Mechanics of Materials Commons^™

Electronic Structure Evolution Of Fullerene On Ch3Nh3Pbi3, Chenggong Wang, Congcong Wang, Xiaoliang Liu, John Kauppi, Yuchuan Shao, Zhengguo Xiao, Cheng Bi, Jinsong Huang, Yongli Gao

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The thickness dependence of fullerene on CH₃NH₃PbI₃ perovskite film surface has been investigated by using ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), and inverse photoemission spectroscopy (IPES). The lowest unoccupied molecular orbital and highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) can be observed directly with IPES and UPS. It is observed that the HOMO level in fullerene shifts to lower binding energy. The XPS results show a strong initial shift of core levels to lower binding energy in the perovskite, which indicates that electrons transfer from the perovskite film to fullerene molecules. Further deposition of fullerene …

Improving The Sensitivity Of A Near-Infrared Nanocomposite Photodetector By Enhancing Trap Induced Hole Injection, Liang Shen, Yanjun Fang, Qingfeng Dong, Zhengguo Xiao, Jinsong Huang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

We report the enhancement of the photoconductive gain of nanocomposite near-infrared photodetectors by a zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) rich surface at the nanocomposite/cathode interface. An argon plasma etching process was used to remove polymer at the surface of nanocomposite films, which resulted in a ZnO NPs rich surface. The other way is to spin-coat a thin layer of ZnO NPs onto the nanocomposite layer. The ZnO NPs rich surface, which acts as electron traps to induce secondary hole injection under reverse bias, increased hole injection, and thus the external quantum efficiency by 2–3 times. The darkcurrent declined one order …

Color And Texture Morphing With Colloids On Multilayered Surfaces, Ziguang Chen, Shumin Li, Andrew Arkebauer, George Gogos, Li Tan

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Dynamic morphing of marine species to match with environment changes in color and texture is an advanced means for surviving, self-defense, and reproduction. Here we use colloids that are placed inside a multilayered structure to demonstrate color and texture morphing. The multilayer is composed of a thermal insulating base layer, a light absorbing mid layer, and a liquid top layer. When external light of moderate intensity (∼0.2 W cm−2) strikes the structure, colloids inside the liquid layer will be assembled to locations with an optimal absorption. When this system is exposed to continuous laser pulses, more than 18 000 times …

Quantification Of Plaque Stiffness By Brillouin Microscopy In Experimental Thin Cap Fibroatheroma, Giuseppe Antonacci, Ryan M. Pedrigi, Avinash Kondiboyina, Vikram V. Mehta, Ranil De Silva, Carl Paterson, Rob Krams, Peter Torok

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Plaques vulnerable to rupture are characterized by a thin and stiff fibrous cap overlaying a soft lipid-rich necrotic core. The ability to measure local plaque stiffness directly to quantify plaque stress and predict rupture potential would be very attractive, but no current technology does so. This study seeks to validate the use of Brillouin microscopy to measure the Brillouin frequency shift, which is related to stiffness, within vulnerable plaques. The left carotid artery of an ApoE^-/- mouse was instrumented with a cuff that induced vulnerable plaque development in nine weeks. Adjacent histological sections from the instrumented and control arteries …

Mammalian Synthetic Biology: Emerging Medical Applications, Zoltan Kis, Hugo Sant'ann Pereira, Takayuki Homma, Ryan M. Pedrigi, Rob Krams

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

In this review, we discuss new emerging medical applications of the rapidly evolving field of mammalian synthetic biology.We start with simple mammalian synthetic biological components and move towards more complex and therapy-oriented gene circuits. A comprehensive list of ON–OFF switches, categorized into transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational and posttranslational, is presented in the first sections. Subsequently, Boolean logic gates, synthetic mammalian oscillators and toggle switches will be described. Several synthetic gene networks are further reviewed in the medical applications section, including cancer therapy gene circuits, immuno-regulatory networks, among others. The final sections focus on the applicability of synthetic gene networks to drug …

Processing And Property Evaluation Of Tungsten-Based Mixed Oxides For Photovoltaics And Optoelectronics, Mirella Vargas

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Tungsten Oxide (WO3) films and low-dimensional structures have proven to be promising candidates in the fields of photonics and electronics. WO3 is a well-established n-type semiconductor characterized by unique electrochromic behavior, an ideal optical band gap that permits transparency over a wide spectral range, and high chemical integrity. The plethora of diverse properties endow WO3 to be highly effective in applications related to electrochromism, gas sensing, and deriving economical energy. Compared to the bulk films, a materials system involving WO3 and a related species (elements or metal oxides) offer the opportunity to tailor the electrochromic response, and an overall enhancement …

Moisture Susceptibility Of Dense Graded Asphalt Concrete Using Cyclic Moistue Induced Stress Tester, Sarvesh Dip Dhakal

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Moisture damage in asphalt concrete causes loss in mechanical properties of asphalt material due to the presence of moisture in its microstructures in a liquid or a vapor state. Some of the common types of distress observed in asphalt pavements due to moisture damage are stripping (separation of asphalt binder and aggregate), raveling (dislodgement of aggregate particles in asphalt mixture from surface), and hydraulic scour (a process that occurs on a saturated surface by which the pavement material is eroded due to dynamic action of tires in the presence of water). This Thesis focuses on the research on the effects …

Computational Study Of Microstructure-Propertymechanism Relations In Ferroic Composites, Fengde D. Ma

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Ferroic materials, as notable members of smart materials, have been widely used in applications that perform sensing, actuation and control. The macroscopic property change of ferroic materials may become remarkably large during ferroic phase transition, leading to the fact that the macroscopic properties can be tuned by carefully applying a suitable external field (electric, magnetic, stress). To obtain an enhancement in physical and/or mechanical properties, different kinds of ferroic composites have been fabricated. The properties of a ferroic composite are determined not only by the properties and relative amounts of the constituent phases, but also by the microstructure of individual …

Reaction Of Liquid Aluminium- Samarium Alloys With B4c At Ultra High Temperatures, Sanjay Shantha-Kumar

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Reactive studies between a packed bed of B4C and Al-Sm-Me (Me = Ti, Zr, Hf) alloy melts were carried out under a pseudo-isopiestic thermodynamic system. A graphite enclosure isolated the system under a temperature gradient with one end reaching temperatures greater than 1800 K and the opposite end of the graphite enclosure contains liquid Al with temperatures approximating 950 K. The liquid Al establishes an oxygen potential to control oxidation of very reactive elements (i.e., Al, Sm and Ti). The Al-Sm-Me alloy infuses into a packed bed of B4C reacting exothermically to form borides and carbides depending on the thermodynamic …

High Temperature Oxidation Of Nb-Cr-Mo-Si-B Alloys, Kathryn S. Thomas

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

It has been the trend to use nickel based superalloys in high temperature applications, however higher temperatures are required in the effort to enhance the efficiency of such components as jet turbine engines. The melting temperature of the nickel based superalloy limits the extent to which temperature can be raised as these materials are typically used at temperatures within 200 degrees of their melting point. Refractory metal based systems are attractive due to their high melting points, low densities, and good high temperature strength. However, in such cases as niobium, poor oxidation resistance limits the widespread use of such alloys. …

Defeating Anisotropy In Material Extrusion 3d Printing Via Materials Development, Ángel Ramón Torrado Pérez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Additive Manufacturing technologies has been in continuous development for more than 35 years. Specifically, the later denominated Material Extrusion Additive Manufacturing (MEAM), was first developed by S. Scott Crump around 1988 and trademarked later as Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM). Although all of these technologies have been around for a while, it was not until recently that they have been more accessible to everyone. Today, the market of 3D printers covers all ranges of price, from very specialized, heavy and expensive machines, to desktop printers of only a few cubic inches in volume. Until recently, FDM technology had remained somewhat stagnant …

Design And Analysis Of A Novel Latch System Implementing Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials, Francisco Guevara

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The use of fiber-reinforced composite materials have increased in the last four decades in high technology applications due to their exceptional mechanical properties and low weight. In the automotive industry carbon fiber have become popular exclusively in luxury cars because of its high cost. However, Carbon-glass hybrid composites offer an effective alternative to designers to implement fiber-reinforced composites into several conventional applications without a considerable price increase maintaining most of their mechanical properties. A door latch system is a complex mechanism that is under high loading conditions during car accidents such as side impacts and rollovers. Therefore, the Department of …

Novel Engineered Nanomaterials For Water Remediation And Gas Adsorption: Graphene Oxide And Carbon Nanotubes Decorated With Metal-Organic Frameworks And Magnetic Nanoparticles, Vahid Jabbari

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In the current study, a series of novel magnetic and non-magnetic hybrid nanocomposites based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) of M3(BTC)2 (M: Ni, Cu, Zn, and Cd), graphene oxide (GrO), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were developed via a green, simple and versatile solvothermal method at which GrO and CNT were used as platform to grow the MOFs and Fe3O4 MNPs over them. The as-synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, IR, Raman, TGA, and N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms. Morphological analysis confirmed successful growth of nano-size Fe3O4 MNPs and M3(BTC)2 MOFs over GrO and CNT platforms. …

A Methodology For Use Of Digital Image Correlation For Hot Mix Asphalt Testing, Estefany Ramos

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is a relatively new technology which aids in the measurement of material properties without the need for installation of sensors. DIC is a noncontact measuring technique that requires the specimen to be marked with a random speckled pattern and to be photographed during the test. The photographs are then post-processed based on the location of the pattern throughout the test. DIC can aid in calculating properties that would otherwise be too difficult even with other measuring instruments.

The objective of this Thesis is to discuss the methodology and validate the use of DIC in different hot …

Acoustic Emission Characteristics Of Damage Accumulation In Kevlar® 49 Composites, Eduardo Andrade

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Acoustic emission (AE) data attained during tensile testing of epoxy impregnated Kevlar® 49 (K/Ep) composite strands were reduced and analyzed to monitor progressive damage accumulation during the approach to tensile failure. The K/Ep material tested in this study was chosen due to its similarity to the material-of-construction used in composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) used on the NASA Space Shuttle Orbiter. Insight into the progressive microstructural degradation of K/Ep strands was gained by monitoring AE event rate and energy. Source location based on energy attenuation and arrival time data was used to differentiate between significant AE attributable to microstructural damage …

Novel Endohedral Derivatives Of Sc3n@C2n (N = 34, 40) And Unique Tether Controlled Bis-Functionalization Of Fullerenes, Maira Raquel Ceron Hernandez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Since the discovery of fullerenes in 1985, their exohedral functionalization has been necessary to increase their solubility and explore their properties and potential applications in materials science and medicinal chemistry. This Thesis provides a short overview of the importance of electronic, size and shape complementarity in determining the structures of specific endohedral fullerene compounds. This is followed by a description of a new method for the separation of scandium nitride endohedral fullerenes Sc3N@C2n (n = 34, 39 and 40), and their monofunctionalization.

We also present the regioselective synThesis of easily isolable bis-derivatives of C60, C70, and M3N@Ih-C80 (M = Sc, …

Transition States And Modeling For Co9s8/Mos2 Catalysis, Gabriel Angel Gonzalez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Transition state computational studies of the sulfur removal from dibenzothiophene (DBT) molecule have herein been performed considering the Co9S8/MoS2 interface existing on unsupported Co/MoS2 catalysts. The linear synchronous transit (LST) and quadratic synchronous transit (QST) methods integrated in a density functional theory (DFT) program such as Dmol3 were used for the calculations of energy barriers of the transition states. Three different configurations present on the Co9S8/MoS2 interface have been envisaged as possible catalytic sites: sulfur-sulfur (S, S) sites, and molybdenum-sulfur (Mo, S) and molybdenum-molybdenum (Mo, Mo) edge sites. This study revealed that the (Mo, Mo) edge site is the most …

An Improved Sin-Hyperbolic Constitutive Model For Creep Deformation And Damage, Mohammad Shafinul Haque

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Inspection and maintenance of industrial gas turbines (IGTs) cost millions of dollars. Growing demand of obtaining higher IGT efficiency leads to higher temperature and pressure operating conditions. Long exposure of turbine components at elevated temperature and pressure

makes creep damage critically important to consider during planning, designing and operating conditions. Effective and economic maintenance requires accurate creep deformation, damage

evolution and rupture life prediction information. Creep prediction models are used to determine the state of the turbine components and to schedule the inspection, maintenance and replacement time periods. The more accurate the prediction model, the less is the overall cost …

Transition Metal Carbide (Tmc) Novel Materials For Novel Catalytic Applications, Svetlana Lagoykina

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Transition metal carbides (TMC) constitute a diverse class of materials and traditionally have many technological applications. TMC became a subject of extensive research since 1973, when their platinum -like properties were discovered. They demonstrated high catalytical activity and selectivity in a variety of chemical reaction and have potential for some novel catalytic application.

This research is an effort to design new high effective, selective and stable bimetal or alkali promoted TMC catalyst. After extensive theoretical research a wide range of TMC, including bimetal and alkali promoted carbides, were synthesized by different methods. All solids were characterized by XRD and microscopy. …

Thermal Shock Studies On Carbon-Carbon Composites: Experimentation And Analysis, Alma Lucia Leanos

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The oxidation behavior of C/C composites under thermal shock conditions in air is understood and predicted experimentally and by computational efforts. In Chapter. 1, both compressive properties and oxidation behavior of pristine and thermal shock exposed 2D C/C composite specimens were examined. Pristine test specimens were exposed to thermal shock conditions with temperatures ranging from 400°C to 1000°C in an oxidizing environment, followed by compression tests on pristine and thermal shock exposed specimens to obtain their compressive responses.

Similarly, in Chapter. 2, the influence of thermal shock conditions on both, the extent of carbon materials decomposition and the through-thickness compressive …