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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 253 records · Page 14

Organic sulfur fluxes and geomorphic control of sulfur isotope ratios in rivers

Pyrite oxidation plays a critical role in the relationship between weathering and climate, and its impact on the global carbon cycle has previously been constrained through inversion models utilizing observations of river sulfate ($SO^{2–}_{4}$) and its 34 S/ 32 S isotope ratio (δ 34 S SO4 ). However, measurements from some rivers have suggested that SSO4 can be substantially impacted by processes such as microbial sulfate reduction and/or sulfur assimilation and cycling, rather than simply reflecting a weighted mixture of lithologic sulfur sources. To study the prevalence and controls on $SO^{2–}_{4}$ transformations, in this study we measured dissolved major element concentrations and δ 34 S SO4 in river water samples from throughout western Iceland. Our analyses focused on samples from a small catchment hosting the Efri Haukadalsá river, a system with relatively uniform and isotopically constrained basaltic bedrock. We also measured sediment δ 34 S and sulfur speciation using sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy on sediment and vegetation samples from this catchment. Values of dissolved δ 34 S SO4 in the Efri Haukadalsá ranged from 2.5‰ to 23.7‰ and had a linear relationship with Cl – /$SO^{2–}_{4}$ ratios, indicating that $SO^{2–}_{4}$ predominantly derived from basalt weathering and meteoric precipitation. The lower δ 34 S SO4 values were found in fluvial valleys with V-shaped cross sections, while higher values of δ 34 S SO4 occurred in U-shaped, glacially eroded valleys with thick alluvial fills blanketing the valley floor. Spectroscopic observations identified organic sulfur phases in suspended river sediment, floodplain deposits, and vegetation. Mass balance calculations quantified the organic sulfur flux as less than 10% of $SO^{2–}_{4}$ export, and sediment δ 34 S values were comparable to river δ 34 S SO4 . We interpreted these isotopic and chemical patterns as reflecting differences in the availability of unweathered bedrock across the Efri Haukadalsá catchment, with V-shaped valleys having greater access to fresh sulfide-bearing minerals than alluviated U-shaped valleys; this interpretation is in contrast to one in which the elevated δ 34 S SO4 values reflect fractionation during sulfur transformations along alluvial reaches. These results validated the application of river inversion models for constraining weathering fluxes and affirmed that pyrite oxidation globally, even in the presence of river sulfur cycling, modulates the abundance of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Mechanically induced thermal runaway severity analysis for Li-ion batteries

Thermal runaway is one of the most important safety concerns in the deployment of Li-ion batteries. For this study, we developed a standardized single-side indentation test protocol to induce an internal short-circuit. Cell voltage, temperature, and applied compressive force are monitored as a function of time. Each cell is given an observed hazard severity (OHS in five categories) modified from the EUCAR table. Meanwhile a calculated hazard severity (CHS) is obtained solely based on temperature and voltage curves. The calculation formula considers the cell temperature, rate of temperature increase, cell capacity, state of charge (SOC), voltage drop, and voltage drop rate. Each term is assigned with an appropriate weight to scale the calculated score from 0 to100. This method was applied to >100 Li-ion batteries with various SOCs and chemistries, and their OHS and CHS were displayed against SOC. The purpose is to provide battery designers, manufacturers, and end-users a clear comparison of thermal runaway severity of different batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

On the role of geometrically necessary dislocations in void formation and growth in response to shock loading conditions in wrought and additively manufactured Ta

This study investigates the role of geometrically necessary dislocations (GNDs) and microstructure on void nucleation and growth in wrought and additively manufactured (AM) tantalum subjected to high-strain rate loading. Multi-modal 3D data was collected using TriBeam tomography to calculate GND densities and their spatial relationship to voids. A microstructural comparison between the wrought and AM samples identified distinct void shapes and locations, with intragranular voids and more spherical voids frequently observed in the AM dataset. Results indicate that voids preferentially form at both high-angle grain boundaries and low-angle subgrain boundaries, the latter of which are frequently observed in the AM material. Through a radial distribution analysis of all voids in the datasets, significant GND localization to near-void-surface regions was observed in both samples. 3D crystal plasticity simulations were employed to extend the experimental observations, revealing higher void growth rates in [111] oriented grains when compared to [001] grains. The simulations also suggest that GNDs can be generated as part of the void growth process, with more GND accumulation for growth in a [111] grain than a [001] grain. These findings provide valuable insights into the links between nanoscale void nucleation, mesoscale void growth, and microstructural effects in dynamically loaded tantalum.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Effect of overcharge on Li(Ni 0.5 Mn 0.3 Co 0.2 )O 2 /Graphite cells–effect of binder

Cells based on NMC/graphite, containing styrene-butadiene rubber/carboxymethylcellulose binder in the anodes and pVdF latex/carboxymethykellulose in the cathodes, were systematically overcharged to 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 250% and 270% state-of-charge. The impact of the binder was characterized by elemental analysis, SEM, and HPLC. These results were compared to similar cells just using the poly (vinylidene difluoride) binder. Not only did the binder impact the rate of transition metal transport from the cathode to the anode, it also had a marked effect on the microstructure and composition of the materials on the anode surface.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Effect of binder on the overcharge response in LiFePO 4 -containing cells

Two types of small pouch cells based on LiFePO 4 /graphite, one containing a N-methyl pyrrolidinone (NMP)-soluble binder, poly(vinylidene difluoride), and the other an aqueous-soluble binder, styrene-butadiene rubber/carboxymethylcellulose were systematically charged to 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, and 250% state of charge (SOC). The cells were then discharged to 3.0 V at room temperature before being disassembled for postmortem analysis. Microstructural changes in the anode associated with increasing SOC were more pronounced in the aqueous processed cells in comparison to the NMP-processed cells. Dendrite formation was observed on the aqueous-processed anode at 120% SOC, while the NMP-processed anode surface does not show dendrites until 250% SOC. Overall, the aqueous-processed anode surfaces displayed more evidence of microstructural degradation as a function of increasing SOC. In the NMP-processed cells, four organic compounds on the anode surface were found to show a dependence on SOC, while only two displayed a similar dependency in the aqueous-processed cells. The nature of the binder changed the number and composition of the species found at the anode.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Operando detection of Li plating during fast charging of Li-ion batteries using incremental capacity analysis

A major challenge that limits fast charging of Li-ion batteries is lithium (Li) plating on the graphite electrode. Furthermore, it remains challenging to detect and diagnose Li plating in operando during charging. In this work, incremental capacity (IC) analysis is applied while charging graphite-NMC pouch cells over a range of rates from C/2 to 4C. Three-electrode pouch cell measurements and post-mortem SEM imaging was performed to demonstrate that the onset of Li plating is correlated with a specific IC peak. IC analysis was also applied to study the fast-charge performance of multi-layer pouch cells with 3-D anode architectures. The results demonstrate that: 1) IC curves have a characteristic peak that is an indicator of Li plating during fast charging, which grows in magnitude as charging rate increases; 2) the plating IC peak correlates with the voltage minimum of the graphite anode, indicating a transition from intercalation to plating; 3) the plating IC peak is sensitive to small amounts of Li plating; 4) IC analysis can be applied to study Li plating in novel cell architectures; 5) the plating IC peak evolves during extended fast-charge cycling, which is a result of reduced Li plating as the Li inventory decreases.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Responsibility for emissions and mitigation capability should guide use of carbon removal offsets

M Gidden conducted this work prior to joining PNNL and no DOE OFFICE OF SCIENCE, OTHER DOE, OTHER FEDERAL, OR PNNL OVERHEAD FUNDING is being used. Stabilizing and then drawing down global temperature requires achieving net-negative CO2 emissions globally. Carbon removal is needed to offset “hard-to-abate” sectors that remain sources of emissions at net-zero and beyond. We argue the use of scarce carbon removal resources should be guided by the principles enshrined in the Paris Agreement.

Gidden, Matthew↗

Predicting cell-to-cell failure propagation and limits of propagation in lithium-ion cell stacks

Thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries is a risk that is magnified when stacks of lithium-ion cells are used for large scale energy storage. When limits of propagation can be identified so that systems can be designed to prevent large scale cascading failure even if a failure does occur, these systems will be safer. This work addresses the prediction of cell-to-cell failure propagation and the propagation limits in lithium-ion cell stacks to better understand and identify safe designs. A thermal-runaway model is presented based on recent developments in thermochemical source terms. It is noted that propagating failure is characterized by temperatures above which calorimetry data is available. Results show high temperature propagating failure predictions are too rapid unless an intra-particle diffusion limit is included, introducing a Damköhler number limiter into the rate expression. This new model form is evaluated against cell-to-cell failure propagation where the end cell of a stack is forced into thermal runaway through a nail-induced short circuit. Limits of propagation for this configuration are identified. Results show cell-to-cell propagation predictions are consistent with measurements over a range of cell states of charge and with the introduction of metal plates between cells to add system heat capacity representative of structural members. This consistency extends from scenarios where propagation occurs through scenarios where propagation is prevented.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Capture of volatile RuO 4 from oxidized simulated used nuclear fuel solutions

Ruthenium is a challenging fission product in used nuclear fuel (UNF) reprocessing due to its complex redox chemistry, variable speciation in nitric acid, partial extractability, and volatility. This work presents a strategy for Ru removal based on the volatilization of RuO 4 using the strong oxidant sodium bismuthate, followed by RuO 2 deposition onto various substrates. Among the materials tested, polymer-based substrates such as polyolefin wax film (Parafilm®), exhibited superior performance, achieving up to near-quantitative Ru removal from solution. After dissolution of the substrate, 99.6% of the Ru was recovered as RuO 2 . The deposition mechanism onto the polyolefin wax film involves both physisorption and chemical reaction through oxidative cleavage of olefinic bonds within the polymer. In contrast, on inorganic substrates such as Al foil, RuO 4 undergoes incomplete surface adsorption and reduction, as confirmed by FTIR and XPS analyses. This approach remains effective under conditions of simulated oxidation of UNF solutions, selectively removing Ru while leaving other fission products in solution. As a result, capture of RuO 4 offers a practical and efficient strategy for ruthenium decontamination and recovery, offering a route for integration into existing UNF reprocessing flowsheets to enhance overall process safety and performance.

Ruthenium↗

The effect of a transducer’s spatial averaging on an elastodynamic guided wave’s wavenumber spectrum

Elastodynamic guided waves propagate in an elastic solid which makes it difficult, if not impractical, to place a receiving transducer in the direct path of the propagating wave (as one would for an acoustic wave in a fluid medium). Thus, to account for this, receiving transducers are often placed on the surface of the solid waveguide such that the transducer surface is parallel to the wave propagation direction. This transducer orientation introduces spatial averaging, which causes the received signal to have an altered signal amplitude and mode bias. We investigate both of these effects and present a simple model from which we derive a scaling-ratio expression that describes the effects of spatial averaging. Furthermore, we then test its performance using finite-element simulations that incorporate “real-world” assumptions (e.g., transient waves, piezoelectric effects, etc.). The results from the simulations demonstrate that the scaling-ratio can characterize the effects resulting from spatial averaging. The scaling-ratio expression will be particularly useful when designing experiments involving high frequency (small wavelength) guided waves. Lastly, the proposed scaling-ratio expression could be applied to other sensing methods, like Laser Doppler Vibrometry (LDV) or piezoelectric waveguides with inter-digitated transducers, because of its generality. However, the authors are careful to note that the scaling-ratio expression is not intended as a replacement of multi-physics analysis or good experimental design, and the effects of spatial averaging should be avoided whenever possible.

2DFFT↗