As scaling of silicon (Si) based devices approaches fundamental limits, thin film metal-insulator-metal (MIM) tunnel diodes are attracting interest due to their potential for high speed operation. Because operation of these devices is based on tunneling, electrode / interfacial roughness is critical. Recently, it was shown that combining ultra-smooth bottom...
Oxide growth is a common phenomenon on aluminum alloy cladding surfaces in nuclear research and test reactors. Without better understanding of oxide growth, excessive oxide build up on the cladding surface reduces heat transfer capability from fuel to coolant and causes safety concerns due to the potential cladding rupture or...
The motivation for undertaking this research was to increase the understanding of processing colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals and thin films metallic glasses to enable their wider application in future devices. This research covered two unique materials, lead selenide (PbSe) nanocrystals and thin film metallic glass alloy of zirconium copper aluminum nickel...
The fracture mechanics of Charpy V-notch specimens of
Zircaloy-4 and phosphorus contaminated Zircaloy-4 were
investigated. Three-point bend and impact tests with Charpy
V-notch samples provided an efficient and economical method
of fracture evaluation. Fracture failure was monitored by
the force-displacement curve. Failure was initially
analyzed using fracture toughness values as...
A study of the oxidation of zircaloy in reactor
environments has been undertaken with the goal of
characterizing of the Thermal Gradient Test Facility
(TGTF) at Teledyne Wah Chang, Albany. A set of
oxidation models is presented from the literature, as
well as an extensive database of published oxidation
test...