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At least 433 records · Page 24
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Modulations of Atmospheric River Climatology by the Stratospheric Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation

Abstract This study reveals the significant Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation (QBO) influences on the seasonal atmospheric river (AR) climatology around the globe. The North Pacific (NP) AR climatology in the boreal winter to early fall seasons in a QBO easterly (QBOE) phase is systematically shifted poleward compared with those in a QBO westerly (QBOW) phase, and such difference peaks in the local late spring season. We also find the similar poleward shift for the AR climatology over the South Pacific (SP) in the austral winter seasons in the QBOE phase. A significant equatorward shift and an overall enhancement of the AR climatology over the SP are observed in the QBOE phase during local spring and summer seasons, respectively. The QBO impacts on the AR climatology over the Atlantic Ocean are less organized. Strong QBO impacts exist in almost all seasons for the North Atlantic AR but only in the austral spring season for the South Atlantic AR. These QBO modulations of the AR climatology over the ocean basins also change the season‐mean AR frequencies around coastal regions, suggesting significant QBO impacts on the local land‐falling AR events. The QBO modulations of the seasonal background mean states and the MJO‐teleconnections are two potential mechanisms mostly over the north hemisphere. The QBOE modulation of the Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO)‐teleconnection over the northern hemisphere is asymmetric between the MJO convection over the Indian Ocean and that over the Pacific Ocean, which is the key to explain the QBO influences on the AR activity on the seasonal timescale.

Huang, Kai [U.S. National Science Foundation Natio↗
NASA NTRS2005

A Simple Semaphore Signaling Technique for Ultra-High Frequency Spacecraft Communications

For planetary lander missions such as the upcoming Phoenix mission to Mars, the most challenging phase of the spacecraft-to-ground communications is during the critical phase termed entry, descent, and landing (EDL). At 8.4 GHz (X-band), the signals received by the largest Deep Space Network (DSN) antennas can be too weak for even 1 bit per second (bps) and therefore not able to communicate critical information to Earth. Fortunately, the lander s ultra-high frequency (UHF) link to an orbiting relay can meet the EDL requirements, but the data rate needs to be low enough to fit the capability of the UHF link during some or all of EDL. On Phoenix, the minimum data rate of the as-built UHF radio is 8 kbps and requires a signal level at the Odyssey orbiter of at least -120 dBm. For lower signaling levels, the effective data rate needs to be reduced, but without incurring the cost of rebuilding and requalifying the equipment. To address this scenario, a simple form of frequency-shift keying (FSK) has been devised by appropriately programming the data stream that is input to the UHF transceiver. This article describes this technique and provides performance estimates. Laboratory testing reveals that input signal levels at -140 dBm and lower can routinely be demodulated with the proposed signaling scheme, thereby providing a 20-dB and greater margin over the 8-kbps threshold.

Butman, S.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Theoretical Investigation of Solvent Effects on the Hydrodeoxygenation of Propionic Acid over a Ni(111) Catalyst Model

The effect of two solvents, liquid water and 1,4-dioxane, has been studied from first principles on the hydrodeoxygenation of propionic acid over a Ni (111) catalyst surface model. A mean-field microkinetic model was developed to investigate these effects at a temperature of 473 K. Under all reaction conditions, a decarbonylation mechanism is favored significantly over a decarboxylation pathway. Although no significant solvent effects were observed on the decarbonylation rate, a substantial solvent stabilization of two key surface intermediates in the decarboxylation mechanism, CH 3 CCOO and CH 3 CHCOO, lead to a notable increase of the decarboxylation rate by two orders of magnitude in liquid water and by one order of magnitude in liquid 1,4-dioxane. Furthermore, a significant solvent stabilization of the transition state of C-H bond cleavage of the α-carbon of CH 3 CHCO, relative to the stabilization of the C-C bond cleavage of the α-carbon of CH 3 CHCO, leads to a change in dominant pathway in the liquid phase environments. Finally, a sensitivity analysis shows that the C-OH bond cleavage of propionic acid and C-C bond cleavage of the α-carbon of CH 3 CHCO are the most rate controlling states in the gas phase. In contrast, in solvents the dehydrogenation of CH 3 CHCO becomes the most influential step. This shift in rate controlling state is attributed to the solvent effect on the dehydrogenation of CH 3 CHCO, which is facilitated in aqueous phase. Altogether, it is likely that the investigated (111) facet of Ni is not active for the hydrodeoxygenation of propionic acid in neither the gas nor liquid phase and other Ni facets or phases must be responsible for the experimentally observed kinetics.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

Intercomparison of flood inundation models across land use types and hydrological flood stages

Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM) model selection is a key operational decision because accurate, rapid mapping underpins early warning and resource allocation. FIM performance is context-dependent and can vary with hydrograph phase, land-use/land-cover (LULC), and the evaluation benchmark. Intercomparison studies typically assess a single near-peak snapshot against one reference dataset. Here, we provide a context-stratified intercomparison across (i) multiple hydrograph phases, (ii) LULC classes, and (iii) benchmark types, for five FIM approaches spanning a wide range of physical complexity and operational cost (TRITON, LISFLOOD-FP, HEC-RAS 2D, ARC-Curve2Flood, and OWP HAND-FIM). We use the Hurricane Matthew flood (2016) in the Neuse River Basin, North Carolina, USA, as a case study. Using high-resolution remote sensing-derived flood inundation maps, hand-labeled points, and building footprints, we assess model skill across two rising and two falling hydrograph limbs and across major LULC types. Results show that model rankings shift systematically across contexts: LISFLOOD-FP ranks highest in three of four flood phases, while TRITON leads during one rising limb phase; LISFLOOD-FP performs best in vegetated areas, whereas HEC-RAS improves relative performance in agricultural and urban areas; and benchmark choice influences conclusions, with LISFLOOD-FP performing best for flooded-building detection in the late falling limb, while TRITON ranks highest against hand-labeled points. We also report representative wall-clock runtimes for each workflow to provide use-case context for operational feasibility. Together, these results offer transferable guidance for model selection and for designing large-scale, benchmark-aware FIM intercomparison studies.

Nikrou, Parvaneh [University of Alabama]↗
DOE OSTI2026

State of Innovation 2025: Progress in Accelerating Next-Generation Cement and Concrete Technologies

The cement and concrete sectors are entering a decisive period as next-generation technologies advance from laboratory research to demonstration, early deployment, and first-of-a-kind commercial plants. Building on the 2024 State of Innovation report, the 2025 outlook highlights both the rapid acceleration of innovation and the urgent need for coordinated action across the value chain. Venture capital activity into the cement and concrete space stabilized following the record surge of 2022-2023, yet landmark financings, such as Sublime Systems' $200 million round and Terra CO2's $124 million Series B, signal continued investor confidence in companies approaching commercialization. Corporate procurement has become a powerful new catalyst, with Microsoft, Amazon, and CRH (Cement Roadstone Holdings) Ventures providing long-term commitments that underpin the first wave of next-generation cementitious products. The sector is shifting from early-stage experimentation toward the scaling of well-capitalized leaders capable of bridging the critical "capitalization gap." Early innovators continue to expand the toolkit through novel binders, electrochemical cements, biogenic limestone, and carbonate mineralization pathways. Going into 2026, cost competitiveness, durability validation, and scalability enabled by resilient supply chains remain the decisive factors for market adoption. At the 2025 Next Generation Cement and Concrete Critical Technologies Meeting, attendees emphasized dual-track funding strategies that integrate federal grants with private capital as key to enabling market breakthrough. State programs and corporate demand are sustaining momentum, while successful companies increasingly demonstrate both economic value and reduced dependence on imported materials. The National Concrete Pavement Technology Center and others underscored that broad integration of next-generation materials will hinge on standards compatibility, verified field performance, and workforce readiness. Colorado continues to serve as a proving ground through pilot programs that combine supplier training, phased implementation, and real-world data to de-risk innovation and provide replicable models for other regions. The 2025 Cement and Concrete Critical Technologies Workshop reinforced that scaling next-generation materials will require alignment among technology innovation, performance validation, and market demand. Stakeholders must move beyond siloed efforts toward collaborative frameworks that coordinate standards, funding, and infrastructure deployment. As a neutral convener and technical validator, the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) plays a pivotal role in bridging innovation and market adoption through collaborative research, technology validation, and entrepreneurship programs. By uniting innovators, incumbents, policymakers, contractors, and investors, NLR and its partners are helping chart a credible pathway toward widespread commercialization in the decade ahead.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2025

Revealing systematic changes in the transcriptome during the transition from exponential growth to stationary phase

ABSTRACT The composition of bacterial transcriptomes is determined by the transcriptional regulatory network (TRN). The TRN regulates the transition from one physiological state to another. Here, we use independent component analysis to monitor the composition of the transcriptome during the transition from the exponential growth phase to the stationary phase. With Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655 as a model strain, we trigger the transition using carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur starvation. We find that (i) the transition to the stationary phase accompanies common transcriptome changes, including increased stringent responses and reduced production of cellular building blocks and energy regardless of the limiting element; (ii) condition-specific changes are strongly associated with transcriptional regulators ( e.g. , Crp, NtrC, CysB, Cbl) responsible for metabolizing the limiting element; and (iii) the shortage of each limiting element differentially affects the production of amino acids and extracellular polymers. This study demonstrates how the combination of genome-scale datasets and new data analytics reveals the fundamental characteristics of a key transition in the life cycle of bacteria. IMPORTANCE Nutrient limitations are critical environmental perturbations in bacterial physiology. Despite its importance, a detailed understanding of how bacterial transcriptomes are adjusted has been limited. By utilizing independent component analysis (ICA) to decompose transcriptome data, this study reveals key regulatory events that enable bacteria to adapt to nutrient limitations. The findings not only highlight common responses, such as the stringent response, but also condition-specific regulatory shifts associated with carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur starvation. The insights gained from this work advance our knowledge of bacterial physiology, gene regulation, and metabolic adaptation.

Lim, Hyun Gyu (ORCID:0000000204692388)↗
NASA NTRS1999

Electrically-Tunable Group Delays Using Quantum Wells in a Distributed Bragg Reflector

There is a growing interest in the fabrication of semiconductor optical group delay lines for the development of phased arrays of Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VCSELs). We present a novel structure incorporating In(x)GA(1-x)As quantum wells in the GaAs quarter-wave layers of a GaAs/AlAs distributed Bragg reflector (DBR). Application of an electric field across the quantum wells leads to red shifting and peak broadening of the el-hhl exciton peak via the quantum-confined Stark effect. Resultant changes in the index of refraction thereby provide a means for altering the group delay of an incident laser pulse. We discuss the tradeoffs between the maximum amount of change in group delay versus absorption losses for such a device. We also compare a simple theoretical model to experimental results, and discuss both angle and position tuning of the BDR band edge resonance relative to the exciton absorption peak. The advantages of such monolithically grown devices for phased-array VCSEL applications will be detailed.

Nelson, Thomas R., Jr.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Evolutionary consequences of nascent multicellular life cycles

A key step in the evolutionary transition to multicellularity is the origin of multicellular groups as biological individuals capable of adaptation. Comparative work, supported by theory, suggests clonal development should facilitate this transition, although this hypothesis has never been tested in a single model system. We evolved 20 replicate populations of otherwise isogenic clonally reproducing ‘snowflake’ yeast (Δace2/∆ace2) and aggregative ‘floc’ yeast (GAL1p::FLO1 /GAL1p::FLO1) with daily selection for rapid growth in liquid media, which favors faster cell division, followed by selection for rapid sedimentation, which favors larger multicellular groups. While both genotypes adapted to this regime, growing faster and having higher survival during the group-selection phase, there was a stark difference in evolutionary dynamics. Aggregative floc yeast obtained nearly all their increased fitness from faster growth, not improved group survival; indicating that selection acted primarily at the level of cells. In contrast, clonal snowflake yeast mainly benefited from higher group-dependent fitness, indicating a shift in the level of Darwinian individuality from cells to groups. Through genome sequencing and mathematical modeling, we show that the genetic bottlenecks in a clonal life cycle also drive much higher rates of genetic drift—a result with complex implications for this evolutionary transition. Our results highlight the central role that early multicellular life cycles play in the process of multicellular adaptation.

Life Sciences & Biomedicine - Other Topics↗
NASA NTRS2010

Designs and Materials for Better Coronagraph Occulting Masks

New designs, and materials appropriate for such designs, are under investigation in an effort to develop coronagraph occulting masks having broad-band spectral characteristics superior to those currently employed. These designs and materials are applicable to all coronagraphs, both ground-based and spaceborne. This effort also offers potential benefits for the development of other optical masks and filters that are required (1) for precisely tailored spatial transmission profiles, (2) to be characterized by optical-density neutrality and phase neutrality (that is, to be characterized by constant optical density and constant phase over broad wavelength ranges), and/or (3) not to exhibit optical- density-dependent phase shifts. The need for this effort arises for the following reasons: Coronagraph occulting masks are required to impose, on beams of light transmitted through them, extremely precise control of amplitude and phase according to carefully designed transmission profiles. In the original application that gave rise to this effort, the concern has been to develop broad-band occulting masks for NASA s Terrestrial Planet Finder coronagraph. Until now, experimental samples of these masks have been made from high-energy-beam-sensitive (HEBS) glass, which becomes locally dark where irradiated with a high-energy electron beam, the amount of darkening depending on the electron-beam energy and dose. Precise mask profiles have been written on HEBS glass blanks by use of electron beams, and the masks have performed satisfactorily in monochromatic light. However, the optical-density and phase profiles of the HEBS masks vary significantly with wavelength; consequently, the HEBS masks perform unsatisfactorily in broad-band light. The key properties of materials to be used in coronagraph occulting masks are their extinction coefficients, their indices of refraction, and the variations of these parameters with wavelength. The effort thus far has included theoretical predictions of performances of masks that would be made from alternative materials chosen because the wavelength dependences of their extinction coefficients and their indices of refraction are such that that the optical-density and phase profiles of masks made from these materials can be expected to vary much less with wavelength than do those of masks made from HEBS glass. The alternative materials considered thus far include some elemental metals such as Pt and Ni, metal alloys such as Inconel, metal nitrides such as TiN, and dielectrics such as SiO2. A mask as now envisioned would include thin metal and dielectric films having stepped or smoothly varying thicknesses (see figure). The thicknesses would be chosen, taking account of the indices of refraction and extinction coefficients, to obtain an acceptably close approximation of the desired spatial transmittance profile with a flat phase profile

Balasubramanian, Kunjithapatham↗
DOE OSTI2021

Transparent Refractory Aerogels for Efficient Spectral Control in High–Temperature Solar Power Generation

Although spectrally selective materials play a key role in existing and emerging solar thermal technologies, temperature-related degradation currently limits their use to below 700 °C in vacuum and even lower temperatures in air. Here a solar-transparent refractory aerogel that offers stable performance up to 800 °C in air is demonstrated, which is significantly greater than its silica counterpart. This improved stability is attributed to the formation of a refractory aluminum silicate phase, which is synthesized using a conformal single cycle of atomic layer deposition within the high-aspect-ratio pores of silica aerogels. Furthermore, based on direct heat loss measurements, the transparent refractory aerogel achieves a receiver efficiency of 75% at 100 suns and an absorber temperature of 700 °C, which is a 5% improvement over the state of the art. Transparent refractory aerogels may find widespread applicability in solar thermal technologies by enabling the use of lower-cost optical focusing systems and eliminating the need for highly evacuated receivers. In particular, a shift to higher operating temperatures while maintaining a high receiver efficiency can enable the use of advanced supercritical CO 2 power cycles and ultimately translate to an ≈10% (absolute) improvement in solar-to-electrical conversion efficiency relative to existing linear concentrating systems.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Crystallization Mechanisms of Poly(vinylidene Fluoride- co -chlorotrifluoroethylene): Nucleation Transitions, Growth Kinetics, and Microstructure Evolution

The crystallization kinetics of FK-800, a commercial semicrystalline copolymer of chlorotrifluoroethylene and vinylidene fluoride (poly(CTFE-co-VDF)), dictate its microstructure and functional performance. Crystallization occurs between the glass transition (T g ≈ 31 °C) and melting point (T m ≈ 110 °C), with grain boundaries playing a key role in applications such as memristors, where they regulate filament growth. This study integrates in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM), grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to characterize nucleation, growth, and morphology across the full crystallization window. Hot-stage AFM reveals a transition from homogeneous to heterogeneous nucleation near 45 °C and a shift from reaction-limited to diffusion-limited growth above 60 °C. Kinetics are analyzed using Lauritzen–Hoffman, Turnbull–Fisher, and Avrami models to extract surface free energies and activation barriers. A multiscale modeling framework is developed in which nucleation densities and growth rates measured by AFM are used to reconstruct Avrami kinetics, which are then validated against coverage data, and extrapolated to predict bulk crystallization behavior observed by DSC. GIWAXS confirms a primarily flat-on chain orientation at all temperatures, linking orientation to domain morphology. This integrative approach quantitatively connects nanoscale crystallization dynamics with macroscopic phase evolution, establishing a quantitative framework for modeling crystallization across time, temperature, and length scales.

Crystallization↗
DOE OSTI2025

The possibility of hydrogen-water demixing in Uranus, Neptune, K2-18 b and TOI-270 d

Context. The internal structures of Uranus and Neptune remain unknown. In addition, sub-Neptunes are now thought to be the most common type of exoplanets. Improving our understanding of the physical processes that govern the interiors of such planets is therefore essential. Phase separation between planetary constituents may occur, in particular, hydrogen-water immiscibility in cold, water-rich intermediate-mass planets. Aims. We assess whether hydrogen-water demixing could occur in Uranus, Neptune, K2-18 b and TOI-270 d, and investigate its effect on the planetary evolution and inferred internal structure. Methods. We couple planetary evolution models with recent ab initio calculations of the hydrogen-water phase diagram, allowing for temperature shifts to account for uncertainties in miscibility gaps. Results. We find that demixing may occur and could lead to a complete depletion of water in the outermost regions of Uranus and Neptune. Temperature offsets of up to 1100 K lead to a depleted region comprising as much as 16% of the planet’s mass, and an increase in planetary radius by nearly 20%. For K2-18 b, our models suggest that hydrogen-water demixing is ongoing and may explain the absence of water features in its JWST spectrum. A temperature offset of 500 K is required to get a complete depletion of water in the atmosphere of K2-18b. TOI-270d may also have experienced hydrogen-water demixing. When applying a similar temperature offset on the phase diagram as for K2-18 b, we find a partial depletion of water in the atmosphere of TOI-270 d, consistent with JWST’s detection of water. Conclusions. Hydrogen-water immiscibility may play a key role in shaping the structure and evolution of both Solar System giant planets like Uranus and Neptune, and cold/temperate exoplanets such as K2-18 b and TOI-270 d. Accounting for such internal processes is crucial to accurately interpret atmospheric observations from current (e.g., JWST) and upcoming (e.g., ARIEL) missions.

planets and satellites: composition↗
DOE OSTI2021

Method for boosting dispersive spectrograph stability 1000× using interferometry with crossfaded pairs of delays

We demonstrate a key step along a technical route to achieving cm/s scale accuracy for astronomical spectrographs over long (multi-year) time scales, which is critical for the Doppler characterization of Earth sized exoplanets, and measurement of small cosmic redshift drift over many years. This same technique also enables searching exoplanet atmospheres for biosignificant molecules in direct planet imaging using, otherwise, insufficiently low resolution and drift prone dispersive (grating or prism) spectrographs. Using a method called crossfading for externally dispersed interferometers (EDIs) to get highly robust spectra, we recently demonstrated a factor of 1000 x reduction in the net shift of an EDI measured ThAr line to a deliberate simulated wavelength translation of the detector. This 1000 x gain in disperser stability can be combined with conventional stability gains afforded by fiber scramblers, vacuum tanks, and thermal control, to provide an additional 1 to 3 orders of magnitude reduction in the net point spread function shift drift. Crossfading combines high- and low-delay fringing signals that react oppositely in phase to cancel their net reaction to a detector wavelength drift. This can be implemented by an interferometer addition to a facility spectrograph.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Dynamics of Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation in Submicrometer Aerosol

Nanoscale materials, when compared to their bulk components, possess unique properties. In particular, shifts in phase transitions can occur for submicron particles. For instance, small particles do not undergo the process of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). LLPS has applications in emulsions such as Janus particles, controllable morphology to create drug-rich phases during drug delivery, and is often observed in atmospheric aqueous aerosol particles. In atmospheric particles, LLPS is tracked as a function of particle water activity, which is equivalent to the relative humidity (RH) at equilibrium. We probed three organic/inorganic aerosol systems in the range of RH over which phase separation occurs (SRH). Our findings indicate that SRH for submicron aerosol particles is lower than for micron-sized droplets. These findings show that it may be necessary to update the representation of phase transitions in aerosol particles in climate models. The vast majority of organic/inorganic aerosol particles have submicron diameters, and a decrease in SRH for submicron particles indicates that the current estimation of phase separated aerosols may be overestimated. Furthermore, understanding the properties of LLPS at the nanoscale can provide key parameters to describe these systems and may lead to better control of phase separation in submicron particles.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

Microchannel-based Membrane-less Extraction of Li from Unconventional Lithium Sources & the Separation of REE

This final report provides an overview of the Project's entire duration, covering July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023. It primarily focuses on the achievements, technological developments, and unique challenges the team faced while working on separating and extracting Lithium from produced waters. The project's primary aim was to create an integrated, high-throughput, membrane-less, and modular microfluidic platform that could extract Lithium from unconventional sources. We have successfully met all goals and milestones envisioned in the SOPO document. The most critical primary milestones, including the Go-No-Go milestone (refer to the Gantt chart in the Appendices), were successfully accomplished. We demonstrated phase separation (>90%) and extraction (>85%) performance in the MPSE using synthetic, and representative produced water composition feed at 50 ml/min total flow through MPSE 36. We have also performed a parametric study of the MPSE operations, beyond the scope of SOPO, exploring operating conditions of current and broader interest. The extended investigation of operational parameters is concurrent with our efforts to seek further development of the MPSE technology beyond the scope of the Project. Along these lines of development, we have made efforts to be responsive to DOE calls for technological developments of other types of resources (beyond PW) for the recovery of Critical Materials and higher TRL development (beyond TRL 4). During the work on this Project, we developed and implemented three innovative technical approaches that emerged from our efforts to successfully meet the Project milestones. The innovative & original technical approaches developed and implemented in this Project are now the contributions to process engineering that could be clearly credited to the Project. First, Convergent Design Approach is a comprehensive feedforward & feedback loop of four design phases: i) design for functionality, ii) design for manufacturing, iii) design for sustainability, and iv) design for market. Next was Process Intensification. A major aim of this Project was to create an innovative phase separation & extraction microscale-based technology for Li separation – thus the words microchannel-based in the Project title. A microscale-based technology is intrinsically in the center of the Process Intensification domain as defined by its unique principles. Therefore, Process Intensification was implicitly envisioned in the Project’s SOPO. Lastly, Time Scale Analysis is a novel tool for discovering the needs and directions of Process Intensification implementations in any process technology. This Project is fully credited for developing and implementing the three novel technical approaches mentioned above. These are general contributions to process engineering that emerged from this Project. Beyond the original SOPO scope, the OSU-U.Pitt research group utilized a Convergent Design methodology, integrating first-principles mathematical modeling with experimental validation on the Minimum Development Vehicle. By creating these Digital Twins, the team rapidly assessed manufacturing iterations to support TEA analysis. This framework further enabled the development of advanced Surface Modification Techniques, where hydrophobic and oleophobic coating strategies were optimized via Digital Twin tools and validated through rigorous 100-hour longevity testing. TEA Analysis: The closing efforts of this Project were focused on the TEA analysis. TEA analysis had two primary functions: i) enabling critical assessments of design variations withing 10 the Concurrent Design Approach, thus enabling evolution of the MPSE design to reach faster- better-cheaper alternatives; and ii) to create a bridge between the accomplishments of this Project and future projects of higher TRL, beyond TRL 6 level. It is important to note that the TEA model created in the Project stirred the technological solutions for the recovery of critical materials toward a vision of a very profitable modular plant that has unique zero-waste water discharge signature. More importantly, thanks to our experimental performance data and conservative assumptions, the TEA model predicts minimal technological and investment risks. Low cost of a modular unit of a nominal capacity of [1000 tons of Li 2 CO 3 /year] positions the MPSE based technology within the reach of community investors, thus offering a paradigm shift in the development of critical technologies. The project successfully navigated two primary challenges: solvent selection and manufacturing adaptation. Restricted by the SOPO to existing literature for lithium recovery, the team identified a critical need for a "material excellence program" to develop next-generation solvents, eventually concluding with a preliminary investigation into promising Ionic Liquids (ILs). Simultaneously, COVID-19 supply chain disruptions forced a pivot from traditional manufacturing to advanced additive methods at ATAMI-OSU. By transitioning from stainless steel to 3D-printed polymer substrates, the team achieved a transformative three-order-of- magnitude reduction in manufacturing costs and compressed prototyping timelines from several months to just two days. The MPSE technology offers significant energy, environmental, and economic advantages by overcoming the traditional bottlenecks of phase-separation hardware and contactor size. Unlike conventional mixer-settlers or membrane-based systems, MPSE operates without moving parts or fouling-prone membranes, achieving robust performance even with challenging, viscous, or particulate-heavy feeds. Key performance metrics include an energy intensity reduction of 5–50x (3–40 kJ/m 3 ) compared to incumbent technologies and a dramatic reduction of processing time to under 60 seconds, which drastically reduces the physical plant footprint. These technical efficiencies translate into superior economic outcomes; for a 100 t/year Li 2 CO 3 facility, implementing MPSE is projected to nearly halve contactor CAPEX (from $\$$6.08M to $\$$3.01M) and significantly increase the project's Net Present Value (NPV), derisking new investment and enabling distributed critical-mineral processing configurations. The commercialization of MPSE technology is being spearheaded by Vigsur Dynamics Inc., which has adopted a structured, parallel approach to technical and business development since its formation in January 2026. Following extensive customer discovery and engagement with the Oregon State University accelerator, Vigsur Dynamics is working to establish a business model that transitions from pilot demonstrations to modular hardware sales, ultimately aiming for a "build-own-operate" service strategy. Current technical milestones—including 100 hours of continuous operation, superior energy efficiency, and successful 6-unit modular scale-up— provide a foundation for this transition. Backed by ongoing IP licensing and a growing network of industrial and venture advisors, the company is actively de-risking the platform to replace conventional mixer-settler systems in the critical minerals market.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Biomass-burning smoke's properties and its interactions with marine stratocumulus clouds in WRF-CAM5 and southeastern Atlantic field campaigns

Abstract. A large part of the uncertainty in climate projections comes from uncertain aerosol properties and aerosol–cloud interactions as well as the difficulty in remotely sensing them. The southeastern Atlantic functions as a natural laboratory to study biomass-burning smoke and to constrain this uncertainty. We address these gaps by comparing the Weather Research and Forecasting with Chemistry Community Atmosphere Model (WRF-CAM5) to the multi-campaign observations ORACLES (ObseRvations of Aerosols above CLouds and their intEractionS), CLARIFY (CLoud–Aerosol–Radiation Interaction and Forcing), and LASIC (Layered Atlantic Smoke Interactions with Clouds) in the southeastern Atlantic in August 2017 to evaluate a large range of the model's aerosol chemical properties, size distributions, processes, and transport, as well as aerosol–cloud interactions. Overall, while WRF-CAM5 is able to represent smoke properties and transport, some key discrepancies highlight the need for further analysis. Observations of smoke composition show an overall decrease in aerosol mean diameter as smoke ages over 4–12 d, while the model lacks this trend. A decrease in the mass ratio of organic aerosol (OA) to black carbon (BC), OA:BC, and the OA mass to carbon monoxide (CO) mixing ratio, OA:CO, suggests that the model is missing processes that selectively remove OA from the particle phase, such as photolysis and heterogeneous aerosol chemistry. A large (factor of ∼2.5) enhancement in sulfate from the free troposphere (FT) to the boundary layer (BL) in observations is not present in the model, pointing to the importance of properly representing secondary sulfate aerosol formation from marine dimethyl sulfide and gaseous SO2 smoke emissions. The model shows a persistent overprediction of aerosols in the marine boundary layer (MBL), especially for clean conditions, which multiple pieces of evidence link to weaker aerosol removal in the modeled MBL than reality. This evidence includes several model features, such as not representing observed shifts towards smaller aerosol diameters, inaccurate concentration ratios of carbon monoxide and black carbon, underprediction of heavy rain events, and little evidence of persistent biases in modeled entrainment. The average below-cloud aerosol activation fraction (NCLD/NAER) remains relatively constant in WRF-CAM5 between field campaigns (∼0.65), while it decreases substantially in observations from ORACLES (∼0.78) to CLARIFY (∼0.5), which could be due to the model misrepresentation of clean aerosol conditions. WRF-CAM5 also overshoots an observed upper limit on liquid cloud droplet concentration around NCLD= 400–500 cm−3 and overpredicts the spread in NCLD. This could be related to the model often drastically overestimating the strength of boundary layer vertical turbulence by up to a factor of 10. We expect these results to motivate similar evaluations of other modeling systems and promote model development to reduce critical uncertainties in climate simulations.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

A constitutive model for glass–ceramic materials

Glass–ceramics have received recent attention for use in glass–ceramic to metal hermetic seals. Due to their heterogeneous microstructure, these materials exhibit a number of advantageous responses over conventional glass based seals. Key amongst them is the possibility of a controllable thermal strain response and apparent coefficient of thermal expansion which may be used to minimize thermally induced residual stresses for aforementioned seals. Furthermore, these behaviors result from an inorganic glass matrix and variety of crystalline ceramic phases including silica polymorph(s) that may undergo reversible solid-to-solid transformations with associated inelastic strain. Correspondingly, these materials exhibit complex thermomechanical responses associated with multiple inelastic mechanisms (viscoelasticity and phase transformation). While modeling these behaviors is essential for developing and analyzing the corresponding applications, no such model exists. Therefore, in this work a three-dimensional continuum constitutive model for glass–ceramic materials combining these various inelastic mechanisms is developed via an internal state variable approach. A corresponding fully implicit three dimensional numerical formulation is also proposed and implemented. The model is used to simulate existing experiments and validate the proposed formalism. As an example, the simple seal problem of a glass–ceramic seal inside a concentric metal shell is explored. Finally, the impact of the cooling rates, viscoelastic shift factors, and inelastic strain on final residual stress state are all investigated and the differing contributions highlighted.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Scale up, Field testing, and Optimization of Nontoxic, Durable, Economical Coatings for Control of Biofouling and Corrosion (Abstract Only)

The objective of this project is the technical maturation and demonstration of a durable, economical, and nontoxic coating, Superhydrophobic Lubricant Infused Composite (SLIC), that will prevent fouling organisms from growing on marine and hydrokinetic (MHK) structures and prevent invasive mussels from growing on hydropower structures. SLIC technology was developed and patented by PNNL. It combines multiple antifouling mechanisms to provide excellent antifouling performance, durability, and low hydrodynamic drag without using toxic materials. Advanced proof-of-concept testing and demonstrations completed during a Phase 1 TCF project attracted industry interest and partnerships for this Phase 2 effort focused on maturation of a commercial product. Specific tasks and tests will shift the development emphasis to optimizing formulations, validating antifouling performance to address specific application needs, explore compatibility with other paint systems, develop a product with useful shelf life (in can), and determine curing times and effective applications methodology. Phase 2 efforts will focus upon technology transfer and commercialization of the technology with the industrial team. Industrial partners now include a coatings development specialist (Lorama), hydrophobic material manufacturer and paint developer (Dry Surface Technologies), nontoxic biodegradable lubricants manufacturer (BioBlend), and aquatic applications specialists (Prometheus Innovations, River Connectivity Systems). Engagement with the MHK device developers, the PNNL Marine and Coastal Research Laboratory (MCRL) test site in Sequim WA, Bureau of Reclamation, and Taylor Shellfish throughout the project will provide topical expertise and field test sites that will deliver crucial real-world performance data. Through this Phase 2 effort, SLIC will transition from a Technical Readiness Level (TRL) 5 to TRL 6 and long-term performance data will be acquired through demonstrations. The field test data will allow optimization of SLIC formulation to enhance performance (e.g., durability) and packaging, which are key de-risking activities for technology transfer and ultimately to the production of a viable commercial product.

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