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Projects/Programs

Displaying 1 - 25 of 26

Calibrations: Neutron Source Strength

Ongoing
Calibrations are performed using the manganous sulfate bath technique in which the emission rate of the source to be calibrated is compared to the emission rate of NBS–1, the national standard Ra–Be photo-neutron source. Neutron source calibrations typically have a relative expanded uncertainty ( k

CHRNS Non-Equilibrium Structure of Materials Initiative

Ongoing
The MACS, vSANS, and CANDOR instruments will be upgraded to allow new approaches for time-resolved experiments. New hardware allows CHRNS users to quickly reduce and analyze their data. New data streams that incorporate multiple time-resolved data and a new methodology for maintaining the data in an

Crystallographic Databases

Ongoing
Impact and Customers Materials with new or improved properties are continually being developed to meet demands for increased functionality of components and devices at decreased costs. Examples of multi-million dollar industries driven by materials advances are solid-state lighting (GaN-based

Determinations of Boron Deposit Quality by Neutron Depth Profiling

Ongoing
Neutrons are not easily detected with high resolution and good efficiency. Consequently, high-quality neutron detectors remain a challenge to manufacture. A few nuclides such as He-3, Boron-10, and Li-6 are commonly used to convert impinging neutrons into an electrical pulse that post-processing

Energy Storage & Delivery

Completed
Our program will address key measurement issues related to structure and dynamics of important classes of PEM materials, including emerging systems like block copolymers, polymer blends, and candidate materials proposed by industry leaders like GM. We are developing advanced methods that illuminate

Fluid Suspensions and Emulsions

Ongoing
We aim to: Develop measurement capabilities to relate solution structure and viscosity through novel combinations of unique small volume, high shear rate rheometers with scattering and particle-imaging techniques. A major application of these capabilities is understanding self-association in fluids

Fundamental Physics: Electric Field Imaging with Neutrons

Completed
An effective magnetic field B eff arises from the relativistic transformation of an electric field E into the frame of reference moving at the neutron velocity v; B eff is proportional to v x E /c 2, hence is small due to the factor of the square of the speed of light in the denominator. This

Imaging: CREB

Ongoing
The NIST Neutron Imaging Facility (NNIF) has developed an in situ simultaneous Neutron and X-ray Tomography (NeXT) capability that allows for 3D imaging of batteries and other objects [1-3]. Neutrons are complementary to X-rays and when combined allow one to segment and identify features to non

Imaging: Improving Lead Battery Efficiency with Neutron Imaging

Completed
Scientists will be joining forces with NIST from INMA (Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón) and Exide Technologies, a global battery company through one of its R&D centers based near Madrid. They will study the fundamental processes that govern recharge efficiency and battery electrode

Imaging: M2FCT - The Million-Mile Fuel Cell Truck Consortium

Ongoing
True in operando imaging of PEMFCs to observe and quantify water transport phenomena is only possible with neutrons. NIST, in partnership with General Motors and support of the EERE has developed a world-class facility for in operando neutron imaging of fuel cells for light duty vehicles. Upgrades

Imaging: The Neutron and X-ray Tomography (NeXT) System

Ongoing
Neutrons and X-rays are complementary, nondestructive, penetrating probes of matter. X-rays interact with the electron cloud of atoms and therefore sees increasing attenuation with atomic number while neutrons interact with the nuclei resulting in a very scattered pattern with atomic number. The

Imaging: Toward a Neutron Microscope

Ongoing
The NIST Neutron Microscope The NIST neutron microscope based Wolter optics represents a complete change in the way neutron imaging will be conducted, as the time and spatial resolution achievable with this instrument will approach that early generation X-ray synchrotron beamlines. A collaboration

Inorganic Phase Equilibrium Data

Ongoing
Every deliberate effort to develop a new material or to improve processing begins with chemical composition and the conditions (temperature, pressure) under which pure compounds and their mixtures are stable ( an equilibrium phase diagram ). In the absence of such information, materials scientists

MAGIK Offspecular Reflectometer

Ongoing
Polarized-beam measurements are possible with the use of a 3He analyzer. This instrument is an evolution of the AND/R reflectometer, which was located on the NG-1 guide. MAGIK is located along the NG-D guide in the expanded guide hall (part of the NCNR's Expansion Initiative).

Measurement Quality in Hydrogen Storage R&D

Ongoing
The hydrogen storage project targets metrologies that assess kinetics and energetics of hydrogen charging and discharging in combinatorial structures as well as the degradation mechanisms that limit life of use. New capabilities are being developed and several existing measurement capabilities are

Metrology for Nanolithography

Ongoing
Small Angle Scattering techniques are employed to measure, with sub-nm precision, pattern shape, dimensions, and orientation for structures created in periodic arrays. Critical-Dimension Small Angle X-ray Scattering (CD-SAXS) utilizes the variable-angle transmission scattering from a small beam size

Nanoparticle Assembly in Complex Fluids

Completed
Engineered nanomaterials are promising for technological and medical purposes. However, molecular mechanisms of toxicology are less known. This presents a problem and barrier for future innovation and applications as new nanomaterials are developed for healthcare where particles are intentionally

Polymers for Next-Generation Lithography

Completed
We work closely with the semiconductor industry to develop and apply measurements with high-spatial and chemically-specific resolution to elucidate the critical materials properties and process kinetics at nanometer scales that are needed to advance next-generation photolithography, including both

Security (Archive): Neutron Detector Replacement Program

Completed
This course of action has included an intense sequence of tests of alternative technologies performed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Nevada National Security Site. NIST has been integral to all phases of these testing programs, including evaluation of submitted detectors, design and