bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fabrication of High-Resolution Nuclear Detectors Using 4H-SiC n-type Epitaxial Layers
Authors: Zavalla Kelvin J. , Chaudhuri Sandeep K. , Mandal Krishna C. 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTHigh resolution Schottky barrier detectors for alpha particles have been fabricated on 20 μm n-type 4H-SiC epitaxial layers. Schottky barrier contact structure was accomplished by deposition of 10 nm nickel on the Si face of the epilayers. The detectors were characterized for structural, electrical, and spectroscopic properties. Scanning electron microscopy and Nomarski optical microscopy revealed a micropipe density lower than 1 cm-2. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the device exhibited very low leakage current of the order of 6.5 pA at an operating bias of 90 V. C-V measurements revealed a typical effective doping concentrations of 2.4 × 1014 cm-3 in these epilayers. The detectors were evaluated for alpha particles detection using a 241Am source. An energy resolution of ∼0.98% for 5.48 MeV alpha particles was observed. The separate contribution of charge carrier drift and diffusion to the total charge collection efficiency has been calculated in these detectors following a drift-diffusion model. Detailed electronic noise analysis in terms of equivalent noise charge (ENC) was carried out to study the effect of various noise components that contribute to the total electronic noise in the detection system. Effect of shaping time, presence of source and bias on the ENC has been studied in details.
Creation of Patterned Gold Nanostructures via Electron-Beam-Induced Deposition
Authors: Riazanova Anastasia V. , Mulders Johannes J. L. , Belova Lyubov M. 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTOne of the methods to grow nanoscale three-dimensional (3D) Au patterns is to perform local electron-beam-induced deposition (EBID) using the Me2Au(acac) precursor inside the chamber of a scanning electron microscope (SEM). However, due to the organometallic nature of the chemical, the concentration of the metallic constituent in the as-deposited structure is dramatically low, at around 10 at. % of Au. Ex-situ post-annealing of Me2Au(acac) EBIDs is a very promising purification approach, resulting in an Au content of > 92 at. % after annealing at 600 °C. However, in most of the cases it also distorts the geometrical shape of the heat-treated structure, preserving of which is essential for the application. In this paper we present a systematic study of the dependence between the annealing parameters and resulting purity in combination with the shape of the Au structure. Optimized heat treatment conditions for the creation of well-purified high aspect ratio Au pillar array are presented; and for planar continuous structures, the importance of the parameter height to area ratio is identified.
Controlling the Plasmonic Properties of Supported 2D Arrays of Gold Nanocages
Authors: Staff Alyssa , Lepinay Sandrine , Albert Jacques , Ianoul Antaoli 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTThe enhancement of the plasmonic signatures, indicated by the shifting of the localized surface plasmon resonances, of three-dimensional, hollow, gold nanocages with respect to substrate nature and cage density is reported. The effect of substrate nature was investigated using absorbance, reflection, and transmission by ultraviolet-visible and near-infrared spectrophotometry. The gold nanocages were deposited on substrates as monolayers primarily by Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The density of the deposited monolayers and the nature of the surface of the substrates were determined using AFM and SEM/TEM imaging. The position of the LSPR signatures, primarily the dipolar plasmonic resonances, with respect to changing environment and nanostructure characteristics determined the tuneability of the plasmonic enhancements.
Atomic layer deposition of nanoparticles on self-assembled monolayer modified silicon substrate
Authors: Cao Kun , Ren Zhilong , Xiang Shengmei , Shan Bin , Chen Rong 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTAtomic layer deposition has attracted much attention recently in fabricating noble metal nanoparticles for a wide range of applications. We have explored synthesizing palladium nanoparticles via atomic layer deposition on self-assembled monolayers modified silicon substrate. Using alkyltrichlorosilanes as the passivating agents, our results show the method is capable of fabricating Pd nanoparticles with well controlled density and particle diameter on the modified silicon substrate.
Direct Synthesis of Bimetallic Nanoalloys from Corresponding Bulk Alloys
Authors: Lin Chi-Kai , Xu Tao 
Published: June 2019

AbstractWe report a transformative, all inorganic method-based synthesis of supported bimetallic alloy nanoparticles. We use Pd3Ag as a proof of concept. The method involves breaking down bulk Pd3Ag alloy into the nanoparticles in liquid lithium, converting metallic Li to LiOH, transferring Pd3Ag nanoparticles/LiOH mixture onto non-water soluble supports, followed by leaching off the LiOH with water under ambient conditions. The size of the resulting Pd3Ag nanoparticles was found narrowly distributed around 2.3 nm characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM). In addition, studies by X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the resulting Pd3Ag nanoparticles inherited similar structure as the starting bulk Pd3Ag.
Dynamic Behavior of Noble Metal Nanoparticle Assemblies in Solution
Authors: Stender Anthony S. , Fang Ning 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTNanoparticle functionalization and assembly is undergoing a period of challenging yet exciting development. Much of this research effort has been focused on the development of new functionalities that might enable strategically-directed assembly of nanoparticles into structures that can be utilized in other important applications.In order to determine the success of such experiments, researchers often prepare a dried sample and study the assembly patterns with electron microscopy. However, these imaging techniques can be expensive and do not provide a complete illustration of what the three dimensional nanoparticle assemblies truly look like in solution. Moreover, sample preparation presents its own challenges. Most notably, sample preparation may cause alteration to the individual assemblies or unwanted aggregation of the assemblies upon removal of the solution.To address these concerns, assemblies of anisotropic nanoparticles were tracked free-floating in solution with differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy. DIC microscopy is an optical technique based on interferometry with high lateral resolution and shallow depth of field. After functionalizing gold and silver nanoparticles for self-assembly, aliquots of the nanoparticle solutions were examined in real-time. Nanoparticle assemblies were observed undergoing rotations, internal vibrations, structural modifications, and interactions with other assemblies. Observations of the dynamic behaviors of nanoparticle assemblies serve as a complement to imaging with electron microscopy and provide new insights into the actual assembly process.
Size-controlled deposition of Ag and Si nanoparticle structures with gas-aggregated sputtering
Authors: Cassidy Cathal , Singh Vidyadhar , Hawash Zafer , Bohra Murtaza , Kim Jeong-Hwan , Sowwan Mukhles 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTPhysical vapor deposition, in combination with gas-aggregation (PVD-GA), is a controllable method for creation of diverse nanoparticle structures. Given the size effects that dominate the physics of nanoparticles, a particular advantage of the PVD-GA technique is the compatibility with in situ mass filtering of the nanocluster beam.In the current work, PVD-GA has been utilized to deposit Ag and Si nanoparticles. Nanoparticles were analyzed using in situ quadrupole mass spectrometry (charge/mass ratio), atomic force microscopy (nanoparticle height), and transmission electron microscopy (nanocluster diameter & crystallinity). The results for particle size distribution were cross-correlated, with excellent agreement.Different growth methods & conditions were explored, resulting in controlled differences in the measured particle size distributions and surface coverage. A novel growth configuration utilizing a conventional sputter source in combination with a linear magnetron allowed a significant (fivefold) increase in Ag cluster yield.
Synthesis of Nanosized Polymer Particles in Nonaqueous Emulsion
Authors: Dorresteijn Robert , Haschick Robert , Müller Kevin , Klapper Markus , Müllen Klaus 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTIn nonaqueous emulsion, moisture-sensitive polymerizations are performed in order to generate nanoparticles, which are not accessible by common aqueous emulsion polymerization. A nonaqueous emulsion, consisting of two immiscible aprotic organic solvents, is stabilized by amphiphilic block copolymers, such as PIb-PEO or PIb-PMMA copolymer, and lead to formation of nanosized dispersed droplets. They act as dispersed “nanoreactors” for the one-step synthesis of poly(urethane) nanoparticles in a polyadditon reaction as well as poly(L-lactide) nanoparticles through ring-opening polymerization, catalyzed by a moisture-sensitive catalyst. The well-dispersed particles possess average diameters below 100 nm and have narrow size distributions owing to the long-term stability of the dispersed droplets in the continuous phase.
Prediction of an order of magnitude for electron and hole mobilities using 1D simulations
Authors: Aidarkhanov Damir , Raba Adam , Leroy Yann , Cordan Anne-Sophie 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTOrganic photovoltaics has attracted much effort and many research groups during the past decade, because of low-cost and easy fabrication techniques. Despite the great progress that has been achieved in increasing the conversion efficiencies of the devices, there are still several problems to be solved to make the solar cells commercially viable, especially for cells based on bulk heterojunctions.The purpose of this work is to supply techniques for predicting the order of magnitude of the charge carrier mobilities of bulk heterojunction devices, on the basis of easy-to-perform measurements for experimentalists. A one dimensional model of a bulk heterojunction cell was used, and then simulations were performed in order to obtain the photocurrent as a function of an effective applied voltage. Plotted in a double logarithmic scale, the resulting curves exhibit different signatures depending on the mobilities of the charge carriers. These signatures could be helpful for experimentalists in order to predict an order of magnitude for both the electron mobility and the hole mobility.
Efficiency Improvement in P3HT:CdSe Quantum Dots Hybrid Solar Cells by Utilizing Novel Processing of a Dual Ligand Exchangers
Authors: Khan M. Alam , Farva U. , Jun Yongseok , Manasreh Omar 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTCdSe quantum dots of hexagonal Wurtzite crystal structure with an average diameter of ∼7 nm were synthesized and processed for bulk heterojunction solar cell applications. The UV-Vis absorption spectrum shows an excitonic peak at 625 nm and at 635 nm in synthesized and dual ligand exchanged samples, respectively. The synthesized quantum dots were successively ligand exchanged by pyridine and 2-propanethiol to remove the TOPO ligands on quantum dot surface and then hybrid solar cell devices were fabricated. Initially the weight ratio was optimized by using pyridine capped CdSe blend with P3HT polymer as an active layer in chloroform as a solvent on the patterned ITO glass. Then dual ligand exchanged CdSe was compared with pyridine optimized samples. The maximum solar cell conversion efficiency of 1.21% was achieved with Jsc of 4.1 mA/cm-2, VOC of 0.51 and FF of 44 compared to the optimized pyridine capped CdSe quantum dots where efficiency of 0.74% with Jsc of 2.15 mA/cm-2, VOC of 0.53 was observed. The increase in solar cell efficiency was attributed to the better ligand exchanged and additional treatment with 2-propanethiol at ambient temperature. Such an exchange of organic ligands by successive ligand exchanger will open new domain for hybrid solar cell research. The morphology of QDs and microstructures of the heterojunction active layer (P3HT:CdSe) were examined by using TEM, XRD, UV-Vis spectra, and IV curve techniques.
Mechanics of Diffusion-Induced Fractures in Lithium-ion Battery Materials
Authors: ChiuHuang Cheng-Kai , Stamps Michael A. , Shadow Huang Hsiao-Ying 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTOur study is motivated by the need for development and deployment of reliable and efficient energy storage devices, such as lithium-ion batteries. However, the rate-capacity loss is the key obstacle faced by current lithium-ion battery technology, hindering many potential large-scale engineering applications, such as future transportation modalities, grid stabilization and storage systems for renewable energy. During electrochemical processes, diffusion-induced stress is an important factor causing electrode material capacity loss and failure. In this study, we present models that are capable for describing diffusion mechanisms and stress formation in LiFePO4 nanoparticles, a lithium-ion battery cathode material which promises an alternative, with the potential for reduced cost and improved safety. To evaluate mechanics of diffusion-induced fractures, a plate-like model is adopted with anisotropic materials properties and volume misfits during the phase transformation are considered. Stress distribution at phase boundaries and fracture mechanics information (energy release rates and stress intensity factors) are provided to further understand the stress development due to lithium-ion diffusion during discharging. This study contributes to the fundamental understanding of kinetics of materials in lithium-ion batteries, and results from our stress analysis provides better electrode materials design rules for future lithium-ion batteries.
From Used Oxide Nuclear Fuel to Rechargeable Battery: A First-Principles Study
Authors: Wu Binbin , Yu Jianguo 
Published: June 2019

AbstractAlthough uranium oxides have played essential roles in many nuclear reactions, it is imperative to pursue alternative solutions to reuse the spent fuels due to paramount safety and economic concern. Spent nuclear oxide fuels include uranium dioxide (UO2), triuranium octoxide (U3O8) and uranium trioxide (UO3). In this work, first principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) were carried out on MUO2, MU3O8 and MUO3 (M= Li, Na and K) to explore their possibilities to serve as grid-storage-based cathode materials. In particular, the result of the optimal structures, average open circuit voltages (OCV) and mechanic stabilities during charge and discharge processes are presented. These results are also compared to available experimental data.
Comparison of Structural Analysis and Electrochemical Studies of C-Li4Ti5O12and CNT-Li4Ti5O12Nanocomposites particles used as Anode for Lithium Ion Battery
Authors: Sun Xiangcheng , Bai Xuedong , Wang Yongqing , Hegde M. , Hosein I. D. , Radovanovic P. V. , Guo Yu Guo , Cui Bo 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTCarbon-Li4Ti5O12(C-LTO) and carbon nanotube-Li4Ti5O12(CNT-LTO) nanocomposite particles have been synthesized by hydrothermal method and a following high-temperature calcinations using a mixture of micro-size Li-Ti-O precursors and conducting black and carbon nanotubes, respectively. Two different types of coating layers have been characterized and analyzed on two kinds of Li4Ti5O12particles surface by high resolution transmission electron microscopy images (HR-TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Typical HR-TEM images and SAED patterns at nano-scale confirmed and showed that both particles exhibited a well-developed spinel nanocrystal with average sizes around 20-50 nm. The C-LTO particles exhibited the roughly spherical shape with more than 5 nm graphitic coating uniformly on the spherical surfaces; however, the CNT-LTO particles showed uniform square nanocrystal with edge length around 30 nm and a few layers of graphene covering the surface.Electrochemical studies of galvanostatic discharge/charge cycling capacity testing indicated that both Li4Ti5O12particles showed the superior initial discharge capacity of more than 200 mA·h/g at 0.1C rate, and also the CNT-LTO particles show much improved specific capacity than that of the C-LTO particles during different cycling processing. It has been proposed that, grephene covering layers and the CNT interconnection networks are prove to increase electronic conductivity and improve the kinetics of Li4Ti5O12toward fast lithium insertion/extraction. The comparative experimental results demonstrated that both nanoscale grephene layer and CNT inter-networks among particles is highly effective in improving the electrochemical properties of the CNT-LTO particles.
Optimizing K-14 Instruction to Infuse 21st Century Skills
Authors: Day Deborah , Guo Cindy , Ferrari Nicole , Edgecumbe Heather , Broadbridge Christine 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTThis multi-phased study investigates the learning outcomes of courses taught in the K-14 classroom. Specifically, the methods and practices teachers use to develop and encourage 21st Century Skills including critical thinking skills and technological fluency in all subject areas, STEM and non-STEM related, are of great interest. Currently, these skills are in high demand in fields which develop advanced materials and are the backbone of the National Academiesdeveloped Frameworks for K-12 Science Education. Phase I participants in this study included high school and college educators while Phase II of the study will involve K-14 students. In this study, educators were asked to rate their teaching self-efficacy in two primary areas: critical thinking skills and technological fluency. This included questions related to components in their current curriculum as well as methods of assessment [e.g., rubrics]. The instrument created to measure self-efficacy was based on a modified ‘Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument' (STEBI). All participants were from Connecticut. Results indicate that both STEM and non-STEM related subject areas offer an equally rich array of opportunities to effectively teach critical thinking and technological fluency at a variety of educational levels. The impact of Professional Development on teacher self-efficacy was of particular importance, especially in K-12 education.
Morphology Control of LiMnPO4 Cathodes by a Careful Choice of Additives
Authors: Dinh Hung-Cuong , Mho Sun-il , Kang Yongku , Yeo In-Hyeong 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTLiMnPO4 cathode materials of various sizes and shapes are synthesized by a hydrothermal method. In order to control the morphology of the LiMnPO4 particles, a nonionic surfactant or a cationic surfactant has employed as a key additive to the reactant solution. LiMnPO4 nanoparticles of grain-shape and rod-shape can be made with sizes between about 100 and 300 nm by adding a nonionic large polymer surfactant. Micrometer-sized LiMnPO4 particles of cuboid shape result from the reaction with a cationic surfactant. LiMnPO4 spheres of about 20 μm diameter are produced when no surfactant is added. The cathode composed of nanocrystalline (about 100 nm size) LiMnPO4 exhibited the best performance with the specific capacity of 153 mAhg-1 for the first battery cycle.
Flexible fiber batteries for applications in smart textiles
Authors: Qu Hang , Bourgeois Jean-Pierre , Rolland Julien , Vlad Alexandru , Gohy Jean-François , Skorobogatiy Maksim 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTHere we discuss two alternative approaches for building flexible batteries for applications in smart textiles. The first approach uses well-studied inorganic electrochemistry (Al-NaOCl galvanic cell) and innovative packaging in order to produce batteries in a slender and flexible fiber form that can be further weaved directly into the textiles. During fabrication process the battery electrodes are co-drawn within a microstructured polymer fiber, which is later filled with liquid electrolyte. The second approach describes Li-ion chemistry within solid polymer electrolytes that are used to build a fully solid and soft rechargeable battery that can be furthermore stitched onto a textile, or integrated as stripes during weaving process.
Colloidal growth, characterization and optoelectronic study of strong light absorbent inexpensive iron pyrite nanomaterials by using amine ligands for photovoltaic application
Authors: Khan M. Alam , Little Scott A. , Makablah Y. , Mangham Scott , Lee S.Y. , Manasreh M. O. 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTHighly pure iron pyrites (FeS2) cubic phased nanocrystals of diameter ∼ 20 nm were synthesized by colloidal method using only amines acting both as a coordinating and surfactant ligands. The details of synthetic condition at temperature 175 °C, 215 °C, 230 °C, 245 °C were compared and elucidated. The best synthetic conditions using an octylamine as a ligand at 230 °C for 2h have been optimized in an inert atmosphere. The XRD measurement shows diffraction peaks of pure cubic iron pyrite crystal structure without any detectable presence of marcasite, pyrrotite, greigyte and other impurity structures. The UV-Vis spectra depict clear absorption onset at 1200 nm in best sample with estimated band gap of ∼1.03 eV. These high pure and nanostructures based iron pyrite processed from solution route may offer excellent manufacturing scalability at very low cost since it can be used as inks for large scale fabrication. The morphological and optical characterizations are carried out by using XRD, UV-Vis, and SEM techniques.
Ultrafast Energy Migration in Porphyrin-based Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
Authors: Patwardhan Sameer , Jin Shengye , Son Ho-Jin , Schatz George C. 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we have studied the energy transport properties of two porphyrincontaining metal organic frameworks (MOFs) for light-harvesting applications. The photoinduced singlet exciton migration is investigated using fluorescence quenching experiments, whereas details on exciton transport anisotropy and net displacements are obtained using a Förster theory analysis. The striking difference in the energy-transport properties for the two MOFs, albeit for similar molecular organization, is attributed to dissimilar spatial expanse and difference in the electronic structure of their porphyrin struts. The observed exciton displacements, of up to 60 nm, provides motivation to explore new MOF materials. Several new linkers are considered, leading to predictions of MOF structures, which provide both broadwavelength harvesting and unidirectional energy transporting MOFs with selected examples.
The Debye Temperature for Hydrothermally Grown ThO2 Single Crystals
Authors: Kelly Tony D. , Petrosky James C. , McClory John W. , Zens Timothy , Turner David , Mann J. Matthew , Kolis Joseph W. , Colón Santana Juan A. , Dowben Peter A. 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTThe electronic properties of ThO2 single crystals were studied using x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). The XPS results show that the Th 4f core level is in an oxidation state that is consistent with that expected for Th in ThO2. The effective Debye temperature is estimated from the temperature dependent photoemission intensities of the Th 4f core level over the temperature range of 290 to 360 K. A Debye temperature of 468±32 K has been determined.