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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 361 records · Page 20
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Quantitative Microstructural Characterization of Plutonium Oxalate Auto-Degradation and Evidence for PuO2 Nanocrystal Formation

It has been known since the 1950s that plutonium oxalate powders change color and lose mass over time when stored at room temperature in air. Despite several studies monitoring these changes, there are still discrepancies in the literature regarding the speciation of intermediate and final products that result from this decomposition. Presented here for the first time is a comprehensive series of time-resolved powder X-ray diffraction experiments coupled with solid-state optical spectroscopy and electron microscopy of aged plutonium (III) and (IV) oxalate powders. These data provide fresh insight into the chemical and structural changes that occur in these solids over time at room temperature and represent new evidence suggesting both plutonium (III) and plutonium (IV) oxalates decompose to form nanocrystalline plutonium oxide in the solid state.

Corbey, Jordan F.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Synthesis, characterization, and photovoltaic properties of dithienylbenzobisazole‐dithienylsilole copolymers

ABSTRACT Three conjugated polymers comprised of dioctyl‐dithieno‐[2,3‐ b :2',3'‐ d ]silole and a donor‐acceptor‐donor triad of either cis‐ benzbisoxazole, trans ‐benzobisoxazole or trans ‐benzobisthiazole were synthesized via the Stille cross‐coupling reaction. The impact of varying the heteroatoms and/or the location within the benzobisazole moiety on the optical and electronic properties of the resulting polymers was evaluated via cyclic voltammetry and UV‐Visible spectroscopy. All of the polymers have similar optical band‐gaps of ∼1.9 eV and highest occupied molecular orbital levels of − 5.2 eV. However, the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMO) ranged from − 3.0 to − 3.2 eV. Interestingly, when the polymers were used as donor materials in bulk‐heterojunction photovoltaic cells with PC 71 BM as the electron‐acceptor, the benzobisoxazole‐based polymers gave slightly better results than the benzobisthiazole‐containing polymers with power conversion efficiencies up to 3.5%. These results indicate that benzobisoxazoles are promising materials for use in OPVs. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53 , 1533–1540

Bhuwalka, Achala↗
DOE OSTI2017

Insights into PG-binding, conformational change, and dimerization of the OmpA C-terminal domains from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Borrelia burgdorferi : Characterization of OmpA C-Terminal Domain

S. Typhimurium can induce both humoral and cell-mediated responses when establishing itself in the host. These responses are primarily stimulated against the lipopolysaccharide and major outer membrane (OM) proteins of the bacterium. OmpA is one of these major OM proteins. It comprises a N-terminal eight-stranded -barrel membrane domain and a C-terminal so-called OmpA C-terminal domain (OmpACTD). The OmpACTD and its homologs are believed to bind to peptidoglycan (PG) within the periplasm, maintaining bacterial osmotic homeostasis and modulating the permeability and integrity of the outer membrane. Here we present the structures of two forms of the OmpACTD of S. Typhimurium (STOmpACTD) and one structure of the less-studied OmpACTD of Borrelia burgdorferi (BbOmpACTD). In the open form of STOmpACTD, an aspartic acid residue from a long 2-3 loop points into the binding pocket, suggesting that an anion group such as a carboxylate group from PG is favored at the binding site. In the closed form of STOmpACTD and in the structure of BbOmpACTD, a sulfate group from the crystallization buffer is tightly bound at the equivalent site. The differences between the closed and open forms of STOmpACTD, suggest a large conformational change that includes an extension of 3 helix by ordering a part of 2-3 loop. We suggest that the sulfate anion observed in these structures mimics the carboxylate group of PG when bound to STOmpACTD. In addition, the binding of PG or a ligand mimic may enhance dimerization of STOmpACTD, or possibly that of full length STOmpA.

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory↗
DOE OSTI2013

Exploratory characterization of a perfluoropolyether oil as a possible viscosity standard at deepwater production conditions of 533 K and 241 MPa

DuPont’s perfluoropolyether oil Krytox ® GPL 102 is a promising candidate for the high-temperature, high-pressure Deepwater viscosity standard (DVS). The preferred DVS is a thermally stable liquid that exhibits a viscosity of roughly 20 mPa ∙ s at 533 K and 241 MPa; a viscosity value representative of light oils found in ultra-deep formations beneath the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Furthermore, a windowed rolling-ball viscometer designed by our team is used to determine the Krytox ® GPL 102 viscosity at pressures to 245 MPa and temperatures of 311 K, 372 K, and 533 K. At 533 K and 243 MPa, the Krytox ® GPL 102 viscosity is (27.2±1.3)mPa ∙ s. The rolling-ball viscometer viscosity results for Krytox ® GPL 102 are correlated with an empirical 10-parameter surface fitting function that yields an MAPD of 3.9 %. A Couette rheometer is also used to measure the Krytox ® GPL 102 viscosity, yielding a value of (26.2±1)mPa ∙ s at 533 K and 241 MPa. The results of our exploratory study suggest that Krytox ® GPL 102 is a promising candidate for the DVS, primarily because this fluoroether oil is thermally stable and exhibits a viscosity closer to the targeted value of 20 mPa ∙ s at 533 K and 241 MPa than any other fluid reported to date. Nonetheless, further studies must be conducted by other researcher groups using various types of viscometers and rheometers on samples of Krytox GPL ® 102 from the same lot to further establish the properties of Krytox GPL ® 102.

Couette rheometer↗