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A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | J U N E 2 0 1 6
1 0 TESTING | CHARACTERIZATION
approximately 20 cm, and a resolution
of 20 µm. Eventually the researchers
will test a second lens capable of 1-µm
resolution, allowing for an estimated
10-fold increase in spatial resolution
over what is currently possible.
Neutron imaging allows scientists
to see aspects of objects not visible
with light, such as the inner workings
of batteries and metals under strain.
For example, the newmicroscope could
look inside the catalyst layer of a hydro-
gen fuel cell, which is on the order of
1-10 µm, and give scientists a first look
at the water transport processes taking
place there
ELECTRODE RECONFIGURATION,
ENHANCED INFORMATION
Researchers at Argonne National
Laboratory, Lemont, Ill., demonstrated
that a new configuration of reference
electrodes—devices used to measure
voltage in individual electrodes within
a battery cell—can improve the quan-
tity and quality of information obtained
from lithium-ion battery cells during
cycling. Previously, Argonne research-
ers used only one reference electrode,
based on a lithium-tin (Li-Sn) alloy.
However, the team discovered that
sandwiching a Li-Sn reference electrode
between the positive and negative elec-
trodes, with a pure lithium reference
electrode positioned next to the stack,
provided insight into electrode state-of-
charge shifts, activematerial use, active
material loss, and impedance changes.
NEUTRON MICROSCOPE
COMING INTO FOCUS
In the quest to produce the world’s
first workhorse neutron microscope,
scientists from NIST’s Physical Mea-
surement Laboratory (PML), in collabo-
ration with NASA and MIT researchers,
are approaching a milestone—a new
prototype for a neutron lens. The lens
is based on a Wolter optic, a series of
nested conical mirrors made of thin lay-
ers of highly polished nickel. The design
allows neutrons, which pass through
mirrors unless they strike them at a low
angle of incidence, to be concentrated
onto a specimen. The lens in develop-
ment will consist of about 10 nested
mirror shells, with amaximumdiameter
of approximately 5 cm, a total length of
A THz-frequency materials charac-
terization system from Lake Shore
Cryotronics, Westerville, Ohio, was
installed in the lab of professor Dan
Mittleman at Brown University,
Providence, R.I. Mittleman’s team
is exploring how frequencies within
the terahertz band of the electro-
magnetic spectrum can advance
spectroscopic studies of materials,
and the 8500 Series system will
be used primarily to study
THz-frequency magneto-optical
responses of semimetals, iron-base
superconductors, and other novel
materials. .
BRIEFS
Thermal management technology developer Gentherm, Northville,
Mich., acquired Cincinnati Sub-Zero Products (CSZ). CSZ manufactures
custom environmental test chambers used for product testing in
industrial manufacturing. The company had revenues of approximately
$63 million in 2015 and will be operated as a subsidiary of Gentherm,
with its headquarters in Cincinnati and operations in Ohio and Michigan.
.
DanHussey in the shielded cavewhere the neutronmicroscopewill be housedat NIST.
Unique CW-THz spectroscopy systemwill aid
the Mittleman Lab in materials research.