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At least 253 records · Page 14

Greenhouse Rhizobox Experiment with Plant Characteristics, Porewater, Gas Flux, and Soil Biogeochemistry data, Seward Peninsula, Alaska, 2024

Data collected from a greenhouse rhizobox experiment (2024) using soils and plants collected at Council, AK (64°51’35.0”N 163°41’59.1”W) during a summer campaign in 2023. Water data consists of soil porewater collected by porewater samplers (rhizons). Gas data consists of CO2 and CH4 surface soil fluxes measured with an FTIR (Fourier-transformed infrared red) analyzer. Plant and root data consists of biomass, root length. This study is a part of The Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments: Arctic (NGEE Arctic), was a research effort to reduce uncertainty in Earth System Models by developing a predictive understanding of carbon-rich Arctic ecosystems and feedbacks to climate. NGEE Arctic was supported by the Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research.The NGEE Arctic project had two field research sites: 1) located within the Arctic polygonal tundra coastal region on the Barrow Environmental Observatory (BEO) and the North Slope near Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska and 2) multiple areas on the discontinuous permafrost region of the Seward Peninsula north of Nome, Alaska. Through observations, experiments, and synthesis with existing datasets, NGEE Arctic provided an enhanced knowledge base for multi-scale modeling and contributed to improved process representation at global pan-Arctic scales within the Department of Energy's Earth system Model (the Energy Exascale Earth System Model, or E3SM), and specifically within the E3SM Land Model component (ELM).This dataset was generated to broadly address the following research question: how will climate change (i.e., thawing permafrost, landscape change) alter the ecosystem flux (sink versus source) of important greenhouse gases such as CO2 and CH4?Description of the contents of this data package: Rhizobox2024_Data.csv: This dataset contains plant, water and gas data. No software is needed to utilize them.nga535_flmd.csv: The file contains file level metadatanga535.dd.csv: This file contains the data dictionaryMethods.pdf: This file contains the data collection methods

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Near-axis expansion of stellarator equilibrium at arbitrary order in the distance to the axis

A direct construction of equilibrium magnetic fields with toroidal topology at arbitrary order in the distance from the magnetic axis is carried out, yielding an analytical framework able to explore the landscape of possible magnetic flux surfaces in the vicinity of the axis. This framework can provide meaningful analytical insight into the character of high-aspect-ratio stellarator shapes, such as the dependence of the rotational transform and the plasma beta limit on geometrical properties of the resulting flux surfaces. The approach developed here is based on an asymptotic expansion on the inverse aspect ratio of the ideal magnetohydrodynamics equation. The analysis is simplified by using an orthogonal coordinate system relative to the Frenet–Serret frame at the magnetic axis. The magnetic field vector, the toroidal magnetic flux, the current density, the field line label and the rotational transform are derived at arbitrary order in the expansion parameter. Moreover, a comparison with a near-axis expansion formalism employing an inverse coordinate method based on Boozer coordinates (the so-called Garren–Boozer construction) is made, where both methods are shown to agree at lowest order. Finally, as a practical example, a numerical solution using a W7-X equilibrium is presented, and a comparison between the lowest-order solution and the W7-X magnetic field is performed.

Physics↗

Improving Rare-Earth Mineral Separation with Insights from Molecular Recognition: Functionalized Hydroxamic Acid Adsorption onto Bastnäsite and Calcite

Enhancing the separation of rare-earth elements (REEs) from gangue materials in mined ores requires an understanding of the fundamental interactions driving the adsorption of collector ligands onto mineral interfaces. In this work, we examine five functionalized hydroxamic acid ligands as potential collectors for the REE-containing bastnäsite mineral in froth flotation using density functional theory calculations and a suite of surface-sensitive analytical spectroscopies. These include vibrational sum frequency generation, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared, Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies. Differences in the chemical makeup of these ligands on well-defined bastnäsite and calcite surfaces allow for a systematic relationship connecting the structure to adsorption activity to be framed in the context of interfacial molecular recognition. Here we show how the intramolecular hydrogen bonding of adsorbed ligands requires the inclusion of explicit water solvent molecules to correctly map energetic and structural trends measured by experiments. We anticipate that the results and insights from this work will motivate and inform the design of improved flotation collectors for REE ores.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Iron Oxide Reduction Rate Affects Iron Product Morphology

Magnetite concentrates from different parts of the Mesabi Range, exhibiting varying tendencies to encapsulate, were reduced using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and a high-temperature confocal scanning laser microscope (CSLM). Gas-phase mass-transfer conditions were intentionally varied by employing two reactors with different geometries: the TGA produced significantly slower reduction, whereas the CSLM setup yielded reduction rates up to 20 times faster under mass-transfer-controlled conditions. A preliminary mechanism is proposed to explain the transition from a porous iron product to a dense encapsulating layer. Encapsulation is interpreted as the outcome of competition between pore creation, driven by the reduction rate, and pore elimination, driven by surface diffusion. When pore formation is insufficient to counteract pore coarsening, a dense iron layer develops and restricts further reduction.

encapsulation↗

Dynamic Electric Field Assisted CO 2 Methanation

Energy-efficient advanced chemical reactions are essential for accelerating the growth of hydrocarbon economy. Sabatier reaction stands out for its potential to effectively transform carbon dioxide into valuable hydrocarbons and is an asset for long-duration Mars missions. This study explores a novel catalytic approach that harnesses electric field-assisted catalysis to substantially enhance the efficiency of the Sabatier reaction. Application of a dynamically perturbed electric field at 1000 Hz resulted in remarkable enhancements, increasing methane formation rates by over 100% at 350 °C and by 74% at 400 °C. Post-reaction catalyst characterization further revealed reduced blockage of active catalytic surface area under the applied electric field, emphasizing improved catalytic longevity and sustained activity. These results underscore the potential of tailored electric field waveforms to dynamically modulate elementary reaction kinetics and surface processes, positioning electric field-assisted catalysis as a transformative strategy for energy-efficient, cost-effective chemical manufacturing and energy conversion technologies.

42 - ENGINEERING↗

Spatially Quasi-Periodic Water Waves of Infinite Depth

Abstract We formulate the two-dimensional gravity-capillary water wave equations in a spatially quasi-periodic setting and present a numerical study of solutions of the initial value problem. We propose a Fourier pseudo-spectral discretization of the equations of motion in which one-dimensional quasi-periodic functions are represented by two-dimensional periodic functions on a torus. We adopt a conformal mapping formulation and employ a quasi-periodic version of the Hilbert transform to determine the normal velocity of the free surface. Two methods of time-stepping the initial value problem are proposed, an explicit Runge–Kutta (ERK) method and an exponential time-differencing (ETD) scheme. The ETD approach makes use of the small-scale decomposition to eliminate stiffness due to surface tension. We perform a convergence study to compare the accuracy and efficiency of the methods on a traveling wave test problem. We also present an example of a periodic wave profile containing vertical tangent lines that is set in motion with a quasi-periodic velocity potential. As time evolves, each wave peak evolves differently, and only some of them overturn. Beyond water waves, we argue that spatial quasi-periodicity is a natural setting to study the dynamics of linear and nonlinear waves, offering a third option to the usual modeling assumption that solutions either evolve on a periodic domain or decay at infinity.

Wilkening, Jon (ORCID:0000000327827596)↗

Unlocking the secret of lignin-enzyme interactions: Recent advances in developing state-of-the-art analytical techniques

Bioconversion of renewable lignocellulosics to produce liquid fuels and chemicals is one of the most effective ways to solve the problem of fossil resource shortage, energy security, and environmental challenges. Among the many biorefinery pathways, hydrolysis of lignocellulosics to fermentable monosaccharides by cellulase is arguably the most critical step of lignocellulose bioconversion. In the process of enzymatic hydrolysis, the direct physical contact between enzymes and cellulose is an essential prerequisite for the hydrolysis to occur. However, lignin is considered one of the most recalcitrant factors hindering the accessibility of cellulose by binding to cellulase unproductively, which reduces the saccharification rate and yield of sugars. This results in high costs for the saccharification of carbohydrates. The various interactions between enzymes and lignin have been explored from different perspectives in literature, and a basic lignin inhibition mechanism has been proposed. However, the exact interaction between lignin and enzyme as well as the recently reported promotion of some types of lignin on enzymatic hydrolysis is still unclear at the molecular level. Multiple analytical techniques have been developed, and fully unlocking the secret of lignin-enzyme interactions would require a continuous improvement of the currently available analytical techniques. This review summarizes the current commonly used advanced research analytical techniques for investigating the interaction between lignin and enzyme, including quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy (FLS), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Interdisciplinary integration of these analytical methods is pursued to provide new insight into the interactions between lignin and enzymes. Finally, this review will serve as a resource for future research seeking to develop new methodologies for a better understanding of the basic mechanism of lignin-enzyme binding during the critical hydrolysis process.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Structural insights into RNase H catalytic mechanism from room-temperature X-ray and neutron crystallography of apo- and RNA/DNA hybrid-bound enzyme

RNase H enzymes are sequence-nonspecific endonucleases that cleave RNA strands in RNA/DNA hybrid duplexes, an enzymatic process essential in DNA replication and repair in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Also, RNase H activity of the reverse transcriptase in human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV-1 and HIV-2) is indispensable for the viral replication cycle. RNase H enzymes play an central role in the development of gene therapies and are targets for novel antivirals. It is therefore of great importance to gain a detailed understanding of the RNase H catalytic mechanism to improve drug design. We utilized Bacillus halodurans RNase H1 (BhRNase H1) to shed light on its function and catalytic mechanism. Room-temperature neutron crystallography of the wild-type and inactive D132N mutant enzymes revealed that E109, belonging to the catalytic DEDD motif, can change its protonation state, allowing us to propose its role in the protonation of the leaving O3′ hydroxyl group of RNA. X-ray crystallography has demonstrated the ability of the RNA/DNA duplex to slide along the protein surface upon metal ion binding at site M A , transforming a product mimic into a Michaelis-like complex, which confirms an essential role of the M A metal ion in catalysis.

Enzyme mechanisms↗

Surface Crust Formation Controls Evaporation Kinetics of Secondary Organic Aerosols

Gas-particle partitioning is critical for the evolution of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) in the atmosphere. SOA particles evaporate more slowly than expected at nearly size-independent rates, but the underlying mechanism remains controversial. Here, in this study, we apply kinetic multilayer modeling to simulate evaporation of α-pinene SOA, demonstrating that surface crust formation, emerging from accumulation of low-volatility compounds at the particle surface, leads to slow evaporation and reduced size dependence of the evaporation rate. While evaporation induced by decomposition of oligomers would naturally lead to size-independent evaporation rates, we observe and simulate nearly size-independent slow evaporation of polyethylene glycol mixture particles containing polymeric species that do not decompose, confirming the relevance of composition-dependent diffusivity for size-independent, slow evaporation. Slow evaporation of limonene SOA was also observed in environmental chamber experiments, and model simulations demonstrate strong surface crust formation with bulk diffusivity being depressed by up to 5 orders of magnitude compared to the inner bulk. We present experimental evidence using a surface-based mass spectrometry technique that shows that the particle surface becomes enriched in high molecular weight compounds upon evaporation of monomers. Our findings imply that viscous surface crusts may also limit the growth and chemical transformation of SOA particles, influencing their impacts on air quality and climate.

heterogeneous chemistry↗

Comparison of Heterogeneous Hydroformylation of Ethylene and Propylene over RhCo 3 /MCM-41 Catalysts

The reaction mechanisms of heterogenous hydroformylation of ethylene and propylene were compared at 413-453 K using RhCo 3 /MCM-41 as catalysts. The reaction rates of propylene for both hydroformylation and the undesired side reaction of hydrogenation were found to be about one order of magnitude lower than those for ethylene in flow reactor studies. The difference in the kinetic behavior between ethylene and propylene was investigated by measuring the reaction orders and apparent activation energies, and these macro-kinetic observables were analyzed using the degree of rate control (DRC) method. In situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) experiments were performed to characterize the surface intermediates formed during the reactions. When the reactant was changed from ethylene to propylene, the IR peak corresponding to adsorbed CO exhibited a significant increase, while the IR peaks of alkyl group decreased in magnitude. Combined with the DRIFTS results, DRC analysis indicates that the first step of olefin hydroformylation, the formation of an alkyl group on the catalyst surface, plays a key role in the difference between ethylene and propylene. This step is kinetically non-relevant when ethylene is the reactant, but it is one of the rate-controlling steps for propylene. Furthermore, the low concentration of the adsorbed propyl group, which is a common intermediate shared by both hydroformylation and hydrogenation of propylene, decreases the rates of both reaction pathways as compared to ethylene.

10 SYNTHETIC FUELS↗

In Situ Identification of Reaction Intermediates and Mechanistic Understandings of Methane Oxidation over Hematite: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study

Effective methane utilization for either clean power generation or value-added chemical production has been a subject of growing attention worldwide for decades, yet challenges persist mostly in relation to methane activation under mild conditions. Here, we report hematite, an earth-abundant material, to be highly effective and thermally stable to catalyze methane combustion at low temperatures (<500 °C) with a low light-off temperature of 230 °C and 100% selectivity to CO 2 . The reported performance is impressive and comparable to those of precious-metal-based catalysts, with a low apparent activation energy of 17.60 kcal·mol –1 . Our theoretical analysis shows that the excellent performance stems from a tetra-iron center with an antiferromagnetically coupled iron dimer on the hematite (110) surface, analogous to that of the methanotroph enzyme methane monooxygenase that activates methane at ambient conditions in nature. Isotopic oxygen tracer experiments support a Mars van Krevelen redox mechanism where CH 4 is activated by reaction with a hematite surface oxygen first, followed by a catalytic cycle through a molecular-dioxygen-assisted pathway. Surface studies with in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal the evolution of reaction intermediates from a methoxy CH 3 –O–Fe, to a bridging bidentate formate b-HCOO–Fe, to a monodentate formate m-HCOO–Fe, before CO 2 is eventually formed via a combination of thermal hydrogen-atom transfer (HAT) and proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) processes. Finally, the elucidation of the reaction mechanism and the intermediate evolutionary profile may allow future development of catalytic syntheses of oxygenated products from CH 4 in gas-phase heterogeneous catalysis.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Revealing the Dynamics and Roles of Iron Incorporation in Nickel Hydroxide Water Oxidation Catalysts

We report the surface of an electrocatalyst undergoes dynamic chemical and structural transformations under electro-chemical operating conditions. There is a dynamic exchange of metal cations between the electrocatalyst and electrolyte. Understanding how iron in the electrolyte gets incorporated in the nickel hydroxide electrocatalyst is critical for pinpointing the roles of Fe during water oxidation. Here, we report that iron incorporation and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are highly coupled, especially at high working potentials. The iron incorporation rate is much higher at OER potentials than that at the OER dormant state (low potentials). At OER potentials, iron incorporation favors electrochemically more reactive edge sites, as visualized by synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microscopy. Using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations, we show that Fe incorporation can suppress the oxidation of Ni and enhance the Ni reducibility, leading to improved OER catalytic activity. Our findings provide a holistic approach to understanding and tailoring Fe incorporation dynamics across the electrocatalyst-electrolyte interface, thus controlling catalytic processes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Strained-Induced Morphological Reconstruction of RuO 2 (110) Thin-Film Electrocatalysts

Strain is a widely used strategy for electrocatalyst engineering. Overstraining, however, can lead to unintentional materials transformation. We investigate the impact of strain on the surface morphology of a rutile RuO 2 (110) film grown on a symmetry-matching rutile TiO 2 (110) substrate. When the film thickness exceeds 9 nm, the RuO 2 surface relaxes by forming step edges that expose the {011} plane. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation shows that the (011) facet is among the lower energy surfaces of rutile RuO 2 , suggesting that this formation incurs minimal energetic penalties. In situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) shows that the film maintains the (110) structure of the terrace during electrochemistry. Inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) further reveals the insensitivity of the Ru dissolution to strain. Here, our findings show a strain-relieving pathway via surface reconstruction in RuO 2 (110) and provide an example of a strain-relieving mechanism that does not affect dissolution.

Evolution reactions↗

Architector for high-throughput cross-periodic table 3D complex building

Abstract Rare-earth and actinide complexes are critical for a wealth of clean-energy applications. Three-dimensional (3D) structural generation and prediction for these organometallic systems remains a challenge, limiting opportunities for computational chemical discovery. Here, we introduce Architector , a high-throughput in-silico synthesis code for s-, p-, d-, and f-block mononuclear organometallic complexes capable of capturing nearly the full diversity of the known experimental chemical space. Beyond known chemical space, Architector performs in-silico design of new complexes including any chemically accessible metal-ligand combinations. Architector leverages metal-center symmetry, interatomic force fields, and tight binding methods to build many possible 3D conformers from minimal 2D inputs including metal oxidation and spin state. Over a set of more than 6,000 x-ray diffraction (XRD)-determined complexes spanning the periodic table, we demonstrate quantitative agreement between Architector-predicted and experimentally observed structures. Further, we demonstrate out-of-the box conformer generation and energetic rankings of non-minimum energy conformers produced from Architector , which are critical for exploring potential energy surfaces and training force fields. Overall, Architector represents a transformative step towards cross-periodic table computational design of metal complex chemistry.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Towards Multilayered Coatings of 304L Stainless Steels Using Friction Surfacing

Abstract The objective of this work is to study friction surfacing process variability when depositing multilayered coatings. This is motivated by the need to maintain deposition quality when depositing multiple friction surfacing layers, whether for repair, remanufacturing, or new part creation using this solid-state metal additive manufacturing process. In this study, 10-mm-diameter 304L stainless steel rods were used to create up to five layers of 40-mm-long coatings on 304L substrates using a constant set of processing parameters. In-process measurement of forces (X, Y, Z), flash temperature, flash geometry, layer temperature, and post-process measurement of layer geometry, microhardness, and microstructure are used to characterize changes in the friction surfacing process as more layers are deposited. It was observed that with increasing layers: layer thickness and deposition efficiency decrease; offsetting of the deposition towards the retreating side, and temperature in the deposited layer increase; and flash temperature does not change. Metallurgical analyses of friction-surfaced cross-sections revealed fine grain refinement and transformation of base austenite to strain-induced martensite. It is concluded that the process parameters need to be adjusted even after the second or third layer is deposited, corrections to the tool path are required after a couple of layers, and the measured process forces, as well as deposited layer temperature, may be useful to monitor and control the process and its instabilities.

Engineering↗

Design principles for heterointerfacial alloying kinetics at metallic anodes in rechargeable batteries

How surface chemistry influences reactions occurring thereupon has been a long-standing question of broad scientific and technological interest. Here, we consider the relation between the surface chemistry at interfaces and the reversibility of electrochemical transformations at rechargeable battery electrodes. Using Zn as a model system, we report that a moderate strength of chemical interaction between the deposit and the substrate—neither too weak nor too strong—enables highest reversibility and stability of the plating/stripping redox processes. Focused ion beam and electron microscopy were used to directly probe the morphology, chemistry, and crystallography of heterointerfaces of distinct natures. Analogous to the empirical Sabatier principle for chemical heterogeneous catalysis, our findings arise from competing interfacial processes. Using full batteries with stringent negative electrode–to–positive electrode capacity (N:P) ratios, we show that such knowledge provides a powerful tool for designing key materials in highly reversible battery systems based on Earth-abundant, low-cost metals such as Zn and Na.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Mn(III)-mediated bisphenol a degradation: Mechanisms and products

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a high production volume chemical with potential estrogenic effects susceptible to abiotic degradation by MnO 2 . BPA transformation products and reaction mechanisms with MnO 2 have been investigated, but detailed process understanding of Mn(III)-mediated degradation has not been attained. Rapid consumption of BPA occurred in batch reaction vessels with 1 mM Mn(III) and 63.9 ± 0.7% of 1.76 ± 0.02 μmol BPA was degraded in 1 hour at circumneutral pH. BPA was consumed at 1.86 ± 0.09-fold higher rates in vessels with synthetic MnO 2 comprising approximately 13 mol% surface-associated Mn(III) versus surface-Mn(III)-free MnO 2 , and 10–35% of BPA transformation could be attributed to Mn(III) during the initial 10-min reaction phase. High-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (HRMS/MS) analysis detected eight transformation intermediates in reactions with Mn(III), and quantum calculations proposed 14 BPA degradation products, nine of which had not been observed during MnO 2 -mediated BPA degradation, suggesting mechanistic differences between Mn(III)- versus MnO 2 -mediated BPA degradation. Finally, the findings demonstrate that both Mn(III) and Mn(IV) can effectively degrade BPA and indicate that surface-associated Mn(III) increases the reactivity of synthetic MnO 2 , offering opportunities for engineering more reactive oxidized Mn species for BPA removal.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Machine-to-machine variability of roughness and corrosion in additively manufactured 316L stainless steel

Numerous studies on the corrosion response of metal AM have been conducted. Nonetheless, the specimens being tested are commonly ground or polished to remove the outer as-built surface. If metal AM is truly going to be employed as a transformative technology that can produce complex shapes that do not require traditional machining, then the material needs to be evaluated in the as-built state. The reality is that AM alloys have shown significant inconsistencies regarding as-built surface texture, topology, and residual stress. One metric that has shown significant unpredictability in the literature is the susceptibility to localized corrosion of typically passive alloys, such as stainless steel (SS). There are a large number of studies that have attempted to understand the corrosion response of metal AM materials, but these studies are typically performed on materials that have been printed on a single machine and often mechanically polished to a smooth finish. This study compares the corrosion response of as-built AM, laser-beam powder bed fusion (LB-PBF), 316L SS parts that have been fabricated on five different machines. The majority of this work focused on understanding the susceptibility to localized corrosion of AM metals with respect to machine-dependent variables, namely surface roughness, and build angle. Surface roughness data was collected using scanning white light triangulation, laser scanning confocal microscopy, and coherence scanning interferometry. The results show that there is significant variability (p two-tail < 0.05) in the susceptibility to local corrosion initiation of LB-PBF 316L SS samples built on different machines. Surface oxides were probed with electron dispersive spectroscopy and revealed that variations in local corrosion susceptibility likely arise from differences in the stability of the passive film caused by chemical segregation, unique microstructure, and tortuous roughness features at the as-built surfaces. The variability of roughness and corrosion properties from test samples printed on different machines was corroborated by property measurements performed at five different testing sites, proving reproducibility of the data. Most importantly, this study shows that if the as-built surface layer is removed through grinding or electropolishing the machine-to-machine variation observed in the corrosion susceptibility is reduced.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗