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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 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Polarization Type Potential Induced Degradation under Positive Bias in a Commercial PERC Module: Preprint

Potential induced degradation of the polarization type (PID-p) can reduce module performance in a relatively short period of time. PID-p can occur at both voltage polarities, but most studies are focused on degradation under a negative bias. This paper uses commercial bifacial passivated emitter and rear contact (PERC) cells within a monofacial glass-backsheet module construction to evaluate the impact of PID-p under a positive bias on the front side. Using the aluminum-foil (Al-foil) method, the module was stressed for PID in an environmental chamber. After the stress, the maximum power (Pmax) showed a decline of 3.1% at 1000 W/m2 and 6.2% at 200 W/m2. Recovery under light was also investigated. Complete recovery was observed at high irradiance, while a partial recovery was seen at lower irradiance. The outcomes of this study can help in understanding PID-p degradation under a positive bias and its recovery under the light.

PERC↗
DOE OSTI2023

Novel Module Architecture for Lower CapEx and Improved Recyclability for c-Si PV Modules

Photovoltaic (PV) energy production is currently increasing at a rate at which recycling is becoming necessary. A novel module architecture has been demonstrated that has potential for high value recycling for c-Si PV. This architecture eliminates the vacuum lamination process and cross-linked en capsulants. Functioning prototypes of c-Si have been fabricated for stress testing in collaboration with NREL. These modules are being tested against traditionally manufactured modules. Based on preliminary results, this module architecture is a potentially viable solution for improving the manufacturing cost and recyclability of PV modules while retaining module performance.

computer architecture↗
DOE OSTI2026

Leafweb: Leaf Gas Exchange and Pulse-Amplitude Modulated Fluorometry for C4 Species, June 2026 Release

This dataset contains leaf gas exchange and Pulse-Amplitude Modulated (PAM) fluorometry for 98 C4 species. The C4 photosynthetic pathway employs specialized CO2 concentration mechanisms and Kranz anatomy to enrich CO2 concentration around Rubisco, the enzyme that catalyzes carbon fixation in the Calvin-Benson cycle to suppress photorespiration and increase the use efficiencies of light, nitrogen, and water as compared to the C3 photosynthetic pathways. Large-scale C4 photosynthetic datasets are relatively scarce, which has affected C4 photosynthesis research. To improve C4 photosynthetic data availability, Leafweb organized an effort to systematically collect, compile, standardize, and organize measurements of leaf gas exchange and/or Pulse-Amplitude Modulated (PAM) fluorometry of C4 species. This derived a C4 photosynthetic dataset containing measurements made by independent researchers in multiple countries in various environments (field, garden, or greenhouse). It covers three biochemical subtypes – the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-malic enzyme (NADP-ME), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-malic enzyme (NAD-ME), and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEP-CK) subtypes. This dataset is useful for using Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning and mechanistic models to study C4 photosynthesis and compare across different biochemical subtypes. This dataset contains 3 compressed (*.zip) folders containing 1,892 data files in comma-separate values (*.csv) format. Additional metadata are provided: one data dictionary and a file-level metadata file in comma-separate values (*.csv) format and a user guide in PDF (*.pdf) format.

Zhou, Haoran [Tianjin University, China]↗
DOE OSTI2022

Spectral control of nonclassical light pulses using an integrated thin-film lithium niobate modulator

Abstract Manipulating the frequency and bandwidth of nonclassical light is essential for implementing frequency-encoded/multiplexed quantum computation, communication, and networking protocols, and for bridging spectral mismatch among various quantum systems. However, quantum spectral control requires a strong nonlinearity mediated by light, microwave, or acoustics, which is challenging to realize with high efficiency, low noise, and on an integrated chip. Here, we demonstrate both frequency shifting and bandwidth compression of heralded single-photon pulses using an integrated thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) phase modulator. We achieve record-high electro-optic frequency shearing of telecom single photons over terahertz range (±641 GHz or ±5.2 nm), enabling high visibility quantum interference between frequency-nondegenerate photon pairs. We further operate the modulator as a time lens and demonstrate over eighteen-fold (6.55 nm to 0.35 nm) bandwidth compression of single photons. Our results showcase the viability and promise of on-chip quantum spectral control for scalable photonic quantum information processing.

Optics↗
DOE OSTI2022

Efficient monolithic all-perovskite tandem solar modules with small cell-to-module derate

All-perovskite tandem solar modules are promising to reduce the cost of photovoltaic systems with their high efficiency and solution fabrication, but their sensitivity to air still imposes a great challenge. Here a hot gas-assisted blading method is developed to accelerate the perovskite solidification, forming compact and thick narrow bandgap (NBG) perovskite films. Adding a reduction agent into NBG films followed by a short period of air exposure and a post-fabrication storage surprisingly increases carrier recombination lifetime and enables laser scribing in ambient conditions without obvious loss of device performance. This combination suppresses tin and iodide oxidation and forms a thin SnO 2 layer on the NBG film surface. Monolithic all-perovskite tandem solar modules showed a champion efficiency of 21.6% with a 14.3 cm 2 aperture area, corresponding to an active area efficiency of 23.0%. Lastly, the very small cell-to-module derate of 6.5% demonstrates the advantage of a tandem monolithic structure for solar modules.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

The LED calibration systems for the mDOM and D-Egg sensor modules of the IceCube Upgrade: Design, production, testing and use in module calibration

The IceCube Neutrino Observatory, instrumenting about 1 km 3 of deep, glacial ice at the geographic South Pole, is due to be enhanced with the IceCube Upgrade. The IceCube Upgrade, to be deployed during the 2025/26 Antarctic summer season, will consist of seven new strings of photosensors, densely embedded near the bottom center of the existing array. Aside from a world-leading sensitivity to neutrino oscillations, a primary goal is the improvement of the calibration of the optical properties of the instrumented ice. This calibration will be applied to the entire archive of IceCube data, improving the angular and energy resolution of the detected neutrino events. For this purpose, the Upgrade strings include a host of new calibration devices. Aside from dedicated calibration modules, several thousand LED flashers have been incorporated into the photosensor modules. We describe the design, production, and testing of these LED flashers before their integration into the sensor modules as well as the use of the LED flashers during lab testing of assembled sensor modules.

Analogue electronic circuits↗
DOE OSTI2023

Visible-telecom tunable dual-band optical isolator based on dynamic modulation in thin-film lithium niobate

Optical isolators are an essential component of photonic systems. Current integrated optical isolators have limited bandwidths due to stringent phase-matching conditions, resonant structures, or material absorption. Here, we demonstrate a wideband integrated optical isolator in thin-film lithium niobate photonics. We use dynamic standing-wave modulation in a tandem configuration to break Lorentz reciprocity and achieve isolation. We measure an isolation ratio of 15 dB and insertion loss below 0.5 dB for a continuous wave laser input at 1550 nm. In addition, we experimentally show that this isolator can simultaneously operate at visible and telecom wavelengths with comparable performance. Isolation bandwidths up to ∼100 nm can be achieved simultaneously at both visible and telecom wavelengths, limited only by the modulation bandwidth. Our device’s dual-band isolation, high flexibility, and real-time tunability can enable novel non-reciprocal functionality on integrated photonic platforms.

Shah, Manav↗
DOE OSTI2022

K-Modules: Capacitive Energy Modules for Pulsed Power Applications [Slides]

K-Modules are modules containing an assembly of capacitors. The modules are meant to be daisy-chained to form a Marx bank (bank of capacitors). Discharging the bank produces a high voltage, high current pulse, that when coupled to an X-ray or electron beam tube, generates X-rays or an intense electron beam. Number of modules in the stack can be varied to meet different pulsed power applications. The technology addresses the need for an alternate provider with a new, robust design. The technology has the potential to extend the life of the X-ray radiography program in the country.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Field Aging of Photovoltaic Module Packaging Materials: DuraMAT Field Module Library

To understand and develop models for silicon photovoltaic module degradation, accelerated testing is often used, however, outdoor field testing is necessary for validation. Outdoor field testing publications are often limited by the lack of a pristine, control module to compare the fielded module to. In this work, commercially available modules were purchased from seven different manufacturers for outdoor fielding then destructive characterization to investigate packaging material degradation on

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Ultraviolet Fluorescence Imaging for Photovoltaic Module Metrology: Best Practices and Survey of Features Observed in Fielded Modules

As the photovoltaics (PV) industry grows in sophistication, so must the extent to which systems are characterized. UV Fluorescence (UVF) imaging is a valuable, easy-to-perform, high-throughput, nonintrusive technique for characterizing modules in the field and in the lab. However, UVF is still a relatively new technique, and many in the PV industry are still unaware of its potential. We provide a guideline for obtaining, processing, and interpreting UVF images. We have provided a list of considerations for imaging hardware and settings, a suggested pipeline for image processing, and details on a survey of features shown in UVF images. As a result, a new database with UVF images of 7190 modules and another database curated by BrightSpot Automation are publicly available.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Tonoplast Sucrose Transporter SUT4-Dependent Sugar Partitioning Modulates Phenological Transitions and Reproductive Success in Poplar

Climate uncertainty is intensifying the need for greater plasticity in carbohydrate reserve utilization to support winter survival and spring growth in woody perennials. In poplar, the single-copy SUT4, which encodes a tonoplast-localized sucrose transporter, and the SUT5/SUT6 genome duplicates, which encode plasma membrane-localized transporters, are expressed year-round, with SUT4 showing the highest expression during cool seasons. Given its role in vacuolar sucrose efflux and winter-predominant expression, SUT4 may play a key role in modulating seasonal carbohydrate dynamics. While SUT4-knockdown and knockout effects have been studied under greenhouse conditions, their impact under field conditions remains unexplored. Here, we report a field-based study comparing CRISPR knockout mutants of winter-expressed SUT4 and SUT5/SUT6 in Populus tremula x alba. We show that sut4, but not sut5/6, mutants exhibited earlier autumn leaf senescence, delayed spring bud flush, reduced stem growth, and altered sugar partitioning in winter xylem and bark relative to controls. After 2 years in the field, all genotypes flowered before leaf flush in early spring; however, sut4 mutants produced sterile ovules despite developing normal-looking catkins. Metabolic profiling revealed disrupted sucrose and raffinose dynamics in elongating sut4 catkins. This was accompanied by transcriptomic signatures of elevated stress and downregulation of proanthocyanidin biosynthesis and circadian clock genes. These findings highlight the critical role of SUT4 in coordinating sugar allocation, stress responses, and seasonal development in poplar.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Electric and Hydraulic Propel Torque Modulation for a Compact Track Loader With the Hybrid Hydraulic Electric Architecture (HHEA)

Abstract The Hybrid Hydraulic Electric Architecture (HHEA) has previously been proposed for off-highway vehicles to reap the efficiency and controllability benefits of electrification without needing very large electric motors. This is achieved with the use of a set of selectable common pressure rails to transmit the majority of power and small electric motors to modulate that power. Previous work has shown significant energy savings for the work circuits of a variety of machines. In this paper, the energy saving potential of HHEA for the propel circuit of a compact track loader is studied. The ports of the track hydraulic motors are selectably connected to the common pressure rails, and instead of using the electric assist motors to buck/boost pressure, as in HHEA for linear actuators, small electric assist motors are used to add/subtract torque directly. The interplay between the torque limits of the electric motors and the ability of the hydraulic motor to vary displacements is studied, along with the effect these factors have on energy saving potential. It is found that the ability to vary the displacement of the hydraulic motor allows for: more efficient electric motor operating conditions, reduced electric torque requirement, and reduced pressure rail switching events. All three of these advantages can be achieved at once using variable displacements; but trade-offs exist between these advantages (i.e. improved efficiency can be achieved at the expense of a larger electric torque requirement). Overall, the HHEA can reduce energy consumption by ∼ 36% compared to the stock machine, depending on the hydraulic motor’s ability to vary displacements, and assuming the electric motor torque is limited to 20% of that required in a direct electrification scheme.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2023

Electrochemistry at Back-Gated, Ultrathin ZnO Electrodes: Field-Effect Modulation of Heterogeneous Electron Transfer Rate Constants by 30× with Enhanced Gate Capacitance

We report steady-state voltammetry of outer-sphere redox species at back-gated ultrathin ZnO working electrodes in order to determine electron transfer rate constants k ET as a function of independently-controlled gate bias, V G . We demonstrate that k ET can be modulated as much as 30-fold by application of V G ≤ 8 V. Key to this demonstration was integrating the ultrathin (5 nm) ZnO on a high dielectric constant (k) insulator, HfO 2 (30 nm), which was grown on a Pd metal gate. The high-k HfO 2 dramatically decreased the required V G values and increased the gate-induced charge in ZnO compared to previous studies. Importantly, the enhanced gating power of the Pd/HfO 2 /ZnO stack meant it was possible to observe a non-monotonic dependence of k ET on V G , which reflects the inherent density of redox acceptor states in solution. Furthermore, this work adds to the growing body of literature demonstrating that electrochemical kinetics (i.e., rate constants and overpotentials) at ultrathin working electrodes can be tuned by V G , independent of the conventional electrochemical working electrode potential.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Systems and methods for monitoring a power-generation module assembly after a power-generation module shutdown event

Embodiments are directed to providing a user interface (UI) that streamlines and simplifies the process of monitoring critical power-generation module (PGM) parameters after a PGM assembly is shutdown. The UI displays, in real-time, indicators corresponding to one or more post-shutdown PGM parameters. The UI provides indications of whether the post-shutdown PGM parameters meet post-shutdown criteria of the PGM assembly. When a post-shutdown PGM parameter does not meet the post-shutdown criteria, a user alert is provided to the user. A protocol may additionally be provided to the user. In some embodiments, the protocol may enable the user to return the PGM assembly to a condition that satisfies the post-shutdown criteria. The protocol may be a safety protocol and/or an asset protection protocol.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

Particle transport-driven flow dynamics and heat transfer modulation in solar photovoltaic modules: Implications on soiling

Wind-swept debris and excessive heating reduce solar photovoltaic efficiency and accelerate panel degradation. For many solar plants in open environments, particle deposition is well-understood to exacerbate efficiency losses by blocking useable light and insulating panel surfaces. However, little is known about particle behavior in multi-panel systems, where complex wakes dominate and alter trajectories. This study examines debris-laden flow within a scaled array of two model solar panels, observing convective cooling and focusing on turbulent inter-panel flow dynamics. Convection is compared between the first and second panels (P 1 and P 2 ) and for a single inflow velocity at four particle concentrations (Φ v ), including a neutrally buoyant particle (i.e. tracer) case and three water droplet cases. Tracers and Φ v > 0 concentrations show increased convective heat transfer for P 2 compared to P 1 , while inertial particle presence and increased concentration reduces this improvement from +170% to +90%. Particle image velocimetry surrounding P 2 reveals dampened inter-panel wake features for particle-laden flow compared to the tracer case, where diminished mean flow and mean kinetic energy breakdown are observed for the particles due to their inertia. Together, the reduction in comparative convection and dampened wake effects accompanying inertial particle concentration motivates further studies on coupled array physics in debris-filled flow.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗