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At least 415 records · Page 23
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Chemical Vapor Transformation of Lithium Metal: Mechanism and Enhanced Stability

Constructing a stable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) with high productivity and scalability is essential for the practical application of thin Li metal anodes. Here, in this work, we report a chemical vapor transformation (CVT) strategy in which Li metal is exposed to trimethylaluminum (TMA), inducing a rapid and spontaneous surface reaction that forms a robust, multilayered SEI. In situ quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS), combined with ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV Raman spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, reveal that TMA removes the native passivation layer, reacts with Li metal, and drives a coupled bulk-surface transformation involving Li–Al interdiffusion. The resulting SEI exhibits a chemically graded structure consisting of an inner Li–Al alloy and an outer amorphous carbon layer formed via demethylation and ligand-exchange pathways. This modified surface exhibits significantly enhanced stability compared to that of bare Li in electrochemical cycling using liquid and solid-state electrolytes. This work unveils a unique surface-mediated bulk transformation mechanism for lithium metal and establishes CVT as a scalable and fundamentally distinct approach for the interfacial engineering of reactive metals.

Li metal↗
NASA NTRS1990

Magnetic field line draping in the plasma depletion layer

Simultaneous IMP 8 solar wind and ISEE 1/2 observations for a northern dawn ISEE 1/2 magnetopause crossing on November 6, 1977. During this crossing, ISEE 1/2 observed quasi-periodic pulses of magnetosheathlike plasma on northward magnetic field lines. The ISEE 1/2 observations were originally interpreted as evidence for strong diffusion of magnetosheath plasma across the magnetopause and the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability at the inner edge of the low-latitude boundary layer. An alternate explanation, in terms of magnetic field merging and flux transfer events, has also been advocated. In this paper, a third interpretation is proposed in terms of quasi-periodic magnetopause motion which causes the satellites to repeatedly exit the magnetosphere and observe draped northward magnetosheath magnetic field lines in the plasma depletion layer.

Sibeck, D. G.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Summary Report on Ion Irradiation Study of Ceramic Coating on Suppressing FCCI

Advanced cladding is critical for advanced nuclear reactors with an enhanced performance in radiation tolerance and neutron transparency. Using advanced cladding will ensure the adequate thermal conductivity and mechanical stability of the cladding base material, corrosion resistance, high-temperature coolant compatibility of the cladding surface, and chemical stability in the cladding inner wall against fuel cladding chemical interaction (FCCI). An innovative cladding with a three-layer structure (i.e., a modified surface, a clad base material, and a modified inner wall) promises to meet all these requirements. Initial research and development (R&D) regarding this innovative cladding seek to demonstrate the effectiveness of a thin ceramic coating in suppressing FCCI under ion irradiation to high dose. This United States (U.S.) Department of Energy (DOE)–Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) project report summarizes the results of recent ion irradiation studies of diffusion-couple samples with details of an ion irradiation experiment, the characterization of the interface microstructure of cerium (Ce)/titanium nitride (TiN)/oxide-dispersion strengthened (ODS), Ce/TiN/iron (Fe), Ce/ODS, and Ce/Fe samples irradiated with 80 million electron-volts (MeV) of xenon (Xe) ions to 100 displacements per atom (dpa) at 500?C using the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS) facility at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). The results of the ODS-substrate sample are encouraging and demonstrate the effectiveness of a thin ceramic coating on FCCI mitigation under irradiation. The results from an Fe-substrate sample revealed a complex microstructure, and the root cause is discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1972

Lunar properties from transient and steady magnetic field measurements.

The electrical conductivity of the lunar interior has been determined from magnetic field step transients measured on the lunar dark side. The simplest model which best fits the data is a spherically symmetric three layer model having a nonconducting outer crust, an intermediate layer with electrical conductivity of .00035 mhos/m, and an inner core with conductivity of .01 mhos/m. Temperatures calculated from these conductivities in the three regions for an example of an olivine moon are as follows: crust, below 440 K; intermediate layer, 890 K; and core, 1240 K. The whole-moon relative permeability has been calculated from the measurements to be 1.03 plus or minus 0.13.

Dyal, P.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Preshot Report for the NIF Discovery Science DDCyl Campaign: D_Hyd_DDCyl_DRT_DDD/EEE/FFF

The first Discovery Science shot day with the NIF DDCyl campaign demonstrated that Rayleigh-Taylor instability growth during the deceleration phase is scale-invariant for targets that varied in radial dimension and implosion time-scale by a factor of three. Smaller cylindrical implosions at the OMEGA laser facility were compared to the larger cylinders fielded in our first NIF outing. Both sets of targets had an initial m = 20 sinusoidal perturbation machined on the inner surface of an embedded aluminum marker layer, with the amplitude larger by the same factor of three for the NIF-scale targets. We observed growth factors of 14 at late time (t=λ = 7:7 ns, where λ = 1 for OMEGA and λ = 3 for NIF). These used a high density (300 mg/cm³) CH foam core, providing a very long period of deceleration before the rebounding shock hit the incoming spike tips, but the final convergence was only CR≈ 2:25. For our second shot day with this campaign, we are attempting to increase the convergence ratio to CR≥ 5 before reshock, while still measuring instability growth during the convergence/deceleration phase. As discussed in previous reports, the best way to increase convergence before reshock is to lower the density of the central foam. The preshot designs called for the use of a 30 mg/cm³ CH foam, though the as-built foams are closer to 40-42 mg/cm³, which is predicted to result in a final CR≈ 5:1 before reshock. Other than the lower foam density, the target design is identical to those used previously.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS1988

Observations of ionospheric convection vortices - Signatures of momentum transfer

Several classes of traveling vortices in the dayside ionospheric flow have been detected and tracked using the Greenland magnetometer chain. One class observed during quiet times consists of a continuous series of vortices moving generally antisunward for several hours at a time. Assuming each vortex to be the convection pattern produced by a small field aligned current moving across the ionosphere, the amount of field aligned current was found by fitting a modeled ground magnetic signature to measurements from the chain of magnetometers. The calculated field aligned current is seen to be steady for each vortex and neighboring vortices have currents of opposite sign. Low altitude DMSP observations indicate the vortices are on field lines which map to the inner edge of the low latitude boundary layer. Because the vortices are conjugate to the boundary layer, repeat in a regular fashion and travel antisunward, it is argued that this class of vortices is caused by surface waves at the magnetopause. No strong correlations between field aligned current strength and solar wind density, velocity, or Bz is found.

Mchenry, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Spatial relationships between region 2 field-aligned currents and electron and ion precipitation in the evening sector

The equatorward cutoff of ion and electron precipitation in relation to the evening region 2 field-aligned current during isolated substorms has been investigated using the magnetic field and plasma data obtained from the Dynamics Explorer 2 satellite. The equatorward boundaries of the region 2 currents relative to those of central plasma sheet (CPS) electron precipitation are determined predominantly by magnetic local time and subsequently change with substorm phases. With approaching midnight, the equatorward boundary of CPS electron precipitation extends toward and eventually equatorward of that of the region 2 current. On the other hand, the equatorward boundary of the region 2 current coincides well with that of 10-20 keV ion precipitation during the whole course of substorms. It is proposed that these ions originate in the so-called Alfven layer and that the location of this inner boundary determines the lower latitude boundary of the region 2 current.

Fujii, R.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Improved two-equation k-omega turbulence models for aerodynamic flows

Two new versions of the k-omega two-equation turbulence model will be presented. The new Baseline (BSL) model is designed to give results similar to those of the original k-omega model of Wilcox, but without its strong dependency on arbitrary freestream values. The BSL model is identical to the Wilcox model in the inner 50 percent of the boundary-layer but changes gradually to the high Reynolds number Jones-Launder k-epsilon model (in a k-omega formulation) towards the boundary-layer edge. The new model is also virtually identical to the Jones-Lauder model for free shear layers. The second version of the model is called Shear-Stress Transport (SST) model. It is based on the BSL model, but has the additional ability to account for the transport of the principal shear stress in adverse pressure gradient boundary-layers. The model is based on Bradshaw's assumption that the principal shear stress is proportional to the turbulent kinetic energy, which is introduced into the definition of the eddy-viscosity. Both models are tested for a large number of different flowfields. The results of the BSL model are similar to those of the original k-omega model, but without the undesirable freestream dependency. The predictions of the SST model are also independent of the freestream values and show excellent agreement with experimental data for adverse pressure gradient boundary-layer flows.

Menter, Florian R.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Asymptotic analysis with reduced chemistry for the burning of n-heptane droplets

The method of rate-ratio asymptotics is used with reduced chemistry to analyze the flame structure and extinction of an isolated n-heptane droplet burning under quasisteady, spherically symmetrical conditions. The outer transport zones are described by the classical Burke-Schumann solution. The inner reaction zone consists of a thin layer, on the rich side of the flame, where the fuel is consumed, and on the lean side, a broader but still asymptotically thin oxidation layer, where H2 and CO are consumed. Special attention is given to differences in predictions of extinction conditions, caused by different chemical-kinetic approximations in the reduced chemistry, including fuel-chemistry effects through molecules containing more than one carbon atom. From the analysis, extinction diameters for n-heptane droplets are estimated for different pressures and ambient oxygen concentrations. The results show that extinction diameters are extremely sensitive to the number of radicals consumed in breaking down each fuel molecule.

Card, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Lightweight, Self-Deploying Foam Antenna Structures

Lightweight, deployable antennas for a variety of outer-space and terrestrial applications would be designed and fabricated according to the concept of cold hibernated elastic memory (CHEM) structures, according to a proposal. Mechanically deployable antennas now in use are heavy, complex, and unreliable, and they utilize packaging volume inefficiently. The proposed CHEM antenna structures would be simple and would deploy themselves without need for any mechanisms and, therefore, would be more reliable. The proposed CHEM antenna structures would also weigh less, could be packaged in smaller volumes, and would cost less, relative to mechanically deployable antennas. The CHEM concept was described in two prior NASA Tech Briefs articles: "Cold Hibernated Elastic Memory (CHEM) Expandable Structures" (NPO-20394), Vol. 23, No. 2 (February 1999), page 56; and "Solar Heating for Deployment of Foam Structures" (NPO-20961), Vol. 25, No. 10 (October 2001), page 36. To recapitulate from the cited prior articles: The CHEM concept is one of utilizing opencell foams of shape-memory polymers (SMPs) to make lightweight, reliable, simple, and inexpensive structures that can be alternately (1) compressed and stowed compactly or (2) expanded, then rigidified for use. A CHEM structure is fabricated at full size from a block of SMP foam in its glassy state [at a temperature below the glass-transition temperature (Tg) of the SMP]. The structure is heated to the rubbery state of the SMP (that is, to a temperature above Tg) and compacted to a small volume. After compaction, the structure is cooled to the glassy state of the SMP. The compacting force can then be released and the structure remains compact as long as the temperature is kept below Tg. Upon subsequent heating of the structure above Tg, the simultaneous elastic recovery of the foam and its shape-memory effect cause the structure to expand to its original size and shape. Once thus deployed, the structure can be rigidified by cooling below Tg. Once deployed and rigidified, the structure could be heated and recompacted. In principle, there should be no limit on the achievable number of compaction/deployment/ rigidification cycles. Thus far, several different designs of a 3.5-m-long CHEM conical corrugated horn antenna have been analyzed (see figure). A small CHEM structural antenna model was fabricated and a thin, electrically conductive layer of aluminum was deposited on the inner surface of the model. This structural model was then subjected to the compaction and deployment treatments described above to demonstrate the feasibility of a CHEM corrugated horn antenna.

Sokolowski, Witold↗
NASA NTRS2013

Herschel - PACS Survey Of Protoplanetary Disks In Taurus - Auriga Observations Of [O I] And [C Ii], And Far-Infrared Continuum

The Herschel Space Observatory was used to observe approx. 120 pre-main-sequence stars in Taurus as part of the GASPS Open Time Key project. Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer was used to measure the continuum as well as several gas tracers such as [O I] 63 micron, [O I] 145 micron, [C II] 158, micron OH, H2O, and CO. The strongest line seen is [O I] at 63 micron. We find a clear correlation between the strength of the [O I] 63 micron line and the 63 micron continuum for disk sources. In outflow sources, the line emission can be up to 20 times stronger than in disk sources, suggesting that the line emission is dominated by the outflow. The tight correlation seen for disk sources suggests that the emission arises from the inner disk (<50 AU) and lower surface layers of the disk where the gas and dust are coupled. The [O I] 63 micron is fainter in transitional stars than in normal Class II disks. Simple spectral energy distribution models indicate that the dust responsible for the continuum emission is colder in these disks, leading to weaker line emission. [C II] 158 micron emission is only detected in strong outflow sources. The observed line ratios of [O I] 63 micron to [O I] 145 micron are in the regime where we are insensitive to the gas-to-dust ratio, neither can we discriminate between shock or photodissociation region emission. We detect no Class III object in [O I] 63 micron and only three in continuum, at least one of which is a candidate debris disk.

GASPS Open Time Key project↗
NASA NTRS1994

Generation of region 1 current by magnetospheric pressure gradients

The Rice Convection Model (RCM) is used to illustrate theoretical possibilities for generating region 1 Birkeland currents by pressure gradients on closed field lines in the Earth's magnetosphere. Inertial effects and viscous forces are neglected. The RCM is applied to idealized cases, to emphasize the basic physical ideas rather than realistic representation of the actual magnetosphere. Ionospheric conductance is taken to be uniform, and the simplest possible representations of the magnetospheric plasma are used. Three basic cases are considered: (1) the case of pure northward Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF), with cusp merging assumed to create new closed field lines near the nose of the magnetosphere, following the suggestion by Song and Russell (1992); (2) the case where Dungey-type reconnection occurs at the nose, but magnetosheath plasma somehow enters closed field lines on the dawnside and duskside of the merging region, causing a pressure-driven low-latitude boundary layer; and (3) the case where Dungey-type reconnection occurs at the nose, but region 1 currents flow on sunward drifting plasma sheet field lines. In case 1, currents of region 1 sense are generated by pressure gradients, but those currents do not supply the power for ionospheric convection. Results for case 2 suggest that pressure gradients at the inner edge of the low-latitude boundary layer might generate a large fraction of the region 1 Birkeland currents that drive magnetospheric convection. Results for case 3 indicate that pressure gradients in the plasma sheet could provide part of the region 1 current.

Yang, Y. S.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Investigation B: Laminar confined coaxial entrance flow with heat generation

The results of a parametric study on the entrance flow region in a gas core nuclear reactor are presented. The physical system is modeled as laminar confined, coaxial flow with heat generation in the inner fluid. The governing equations include the boundary layer approximations and the assumptions of only radial radiative transport of energy represented as an energy diffusion term. The Von Mises transformation and a zeta transformation are used to transform the equations into nonlinear nonhomogeneous convective-diffusion equations. A unique combination of forward and backward difference equations which yields accurate results at moderate computational times, is used in the numerical method. Results show that the rapidly accelerating, heat generating inner stream actually shrinks in radius as it expands axially.

Bobba, G. K. M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Observations of filamentary field-aligned current coupling between the magnetospheric boundary layer and the ionosphere

A distinct class of dayside high-latitude magnetic pulsations can be identified from the spatial characteristics of the disturbance field. These pulsations exhibit traveling radial patterns such as would result from moving filaments of field-aligned current interacting with the ionosphere to produce cells of Hall current and vortexlike plasma flow. Time intervals containing a series of continuous multiple vortices are investigated here. The vortices occur on the boundary between sunward and antisunward ionospheric plasma convection. Low altitude DMSP satellite particle measurements indicate that the vortices are on magnetic field lines which map to the inner edge of the magnetospheric low latitude boundary layer. No repetitive solar wind disturbance (e.g., pressure variations) appears to be associated with the events, suggesting that the vortices are related to a local magnetospheric instability. No strong correlation between interplanetary field conditions and the detection of vortices is found.

Clauer, C. R.↗
NASA NTRS1995

High pressure mechanical seal

A relatively impervious mechanical seal is formed between the outer surface of a tube and the inside surface of a mechanical fitting of a high pressure fluid or hydraulic system by applying a very thin soft metal layer onto the outer surface of the hard metal tube and/or inner surface of the hard metal fitting, prior to swaging the fitting onto the tube. The thickness of such thin metal layer is independent of the size of the tube and/or fittings. Many metals and alloys of those metals exhibit the requisite softness, including silver, gold, nickel, tin, platinum, indium, rhodium and cadmium. Suitably, the coating is about 0.0025 millimeters (0.10 mils) in thickness. After swaging, the tube and fitting combination exhibits very low leak rates on the order or 10.sup.-8 cubic centimeters per second or less as meaured using the Helium leak test.

Babel, Henry W.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Influence of Cross Perturbations on Turbulent Kelvin–Helmholtz Instability

Kelvin–Helmholtz instability has been studied extensively in 2D. This study attempts to address the influence of turbulent flow and cross perturbation on the growth rate of the instability and the development of mixing layers in 3D by means of direct numerical simulation. Two perfect gases are considered to be working fluids moving as opposite streams, inducing shear instability at the interface between the fluids and resulting in Kelvin–Helmholtz instability. The results show that cross perturbation affects the instability by increasing the amplitude growth while adding turbulence has almost no effect on the amplitude growth. Furthermore, by increasing the turbulence intensity, a more distinct presence of the inner flow can be seen in the mixing layer of the two phases, and the presence of turbulence expands the range of high-frequency motion significantly due to turbulence structures. The results give a basis for which 3D Kelvin–Helmholtz phenomena should be further investigated using numerical simulation for predictive modeling, beyond the use of simplified 2D theoretical models.

Sementilli, Mae (ORCID:0000000207125928)↗
NASA NTRS1998

Inner Core Rotation from Geomagnetic Westward Drift and a Stationary Spherical Vortex in Earth's Core

The idea that geomagnetic westward drift indicates convective leveling of the planetary momentum gradient within Earth's core is pursued in search of a differentially rotating mean state, upon which various oscillations and secular effects might be superimposed. The desired state conforms to roughly spherical boundary conditions, minimizes dissipative interference with convective cooling in the bulk of the core, yet may aid core cooling by depositing heat in the uppermost core and lower mantle. The variational calculus of stationary dissipation applied to a spherical vortex within the core yields an interesting differential rotation profile, akin to spherical Couette flow bounded by thin Hartmann layers. Four boundary conditions are required. To concentrate shear induced dissipation near the core-mantle boundary, these are taken to be: (i) no-slip at the core-mantle interface; (ii) geomagnetically estimated bulk westward flow at the base of the core-mantle boundary layer; (iii) no-slip at the inner-outer core interface; and, to describe magnetic locking of the inner core to the deep outer core; (iv) hydrodynamically stress-free at the inner-outer core boundary. By boldly assuming the axial core angular momentum anomaly to be zero, the super-rotation of the inner core relative to the mantle is calculated to be at most 1.5 deg./yr.

Voorhies, Coerte V.↗