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At least 469 records · Page 26

Composition‐Conditioning Agent for Doped Spiro‐OMeTAD to Realize Highly Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

Abstract The doped Spiro‐OMeTAD hole transport layer (HTL) formed using the lithium bis(trifluoromethane) sulfonimide salt and 4‐tert‐butylpyridine with phenethylammonium iodide surface treatment on a perovskite film has continuously dominated the record power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of perovskite solar cells (pero‐SCs). However, unstable HTL compositions and iodide salts can cause severe device degradation. In this study, an HTL composition‐conditioning agent (CCA), Spiro‐BD‐2OEG, is designed, which contains a Spiro‐OMeTAD‐like backbone, functional pyridine units, and oligo (ethylene glycol) chains. This finely designed CCA presents good miscibility with Spiro‐OMeTAD and its dopants and acts as a conditioning agent through weak bond interactions. As a result, the CCA‐regulated HTL shows a pinhole‐free and smooth morphology with enhanced Spiro‐OMeTAD ordering and improves dopant stability. In addition, the gradient‐distributed CCA in the HTL can narrow the energy level offset with the valence band of the perovskite. The resultant pero‐SCs exhibit an excellent PCE of 24.19% without any interface treatment and weak size dependence. A remarkable PCE of 22.63% is obtained even for a 1.004‐cm 2 device. Importantly, the strategy shows good universality and significantly promotes the long‐term stability of the pero‐SCs based on the classical doped Spiro‐OMeTAD.

Chemistry↗

Impact of soiling on Si and CdTe PV modules: Case study in different Brazil climate zones

Soiling, particulate accumulation on photovoltaic (PV) module surfaces, reduces the available solar resource and the resulting generated device power. This case-study summarizes initial results of 5-year research on the contrasting soiling conditions in the tropical, subtropical, and semi-arid climates in Brazil. A major objective is to present a case study of the effects of soiling on PV module performance in different Brazil climate zones that represent the primary areas for the current and expanding Brazil solar installations. For this, the paper presents methodologies to quantify the soiling ratio (SRatio) and soiling rate (SRate) for two representative commercial technologies, polycrystalline or multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) and thin-film cadmium telluride (CdTe) modules, through soiling monitoring stations deployed in the selected climate regions. An aim is to add to the growing soiling-research knowledge base through addressing these key factors and their relationships to critical electrical, solar resource, thermal, and local meteorological and environmental parameters. This paper presents, evaluates, and compares soiling rates and losses in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais (Equatorial Tropical: 19.92° S, 43.99° W), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul (Humid-Subtropical: 30.05° S, 51.17° W), and Brotas de Macaúbas, Bahia (Semi-Arid: 12.00° S, 42.63° W). The results show that soiling is moderate in all 3-regions, for example with 0.1%/day < SRate < 0.2%/day for Belo Horizonte. Precipitation dominates the cleaning of the modules in the summertime in this climate zone, while it is the major factor year-round in Rio Grande do Sul. Wind is the major issue mitigating the soiling accumulation for the Bahia installation. The methodology incorporates several key refinements, including the normalization and adjustment for the meteorological parameters (temperature, irradiance, wind, precipitation). The evaluations include the region-specific differing effects of non-uniform soiling, natural cleaning, and ambient temperatures.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Decontamination of urban surfaces contaminated with radioactive materials and consequent onsite recycling of the waste water

Enhancing rapid remediation strategies is paramount for recovery after a large-scale nuclear contamination event in an urban environment. Some current strategies recommend use of readily available equipment, materials, and facilities to expedite recovery. For example, applying pressurized water to contaminated surfaces may effectively remove radioactive contamination. In this study, a commercial power washer removes soluble forms of 152 Eu 3 + , 85 Sr 2 + , and 137 Cs + contamination from common porous building materials, and computer simulations characterize the recycling of the resultant contaminated wash water. Pressure washing the porous building materials under spray conditions typical with do-it-yourself units improved decontamination factors (DFs) for 152 Eu compared to low-pressure application of tap water (majority of two-tailed t-test p-values < 0.1), but pressure did not improve DFs for 137 Cs or 85 Sr. For both pressurized and low-pressure applications, adding potassium ions (K + ) to promote ion exchange reactions produced significantly higher DFs for tested radionuclides on asphalt, brick, and concrete. The resultant contaminated wash water can be processed through self-prepared chemical filtration beds of clay and sand. Modeled in a prior study, the beds yielded linear trends (R 2 > 0.98) in sensitivity analyses between most bed configuration variables and bed performance variables, permitting flexible ad-hoc bed design. The experimental and simulation results led to estimates of the remediation rate and waste generated after cleaning 250 m 2 of cesium-contaminated concrete from the combined deployment of a power washer and two different mobile treatment beds. Furthermore, the first treatment bed was designed to reduce treatment time and processed 1900 L of wash solution in 70 min using 880 kg of clay/sand infill material. Designed to reduce the solid waste generated, the second bed processed the same solution volume in 1040 min (17 h) using 170 kg of clay/sand infill material. The results of this analysis warrant further investigation of power washing with recycled salt solution as an effective rapid decontamination method with manageable waste.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Low-Energy Ion Scattering Intensities from Supported Nanoparticles: The Spherical Cap Model

Supported nanoparticles are of great importance to many technologies like fuel processing and chemical synthesis using catalysts and electrocatalysts, energy storage and generation using fuel cells and batteries, electrochemistry, magnetic information storage, and more. Low-energy ion scattering spectroscopy (LEIS) with noble gas ions like He+ is a powerful tool for the characterization of nanoparticles dispersed across flat support surfaces due to its ability to probe the elemental composition in the topmost atomic layer of a surface, providing quantitative information regarding the size and number density of nanoparticles. In this work, we present a derivation of the LEIS intensities expected from nanoparticles and the support material as a function of the average particle size, their number per unit area, and their contact angle with the support when modeled as spherical caps of the nanoparticle material dispersed over the surface of a flat support. The model assumes that the ion intensities are determined only by the physical blocking of linear ion trajectories and independent of the tilt angle of the local surface relative to the incident and scattered ion directions, an assumption we support by quantitative modeling of published data which tested tilt-angle effects. The model is a generalization to arbitrary contact angles of the hemispherical cap model, which assumes 90° contact angle and has been widely used to model spectroscopic signals in LEIS (and also in Auger and photoelectron spectroscopies) during nanoparticle growth. Here, this new model quantitatively reveals how LEIS signals are sensitive not only to the diameter and number density of the nanoparticle but also to their contact angle (or height/diameter ratio). With the use of additional data (e.g., from microscopy or adsorption microcalorimetry), the model presented here will enable more accurate determination of the average size, shape, and number density of supported nanoparticles based on LEIS intensity measurements.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Combined Stress Testing of Perovskite Solar Cells for Stable Operation in Space

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) could provide new low-cost opportunities for powering spacecraft. Here we are designing a PSC resilient to lunar surface conditions, focusing on contact/barrier layers combinations that maximize stability. Thermal vacuum stress shows cells with gold back-contacts and SiOx protection retain >90% of initial efficiency and indium tin oxide (ITO)-contacted cells retain ~100% of initial efficiency after five months of stress. SiO x mitigates mechanical aspects of contact stress, retaining 99% of initial efficiency, whereas cells with silicone/cover glass decreased 27%. We further exposed cells to combined illumination, 75 °C heat, and 10 -6 Torr vacuum for 24 h and found that ITO-contacted cells outperformed Au-contacted cells.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

In situ Stress Monitoring Reveals Tension and Wrinkling Evolutions during Halide Perovskite Film Formation

Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) are promising candidates for next-generation thin film photovoltaics and high-performance tandems. Solution-processed MHP films are susceptible to residual stress that can induce undesirable surface wrinkles. However, the origins and evolution of stress during solution processing remain elusive. Here, in this work, we utilize multimodal in situ characterizations, including substrate curvature, reflectance, absorbance, and photoluminescence, to monitor stress and morphology evolution during MHP film formation. A film formation model emerges, consisting of a perovskite top crust on a semirigid sol with the ability to transfer mechanical forces. The phase transformation induces tension in the MHP crust, while shrinkage of the sol causes additional compression and surface wrinkles. Wrinkle-free films are formed through dynamically balancing forces between the crust and the sol. This study provides a powerful toolkit for the fast-growing area of stress engineering in MHP photovoltaics to achieve dynamic control of film stress and surface morphology.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Bridging Nano- and Microscale X-Ray Tomography for Battery Research by Leveraging Artificial Intelligence

X-ray computed tomography (CT) is a non-destructive imaging technique in which contrast originates from the materials' absorption coefficient. The recent development of laboratory nanoscale CT (nano-CT) systems has pushed the spatial resolution for battery material imaging to voxel sizes of 50 nm, a limit previously achievable only with synchrotron facilities. Given the non-destructive nature of CT, in situ and operando studies have emerged as powerful methods to quantify morphological parameters, such as tortuosity factor, porosity, surface area and volume expansion, during battery operation or cycling. Combined with artificial intelligence and machine learning analysis techniques, nano-CT has enabled the development of predictive models to analyse the impact of the electrode microstructure on cell performances or the influence of material heterogeneities on electrochemical responses. In this Review, we discuss the role of X-ray CT and nano-CT experimentation in the battery field, discuss the incorporation of artificial intelligence and machine learning analyses and provide a perspective on how the combination of multiscale CT imaging techniques can expand the development of predictive multiscale battery behavioural models.

diagnostics↗

Nonnuclear Experimental Capabilities to Support Design, Development, and Demonstration of Microreactors

This work provides a summary of selected experimental capabilities being developed to support nonnuclear testing and demonstration of technology in support of microreactors under the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Microreactor Program. Major capabilities include the Single Primary Heat Extraction and Removal Emulator (SPHERE) and the Microreactor Agile Non-nuclear Experimental Test Bed (MAGNET). The SPHERE facility allows for controlled testing of the steady-state and transient heat rejection capabilities of a single heat pipe using electrical heaters that simulate nuclear heating. The facility is capable of monitoring axial temperature profiles along the heat pipe and surrounding test articles during startup, steady-state operation, and transients. Instrumentation includes noncontact infrared thermal imaging, surface thermocouples, spatially distributed fiber optic temperature and strain sensors, electrical power meters, and a water-cooled, gas-gap calorimeter for quantifying heat rejection from the heat pipe. The facility can be operated under both vacuum and inert-gas conditions. The MAGNET facility is a large-scale, 250-kW electrically heated microreactor test bed to enable nonnuclear experimental evaluation of a variety of microreactor concepts. It can be supplied to electrically heat a scaled section of a microreactor and further test the capabilities of heat rejection systems. The initial MAGNET experiments will support technology maturation and reduce uncertainty and risk associated with the design, operation, and deployment of monolithic heat pipe–based reactors. However, this test bed can broadly be applied to multiple microreactor concepts to evaluate a wide range of thermal-hydraulic and structural phenomena such as interface coupling with power conversion units and other collocated systems. MAGNET can evaluate integral thermomechanical effects during electrical heating of an array of heat pipes in a larger test article. Examples of initial testing will include thermal stresses in the monolith and the impact of debonding of a heat pipe from the core block and how that failure could impact surrounding heat pipes, i.e., understanding the potential for cascading failure. This work also discusses some modeling capabilities that can support experiment design, analysis, and interpretation, including the heat pipe code Sockeye and a comparison of thermal-structural simulations performed using ABAQUS and STAR-CCM+.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Solvent organization in the ultrahigh-resolution crystal structure of crambin at room temperature

Ultrahigh-resolution structures provide unprecedented details about protein dynamics, hydrogen bonding and solvent networks. The reported 0.70 Å, room-temperature crystal structure of crambin is the highest-resolution ambient-temperature structure of a protein achieved to date. Sufficient data were collected to enable unrestrained refinement of the protein and associated solvent networks using SHELXL . Dynamic solvent networks resulting from alternative side-chain conformations and shifts in water positions are revealed, demonstrating that polypeptide flexibility and formation of clathrate-type structures at hydrophobic surfaces are the key features endowing crambin crystals with extraordinary diffraction power.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Non-circular electron beam spot welds in stainless steel alloys

Circularly symmetric-shaped spot welds are desirable for welding applications as they relate to heat and fluid flow conditions in the melt pool with predictable weld penetrations and repeatable results. Non-circular spot welds on the other hand result in undesirable and unpredictable weld penetrations or non-bridging of the liquid melt pool across the joint. Two known causes for non-circular melt pools occur when welding dissimilar metals, or when welding with skewed electron or laser beams that are not perpendicular to the surface. A largely unexplored additional factor, shown here, is an asymmetric power density distribution within the beam that can create non-circular melt pools even though the beam dimensions are much smaller than the melt pool itself.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Heat pulse testing at monitoring wells to estimate subsurface fluid velocities in geological CO 2 storage

Monitoring the injected CO 2 during geological CO 2 storage (GCS) is essential to assure containment and identify CO 2 leakage. Here in this work, a new approach is introduced to estimate the evolution of the downhole fluid velocity at a monitoring well and identify CO 2 arrival time using in-well heat pulse/tracer test. The proposed technique involves using a downhole heater to generate a series of heat pulses and measuring their corresponding temperature response. The surface temperature of the downhole heater is controlled by the supplied electrical power and the heat loss by convection to the surroundings. Convective heat transfer is well described using Newton's law of cooling in which the temperature difference between the heater and the surrounding fluids drives the heat transfer, for which the convection heat transfer coefficient (h) controls the magnitude of heat loss. Among various factors that control h, it depends on the type of the flowing fluid and its velocity. Through analyzing the measured temperature at different heat pulses, the changes in h - due to mobilization of the in-situ brine or CO 2 arrival - can be estimated. Consequently, the velocity of the flowing fluid across the heater can be obtained. Since heat transfer by convection is sensitive to the type of the surrounding fluid, intrusion of CO 2 can be detected from the relatively higher surface temperature obtained at CO 2 arrival. Churchill and Bernstein (1977)'s correlation is adopted to estimate the change of fluid velocity in terms of the change in h. To demonstrate the validity of the proposed technique, the results are applied and validated against those of COMSOL Multiphysics simulation tool for single-phase brine (before CO 2 arrival) and single-phase CO 2 (after CO 2 arrival). The observed temperature heating is sensitive to the flowing fluid velocity and fluid type. The temperature signal observed at CO 2 arrival is large and easily detectable using temperature monitoring tool which provides reliable indication for tracking CO 2 arrival at monitoring wells compared with passive temperature monitoring. The results obtained using the proposed technique agree very well with the numerical results obtained from the simulation tool with a maximum estimation error of 7 percent.

02 PETROLEUM↗

Mitigation of Aerosol Impacts of Ash Deposition and Emissions from Coal Combustion (Final Technical Report)

This project was selected under FOA-0001989 Area of Interest (AOI) 2 – Power Plant Component Improvement. The objective of this AOI was to test and validate technologies and methodologies that can improve the efficiency, reliability, and/or flexibility of individual power plant components in existing plants. The aerosol mitigation technology comprises injection of sorbent into the boiler through injection lances using a positive-pressure blower. The injected sorbent interacts with flame-vaporized aerosolforming components produced during combustion reducing the abundance of sub-micrometer (< 1 micron) particles and fireside ash deposits in the boiler. The primary objective of this project was to validate a sorbent-based technology for mitigating fireside heat transfer surface fouling-related challenges in a full-scale coal-fired power generation facility, thereby, improving plant performance and reliability.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

Exact solutions of burst pressure for thick-walled cylinders in power-law strain hardening steels

Exact solutions of burst pressure for defect-free, thick-walled cylindrical pressure vessels with capped ends are developed using the flow theory of plasticity in terms of the Tresca, von Mises, and Zhu-Leis yield criteria. The material is assumed to obey a power-law strain hardening rule, and the finite strain theory is adopted to describe large plastic deformation. On this basis, internal pressure is obtained as a complex polynomial function of effective strains on the inside and outside surfaces of the pressure vessel with the use of the Bernoulli numbers. At burst failure, the effective strains and stresses on the inside and outside surfaces are first determined, and then three flow solutions of burst pressure are obtained as a power series function of the diameter ratio (D o /D i ), strain hardening exponent (n), and ultimate tensile strength (UTS). The power series solution is confirmed to agree well with the exact flow solution of burst pressure in a closed-form for each yield criterion, and the results show that the von Mises flow solution is an upper bound prediction, the Tresca flow solution is a lower bound prediction, and the Zhu-Leis flow solution is an intermediate prediction of burst pressure. In conclusion, two sets of full-scale burst test data are then utilized to evaluate and validate the proposed flow solutions of burst pressure for both thin-walled pipes and thick-walled cylindrical pressure vessels.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

ToF-SIMS spectral data analysis of Paenibacillus sp. 300A biofilms and planktonic cells

Analysis of bacterial biofilms is particularly challenging and important with diverse applications from systems biology to biotechnology. Among the variety of techniques that have been applied, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) has many promising features in studying the surface characteristics of biofilms. ToF-SIMS offers high spatial resolution and high mass accuracy, which permit surface sensitive analysis of biofilm components. Thus, ToF-SIMS provides a powerful solution to addressing the challenge of bacterial biofilm analysis. This dataset covers ToF-SIMS analysis of Paenibacillus sp. 300A (300A) isolated from the Hanford site in Richland, WA. The strain is known to have metal and sulfur reducing properties and can be used for bioremediation, wastewater treatment, bioengineering and technology development. There is a current need to identify small molecules and fragments produced from bacterial biofilms. Static ToF-SIMS spectra of 300A were obtained using an IONTOF TOF-SIMS V instrument equipped with a 25 keV Bi 3 + metal ion gun. Identified molecules and molecular fragments are compared against known biological databases and the reported peaks have at least 65 ppm mass accuracy. These molecules range from lipids and fatty acids to flavonoids, quinolones, and other naturally occurring organic compounds. It is anticipated that the spectral identification of key peaks will assist detection of metabolites, extracellular polymeric substance molecules like polysaccharides, and biologically relevant small molecules using ToF-SIMS in future surface and interface research of bacterial biofilms.

Biofilms↗

Symmetry‐Breaking Strategy Yields Dopant‐Free Small Molecule Hole Transport Materials for Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells with 20.58% Efficiency and Outstanding Stability

Abstract Inorganic perovskites are known for their excellent photothermal stability; however, the photothermal stability of all‐inorganic n‐i‐p perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is compromised due to ion diffusion and free radical‐induced degradation caused by the use of doped spiro‐OMeTAD hole transport materials (HTMs). In this study, two isomeric donor–acceptor–donor (D–A–D) type small molecules, namely HBT and HiBT, were developed and used as dopant‐free HTMs, using 2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole or benzo[d][1,2,3]thiadiazole as acceptor moieties. The HiBT molecule, with its symmetry‐breaking features, exhibits a large dipole moment, enhanced coordination‐active sites, and a well‐aligned energy level structure, all of which contribute to passivating perovskite surface defects and improving free charge separation. As a result, inorganic CsPbI 3 PSCs with HiBT HTM achieved an impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.58%, the highest reported for dopant‐free HTM‐based inorganic PSCs. Moreover, the enhanced hydrophobic properties of HiBT molecules, coupled with their ability to passivate perovskite surface defects, contribute to significantly improved device stability. The unencapsulated devices based on HiBT HTM retained over 83% and 80% of their initial efficiency after being stored at 85 °C for 50 days and undergoing maximum power point (MPP) tracking at 85 °C for 1100 h, respectively. These results highlight that the symmetry‐breaking strategy is an exceptionally effective approach for designing efficient, dopant‐free small molecule HTMs, significantly contributing to both the high efficiency and enhanced stability of all‐inorganic PSCs.

Chemistry↗

Building Nuclear-Specific Cybersecurity Expertise in Higher Education

The rapid digitalization of nuclear power plants (NPPs) and the deployment of advanced and small modular reactors (A/SMRs) have expanded the cybersecurity attack surface within the nuclear sector. This evolution introduces unique challenges beyond those faced in general information technology (IT), operational technology (OT) and industrial control system (ICS) security, due to nuclear power’s regulatory rigor, safety-critical nature, and operational needs. A pressing workforce gap persists; cybersecurity graduates typically lack nuclear-specific context and retraining them for industry readiness requires 12–18 months, creating a significant burden. This paper addresses this gap by defining the domains of knowledge that nuclear cybersecurity specialists must master, spanning cybersecurity, nuclear engineering, OT/ICS security, and regulatory governance. We propose a curricular framework integrating technical, regulatory, and applied learning components to accelerate workforce readiness. Our approach builds on existing findings that current curricula inadequately integrate nuclear engineering and cybersecurity, shifting the discourse from why specialization is needed to what knowledge must be taught. The recommendations have implications for workforce development and long-term resilience of the nuclear energy sector.

99 - GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Robust silane self-assembled monolayer coatings on plasma-engineered copper surfaces promoting dropwise condensation

Dropwise condensation is well known to result in better heat transfer performance owing to efficient condensate/droplet removal, which can be harnessed in various industrial heat/mass transfer applications such as power generation and conversion, water harvesting/desalination, and electronics thermal management. The key to enhancing condensation via the dropwise mode is thin low surface energy coatings (<100 nm) with low contact angle hysteresis. Ultrathin (<5 nm) silane self-assembled monolayers (or SAMs) have been widely studied to promote dropwise condensation due to their minimal thermal resistance and scalable integration processes. Such thin coatings typically degrade within an hour during condensation of water vapor. After coating failure, water vapor condensation transitions to the inefficient filmwise mode with poor heat transfer performance. We enhance silane SAM quality and durability during water vapor condensation on copper compared to state-of-the-art silane coatings on metal surfaces. We achieve this via (i) surface polishing to sub-10 nm levels, (ii) pure oxygen plasma surface treatment, and (iii) silane coating integration with the copper substrate in an anhydrous/moisture-free environment. The resulting silane SAM has low contact angle hysteresis (≈20°) and promotes efficient dropwise condensation of water for >360 hours without any visible sign of coating failure/degradation in the absence of non-condensable gases. We further demonstrate enhanced heat transfer performance (≈5-7× increase over filmwise condensation) over an extended period of time. Surface characterization data post-condensation leads us to propose that in the absence of non-condensable gases in the vapor environment, the silane SAM degrades due to reduction and subsequent dissolution of copper oxide at the oligomer-substrate interface. The experiments also indicate that the magnitude of surface subcooling (or condensation rate) affects the rate of coating degradation. Finally, this work identifies a pathway to durable dropwise promoter coatings that will enable efficient heat transfer in industrial applications.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Determining the transient electric field and the effect of pulse repetition frequency on the field in a repetitive 10-ns pulsed discharge in a quiescent CH 4 -air mixture

The goal of this research is to understand the underlying physics enabled by nanosecond pulsed power in a discharge initiation and the following physicochemical processes that favor lean-fuel plasma ignition for combustion. The hypothesis of this project is that pulsed power waveforms such as the pulse repetition frequency (PRF), voltage amplitude, and dielectric surface alter the reduced electric field during the initiation of the discharge, resulting in different plasma properties, which will vary the physicochemical processes for efficient and selective radical productions. This is especially important for lean-burn combustion and reducing emission.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗