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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 397 records · Page 22
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Understanding Solvent-Induced Glass Transition in Polymer Thin Films Using Absorption–Desorption Isotherms

The fundamental thermodynamic and mechanical underpinnings of polymer thin films exposed to solvent vapor are critical for the development of advanced nanolithography and high-performance coatings. This work investigates the solvent− polymer interactions of glassy thin films by using the solvent absorption−desorption isotherms. An analogous relationship to the Flory−Fox equation was observed between solvent−induced glass transition, swelling, Flory−Huggins interaction parameter, and molecular weight. Isothermal swelling measurements revealed that the glass transition trends are more robust in the absorption curve compared to desorption, contrary to previous reports. Excess osmotic pressure analysis of the isotherm provides a measure of the degree of physical aging in thin films annealed below the glass transition. This is further validated in the ordering of block copolymer (BCP) films annealed at low solvent activity. In agreement with the thermal analysis, free-surface plasticization effects become the most prominent below 100 nm. However, solvent annealing is largely dependent on solvent mass transport, as made evident by the strong dependence on solvent viscosity. From these observations, four general types of isotherms are identified that graphically capture distinct solvent−polymer interaction regimes. More broadly, these results inform solvent vapor annealing-induced self-assembly, sequential infiltration synthesis, membrane-based separations, adsorptive processes, and swelling-based responsive materials design.

Hendeniya, Nayanathara [Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA↗
DOE OSTI2024

Influence of Water Sorption on Ionic Conductivity in Polyether Electrolytes at Low Hydration

Ion-containing polymers are subject to a wide range of hydration conditions across electrochemical and water treatment applications. Significant work on dry polymer electrolytes for batteries and highly swollen membranes for water purification has informed our understanding of ion transport under extreme conditions. However, knowledge of intermediate conditions (i.e., low hydration) is essential to emerging applications (e.g., electrolyzers, fuel cells, and lithium extraction). Ion transport under low levels of hydration is distinct from the extreme conditions typically investigated, and the relevant physics cannot be extrapolated from existing knowledge, stifling materials design. In this study, we conducted ion transport measurements in LiTFSI-doped polyethers that were systematically hydrated from dry conditions. A semiautomated apparatus that performs parallel measurements of water uptake and ionic conductivity in thin-film polymers under controlled humidity was developed. For the materials and swelling range considered in this study (i.e., <0.07 g water/g dry polymer electrolyte), ionic conductivity depends nonlinearly on water uptake, with the initial sorbed water weakly affecting conductivity. With additional increases in swelling, more significant increases in conductivity were observed. Remarkably, changes in conductivity induced by water sorption were correlated with the number of water molecules per lithium ion, with the normalized molar conductivity of different samples effectively collapsing onto one another until this unit of hydration exceeded the solvation number of lithium ions under aqueous conditions. Furthermore, these results provide important knowledge regarding the effects of trace water contamination on conductivity measurements in polymer electrolytes and demonstrate that the lithium-ion solvation number marks a key transition point regarding the influence of water on ion transport in ion-containing polymers.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Process model for multilayer slide coating of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Slide coating is a precision method suitable for depositing multiple liquid-film layers simultaneously. Originally developed in the photographic film industry, it has been deployed for manufacturing of other products that benefit from multilayer coatings. One emerging application is the manufacture of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), which are used to produce electricity through electrochemical reactions of hydrogen and oxygen gas. The membrane-electrode assembly (MEA), in which key electrochemical reactions occur, consists of three layers that are typically deposited separately in serial fashion and then laminated together to form the three-layer MEA, i.e., three sequential steps of coat and dry. Adapting the process to simultaneous, multilayer slide coating of all three layers will save equipment cost and space while minimizing possible exposure to contaminants during transition between the steps. We are developing a three-layer slide coating model to aid the manufacturing process design of PEMFC. The model accounts for rheology of each layer, which typically exhibit shear thinning behavior. Model predictions are used to investigate simultaneous coatability of catalyst inks and to determine the best layer-by-layer ink selection.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Development of Microwave Resonant Cavity Transducer Recalibration Procedures

We are investigating a microwave resonant cavity transducer for flow sensing in the vessel of a high temperature fluid advanced reactor (AR), such as a molten salt cooled reactor (MSCR) or a sodium fast reactor (SFR). This transducer is a hollow metallic cylindrical cavity, with one of the flat walls of the cylinder flexible enough to undergo microscopic deflection due to dynamic fluid pressure. Membrane deflection leads to a shift in the microwave resonant frequency, which can be detected with a spectrum analyzer. We have performed a preliminary proof-of-principle test of flow sensing in high temperature liquid sodium in environment. The liquid sodium setup consists of a cylindrical vessel with a center feed line, where a transducer inserted through the top cap of the vessel measures velocity of the impinging liquid jet. For this test, we have developed a cylindrical resonator, which was machined from stainless steel 316 and electroplated with silver on the interior surfaces. Inner diameter of the cylindrical cavity is 22.2 mm, and the thin wall is approximately 200µm thick. The cavity was excited through a WR-42 waveguide through a subwavelength hole on the side of the wall of the cylinder in the TE 011 mode with resonant frequency f ≈ 17.8GHz. Sodium flow rate sensing study was performed in a liquid sodium vessel at 340°C temperature and ambient pressure. The flow rate was changed by varying sodium pump power, and a frequency shift of several hundred KHz was observed. From the measurements, we observed significant scatter in high temperature liquid sodium at low flow velocity values. Our hypothesis is that this is caused by temperature drift in the liquid, which results in thermal expansion of the cavity and a drift in the resonator frequency. In this report, we investigate temperature dependence of the resonant frequency through development of analytic models and preliminary analysis of experimental data. In addition, we develop a procedure for compensation for temperature drift during flow sensing.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2024

In-house synthesized poly(ether ether ketone) ionenes. I. ToF-SIMS spectra in the positive ion mode

Static time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) was performed for acquiring the high-resolution surface spectra of four types of synthesized imidazolium ionene membranes. These novel membranes have aromatic ether–ketone–ether linkages inspired by poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK). The PEEK-ionenes synthesized for this study have imidazolium cations placed in the polymeric backbone with bistriflimide [Tf 2 N]- counterions. The attention given to synthetically modified PEEK derivatives, such as PEEK-ionenes, is considerable due to their ability to selectively capture CO 2 molecules and other light gases. Therefore, it is important to characterize the surface of these synthesized novel PEEK-ionenes. In this work, characteristic and unique peaks were identified in the positive spectra of each sample. The differences in mass spectra among the samples provide insights for optimizing or fine-tuning the PEEK-ionenes synthesis to achieve a high-performance CO 2 separation membrane with enhanced permeability, selectivity, and mechanical stability. The SIMS spectra and identified characteristic peaks of these synthesized ionenes will serve as a reference in the positive mode, complementing the corresponding spectra reported in the negative ion mode (Paper II).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

VitroJet: new features and case studies

Single-particle cryo-electron microscopy has become a widely adopted method in structural biology due to many recent technological advances in microscopes, detectors and image processing. Before being able to inspect a biological sample in an electron microscope, it needs to be deposited in a thin layer on a grid and rapidly frozen. The VitroJet was designed with this aim, as well as avoiding the delicate manual handling and transfer steps that occur during the conventional grid-preparation process. Since its creation, numerous technical developments have resulted in a device that is now widely utilized in multiple laboratories worldwide. It features plasma treatment, low-volume sample deposition through pin printing, optical ice-thickness measurement and cryofixation of pre-clipped Autogrids through jet vitrification. This paper presents recent technical improvements to the VitroJet and the benefits that it brings to the cryo-EM workflow. A wide variety of applications are shown: membrane proteins, nucleosomes, fatty-acid synthase, Tobacco mosaic virus, lipid nanoparticles, tick-borne encephalitis viruses and bacteriophages. These case studies illustrate the advancement of the VitroJet into an instrument that enables accurate control and reproducibility, demonstrating its suitability for time-efficient cryo-EM structure determination.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Simultaneously Blocking Chemical Crosstalk and Internal Short Circuit via Gel-Stretching Derived Nanoporous Non-Shrinkage Separator for Safe Lithium-Ion Batteries

The separator, an ionic permeable and electronic insulating membrane between cathode and anode, plays a crucial role in the electrochemical and safety performance of batteries. However, the commercial polyolefin separators not only suffer from inevitable thermal shrinkage at elevated temperature, but also fail to inhibit the hidden chemical crosstalk of reactive gases such as O 2 , leading to often reported thermal runaway (TR) and hence preventing large-scale implementation of high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries. Herein, a nanoporous non-shrinkage separator (GS-PI) was fabricated via a novel gel-stretching orientation approach to eliminate TR. In situ synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering during heating clearly showed that the as-prepared thin GS-PI separator exhibits superior mechanical tolerance at high temperature, thus effectively preventing internal short circuit. Meanwhile, the unique nanoporous structure design further blocks chemical crosstalk and the associated exothermic reactions. Accelerating Rate Calorimetry test revealed that the practical 1 Ah LiNi 0.6 Co 0.2 Mn 0.2 O 2 (NCM622)/graphite pouch cell using GS-PI nanoporous separator show a maximum temperature rise (dT/dt max ) of only 3.7 °C s -1 compared to 131.6 °C s -1 in the case of Al 2 O 3 @PE macroporous separator. Furthermore, despite the reduced pore size, the GS-PI separator demonstrates better cycling stability than conventional Al 2 O 3 @PE separator at high temperature without sacrificing specific capacity and rate capability.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Polyimide as a durable cathode for all-solid-state Li(Na)–organic batteries with boosted cell-level energy density

The integration of organic electrode materials (OEMs) with solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) is expected to build an all-solid-state battery (ASSB) with long-term sustainability, high safety, and high energy density. Despite this great promise, the cell-level energy density is still far from practically applicable, which stems from the ultrathick SSE layer and thin cathode layer used in a pellet-type ASSB design. Here, a cost-effective polyimide (PI) material was first exploited as an organic cathode for sulfide-based ASSBs. A capacity of ~190 mAh g -1 was delivered with almost no capacity decay over 300 cycles. Moreover, for the first time, a dry-film approach was introduced to manufacture a sheet-type Li–organic ASSB with an ultrathin SSE layer and a high-areal-loading PI cathode. Notably, PI is a perfect candidate for dry-film technology due to its high thermal stability and extraordinary chemical inertness toward sulfide SSEs. Remarkably, the free-standing SSE membrane was merely 46 μm thick, and an ultralow areal resistance of 3.3 Ω cm 2 was achieved, more than tenfold lower than that of reported SSE pellets. One order of magnitude boost in the cell-level energy density was achieved. This work presents a significant leap in transferring organic ASSB technology from laboratory research to factory manufacturing.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Demonstration of Microwave Cavity Transducer Performance in High Temperature Fluid Flow Sensing: Development of Microwave Cavity Flow Meter for Advanced Reactor High Temperature Fluids

We are investigating a microwave resonant cavity transducer for flow sensing in the vessel of a high temperature fluid advanced reactor (AR), such as a molten salt cooled reactor (MSCR) or a sodium fast reactor (SFR). This transducer is a hollow metallic cylindrical cavity, with one of the flat walls of the cylinder flexible enough to undergo microscopic deflection due to dynamic fluid pressure. Membrane deflection leads to a shift in the microwave resonant frequency, which can be detected with a spectrum analyzer. We have performed a preliminary proof-of-principle test of flow sensing in high temperature liquid sodium in environment, which is similar to that of an advanced reactor. The liquid sodium setup consists of a cylindrical vessel with a center feed line, where a transducer inserted through the top cap of the vessel measures velocity of the impinging liquid jet. For this test, we have developed a cylindrical resonator, which was machined from stainless steel 316 and electroplated with silver on the interior surfaces. Outer diameter of the cylindrical cavity is approximately 3cm, and the thin wall is approximately 200µm thick. We have also developed and insertion probe consisting of a 50cm WR-42 brass waveguide enclosed in a protective SS316 tube. The cavity was excited through a WR-42 waveguide through a subwavelength hole on the side of the wall of the cylinder in the TE 011 mode with resonant frequency f ≈ 17.8GHz. As a calibration experiment, we have assembled a water vessel with a center feed, and with dimensions similar to those of the liquid sodium setup. Frequency shift of the cavity spectral response was obtained at room temperature and ambient pressure by gradually increasing water flow rate from 0 to 25GPM (gallons per minute). Corresponding monotonic increase of resonant frequency by several hundred KHz was observed. Next, a sodium flow rate sensing study was performed in a liquid sodium vessel at 340° C temperature and ambient pressure. The flow rate was changed by varying sodium pump power, and a frequency shift of several hundred KHz was observed.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Chemically Inert Hydrocarbon-Based Slurries for Rapid Laser Sintering of Thin Proton-Conducting Ceramics

The process of rapid laser sintering of thin BaZrO 3 –BaCeO 3 -based proton-conducting electrolytes is being developed for easy fabrication of ceramic fuel cells and electrolyzers. However, cracks on the electrolytes caused by volume change due to chemical reactions between the basic ceramic constituents and the polar solvents during wet processing has been problematic. In order to address this issue, the use of chemically inert saturated-hydrocarbon-based slurries comprised of hexadecane, polybutene, and a long-chain saturated fatty acid were investigated in this work. By optimizing slurry composition and laser sintering conditions, a 20 mm long, 4 mm wide, 13.5-μm-thick and 97%-dense BaCe 0.7 Zr 0.1 Y 0.07 Sm 0.13 O 3-d membrane showing proton conductivity on the order of 10 –4 S•cm –1 at 600 °C was successfully prepared in just three seconds by laser sintering. As a result, the use of saturated-hydrocarbon-based slurries will facilitate wet processing and rapid laser sintering of proton-conducting ceramic electrolytes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Evolution of eggshell structure in relation to nesting ecology in non-avian reptiles

Amniotic eggs are multifunctional structures that enabled early tetrapods to colonize the land millions of years ago, and are now the reproductive mode of over 70% of all terrestrial amniotes. Eggshell morphology is at the core of animal survival, mediating the interactions between embryos and their environment, and has evolved into a massive diversity of forms and functions in modern reptiles. These functions are critical to embryonic survival and may serve as models for new antimicrobial and/or breathable membranes. However, we still lack critical data on the basic structural and functional properties of eggs, particularly of reptiles. Here, we first characterized egg shape, shell thickness, porosity, and mineralization of eggs from 91 reptile species using optical images, scanning electron microscopy, and micro computed tomography, and collected data on nesting ecology from the literature. We then used comparative analyses to test hypotheses on the selective pressures driving their evolution. We hypothesized that eggshell morphology has evolved to protect shells from physical damage and desiccation, and, in support, found a positive relationship between thickness and precipitation, and a negative relationship between porosity and temperature. Although mineralization varied extensively, it was not correlated with nesting ecology variables. Ancestral state reconstructions show thinning and increased porosity over evolutionary time in squamates, but the opposite in turtles and crocodilians. Egg shape, size, porosity and calcification were correlated, suggesting potential structural or developmental tradeoffs. This study provides new data and insights into the morphology and evolution of reptile eggs, and raises numerous questions for additional research.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Hybrid nanocapsules for in situ TEM imaging of gas evolution reactions in confined liquids

Liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM) enables the direct observation of dynamic physical and chemical processes in liquids at the nanoscale. Quantitative investigations into reactions with fast kinetics and/or multiple reagents will benefit from further advances in liquid cell design that facilitate rapid in situ mixing and precise control over reagent volumes and concentrations. This work reports the development of inorganic–organic nanocapsules for high-resolution TEM imaging of nanoscale reactions in liquids with well-defined zeptoliter volumes. These hybrid nanocapsules, with 48 nm average diameter, consist of a thin layer of gold coating a lipid vesicle. As a model reaction, the nucleation, growth, and diffusion of nanobubbles generated by the radiolysis of water is investigated inside the nanocapsules. When the nanobubbles are sufficiently small (10–25 nm diameter), they are mobile in the nanocapsules, but their movement deviates from Brownian motion, which may result from geometric confinement by the nanocapsules. Gases and fluids can be transported between two nanocapsules when they fuse, demonstrating in situ mixing without using complex microfluidic schemes. The ability to synthesize nanocapsules with controlled sizes and to monitor dynamics simultaneously inside multiple nanocapsules provides opportunities to investigate nanoscale processes such as single nanoparticle synthesis in confined volumes and biological processes such as biomineralization and membrane dynamics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Structure-Based Design of Dual Bactericidal and Bacteria-Releasing Nanosurfaces

Here, we report synergistic nanostructured surfaces combining bactericidal and bacteria-releasing properties. A polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS-block-PMMA) diblock copolymer is used to fabricate vertically oriented cylindrical PS structures (“PS nanopillars”) on silicon substrates. The results demonstrate that the PS nanopillars (with a height of about 10 nm, size of about 50 nm, and spacing of about 70 nm) exhibit highly effective bactericidal and bacteria-releasing properties (“dual properties”) against Escherichia coli for at least 36 h of immersion in an E. coli solution. Interestingly, the PS nanopillars coated with a thin layer (≈3 nm thick) of titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) (“TiO 2 nanopillars”) show much improved dual properties against E. coli (a Gram-negative bacterium) compared to the PS nanopillars. Moreover, the dual properties emerge against Listeria monocytogenes (a Gram-positive bacterium). To understand the mechanisms underlying the multifaceted property of the nanopillars, coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of a lipid bilayer (as a simplified model for E. coli) in contact with a substrate containing hexagonally packed hydrophilic nanopillars were performed. The MD results demonstrate that when the bacterium–substrate interaction is strong, the lipid heads adsorb onto the nanopillar surfaces, conforming the shape of a lipid bilayer to the structure/curvature of nanopillars and generating high stress concentrations within the membrane (i.e., the driving force for rupture) at the edge of the nanopillars. Membrane rupture begins with the formation of pores between nanopillars (i.e., bactericidal activity) and ultimately leads to the membrane withdrawal from the nanopillar surface (i.e., bacteria-releasing activity). In the case of Gram-positive bacteria, the adhesion area to the pillar surface is limited due to the inherent stiffness of the bacteria, creating higher stress concentrations within a bacterial cell wall. In conclusion, the present study provides insight into the mechanism underlying the “adhesion-mediated” multifaceted property of nanosurfaces, which is crucial for the development of next-generation antibacterial surface coatings for relevant medical applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Cation-Diffusive Carbon Interlayers Stabilize Na Metal and Double the Current in Na-S Redox-Flow Batteries for Grid-Scale Energy Storage

The sodium-sulfur nonaqueous redox-flow batteries (Na-S NARFBs) using earth-abundant elements are highly attractive due to the low material cost and improved energy density for grid-scale energy storage. However, the low current performance, poor Na0/Na+ redox kinetics, and Na dendrite growth pose severe challenges. We introduce cation-diffusive layers (CDLs): thin and Na+ affinitive interlayers at the Na anode that direct Na+ transport and stabilize Na deposition. Benchmarking three archetypal materials—carbon paper (CP), glass microfiber paper (GF), and foam—across Na-Na and Na-Cu, and Na-S cells identifies CP as the optimum. CP reduces symmetric cell overpotential by more than 70%, achieves 98% Na plating-stripping efficiency, and doubles the Na-S cell current density from 0.5 to 1.0 mA cm−2 without sacrificing capacity or efficiency. Ex situ electrochemical and SEM/XPS analysis, combined with molecular dynamics (MD) studies, reveal that electron-rich carbon fibers disperse supporting salt aggregates, enrich near-surface Na+ density, and create ion transport pathways for fast Na0/Na+ exchange while mitigating membrane degradation. Because of the ion-centric mechanism, CDLs can be generalized to other metal-anode designs. Further, this work establishes CDL design rules—cationic affinity and appropriate micro/nanostructure—as a simple, scalable route to high-current, durable metal-anode flow batteries.

Wu, Wenda [ORNL] (ORCID:000900033307687X)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Final Technical Report

This research project aims to understand the structure and properties of hidden intermediates in amorphous oxides grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD), and apply what is learned to achieve predictive phase and property control in the ALD synthesis of amorphous oxide thin films. The one-year renewal is to further this understanding to understand how amorphous TiO2 thin films by ALD turn into crystalline phase in correlation to the presence of medium range ordering (MRO) and other impurities. This fundamental study is expected to produce a predictive synthesis science for amorphous thin films with substantially improved uniformity and thereby achieve higher stability as a new surface coating strategy used for electrochemical catalysis. In this final technical report, we summarize the key achievements in this project to meet the research goals. This includes (1) a new approach to achieve homogeneous nanometer-scale amorphous coating leading to a new record of lifetime for photoelectrochemical hydrogen fuel generation; (2) A advancement in scanning transmission electron microcopy (STEM) that led to new understanding of intermediate phase in amorphous films; and (3) a computational model for understanding the local structure ordering in amorphous TiO2 films. In addition, this project also yielded relevant technical innovations including a development of bioresorbable zinc primary batteries that can self-degrade after depletion; and a ferroelectric membrane that provides active dendrites suppression to substantially improve the lifetime of rechargeable batteries. Collaboration with Lam Research also yield a new understanding of how built-in strain influences the amorphous films’ quality, bringing direct impacts to semiconductor manufacturing industry.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Lattice light-sheet microscopy allows for super-resolution imaging of receptors in leaf tissue

Plant leaf tissues are difficult to image via fluorescent microscopy, largely due to the presence of chlorophyll and other pigments that provide large background fluorescence. An advantage of Lattice Light-Sheet microscopy is its use of Bessel beams that illuminate a thin focal region of interest for microscopy, allowing for the excitation of fluorescent molecules within this region without surrounding chlorophyll-like objects outside of the region of interest. Here, we apply STORM Super-resolution techniques to observe Receptor-Like Kinases in Arabidopsis thaliana leaf cells. By applying this technique with the Lattice Light-Sheet, we can localize immune response proteins in sub-100 nm length scales and reconstruct three-dimensional locations of proteins within individual leaf cells. Using this technique, we observed the effect of the elicitors ATP and flg22, where we observed a significant degree of internalization of cognate receptors P2K1 and FLS2. We were also able to similarly observe differences in colocalization due to stimulation with these elicitors, where we observe proteins on the membrane becoming less colocalized as a result of stimulation, suggesting an immune response mechanism involving receptors internalizing via pathways distinct to the receptor. Further, these data show the Lattice Light-Sheet’s capabilities for imaging tissue with problematic background fluorescence that otherwise makes super-resolution fluorescence microscopy difficult.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Non-noble metal based electro-catalyst compositions for proton exchange membrane based water electrolysis and methods of making

The invention provides electro-catalyst compositions for an anode electrode of an acid mediated proton exchange membrane-based water electrolysis system. The compositions include a noble metal component selected from the group consisting of iridium oxide, ruthenium oxide, rhenium oxide and mixtures thereof, and a non-noble metal component selected from the group consisting of tantalum oxide, tin oxide, niobium oxide, titanium oxide, tungsten oxide, molybdenum oxide, yttrium oxide, scandium oxide, cooper oxide, zirconium oxide, nickel oxide and mixtures thereof. Further, the non-noble metal component can include a dopant. The dopant can be at least one element selected from Groups III, V, VI and VII of the Periodic Table. The compositions can be prepared using any solution based methods involving a surfactant approach or a sol gel approach. Further, the compositions are prepared using noble metal and non-noble metal precursors. Furthermore, a thin film containing the compositions can be deposited onto a substrate to form the anode electrode.

Kumta, Prashant N.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Electrochemical device comprising thin porous metal sheet

Electrochemical device using thin micro-porous metal sheets. The porous metal sheet may have a thickness less than 200 μm, provides three-dimensional networked pore structures of pore sizes in the range of 2.0 nm to 5.0 μm, and is electrically conductive. The micro-porous metal sheet is used for positively and/or negatively-charged electrodes by providing large specific contact surface area of reactants/electron. Nano-sized catalyst or features can be added inside pores of the porous metal sheet of pore sizes at sub- and micrometer scale to enhance the reaction activity and capacity. Micro-porous ceramic materials may be coated on the porous metal sheet at a thickness of less than 40 μm to enhance the functionality of the porous metal sheet and may function as a membrane separator. The electrochemical device may be used for decomposing molecules and for synthesis of molecules such as synthesis of ammonia from water and nitrogen molecules.

Liu, Wei↗