bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ammonia as an Energy Carrier for Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage
Authors: Liu Yun , Pan Zhefei , LIU Yun 
Published: February 2024

An emerging energy carrier, ammonia (NH3), has attracted ever-increasing attention due to its high hydrogen content (17.65 wt. %) and its ease of storage, transportation, and handling [1,2]. This work aims to investigate the feasibility of utilizing ammonia as an energy carrier for intermittent renewable energy conversion and storage via an electrochemical flow cell, which includes two independent electrocatalytic processes (Fig. 1): ammonia production via nitrogen reduction and electricity generation via ammonia oxidation [3,4]. Firstly, the effects of structural design and operating parameters on the flow cell performance are investigated. Our preliminary results have shown that the ammonia yield reaches 27.9 μg h−1 mg−1 and the power density reaches 20.7 mW cm-2. Secondly, an in-depth analysis and discussion on the simultaneous transport of mass and charge through the flow cell are conducted. Thirdly, a techno-economic assessment for using ammonia as an energy carrier is performed. These research findings will provide crucial insights into the utilization of ammonia as an energy carrier for renewable energy conversion and storage.
Acknowledgement
This work was fully supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project No. 52022003)
References
[1] Y. Zhao, B.P. Setzler, J. Wang, J. Nash, T. Wang, B. Xu, Y. Yan, An efficient direct ammonia fuel cell for affordable carbon-neutral transportation, Joule, 3 (2019) 2472–2484.
[2] Y. Guo, Z. Pan, L. An, Carbon-free sustainable energy technology: Direct ammonia fuel cells, J. Power Sources, 476 (2020) 228454.
[3] Y. Liu, Z. Pan, O.C. Esan, X. Xu, L. An, Performance characteristics of a direct ammonia fuel cell with an anion exchange membrane, Energy Fuels, 36 (2022) 13203-13211.
[4] Y. Liu, Z. Pan, O.C. Esan, X. Liu, H. Wang, L. An, Efficient electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction to ammonia with FeNi-Co/carbon mat electrodes, J. Alloys Compd, 927 (2022) 166973.

Figure 1. Ammonia as an energy carrier for renewable energy conversion and storage.

Figure 1
Post O2 Plasma-Induced Fabrication of 1T-WS2/a-WO3 Heterostructure for Superior Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalysts Via Hydrogen Spillover
Authors: Cho Jinill , Seok Hyunho , Kim Taesung 
Published: February 2024

2D transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) group has been widely spotlighted as hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts to replace the conventional Pt electrocatalyst due to their distinctive features of robustness, low cost, and accessibility to structural modification. However, the electrochemical activity of TMDC materials is mostly originated from its exposed edge sites, whereas its basal plane is relatively inert. There have been attempts to increase the relative fraction of active edge sites in the basal plane or employ the phase transition from semiconductive 2H phase to metallic 1T phase. The practical uses have been restricted compared to nobel metal Pt.
Plasma engineering is a facile method to functionalize their basal plane and generate vacancies into the lattice as active sites to improve electrocatalytic activity. In our previous works, MoS2 and WS2 has been synthesized to have abundant defects with maximized active edge sites to impart superior HER performance by employing Ar+H2S plasma treatment on tungsten (W) thin metal film with a thickness of 1 nm. However, to surpass the intrinsic electrochemical properites, we introduce 1T-WS2/a-WO3 (WSO) heterostructure via post O2 plasma treatment by exploiting a plasma enhanced-chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD). There has been a limitation in obtaining the best electrocatalytic performances from the plasma assisted 1T-WS2 films because of its much lower hydrogen affinity of 1T-WS2. On the contrary, tungsten trioxide (WO3) shows strong hydrophilic property in that W atomic site of WO3 can easily absorb H2O. In this regard, 1T-WS2 with hydrophilic amorphous WO3 (a-WO3) can have the outstanding HER activity by inducing hydrogen spillover effect that is a hydrogen transport phenomenon from a-WO3 to 1T-WS2. a-WO3, which has relatively stronger hydrogen affinity, plays an important role in transferring the absorbed hydrogen to 1T-WS2 as active sites. As a result, the HER performance of WSO thin film can be optimized by means of controlling the amount of a-WO3 depending on the post O2 plasma treatment time. It was also confirmed from density functional theory (DFT) calculation that the hydrogen movement on the WSO surface related to hydrogen absorption energy difference between 1T-WS2 and WO3.
Optical and Mechanical Properties of Si-Based Thin Films for Photonic Applications
Authors: Mascher Peter , Ahammou Brahim , Azmi Fahmida , Landesman Jean-Pierre , Levallois Christophe 
Published: February 2024

In this talk, we will review recent advances in the fabrication and characterization of silicon-based thin film structures for photonic applications, including rare earth doped silicon oxynitrides and luminescent silicon carbonitrides.
For Si-based materials to be used in solid-state lighting (SSL) and silicon photonics schemes it is necessary to have precise control of the optical emission from these materials. This can be accomplished using rare earth dopants such as Ce, Tb, and Eu to obtain blue, green, and red emissions, respectively. After a brief review of the latest developments in the field, this talk will focus on Eu-doped films, which are attractive for silicon photonic applications due to their intense emission in the visible spectral region [1]. The films are fabricated by electron cyclotron resonance plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (ECR-PECVD) and doping is accomplished using a novel hybrid radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering source in the ECR-PECVD reactor chamber [2]. This approach contrasts with traditional doping methods which use metal-organic precursors to introduce rare-earth dopant species into the host matrix. We will discuss the relationship between the photoluminescence, elasticity, and hardness of Eu doped silicon oxynitride (SiON) thin films.
As the efficiency of photonic devices can be influenced by the mechanical properties of the deposited films, a good understanding of their mechanical properties is required for the integration of these films in photonic devices. SiNx thin films, for example, play an important role in strain engineering of active photonic devices, such as diode lasers fabricated on GaAs or InP substrates. We will discuss results of a collaboration between McMaster and the Université de Rennes in France, aimed at quantifying the effects of structured dielectric thin films on the generation of a mechanical strain field in the semiconductor through tuning the amount of mechanical stress present in the dielectric thin film, as a function of the details of the deposition process [3].
[1] Fahmida Azmi et al., “Tunable Emission from Eu:SiOxNy Thin Films Prepared by Integrated Magnetron Sputtering and Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition”, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 40, 043402 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1116/6.0001761
[2] J.W. Miller et al., “Integrated ECR-PECVD and Magnetron Sputtering System for Rare-Earth-Doped Si-Based Materials”, Surface and Coatings Technology 336, 99 (2018); doi: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2017.08.051
[3] Brahim Ahammou et al., “Strain engineering in III-V photonic components through structuration of SiNx films”, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 40, 012202 (2022); doi: 10.1116/6.0001352
A Comparison of Low-Temperature Deposition for SiO2 in PECVD Using SiH4 and TEOS
Authors: Kusuda Yutaka , Miyashita Takahiro , Asai Yuki , Nishinaka Hiroyuki 
Published: February 2024

We have developed a method for depositing SiO2 as an insulating layer at temperatures below 100°C using PECVD. This method has potential applications in the development of flexible displays and organic transistors. We have previously reported on TSV via-hole formation by the Bosch process and TEOS-SiO2 deposition on sidewall by PECVD at 150°C [1]. In this study, we performed PECVD using a power supply frequency of 400 kHz. The deposition temperature was set at 100°C. We compared the deposition rates and the film stress of SiO2 films deposited using SiH4 and TEOS at different RF power densities.
Figure 1 shows the relationship between 400 kHz power and the deposition rates. In this power density range, the deposition rate of SiH4 was almost constant at approximately 52 nm/min regardless of power density. On the other hand, the rate using TEOS tended to decrease as the power density increased above 0.28 W/cm2.
Figure 2 shows the film stress of each film immediately after deposition and after few days of atmospheric exposure. The minus side of the stress indicates compressive stress. The stress of SiH4 was -50 to -70 MPa immediately after deposition; however, after few days of atmospheric exposure, the stress shifted by approximately -50 MPa at all power densities. On the other hand, in the case of TEOS, the stress did not change at approximately -120 MPa at a power density of 0.18 W/cm2 or higher immediately after deposition; however, after few days of exposure, the amount of change to the compressive stress side became smaller as the power density increased. It has been reported that the change in stress to the compressive side is influenced by moisture in the atmosphere [2]. The small change in stress is considered to mean that the film is denser, and that moisture is less likely to enter the film. The deposition rate is considered to decrease during the process of film densification.
In summary, it is thought that by increasing the power density with TEOS-SiO2, a dense film is formed even at a low temperature of 100°C.
References
[1]Y. Kusuda, T. Nonaka and S. Motoyama, Through Silicon Via (TSV) Using DRIE and Cathode Coupled PECVD, ECS Transactions, Volume 50 Number 32 p.3, (2013).
[2]I. Blech and U. Cohen, Effects of humidity on stress in thin silicon dioxide films, Journal of Applied Physics, 53, 6, (1982).

Figure 1
Utilizing Direct Membrane Deposition to Improve the Performance of Forward-Bias Bipolar Membrane CO2 Electrolysers
Authors: Alkayyali Tartela , Shayesteh Ali , Mar Harrison , Arabyarmohammadi Fatemeh , Miao Rui Kai , O'Brien Colin P. , Sargent Edward H. , Zhao Nana , Sinton David 
Published: February 2024

The electrochemical conversion of CO2 to multi-carbon products (C2+), such as ethylene and ethanol, is an attractive technology towards achieving net zero carbon emission goals. Among the available configurations of CO2 electrolysers, those employing a bipolar membrane (BPM) in forward-bias mode (f-BPM) reduce CO2 loss to the anode – a problem commonly faced in traditional anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolysers. Therefore, carbon efficiency (the percent of input CO2 that is converted to C2+ products) and system operational costs can be improved.
In f-BPM electrolysers, (bi)carbonate ions move through the AEM then combine with protons moving through the cation exchange membrane (CEM) to regenerate CO2 and H2O at the AEM|CEM interface. Recent reports have implemented a porous AEM structure or an added AEM|CEM interface channel to aid the movement of CO2 from the AEM|CEM interface to the cathode and, thus, avoid blistering. Despite the advantage of f-BPM CO2 electrolysers, their performance is limited by the parasitic H2 evolution reaction (>20% Faradaic efficiency, or FE) and the low C2+ FE (<40%) at industrially relevant reaction rates (≥200 mA cm-2). We attribute this performance limitation to the unintended gaps between the used AEM and CEM. Inadequate contact between the AEM and CEM is anticipated to reduce the extent of local CO2 regeneration and promote unwanted proton crossover to the cathode; both phenomena could be contributing to the commonly observed FEs.
In this report, we enhanced the contact between the AEM and CEM through the use of direct membrane deposition (DMD) over a Cu-based cathode. The DMD approach enabled modular control over the AEM and CEM thicknesses and structures, which improved ion and gas transport. Through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, the DMD system was observed to improve the mass transport by >58% compared to a system that is similar to current f-BPM electrolysers (i.e., control system). The facilitated mass transport resulted in a reduction of the operating cell potential (by 0.84 V) and an enhancement of the C2+ FE to 65% (from 29% in the control system) at 300 mA cm-2. The flexibility of the DMD approach also enabled the fabrication of asymmetric BPMs, resulting in a record low H2 FE of 12% at 300 mA cm-2. We also demonstrated a 79% single-pass CO2 conversion (SPC) with 67% C2+ FE, resembling the highest simultaneous SPC and C2+ FE achievement at high current density (300 mA cm-2)among current f-BPM electrolysers. The DMD benefit was also applicable to other types of CO2 electrolysers, such as CO2-to-CO silver catalyst electrolysers, in which the CO FE was boosted to 90% (from 65% in the control system) at 90 mA cm-2.

Figure 1
Advanced Analytical System with Standardized Data Analysis for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Authors: Senocrate Alessandro , Kraus Peter , Bernasconi Francesco , Battaglia Corsin 
Published: February 2024

Electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2RR) is a promising way to convert CO2 emissions into sustainable fuels and chemicals, approaching a circular carbon economy.
1 Depending on catalyst type and reaction conditions, different gaseous and liquid products can be obtained from the CO2RR, and their production rates vary with reaction time. Thus, assessing the product distribution online during CO2RR is a key component of any catalytic performance analysis.
2,3 However, while gaseous products are readily analyzed online, liquid products are assessed typically only at the end of the reaction due to the lack of suitable automated liquid sampling and analysis methods. In addition, electrolyzer parameters such as gas flow rates, temperatures and pressures are seldom recorded, causing the loss of significant information on catalysts, electrodes, and electrolyzers behavior.
To overcome these issues, we assemble a comprehensive analytical system coupling online gas and liquid product analysis by chromatography (leveraging a special automated liquid sampling valve) with electrochemical protocols to assess CO2RR performance, electrolyzer cell resistance and electrode surface area. In addition, we record CO2 gas flow rates, electrolyzer temperatures, and gas and liquid pressures.
4 To rapidly and reproducibly handle the large and heterogeneous data volume obtained we implement a standardized data pipeline based on our own open-source software,5 which automatically parses the numerous different raw data files, composes a data set following FAIR practices,6 and post-processes and plots the data in a standardized way (see example in Fig. 1 below). We validate the analytical system by carrying out CO2RR at 200 mA/cm2 on Cu gas diffusion electrodes, following the changes in selectivity with reaction time for > 10 gaseous and liquid products, and recording mass flow rates, electrolyzer temperatures and pressures. The modular nature of our analytical system, combined with the standardized data pipeline, allows us to freely increase the number and type of sensors used with minimal impact on the data analysis time, as well as to multiplex our analysis to parallel electrolyzer cells, paving the way for a much deeper and faster understanding of the function of CO2RR catalysts, electrodes, and electrolyzers.

References

[1] Senocrate, Battaglia, J. Energy Storage
2021, 36, 102373.
[2] Wang, de Araújo, Ju, Bagger, Schmies, Kühl, Rossmeisl, Strasser, Nat.
Nanotechnol.
2019, 14, 1063. [3] Löffler, Khanipour, Kulyk, Mayrhofer, Katsounaros ACS Catal.
202
0, 10, 6735.
[4] Senocrate, Kraus, Bernasconi, Battaglia, in preparation
2023.
[5] https://dgbowl.github.io

[5] Kraus, Vetsch, Battaglia, Journal of Open Source Software
2022, 7, 4166.

Figure 1
(Invited, Digital Presentation) Integration of 2D Material Characterization and Reliability into Device Manufacturing
Authors: Mansfield Elisabeth , Holm Jason , Keller Robert 
Published: February 2024

After the unique properties of graphene were realized, scientists began seeking other types of atomically thin materials that exhibited similar attractive and exciting properties. There is now a range of materials including single element (e.g. phosphorene) and compounds (e.g, transitional metal dichalcogenides and MXenes) that show promise for electronic, quantum, superconducting and optoelectronic applications. As with any new material, understanding structure and inherent defects is an important part to optimizing performance in these materials for their intended applications.
Manufacturing optimized devices that incorporate newly-emerging materials requires predictable performance throughout device lifetimes. Unexpected degradation in device performance, sometimes leading to failure, is often traceable to poor material reliability. Reliability is rooted in the stability of the atoms making up a material, and is determined by geometry, microstructure, chemistry, dimensional scale, proximity to other materials, and exposure to external stressors. Integration of powerful characterization techniques and reliability tests of materials under operational conditions improves fundamental understanding and accelerates development of highly-reliable materials and devices.
This talk will cover recent work on 2D materials characterization and reliability testing of these materials with the ultimate goal of manufacturability. Characterization of defects, primarily with transmission-SEM, to characterize diverse 2D materials (e.g., topological insulators, transition metal dichalcogenides, semiconductors) will be demonstrated. Initial measurement results to understand the impact of reliability challenges (e.g. electrical, thermal) the material may experience during manufacturing will be discussed. The advancement of this work to identify potential device configurations, material interfaces and use conditions that will be problematic will be presented.
(Invited) Designing Sustainable Battery Technologies
Authors: Kendrick Emma 
Published: February 2024

Sustainability in battery technologies needs to be considered from the outset, however sustainability means many things, and needs to be considered holistically from materials, manufacturing, life-time and recyclability. Three different aspects of sustainable considerations within lithium-ion and sodium-ion technology development are discussed; materials developments, cell lifetime and optimisations, and design for recycling.
The cell is comprised of a nickel based layered oxide material cathode with hard carbon anode. To maximise energy density and life-time degradation of the bulk and surface of the O3-type oxides require stabilisation.1 We discuss the optimisation of a facile method for manufacturing a stabilised O3- type layered oxide via simultaneous doping and surface coating. A higher average voltage is obtained, which stabilised the high voltage phase transition to higher voltages, and results in longer-cycle life.2

To understand the sodium-ion cell in more detail, we have performed a detailed electrochemical analysis of a hard-carbon and layered oxide cathode and extracted parameters for multi-physics models. The kinetics and thermodynamics have been studied at different temperatures, and the limitations of the cell elucidated.
Finally design for remanufacture is also discussed, utilising water-based binder systems we show differences in delamination and material recovery. Utilising different recycling schemes through shredding and physical processing through to disassembly processes improvements in recovery rates are required. Particularly for low value materials, where the techno-economics of the processes do not currently work. Direct recycling of materials reclaimed from the batteries, wherever possible allows value within the material design to be maintained, rather than relying directly upon elemental value. Aspects of direct loop recycling and short loop recycling are discussed with respect to current lithium-ion technologies, and the ability to directly translate this to sodium-ion.3

In conclusion three aspects for sustainability considerations are discussed with respect to the materials life-cycle; active material optimisation, longevity and life-time when in use and electrode developments for recycling.4
1 T. Song and E. Kendrick, J. Phys. Mater., 2021, 4, 32004.
2 T. Song, L. Chen, D. Gastol, B. Dong, J. F. Marco, F. Berry, P. Slater, D. Reed and E. Kendrick, Chem. Mater., 2022, 34, 4153–4165.
3 G. D. J. Harper, E. Kendrick, et al. J. Phys. Energy, 2023, 5, 021501.
4 Picture created by DALL-E 2 algorithm with Nightcafe

Figure 1
3D Printed Stamps for Transfer Printing of Flexible and Wearable Supercapacitors
Authors: Gupta Khushal , Sekhar Nath Sudhansu , Sundriyal Poonam 
Published: February 2024

In recent times, there has been an increasing demand for portable, lightweight, and flexible electronic devices. These electronic devices are required in healthcare, robotics, sports, defence, and other applications. Energy storage unit is one of the key requirements of these electronics and solid-state micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) are preferred for flexible and wearable electronics.[1,2] However, conventional methods of manufacturing MSCs are complex, time-consuming, and costly. This work aims to explore an alternative approach to developing MSCs by transferring electronic inks onto paper, textiles, and other flexible substrates using 3D-printed stamps. Different in-plane MSCs with varying finger widths and interspace gaps were fabricated to find the optimum electrochemical properties. The developed devices exhibit excellent electrochemical performance including high power density, high energy density, excellent lifetime, and excellent flexibility under different mechanical deformation conditions (such as bending, rolling, folding, etc.). This approach has a huge potential for fabrication of next-generation electronics for flexible and wearable electronic applications.
References:

Zhang, C., Kremer, M. P., Seral‐Ascaso, A., Park, S. H., McEvoy, N., Anasori, B., ... & Nicolosi, V. (2018). Stamping of flexible, coplanar micro‐supercapacitors using MXene inks. Advanced Functional Materials, 28(9), 1705506.

Sundriyal, P., & Bhattacharya, S. (2019). Scalable micro-fabrication of flexible, solid-state, inexpensive, and high-performance planar micro-supercapacitors through inkjet printing. ACS Applied Energy Materials, 2(3), 1876-1890.
Exploring the Use of Static Mixers for Enhanced Flow-Electrode Capacitive Deionization
Authors: Ceron Maira Raquel , Overland Alexandra E. L. , Hawks Steven A. 
Published: February 2024

Water desalination plays a major role in alleviating water scarcity issues, but it faces major barriers due to high energy use, low water utilization, and significant environmental impacts. Flow electrode capacitive deionization (FCDI) is a new ultra-efficient electrochemical water treatment technology capable of desalinating saline streams (e.g., brackish water, seawater) with less than 10% of the feed water rejected as waste. Here we use a structured flow plate design to maximize charge transfer while incurring a negligible pressure drop penalty. Different 3D printed flow plate structures were characterized individually in a flow capacitor arrangement to quantify their relative merits in terms of the tradeoff between conductivity and flow characteristics with carbon slurries containing 5-9 wt% activated carbon and 0-1 wt% carbon black.
This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344. Funding was provided by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Grant 22-DR-011. IM #LLNL-ABS-846456