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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 OSTI2018

Photochemical Formation and Transformation of Birnessite: Effects of Cations on Micromorphology and Crystal Structure

As important components with excellent oxidation and adsorption activity in soils and sediments, manganese oxides affect the transportation and fate of nutrients and pollutants in natural environments. In this work, birnessite was formed by photocatalytic oxidation of Mn 2+ aq in the presence of nitrate under solar irradiation. The effects of concentrations and species of interlayer cations (Na + , Mg 2+ , and K + ) on birnessite crystal structure and micromorphology were investigated. The roles of adsorbed Mn 2+ and pH in the transformation of the photosynthetic birnessite were further studied. The results indicated that Mn 2+ aq was oxidized to birnessite by superoxide radicals (O 2 •– ) generated from the photolysis of NO 3 – under UV irradiation. The particle size and thickness of birnessite decreased with increasing cation concentration. The birnessite showed a plate-like morphology in the presence of K + , while exhibited a rumpled sheet-like morphology when Na + or Mg 2+ was used. The different micromorphologies of birnessites could be ascribed to the position of cations in the interlayer. The adsorbed Mn 2+ and high pH facilitated the reduction of birnessite to low-valence manganese oxides including hausmannite, feitknechtite, and manganite. Finally, this study suggests that interlayer cations and Mn 2+ play essential roles in the photochemical formation and transformation of birnessite in aqueous environments.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Effect of Background Electrolyte Composition on the Interfacial Formation of Th(IV) Nanoparticles on the Muscovite (001) Basal Plane

Understanding the impact of actinide nanoparticle (NP) formation is important to assess radionuclide mobility in the environment. We combined surface X-ray diffraction (SXRD) and in situ AFM to investigate the previously reported unusual electrolyte effects on Th uptake on mica. At low [Th] (0.1 mM), interfacial structures show a broad Th electron density (~50 Å). A linear decrease of Th uptake with decreasing hydration enthalpy of the electrolyte cation (Li+, K+, NH4+, and Cs+) indicates a competitive effect between Th and the electrolyte cation. Na+ is a clear outlier from this trend. In situ AFM imaging confirms the results. Particles show a vertical size of ~1–2 nm and larger lateral dimensions of ~10–20 nm, which is typical for particles formed at interfaces (heterogeneous nucleation). At high [Th] = 1 and 3 mM, all investigated electrolytes (ACl, A = Li+, Na+, K+) show similar Th uptake, indicating a much smaller impact of electrolyte composition. The interfacial structures are dominated by a high Th loading at a distinct distance (~6.5 Å) from the surface. Therefore, the main retention mechanism at high [Th] is suggested to be the sorption of Th NPs aggregated from Th oligomers present in solution (homogeneous nucleation).

Neumann, J↗
DOE OSTI2021

Competing Singlet Fission and Excimer Formation in Solid Fluorinated 1,3-Diphenylisobenzofurans

Singlet fission (kSF) and excimer formation (kEXC) rate constants along with other photophysical properties of thin solid layers of 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran and 11 of its fluorinated derivatives have been determined. The molecular properties of these compounds are similar, but their crystal packing varies widely. Most of them undergo singlet fission whereas excitation in others is trapped in excimers. The trend in rate constants kSF agrees qualitatively with results of calculations by a simplified version of the frontier orbital model for a molecular pair. The main shortcoming of the model is discussed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2012

Solid–Electrolyte Interphase Formation and Electrolyte Reduction at Li-Ion Battery Graphite Anodes: Insights from First-Principles Molecular Dynamics

Understanding the nature and formation of the solid–electrolyte interphase (SEI) formed in electrochemical storage devices, such as Li-ion batteries, is most important for improving functionality. Few experiments exist that adequately probe the SEI, particularly in situ. We perform predictive ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of the anode–electrolyte interface for several electrolytes and interface functionalizations. These show strongly differing effects on the reducibility of the electrolyte. Electrolyte reduction occurs rapidly, on a picosecond time scale. Orientational ordering of electrolyte near the interface precedes reduction. The reduced species depend strongly on surface functionalization and presence of LiPF6 salt. While LiPF6 salt in ethylene carbonate is more stable at a hydrogen-terminated anode, oxygen/hydroxyl termination causes spontaneous dissociation to form LiF and other fluorophosphates. LiF migrates to the interface creating chainlike structures, consistent with experimental observations of LiF agglomeration. Inorganic products such as LiF and Li2CO3 migrate closer to the anode than purely organic components, consistent with their more ionic character. Significantly, we conclude that while the electrolyte reduction occurs at the molecular level near the interface, requiring specific alignments and proximity, the reducibility is governed by the average reduction potential barrier between the electrode (anode) and the electrolyte.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Giant Cloud Condensation Nuclei Facilitate Drizzle Formation in Stratocumulus—Insights From a Combined Observation‐Modeling Framework

The mechanism for initiating drizzle drop remains a gap in the current understanding of warm rain formation. One prevalent hypothesis suggests that the presence of Giant Cloud Condensation Nuclei (GCCN) generates drizzle‐sized drops necessary to trigger the Collision‐Coalescence (C‐C) process. Here, in this study, this hypothesis is investigated using a novel framework that integrates in situ observations, remote sensing measurements, and idealized models. Results show that GCCN can efficiently generate drizzle drops through condensation, producing a broad Droplet Size Distribution (DSD) comparable to in situ observations. The large drizzle drop and broad DSD strongly facilitate C‐C, further accelerating drizzle initiation. To compare with observation, the model‐generated DSDs are used to generate radar Doppler spectra where radar reflectivity and Doppler skewness is estimated. The simulated radar quantities correspond well with radar observations, providing critical evidence for the GCCN‐induced drizzle initiation mechanism.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Monitoring solvent dynamics and ion associations in the formation of cubic octamer polyanion in tetramethylammonium silicate solutions

NMR methods were utilized to monitor the in situ structural and dynamic changes of various species in highly alkaline tetramethylammonium (TMA) silicate solutions. Quantitative 29Si NMR, 1H, 2H, and 17O relaxation NMR, and 1H and 29Si diffusion NMR of silicates, TMA, H2O and D2O demonstrate that the growth of the cubic octamer Q38 is accompanied by reduced water mobility and increasing TMA coordination number per Q38, which reaches an equilibrium value of 4.5 at 15 °C. Temperature-dependent measurements further reveal that the increased control over speciation by TMA at lower temperatures results from the more stable ion associations via slower solvent motions.

Chen, Ying↗
DOE OSTI2018

Exciton photoluminescence and benign defect complex formation in zinc tin nitride

Emerging photovoltaic materials need to prove their viability by demonstrating excellent electronic properties. In ternary and multinary semiconductors, disorder and off-stoichiometry often cause defects that limit the potential for high-efficiency solar cells. We report on Zn-rich ZnSnN 2 (Zn/(Zn + Sn) = 0.67) photoluminescence, high-resolution X-ray diffraction, and electronic structure calculations based on Monte-Carlo structural models. The mutual compensation of Zn excess and O incorporation affords a desirable reduction of the otherwise degenerate n-type doping, but also leads to a strongly off-stoichiometric and disordered atomic structure. It is therefore remarkable that we observe only near-edge photoluminescence from well-resolved excitons and shallow donors and acceptors. Based on first principles calculations, this result is explained by the mutual passivation of Zn Sn and O N defects that renders both electronically benign. The calculated bandgaps range between 1.4 and 1.8 eV, depending on the degree of non-equilibrium disorder. The experimentally determined value of 1.5 eV in post-deposition annealed samples falls within this interval, indicating that further bandgap engineering by disorder control should be feasible via appropriate annealing protocols.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗