Engineering Physics Commons^™

Dual-Axis Solar Tracker, Bryan Kennedy

All Undergraduate Projects

Renewable energies, and fuels that are not fossil fuel-based, are one of the prolific topics of debate in modern society. With climate change now becoming a primary focus for scientists and innovators of today, one of the areas for the largest amount of potential and growth is that of the capturing and utilization of Solar Energy. This method involves using a mechanical system to track the progression of the sun as it traverses the sky throughout the day. A dual-axis solar tracker such as the one designed and built for this project, can follow the sun both azimuthally and in …

Diffusion Doping Of Cobalt In Rod-Shape Anatase Tio2 Nanocrystals Leads To Antiferromagnetism†, Shahzahan Mia, Shelton J.P. Varapragasam, Aravind Baride, Choumini Balasanthiran, Balamurugan Balasubramanian, Robert M. Rioux, James D. Hoefelmeyer

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

Cobalt(II) ions were adsorbed to the surface of rod-shape anatase TiO2 nanocrystals and subsequently heated to promote ion diffusion into the nanocrystal. After removal of any remaining surface bound cobalt, a sample consisting of strictly cobalt-doped TiO2 was obtained and characterized with powder Xray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, SQUID magnetometry, and inductively-coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The nanocrystal morphology was unchanged in the process and no new crystal phases were detected. The concentration of cobalt in the doped samples linearly correlates with the initial loading of cobalt(II) ions on the nanocrystal surface. Thin …

Detection Of Decoupled Surface And Bulk States In Epitaxial Orthorhombic Sriro3 Thin Films, Prescott E. Evans, Takashi Komesu, Le Zhang, Ding-Fu Shao, Andrew J. Yost, Shiv Kumar, Eike F. Schwier, Kenya Shimada, Evgeny Y. Tsymbal, Xia Hong, P. A. Dowben

Peter Dowben Publications

We report the experimental evidence of evolving lattice distortion in high quality epitaxial orthorhombic SrIrO3(001) thin films fully strained on (001) SrTiO3 substrates. Angle-resolved X-ray photoemission spectroscopy studies show that the surface layer of 5 nm SrIrO3 films is Sr–O terminated, and subsequent layers recover the semimetallic state, with the band structure consistent with an orthorhombic SrIrO3(001) having the lattice constant of the substrate. While there is no band folding in the experimental band structure, additional super-periodicity is evident in low energy electron diffraction measurements, suggesting the emergence of a transition layer with crystal symmetry evolving from the SrTiO3 substrate …

Manipulation Of The Molecular Spin Crossover Transition Of Fe(H2b(Pz)2)2(Bipy) By Addition Of Polar Molecules, Paulo S. Costa, Guanhua Hao, Alpha T. N'Diaye, Lucie Routaboul, Pierre Braunstein, Xin Zhang, Jian Zhang, Thilini K. Ekanayaka, Qin Yin Shi, V. L. Schlegel, Bernard Doudin, Axel Enders, Peter Dowben

Peter Dowben Publications

The addition of various dipolar molecules is shown to affect the temperature dependence of the spin state occupancy of the much studied spin crossover Fe(II) complex, [Fe{H2B(pz)2}2(bipy)] (pz = pyrazol-1-yl, bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine). Specifically, the addition of benzimidazole results in a re-entrant spin crossover transition, i.e. the spin state starts in the mostly low spin state, then high spin state occupancy increases, and finally the high spin state occupancy decreases with increasing temperature. This behavior contrasts with that observed when the highly polar p -benzoquinonemonoimine zwitterion C6H2(..NH2)2(..O)2 was mixed with [Fe{H2B(pz)2}2(bipy)], which resulted in locking [Fe{H2B(pz)2}2(bipy)] largely into a low …

Investigating New Methods To Develop Perovskite Solar Cells, Amani Hussain Alfaifi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Discovering the potential of organic-inorganic metal halide perovskites (MHP) as a harvesting material in solar cells has strongly affected the research direction in solar energy. The fascinating optical and electronic properties offered by MHP combined with tremendous effort from scientists around the world have improved the efficiency to about 25% in a decade.

In the first part of the dissertation, we studied the lamination process as a new fabrication method for producing self-encapsulated perovskite solar cells based on laminating half stacks,as opposed to the conventional layer-by-layer method. Our work focused on optimizing the lamination process of complex triple cations perovskite …

Chiral Magnetism And High-Temperature Skyrmions In B20-Ordered Co-Si, Balamurugan Balasubramanian, Priyanka Manchanda, Rabindra Pahari, Zhen Chen, Wenyong Zhang, Shah R. Valloppilly, Xingzhong Li, Anandakumar Sarella, Lanping Yue, Ahsan Ullah, Pratibha Dev, David A. Muller, Ralph Skomski, George C. Hadjipanayis, David J. Sellmyer

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

Magnets with chiral crystal structures and helical spin structures have recently attracted much attention as potential spin-electronics materials, but their relatively low magnetic-ordering temperatures are a disadvantage. While cobalt has long been recognized as an element that promotes high-temperature magnetic ordering, most Co-rich alloys are achiral and exhibit collinear rather than helimagnetic order. Crystallographically, the B20-ordered compound CoSi is an exception due to its chiral structure, but it does not exhibit any kind of magnetic order. Here, we use nonequilibrium processing to produce B20-ordered Co_1+xSi_1−x with a maximum Co solubility of x = 0.043. Above a critical …

Rod-Shape Theranostic Nanoparticles Facilitate Antiretroviral Drug Biodistribution And Activity In Human Immunodeficiency Virus Susceptible Cells And Tissues, Bhavesh D. Kevadiya, Brendan Ottemann, Insiya Z. Mukadam, Laura Castellanos, Kristen Sikora, James R. Hilaire, Jatin Machhi, Jonathan Herskovitz, Dhruvkumar Soni, Mahmudul Hasan, Wenting Zhang, Anandakumar Sarella, Jered Garrison, Joellyn Mcmillan, Benson Edagwa, R. Lee Mosley, Richard W. Vachet, Howard E. Gendelman

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

Human immunodeficiency virus theranostics facilitates the development of long acting (LA) antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) by defining drug-particle cell depots. Optimal drug formulations are made possible based on precise particle composition, structure, shape and size. Through the creation of rod-shaped particles of defined sizes reflective of native LA drugs, theranostic probes can be deployed to measure particle-cell and tissue biodistribution, antiretroviral activities and drug retention.

Methods: Herein, we created multimodal rilpivirine (RPV) ¹⁷⁷lutetium labeled bismuth sulfide nanorods (¹⁷⁷LuBSNRs) then evaluated their structure, morphology, configuration, chemical composition, biological responses and adverse reactions. Particle biodistribution was analyzed by single …

Svat4: A Computer Program For Visualization And Analysis Of Crystal Structures, Xingzhong Li

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

SVAT4 is a computer program for interactive visualization of three-dimensional crystal structures, including chemical bonds and magnetic moments. A wide range of functions, e.g. revealing atomic layers and polyhedral clusters, are available for further structural analysis. Atomic sizes, colors, appearance, view directions and view modes (orthographic or perspective views) are adjustable. Customized work for the visualization and analysis can be saved and then reloaded. SVAT4 provides a template to simplify the process of preparation of a new data file. SVAT4 can generate high-quality images for publication and animations for presentations. The usability of SVAT4 is broadened by a software suite …

A Review On Superluminal Physics And Superluminal Communication In Light Of The Neutrosophic Logic Perspective, Victor Christianto, Florentin Smarandache

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

In a recent paper, we describe a model of quantum communication based on combining consciousness experiment and entanglement, which can serve as impetus to stop 5G-network-caused diseases. Therefore, in this paper we consider superluminal physics and superluminal communication as a bridge or intermediate way between subluminal physics and action-at-a-distance (AAAD) physics, especially from neutrosophic logic perspective. Although several ways have been proposed to bring such a superluminal communication into reality, such as Telluric wave or Telepathy analog of Horejev and Baburin, here we also review two possibilities: quaternion communication and also quantum communication based on quantum noise. Further research is …

A Short Remark On Vortex As Fluid Particle From Neutrosophic Logic Perspective, Victor Christianto, Florentin Smarandache

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

In a previous paper in this journal (IJNS), it is mentioned about a possible approach to re-describe QED without renormalization route. As it is known that in literature, there are some attempts to reconcile vortex-based fluid dynamics and particle dynamics. Some attempts are not quite as fruitful as others. As a follow up to previous paper, the present paper will discuss two theorems for developing unification theories, and then point out some new proposals including by Simula (2020) on how to derive Maxwell equations in superfluid dynamics setting; this could be a new alternative approach towards “fluidicle” or “vorticle” model …

Quantitative Study Of The Energy Changes In Voltage-Controlled Spin Crossover Molecular Thin Films, Aaron Mosey, Ashley S. Dale, Guanhua Hao, Alpha T. N’Diaye, Peter Dowben, Ruihua Cheng

Peter Dowben Publications

Voltage-controlled nonvolatile isothermal spin state switching of a [Fe{H2B(pz)₂}₂(bipy)] (pz=tris(pyrazol-1-1y)-borohydride, bipy=2,2’-bipyridine) film, more than 40 to 50 molecular layers thick, is possible when it is adsorbed onto a molecular ferroelectric substrate. Accompanying this high spin and low spin state switching, at room temperature, we observe a remarkable change in conductance, thereby allowing not only non-volatile voltage control of the spin state (“write”), but also current sensing of the molecular spin state (“read”). Monte Carlo Ising model simulations of the high spin state occupancy, extracted from x-ray absorption spectroscopy, indicate that the energy difference between the low …

Ferroelectric Domain Wall Memristor, James P. V. Mcconville, Haidong Lu, Bo Wang, Yueze Tan, Charlotte Cochard, Michele Conroy, Kalani Moore, Alan Harvey, Ursel Bangert, Long-Qing Chen, Alexei Gruverman, J. M. Gregg

Alexei Gruverman Publications

A domain wall-enabled memristor is created, in thin film lithium niobate capacitors, which shows up to twelve orders of magnitude variation in resistance. Such dramatic changes are caused by the injection of strongly inclined conducting ferroelectric domain walls, which provide conduits for current flow between electrodes. Varying the magnitude of the applied electric-field pulse, used to induce switching, alters the extent to which polarization reversal occurs; this systematically changes the density of the injected conducting domain walls in the ferroelectric layer and hence the resistivity of the capacitor structure as a whole. Hundreds of distinct conductance states can be produced, …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Hybrid Organic Coating System To Reduce Thermal Degradation Of Solar Cells, Mohd Zaini Farah Khaleda

Student Works (2020-2029)

Thermal-decreasing hybrid organic coatings were developed for crystalline solar cells by using two types of binder systems; namely Aminopropyltriethoxysolution (APTES) / Methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) binder system (labelled as B1) and Methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) / nitric acid (HNO3) binder system (labelled as B2). Three types of nanoparticles; Titanium dioxide, TiO2 (Anatase), Zinc oxide, ZnO and Tin dioxide, SnO2 nanoparticles with different weight percentage were introduced inside each binder system namely; 20 wt%, TiO2 (T1B1 coating), 60 wt% TiO2 (T2B1 coating), 20 wt% ZnO (Z1B1 coating), 60 wt% ZnO (T2B1 coating), 20 wt% SnO2 (S1B1 coating) and 60 wt% SnO2 (S2B1 coating) for B1 …

Investigation Of Phonon Polaritons In An Hbn Gan Heterostructure, Catherine G. O'Hearn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There have been many great advances in the generation and manipulation of optics in the visible and near infrared (IR) range over the past decade. This is largely due to plasmonic enhancement, which has led to new technology in biosensing and molecule detection, solid-state lighting, and solar energy harvesting. The field of plasmonics uses quanta of plasma oscillations, plasmons, formed from the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and free electrons to enhance optical near field magnitudes. However, there is still a large region of the electromagnetic spectrum, covering the mid-infrared (MIR) and terahertz (THz) regions, ranging from 3 μm to 1 …

Synthesis Of Graphene Using Plasma Etching And Atmospheric Pressure Annealing: Process And Sensor Development, Andrew Robert Graves

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Having been theorized in 1947, it was not until 2004 that graphene was first isolated. In the years since its isolation, graphene has been the subject of intense, world-wide study due to its incredibly diverse array of useful properties. Even though many billions of dollars have been spent on its development, graphene has yet to break out of the laboratory and penetrate mainstream industrial applications markets. This is because graphene faces a ‘grand challenge.’ Simply put, there is currently no method of manufacturing high-quality graphene on the industrial scale. This grand challenge looms particularly large for electronic applications where the …

2d Confinement Of Thermal Gradients In Metallic Non-Local Spin Valves, Rachel K. Bennet

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Non-local spin valves (NLSVs) are a valuable tool in the growing field of spintronics due to their unique ability to separate charge current from pure spin current. Their potential applications as read heads for hard-disk drives, as well as use as logic gates and other spin sensors, makes detailed understanding of their behavior under a wide range of operating conditions very important.

In this dissertation, I present results of extreme thermal engineering of the supporting substrate of NLSVs, which has a dramatic impact on the background signal of the device as well as contributions from thermal spin effects such as …

Improving Inverse Compton Sources By Avoiding Non-Linearities, B. Terzić, G. A. Krafft, V. Petrillo, I. Drebot, M. Ruijter

Physics Faculty Publications

We present a new, more nuanced understanding of non-linear effects in inverse Compton sources. Deleterious non-linear effects can arise even at low laser intensities, a regime previously viewed as linear. After laying out a survey of non-linear phenomena which degrade the effectiveness of inverse Compton sources, we discuss two powerful techniques designed to avoid these non-linearities. Starting with the known technique of non-linear longitudinal chirping of the laser pulse in the high laser field regime, we show that the simple stretching of the laser pulse, while keeping the energy constant, can significantly increase the spectral density of the scattered radiation …

High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (Hl-Lhc): Technical Design Report, O. Aberle, C. Adorisio, A. Adraktas, M. Ady, J. Albertone, L. Alberty, M. Alcaide Leon, A. Alekou, D. Alesini, B. Almeida Ferreira, P. Alvarez-Lopez, G. Ambrosio, P. Andreu Munoz, M. Anerella, D. Angal-Kalinin, F. Antoniou, G. Apollinari, A. Apollonio, R. Appleby, I. Béjar Alonso, Jean Delayen, I. Zurbano Fernandez, Et Al., I. Béjar Alonso (Ed.), O. Brüning (Ed.), P. Fessia (Ed.), M. Lamont (Ed.), L. Rossi (Ed.), L. Tavian (Ed.), M. Zerlauth (Ed.)

Physics Faculty Publications

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is one of the largest scientific instruments ever built. Since opening up a new energy frontier for exploration in 2010, it has gathered a global user community of about 9000 scientists working in fundamental particle physics and the physics of hadronic matter at extreme temperature and density. To sustain and extend its discovery potential, the LHC will need a major upgrade in the 2020s. This will increase its instantaneous luminosity (rate of collisions) by a factor of five beyond the original design value and the integrated luminosity (total number of collisions) by a factor ten. …

Observation Of In-Plane Magnetic Field Induced Phase Transitions In Fese, Jong Mok Ok, Chang Il Kwon, Yoshimitsu Kohama, Jung Sang You, Sun Kyu Park, Ji-Hye Kim, Y.J. Jo, E.S. Choi, Koichi Kindo, Woun Kang, Ki-Seok Kim, E. G. Moon, Alex Gurevich, Jun Sung Kim

Physics Faculty Publications

We investigate thermodynamic properties of FeSe under in-plane magnetic fields using torque magnetometry, specific heat, and magnetocaloric measurements. Below the upper critical field H_c2, we observed the field induced anomalies at H₁ ∼ 15 T and H₂ ∼ 22 T near H ∥ ab and below a characteristic temperature T* ∼ 2 K. The transition magnetic fields H₁ and H₂ exhibit negligible dependence on both temperature and field orientation. This contrasts to the strong temperature and angle dependence of H_c2, suggesting that these anomalies are attributed to the field induced phase transitions, …

Developing A High Resolution Zdc For The Eic, J. H. Lee, T. Sako, K. Tanida, M. Murray, Q. Wang, N. Nickel, Y. Yamazaki, Y. Itow, H. Menjo, T. Shibata, C. E. Hyde, V. Baturin, Y. Goto, I. Nakagawa, R. Seidl, K. Kawade, A. Deshpande, B. Schmookler, K. Nakano, T. Chujo, Y. Miyachi

Physics Faculty Publications

The Electron Ion Collider offers the opportunity to make un-paralleled multidimen- sional measurements of the spin structure of the proton and nuclei, as well as a study of the onset of partonic saturation at small Bjorken-x [1]. An important requirement of the physics program is the tagging of spectator neutrons and the identification of forward photons. We propose to design and build a Zero Degree Calorimeter, or ZDC, to measure photons and neutrons with excellent energy & position resolution.