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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
NASA NTRS1989

Thermal expansion and elastic anisotropies of SiC as related to polytype structure

The concept of the fraction of hexagonal stacking is used to describe the anisotropic thermal expansion coefficients of polytypes of SiC. The single crystal elastic anisotropy for the SiC polytype structures and the temperature dependencies of the anisotropies are examined. The anisotropic thermoelastic stress index for the 3C and 6H SiC polytypes are illustrated graphically. It is shown that this index is useful for predicting the most desirable crystal growth orientations for SiC whisker incorporation into composite matrices.

Li, Z.↗
DOE OSTI2023

New Trick for an Old Dog: From Prediction to Properties of “Hidden Clathrates” Ba 2 Zn 5 As 6 and Ba 2 Zn 5 Sb 6

The zinc–antimony phase space has been heavily investigated due to the structural complexity and abundance of high-performing thermoelectric materials. Consequentially, the desire to use zinc and antimony as framework elements to encage rattling cations and achieve phonon-glass-electron-crystal-type properties has remained an enticing goal with only two alkali metal clathrates to date, Cs 8 Zn 18 Sb 28 and K 58 Zn 122 Sb 207 . Guided by Zintl electron-counting predictions, here we explored the Ba–Zn–Pn (Pn = As, Sb) phase space proximal to the expected composition of the type-I clathrate. In situ powder X-ray diffraction studies revealed two “hidden” compounds which can only be synthesized in a narrow temperature range. The ex situ synthesis and crystal growth unveiled that instead of type-I clathrates, compositionally close but structurally different new clathrate-like compounds formed, Ba 2 Zn 5 As 6 and Ba 2 Zn 5 Sb 6 . These materials crystallize in a unique structure, in the orthorhombic space group Pmna with the Wyckoff sequence i 2 h 6 gfe. Single-phase synthesis enabled the exploration of their transport properties. Rattling of the Ba cations in oversized cages manifested low thermal conductivity, which, coupled with the high Seebeck coefficients observed, are prerequisites for a promising thermoelectric material. Potential for further optimization of the thermoelectric performance by aliovalent doping was computationally analyzed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

High-Quality SnSe 2 Single Crystals: Electronic and Thermoelectric Properties

In this work, high-quality SnSe 2 single crystals were successfully synthesized using a temperature gradient method. N-type characteristics and strong anisotropic transport properties of SnSe 2 single crystals were exhibited between the ab plane and the c-axis. At 673 K, the power factor (PF) value along the ab plane is 3.43 μW cm -1 K -2 , while it is 0.92 μW cm -1 K -2 along the c-axis. The ratio between thermal conductivities along the ab plane (κ ab ) and c-axis (κ c ) is on the order of 7.6 at 300 K, while this value is about 5.6 at 673 K. The thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) in the c-axis (0.15) is higher than that (0.1) along the ab plane, according to the ultralow out-of-plane thermal conductivity. The electronic band structure results, which were examined by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) predicted the potential of improving the thermoelectric performance of SnSe 2 single crystals by electron doping.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Structural Implications of Interfacial Hydrogen Bonding in Hydrated Wyoming-Montmorillonite Clay

Montmorillonite (MMT) clay - a layered porous nanomaterial used as seals in engineered waste containment barriers for spent nuclear fuel - adopts discrete hydration/swelling states depending upon surrounding water and ion activities and confining pressure. The structure of nanoconfined water and charge-balancing counterions in the clay mineral interlayers dictate the swelling and mechanical behavior of MMT, so a molecular model for this clay with high structural fidelity is required to accurately predict the reliability of long-term nuclear waste storage. Here, we present a molecular model for MMT that is based on high resolution transmission electron microscopy of Wyoming-MMT single crystals. Imaging data unambiguously show a cis-vacant arrangement of structural hydroxyl groups in the octahedral sheet, whereas existing molecular models assume a centrosymmetric trans-vacant configuration for MMT. Furthermore, using atomistic simulations, we find that the cis-vacant arrangement of structural hydroxyl groups significantly affects the structure of adsorbed water yielding a larger population of hydrogen bonds with bridging oxygens on the tetrahedral sheet and weak hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl groups in the octahedral sheet and water in the clay mineral interlayers. As a result, water adsorbed in the interlayer is more "ice-like", with stronger ordering and lower density, although the diffusivity of the interlayer species is not significantly diminished. Our improved structural model for MMT provides insight into the energetics of water adsorption, which ultimately dictates its pore- to macro-scale swelling, transport, and fracture properties.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

A machine learning approach to quantify degradation of nuclear fuels and the effects of fission products

Nuclear fuel performance is critically dependent on understanding the evolution of fuel properties under operational conditions, a complex challenge driven by chemical changes and substantial radiation damage during fission. Traditionally, property evolution has been determined via empirical data collected following irradiation. However, these empirical correlations are limited in their applicability beyond the specific conditions in which they were obtained. This study explores a novel approach to address this challenge by applying materials informatics to develop a machine learning random forest (ML-RF) model that captures the effects of fission products on fuel compounds. The model predicts formation enthalpy (ΔH f ) by leveraging extensive quantum materials property data and correlating it with material descriptors such as composition, atomic and site features, and crystal lattice properties. This ML-RF model enables rapid interpolation across the compositional and structural spaces covered by the training data, thus supporting high-throughput screening and energetic ranking of candidate phases. The model demonstrates the ability to predict ΔH f with a mean absolute error (MAE) of approximately 0.1 to 0.2 eV/atom across a wide range of compounds, including key nuclear fuel systems (U-O, U-N, U-C, U-Si, and U-Mo). For example, it was used to assess shifts in stoichiometry for UO 2 (O/M) and UN (N/M) fuels, revealing their distinct tendencies in chemical potential variation and enabling preliminary convex hull analyses. Furthermore, the model provides insights into how individual fission products affect fuel properties. Results indicate that larger fission products (e.g., Nd, Pu, Ce) have a more pronounced impact on UO 2 , while lighter ones (e.g., Zr) strongly influence UN. Here, the model developed in this work can be used to support the Accelerated Fuel Qualification approach by facilitating preliminary evaluations prior to extensive materials modeling and experimentation. To this end, the trained model has been made available to the fuel community to support ongoing fuel development efforts.

Accelerated fuel qualification↗
DOE OSTI2021

Initial framework for engineering-scale statistical creep-fatigue modeling

This report describes the integration of new solid and interface-cohesive mechanics systems into MOOSE. The purpose of these new systems is to support the ability of MOOSE to run full-field crystal plasticity finite element method simulations of key material processes in high temperature metallic materials. These simulations could be used to help accurately predict the performance of key high temperature structural materials in future advanced nuclear reactor components. Previous work implemented preliminary versions of many of these systems in MOOSE Apps. The current work reports on their integration into the main MOOSE tensor mechanics module along with associated improvements to the basic formulations and numerical implementations. Finally, the report provides an example of the full-field crystal plasticity simulations now possible in MOOSE, including examples of realistic geometries requiring millions of degrees of freedom to resolve the microstructural features and macroscale geometry.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Structure of the Bastnäsite (001) Surface by Crystal Truncation Rod X-ray Diffraction and Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics: Implications for Separations of a Rare Earth Ore Mineral

Bastnäsite ((Ce,La)FCO 3 ) is the primary mineral source of light rare earth elements, but its surface structure is not well understood. This presents a major challenge in improving beneficiation strategies. In this work, a synergistic combination of X-ray scattering and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) was used to gain atomistic insight into the interfacial structure of bastnäsite. Surface X-ray scattering was used to measure crystal truncation rods (CTRs) of the bastnäsite (001) surface, a significant crystal face with a previously unknown termination. The best-fit atomic-scale model of the CTR data features a carbonate layer at the surface, which is stabilized by the relaxation of carbonate groups from their bulk structural positions. AIMD simulations predict similar surface relaxations, which are shown to be influenced by the protonation of oxygen atoms at the surface. Evidence of ordered water at the interface is also observed in the best-fit model and AIMD simulations. Further, the presence of a carbonate layer at this dominant crystal surface is significant for improving separation technologies because most commonly used ligands utilize anionic functional groups to chelate metal cations at particle surfaces. Without modification, anionic ligands are expected to have poor affinity for the carbonate-terminated (001) surface.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Ab Initio Modeling of fcc Fe-Co-Cr-Ni High Entropy Alloys with Full Composition Range

The Fe-Co-Cr-Ni quaternary system has been studied extensively in the past decade, not only because of the superior properties achieved like high tensile ductility and fracture toughness, but also it is the foundation for the development of FeCrCoNi-based HEAs. However, most of the investigations are mainly focusing on the equiatomic and semi-equiatomic compositions. The physical properties of non-equiatomic compositions are barely explored. In the current work, the ab initio approach is adopted to predict the lattice parameter, structure stabilities, elastic properties, and enthalpy of formations of fcc Fe-Cr-Co-Ni HEA single crystals with the special quasirandom structure (SQS) method. To expand the design of Fe-Co-Cr-Ni HEAs into a full composition range, the current simulations cover all the binaries, ternaries, and the whole quaternary system. The 2-D composition-property contour diagrams are created to show the physical properties in the ternary and quaternary systems. Furthermore, our investigation shows that the fcc alloys' lattice parameter increases with the addition of Fe and Cr and decreases with Ni and Co. In addition to the enthalpy of formation at o K, the shape distortion rate is proposed to be another essential parameter to evaluate crystal stability. The results show the addition of Cr would destabilize the fcc lattice and cause symmetry breaking. Finally, the result of Pugh’s ratio shows that most of the fcc alloys show ductile behavior (P > 1.75), especially for the alloys around Fe 3 Ni, FeCo, and Fe 2 NiCo (P > 2.5). The brittle behavior (P < 1.75) is located around Fe 3 Cr and Fe 2 CoCr. Meanwhile, Cr 2 NiCo and Cr 2 FeNiCo are considered promising compositions to be tried and verified experimentally because of the higher bulk modulus and moderate shear modulus.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Role of orbital selectivity on crystal structures and electronic states in BiMnO 3 and LaMnO 3 perovskites

Correlated oxides, such as BiMnO 3 and LaMnO 3 , show a complex interplay of electronic correlations and crystal structure exhibiting multiple first-order phase transitions, some without a clear order parameter. The quantitative theoretical description of this temperature-dependent electronic-structural interplay in the vicinity of a Mott transition is still a challenge. Here we address this issue by simultaneously considering both structural and electronic degrees of freedom, within a self-consistent density functional theory with embedded dynamical mean field theory. Our results show the existence of novel electronic states characterized by the coexistence of insulating, semimetallic, and metallic orbitals. This state is in agreement with resonant x-ray scattering. Here we also show that electronic entropy plays a decisive role in both electronic and structural phase transitions. By self-consistent determination of both the electronic state and the corresponding crystal structure, we show that the temperature evolution of these phases can be quantitatively explained from first principles, thus demonstrating the predictive power of the theoretical method for both the structural and the electronic properties.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Defining the Structural Stability Field of Disordered Fluorite Oxides

Fluorite-structured oxides constitute an important class of materials for energy technologies. Despite their high level of structural symmetry and simplicity, these materials can accommodate atomic disorder without losing crystallinity, making them indispensable for uses in environments with high temperature, changing chemical compositions, or intense radiation fields. In this contribution, we present a set of simple rules that predict whether a compound may adopt a disordered fluorite structure. This approach is closely aligned with Pauling’s rules for ionic crystal structures and Goldschmidt’s rules for ionic substitution.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Investigation of magnetic and electrical transport properties of YMB 4 (M = Cr, Fe, and Co) compounds

We have studied the structural, magnetic, and electrical transport properties of the YMB 4 series of compounds (M= Cr, Fe, and Co). These materials exhibit high stability and possess notable refractory and thermoelectric properties. Furthermore, recent theoretical predictions suggest that some of these compounds may display quantum magnetism and dimer formation among the magnetic ions. We have synthesized almost single phase YMB 4 compounds in the orthorhombic crystal structure (space group Pbam) using arc-melting and annealing. The Rietveld analysis of the room-temperature X-ray diffraction patterns reveals a clear change in the lattice parameter c, which correlates with the atomic radii of Cr, Fe, and Co. The temperature variation of resistivity measured between 2 K and 300 K reveals a metallic electron transport in all three YMB 4 compounds. However, no abrupt change in resistivity due to structural or magnetic phase transitions is observed. Additionally, a weak positive magnetoresistance of 1%–2% has been measured at 2.5 K, the contribution from the metallic impurity cannot be ruled out. The carrier concentration, on the order of 10 21 cm −3 , has been determined using conventional Hall measurements. The thermomagnetic curves recorded between 2 K and 350 K reveal the non-magnetic behavior of all these compounds. However, a small magnetic moment from paramagnetic/ferromagnetic impurity phases is detected at low temperatures. Above room temperature, no magnetic transition associated with the breaking of a dimer is observed.

borides↗
DOE OSTI2024

Predicted High-Pressure Hot Superconductivity in Li 2 CaH 16 and Li 2 CaH 17 Phases that Resemble the Type-II Clathrate Structure

High-temperature high-pressure superconducting hydrides are typically characterized by cage-like hydrogenic lattices filled with electropositive metal atoms. Here, density functional theory based evolutionary crystal structure searches find two phases that possess these geometric features and are related to the Type-II clathrate structure. In these Fd$\overline{3}$m Li 2 CaH 16 and R$\overline{3}$m Li 2 CaH 17 phases the calcium atom occupies the larger cage and the lithium atom the smaller one. The highest superconducting critical temperatures predicted within the isotropic Eliashberg formalism, 330 K at 350 GPa for Fd$\overline{3}$m Li 2 CaH 16 and 370 K at 300 GPa for R$\overline{3}$m Li 2 CaH 17 , suggest these structures are another example of hot superconducting hydrides. As pressure is lowered the cage-like lattices distort with the emergence of quasimolecular hydrogenic motifs; nonetheless Li 2 CaH 17 is predicted to be superconducting down to 160 GPa at 205 K.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Accuracy of DFT computed oxygen-vacancy formation energies and high-throughput search of solar thermochemical water-splitting compounds

The enthalpy change involved in metal oxide reduction is a key quantity in various processes related to energy conversion and storage, and is of particular interest for computational prediction. Often this prediction involves the simulation of a high temperature reduction process with a 0K methodology like density functional theory (DFT), and it is not infrequent for the high temperature and 0K stable crystal structures to differ. This introduces a conundrum with regards to the choice of crystal structure to utilize in the computation, with approaches in the literature varying and experimental validation remaining scarce. In this work we address both the crystal structure conundrum and the experimental validation, and then apply the insights we gain to guide a high-throughput search for new materials for solar thermochemical water-splitting applications. By computing the DFT+U oxygen vacancy formation energy (ΔE vf ) of a selection of ABO 3 compounds and comparing different crystal structures for each composition, we highlight the issues that arise when the structure utilized in the computation is dynamically unstable at 0K, namely the presence of an artificial lowering of ΔE vf , and the lack of convergence of ΔE vf with cell size. We solve these limitations by identifying and employing a suitable surrogate dynamically stable structure. We then validate the predictive power of our calculations against appositely generated experimental measurements of reduction enthalpy for a series of Hubbard U values, finding an accuracy ranging between 0.2-0.6 eV/O. In light of such conclusions, we revise and expand a previous a high-throughput DFT study on ABO 3 perovskite oxides. As a result, we provide a list of candidate STCH materials, highlight trends with redox-active cation and structural distortion, and identify Mn 4+ , Mn 3+ and Co 3+ as the most promising redox-active cations.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2024

Structure and Antigenicity of the Porcine Astrovirus 4 Capsid Spike

Porcine astrovirus 4 (PoAstV4) has been recently associated with respiratory disease in pigs. In order to understand the scope of PoAstV4 infections and to support the development of a vaccine to combat PoAstV4 disease in pigs, we designed and produced a recombinant PoAstV4 capsid spike protein for use as an antigen in serological assays and for potential future use as a vaccine antigen. Structural prediction of the full-length PoAstV4 capsid protein guided the design of the recombinant PoAstV4 capsid spike domain expression plasmid. The recombinant PoAstV4 capsid spike was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified by affinity and size-exclusion chromatography, and its crystal structure was determined at 1.85 Å resolution, enabling structural comparisons to other animal and human astrovirus capsid spike structures. The recombinant PoAstV4 capsid spike protein was also used as an antigen for the successful development of a serological assay to detect PoAstV4 antibodies, demonstrating that the recombinant PoAstV4 capsid spike retains antigenic epitopes found on the native PoAstV4 capsid. These studies lay a foundation for seroprevalence studies and the development of a PoAstV4 vaccine for swine.

Virology↗
DOE OSTI2022

HyMARC Seedling: Optimized Hydrogen Adsorbents via Machine Learning and Crystal Engineering

This final report is presented in two parts: In Part 1, the H 2 capacities of a diverse set of 918,734 metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) sourced from 19 databases is predicted via machine learning (ML). Using only 7 structural features as input, ML identifies 8,282 MOFs with the potential to exceed the capacities of state-of-the-art materials. The identified MOFs are predominantly hypothetical compounds having low densities (<0.31 g/cm3) in combination with high surface areas (>5,300 m2/g), void fractions ($0.90), and pore volumes (>3.3 cm3/g). The relative importance of the input features are characterized, and dependencies on the ML algorithm and training set size are quantified. The most important features for predicting H 2 uptake are pore volume (for gravimetric capacity) and void fraction (for volumetric capacity). The ML models are available on the web, allowing for rapid and accurate predictions of the hydrogen capacities of MOFs from limited structural data; the simplest models require only a single crystallographic feature. In part 2, ways to improve the poor powder packing density of MOFs is discussed. More specifically, a strategy that improves packing efficiency and volumetric hydrogen gas storage density dramatically through engineered morphologies and controlled-crystal size distributions is presented that holds promise for maximizing storage capacity for a given MOF. The packing density improvement, demonstrated for the benchmark sorbent MOF-5, leads to a significant enhancement of volumetric hydrogen storage performance relative to commercial MOF-5. System model projections demonstrate that engineering of crystal morphology/size or use of a bimodal distribution of cubic crystal sizes in tandem with system optimization can surpass the 25 g/L volumetric capacity of a typical 700 bar compressed storage system and exceed the DOE targets 2020 volumetric capacity (30 g/L). Finally, a critical link between improved powder packing density and reduced damage upon compaction is revealed leading to sorbents with both high surface area and high density.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2026

Synthesis and Properties of Bulk Mg 3 WN 4 in a Wurtzite-Derived Structure

Experimental synthesis of theoretically predicted materials with controlled elemental coordination environments can lead to the realization of useful properties, such as facile ion transport or ferroelectric switching. Among such materials are ternary nitrides in the Mg−W−N composition space, where several stable and metastable compounds have been predicted and synthesized recently in bulk and film forms. Here, we report for the first time on the bulk synthesis of Mg 3 WN 4 in a wurtzite-derived crystal structure via a solid-state metathesis reaction. In situ synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction shows how the ion exchange proceeds from Li 6 WN 4 + MgCl 2 precursors to Mg 3 WN 4 + LiCl products, with the reaction starting slowly near 380 °C and completing by 600 °C, including the presence of a competing disordered rocksalt-derived phase (Mg,W)N above 440 °C. The follow-up ex situ powder synthesis at 400 °C for 0.5 h with 10% excess MgCl 2 reveals the cation-ordered nature of the wurtzite-derived Mg 3 WN 4 structure with polar symmetry confirmed by second-harmonic generation measurements. Optical absorption spectra, chemical composition analysis, and electron microscopy imaging suggest that bulk Mg 3 WN 4 obtained via metathesis reaction is prone to defect formation. Overall, this study shows that selective ex situ synthesis of the phase-pure ternary nitrides, informed by in situ measurements, is possible by carefully controlling the thermal budget of the reaction and paves the way toward property characterization of the Mg 3 WN 4 wurtzite-derived material.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Crystal and magnetic structures of magnetic topological insulators MnBi 2 Te 4 and MnBi 4 Te 7

Using single-crystal neutron diffraction, we present a systematic investigation of the crystal structure and magnetism of the van der Waals topological insulators MnBi 2 Te 4 and MnBi 4 Te 7 , where rich topological quantum states have been recently predicted and observed. Structural refinements reveal that considerable Bi atoms occupied on the Mn sites in both materials, distinct from the previously reported antisite disorder. We show unambiguously that MnBi 2 Te 4 orders antiferromagnetically below 24 K, featured by a magnetic symmetry R I - 3 c , while MnBi 4 Te 7 is antiferromagnetic below 13 K with a magnetic space group P c - 3 c 1 . They both present antiferromagnetically coupled ferromagnetic layers with spins along the c axis. We put forward a stacking rule for the crystal structure of an infinitely adaptive series MnBi 2 n Te 3 n + 1 ( n ≥ 1 ) with a building unit of [ Bi 2 Te 3 ] . Overall, by comparing the magnetic properties between MnBi 2 Te 4 and MnBi 4 Te 7 , together with recent density-functional theory calculations, we concluded that a two-dimensional magnetism limit might be realized in the derivatives. Our work may promote theoretical studies of topological magnetic states in the series of MnBi 2 n Te 3 n + 1 .

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2020

Contribution of the Hydroxyl Group on Interfacial Heat Conduction of Monohydric Alcohols: A Molecular Dynamics Study

Monohydric alcohols have been used as promising phase change materials (PCMs) for low-temperature latent heat storage. However, the heat storage/retrieval rates are limited due to the low thermal conductivity of such alcohols. In this work, nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations were performed to study the microscopic heat conduction in example monohydric alcohols, i.e., 1-dodecanol (C12H26O), 1-tetradecanol (C14H30O), and 1-hexadecanol (C16H34O). A simplified ideal crystal model was proposed to exploit the potential for improving the thermal conductivity of monohydric alcohols. The effect of ideal crystalline structures, especially the contribution of the hydroxyl group, on the microscopic heat conduction process was analyzed. The thermal conductivity of the ideal crystals of the various monohydric alcohols was predicted to be more than twice as compared to that of their respective solids. The major thermal resistance in the ideal crystals was found around the molecular interfaces, as a result of the excellent heat conduction performance along the linear molecular chains. The calculated vibrational density of states (VDOS) and interfacial heat transfer were then investigated. When the interfaces are surrounded by hydroxyl groups as walls, strong hydrogen bond (HB) interactions were observed. The interfacial heat transfer coefficient of the ideal crystalline structures of 1-tetradecanol was found to reach up to ~735.6 MW/m2 W. It was elucidated that the high interfacial heat transfer rate is clearly related to the stronger intermolecular interactions.

Engineering↗