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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Industry-driven Training and Curriculum Development Process

The development of a sustainable, skilled fusion workforce requires coordinated strategy between all sectors of fusion industry. This paper outlines a framework to align training programs with evolving technical and professional demands of fusion, including enhancing existing curricula, the establishment of new programs at educational institutions, and the identification of workforce gaps informed through industry engagement. Effective curriculum development requires input from both educators and employers to ensure that academic content reflects real-world challenges and can prepare students for successful transitions into the field. Collaborative models, such as industry-led training programs, inter-institutional partnerships, and faculty development initiatives, are highlighted as mechanisms for scalable and inclusive workforce development. Continued program success and relevance will be dependent on continuous review processes, including feedback from employers, alumni, and advisory boards. The combination of these programs supports the formation of flexible, industry-informed training pathways. This approach aims to foster a competent workforce capable of advancing fusion energy research and commercialization.

Gehrig, Monica [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000341022612)↗
DOE OSTI2013

Surface-Directed Fabrication of Integrated Membrane-Electrode Interfaces

In the past five years, we have established a research program to investigate the integration of electrode/catalyst support, gas diffusion pathways, and ionomer into a single network based on a bottom-up, surface-directed approach. Here, the porous electrode surface provides the common foundation for both catalyst deposition and ionomer growth to develop a highly controlled process. Our efforts have focused on (1) the preparation of surface-initiated ionomer that can be grown from electrodes of essentially any geometry and is chemisorbed to the active electrode surface, and (2) the integration of this ionomer with both planar and 3-D electrodes that are atomically modified by Pt catalysts. Figure 1 shows a schematic of a single pore of such an integrated cathode where a catalytic Pt atomic layer is supported along the pores of a nanoporous gold electrode. The catalyst layer is electronically accessible from the metal cathode and in contact with proton-conducting ionomer to yield extremely high utilization efficiencies of the catalyst (approaching 100%) with the ultralow loadings expected from atomic overlayers. We have introduced a new class of ionomer film that is grown from the catalyst/electrode interface to develop proton conducting pathways throughout the 3-D electrode and to the adsorbed catalyst particles. This ionomer is a comb polymer designed to contain sulfonate-lined channels for rapid proton conduction as well as hydrophobic domains (fluorocarbon or hydrocarbon) to promote O 2 solubility and transfer. This interfacial ionomer is designed to interface with a bulk membrane (such as Nafion) and an anode that could be engineered in a similar way. A key conclusion thus far is that ionomer and Pt catalyst can be integrated at a single interface (both 2-D and 3-D) to provide a high level of control over the construction of electrodes. To expand our efforts to date, we seek to utilize the materials chemistry we have developed to investigate how the depth-dependent structure of an ionomer film affects its performance in transferring protons and oxygen to accelerate the rate of the oxygen reduction reaction. By correlating structure and composition to performance and identifying barriers that limit efficiency, we seek to design ultra high performance ionomer films that are customized for the oxygen reduction reaction.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2015

Progress for the Industry Application External Hazard Analyses Early Demonstration

This report describes the current progress and status related to the Industry Application #2 focusing on External Hazards. For this industry application within the Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) Program Risk-Informed Safety Margin Characterization (RISMC) R&D Pathway, we will create the Risk-Informed Margin Management (RIMM) approach to represent meaningful (i.e., realistic facility representation) event scenarios and consequences by using an advanced 3D facility representation that will evaluate external hazards such as flooding and earthquakes in order to identify, model and analyze the appropriate physics that needs to be included to determine plant vulnerabilities related to external events; manage the communication and interactions between different physics modeling and analysis technologies; and develop the computational infrastructure through tools related to plant representation, scenario depiction, and physics prediction. One of the unique aspects of the RISMC approach is how it couples probabilistic approaches (the scenario) with mechanistic phenomena representation (the physics) through simulation. This simulation-based modeling allows decision makers to focus on a variety of safety, performance, or economic metrics. In this report, we describe the evaluation of various physics toolkits related to flooding representation. Ultimately, we will be coupling the flooding representation with other events such as earthquakes in order to provide coupled physics analysis for scenarios where interactions exist.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Analysis of Radiolytically Generated Gases in Mini-AMORE Experiment

Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) is assisting one of the potential domestic Mo-99 producers, SHINE Medical Technologies, as part of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Office of Material, Management, and Minimization (M 3 ) program in the development of a domestic Mo-99 production pathway that does not use highly enriched uranium (HEU). The process proposed by SHINE would produce Mo-99 by neutron-induced fission of a low enriched uranium (LEU) solution as uranyl sulfate in a subcritical assembly. As part of the development effort, Argonne is undertaking the AMORE (Argonne Molybdenum Research Experiment) project, which is essentially a pilot facility for all phases of Mo-99 production, recovery, and purification. Mini-AMORE is a part of the AMORE experiment where 2 mL samples of uranyl sulfate solution are inserted in the dry well of the AMORE target solution vessel.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Using Monte Carlo methods to estimate occupational dosage during 225 Ac production

Since alpha emitting isotopes such as 225 Ac, ideal for radiation treatment, are in short supply, the Medical Isotope Research and Production program at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) is devel- oping new pathways for 225 Ac production. One proposed pathway is to resurrect the EBCO cyclotron at BNL to irradiate a 226 Ra target for 40 hours in a 16 MeV proton beam. Using MCNPX and CINDER software to simulate this process, we found that 1.26 Ci of 225 Ac could be produced from 300 mg of 226 Ra. To ensure workplace safety, we modeled the detailed geometry of lab 2-66C in Bldg. 801 and performed Monte Carlo simulations to estimate the radiation outside the lab as the irradiated sample is processed in a hot cell. We found the maximum dose outside the lab to be about 9 x 10 -5 rem/h. To reduce occupational dose, we recommend 200 thick steel shielding covering the sample insertion passage. These 225 Ac production runs could help cover the EBCO cyclotron's operational costs.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Low LET Irradiations of Uranyl Sulfate Solutions in the Absence and Presence of Fe +2 and Fe +3 ions

Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) is assisting one of the potential domestic Mo-99 producers, SHINE Medical Technologies, as part of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Office of Material, Management, and Minimization (M 3 ) program in the development of a domestic Mo-99 production pathway that does not use highly enriched uranium (HEU). The process proposed by SHINE would produce Mo-99 by neutron-induced fission of a low enriched uranium (LEU) solution as uranyl sulfate in a subcritical assembly.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Mapping of flumioxazin tolerance in a snap bean diversity panel leads to the discovery of a master genomic region controlling multiple stress resistance genes

Effective weed management tools are crucial for maintaining the profitable production of snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Preemergence herbicides help the crop to gain a size advantage over the weeds, but the few preemergence herbicides registered in snap bean have poor waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) control, a major pest in snap bean production. Waterhemp and other difficult-to-control weeds can be managed by flumioxazin, an herbicide that inhibits protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO). However, there is limited knowledge about crop tolerance to this herbicide. We aimed to quantify the degree of snap bean tolerance to flumioxazin and explore the underlying mechanisms. We investigated the genetic basis of herbicide tolerance using genome-wide association mapping approach utilizing field-collected data from a snap bean diversity panel, combined with gene expression data of cultivars with contrasting response. The response to a preemergence application of flumioxazin was measured by assessing plant population density and shoot biomass variables. Snap bean tolerance to flumioxazin is associated with a single genomic location in chromosome 02. Tolerance is influenced by several factors, including those that are indirectly affected by seed size/weight and those that directly impact the herbicide's metabolism and protect the cell from reactive oxygen species-induced damage. Transcriptional profiling and co-expression network analysis identified biological pathways likely involved in flumioxazin tolerance, including oxidoreductase processes and programmed cell death. Transcriptional regulation of genes involved in those processes is possibly orchestrated by a transcription factor located in the region identified in the GWAS analysis. Several entries belonging to the Romano class, including Bush Romano 350, Roma II, and Romano Purpiat presented high levels of tolerance in this study. The alleles identified in the diversity panel that condition snap bean tolerance to flumioxazin shed light on a novel mechanism of herbicide tolerance and can be used in crop improvement.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Risk-Informed Safety Margin Characterization Case Study: Selection of Electrical Equipment to Be Subjected to Environmental Qualification

The Risk-Informed Safety Margin Characterization (RISMC) pathway of the DOE’s Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) program focuses on advancing the state of the art in safety analysis and risk assessment to support decision-making on nuclear power plant operation well beyond the originally designed lifetime of the plants (i.e., beyond 60 years). Among the issues being addressed in RISMC is the significance of SSC aging and how confident we are about our understanding of its impact on the margin between the loads SSCs are expected to see during normal operation and accident conditions, and the SSC capacities (their ability to resist those loads) as the SSCs age. In this paper, a summary is provided of a case study that examines SSC aging from an environmental qualification (EQ) perspective. The case study illustrates how the state of knowledge regarding SSC margin can be characterized given the overall integrated plant design, and was developed to demonstrate a method for deciding on which cables to focus, which cables are not so important from an environmental qualification margin standpoint, and what plant design features or operating characteristics determine the role that environmental qualification plays in establishing a safety case on which decisions regarding margin can be made. The selection of cables for which demonstration of margin with respect to aging and environmental challenges uses a technique known as Prevention Analysis. Prevention Analysis is a Boolean method for optimal selection of SSCs (that is, those combinations of SSCs both necessary and sufficient to meet a predetermined selection criterion) in a manner that allows demonstration that plant-level safety can be demonstrated by the collection of selected SSCs alone. Choosing the set of SSCs that is necessary and sufficient to satisfy the safety objectives, and demonstrating that the safety objectives can be met effectively, determines where resources are best allocated to assure SSC performance margin. The paper describes the resulting component types that were selected by Prevention Analysis and identifies the accident sequence characteristics that cause these component types to be important from an EQ and aging perspective (and, hence, worthwhile evaluating the extent of safety margin). In addition, component types not selected as needing significant margin from an EQ and aging perspective are discussed and an engineering rationale is developed justifying the lack of need to apply resources to demonstrating margin for these component types. This rationale is in terms of design features of the plant and operating characteristics that make these component types less important from an EQ and aging perspective. While the case study focuses on EQ and aging of equipment and cables located inside the containment of this PWR, the prevention analysis method is demonstrated to be an effective technique for identification of minimal collections of components that would be effective in managing safety for a variety of issues associated with aging and long-term operation of the fleet of plants.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Maxine Onsite: Estimating Dose from Chronic Atmospheric Radioactive Releases

Maxine Onsite: Developed to estimate dose to individuals who are working onsite but are not site employees. Follows the methodologies discussed in US NRC Regulatory Guides 1.109 and 1.111 to determine dose from a chronic atmospheric release. Determines the dose given relative air concentrations and deposition concentrations as input. We look at four locations onsite that may be accessed by members of the public. To show compliance with the EPA and DOE public dose limit of 10 mrem/yr, determining who is a member of the public or a worker onsite is necessary. SRS has defined a member of the public for NESHAPS and DOE O 458.1. Maxine Onsite runs on Microsoft Windows Operating System through a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Input from the user includes parameters that are variable such as air concentrations, and fixed, such as distance to the receptor and elemental iodine fraction. Maxine Onsite was developed from Maxine which is a program meant to calculate dose to the MEI via three pathways, external, inhalation, and ingestion. Maxine Onsite is meant for looking at the exposure through the external and inhalation pathways only, no local food production onsite. The ways that Maxine Onsite is used to calculate the dose to the MEI includes the following: - Determining the respective air concentration values at each location using distances from the release stack; - Breathing rates for the MEI; - Determining the amount of time the MEI is outside; - Determining the plume travel time. The following relative air and ground deposition values for proper execution of the spreadsheet come from MAXDOSE-SR and are needed to accurately determine the dose to the MEI: relative air concentration, relative air concentration decayed by 2.26 days, relative air concentration decayed and depleted for 8 days, and relative deposition. Test cases were designed, developed, and executed to determine the accuracy of Maxine Onsite, which were verified additionally through hand calculations. Several changes were made for testing, including varying air concentrations, distances, breathing rates, and shielding factors. Each test case was then verified through hand calculations to assure the accuracy of the calculated doses. The results from the test cases, as well as the default parameters, can be used for benchmarking Maxine Onsite in the future. Maxine Onsite performs as expected and produces correct and accurate results at each of the different locations onsite (TRL, B-Area Barracks, SRELCC, and Gunsite 51) for varying test cases. The input required by the user is minimal and includes the results of the dose to the MEI on the first page for ease of access. Future plans for Maxine Onsite include adding in the ingestion pathway and adding in atmospheric dispersion estimates to the spreadsheet.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2025

Data Centers and Digital Assurance Workshop 3 – Mitigations for Digital Assurance Risks

The third session of the TADA (Technical Assistance for Digital Assurance) Data Centers Cohort, held on November 18, 2025, focused on developing mitigation strategies for digital assurance risks identified in previous workshops. Hosted by Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and ScottMadden, the session emphasized the application of Cyber-Informed Engineering (CIE) to data center infrastructure, particularly at the utility–data center interface. Participants revisited and ranked key digital assurance risks, including architecture and interface weaknesses, governance gaps, and AI-enabled threats. The workshop introduced the 12 principles of CIE, advocating for consequence-focused design, engineered controls, and secure information architecture to proactively reduce cyber-physical vulnerabilities. These principles were applied to critical data center systems such as power distribution, UPS, cooling, SCADA/BMS, and grid-forming batteries. The session also addressed governance challenges at the interconnection boundary, highlighting the need for clear roles in telemetry sharing, firmware management, and trip settings. Special attention was given to emerging risks from behind-the-meter (BTM) generation, including reverse-power flow and the integration of small modular reactors (SMRs), which shift data centers from large loads to complex generation nodes. Participants explored how interconnection agreements can serve as enforceable instruments for digital assurance, and reviewed gaps in current standards such as NERC CIP, IEC 62443, and IEEE 1547. The workshop concluded with pathways to standardization, including model agreement language, state-level programs, and expanded NERC guidance. INL also presented tools and frameworks for secure procurement and supplier risk management, reinforcing the need for integrated engineering and policy solutions to secure the evolving data center–grid ecosystem. Session 3 of 3.

24 - POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Developing multi-gene CRISPRa/i programs to accelerate DBTL cycles in ABF hosts engineered for chemical production

This project developed and implemented a modular CRISPR activation and interference (CRISPRa/i) platform to accelerate strain optimization and pathway development for industrially relevant microbial hosts. By integrating multiplexed transcriptional perturbation tools with data-driven Design–Build–Test–Learn (DBTL) workflows, the team achieved reductions in cycle time and enhanced production of industrial aromatics, particularly 4-aminocinnamic acid (4-ACA), in Pseudomonas putida. Key accomplishments included: ● Development of a robust, tunable CRISPRa/i system in P. putida that enabled efficient multi-target gene regulation via guide RNA (gRNA) programs ● Completion of two full DBTL cycles, guided by machine learning (ML) models trained on transcriptomic and performance data, reducing engineering time by over 30% ● Optimization of multi-gene regulatory programs to balance expression of host and pathway modules, improve 4-ACA titers, and resolve metabolic bottlenecks ● Demonstration of system portability through a limited proof-of-concept extension in Acinetobacter baylyi, underscoring the generalizability of the approach ● Evaluation of strain performance on lignocellulosic biomass-derived substrates, demonstrating the feasibility of converting renewable carbon into aromatic building blocks These results illustrate the feasibility of applying ML-guided CRISPRa/i perturbation strategies to accelerate strain development in complex microbial systems. The resulting tools and datasets contribute to DOE objectives by improving platform predictability, reducing development costs, and enabling broader access to sustainable, economically viable bioproduction technologies.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project: Bainbridge Island, Washington - Cohort 2 Technical Assistance: Pathways to 100% Renewable Energy

The City of Bainbridge Island (COBI) applied for and received technical assistance from the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Program (ETIPP) in part to achieve their goal of 100% renewable electricity generation by 2040, five years ahead of the Washington State goal, and to increase its energy resilience in the face of natural disasters. To help address these goals, the City of Bainbridge Island (COBI) applied for and received technical assistance from the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Program (ETIPP) during 2022-2024. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, ETIPP provides technical assistance to remote coastal and island communities interested in approaches to renewable and resilient energy transitions. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) completed the technical analysis aspects of the project, supported by the community partner Spark Northwest and the program administrator, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). This report begins by describing the approach to technical assistance in the ETIPP project, followed by the development of future scenarios for electric demand based on current use. Potential pathways to 100% renewable energy are identified and analyzed by technology contributions from solar energy, anaerobic biodigestion, distributed wind, and marine energy. The combinations of these technologies and contributions to meet demand are discussed, along with potential policies and programs for implementation of the most relevant technologies moving forward. The report concludes with recommendations for next steps for COBI to meet the goal of 100% renewable energy generation by 2040 on- and off-island, and key caveats to consider.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Colonie, New York, FUSRAP Site: Pathway from Remediation to Redevelopment - 19465

The Colonie, New York, Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) Site consists of a 4.5-hectare (11.2-acre) US Department of Energy (DOE)-owned vacant property (Main Site) and 56 commercial and residential vicinity properties (VPs). The site was owned and operated by National Lead Industries (NL) from 1937 to 1984. The Main Site was used for manufacturing fuel and weapons components using uranium and thorium. Depleted uranium dust was emitted from exhaust stacks that contaminated the site and the VPs. NL also filled in portions of the site with industrial waste and released contaminants to groundwater. The state court shut the plant down in 1984. The site was acquired by DOE in 1985, which remediated the VPs and began to remediate the Main Site up to 1997. The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) undertook remedial actions beginning in 1997. The site has three Operable Units (Main Site, Groundwater, and VPs). The Main Site soil was remediated to residential standards except for three small easement areas. The soils in the easement areas are safe for exposure to workers. There is a groundwater plume beneath the site that will require the use of monitoring and temporary land use controls until cleanup standards are met. The VPs require no further action. A 2-year transition period from USACE to the DOE Office of Legacy Management (LM) began on June 18, 2018, with the receipt of the Site Closeout Report from USACE. LM has determined that the 4.5-hectare site is excess to its mission needs and intends to pursue sale of the property for redevelopment. There are several processes required before the disposal can occur. Organizations with similar sites that are federally owned and ready for private redevelopment may benefit from reviewing the Colonie site disposition processes. This paper will discuss (1) Determining disposal alternatives for the Colonie, New York, site. (2) Describing the federal requirements for the disposal of excess real property. (3) Communicating to stakeholders that the site is ready for disposal. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2021

CSP Gen3: Liquid-Phase Pathway to SunShot

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) established the Concentrating Solar Power Generation 3 (CSP Gen3) program to promote the development of advanced CSP systems capable of producing electricity at a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) less than $60/MWh, based on criteria published in the CSP Gen3 Roadmap and a subsequent funding opportunity announcement (Gen3 FOA). This report documents the progress and potential of the “Liquid Pathway” to meet these objectives. The Liquid Pathway proposes the use of low-cost molten chloride salts for energy storage, mated with an operationally flexible solar receiver that employs liquid-metal sodium for heat capture and transfer to the storage salt. This approach leverages molten-salt technology from the current state-of-the-art CSP power towers embodied by plants such as Gemasolar, Crescent Dunes, Noor III, and the DEWA 700 CSP project. Furthermore, the design builds on the knowledge gained over decades of use of liquid-metal sodium as a high-temperature heat transfer fluid (HTF) in solar tests and nuclear-power applications. The commercial representation of the proposed Gen3 design incorporates a high-efficiency sodium receiver operating at ~740°C, with a liquid-liquid heat exchanger feeding a two-tank, molten-chloride salt storage system. Chloride salt is dispatched to a supercritical CO 2 (sCO 2 ) power cycle to provide electric power to the grid. The design integration is a conceptual match for the current sodium receiver → solar salt storage → steam-Rankine power cycle promoted by developer Vast Solar, which may facilitate commercial acceptance and development.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Policies and Programs Available in the United States in Support of Carbon Capture and Utilization

The article seeks to compile policies and programs that provide revenue and financing support for carbon capture and utilizations projects, which are available in the United States. Often technically minded entrepreneurs and investors new to this space are unaware of available support, which could help successful development of carbon capture and utilization projects.Covered in this article are the 45Q tax credit, green bonds, loan guarantee programs, the regional greenhouse gas initiative, and low carbon fuel standards.1This article covers the eligibility and effect of each policy and program. The article also briefly reviews the current state of technology and summarizes how each technology pathway pairs with the policies covered in the article.The goal of the article is to serve as a primer for lawyers, corporate development professionals, and practitioners, who seek to learn about policies and programs available to support carbon capture and utilization (CCU) projects.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Research in nondestructive evaluation techniques for nuclear reactor concrete structures

The purpose of the Materials Aging and Degradation (MAaD) Pathway of the Department of Energy's Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) Program is to develop the scientific basis for understanding and predicting longterm environmental degradation behavior of material in nuclear power plants and to provide data and methods to assess the performance of systems, structures, and components (SSCs) essential to safe and sustained nuclear power plant operations. The understanding of aging-related phenomena and their impacts on SSCs is expected to be a significant issue for any nuclear power plant planning for long-term operations (i.e. service beyond the initial license renewal period). Management of those phenomena and their impacts during long-term operations can be better enable by improved methods and techniques for detection, monitoring, and prediction of SSC degradation. The MAaD Pathway R and D Roadmap for Concrete, 'Light Water Reactor Sustainability Nondestructive Evaluation for Concrete Research and Development Roadmap', focused initial research efforts on understanding the recent concrete issues at nuclear power plants and identifying the availability of concrete samples for NDE techniques evaluation and testing. [1] An overview of the research performed by ORNL in these two areas is presented here.

42 ENGINEERING↗