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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 379 records · Page 21
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Engineering Crassulacean Acid Metabolism in C 3 and C 4 Plants

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is a major greenhouse gas contributing to changing climatic conditions, which is a grand challenge affecting the security of food, energy, and environment. Photosynthesis plays the central role in plant-based CO 2 reduction. Additionally, plants performing CAM (crassulacean acid metabolism) photosynthesis have a much higher water use efficiency than those performing C 3 or C 4 photosynthesis. Therefore, there is a great potential for engineering CAM in C 3 or C 4 crops to enhance food/biomass production and carbon sequestration on arid, semiarid, abandoned, or marginal lands. Recent progresses in CAM plant genomics and evolution research, along with new advances in plant biotechnology, have provided a solid foundation for bioengineering to convert C 3 /C 4 plants into CAM plants. Here, we first discuss the potential strategies for CAM engineering based on our current understanding of CAM evolution. Then we describe the technical approaches for engineering CAM in C 3 and C 4 plants, with a focus on an iterative four-step pipeline: (1) designing gene modules, (2) building the gene modules and transforming them into target plants, (3) testing the engineered plants through an integration of molecular biology, biochemistry, metabolism, and physiological approaches, and (4) learning to inform the next round of CAM engineering. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future opportunities for fully realizing the potential of CAM engineering.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Exploring the impact of vibrational cavity coupling strength on ultrafast CN + c -C 6 H 12 reaction dynamics

Abstract Molecular polaritons, hybrid light-matter states resulting from strong cavity coupling of optical transitions, may provide a new route to guide chemical reactions. However, demonstrations of cavity-modified reactivity in clean benchmark systems are still needed to clarify the mechanisms and scope of polariton chemistry. Here, we use transient absorption to observe the ultrafast dynamics of CN radicals interacting with a cyclohexane ( c -C 6 H 12 ) and chloroform (CHCl 3 ) solvent mixture under vibrational strong coupling of a C–H stretching mode of c- C 6 H 12 . By modulating the c -C 6 H 12 :CHCl 3 ratio, we explore how solvent complexation and hydrogen (H)-abstraction processes proceed under collective cavity coupling strengths ranging from 55 to 85 cm −1 . Reaction rates remain unchanged for all extracavity, on-resonance, and off-resonance cavity coupling conditions, regardless of coupling strength. These results suggest that insufficient vibrational cavity coupling strength may not be the determining factor for the negligible cavity effects observed previously in H-abstraction reactions of CN with CHCl 3 .

Chen, Liying↗
DOE OSTI2015

Organocatalytic Upgrading of Furfural and 5-Hydroxymethyl Furfural to C 10 and C 12 Furoins with Quantitative Yield and Atom-Efficiency

There is increasing interest in the upgrading of C 5 furfural (FF) and C 6 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) into C 10 and C 12 furoins as higher energy-density intermediates for renewable chemicals, materials, and biofuels. This work utilizes the organocatalytic approach, using the in situ generated N,S-heterocyclic carbene catalyst derived from thiazolium ionic liquids (ILs), to achieve highly efficient self-coupling reactions of FF and HMF. Specifically, variations of the thiazolium IL structure have led to the most active and efficient catalyst system of the current series, which is derived from a new thiazolium IL carrying the electron-donating acetate group at the 5-ring position. For FF coupling by this IL (0.1 mol %, 60 °C, 1 h), when combined with Et 3 N, furoin was obtained in >99% yield. A 97% yield of the C 12 furoin was also achieved from the HMF coupling by this catalyst system (10 mol % loading, 120 °C, 3 h). On the other hand, the thiazolium IL bearing the electron-withdrawing group at the 5-ring position is the least active and efficient catalyst. The mechanistic aspects of the coupling reaction by the thiazolium catalyst system have also been examined and a mechanism has been proposed.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Rare Earth Carbide (Nd-C and Ce-C) Synthesis and Characterization to Inform Phase Equilibrium in Advanced Nuclear Fuels

As advances are being made regarding the performance of nuclear fuels, uranium carbides, and composites, such as (U,Zr)C and UO2 + UCx, have recently gained significant interest for deployment in nuclear space propulsion and high temperature gas-cooled reactors, respectively. However, the phase equilibria of several fission products in carbide systems remain unknown and may impact the overall fuel performance, specifically for particle nuclear fuels that are designed for commercial nuclear energy. Furthermore, comprehensive thermodynamic data on Rare Earth (RE) carbides, such as the Nd-C and Ce-C binary systems, remain limited. Presented in this study are the synthesis methods and characterizations of several Nd-C and Ce-C compositions. The findings from this research provide insights on the stability of RE-C binaries that form in irradiated nuclear fuels and address a critical knowledge gap in the current state of thermodynamics for two key RE-C systems.

Cavazos, Steven J. (ORCID:0009000130329363)↗
DOE OSTI2017

Characterizing the Transition from Diffuse Atomic to Dense Molecular Clouds in the Magellanic Clouds with [C ii], [C i], and CO

We present and analyze deep Herschel/HIFI observations of the [C ii] 158 μm, [C i] 609 μm, and [C i] 370 μm lines toward 54 lines of sight in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). These observations are used to determine the physical conditions of the line-emitting gas, which we use to study the transition from atomic to molecular gas and from C{sup +} to C{sup 0} to CO in their low-metallicity environments. We trace gas with molecular fractions in the range 0.1 0.45 in both the LMC and the SMC. Ionized carbon is the dominant gas-phase form of this element that is associated with molecular gas, with C{sup 0} and CO representing a small fraction, implying that most (89% in the LMC and 77% in the SMC) of the molecular gas in our sample is CO-dark H{sub 2}. The mean X{sub CO} conversion factors in our LMC and SMC sample are larger than the value typically found in the Milky Way. When applying a correction based on the filling factor of the CO emission, we find that the values of X{sub CO} in the LMC and SMC are closer to that in the Milky Way. The observed [C ii] intensity in our sample represents about 1% of the total far-infrared intensity from the lines of sight observed in both Magellanic clouds.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1973

Boundary lubrication of formulated C-ethers in air to 300 C. 2: Organic acid additives

Friction and wear measurements were made on CVM M-50 steel lubricated with three C-ether (modified polyphenyl ether) formulations in dry and moist air. Results were compared to those obtained with a formulated Type 2 ester and the C-ether base fluid. A ball-on-disk sliding friction apparatus was used. Experimental conditions were a 1-kilogram load, a 17-meter/minute surface speed, and a 25 to 300 C (77 to 572 F) disk temperature range. The three C-ether formulations yielded better boundary lubricating characteristics than the Type 2 ester under most test conditions. All C-ether formulations exhibited higher friction coefficients than the ester from 150 to 300 C (302 to 572 F) and similar or lower values from 25 to 150 C (77 to 302 F).

Jones, W. R., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Steady-state boundary lubrication with formulated C-ethers to 260 C

Steady state wear and friction studies were made at boundary lubrication conditions in a pin on disk (pure iron on rotating CVM M 50 steel) sliding friction apparatus with five C ether formulated fluids (modified polyphenyl ether containing phosphrous ester, organic acid, and other additives). Conditions included 20, 150, and 260 C disk temperatures, dry air test atmosphere, 1 kilogram load, 50 rpm disk speed, and test times to 130 minutes. Results were compared with those obtained with a formulated MIL L 27502 candidate ester and the C ether base fluid. Three of the C ether formulations gave better lubrication than both reference fluids under most conditions. The other two C ether formulations yielded higher wear rates and friction coefficients than the C ether base fluid for most of the temperature range. Only one C ether formulation showed consistently higher steady state wear rates than the ester.

Loomis, W. R.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Characterization of Brazed Joints of C-C Composite to Cu-clad-Molybdenum

Carbon-carbon composites with either pitch+CVI matrix or resin-derived matrix were joined to copper-clad molybdenum using two active braze alloys, Cusil-ABA (1.75% Ti) and Ticusil (4.5% Ti). The brazed joints revealed good interfacial bonding, preferential precipitation of Ti at the composite/braze interface, and a tendency toward de-lamination in resin-derived C-C composite due to its low inter-laminar shear strength. Extensive braze penetration of the inter-fiber channels in the pitch+CVI C-C composites was observed. The relatively low brazing temperatures (<950 C) precluded melting of the clad layer and restricted the redistribution of alloying elements but led to metallurgically sound composite joints. The Knoop microhardness (HK) distribution across the joint interfaces revealed sharp gradients at the Cu-clad-Mo/braze interface and higher hardness in Ticusil (approx.85-250 HK) than in Cusil-ABA (approx.50-150 HK). These C-C/Cu-clad-Mo joints with relatively low thermal resistance may be promising for thermal management applications.

Singh, M.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Single Crystal Rhombohedral Epitaxy of Sige on Sapphire at 450.Degree. C.-500.Degree. C. Substrate Temperatures

Various embodiments may provide a low temperature (i.e., less than 850° C.) method of Silicon-Germanium (SiGe) on sapphire (Al2O3) (SiGe/sapphire) growth that may produce a single crystal film with less thermal loading effort to the substrate than conventional high temperature (i.e., temperatures above 850° C.) methods. The various embodiments may alleviate the thermal loading requirement of the substrate, which in conventional high temperature (i.e., temperatures above 850° C.) methods had surface temperatures within the range of 850° C.-900° C. The various embodiments may provide a new thermal loading requirement of the sapphire substrate for growing single crystal SiGe on the sapphire substrate in the range of about 450° C. to about 500° C.

Choi, Sang Hyouk↗
DOE OSTI2019

Autoclave Corrosion Experiment of Zircaloy-4 at Temperatures Between 180 deg. C and 270 deg. C - 19167

Corrosion of zirconium alloys is a key issue for the overall nuclear industry that has been studied under various temperatures for plant operation, severe accidents, storage, and final disposal of spent cladding. The present work aims to investigate the corrosion kinetics of zirconium alloys at intermediate temperature regions between the operation and storage/disposal conditions, to examine if the extrapolation of high temperature data to lower temperatures is valid. To achieve this, an autoclave experiment, which is a common way to study corrosion behavior, was applied for up to 485 days at 4 different temperatures: 180 deg. C, 210 deg. C, 240 deg. C and 270 deg. C. The weight gain changes due to the oxide growth of the PWR cladding tube (Zircaloy-4) showed that the corrosion kinetics in temperatures above 210 deg. C follow the cubic rate law. The activation energy evaluated by the Arrhenius relationship of the cubic rate constants was determined and found to be 132.8 ± 0.6 kJ/mol, which corresponds to that generally reported under the operation temperatures. However, the kinetics at 180 deg. C was found to be close to the parabolic rate law, which suggests the kinetics changes from cubic to parabolic around 200 deg. C. Thus, it is unlikely to predict accurately long-term corrosion behavior under storage and disposal conditions by simply extrapolating the high temperature corrosion data. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2025

MgO Nanostructures on Au(111) as Catalysts for Low-Temperature Methane Activation and C-C Coupling

The selective conversion of methane (CH4) under mild conditions remains challenging due to strong C-H bonds and catalyst coking. We systematically investigated sub-monolayer MgO nanostructures on Au(111), where two-dimensional (2D) MgO islands with stable Mg-O-Au interfaces catalyze low-temperature CH4 activation and C-C coupling. Upon CH4 exposure at 300 K, surface-bound CHx and C2Hx intermediates formed and persisted post-evacuation, indicating robust CHx-O-Mg linkages. Temperature-programmed studies revealed that C-H activation and C-C coupling intensify with heat: the CHx signal grew continuously while the C2Hx signal reached a plateau at 400-500 K. O 1s and Mg 2p attenuation confirmed adsorption of the hydrocarbons on MgO. Catalytic tests at 500 K yielded C2H6 (70%) and C2H4 (30%) without coking, underscoring MgO's role as an active catalyst. These results offer new design principles for developing coke-resistant and low-temperature methane upgrading catalysts.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Millimeter-wave optical double resonance schemes for rapid assignment of perturbed spectra, with applications to the C{sup ~} {sup 1}B{sub 2} state of SO{sub 2}

Millimeter-wave detected, millimeter-wave optical double resonance (mmODR) spectroscopy is a powerful tool for the analysis of dense, complicated regions in the optical spectra of small molecules. The availability of cavity-free microwave and millimeter wave spectrometers with frequency-agile generation and detection of radiation (required for chirped-pulse Fourier-transform spectroscopy) opens up new schemes for double resonance experiments. We demonstrate a multiplexed population labeling scheme for rapid acquisition of double resonance spectra, probing multiple rotational transitions simultaneously. We also demonstrate a millimeter-wave implementation of the coherence-converted population transfer scheme for background-free mmODR, which provides a ∼10-fold sensitivity improvement over the population labeling scheme. We analyze perturbations in the C{sup ~} state of SO{sub 2}, and we rotationally assign a b{sub 2} vibrational level at 45 328 cm{sup −1} that borrows intensity via a c-axis Coriolis interaction. We also demonstrate the effectiveness of our multiplexed mmODR scheme for rapid acquisition and assignment of three predissociated vibrational levels of the C{sup ~} state of SO{sub 2} between 46 800 and 47 650 cm{sup −1}.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2023

Evidence for the singly Cabibbo-suppressed decay Ω 0 c → Ξ¯π + and search for Ω 0 c → Ξ¯ K + and Ω¯K + decays at Belle

Using a data sample of 980 fb -1 collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e + e - collider, we study for the first time the singly Cabibbo-suppressed decays Ω 0 c → Ξ¯π + and Ω¯K + and the doubly Cabibbo-suppressed decay Ω 0 c → Ξ¯ K + . Evidence for an Ω 0 c signal in the Ω 0 c → Ξ¯π + mode is reported with a significance of 4.5σ including systematic uncertainties.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Alcator C-Mod: research in support of ITER and steps beyond

This paper presents an overview of recent highlights from research on Alcator C-Mod. Significant progress has been made across all research areas over the last two years, with particular emphasis on divertor physics and power handling, plasma–material interaction studies, edge localized mode-suppressed pedestal dynamics, core transport and turbulence, and RF heating and current drive utilizing ion cyclotron and lower hybrid tools. Specific results of particular relevance to ITER include: inner wall SOL transport studies that have led, together with results from other experiments, to the change of the detailed shape of the inner wall in ITER; runaway electron studies showing that the critical electric field required for runaway generation is much higher than predicted from collisional theory; core tungsten impurity transport studies reveal that tungsten accumulation is naturally avoided in typical C-Mod conditions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Measurement of the branching fraction and C P asymmetry in B 0 → π 0 π 0 decays, and an improved constraint on φ 2

Here, we measure the branching fraction and C P violation asymmetry in the decay B 0 → π 0 π 0 , using a data sample of 752 × 10 6 B B ¯ pairs collected at the Υ ( 4 S ) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e + e - collider. The obtained branching fraction and direct C P asymmetry are B ( B → π 0 π 0 ) = [ 1.31 ± 0.19 ( stat ) ± 0.19 ( syst ) ] × 10 - 6 and A C P = + 0.14 ± 0.36 ( stat ) ± 0.10 ( syst ) , respectively. The signal significance, including the systematic uncertainty, is 6.4 standard deviations. Furthemore, we combine these results with Belle’s earlier measurements of B 0 → π + π - and B ± → π ± π 0 to exclude the C P -violating parameter φ 2 from the range 15.5 ° < φ 2 < 75.0 ° at 95% confidence level.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Dark Matter Search Results from the PICO - 60 C 3 F 8 Bubble Chamber

New results are reported from the operation of the PICO-60 dark matter detector, a bubble chamber filled with 52 kg of C 3 F 8 located in the SNOLAB underground laboratory. As in previous PICO bubble chambers, PICO-60 C 3 F 8 exhibits excellent electron recoil and alpha decay rejection, and the observed multiple-scattering neutron rate indicates a single-scatter neutron background of less than one event per month. A blind analysis of an efficiency-corrected 1167-kg day exposure at a 3.3-keV thermodynamic threshold reveals no single-scattering nuclear recoil candidates, consistent with the predicted background. In conclusion, these results set the most stringent direct-detection constraint to date on the weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP)-proton spin-dependent cross section at 3.4×10 -41 cm 2 for a 30-GeV c -2 WIMP, more than 1 order of magnitude improvement from previous PICO results.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2019

Synthesis and Reactivity of Paramagnetic Nickel Polypyridyl Complexes Relevant to C(sp 2 )–C(sp 3 )Coupling Reactions

Abstract A number of new transition metal catalyzed methods for the formation of C(sp 2 )–C(sp 3 ) bonds have recently been described. These reactions often utilize bidentate polypyridyl‐ligated Ni catalysts, and paramagnetic Ni I halide or aryl species are proposed in the catalytic cycles. However, there is little knowledge about complexes of this type. Here, we report the synthesis of paramagnetic bidentate polypyridyl‐ligated Ni halide and aryl complexes through elementary reactions proposed in catalytic cycles for C(sp 2 )–C(sp 3 ) bond formation. We investigate the ability of these complexes to undergo organometallic reactions that are relevant to C(sp 2 )–C(sp 3 ) coupling through stoichiometric studies and also explore their catalytic activity.

Mohadjer Beromi, Megan↗
DOE OSTI2019

Synthesis and Reactivity of Paramagnetic Nickel Polypyridyl Complexes Relevant to C(sp 2 )–C(sp 3 )Coupling Reactions

A number of new transition metal catalyzed methods for the formation of C(sp 2 )–C(sp 3 ) bonds have recently been described. These reactions often utilize bidentate polypyridyl-ligated Ni catalysts, and paramagnetic NiI halide or aryl species are proposed in the catalytic cycles. However, there is little knowledge about complexes of this type. Here, we report the synthesis of paramagnetic bidentate polypyridyl-ligated Ni halide and aryl complexes through elementary reactions proposed in catalytic cycles for C(sp 2 )–C(sp 3 ) bond formation. We investigate the ability of these complexes to undergo organometallic reactions that are relevant to C(sp 2 )–C(sp 3 ) coupling through stoichiometric studies and also explore their catalytic activity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗