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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 433 records · Page 24
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

Component effects on crystallization of RE-containing aluminoborosilicate glass

Lanthanide-aluminoborosilicate (LABS) glass is one option for immobilizing rare earth (RE) oxide fission products generated during reprocessing of pyroprocessed fuel. This glass system can accommodate a high loading of RE oxides and has excellent chemical durability. The present study describes efforts to model equilibrium crystallinity as a function of glass composition and temperature as well as liquidus temperature (TL) as a function of glass composition. The experimental method for determining TL was ASTM C1720-11. Typically, three crystalline phases were formed in each glass: Ce-borosilicate (Ce 3 BSi 2 O 10 ), mullite (Al 10 Si 2 O 19 ), and corundum (Al 2 O 3 ). Cerianite (CeO 2 ) was a common minor crystalline phase and Nd-silicate (Nd 2 Si 2 O 7 ) occurred in some of the glasses. In the composition region studied, TL decreased as SiO 2 and B 2 O 3 fractions increased and strongly increased with increasing fractions of RE oxides; Al 2 O 3 had a moderate effect on the TL but, as expected, it strongly affected the precipitation of Alcontaining crystals.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Probing He bubbles in naturally aged and annealed δ-Pu alloys using ultra-small-angle x-ray scattering

We report the self-irradiation of Pu alloys generates He that is trapped within the metal matrix in the form of He bubbles. The distribution of these He bubbles in δ-phase Pu-Ga alloys exhibits a peak near a radius of 0.7 nm, and this size is remarkably stable as function of time. When annealed, the He bubbles in δ-Pu alloys grow, coarsening the distribution. However, the magnitude of this coarsening is uncertain, as different experimental methods reveal bubbles that differ by at least one order of magnitude. Small-angle x-ray scattering results, which can probe a wide range of bubble sizes, imply only a mild coarsening of the He bubble distribution for an annealing treatment of 425 °C for 24 h, and analysis of the He bubble content suggests that He is actually lost from the bubbles with annealing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Temperature dependent elastic properties of γ-phase U – 8 wt% Mo

Polycrystalline elastic moduli and stiffness tensor components of γ-phase U – 8 wt% Mo have been determined by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy in the temperature range of 25-650°C. The ambient temperature elastic properties are compared to results measured via other experimental methods and show reasonable agreement, though there is considerable variation of these properties within the literature at both the U – 8 wt% Mo composition and as a function of Mo concentration. The Young’s modulus of U – 8 wt% Mo measured in this study decreases steadily with temperature at a rate that is slower than trends previously observed at similar Mo concentrations, though the difference is not statistically significant. This first measurement of the temperature dependent elastic stiffness tensor of a polycrystalline U-Mo alloy clarifies that the behavior of the Young’s modulus is due to a strongly weakening C 11 polycrystalline stiffness tensor component, along with milder decreases in C 12 and C 44 . The unique partially auxetic properties recently predicted for singlecrystalline U-Mo are discussed in regard to their possible impact on the polycrystalline behavior of the alloy.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2018

Aggregation and data analysis of corrosion studies in molten chloride and fluoride salts

Corrosion studies in molten fluoride and chloride salts were surveyed, and key data were aggregated into a single dataset. Studies were graphed by salt purity, temperature, sample material, container material, and experimental method (loop, capsule, crucible). To elucidate and quantify the factors that affect corrosion in molten salts, a data analysis using a newly-defined corrosion resistance score and a correlation analysis using techniques borrowed from machine learning were performed. It is shown that salt purity had the strongest correlation with corrosion rates in molten chlorides and fluorides. As a result, data analysis across varied works was inconsistent due to the lack of standardization among molten salt corrosion studies.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Structure evolution and tin redistribution during oxidation of Zircaloy-4 at 500°C

Zirconium (Zr) alloys are widely used as fuel cladding in nuclear power reactors due to their thermal stability, mechanical durability, corrosion resistance, and low neutron absorption cross-section. However, their performance is challenged by oxidation in reactor environments, making the study of Zr alloy corrosion behavior crucial for ensuring the safety, longevity, and economic viability of nuclear power systems. While the oxidation behavior of Zr-based cladding materials has been extensively studied since the 1950s, a mechanistic understanding into the relationship between structure evolution, solute element redistribution, and properties remains elusive. Valuable insights may be obtained through advanced experimental methods, such as in-situ and high resolution microscopy techniques. Here, in this study, the oxidation behavior of Zircaloy-4 at 500 °C in O 2 is characterized using a multimodal advanced characterization approach. Using in-situ X-ray diffraction, the phase evolution from metastable to stable oxides is tracked in real time. Complementary high-resolution techniques, including electron microscopy and atom probe tomography, reveal nanoscale insights into the microstructural changes and solute redistribution across the oxide/metal interface. Nanohardness mapping across the oxide/metal interface highlights localized mechanical property variations that may be linked to changes in microstructure and crystal structure within the oxide layer. These findings offer valuable insights into the microstructure and property evolution of Zircaloy-4 during oxidation, contributing to a better understanding of microstructural changes in Zr-based alloys under oxidative environments.

APT↗
DOE OSTI2023

The phantom menace of dynamic soft-shorts in solid-state battery research

Solid-state batteries with lithium metal anodes present the highest energy density batteries for applications in electric vehicles, leading to massive R&D investments over the past decade. Although most research focuses on preventing lithium metal dendrites that eventually short the battery, the nature of these shorts remains elusive. Soft-shorts, in particular, receive little attention or are not recognized, even in published data. Here, in this study, we present a comprehensive outline of the detection and analysis of soft -shorts in solid-state lithium metal cells with composite polymer electrolytes as well as a fundamental understanding of the dynamics of soft -shorts. Transient un-shorting of soft -shorts that occurs on the micro-to-millisecond timescale-driven by joule heating, chemical reactivity, and other processes-limits one's ability to determine whether the cell was or is still shorted. We provide numerous experimental methods to detect and analyze soft-shorts in any battery type as a resource to all battery researchers.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Impact of electrode porosity architecture on electrochemical performances of 1 mm-thick LiFePO4 binder-free Li-ion electrodes fabricated by Spark Plasma Sintering

Thick electrodes with high active material loadings have been intensively studied over the last couple of decades in pursuit of achieving high energy density systems. To optimize and enhance the electrochemical performance of such electrodes, one has to control the pore morphology by, for example, varying the pore size and shape, and the level of porosity. In the present work, the fabrication of thick binder-free LiFePO4 (LFP) electrodes with two different pore sizes (12 and 20 mu m) and porosities (21 vol% and 44 vol%) using Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) and templating approach is reported. The well-controlled porous architecture inside the thick electrodes is realized by fine-tuning experimental parameters. The impact of porosity architecture on electrochemical performance is quantified and correlated with the 3D tortuosity values determined from both micro-computed tomography and electrochemical impedance-based experimental methods. Based on the micro-computed tomography data analysis, estimated tortuosity values along X, Y, and Z axes reveal an anisotropic effect perpendicularly to the SPS compression axis (Z-direction). This is particularly profoundly observed in the samples with larger pores (20 mu m). The correlation between morphological properties and the rate capability performance is established indicating that the capacity loss happens mainly due to the Li-ion diffusion limitations.

Cathode material↗
DOE OSTI2022

Fast charging of Li-ion cells: Effect of separator membranes and mapping of “safe lines” to avoid Li plating

An experimental method is introduced that uses microprobe Li/Cu reference electrodes to map "safe" charging regimes to avoid Li metal plating on graphite anodes at rates to 8C. With this method, a Li-ion cell closely approaches the Li plating condition but avoids descending into this regime. This "safe" approach is used to demonstrate effects of the microporous separator on Li plating in cells consisting of a layered nickel-manganese -cobalt oxide cathode and graphite anode. We argue that most of the difference in behaviors for different separators arises from time delayed Li + ion percolation through the membrane. In conclusion, our study suggests that explicitly treating kinetics of phase transitions in the lithiated graphite anode is essential for electrochemical models predicting "safe" lines for fast charging cells.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2011

Effect of the thickness on properties of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} coatings deposited by plasma spraying

Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} coatings with different thicknesses (160, 320, 480 and 640 {mu}m) were deposited on stainless steel substrate by plasma spraying. The variation in microstructural characteristics and properties of coatings with various thicknesses was investigated. Powders morphology and the microstructure of as-sprayed coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy. The microhardness was measured using a Vickers' indentor. The corrosion behaviour of plasma-sprayed Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} coatings in 1 N H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} solution at a temperature of 25 deg. C was evaluated by electrochemistry method. Experimental results indicated that surface roughness showed no obvious dependence on the coating thickness. However, the porosity of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} coating was increased with increased thickness. The enhanced coating thickness also resulted in decreasing microhardness and reduced corrosion resistance. In this study, the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} coating with thickness of 160 {mu}m possesses the lowest porosity, the highest hardness and superior corrosion resistance. Research Highlights: {yields} Increase of coating thickness shows no obvious effect on phase composition and surface roughness of plasma sprayed Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} coatings. {yields} Variation of porosity and microhardness presents dependence on coating thickness parameter. {yields} Increasing coating thickness leads to reduced corrosion resistance of plasma sprayed Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} coating.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Investigation of surface termination by directional elastic peak electron spectroscopy: Experiment and theory

Experimental and theoretical details concerning the directional elastic peak electron spectroscopy are presented. The application of this experimental method to the identification of a crystalline structure of surface layers is shown for Cu(111) and Ru(0001), which enables the analysis of different surface terminations associated with different sequences of atoms along the surface normal. Theoretical data are obtained by applying the multiple scattering theory and different sources of phase shifts. The quantitative analysis performed by an R-factor reveals almost the same populations of A and B terminated (0001) terraces and proves explicitly the presence of steps of atomic height on the clean Ru(0001) surface. This is not the case for the Cu(111) surface, where the terrace termination does not affect the distribution of atomic directions within the first few atomic layers. The averaging of theoretical data versus scattering volume defined by the sphere radius R{sub max} around the emitter site is discussed in view of the computation time optimization. - Highlights: • We examined the structure and surface termination of fcc and hcp monocrystals. • Crystalline structure within the first few atomic layers was determined by DEPES. • Multiple scattering formalism was used to obtain theoretical results. • Populations of terraces with different terminations were determined. • Scattering parameters are discussed in the context of computation time optimization.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Development of an in-situ multi-component reinforced Al-based metal matrix composite by direct metal laser sintering technique — Optimization of process parameters

In the present investigation, an in-situ multi-component reinforced aluminum based metal matrix composite was fabricated by the combination of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis and direct metal laser sintering process. The different mixtures of Al, TiO{sub 2} and B{sub 4}C powders were used to initiate and maintain the self-propagating high-temperature synthesis by laser during the sintering process. It was found from the X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy that the reinforcements like Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, TiC, and TiB{sub 2} were formed in the composite. The scanning electron microscopy revealed the distribution of the reinforcement phases in the composite and phase identities. The variable parameters such as powder layer thickness, laser power, scanning speed, hatching distance and composition of the powder mixture were optimized for higher density, lower porosity and higher microhardness using Taguchi method. Experimental investigation shows that the density of the specimen mainly depends upon the hatching distance, composition and layer thickness. On the other hand, hatching distance, layer thickness and laser power are the significant parameters which influence the porosity. The composition, laser power and layer thickness are the key influencing parameters for microhardness. - Highlights: • The reinforcements such as Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, TiC, and TiB{sub 2} were produced in Al-MMC through SHS. • The density is mainly influenced by the material composition and hatching distance. • Hatching distance is the major influencing parameter on porosity. • The material composition is the significant parameter to enhance the microhardness. • The SEM micrographs reveal the distribution of TiC, TiB{sub 2} and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} in the composite.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Anisotropy in thermal conductivity of graphite flakes–SiC{sub p}/matrix composites: Implications in heat sinking design for thermal management applications

Within the frame of heat dissipation for electronics, a very interesting family of anisotropic composite materials, fabricated by liquid infiltration of a matrix into preforms of oriented graphite flakes and SiC particles, has been recently proposed. Aiming to investigate the implications of the inherent anisotropy of these composites on their thermal conductivity, and hence on their potential applications, materials with matrices of Al–12 wt.% Si alloy and epoxy polymer have been fabricated. Samples have been cut at a variable angle with respect to the flakes plane and thermal conductivity has been measured by means of two standard techniques, namely, steady state technique and laser flash method. Experimental results are presented and discussed in terms of current models, from which important technological implications for heat sinking design can be derived. - Highlights: • Anisotropy in thermal conductivity of graphite flakes-based composites is evaluated. • Samples are cut in a direction forming a variable angle with the oriented flakes. • For angles 0° and 90°, thermal conductivity does not depend on sample geometry. • For intermediate angles, thermal conductivity strongly depends on sample geometry. • “Thin” samples must be thicker than 600 μm, “thick” samples must be encapsulated.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2013

Dielectric and ferroelectric properties of Pb{sub 0.88}La{sub 0.12}(Ti{sub 1−x}Mn{sub x}){sub 0.97}O{sub 3} nanoceramics

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • The nanoceramics of La/Mn modified PbTiO{sub 3} are synthesized by mechano-thermal route. • Materials have been characterized using various experimental methods. • Drastic change in dielectric and electrical properties of PbTiO{sub 3} has been observed. • The high dielectric constant makes the material very promising candidate for DRAM. • The Mn substitution also makes the material useful for piezoelectric devices. - Abstract: The polycrystalline samples of Pb{sub 0.88}La{sub 0.12}(Ti{sub 1−x}Mn{sub x}){sub 0.97}O{sub 3} (x = 0.0, 0.04, 0.07, 0.10) (PLMT) were prepared using a mechano-thermal method. Preliminary structural analysis of the above samples, carried out using X-ray diffraction data, shows tetragonal structure. This study also shows that the basic compound PLT (Pb{sub 0.88}La{sub 0.12}TiO{sub 3}) retains its tetragonal structure even up to 10% of Mn substitution at the Ti-site. The transmission electron micrographs (TEM) of PLMT samples exhibit that materials prepared by the above method are found to be of nano-size. The temperature–frequency dependence of dielectric studies exhibits increase in relative permittivity with rise in Mn-concentration in PLMT, and hence it can make the materials useful for device applications. The temperature dependence of ac conductivity shows presence of different types of charge species. It is also observed that oxygen vacancies play a significant role in the high-temperature conduction-mechanism and dynamics of polarization of the system. Piezoelectric charge coefficient (d{sub 33}) increases with increase in the Mn content in PLMT.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Surpassing the conventional limitations of CO 2 separation membranes with hydroxide/ceramic dual-phase membranes

We report the development of a dual-phase membrane for CO 2 separation based on a molten hydroxide liquid phase and a nanoporous yttria-stabilized zirconia solid support phase, termed hydroxide/ceramic dual-phase (HCDP) membranes, that can operate in the flue gas temperature range of 250–650 °C. HCDP membranes demonstrate selectivity for CO 2 over N 2 greater than 1000 and CO 2 permeability of 1.78 ± 0.16×10 -10 mol m m –2 s –1 Pa –1 (5.32 × 10 5 barrer) at 550 °C with 20 vol% CO 2 , which is more than an order of magnitude greater than the best values for dual-phase and polymer membranes reported in the literature. Here, we also demonstrate using three different experimental methods that CO 2 absorption by molten hydroxides is reversible in the presence of water vapor at temperatures as low as 300 °C.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Deformation mode and strain path dependence of martensite phase transformation in a medium manganese TRIP steel

The martensite phase transformation dependence upon deformation modes and strain paths in a medium manganese (10 wt%) TRIP steel stamped into a T-shape panel was quantified through combination of 3D digital image correlation and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The T-shape emulates a portion of a common anti-intrusion component. The stamping speed was kept intentionally slow (1 mm/s) so as to avoid excessive heat generation. The steel, which belongs to the third generation advanced high strength steel (3GAHSS) family, was chosen for two reasons: (1) it is two-phase, i.e. austenite and ferrite, with martensite resulting from deformation-induced phase transformation; (2) the 66 vol.% initial retained austenite volume fraction (RAVF) enabled a thorough examination of the martensite phase transformation at large deformation levels without exhaustion. Strain fields were coupled with measured RAVF values of small specimens extracted from specific locations on a formed T-shape panel. This enabled an exploration of the effects of linear, bilinear, and non-linear strain paths as well as deformation modes such as tension, plane strain, biaxial tension, and equibiaxial tension. Results suggest a significant martensite phase transformation dependence on deformation mode and strain path in the absence of fracture and when martensite phase transformation is unaffected by heat generated during forming. In general, the uniaxial and biaxial tension deformation modes facilitate the martensite phase transformation, while the smallest amount of martensite phase transformation occurs under plane strain. In conclusion, some discussion as to further application of the experimental methods detailed in this study to other 3GAHSS and the effects of fracture on martensite phase transformation is provided.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Understanding individual defects in CdTe thin-film solar cells via STEM: From atomic structure to electrical activity

Here in this paper we review a systematic study of the structure-property correlations of a series of defects in CdTe solar cells. A variety of experimental methods, including aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and electron-beam-induced current have been combined with density-functional theory. The research traces the connections between the structures and electrical activities of individual defects including intra-grain partial dislocations, grain boundaries and the CdTe/CdS interface. The interpretations of the physical origin underlying the structure-property correlation provide insights that should further the development of future CdTe solar cells.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Photon Strength Function at Low Energies in 95 Mo

A new and model-independent experimental method has been developed to determine the energy dependence of the photon strength function. It is designed to study statistical feeding from the quasi continuum to individual low-lying discrete levels. This new technique is presented and results for 95 Mo are compared to data from the University of Oslo. In particular, questions regarding the existence of the low-energy enhancement in the photon strength function are addressed.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 198

The 2009 version of Nuclear Data Sheets for A=198 (2009Hu11) has been updated and revised on the basis of the experimental results from various decay and reaction studies before December 2014. The experimental data for all known nuclei with mass number A=198 (Re,Os,Ir,Pt,Au,Hg,Tl,Pb,Bi,Po,At,Rn,Fr) have been revised, updated, and incorporated into the ENSDF data file. The experimental methods, references, Jπ arguments, and necessary comments are given in the text. The adopted levels for 198Re and 198Fr are firstly presented in this evaluation. In addition, Q values have been updated based on 2012Wa38.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗