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At least 37 records · Page 2

Yttrium Contenting Compositionally Complex Medium-Entropy Li-Garnet Electrolyte with Improved Ionic Conductivity

The compositionally complex medium/high-entropy design concept can greatly expand the categories and affect the properties of the materials. With such a designing concept, a medium-entropy Li-garnet electrolyte with appropriate yttrium content (formula Li 6.6 La 3 ZrNb 0.3 Ta 0.3 Hf 0.3 Y 0.1 O 12 ) shows a record-high ionic conductivity of ∼5.7 × 10 –4 S/cm, the highest reported for any single-site substituted high/medium-entropy Li-garnet. The assembled Li metal symmetric cells also show stable long-term cycling (0.1 mA/cm 2 for over 200 h). Neutron powder diffraction and Rietveld refinement results indicate that a competing conduction mechanism between (1) occupancy on high mobility of 96h sites and (2) the associated site vacancies and the bond length requires an appropriate content of Y for enhanced ionic conductivity. Li-ion hopping through the bottleneck can also contribute to the conductivity. Finally, density functional theory and Born–Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations also indicate the high mobility and number of hopping transitions of Li ions, contributing to the high ionic conductivity.

Li-garnet

Chemically Enabled CO 2 -Enhanced Oil Recovery in Multi-Porosity, Hydrothermally Altered Carbonates in the Southern Michigan Basin (Final Technical Report)

This is the Final Technical Report for the project "Chemically Enabled CO 2 -Enhanced Oil Recovery in Multi-Porosity, Hydrothermally Altered Carbonates in the Southern Michigan Basin." Over the course of six years of collaboration between Battelle and project partners, all stated objectives of the program have been completed, including full geological characterization of the TBR trend (See companion report for Task2), laboratory and modeling experiments to determine the optimum composition and design of CO 2 -EOR operations in the TBR trend, execution of a field test of chemically-enhanced CO 2 in a TBR well, and integration of the data and learnings gathered during these efforts into a full-trend development plan. Detailed reporting on these activities, their outcomes, and implications for trend-wide development is provided in the report. This report and encompassed data will provide TBR field operators with detailed information on what worked, what did not work, and how to proceed with production optimization of their TBR assets using chemically-enhanced CO 2 -EOR. CO 2 -EOR is a relatively well understood and broadly implemented strategy for increasing incremental production across the oil and gas industry, but its application has been primarily focused on reservoirs with limited heterogeneity. The intention of this project was show first that the same physical mechanisms that improve recovery factors in homogeneous reservoirs (namely wettability alteration, viscosity alteration, oil swelling, and mobility control) are at play in heterogeneous reservoirs. This was proven by the project’s laboratory studies and dynamic simulations, with the potential exception of mobility control, which needs further study. The second intention was to demonstrate via direct field testing that CO 2 -EOR can work in a strongly heterogeneous reservoir. While the field test strategy implemented during this project did not succeed in producing oil, data gathered during the test sheds light on what may work for field operators who try chemically-enhanced CO 2 -EOR within their own reservoirs, significantly reducing the level of uncertainty carried by first-of-a-kind commercial efforts that could (and should) follow this test. Simultaneously, the project has identified several large-volume ethanol plants and other sources of CO 2 emissions in the region and provided a handrail that CO 2 emitters and field operators can leverage to capture, transport, and inject that CO 2 into their fields. This project has also shown that, in many cases, the economics of CO 2 -EOR in the TBR are attractive. And finally, by completing a project of this scope in the southern Michigan Basin, the project has contributed to the knowledge base and operational experience of field operators, state regulatory agencies, local service companies, and state universities, with CO 2 -EOR projects which should allow follow-on projects to proceed safely and efficiently.

02 PETROLEUM

Enhancing Interlayer Charge Transport of Two-Dimensional Perovskites by Structural Stabilization via Fluorine Substitution

Two-dimensional lead-halide perovskites provide a more robust alternative to three-dimensional perovskites in solar energy and optoelectronic applications due to increased chemical stability afforded by interlayer ligands. At the same time, the ligands create barriers for interlayer charge transport, reducing device performance. Using a recently developed ab initio simulation methodology, we demonstrate that ligand fluorination can enhance both hole and electron mobility by 1–2 orders of magnitude. The simulations show that the enhancement arises primarily from improved structural order and reduced thermal atomic fluctuations in the system rather than increased interlayer electronic coupling. Arising from stronger hydrogen bonding and dipolar interactions, the higher structural stability decreases the reorganization energy that enters the Marcus formula and increases the charge transfer rate. The detailed atomistic insights into the electron and hole transfer in layered perovskites indicate that the use of interlayer ligands that make the overall structure more robust is beneficial simultaneously for chemical stability and charge transport, providing an important guideline for the design of new, efficient materials.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH

Elucidating grain boundary energy minimization mechanisms in textured Ca-doped alumina with inclination-dependent Monte Carlo Potts simulations

The grain growth behavior of textured Ca-doped alumina is compared to Monte Carlo Potts (MCP) simulations to investigate the effect of anisotropic grain boundary (GB) properties on local boundary migration. Experimentally, the growth of textured Ca-doped alumina results in highly elongated grains. The relative GB energy distribution is measured using the thermal groove method before and after heat treating at 1600°C, finding that high energy GBs are eliminated during grain growth. No significant difference in the GB energy distributions is found between the long and short axes of the elongated grains, suggesting that anisotropic mobility may be responsible for the grain shape. However, MCP simulations with anisotropic mobility as a function of plane inclination do not result in grains with distinct morphologies, regardless of the degree of anisotropy introduced. The final grain shape after grain growth of textured Ca-doped alumina resembles that of the MCP simulations using an anisotropic GB energy as a cosine function of plane inclination. Several energy functions are tested and only those that mathematically impose a torque (second derivative of energy with respect to the plane inclination angle) result in elongated grains. Although area reduction is the dominant energy minimization mechanism, these results suggest that local GB migration is affected by anisotropic GB energy and torque and alternative mechanisms like GB replacement and reorientation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Urban wash-off of tire wear particles

Tire wear particles (TWPs) are an important class of microplastics due to their toxicity and abundance. Because most TWPs are generated on impervious road surfaces, urban wash-off is the critical first phase of waterborne transport from their zone of production to stormwater drainage. However, little is known about the driving factors behind their mobilization. In this study, we use a rainfall simulator to investigate how surface roughness, rainfall intensity, and surface slope affect wash-off behaviors of TWPs. We also analyze how the size and shape of mobilized TWPs change over the course of simulated storm events. We found that low surface roughness, high rainfall intensity (most significant factor), and low slope result in the most rapid conveyance of TWP load. On average, large particles (>1000 µm) travelled faster than small particles (<125 µm). Particle shape explained a very small amount of variance in TWP wash-off velocity but was found to be more important under higher surface roughness conditions. In addition to wash-off velocity, we found similar conditions controlled the percent mobilization of TWPs. Low surface roughness and high rainfall intensity resulting in higher TWP wash-off rates is consistent with mineral sediment wash-off behavior. Conversely, low surface slope and large particle size leading to faster conveyance is directly opposed to mineral sediment wash-off. Our findings suggest drag-dominated flow and that sufficient runoff depth is the most important parameter governing TWP wash-off. These findings are important first steps to understanding wash-off behaviors of TWPs and informing future modeling efforts and mitigation strategies.

13 HYDRO ENERGY

A Systematic Comparison for Consistent Scenario Development Using Microscopic Simulation Software

This study aims to explore a methodology that enables the development of consistent traffic micro simulation for emerging traffic and vehicle control technologies for improved mobility and energy efficiency across different modeling platforms. Researchers might study the same application on different platforms and have the need to benchmark across platforms. However, there lacks a systematic study on simulation software comparison, especially for emerging mobility and energy efficiency applications. For this, a systematic scenario development and evaluation approach is presented and demonstrated to compare scenarios generated in different traffic microsimulation platforms. Network-level and vehicle-level trip performance results of the traffic scenario are evaluated in three microscopic simulation platforms - VISSIM, AIMSUN, and SUMO. The results indicate that the network-level performance is consistent among the three software suites except when the demand is high, where the energy consumption performance varies.

Saroj, Abhilasha [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000191178063)

Spherical and sessile droplet dynamics by fluctuating hydrodynamics

We simulate the mesoscopic dynamics of droplets formed by phase-separated fluids at nanometer scales where thermal fluctuations are significant. Both spherical droplets fully immersed in a second fluid and sessile droplets which are also in contact with a solid surface are studied. Our model combines a Cahn–Hilliard formulation with incompressible fluctuating hydrodynamics; for sessile droplets, the fluid–solid contact angle is specified as a boundary condition. Deterministic simulations with an applied body force are used to measure the droplets' mobility from which a diffusion coefficient is obtained using the Einstein relation. Stochastic simulations are independently used to obtain a diffusion coefficient from a linear fit of the variance of a droplet's position with time. In some scenarios, these two measurements give the same value but not in the case of a spherical droplet initialized near a slip wall or in the case of sessile droplets with large contact angles (≥90°) on both slip and no-slip surfaces.

Bell, John B

Direct Imaging of Hydrogen‐Driven Dislocation and Strain Field Evolution in a Stainless Steel Grain

Hydrogen embrittlement (HE) poses a significant challenge to the durability of materials used in hydrogen production and utilization. Disentangling the competing nanoscale mechanisms driving HE often relies on simulations and electron-transparent sample techniques, limiting experimental insights into hydrogen-induced dislocation behavior in bulk materials. This study employs in situ Bragg coherent X-ray diffraction imaging to track three-dimensional (3D) dislocation and strain field evolution during hydrogen charging in a bulk grain of austenitic 316 stainless steel. Tracking a single dislocation reveals hydrogen-enhanced mobility and relaxation, consistent with dislocation dynamics simulations. Subsequent observations reveal dislocation unpinning and climb processes, likely driven by osmotic forces. Additionally, nanoscale strain analysis around the dislocation core directly measures hydrogen-induced elastic shielding. These findings experimentally validate theoretical predictions and offer mechanistic insights into hydrogen-driven dislocation behavior. The quantified nanoscale phenomena serve as critical inputs for multiscale modeling frameworks to predict bulk material responses and accelerate the development of HE-resistant alloys.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND

A Multiscale Approach to Simulate Non‐Isothermal Multiphase Flow in Deformable Porous Materials

Coupled thermal, hydraulic, and mechanical processes in porous materials play important roles in several energy and environmental technologies. The Darcy-Brinkman-Biot (DBB) framework has proven effective in modeling multiphase fluid flow in deformable porous solids across both pore and Darcy scales, including in systems where fractures coexist with a porous matrix. In this study, we extend the DBB framework, originally designed for isothermal conditions, to address non-isothermal problems by incorporating an energy conservation equation. The resulting solver, hybridBiotThermalInterFoam, enables simulations of coupled multiphase fluid flow, heat transfer, and solid deformation in hybrid-scale systems containing both solid-free regions and ductile porous domains. The new solver is validated through comparisons with analytical solutions and, also, against established heat transfer solvers chtMultiRegionFoam and compressibleInterFoam. Further, a series of 2D and 3D case studies, including two-phase heat transfer in solid-free, static, or deformable porous media, highlights the solver's capacity to simulate complex flow dynamics and heat transport in systems involving high mobility ratios, viscous fingering, and fracture propagation. Our results establish the feasibility of incorporating thermal effects in simulations of a wide variety of energy geotechnics and environmental applications, including enhanced hydrocarbon recovery, soil remediation, and enhanced geothermal energy systems.

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS

Skyrmion-skyrmionium phase separation and laning transitions via spin-orbit torque currents

Many driven binary systems can exhibit laning transitions when the two species have different mobilities, such as colloidal particles with opposite charges in electric fields. Another example is pedestrian or active-matter systems, where particles moving in opposite directions form a phase-separated state that enhances the overall mobility. In this work, we use atomistic simulations to demonstrate that mixtures of skyrmions and skyrmioniums also exhibit pattern formation and laning transitions. Skyrmions move more slowly and at a finite skyrmion Hall angle compared to skyrmioniums, which move faster and without a skyrmion Hall effect. At low drives, the system forms a partially jammed phase where the skyrmioniums are dragged by the surrounding skyrmions, resulting in a finite angle of motion for the skyrmioniums. At higher drives, the system transitions into a laned state, but unlike colloidal systems, the lanes in the skyrmion-skyrmionium mixture are tilted relative to the driving direction due to the intrinsic skyrmion Hall angle. In the laned state, the skyrmionium angle of motion is reversed when it aligns with the tilted lane structure. At even higher drives, the skyrmioniums collapse into skyrmions. Below a critical skyrmion density, both textures can move independently with few collisions, but above this density, the laning state disappears entirely, and the system transitions to a skyrmion-only state. We map out the velocity and Hall responses of the different textures and identify three distinct phases: partially jammed, laned, and skyrmion-only moving crystal states. In conclusion, we compare our results to recent observations of tilted laning phases in pedestrian flows, where chiral symmetry breaking in the particle interactions leads to similar behavior.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Interactions Between Climate Policy and Technology-influenced Travel Behavior: Mitigating Induced Demand from CACC

Advances in vehicle technology have influenced the development of automated vehicle systems, where vehicles that do not require human intervention are already deployed in the roadway networks. While these advances are proved to increase roadway safety and highway capacity, more research is needed to understand the long-term and regional-level impacts on mobility, land use, energy consumption, and emissions. This study proposes a multi-model approach to analyze the effect of vehicle automation and deep decarbonization policies over a period from 2020 to 2040 in Austin, Texas. We use the Global Change Analysis Model (GCAM) to develop internally the scenarios that are then passed to the SMART Mobility modeling workflow, a large-scale simulation framework combining the POLARIS activity-based travel demand model and mesoscopic traffic simulator with the Autonomie vehicle energy consumption model and the UrbanSim land use simulator. Results suggest that the introduction of vehicles with advanced automation could increase fuel consumption when no decarbonization policies are implemented. Also, advances in vehicle technology research and development could lead to a decline in energy use in the long-term. Energy pricing and vehicle electrification incentives could help reduce the impact of vehicle automation. Finally, our analysis indicates the relevance of introducing land use processes in longterm vehicle automation studies.

land use

Dynamic Metal–Support Interaction Dictates Cu Nanoparticle Sintering on Al 2 O 3 Surfaces

Nanoparticle sintering remains a critical challenge in heterogeneous catalysis. In this work, we present a unified deep potential (DP) model based on the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof approximation of density functional theory for Cu nanoparticles on three Al 2 O 3 surfaces (γ-Al 2 O 3 (100), γ-Al 2 O 3 (110), and α-Al 2 O 3 (0001)). Using DP-accelerated simulations, we reveal that the nanoparticle size-mobility relationship strongly depends on the supporting surface. The diffusion of nanoparticles on the two γ-Al 2 O 3 surfaces is almost independent of the size of the nanoparticle, while the diffusion on α-Al 2 O 3 (0001) decreases rapidly with increasing size. Interestingly, nanoparticles with fewer than 55 atoms diffuse several times faster on α-Al 2 O 3 (0001) than on γ-Al 2 O 3 (100) at 800 K while expected to be more sluggish based on their larger binding energy at 0 K. The diffusion on α-Al 2 O 3 (0001) is facilitated by dynamic metal–support interaction (MSI), where Al atoms move out of the surface plane to optimize contact with the nanoparticle and relax back to the plane as the nanoparticle moves away. In contrast, the MSI on γ-Al 2 O 3 (100) and on γ-Al 2 O 3 (110) is dominated by more stable and directional Cu–O bonds, consistent with the limited diffusion observed on these surfaces. Our extended MD simulations provide insight into the sintering processes, showing that the dispersity of the nanoparticles strongly influences the coalescence driven by nanoparticle diffusion. We observed that the coalescence of Cu 13 nanoparticles on α-Al 2 O 3 (0001) can occur in a short time (10 ns) at 800 K even with an initial internanoparticle distance increased to 3 nm, while the coalescence on the two γ-Al 2 O 3 surfaces are inhibited significantly by increasing the initial internanoparticle distance. These findings demonstrate that the dynamics of the supporting surface is crucial to understanding the sintering mechanism and offer guidance for designing sinter-resistant catalysts by engineering the support morphology.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH

Perspective: Are glasses really frozen?

A glass is obtained by cooling a liquid fast enough to avoid crystallization. It is a solid with elastic constants and density similar to those of a crystal with the same composition. It is customarily assumed that the structure of a glass is frozen, and atoms are largely locked into a random, but specific, structure; while a small number of loosely bound atoms may be mobile, most atoms are frozen at room temperature and below. However, recent simulation studies on metallic glasses present a rather different picture. A very significant fraction (~20%) of atoms are not frozen and locally mobile, even down to T = 0 partly because of quantum effect. Here, we describe these observations and discuss their implications on the nature of the glass structure and the origin of the glass transition.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Atomistic Insights into the Reactive Diffusion of CO 2 in Guanidine-Based Facilitated Transport Membranes

The pressing need to address climate change has led to significant advancements in carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture technologies. Notably, facilitated transport membranes (FTMs) are distinguished by their exceptional selectivity and permeance, attributed to their reversible chemical reactions with CO 2 . This study, for the first time, sheds light on the reactive diffusion mechanism of CO 2 in FTMs, utilizing 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine (TMG) as a mobile carrier. Specifically, state-ofthe- art molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, augmented by a reparameterized reactive force field (ReaxFF) capable of describing atomistic interactions and reaction pathways, are conducted to investigate the transport of CO 2 in TMG. The analysis of mean squared displacement (MSD) and diffusion coefficients reveals a clear hierarchy in the mobility of reaction components. Our findings highlight a unique hopping diffusion mechanism between bicarbonate ions and TMG molecules, increasing the diffusivity of reacted CO 2 by 1.4 times. The hopping events observed not only enhance our understanding of molecular mobility but also offer a means to boost the performance of FTMs in CO 2 capture applications. Overall, this research lays the groundwork for the future design of FTMs with optimal carrier properties.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH

Structural origin of disorder-induced ion conduction in NaFePO 4 cathode materials

Diffusion in NaFePO 4 can be enhanced through amorphization. Based on computations using DFT and machine learning potentials, we ascribe this phenomenon to the formation of less constrained Na-ion environments upon disordering. Most modern battery technologies depend on solid-state crystalline cathode materials. However, some of these materials are constrained by the low ionic conductivity of their most stable phases. An example of this is maricite (NaFePO 4 ). Interestingly, experiments have shown that maricite can improve its rate capability through disordering (amorphization). However, experimental characterization of amorphous cathode materials remains a major challenge, hindering a clear understanding of the structural origin of the disorder-induced improvement in sodium-ion mobility. To address this, we here employ molecular dynamics simulations by first training a machine learning potential for NaFePO 4 based on the atomic cluster expansion approach and a batch active learning potential parameterization scheme. This potential is then applied to explore the structural and dynamical properties of NaFePO 4 glasses as cathode materials. Specifically, we investigate the effect of glass structure on sodium-ion diffusion, revealing the relative influences of short-range and medium-range order features. We find significant heterogeneity in sodium-ion diffusivity in the glass, with fast-conducting ions residing in less constrained atomic environments with fewer P and Fe neighbors. These more mobile ions are also surrounded by larger ring-type structures. Overall, the results and developed approach present promising avenues for developing high-performance glassy cathodes for next-generation batteries.

Christensen, Rasmus

Simulation and generalized Langevin equation study of lipid subdiffusion in biomembrane phases

In biomembranes lipid mobility exhibits deviations from the classical diffusive behavior of Brownian particles, i.e. ‘anomalous’ diffusion. The question arises as to how this anomalous diffusive behavior varies in gel, ripple, and fluid biomembrane phases. Here, in this study, we perform all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) bilayers in the three different phases and analyze the results using the framework of the Generalized Langevin Equation (GLE). This analysis emphasizes sub-diffusive behavior on the relatively short, picosecond-nanosecond timescales, capturing local molecular constraints and transient caging effects during the crossover of atomic dynamics from vibrational to incipient anharmonic motion. The ripple and gel phases are found to exhibit strong transient caging and prolonged memory effects resulting in distinct sub-diffusive behavior. The role of hydrogen bonding in lipid confinement is also examined, demonstrating its influence on phase-dependent molecular ordering and on short-time diffusional constraints. These findings demonstrate the GLE framework’s utility in characterizing molecular transport and lipid dynamics, with implications for longer timescale membrane dynamics.

Malik, Sheeba [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL

What is the Role of Relative Humidity on Conductivity in Polymer Electrolytes?

Ion transport properties in polymer electrolytes have been widely studied under rigorously dry and highly water-swollen conditions. However, the transition between these extremes, i.e., the low hydration regime, is still poorly understood at the molecular level and relevant to applications ranging from battery electrolytes to electrophoretic separations. Here, in this study, we apply atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to probe the role of hydration on ion mobilities and conductivities in LiTFSI-doped polyethers at low water content (less than 10% water by volume), which corresponds to 0−80% relative humidity conditions. With increasing water content, Li + ions exhibit two distinct regimes in their mobilities. At low water content, the majority of the Li + ions are weakly hydrated (two or fewer water molecules per Li + ion), maintaining strong interactions with their polymer solvation cage, and therefore exhibit only a weak increase in mobility relative to dry conditions. As water content increases, Li + ions form complete hydration shells, residing within water-rich domains that promote faster mobilities. Further, Li + mobilities increase more significantly in polymer electrolytes composed of more hydrophilic polymers and higher salt concentrations due to the formation of larger water-rich domains. In contrast, TFSI − has comparatively weak interactions with both the polymer and water, exhibiting a monotonic increase in mobility as a function of water content. Overall, these results help clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying ionic mobilities and conductivities in polymer electrolytes at low water content.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

The solubility of ErPO 4 and Er speciation in hydrothermal fluids at varying pH and salinity between 350 and 450 °C

The rare earth elements (REE) are important for the green-energy transition and can be incorporated into the REE phosphates, such as xenotime-(Y), which also hosts heavy REE (Tb– Lu). Xenotime-(Y) is a common accessory mineral in metamorphic rocks and a range of mineral deposits where it controls the mobility of heavy REE, however, the impact of high temperature aqueous fluids on the behavior of heavy REE is largely unknown. Thermodynamic modeling can be utilized as a tool to predict the mobility of REE in hydrothermal aqueous fluids, but must be supported by accurate experimental data. Here, we measured the solubility of endmember synthetic xenotime-structured ErPO4 in NaCl-HCl-NaOH-bearing aqueous solutions at 350 °C and water vapor saturation pressure, at 400 and at 450 °C and 500 bar using batch-type Inconel reactors. Erbium speciation was investigated as a function of pH from 2.8 to 8, where Er chloride species are predominant at acidic conditions (pH <3) and Er hydroxyl complexes are predominant at near- neutral to alkaline conditions (pH >3). At pH 7–9, the measured ErPO 4 solubility (-9.8 to -7.5 log m Er ) is up to 2.5 orders of magnitude lower than thermodynamic predictions (-9.4 to -6.7 log m Er ) using existing thermodynamic databases. At pH 2–3, the predicted ErPO 4 solubility is ~0.5 orders of magnitude higher at 350 °C and ~1 order of magnitude lower at 450 °C compared to experimentally measured Er concentrations. The thermodynamic properties of aqueous Er species were therefore revised in this study. The partial molal Gibbs energy of formation (Δ f G 0 T,P ) for aqueous Er hydroxyl and chloride species are optimized using GEMSFITS and the logarithmic formation constants (logβ n ( Cl,OH) ) were derived at each experimental temperature and pressure. The updated thermodynamic properties for Er hydroxyl species (Er(OH) +2 , Er(OH) 2 + , and Er(OH) 3 0 ) show that their stability shifts to more acidic conditions at and below 400 °C. The Er chloride species (ErCl +2 and ErCl 2 + ) show increased stability compared to Er hydroxyl species at temperatures of 450 °C and 0.01 mol/kg NaCl. The updated thermodynamic properties are implemented into the GEM-Selektor modeling package to investigate the mobility of Er in saline hydrothermal fluids in equilibrium with alkaline rocks. Importantly, the updated properties for Er hydroxyl species result in low Er solubility at rock equilibrated pH conditions due to an expanded hydroxyl predominance zone, but lower aqueous complex stability overall, whereas previous models suggest greater stability for aqueous Er species. Furthermore, ErPO 4 solubility increases with decreasing temperature due to the deprotonation of HCl, which increases the acidity of hydrothermal fluids and the availability of Cl - to complex with the REE. These simulations highlight how fluid-rock reaction and temperature affect the mobility of REE in hydrothermal ore-forming systems.

58 GEOSCIENCES