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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Navigating the Path to Autonomy: Real-World Lessons from an Air-Free Self-Driving Laboratory

While autonomous experimentation has promise to accelerate discovery in physcial sciences, the real-world integration of predictive models and experimentation is non-trivial. Here we describe the genesis of a self-driving laboratory (SDL) for air-sensitive chemistry at Argonne National Laboratory and demonstrate the experimental design considerations needed for high-throughput experiments before predictive models can lead to scientific discovery. Our SDL was designed to explore battery electrolyte stability. Our final SDL utilized plate readers in a glovebox with a nitrogen atmosphere to perform kinetic assays and screen hundreds of battery-relevant solvents. However, the roadmap to autonomy and airfree-friendly experimentation required the complex evaluation of several spectroscopic and chromatographic methods. The greatest experimental challenges were (a) developing long-term sampling methods that remained air-free; (b) accelerating kinetics to advance reactivity projections; and (c) ensuring labware compatibility with nonaqueous solvents used in battery chemistry. Our experiences highlight the practical gap between closed-loop aspirations and the realities of chemical discovery, offering lessons on the challenges of transferring every day laboratory workflows to autonomy. These results suggest a more realistic blueprint for autonomy in chemistry—one that balances thoughtful and realistic experimental formulation.

Robertson, Lily A.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Anion Association Strength as a Unifying Descriptor for the Reversibility of Divalent Metal Deposition in Nonaqueous Electrolytes

Developing next-generation battery chemistries that move beyond traditional Li-ion systems is critical to enabling transformative advances in electrified transportation and grid-level energy storage. Here, we provide the first evidence for common descriptors for improved reversibility of metal plating/stripping in nonaqueous electrolytes for multivalent ion batteries. Focusing first on the specific role of chloride (Cl – ) in promoting electrochemical reversibility in multivalent systems, rotating disk (RDE) and ring-disk electrode (RRDE) investigations were performed utilizing a variety of divalent cations (Mg 2+ , Zn 2+ , and Cu 2+ ) and the bis-(trifluoromethane sulfonyl) imide (TFSI – ) anion. By introducing varying concentrations of Cl – , a cooperative effect is observed between TFSI – and Cl – that yields the more reversible behavior of mixed electrolytes relative to electrolytes containing only TFSI – . This effect is shown to be general for Mg, Zn, and Cu electrodeposition, and mechanistic understanding of the role of Cl – in improving reversibility of TFSI-based electrolytes is obtained through the combination of R(R)DE experimental results and density functional theory (DFT) evaluation of the redox activity and thermodynamic stability of various TFSI- and Cl-based solution complexes of metal ions. The cooperative anion effect is further generalized to other mixed-anion systems, where systematic variations in anion association strength predicted from DFT (i.e., Cl – > OTf – ≈ TFSI – > BF 4 – > PF 6 – ) yield corresponding trends in redox potentials and improvements of ≥200 mV in the reversibility of metal deposition/dissolution. These results identify anion association strength as a common descriptor for the reversibility of divalent metal anodes and suggest a set of general design principles for developing new electrolytes with improved activity and stability.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Development, Characterization, and Testing of Solid-State Electrolytes for Batteries

Traditional liquid electrolytes used in lithium (Li) metal batteries (LMBs) have severe safety issues, poor power density, as well as thermal and electrochemical instability that prevents their scaling to newer applications, such as electric vehicles. Using sulfide-based solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) is a viable method to address many of the issues that plague LMBs. However, the key issue preventing the expansion of sulfide-based SSEs is an interplay between poor interfacial stability with the electrodes and massive external stack pressure required to maintain electrode-electrolyte contact. The need for extensive pressure requires large system-level (i.e., battery pack used in an electric vehicle) housing that causes a disconnect between performance at a smaller scale and actual application. Secondary prevention to sulfide-based SSE adoption are difficulties in manufacturing, as toxic deterioration occurs when these materials are exposed to humidity, as well as drastic reduction in SSE performance at low temperature. This work hypothesizes that unique interfacial designs of electrodes and the modification of the sulfide-based SSE will enable reduction of necessary external cell pressure, and therefore support the design of practical LMBs. This will be done through collaboration within Idaho National Laboratory (INL), where manufacturing practices will be parameterized to produce low defect, low porosity SSEs with slight modifications. Next, artificial interfaces will be produced on electrodes to observe the conformality and mass transport properties between the modified SSE and pre-treated anode. External pressure on Li-metal cells will also be parameterized to reduce interfacial impedance while a reduction in the pressure will allot reasonable housing design for larger scale applications. Focus on novelty in this work occurs by modifications to the solid-solid interfaces between electrolyte and electrode, done through doping of the electrolyte and production of artificial interfaces on the Li-metal anode. The modifications at these interfaces, in addition to modified external pressure could identify and address the poor interfacial impedance that hinders high performance SSEs. Fundamental understanding on how to reduce the key hindrances of all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) will support the advancement for larger scale production and performance, of which will be held in perspective for future works. Beyond battery development, the knowledge gained from process control and defect analysis is applicable to other ceramic systems, such as nuclear fuel coatings and high temperature electrolyzers.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Development, Characterization, and Testing of Solid-State Electrolytes for Batteries

Traditional liquid electrolytes used in lithium (Li) metal batteries (LMBs) have severe safety issues, poor power density, as well as thermal and electrochemical instability that prevents their scaling to newer applications, such as electric vehicles. Using sulfide-based solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) is a viable method to address many of the issues that plague LMBs. However, the key issue preventing the expansion of sulfide-based SSEs is an interplay between poor interfacial stability with the electrodes and massive external stack pressure required to maintain electrode-electrolyte contact. The need for extensive pressure requires large system-level (i.e., battery pack used in an electric vehicle) housing that causes a disconnect between performance at a smaller scale and actual application. Secondary prevention to sulfide-based SSE adoption are difficulties in manufacturing, as toxic deterioration occurs when these materials are exposed to humidity, as well as drastic reduction in SSE performance at low temperature. This work hypothesizes that unique interfacial designs of electrodes and the modification of the sulfide-based SSE will enable reduction of necessary external cell pressure, and therefore support the design of practical LMBs. This will be done through collaboration within Idaho National Laboratory (INL), where manufacturing practices will be parameterized to produce low defect, low porosity SSEs with slight modifications. Next, artificial interfaces will be produced on electrodes to observe the conformality and mass transport properties between the modified SSE and pre-treated anode. External pressure on Li-metal cells will also be parameterized to reduce interfacial impedance while a reduction in the pressure will allot reasonable housing design for larger scale applications. Focus on novelty in this work occurs by modifications to the solid-solid interfaces between electrolyte and electrode, done through doping of the electrolyte and production of artificial interfaces on the Li-metal anode. The modifications at these interfaces, in addition to modified external pressure could identify and address the poor interfacial impedance that hinders high performance SSEs. Fundamental understanding on how to reduce the key hindrances of all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) will support the advancement for larger scale production and performance, of which will be held in perspective for future works. Beyond battery development, the knowledge gained from process control and defect analysis is applicable to other ceramic systems, such as nuclear fuel coatings and high temperature electrolyzers.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS1996

Space Electrochemical Research and Technology

Individual papers presented at the conference address the following topics: development of a micro-fiber nickel electrode for nickel-hydrogen cell, high performance nickel electrodes for space power application, bending properties of nickel electrodes for nickel-hydrogen batteries, effect of KOH concentration and anions on the performance of a Ni-H2 battery positive plate, advanced dependent pressure vessel nickel hydrogen spacecraft cell and battery design, electrolyte management considerations in modern nickel hydrogen and nickel cadmium cell and battery design, a novel unitized regenerative proton exchange membrane fuel cell, fuel cell systems for first lunar outpost - reactant storage options, the TMI regenerable solid oxide fuel cell, engineering development program of a closed aluminum-oxygen semi-cell system for an unmanned underwater vehicle, SPE OBOGS on-board oxygen generating system, hermetically sealed aluminum electrolytic capacitor, sol-gel technology and advanced electrochemical energy storage materials, development of electrochemical supercapacitors for EMA applications, and high energy density electrolytic capacitor.

Richard M Wilson↗
NASA NTRS1996

Advanced Dependent Pressure Vessel (DPV) Nickel-Hydrogen Spacecraft Cell and Battery Design

The dependent pressure vessel (DPV) nickel-hydrogen (Ni-H2) battery is being developed as a potential spacecraft battery design for both military and commercial satellites. Individual pressure vessel (IPV) Ni-H2 batteries are currently flying on more than 70 Earth-orbiting satellites and have accumulated more that 140,000,000 cell-hours in actual spacecraft operation. The limitations of standard Ni-H2 IPV flight battery technology are primarily related to the internal cell design and the battery packaging issues associated with grouping multiple cylindrical cells. The DPV cell design offers higher specific energy and reduced cost, while retaining the established IPV Ni-H2 technology flight heritage and database. A design performance analysis is presented at both the cell and battery level. The DPV is capable of delivering up to 76 Watthours per kilogram (Wh/kg) at the cell level and 70 Wh/kg at the full battery level. This represents a 40 percent increase in specific energy at the cell level and a 60 percent increase in specific energy at the battery level compared to current IPV Ni-H2 technology.

Dwaine K Coates↗
DOE OSTI2022

Argyrodite-type advanced lithium conductors and transport mechanisms beyond paddle-wheel effect

Abstract Development of next-generation solid-state Li-ion batteries requires not only electrolytes with high room-temperature (RT) ionic conductivities but also a fundamental understanding of the ionic transport in solids. In spite of considerable work, only a few lithium conductors are known with the highest RT ionic conductivities ~ 0.01 S/cm and the lowest activation energies ~0.2 eV. New design strategy and novel ionic conduction mechanism are needed to expand the pool of high-performance lithium conductors as well as achieve even higher RT ionic conductivities. Here, we theoretically show that lithium conductors with RT ionic conductivity over 0.1 S/cm and low activation energies ~ 0.1 eV can be achieved by incorporating cluster-dynamics into an argyrodite structure. The extraordinary superionic metrics are supported by conduction mechanism characterized as a relay between local and long-range ionic diffusions, as well as correlational dynamics beyond the paddle-wheel effect.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Unified Universal Control and Coordination of Inverter-Based Resources, and Validation for a PV + Battery Hybrid Plant

As renewable energy deployment grows, hybrid power plants (HPPs) combining photovoltaic (PV) and battery systems must evolve to offer both energy and grid stability services. These systems typically include a mix of grid-following (GFL) and grid-forming (GFM) inverters, presenting unique coordination and control challenges. This Department of Energy–funded project developed and validated a Unified Universal Control and Coordination (UUCC) framework for such PV + battery hybrid plants, enabling seamless and stable operation, including ultrafast black start, autonomous synchronization, and robust frequency and voltage regulation, under different grid conditions. The project significantly advanced the understanding of inverter-based resource (IBR) control by developing and validating three complementary system-level approaches for hybrid GFL/GFM operation: 1. A combined Virtual Resistance (VR)-based GFL and Virtual Oscillator Control (VOC)-based GFM method, where each inverter type is governed by a specialized control strategy. Together, these achieve stable, fast-response coordination, eliminating inrush current and enabling smooth black start and grid synchronization across a wide range of grid strengths. 2. A Deadbeat-based UUCC strategy, which uses discrete-time, switching-cycle-level control for both GFL and GFM inverters. This approach replaces traditional PI/PLL control with a control parameter-free, high-bandwidth framework that supports stable LVRT and instantaneous synchronization under all conditions. 3. A benchmark comparison with Siemens’ commercial GFM microgrid controller, which provided a fast baseline platform. The commercial approach decoupled v & f control was implemented on a commercial microgrid controller.The baseline commercial benchmark helped highlight superior transient response and black start performance offered by the deadbeat and VOC approaches. These technical contributions offer substantial improvements over conventional inverter control schemes, which often rely on slow phase-locked loop (PLL)-based synchronization, require careful control parameters tuning, and prone to unstable in weak grids with GFL inverters and in stiff grid with GFM inverters therefore challenging for hybrid GFL+GFM under all grid conditions. The deadbeat-based UUCC framework enables simpler, faster, and more robust operation of hybrid IBR systems using wide-bandgap (WBG) devices such as SiC power semiconductors. The rapid expansion of hybrid distributed energy resources (DERs), including residential and commercial PV-BESS installations such as Tesla Powerwall, PV with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capability, and other integrated configurations, presents complex operational challenges for medium-voltage radial distribution feeders. These networks are subject to frequent disturbances such as faults, switching operations, rapid reclosing sequences, and feeder reconfigurations, all of which introduce dynamic stress on IBRs. In addition, planned feeder segmentation and deliberate islanding for resilience will require DERs that can autonomously perform blackstart, establish voltage and frequency references, and resynchronize with the main grid. The advanced deadbeat-based UUCC control and blackstart functionalities developed in this project directly address these requirements, enabling decentralized and autonomous operation of inverter-dominated DERs in distribution systems under a wide range of fault and reconfiguration scenarios. From a public benefit perspective, these innovations enable more reliable and cost-effective integration of renewable energy into distribution networks. The ability to autonomously black start and stabilize grids under varying grid conditions support accelerates recovery from outages and support decentralized resilient energy systems. By reducing system complexity and improving performance, this project lays critical groundwork for future inverter-dominated power grids that are clean, reliable, and accessible to all.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Low-cost & Energy Dense Batteries for Transportation

The project sought to explore development of novel polymer separator materials and additives for Li-S and Li-ion batteries that would solve critical failure modes and performance bottlenecks for these chemistries. This technology presented significant advanced manufacturing challenges and opportunities in getting to scale, including materials synthesis scale-up, large-area polymer processing techniques, electrode formulation, and the development of coin and pouch cells for electrochemical energy storage. Specific accomplishments included synthesis of organic molecular and polymer materials designed to solve outstanding challenges in electrochemical cells. The primary focus of new materials design was aimed at improving longevity, power, cost reduction, and environmental sustainability of said electrochemical devices. The project also involved assembly and characterization of electrochemical devices with standard galvanostatic and potentiostatic techniques as well as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS1997

NASA Aerospace Flight Battery Systems Program Update

The objectives of NASA's Aerospace Flight Battery Systems Program is to: develop, maintain and provide tools for the validation and assessment of aerospace battery technologies; accelerate the readiness of technology advances and provide infusion paths for emerging technologies; provide NASA projects with the required database and validation guidelines for technology selection of hardware and processes relating to aerospace batteries; disseminate validation and assessment tools, quality assurance, reliability, and availability information to the NASA and aerospace battery communities; and ensure that safe, reliable batteries are available for NASA's future missions.

Manzo, Michelle↗
NASA NTRS2012

Considerations for Estimating Electrode Performance in Li-Ion Cells

Advanced electrode materials with increased specific capacity and voltage performance are critical to the development of Li-ion batteries with increased specific energy and energy density. Although performance metrics for individual electrodes are critically important, a fundamental understanding of the interactions of electrodes in a full cell is essential to achieving the desired performance, and for establishing meaningful goals for electrode performance. This paper presents practical design considerations for matching positive and negative electrodes in a viable design. Methods for predicting cell-level discharge voltage, based on laboratory data for individual electrodes, are presented and discussed.

Bennett, William R.↗
NASA NTRS2022

COMPASS Final Report: 2008 International Lunar Network (ILN)

The Compass team developed three designs for a soft lander for the International Lunar Network (ILN) using different power systems. These systems included solar arrays and batteries and two radioisotope power system (RPS) options scaled down from previous designs. These are a half Stirling radioisotope generator and a one-eighth Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG). The COMPASS design consists of a soft-lander capable of network science (seismic, magnetospheric, laser reflector, and thermal transfer) that can land anywhere on the near side of the Moon and operate for at least six years. The baseline version, using only batteries and solar arrays, requires a very large battery (~80 kg) for the roughly 20 W night-time power requirements. The lander launch mass (with solid rocket breaking motor) is almost 900 kg. With such a large battery, the lander will require a launcher larger than the desired Minotaur V; a Taurus II (being developed for NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS)) or larger (Delta II or Atlas V) would be needed. The two RPS cases, half an Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generators (ASRG) and one-eighth RTG have much smaller launch masses of 500 and 600 kg respectively. (The one-eighth RTG case lacks the power for the full science package, so a solar array battery is still needed.) Unfortunately, the Minotaur V’s launch capability is still not large enough (~430 kg to trans-lunar injection (TLI)) for the RPS systems. Consequently, a fourth case was developed to fly a limited science floor suite of instruments (seismometer only) which reduced the RPS Lander launch mass to fit on a Minotaur V.

Radioisotope Power Systems↗
DOE OSTI2021

BATPAC--VERSION 5.0

Argonne National Laboratory has worked on electrochemical energy storage for several decades. The focus on lithium-ion chemistries started in the early 1990s, developing new materials, synthesis methods, and performance characterizations. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Vehicle Technologies Office (DOE-EERE-VTO), Argonne has led with many advances. The experimental activities were complemented with multi-scale modeling that ranged from the atomic to the system (manufacturing processes and automobiles) level. The Battery Performance and Cost (BatPaC) model is a calculation method based on Microsoft¿ Office Excel spreadsheets that have been developed at Argonne for estimating the performance and manufacturing cost of lithium-ion batteries for electric-drive vehicles including hybrid-electrics (HEV), plug-in hybrids (PHEV) and pure electrics. The effort is being funded by the Vehicle Technology Office (VTO), which is part of the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) office of the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE). BatPaC was first developed in 2007, was subsequently peer-reviewed, and it has served Argonne researchers and the greater battery community in studying the impact of material properties on performance at the pack level. With further developments, the model now allows the design of cells and battery packs for automotive applications, to meet performance requirements (power, energy, recharge time), and estimates the cost of manufacturing the designed batteries. Since the cost depends on the materials he design, and the manufacturing process, this bottom-up model/tool enables the user to study their effects. Designed or the lithium-ion cell and battery researcher, BatPaC helps answer many questions by being 1.Transparent in the assumptions made and the method of calculation 2.Capable of designing a battery specifically for the requirements of an application 3.Constrained by the physical limitations that govern battery performance 4. A bottom-up calculation approach to account for every cost factors. BatPaC predicts the impact of promising materials (and their properties) on the performance metrics relevant for the different applications. Researchers can use the specific capacities and the half-cell voltages of a particular set of electrode materials to calculate the mass and volume of a cell to develop a model incorporating the properties of all the other materials in the cell and the design of the cell enclosure. These calculations not only reveal the impact of an improved material but also enable researchers to calculate the material properties that would be needed to meet the performance criteria of a full battery pack. With this information, researchers can provide he battery industry with realistic expectations that will help it more successfully advance novel battery technologies an Applications.

AHMED, SHABBIR↗
DOE OSTI2024

EVALS: Enhanced VALidation of Advanced Battery Supply Chains

This is an overview of EVALS (Enhanced VALidation of advanced battery Supply chains), funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) and some initial data from a transformational laboratory directed research and development (LDRD) program project funded at NREL. EVALS aims to accelerate the process to bring domestic and allied primary sources of battery materials online, from production to deployment.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Enhanced Validation of Advanced Battery Supply Chains (EVALS) Overview

EVALS is a consortium funded by the Vehicle Technologies Office at DOE involving Idaho National Lab, Argonne National Lab, and NREL. The goal of EVALS is to fully develop a suite of tools that support domestic electric vehicle manufacturing through evaluation of domestic primary resources and acceleration of their path to domestic material and battery production. This talk will focus on describing the EVALS project and discussing initial results regarding domestic LiFePO4 precursor sourcing and impacts on the domestic manufacturing supply chain.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Liquid-like solid-state diffusion of lithium ions in super-halide-rich argyrodite

The development of solid electrolytes with high ionic conductivity is essential for advancing safer, high-energy-density solid-state batteries, where lithium site distribution in the sublattice strongly affects ion transport. Here, we report a super-halide-rich argyrodite, Li 5.3 PS 4.3 Cl 1.7 , with remarkable room-temperature ionic conductivity (11.4 ± 0.7 mS cm -1 ) due to population of two additional interstitial lithium sites induced by vacancy redistribution. Prominent lithium density between lithium sites and elevated atomic displacement parameters indicate liquid-like diffusive behavior resembling sublattice melting. Combining electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, pulsed-field gradient NMR, and T 1 relaxation methods, we demonstrate that the augmented conductivity partly arises from a low energy barrier (0.08 eV) at the local scale, attributed to a three-site lithium distribution that drives correlated lithium dynamics. This work advances our understanding of the structure-dynamics interplay in super-halide-rich argyrodites, and highlighting their potential as solid-state battery electrolytes in cells with a coated single-crystal NMC82 cathode that achieve 170 mAh/g capacity at a 0.2 C rate .

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Elucidating the Effects of LiF on Lithium Metal Anodes

LiF is widely recognized as a crucial component of a solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) for Li metal anodes. However, the roles of LiF in the SEI remain elusive. Herein, we examined the evolution of SEI influenced by LiF and identified distinct features that elucidate functional characteristics of LiF for Li metal anodes. Through comprehensive empirical and theoretical analyses, we found that LiF enriches Li2O within the SEI, forms LiF/Li2O interfaces, exhibits non-negligible solubility with spontaneous dissolution-reprecipitation behavior in the electrolyte, and works synergistically with Li2O. These findings shed light on the effects of LiF on Li metal anodes and the arrangement characteristic of LiF within the SEI. By integrating key discoveries regarding LiF, a projected working mechanism for LiF is illustrated. Overall, our study on LiF provides valuable insights that advance the understanding of the SEI and interphase nanostructures, contributing to the development of more reliable and practical Li metal batteries.

Kim, Mun Sek↗
NASA NTRS1993

Lewis Research Center battery overview

The topics covered are presented in viewgraph form and include the following: the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite; the Space Station Freedom (SSF) photovoltaic power module division; Ni/H2 battery and cell design; individual pressure vessel (IPV) nickel-hydrogen cell testing SSF support; the LeRC Electrochemical Technology Branch; improved design IPV nickel-hydrogen cells; advanced technology for IPV nickel-hydrogen flight cells; a lightweight nickel-hydrogen cell; bipolar nickel-hydrogen battery development and technology; aerospace nickel-metal hydride cells; the NASA Sodium-Sulfur Cell Technology Flight Experiment; and the lithium-carbon dioxide battery thermodynamic model.

Odonnell, Patricia↗