SOT is found as a function of the thickness of the heavy-metal layer. The sign of the DL-SOT changes with increasing the thickness of the Hf layer in the trilayer structure. As a result, in the current-driven magnetization switching, the preferred direction of switching for a given current direction changes when the Hf thicknessmore » is increased above similar to 7 nm. Although there might be a couple of reasons for this unexpected behavior in DL-SOT, such as the roughness in the interfaces and/or impurity based electric potential in the heavy metal, one can deduce a roughness dependence sign reversal in DL-SOT in our trilayer structure.« less

Effect of heavy metal layer thickness on spin-orbit torque and current-induced switching in Hf|CoFeB|MgO structures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Akyol, Mustafa; Department of Physics, University of Çukurova, Adana 01330; Jiang, Wanjun

We study the heavy metal layer thickness dependence of the current-induced spin-orbit torque (SOT) in perpendicularly magnetized Hf|CoFeB|MgO multilayer structures. The damping-like (DL) current-induced SOT is determined by vector anomalous Hall effect measurements. A non-monotonic behavior in the DL-SOT is found as a function of the thickness of the heavy-metal layer. The sign of the DL-SOT changes with increasing the thickness of the Hf layer in the trilayer structure. As a result, in the current-driven magnetization switching, the preferred direction of switching for a given current direction changes when the Hf thickness is increased above ∼7 nm. Although there might bemore » a couple of reasons for this unexpected behavior in DL-SOT, such as the roughness in the interfaces and/or impurity based electric potential in the heavy metal, one can deduce a roughness dependence sign reversal in DL-SOT in our trilayer structure.« less

Finite Element Simulation of Aluminium/GFRP Fibre Metal Laminate under Tensile Loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Merzuki, M. N. M.; Rejab, M. R. M.; Romli, N. K.; Bachtiar, D.; Siregar, J.; Rani, M. F.; Salleh, Salwani Mohd

2018-03-01

The response of a fibre metal laminate (FML) model to the tensile loading is predicted through a computational approach. The FML consisted with layers of aluminum alloy and embedded with one layer of composite material, Glass fibre Reinforced Plastic (GFRP). The glass fibre and aluminium alloy 2024-0 was laminated by using thermoset epoxy. A compression moulding technique was used in the process of a FML fabrication. The aluminium has been roughen by a metal sanding method which to improve the bonding between the fibre and metal layer. The main objective of this paper is to determine the failure behaviour of the FML under the tensile loading. The responses on the FML under the tensile loading were numerically performed. The FML was modelled and analysed by using Abaqus/CAE 6.13 version. Based on the experimental and FE data of the tensile, the ultimate tensile stress is 120 MPa where delamination and fibre breakage happened. A numerical model was developed and agreed well with the experimental results. The laminate has an inelastic respond to increase the tensile loads which due to the plasticity of the aluminium layers.

Prediction of transmittance spectra for transparent composite electrodes with ultra-thin metal layers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhao, Zhao; Alford, T. L., E-mail: TA@asu.edu; Khorasani, Arash Elhami

2015-11-28

Recent interest in indium-free transparent composite-electrodes (TCEs) has motivated theoretical and experimental efforts to better understand and enhance their electrical and optical properties. Various tools have been developed to calculate the optical transmittance of multilayer thin-film structures based on the transfer-matrix method. However, the factors that affect the accuracy of these calculations have not been investigated very much. In this study, two sets of TCEs, TiO{sub 2}/Au/TiO{sub 2} and TiO{sub 2}/Ag/TiO{sub 2}, were fabricated to study the factors that affect the accuracy of transmittance predictions. We found that the predicted transmittance can deviate significantly from measured transmittance for TCEs thatmore » have ultra-thin plasmonic metal layers. The ultrathin metal layer in the TCE is typically discontinuous. When light interacts with the metallic islands in this discontinuous layer, localized surface plasmons are generated. This causes extra light absorption, which then leads to the actual transmittance being lower than the predicted transmittance.« less

SAQP and EUV block patterning of BEOL metal layers on IMEC's iN7 platform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bekaert, Joost; Di Lorenzo, Paolo; Mao, Ming; Decoster, Stefan; Larivière, Stéphane; Franke, Joern-Holger; Blanco Carballo, Victor M.; Kutrzeba Kotowska, Bogumila; Lazzarino, Frederic; Gallagher, Emily; Hendrickx, Eric; Leray, Philippe; Kim, R. Ryoung-han; McIntyre, Greg; Colsters, Paul; Wittebrood, Friso; van Dijk, Joep; Maslow, Mark; Timoshkov, Vadim; Kiers, Ton

2017-03-01

The imec N7 (iN7) platform has been developed to evaluate EUV patterning of advanced logic BEOL layers. Its design is based on a 42 nm first-level metal (M1) pitch, and a 32 nm pitch for the subsequent M2 layer. With these pitches, the iN7 node is an `aggressive' full-scaled N7, corresponding to IDM N7, or foundry N5. Even in a 1D design style, single exposure of the 16 nm half-pitch M2 layer is very challenging for EUV lithography, because of its tight tip-to-tip configurations. Therefore, the industry is considering the hybrid use of ArFi-based SAQP combined with EUV Block as an alternative to EUV single exposure. As a consequence, the EUV Block layer may be one of the first layers to adopt EUV lithography in HVM. In this paper, we report on the imec iN7 SAQP + Block litho performance and process integration, targeting the M2 patterning for a 7.5 track logic design. The Block layer is exposed on an ASML NXE:3300 EUV-scanner at imec, using optimized illumination conditions and state-of-the-art metal-containing negative tone resist (Inpria). Subsequently, the SAQP and block structures are characterized in a morphological study, assessing pattern fidelity and CD/EPE variability. The work is an experimental feasibility study of EUV insertion, for SAQP + Block M2 patterning on an industry-relevant N5 use-case.

Multilayer metal-oxide-metal nanopatterns via nanoimprint and strip-off for multispectral resonance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeon, Sohee; Sung, Sang-Keun; Jang, Eun-Hwan; Jeong, Junho; Surabhi, Srivathsava; Choi, Jun-Hyuk; Jeong, Jong-Ryul

2018-01-01

A fabrication technology for multispectral plasmonic resonators is presented on a basis of metal-insulator-metal (MIM) nanopattern arrays. Resonators comprised of MIM nanopatterns were fabricated using nanoimprint-based transfer and strip-off following MIM depositions. Two different kinds of configuration (web and hole) were developed for three and five layers of MIMs. The corresponding measured transmittance and reflectance spectroscopies were compared to their counterpart finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulation results. The results implied various plasmonic resonance couplings occurred at different locations around the metal structures, dependent on the layer and array configuration. By tuning the model geometry and simulation conditions, agreement between the experimental results and simulation was achieved. This work is believed to provide a viable fabrication method for multispectral resonance filters or sensors.

Stable catalyst layers for hydrogen permeable composite membranes

DOEpatents

Way, J. Douglas; Wolden, Colin A

2014-01-07

The present invention provides a hydrogen separation membrane based on nanoporous, composite metal carbide or metal sulfide coated membranes capable of high flux and permselectivity for hydrogen without platinum group metals. The present invention is capable of being operated over a broad temperature range, including at elevated temperatures, while maintaining hydrogen selectivity.

Diesel particulate filter with zoned resistive heater

DOEpatents

Gonze, Eugene V [Pinckney, MI

2011-03-08

A diesel particulate filter assembly comprises a diesel particulate filter (DPF) and a heater assembly. The DPF filters a particulate from exhaust produced by an engine. The heater assembly has a first metallic layer that is applied to the DPF, a resistive layer that is applied to the first metallic layer, and a second metallic layer that is applied to the resistive layer. The second metallic layer is etched to form a plurality of zones.

Topography evolution of rough-surface metallic substrates by solution deposition planarization method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, Jingyuan; Zhao, Yue; Liu, Linfei; Wu, Wei; Zhang, Zhiwei; Hong, Zhiyong; Li, Yijie; Jin, Zhijian

2018-01-01

As an emerging technique for surface smoothing, solution deposition planarization (SDP) has recently drawn more attention on the fabrication of the second generation high temperature superconducting (2G-HTS) tapes. In our work, a number of amorphous oxide layers were deposited on electro-polished or mirror-rolled metallic substrates by chemical solution route. Topography evolution of surface defects on these two types of metallic substrates was thoroughly investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was showed that root mean square roughness values (at 50 × 50 μm2 scanning scale) on both rough substrates reduced to ∼5 nm after coating with SDP-layer. The smoothing effect was mainly attributed to decrease of the depth at grain boundary grooving on the electro-polished metallic substrate. On the mirror-rolled metallic substrates, the amplitude and frequency of the height fluctuation perpendicular to the rolling direction were gradually reduced as depositing more numbers of SDP-layer. A high Jc value of 4.17 MA cm-2 (at 77 K, s.f.) was achieved on a full stack of YBCO/CeO2/IBAD-MgO/SDP-layer/C276 sample. This study enhanced understanding of the topography evolution on the surface defects covered by the SDP-layer, and demonstrated a low-cost route for fabricating IBAD-MgO based YBCO templates with a simplified architecture.

Computational Exploration of the Li-Electrode|Electrolyte Interface in the Presence of a Nanometer Thick Solid-Electrolyte Interphase Layer [Computational exploration of the Li-electrode|electrolyte interface complicated by a nanometer thin solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer

DOE PAGES

Li, Yunsong; Leung, Kevin; Qi, Yue

2016-09-30

A nanometer thick passivation layer will spontaneously form on Li-metal in battery applications due to electrolyte reduction reactions. This passivation layer in rechargeable batteries must have “selective” transport properties: blocking electrons from attacking the electrolytes, while allowing Li + ion to pass through so the electrochemical reactions can continue. The classical description of the electrochemical reaction, Li + + e → Li 0, occurring at the Li-metal|electrolyte interface is now complicated by the passivation layer and will reply on the coupling of electronic and ionic degrees of freedom in the layer. We consider the passivation layer, called “solid electrolyte interphasemore » (SEI)”, as “the most important but the least understood in rechargeable Li-ion batteries,” partly due to the lack of understanding of its structure–property relationship. In predictive modeling, starting from the ab initio level, we find that it is an important tool to understand the nanoscale processes and materials properties governing the interfacial charge transfer reaction at the Li-metal|SEI|electrolyte interface. Here, we demonstrate pristine Li-metal surfaces indeed dissolve in organic carbonate electrolytes without the SEI layer. Based on joint modeling and experimental results, we point out that the well-known two-layer structure of SEI also exhibits two different Li + ion transport mechanisms. The SEI has a porous (organic) outer layer permeable to both Li + and anions (dissolved in electrolyte), and a dense (inorganic) inner layer facilitate only Li + transport. This two-layer/two-mechanism diffusion model suggests only the dense inorganic layer is effective at protecting Li-metal in electrolytes. This model suggests a strategy to deconvolute the structure–property relationships of the SEI by analyzing an idealized SEI composed of major components, such as Li 2CO 3, LiF, Li 2O, and their mixtures. After sorting out the Li+ ion diffusion carriers and their diffusion pathways, we design methods to accelerate the Li + ion conductivity by doping and by using heterogonous structure designs. We will predict the electron tunneling barriers and connect them with measurable first cycle irreversible capacity loss. We note that the SEI not only affects Li + and e – transport, but it can also impose a potential drop near the Li-metal|SEI interface. Our challenge is to fully describe the electrochemical reactions at the Li -metal|SEI|electrolyte interface. This will be the subject of ongoing efforts.« less

Computational Exploration of the Li-Electrode|Electrolyte Interface in the Presence of a Nanometer Thick Solid-Electrolyte Interphase Layer [Computational exploration of the Li-electrode|electrolyte interface complicated by a nanometer thin solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Yunsong; Leung, Kevin; Qi, Yue

A nanometer thick passivation layer will spontaneously form on Li-metal in battery applications due to electrolyte reduction reactions. This passivation layer in rechargeable batteries must have “selective” transport properties: blocking electrons from attacking the electrolytes, while allowing Li + ion to pass through so the electrochemical reactions can continue. The classical description of the electrochemical reaction, Li + + e → Li 0, occurring at the Li-metal|electrolyte interface is now complicated by the passivation layer and will reply on the coupling of electronic and ionic degrees of freedom in the layer. We consider the passivation layer, called “solid electrolyte interphasemore » (SEI)”, as “the most important but the least understood in rechargeable Li-ion batteries,” partly due to the lack of understanding of its structure–property relationship. In predictive modeling, starting from the ab initio level, we find that it is an important tool to understand the nanoscale processes and materials properties governing the interfacial charge transfer reaction at the Li-metal|SEI|electrolyte interface. Here, we demonstrate pristine Li-metal surfaces indeed dissolve in organic carbonate electrolytes without the SEI layer. Based on joint modeling and experimental results, we point out that the well-known two-layer structure of SEI also exhibits two different Li + ion transport mechanisms. The SEI has a porous (organic) outer layer permeable to both Li + and anions (dissolved in electrolyte), and a dense (inorganic) inner layer facilitate only Li + transport. This two-layer/two-mechanism diffusion model suggests only the dense inorganic layer is effective at protecting Li-metal in electrolytes. This model suggests a strategy to deconvolute the structure–property relationships of the SEI by analyzing an idealized SEI composed of major components, such as Li 2CO 3, LiF, Li 2O, and their mixtures. After sorting out the Li+ ion diffusion carriers and their diffusion pathways, we design methods to accelerate the Li + ion conductivity by doping and by using heterogonous structure designs. We will predict the electron tunneling barriers and connect them with measurable first cycle irreversible capacity loss. We note that the SEI not only affects Li + and e – transport, but it can also impose a potential drop near the Li-metal|SEI interface. Our challenge is to fully describe the electrochemical reactions at the Li -metal|SEI|electrolyte interface. This will be the subject of ongoing efforts.« less

Corrosion resistant metallic bipolar plate

DOEpatents

Brady, Michael P [Oak Ridge, TN; Schneibel, Joachim H [Knoxville, TN; Pint, Bruce A [Knoxville, TN; Maziasz, Philip J [Oak Ridge, TN

2007-05-01

A corrosion resistant, electrically conductive component such as a bipolar plate for a PEM fuel cell includes 20 55% Cr, balance base metal such as Ni, Fe, or Co, the component having thereon a substantially external, continuous layer of chromium nitride.

Interfacial Chemistry Regulation via a Skin-Grafting Strategy Enables High-Performance Lithium-Metal Batteries

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gao, Yue; Zhao, Yuming; Li, Yuguang C.

The lithium (Li) metal anode suffers severe interfacial instability from its high reactivity toward liquid electrolytes, especially carbonate-based electrolytes, resulting in poor electrochemical performance of batteries that use 4 V high-capacity cathodes. In this paper, we report a new skin-grafting strategy that stabilizes the Li metal–liquid electrolyte interface by coating the Li metal surface with poly((N-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methyl)-5-norbornene-exo-2,3-dicarboximide), a chemically and electrochemically active polymer layer. This layer, composed of cyclic ether groups with a stiff polycyclic main chain, serves as a grafted polymer skin on the Li metal anode not only to incorporate ether-based polymeric components into the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) butmore » also to accommodate Li deposition/dissolution under the skin in a dendrite/moss-free manner. Consequently, a Li-metal battery employing a Li metal anode with the grafted skin paired with LiNi 0.5Co 0.2Mn 0.3O 2 cathode has a 90.0% capacity retention after 400 charge/discharge cycles and a capacity of 1.2 mAh/cm 2 in a carbonate-based electrolyte. Finally, this proof-of-concept study provides a new direction for regulating the interfacial chemistry of Li metal anodes and for enabling high-performance Li-metal batteries.« less

Interfacial Chemistry Regulation via a Skin-Grafting Strategy Enables High-Performance Lithium-Metal Batteries

DOE PAGES

Gao, Yue; Zhao, Yuming; Li, Yuguang C.; ...

2017-10-06

The lithium (Li) metal anode suffers severe interfacial instability from its high reactivity toward liquid electrolytes, especially carbonate-based electrolytes, resulting in poor electrochemical performance of batteries that use 4 V high-capacity cathodes. In this paper, we report a new skin-grafting strategy that stabilizes the Li metal–liquid electrolyte interface by coating the Li metal surface with poly((N-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methyl)-5-norbornene-exo-2,3-dicarboximide), a chemically and electrochemically active polymer layer. This layer, composed of cyclic ether groups with a stiff polycyclic main chain, serves as a grafted polymer skin on the Li metal anode not only to incorporate ether-based polymeric components into the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) butmore » also to accommodate Li deposition/dissolution under the skin in a dendrite/moss-free manner. Consequently, a Li-metal battery employing a Li metal anode with the grafted skin paired with LiNi 0.5Co 0.2Mn 0.3O 2 cathode has a 90.0% capacity retention after 400 charge/discharge cycles and a capacity of 1.2 mAh/cm 2 in a carbonate-based electrolyte. Finally, this proof-of-concept study provides a new direction for regulating the interfacial chemistry of Li metal anodes and for enabling high-performance Li-metal batteries.« less

Emergent Interfacial Ferromagnetism in CaMnO3-based Superlattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grutter, Alexander

2014-03-01

Interfaces of complex oxide materials provide a rich playground not only for the exploration of properties not found in the bulk constituents but also for the development of functional interfaces to be incorporated in spintronic applications. Emergent interfacial magnetic phenomena have been of great interest but surprisingly there have been few examples of emergent interfacial ferromagnetism. In this talk, I will describe our recent work on the stabilization of ferromagnetism in CaMnO3-based superlattices. We have demonstrated ferromagnetism at the interface between the antiferromagnetic insulator CaMnO3 and a paramagnetic metallic layer, including CaRuO3 and LaNiO3. Theoretically the ferromagnetism has been attributed to an interfacial double exchange interaction among the interfacial Mn ions that is mediated by itinerant electrons from the paramagnetic metallic layer. Through polarized neutron reflectivity and observation of exchange bias, we have demonstrated that the ferromagnetism comes from Mn ions in a single unit cell at the interfaces just as theory has predicted. We have also demonstrated that the metallicity of the paramagnetic layer is critical in stabilizing ferromagnetism at the interface and that the interfacial ferromagnetism can be suppressed by suppressing the metallicity of the paramagnetic layer. Despite the agreement with theory, there remain open questions as to the magnetic interactions among the interfacial ferromagnetic layers. For example, the saturated magnetic moment modulates as a function of the thickness of both the CaMnO3 and paramagnetic metal layers. The origins of this oscillation are not well understood and may stem from either structural effects or long-range oscillatory magnetic coupling interactions reminiscent of RKKY interactions. Evidence of the doubling of the unit cell and long range antiferromagnetic correlations support these speculations. This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering, under Contract # DE-AC05-76RL01830 and DE-SC0008505.

Atomic-Level Properties of Thermal Barrier Coatings: Characterization of Metal-Ceramic Interfaces

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-01-01

these cases metal - metal bonds were stronger than metal - substrate bonds, thus predicting a 3D (cluster) growth mode as opposed to layer-by-layer...coat layer must be deposited. The top coat serves as the insulator and the bond coat mediates contact between the top coat and metal alloy substrate ...in thermomechanical properties between a YSZ top coat and a metal -alloy substrate is enough to require the introduction of an intermediate layer. This

Subminiature eddy current transducers for studying metal- dielectric junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dmitriev, S.; Katasonov, A.; Malikov, V.; Sagalakov, A.; Davydchenko, M.; Shevtsova, L.; Ishkov, A.

2016-11-01

Based on an eddy current transducer (ECT), a probe has been designed to research metal-dielectric structures. The measurement procedure allowing one to detect defects in laminate composites with a high accuracy is described. The transducer was tested on the layered structure consisting of paper and aluminum layers with a thickness of 100 μm each in which the model defect was placed. The dependences of the ECT signal on the defect in this structure are given.

Self-Formed Hybrid Interphase Layer on Lithium Metal for High-Performance Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Guoxing; Huang, Qingquan; He, Xin

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are promising candidates for high-energy storage devices due to high theoretical capacities of both the sulfur cathode and lithium (Li) metal anode. Considerable efforts have been devoted to improving sulfur cathodes. However, issues associated with Li anodes, such as low Coulombic efficiency (CE) and growth of Li dendrites, remain unsolved due to unstable solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) and lead to poor capacity retention and a short cycling life of Li–S batteries. In this paper, we demonstrate a facile and effective approach to fabricate a flexible and robust hybrid SEI layer through co-deposition of aromatic-based organosulfides and inorganic Limore » salts using poly(sulfur-random-1,3-diisopropenylbenzene) as an additive in an electrolyte. The aromatic-based organic components with planar backbone conformation and π–π interaction in the SEI layers can improve the toughness and flexibility to promote stable and high efficient Li deposition/dissolution. The as-formed durable SEI layer can inhibit dendritic Li growth, enhance Li deposition/dissolution CE (99.1% over 420 cycles), and in turn enable Li–S batteries with good cycling stability (1000 cycles) and slow capacity decay. Finally, this work demonstrates a route to address the issues associated with Li metal anodes and promote the development of high-energy rechargeable Li metal batteries.« less

Self-Formed Hybrid Interphase Layer on Lithium Metal for High-Performance Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

DOE PAGES

Li, Guoxing; Huang, Qingquan; He, Xin; ...

2018-01-29

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are promising candidates for high-energy storage devices due to high theoretical capacities of both the sulfur cathode and lithium (Li) metal anode. Considerable efforts have been devoted to improving sulfur cathodes. However, issues associated with Li anodes, such as low Coulombic efficiency (CE) and growth of Li dendrites, remain unsolved due to unstable solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) and lead to poor capacity retention and a short cycling life of Li–S batteries. In this paper, we demonstrate a facile and effective approach to fabricate a flexible and robust hybrid SEI layer through co-deposition of aromatic-based organosulfides and inorganic Limore » salts using poly(sulfur-random-1,3-diisopropenylbenzene) as an additive in an electrolyte. The aromatic-based organic components with planar backbone conformation and π–π interaction in the SEI layers can improve the toughness and flexibility to promote stable and high efficient Li deposition/dissolution. The as-formed durable SEI layer can inhibit dendritic Li growth, enhance Li deposition/dissolution CE (99.1% over 420 cycles), and in turn enable Li–S batteries with good cycling stability (1000 cycles) and slow capacity decay. Finally, this work demonstrates a route to address the issues associated with Li metal anodes and promote the development of high-energy rechargeable Li metal batteries.« less

Method of manufacturing flexible metallic photonic band gap structures, and structures resulting therefrom

DOEpatents

Gupta, Sandhya; Tuttle, Gary L.; Sigalas, Mihail; McCalmont, Jonathan S.; Ho, Kai-Ming

2001-08-14

A method of manufacturing a flexible metallic photonic band gap structure operable in the infrared region, comprises the steps of spinning on a first layer of dielectric on a GaAs substrate, imidizing this first layer of dielectric, forming a first metal pattern on this first layer of dielectric, spinning on and imidizing a second layer of dielectric, and then removing the GaAs substrate. This method results in a flexible metallic photonic band gap structure operable with various filter characteristics in the infrared region. This method may be used to construct multi-layer flexible metallic photonic band gap structures. Metal grid defects and dielectric separation layer thicknesses are adjusted to control filter parameters.

Metal matrix coated fiber composites and the methods of manufacturing such composites

DOEpatents

Weeks, Jr., Joseph K.; Gensse, Chantal

1993-01-01

A fiber coating which allows ceramic or metal fibers to be wetted by molten metals is disclosed. The coating inhibits degradation of the physical properties caused by chemical reaction between the fiber and the coating itself or between the fiber and the metal matrix. The fiber coating preferably includes at least a wetting layer, and in some applications, a wetting layer and a barrier layer between the fiber and the wetting layer. The wetting layer promotes fiber wetting by the metal matrix. The barrier layer inhibits fiber degradation. The fiber coating permits the fibers to be infiltrated with the metal matrix resulting in composites having unique properties not obtainable in pure materials.

Metal matrix coated fiber composites and the methods of manufacturing such composites

DOEpatents

Weeks, J.K. Jr.; Gensse, C.

1993-09-14

A fiber coating which allows ceramic or metal fibers to be wetted by molten metals is disclosed. The coating inhibits degradation of the physical properties caused by chemical reaction between the fiber and the coating itself or between the fiber and the metal matrix. The fiber coating preferably includes at least a wetting layer, and in some applications, a wetting layer and a barrier layer between the fiber and the wetting layer. The wetting layer promotes fiber wetting by the metal matrix. The barrier layer inhibits fiber degradation. The fiber coating permits the fibers to be infiltrated with the metal matrix resulting in composites having unique properties not obtainable in pure materials. 8 figures.

Multi-layer MOS capacitor based polarization insensitive electro-optic intensity modulator.

PubMed

Qiu, Xiaoming; Ruan, Xiaoke; Li, Yanping; Zhang, Fan

2018-05-28

In this study, a multi-layer metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitor (MLMOSC) polarization insensitive modulator is proposed. The design is validated by numerical simulation with commercial software LUMERICAL SOLUTION. Based on the epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) effect of indium tin oxide (ITO), the device manages to uniformly modulate both the transverse electric (TE) and the transverse magnetic (TM) modes. With a 20μm-long double-layer metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitor (DLMOSC) polarization insensitive modulator, in which two metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) structures are formed by the n-doped Si/HfO 2 /ITO/HfO 2 / n-doped Si stack, the extinction ratios (ERs) of both the TE and the TM modes can be over 20dB. The polarization dependent losses of the device can be as low as 0.05dB for the "OFF" state and 0.004dB for the "ON" state. Within 1dB polarization dependent loss, the device can operate with over 20dB ERs at the S, C, and L bands. The polarization insensitive modulator offers various merits including ultra-compact size, broadband spectrum, and complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) compatibility.

Transmissive metallic contact for amorphous silicon solar cells

DOEpatents

Madan, A.

1984-11-29

A transmissive metallic contact for amorphous silicon semiconductors includes a thin layer of metal, such as aluminum or other low work function metal, coated on the amorphous silicon with an antireflective layer coated on the metal. A transparent substrate, such as glass, is positioned on the light reflective layer. The metallic layer is preferably thin enough to transmit at least 50% of light incident thereon, yet thick enough to conduct electricity. The antireflection layer is preferably a transparent material that has a refractive index in the range of 1.8 to 2.2 and is approximately 550A to 600A thick.

Optical absorption of suspended graphene based metal plasmonic grating in the visible range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Y. X.; Chen, B. B.; Yang, J. B.; He, X.; Huang, J.; Zhang, J. J.; Zhang, Z. J.

2018-05-01

We employ finite-difference time-domain ( FDTD) method and Raman spectroscopy to study the properties of graphene, which is suspended on a gold/SiO2/Si grating structure with different trench depth of SiO2 layer. The absorption enhancement of suspended graphene and plasmonic resonance of metal grating are investigated in the visible range using 2D FDTD method. Moreover, it is found that the intensity of the Raman features depends very sensitively on the trench depth of SiO2 layer. Raman enhancement in our experiments is attributed to the enhanced optical absorption of graphene by near-field coupling based metal plasmonic grating. The enhanced absorption of suspended graphene modulated by localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) offers a potential application for opto-electromechanical devices.

New method for shielding electron beams used for head and neck cancer treatment.

PubMed

Farahani, M; Eichmiller, F C; McLaughlin, W L

1993-01-01

Shields and stents of metals with high atomic number, which are custom cast in molds from the melt, are the materials most widely used to protect surrounding tissues during treatment of skin or oral lesions with therapeutic electron beams. An improved fabrication method is to mix a polysiloxane-metal composite, which is readily cast at room temperature by combining a metal-powder/polysiloxane resin mixture with a hardening catalyst. The purpose of the present study is to compare the shielding effectiveness of two different metal-polysiloxane composites with that of conventional cast Lipowitz metal (50.1% Bi, 26.6% Pb, 13.3% Sn, 10% Cd). Also, a 2(3) factorial experiment was run to investigate the effects and interactions of metal particle size (20-microns vs 100-microns diameter), the atomic weight of the metal (304 stainless steel vs 70% Ag, 30% Cu alloy), and the presence or absence of a layer of unfilled polymer added to the forward-scatter side of the shield. The composites of different thicknesses were made by blending 90% (w/w) metal powder separately with 10% polysiloxane base and catalyst. A thin GafChromic dosimeter film was placed between the shielding material and a polystyrene base to measure the radiation shielding effect of composite disc samples irradiated with a 6-MeV electron beam normal to the flat surface of the disc. The results show that composite shields with the metal of higher atomic weight and density (Ag-Cu) combined with an additional unfilled layer are more effective than the stainless-steel composite with a similar additional unfilled layer, in terms of diminishing the dose at the surface of the polystyrene backing material.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Numerical Simulation of Liquid Metal RF MEMS Switch Based on EWOD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Tingting; Gao, Yang; Yang, Tao; Guo, Huihui

2018-03-01

Conventional RF MEMS switches rely on metal-to-dielectric or metal-to-metal contacts. Some problems in the “solid-solid” contact, such as contact degradation, signal bounce and poor reliability, can be solved by using “liquid-solid” contact. The RF MEMS switch based on liquid metal is characterized by small contact resistance, no moving parts, high reliability and long life. Using electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) way to control the movement of liquid metal in the RF MEMS switch, to achieve the “on” and “off” of the switch. In this paper, the electrical characteristics and RF characteristics of RF MEMS switches are simulated by fluid mechanics software FLUENT and electromagnetic simulation software HFSS. The effects of driving voltage, switching time, dielectric layer, hydrophobic layer material and thickness, switching channel height on the RF characteristics are studied. The results show that to increase the external voltage to the threshold voltage of 58V, the liquid metal began to move, and the switching time from “off” state to “on” state is 16ms. In the 0~20GHz frequency range, the switch insertion loss is less than 0.28dB, isolation is better than 23.32dB.

Metal oxide nanorod arrays on monolithic substrates

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gao, Pu-Xian; Guo, Yanbing; Ren, Zheng

A metal oxide nanorod array structure according to embodiments disclosed herein includes a monolithic substrate having a surface and multiple channels, an interface layer bonded to the surface of the substrate, and a metal oxide nanorod array coupled to the substrate surface via the interface layer. The metal oxide can include ceria, zinc oxide, tin oxide, alumina, zirconia, cobalt oxide, and gallium oxide. The substrate can include a glass substrate, a plastic substrate, a silicon substrate, a ceramic monolith, and a stainless steel monolith. The ceramic can include cordierite, alumina, tin oxide, and titania. The nanorod array structure can includemore » a perovskite shell, such as a lanthanum-based transition metal oxide, or a metal oxide shell, such as ceria, zinc oxide, tin oxide, alumina, zirconia, cobalt oxide, and gallium oxide, or a coating of metal particles, such as platinum, gold, palladium, rhodium, and ruthenium, over each metal oxide nanorod. Structures can be bonded to the surface of a substrate and resist erosion if exposed to high velocity flow rates.« less

Large-scale delamination of multi-layers transition metal carbides and carbonitrides “MXenes”

DOE PAGES

Naguib, Michael; Unocic, Raymond R.; Armstrong, Beth L.; ...

2015-04-17

Herein we report on a general approach to delaminate multi-layered MXenes using an organic base to induce swelling that in turn weakens the bonds between the MX layers. Simple agitation or mild sonication of the swollen MXene in water resulted in the large-scale delamination of the MXene layers. The delamination method is demonstrated for vanadium carbide, and titanium carbonitrides MXenes.

Directional Emission from Metal-Dielectric-Metal Structures: Effect of Mixed Metal Layers, Dye Location and Dielectric Thickness.

PubMed

Choudhury, Sharmistha Dutta; Badugu, Ramachandram; Ray, Krishanu; Lakowicz, Joseph R

2015-02-12

Metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) structures provide directional emission close to the surface normal, which offers opportunities for new design formats in fluorescence based applications. The directional emission arises due to near-field coupling of fluorophores with the optical modes present in the MDM substrate. Reflectivity simulations and dispersion diagrams provide a basic understanding of the mode profiles and the factors that affect the coupling efficiency and the spatial distribution of the coupled emission. This work reveals that the composition of the metal layers, the location of the dye in the MDM substrate and the dielectric thickness are important parameters that can be chosen to tune the color of the emission wavelength, the angle of observation, the angular divergence of the emission and the polarization of the emitted light. These features are valuable for displays and optical signage.

Directional Emission from Metal-Dielectric-Metal Structures: Effect of Mixed Metal Layers, Dye Location and Dielectric Thickness

PubMed Central

Choudhury, Sharmistha Dutta; Badugu, Ramachandram; Ray, Krishanu; Lakowicz, Joseph R.

2015-01-01

Metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) structures provide directional emission close to the surface normal, which offers opportunities for new design formats in fluorescence based applications. The directional emission arises due to near-field coupling of fluorophores with the optical modes present in the MDM substrate. Reflectivity simulations and dispersion diagrams provide a basic understanding of the mode profiles and the factors that affect the coupling efficiency and the spatial distribution of the coupled emission. This work reveals that the composition of the metal layers, the location of the dye in the MDM substrate and the dielectric thickness are important parameters that can be chosen to tune the color of the emission wavelength, the angle of observation, the angular divergence of the emission and the polarization of the emitted light. These features are valuable for displays and optical signage. PMID:25844110

Thin film solar cells by selenization sulfurization using diethyl selenium as a selenium precursor

DOEpatents

Dhere, Neelkanth G.; Kadam, Ankur A.

2009-12-15

A method of forming a CIGSS absorber layer includes the steps of providing a metal precursor, and selenizing the metal precursor using diethyl selenium to form a selenized metal precursor layer (CIGSS absorber layer). A high efficiency solar cell includes a CIGSS absorber layer formed by a process including selenizing a metal precursor using diethyl selenium to form the CIGSS absorber layer.

Hydrogen-isotope permeation barrier

DOEpatents

Maroni, Victor A.; Van Deventer, Erven H.

1977-01-01

A composite including a plurality of metal layers has a Cu-Al-Fe bronze layer and at least one outer layer of a heat and corrosion resistant metal alloy. The bronze layer is ordinarily intermediate two outer layers of metal such as austenitic stainless steel, nickel alloys or alloys of the refractory metals. The composite provides a barrier to hydrogen isotopes, particularly tritium that can reduce permeation by at least about 30 fold and possibly more below permeation through equal thicknesses of the outer layer material.

Self assembled multi-layer nanocomposite of graphene and metal oxide materials

DOEpatents

Liu, Jun; Aksay, Ilhan A; Choi, Daiwon; Kou, Rong; Nie, Zimin; Wang, Donghai; Yang, Zhenguo

2013-10-22

Nanocomposite materials having at least two layers, each layer consisting of one metal oxide bonded to at least one graphene layer were developed. The nanocomposite materials will typically have many alternating layers of metal oxides and graphene layers, bonded in a sandwich type construction and will be incorporated into an electrochemical or energy storage device.

Self assembled multi-layer nanocomposite of graphene and metal oxide materials

DOEpatents

Liu, Jun; Aksay, Ilhan A; Choi, Daiwon; Kou, Rong; Nie, Zimin; Wang, Donghai; Yang, Zhenguo

2015-04-28

Nanocomposite materials having at least two layers, each layer consisting of one metal oxide bonded to at least one graphene layer were developed. The nanocomposite materials will typically have many alternating layers of metal oxides and graphene layers, bonded in a sandwich type construction and will be incorporated into an electrochemical or energy storage device.

Self assembled multi-layer nanocomposite of graphene and metal oxide materials

DOEpatents

Liu, Jun; Choi, Daiwon; Kou, Rong; Nie, Zimin; Wang, Donghai; Yang, Zhenguo

2014-09-16

Nanocomposite materials having at least two layers, each layer consisting of one metal oxide bonded to at least one graphene layer were developed. The nanocomposite materials will typically have many alternating layers of metal oxides and graphene layers, bonded in a sandwich type construction and will be incorporated into an electrochemical or energy storage device.

Fabrication and Structural Characterization of an Ultrathin Film of a Two-Dimensional-Layered Metal-Organic Framework, {Fe(py)2[Ni(CN)4]} (py = pyridine).

PubMed

Sakaida, Shun; Haraguchi, Tomoyuki; Otsubo, Kazuya; Sakata, Osami; Fujiwara, Akihiko; Kitagawa, Hiroshi

2017-07-17

We report the fabrication and characterization of the first example of a tetracyanonickelate-based two-dimensional-layered metal-organic framework, {Fe(py) 2 Ni(CN) 4 } (py = pyridine), thin film. To fabricate a nanometer-sized thin film, we utilized the layer-by-layer method, whereby a substrate was alternately soaked in solutions of the structural components. Surface X-ray studies revealed that the fabricated film was crystalline with well-controlled growth directions both parallel and perpendicular to the substrate. In addition, lattice parameter analysis indicated that the crystal system is found to be close to higher symmetry by being downsized to a thin film.

Microstructures and properties of ceramic particle-reinforced metal matrix composite layers produced by laser cladding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Qingmao; He, Jingjiang; Liu, Wenjin; Zhong, Minlin

2005-01-01

Different weight ratio of titanium, zirconium, WC and Fe-based alloy powders were mixed, and cladded onto a medium carbon steel substrate using a 3kW continuous wave CO2 laser, aiming at producing Ceramic particles- reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs) layers. The microstructures of the layers are typical hypoeutectic, and the major phases are Ni3Si2, TiSi2, Fe3C, FeNi, MC, Fe7Mo3, Fe3B, γ(residual austenite) and M(martensite). The microstructure morphologies of MMCs layers are dendrites/cells. The MC-type reinforcements are in situ synthesis Carbides which main compositions consist of transition elements Zr, Ti, W. The MC-type particles distributed within dendrite and interdendritic regions with different volume fractions for single and overlapping clad layers. The MMCs layers are dense and free of cracks with a good metallurgical bonding between the layer and substrate. The addition ratio of WC in the mixtures has the remarkable effect on the microhardness of clad layers.

Effects of fiber and interfacial layer architectures on the thermoplastic response of metal matrix composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pindera, Marek-Jerzy; Freed, Alan D.; Arnold, Steven M.

1992-01-01

Examined here is the effect of fiber and interfacial layer morphologies on thermal fields in metal matrix composites (MMCs). A micromechanics model based on an arbitrarily layered concentric cylinder configuration is used to calculate thermal stress fields in MMCs subjected to spatially uniform temperature changes. The fiber is modelled as a layered material with isotropic or orthotropic elastic layers, whereas the surrounding matrix, including interfacial layers, is treated as a strain-hardening, elastoplastic, von Mises solid with temperature-dependent parameters. The solution to the boundary-value problem of an arbitrarily layered concentric cylinder under the prescribed thermal loading is obtained using the local/global stiffness matrix formulation originally developed for stress analysis of multilayered elastic media. Examples are provided that illustrate how the morphology of the SCS6 silicon carbide fiber and the use of multiple compliant layers at the fiber/matrix interface affect the evolution of residual stresses in SiC/Ti composites during fabrication cool-down.

Design of matching layers for high-frequency ultrasonic transducers

PubMed Central

Fei, Chunlong; Ma, Jianguo; Chiu, Chi Tat; Williams, Jay A.; Fong, Wayne; Chen, Zeyu; Zhu, BenPeng; Xiong, Rui; Shi, Jing; Hsiai, Tzung K.; Shung, K. Kirk; Zhou, Qifa

2015-01-01

Matching the acoustic impedance of high-frequency (≥100 MHz) ultrasound transducers to an aqueous loading medium remains a challenge for fabricating high-frequency transducers. The traditional matching layer design has been problematic to establish high matching performance given requirements on both specific acoustic impedance and precise thickness. Based on both mass-spring scheme and microwave matching network analysis, we interfaced metal-polymer layers for the matching effects. Both methods hold promises for guiding the metal-polymer matching layer design. A 100 MHz LiNbO3 transducer was fabricated to validate the performance of the both matching layer designs. In the pulse-echo experiment, the transducer echo amplitude increased by 84.4% and its −6dB bandwidth increased from 30.2% to 58.3% comparing to the non-matched condition, demonstrating that the matching layer design method is effective for developing high-frequency ultrasonic transducers. PMID:26445518

The role of ultra-thin SiO2 layers in metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) photoelectrochemical devices (Presentation Recording)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Esposito, Daniel V.

2015-08-01

Solid-state junctions based on a metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) architecture are of great interest for a number of optoelectronic applications such as photovoltaics, photoelectrochemical cells, and photodetection. One major advantage of the MIS junction compared to the closely related metal-semiconductor junction, or Schottky junction, is that the thin insulating layer (1-3 nm thick) that separates the metal and semiconductor can significantly reduce the density of undesirable interfacial mid-gap states. The reduction in mid-gap states helps "un-pin" the junction, allowing for significantly higher built-in-voltages to be achieved. A second major advantage of the MIS junction is that the thin insulating layer can also protect the underlying semiconductor from corrosion in an electrochemical environment, making the MIS architecture well-suited for application in (photo)electrochemical applications. In this presentation, discontinuous Si-based MIS junctions immersed in electrolyte are explored for use as i.) photoelectrodes for solar-water splitting in photoelectrochemical cells (PECs) and ii.) position-sensitive photodetectors. The development and optimization of MIS photoelectrodes for both of these applications relies heavily on understanding how processing of the thin SiO2 layer impacts the properties of nano- and micro-scale MIS junctions, as well as the interactions of the insulating layer with the electrolyte. In this work, we systematically explore the effects of insulator thickness, synthesis method, and chemical treatment on the photoelectrochemical and electrochemical properties of these MIS devices. It is shown that electrolyte-induced inversion plays a critical role in determining the charge carrier dynamics within the MIS photoelectrodes for both applications.

The role of meteoric smoke in the Earth s environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plane, J.

An average of about 120 tonnes of interplanetary dust is believed to enter the earth's atmosphere each day. At least 55% of this ablates completely into atoms and ions, mostly between 70 and 110 km. Meteoric ablation is the source of the layers of metal atoms (Na, Fe etc.) that occur globally in the upper mesosphere; these layers are observed routinely by ground-based resonance lidars. This paper is concerned with the subsequent fate of the meteoric metals, and other constituents such as sulfur. The laboratory programme at the University of East Anglia studies the reactions that metallic species are likely to undergo in this region of the atmosphere. The resulting rate coefficients and photolysis cross sections are then used in atmospheric models. Once these models can satisfactorily reproduce the characteristic features of the mesospheric metal layers (as is the case for Na and Fe), they can then be used to predict the condensation of metal-containing species (oxides, hydroxides, carbonates) into nanometer-sized dust particles, known as "meteoric smoke". This paper will discuss the role of this smoke in providing condensation nuclei for noctilucent clouds in the upper mesosphere, forming sulphuric acid particles in the stratospheric Junge layer, and fertilizing the Fe-deficient Southern Ocean.

Low-loss single-layer metamaterial with negative index of refraction at visible wavelengths.

PubMed

García-Meca, C; Ortuño, R; Salvador, R; Martínez, A; Martí, J

2007-07-23

We present a structure exhibiting a negative index of refraction at visible or near infrared frequencies using a single metal layer. This contrasts with recently developed structures based on metal-dielectric-metal composites. The proposed metamaterial consists of periodically arranged thick stripes interacting with each other to give rise to a negative permeability. Improved designs that allow for a negative index for both polarizations are also presented. The structures are numerically analyzed and it is shown that the dimensions can be engineered to shift the negative index band within a region ranging from telecommunication wavelengths down to blue light.

Better Ohmic Contacts For InP Semiconductor Devices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weizer, Victor G.; Fatemi, Navid S.

1995-01-01

Four design modifications enable fabrication of improved ohmic contacts on InP-based semiconductor devices. First modification consists of insertion of layer of gold phosphide between n-doped InP and metal or other overlayer of contact material. Second, includes first modification plus use of particular metal overlayer to achieve very low contact resistivities. Third, also involves deposition of Au(2)P(3) interlayer; in addition, refractory metal (W or Ta) deposited to form contact overlayer. In fourth, contact layer of Auln alloy deposited directly on InP. Improved contacts exhibit low electrical resistances and fabricated without exposing devices to destructive predeposition or postdeposition treatments.

The effect of the carbon nanotube buffer layer on the performance of a Li metal battery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ding; Zhou, Yi; Liu, Changhong; Fan, Shoushan

2016-05-01

Lithium (Li) metal is one of the most promising candidates as an anode for the next-generation energy storage systems because of its high specific capacity and lowest negative electrochemical potential. But the growth of Li dendrites limits the application of the Li metal battery. In this work, a type of modified Li metal battery with a carbon nanotube (CNT) buffer layer inserted between the separator and the Li metal electrode was reported. The electrochemical results show that the modified batteries have a much better rate capability and cycling performance than the conventional Li metal batteries. The mechanism study by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy reveals that the modified battery has a smaller charge transfer resistance and larger Li ion diffusion coefficient during the deposition process on the Li electrode than the conventional Li metal batteries. Symmetric battery tests show that the interfacial behavior of the Li metal electrode with the buffer layer is more stable than the naked Li metal electrode. The morphological characterization of the CNT buffer layer and Li metal lamina reveals that the CNT buffer layer has restrained the growth of Li dendrites. The CNT buffer layer has great potential to solve the safety problem of the Li metal battery.Lithium (Li) metal is one of the most promising candidates as an anode for the next-generation energy storage systems because of its high specific capacity and lowest negative electrochemical potential. But the growth of Li dendrites limits the application of the Li metal battery. In this work, a type of modified Li metal battery with a carbon nanotube (CNT) buffer layer inserted between the separator and the Li metal electrode was reported. The electrochemical results show that the modified batteries have a much better rate capability and cycling performance than the conventional Li metal batteries. The mechanism study by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy reveals that the modified battery has a smaller charge transfer resistance and larger Li ion diffusion coefficient during the deposition process on the Li electrode than the conventional Li metal batteries. Symmetric battery tests show that the interfacial behavior of the Li metal electrode with the buffer layer is more stable than the naked Li metal electrode. The morphological characterization of the CNT buffer layer and Li metal lamina reveals that the CNT buffer layer has restrained the growth of Li dendrites. The CNT buffer layer has great potential to solve the safety problem of the Li metal battery. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr00465b

Analysis of factors influencing the bond strength in roll bonding processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khaledi, Kavan; Wulfinghoff, Stephan; Reese, Stefanie

2018-05-01

Cold Roll Bonding (CRB) is recognized as an industrial technique in which the metal sheets are joined together in order to produce laminate metal composites. In this technique, a metallurgical bond resulting from severe plastic deformation is formed between the rolled metallic layers. The main objective of this paper is to analyse different factors which may affect the bond formation in rolling processes. To achieve this goal, first, an interface model is employed which describes both the bonding and debonding. In this model, the bond strength evolution between the metallic layers is calculated based on the film theory of bonding. On the other hand, the debonding process is modelled by means of a bilinear cohesive zone model. In the numerical section, different scenarios are taken into account to model the roll bonding process of metal sheets. The numerical simulation includes the modelling of joining during the roll bonding process followed by debonding in a Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) peeling test. In all simulations, the metallic layers are regarded as elastoplastic materials subjected to large plastic deformations. Finally, the effects of some important factors on the bond formation are numerically investigated.

Control of optical properties of metal-dielectric planar plasmonic nanostructures by adjusting their architecture in the case of TiAlN/Ag system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wainstein, D. L.; Vakhrushev, V. O.; Kovalev, A. I.

2017-05-01

The multilayer Ag/(Ti34Al66)N metal-insulator-metal (MIM) heterostructures with different thicknesses of individual layers varied from several to several hundred nanometers were fabricated by DC-magnetron sputtering on the surfaces of Si single crystal wafers. The coatings structure was determined by STEM. The phase composition and crystallography of individual layers were studied by X-ray diffraction. The reflection indexes were measured in the photons energies range from 1 to 5 eV, or from 1240 to 248 nm. The spectroscopy of plasmon losses and plasmon microscopy allowed us to measure the plasmons losses characteristic energies and their surface distribution. The energies of plasmons peaks and their locations are strongly depending on Ag layers thickness in the MIM nanocomposite. The surface plasmon with energy about 4 eV was observed in the middle of 20 nm Ag layer. The plasmons were localized at the metal/dielectric interface for Ag layers 5 nm and less. The reflectance spectral profiles edges positions at long and short waves are correlated with plasmons energies and features of their spatial distribution. The MIMs based on the TiAlN/Ag can find applications as optical filters, photovoltaic energy conversion devices, etc.

Organosulfide-plasticized solid-electrolyte interphase layer enables stable lithium metal anodes for long-cycle lithium-sulfur batteries

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Guoxing; Gao, Yue; He, Xin

Lithium metal is a promising anode candidate for the next-generation rechargeable battery due to its highest specific capacity (3860 mA h g -1) and lowest potential, but low Coulombic efficiency and formation of lithium dendrites hinder its practical application. Here, we report a self-formed flexible hybrid solid-electrolyte interphase layer through co-deposition of organosulfides/organopolysulfides and inorganic lithium salts using sulfur-containing polymers as an additive in the electrolyte. The organosulfides/organopolysulfides serve as “plasticizer” in the solid-electrolyte interphase layer to improve its mechanical flexibility and toughness. The as-formed robust solid-electrolyte interphase layers enable dendrite-free lithium deposition and significantly improve Coulombic efficiency (99% overmore » 400 cycles at a current density of 2mAcm -2). A lithium-sulfur battery based on this strategy exhibits long cycling life (1000 cycles) and good capacity retention. This study reveals an avenue to effectively fabricate stable solid-electrolyte interphase layer for solving the issues associated with lithium metal anodes.« less

Organosulfide-plasticized solid-electrolyte interphase layer enables stable lithium metal anodes for long-cycle lithium-sulfur batteries

DOE PAGES

Li, Guoxing; Gao, Yue; He, Xin; ...

2017-10-11

Lithium metal is a promising anode candidate for the next-generation rechargeable battery due to its highest specific capacity (3860 mA h g -1) and lowest potential, but low Coulombic efficiency and formation of lithium dendrites hinder its practical application. Here, we report a self-formed flexible hybrid solid-electrolyte interphase layer through co-deposition of organosulfides/organopolysulfides and inorganic lithium salts using sulfur-containing polymers as an additive in the electrolyte. The organosulfides/organopolysulfides serve as “plasticizer” in the solid-electrolyte interphase layer to improve its mechanical flexibility and toughness. The as-formed robust solid-electrolyte interphase layers enable dendrite-free lithium deposition and significantly improve Coulombic efficiency (99% overmore » 400 cycles at a current density of 2mAcm -2). A lithium-sulfur battery based on this strategy exhibits long cycling life (1000 cycles) and good capacity retention. This study reveals an avenue to effectively fabricate stable solid-electrolyte interphase layer for solving the issues associated with lithium metal anodes.« less

In-situ Generated Tribomaterial in Metal/Metal Contacts: current understanding and future implications for implants.

PubMed

Espallargas, N; Fischer, A; Muñoz, A Igual; Mischler, S; Wimmer, M A

2017-06-01

Artificial hip joints operate in aqueous biofluids that are highly reactive towards metallic surfaces. The reactivity at the metal interface is enhanced by mechanical interaction due to friction, which can change the near-surface structure of the metal and surface chemistry. There are now several reports in the literature about the in-situ generation of reaction films and tribo-metallurgical transformations on metal-on-metal hip joints. This paper summarizes current knowledge and provides a mechanistic interpretation of the surface chemical and metallurgical phenomena. Basic concepts of corrosion and wear are illustrated and used to interpret available literature on in-vitro and in-vivo studies of metal-on-metal hip joints. Based on this review, three forms of tribomaterial, characterized by different combinations of oxide films and organic layers, can be determined. It is shown that the generation of these tribofilms can be related to specific electrochemical and mechanical phenomena in the metal interface. It is suggested that the generation of this surface reaction layer constitutes a way to minimize (mechanical) wear of MoM hip implants.

In-situ Generated Tribomaterial in Metal/Metal Contacts: current understanding and future implications for implants

PubMed Central

Espallargas, N.; Fischer, A.; Muñoz, A. Igual; Mischler, S.; Wimmer, M.A.

2017-01-01

Artificial hip joints operate in aqueous biofluids that are highly reactive towards metallic surfaces. The reactivity at the metal interface is enhanced by mechanical interaction due to friction, which can change the near-surface structure of the metal and surface chemistry. There are now several reports in the literature about the in-situ generation of reaction films and tribo-metallurgical transformations on metal-on-metal hip joints. This paper summarizes current knowledge and provides a mechanistic interpretation of the surface chemical and metallurgical phenomena. Basic concepts of corrosion and wear are illustrated and used to interpret available literature on in-vitro and in-vivo studies of metal-on-metal hip joints. Based on this review, three forms of tribomaterial, characterized by different combinations of oxide films and organic layers, can be determined. It is shown that the generation of these tribofilms can be related to specific electrochemical and mechanical phenomena in the metal interface. It is suggested that the generation of this surface reaction layer constitutes a way to minimize (mechanical) wear of MoM hip implants. PMID:28808674

Wrinkle-stabilized metal-graphene hybrid fibers with zero temperature coefficient of resistance.

PubMed

Fang, Bo; Xi, Jiabin; Liu, Yingjun; Guo, Fan; Xu, Zhen; Gao, Weiwei; Guo, Daoyou; Li, Peigang; Gao, Chao

2017-08-24

The interfacial adhesion between graphene and metals is poor, as metals tend to generate superlubricity on smooth graphene surface. This problem renders the free assembly of graphene and metals to be a big challenge, and therefore, some desired conducting properties (e.g., stable metal-like conductivities in air, lightweight yet flexible conductors, and ultralow temperature coefficient of resistance, TCR) likely being realized by integrating the merits of graphene and metals remains at a theoretical level. This work proposes a wrinkle-stabilized approach to address the poor adhesion between graphene surface and metals. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) tests and theoretical analysis by Scharifker-Hills models demonstrate that multiscale wrinkles effectively induce nucleation of metal particles, locking in metal nuclei and guiding the continuous growth of metal islands in an instantaneous model on rough graphene surface. The universality and practicability of the wrinkle-stabilized approach is verified by our investigation through the electrodeposition of nine kinds of metals on graphene fibers (GF). The strong interface bonding permits metal-graphene hybrid fibers to show metal-level conductivities (up to 2.2 × 10 7 S m -1 , a record high value for GF in air), reliable weatherability and favorable flexibility. Due to the negative TCR of graphene and positive TCR of metals, the TCR of Cu- and Au-coated GFs reaches zero at a wide temperature range (15 K-300 K). For this layered model, the quantitative analysis by classical theories demonstrates the suitable thickness ratio of graphene layer and metal layer to achieve zero TCR to be 0.2, agreeing well with our experimental results. This wrinkle-stabilized approach and our theoretical analysis of zero-TCR behavior of the graphene-metal system are conducive to the design of high-performance conducting materials based on graphene and metals.

Quantum and conversion efficiencies optimization of superstrate CIGS thin-films solar cells using In2Se3 buffer layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouchama, Idris; Boudour, Samah; Bouarissa, Nadir; Rouabah, Zahir

2017-10-01

In this present contribution, AMPS-1D device simulator is employed to study the performances of superstrate SLG/TCO/p-Cu(In,Ga)Se2(CIGS)/n-ODC/n-In2Se3/Metal thin film solar cells. The impact of the TCO and Metal work functions on the cell performance has been investigated. The combination of optical transparency and electrical property for TCO front contact layer is found to yield high efficiency. The obtained results show that the TCO work function should be large enough to achieve high conversion efficiency for superstrate CIGS solar cell. Nevertheless, it is desirable for Metal back contact layer to have low work function to prevent the effect of band bending in the n-In2Se3/Metal interface. Several TCOs materials and metals have been tested respectively as a front and back contact layers for superstrate CIGS solar cells. An efficiency of 20.18%, with Voc ≈ 0.71 V, Jsc ≈ 35.36 mA/cm2 and FF ≈ 80.42%, has been achieved with ZnSn2O3-based as TCO front contact layer. In the case of SnO2:F front contact and indium back contact layers, an efficiency of 16.31%, with Voc ≈ 0.64 V, Jsc ≈ 31.4 mA/cm2 and FF ≈ 79.4%, has been obtained. The present results of simulation suggest an improvement of superstrate CIGS solar cells efficiency for feasible fabrication.

A study of trends and techniques for space base electronics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Trotter, J. D.; Wade, T. E.; Gassaway, J. D.

1978-01-01

Furnaces and photolithography related equipment were applied to experiments on double layer metal. The double layer metal activity emphasized wet chemistry techniques. By incorporating the following techniques: (1) ultrasonic etching of the vias; (2) premetal clean using a modified buffered hydrogen fluoride; (3) phosphorus doped vapor; and (4) extended sintering, yields of 98 percent were obtained using the standard test pattern. The two dimensional modeling problems have stemmed from, alternately, instability and too much computation time to achieve convergence.

Metal-oxide-semiconductor devices using Ga2O3 dielectrics on n-type GaN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Ching-Ting; Chen, Hong-Wei; Lee, Hsin-Ying

2003-06-01

Using a photoelectrochemical method involving a He-Cd laser, Ga2O3 oxide layers were directly grown on n-type GaN. We demonstrated the performance of the resultant metal-oxide-semiconductor devices based on the grown Ga2O3 layer. An extremely low reverse leakage current of 200 pA was achieved when devices operated at -20 V. Furthermore, high forward and reverse breakdown electric fields of 2.80 MV/cm and 5.70 MV/cm, respectively, were obtained. Using a photoassisted current-voltage method, a low interface state density of 2.53×1011 cm-2 eV-1 was estimated. The varactor devices permit formation of inversion layers, so that they may be applied for the fabrication of metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors.

Simulation of thermally induced processes of diffusion and phase formation in layered binary metallic systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rusakov, V. S.; Sukhorukov, I. A.; Zhankadamova, A. M.; Kadyrzhanov, K. K.

2010-05-01

Results of the simulation of thermally induced processes of diffusion and phase formation in model and experimentally investigated layered binary metallic systems are presented. The physical model is based on the Darken phenomenological theory and on the mechanism of interdiffusion of components along the continuous diffusion channels of phases in the two-phase regions of the system. The simulation of processes in the model systems showed that the thermally stabilized concentration profiles in two-layer binary metallic systems are virtually independent of the partial diffusion coefficients; for the systems with the average concentration of components that is the same over the sample depth, the time of the thermal stabilization of the structural and phase state inhomogeneous over the depth grows according to a power law with increasing thickness of the system in such a manner that the thicknesses of the surface layers grow, while the thickness of the intermediate layer approaches a constant value. The results of the simulation of the processes of diffusion and phase formation in experimentally investigated layered binary systems Fe-Ti and Cu-Be upon sequential isothermal and isochronous annealings agree well with the experimental data.

High-performance metal mesh/graphene hybrid films using prime-location and metal-doped graphene.

PubMed

Min, Jung-Hong; Jeong, Woo-Lim; Kwak, Hoe-Min; Lee, Dong-Seon

2017-08-31

We introduce high-performance metal mesh/graphene hybrid transparent conductive layers (TCLs) using prime-location and metal-doped graphene in near-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (NUV LEDs). Despite the transparency and sheet resistance values being similar for hybrid TCLs, there were huge differences in the NUV LEDs' electrical and optical properties depending on the location of the graphene layer. We achieved better physical stability and current spreading when the graphene layer was located beneath the metal mesh, in direct contact with the p-GaN layer. We further improved the contact properties by adding a very thin Au mesh between the thick Ag mesh and the graphene layer to produce a dual-layered metal mesh. The Au mesh effectively doped the graphene layer to create a p-type electrode. Using Raman spectra, work function variations, and the transfer length method (TLM), we verified the effect of doping the graphene layer after depositing a very thin metal layer on the graphene layers. From our results, we suggest that the nature of the contact is an important criterion for improving the electrical and optical performance of hybrid TCLs, and the method of doping graphene layers provides new opportunities for solving contact issues in other semiconductor devices.

Nano-fabricated plasmonic optical transformer

DOEpatents

Choo, Hyuck; Cabrini, Stefano; Schuck, P. James; Liang, Xiaogan; Yablonovitch, Eli

2015-06-09

The present invention provides a plasmonic optical transformer to produce a highly focuses optical beam spot, where the transformer includes a first metal layer, a dielectric layer formed on the first metal layer, and a second metal layer formed on the dielectric layer, where the first metal layer, the dielectric layer, and the second layer are patterned to a shape including a first section having a first cross section, a second section following the first section having a cross-section tapering from the first section to a smaller cross-section, and a third section following the second section having a cross-section matching the tapered smaller cross-section of the second section.

Antiferroelectricity in lanthanum doped zirconia without metallic capping layers and post-deposition/-metallization anneals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zheng; Gaskell, Anthony Arthur; Dopita, Milan; Kriegner, Dominik; Tasneem, Nujhat; Mack, Jerry; Mukherjee, Niloy; Karim, Zia; Khan, Asif Islam

2018-05-01

We report the effects of lanthanum doping/alloying on antiferroelectric (AFE) properties of ZrO2. Starting with pure ZrO2, an increase in La doping leads to the narrowing of the AFE double hysteresis loops and an increase in the critical voltage/electric field for AFE → ferroelectric transition. At higher La contents, the polarization-voltage characteristics of doped/alloyed ZrO2 resemble that of a non-linear dielectric without any discernible AFE-type hysteresis. X-ray diffraction based analysis indicates that the increased La content while preserving the non-polar, parent AFE, tetragonal P42/nmc phase leads to a decrease in tetragonality and the (nano-)crystallite size and an increase in the unit cell volume. Furthermore, antiferroelectric behavior is obtained in the as-deposited thin films without requiring any capping metallic layers and post-deposition/-metallization anneals due to which our specific atomic layer deposition system configuration crystallizes and stabilizes the AFE tetragonal phase during growth.

Targeted Single-Site MOF Node Modification: Trivalent Metal Loading via Atomic Layer Deposition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, In Soo; Borycz, Joshua; Platero-Prats, Ana E.

Postsynthetic functionalization of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) enables the controlled, high-density incorporation of new atoms on a crystallographically precise framework. Leveraging the broad palette of known atomic layer deposition (ALD) chemistries, ALD in MOFs (AIM) is one such targeted approach to construct diverse, highly functional, few-atom clusters. We here demonstrate the saturating reaction of trimethylindium (InMe3) with the node hydroxyls and ligated water of NU-1000, which takes place without significant loss of MOF crystallinity or internal surface area. We computationally identify the elementary steps by which trimethylated trivalent metal compounds (ALD precursors) react with this Zr-based MOF node to generatemore » a uniform and well characterized new surface layer on the node itself, and we predict a final structure that is fully consistent with experimental X-ray pair distribution function (PDF) analysis. We further demonstrate tunable metal loading through controlled number density of the reactive handles (-OH and -OH2) achieved through node dehydration at elevated temperatures.« less

From MEMRISTOR to MEMImpedance device

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wakrim, T.; Univ. Grenoble Alpes, G2Elab, F-38000 Grenoble; Vallée, C., E-mail: christophe.vallee@cea.fr

2016-02-01

The behavior of the capacitance switching of HfO{sub 2} Resistive non-volatile Memories is investigated in view of realizing a MEMImpedance (MEM-Z) device. In such a Metal Insulator Metal structure, the impedance value can be tuned by the adjustment of both resistance and capacitance values. We observe a strong variation of capacitance from positive to negative values in a single layer Metal Insulator Metal device made of HfO{sub 2} deposited by Atomic Layer Deposition, but unfortunately no memory effect is observed. However, in the case of a two layer structure, a device has been obtained with a memory effect where bothmore » resistance and capacitance values can be tuned simultaneously, with a variation of capacitance down to negative values to get an inductive behavior. Negative capacitance values are observed for voltage values near SET voltage. A schematic model based on shaped oxygen vacancy density is proposed to account for this capacitance variation. The oxygen vacancies can be either isolated or connected in the bulk of the oxide.« less

Effect of layer number and metal-chloride dopant on multiple layers of graphene/porous Si solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shin, Dong Hee; Kim, Jong Min; Jang, Chan Wook; Kim, Ju Hwan; Kim, Sung; Choi, Suk-Ho

2018-03-01

Porous silicon (PSi) is an attractive building block for Si-based solar cells due to its low reflectance. Here, PSi is prepared by metal-assisted chemical etching of a Si wafer on which Au nanoparticles are formed by sputtering for 5 s. The layer number (Ln) of graphene is varied to optimize multiple layers of graphene/PSi Schottky junction solar cells because the sheet resistance, work function, transmittance, and reflectance of graphene strongly depend on Ln. At Ln = 2, the best condition for the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE), various metal chlorides are employed as dopants for graphene. The PCE is maximally enhanced to 9.15% by doping the graphene with RhCl3 and is reduced by only 20% of its original value (absolutely from 9.15% to 7.23%) during 10 days in air. These results are very meaningful in that even a single doping for graphene can be effective for achieving high PCE from graphene/PSi solar cells by controlling Ln.

Manipulating the dipole layer of polar organic molecules on metal surfaces via different charge-transfer channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Meng-Kai; Nakayama, Yasuo; Zhuang, Ying-Jie; Wang, Chin-Yung; Pi, Tun-Wen; Ishii, Hisao; Tang, S.-J.

The key properties of organic films such as energy level alignment (ELA), work functions, and injection barriers are closely linked to this dipole layer. Using angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), we systemically investigate the coverage-dependent work functions and spectra line shapes of occupied molecular orbital states of a polar molecule, chloroaluminium phthalocyanine (ClAlPc), grown on Ag(111) to show that the orientations of the first ClAlPc layer can be manipulated via the molecule deposition rate and post annealing, causing ELA at organic-metal interface to differ for about 0.3 eV between Cl-up and Cl-down configuration. Moreover, by comparing the experimental results with the calculations based on both gas-phase model and realistic model of ClAlPc on Ag(111) , we evidence that the different orientations of ClAlPc dipole layers lead to different charge-transfer channels between ClAlPc and Ag, a key factor that controls the ELA at organic-metal interface.

Optical and Excitonic Properties of Atomically Thin Transition-Metal Dichalcogenides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berkelbach, Timothy C.; Reichman, David R.

2018-03-01

Starting with the isolation of a single sheet of graphene, the study of layered materials has been one of the most active areas of condensed matter physics, chemistry, and materials science. Single-layer transition-metal dichalcogenides are direct-gap semiconducting analogs of graphene that exhibit novel electronic and optical properties. These features provide exciting opportunities for the discovery of both new fundamental physical phenomena as well as innovative device platforms. Here, we review the progress associated with the creation and use of a simple microscopic framework for describing the optical and excitonic behavior of few-layer transition-metal dichalcogenides, which is based on symmetry, band structure, and the effective interactions between charge carriers in these materials. This approach provides an often quantitative account of experiments that probe the physics associated with strong electron–hole interactions in these quasi two-dimensional systems and has been successfully employed by many groups to both describe and predict emergent excitonic behavior in these layered semiconducting systems.

Solar cell collector and method for producing same

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Evans, J. C., Jr. (Inventor)

1978-01-01

A transparent, conductive collector layer containing conductive metal channels is formed as a layer on a photovoltaic substrate by coating a photovoltaic substract with a conductive mixed metal layer. A heat sink having portions protruding from one of its surfaces is attached. These protruding portions define a continuous pattern in combination with recessed regions among them such that they are in contact with the conductive layer of the photovoltaic substrate. Heating the substrate while simultaneously oxidizing the portions of the conductive layer exposed to a gaseous oxidizing substance forced into the recessed regions of the heat sink, creates a transparent metal oxide layer on the substrate. A continous pattern of highly conductive metal channels is contained in the metal oxide layer.

Parametric studies to determine the effect of compliant layers on metal matrix composite systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caruso, J. J.; Chamis, C. C.; Brown, H. C.

1990-01-01

Computational simulation studies are conducted to identify compliant layers to reduce matrix stresses which result from the coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch and the large temperature range over which the current metal matrix composites will be used. The present study includes variations of compliant layers and their properties to determine their influence on unidirectional composite and constituent response. Two simulation methods are used for these studies. The first approach is based on a three-dimensional linear finite element analysis of a 9 fiber unidirectional composite system. The second approach is a micromechanics based nonlinear computer code developed to determine the behavior of metal matrix composite system for thermal and mechanical loads. The results show that an effective compliant layer for the SCS 6 (SiC)/Ti-24Al-11Nb (Ti3Al + Nb) and SCS 6 (SiC)/Ti-15V-3Cr-3Sn-3Al (Ti-15-3) composite systems should have modulus 15 percent that of the matrix and a coefficient of thermal expansion of the compliant layer roughly equal to that of the composite system without the CL. The matrix stress in the longitudinal and the transverse tangent (loop) direction are tensile for the Ti3Al + Nb and Ti-15-3 composite systems upon cool down from fabrication. The fiber longitudinal stress is compressive from fabrication cool down. Addition of a recommended compliant layer will result in a reduction in the composite modulus.

Multiband guided-mode resonance filter in bilayer asymmetric metallic gratings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yanhui; Li, Xiangjun; Lang, Tingting; Jing, Xufeng; Hong, Zhi

2018-07-01

In this paper, a guided-mode resonances (GMRs) based multiband filter in bilayer asymmetric metallic gratings is presented. Four sharp dips are generated in the frequency range of 1.4-2.0 THz, which are induced by the split of two GMR modes (TE0 and TM0) due to the break of the structure's symmetry. This symmetry of the structure depends on the relative position between the upper layer and lower layer gratings. Therefore, by choosing proper lateral displacement, the split of TE0 or/and TM0 modes can be eliminated. Two-, three-, and four- GMRs based polarization insensitive or sensitive filters are demonstrated numerically.

Polarization-independent dual-band terahertz metamaterial absorbers based on gold/parylene-C/silicide structure.

PubMed

Wen, Yongzheng; Ma, Wei; Bailey, Joe; Matmon, Guy; Yu, Xiaomei; Aeppli, Gabriel

2013-07-01

We design, fabricate, and characterize dual-band terahertz (THz) metamaterial absorbers with high absorption based on structures consisting of a cobalt silicide (Co-Si) ground plane, a parylene-C dielectric spacer, and a metal top layer. By combining two periodic metal resonators that couple separately within a single unit cell, a polarization-independent absorber with two distinct absorption peaks was obtained. By varying the thickness of the dielectric layer, we obtain absorptivity of 0.76 at 0.76 THz and 0.97 at 2.30 THz, which indicates the Co-Si ground plane absorbers present good performance.

Chromatic Mechanical Response in 2-D Layered Transition Metal Dichalcogenide (TMDs) based Nanocomposites

PubMed Central

Rahneshin, Vahid; Khosravi, Farhad; Ziolkowska, Dominika A.; Jasinski, Jacek B.; Panchapakesan, Balaji

2016-01-01

The ability to convert photons of different wavelengths directly into mechanical motion is of significant interest in many energy conversion and reconfigurable technologies. Here, using few layer 2H-MoS2 nanosheets, layer by layer process of nanocomposite fabrication, and strain engineering, we demonstrate a reversible and chromatic mechanical response in MoS2-nanocomposites between 405 nm to 808 nm with large stress release. The chromatic mechanical response originates from the d orbitals and is related to the strength of the direct exciton resonance A and B of the few layer 2H-MoS2 affecting optical absorption and subsequent mechanical response of the nanocomposite. Applying uniaxial tensile strains to the semiconducting few-layer 2H-MoS2 crystals in the nanocomposite resulted in spatially varying energy levels inside the nanocomposite that enhanced the broadband optical absorption up to 2.3 eV and subsequent mechanical response. The unique photomechanical response in 2H-MoS2 based nanocomposites is a result of the rich d electron physics not available to nanocomposites based on sp bonded graphene and carbon nanotubes, as well as nanocomposite based on metallic nanoparticles. The reversible strain dependent optical absorption suggest applications in broad range of energy conversion technologies that is not achievable using conventional thin film semiconductors. PMID:27713550

Metal/fiber laminate and fabrication using a porous metal/fiber preform

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hales, Stephen J. (Inventor); Alexa, Joel A. (Inventor); Jensen, Brian J. (Inventor); Cano, Roberto J. (Inventor); Weiser, Erik S. (Inventor)

2011-01-01

A metal/fiber laminate has a plurality of adjacent layers. Each layer is porous and includes an arrangement of fibers. At least one of the layers has its fibers coated with a metal. A polymer matrix permeates each such arrangement.

Metal/fiber laminate and fabrication using a porous metal/fiber preform

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hales, Stephen J. (Inventor); Alexa, Joel A. (Inventor); Jensen, Brian J. (Inventor); Cano, Roberto J. (Inventor); Weiser, Erik S. (Inventor)

2010-01-01

A metal/fiber laminate has a plurality of adjacent layers. Each layer is porous and includes an arrangement of fibers. At least one of the layers has its fibers coated with a metal. A polymer matrix permeates each such arrangement.

Cation profiling of passive films on stainless steel formed in sulphuric and acetic acid by deconvolution of angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Högström, Jonas; Fredriksson, Wendy; Edstrom, Kristina; Björefors, Fredrik; Nyholm, Leif; Olsson, Claes-Olof A.

2013-11-01

An approach for determining depth gradients of metal-ion concentrations in passive films on stainless steel using angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ARXPS) is described. The iterative method, which is based on analyses of the oxidised metal peaks, provides increased precision and hence allows faster ARXPS measurements to be carried out. The method was used to determine the concentration depth profiles for molybdenum, iron and chromium in passive films on 316L/EN 1.4432 stainless steel samples oxidised in 0.5 M H2SO4 and acetic acid diluted with 0.02 M Na2B4O7 · 10H2O and 1 M H2O, respectively. The molybdenum concentration in the film is pin-pointed to the oxide/metal interface and the films also contained an iron-ion-enriched surface layer and a chromium-ion-dominated middle layer. Although films of similar composition and thickness (i.e., about 2 nm) were formed in the two electrolytes, the corrosion currents were found to be three orders of magnitude larger in the acetic acid solution. The differences in the layer composition, found for the two electrolytes as well as different oxidation conditions, can be explained based on the oxidation potentials of the metals and the dissolution rates of the different metal ions.

Buffer layers for coated conductors

DOEpatents

Stan, Liliana [Los Alamos, NM; Jia, Quanxi [Los Alamos, NM; Foltyn, Stephen R [Los Alamos, NM

2011-08-23

A composite structure is provided including a base substrate, an IBAD oriented material upon the base substrate, and a cubic metal oxide material selected from the group consisting of rare earth zirconates and rare earth hafnates upon the IBAD oriented material. Additionally, an article is provided including a base substrate, an IBAD oriented material upon the base substrate, a cubic metal oxide material selected from the group consisting of rare earth zirconates and rare earth hafnates upon the IBAD oriented material, and a thick film upon the cubic metal oxide material. Finally, a superconducting article is provided including a base substrate, an IBAD oriented material upon the base substrate, a cubic metal oxide material selected from the group consisting of rare earth zirconates and rare earth hafnates upon the IBAD oriented material, and an yttrium barium copper oxide material upon the cubic metal oxide material.

Electrophoretic build-up of alternately multilayered films and micropatterns based on graphene sheets and nanoparticles and their applications in flexible supercapacitors.

PubMed

Niu, Zhiqiang; Du, Jianjun; Cao, Xuebo; Sun, Yinghui; Zhou, Weiya; Hng, Huey Hoon; Ma, Jan; Chen, Xiaodong; Xie, Sishen

2012-10-22

Graphene nanosheets and metal nanoparticles (NPs) have been used as nano-building-blocks for assembly into macroscale hybrid structures with promising performance in electrical devices. However, in most graphene and metal NP hybrid structures, the graphene sheets and metal NPs (e.g., AuNPs) do not enable control of the reaction process, orientation of building blocks, and organization at the nanoscale. Here, an electrophoretic layer-by-layer assembly for constructing multilayered reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/AuNP films and lateral micropatterns is presented. This assembly method allows easy control of the nano-architecture of building blocks along the normal direction of the film, including the number and thickness of RGO and AuNP layers, in addition to control of the lateral orientation of the resultant multilayered structures. Conductivity of multilayered RGO/AuNP hybrid nano-architecture shows great improvement caused by a bridging effect of the AuNPs along the out-of-plane direction between the upper and lower RGO layers. The results clearly show the potential of electrophoretic build-up in the fabrication of graphene-based alternately multilayered films and patterns. Finally, flexible supercapacitors based on multilayered RGO/AuNP hybrid films are fabricated, and excellent performance, such as high energy and power densities, are achieved. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Metallic coatings on silicon substrates, and methods of forming metallic coatings on silicon substrates

DOEpatents

Branagan, Daniel J [Idaho Falls, ID; Hyde, Timothy A [Idaho Falls, ID; Fincke, James R [Los Alamos, NM

2008-03-11

The invention includes methods of forming a metallic coating on a substrate which contains silicon. A metallic glass layer is formed over a silicon surface of the substrate. The invention includes methods of protecting a silicon substrate. The substrate is provided within a deposition chamber along with a deposition target. Material from the deposition target is deposited over at least a portion of the silicon substrate to form a protective layer or structure which contains metallic glass. The metallic glass comprises iron and one or more of B, Si, P and C. The invention includes structures which have a substrate containing silicon and a metallic layer over the substrate. The metallic layer contains less than or equal to about 2 weight % carbon and has a hardness of at least 9.2 GPa. The metallic layer can have an amorphous microstructure or can be devitrified to have a nanocrystalline microstructure.

Optimization of sound absorbing performance for gradient multi-layer-assembled sintered fibrous absorbers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Bo; Zhang, Weiyong; Zhu, Jian

2012-04-01

The transfer matrix method, based on plane wave theory, of multi-layer equivalent fluid is employed to evaluate the sound absorbing properties of two-layer-assembled and three-layer-assembled sintered fibrous sheets (generally regarded as a kind of compound absorber or structures). Two objective functions which are more suitable for the optimization of sound absorption properties of multi-layer absorbers within the wider frequency ranges are developed and the optimized results of using two objective functions are also compared with each other. It is found that using the two objective functions, especially the second one, may be more helpful to exert the sound absorbing properties of absorbers at lower frequencies to the best of their abilities. Then the calculation and optimization of sound absorption properties of multi-layer-assembled structures are performed by developing a simulated annealing genetic arithmetic program and using above-mentioned objective functions. Finally, based on the optimization in this work the thoughts of the gradient design over the acoustic parameters- the porosity, the tortuosity, the viscous and thermal characteristic lengths and the thickness of each samples- of porous metals are put forth and thereby some useful design criteria upon the acoustic parameters of each layer of porous fibrous metals are given while applying the multi-layer-assembled compound absorbers in noise control engineering.

Solution processed metal oxide thin film hole transport layers for high performance organic solar cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Steirer, K. Xerxes; Berry, Joseph J.; Chesin, Jordan P.

2017-01-10

A method for the application of solution processed metal oxide hole transport layers in organic photovoltaic devices and related organic electronics devices is disclosed. The metal oxide may be derived from a metal-organic precursor enabling solution processing of an amorphous, p-type metal oxide. An organic photovoltaic device having solution processed, metal oxide, thin-film hole transport layer.

Designing optimal nanofocusing with a gradient hyperlens

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Lian; Prokopeva, Ludmila J.; Chen, Hongsheng; Kildishev, Alexander V.

2017-11-01

We report the design of a high-throughput gradient hyperbolic lenslet built with real-life materials and capable of focusing a beam into a deep sub-wavelength spot of λ/23. This efficient design is achieved through high-order transformation optics and circular effective-medium theory (CEMT), which are used to engineer the radially varying anisotropic artificial material based on the thin alternating cylindrical metal and dielectric layers. The radial gradient of the effective anisotropic optical constants allows for matching the impedances at the input and output interfaces, drastically improving the throughput of the lenslet. However, it is the use of the zeroth-order CEMT that enables the practical realization of a gradient hyperlens with realistic materials. To illustrate the importance of using the CEMT versus the conventional planar effective-medium theory (PEMT) for cylindrical anisotropic systems, such as our hyperlens, both the CEMT and PEMT are adopted to design gradient hyperlenses with the same materials and order of elemental layers. The CEMT- and PEMT-based designs show similar performance if the number of metal-dielectric binary layers is sufficiently large (9+ pairs) and if the layers are sufficiently thin. However, for the manufacturable lenses with realistic numbers of layers (e.g. five pairs) and thicknesses, the performance of the CEMT design continues to be practical, whereas the PEMT-based design stops working altogether. The accurate design of transformation optics-based layered cylindrical devices enabled by CEMT allow for a new class of robustly manufacturable nanophotonic systems, even with relatively thick layers of real-life materials.

Article and method for making an article

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lacy, Benjamin Paul; Schick, David Edward; Kottilingam, Srikanth Chandrudu

An article and a method for making shaped cooling holes in an article are provided. The method includes the steps of depositing a metal alloy powder to form an initial layer including at least one aperture, melting the metal alloy powder with a focused energy source to transform the powder layer to a sheet of metal alloy, sequentially depositing an additional layer of the metal alloy powder to form a layer including at least one aperture corresponding to the at least one aperture in the initial layer, melting the additional layer of the metal alloy powder with the focused energymore » source to increase the sheet thickness, and repeating the steps of sequentially depositing and melting the additional layers of metal alloy powder until a structure including at least one aperture having a predetermined profile is obtained. The structure is attached to a substrate to make the article.« less

Laminated rare earth structure and method of making

DOEpatents

Senor, David J [West Richland, WA; Johnson, Roger N [Richland, WA; Reid, Bruce D [Pasco, WA; Larson, Sandra [Richland, WA

2002-07-30

A laminated structure having two or more layers, wherein at least one layer is a metal substrate and at least one other layer is a coating comprising at least one rare earth element. For structures having more than two layers, the coating and metal substrate layers alternate. In one embodiment of the invention, the structure is a two-layer laminate having a rare earth coating electrospark deposited onto a metal substrate. In another embodiment of the invention, the structure is a three-layer laminate having the rare earth coating electrospark deposited onto a first metal substrate and the coating subsequently abonded to a second metal substrate. The bonding of the coating to the second metal substrate may be accomplished by hot pressing, hot rolling, high deformation rate processing, or combinations thereof. The laminated structure may be used in nuclear components where reactivity control or neutron absorption is desired and in non-nuclear applications such as magnetic and superconducting films.

Passivation coating for flexible substrate mirrors

DOEpatents

Tracy, C. Edwin; Benson, David K.

1990-01-01

A protective diffusion barrier for metalized mirror structures is provided by a layer or coating of silicon nitride which is a very dense, transparent, dielectric material that is impervious to water, alkali, and other impurities and corrosive substances that typically attack the metal layers of mirrors and cause degradation of the mirrors' reflectivity. The silicon nitride layer can be deposited on the substrate before metal deposition thereon to stabilize the metal/substrate interface, and it can be deposited over the metal to encapsulate it and protect the metal from corrosion or other degradation. Mirrors coated with silicon nitride according to this invention can also be used as front surface mirrors. Also, the silver or other reflective metal layer on mirrors comprising thin, lightweight, flexible substrates of metal or polymer sheets coated with glassy layers can be protected with silicon nitride according to this invention.

Influence of head size on the development of metallic wear and on the characteristics of carbon layers in metal-on-metal hip joints

PubMed Central

Sprecher, Christoph M; Wimmer, Markus A; Milz, Stefan; Taeger, Georg

2009-01-01

Background and purpose Particles originating from the articulating surfaces of hip endoprostheses often induce an inflammatory response, which can be related to implant failure. We therefore analyzed the metal content in capsular tissue from 44 McKee-Farrar metal-on-metal hip prostheses (with 3 different head sizes) and we also analyzed the morphological structure of layers located on articulating surfaces. Methods Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) was used to analyze the metal content in capsular tissue. Visually detectable carbon layers located on the articulating surfaces were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive Xray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Results Metallic debris was detected in all capsular tissue samples but no statistically significant differences in metal content were found in relation to implant head size. The morphological characteristics of the different layer zones allowed an exact analysis of contact and non-contact areas. Furthermore, surface layers appear to have a protective function because they can prevent sharp-edged particles from damaging the prostheses surface. Interpretation The implant head size does not appear to influence the amount of metallic debris. The layers obviously act like a lubricating agent because the protection function does not occur in regions without layers where the metal surface often shows numerous scratches. As layers are not generated immediately after the implantation of hip prostheses, these findings may at least partially explain the high amount of wear early after implantation. PMID:19421914

Solution-Processed Metal Oxides as Efficient Carrier Transport Layers for Organic Photovoltaics.

PubMed

Choy, Wallace C H; Zhang, Di

2016-01-27

Carrier (electron and hole) transport layers (CTLs) are essential components for boosting the performance of various organic optoelectronic devices such as organic solar cells and organic light-emitting diodes. Considering the drawbacks of conventional CTLs (easily oxidized/unstable, demanding/costly fabrication, etc.), transition metal oxides with good carrier transport/extraction and superior stability have drawn extensive research interest as CTLs for next-generation devices. In recent years, many research efforts have been made toward the development of solution-based metal oxide CTLs with the focus on low- or even room-temperature processes, which can potentially be compatible with the deposition processes of organic materials and can significantly contribute to the low-cost and scale-up of organic devices. Here, the recent progress of different types of solution-processed metal oxide CTLs are systematically reviewed in the context of organic photovoltaics, from synthesis approaches to device performance. Different approaches for further enhancing the performance of solution-based metal oxide CTLs are also discussed, which may push the future development of this exciting field. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Design and fabrication of metal-insulator-metal diode for high frequency applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azad, Ibrahim; Ram, Manoj K.; Goswami, D. Yogi; Stefanakos, Elias

2017-02-01

Metal-insulator-metal (MIM) diodes play significant role in high speed electronics where high frequency rectification is needed. Quantum based tunneling mechanism helps MIM diodes to rectify at high frequency signals. Rectenna, antenna coupled MIM diodes are becoming popular due to their potential use as IR detectors and energy harvesters. Because of small active area, MIM diodes could easily be incorporated into integrated circuits (IC's). The objective of the work is to design and develop MIM diodes for high frequency rectification. In this work, thin insulating layer of ZnO was fabricated using Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique which facilitates ultrathin thin, uniform and pinhole free fabrication of insulating layer. The ZnO layer was synthesized from organic precursor of zinc acetate layer. The optimization in the LB technique of fabrication process led to fabricate MIM diodes with high non-linearity and sensitivity. Moreover, the top and bottom electrodes as well as active area of the diodes were patterned using UV-tunneling conduction mechanism. The highest sensitivity of the diode was measured around 37 (A/W), and the rectification ratio was found around 36 under low applied bias at +/-100 mV.

Layered transition metal carboxylates: efficient reusable heterogeneous catalyst for epoxidation of olefins.

PubMed

Sen, Rupam; Bhunia, Susmita; Mal, Dasarath; Koner, Subratanath; Miyashita, Yoshitaro; Okamoto, Ken-Ichi

2009-12-01

Layered metal carboxylates [M(malonato)(H(2)O)(2)](n) (M = Ni(II) and Mn(II)) that have a claylike structure have been synthesized hydrothermally and characterized. The interlayer separation in these layered carboxylates is comparable to that of the intercalation distance of the naturally occurring clay materials or layered double hydroxides (LDHs). In this study, we have demonstrated that, instead of intercalating the metal complex into layers of the clay or LDH, layered transition metal carboxylates, [M(malonato)(H(2)O)(2)](n), as such can be used as a recyclable heterogeneous catalyst in olefin epoxidation reaction. Metal carboxylates [M(malonato)(H(2)O)(2)](n) exhibit excellent catalytic performance in olefin epoxidation reaction.

Electron Doping of Ultrathin Black Phosphorus with Cu Adatoms.

PubMed

Koenig, Steven P; Doganov, Rostislav A; Seixas, Leandro; Carvalho, Alexandra; Tan, Jun You; Watanabe, Kenji; Taniguchi, Takashi; Yakovlev, Nikolai; Castro Neto, Antonio H; Özyilmaz, Barbaros

2016-04-13

Few-layer black phosphorus is a monatomic two-dimensional crystal with a direct band gap that has high carrier mobility for both holes and electrons. Similarly to other layered atomic crystals, like graphene or layered transition metal dichalcogenides, the transport behavior of few-layer black phosphorus is sensitive to surface impurities, adsorbates, and adatoms. Here we study the effect of Cu adatoms onto few-layer black phosphorus by characterizing few-layer black phosphorus field effect devices and by performing first-principles calculations. We find that the addition of Cu adatoms can be used to controllably n-dope few layer black phosphorus, thereby lowering the threshold voltage for n-type conduction without degrading the transport properties. We demonstrate a scalable 2D material-based complementary inverter which utilizes a boron nitride gate dielectric, a graphite gate, and a single bP crystal for both the p- and n-channels. The inverter operates at matched input and output voltages, exhibits a gain of 46, and does not require different contact metals or local electrostatic gating.

Fabrication and Characterization of ZnO Langmuir-Blodgett Film and Its Use in Metal-Insulator-Metal Tunnel Diode.

PubMed

Azad, Ibrahim; Ram, Manoj K; Goswami, D Yogi; Stefanakos, Elias

2016-08-23

Metal-insulator-metal tunnel diodes have great potential for use in infrared detection and energy harvesting applications. The quantum based tunneling mechanism of electrons in MIM (metal-insulator-metal) or MIIM (metal-insulator-insulator-metal) diodes can facilitate rectification at THz frequencies. In this study, the required nanometer thin insulating layer (I) in the MIM diode structure was fabricated using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The zinc stearate LB film was deposited on Au/Cr coated quartz, FTO, and silicon substrates, and then heat treated by varying the temperature from 100 to 550 °C to obtain nanometer thin ZnO layers. The thin films were characterized by XRD, AFM, FTIR, and cyclic voltammetry methods. The final MIM structure was fabricated by depositing chromium/nickel over the ZnO on Au/Cr film. The current voltage (I-V) characteristics of the diode showed that the conduction mechanism is electron tunneling through the thin insulating layer. The sensitivity of the diodes was as high as 32 V(-1). The diode resistance was ∼80 Ω (at a bias voltage of 0.78 V), and the rectification ratio at that bias point was about 12 (for a voltage swing of ±200 mV). The diode response exhibited significant nonlinearity and high asymmetry at the bias point, very desirable diode performance parameters for IR detection applications.

UV-LIGA microfabrication process for sub-terahertz waveguides utilizing multiple layered SU-8 photoresist

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malekabadi, Ali; Paoloni, Claudio

2016-09-01

A microfabrication process based on UV LIGA (German acronym of lithography, electroplating and molding) is proposed for the fabrication of relatively high aspect ratio sub-terahertz (100-1000 GHz) metal waveguides, to be used as a slow wave structure in sub-THz vacuum electron devices. The high accuracy and tight tolerances required to properly support frequencies in the sub-THz range can be only achieved by a stable process with full parameter control. The proposed process, based on SU-8 photoresist, has been developed to satisfy high planar surface requirements for metal sub-THz waveguides. It will be demonstrated that, for a given thickness, it is more effective to stack a number of layers of SU-8 with lower thickness rather than using a single thick layer obtained at lower spin rate. The multiple layer approach provides the planarity and the surface quality required for electroforming of ground planes or assembly surfaces and for assuring low ohmic losses of waveguides. A systematic procedure is provided to calculate soft and post-bake times to produce high homogeneity SU-8 multiple layer coating as a mold for very high quality metal waveguides. A double corrugated waveguide designed for 0.3 THz operating frequency, to be used in vacuum electronic devices, was fabricated as test structure. The proposed process based on UV LIGA will enable low cost production of high accuracy sub-THz 3D waveguides. This is fundamental for producing a new generation of affordable sub-THz vacuum electron devices, to fill the technological gap that still prevents a wide diffusion of numerous applications based on THz radiation.

Ultra-high current density thin-film Si diode

DOEpatents

Wang; Qi

2008-04-22

A combination of a thin-film .mu.c-Si and a-Si:H containing diode structure characterized by an ultra-high current density that exceeds 1000 A/cm.sup.2, comprising: a substrate; a bottom metal layer disposed on the substrate; an n-layer of .mu.c-Si deposited the bottom metal layer; an i-layer of .mu.c-Si deposited on the n-layer; a buffer layer of a-Si:H deposited on the i-layer, a p-layer of .mu.c-Si deposited on the buffer layer; and a top metal layer deposited on the p-layer.

Desulfurization apparatus and method

DOEpatents

Rong, Charles; Jiang, Rongzhong; Chu, Deryn

2013-06-18

A method and system for desulfurization comprising first and second metal oxides; a walled enclosure having an inlet and an exhaust for the passage of gas to be treated; the first and second metal oxide being combinable with hydrogen sulfide to produce a reaction comprising a sulfide and water; the first metal oxide forming a first layer and the second metal oxide forming a second layer within the walled surroundings; the first and second layers being positioned so the first layer removes the bulk amount of the hydrogen sulfide from the treated gas prior to passage through the second layer, and the second layer removes substantially all of the remaining hydrogen sulfide from the treated gas; the first metal oxide producing a stoichiometrical capacity in excess of 500 mg sulfur/gram; the second metal oxide reacts with the hydrogen sulfide more favorably but has a stoichometrical capacity which is less than the first reactant; whereby the optimal amount by weight of the first and second metal oxides is achieved by utilizing two to three units by weight of the first metal oxide for every unit of the second metal oxide.

Silicone metalization

DOEpatents

Maghribi, Mariam N [Livermore, CA; Krulevitch, Peter [Pleasanton, CA; Hamilton, Julie [Tracy, CA

2006-12-05

A system for providing metal features on silicone comprising providing a silicone layer on a matrix and providing a metal layer on the silicone layer. An electronic apparatus can be produced by the system. The electronic apparatus comprises a silicone body and metal features on the silicone body that provide an electronic device.

Silicone metalization

DOEpatents

Maghribi, Mariam N.; Krulevitch, Peter; Hamilton, Julie

2008-12-09

A system for providing metal features on silicone comprising providing a silicone layer on a matrix and providing a metal layer on the silicone layer. An electronic apparatus can be produced by the system. The electronic apparatus comprises a silicone body and metal features on the silicone body that provide an electronic device.

Ultrathin metal-semiconductor-metal resonator for angle invariant visible band transmission filters

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Kyu-Tae; Seo, Sungyong; Yong Lee, Jae

We present transmission visible wavelength filters based on strong interference behaviors in an ultrathin semiconductor material between two metal layers. The proposed devices were fabricated on 2 cm × 2 cm glass substrate, and the transmission characteristics show good agreement with the design. Due to a significantly reduced light propagation phase change associated with the ultrathin semiconductor layer and the compensation in phase shift of light reflecting from the metal surface, the filters show an angle insensitive performance up to ±70°, thus, addressing one of the key challenges facing the previously reported photonic and plasmonic color filters. This principle, described in this paper, canmore » have potential for diverse applications ranging from color display devices to the image sensors.« less

Composite hydrogen separation element and module

DOEpatents

Edlund, D.J.

1996-03-12

There are disclosed improvements in multicomponent composite metal membranes useful for the separation of hydrogen, the improvements comprising the provision of a flexible porous intermediate layer between a support layer and a nonporous hydrogen-permeable coating metal layer, and the provision of a textured coating metal layer. 15 figs.

MBE growth of Topological Isolators based on strained semi-metallic HgCdTe layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grendysa, J.; Tomaka, G.; Sliz, P.; Becker, C. R.; Trzyna, M.; Wojnarowska-Nowak, R.; Bobko, E.; Sheregii, E. M.

2017-12-01

Particularities of Molecular Beam Epitaxial (MBE) technology for the growth of Topological Insulators (TI) based on the semi-metal Hg1-xCdx Te are presented. A series of strained layers grown on GaAs substrates with a composition close to the 3D Dirac point were studied. The composition of the layers was verified by means of the position of the E1 maximum in optical reflectivity in the visible region. The surface morphology was determined via atomic force and electron microscopy. Magneto-transport measurements show quantized Hall resistance curves and Shubnikov de Hass oscillations (up to 50 K). It has been demonstrated that a well-developed MBE technology enables one to grow strained Hg1-xCdx Te layers on GaAs/CdTe substrates with a well-defined composition near the 3D Dirac point and consequently allows one to produce a 3D topological Dirac semimetal - 3D analogy of graphene - for future applications.

Understanding Thermal Transport in Graded, Layered and Hybrid Materials

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-04-01

interfacial chemistries, including metallic and carbide layers, and; (iv) mimic the observed interface structure on a TDTR specimen by manipulating the...surface carbides , which were extracted from several different composites via acid dissolution of Cu, continued throughout the last 12 months of the...effort. The previously-reported electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) based techniques were employed to estimate the interfacial carbide layer thickness

Coated conductors

DOEpatents

Arendt, Paul N.; Foltyn, Stephen R.; Stan, Liliana; Usov, Igor O.; Wang, Haiyan

2010-06-15

Articles are provided including a base substrate having a layer of an IBAD oriented material thereon, and, a layer of barium-containing material selected from the group consisting of barium zirconate, barium hafnate, barium titanate, barium strontium titanate, barium dysprosium zirconate, barium neodymium zirconate and barium samarium zirconate, or a cubic metal oxide material selected from the group consisting of rare earth zirconates and rare earth hafnates upon the layer of an IBAD oriented material. Such articles can further include thin films of high temperature superconductive oxides such as YBCO upon the layer of barium-containing material selected from the group consisting of barium zirconate, barium hafnate, barium titanate, barium strontium titanate, barium dysprosium zirconate, barium neodymium zirconate and barium samarium zirconate, or a cubic metal oxide material selected from the group consisting of rare earth zirconates and rare earth hafnates.

Layer-by-Layer Assembled Films of Perylene Diimide- and Squaraine-Containing Metal-Organic Frameworks- like Materials: Solar Energy Capture and Directional Energy Transfer

DOE PAGES

Park, Hea Jung; So, Monica C.; Gosztola, David J.

2016-09-28

We demonstrate that thin films of metal organic framework (MOF)-like materials, containing two perylenedlimides (PDICl4, PDIOPh2) and a squaraine dye (S1); can be fabricated by, layer-by-layer assembly (LbL). Interestingly, these LbL films absorb across the visible light region (400-750 nm) and facilitate directional energy transfer. Due to the high spectral overlap and oriented transition dipole moments of the donor (PDICl4 and PDIOPh2) and acceptor (S1) components, directional long-range energy transfer from the bluest to reddest absorber was successfully demonstrated in the multicomponent MOF-like films. These findings have significant implications for the development of solar energy conversion devices based on MOFs.

Functionally graded alumina-based thin film systems

DOEpatents

Moore, John J.; Zhong, Dalong

2006-08-29

The present invention provides coating systems that minimize thermal and residual stresses to create a fatigue- and soldering-resistant coating for aluminum die casting dies. The coating systems include at least three layers. The outer layer is an alumina- or boro-carbide-based outer layer that has superior non-wettability characteristics with molten aluminum coupled with oxidation and wear resistance. A functionally-graded intermediate layer or "interlayer" enhances the erosive wear, toughness, and corrosion resistance of the die. A thin adhesion layer of reactive metal is used between the die substrate and the interlayer to increase adhesion of the coating system to the die surface.

Fiber optic mounted laser driven flyer plates

DOEpatents

Paisley, Dennis L.

1991-01-01

A laser driven flyer plate where the flyer plate is deposited directly onto the squared end of an optical fiber. The plasma generated by a laser pulse drives the flyer plate toward a target. In another embodiment, a first metal layer is deposited onto the squared end of an optical fiber, followed by a layer of a dielectric material and a second metal layer. The laser pulse generates a plasma in the first metal layer, but the plasma is kept away from the second metal layer by the dielectric layer until the pressure reaches the point where shearing occurs.

Use of a hard mask for formation of gate and dielectric via nanofilament field emission devices

DOEpatents

Morse, Jeffrey D.; Contolini, Robert J.

2001-01-01

A process for fabricating a nanofilament field emission device in which a via in a dielectric layer is self-aligned to gate metal via structure located on top of the dielectric layer. By the use of a hard mask layer located on top of the gate metal layer, inert to the etch chemistry for the gate metal layer, and in which a via is formed by the pattern from etched nuclear tracks in a trackable material, a via is formed by the hard mask will eliminate any erosion of the gate metal layer during the dielectric via etch. Also, the hard mask layer will protect the gate metal layer while the gate structure is etched back from the edge of the dielectric via, if such is desired. This method provides more tolerance for the electroplating of a nanofilament in the dielectric via and sharpening of the nanofilament.

Image sensor pixel with on-chip high extinction ratio polarizer based on 65-nm standard CMOS technology.

PubMed

Sasagawa, Kiyotaka; Shishido, Sanshiro; Ando, Keisuke; Matsuoka, Hitoshi; Noda, Toshihiko; Tokuda, Takashi; Kakiuchi, Kiyomi; Ohta, Jun

2013-05-06

In this study, we demonstrate a polarization sensitive pixel for a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor based on 65-nm standard CMOS technology. Using such a deep-submicron CMOS technology, it is possible to design fine metal patterns smaller than the wavelengths of visible light by using a metal wire layer. We designed and fabricated a metal wire grid polarizer on a 20 × 20 μm(2) pixel for image sensor. An extinction ratio of 19.7 dB was observed at a wavelength 750 nm.

METHOD FOR SOLDERING NORMALLY NON-SOLDERABLE ARTICLES

DOEpatents

McGuire, J.C.

1959-11-24

Methods are presented for coating and joining materials which are considered difficult to solder by utilizing an abrasive wheel and applying a bar of a suitable coating material, such as Wood's metal, to the rotating wheel to fill the cavities of the abrasive wheel and load the wheel with the coating material. The surface of the base material is then rubbed against the loaded rotating wheel, thereby coating the surface with the soft coating metal. The coating is a cohesive bonded layer and holds the base metal as tenaciously as a solder holds to easily solderable metals.

Polysulfide intercalated layered double hydroxides for metal capture applications

DOEpatents

Kanatzidis, Mercouri G.; Ma, Shulan

2017-04-04

Polysulfide intercalated layered double hydroxides and methods for their use in vapor and liquid-phase metal capture applications are provided. The layered double hydroxides comprise a plurality of positively charged host layers of mixed metal hydroxides separated by interlayer spaces. Polysulfide anions are intercalated in the interlayer spaces.

Method for ultra-fast boriding

DOEpatents

Erdemir, Ali; Sista, Vivekanand; Kahvecioglu, Ozgenur; Eryilmaz, Osman Levent

2017-01-31

An article of manufacture and method of forming a borided material. An electrochemical cell is used to process a substrate to deposit a plurality of borided layers on the substrate. The plurality of layers are co-deposited such that a refractory metal boride layer is disposed on a substrate and a rare earth metal boride conforming layer is disposed on the refractory metal boride layer.

Amorphous silicon Schottky barrier solar cells incorporating a thin insulating layer and a thin doped layer

DOEpatents

Carlson, David E.

1980-01-01

Amorphous silicon Schottky barrier solar cells which incorporate a thin insulating layer and a thin doped layer adjacent to the junction forming metal layer exhibit increased open circuit voltages compared to standard rectifying junction metal devices, i.e., Schottky barrier devices, and rectifying junction metal insulating silicon devices, i.e., MIS devices.

METAL COATED ARTICLES AND METHOD OF MAKING

DOEpatents

Eubank, L.D.

1958-08-26

A method for manufacturing a solid metallic uranium body having an integral multiple layer protective coating, comprising an inner uranium-aluminum alloy firmly bonded to the metallic uranium is presented. A third layer of silver-zinc alloy is bonded to the zinc-aluiminum layer and finally a fourth layer of lead-silver alloy is firmly bonded to the silver-zinc layer.

Development of metal oxide gas sensors for very low concentration (ppb) of BTEX vapors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Favard, A.; Aguir, K.; Contaret, T.; Caris, L.; Bendahan, M.

2017-12-01

The control and analysis of air quality have become a major preoccupation of the last twenty years. In 2008, the European Union has introduced a Directive (2008/50/EC) to impose measurement obligations and thresholds to not exceed for some pollutants, including BTEX gases, in view of their adverse effects on the health. In this paper, we show the ability to detect very low concentrations of BTEX using a gas microsensor based on metal oxide thin-film. A test bench able to generate very low vapors concentrations has been achieved and fully automated. Thin metal oxides layers have been realized by reactive magnetron sputtering. The sensitive layers are functionalized with gold nanoparticles by thermal evaporation technique. Our sensors have been tested on a wide range of concentrations of BTEX (5 - 500 ppb) and have been able to detect concentrations of a few ppb for operating temperatures below 593 K. These results are very promising for detection of very low BTEX concentration for indoor as well as outdoor application. We showed that the addition of gold nanoparticles on the sensitive layers decreases the sensors operating temperature and increases the response to BTEX gas. The best results are obtained with a sensitive layer based on ZnO.

Integrated Flexible Electronic Devices Based on Passive Alignment for Physiological Measurement

PubMed Central

Ryu, Jin Hwa; Byun, Sangwon; Baek, In-Bok; Lee, Bong Kuk; Jang, Won Ick; Jang, Eun-Hye; Kim, Ah-Yung; Yu, Han Yung

2017-01-01

This study proposes a simple method of fabricating flexible electronic devices using a metal template for passive alignment between chip components and an interconnect layer, which enabled efficient alignment with high accuracy. An electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor was fabricated using 20 µm thick polyimide (PI) film as a flexible substrate to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method. The interconnect layer was fabricated by a two-step photolithography process and evaporation. After applying solder paste, the metal template was placed on top of the interconnect layer. The metal template had rectangular holes at the same position as the chip components on the interconnect layer. Rectangular hole sizes were designed to account for alignment tolerance of the chips. Passive alignment was performed by simply inserting the components in the holes of the template, which resulted in accurate alignment with positional tolerance of less than 10 µm based on the structural design, suggesting that our method can efficiently perform chip mounting with precision. Furthermore, a fabricated flexible ECG sensor was easily attachable to the curved skin surface and able to measure ECG signals from a human subject. These results suggest that the proposed method can be used to fabricate epidermal sensors, which are mounted on the skin to measure various physiological signals. PMID:28420219

Exploring 3D non-interpenetrated metal-organic framework with malonate-bridged Co(II) coordination polymer: structural elucidation and theoretical study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hossain, Anowar; Mandal, Tripti; Mitra, Monojit; Manna, Prankrishna; Bauzá, Antonio; Frontera, Antonio; Seth, Saikat Kumar; Mukhopadhyay, Subrata

2017-12-01

A Co(II)-based coordination polymer with tetranuclear cobalt(II)-malonate cluster has been easily generated by aqueous medium self-assembly from Cobalt(II) chloride hexahydrate and malonic acid. The structure exhibits a non-interpenetrating, highly undulating two-dimensional (2D) bi-layer network with (4,4) topology. The crystal structure is composed of infinite interdigitated 2D metal-organic bi-layers which extended to an intricate 3D framework through the interbilayer hydrogen bonds. We have studied energetically by means of Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations the H-bonding interactions that connect the 2D metal-organic bi-layers. The finite theoretical models have been used to compute conventional O‒H•••O and unconventional C‒H•••O interactions which plays a key role to build 3D architecture.

Analysis of the Potential Impact of Additive Manufacturing on Army Logistics

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-11-06

building 3-D objects layer-by-layer. The examination of the primary methods provided the baseline characteristics for building a process timeline for...Figure 2, build material and support material on spools are fed through an extrusion head that force out the material onto a foam base on a build...we researched was selective layer sintering (SLS). According to Freedman (2012), In sintering, a thin layer of powdered metal or thermoplastic is

Article and method of forming an article

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lacy, Benjamin Paul; Kottilingam, Srikanth Chandrudu; Dutta, Sandip

Provided are an article and a method of forming an article. The method includes providing a metallic powder, heating the metallic powder to a temperature sufficient to joint at least a portion of the metallic powder to form an initial layer, sequentially forming additional layers in a build direction by providing a distributed layer of the metallic powder over the initial layer and heating the distributed layer of the metallic powder, repeating the steps of sequentially forming the additional layers in the build direction to form a portion of the article having a hollow space formed in the build direction,more » and forming an overhang feature extending into the hollow space. The article includes an article formed by the method described herein.« less

Evidence for Defect-Mediated Tunneling in Hexagonal Boron Nitride-Based Junctions.

PubMed

Chandni, U; Watanabe, K; Taniguchi, T; Eisenstein, J P

2015-11-11

We investigate electron tunneling through atomically thin layers of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). Metal (Cr/Au) and semimetal (graphite) counter-electrodes are employed. While the direct tunneling resistance increases nearly exponentially with barrier thickness as expected, the thicker junctions also exhibit clear signatures of Coulomb blockade, including strong suppression of the tunnel current around zero bias and step-like features in the current at larger biases. The voltage separation of these steps suggests that single-electron charging of nanometer-scale defects in the hBN barrier layer are responsible for these signatures. We find that annealing the metal-hBN-metal junctions removes these defects and the Coulomb blockade signatures in the tunneling current.

UiO-66-NH2 Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) Nucleation on TiO2, ZnO, and Al2O3 Atomic Layer Deposition-Treated Polymer Fibers: Role of Metal Oxide on MOF Growth and Catalytic Hydrolysis of Chemical Warfare Agent Simulants.

PubMed

Lee, Dennis T; Zhao, Junjie; Oldham, Christopher J; Peterson, Gregory W; Parsons, Gregory N

2017-12-27

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) chemically bound to polymeric microfibrous textiles show promising performance for many future applications. In particular, Zr-based UiO-66-family MOF-textiles have been shown to catalytically degrade highly toxic chemical warfare agents (CWAs), where favorable MOF/polymer bonding and adhesion are attained by placing a nanoscale metal-oxide layer on the polymer fiber preceding MOF growth. To date, however, the nucleation mechanism of Zr-based MOFs on different metal oxides and how product performance is affected are not well understood. Herein, we provide new insight into how different inorganic nucleation films (i.e., Al 2 O 3 , ZnO, or TiO 2 ) conformally coated on polypropylene (PP) nonwoven textiles via atomic layer deposition (ALD) influence the quality, overall surface area, and the fractional yield of UiO-66-NH 2 MOF crystals solvothermally grown on fiber substrates. Of the materials explored, we find that TiO 2 ALD layers lead to the most effective overall MOF/fiber adhesion, uniformity, and a rapid catalytic degradation rate for a CWA simulant, dimethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate (DMNP) with t 1/2 = 15 min, 580-fold faster than the catalytic performance of untreated PP textiles. Interestingly, compared to ALD TiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 , ALD ZnO induces a larger MOF yield in solution and mass loading on PP fibrous mats. However, this larger MOF yield is ascribed to chemical instability of the ZnO layer under MOF formation condition, leading to Zn 2+ ions that promote further homogeneous MOF growth. Insights presented here improve understanding of compatibility between active MOF materials and substrate surfaces, which we believe will help advanced MOF composite materials for a variety of useful functions.

Giant magneto-spin-Seebeck effect and magnon transfer torques in insulating spin valves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Yihong; Chen, Kai; Zhang, Shufeng

2018-01-01

We theoretically study magnon transport in an insulating spin valve (ISV) made of an antiferromagnetic insulator sandwiched between two ferromagnetic insulator (FI) layers. In the conventional metal-based spin valve, the electron spins propagate between two metallic ferromagnetic layers, giving rise to giant magnetoresistance and spin transfer torque. Here, the incoherent magnons in the ISV serve as angular momentum carriers and are responsible for the angular momentum transport between two FI layers across the antiferromagnetic spacer. We predict two transport phenomena in the presence of the temperature gradient: a giant magneto-spin-Seebeck effect in which the output voltage signal is controlled by the relative orientation of the two FI layers and magnon transfer torque that can be used for switching the magnetization of the FI layers with a temperature gradient of the order of 0.1 Kelvin per nanometer.

Fabrication of PVDF-TrFE based bilayered PbTiO3/PVDF-TrFE films capacitor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nurbaya, Z.; Wahid, M. H.; Rozana, M. D.; Annuar, I.; Alrokayan, S. A. H.; Khan, H. A.; Rusop, M.

2016-07-01

Development of high performance capacitor is reaching towards new generation where the ferroelectric materials take places as the active dielectric layer. The motivation of this study is to produce high capacitance device with long life cycle. This was configured by preparing bilayered films where lead titanate as an active dielectric layer and stacked with the top dielectric layer, poly(vinyledenefluoride-trifluoroethylene). Both of them are being referred that have one in common which is ferroelectric behavior. Therefore the combination of ceramic and polymer ferroelectric material could perform optimum dielectric characteristic for capacitor applications. The fabrication was done by simple sol-gel spin coating method that being varied at spinning speed property for polymer layers, whereas maintaining the ceramic layer. The characterization of PVDF-TrFE/PbTiO3 was performed according to metal-insulator-metal stacked capacitor measurement which includes structural, dielectric, and ferroelectric measurement.

A difference in using atomic layer deposition or physical vapour deposition TiN as electrode material in metal-insulator-metal and metal-insulator-silicon capacitors.

PubMed

Groenland, A W; Wolters, R A M; Kovalgin, A Y; Schmitz, J

2011-09-01

In this work, metal-insulator-metal (MIM) and metal-insulator-silicon (MIS) capacitors are studied using titanium nitride (TiN) as the electrode material. The effect of structural defects on the electrical properties on MIS and MIM capacitors is studied for various electrode configurations. In the MIM capacitors the bottom electrode is a patterned 100 nm TiN layer (called BE type 1), deposited via sputtering, while MIS capacitors have a flat bottom electrode (called BE type 2-silicon substrate). A high quality 50-100 nm thick SiO2 layer, made by inductively-coupled plasma CVD at 150 degrees C, is deposited as a dielectric on top of both types of bottom electrodes. BE type 1 (MIM) capacitors have a varying from low to high concentration of structural defects in the SiO2 layer. BE type 2 (MIS) capacitors have a low concentration of structural defects and are used as a reference. Two sets of each capacitor design are fabricated with the TiN top electrode deposited either via physical vapour deposition (PVD, i.e., sputtering) or atomic layer deposition (ALD). The MIM and MIS capacitors are electrically characterized in terms of the leakage current at an electric field of 0.1 MV/cm (I leak) and for different structural defect concentrations. It is shown that the structural defects only show up in the electrical characteristics of BE type 1 capacitors with an ALD TiN-based top electrode. This is due to the excellent step coverage of the ALD process. This work clearly demonstrates the sensitivity to process-induced structural defects, when ALD is used as a step in process integration of conductors on insulation materials.

High precision position sensor based on CPA in a composite multi-layered system.

PubMed

Dey, Sanjeeb; Singh, Suneel; Rao, Desai Narayana

2018-04-16

We propose a scheme for high precision position sensing based on coherent perfect absorption (CPA) in a five-layered structure comprising three layers of metal-dielectric composites and two spacer (air) layers. Both the outermost interfaces of the five layered medium are irradiated by two identical coherent light waves at the same angle of incidence. We first investigate the occurrence of CPA in a symmetric layered structure as a function of different system parameters for oblique incidence. Thereafter, by shifting the middle layer, beginning from one end of the structure to the other, we observe the periodic occurrence of extremely narrow CPA resonances at several positions of the middle layer. Moreover this phenomenon is seen to recur even at many other wavelengths. We discuss how the position sensitivity of this phenomenon can be utilized for designing a CPA based high precision position sensing device.

The effect of the carbon nanotube buffer layer on the performance of a Li metal battery.

PubMed

Zhang, Ding; Zhou, Yi; Liu, Changhong; Fan, Shoushan

2016-06-07

Lithium (Li) metal is one of the most promising candidates as an anode for the next-generation energy storage systems because of its high specific capacity and lowest negative electrochemical potential. But the growth of Li dendrites limits the application of the Li metal battery. In this work, a type of modified Li metal battery with a carbon nanotube (CNT) buffer layer inserted between the separator and the Li metal electrode was reported. The electrochemical results show that the modified batteries have a much better rate capability and cycling performance than the conventional Li metal batteries. The mechanism study by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy reveals that the modified battery has a smaller charge transfer resistance and larger Li ion diffusion coefficient during the deposition process on the Li electrode than the conventional Li metal batteries. Symmetric battery tests show that the interfacial behavior of the Li metal electrode with the buffer layer is more stable than the naked Li metal electrode. The morphological characterization of the CNT buffer layer and Li metal lamina reveals that the CNT buffer layer has restrained the growth of Li dendrites. The CNT buffer layer has great potential to solve the safety problem of the Li metal battery.

Miniaturized Metal (Metal Alloy)/PdO(x)/SiC Hydrogen and Hydrocarbon Gas Sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hunter, Gary W. (Inventor); Xu, Jennifer C. (Inventor); Lukco, Dorothy (Inventor)

2008-01-01

A miniaturized Schottky diode hydrogen and hydrocarbon sensor and the method of making same is disclosed and claimed. The sensor comprises a catalytic metal layer, such as palladium, a silicon carbide substrate layer and a thin barrier layer in between the catalytic and substrate layers made of palladium oxide (PdO(x)). This highly stable device provides sensitive gas detection at temperatures ranging from at least 450 to 600 C. The barrier layer prevents reactions between the catalytic metal layer and the substrate layer. Conventional semiconductor fabrication techniques are used to fabricate the small-sided sensors. The use of a thicker palladium oxide barrier layer for other semiconductor structures such as a capacitor and transistor structures is also disclosed.

Planar ceramic membrane assembly and oxidation reactor system

DOEpatents

Carolan, Michael Francis; Dyer, legal representative, Kathryn Beverly; Wilson, Merrill Anderson; Ohm, Ted R.; Kneidel, Kurt E.; Peterson, David; Chen, Christopher M.; Rackers, Keith Gerard; Dyer, deceased, Paul Nigel

2007-10-09

Planar ceramic membrane assembly comprising a dense layer of mixed-conducting multi-component metal oxide material, wherein the dense layer has a first side and a second side, a porous layer of mixed-conducting multi-component metal oxide material in contact with the first side of the dense layer, and a ceramic channeled support layer in contact with the second side of the dense layer. The planar ceramic membrane assembly can be used in a ceramic wafer assembly comprising a planar ceramic channeled support layer having a first side and a second side; a first dense layer of mixed-conducting multi-component metal oxide material having an inner side and an outer side, wherein the inner side is in contact with the first side of the ceramic channeled support layer; a first outer support layer comprising porous mixed-conducting multi-component metal oxide material and having an inner side and an outer side, wherein the inner side is in contact with the outer side of the first dense layer; a second dense layer of mixed-conducting multi-component metal oxide material having an inner side and an outer side, wherein the inner side is in contact with the second side of the ceramic channeled layer; and a second outer support layer comprising porous mixed-conducting multi-component metal oxide material and having an inner side and an outer side, wherein the inner side is in contact with the outer side of the second dense layer.

Planar ceramic membrane assembly and oxidation reactor system

DOEpatents

Carolan, Michael Francis; Dyer, legal representative, Kathryn Beverly; Wilson, Merrill Anderson; Ohrn, Ted R.; Kneidel, Kurt E.; Peterson, David; Chen, Christopher M.; Rackers, Keith Gerard; Dyer, Paul Nigel

2009-04-07

Planar ceramic membrane assembly comprising a dense layer of mixed-conducting multi-component metal oxide material, wherein the dense layer has a first side and a second side, a porous layer of mixed-conducting multi-component metal oxide material in contact with the first side of the dense layer, and a ceramic channeled support layer in contact with the second side of the dense layer. The planar ceramic membrane assembly can be used in a ceramic wafer assembly comprising a planar ceramic channeled support layer having a first side and a second side; a first dense layer of mixed-conducting multi-component metal oxide material having an inner side and an outer side, wherein the inner side is in contact with the first side of the ceramic channeled support layer; a first outer support layer comprising porous mixed-conducting multi-component metal oxide material and having an inner side and an outer side, wherein the inner side is in contact with the outer side of the first dense layer; a second dense layer of mixed-conducting multi-component metal oxide material having an inner side and an outer side, wherein the inner side is in contact with the second side of the ceramic channeled layer; and a second outer support layer comprising porous mixed-conducting multi-component metal oxide material and having an inner side and an outer side, wherein the inner side is in contact with the outer side of the second dense layer.

Electron transport in ultra-thin films and ballistic electron emission microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Claveau, Y.; Di Matteo, S.; de Andres, P. L.; Flores, F.

2017-03-01

We have developed a calculation scheme for the elastic electron current in ultra-thin epitaxial heterostructures. Our model uses a Keldysh’s non-equilibrium Green’s function formalism and a layer-by-layer construction of the epitaxial film. Such an approach is appropriate to describe the current in a ballistic electron emission microscope (BEEM) where the metal base layer is ultra-thin and generalizes a previous one based on a decimation technique appropriated for thick slabs. This formalism allows a full quantum mechanical description of the transmission across the epitaxial heterostructure interface, including multiple scattering via the Dyson equation, which is deemed a crucial ingredient to describe interfaces of ultra-thin layers properly in the future. We introduce a theoretical formulation needed for ultra-thin layers and we compare with results obtained for thick Au(1 1 1) metal layers. An interesting effect takes place for a width of about ten layers: a BEEM current can propagate via the center of the reciprocal space (\\overlineΓ ) along the Au(1 1 1) direction. We associate this current to a coherent interference finite-width effect that cannot be found using a decimation technique. Finally, we have tested the validity of the handy semiclassical formalism to describe the BEEM current.

Investigation of graphene-on-metal substrates for SPR-based sensor using finite-difference time domain.

PubMed

Said, Fairus Atida; Menon, Pulliyaseri Susthitha; Rajendran, Venkatachalam; Shaari, Sahbudin; Majlis, Burhanuddin Y

2017-12-01

In this study, the authors investigated the effects of a single layer graphene as a coating layer on top of metal thin films such as silver, gold, aluminum and copper using finite-difference time domain method. To enhance the resolution of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor, it is necessary to increase the SPR reflectivity and decrease the full-width-half maximum (FWHM) of the SPR curve so that there is minimum uncertainty in the determination of the resonance dip. Numerical data was verified with analytical and experimental data where all the data were in good agreement with resonance angle differing in <10% due to noise present in components such as humidity and temperature. In further analysis, reflectivity and FWHM were compared among four types of metal with various thin film thicknesses where graphene was applied on top of the metal layers, and data was compared against pure conventional metal thin films. A 60 nm-thick Au thin film results in higher performance with reflectivity of 92.4% and FWHM of 0.88° whereas single layer graphene-on-60 nm-thick Au gave reflectivity of 91.7% and FWHM of 1.32°. However, a graphene-on-40 nm-thick Ag also gave good performance with narrower FWHM of 0.88° and reflection spectra of 89.2%.

Low resistance barrier layer for isolating, adhering, and passivating copper metal in semiconductor fabrication

DOEpatents

Weihs, Timothy P.; Barbee, Jr., Troy W.

2002-01-01

Cubic or metastable cubic refractory metal carbides act as barrier layers to isolate, adhere, and passivate copper in semiconductor fabrication. One or more barrier layers of the metal carbide are deposited in conjunction with copper metallizations to form a multilayer characterized by a cubic crystal structure with a strong (100) texture. Suitable barrier layer materials include refractory transition metal carbides such as vanadium carbide (VC), niobium carbide (NbC), tantalum carbide (TaC), chromium carbide (Cr.sub.3 C.sub.2), tungsten carbide (WC), and molybdenum carbide (MoC).

Effect of layered manufacturing techniques, alloy powders, and layer thickness on metal-ceramic bond strength.

PubMed

Ekren, Orhun; Ozkomur, Ahmet; Ucar, Yurdanur

2018-03-01

Direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) and direct metal laser melting (DMLM) have become popular for fabricating the metal frameworks of metal-ceramic restorations. How the type of layered manufacturing device, layer thickness, and alloy powder may affect the bond strength of ceramic to metal substructure is unclear. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the bond strength of dental porcelain to metal frameworks fabricated using different layered manufacturing techniques (DMLS and DMLM), Co-Cr alloy powders, and layer thicknesses and to evaluate whether a correlation exists between the bond strength and the number of ceramic remnants on the metal surface. A total of 75 bar-shaped metal specimens (n=15) were fabricated using either DMLS or DMLM. The powder alloys used were Keramit NP-S and EOS-Cobalt-Chrome SP-2 with layer thicknesses of 20 μm and 30 μm. After ceramic application, the metal-ceramic bond strength was evaluated with a 3-point-bend test. Three-way ANOVA followed by the Tukey honest significance difference test were used for statistical analysis (α=.05). De-bonding surface microstructure was observed with scanning electron microscopy. Energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis was conducted to evaluate the correlation between ceramic remnants on the metal surface and bond strength values. The mean bond strength value of DMLS was significantly higher than that of DMLM. While no statistically significant difference was found between layer thicknesses, alloy powders closely affected bond strength. Statistical comparisons revealed that the highest bond strength could be achieved with DMLS-Cobalt-Chrome SP2-20μm, and the lowest bond strength was observed in DMLS-Keramit NP-S-20μm (P≤.05). No correlation was found between porcelain remnants on the metal surface and bond strength values. The layered manufacturing device and the alloy powders evaluated in the current study closely affected the bond strength of dental porcelain to a metal framework. However, layer thickness did not affect the bond strength. Copyright © 2017 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Method for producing chemical energy

DOEpatents

Jorgensen, Betty S.; Danen, Wayne C.

2004-09-21

Fluoroalkylsilane-coated metal particles having a central metal core, a buffer layer surrounding the core, and a fluoroalkylsilane layer attached to the buffer layer are prepared by combining a chemically reactive fluoroalkylsilane compound with an oxide coated metal particle having a hydroxylated surface. The resulting fluoroalkylsilane layer that coats the particles provides them with excellent resistance to aging. The particles can be blended with oxidant particles to form energetic powder that releases chemical energy when the buffer layer is physically disrupted so that the reductant metal core can react with the oxidant.

Energetic powder

DOEpatents

Jorgensen, Betty S.; Danen, Wayne C.

2003-12-23

Fluoroalkylsilane-coated metal particles. The particles have a central metal core, a buffer layer surrounding the core, and a fluoroalkylsilane layer attached to the buffer layer. The particles may be prepared by combining a chemically reactive fluoroalkylsilane compound with an oxide coated metal particle having a hydroxylated surface. The resulting fluoroalkylsilane layer that coats the particles provides them with excellent resistance to aging. The particles can be blended with oxidant particles to form energetic powder that releases chemical energy when the buffer layer is physically disrupted so that the reductant metal core can react with the oxidant.

Oxide film on metal substrate reduced to form metal-oxide-metal layer structure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Youngdahl, C. A.

1967-01-01

Electrically conductive layer of zirconium on a zirconium-oxide film residing on a zirconium substrate is formed by reducing the oxide in a sodium-calcium solution. The reduced metal remains on the oxide surface as an adherent layer and seems to form a barrier that inhibits further reaction.

Thin-film solar cell fabricated on a flexible metallic substrate

DOEpatents

Tuttle, John R.; Noufi, Rommel; Hasoon, Falah S.

2006-05-30

A thin-film solar cell (10) is provided. The thin-film solar cell (10) comprises a flexible metallic substrate (12) having a first surface and a second surface. A back metal contact layer (16) is deposited on the first surface of the flexible metallic substrate (12). A semiconductor absorber layer (14) is deposited on the back metal contact. A photoactive film deposited on the semiconductor absorber layer (14) forms a heterojunction structure and a grid contact (24) deposited on the heterjunction structure. The flexible metal substrate (12) can be constructed of either aluminium or stainless steel. Furthermore, a method of constructing a solar cell is provided. The method comprises providing an aluminum substrate (12), depositing a semiconductor absorber layer (14) on the aluminum substrate (12), and insulating the aluminum substrate (12) from the semiconductor absorber layer (14) to inhibit reaction between the aluminum substrate (12) and the semiconductor absorber layer (14).

Thin-Film Solar Cell Fabricated on a Flexible Metallic Substrate

DOEpatents

Tuttle, J. R.; Noufi, R.; Hasoon, F. S.

2006-05-30

A thin-film solar cell (10) is provided. The thin-film solar cell (10) comprises a flexible metallic substrate (12) having a first surface and a second surface. A back metal contact layer (16) is deposited on the first surface of the flexible metallic substrate (12). A semiconductor absorber layer (14) is deposited on the back metal contact. A photoactive film deposited on the semiconductor absorber layer (14) forms a heterojunction structure and a grid contact (24) deposited on the heterjunction structure. The flexible metal substrate (12) can be constructed of either aluminium or stainless steel. Furthermore, a method of constructing a solar cell is provided. The method comprises providing an aluminum substrate (12), depositing a semiconductor absorber layer (14) on the aluminum substrate (12), and insulating the aluminum substrate (12) from the semiconductor absorber layer (14) to inhibit reaction between the aluminum substrate (12) and the semiconductor absorber layer (14).

Solder for oxide layer-building metals and alloys

DOEpatents

Kronberg, James W.

1992-01-01

A low temperature solder and method for soldering an oxide layer-building metal such as aluminum, titanium, tantalum or stainless steel. The comosition comprises tin and zinc; germanium as a wetting agent; preferably small amounts of copper and antimony; and a grit, such as silicon carbide. The grit abrades any oxide layer formed on the surface of the metal as the germanium penetrates beneath and loosens the oxide layer to provide good metal-to-metal contact. The germanium comprises less than aproximatley 10% by weight of the solder composition so that it provides sufficient wetting action but does not result in a melting temperature above approximately 300.degree. C. The method comprises the steps rubbing the solder against the metal surface so the grit in the solder abrades the surface while heating the surface until the solder begins to melt and the germanium penetrates the oxide layer, then brushing aside any oxide layer loosened by the solder.

Solder for oxide layer-building metals and alloys

DOEpatents

Kronberg, J.W.

1992-09-15

A low temperature solder and method for soldering an oxide layer-building metal such as aluminum, titanium, tantalum or stainless steel is disclosed. The composition comprises tin and zinc; germanium as a wetting agent; preferably small amounts of copper and antimony; and a grit, such as silicon carbide. The grit abrades any oxide layer formed on the surface of the metal as the germanium penetrates beneath and loosens the oxide layer to provide good metal-to-metal contact. The germanium comprises less than approximately 10% by weight of the solder composition so that it provides sufficient wetting action but does not result in a melting temperature above approximately 300 C. The method comprises the steps rubbing the solder against the metal surface so the grit in the solder abrades the surface while heating the surface until the solder begins to melt and the germanium penetrates the oxide layer, then brushing aside any oxide layer loosened by the solder.

Step-by-step fabrication of a highly oriented crystalline three-dimensional pillared-layer-type metal-organic framework thin film confirmed by synchrotron X-ray diffraction.

PubMed

Otsubo, Kazuya; Haraguchi, Tomoyuki; Sakata, Osami; Fujiwara, Akihiko; Kitagawa, Hiroshi

2012-06-13

Fabrication of a crystalline ordered thin film based on the porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is one of the practical applications of the future functional nanomaterials. Here, we report the creation of a highly oriented three-dimensional (3-D) porous pillared-layer-type MOF thin film on a metal substrate using a step-by-step approach based on liquid-phase epitaxy. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) study clearly indicates that the thin film is crystalline and its orientation is highly controlled in both horizontal and vertical directions relative to the substrate. This report provides the first confirmation of details of not only the crystallinity but also the orientation of 3-D MOF thin film using synchrotron XRD. Moreover, we also demonstrate its guest adsorption/desorption behavior by using in situ XRD measurements. The results presented here would promise useful insights for fabrication of MOF-based nanodevices in the future.

Control of spontaneous emission of quantum dots using correlated effects of metal oxides and dielectric materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sadeghi, S. M.; Wing, W. J.; Gutha, R. R.; Capps, L.

2017-03-01

We study the emission dynamics of semiconductor quantum dots in the presence of the correlated impact of metal oxides and dielectric materials. For this we used layered material structures consisting of a base substrate, a dielectric layer, and an ultrathin layer of a metal oxide. After depositing colloidal CdSe/ZnS quantum dots on the top of the metal oxide, we used spectral and time-resolved techniques to show that, depending on the type and thickness of the dielectric material, the metal oxide can characteristically change the interplay between intrinsic excitons, defect states, and the environment, offering new material properties. Our results show that aluminum oxide, in particular, can strongly change the impact of amorphous silicon on the emission dynamics of quantum dots by balancing the intrinsic near band emission and fast trapping of carriers. In such a system the silicon/aluminum oxide charge barrier can lead to large variation of the radiative lifetime of quantum dots and control of the photo-ejection rate of electrons in quantum dots. The results provide unique techniques to investigate and modify physical properties of dielectrics and manage optical and electrical properties of quantum dots.

Control of spontaneous emission of quantum dots using correlated effects of metal oxides and dielectric materials.

PubMed

Sadeghi, S M; Wing, W J; Gutha, R R; Capps, L

2017-03-03

We study the emission dynamics of semiconductor quantum dots in the presence of the correlated impact of metal oxides and dielectric materials. For this we used layered material structures consisting of a base substrate, a dielectric layer, and an ultrathin layer of a metal oxide. After depositing colloidal CdSe/ZnS quantum dots on the top of the metal oxide, we used spectral and time-resolved techniques to show that, depending on the type and thickness of the dielectric material, the metal oxide can characteristically change the interplay between intrinsic excitons, defect states, and the environment, offering new material properties. Our results show that aluminum oxide, in particular, can strongly change the impact of amorphous silicon on the emission dynamics of quantum dots by balancing the intrinsic near band emission and fast trapping of carriers. In such a system the silicon/aluminum oxide charge barrier can lead to large variation of the radiative lifetime of quantum dots and control of the photo-ejection rate of electrons in quantum dots. The results provide unique techniques to investigate and modify physical properties of dielectrics and manage optical and electrical properties of quantum dots.

Enhancement of the transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect via resonant tunneling in trilayers containing magneto-optical metals

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Girón-Sedas, J. A.; Centro de Investigación e Innovación en Bioinformática y Fotónica - CIBioFI, AA 25360 Cali; Mejía-Salazar, J. R., E-mail: jrmejia3146@gmail.com

We propose a way to enhance the transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect, by the excitation of resonant tunneling modes, in subwavelength trilayer structures featuring a dielectric slab sandwiched between two magneto-optical metallic layers. Depending on the magneto-optical layer widths, the proposed system may exhibit an extraordinary transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect, which makes it very attractive for the design and engineering of thin-film magneto-optical-based devices for future photonic circuits or fiber optical-communication systems.

Devices based on surface plasmon interference filters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Yu (Inventor)

2001-01-01

Devices based on surface plasmon filters having at least one metal-dielectric interface to support surface plasmon waves. A multi-layer-coupled surface plasmon notch filter is provided to have more than two symmetric metal-dielectric interfaces coupled with one another to produce a transmission spectral window with desired spectral profile and bandwidth. Such notch filters can form various color filtering devices for color flat panel displays.

Solution processed transition metal oxide anode buffer layers for efficiency and stability enhancement of polymer solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ameen, M. Yoosuf; Shamjid, P.; Abhijith, T.; Reddy, V. S.

2018-01-01

Polymer solar cells were fabricated with solution-processed transition metal oxides, MoO3 and V2O5 as anode buffer layers (ABLs). The optimized device with V2O5 ABL exhibited considerably higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) compared to the devices based on MoO3 and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) ABLs. The space charge limited current measurements and impedance spectroscopy results of hole-only devices revealed that V2O5 provided a very low charge transfer resistance and high hole mobility, facilitating efficient hole transfer from the active layer to the ITO anode. More importantly, incorporation of V2O5 as ABL resulted in substantial improvement in device stability compared to MoO3 and PEDOT:PSS based devices. Unencapsulated PEDOT:PSS-based devices stored at a relative humidity of 45% have shown complete failure within 96 h. Whereas, MoO3 and V2O5 based devices stored in similar conditions retained 22% and 80% of their initial PCEs after 96 h. Significantly higher stability of the V2O5-based device is ascribed to the reduction in degradation of the anode/active layer interface, as evident from the electrical measurements.

Controlled metal-semiconductor sintering/alloying by one-directional reverse illumination

DOEpatents

Sopori, Bhushan L.

1993-01-01

Metal strips deposited on a top surface of a semiconductor substrate are sintered at one temperature simultaneously with alloying a metal layer on the bottom surface at a second, higher temperature. This simultaneous sintering of metal strips and alloying a metal layer on opposite surfaces of the substrate at different temperatures is accomplished by directing infrared radiation through the top surface to the interface of the bottom surface with the metal layer where the radiation is absorbed to create a primary hot zone with a temperature high enough to melt and alloy the metal layer with the bottom surface of the substrate. Secondary heat effects, including heat conducted through the substrate from the primary hot zone and heat created by infrared radiation reflected from the metal layer to the metal strips, as well as heat created from some primary absorption by the metal strips, combine to create secondary hot zones at the interfaces of the metal strips with the top surface of the substrate. These secondary hot zones are not as hot as the primary hot zone, but they are hot enough to sinter the metal strips to the substrate.

A tunable microwave slot antenna based on graphene

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dragoman, Mircea; Aldrigo, Martino; Vasilache, D.

The paper presents the experimental and modeling results of a microwave slot antenna in a coplanar configuration based on graphene. The antennas are fabricated on a 4 in. high-resistivity Si wafer, with a ∼300 nm SiO{sub 2} layer grown through thermal oxidation. A CVD grown graphene layer is transferred on the SiO{sub 2}. The paper shows that the reflection parameter of the antenna can be tuned by a DC voltage. 2D radiation patterns at various frequencies in the X band (8–12 GHz) are then presented using as antenna backside a microwave absorbent and a metalized surface. Although the radiation efficiency is lower thanmore » a metallic antenna, the graphene antenna is a wideband antenna while the metal antennas with the same geometry and working at the same frequencies are narrowband.« less

Exchanging Ohmic Losses in Metamaterial Absorbers with Useful Optical Absorption for Photovoltaics

PubMed Central

Vora, Ankit; Gwamuri, Jephias; Pala, Nezih; Kulkarni, Anand; Pearce, Joshua M.; Güney, Durdu Ö.

2014-01-01

Using metamaterial absorbers, we have shown that metallic layers in the absorbers do not necessarily constitute undesired resistive heating problem for photovoltaics. Tailoring the geometric skin depth of metals and employing the natural bulk absorbance characteristics of the semiconductors in those absorbers can enable the exchange of undesired resistive losses with the useful optical absorbance in the active semiconductors. Thus, Ohmic loss dominated metamaterial absorbers can be converted into photovoltaic near-perfect absorbers with the advantage of harvesting the full potential of light management offered by the metamaterial absorbers. Based on experimental permittivity data for indium gallium nitride, we have shown that between 75%–95% absorbance can be achieved in the semiconductor layers of the converted metamaterial absorbers. Besides other metamaterial and plasmonic devices, our results may also apply to photodectors and other metal or semiconductor based optical devices where resistive losses and power consumption are important pertaining to the device performance. PMID:24811322

Diverse and tunable electronic structures of single-layer metal phosphorus trichalcogenides for photocatalytic water splitting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jian; Li, Xi-Bo; Wang, Da; Lau, Woon-Ming; Peng, Ping; Liu, Li-Min

2014-02-01

The family of bulk metal phosphorus trichalcogenides (APX3, A = MII, M_{0.5}^IM_{0.5}^{III}; X = S, Se; MI, MII, and MIII represent Group-I, Group-II, and Group-III metals, respectively) has attracted great attentions because such materials not only own magnetic and ferroelectric properties, but also exhibit excellent properties in hydrogen storage and lithium battery because of the layered structures. Many layered materials have been exfoliated into two-dimensional (2D) materials, and they show distinct electronic properties compared with their bulks. Here we present a systematical study of single-layer metal phosphorus trichalcogenides by density functional theory calculations. The results show that the single layer metal phosphorus trichalcogenides have very low formation energies, which indicates that the exfoliation of single layer APX3 should not be difficult. The family of single layer metal phosphorus trichalcogenides exhibits a large range of band gaps from 1.77 to 3.94 eV, and the electronic structures are greatly affected by the metal or the chalcogenide atoms. The calculated band edges of metal phosphorus trichalcogenides further reveal that single-layer ZnPSe3, CdPSe3, Ag0.5Sc0.5PSe3, and Ag0.5In0.5PX3 (X = S and Se) have both suitable band gaps for visible-light driving and sufficient over-potentials for water splitting. More fascinatingly, single-layer Ag0.5Sc0.5PSe3 is a direct band gap semiconductor, and the calculated optical absorption further convinces that such materials own outstanding properties for light absorption. Such results demonstrate that the single layer metal phosphorus trichalcogenides own high stability, versatile electronic properties, and high optical absorption, thus such materials have great chances to be high efficient photocatalysts for water-splitting.

Carbon nanotube-based three-dimensional monolithic optoelectronic integrated system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yang; Wang, Sheng; Liu, Huaping; Peng, Lian-Mao

2017-06-01

Single material-based monolithic optoelectronic integration with complementary metal oxide semiconductor-compatible signal processing circuits is one of the most pursued approaches in the post-Moore era to realize rapid data communication and functional diversification in a limited three-dimensional space. Here, we report an electrically driven carbon nanotube-based on-chip three-dimensional optoelectronic integrated circuit. We demonstrate that photovoltaic receivers, electrically driven transmitters and on-chip electronic circuits can all be fabricated using carbon nanotubes via a complementary metal oxide semiconductor-compatible low-temperature process, providing a seamless integration platform for realizing monolithic three-dimensional optoelectronic integrated circuits with diversified functionality such as the heterogeneous AND gates. These circuits can be vertically scaled down to sub-30 nm and operates in photovoltaic mode at room temperature. Parallel optical communication between functional layers, for example, bottom-layer digital circuits and top-layer memory, has been demonstrated by mapping data using a 2 × 2 transmitter/receiver array, which could be extended as the next generation energy-efficient signal processing paradigm.

Investigation of ITO free transparent conducting polymer based electrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Vikas; Sapna, Sachdev, Kanupriya

2016-05-01

The last few decades have seen a significant improvement in organic semiconductor technology related to solar cell, light emitting diode and display panels. The material and structure of the transparent electrode is one of the major concerns for superior performance of devices such as OPV, OLED, touch screen and LCD display. Commonly used ITO is now restricted due to scarcity of indium, its poor mechanical properties and rigidity, and mismatch of energy levels with the active layer. Nowadays DMD (dielectric-metal-dielectric) structure is one of the prominent candidates as alternatives to ITO based electrode. We have used solution based spin coated polymer layer as the dielectric layer with silver thin film embedded in between to make a polymer-metal-polymer (PMP) structure for TCE applications. The PMP structure shows low resistivity (2.3 x 10-4Ω-cm), high carrier concentration (2.9 x 1021 cm-3) and moderate transparency. The multilayer PMP structure is characterized with XRD, AFM and Hall measurement to prove its suitability for opto-electronic device applications.

Improvement of operation voltage and efficiency in inverted blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Chih-Hao; Huang, Hao Siang; Su, Yu-De; Liang, Yi-Hu; Chang, Yu-Shuo; Chiu, Chuan-Hao; Chang, Hsin-Hua

2013-09-01

Inverted organic light-emitting diodes (IOLEDs) have drawn considerable attention for use in active-matrix OLED (AMOLED) displays because of their easy integration with n-channel metal-oxide-based thin film transistors (TFTs). The most crucial issue for IOLEDs is the poor electron injection caused by the bottom cathode. According to previous reports, the turn-on voltages of FIrpic-based IOLEDs are within a range from 4 to 8 V. In this study, we focus on developing bottom-emission IOLEDs with low operating voltages through the use of adequate-charge injection materials. We successfully demonstrate a turn-on voltage as low as 3.7 V for blue phosphorescent IOLEDs. The effective electron injection layers (EIL) were constructed by combining an ultrathin aluminum layer, an alkali metal oxide layer and an organic layer doped with alkali metal oxide, allowing for the effective adjustment of the carrier balance in IOLEDs. The peak efficiencies of the IOLEDs reached 15.6%, 31.8 cd/A and 23.4 lm/W. An external nanocomposite scattering layer was used to further improve light extraction efficiency. The IOLEDs equipped with the SiO2 nanocomposite scattering layer respectively provided performance improvements of 1.3 and 1.5 times that of pristine blue phosphorescent IOLEDs at practical luminance levels of 100 cd/m2 and 1000 cd/m2. Through sophisticated EIL and external light-extraction structures, we obtained blue phosphorescent IOLEDs with satisfactory efficiency and low operation voltages, thereby demonstrating the great potential of nanocomposite film for application in IOLEDs.

The stability boundary of group-III transition metal diboride ScB 2 (0 0 0 1) surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Hui; Qin, Na

2012-01-01

Experimental observations and theoretical investigations exhibit that a group-IV(V) transition metal diboride (0 0 0 1) surface is terminated with a 1 × 1 TM(B) layer. As to a group-III transition metal diboride, we have investigated the stability boundary of ScB2 (0 0 0 1) surfaces using first principles total energy plane-wave pseudopotential method based on density functional theory. The Mulliken charge population analysis shows that Sc atoms in the second layer cannot provide B atoms in the first layer with sufficient electrons to form a complete graphene-like boron layer. We also found that the charge transfer between the first and the second layer for the B-terminated surface is more than that for Sc-terminated surface. It elucidates the reason that the outermost interlayer spacing contract more strongly in the B-terminated surface than in the Sc-terminated surface. The surface energies of both terminated ScB2 (0 0 0 1) surfaces as a function of the chemical potential of B are also calculated to check the relative stability of the two surface structures.

Thin-film ultraviolet detector and spectrometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lewicki, G. W.; Maserjian, J.

1972-01-01

Typical metal-insulator-metal detector device is formed on quartz substrate. Base electrode is 3 to 6 nm aluminum layer, overcoated with 3 to 6 nm aluminum oxide or aluminum nitride, and capped with counter electrode of gold, lead, magnesium, or aluminum. Photoelectric yield data are given for Al-AlN-Au structure.

Potassium-induced surface modification of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films for high-efficiency solar cells.

PubMed

Chirilă, Adrian; Reinhard, Patrick; Pianezzi, Fabian; Bloesch, Patrick; Uhl, Alexander R; Fella, Carolin; Kranz, Lukas; Keller, Debora; Gretener, Christina; Hagendorfer, Harald; Jaeger, Dominik; Erni, Rolf; Nishiwaki, Shiro; Buecheler, Stephan; Tiwari, Ayodhya N

2013-12-01

Thin-film photovoltaic devices based on chalcopyrite Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) absorber layers show excellent light-to-power conversion efficiencies exceeding 20%. This high performance level requires a small amount of alkaline metals incorporated into the CIGS layer, naturally provided by soda lime glass substrates used for processing of champion devices. The use of flexible substrates requires distinct incorporation of the alkaline metals, and so far mainly Na was believed to be the most favourable element, whereas other alkaline metals have resulted in significantly inferior device performance. Here we present a new sequential post-deposition treatment of the CIGS layer with sodium and potassium fluoride that enables fabrication of flexible photovoltaic devices with a remarkable conversion efficiency due to modified interface properties and mitigation of optical losses in the CdS buffer layer. The described treatment leads to a significant depletion of Cu and Ga concentrations in the CIGS near-surface region and enables a significant thickness reduction of the CdS buffer layer without the commonly observed losses in photovoltaic parameters. Ion exchange processes, well known in other research areas, are proposed as underlying mechanisms responsible for the changes in chemical composition of the deposited CIGS layer and interface properties of the heterojunction.

Interfacial Materials for Organic Solar Cells: Recent Advances and Perspectives

PubMed Central

Yin, Zhigang; Wei, Jiajun

2016-01-01

Organic solar cells (OSCs) have shown great promise as low‐cost photovoltaic devices for solar energy conversion over the past decade. Interfacial engineering provides a powerful strategy to enhance efficiency and stability of OSCs. With the rapid advances of interface layer materials and active layer materials, power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of both single‐junction and tandem OSCs have exceeded a landmark value of 10%. This review summarizes the latest advances in interfacial layers for single‐junction and tandem OSCs. Electron or hole transporting materials, including metal oxides, polymers/small‐molecules, metals and metal salts/complexes, carbon‐based materials, organic‐inorganic hybrids/composites, and other emerging materials, are systemically presented as cathode and anode interface layers for high performance OSCs. Meanwhile, incorporating these electron‐transporting and hole‐transporting layer materials as building blocks, a variety of interconnecting layers for conventional or inverted tandem OSCs are comprehensively discussed, along with their functions to bridge the difference between adjacent subcells. By analyzing the structure–property relationships of various interfacial materials, the important design rules for such materials towards high efficiency and stable OSCs are highlighted. Finally, we present a brief summary as well as some perspectives to help researchers understand the current challenges and opportunities in this emerging area of research. PMID:27812480

3D Microstructural Architectures for Metal and Alloy Components Fabricated by 3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing Technologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martinez, E.; Murr, L. E.; Amato, K. N.; Hernandez, J.; Shindo, P. W.; Gaytan, S. M.; Ramirez, D. A.; Medina, F.; Wicker, R. B.

The layer-by-layer building of monolithic, 3D metal components from selectively melted powder layers using laser or electron beams is a novel form of 3D printing or additive manufacturing. Microstructures created in these 3D products can involve novel, directional solidification structures which can include crystallographically oriented grains containing columnar arrays of precipitates characteristic of a microstructural architecture. These microstructural architectures are advantageously rendered in 3D image constructions involving light optical microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy observations. Microstructural evolution can also be effectively examined through 3D image sequences which, along with x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis in the x-y and x-z planes, can effectively characterize related crystallographic/texture variances. This paper compares 3D microstructural architectures in Co-base and Ni-base superalloys, columnar martensitic grain structures in 17-4 PH alloy, and columnar copper oxides and dislocation arrays in copper.

Few layer epitaxial germanene: a novel two-dimensional Dirac material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dávila, María Eugenia; Le Lay, Guy

2016-02-01

Monolayer germanene, a novel graphene-like germanium allotrope akin to silicene has been recently grown on metallic substrates. Lying directly on the metal surfaces the reconstructed atom-thin sheets are prone to lose the massless Dirac fermion character and unique associated physical properties of free standing germanene. Here, we show that few layer germanene, which we create by dry epitaxy on a gold template, possesses Dirac cones thanks to a reduced interaction. This finding established on synchrotron-radiation-based photoemission, scanning tunneling microscopy imaging and surface electron diffraction places few layer germanene among the rare two-dimensional Dirac materials. Since germanium is currently used in the mainstream Si-based electronics, perspectives of using germanene for scaling down beyond the 5 nm node appear very promising. Other fascinating properties seem at hand, typically the robust quantum spin Hall effect for applications in spintronics and the engineering of Floquet Majorana fermions by light for quantum computing.

Few layer epitaxial germanene: a novel two-dimensional Dirac material.

PubMed

Dávila, María Eugenia; Le Lay, Guy

2016-02-10

Monolayer germanene, a novel graphene-like germanium allotrope akin to silicene has been recently grown on metallic substrates. Lying directly on the metal surfaces the reconstructed atom-thin sheets are prone to lose the massless Dirac fermion character and unique associated physical properties of free standing germanene. Here, we show that few layer germanene, which we create by dry epitaxy on a gold template, possesses Dirac cones thanks to a reduced interaction. This finding established on synchrotron-radiation-based photoemission, scanning tunneling microscopy imaging and surface electron diffraction places few layer germanene among the rare two-dimensional Dirac materials. Since germanium is currently used in the mainstream Si-based electronics, perspectives of using germanene for scaling down beyond the 5 nm node appear very promising. Other fascinating properties seem at hand, typically the robust quantum spin Hall effect for applications in spintronics and the engineering of Floquet Majorana fermions by light for quantum computing.

Few layer epitaxial germanene: a novel two-dimensional Dirac material

PubMed Central

Dávila, María Eugenia; Le Lay, Guy

2016-01-01

Monolayer germanene, a novel graphene-like germanium allotrope akin to silicene has been recently grown on metallic substrates. Lying directly on the metal surfaces the reconstructed atom-thin sheets are prone to lose the massless Dirac fermion character and unique associated physical properties of free standing germanene. Here, we show that few layer germanene, which we create by dry epitaxy on a gold template, possesses Dirac cones thanks to a reduced interaction. This finding established on synchrotron-radiation-based photoemission, scanning tunneling microscopy imaging and surface electron diffraction places few layer germanene among the rare two-dimensional Dirac materials. Since germanium is currently used in the mainstream Si-based electronics, perspectives of using germanene for scaling down beyond the 5 nm node appear very promising. Other fascinating properties seem at hand, typically the robust quantum spin Hall effect for applications in spintronics and the engineering of Floquet Majorana fermions by light for quantum computing. PMID:26860590

Method of adhesion between an oxide layer and a metal layer

DOEpatents

Jennison, Dwight R.; Bogicevic, Alexander; Kelber, Jeffry A.; Chambers, Scott A.

2004-09-14

A method of controlling the wetting characteristics and increasing the adhesion between a metal and an oxide layer. By introducing a negatively-charged species to the surface of an oxide layer, layer-by-layer growth of metal deposited onto the oxide surface is promoted, increasing the adhesion strength of the metal-oxide interface. The negatively-charged species can either be deposited onto the oxide surface or a compound can be deposited that dissociates on, or reacts with, the surface to form the negatively-charged species. The deposited metal adatoms can thereby bond laterally to the negatively-charged species as well as vertically to the oxide surface as well as react with the negatively charged species, be oxidized, and incorporated on or into the surface of the oxide.

Gas sensing in 2D materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Shengxue; Jiang, Chengbao; Wei, Su-huai

2017-06-01

Two-dimensional (2D) layered inorganic nanomaterials have attracted huge attention due to their unique electronic structures, as well as extraordinary physical and chemical properties for use in electronics, optoelectronics, spintronics, catalysts, energy generation and storage, and chemical sensors. Graphene and related layered inorganic analogues have shown great potential for gas-sensing applications because of their large specific surface areas and strong surface activities. This review aims to discuss the latest advancements in the 2D layered inorganic materials for gas sensors. We first elaborate the gas-sensing mechanisms and introduce various types of gas-sensing devices. Then, we describe the basic parameters and influence factors of the gas sensors to further enhance their performance. Moreover, we systematically present the current gas-sensing applications based on graphene, graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), functionalized GO or rGO, transition metal dichalcogenides, layered III-VI semiconductors, layered metal oxides, phosphorene, hexagonal boron nitride, etc. Finally, we conclude the future prospects of these layered inorganic materials in gas-sensing applications.

Ionic polymer-metal composite actuators based on triple-layered polyelectrolytes composed of individually functionalized layers.

PubMed

Lee, Jang-Woo; Yoo, Young-Tai; Lee, Jae Yeol

2014-01-22

Ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) actuators based on two types of triple-layered Nafion composite membranes were prepared via consecutive solution recasting and electroless plating methods. The triple-layered membranes are composed of a Nafion layer containing an amphiphilic organic molecule (10-camphorsulfonic acid; CSA) in the middle section (for fast and large ion conduction) and two Nafion/modified inorganic composite layers in the outer sections (for large accumulation/retention of mobile ions). For construction of the two types of IPMCs, sulfonated montmorillonite (MMT) and polypyrrole (PPy)-coated alumina fillers were incorporated into the outer layers. Both the triple-layered IPMCs exhibited 42% higher tip displacements at the maximum deflections with a negligible back-relaxation, 50-74% higher blocking forces, and more rapid responses under 3 V dc, compared with conventional single-layered Nafion-IPMCs. Improvements in cyclic displacement under a rectangular voltage input of 3 V at 1 Hz were also made in the triple-layered configurations. Compared with single-layered IPMCs consisting of the identical compositions with the respective outer composite layers, the bending rates and energy efficiencies of both the triple-layered IPMCs were significantly higher, although the blocking forces were a bit lower. These remarkable improvements were attributed to higher capacitances and Young's moduli as well as a more efficient transport of mobile ions and water through the middle layer (Nafion/CSA) and a larger accumulation/retention of the mobile species in the outer functionalized inorganic composite layers. Especially, the triple-layered IPMC with the PPy-modified alumina registered the best actuation performance among all the samples, including a viable actuation even at a low voltage of 1.5 V due to involving efficient redox reactions of PPy with the aid of hygroscopic alumina.

Inferring regional vertical crustal velocities from averaged relative sea level trends: A proof of concept

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bâki Iz, H.; Shum, C. K.; Zhang, C.; Kuo, C. Y.

2017-11-01

We report the design of a high-throughput gradient hyperbolic lenslet built with real-life materials and capable of focusing a beam into a deep sub-wavelength spot of λ/23. This efficient design is achieved through high-order transformation optics and circular effective-medium theory (CEMT), which are used to engineer the radially varying anisotropic artificial material based on the thin alternating cylindrical metal and dielectric layers. The radial gradient of the effective anisotropic optical constants allows for matching the impedances at the input and output interfaces, drastically improving the throughput of the lenslet. However, it is the use of the zeroth-order CEMT that enables the practical realization of a gradient hyperlens with realistic materials. To illustrate the importance of using the CEMT versus the conventional planar effective-medium theory (PEMT) for cylindrical anisotropic systems, such as our hyperlens, both the CEMT and PEMT are adopted to design gradient hyperlenses with the same materials and order of elemental layers. The CEMT- and PEMT-based designs show similar performance if the number of metal-dielectric binary layers is sufficiently large (9+ pairs) and if the layers are sufficiently thin. However, for the manufacturable lenses with realistic numbers of layers (e.g. five pairs) and thicknesses, the performance of the CEMT design continues to be practical, whereas the PEMT-based design stops working altogether. The accurate design of transformation optics-based layered cylindrical devices enabled by CEMT allow for a new class of robustly manufacturable nanophotonic systems, even with relatively thick layers of real-life materials.

Multi-layered proton-conducting electrolyte

DOEpatents

Lee, Tae H.; Dorris, Stephen E.; Balachandran, Uthamalingam

2017-06-27

The present invention provides a multilayer anode/electrolyte assembly comprising a porous anode substrate and a layered solid electrolyte in contact therewith. The layered solid electrolyte includes a first dense layer of yttrium-doped barium zirconate (BZY), optionally including another metal besides Y, Ba, and Zr (e.g., a lanthanide metal such as Pr) on one surface thereof, a second dense layer of yttrium-doped barium cerate (BCY), and an interfacial layer between and contacting the BZY and BCY layers. The interfacial layer comprises a solid solution of the BZY and BCY electrolytes. The porous anode substrate comprises at least one porous ceramic material that is stable to carbon dioxide and water (e.g., porous BZY), as well as an electrically conductive metal and/or metal oxide (e.g., Ni, NiO, and the like).

Miniaturized metal (metal alloy)/ PdO.sub.x/SiC hydrogen and hydrocarbon gas sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hunter, Gary W. (Inventor); Xu, Jennifer C. (Inventor); Lukco, Dorothy (Inventor)

2011-01-01

A miniaturized Schottky diode hydrogen and hydrocarbon sensor and the method of making same is disclosed and claimed. The sensor comprises a catalytic metal layer, such as palladium, a silicon carbide substrate layer and a thin barrier layer in between the catalytic and substrate layers made of palladium oxide (PdO.sub.x ). This highly stable device provides sensitive gas detection at temperatures ranging from at least 450 to 600.degree. C. The barrier layer prevents reactions between the catalytic metal layer and the substrate layer. Conventional semiconductor fabrication techniques are used to fabricate the small-sized sensors. The use of a thicker palladium oxide barrier layer for other semiconductor structures such as a capacitor and transistor structures is also disclosed.

Miniaturized metal (metal alloy)/ PdO.sub.x/SiC hydrogen and hydrocarbon gas sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Xu, Jennifer C. (Inventor); Hunter, Gary W. (Inventor); Lukco, Dorothy (Inventor)

2008-01-01

A miniaturized Schottky diode hydrogen and hydrocarbon sensor and the method of making same is disclosed and claimed. The sensor comprises a catalytic metal layer, such as palladium, a silicon carbide substrate layer and a thin barrier layer in between the catalytic and substrate layers made of palladium oxide (PdO.sub.x). This highly stable device provides sensitive gas detection at temperatures ranging from at least 450 to 600.degree. C. The barrier layer prevents reactions between the catalytic metal layer and the substrate layer. Conventional semiconductor fabrication techniques are used to fabricate the small-sized sensors. The use of a thicker palladium oxide barrier layer for other semiconductor structures such as a capacitor and transistor structures is also disclosed.

Stacked Device of Polymer Light-Emitting Diode Driven by Metal-Base Organic Transistor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoneda, Kazuhiro; Nakayama, Ken-ichi; Yokoyama, Masaaki

2008-02-01

We fabricated a new light-emitting device that combined a polymer light-emitting diode (PLED) and a vertical-type metal-base organic transistor (MBOT) through a floating electrode. By employing a layered floating electrode of Mg:Ag/Au, the MBOT on the PLED was operated successfully and a current amplification factor of approximately 20 was observed. The PLED luminescence exceeding 100 cd/m2 can be modulated using the MBOT with a low base voltage (2.8 V) and VCC (8 V). The emission contrast (on/off ratio) was improved with insertion of an insulating layer under the base, and the cut-off frequency was estimated to be 8 kHz. This device is expected to be a promising driving system of organic light-emitting diode (OLED), realizing low voltage and high numerical aperture.

Performance enhancement of pentacene-based organic thin-film transistors using 6,13-pentacenequinone as a carrier injection interlayer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Ching-Lin; Lin, Wei-Chun; Chen, Hao-Wei

2018-06-01

This work demonstrates pentacene-based organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) fabricated by inserting a 6,13-pentacenequinone (PQ) carrier injection layer between the source/drain (S/D) metal Au electrodes and pentacene channel layer. Compared to devices without a PQ layer, the performance characteristics including field-effect mobility, threshold voltage, and On/Off current ratio were significantly improved for the device with a 5-nm-thick PQ interlayer. These improvements are attributed to significant reduction of hole barrier height at the Au/pentacene channel interfaces. Therefore, it is believed that using PQ as the carrier injection layer is a good candidate to improve the pentacene-based OTFTs electrical performance.

Analytical and Experimental Characterization of Thick-Section Fiber-Metal Laminates

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-01

individual metal layers as loading increases. The off-axis deformation properties of the prepreg layers were modeled by using equivalent constraint models...the degraded stiffness of the prepreg layer is found. At each loading step the stiffness properties of individual layers are calculated. These...predicts stress-strain curves on-axis, additional work is needed to study the local interactions between metal and prepreg layers as damage occurs in each

Clad metals by roll bonding for SOFC interconnects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, L.; Jha, B.; Yang, Zhenguo; Xia, Guang-Guang; Stevenson, Jeffry W.; Singh, Prabhakar

2006-08-01

High-temperature oxidation-resistant alloys are currently considered as a candidate material for construction of interconnects in intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells. Among these alloys, however, different groups of alloys demonstrate different advantages and disadvantages, and few, if any, can completely satisfy the stringent requirements for the application. To integrate the advantages and avoid the disadvantages of different groups of alloys, cladding has been proposed as one approach in fabricating metallic layered interconnect structures. To examine the feasibility of this approach, the austenitic Ni-base alloy Haynes 230 and the ferritic stainless steel AL 453 were selected as examples and manufactured into a clad metal. Its suitability as an interconnect construction material was investigated. This paper provides a brief overview of the cladding approach and discusses the viability of this technology to fabricate the metallic layered-structure interconnects.

Thin-film fiber optic hydrogen and temperature sensor system

DOEpatents

Nave, Stanley E.

1998-01-01

The invention discloses a sensor probe device for monitoring of hydrogen gas concentrations and temperatures by the same sensor probe. The sensor probe is constructed using thin-film deposition methods for the placement of a multitude of layers of materials sensitive to hydrogen concentrations and temperature on the end of a light transparent lens located within the sensor probe. The end of the lens within the sensor probe contains a lens containing a layer of hydrogen permeable material which excludes other reactive gases, a layer of reflective metal material that forms a metal hydride upon absorbing hydrogen, and a layer of semi-conducting solid that is transparent above a temperature dependent minimum wavelength for temperature detection. The three layers of materials are located at the distal end of the lens located within the sensor probe. The lens focuses light generated by broad-band light generator and connected by fiber-optics to the sensor probe, onto a reflective metal material layer, which passes through the semi-conducting solid layer, onto two optical fibers located at the base of the sensor probe. The reflected light is transmitted over fiberoptic cables to a spectrometer and system controller. The absence of electrical signals and electrical wires in the sensor probe provides for an elimination of the potential for spark sources when monitoring in hydrogen rich environments, and provides a sensor free from electrical interferences.

Thin-film fiber optic hydrogen and temperature sensor system

DOEpatents

Nave, S.E.

1998-07-21

The invention discloses a sensor probe device for monitoring of hydrogen gas concentrations and temperatures by the same sensor probe. The sensor probe is constructed using thin-film deposition methods for the placement of a multitude of layers of materials sensitive to hydrogen concentrations and temperature on the end of a light transparent lens located within the sensor probe. The end of the lens within the sensor probe contains a lens containing a layer of hydrogen permeable material which excludes other reactive gases, a layer of reflective metal material that forms a metal hydride upon absorbing hydrogen, and a layer of semi-conducting solid that is transparent above a temperature dependent minimum wavelength for temperature detection. The three layers of materials are located at the distal end of the lens located within the sensor probe. The lens focuses light generated by broad-band light generator and connected by fiber-optics to the sensor probe, onto a reflective metal material layer, which passes through the semi-conducting solid layer, onto two optical fibers located at the base of the sensor probe. The reflected light is transmitted over fiber optic cables to a spectrometer and system controller. The absence of electrical signals and electrical wires in the sensor probe provides for an elimination of the potential for spark sources when monitoring in hydrogen rich environments, and provides a sensor free from electrical interferences. 3 figs.

Direct chemical vapor deposition of graphene on dielectric surfaces

DOEpatents

Zhang, Yuegang; Ismach, Ariel

2014-04-29

A substrate is provided that has a metallic layer on a substrate surface of a substrate. A film made of a two dimensional (2-D) material, such as graphene, is deposited on a metallic surface of the metallic layer. The metallic layer is dewet and/or removed to provide the film on the substrate surface.

Targeted Single-Site MOF Node Modification: Trivalent Metal Loading via Atomic Layer Deposition

DOE PAGES

Kim, In Soo; Borycz, Joshua; Platero-Prats, Ana E.; ...

2015-07-02

Postsynthetic functionalization of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) enables the controlled, high-density incorporation of new atoms on a crystallographically precise framework. Leveraging the broad palette of known atomic layer deposition (ALD) chemistries, ALD in MOFs (AIM) is one such targeted approach to construct diverse, highly functional, few-atom clusters. In this paper, we demonstrate the saturating reaction of trimethylindium (InMe 3) with the node hydroxyls and ligated water of NU-1000, which takes place without significant loss of MOF crystallinity or internal surface area. We computationally identify the elementary steps by which trimethylated trivalent metal compounds (ALD precursors) react with this Zr-based MOFmore » node to generate a uniform and well characterized new surface layer on the node itself, and we predict a final structure that is fully consistent with experimental X-ray pair distribution function (PDF) analysis. Finally, we further demonstrate tunable metal loading through controlled number density of the reactive handles (–OH and –OH 2) achieved through node dehydration at elevated temperatures.« less

Targeted Single-Site MOF Node Modification: Trivalent Metal Loading via Atomic Layer Deposition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, In Soo; Borycz, Joshua; Platero-Prats, Ana E.

Postsynthetic functionalization of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) enables the controlled, high-density incorporation of new atoms on a crystallographically precise framework. Leveraging the broad palette of known atomic layer deposition (ALD) chemistries, ALD in MOFs (AIM) is one such targeted approach to construct diverse, highly functional, few-atom clusters. In this paper, we demonstrate the saturating reaction of trimethylindium (InMe 3) with the node hydroxyls and ligated water of NU-1000, which takes place without significant loss of MOF crystallinity or internal surface area. We computationally identify the elementary steps by which trimethylated trivalent metal compounds (ALD precursors) react with this Zr-based MOFmore » node to generate a uniform and well characterized new surface layer on the node itself, and we predict a final structure that is fully consistent with experimental X-ray pair distribution function (PDF) analysis. Finally, we further demonstrate tunable metal loading through controlled number density of the reactive handles (–OH and –OH 2) achieved through node dehydration at elevated temperatures.« less

Report From BPTCS Project Team On Evaluation Of Additive Manufacturing For Pressure Retaining Equipment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rawls, G.

ASME is evaluating the use of additive manufacturing (AM) for the construction of pressure equipment. The information in this report assesses available AM technologies for direct metal fabrication of pressure equipment. Background information is included in the report to provide context for those not experienced in AM technology. Only commercially available technologies for direct metal fabrication are addressed in the report because these AM methods are the only viable approaches for the construction of pressure equipment. Metal AM technologies can produce near-net shape parts by using multiple layers of material from a three dimensional (3D) design model of the geometry.more » Additive manufacturing of metal components was developed from polymer based rapid prototyping or 3D printing. At the current maturity level, AM application for pressure equipment has the potential to reduce delivery times and costs for complex shapes. AM will also lead to a reduction in the use of high cost materials, since parts can be created with corrosion resistant layers of high alloy material and structural layers of lower cost materials.« less

Thin film electronic devices with conductive and transparent gas and moisture permeation barriers

DOEpatents

Simpson, Lin Jay

2015-07-28

Thin film electronic devices (or stacks integrated with a substrate) that include a permeation barrier formed of a thin layer of metal that provides a light transmitting and electrically conductive layer, wherein the electrical conductive layer is formed on a surface of the substrate or device layer such as a transparent conducting material layer with pin holes or defects caused by manufacturing and the thin layer of metal is deposited on the conductive layer and formed from a self-healing metal that forms self-terminating oxides. A permeation plug or block is formed in or adjacent to the thin film of metal at or proximate to the pin holes to block further permeation of contaminants through the pin holes.

Two-Dimensional Metal-Organic Layers as a Bright and Processable Phosphor for Fast White-Light Communication.

PubMed

Hu, Xuefu; Wang, Zi; Lin, Bangjiang; Zhang, Cankun; Cao, Lingyun; Wang, Tingting; Zhang, Jingzheng; Wang, Cheng; Lin, Wenbin

2017-06-22

A metal-organic layer (MOL) is a new type of 2D material that is derived from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) by reducing one dimension to a single layer or a few layers. Tetraphenylethylene-based tetracarboxylate ligands (TCBPE), with aggregation-induced emission properties, were assembled into the first luminescent MOL by linking with Zr 6 O 4 (OH) 6 (H 2 O) 2 (HCO 2 ) 6 clusters. The emissive MOL can replace the lanthanide phosphors in white light emitting diodes (WLEDs) with remarkable processability, color rendering, and brightness. Importantly, the MOL-WLED exhibited a physical switching speed three times that of commercial WLEDs, which is crucial for visible-light communication (VLC), an alternative wireless communication technology to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, by using room lighting to carry transmitted signals. The short fluorescence lifetime (2.6 ns) together with high quantum yield (50 %) of the MOL affords fast switching of the assembled WLEDs for efficient information encoding and transmission. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Synthesis-microstructure-performance relationship of layered transition metal oxides as cathode for rechargeable sodium batteries prepared by high-temperature calcination.

PubMed

Xie, Man; Luo, Rui; Lu, Jun; Chen, Renjie; Wu, Feng; Wang, Xiaoming; Zhan, Chun; Wu, Huiming; Albishri, Hassan M; Al-Bogami, Abdullah S; El-Hady, Deia Abd; Amine, Khalil

2014-10-08

Research on sodium batteries has made a comeback because of concern regarding the limited resources and cost of lithium for Li-ion batteries. From the standpoint of electrochemistry and economics, Mn- or Fe-based layered transition metal oxides should be the most suitable cathode candidates for affordable sodium batteries. Herein, this paper reports a novel cathode material, layered Na1+x(Fey/2Niy/2Mn1-y)1-xO2 (x = 0.1-0.5), synthesized through a facile coprecipitation process combined with subsequent calcination. For such cathode material calcined at 800 °C for 20 h, the Na/Na1+x(Fey/2Niy/2Mn1-y)1-xO2 (x = 0.4) electrode exhibited a good capacity of 99.1 mAh g(-1) (cycled at 1.5-4.0 V) and capacity retention over 87% after 50 cycles. Optimization of this material would make layered transition metal oxides a strong candidate for the Na-ion battery cathode.

Inorganic-Organic Coating via Molecular Layer Deposition Enables Long Life Sodium Metal Anode.

PubMed

Zhao, Yang; Goncharova, Lyudmila V; Zhang, Qian; Kaghazchi, Payam; Sun, Qian; Lushington, Andrew; Wang, Biqiong; Li, Ruying; Sun, Xueliang

2017-09-13

Metallic Na anode is considered as a promising alternative candidate for Na ion batteries (NIBs) and Na metal batteries (NMBs) due to its high specific capacity, and low potential. However, the unstable solid electrolyte interphase layer caused by serious corrosion and reaction in electrolyte will lead to big challenges, including dendrite growth, low Coulombic efficiency and even safety issues. In this paper, we first demonstrate the inorganic-organic coating via advanced molecular layer deposition (alucone) as a protective layer for metallic Na anode. By protecting Na anode with controllable alucone layer, the dendrites and mossy Na formation have been effectively suppressed and the lifetime has been significantly improved. Moreover, the molecular layer deposition alucone coating shows better performances than the atomic layer deposition Al 2 O 3 coating. The novel design of molecular layer deposition protected Na metal anode may bring in new opportunities to the realization of the next-generation high energy-density NIBs and NMBs.

Hybrid permeable metal-base transistor with large common-emitter current gain and low operational voltage.

PubMed

Feng, Chengang; Yi, Mingdong; Yu, Shunyang; Hümmelgen, Ivo A; Zhang, Tong; Ma, Dongge

2008-04-01

We demonstrate the suitability of N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(1-naphthylphenyl)-1,1'-biphenyl-4,4'-diamine (NPB), an organic semiconductor widely used in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), for high-gain, low operational voltage nanostructured vertical-architecture transistors, which operate as permeable-base transistors. By introducing vanadium oxide (V2O5) between the injecting metal and NPB layer at the transistor emitter, we reduced the emitter operational voltage. The addition of two Ca layers, leading to a Ca/Ag/Ca base, allowed to obtain a large value of common-emitter current gain, but still retaining the permeable-base transistor character. This kind of vertical devices produced by simple technologies offer attractive new possibilities due to the large variety of available molecular semiconductors, opening the possibility of incorporating new functionalities in silicon-based devices.

Phase separation of metal-added corium and its effect on a steam explosion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Min, B. T.; Kim, J. H.; Hong, S. W.; Hong, S. H.; Park, I. K.; Song, J. H.; Kim, H. D.

2008-07-01

To simulate a relocation of molten core material and its interaction phenomenon with water during a severe accident in a nuclear reactor, a typical corium of UO 2/ZrO 2/Zr/Stainless steel mixed at a 62 wt%, 15 wt%, 12 wt% and 11 wt%, respectively, was melted and then cooled down to become a solidified ingot. It was shown that the molten corium was separated into two layers, of which the upper layer was oxide mixtures and the lower layer was metal alloys. The upper layer was UO 2 and ZrO 2 and the lower layer mostly consisted of metal mixtures such as uranium, zirconium and stainless steel. Iron content varied with the positions and about a half of it existed as an alloy such as Fe 2U. Uranium metal was produced by reduction of UO 2 by zirconium metal. The average densities of the upper oxide layer and the lower metal layer were 8.802 and 9.411 g/cm 3, respectively. In another test, metal-added molten corium was poured into water and it showed that a steam explosion could occur by applying an external trigger.

Microchannel plate detector and methods for their fabrication

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Elam, Jeffrey W.; Mane, Anil U.; Peng, Qing

A multi-component tunable resistive coating and methods of depositing the coating on the surfaces of a microchannel plate (MCP) detector. The resistive coating composed of a plurality of alternating layers of a metal oxide resistive component layer and a conductive component layer composed of at least one of a metal, a metal nitride and a metal sulfide. The coating may further include an emissive layer configured to produce a secondary electron emission in response to a particle interacting with the MCP and a neutron-absorbing layer configured to respond to a neutron interacting with the MCP.

Migration of interfacial oxygen ions modulated resistive switching in oxide-based memory devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, C.; Gao, S.; Zeng, F.; Tang, G. S.; Li, S. Z.; Song, C.; Fu, H. D.; Pan, F.

2013-07-01

Oxides-based resistive switching memory induced by oxygen ions migration is attractive for future nonvolatile memories. Numerous works had focused their attentions on the sandwiched oxide materials for depressing the characteristic variations, but the comprehensive studies of the dependence of electrodes on the migration behavior of oxygen ions are overshadowed. Here, we investigated the interaction of various metals (Ni, Co, Al, Ti, Zr, and Hf) with oxygen atoms at the metal/Ta2O5 interface under electric stress and explored the effect of top electrode on the characteristic variations of Ta2O5-based memory device. It is demonstrated that chemically inert electrodes (Ni and Co) lead to the scattering switching characteristics and destructive gas bubbles, while the highly chemically active metals (Hf and Zr) formed a thick and dense interfacial intermediate oxide layer at the metal/Ta2O5 interface, which also degraded the resistive switching behavior. The relatively chemically active metals (Al and Ti) can absorb oxygen ions from the Ta2O5 film and avoid forming the problematic interfacial layer, which is benefit to the formation of oxygen vacancies composed conduction filaments in Ta2O5 film thus exhibit the minimum variations of switching characteristics. The clarification of oxygen ions migration behavior at the interface can lead further optimization of resistive switching performance in Ta2O5-based memory device and guide the rule of electrode selection for other oxide-based resistive switching memories.

Displacements of Metallic Thermal Protection System Panels During Reentry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Daryabeigi, Kamran; Blosser, Max L.; Wurster, Kathryn E.

2006-01-01

Bowing of metallic thermal protection systems for reentry of a previously proposed single-stage-to-orbit reusable launch vehicle was studied. The outer layer of current metallic thermal protection system concepts typically consists of a honeycomb panel made of a high temperature nickel alloy. During portions of reentry when the thermal protection system is exposed to rapidly varying heating rates, a significant temperature gradient develops across the honeycomb panel thickness, resulting in bowing of the honeycomb panel. The deformations of the honeycomb panel increase the roughness of the outer mold line of the vehicle, which could possibly result in premature boundary layer transition, resulting in significantly higher downstream heating rates. The aerothermal loads and parameters for three locations on the centerline of the windward side of this vehicle were calculated using an engineering code. The transient temperature distributions through a metallic thermal protection system were obtained using 1-D finite volume thermal analysis, and the resulting displacements of the thermal protection system were calculated. The maximum deflection of the thermal protection system throughout the reentry trajectory was 6.4 mm. The maximum ratio of deflection to boundary layer thickness was 0.032. Based on previously developed distributed roughness correlations, it was concluded that these defections will not result in tripping the hypersonic boundary layer.

Optical Properties of Metal-Dielectric Structures Based on Photon-Crystal Opal Matrices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vanin, A. I.; Lukin, A. E.; Romanov, S. G.; Solovyev, V. G.; Khanin, S. D.; Yanikov, M. V.

2018-04-01

Optical properties of novel metal-dielectric nanocomposite materials based on opal matrices have been investigated. The position of optical resonances of nanocomposites, obtained by embedding of silver into the opal matrix by the electrothermodiffusion method, is explained by the Bragg diffraction, and an asymmetric form of resonance curves is attributed to the Fano resonance. An anomalous transmission and absorption of light by hybrid plasmon-photonic layered heterostructures, which is apparently associated with excitation of surface plasmon-polaritons, propagating along "metal-dielectric" interfaces, was revealed.

Effect of Atomic Layer Depositions (ALD)-Deposited Titanium Oxide (TiO2) Thickness on the Performance of Zr40Cu35Al15Ni10 (ZCAN)/TiO2/Indium (In)-Based Resistive Random Access Memory (RRAM) Structures

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-08-01

metal structures, memristors, resistive random access memory, RRAM, titanium dioxide, Zr40Cu35Al15Ni10, ZCAN, resistive memory, tunnel junction 16...TiO2 thickness ........................6 1 1. Introduction Resistive-switching memory elements based on metal-insulator-metal (MIM) diodes ...have attracted great interest due to their potential as components for simple, inexpensive, and high-density non-volatile storage devices. MIM diodes

Liquid metals as ultra-stretchable, soft, and shape reconfigurable conductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eaker, Collin B.; Dickey, Michael D.

2015-05-01

Conventional, rigid materials remain the key building blocks of most modern electronic devices, but they are limited in their ability to conform to curvilinear surfaces. It is possible to make electronic components that are flexible and in some cases stretchable by utilizing thin films, engineered geometries, or inherently soft and stretchable materials that maintain their function during deformation. Here, we describe the properties and applications of a micromoldable liquid metal that can form conductive components that are ultra-stretchable, soft, and shape-reconfigurable. This liquid metal is a gallium-based alloy with low viscosity and high conductivity. The metal develops spontaneously a thin, passivating oxide layer on the surface that allows the metal to be molded into non-spherical shapes, including films and wires, and patterned by direct-write techniques or microfluidic injection. Furthermore, unlike mercury, the liquid metal has low toxicity and negligible vapor pressure. This paper discusses the mechanical and electrical properties of the metal in the context of electronics, and discusses how the properties of the oxide layer have been exploited for new patterning techniques that enable soft, stretchable and reconfigurable devices.

Application of a mixed metal oxide catalyst to a metallic substrate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sevener, Kathleen M. (Inventor); Lohner, Kevin A. (Inventor); Mays, Jeffrey A. (Inventor); Wisner, Daniel L. (Inventor)

2009-01-01

A method for applying a mixed metal oxide catalyst to a metallic substrate for the creation of a robust, high temperature catalyst system for use in decomposing propellants, particularly hydrogen peroxide propellants, for use in propulsion systems. The method begins by forming a prepared substrate material consisting of a metallic inner substrate and a bound layer of a noble metal intermediate. Alternatively, a bound ceramic coating, or frit, may be introduced between the metallic inner substrate and noble metal intermediate when the metallic substrate is oxidation resistant. A high-activity catalyst slurry is applied to the surface of the prepared substrate and dried to remove the organic solvent. The catalyst layer is then heat treated to bind the catalyst layer to the surface. The bound catalyst layer is then activated using an activation treatment and calcinations to form the high-activity catalyst system.

ZnO buffer layer for metal films on silicon substrates

DOEpatents

Ihlefeld, Jon

2014-09-16

Dramatic improvements in metallization integrity and electroceramic thin film performance can be achieved by the use of the ZnO buffer layer to minimize interfacial energy between metallization and adhesion layers. In particular, the invention provides a substrate metallization method utilizing a ZnO adhesion layer that has a high work of adhesion, which in turn enables processing under thermal budgets typically reserved for more exotic ceramic, single-crystal, or metal foil substrates. Embodiments of the present invention can be used in a broad range of applications beyond ferroelectric capacitors, including microelectromechanical systems, micro-printed heaters and sensors, and electrochemical energy storage, where integrity of metallized silicon to high temperatures is necessary.

Stable room temperature magnetocurrent in electrodeposited permeable n-type metal base transistor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silva, G. V. O.; Teixeira, H. A.; Mello, S. L. A.; de Araujo, C. I. L.

2018-02-01

We investigated a permeable metal base transistor consisting of a ZnO/NiFe/Si heterostructure. Both ZnO and NiFe layers were grown by electrodeposition techniques, using only adhesive tape masks to define deposition regions. The base permeability can thus be controlled by varying the NiFe deposition time. We report here our best results obtained for the permeable NiFe base close to the electrical percolation threshold, which gives reasonable sensitivity to the device. Magnetocurrent measurements carried out at room temperature show that this permeable metal base transistor is stable and sensitive under applied magnetic fields of low intensities, ˜100 Oe, required for electronics integration.

Merely Measuring the UV-Visible Spectrum of Gold Nanoparticles Can Change Their Charge State.

PubMed

Navarrete, Jose; Siefe, Chris; Alcantar, Samuel; Belt, Michael; Stucky, Galen D; Moskovits, Martin

2018-02-14

Metallic nanostructures exhibit a strong plasmon resonance at a wavelength whose value is sensitive to the charge density in the nanostructure, its size, shape, interparticle coupling, and the dielectric properties of its surrounding medium. Here we use UV-visible transmission and reflectance spectroscopy to track the shifts of the plasmon resonance in an array of gold nanoparticles buried under metal-oxide layers of varying thickness produced using atomic layer deposition (ALD) and then coated with bulk layers of one of three metals: aluminum, silver, or gold. A significant shift in the plasmon resonance was observed and a precise value of ω p , the plasmon frequency of the gold comprising the nanoparticles, was determined by modeling the composite of gold nanoparticles and metal-oxide layer as an optically homogeneous film of core-shell particles bounded by two substrates: one of quartz and the other being one of the aforementioned metals, then using a Maxwell-Garnett effective medium expression to extract ω p for the gold nanoparticles before and after coating with the bulk metals. Under illumination, the change in the charge density of the gold nanoparticles per particle determined from the change in the values of ω p is found to be some 50-fold greater than what traditional electrostatic contact electrification models compute based on the work function difference of the two conductive materials. Moreover, when using bulk gold as the capping layer, which should have resulted in a negligible charge exchange between the gold nanoparticles and the bulk gold, a significant charge transfer from the bulk gold layer to the nanoparticles was observed as with the other metals. We explain these observations in terms of the "plasmoelectric effect", recently described by Atwater and co-workers, in which the gold nanoparticles modify their charge density to allow their resonant wavelength to match that of the incident light, thereby achieving, a lower value of the chemical potential due to the entropy increase resulting from the conversion of the plasmon's energy to heat. We conclude that even the act of registering the spectrum of nanoparticles is at times sufficient to alter their charge densities and hence their UV-visible spectra.

Intercalated layered clay composites and their applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Phukan, Anjali

Supported inorganic reagents are rapidly emerging as new and environmentally acceptable reagents and catalysts. The smectite group of layered clay minerals, such as, Montmorillonite, provides promising character for adsorption, catalytic activity, supports etc. for their large surface area, swelling behavior and ion exchange properties. Aromatic compounds intercalated in layered clays are useful in optical molecular devices. Clay is a unique material for adsorption of heavy metals and various toxic substances. Clay surfaces are known to be catalytically active due to their surface acidity. Acid activated clays possess much improved surface areas and acidities and have higher pore volumes so that can absorb large molecules in the pores. The exchangeable cations in clay minerals play a key role in controlling surface acidity and catalytic activity. Recently, optically active metal-complex-Montmorillonite composites are reported to be active in antiracemization purposes. In view of the above, a research work, relating to the preparation of different modified clay composites and their catalytic applications were carried out. The different aspects and results of the present work have been reported in four major chapters. Chapter I: This is an introductory chapter, which contains a review of the literature regarding clay-based materials. Clay minerals are phyllosilicates with layer structure. Montmorillonite, a member of smectite group of clay, is 2:1 phyllosilicate, where a layer is composed of an octahedral sheet sandwiched by two tetrahedral sheets. Such clay shows cation exchange capacity (CEC) and is expressed in milli-equivalents per 100 gm of dry clay. Clays can be modified by interaction with metal ion, metal complexes, metal cluster and organic cations for various applications. Clays are also modified by treating with acid followed by impregnation with metal salts or ions. Montmorillonite can intercalate suitable metal complexes in excess of CEC to form double or pseudo-trilayer composites. Metal ion and metal ion metal salts intercalated on Montmorillonite are efficient catalysts for Friedel-Crafts (FC) reactions, such as benzylation of benzene, synthesis of Raspberry ketone [4-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)butan-2-one] etc. Montmorillonite clay can be used as a good support for controlled release of pesticides and medicinal drugs, adsorbent for cationic dyes, toxic substances and heavy metals effective adsorbent for radioactive and toxic industrial wastes,...

PLZT capacitor on glass substrate

DOEpatents

Fairchild, Manuel Ray; Taylor, Ralph S.; Berlin, Carl W.; Wong, Celine Wk; Ma, Beihai; Balachandran, Uthamalingam

2016-03-29

A lead-lanthanum-zirconium-titanate (PLZT) capacitor on a substrate formed of glass. The first metallization layer is deposited on a top side of the substrate to form a first electrode. The dielectric layer of PLZT is deposited over the first metallization layer. The second metallization layer deposited over the dielectric layer to form a second electrode. The glass substrate is advantageous as glass is compatible with an annealing process used to form the capacitor.

PLZT capacitor on glass substrate

DOEpatents

Fairchild, M. Ray; Taylor, Ralph S.; Berlin, Carl W.; Wong, Celine W. K.; Ma, Beihai; Balachandran, Uthamalingam

2016-01-05

A lead-lanthanum-zirconium-titanate (PLZT) capacitor on a substrate formed of glass. The first metallization layer is deposited on a top side of the substrate to form a first electrode. The dielectric layer of PLZT is deposited over the first metallization layer. The second metallization layer deposited over the dielectric layer to form a second electrode. The glass substrate is advantageous as glass is compatible with an annealing process used to form the capacitor.

Corrosion resistant coating

DOEpatents

Wrobleski, D.A.; Benicewicz, B.C.; Thompson, K.G.; Bryan, C.J.

1997-08-19

A method of protecting a metal substrate from corrosion including coating a metal substrate of, e.g., steel, iron or aluminum, with a conductive polymer layer of, e.g., polyaniline, coating upon said metal substrate, and coating the conductive polymer-coated metal substrate with a layer of a topcoat upon the conductive polymer coating layer, is provided, together with the resultant coated article from said method.

Corrosion resistant coating

DOEpatents

Wrobleski, Debra A.; Benicewicz, Brian C.; Thompson, Karen G.; Bryan, Coleman J.

1997-01-01

A method of protecting a metal substrate from corrosion including coating a metal substrate of, e.g., steel, iron or aluminum, with a conductive polymer layer of, e.g., polyaniline, coating upon said metal substrate, and coating the conductive polymer-coated metal substrate with a layer of a topcoat upon the conductive polymer coating layer, is provided, together with the resultant coated article from said method.

Method of Joining Graphite Fibers to a Substrate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beringer, Durwood M. (Inventor); Caron, Mark E. (Inventor); Taddey, Edmund P. (Inventor); Gleason, Brian P. (Inventor)

2014-01-01

A method of assembling a metallic-graphite structure includes forming a wetted graphite subassembly by arranging one or more layers of graphite fiber material including a plurality of graphite fibers and applying a layer of metallization material to ends of the plurality of graphite fibers. At least one metallic substrate is secured to the wetted graphite subassembly via the layer of metallization material.

Organic-inorganic perovskites containing trivalent metal halide layers: the templating influence of the organic cation layer.

PubMed

Mitzi, D B

2000-12-25

Thin sheetlike crystals of the metal-deficient perovskites (H2AEQT)M2/3I4 [M = Bi or Sb; AEQT = 5,5"'-bis-(aminoethyl)-2,2':5',2'':5'',2'''-quaterthiophene] were formed from slowly cooled ethylene glycol/2-butanol solutions containing the bismuth(III) or antimony(III) iodide and AEQT.2HI salts. Each structure was refined in a monoclinic (C2/m) subcell, with the lattice parameters a = 39.712(13) A, b = 5.976(2) A, c = 6.043(2) A, beta = 92.238(5) degrees, and Z = 2 for M = Bi and a = 39.439(7) A, b = 5.952(1) A, c = 6.031(1) A, beta = 92.245(3) degrees, and Z = 2 for M = Sb. The trivalent metal cations locally adopt a distorted octahedral coordination, with M-I bond lengths ranging from 3.046(1) to 3.218(3) A (3.114 A average) for M = Bi and 3.012(1) to 3.153(2) A (3.073 A average) for M = Sb. The new organic-inorganic hybrids are the first members of a metal-deficient perovskite family consisting of (Mn+)2/nV(n-2)/nX4(2-) sheets, where V represents a vacancy (generally left out of the formula) and the metal cation valence, n, is greater than 2. The organic layers in the AEQT-based organic-inorganic hybrids feature edge-to-face aromatic interactions among the rigid, rodlike quaterthiophene moieties, which may help to stabilize the unusual metal-deficient layered structures.

Layered Metal Nanoparticle Structures on Electrodes for Sensing, Switchable Controlled Uptake/Release, and Photo-electrochemical Applications.

PubMed

Tel-Vered, Ran; Kahn, Jason S; Willner, Itamar

2016-01-06

Layered metal nanoparticle (NP) assemblies provide highly porous and conductive composites of unique electrical and optical (plasmonic) properties. Two methods to construct layered metal NP matrices are described, and these include the layer-by-layer deposition of NPs, or the electropolymerization of monolayer-functionalized NPs, specifically thioaniline-modified metal NPs. The layered NP composites are used as sensing matrices through the use of electrochemistry or surface plasmon resonance (SPR) as transduction signals. The crosslinking of the metal NP composites with molecular receptors, or the imprinting of molecular recognition sites into the electropolymerized NP matrices lead to selective and chiroselective sensing interfaces. Furthermore, the electrosynthesis of redox-active, imprinted, bis-aniline bridged Au NP composites yields electrochemically triggered "sponges" for the switchable uptake and release of electron-acceptor substrates, and results in conductive surfaces of electrochemically controlled wettability. Also, photosensitizer-relay-crosslinked Au NP composites, or electrochemically polymerized layered semiconductor quantum dot/metal NP matrices on electrodes, are demonstrated as functional nanostructures for photoelectrochemical applications. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Methods for batch fabrication of cold cathode vacuum switch tubes

DOEpatents

Walker, Charles A [Albuquerque, NM; Trowbridge, Frank R [Albuquerque, NM

2011-05-10

Methods are disclosed for batch fabrication of vacuum switch tubes that reduce manufacturing costs and improve tube to tube uniformity. The disclosed methods comprise creating a stacked assembly of layers containing a plurality of adjacently spaced switch tube sub-assemblies aligned and registered through common layers. The layers include trigger electrode layer, cathode layer including a metallic support/contact with graphite cathode inserts, trigger probe sub-assembly layer, ceramic (e.g. tube body) insulator layer, and metallic anode sub-assembly layer. Braze alloy layers are incorporated into the stacked assembly of layers, and can include active metal braze alloys or direct braze alloys, to eliminate costs associated with traditional metallization of the ceramic insulator layers. The entire stacked assembly is then heated to braze/join/bond the stack-up into a cohesive body, after which individual switch tubes are singulated by methods such as sawing. The inventive methods provide for simultaneously fabricating a plurality of devices as opposed to traditional methods that rely on skilled craftsman to essentially hand build individual devices.

Microstructural development at weld interface between Zr-based glassy alloy and stainless steel by resistance microwelding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fukumoto, S.; Minami, M.; Soeda, A.; Matsushima, M.; Takahashi, M.; Yokoyama, Y.; Fujimoto, K.

2012-08-01

Zr-based bulk metallic glasses are expected to be welded to conventional structural alloys. Dissimilar welding of metallic glasses to stainless steel was carried out by resistance microwelding. The metallurgical analysis of the weld interface revealed the welding mechanism. A thin reaction layer was formed between the two liquid materials. The melting of stainless steel should be limited to obtain sound joints.

One Dimension Analytical Model of Normal Ballistic Impact on Ceramic/Metal Gradient Armor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Lisheng; Zhang, Qingjie; Zhai, Pengcheng; Cao, Dongfeng

2008-02-01

An analytical model of normal ballistic impact on the ceramic/metal gradient armor, which is based on modified Alekseevskii-Tate equations, has been developed. The process of gradient armour impacted by the long rod can be divided into four stages in this model. First stage is projectile's mass erosion or flowing phase, mushrooming phase and rigid phase; second one is the formation of comminuted ceramic conoid; third one is the penetration of gradient layer and last one is the penetration of metal back-up plate. The equations of third stage have been advanced by assuming the behavior of gradient layer as rigid-plastic and considering the effect of strain rate on the dynamic yield strength.

One Dimension Analytical Model of Normal Ballistic Impact on Ceramic/Metal Gradient Armor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu Lisheng; Zhang Qingjie; Zhai Pengcheng

2008-02-15

An analytical model of normal ballistic impact on the ceramic/metal gradient armor, which is based on modified Alekseevskii-Tate equations, has been developed. The process of gradient armour impacted by the long rod can be divided into four stages in this model. First stage is projectile's mass erosion or flowing phase, mushrooming phase and rigid phase; second one is the formation of comminuted ceramic conoid; third one is the penetration of gradient layer and last one is the penetration of metal back-up plate. The equations of third stage have been advanced by assuming the behavior of gradient layer as rigid-plastic andmore » considering the effect of strain rate on the dynamic yield strength.« less

High-contrast terahertz wave modulation by gated graphene enhanced by extraordinary transmission through ring apertures.

PubMed

Gao, Weilu; Shu, Jie; Reichel, Kimberly; Nickel, Daniel V; He, Xiaowei; Shi, Gang; Vajtai, Robert; Ajayan, Pulickel M; Kono, Junichiro; Mittleman, Daniel M; Xu, Qianfan

2014-03-12

Gate-controllable transmission of terahertz (THz) radiation makes graphene a promising material for making high-speed THz wave modulators. However, to date, graphene-based THz modulators have exhibited only small on/off ratios due to small THz absorption in single-layer graphene. Here we demonstrate a ∼50% amplitude modulation of THz waves with gated single-layer graphene by the use of extraordinary transmission through metallic ring apertures placed right above the graphene layer. The extraordinary transmission induced ∼7 times near-filed enhancement of THz absorption in graphene. These results promise complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor compatible THz modulators with tailored operation frequencies, large on/off ratios, and high speeds, ideal for applications in THz communications, imaging, and sensing.

Apparatus and method for the electrolytic production of metals

DOEpatents

Sadoway, Donald R.

1991-01-01

Improved electrolytic cells and methods for producing metals by electrolytic reduction of a compound dissolved in a molten electrolyte are disclosed. In the improved cells and methods, a protective surface layer is formed upon at least one electrode in the electrolytic reduction cell and, optionally, upon the lining of the cell. This protective surface layer comprises a material that, at the operating conditions of the cell: (a) is not substantially reduced by the metal product; (b) is not substantially reactive with the cell electrolyte to form materials that are reactive with the metal product; and, (c) has an electrochemical potential that is more electronegative than that of the compound undergoing electrolysis to produce the metal product of the cell. The protective surface layer can be formed upon an electrode metal layer comprising a material, the oxide of which also satisfies the protective layer selection criteria. The protective layer material can also be used on the surface of a cell lining.

High voltage photo-switch package module having encapsulation with profiled metallized concavities

DOEpatents

Sullivan, James S; Sanders, David M; Hawkins, Steven A; Sampayan, Stephen A

2015-05-05

A photo-conductive switch package module having a photo-conductive substrate or wafer with opposing electrode-interface surfaces metalized with first metallic layers formed thereon, and encapsulated with a dielectric encapsulation material such as for example epoxy. The first metallic layers are exposed through the encapsulation via encapsulation concavities which have a known contour profile, such as a Rogowski edge profile. Second metallic layers are then formed to line the concavities and come in contact with the first metal layer, to form profiled and metalized encapsulation concavities which mitigate enhancement points at the edges of electrodes matingly seated in the concavities. One or more optical waveguides may also be bonded to the substrate for coupling light into the photo-conductive wafer, with the encapsulation also encapsulating the waveguides.

Development of TiO2 containing hardmasks through plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Silva, Anuja; Seshadri, Indira; Chung, Kisup; Arceo, Abraham; Meli, Luciana; Mendoza, Brock; Sulehria, Yasir; Yao, Yiping; Sunder, Madhana; Truong, Hoa; Matham, Shravan; Bao, Ruqiang; Wu, Heng; Felix, Nelson M.; Kanakasabapathy, Sivananda

2017-04-01

With the increasing prevalence of complex device integration schemes, trilayer patterning with a solvent strippable hardmask can have a variety of applications. Spin-on metal hardmasks have been the key enabler for selective removal through wet strip when active areas need to be protected from dry etch damage. As spin-on metal hardmasks require a dedicated track to prevent metal contamination and are limited in their ability to scale down thickness without compromising on defectivity, there has been a need for a deposited hardmask solution. Modulation of film composition through deposition conditions enables a method to create TiO2 films with wet etch tunability. This paper presents a systematic study on development and characterization of plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposited (PEALD) TiO2-based hardmasks for patterning applications. We demonstrate lithographic process window, pattern profile, and defectivity evaluation for a trilayer scheme patterned with PEALD-based TiO2 hardmask and its performance under dry and wet strip conditions. Comparable structural and electrical performance is shown for a deposited versus a spin-on metal hardmask.

Development of TiO2 containing hardmasks through PEALD deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Silva, Anuja; Seshadri, Indira; Chung, Kisup; Arceo, Abraham; Meli, Luciana; Mendoza, Brock; Sulehria, Yasir; Yao, Yiping; Sunder, Madhana; Truong, Hao; Matham, Shravan; Bao, Ruqiang; Wu, Heng; Felix, Nelson M.; Kanakasabapathy, Sivananda

2017-03-01

With the increasing prevalence of complex device integration schemes, tri layer patterning with a solvent strippable hardmask can have a variety of applications. Spin-on metal hardmasks have been the key enabler for selective removal through wet strip when active areas need to be protected from dry etch damage. As spin-on metal hardmasks require a dedicated track to prevent metal contamination, and are limited in their ability to scale down thickness without comprising on defectivity, there has been a need for a deposited hardmask solution. Modulation of film composition through deposition conditions enables a method to create TiO2 films with wet etch tunability. This paper presents a systematic study on development and characterization of PEALD deposited TiO2-based hardmasks for patterning applications. We demonstrate lithographic process window, pattern profile, and defectivity evaluation for a tri layer scheme patterned with PEALD based TiO2 hardmask and its performance under dry and wet strip conditions. Comparable structural and electrical performance is shown for a deposited vs a spin-on metal hardmask.

Direct Deposition of Metal (DDM) as a Repair Process for Metallic Military Parts

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-20

metal powder has properties metallurgically compatible with the substrate material. As the laser beam advances along a predefined tool path in a layer...Methodology Background During the DDM process, the energy of a high power industrial laser beam and a concentric stream of metallic alloy powder ...compatible with the substrate material. As the laser beam advances along a predefined tool path in a layer by layer fashion, metal powder is deposited

Strong enhancement of photoresponsivity with shrinking the electrodes spacing in few layer GaSe photodetectors

PubMed Central

Cao, Yufei; Cai, Kaiming; Hu, Pingan; Zhao, Lixia; Yan, Tengfei; Luo, Wengang; Zhang, Xinhui; Wu, Xiaoguang; Wang, Kaiyou; Zheng, Houzhi

2015-01-01

A critical challenge for the integration of optoelectronics is that photodetectors have relatively poor sensitivities at the nanometer scale. Generally, a large electrodes spacing in photodetectors is required to absorb sufficient light to maintain high photoresponsivity and reduce the dark current. However, this will limit the optoelectronic integration density. Through spatially resolved photocurrent investigation, we find that the photocurrent in metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetectors based on layered GaSe is mainly generated from the region close to the metal-GaSe interface with higher electrical potential. The photoresponsivity monotonically increases with shrinking the spacing distance before the direct tunneling happens, which was significantly enhanced up to 5,000 AW−1 for the bottom Ti/Au contacted device. It is more than 1,700-fold improvement over the previously reported results. The response time of the Ti/Au contacted devices is about 10–20 ms and reduced down to 270 μs for the devices with single layer graphene as metallic electrodes. A theoretical model has been developed to well explain the photoresponsivity for these two types of device configurations. Our findings realize reducing the size and improving the performance of 2D semiconductor based MSM photodetectors simultaneously, which could pave the way for future high density integration of optoelectronics with high performances. PMID:25632886

Planarization of metal films for multilevel interconnects

DOEpatents

Tuckerman, D.B.

1985-06-24

In the fabrication of multilevel integrated circuits, each metal layer is planarized by heating to momentarily melt the layer. The layer is melted by sweeping lase pulses of suitable width, typically about 1 microsecond duration, over the layer in small increments. The planarization of each metal layer eliminates irregular and discontinuous conditions between successive layers. The planarization method is particularly applicable to circuits having ground or power planes and allows for multilevel interconnects. Dielectric layers can also be planarized to produce a fully planar multilevel interconnect structure. The method is useful for the fabrication of VLSI circuits, particularly for wafer-scale integration.

Planarization of metal films for multilevel interconnects

DOEpatents

Tuckerman, David B.

1987-01-01

In the fabrication of multilevel integrated circuits, each metal layer is anarized by heating to momentarily melt the layer. The layer is melted by sweeping laser pulses of suitable width, typically about 1 microsecond duration, over the layer in small increments. The planarization of each metal layer eliminates irregular and discontinuous conditions between successive layers. The planarization method is particularly applicable to circuits having ground or power planes and allows for multilevel interconnects. Dielectric layers can also be planarized to produce a fully planar multilevel interconnect structure. The method is useful for the fabrication of VLSI circuits, particularly for wafer-scale integration.

Planarization of metal films for multilevel interconnects

DOEpatents

Tuckerman, David B.

1989-01-01

In the fabrication of multilevel integrated circuits, each metal layer is anarized by heating to momentarily melt the layer. The layer is melted by sweeping laser pulses of suitable width, typically about 1 microsecond duration, over the layer in small increments. The planarization of each metal layer eliminates irregular and discontinuous conditions between successive layers. The planarization method is particularly applicable to circuits having ground or power planes and allows for multilevel interconnects. Dielectric layers can also be planarized to produce a fully planar multilevel interconnect structure. The method is useful for the fabrication of VLSI circuits, particularly for wafer-scale integration.

Planarization of metal films for multilevel interconnects

DOEpatents

Tuckerman, D.B.

1985-08-23

In the fabrication of multilevel integrated circuits, each metal layer is planarized by heating to momentarily melt the layer. The layer is melted by sweeping laser pulses of suitable width, typically about 1 microsecond duration, over the layer in small increments. The planarization of each metal layer eliminates irregular and discontinuous conditions between successive layers. The planarization method is particularly applicable to circuits having ground or power planes and allows for multilevel interconnects. Dielectric layers can also be planarized to produce a fully planar multilevel interconnect structure. The method is useful for the fabrication of VLSI circuits, particularly for wafer-scale integration.

Planarization of metal films for multilevel interconnects

DOEpatents

Tuckerman, D.B.

1989-03-21

In the fabrication of multilevel integrated circuits, each metal layer is planarized by heating to momentarily melt the layer. The layer is melted by sweeping laser pulses of suitable width, typically about 1 microsecond duration, over the layer in small increments. The planarization of each metal layer eliminates irregular and discontinuous conditions between successive layers. The planarization method is particularly applicable to circuits having ground or power planes and allows for multilevel interconnects. Dielectric layers can also be planarized to produce a fully planar multilevel interconnect structure. The method is useful for the fabrication of VLSI circuits, particularly for wafer-scale integration. 6 figs.

Establishing Dual Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence and Multi-Color Electrochromism in Functional Ionic Transition Metal Complexes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Puodziukynaite, Egle; Oberst, Justin L.; Dyer, Aubrey L.

A combination of electrochromism and electroluminescence in functional materials could lead to single-layer dual electrochromic/electroluminescent (EC/EL) display devices, capable of simultaneous operation in emissive and reflective modes. Whereas such next generation displays could provide optimal visibility in any ambient lighting situation, materials available that exhibit such characteristics in the active layer are limited due to the required intrinsic multifunctionality (i.e., redox activity, electroluminescence, electrochromism, and ion conductivity) and to date can only be achieved via the rational design of ionic transition-metal complexes. Reported herein is the synthesis and characterization of a new family of acrylate-containing ruthenium (tris)bipyridine-based coordination complexes withmore » multifunctional characteristics. Potential use of the presented compounds in EC/EL devices is established, as they are applied as cross-linked electrochromic films and electrochemiluminescent layers in light-emitting electrochemical cell devices. Electrochromic switching of the polymeric networks between yellow, orange, green, brown and transmissive states is demonstrated, and electrochemiluminescent devices based on the complexes synthesized show red-orange to deep red emission with λ{sub max} ranging from 680 to 722 nm and luminance up to 135 cd/m{sup 2}. Additionally, a dual EC/EL device prototype is presented where light emission and multicolor electrochromism occur from the same pixel comprised of a single active layer, demonstrating a true combination of these properties in ionic transition-metal complexes.« less

Establishing Dual Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence and Multicolor Electrochromism in Functional Ionic Transition-Metal Complexes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Puodziukynaite, Egle; Oberst, Justin L.; Dyer, Aubrey L.

A combination of electrochromism and electroluminescence in functional materials could lead to single-layer dual electrochromic/electroluminescent (EC/EL) display devices, capable of simultaneous operation in emissive and reflective modes. Whereas such next generation displays could provide optimal visibility in any ambient lighting situation, materials available that exhibit such characteristics in the active layer are limited due to the required intrinsic multifunctionality (i.e., redox activity, electroluminescence, electrochromism, and ion conductivity) and to date can only be achieved via the rational design of ionic transition-metal complexes. Reported herein is the synthesis and characterization of a new family of acrylate-containing ruthenium (tris)bipyridine-based coordination complexes withmore » multifunctional characteristics. Potential use of the presented compounds in EC/EL devices is established, as they are applied as cross-linked electrochromic films and electrochemiluminescent layers in light-emitting electrochemical cell devices. Electrochromic switching of the polymeric networks between yellow, orange, green, brown and transmissive states is demonstrated, and electrochemiluminescent devices based on the complexes synthesized show red-orange to deep red emission with λmax ranging from 680 to 722 nm and luminance up to 135 cd/m². Additionally, a dual EC/EL device prototype is presented where light emission and multicolor electrochromism occur from the same pixel comprised of a single active layer, demonstrating a true combination of these properties in ionic transition-metal complexes.« less

Nanofluid based on self-nanoencapsulated metal/metal alloys phase change materials with tuneable crystallisation temperature.

PubMed

Navarrete, Nuria; Gimeno-Furio, Alexandra; Mondragon, Rosa; Hernandez, Leonor; Cabedo, Luis; Cordoncillo, Eloisa; Julia, J Enrique

2017-12-14

Nanofluids using nanoencapsulated Phase Change Materials (nePCM) allow increments in both the thermal conductivity and heat capacity of the base fluid. Incremented heat capacity is produced by the melting enthalpy of the nanoparticles core. In this work two important advances in this nanofluid type are proposed and experimentally tested. It is firstly shown that metal and metal alloy nanoparticles can be used as self-encapsulated nePCM using the metal oxide layer that forms naturally in most commercial synthesis processes as encapsulation. In line with this, Sn/SnOx nanoparticles morphology, size and thermal properties were studied by testing the suitability and performance of encapsulation at high temperatures and thermal cycling using a commercial thermal oil (Therminol 66) as the base fluid. Secondly, a mechanism to control the supercooling effect of this nePCM type based on non-eutectic alloys was developed.

MIS-based sensors with hydrogen selectivity

DOEpatents

Li,; Dongmei, [Boulder, CO; Medlin, J William [Boulder, CO; McDaniel, Anthony H [Livermore, CA; Bastasz, Robert J [Livermore, CA

2008-03-11

The invention provides hydrogen selective metal-insulator-semiconductor sensors which include a layer of hydrogen selective material. The hydrogen selective material can be polyimide layer having a thickness between 200 and 800 nm. Suitable polyimide materials include reaction products of benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride 4,4-oxydianiline m-phenylene diamine and other structurally similar materials.

Metallic nanomesh

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ren, Zhifeng; Sun, Tianyi; Guo, Chuanfei

2018-02-20

A transparent flexible nanomesh having at least one conductive element and sheet resistance less than 300.OMEGA./.quadrature. when stretched to a strain of 200% in at least one direction. The nanomesh is formed by depositing a sacrificial film, depositing, etching, and oxidizing a first metal layer on the film, etching the sacrificial film, depositing a second metal layer, and removing the first metal layer to form a nanomesh on the substrate.

Ternary metal-rich sulfide with a layered structure

DOEpatents

Franzen, Hugo F.; Yao, Xiaoqiang

1993-08-17

A ternary Nb-Ta-S compound is provided having the atomic formula, Nb.sub.1.72 Ta.sub.3.28 S.sub.2, and exhibiting a layered structure in the sequence S-M3-M2-M1-M2-M3-S wherein S represents sulfur layers and M1, M2, and M3 represent Nb/Ta mixed metal layers. This sequence generates seven sheets stacked along the [001] direction of an approximate body centered cubic crystal structure with relatively weak sulfur-to-sulfur van der Waals type interactions between adjacent sulfur sheets and metal-to-metal bonding within and between adjacent mixed metal sheets.

Thickness engineering of atomic layer deposited Al2O3 films to suppress interfacial reaction and diffusion of Ni/Au gate metal in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs up to 600 °C in air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suria, Ateeq J.; Yalamarthy, Ananth Saran; Heuser, Thomas A.; Bruefach, Alexandra; Chapin, Caitlin A.; So, Hongyun; Senesky, Debbie G.

2017-06-01

In this paper, we describe the use of 50 nm atomic layer deposited (ALD) Al2O3 to suppress the interfacial reaction and inter-diffusion between the gate metal and semiconductor interface, to extend the operation limit up to 600 °C in air. Suppression of diffusion is verified through Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) depth profiling and X-ray diffraction (XRD) and is further supported with electrical characterization. An ALD Al2O3 thin film (10 nm and 50 nm), which functions as a dielectric layer, was inserted between the gate metal (Ni/Au) and heterostructure-based semiconductor material (AlGaN/GaN) to form a metal-insulator-semiconductor high electron mobility transistor (MIS-HEMT). This extended the 50 nm ALD Al2O3 MIS-HEMT (50-MIS) current-voltage (Ids-Vds) and gate leakage (Ig,leakage) characteristics up to 600 °C. Both, the 10 nm ALD Al2O3 MIS-HEMT (10-MIS) and HEMT, failed above 350 °C, as evidenced by a sudden increase of approximately 50 times and 5.3 × 106 times in Ig,leakage, respectively. AES on the HEMT revealed the formation of a Ni-Au alloy and Ni present in the active region. Additionally, XRD showed existence of metal gallides in the HEMT. The 50-MIS enables the operation of AlGaN/GaN based electronics in oxidizing high-temperature environments, by suppressing interfacial reaction and inter-diffusion of the gate metal with the semiconductor.

Superconductor-normal-superconductor with distributed Sharvin point contacts

DOEpatents

Holcomb, Matthew J.; Little, William A.

1994-01-01

A non-linear superconducting junction device comprising a layer of high transient temperature superconducting material which is superconducting at an operating temperature, a layer of metal in contact with the layer of high temperature superconducting material and which remains non-superconducting at the operating temperature, and a metal material which is superconducting at the operating temperature and which forms distributed Sharvin point contacts with the metal layer.

Composite metal foil and ceramic fabric materials

DOEpatents

Webb, B.J.; Antoniak, Z.I.; Prater, J.T.; DeSteese, J.G.

1992-03-24

The invention comprises new materials useful in a wide variety of terrestrial and space applications. In one aspect, the invention comprises a flexible cloth-like material comprising a layer of flexible woven ceramic fabric bonded with a layer of metallic foil. In another aspect, the invention includes a flexible fluid impermeable barrier comprising a flexible woven ceramic fabric layer having metal wire woven therein. A metallic foil layer is incontinuously welded to the woven metal wire. In yet another aspect, the invention includes a material comprising a layer of flexible woven ceramic fabric bonded with a layer of an organic polymer. In still another aspect, the invention includes a rigid fabric structure comprising a flexible woven ceramic fabric and a resinous support material which has been hardened as the direct result of exposure to ultraviolet light. Inventive methods for producing such material are also disclosed. 11 figs.

Atomically thin transition metal layers: Atomic layer stabilization and metal-semiconductor transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hwang, Jeongwoon; Oh, Young Jun; Kim, Jiyoung; Sung, Myung Mo; Cho, Kyeongjae

2018-04-01

We have performed first-principle calculations to explore the possibility of synthesizing atomically thin transition metal (TM) layers. Buckled structures as well as planar structures of elemental 2D TM layers result in significantly higher formation energies compared with sp-bonded elemental 2D materials with similar structures, such as silicene and phosphorene. It is shown that the TM layers can be stabilized by surface passivation with HS, C6H5S2, or O, and O passivation is most effective. The surface oxygen passivation can improve stability leading to thermodynamically stable TM monolayers except Au, which is the most non-reactive metal element. Such stabilized TM monolayers also show an electronic structure transition from metallic state of free-standing TM layer to semiconducting O-passivated Mo and W monolayers with band gaps of 0.20-1.38 eV.

Diverse and tunable electronic structures of single-layer metal phosphorus trichalcogenides for photocatalytic water splitting

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Jian; Beijing Computational Science Research Center, Beijing 100084; College of Electrical and Information Engineering, Hunan Institute of Engineering, Xiangtan 411105, Hunan

2014-02-07

The family of bulk metal phosphorus trichalcogenides (APX{sub 3}, A = M{sup II}, M{sub 0.5}{sup I}M{sub 0.5}{sup III}; X = S, Se; M{sup I}, M{sup II}, and M{sup III} represent Group-I, Group-II, and Group-III metals, respectively) has attracted great attentions because such materials not only own magnetic and ferroelectric properties, but also exhibit excellent properties in hydrogen storage and lithium battery because of the layered structures. Many layered materials have been exfoliated into two-dimensional (2D) materials, and they show distinct electronic properties compared with their bulks. Here we present a systematical study of single-layer metal phosphorus trichalcogenides by density functionalmore » theory calculations. The results show that the single layer metal phosphorus trichalcogenides have very low formation energies, which indicates that the exfoliation of single layer APX{sub 3} should not be difficult. The family of single layer metal phosphorus trichalcogenides exhibits a large range of band gaps from 1.77 to 3.94 eV, and the electronic structures are greatly affected by the metal or the chalcogenide atoms. The calculated band edges of metal phosphorus trichalcogenides further reveal that single-layer ZnPSe{sub 3}, CdPSe{sub 3}, Ag{sub 0.5}Sc{sub 0.5}PSe{sub 3}, and Ag{sub 0.5}In{sub 0.5}PX{sub 3} (X = S and Se) have both suitable band gaps for visible-light driving and sufficient over-potentials for water splitting. More fascinatingly, single-layer Ag{sub 0.5}Sc{sub 0.5}PSe{sub 3} is a direct band gap semiconductor, and the calculated optical absorption further convinces that such materials own outstanding properties for light absorption. Such results demonstrate that the single layer metal phosphorus trichalcogenides own high stability, versatile electronic properties, and high optical absorption, thus such materials have great chances to be high efficient photocatalysts for water-splitting.« less

Uptake of Light Elements in Thin Metallic Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Markwitz, Andreas; Waldschmidt, Mathias

Ion beam analysis was used to investigate the influence of substrate temperature on the inclusion of impurities during the deposition process of thin metallic single and double layers. Thin layers of gold and aluminium were deposited at different temperatures onto thin copper layers evaporated on silicon wafer substrates. The uptake of oxygen in the layers was measured using the highly sensitive non-resonant reaction 16O(d,p)170O at 920 keV. Nuclear reaction analysis was also used to probe for carbon and nitrogen with a limit of detection better than 20 ppm. Hydrogen depth profiles were measured using elastic recoil detection on the nanometer scale. Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy was used to determine the depth profiles of the metallic layers and to study diffusion processes. The combined ion beam analyses revealed an uptake of oxygen in the layers depending on the different metallic cap layers and the deposition temperature. Lowest oxygen values were measured for the Au/Cu layers, whereas the highest amount of oxygen was measured in Al/Cu layers deposited at 300°C. It was also found that with single copper layers produced at various temperatures, oxygen contamination occurred during the evaporation process and not afterwards, for example, as a consequence of the storage of the films under normal conditions for several days. Hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen were found as impurities in the single and double layered metallic films, a finding that is in agreement with the measured oxidation behaviour of the metallic films.

Finite-size effects in surface-enhanced Raman scattering in noble-metal nanoparticles: a semiclassical approach.

PubMed

Pustovit, Vitaliy N; Shahbazyan, Tigran V

2006-06-01

We study finite-size effects in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) from molecules adsorbed on small metal particles. Within an electromagnetic description of SERS, the enhancement of the Raman signal originates from the local field of the surface plasmon resonance in a nanoparticle. With decreasing particle sizes, this enhancement is reduced due to the size-dependent Landau damping of the surface plasmon. We show that, in small noble-metal particles, the reduction of interband screening in the surface layer leads to an additional increase in the local field acting on a molecule close to the metal surface. The overall size dependence of Raman signal enhancement is determined by the interplay between Landau damping and underscreening effects. Our calculations, based on a two-region model, show that the role of the surface layer increases for smaller nanoparticle sizes due to a larger volume fraction of the underscreened region.

Nonreciprocal dispersion of spin waves in ferromagnetic thin films covered with a finite-conductivity metal

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mruczkiewicz, M.; Krawczyk, M.

2014-03-21

We study the effect of one-side metallization of a uniform ferromagnetic thin film on its spin-wave dispersion relation in the Damon–Eshbach geometry. Due to the finite conductivity of the metallic cover layer on the ferromagnetic film, the spin-wave dispersion relation may be nonreciprocal only in a limited wave-vector range. We provide an approximate analytical solution for the spin-wave frequency, discuss its validity, and compare it with numerical results. The dispersion is analyzed systematically by varying the parameters of the ferromagnetic film, the metal cover layer and the value of the external magnetic field. The conclusions drawn from this analysis allowmore » us to define a structure based on a 30 nm thick CoFeB film with an experimentally accessible nonreciprocal dispersion relation in a relatively wide wave-vector range.« less

Bimetallic strip for low temperature use. [4-300/sup 0/K

DOEpatents

Bussiee, J.F.; Welch, D.O.; Suenaga, M.

A class of mechanically pre-stressed structures is provided suitably bi-layer strips, consisting of a layer of group 5 transition metals in intimate contact with a layer of an intermetallic compound of transition metals with certain group 3A, 4A or 5A metals or metalloids such as Ga, In, Si, Ge, Sn, As or Sb. The changes of Young's modulus of these bi-layered combinations at temperatures in the region of somewhat above absolute zero provides a useful means of sensing temperature changes. Such bi-metallic strips may be used as control strips in thermostats, or in direct dial reading instruments. The structures are made by preparing a sandwich of a group 5B transition metal strip between the substantially thicker strips of an alloy between copper and a predetermined group 3A, 4A or 5A metal or metalloid, holding the three layers are heated, cooled the copper alloys and is removed. Removing one of the two formed interlayer alloys between the transition metal and the metal previously alloyed with copper remain.

Bimetallic strip for low temperature use

DOEpatents

Bussiere, Jean F.; Welch, David O.; Suenaga, Masaki

1981-01-01

There is provided a class of mechanically pre-stressed structures, suitably bi-layer strips comprising a layer of group 5 transition metals in intimate contact with a layer of an intermetallic compound of said transition metals with certain group 3A, 4A or 5A metals or metalloids suitably gallium, indium, silicon, germanium, tin, arsenic or antimony. The changes of Young's modulus of these bi-layered combinations at temperatures in the region of but somewhat above absolute zero provides a useful means of sensing temperature changes. Such bi-metallic strips may be used as control strips in thermostats, in direct dial reading instruments, or the like. The structures are made by preparing a sandwich of a group 5B transition metal strip between the substantially thicker strips of an alloy between copper and a predetermined group 3A, 4A or 5A metal or metalloid, holding the three layers of the sandwich in intimate contact heating the same, cooling the same and removing the copper alloy and then removing one of the two thus formed interlayer alloys between said transition metal and the metal previously alloyed with copper.

Concurrent tailoring of fabrication process and interphase layer to reduce residual stresses in metal matrix composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Saravanos, D. A.; Chamis, C. C.; Morel, M.

1991-01-01

A methodology is presented to reduce the residual matrix stresses in continuous fiber metal matrix composites (MMC) by optimizing the fabrication process and interphase layer characteristics. The response of the fabricated MMC was simulated based on nonlinear micromechanics. Application cases include fabrication tailoring, interphase tailoring, and concurrent fabrication-interphase optimization. Two composite systems, silicon carbide/titanium and graphite/copper, are considered. Results illustrate the merits of each approach, indicate that concurrent fabrication/interphase optimization produces significant reductions in the matrix residual stresses and demonstrate the strong coupling between fabrication and interphase tailoring.

Cobalt coordination and clustering in alpha-Co(OH)(2) revealed by synchrotron X-ray total scattering.

PubMed

Neilson, James R; Kurzman, Joshua A; Seshadri, Ram; Morse, Daniel E

2010-09-03

Structures of layered metal hydroxides are not well described by traditional crystallography. Total scattering from a synthesis-controlled subset of these materials, as described here, reveals that different cobalt coordination polyhedra cluster within each layer on short length scales, offering new insights and approaches for understanding the properties of these and related layered materials. Structures related to that of brucite [Mg(OH)(2)] are ubiquitous in the mineral world and offer a variety of useful functions ranging from catalysis and ion-exchange to sequestration and energy transduction, including applications in batteries. However, it has been difficult to resolve the atomic structure of these layered compounds because interlayer disorder disrupts the long-range periodicity necessary for diffraction-based structure determination. For this reason, traditional unit-cell-based descriptions have remained inaccurate. Here we apply, for the first time to such layered hydroxides, synchrotron X-ray total scattering methods-analyzing both the Bragg and diffuse components-to resolve the intralayer structure of three different alpha-cobalt hydroxides, revealing the nature and distribution of metal site coordination. The different compounds with incorporated chloride ions have been prepared with kinetic control of hydrolysis to yield different ratios of octahedrally and tetrahedrally coordinated cobalt ions within the layers, as confirmed by total scattering. Real-space analyses indicate local clustering of polyhedra within the layers, manifested in the weighted average of different ordered phases with fixed fractions of tetrahedrally coordinated cobalt sites. These results, hidden from an averaged unit-cell description, reveal new structural characteristics that are essential to understanding the origin of fundamental material properties such as color, anion exchange capacity, and magnetic behavior. Our results also provide further insights into the detailed mechanisms of aqueous hydrolysis chemistry of hydrated metal salts. We emphasize the power of the methods used here for establishing structure-property correlations in functional materials with related layered structures.

37 CFR 211.4 - Registration of claims of protection in mask works.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... adding metal-connection layers to unpersonalized gate arrays may separately register the entire unpersonalized gate array and the custom metallization layers. Applicants seeking to register separately entire unpersonalized gate arrays or custom metallization layers should make the nature of their claim clear at Space 8...

Electronic, Magnetic and Optical Properties of 2D Metal Nanolayers: A DFT Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhuyan, Prabal Dev; Gupta, Sanjeev K.; Singh, Deobrat; Sonvane, Yogesh; Gajjar, P. N.

2018-03-01

In the recent work, we have investigated the structural, electronic, magnetic and optical properties of graphene-like hexagonal monolayers and multilayers (up to five layers) of 3d-transition metals Fe, Co and Ni based on spin-polarized density functional theory. Here, we have taken two types of pattern namely AA-stacking and AB-stacking for the calculations. The binding energy calculations show that the AA-type configuration is energetically more stable. The calculated binding energies of Fe, Co and Ni-bilayer monolayer are - 3.24, - 2.53 and - 1.94 eV, respectively. The electronic band structures show metallic behavior for all the systems and each configurations of Fe, Co and Ni-atoms. While, the quantum ballistic conductances of these metallic systems are found to be higher for pentalayer than other layered systems. The density of states confirms the ferromagnetic behavior of monolayers and multilayers of Fe and Co having negative spin polarizations. We have also calculated frequency dependent complex dielectric function, electronic energy loss spectrum and reflectance spectrum of monolayer to pentalayer metallic systems. The ferromagnetic material shows different permittivity tensor (ɛ), which is due to high spin magnetic moment for n-layered Fe and Co two-dimensional (2D) nanolayers. The theoretical investigation suggests that the electronic, magnetic and optical properties of 3d-transition metal nanolayers offers great promise for their use in spintronics nanodevices and magneto-optical nanodevices applications.

Process Of Bonding A Metal Brush Structure To A Planar Surface Of A Metal Substrate

DOEpatents

Slattery, Kevin T.; Driemeyer, Daniel E.; Wille; Gerald W.

1999-11-02

Process for bonding a metal brush structure to a planar surface of a metal substrate in which an array of metal rods are retained and immobilized at their tips by a common retention layer formed of metal, and the brush structure is then joined to a planar surface of a metal substrate via the retention layer.

Ultraviolet GaN photodetectors on Si via oxide buffer heterostructures with integrated short period oxide-based distributed Bragg reflectors and leakage suppressing metal-oxide-semiconductor contacts

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Szyszka, A., E-mail: szyszka@ihp-microelectronics.com, E-mail: adam.szyszka@pwr.wroc.pl; Faculty of Microsystem Electronics and Photonics, Wroclaw University of Technology, Janiszewskiego 11/17, 50-372 Wroclaw; Lupina, L.

2014-08-28

Based on a novel double step oxide buffer heterostructure approach for GaN integration on Si, we present an optimized Metal-Semiconductor-Metal (MSM)-based Ultraviolet (UV) GaN photodetector system with integrated short-period (oxide/Si) Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) and leakage suppressing Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (MOS) electrode contacts. In terms of structural properties, it is demonstrated by in-situ reflection high energy electron diffraction and transmission electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray studies that the DBR heterostructure layers grow with high thickness homogeneity and sharp interface structures sufficient for UV applications; only minor Si diffusion into the Y{sub 2}O{sub 3} films is detected under the applied thermal growth budget. Asmore » revealed by comparative high resolution x-ray diffraction studies on GaN/oxide buffer/Si systems with and without DBR systems, the final GaN layer structure quality is not significantly influenced by the growth of the integrated DBR heterostructure. In terms of optoelectronic properties, it is demonstrated that—with respect to the basic GaN/oxide/Si system without DBR—the insertion of (a) the DBR heterostructures and (b) dark current suppressing MOS contacts enhances the photoresponsivity below the GaN band-gap related UV cut-off energy by almost up to two orders of magnitude. Given the in-situ oxide passivation capability of grown GaN surfaces and the one order of magnitude lower number of superlattice layers in case of higher refractive index contrast (oxide/Si) systems with respect to classical III-N DBR superlattices, virtual GaN substrates on Si via functional oxide buffer systems are thus a promising robust approach for future GaN-based UV detector technologies.« less

Design of a size-efficient tunable metamaterial absorber based on leaf-shaped cell at near-infrared regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Hailong; Xia, Hui; Xie, Wenke; Guo, Zhibo; Li, Hongjian

2018-06-01

A size-efficient tunable metamaterial absorber (MA) composed of metallic leaf-shaped cell, graphene layer, silicon substrate, and bottom metal film is investigated theoretically and numerically at near-infrared (NIR) regions. Simulation results reveal that the single-band high absorption of 91.9% is obtained at 1268.7 nm. Further results show that the single-band can be simply changed into dual-band high absorption by varying the geometric parameters of top metallic layer at same wavelength regions, yielding two high absorption coefficients of 96.6% and 95.3% at the wavelengths of 1158.7 nm and 1323.6 nm, respectively. And the effect of related geometric parameter on dual-band absorption intensities is also investigated to obtain the optimized one. The peak wavelength can be tuned via modifying the Fermi energy of the graphene layer through controlling the external gate voltage. The work shows that the proposed strategy can be applied to other design of the dual-band structure at infrared regions.

Origin of vertical orientation in two-dimensional metal halide perovskites and its effect on photovoltaic performance.

PubMed

Chen, Alexander Z; Shiu, Michelle; Ma, Jennifer H; Alpert, Matthew R; Zhang, Depei; Foley, Benjamin J; Smilgies, Detlef-M; Lee, Seung-Hun; Choi, Joshua J

2018-04-06

Thin films based on two-dimensional metal halide perovskites have achieved exceptional performance and stability in numerous optoelectronic device applications. Simple solution processing of the 2D perovskite provides opportunities for manufacturing devices at drastically lower cost compared to current commercial technologies. A key to high device performance is to align the 2D perovskite layers, during the solution processing, vertical to the electrodes to achieve efficient charge transport. However, it is yet to be understood how the counter-intuitive vertical orientations of 2D perovskite layers on substrates can be obtained. Here we report a formation mechanism of such vertically orientated 2D perovskite in which the nucleation and growth arise from the liquid-air interface. As a consequence, choice of substrates can be liberal from polymers to metal oxides depending on targeted application. We also demonstrate control over the degree of preferential orientation of the 2D perovskite layers and its drastic impact on device performance.

Analytical solution for the effect of the permittivity of coating layer on eddy current generated in an aluminum sample by EMAT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Feiran; Sun, Zhenguo; Chen, Qiang

2016-02-01

In order to improve the ultrasonic wave amplitude excited by electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs), many researchers have proposed models. But they always ignored displacement current or the effect of the permittivity of the air or the metal sample during modeling, due to its low permittivity. However, more durable dielectric materials are replacing or coating with metals in many applications which have a much higher permittivity than air or metal sample so that the effect of permittivity cannot be ignored. Based on an analytical model, the effect of the permittivity of coating layer on the eddy current generated in an aluminum sample by EMAT has been studied. The analytical analysis indicates that the eddy current density excited by the spiral coil of EMAT slowly increases in the beginning and then decreases rapidly while the permittivity increases, and it has much relation to the thickness of the coating layer and the exciting frequency, which is verified by the simulation result.

Fabrication of PVDF-TrFE based bilayered PbTiO{sub 3}/PVDF-TrFE films capacitor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nurbaya, Z., E-mail: nurbayazainal@gmail.com; Razak School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 54100 Kuala Lumpur; Wahid, M. H.

2016-07-06

Development of high performance capacitor is reaching towards new generation where the ferroelectric materials take places as the active dielectric layer. The motivation of this study is to produce high capacitance device with long life cycle. This was configured by preparing bilayered films where lead titanate as an active dielectric layer and stacked with the top dielectric layer, poly(vinyledenefluoride-trifluoroethylene). Both of them are being referred that have one in common which is ferroelectric behavior. Therefore the combination of ceramic and polymer ferroelectric material could perform optimum dielectric characteristic for capacitor applications. The fabrication was done by simple sol-gel spin coatingmore » method that being varied at spinning speed property for polymer layers, whereas maintaining the ceramic layer. The characterization of PVDF-TrFE/PbTiO3 was performed according to metal-insulator-metal stacked capacitor measurement which includes structural, dielectric, and ferroelectric measurement.« less

Metalorganic deposition method for forming epitaxial thallium-based copper oxide superconducting films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Olsen, W.L.; Eddy, M.M.; Hammond, R.B.

1991-12-10

This patent describes a method for producing a superconducting article comprising an oriented metal oxide superconducting layer containing thallium, optionally calcium, barium and copper, the layer being at least 30 {Angstrom} and having a c-axis oriented normal to a crystalline substrate surface. It comprises coating the crystalline substrate surface with a solution of thallium, optionally calcium, barium and copper carboxylate soaps dispersed in a medium of hydrocarbons of halohydrocarbons with a stoichiometric metal ratio to form the oxide superconducting layer, prepyrolyzing the soaps coated on the substrate at a temperature of 350{degrees} C. or less in an oxygen containing atmosphere,more » and pyrolyzing the soaps at a temperature in the range of 800{degrees} - 900{degrees} C. in the presence of oxygen and an overpressure of thallium for a sufficient time to produce the superconducting layer on the substrate, wherein usable portions of the superconducting layer are epitaxial to the substrate.« less

Surface-enhanced Raman medical probes and system for disease diagnosis and drug testing

DOEpatents

Vo-Dinh, T.

1999-01-26

A probe for a surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectrometer includes a member of optically transmissive material for receiving the excitation radiation from a laser and for carrying the radiation emitted from a specimen to a detector. An end of the member for placing against the specimen has a coating that produces surface enhancement of the specimen during Raman scattering spectroscopic analysis. Specifically the coating is formed by a first layer of microparticles on the member and a metal layer over the first layer. The first layer may form a microstructure surface over which a metal layer is applied. Alternatively the coating may be a material containing microparticles of a metal. An optional layer of a material may be applied to the metal layer to concentrate onto the probe compounds of analytical interest onto the probe. 39 figs.

Surface-enhanced raman medical probes and system for disease diagnosis and drug testing

DOEpatents

Vo-Dinh, Tuan

1999-01-01

A probe for a surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectrometer includes a member of optically transmissive material for receiving the excitation radiation from a laser and for carrying the radiation emitted from a specimen to a detector. An end of the member for placing against the specimen has a coating that produces surface enhancement of the specimen during Raman scattering spectroscopic analysis. Specifically the coating is formed by a first layer of microparticles on the member and a metal layer over the first layer. The first layer may form a microstructure surface over which a metal layer is applied. Alternatively the coating may be a material containing microparticles of a metal. An optional layer of a material may be applied to the metal layer to concentrate onto the probe compounds of analytical interest onto the probe.

Electrode structure and method for making the same

DOEpatents

Affinito, John D.; Lowe, Gregory K.

2015-05-26

Electrode structures, and more specifically, electrode structures for use in electrochemical cells, are provided. The electrode structures described herein may include one or more protective layers. In one set of embodiments, a protective layer may be formed by exposing a lithium metal surface to a plasma comprising ions of a gas to form a ceramic layer on top of the lithium metal. The ceramic layer may be highly conductive to lithium ions and may protect the underlying lithium metal surface from reaction with components in the electrolyte. In some cases, the ions may be nitrogen ions and a lithium nitride layer may be formed on the lithium metal surface. In other embodiments, the protective layer may be formed by converting lithium to lithium nitride at high pressures. Other methods for forming protective layers are also provided.

Charge-coupled device for low background observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Loh, Edwin D. (Inventor); Cheng, Edward S. (Inventor)

2002-01-01

A charge-coupled device with a low-emissivity metal layer located between a sensing layer and a substrate provides reduction in ghost images. In a typical charge-coupled device of a silicon sensing layer, a silicon dioxide insulating layer, with a glass substrate and a metal carrier layer, a near-infrared photon, not absorbed in the first pass, enters the glass substrate, reflects from the metal carrier, thereby returning far from the original pixel in its entry path. The placement of a low-emissivity metal layer between the glass substrate and the sensing layer reflects near infrared photons before they reach the substrate so that they may be absorbed in the silicon nearer the pixel of their points of entry so that the reflected ghost image is coincident with the primary image for a sharper, brighter image.

Characteristics and porcelain bond strength of (Ti,Al)N coating on dental alloys.

PubMed

Chung, Kwok-Hung; Duh, Jeng-Gong; Shin, Daehwan; Cagna, David R; Cronin, Robert J

2002-01-01

The effect of a novel titanium-aluminum nitride film, or (Ti,Al)N film, on the bond strength between a dental porcelain and two nickel-based dental alloy substrates was investigated. A thin layer of (Ti,Al)N film was deposited on flat metal samples using a reactive radio-frequency sputtering method. A uniform thickness of porcelain was applied to the film- coated metal samples. Metal-ceramic specimens were subjected to three-point bending, and failure loads were recorded. Bond strengths between the porcelain and (Ti,Al)N-coated metal alloys ranged from 159.0 +/- 11.7 N to 278.0 +/- 12.3 N. These values were significantly greater (p< 0.05) than bond strengths recorded for control samples that did not incorporate the (Ti,Al)N film. An electron probe microanalyzer with a line profile mode was used to characterize the interface between the (Ti,Al)N film and the porcelain. Results of this investigation suggest that the (Ti,Al)N film (1) increases the flexural bond strength between dental porcelain and nickel-based alloy substrates by permitting elemental diffusion, (2) interferes with the surface oxide formation that characteristically originates from the nickel-based metal alloy substrate, and (3) provides an appropriate oxide layer for porcelain application. Copyright 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res (Appl Biomater) 63: 516-521, 2002

Spin-injection into epitaxial graphene on silicon carbide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Konishi, Keita; Cui, Zhixin; Hiraki, Takahiro; Yoh, Kanji

2013-09-01

We have studied the spin-injection properties in epitaxial graphene on SiC. The ferromagnetic metal (FM) electrodes were composed of a tunnel barrier layer AlOx (14 Å) and a ferromagnetic Co (600 Å) layer. We have successfully observed the clear resistance peaks indicating spin-injection both in the "local" and "non-local" spin measurement set-ups at low temperatures. We estimate spin-injection rate of 1% based on "non-local" measurement and 1.6% based on local measurements. Spin-injection rate of multilayer graphene by mechanical exfoliation method was twice as high as single layer graphene on SiC based on "local" measurement.

Photovoltaic cell

DOEpatents

Gordon, Roy G.; Kurtz, Sarah

1984-11-27

In a photovoltaic cell structure containing a visibly transparent, electrically conductive first layer of metal oxide, and a light-absorbing semiconductive photovoltaic second layer, the improvement comprising a thin layer of transition metal nitride, carbide or boride interposed between said first and second layers.

p-n Junction Diodes Fabricated on Si-Si/Ge Heteroepitaxial Films

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Das, K.; Mazumder, M. D. A.; Hall, H.; Alterovitz, Samuel A. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

A set of photolithographic masks was designed for the fabrication of diodes in the Si-Si/Ge material system. Fabrication was performed on samples obtained from two different wafers: (1) a complete HBT structure with an n (Si emitter), p (Si/Ge base), and an n/n+ (Si collector/sub-collector) deposited epitaxially (MBE) on a high resistivity p-Si substrate, (2) an HBT structure where epitaxial growth was terminated after the p-type base (Si/Ge) layer deposition. Two different process runs were attempted for the fabrication of Si-Si/Ge (n-p) and Si/Ge-Si (p-n) junction diodes formed between the emitter-base and base-collector layers, respectively, of the Si-Si/Ge-Si HBT structure. One of the processes employed a plasma etching step to expose the p-layer in the structure (1) and to expose the e-layer in structure (2). The Contact metallization used for these diodes was a Cu-based metallization scheme that was developed during the first year of the grant. The plasma-etched base-collector diodes on structure (2) exhibited well-behaved diode-like characteristics. However, the plasma-etched emitter-base diodes demonstrated back-to-back diode characteristics. These back-to back characteristics were probably due to complete etching of the base-layer, yielding a p-n-p diode. The deep implantation process yielded rectifying diodes with asymmetric forward and reverse characteristics. The ideality factor of these diodes were between 1.6 -2.1, indicating that the quality of the MBE grown epitaxial films was not sufficiently high, and also incomplete annealing of the implantation damage. Further study will be conducted on CVD grown films, which are expected to have higher epitaxial quality.

Nano-carbon coating layer prepared by the thermal evaporation of fullerene C60 for lithium metal anodes in rechargeable lithium batteries.

PubMed

Arie, Arenst Andreas; Lee, Joong Kee

2011-07-01

A nano carbon coating layer was prepared by the thermal evaporation of fullerene C60 on the surface of lithium metal anodes for rechargeable lithium batteries. The morphology and structure of the carbon layer was firstly investigated by Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effects of the nano-carbon coating layer on the electrochemical performance of the lithium electrode were then examined by charge-discharge tests and impedance spectroscopy. Raman spectra of carbon coating layer showed two main peaks (D and G peaks), indicating the amorphous structure of the film. A honey comb-like structure of carbon film was observed by TEM photographs, providing a transport path for the transport of lithium ions at the electrode/electrolyte interface. The carbon coated lithium electrodes exhibited a higher initial coulombic efficiency (91%) and higher specific capacity retention (88%) after the 30th cycle at 0.2 C-rate between 3.4 and 4.5 V. Impedance measurements showed that the charge transfer resistance was significantly reduced after cycle tests for the carbon coated electrodes, revealing that the more stable solid electrolyte (SEI) layer was established on their surface. Based on the experimental results, it suggested that the presence of the nano-carbon coating layer might suppress the dendritic growth on the surface of lithium metal electrodes, as confirmed by the observation of SEM images after cycle tests.

Vapor phase hydrogenation of furfural over nickel mixed metal oxide catalysts derived from layered double hydroxides

DOE PAGES

Sulmonetti, Taylor P.; Pang, Simon H.; Claure, Micaela Taborga; ...

2016-03-09

The hydrogenation of furfural is investigated over various reduced nickel mixed metal oxides derived from layered double hydroxides (LDHs) containing Ni-Mg-Al and Ni-Co-Al. Upon reduction, relatively large Ni(0) domains develop in the Ni-Mg-Al catalysts, whereas in the Ni-Co-Al catalysts smaller metal particles of Ni(0) and Co(0), potentially as alloys, are formed, as evidenced by XAS, XPS, STEM and EELS. All the reduced Ni catalysts display similar selectivities towards major hydrogenation products (furfuryl alcohol and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol), though the side products varied with the catalyst composition. The 1.1Ni-0.8Co-Al catalyst showed the greatest activity per titrated site when compared to the othermore » catalysts, with promising activity compared to related catalysts in the literature. In conclusion, the use of base metal catalysts for hydrogenation of furanic compounds may be a promising alternative to the well-studied precious metal catalysts for making biomass-derived chemicals if catalyst selectivity can be improved in future work by alloying or tuning metal-oxide support interactions.« less

Vapor phase hydrogenation of furfural over nickel mixed metal oxide catalysts derived from layered double hydroxides

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sulmonetti, Taylor P.; Pang, Simon H.; Claure, Micaela Taborga

2016-05-01

The hydrogenation of furfural is investigated over various reduced nickel mixed metal oxides derived from layered double hydroxides (LDHs) containing Ni-Mg-Al and Ni-Co-Al. Upon reduction, relatively large Ni(0) domains develop in the Ni-Mg-Al catalysts, whereas in the Ni-Co-Al catalysts smaller metal particles of Ni(0) and Co(0), potentially as alloys, are formed, as evidenced by XAS, XPS, STEM and EELS. All the reduced Ni catalysts display similar selectivities towards major hydrogenation products (furfuryl alcohol and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol), though the side products varied with the catalyst composition. The 1.1Ni-0.8Co-Al catalyst showed the greatest activity per titrated site when compared to the othermore » catalysts, with promising activity compared to related catalysts in the literature. The use of base metal catalysts for hydrogenation of furanic compounds may be a promising alternative to the well-studied precious metal catalysts for making biomass-derived chemicals if catalyst selectivity can be improved in future work by alloying or tuning metal-oxide support interactions.« less

Fluorinated reduced graphene oxide as a protective layer on the metallic lithium for application in the high energy batteries.

PubMed

Bobnar, Jernej; Lozinšek, Matic; Kapun, Gregor; Njel, Christian; Dedryvère, Rémi; Genorio, Boštjan; Dominko, Robert

2018-04-11

Metallic lithium is considered to be one of the most promising anode materials since it offers high volumetric and gravimetric energy densities when combined with high-voltage or high-capacity cathodes. However, the main impediment to the practical applications of metallic lithium is its unstable solid electrolyte interface (SEI), which results in constant lithium consumption for the formation of fresh SEI, together with lithium dendritic growth during electrochemical cycling. Here we present the electrochemical performance of a fluorinated reduced graphene oxide interlayer (FGI) on the metallic lithium surface, tested in lithium symmetrical cells and in combination with two different cathode materials. The FGI on the metallic lithium exhibit two roles, firstly it acts as a Li-ion conductive layer and electronic insulator and secondly, it effectively suppresses the formation of high surface area lithium (HSAL). An enhanced electrochemical performance of the full cell battery system with two different types of cathodes was shown in the carbonate or in the ether based electrolytes. The presented results indicate a potential application in future secondary Li-metal batteries.

Multilayer Coextrusion of Polymer Composites to Develop Organic Capacitors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mondy, L.; Mrozek, R.; Rao, R.

Multilayer coextrusion is applied to produce a tape containing layers of alternating electrical properties to demonstrate the potential for using coextrusion to manufacture capacitors. To obtain the desired properties, we develop two filled polymer systems, one for conductive layers and one for dielectric layers. We describe numerical models used to help determine the material and processing parameters that impact processing and layer stability. These models help quantify the critical ratios of densities and viscosities of the two layers to maintain stable layers, as well as the effect of increasing the flow rate of one of the two materials. The conductingmore » polymer is based on polystyrene filled with a blend of low-melting-point eutectic metal and nickel particulate filler, as described by Mrozek et al. (2010). The appropriate concentrations of fillers are determined by balancing measured conductivity with processability in a twin screw extruder. Based on results of the numerical models and estimates of the viscosity of emulsions and suspensions, a dielectric layer composed of polystyrene filled with barium titanate is formulated. Despite the fact that the density of the dielectric filler is less than the metallic filler of the conductive phase, as well as rheological measurements that later showed that the dielectric formulation is not an ideal match to the viscosity of the conductive material, the two materials can be successfully coextruded if the flow rates of the two materials are not identical. A measurable capacitance of the layered structure is obtained.« less

Multilayer Coextrusion of Polymer Composites to Develop Organic Capacitors

DOE PAGES

Mondy, L.; Mrozek, R.; Rao, R.; ...

2015-05-29

Multilayer coextrusion is applied to produce a tape containing layers of alternating electrical properties to demonstrate the potential for using coextrusion to manufacture capacitors. To obtain the desired properties, we develop two filled polymer systems, one for conductive layers and one for dielectric layers. We describe numerical models used to help determine the material and processing parameters that impact processing and layer stability. These models help quantify the critical ratios of densities and viscosities of the two layers to maintain stable layers, as well as the effect of increasing the flow rate of one of the two materials. The conductingmore » polymer is based on polystyrene filled with a blend of low-melting-point eutectic metal and nickel particulate filler, as described by Mrozek et al. (2010). The appropriate concentrations of fillers are determined by balancing measured conductivity with processability in a twin screw extruder. Based on results of the numerical models and estimates of the viscosity of emulsions and suspensions, a dielectric layer composed of polystyrene filled with barium titanate is formulated. Despite the fact that the density of the dielectric filler is less than the metallic filler of the conductive phase, as well as rheological measurements that later showed that the dielectric formulation is not an ideal match to the viscosity of the conductive material, the two materials can be successfully coextruded if the flow rates of the two materials are not identical. A measurable capacitance of the layered structure is obtained.« less

Effect of metal selection and porcelain firing on the marginal accuracy of titanium-based metal ceramic restorations.

PubMed

Shokry, Tamer E; Attia, Mazen; Mosleh, Ihab; Elhosary, Mohamed; Hamza, Tamer; Shen, Chiayi

2010-01-01

Titanium is the most biocompatible metal used for dental casting; however, there is concern about its marginal accuracy after porcelain application since this aspect has direct influence on marginal fit. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect that metal selection and the porcelain firing procedure have on the marginal accuracy of metal ceramic prostheses. Cast CP Ti, milled CP Ti, cast Ti-6Al-7Nb, and cast Ni-Cr copings (n=5) were fired with compatible porcelains (Triceram for titanium-based metals and VITA VMK 95 for Ni-Cr alloy). The Ni-Cr alloy fired with its porcelain served as the control. Photographs of metal copings placed on a master die were made. Marginal discrepancy was determined on the photographs using an image processing program at 8 predetermined locations before airborne-particle abrasion for porcelain application, after firing of the opaque layer, and after firing of the dentin layer. Repeated-measures 2-way ANOVA was used to investigate the effect of metal selection and firing stage, and paired t tests were used to determine the effect of each firing stage within each material group (alpha=.05). ANOVA showed that both metal selection and firing stage significantly influenced the measured marginal discrepancy (P<.001), and there was interaction between the 2 variables (P<.001). Student-Newman-Keuls multiple comparison tests showed that there were significant differences between any 2 metals compared, at each stage of measurement. Paired t tests showed that significant changes in marginal discrepancy occurred with opaque firing on milled CP Ti (P=.017) and cast Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy (P=.003). Titanium copings fabricated by CAD/CAM demonstrated the least marginal discrepancy among all groups, while the base metal (Ni-Cr) groups exhibited the most discrepancy of all groups tested. Copyright 2010 The Editorial Council of the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Doped LZO buffer layers for laminated conductors

DOEpatents

Paranthaman, Mariappan Parans [Knoxville, TN; Schoop, Urs [Westborough, MA; Goyal, Amit [Knoxville, TN; Thieme, Cornelis Leo Hans [Westborough, MA; Verebelyi, Darren T [Oxford, MA; Rupich, Martin W [Framingham, MA

2010-03-23

A laminated conductor includes a metallic substrate having a surface, a biaxially textured buffer layer supported by the surface of the substrate, the biaxially textured buffer layer comprising LZO and a dopant for mitigating metal diffusion through the LZO, and a biaxially textured conductor layer supported by the biaxially textured buffer layer.

Planarization of metal films for multilevel interconnects by pulsed laser heating

DOEpatents

Tuckerman, David B.

1987-01-01

In the fabrication of multilevel integrated circuits, each metal layer is planarized by heating to momentarily melt the layer. The layer is melted by sweeping laser pulses of suitable width, typically about 1 microsecond duration, over the layer in small increments. The planarization of each metal layer eliminates irregular and discontinuous conditions between successive layers. The planarization method is particularly applicable to circuits having ground or power planes and allows for multilevel interconnects. Dielectric layers can also be planarized to produce a fully planar multilevel interconnect structure. The method is useful for the fabrication of VLSI circuits, particularly for wafer-scale integration.

Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor Nanowire Network Solar Cells.

PubMed

Oener, Sebastian Z; van de Groep, Jorik; Macco, Bart; Bronsveld, Paula C P; Kessels, W M M; Polman, Albert; Garnett, Erik C

2016-06-08

Metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) junctions provide the charge separating properties of Schottky junctions while circumventing the direct and detrimental contact of the metal with the semiconductor. A passivating and tunnel dielectric is used as a separation layer to reduce carrier recombination and remove Fermi level pinning. When applied to solar cells, these junctions result in two main advantages over traditional p-n-junction solar cells: a highly simplified fabrication process and excellent passivation properties and hence high open-circuit voltages. However, one major drawback of metal-insulator-semiconductor solar cells is that a continuous metal layer is needed to form a junction at the surface of the silicon, which decreases the optical transmittance and hence short-circuit current density. The decrease of transmittance with increasing metal coverage, however, can be overcome by nanoscale structures. Nanowire networks exhibit precisely the properties that are required for MIS solar cells: closely spaced and conductive metal wires to induce an inversion layer for homogeneous charge carrier extraction and simultaneously a high optical transparency. We experimentally demonstrate the nanowire MIS concept by using it to make silicon solar cells with a measured energy conversion efficiency of 7% (∼11% after correction), an effective open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 560 mV and estimated short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 33 mA/cm(2). Furthermore, we show that the metal nanowire network can serve additionally as an etch mask to pattern inverted nanopyramids, decreasing the reflectivity substantially from 36% to ∼4%. Our extensive analysis points out a path toward nanowire based MIS solar cells that exhibit both high Voc and Jsc values.

Polymer thin film as coating layer to prevent corrosion of metal/metal oxide film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarkar, Suman; Kundu, Sarathi

2018-04-01

Thin film of polymer is used as coating layer and the corrosion of metal/metal oxide layer is studied with the variation of the thickness of the coating layer. The thin layer of polystyrene is fabricated using spin coating method on copper oxide (CuO) film which is deposited on glass substrate using DC magnetron sputtering technique. Thickness of the polystyrene and the CuO layers are determined using X-ray reflectivity (XRR) technique. CuO thin films coated with the polystyrene layer are exposed to acetic acid (2.5 v/v% aqueous CH3COOH solution) environments and are subsequently analyzed using UV-Vis spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Surface morphology of the film before and after interaction with the acidic environment is determined using AFM. Results obtained from the XRR and UV-Vis spectroscopy confirm that the thin film of polystyrene acts as an anticorrosion coating layer and the strength of the coating depends upon the polymer layer thickness at a constant acid concentration.

Resistive switching based on filaments in metal/PMMA/metal thin film devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wolf, Christoph; Nau, Sebastian; Sax, Stefan; Busby, Yan; Pireaux, Jean-Jacques; List-Kratochvil, Emil J. W.

2015-12-01

The working mechanism of unipolar organic resistive switching thin-film devices is investigated. On the basis of a metal/poly(methyl methacrylate)/metal model system, direct spectroscopic evidence for filament formation is obtained by three-dimensional (3D) imaging with time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. By means of alternative fabrication methods the claimed influence of metal implantation in the organic layer during fabrication is ruled out. Further, the stability of the resistive switches under oxygen and humidity is investigated leading to a deeper understanding of the processes governing the formation and rupture of filaments.

Quantifying metal artefact reduction using virtual monochromatic dual-layer detector spectral CT imaging in unilateral and bilateral total hip prostheses.

PubMed

Wellenberg, R H H; Boomsma, M F; van Osch, J A C; Vlassenbroek, A; Milles, J; Edens, M A; Streekstra, G J; Slump, C H; Maas, M

2017-03-01

To quantify the impact of prosthesis material and design on the reduction of metal artefacts in total hip arthroplasties using virtual monochromatic dual-layer detector Spectral CT imaging. The water-filled total hip arthroplasty phantom was scanned on a novel 128-slice Philips IQon dual-layer detector Spectral CT scanner at 120-kVp and 140-kVp at a standard computed tomography dose index of 20.0mGy. Several unilateral and bilateral hip prostheses consisting of different metal alloys were inserted and combined which were surrounded by 18 hydroxyapatite calcium carbonate pellets representing bone. Images were reconstructed with iterative reconstruction and analysed at monochromatic energies ranging from 40 to 200keV. CT numbers in Hounsfield Units (HU), noise measured as the standard deviation in HU, signal-to-noise-ratios (SNRs) and contrast-to-noise-ratios (CNRs) were analysed within fixed regions-of-interests placed in and around the pellets. In 70 and 74keV virtual monochromatic images the CT numbers of the pellets were similar to 120-kVp and 140-kVp polychromatic results, therefore serving as reference. A separation into three categories of metal artefacts was made (no, mild/moderate and severe) where pellets were categorized based on HU deviations. At high keV values overall image contrast was reduced. For mild/moderate artefacts, the highest average CNRs were attained with virtual monochromatic 130keV images, acquired at 140-kVp. Severe metal artefacts were not reduced. In 130keV images, only mild/moderate metal artefacts were significantly reduced compared to 70 and 74keV images. Deviations in CT numbers, noise, SNRs and CNRs due to metal artefacts were decreased with respectively 64%, 57%, 62% and 63% (p<0.001) compared to unaffected pellets. Optimal keVs, based on CNRs, for different unilateral and bilateral metal hip prostheses consisting of different metal alloys varied from 74 to 150keV. The Titanium alloy resulted in less severe artefacts and were reduced more effectively compared to the Cobalt alloy. Virtual monochromatic dual-layer Spectral CT imaging results in a significant reduction of streak artefacts produced by beam-hardening in mild and moderate artefacts by improving CT number accuracy, SNRs and CNRs, while decreasing noise values in a total hip arthroplasty phantom. An optimal monochromatic energy of 130keV was found ranging from 74keV to 150keV for different unilateral and bilateral hip prostheses consisting of different metal alloys. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influences of metal ions crosslinked alginate based coatings on thermal stability and fire resistance of cotton fabrics.

PubMed

Pan, Ying; Wang, Wei; Liu, Longxiang; Ge, Hua; Song, Lei; Hu, Yuan

2017-08-15

Bio-based and phosphorus-free coating was fabricated by layer-by-layer assembly method to obtain the flame retardant cotton fabric. For the first time, the modified cotton fabrics were prepared by utilizing positively charged polyethylenimine and negatively charged alginate together with subsequent crosslinking of barium, nickel and cobalt ions. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray demonstrated that the metal ions crosslinked coating was successfully constructed on the substrate. The thermal stability and flame retardancy were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and horizontal flame tests. TGA results showed that the degradation of the coated cotton fabrics were retarded at high temperature and the char residue of the cotton fabrics were improved after covered with the barium, nickel and cobalt ions crosslinked coatings. Furthermore, the fire resistance of cotton-Ba sample was enhanced significantly compared with the untreated sample, as evidenced by the obvious reduction (28%) of flame spread rate and complete char residue. Finally, the washing durability of coating on the fabric was enhanced after metal ions crosslinked with alginate based coating. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Electroless deposition process for zirconium and zirconium alloys

DOEpatents

Donaghy, R. E.; Sherman, A. H.

1981-08-18

A method is disclosed for preventing stress corrosion cracking or metal embrittlement of a zirconium or zirconium alloy container that is to be coated on the inside surface with a layer of a metal such as copper, a copper alloy, nickel, or iron and used for holding nuclear fuel material as a nuclear fuel element. The zirconium material is etched in an etchant solution, desmutted mechanically or ultrasonically, oxidized to form an oxide coating on the zirconium, cleaned in an aqueous alkaline cleaning solution, activated for electroless deposition of a metal layer and contacted with an electroless metal plating solution. This method provides a boundary layer of zirconium oxide between the zirconium container and the metal layer. 1 fig.

Electroless deposition process for zirconium and zirconium alloys

DOEpatents

Donaghy, Robert E.; Sherman, Anna H.

1981-01-01

A method is disclosed for preventing stress corrosion cracking or metal embrittlement of a zirconium or zirconium alloy container that is to be coated on the inside surface with a layer of a metal such as copper, a copper alloy, nickel, or iron and used for holding nuclear fuel material as a nuclear fuel element. The zirconium material is etched in an etchant solution, desmutted mechanically or ultrasonically, oxidized to form an oxide coating on the zirconium, cleaned in an aqueous alkaline cleaning solution, activated for electroless deposition of a metal layer and contacted with an electroless metal plating solution. This method provides a boundary layer of zirconium oxide between the zirconium container and the metal layer.

Conversion coatings prepared or treated with calcium hydroxide solutions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maxey, Jason (Inventor); Nelson, Carl (Inventor); Eylem, Cahit (Inventor); Minevski, Zoran (Inventor); Clarke, Eric (Inventor)

2002-01-01

A conversion coating process that forms a stable and corrosion-resistant oxide layer on metal or metal oxide substrates or layers. Particularly, the conversion coating process involves contacting the metal or metal oxide substrate or layer with the aqueous calcium hydroxide solutions in order to convert the surface of the substrate to a stable metal oxide layer or coating. According to the present invention, the calcium hydroxide solution is prepared by removing carbon dioxide from water or an aqueous solution before introducing the calcium hydroxide. In this manner, formation of calcium carbonate particles is avoided and the porosity of the conversion coating produced by the calcium hydroxide solution is reduced to below about 1%.

Plasmonic enhancement of second-harmonic generation of dielectric layer embedded in metal-dielectric-metal structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Byungjun; Imakita, Kenji; Fujii, Minoru; Hayashi, Shinji

2018-03-01

The enhancement of second-harmonic generation from a dielectric layer embedded in a metal-dielectric-metal structure upon excitation of surface plasmon polaritons is demonstrated experimentally. The metal-dielectric-metal structure consisting of a Gex(SiO2)1-x layer sandwiched by two Ag layers was prepared, and the surface plasmon polaritons were excited in an attenuated total reflection geometry. The measured attenuated total reflection spectra exhibited two reflection dips corresponding to the excitation of two different surface plasmon polariton modes. Strong second-harmonic signals were observed under the excitation of these surface plasmon polariton modes. The results demonstrate that the second-harmonic intensity of the Gex(SiO2)1-x layer is highly enhanced relative to that of the single layer deposited on a substrate. Under the excitation of one of the two surface plasmon polariton modes, the estimated enhancement factor falls in a range between 39.9 and 171, while under the excitation of the other surface plasmon polariton mode, it falls in a range between 3.96 and 84.6.

Multi-layer light-weight protective coating and method for application

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wiedemann, Karl E. (Inventor); Clark, Ronald K. (Inventor); Taylor, Patrick J. (Inventor)

1992-01-01

A thin, light-weight, multi-layer coating is provided for protecting metals and their alloys from environmental attack at high temperatures. A reaction barrier is applied to the metal substrate and a diffusion barrier is then applied to the reaction barrier. A sealant layer may also be applied to the diffusion barrier if desired. The reaction barrier is either non-reactive or passivating with respect to the metal substrate and the diffusion barrier. The diffusion barrier is either non-reactive or passivating with respect to the reaction barrier and the sealant layer. The sealant layer is immiscible with the diffusion barrier and has a softening point below the expected use temperature of the metal.

Method of making an electrode

DOEpatents

Isenberg, Arnold O.

1986-01-01

Disclosed is a method of coating an electrode on a solid oxygen conductive oxide layer. A coating of particles of an electronic conductor is formed on one surface of the oxide layer and a source of oxygen is applied to the opposite surface of the oxide layer. A metal halide vapor is applied over the electronic conductor and the oxide layer is heated to a temperature sufficient to induce oxygen to diffuse through the oxide layer and react with the metal halide vapor. This results in the growing of a metal oxide coating on the particles of electronic conductor, thereby binding them to the oxide layer.

Chemical solution deposition method of fabricating highly aligned MgO templates

DOEpatents

Paranthaman, Mariappan Parans [Knoxville, TN; Sathyamurthy, Srivatsan [Knoxville, TN; Aytug, Tolga [Knoxville, TN; Arendt, Paul N [Los Alamos, NM; Stan, Liliana [Los Alamos, NM; Foltyn, Stephen R [Los Alamos, NM

2012-01-03

A superconducting article includes a substrate having an untextured metal surface; an untextured barrier layer of La.sub.2Zr.sub.2O.sub.7 or Gd.sub.2Zr.sub.2O.sub.7 supported by and in contact with the surface of the substrate; a biaxially textured buffer layer supported by the untextured barrier layer; and a biaxially textured superconducting layer supported by the biaxially textured buffer layer. Moreover, a method of forming a buffer layer on a metal substrate includes the steps of: providing a substrate having an untextured metal surface; coating the surface of the substrate with a barrier layer precursor; converting the precursor to an untextured barrier layer; and depositing a biaxially textured buffer layer above and supported by the untextured barrier layer.

The Surface Structure of Ground Metal Crystals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boas, W.; Schmid, E.

1944-01-01

The changes produced on metallic surfaces as a result of grinding and polishing are not as yet fully understood. Undoubtedly there is some more or less marked change in the crystal structure, at least, in the top layer. Hereby a diffusion of separated crystal particles may be involved, or, on plastic material, the formation of a layer in greatly deformed state, with possible recrystallization in certain conditions. Czochralski verified the existence of such a layer on tin micro-sections by successive observations of the texture after repeated etching; while Thomassen established, roentgenographically by means of the Debye-Scherrer method, the existence of diffused crystal fractions on the surface of ground and polished tin bars, which he had already observed after turning (on the lathe). (Thickness of this layer - 0.07 mm). Whether this layer borders direct on the undamaged base material or whether deformed intermediate layers form the transition, nothing is known. One observation ty Sachs and Shoji simply states that after the turning of an alpha-brass crystal the disturbance starting from the surface, penetrates fairly deep (approx. 1 mm) into the crystal (proof by recrystallization at 750 C).

Ultrahigh-Gain Photodetectors Based on Atomically Thin Graphene-MoS2 Heterostructures

PubMed Central

Zhang, Wenjing; Chuu, Chih-Piao; Huang, Jing-Kai; Chen, Chang-Hsiao; Tsai, Meng-Lin; Chang, Yung-Huang; Liang, Chi-Te; Chen, Yu-Ze; Chueh, Yu-Lun; He, Jr-Hau; Chou, Mei-Yin; Li, Lain-Jong

2014-01-01

Due to its high carrier mobility, broadband absorption, and fast response time, the semi-metallic graphene is attractive for optoelectronics. Another two-dimensional semiconducting material molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is also known as light- sensitive. Here we show that a large-area and continuous MoS2 monolayer is achievable using a CVD method and graphene is transferable onto MoS2. We demonstrate that a photodetector based on the graphene/MoS2 heterostructure is able to provide a high photogain greater than 108. Our experiments show that the electron-hole pairs are produced in the MoS2 layer after light absorption and subsequently separated across the layers. Contradictory to the expectation based on the conventional built-in electric field model for metal-semiconductor contacts, photoelectrons are injected into the graphene layer rather than trapped in MoS2 due to the presence of a perpendicular effective electric field caused by the combination of the built-in electric field, the applied electrostatic field, and charged impurities or adsorbates, resulting in a tuneable photoresponsivity. PMID:24451916

Investigation of ITO free transparent conducting polymer based electrode

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sharma, Vikas; Sapna,; Sachdev, Kanupriya

2016-05-23

The last few decades have seen a significant improvement in organic semiconductor technology related to solar cell, light emitting diode and display panels. The material and structure of the transparent electrode is one of the major concerns for superior performance of devices such as OPV, OLED, touch screen and LCD display. Commonly used ITO is now restricted due to scarcity of indium, its poor mechanical properties and rigidity, and mismatch of energy levels with the active layer. Nowadays DMD (dielectric-metal-dielectric) structure is one of the prominent candidates as alternatives to ITO based electrode. We have used solution based spin coatedmore » polymer layer as the dielectric layer with silver thin film embedded in between to make a polymer-metal-polymer (PMP) structure for TCE applications. The PMP structure shows low resistivity (2.3 x 10{sup −4}Ω-cm), high carrier concentration (2.9 x 10{sup 21} cm{sup −3}) and moderate transparency. The multilayer PMP structure is characterized with XRD, AFM and Hall measurement to prove its suitability for opto-electronic device applications.« less

Study of plasmonics in hybrids made from a quantum emitter and double metallic nanoshell dimer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Jiaohan; Black, Kevin; Hu, Jiawen; Singh, Mahi

2018-05-01

We developed a theory for the fluorescence (FL) for quantum emitter and double metallic nanoshell dimer hybrids using the density matrix method. The dimer is made from two identical double metallic nanoshells, which are made of a dielectric core, a gold metallic shell and a dielectric spacer layer. The quantum emitters are deposited on the surface of the spacer layers of the dimers due to the electrostatic absorptions. We consider that dimer hybrids are surrounded by biological cells. This can be achieved by injecting them into human or animal cells. The surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) are calculated for the dimer using Maxwell’s equations in the static wave approximation. The calculated SPP energy agrees with experimental data from Zhai et al (2017 Plasmonics 12 263) for the dimer made from a silica core, a gold metallic nanoshell and a silica spacer layer. We have also obtained an analytical expression of the FL using the density matrix method. We compare our theory with FL experimental data from Zhai et al (2017 Plasmonics 12 263) where the FL spectrum was measured by varying the thickness of the spacer layer from 9 nm to 40 nm. A good agreement between theory and experiment is found. We have shown that the enhancement of the FL increases as the thickness of the spacer layer decreases. We have also found that the enhancement of the FL increases as the distance between the double metallic nanoshells in the dimer decreases. These are interesting findings which are consistent with the experiments of Zhai et al (2017 Plasmonics 12 263) and can be used to control the FL enhancement in the FL-based biomedical imaging and cancer treatment. These interesting findings may also be useful in the fabrication of nanosensors and nanoswitches for applications in medicine.

Iron-Terephthalate Coordination Network Thin Films Through In-Situ Atomic/Molecular Layer Deposition.

PubMed

Tanskanen, A; Karppinen, M

2018-06-12

Iron terephthalate coordination network thin films can be fabricated using the state-of-the-art gas-phase atomic/molecular layer deposition (ALD/MLD) technique in a highly controlled manner. Iron is an Earth-abundant and nonhazardous transition metal, and with its rich variety of potential applications an interesting metal constituent for the inorganic-organic coordination network films. Our work underlines the role of the metal precursor used when aiming at in-situ ALD/MLD growth of crystalline inorganic-organic thin films. We obtain crystalline iron terephthalate films when FeCl 3 is employed as the iron source whereas depositions based on the bulkier Fe(acac) 3 precursor yield amorphous films. The chemical composition and structure of the films are investigated with GIXRD, XRR, FTIR and XPS.

DC voltage fields generated by RF plasmas and their influence on film growth morphology through static attraction to metal wetting layers: Beyond ion bombardment effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Butcher, K. S. A.; Terziyska, P. T.; Gergova, R.; Georgiev, V.; Georgieva, D.; Binsted, P. W.; Skerget, S.

2017-01-01

It is shown that attractive electrostatic interactions between regions of positive charge in RF plasmas and the negative charge of metal wetting layers, present during compound semiconductor film growth, can have a greater influence than substrate temperature on film morphology. Using GaN and InN film growth as examples, the DC field component of a remote RF plasma is demonstrated to electrostatically affect metal wetting layers to the point of actually determining the mode of film growth. Examples of enhanced self-seeded nanopillar growth are provided in the case where the substrate is directly exposed to the DC field generated by the plasma. In another case, we show that electrostatic shielding of the DC field from the substrate can result in the growth of Ga-face GaN layers from gallium metal wetting layers at 490 °C with root-mean-square roughness values as low as 0.6 nm. This study has been carried out using a migration enhanced deposition technique with pulsed delivery of the metal precursor allowing the identification of metal wetting layers versus metal droplets as a function of the quantity of metal source delivered per cycle. It is also shown that electrostatic interactions with the plasma can affect metal rich growth limits, causing metal droplet formation for lower metal flux than would otherwise occur. Accordingly, film growth rates can be increased when shielding the substrate from the positive charge region of the plasma. For the example shown here, growth rates were more than doubled using a shielding grid.

The effect of a Ta oxygen scavenger layer on HfO 2-based resistive switching behavior: Thermodynamic stability, electronic structure, and low-bias transport

DOE PAGES

Zhong, Xiaoliang; Rungger, Ivan; Zapol, Peter; ...

2016-02-15

Reversible resistive switching between high-resistance and low-resistance states in metal-oxide-metal heterostructures makes them very interesting for applications in random access memories. While recent experimental work has shown that inserting a metallic "oxygen scavenger layer'' between the positive electrode and oxide improves device performance, the fundamental understanding of how the scavenger layer modifies the heterostructure properties is lacking. We use density functional theory to calculate thermodynamic properties and conductance of TiN/HfO 2/TiN heterostructures with and without a Ta scavenger layer. First, we show that Ta insertion lowers the formation energy of low-resistance states. Second, while the Ta scavenger layer reduces themore » Schottky barrier height in the high-resistance state by modifying the interface charge at the oxide-electrode interface, the heterostructure maintains a high resistance ratio between high-and low-resistance states. Lastly, we show that the low-bias conductance of device on-states becomes much less sensitive to the spatial distribution of oxygen removed from the HfO 2 in the presence of the Ta layer. By providing a fundamental understanding of the observed improvements with scavenger layers, we open a path to engineer interfaces with oxygen scavenger layers to control and enhance device performance. In turn, this may enable the realization of a non-volatile low-power memory technology with concomitant reduction in energy consumption by consumer electronics and offering significant benefits to society.« less

Electrochemical Deposition of Conformal and Functional Layers on High Aspect Ratio Silicon Micro/Nanowires.

PubMed

Ozel, Tuncay; Zhang, Benjamin A; Gao, Ruixuan; Day, Robert W; Lieber, Charles M; Nocera, Daniel G

2017-07-12

Development of new synthetic methods for the modification of nanostructures has accelerated materials design advances to furnish complex architectures. Structures based on one-dimensional (1D) silicon (Si) structures synthesized using top-down and bottom-up methods are especially prominent for diverse applications in chemistry, physics, and medicine. Yet further elaboration of these structures with distinct metal-based and polymeric materials, which could open up new opportunities, has been difficult. We present a general electrochemical method for the deposition of conformal layers of various materials onto high aspect ratio Si micro- and nanowire arrays. The electrochemical deposition of a library of coaxial layers comprising metals, metal oxides, and organic/inorganic semiconductors demonstrate the materials generality of the synthesis technique. Depositions may be performed on wire arrays with varying diameter (70 nm to 4 μm), pitch (5 μ to 15 μ), aspect ratio (4:1 to 75:1), shape (cylindrical, conical, hourglass), resistivity (0.001-0.01 to 1-10 ohm/cm 2 ), and substrate orientation. Anisotropic physical etching of wires with one or more coaxial shells yields 1D structures with exposed tips that can be further site-specifically modified by an electrochemical deposition approach. The electrochemical deposition methodology described herein features a wafer-scale synthesis platform for the preparation of multifunctional nanoscale devices based on a 1D Si substrate.

Interactions between C and Cu atoms in single-layer graphene: direct observation and modelling.

PubMed

Kano, Emi; Hashimoto, Ayako; Kaneko, Tomoaki; Tajima, Nobuo; Ohno, Takahisa; Takeguchi, Masaki

2016-01-07

Metal doping into the graphene lattice has been studied recently to develop novel nanoelectronic devices and to gain an understanding of the catalytic activities of metals in nanocarbon structures. Here we report the direct observation of interactions between Cu atoms and single-layer graphene by transmission electron microscopy. We document stable configurations of Cu atoms in the graphene sheet and unique transformations of graphene promoted by Cu atoms. First-principles calculations based on density functional theory reveal a reduction of energy barrier that caused rotation of C-C bonds near Cu atoms. We discuss two driving forces, electron irradiation and in situ heating, and conclude that the observed transformations were mainly promoted by electron irradiation. Our results suggest that individual Cu atoms can promote reconstruction of single-layer graphene.

Metal deposition by electroless plating on polydopamine functionalized micro- and nanoparticles.

PubMed

Mondin, Giovanni; Wisser, Florian M; Leifert, Annika; Mohamed-Noriega, Nasser; Grothe, Julia; Dörfler, Susanne; Kaskel, Stefan

2013-12-01

A novel approach for the fabrication of metal coated micro- and nanoparticles by functionalization with a thin polydopamine layer followed by electroless plating is reported. The particles are initially coated with polydopamine via self-polymerization. The resulting polydopamine coated particles have a surface rich in catechols and amino groups, resulting in a high affinity toward metal ions. Thus, they provide an effective platform for selective electroless metal deposition without further activation and sensitization steps. The combination of a polydopamine-based functionalization with electroless plating ensures a simple, scalable, and cost-effective metal coating strategy. Silver-plated tungsten carbide microparticles, copper-plated tungsten carbide microparticles, and copper-plated alumina nanoparticles were successfully fabricated, showing also the high versatility of the method, since the polymerization of dopamine leads to the formation of an adherent polydopamine layer on the surface of particles of any material and size. The metal coated particles produced with this process are particularly well suited for the production of metal matrix composites, since the metal coating increases the wettability of the particles by the metal, promoting their integration within the matrix. Such composite materials are used in a variety of applications including electrical contacts, components for the automotive industries, magnets, and electromagnetic interference shielding. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Monolayer and/or few-layer graphene on metal or metal-coated substrates

DOEpatents

Sutter, Peter Werner; Sutter, Eli Anguelova

2015-04-14

Disclosed is monolayer and/or few-layer graphene on metal or metal-coated substrates. Embodiments include graphene mirrors. In an example, a mirror includes a substrate that has a surface exhibiting a curvature operable to focus an incident beam onto a focal plane. A graphene layer conformally adheres to the substrate, and is operable to protect the substrate surface from degradation due to the incident beam and an ambient environment.

Thermally stable diamond brazing

DOEpatents

Radtke, Robert P [Kingwood, TX

2009-02-10

A cutting element and a method for forming a cutting element is described and shown. The cutting element includes a substrate, a TSP diamond layer, a metal interlayer between the substrate and the diamond layer, and a braze joint securing the diamond layer to the substrate. The thickness of the metal interlayer is determined according to a formula. The formula takes into account the thickness and modulus of elasticity of the metal interlayer and the thickness of the TSP diamond. This prevents the use of a too thin or too thick metal interlayer. A metal interlayer that is too thin is not capable of absorbing enough energy to prevent the TSP diamond from fracturing. A metal interlayer that is too thick may allow the TSP diamond to fracture by reason of bending stress. A coating may be provided between the TSP diamond layer and the metal interlayer. This coating serves as a thermal barrier and to control residual thermal stress.

Fluorine compounds for doping conductive oxide thin films

DOEpatents

Gessert, Tim; Li, Xiaonan; Barnes, Teresa M; Torres, Jr., Robert; Wyse, Carrie L

2013-04-23

Methods of forming a conductive fluorine-doped metal oxide layer on a substrate by chemical vapor deposition are described. The methods may include heating the substrate in a processing chamber, and introducing a metal-containing precursor and a fluorine-containing precursor to the processing chamber. The methods may also include adding an oxygen-containing precursor to the processing chamber. The precursors are reacted to deposit the fluorine-doped metal oxide layer on the substrate. Methods may also include forming the conductive fluorine-doped metal oxide layer by plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition. These methods may include providing the substrate in a processing chamber, and introducing a metal-containing precursor, and a fluorine-containing precursor to the processing chamber. A plasma may be formed that includes species from the metal-containing precursor and the fluorine-containing precursor. The species may react to deposit the fluorine-doped metal oxide layer on the substrate.

Directed Self-Assembly of Diblock Copolymer Thin Films on Prepatterned Metal Nanoarrays.

PubMed

Chang, Tongxin; Huang, Haiying; He, Tianbai

2016-01-01

The sequential layer by layer self-assembly of block copolymer (BCP) nanopatterns is an effective approach to construct 3D nanostructures. Here large-scale highly ordered metal nano-arrays prepared from solvent annealed thin films of polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P2VP) diblock copolymer are used to direct the assembly of the same BCP. The influence of initial loading concentration of metal precursor, the type of metal nanoparticle (gold, platinum, and silver), and the nanoparticle-substrate interaction on the directed assembly behavior of the upper BCP layer have been focused. It is found that the upper BCP film can be completely directed by the gold nanoarray with P2VP domain exclusively located between two adjacent gold nanowires or nanodots, which behaves the same way as on the platinum nanoarray. While the silver nanoarray can be destroyed during the upper BCP self-assembly with the silver nanoparticles assembled into the P2VP domain. Based on the discussions of the surface energy of nanoparticles and the interplay between nanoparticle-substrate interaction and nanoparticle-polymer interaction, it is concluded that the effect of immobilization of nanoparticles on the substrate, together with entropy effect to minimize the energetically unfavorable chain stretching contributes to the most effective alignment between each layer. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

ISO Guest Observer Data Analysis and LWS Instrument Team Activities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Howard

2002-01-01

This project was granted a no-cost extension prompted by the request of the major subcontractor, the Naval Research Laboratory, which had not yet completed its tasks. As of July 2002, they had made substantial progress. They have successfully fabricated a metal mesh grid on polyimide, and also successfully fabricated a 2-layer metal mesh infrared filter using stacks of these metal mesh grids on polyimide; the actual layering was done at SAO. Both warm and cold spectroscopic tests were done on these fabricated devices. The measurements were in good agreement with the theory, and also reasonable performance in absolute terms. NRL is now working on fabricating a 3-layer metal mesh infrared filter, and a prototype is expected in the next month. Testing should occur before the end of the fiscal year. Finally, NRL has preliminarily agreed to hire a new postdoctoral person to refine the modeling of the filters based on the new measurements. The person should arrive this fall. NRL has a new Fourier Transform Spectrometer which will be delivered in the next month, and which will be used to facilitate the testing which has up to now been done in collaboration with NASA Goddard Space Flight Space Center.

Graphene/MoS2 heterostructures as templates for growing two-dimensional metals: Predictions from ab initio calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Šljivančanin, Željko; Belić, Milivoj

2017-09-01

Preparation of single-atom-thick layers of ordinary metals has been a challenging task since their closely packed atoms lack layered structure with highly anisotropic bonding. Using computational modeling based on density functional theory we showed that graphene/MoS2 heterostructures can be used as suitable templates to grow stable two-dimensional (2D) clusters, as well as extended monoatomic layers of metals with nonlayered structure in the bulk. Considering gold and lithium as two metals with markedly different properties, we found that Li intercalants strengthen coupling between graphene (G) and MoS2, mainly due to electrostatic attraction of 2D materials with positively charged Li atoms. However, intercalation with large Au atoms gives rise to a significant increase in the distance between G and MoS2 and thus, weakens their interaction. In addition to strong preference for 2D growth, we demonstrated that Au intercalants weakly interact with both G and MoS2, and hence G /MoS2 vertical heterostructures could be a promising framework to prepare gold 2D structures with electronic properties closely resembling those of the hypothetical free-standing hexagonal gold monolayer.

The original colours of fossil beetles

PubMed Central

McNamara, Maria E.; Briggs, Derek E. G.; Orr, Patrick J.; Noh, Heeso; Cao, Hui

2012-01-01

Structural colours, the most intense, reflective and pure colours in nature, are generated when light is scattered by complex nanostructures. Metallic structural colours are widespread among modern insects and can be preserved in their fossil counterparts, but it is unclear whether the colours have been altered during fossilization, and whether the absence of colours is always real. To resolve these issues, we investigated fossil beetles from five Cenozoic biotas. Metallic colours in these specimens are generated by an epicuticular multi-layer reflector; the fidelity of its preservation correlates with that of other key cuticular ultrastructures. Where these other ultrastructures are well preserved in non-metallic fossil specimens, we can infer that the original cuticle lacked a multi-layer reflector; its absence in the fossil is not a preservational artefact. Reconstructions of the original colours of the fossils based on the structure of the multi-layer reflector show that the preserved colours are offset systematically to longer wavelengths; this probably reflects alteration of the refractive index of the epicuticle during fossilization. These findings will allow the former presence, and original hue, of metallic structural colours to be identified in diverse fossil insects, thus providing critical evidence of the evolution of structural colour in this group. PMID:21957131

The original colours of fossil beetles.

PubMed

McNamara, Maria E; Briggs, Derek E G; Orr, Patrick J; Noh, Heeso; Cao, Hui

2012-03-22

Structural colours, the most intense, reflective and pure colours in nature, are generated when light is scattered by complex nanostructures. Metallic structural colours are widespread among modern insects and can be preserved in their fossil counterparts, but it is unclear whether the colours have been altered during fossilization, and whether the absence of colours is always real. To resolve these issues, we investigated fossil beetles from five Cenozoic biotas. Metallic colours in these specimens are generated by an epicuticular multi-layer reflector; the fidelity of its preservation correlates with that of other key cuticular ultrastructures. Where these other ultrastructures are well preserved in non-metallic fossil specimens, we can infer that the original cuticle lacked a multi-layer reflector; its absence in the fossil is not a preservational artefact. Reconstructions of the original colours of the fossils based on the structure of the multi-layer reflector show that the preserved colours are offset systematically to longer wavelengths; this probably reflects alteration of the refractive index of the epicuticle during fossilization. These findings will allow the former presence, and original hue, of metallic structural colours to be identified in diverse fossil insects, thus providing critical evidence of the evolution of structural colour in this group.

The effect of heat treatment simulating porcelain firing processes on titanium corrosion resistance.

PubMed

Sokołowski, Grzegorz; Rylska, Dorota; Sokołowski, Jerzy

2016-01-01

Corrosion resistance of titanium used in metal-ceramic restorations in manufacturing is based on the presence of oxide layer on the metal surface. The procedures used during combining metallic material with porcelain may affect the changes in oxide layers structure, and thus anticorrosive properties of metallic material. The aim of the study was an evaluation of potential changes in the structure and selected corrosion properties of titanium after sandblasting and thermal treatment applicable to the processes of ceramics fusion. Milled titanium elements were subjected to a few variants of the processes typical of ceramics fusion and studied in terms of resistance to electrochemical corrosion. The study included the OCP changes over time, measurements of Icorr, Ecorr and Rp as well as potentiodynamic examinations. Surface microstructure and chemical composition were analyzed using SEM and EDS methods. The results obtained allow us to conclude that the processes corresponding to ceramic oxidation and fusion on titanium in the variants used in the study do not cause deterioration of its anticorrosive properties, and partially enhance the resistance. This depends on the quality of oxide layers structure. Titanium elements treated by porcelain firing processes do not lose their corrosion resistance.

Self Assembly of Nano Metric Metallic Particles for Realization of Photonic and Electronic Nano Transistors

PubMed Central

Shahmoon, Asaf; Limon, Ofer; Girshevitz, Olga; Zalevsky, Zeev

2010-01-01

In this paper, we present the self assembly procedure as well as experimental results of a novel method for constructing well defined arrangements of self assembly metallic nano particles into sophisticated nano structures. The self assembly concept is based on focused ion beam (FIB) technology, where metallic nano particles are self assembled due to implantation of positive gallium ions into the insulating material (e.g., silica as in silicon on insulator wafers) that acts as intermediary layer between the substrate and the negatively charge metallic nanoparticles. PMID:20559513

Self assembly of nano metric metallic particles for realization of photonic and electronic nano transistors.

PubMed

Shahmoon, Asaf; Limon, Ofer; Girshevitz, Olga; Zalevsky, Zeev

2010-05-25

In this paper, we present the self assembly procedure as well as experimental results of a novel method for constructing well defined arrangements of self assembly metallic nano particles into sophisticated nano structures. The self assembly concept is based on focused ion beam (FIB) technology, where metallic nano particles are self assembled due to implantation of positive gallium ions into the insulating material (e.g., silica as in silicon on insulator wafers) that acts as intermediary layer between the substrate and the negatively charge metallic nanoparticles.

Supramolecular self-assembly of graphene oxide and metal nanoparticles into stacked multilayers by means of a multitasking protein ring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ardini, Matteo; Golia, Giordana; Passaretti, Paolo; Cimini, Annamaria; Pitari, Giuseppina; Giansanti, Francesco; Leandro, Luana Di; Ottaviano, Luca; Perrozzi, Francesco; Santucci, Sandro; Morandi, Vittorio; Ortolani, Luca; Christian, Meganne; Treossi, Emanuele; Palermo, Vincenzo; Angelucci, Francesco; Ippoliti, Rodolfo

2016-03-01

Graphene oxide (GO) is rapidly emerging worldwide as a breakthrough precursor material for next-generation devices. However, this requires the transition of its two-dimensional layered structure into more accessible three-dimensional (3D) arrays. Peroxiredoxins (Prx) are a family of multitasking redox enzymes, self-assembling into ring-like architectures. Taking advantage of both their symmetric structure and function, 3D reduced GO-based composites are hereby built up. Results reveal that the ``double-faced'' Prx rings can adhere flat on single GO layers and partially reduce them by their sulfur-containing amino acids, driving their stacking into 3D multi-layer reduced GO-Prx composites. This process occurs in aqueous solution at a very low GO concentration, i.e. 0.2 mg ml-1. Further, protein engineering allows the Prx ring to be enriched with metal binding sites inside its lumen. This feature is exploited to both capture presynthesized gold nanoparticles and grow in situ palladium nanoparticles paving the way to straightforward and ``green'' routes to 3D reduced GO-metal composite materials.Graphene oxide (GO) is rapidly emerging worldwide as a breakthrough precursor material for next-generation devices. However, this requires the transition of its two-dimensional layered structure into more accessible three-dimensional (3D) arrays. Peroxiredoxins (Prx) are a family of multitasking redox enzymes, self-assembling into ring-like architectures. Taking advantage of both their symmetric structure and function, 3D reduced GO-based composites are hereby built up. Results reveal that the ``double-faced'' Prx rings can adhere flat on single GO layers and partially reduce them by their sulfur-containing amino acids, driving their stacking into 3D multi-layer reduced GO-Prx composites. This process occurs in aqueous solution at a very low GO concentration, i.e. 0.2 mg ml-1. Further, protein engineering allows the Prx ring to be enriched with metal binding sites inside its lumen. This feature is exploited to both capture presynthesized gold nanoparticles and grow in situ palladium nanoparticles paving the way to straightforward and ``green'' routes to 3D reduced GO-metal composite materials. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr08632a

Pseudocapacitive and hierarchically ordered porous electrode materials supercapacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saruhan, B.; Gönüllü, Y.; Arndt, B.

2013-05-01

Commercially available double layer capacitors store energy in an electrostatic field. This forms in the form of a double layer by charged particles arranged on two electrodes consisting mostly of active carbon. Such double layer capacitors exhibit a low energy density, so that components with large capacity according to large electrode areas are required. Our research focuses on the development of new electrode materials to realize the production of electrical energy storage systems with high energy density and high power density. Metal oxide based electrodes increase the energy density and the capacitance by addition of pseudo capacitance to the static capacitance present by the double layer super-capacitor electrodes. The so-called hybrid asymmetric cell capacitors combine both types of energy storage in a single component. In this work, the production routes followed in our laboratories for synthesis of nano-porous and aligned metal oxide electrodes using the electrochemical and sputter deposition as well as anodization methods will be described. Our characterisation studies concentrate on electrodes having redox metal-oxides (e.g. MnOx and WOx) and hierarchically aligned nano-porous Li-doped TiO2-NTs. The material specific and electrochemical properties achieved with these electrodes will be presented.

Voc enhancement of a solar cell with doped Li+-PbS as the active layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chávez Portillo, M.; Alvarado Pulido, J.; Gallardo Hernández, S.; Soto Cruz, B. S.; Alcántara Iniesta, S.; Gutiérrez Pérez, R.; Portillo Moreno, O.

2018-06-01

In this report, we investigate the fabrication of solar cells obtained by chemical bath technique, based on CdS as window layer and PbS and PbS-Li+-doped as the active layer. We report open-circuit-voltage Voc values of ∼392 meV for PbS and ∼630 meV for PbSLi+-doped, a remarkable enhanced in the open circuit voltage is shown for solar cells with doped active layer. Li+ ion passivate the dangling bonds in PbS-metal layer interface in consequence reducing the recombination centers.

Laser induced forward transfer of graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smits, Edsger C. P.; Walter, Arnaud; de Leeuw, Dago M.; Asadi, Kamal

2017-10-01

Transfer of graphene and other two-dimensional materials is still a technical challenge. The 2D-materials are typically patterned after transfer, which leads to a major loss of material. Here, we present laser induced forward transfer of chemical vapor deposition grown graphene layers with well-defined shapes and geometries. The transfer is based on photo-decomposition of a triazene-based transfer layer that produces N2 gas, which propels a graphene layer from the donor to the acceptor substrate. The functionality of the graphene-metal junction was verified by realizing functional bottom contact bottom gate field-effect transistors.

Adsorption, hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of C2H on a CoCu bimetallic layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Donghai; Yuan, Jinyun; Yang, Baocheng; Chen, Houyang

2018-05-01

In this paper, adsorption, hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of C2H on a single atomic layer of bimetallic CoCu were investigated using first-principles calculations. The CoCu bimetallic layer is formed by Cu replacement of partial Co atoms on the top layer of a Co(111) surface. Our adsorption and reaction results showed those sites, which have stronger adsorption energy of C2H, possess higher reactivity. The bimetallic layer possesses higher reactivity than either of the pure monometallic layer. A mechanism of higher reactivity of the bimetallic layer is proposed and identified, i.e. in the bimetallic catalyst, the catalytic performance of one component is promoted by the second component, and in our work, the catalytic performance of Co atoms in the bimetallic layer are improved by introducing Cu atoms, lowing the activation barrier of the reaction of C2H. The bimetallic layer could tune adsorption and reaction of C2H by modulating the ratio of Co and Cu. Results of adsorption energies and adsorption configurations reveal that C2H prefers to be adsorbed in parallel on both the pure Co metallic and CoCu bimetallic layers, and Co atoms in subsurface which support the metallic or bimetallic layer have little effect on C2H adsorption. For hydrogenation reactions, the products greatly depend on the concentration and initial positions of hydrogen atoms, and the C2H hydrogenation forming acetylene is more favorable than forming vinylidene in both thermodynamics and kinetics. This study would provide fundamental guidance for hydrocarbon reactions on Co-based and/or Cu-based bimetallic surface chemistry and for development of new bimetallic catalysts.

Simulation of Phonon Spectra in Three-Component Two-Dimensional Crystals of Refractory-Metal Dichalcogenides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alexeev, A. Yu.; Krivosheeva, A. V.; Shaposhnikov, V. L.; Borisenko, V. E.

2017-09-01

A model for ab initio calculation of the phonon properties of three-component solid solutions of refractory-metal dichalcogenides was developed based on the assumption that displacements of the same type of chalcogen atoms and decoupled displacements of the metal atoms were identical. The calculated phonon frequencies at the Γ-point for monomolecular layers of MoS2-xSex and MoS2-xTex agreed with existing experimental Raman spectra.

Precision replenishable grinding tool and manufacturing process

DOEpatents

Makowiecki, D.M.; Kerns, J.A.; Blaedel, K.L.; Colella, N.J.; Davis, P.J.; Juntz, R.S.

1998-06-09

A reusable grinding tool consisting of a replaceable single layer of abrasive particles intimately bonded to a precisely configured tool substrate, and a process for manufacturing the grinding tool are disclosed. The tool substrate may be ceramic or metal and the abrasive particles are preferably diamond, but may be cubic boron nitride. The manufacturing process involves: coating a configured tool substrate with layers of metals, such as titanium, copper and titanium, by physical vapor deposition (PVD); applying the abrasive particles to the coated surface by a slurry technique; and brazing the abrasive particles to the tool substrate by alloying the metal layers. The precision control of the composition and thickness of the metal layers enables the bonding of a single layer or several layers of micron size abrasive particles to the tool surface. By the incorporation of an easily dissolved metal layer in the composition such allows the removal and replacement of the abrasive particles, thereby providing a process for replenishing a precisely machined grinding tool with fine abrasive particles, thus greatly reducing costs as compared to replacing expensive grinding tools. 11 figs.

Precision replenishable grinding tool and manufacturing process

DOEpatents

Makowiecki, Daniel M.; Kerns, John A.; Blaedel, Kenneth L.; Colella, Nicholas J.; Davis, Pete J.; Juntz, Robert S.

1998-01-01

A reusable grinding tool consisting of a replaceable single layer of abrasive particles intimately bonded to a precisely configured tool substrate, and a process for manufacturing the grinding tool. The tool substrate may be ceramic or metal and the abrasive particles are preferably diamond, but may be cubic boron nitride. The manufacturing process involves: coating a configured tool substrate with layers of metals, such as titanium, copper and titanium, by physical vapor deposition (PVD); applying the abrasive particles to the coated surface by a slurry technique; and brazing the abrasive particles to the tool substrate by alloying the metal layers. The precision control of the composition and thickness of the metal layers enables the bonding of a single layer or several layers of micron size abrasive particles to the tool surface. By the incorporation of an easily dissolved metal layer in the composition such allows the removal and replacement of the abrasive particles, thereby providing a process for replenishing a precisely machined grinding tool with fine abrasive particles, thus greatly reducing costs as compared to replacing expensive grinding tools.

Highly Stable Operation of Lithium Metal Batteries Enabled by the Formation of a Transient High Concentration Electrolyte Layer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zheng, Jianming; Yan, Pengfei; Mei, Donghai

2016-02-08

Lithium (Li) metal has been extensively investigated as an anode for rechargeable battery applications due to its ultrahigh specific capacity and the lowest redox potential. However, significant challenges including dendrite growth and low Coulombic efficiency are still hindering the practical applications of rechargeable Li metal batteries. Here, we demonstrate that long-term cycling of Li metal batteries can be realized by the formation of a transient high concentration electrolyte layer near the surface of Li metal anode during high rate discharge process. The highly concentrated Li+ ions in this transient layer will immediately solvate with the available solvent molecules and facilitatemore » the formation of a stable and flexible SEI layer composed of a poly(ethylene carbonate) framework integrated with other organic/inorganic lithium salts. This SEI layer largely suppresses the corrosion of Li metal anode by free organic solvents and enables the long-term operation of Li metal batteries. The fundamental findings in this work provide a new direction for the development and operation of Li metal batteries that could be operated at high current densities for a wide range of applications.« less

Butt Welding of 2205/X65 Bimetallic Sheet and Study on the Inhomogeneity of the Properties of the Welded Joint

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gou, Ning-Nian; Zhang, Jian-Xun; Wang, Jian-Long; Bi, Zong-Yue

2017-04-01

The explosively welded 2205 duplex stainless steel/X65 pipe steel bimetallic sheets were butt jointed by multilayer and multi-pass welding (gas tungsten arc welding for the flyer and gas metal arc welding for the transition and parent layers of the bimetallic sheets). The microstructure and mechanical properties of the welded joint were investigated. The results showed that in the thickness direction, microstructure and mechanical properties of the welded joint exhibited obvious inhomogeneity. The microstructures of parent filler layers consisted of acicular ferrite, widmanstatten ferrite, and a small amount of blocky ferrite. The microstructure of the transition layer and flyer layer consisted of both austenite and ferrite structures; however, the transition layer of weld had a higher volume fraction of austenite. The results of the microhardness test showed that in both weld metal (WM) and heat-affected zone (HAZ) of the parent filler layers, the average hardness decreased with the increasing (from parent filler layer 1 to parent filler layer 3) welding heat input. The results of hardness test also indicated that the hardness of the WM and the HAZ for the flyer and transition layers was equivalent. The tensile test combined with Digital Specklegram Processing Technology demonstrated that the fracturing of the welded joint started at the HAZ of the flyer, and then the fracture grew toward the base metal of the parent flyer near the parent HAZ. The stratified impact test at -5 °C showed that the WM and HAZ of the flyer exhibited lower impact toughness, and the fracture mode was ductile and brittle mixed fracture.

The mesospheric metal layer topside: Examples of simultaneous metal observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Höffner, J.; Friedman, J. S.

2005-09-01

We show examples of common volume observations of three metals by lidar focusing on the altitude of the topside of the meteoric metal layer as described by Höffner and Friedman (H&F) [The mesospheric metal layer topside: a possible connection to meteoroids, Atmos. Chem. Phys. 4 (2004) 801 808]. In contrast to H&F, we will focus on time scales of a few hours and less whereas the previous study examined the seasonally averaged climatological state on time scales of several days or weeks, and we examine the entire topside, whereas H&F focused on data at 113 km. The examples, taken under different observation conditions in 1997 and 1998 at Kühlungsborn, Germany (54°N, 15°E), show that the metal layers can often be observed at altitudes as high as 130 km if the signal is integrated over a period of several hours. Under such conditions it is possible to derive reasonably good metal abundance ratios from nocturnally averaged data, which, in turn, allow the discussion of metal abundance ratios to broaden from a single altitude as discussed in H&F to an altitude range extending as high as 130 km. The examples herein show, for the first time, that it is possible to track the transition in the metal abundance ratios from the main layer to an altitude region that has not been studied in the past by lidar. On shorter time scales, small structures are detectable and observable, sometimes above 120 km, resulting in, on average, a broad but weak topside layer above 105 km. In particular, the example of 26 27 October 1997, obtained during enhanced meteor activity, is an indication that this broad layer may result from meteor ablation occurring in this altitude range during the observation. Ratios of metal densities for Ca, Fe, K, and Na are remarkably consistent above about 110 km and in close agreement with the results of H&F. They are less consistent with ratios measured in individual meteor trails and appear to have little relation to the ratios measured in CI meteorites. Finally, it is the temporal smoothing of descending sporadic metal atom layers on top of an undisturbed background metal layer that is the basis of the summer topside extension as described by H&F.

Recent Advances in Pd-Based Membranes for Membrane Reactors.

PubMed

Arratibel Plazaola, Alba; Pacheco Tanaka, David Alfredo; Van Sint Annaland, Martin; Gallucci, Fausto

2017-01-01

Palladium-based membranes for hydrogen separation have been studied by several research groups during the last 40 years. Much effort has been dedicated to improving the hydrogen flux of these membranes employing different alloys, supports, deposition/production techniques, etc. High flux and cheap membranes, yet stable at different operating conditions are required for their exploitation at industrial scale. The integration of membranes in multifunctional reactors (membrane reactors) poses additional demands on the membranes as interactions at different levels between the catalyst and the membrane surface can occur. Particularly, when employing the membranes in fluidized bed reactors, the selective layer should be resistant to or protected against erosion. In this review we will also describe a novel kind of membranes, the pore-filled type membranes prepared by Pacheco Tanaka and coworkers that represent a possible solution to integrate thin selective membranes into membrane reactors while protecting the selective layer. This work is focused on recent advances on metallic supports, materials used as an intermetallic diffusion layer when metallic supports are used and the most recent advances on Pd-based composite membranes. Particular attention is paid to improvements on sulfur resistance of Pd based membranes, resistance to hydrogen embrittlement and stability at high temperature.

Two-Dimensional Materials for Halide Perovskite-Based Optoelectronic Devices.

PubMed

Chen, Shan; Shi, Gaoquan

2017-06-01

Halide perovskites have high light absorption coefficients, long charge carrier diffusion lengths, intense photoluminescence, and slow rates of non-radiative charge recombination. Thus, they are attractive photoactive materials for developing high-performance optoelectronic devices. These devices are also cheap and easy to be fabricated. To realize the optimal performances of halide perovskite-based optoelectronic devices (HPODs), perovskite photoactive layers should work effectively with other functional materials such as electrodes, interfacial layers and encapsulating films. Conventional two-dimensional (2D) materials are promising candidates for this purpose because of their unique structures and/or interesting optoelectronic properties. Here, we comprehensively summarize the recent advancements in the applications of conventional 2D materials for halide perovskite-based photodetectors, solar cells and light-emitting diodes. The examples of these 2D materials are graphene and its derivatives, mono- and few-layer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), graphdiyne and metal nanosheets, etc. The research related to 2D nanostructured perovskites and 2D Ruddlesden-Popper perovskites as efficient and stable photoactive layers is also outlined. The syntheses, functions and working mechanisms of relevant 2D materials are introduced, and the challenges to achieving practical applications of HPODs using 2D materials are also discussed. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Coaxial metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) Au/Ga2O3/GaN nanowires.

PubMed

Hsieh, Chin-Hua; Chang, Mu-Tung; Chien, Yu-Jen; Chou, Li-Jen; Chen, Lih-Juann; Chen, Chii-Dong

2008-10-01

Coaxial metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) Au-Ga2O3-GaN heterostructure nanowires were successfully fabricated by an in situ two-step process. The Au-Ga2O3 core-shell nanowires were first synthesized by the reaction of Ga powder, a mediated Au thin layer, and a SiO2 substrate at 800 degrees C. Subsequently, these core-shell nanowires were nitridized in ambient ammonia to form a GaN coating layer at 600 degrees C. The GaN shell is a single crystal, an atomic flat interface between the oxide and semiconductor that ensures that the high quality of the MOS device is achieved. These novel 1D nitride-based MOS nanowires may have promise as building blocks to the future nitride-based vertical nanodevices.

Stabilized tin-oxide-based oxidation/reduction catalysts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Watkins, Anthony Neal (Inventor); Oglesby, Donald M. (Inventor); Gulati, Suresh T. (Inventor); Summers, Jerry C. (Inventor); Schryer, David R. (Inventor); Davis, Patricia P. (Inventor); Leighty, Bradley D. (Inventor); Jordan, Jeffrey D. (Inventor); Schryer, Jacqueline L. (Inventor)

2008-01-01

The invention described herein involves a novel approach to the production of oxidation/reduction catalytic systems. The present invention serves to stabilize the tin oxide reducible metal-oxide coating by co-incorporating at least another metal-oxide species, such as zirconium. In one embodiment, a third metal-oxide species is incorporated, selected from the group consisting of cerium, lanthanum, hafnium, and ruthenium. The incorporation of the additional metal oxide components serves to stabilize the active tin-oxide layer in the catalytic process during high-temperature operation in a reducing environment (e.g., automobile exhaust). Moreover, the additional metal oxides are active components due to their oxygen-retention capabilities. Together, these features provide a mechanism to extend the range of operation of the tin-oxide-based catalyst system for automotive applications, while maintaining the existing advantages.

Non-noble metal based metallization systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Garcia, A., III

1983-01-01

The results of efforts to produce a nonsilver metallization system for silicon photovoltaic cells are given. The system uses a metallization system based on molybdenum, tin, and titanium hydride. The initial work in this system was done using the MIDFILM process. The MIDFILM process attains a line resolution comparable to photoresist methods with a process related to screen printing. The surface to be processed is first coated with a thin layer of photopolymer material. Upon exposure to ultraviolet light through a suitable mask, the polymer in the non-pattern area crosslinks and becomes hard. The unexposed pattern areas remain tacky. The conductor material is then applied in the form of a dry mixture of metal which adheres to the tacky pattern area. The assemblage is then fired to ash the photopolymer and sinter the conductor powder.

Alkali metal for ultraviolet band-pass filter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mardesich, Nick (Inventor); Fraschetti, George A. (Inventor); Mccann, Timothy A. (Inventor); Mayall, Sherwood D. (Inventor); Dunn, Donald E. (Inventor); Trauger, John T. (Inventor)

1993-01-01

An alkali metal filter having a layer of metallic bismuth deposited onto the alkali metal is provided. The metallic bismuth acts to stabilize the surface of the alkali metal to prevent substantial surface migration from occurring on the alkali metal, which may degrade optical characteristics of the filter. To this end, a layer of metallic bismuth is deposited by vapor deposition over the alkali metal to a depth of approximately 5 to 10 A. A complete alkali metal filter is described along with a method for fabricating the alkali metal filter.

Subnanometer to nanometer transition metal CO oxidation catalysts

DOEpatents

Vajda, Stefan; Fortunelli, Alessandro; Yasumatsu, Hisato

2017-12-26

The present invention provides a catalyst defined in part by a conductive substrate; a film overlaying a surface of the substrate; and a plurality of metal clusters supported by the layer, wherein each cluster comprises between 8 and 11 atoms. Further provided is a catalyst defined in part by a conductive substrate; a layer overlaying a surface of the substrate; and a plurality of metal clusters supported by the layer, wherein each cluster comprises at least two metals.

Silicon nitride protective coatings for silvered glass mirrors

DOEpatents

Tracy, C. Edwin; Benson, David K.

1988-01-01

A protective diffusion barrier for metalized mirror structures is provided by a layer or coating of silicon nitride which is a very dense, transparent, dielectric material that is impervious to water, alkali, and other impurities and corrosive substances that typically attack the metal layers of mirrors and cause degradation of the mirrors' reflectivity. The silicon nitride layer can be deposited on the substrate before metal deposition to stabilize the metal/substrate interface, and it can be deposited over the metal to encapsulate it and protect the metal from corrosion or other degradation. Mirrors coated with silicon nitride according to this invention can also be used as front surface mirrors.

Silicon nitride protective coatings for silvered glass mirrors

DOEpatents

Tracy, C.E.; Benson, D.K.

1984-07-20

A protective diffusion barrier for metalized mirror structures is provided by a layer or coating of silicon nitride which is a very dense, transparent, dielectric material that is impervious to water, alkali, and other impurities and corrosive substances that typically attack the metal layers of mirrors and cause degradation of the mirrors' reflectivity. The silicon nitride layer can be deposited on the substrate prior to metal deposition thereon to stabilize the metal/substrate interface, and it can be deposited over the metal to encapsulate it and protect the metal from corrosion or other degradation. Mirrors coated with silicon nitride according to this invention can also be used as front surface mirrors.

A TiAlCu Metallization for ` n' Type CoSb_x Skutterudites with Improved Performance for High-Temperature Energy Harvesting Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rao, Ashwin; Bosak, Gregg; Joshi, Binay; Keane, Jennifer; Nally, Luke; Peng, Adam; Perera, Susanthri; Waring, Alfred; Poudel, Bed

2017-04-01

The choice of the appropriate metallizing layer for high-temperature thermoelectric (TE) materials is a tricky task and poses varied challenges to researchers. In this work, a n type TiAl metallizing layer (90% Ti with 10% Al by weight with a copper foil) is proposed for a Yb_{0.2}Co4Sb_{12} skutterudite (SK) TE material coupled with a standard ` p type' SK base of Nd_{0.45}Ce_{0.45}Fe_{3.5}Co_{0.5}Sb_{12} with a 60:12:28% Fe:Ni:Cr metallizing layer. The n type and p type nanostructured SK powders are sintered at high temperatures and pressures in a DC hot press from which a TE device is assembled using diced, polished and property characterized TE legs (high figure of merit zT of 1.4 for n type and 1.2 for p type, respectively). The device is evaluated for functional degradation with repeated cycling to 500°C hot side (HS) and 50°C cold side (CS) temperatures in a specially designed high-vacuum test rig with key TE properties like peak power, open circuit voltage, and material internal resistance continuously recorded over each cycle. The device shows stable performance with <7% drop in TE harvested power over 2500 thermal cycles. With the industry benchmark for evaluating TE device performance being around 1000 thermal cycles (<10% drop in TE power over time), the study indicates stable performance of the n type TiAl metallizing layer over the device lifetime.

Laminated composite of magnetic alloy powder and ceramic powder and process for making same

DOEpatents

Moorhead, Arthur J.; Kim, Hyoun-Ee

1999-01-01

A laminated composite structure of alternating metal powder layers, and layers formed of an inorganic bonding media powder, and a method for manufacturing same are discosed. The method includes the steps of assembling in a cavity alternating layers of a metal powder and an inorganic bonding media of a ceramic, glass, and glass-ceramic. Heat, with or without pressure, is applied to the alternating layers until the particles of the metal powder are sintered together and bonded into the laminated composite structure by the layers of sintered inorganic bonding media to form a strong composite structure. The method finds particular application in the manufacture of high performance magnets wherein the metal powder is a magnetic alloy powder.

Laminated composite of magnetic alloy powder and ceramic powder and process for making same

DOEpatents

Moorhead, A.J.; Kim, H.

1999-08-10

A laminated composite structure of alternating metal powder layers, and layers formed of an inorganic bonding media powder, and a method for manufacturing same are disclosed. The method includes the steps of assembling in a cavity alternating layers of a metal powder and an inorganic bonding media of a ceramic, glass, and glass-ceramic. Heat, with or without pressure, is applied to the alternating layers until the particles of the metal powder are sintered together and bonded into the laminated composite structure by the layers of sintered inorganic bonding media to form a strong composite structure. The method finds particular application in the manufacture of high performance magnets wherein the metal powder is a magnetic alloy powder. 9 figs.

Isolation and characterization of nanosheets containing few layers of the Aurivillius family of oxides and metal-organic compounds

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sreedhara, M.B.; Prasad, B.E.; Moirangthem, Monali

2015-04-15

Nanosheets containing few-layers of ferroelectric Aurivillius family of oxides, Bi{sub 2}A{sub n−1}B{sub n}O{sub 3n+3} (where A=Bi{sup 3+}, Ba{sup 2+} etc. and B=Ti{sup 4+}, Fe{sup 3+} etc.) with n=3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 have been prepared by reaction with n-butyllithium, followed by exfoliation in water. The few-layer samples have been characterized by Tyndall cones, atomic force microscopy, optical spectroscopy and other techniques. The few-layer species have a thickness corresponding to a fraction of the c-parameter along which axis the perovskite layers are stacked. Magnetization measurements have been carried out on the few-layer samples containing iron. Few-layer species of a fewmore » layered metal-organic compounds have been obtained by ultrasonication and characterized by Tyndall cones, atomic force microscopy, optical spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. Significant changes in the optical spectra and magnetic properties are found in the few-layer species compared to the bulk samples. Few-layer species of the Aurivillius family of oxides may find uses as thin layer dielectrics in photovoltaics and other applications. - Graphical abstract: Exfoliation of the layered Aurivillius oxides into few-layer nanosheets by chemical Li intercalation using n-BuLi followed by reaction in water. Exfoliation of the layered metal-organic compounds into few-layer nanosheets by ultrasonication. - Highlights: • Few-layer nanosheets of Aurivillius family of oxides with perovskite layers have been generated by lithium intercalation. • Few-layer nanosheets of few layered metal-organic compounds have been generated by ultrasonication. • Few-layer nanosheets of the Aurivillius oxides have been characterized by AFM, TEM and optical spectroscopy. • Aurivillius oxides containing Fe show layer dependent magnetic properties. • Exfoliated few-layer metal-organic compounds show changes in spectroscopic and magnetic properties compared with bulk materials.« less

High voltage photo switch package module

DOEpatents

Sullivan, James S; Sanders, David M; Hawkins, Steven A; Sampayan, Stephen E

2014-02-18

A photo-conductive switch package module having a photo-conductive substrate or wafer with opposing electrode-interface surfaces, and at least one light-input surface. First metallic layers are formed on the electrode-interface surfaces, and one or more optical waveguides having input and output ends are bonded to the substrate so that the output end of each waveguide is bonded to a corresponding one of the light-input surfaces of the photo-conductive substrate. This forms a waveguide-substrate interface for coupling light into the photo-conductive wafer. A dielectric material such as epoxy is then used to encapsulate the photo-conductive substrate and optical waveguide so that only the metallic layers and the input end of the optical waveguide are exposed. Second metallic layers are then formed on the first metallic layers so that the waveguide-substrate interface is positioned under the second metallic layers.

A Cuprous Oxide Thin Film Non-Enzymatic Glucose Sensor Using Differential Pulse Voltammetry and Other Voltammetry Methods and a Comparison to Different Thin Film Electrodes on the Detection of Glucose in an Alkaline Solution

PubMed Central

Molazemhosseini, Alireza; Liu, Chung Chiun

2018-01-01

A cuprous oxide (Cu2O) thin layer served as the base for a non-enzymatic glucose sensor in an alkaline medium, 0.1 NaOH solution, with a linear range of 50–200 mg/dL using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) measurement. An X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study confirmed the formation of the cuprous oxide layer on the thin gold film sensor prototype. Quantitative detection of glucose in both phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and undiluted human serum was carried out. Neither ascorbic acid nor uric acid, even at a relatively high concentration level (100 mg/dL in serum), interfered with the glucose detection, demonstrating the excellent selectivity of this non-enzymatic cuprous oxide thin layer-based glucose sensor. Chronoamperometry and single potential amperometric voltammetry were used to verify the measurements obtained by DPV, and the positive results validated that the detection of glucose in a 0.1 M NaOH alkaline medium by DPV measurement was effective. Nickel, platinum, and copper are commonly used metals for non-enzymatic glucose detection. The performance of these metal-based sensors for glucose detection using DPV were also evaluated. The cuprous oxide (Cu2O) thin layer-based sensor showed the best sensitivity for glucose detection among the sensors evaluated. PMID:29316652

Carbon-assisted flyer plates

DOEpatents

Stahl, D.B.; Paisley, D.L.

1994-04-12

A laser driven flyer plate is described utilizing an optical fiber connected to a laser. The end of the optical fiber has a layer of carbon and a metal layer deposited onto it. The carbon layer provides the laser induced plasma which is superior to the plasma produced from most metals. The carbon layer plasma is capable of providing a flatter flyer plate, converting more of the laser energy to driving plasma, promoting a higher flyer plate acceleration, and providing a more uniform pulse behind the plate. In another embodiment, the laser is in optical communication with a substrate onto which a layer of carbon and a layer of metal have been deposited. 2 figures.

Reaction layer characterization of the braze joint of silicon nitride to stainless steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, R.; Indacochea, J. E.

1994-10-01

This investigation studies the role of titanium in the development of the reaction layer in braze joining silicon nitride to stainless steel using titanium-active copper-silver filler metals. This reaction layer formed as a result of titanium diffusing to the filler metal/silicon nitride interface and reacting with the silicon nitride to form the intermetallics, titanium nitride (TiN) and titanium suicide (Ti 5Si3). This reaction layer, as recognized in the literature, allows wetting of the ceramic substrate by the molten filler metal. The reaction layer thickness increases with temperature and time. Its growth rate obeys the parabolic relationship. Activation energies of 220.1 and 210.9 kj/mol were calculated for growth of the reaction layer for the two filler metals used. These values are close to the activation energy of nitrogen in TiN (217.6 kj/mol). Two filler metals were used in this study, Ticusil (68.8 wt% Ag, 26.7 wt% Cu, 4.5 wt% Ti) and CB4 (70.5 wt% Ag, 26.5 wt% Cu, 3.0 wt% Ti). The joints were processed in vacuum at temperatures of 840 to 900 °C at various times. Bonding strength is affected by reaction layer thickness in the absence of Ti-Cu intermetallics in the filler metal matrix.

Electrical Bistabilities and Conduction Mechanisms of Nonvolatile Memories Based on a Polymethylsilsesquioxane Insulating Layer Containing CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Zehao; Ooi, Poh Choon; Li, Fushan; Yun, Dong Yeol; Kim, Tae Whan

2015-10-01

Nonvolatile memory (NVM) devices based on a metal-insulator-metal structure consisting of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots embedded in polymethylsilsesquioxane dielectric layers were fabricated. The current-voltage ( I- V) curves showed a bistable current behavior and the presence of hysteresis. The current-time ( I- t) curves showed that the fabricated NVM memory devices were stable up to 1 × 104 s with a distinct ON/OFF ratio of 104 and were reprogrammable when the endurance test was performed. The extrapolation of the I- t curve to 105 s with corresponding current ON/OFF ratio 1 × 105 indicated a long performance stability of the NVM devices. Schottky emission, Poole-Frenkel emission, trapped-charge limited-current and Child-Langmuir law were proposed as the dominant conduction mechanisms for the fabricated NVM devices based on the obtained I- V characteristics.

Metal-oxide thin-film transistor-based pH sensor with a silver nanowire top gate electrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoo, Tae-Hee; Sang, Byoung-In; Wang, Byung-Yong; Lim, Dae-Soon; Kang, Hyun Wook; Choi, Won Kook; Lee, Young Tack; Oh, Young-Jei; Hwang, Do Kyung

2016-04-01

Amorphous InGaZnO (IGZO) metal-oxide-semiconductor thin-film transistors (TFTs) are one of the most promising technologies to replace amorphous and polycrystalline Si TFTs. Recently, TFT-based sensing platforms have been gaining significant interests. Here, we report on IGZO transistor-based pH sensors in aqueous medium. In order to achieve stable operation in aqueous environment and enhance sensitivity, we used Al2O3 grown by using atomic layer deposition (ALD) and a porous Ag nanowire (NW) mesh as the top gate dielectric and electrode layers, respectively. Such devices with a Ag NW mesh at the top gate electrode rapidly respond to the pH of solutions by shifting the turn-on voltage. Furthermore, the output voltage signals induced by the voltage shifts can be directly extracted by implantation of a resistive load inverter.

A physics-based model of the electrical impedance of ionic polymer metal composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cha, Youngsu; Aureli, Matteo; Porfiri, Maurizio

2012-06-01

In this paper, we analyze the chemoelectrical behavior of ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs) in the small voltage range with a novel hypothesis on the charge dynamics in proximity of the electrodes. In particular, we homogenize the microscopic properties of the interfacial region through a so-called composite layer which extends between the polymer membrane and the metal electrode. This layer accounts for the dissimilar properties of its constituents by describing the charge distribution via two species of charge carriers, that is, electrons and mobile counterions. We model the charge dynamics in the IPMC by adapting the multiphysics formulation based on the Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) framework, which is enriched through an additional term to capture the electron transport in the composite layer. Under the hypothesis of small voltage input, we use the linearized PNP model to derive an equivalent IPMC circuit model with lumped elements. The equivalent model comprises a resistor connected in series with the parallel of a capacitor and a Warburg impedance element. These elements idealize the phenomena of charge build up in the double layer region and the faradaic impedance related to mass transfer, respectively. We validate the equivalent model through measurements on in-house fabricated samples addressing both IPMC step response and impedance, while assessing the influence of repeated plating cycles on the electrical properties of IPMCs. Experimental results are compared with theoretical findings to identify the equivalent circuit parameters. Findings from this study are compared with alternative impedance models proposed in the literature.

Surface investigation of naturally corroded gilded copper-based objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ingo, G. M.; Riccucci, C.; Lavorgna, M.; Salzano de Luna, M.; Pascucci, M.; Di Carlo, G.

2016-11-01

Gold and silver coated copper-based artefacts subjected to long-term natural corrosion phenomena were studied by means of the combined use of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM + EDS), and optical microscopy (OM). The results allowed the identification of the chemistry and structure of the Au or Ag layers deposited by fire-gilding or mercury-silvering and the determination of the corrosion products formed due to interaction with the surrounding environment. Different degradation phenomena of the noble metal layer and copper substrate are induced by the presence of chlorine, sulphur and phosphorous and they are boosted by the metal galvanic coupling which makes gilded-metal art works unstable from a chemico-physical point of view. The SEM + EDS and OM results also suggest that particular care must be used during the removal of the encrustations and of the external corrosion products to avoid the loss of the remains of the noble layer often floating or embedded in the corrosion products. Furthermore, in order to avoid the reaction between nantokite (CuCl) and moisture the use no or low toxic inhibitors is suggested to avoid further severe degradation phenomena enhancing the long-lasting chemico-physical stability of these precious artefacts and giving them a greater chance of survival.

Diagnostics of transparent polymer coatings of metal items

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Varepo, L. G.; Ermakova, I. N.; Nagornova, I. V.; Kondratov, A. P.

2017-08-01

The methods of visual and instrumental express diagnostics of safety critical defects and non-uniform thickness of transparent mono- and multilayer polyolefin surface coating of metal items are analyzed in the paper. The instrumental diagnostics method relates to colorimetric measuring based on effects, which appear in the polarized light for extrusion polymer coatings. A color coordinates dependence (in the color system CIE La*b*) on both HDPE / PVC coating thickness fluctuation values (from average ones) and coating interlayer or adhesion layer delaminating is shown. A variation of color characteristics in the polarized light at a liquid penetration into delaminated polymer layers is found. Measuring parameters and critical uncertainties are defined.

A stochastic simulation method for the assessment of resistive random access memory retention reliability

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Berco, Dan, E-mail: danny.barkan@gmail.com; Tseng, Tseung-Yuen, E-mail: tseng@cc.nctu.edu.tw

This study presents an evaluation method for resistive random access memory retention reliability based on the Metropolis Monte Carlo algorithm and Gibbs free energy. The method, which does not rely on a time evolution, provides an extremely efficient way to compare the relative retention properties of metal-insulator-metal structures. It requires a small number of iterations and may be used for statistical analysis. The presented approach is used to compare the relative robustness of a single layer ZrO{sub 2} device with a double layer ZnO/ZrO{sub 2} one, and obtain results which are in good agreement with experimental data.

Two-Dimensional Phosphorene-Derived Protective Layers on a Lithium Metal Anode for Lithium-Oxygen Batteries.

PubMed

Kim, Youngjin; Koo, Dongho; Ha, Seongmin; Jung, Sung Chul; Yim, Taeeun; Kim, Hanseul; Oh, Seung Kyo; Kim, Dong-Min; Choi, Aram; Kang, Yongku; Ryu, Kyoung Han; Jang, Minchul; Han, Young-Kyu; Oh, Seung M; Lee, Kyu Tae

2018-05-04

Lithium-oxygen (Li-O 2 ) batteries are desirable for electric vehicles because of their high energy density. Li dendrite growth and severe electrolyte decomposition on Li metal are, however, challenging issues for the practical application of these batteries. In this connection, an electrochemically active two-dimensional phosphorene-derived lithium phosphide is introduced as a Li metal protective layer, where the nanosized protective layer on Li metal suppresses electrolyte decomposition and Li dendrite growth. This suppression is attributed to thermodynamic properties of the electrochemically active lithium phosphide protective layer. The electrolyte decomposition is suppressed on the protective layer because the redox potential of lithium phosphide layer is higher than that of electrolyte decomposition. Li plating is thermodynamically unfavorable on lithium phosphide layers, which hinders Li dendrite growth during cycling. As a result, the nanosized lithium phosphide protective layer improves the cycle performance of Li symmetric cells and Li-O 2 batteries with various electrolytes including lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide in N,N-dimethylacetamide. A variety of ex situ analyses and theoretical calculations support these behaviors of the phosphorene-derived lithium phosphide protective layer.

Improved Bond Strength of Cyanoacrylate Adhesives Through Nanostructured Chromium Adhesion Layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gobble, Kyle; Stark, Amelia; Stagon, Stephen P.

2016-09-01

The performance of many consumer products suffers due to weak and inconsistent bonds formed to low surface energy polymer materials, such as polyolefin-based high-density polyethylene (HDPE), with adhesives, such as cyanoacrylate. In this letter, we present an industrially relevant means of increasing bond shear strength and consistency through vacuum metallization of chromium thin films and nanorods, using HDPE as a prototype material and cyanoacrylate as a prototype adhesive. For the as received HDPE surfaces, unmodified bond shear strength is shown to be only 0.20 MPa with a standard deviation of 14 %. When Cr metallization layers are added onto the HDPE at thicknesses of 50 nm or less, nanorod-structured coatings outperform continuous films and have a maximum bond shear strength of 0.96 MPa with a standard deviation of 7 %. When the metallization layer is greater than 50 nm thick, continuous films demonstrate greater performance than nanorod coatings and have a maximum shear strength of 1.03 MPa with a standard deviation of 6 %. Further, when the combination of surface roughening with P400 grit sandpaper and metallization is used, 100-nm-thick nanorod coatings show a tenfold increase in shear strength over the baseline, reaching a maximum of 2.03 MPa with a standard deviation of only 3 %. The substantial increase in shear strength through metallization, and the combination of roughening with metallization, may have wide-reaching implications in consumer products which utilize low surface energy plastics.

Functionally Graded Multifunctional Hybrid Composites for Extreme Environments

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-02-01

Develop multifunctional FGHC with multiple layers: a ceramic thermal barrier layer, a graded ceramic /metal composite (GCMeC) layer and a high...AFOSR-MURI Functionally Graded Hybrid Composites Actively Cooled PMC White (UIUC) FGHC Fabrication Team Graded Ceramic Metal Composites (GCMeC...Composites Fabrication and Characterization of Bulk Ceramic MAX Phase and MAX–Metal Composites AFOSR-MURI Functionally Graded Hybrid Composites Mn

Synthesizing new types of ultrathin 2D metal oxide nanosheets via half-successive ion layer adsorption and reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Linjie; Li, Yaguang; Xiao, Mu; Wang, Shufang; Fu, Guangsheng; Wang, Lianzhou

2017-06-01

Two-dimensional (2D) metal oxide nanosheets have demonstrated their great potential in a broad range of applications. The existing synthesis strategies are mainly preparing 2D nanosheets from layered and specific transition metal oxides. How to prepare the other types of metal oxides as ultrathin 2D nanosheets remains unsolved, especially for metal oxides containing alkali, alkaline earth metal, and multiple metal elements. Herein, we developed a half-successive ion layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method, which could synthesize those types of metal oxides as ultrathin 2D nanosheets. The synthesized 2D metal oxides nanosheets are within 1 nm level thickness and 500 m2 · g-1 level surface area. This method allows us to develop many new types of ultrathin 2D metal oxides nanosheets that have never been prepared before.