Chemistry Commons^™

Vapor Liquid Solid Growths Of Germanium And Gallium Antimonide Nanowires, Ralph Alvarez, Esmeralda Arreola, Michael Oye, Meyya Meyyappan

STAR Program Research Presentations

Determining the optimal growth parameters for germanium (Ge) and gallium antimonide (GaSb) nanowires is the focus of this research. Given the fact that nano materials behave differently from their bulk counterparts we are researching some variables that influence nanowire diameter and length such as temperature, ramp rate, gas flow rate, and catalyst particle size. Based on the nano material size which is typically a few 10s of nanometers wide, these nano materials can be engineered to take advantage of their optical properties. Specifically the infrared (IR) response of Ge and GaSb nanowires are directly controllable based on their geometry. Fine …

Effects Of Ambient Gases On Icf Target Capsules, Bryan Chambers, Steve Letts, Michael Stadermann

STAR Program Research Presentations

We researched how the chemical and physical properties of a plasma polymer fuel capsule change as they are exposed to ambient gases. The fuel capsules contain the deuterium fuel inside them, they serve as the outer shell for the fuel and act as a ablator for the process. If they are reactive or diffusive with the atmosphere this can change their mass and effect the outcome of the fusion shots performed at the National Ignition Facility where High Powered Lasers are incident upon a gold hohlraum containing a capsule. We discovered that nitrogen and water vapor diffuse into the material …

Characterization Of Uranium Species In Sediments Under Iron And Sulfate Reducing Conditions Using Synchrotron-Based Techniques, Don Q. Pham, John Bargar

STAR Program Research Presentations

Uranium is one of the most common and problematic contaminants at legacy Department of Energy sites. Groundwater contamination is particularly problematic because it occurs at depth, is present in large volumes, and cannot be easily accessed for clean-up. One method of remediation being investigated is the bioreduction of soluble U(VI) to insoluble U(IV) complexes through the in-situ stimulation of metal-reducing bacteria. Understanding the structure of these uranium complexes can help us determine their fate and stability in groundwater and map out the biological process of uranium reduction by metal-reducing bacteria. In this study, we used the synchrotron-based techniques, X-ray absorption …

Exploring Methods For Earthquake Prediction: The Effects Of Water On The Flow Of Stress-Activated Electric Currents In Igneous Rocks, Aaron M. Jahoda, Friedemann T. Freund

STAR Program Research Presentations

Much of the devastation and damage of earthquakes can be attributed to the fact that they occur suddenly and without much warning, which limits the ability of people to evacuate and/or properly prepare. One method, however, that might be used to predict seismic events is the generation of electric currents in rocks when stresses are applied. It is observed in this research that the application of direct force onto samples of igneous rock causes the rocks to generate a measurable current, which is attributed to positive-hole charges moving within the oxygen sub-lattice. Because large and changing forces are acted upon …

Spectroscopic Properties Of Lanthanide (Iii) Compounds In Aqueous And Ionic Media, Orissa A. Burghard, Sayandev Chatterjee, Zheming Wang, Samuel A. Bryan

STAR Program Research Presentations

Lanthanide containing materials are receiving increasing attention due to their wide range of potential applications including bioanalytical imaging, dye-sensitized solar cells, nano-biotechnology and catalysis. The unique spectroscopic properties (intense and sharp emission bands with high color purity and high quantum efficiency) of lanthanides make them strong candidates for use as bio-markers or selective detectors. The attractiveness of lanthanides as future imaging agents as well as recent interest in their potential use in biological media has increased the need to understand the behavior of lanthanides in the presence of other ions or in ionic media.

The complexity of the biological media …