The carbon aerogel/carbon paper composites have physical properties similar to those of monolithic carbon aerogels but do not require supercritical extraction during fabrication. The resorcinol-formaldehyde based carbon aerogel phase is intertwined between the fibers of a commercial carbon paper. The resulting composites have variable densities (0.4-0.6 g/cc), high surface areas (300-600 m{sup 2}/g), and controllable pore sizes and pore distribution. The effects of the resorcinol-formaldehyde concentrations (50-70% w/v) and the pyrolysis temperature (600-1050 C) were studied in an attempt to tailor the aerogel microstructure and properties. The composite physical properties and structure were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and multipoint-BET analyses and related to electrochemical capacitive data in 5M KOH. These thin carbon aerogel/carbon paper composite electrodes are used in experiments with electrochemical double-layer capacitors and capacitive deionization.

Room temperature (RT) pulsed operation of blue nitride based multi-quantum well (MQW) laser diodes grown on c-plane sapphire substrates was achieved. Atmospheric pressure MOCVD was used to grow the active region of the device which consisted of a 10 pair In{sub 0.21}Ga{sub 0.79}N (2.5nm)/In{sub 0.07}Ga{sub 0.93}N (5nm) InGaN MQW. The threshold current density was reduced by a factor of 2 from 10 kA/cm{sup 2} for laser diodes grown on sapphire substrates to 4.8 kA/cm{sub 2} for laser diodes grown on lateral epitaxial overgrowth (LEO) GaN on sapphire. Lasing wavelengths as long as 425nm were obtained. LEDs with emission wavelengths as long as 500nm were obtained by increasing the Indium content. These results show that a reduction in nonradiative recombination from a reduced dislocation density leads to a higher internal quantum efficiency. Further research on GaN based laser diodes is needed to extend the wavelength to 490nm which is required for numerous bio-detection applications. The GaN blue lasers will be used to stimulate fluorescence in special dye molecules when the dyes are attached to specific molecules or microorganisms. Fluorescein is one commonly used dye molecule for chemical and biological warfare agent detection, and its optimal excitation wavelength is 490 nm. InGaN …

An international round robin study was conducted on the absorption measurement of laser-quality coatings. Sets of optically coated samples were made by a ''reactive DC magnetron'' sputtering and an ion beam sputtering deposition process. The sample set included a high reflector at 514 nm and a high reflector for the near infrared (1030 to 1318 nm), single layers of silicon dioxide, tantalum pentoxide, and hafnium dioxide. For calibration purposes, a sample metalized with hafnium and an uncoated, superpolished fused silica substrate were also included. The set was sent to laboratory groups for absorptance measurement of these coatings. Whenever possible, each group was to measure a common, central area and another area specifically assigned to the respective group. Specific test protocols were also suggested in regards to the laser exposure time, power density, and surface preparation.

This report summarizes results of a study performed to develop a strategy for characterization of low levels of radioactive contaminants [plutonium (Pu), neptunium (Np), americium (Am), and technetium (Tc)] in depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF{sub 6}) cylinders at the gaseous diffusion plants in Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Paducah, Kentucky; and Piketon, Ohio. In these gaseous diffusion plants, this radioactivity came from enriching recycled uranium (the so-called ''reactor returns'') from Savannah River, South Carolina, and Hanford, Washington, reactors. Results of this study will be used to support a request for proposals to design, build, and operate facilities to convert the DUF{sub 6} to more chemically stable forms. These facilities would need to be designed to handle any transuranic contaminants that might be present in order to (1) protect the workers' health and safety and (2) protect the public and the environment.

This document provides the calculated estimated dose rates for three external locations on the Rotary Mode Core Sampling (RMCS) exhauster HEPA filter housing, per the request of Characterization Field Engineering.

The decommissioning of nuclear submarines, disposal of highly-enriched uranium and weapons-grade plutonium, and processing of high-level radioactive wastes represent the most challenging issues facing the cleanup of 20th century radiation legacy wastes and facilities. The US and Russia are the two primary countries dealing with these challenges, because most of the world's fissile inventory is being processed and stored at multiple industrial sites and nuclear weapons production facilities in these countries.

This document published results of iterative calculations for maximum tank farm transfer secondary pipe (encasement) pressure upon failure of the primary pipe. The maximum pressure was calculated from a primary pipe guillotine break. Results show encasement pipeline design or testing pressures can be significantly lower than primary pipe pressure criteria.

This document specifies the critical characteristics for containers procured for Plutonium Finishing Plant's (PFP's) Vault Operations system as required by HNF-PRO-268 and HNF-PRO-1819. These are the minimum specifications that the equipment must meet in order to perform its safety function.

Several types of carbonaceous materials from Superior Graphite Co. were investigated for lithium ion intercalation. These commercially available cokes, graphitized cokes and graphites have a wide range of physical and chemical properties. The coke materials were investigated in propylene carbonate based electrolytes and the graphitic materials were studied in ethylene carbonate/dimethyl solutions to prevent exfoliation. The reversible capacities of disordered cokes are below 230 mAh/g and those for many highly ordered synthetic (artificial) and natural graphites approached 372 mAh/g (LiC{sub 6}). The irreversible capacity losses vary between 15 to as much as 200% of reversible capacities for various types of carbon. Heat treated cokes with the average particle size of 10 microns showed marked improvements in reversible capacity for lithium intercalation. The electrochemical characteristics are correlated with data obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and BET surface area analysis. The electrochemical performance, availability, cost and manufacturability of these commercial carbons will be discussed.

Only two intrinsic approaches to increasing the density of energy stored in capacitors are known: (1) Increase the Dielectric Constant while maintaining the breakdown filed; and (2) Increase the breakdown field for a given dielectric constant material. The maximum energy density, E{sub 0} (Joules/cm{sup 3}) that can be stored in the dielectric of a capacitor is given by: E{sub 0} = 1/2 k {var_epsilon}{sub 0} V{sub b}{sup 2} (Joules/cm{sup 3} dielectric). Where k is the relative permittivity (dielectric constant), {var_epsilon}{sub 0} is the permittivity of free space (8.894 x 10{sup -14} F/cm) and V{sub b} the dielectric material breakdown field. In this project we have successfully developed capacitor structures using dielectric materials with 3 < k < 50 that exhibit high breakdown fields. The observed performance of these capacitors as characterized by the energy stored per unit volume of dielectric at V{sub b} are compared on the basis of the breakdown field in Figure 1.

This report summarizes experimentally and numerically determined modal properties for one of the reinforced concrete end walls of the NIF Periscope Support Structure in Laser Bay 1. Two methods were used to determine these modal properties: (1) Computational finite-element analyses (modal extraction process); and (2) Experimental modal analysis based on measured test data. This report also includes experimentally determined modal properties for a prototype LM3/Polarizer line-replaceable unit (LRU) and a prototype PEPC LRU. Two important parameters, used during the design phase, are validated through testing [ref 1]. These parameters are the natural frequencies and modal damping (of the system in question) for the first several global modes of vibration. Experimental modal testing provides these modal values, along with the corresponding mode shapes. Another important parameter, the input excitation (expected during normal operation of the NIF laser system) [ref 1], can be verified by performing a series of ambient vibration measurements in the vicinity of the particular system (or subsystem) of interest. The topic of ambient input excitation will be covered in a separate report. Due to the large mass of the Periscope Pedestal, it is difficult to excite the entire series of Periscope Pedestal Walls all at once. It was …

The microstructures of lithiated synthetic graphite and carbon black were studied by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Information about the crystal structure of carbon containing various Li compositions can provide useful insights to our understanding of the Li storage mechanism in carbonaceous materials. Samples with compositions of Li{sub 0.93}C{sub 6} or Li{sub 0.45}C{sub 6} were found to contain both stage-one and stage-two compounds. These observations are consistent with XRD data. The changes in sample microstructure as the results of lithiation and exposure to electron irradiation were observed by TEM and recorded over several minutes in the microscope environment. Selected area electron diffraction patterns indicated that the lithiated samples quickly changed composition to LiC{sub 24}, which appeared to dominate during the brief analysis period. The layer planes in the lattice image of a disordered carbon black after Li insertion are poorly defined, and changes in the microstructure of these lithiated carbons was not readily apparent. Observations on these lithium intercalation compounds as well as the limitation of the experimental procedure will be presented.

The simulation of the Auxiliary Charcoal Bed (ACB) Vacuum System was performed to evaluate the original vacuum system design, detect and identify design deficiencies, investigate the effects of proposed corrections on system performance, and generally aid in refining the system design before construction and mockup testing. The simulation was performed by using the Advanced Continuous Simulation Language (ACSL). The vacuum system design goals are to provide approximately 20 SCFM of both booster gas and purge gas through the system and maintain a flow of approximately 40 SCFM with a velocity of 50 to 75 f/sec at the entrance to the cyclone separator. The model results showed that the original system design was incapable of meeting the system performance goals. Further simulations showed that the following modifications to the original vacuum system design were required to make the system performance acceptable; (1) Remove valve PCV4. (2) Modify the flow controllers FTC3 and FTC4 from the original flow range of 0-17.6 SCFM (0-500 SLM) to 0-35.3 SCFM (0-1000 SLM). (3) Replace the bellows sealed valves SV-1, SV-3A, SV-3B, SV-4A, and SV-4B with less restrictive ball valves. The simulation results saved considerable time and effort by identifying flaws in the original system design. …

The overall objective of this project is the three phase development of an Early Entrance Coproduction Plant (EECP) which produces at least one product from at least two of the following three categories: (1) electric power (or heat), (2) fuels, and (3) chemicals. The objective is to have these products produced by technologies capable of using synthesis gas derived from coal and/or other carbonaceous feedstock. The objective of Phase I is to determine the feasibility and define the concept for the EECP located at a specific site and to develop a Research, Development, and Testing Plan (RD and T) for implementation in Phase II. The objective of Phase II is to implement the RD and T as outlined in the Phase I RD and T Plan to enhance the development and commercial acceptance of coproduction technology that produces high-value products, particularly those that are critical to our domestic fuel and power requirements. The project will resolve critical knowledge and technology gaps on the integration of gasification and downstream processing to coproduce some combination of power, fuels, and chemicals from coal and other feedstocks. The objective of Phase III is to develop an engineering design package and a financing plan for …

The Department of Energy's Office of Transportation Technologies is initiating the Next Generation Natural Gas Vehicle (NGNGV) Program to develop commercially viable medium- and heavy-duty natural gas vehicles. These new vehicles will incorporate advanced alternative fuel vehicle technologies that were developed by DOE and others.

In this paper we have shown how the direction cosine method of stripmap-mode IFSAR maybe modified for use in the spotlight-mode case. Spotlight-mode IFSAR geometry dictates a common aperture phase center, velocity vector, and baseline vector for every pixel in an image. Angle with respect to the velocity vector is the same for every pixel in a given column and can be computed from the column index, the Doppler of the motion compensation point and the Doppler column sample spacing used in image formation. With these modifications, the direction cosines and length of the line of sight vector to every scatterer in the scene may be computed directly from the raw radar measurements of range, Doppler, and interferometric phase.

Phenomenon of the pseudogap is caused by an intrinsic inhomogeneity and the dependence Tc(r).

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Houses built by Pulte Homes as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Building America program in Tucson, Arizona, save money for the home owners by reducing electric air-conditioning costs and gas-heating costs with little or no additional investment.