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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 217 records · Page 12
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Experimental Comparison of Elastomeric Materials for Hydraulic Seal Durability under Reciprocating Conditions

Wave Energy Converters (WECs) rely on hydraulic Power Take-Off (PTO) systems to transform the kinetic energy of ocean waves into electricity, where hydraulic seals play a critical role in preventing fluid leakage and ensuring watertight operation under harsh marine conditions. However, seal degradation due to wear, fatigue, and corrosion remains a key challenge limiting system reliability and increasing maintenance costs. In this study, the tribological performance of elastomeric materials for hydraulic sealing applications that are based on commercial polyurethane and custom-compounded Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) is investigated. Using a CSM tribometer, reciprocating wear tests were conducted in accordance with ASTM G133 under dry sliding conditions, with normal loads ranging from 3 to 10 N, and sliding speeds of 10 to 30 mm/s. Coefficient of friction (COF), specific wear rate, and worn surface morphology are evaluated to understand how load, velocity, and material composition affect seal durability. Improved wear stability and high Shore A hardness (93–94) were demonstrated by the commercial thermoplastic polyurethane (Duralast 4203 and 4758). EPDM-based compounds showed different filler-dependent behaviors, formulations filled with carbon black (E3) had the lowest wear rate (1.45 × 10?4 mm³ N?¹ m?¹) and increased load-bearing capacity, while samples modified with silica and plasticizer (E4, E5) had better conformability and damping but less hardness. Compounded EPDMs showed wider deformation zones because of their lower modulus and filler-matrix interfacial fluctuations, while commercial grades exhibited shallower wear scars (= 380 µm), according to optical profilometry. The Archard model-based lifetime estimation showed that, under 10 N and 30 mm/s, operational endurance ranged from 3.1 to 6.2 years. Because of its low wear rate and steady interfacial behavior, E3 had the longest anticipated life. For medium-load hydraulic sealing applications, these results demonstrate the possibility of customized EPDM formulations as affordable substitutes for commercial polyurethanes. They also offer a quantitative foundation for material selection and lifespan prediction.

Durability↗
DOE OSTI2023

How deep should we go to understand roots at the top of the world?

Harsh environmental conditions and the short summers of northern, high-latitude biomes impose unique constraints on the plants that live in the arctic tundra and the boreal forest. To escape the harsh aboveground environment, plants in these habitats often allocate a large portion of their biomass belowground to facilitate nutrient acquisition. In turn, the proximity of living plant roots to vast stores of sequestered soil carbon in these biomes means that shifts in rooting depth distribution and the size of the root–soil interface could significantly contribute to ongoing climate change. Indeed, plant ‘priming’ of rhizosphere decomposition via root exudation, particularly from shallowly distributed roots, can lead to losses of carbon from tundra soils. While we have a hard-won understanding of the distribution of plant communities across the arctic tundra and the boreal forest from direct field observations scaled to the landscape level using climate-informed mapping techniques (i.e. the Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map (CAVM); Walker et al. , 2005), these vegetation maps are only the tip of the iceberg (Iversen et al. , 2015). Root form and function remain hidden beneath the land surface. In an article recently published in New Phytologist , Blume-Werry et al. (2023, 10.1111/nph.18998) asked whether rooting depth distribution, and ensuing carbon emissions, could be inferred from commonly used vegetation mapping classifications across the pan-Arctic. An important question to guide our understanding, mapping, and prediction of belowground characteristics and ecosystem feedbacks at the top of the world. Unfortunately, they found that the answer was ‘not quite’. While rooting depth distribution varied demonstrably, in turn causing substantial changes in modeled carbon emissions via rhizosphere ‘priming’, variation across rooting depth profiles did not correspond with vegetation mapping classes. If we are unable to predict belowground rooting depth distributions across large spatial scales by leveraging aboveground vegetation community distributions, how then should belowground researchers proceed?

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

A Cable Condition Monitoring Strategy for Safe and Reliable Plant Operation

Electrical cables provide essential functions, such as delivery of power or instrumentation signals for monitoring systems. Most cables installed in industrial applications are constructed with organic polymer insulations that can become brittle, crack, or degrade over time from exposure to harsh environmental conditions, such as elevated temperatures, moisture, vibration, mechanical shock, and radiation. This paper describes an overall strategy for assessing the health and managing the aging of cables during the operating life of an industrial facility. This strategy involves performing condition assessments and monitoring of electrical cables using both in situ and laboratory testing techniques. It includes in situ testing to identify anomalies in the circuits, such as degraded terminations, splices, connections, and degraded sections of cable insulation, as well as as-found evaluations to determine the current condition of installed cables. Furthermore, these cable condition evaluations provide important information about the current state of the cable circuits. Moreover, the test results can be used to trend/monitor age-related degradation and estimate the remaining useful life of installed cables.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1999

Effects on Training Using Illumination in Virtual Environments

Camera based tasks are commonly performed during orbital operations, and orbital lighting conditions, such as high contrast shadowing and glare, are a factor in performance. Computer based training using virtual environments is a common tool used to make and keep CTW members proficient. If computer based training included some of these harsh lighting conditions, would the crew increase their proficiency? The project goal was to determine whether computer based training increases proficiency if one trains for a camera based task using computer generated virtual environments with enhanced lighting conditions such as shadows and glare rather than color shaded computer images normally used in simulators. Previous experiments were conducted using a two degree of freedom docking system. Test subjects had to align a boresight camera using a hand controller with one axis of rotation and one axis of rotation. Two sets of subjects were trained on two computer simulations using computer generated virtual environments, one with lighting, and one without. Results revealed that when subjects were constrained by time and accuracy, those who trained with simulated lighting conditions performed significantly better than those who did not. To reinforce these results for speed and accuracy, the task complexity was increased.

Maida, James C.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Influence of the Space Environment on Geopolymer Lunar Concrete

NASA is set to embark on the next era of human space exploration on the Artemis program. An eventual goal of the program is to maintain a human presence on the lunar surface. With such a goal comes the challenge of providing durable infrastructure that is suitable for the Moon and utilizes in-situ resources. Bringing materials form Earth poses a financial burden and increased safety concern. The composition of the lunar soil makes it advantageous to create a geopolymer concrete material. The lunar regolith can be used in the as found condition on the lunar surface and most of the mixing solution can be extracted form the regolith. It is envisioned than any concrete infrastructure would make use of additive manufacturing techniques with a temporary controlled environment enclosure to mitigate the harsh lunar conditions. Data is needed to benchmark how the material behaves once exposed to such an extreme environment so structural failures are mitigated.

Peter J. Collins↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Can Reflector Panel Technologies Tame Terrible Lunar Lighting Environments?

This project investigated passive (non-powered) lighting countermeasures to improve lighting conditions where the Sun’s rays are nearly horizontal with the operational surface. NASA’s future missions are targeting the Lunar South Pole where “day” lasts for 2 weeks and the Sun is always on the horizon. The Sun’s collimated light creates harsh working conditions where the light is glaring when facing the sun, and deep long shadows are formed when turned away from the sun. The goal of this research was to determine if standard Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) technologies, used by photographers, could increase the usability of an EVA crew member’s immediate surrounding work environment.

Toni A. Clark↗
NASA NTRS2017

Radiation Impact on Pharmaceutical Stability: Retrospective Data Review

Historical studies performed by the JSC Pharmacotherapeutics Discipline suggest that exposure to spaceflight conditions may compromise the safety and efficacy of some medications. Follow-on studies have revealed that affected medications demonstrate reductions in active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) concentrations and altered release characteristics. It was hypothesized that the changes in API potency and release were from the medication's exposure to the harsh environmental conditions of spaceflight. Subsequent review of the spaceflight environmental control records from the time of these studies indicated that temperature and humidity levels aboard all spacecraft remained within United States Pharmacopeia (USP) recommended ranges to maintain optimal pharmaceutical stability. Therefore, space radiation was presumed to be the source of observed drug degradation. The Pharmacotherapeutics Discipline conducted a ground analog radiation experiment in 2006 at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) at Brookhaven to validate this theory and to characterize the effects of high-energy radioactive particles on pharmaceutical stability. These data were never published. Recently, the Exploration Medical Capability (ExMC) Element finalized a research plan (RP) aimed at providing a safe and effective medication formulary for exploration spaceflight. As ExMC begins to design new flight and ground analog radiation studies, further analysis of the 2006 NSRL study data is essential for the characterization of the impact of radiation on medication potency and efficacy in the exploration spaceflight environment.

Daniels, V. R.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Laboratory Spectroscopy of Large Carbon Molecules and Ions in Support of Space Missions

One of the major objectives of Laboratory Astrophysics is the optimization of data return from space missions by measuring spectra of atomic and molecular species in laboratory environments that mimic interstellar conditions (WhitePaper (2002, 2006)). Among interstellar species, PAHs are an important and ubiquitous component of carbon-bearing materials that represents a particularly difficult challenge for gas-phase laboratory studies. We present the absorption spectra of jet-cooled neutral and ionized PAHs and discuss the implications for astrophysics. The harsh physical conditions of the interstellar medium have been simulated in the laboratory. We are now, for the first time, in the position to directly compare laboratory spectra of PAHs and carbon nanoparticles with astronomical observations. This new phase offers tremendous opportunities for the data analysis of current and upcoming space missions geared toward the detection of large aromatic systems (HST/COS, FUSE, JWST, Spitzer).

Salana, Farid↗
NASA NTRS2006

Astrochemistry: Recent Advances in the Study of Carbon Molecules in Space

Carbon molecules and ions play an important role in space. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the best-known candidates to account for the infrared emission bands (UIR bands) and PAH spectral features are now being used as probes of the interstellar medium in Galactic and extra-galactic environments. PAHs are also thought to be among the carriers of the diffuse interstellar absorption bands (DIBs). In the model dealing with the interstellar spectral features, PAHs are present as a mixture of radicals, ions and neutral species. PAH ionization states reflect the ionization balance of the medium while PAH size, composition, and structure reflect the energetic and chemical history of the medium. A major challenge for laboratory Astrochemistry is to reproduce (in a realistic way) the physical conditions that exist in the emission and absorption interstellar zones. An extensive laboratory program has been developed in various laboratories to characterize the physical and chemical properties of PAHs in astrophysical environments and to describe how they influence the radiation and energy balance in space and the interstellar chemistry. In particular, laboratory experiments provide measurements of the spectral characteristics of interstellar PAH analogs from the ultraviolet and visible range to the infrared range for comparison with astronomical data. The harsh physical conditions of the interstellar medium - characterized by a low temperature, an absence of collisions and strong ultraviolet radiation fields - are simulated in the laboratory by associating a molecular beam with an ionizing discharge to generate a cold plasma expansion. PAH ions are formed from the neutral precursors in an isolated environment at low temperature (of the order of 100 K). The spectra of neutral and ionized PAHs are measured using the high sensitivity methods of cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS). These experiments provide unique information on the spectra of free, cold large carbon molecules and ions in the gas phase.

Salama, Farid↗
DOE OSTI2020

Multiplexable high-temperature stable and low-loss intrinsic Fabry-Perot in-fiber sensors through nanograting engineering

This paper presents a method of using femtosecond laser inscribed nanograting as low-loss– and high-temperature–stable in-fiber reflectors. By introducing a pair of nanograting inside the core of a single-mode optical fiber, an intrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer can be created for high-temperature sensing applications. The morphology of the nanograting inscribed in fiber cores was engineered by tuning the fabrication conditions to achieve a high fringe visibility of 0.49 and low insertion loss of 0.002 dB per sensor. Using a white light interferometry demodulation algorithm, we demonstrate the temperature sensitivity, cross-talk, and spatial multiplexability of sensor arrays. Both the sensor performance and stability were studied from room temperature to 1000°C with cyclic heating and cooling. Our results demonstrate a femtosecond direct laser writing technique capable of producing highly multiplexable in-fiber intrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer sensor devices with high fringe contrast, high sensitivity, and low-loss for application in harsh environmental conditions.

Wang, Mohan (ORCID:0000000166784993)↗
NASA NTRS2006

Laboratory Spectroscopy of Large Carbon Molecules and Ions in Support of Space Missions. A New Generation of Laboratory & Space Studies

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are an important and ubiquitous component of carbon-bearing materials in space. A long-standing and major challenge for laboratory astrophysics has been to measure the spectra of large carbon molecules in laboratory environments that mimic (in a realistic way) the physical conditions that are associated with the interstellar emission and absorption regions [1]. This objective has been identified as one of the critical Laboratory Astrophysics objectives to optimize the data return from space missions [2]. An extensive laboratory program has been developed to assess the properties of PAHs in such environments and to describe how they influence the radiation and energy balance in space. We present and discuss the gas-phase electronic absorption spectra of neutral and ionized PAHs measured in the UV-Visible-NIR range in astrophysically relevant environments and discuss the implications for astrophysics [1]. The harsh physical conditions of the interstellar medium characterized by a low temperature, an absence of collisions and strong VUV radiation fields - have been simulated in the laboratory by associating a pulsed cavity ringdown spectrometer (CRDS) with a supersonic slit jet seeded with PAHs and an ionizing, penning-type, electronic discharge. We have measured for the {\it first time} the spectra of a series of neutral [3,4] and ionized [5,6] interstellar PAHs analogs in the laboratory. An effort has also been attempted to quantify the mechanisms of ion and carbon nanoparticles production in the free jet expansion and to model our simulation of the diffuse interstellar medium in the laboratory [7]. These experiments provide {\it unique} information on the spectra of free, large carbon-containing molecules and ions in the gas phase. We are now, for the first time, in the position to directly compare laboratory spectral data on free, cold, PAH ions and carbon nano-sized carbon particles with astronomical observations in the UV-NIR range (interstellar UV extinction, DIBs in the NUV-NIR range). This new phase offers tremendous opportunities for the data analysis of current and upcoming space missions geared toward the detection of large aromatic systems Le., the "new frontier space missions" (Spitzer, HST, COS, JWST, SOFIA,...).

Salama, Farid↗
NASA NTRS2011

Radiation-Tolerant, SpaceWire-Compatible Switching Fabric

Current and future near-Earth and deep space exploration programs and space defense programs require the development of robust intra-spacecraft serial data transfer electronics that must be reconfigurable, fault-tolerant, and have the ability to operate effectively for long periods of time in harsh environmental conditions. Existing data transfer systems based on state-of-the-art serial data transfer protocols or passive backplanes are slow, power-hungry, and poorly reconfigurable. They provide limited expandability and poor tolerance to radiation effects and total ionizing dose (TID) in particular, which presents harmful threats to modern submicron electronics. This novel approach is based on a standard library of differential cells tolerant to TID, and patented, multi-level serial interface architecture that ensures the reliable operation of serial interconnects without application of a data-strobe or other encoding techniques. This proprietary, high-speed differential interface presents a lowpower solution fully compatible with the SpaceWire (SW) protocol. It replaces a dual data-strobe link with two identical independent data channels, thus improving the system s tolerance to harsh environments through additional double redundancy. Each channel incorporates an automatic line integrity control circuitry that delivers error signals in case of broken or shorted lines.

Katzman, Vladimir↗
NASA NTRS2005

Interstellar PAH in the Laboratory and in Space. What have we Learned from the New Generation of Laboratory and Observational Studies?

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are an important and ubiquitous component of carbon-bearing materials in space. PAHs are the best-known candidates to account for the IR emission bands (UIR bands) and PAH spectral features are now being used as new probes of the ISM. PAHs are also thought to be among the carriers of the diffuse interstellar absorption bands (DIBs). In the model dealing with the interstellar spectral features, PAHs are present as a mixture of radicals, ions and neutral species. PAH ionization states reflect the ionization balance of the medium while PAH size, composition, and structure reflect the energetic and chemical history of the medium. A major challenge for laboratory astrophysics is to reproduce (in a realistic way) the physical conditions that exist in the emission and/or absorption interstellar zones. An extensive laboratory program has been developed at NASA Ames to assess the physical and chemical properties of PAHs in such environments and to describe how they influence the radiation and energy balance in space and the interstellar chemistry. In particular, laboratory experiments provide measurements of the spectral characteristics of interstellar PAH analogs from the ultraviolet and visible range to the infrared range for comparison with astronomical data. This paper will focus on the recent progress made in the laboratory to measure the direct absorption spectra of neutral and ionized PAHs in the gas phase in the near-UV and visible range in astrophysically relevant environments. These measurements provide data on PAHs and nanometer-sized particles that can now be directly compared to astronomical observations. The harsh physical conditions of the IS medium - characterized by a low temperature, an absence of collisions and strong VUV radiation fields - are simulated in the laboratory by associating a molecular beam with an ionizing discharge to generate a cold plasma expansion. PAH ions are formed from the neutral precursors in an isolated environment at low temperature (of the order of 100 K). The spectra of neutral and ionized PAHs are measured using the high sensitivity methods of cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS). These experiments provide unique information on the spectra of free, cold large carbon molecules and ions in the gas phase. Intrinsic band profiles and band positions of cold gas-phase PAHs can now be measured with high-sensitivity spectroscopy and directly compared to the astronomical data. The electronic bands measured for ionized PAH are found to be intrinsically broad (about 20 cm(sup -1)) while the bands associated with the neutral precursors are narrower (of the order of 2 - 10 cm(sup -1)). The laboratory data are discussed and compared with recent astronomical spectra of large and narrow DIBs and with the spectra of circumstellar environments of selected carbon stars and the implications for the interstellar PAH population are derived. Preliminary results also show that carbon nanoparticles are formed during the short residence time of the precursors in the plasma.

Salama, Farid↗
NASA NTRS2005

PAHs and the Diffuse Interstellar Bands. What have we Learned from the New Generation of Laboratory and Observational Studies?

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are an important and ubiquitous component of carbon-bearing materials in space. PAHs are the best-known candidates to account for the IR emission bands (UIR bands) and PAH spectral features are now being used as new probes of the ISM. PAHs are also thought to be among the carriers of the diffuse interstellar absorption bands (DIBs). In the model dealing with the interstellar spectral features, PAHs are present as a mixture of radicals, ions and neutral species. PAH ionization states reflect the ionization balance of the medium while PAH size, composition, and structure reflect the energetic and chemical history of the medium. A major challenge for laboratory astrophysics is to reproduce (in a realistic way) the physical conditions that exist in the emission and/or absorption interstellar zones, An extensive laboratory program has been developed at NASA Ames to characterize the physical and chemical properties of PAHs in astrophysical environments and to describe how they influence the radiation and energy balance in space and the interstellar chemistry. In particular, laboratory experiments provide measurements of the spectral characteristics of interstellar PAH analogs from the ultraviolet and visible range to the infrared range for comparison with astronomical data. This paper will focus on the recent progress made in the laboratory to measure the direct absorption spectra of neutral and ionized PAHs in the gas phase in the near-W and visible range in astrophysically relevant environments. These measurements provide data on PAHs and nanometer-sized particles that can now be directly compared to astronomical observations. The harsh physical conditions of the IS medium - characterized by a low temperature, an absence of collisions and strong V W radiation fields - are simulated in the laboratory by associating a molecular beam with an ionizing discharge to generate a cold plasma expansion. PAH ions are formed from the neutral precursors in an isolated environment at low temperature (of the order of 100 K). The spectra of neutral and ionized PAHs are measured using the high sensitivity methods of cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS). These experiments provide unique information on the spectra of free, cold large carbon molecules and ions in the gas phase. Intrinsic band profiles and band positions of cold gas-phase PAHs can now be measured with high- sensitivity spectroscopy and directly compared to the astronomical data. The electronic bands measured for ionized PAH are found to be intrinsically broad (about 20/cm) while the bands associated with the neutral precursors are narrower (of the order of 2 - 10/cm).

Salama, Farid↗
DOE OSTI2024

Novel Full-Ceramic Multi-Tubular Membrane Systems for Pre-Combustion CO2 Capture with Simultaneous H2 Production: Fabrication, Performance Testing, and 3D CFD Modeling

Inorganic membranes show promise for application in pre-combustion CO2 capture with simultaneous H2 production. State-of-the-art systems for use under high temperature and pressure conditions consist of multiple membrane tube bundles prepared in a "candle-filter" configuration, in which the membrane tubes are open at one end and sealed at the other. This configuration is used for practical reasons, specifically the need to minimize potential problems due to thermal expansion mismatch, at high temperatures, between the ceramic tube bundle and the steel housing. The primary technical problem with the candle-filter configuration for use in commercial-scale installations is the inability to purge the permeate side (typically the tube side), a feature that is crucial for high H2 recovery. In this study, we fabricated dual-end open, commercial-size ceramic multiple-tube bundles made of zeolite, palladium (Pd), and carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes that enable permeate-side (tube-side) purge for gas separation applications. Experimental gas separation data with these membrane bundles under harsh operating conditions (temperatures up to 350 and pressures up to 800 psig), to be presented at the meeting, manifest excellent performance. Parallel to the membrane bundle construction and testing efforts, we have also developed a detailed 3D CFD modeling package using COMSOL Multiphysics software to gain more insight into the effect on the H2 purity and recovery of the detailed geometry of the multi-tubular membrane system, including the number of tubes used, their dimensions, and placement in the bundle, as well as the number, type, and positioning of internal baffles and other flow-enhancement accessories. The CFD package is validated with experimental data from different systems (1-tube, 3-tube, and 19-tube bundles), and shows high accuracy in predicting the experimental results (<5 % error in all cases). The results of our study show that the detailed internal geometry of these multi-tubular membrane systems has a considerable impact on the performance of the system as the flow maldistribution within the shell-side can substantially decrease (>40%) the H2 recovery.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2022

High Temperature Thick Film Sensor Development Based on Refractory Oxide Semiconductors

Solid-state, high-temperature sensing devices are required for accurate temperature, strain/stress, and failure monitoring for a range of advanced manufacturing, transportation, and military applications. High temperature conditions limit sensing strategies, where typically traditional metal and semiconductor materials are unstable, and the sensing options are limited to optical spectroscopy methods. In addition, strategies to embed the sensors directly within active components and protective thermal refractory are of interest that permit near-environment sensing which is not possible with the traditional electronic materials and components. Rare-earth chromite semiconductors exhibit some properties of interest for high temperature sensing technologies, such as: high microstructure and chemical stability, relatively high electronic conductivity at high temperatures, and relative thermal expansion coefficient matching to refractory thermal protective insulation (such as high-zirconia and -alumina ceramics). In this work, n-type and p-type doped lanthanum chromites compositions were computationally modelled and prepared, and the electrical, thermoelectric, and thermomechanical properties were measured for the obtained material systems. A few compositions were then processed into thick film health and temperature sensors and tested at high temperatures. To establish relative stability under harsh environment conditions, post- mortem microstructure and chemical composition was characterized after extended and cycle testing at high temperatures.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
NASA NTRS2011

Material Characterization and Geometric Segmentation of a Composite Structure Using Microfocus X-Ray Computed Tomography Image-Based Finite Element Modeling

This study utilizes microfocus x-ray computed tomography (CT) slice sets to model and characterize the damage locations and sizes in thermal protection system materials that underwent impact testing. ScanIP/FE software is used to visualize and process the slice sets, followed by mesh generation on the segmented volumetric rendering. Then, the local stress fields around several of the damaged regions are calculated for realistic mission profiles that subject the sample to extreme temperature and other severe environmental conditions. The resulting stress fields are used to quantify damage severity and make an assessment as to whether damage that did not penetrate to the base material can still result in catastrophic failure of the structure. It is expected that this study will demonstrate that finite element modeling based on an accurate three-dimensional rendered model from a series of CT slices is an essential tool to quantify the internal macroscopic defects and damage of a complex system made out of thermal protection material. Results obtained showing details of segmented images; three-dimensional volume-rendered models, finite element meshes generated, and the resulting thermomechanical stress state due to impact loading for the material are presented and discussed. Further, this study is conducted to exhibit certain high-caliber capabilities that the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) group at NASA Glenn Research Center can offer to assist in assessing the structural durability of such highly specialized materials so improvements in their performance and capacities to handle harsh operating conditions can be made.

Abdul-Aziz, Ali↗
DOE OSTI2021

Employing the Dynamics of the Electrochemical Interface in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Battery Cathodes

Intrinsically stable materials are desirable for constructing energy storage devices, which aim to demonstrate durability under the harsh electrochemical conditions that are detrimental to their lifespan. However, in this study it is demonstrated that the intrinsic instability of an electrochemical interface can be converted from an obstacle into an advantage. In aqueous zinc-ion batteries, manganese oxide (MnO 2 ) exhibits considerable dissolution even in electrolyte containing Mn 2+ salt. Balancing with redeposition alleviates the harmful impact of dissolution on performance and alters the trajectory of the active phase. Inclusion of Mn 2+ salt in the electrolyte induces MnO 2 deposition on all conductive surfaces, requiring that distracting side reactions be eliminated to isolate the dynamics of the active phase. Under conditions favoring dissolution, capacity decreases dramatically and a highly crystalline tetragonal ZnMn 2 O 4 phase forms, while redeposition helps maintain capacity and promotes a disordered cubic Zn-rich phase. Ultimately, this work aims to illuminate a path forward to unlock the potential of batteries made with materials that are fundamentally unstable in their operating environment.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗