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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 559 records · Page 31
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

1 kV Self-Aligned Vertical GaN Superjunction Diode

This work demonstrates vertical GaN superjunction (SJ) diodes fabricated via a novel self-aligned process. The SJ comprises n-GaN pillars wrapped by the charge-balanced p-type nickel oxide (NiO). After the NiO sputtering around GaN pillars, the self-aligned process exposes the top pillar surfaces without the need for additional lithography or a patterned NiO etching which is usually difficult. The GaN SJ diode shows a breakdown voltage (B V) of 1100 V, a specific on-resistance (R ON ) of 0.4 mΩ· cm2, and a SJ drift-region resistance ( R dr ) of 0.13 mΩ· cm2. Further, the device also exhibits good thermal stability with B V retained over 1 kV and R ON dropped to 0.3 mΩ· cm2 at 125°C. The trade-off between B V and R dr is superior to the 1D GaN limit. These results show the promise of vertical GaN SJ power devices. The self-aligned process is applicable for fabricating the heterogeneous SJ based on various wide- and ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Robust Avalanche (1.5 kV, 2 kA/cm²) in Vertical GaN Diodes on Patterned Sapphire Substrate

The lack of avalanche capability is a key limitation of current lateral GaN devices. Despite the report of avalanche in vertical GaN-on-GaN devices, the high wafer cost hinders device commercialization. Here, in this work, we demonstrate a circuit-level avalanche in vertical GaN diodes on low-cost patterned sapphire substrate (PSS), with the avalanche voltage (1.57 kV) and avalanche current density (>2 kA/cm 2 ) both being the highest reported in GaN devices on foreign substrates. The PSS enables a lower dislocation density than conventional sapphire substrate and is employed in high-voltage GaN devices for the first time. The avalanche voltage in the circuit test reaches 98% of the parallel-plane limit, further affirming that near-ideal avalanche breakdown can be realized on GaN devices on foreign substrates. These results show the promise of the GaN-on-PSS platform for low-cost, robust power devices.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2023

Implanted Guard Ring Edge Termination With Avalanche Capability for Vertical GaN Devices

Edge termination is the key building block in power devices to enable near-ideal, avalanche breakdown voltage (BV). Here, this work presents the design, fabrication, and physics of a GaN guard ring (GR) edge termination formed by selective-area nitrogen implantation through an epitaxial p-GaN layer. The fabrication of this termination only includes a single implantation step that does not require precise control of implant depth, rendering a large process latitude. The selective-area implantation produces p-GaN rings that are separated by the implanted, semi-insulating regions. The number and spacing of the p-type rings are found to determine the BV of the vertical GaN p-n diode. The 16-ring structure enables a BV of 1800 V, being 88% of the theoretical 1-D parallel-plane limit. Avalanche characteristics are observed in devices with a large variety of GR designs. Finally, we present a comprehensive survey on the efficiency, fabrication complexity, real estate, and avalanche capability of various edge termination techniques that have been reported in vertical GaN devices. The high efficiency (among the highest reported in avalanche-capable GaN terminations), simple and robust fabrication process, and uniform avalanche capability make this implanted GR a promising edge termination for high-voltage GaN devices.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2019

A new metal transfer process for van der Waals contacts to vertical Schottky-junction transition metal dichalcogenide photovoltaics

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides are promising candidates for ultrathin optoelectronic devices due to their high absorption coefficients and intrinsically passivated surfaces. To maintain these near-perfect surfaces, recent research has focused on fabricating contacts that limit Fermi-level pinning at the metal-semiconductor interface. Here, we develop a new, simple procedure for transferring metal contacts that does not require aligned lithography. Using this technique, we fabricate vertical Schottky-junction WS 2 solar cells, with Ag and Au as asymmetric work function contacts. Under laser illumination, we observe rectifying behavior and open-circuit voltage above 500 mV in devices with transferred contacts, in contrast to resistive behavior and open-circuit voltage below 15 mV in devices with evaporated contacts. One-sun measurements and device simulation results indicate that this metal transfer process could enable high specific power vertical Schottky-junction transition metal dichalcogenide photovoltaics, and we anticipate that this technique will lead to advances for two-dimensional devices more broadly.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Calculation of the Vertical Strata Load of Utility Tunnel Crossing Ground Fissure Zone

A ground fissure is a geological disaster in which the vertical dislocation of strata causes surface rupture. Ground fissures can cause extreme harm to the surface and underground buildings. Ground fissure activity can result in different settlement on the two sides of the strata, which will generate additional stress (pressure) that differs from the stress of the general stratum on underground structures across the ground fissure zone. It is essential to assess the effective stress of strata in the design of underground engineering structures across a ground fissure zone. The Xi’an ground fissure through a utility tunnel was focus of the research, and a physical model and data for oblique crossing of the 45° ground fissure were analyzed. A model of the utility tunnel structure was established, including the surrounding soil load as an active ground fissure environment. This model was used to calculate the vertical formation pressure of the overlying soil on the utility tunnel. A method to calculate the overlying load on the utility tunnel caused by ground fissure activity was proposed and compared with the calculation based on the A. Marston principle. The results showed that the ground fissure load calculation method based on the strata-holding effect can effectively calculate the earth pressure of the surrounding soil layer of the utility tunnel in the cross-ground fissure section. The results of this work provide guidance and reference value for the design of a utility tunnel in an area with the potential for a ground fissure.

Zhang, Dan↗
DOE OSTI2022

A Vertically Resolved MSE Framework Highlights the Role of the Boundary Layer in Convective Self-Aggregation

Abstract Convective self-aggregation refers to a phenomenon in which random convection can self-organize into large-scale clusters over an ocean surface with uniform temperature in cloud-resolving models. Previous literature studies convective aggregation primarily by analyzing vertically integrated (VI) moist static energy (MSE) variance. That is the global MSE variance, including both the local MSE variance at a given altitude and the covariance of MSE anomalies between different altitudes. Here we present a vertically resolved (VR) MSE framework that focuses on the local MSE variance to study convective self-aggregation. Using a cloud-resolving simulation, we show that the development of self-aggregation is associated with an increase of local MSE variance, and that the diabatic and adiabatic generation of the MSE variance is mainly dominated by the boundary layer (BL; the lowest 2 km). The results agree with recent numerical simulation results and the available potential energy analyses showing that the BL plays a key role in the development of self-aggregation. Additionally, we find that the lower free troposphere (2–4 km) also generates significant MSE variance in the first 15 days. We further present a detailed comparison between the global and local MSE variance frameworks in their mathematical formulation and diagnostic results, highlighting their differences.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Columnar Vertical Profile (CVP) Methodology for Validating Polarimetric Radar Retrievals in Ice Using In Situ Aircraft Measurements

Abstract A novel way to process polarimetric radar data collected via plan position indicator (PPI) scans and display those data in a time–height format is introduced. The columnar vertical profile (CVP) methodology uses radar data collected via multiple elevation scans, limited to data within a set region in range and azimuth relative to the radar, to create vertical profiles of polarimetric radar data representative of that limited region in space. This technique is compared to others existing in the literature, and various applications are discussed. Polarimetric ice microphysical retrievals are performed on CVPs created within the stratiform rain region of two mesoscale convective systems sampled during two field campaigns, where CVPs follow the track of research aircraft. Aircraft in situ data are collocated to microphysical retrieval data, and the accuracy of these retrievals is tested against other retrieval techniques in the literature.

Engineering↗
DOE OSTI2020

Characterization of elastic mechanical properties of Tuscaloosa Marine Shale from well logs using the vertical transversely isotropic model

To avoid steep declines in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS) production, wells are fracture-stimulated to release the hydrocarbons trapped in the matrix of the formation. An accurate estimation of Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio is essential for hydraulic fracture propagation. In addition, ignoring the highly heterogeneous and anisotropic character of TMS can lead to erroneous stress values, which subsequently affect hydraulic fracture width estimates and the overall hydraulic fracturing process. We have developed an empirical 1D geomechanical model that takes into account VTI anisotropy, and it is used to characterize the elastic mechanical properties of TMS in two wells. In the analyzed formation, the vertical Poisson’s ratio is less than the horizontal Poisson’s ratio, which suggests the necessity of an alternative to the ANNIE equations. The stiffness coefficients [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] were estimated using the relationships developed from the ultrasonic core data available for the two TMS. Further, correlations between the static and dynamic properties from laboratory tests were used to improve the minimum horizontal stress calculation. We compare VTI Young’s moduli, Poisson’s ratios, and minimum horizontal stress with the isotropic solution. VTI modeling improves the estimation of the elastic mechanical properties. The isotropic solution underestimates the minimum horizontal stress in the formation. Moreover, it was shown that the 20 ft shale interval below the TMS base is characterized by a low Young’s modulus (the vertical Young’s modulus is equal to 20 GPa, whereas the horizontal Young’s modulus is equal to 40 GPa) and may be a frac barrier.

Geochemistry & Geophysics↗
DOE OSTI2023

Enhanced lightning strike protection using vertically oriented carbon fiber melded with conventional carbon fiber-reinforced composite and its validation through damage analysis

Lightning strike protection (LSP) is one of the prime factors in aerospace and wind industries concerning safety, enhanced service life, and reduced downtime. To ensure better LSP, high electrical conductivity is required to dissipate the current, which is always a challenge for polymer composites due to the inherent insulating nature of the polymer matrix. Conventional carbon fiber-reinforced composites (CFRP) offer electrical conductivity in the planar direction while the vertical i.e. through-thickness conductivity still remains a challenge. Having been motivated by this fact, we have fabricated CFRP interleaved with vertically oriented CF (Z-fiber) for the lightning strike test (100 kA). A paint was applied to mimic the actual service condition of the composite laminates. We have prepared two Z-fiber composites: (a) Z-1 containing one Z-fiber layer on the top along with conventional CF layers and (b) Z-5 containing five interleaved Z-fiber layers and compared the properties with conventional CFRP (Z-0). Interestingly, even a single Z-fiber layer (Z-1) showed lower damage (visual damage diameter 22 mm) than Z-0 (visual damage diameter 26 mm). Z-5 displayed the lowest damage (visual damage diameter 16.7 mm), which was further confirmed by cross-sectional optical microscopy. Improved LSP was attributed to the higher through-thickness electrical conductivity in the case of Z-5 (9 times with respect to Z-0) reflecting a lower electrical anisotropy for Z-fiber composites. The residual mechanical property after the lightning test was analyzed through the flexural test, and the retention of flexural strength and modulus was 66% and 86%, respectively for Z-5 showing a significant improvement in comparison to Z-0 (>40% for both).

Saha, Subhabrata↗
DOE OSTI2025

Distributed Acoustic Sensing for Whale Vocalization Monitoring: A Vertical Deployment Field Test

Abstract There is growing interest in floating offshore wind turbine (FOWT) technology, where turbines are installed on floating structures anchored to the seabed, allowing wind energy development in areas unsuitable for traditional fixed-platform turbines. Responsible development requires monitoring the impact of FOWTs on marine wildlife, such as whales, throughout the operational lifecycle of the turbines. Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS)—a technology that transforms fiber-optic cables into vibration sensor arrays—has been demonstrated for acoustic monitoring of whales using seafloor telecommunications cables. However, no studies have yet evaluated DAS performance in dynamic, engineered environments, such as floating platforms or moving vessels with complex, dynamic strain loads, despite their relevance to FOWT settings. This study addresses that gap by deploying DAS aboard a boat in Monterey Bay, California, where a fiber-optic cable was lowered using a weighted and suspended mooring line, enabling vertical deployment. Humpback whale vocalizations were captured and identified in the DAS data, noise sources were identified, and DAS data were compared to audio captured by a standalone hydrophone attached to the mooring line and a nearby hydrophone on a cabled observatory. This study is unique in: (1) deploying DAS in a vertical deployment mode, where noise from turbulence, cable vibrations, and other sources posed additional challenges compared to seafloor DAS applications; (2) demonstrating DAS in a dynamic, nonstationary setup, which is uncommon for DAS interrogators typically used in more stable environments; and (3) leveraging looped sections of the cable to reduce the noise floor and mitigate the effects of excessive cable vibrations and strain. This research demonstrates DAS’s ability to capture whale vocalizations in challenging environments, highlighting its potential to enhance underwater acoustic monitoring, particularly in the context of renewable energy development in offshore environments.

Saw, Jaewon↗
DOE OSTI2022

LCLS-II-HE Vertical Acceptance Testing Plans

LCLS-II-HE has performance requirements similar to but generally more demanding than those of LCLS-II, with an operating gradient of 21 MV/m (up from 16 MV/m in LCLS-II) and tighter restrictions on field emission and multipacting. In this paper, we outline the requirements for the 1.3 GHz cavities and the plans for qualification of these cavities by vertical test. We discuss lessons learned from LCLS-II and highlight the changes implemented in the vertical test procedure for the new project.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

A Vertical Deburring Algorithm for Muon Tomography

Los Alamos researchers have developed a technology that improves the quality of images generated by muon tomography techniques,where naturally existing cosmic radiation is used as an energy source for identifying very dense materials. When using muon tomography,blurring can occur on the vertical aspect of images, making it more difficult to interpret data. This vertical de-blurring technology will correct these abnormalities and improve image quality for better evaluation of containers that may have dense matter such as special nuclear materials. This technology has been demonstrated in the laboratory and was evaluated in the field for efficacy.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2023

TRACER-Vertical Profile of Aerosol in Convective System (TRACER-VPACS) Field Campaign Report

We investigated physicochemical properties of aerosol at different altitudes during the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility Tracking Aerosol Convection Interactions Experiment (TRACER). We used ARM’s tethered balloon system (TBS) and multi-modal offline analysis techniques available at DOE’s Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and at the Advanced Light Source (ALS) at the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory (LBNL). The main scientific aim of this project was to understand the influence of the vertical profile of aerosol composition on the properties of deep convective clouds. The effect of aerosol properties on convective activity is still poorly understood and debated. For example, previous studies suggested that higher concentration of hygroscopic aerosol may lead to lower collection efficiency and eventually delay in onset of precipitation and total amount of precipitation. However, some observations suggested that increased aerosol concentration may result in vigorous convection and a higher amount of precipitation. In addition, the radiative forcing of the ambient aerosol is strongly influenced by the vertical distribution of aerosols and their chemical composition, and not well constrained in climate models. The estimation of the indirect effect of aerosol also has a significant uncertainty due to the spatial variation of the aerosol, especially at the cloud base. Detailed size-resolved chemical composition studies of aerosol and their microphysical properties, along with in situ measurements from ARM’s mobile facilities, help to improve our understanding of the role of aerosol in deep convective cloud formation over a broad range of environmental thermodynamic and aerosol conditions.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

GaN MOCVD Growth on Native substrates for High Voltage (15-20 KV) Vertical Power Devices

This project aims to develop metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) homoepitaxy of GaN on native substrates with fast growth rate (15-20 μm/hr), low background doping (low-10 15 cm -3 ) and smooth surface morphology via comprehensive understanding of the crystal growth process including high quality GaN substrate development and surface preparation, impurity and native defects control, and their impacts on the breakdown field. The team successfully developed a new growth process by introducing the laser-assisted MOCVD (LA-MOCVD) process to address the limited growth rates of GaN in the traditional MOCVD process. Specifically, the use of the CO2 laser with lasing wavelength of 9.219 μm, the strong coupling between the laser beam with the ammonia (GaN MOCVD precursor) leads to efficient decomposition of NH3 which significantly increases the effective group V/III molar ratio and thus suppresses C impurity incorporation in MOCVD GaN. The reduction in C incorporation in LA-MOCVD GaN is especially prominent when the GaN growth rate is fast (> 10 μm/hr), which allows to develop thick GaN films with high crystalline quality and low controllable doping needed for vertical high power device applications. The results of this project lead to the demonstration of vertical GaN PN diodes with record breakdown voltage of ~ 8kV with high Baliga’s figure of merit.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2023

ARCUS Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine (Final Scientific/Technical Report)

While land-based wind energy has become economically competitive with traditional energy generation sources in the U.S., offshore wind is not. For floating offshore wind this difference is even more substantial where the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) is projected to be around 3-5 times more expensive than land-based wind. The turbine capital costs represent around 50% of the LCOE for land-based wind sites, but the increased system costs for floating offshore wind reduce this to 20%. The platform and mooring costs are the single largest contributor to the LCOE for floating offshore wind where their mass must counteract the overturning moment caused by the turbine’s thrust force. Despite the high costs of the platform and relatively low cost of the turbine, current offshore wind turbines are designed essentially the same as for land-based sites. Reducing the LCOE is the greatest challenge to realize the benefits of sustained development of floating offshore wind in the U.S. Reducing the complicated system costs of floating offshore wind will enable the industry to continue to grow and outpace current projections if reduced cost curves can be reached. The ideal wind energy system would remove all mass and cost that is not directly capturing energy from the wind. For floating offshore wind energy systems, this objective is even more significant as increased mass above the water level must be supported by larger and more expensive floating platforms. For this reason, vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) are ideal for floating offshore sites and have several advantages over horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs) at this scale. Large VAWTs offer opportunities for improved energy capture over HAWTs as single units and with reduced wind plant aerodynamic losses through enhanced wake recovery. Additionally, the platform-level placement of the VAWT drivetrain greatly reduces the demands placed on the floating platform and its mass and cost. The ARCUS vertical-axis wind turbine concept (U.S. 11,421,650 B2) is an iteration beyond traditional Darrieus-type VAWTs that replaces the rigid tower with blades that are bent into shape and held in place with tensioned center supports, like a bow. The ARCUS design has been shown to further decrease the VAWT rotor mass properties, with a 50% reduction over traditional Darrieus VAWTs quantified in the ATLANTIS program. The ARCUS VAWT’s efficient use of material for the rotor and turbine support structures combined with its lowered center of gravity enables a tension-leg platform (TLP) with simplified installation procedures. TLPs have been an emerging platform architecture in the Oil and Gas industry and demonstrated to have the lowest hull mass requirements while maintaining stability with minimal roll and pitch deflections in operation. A 22 MW ARCUS turbine has been designed with a three-column TLP that enables quayside integration of the turbine while maintaining system stability during tow-out and installation and having optimal mass and cost properties. A comprehensive analysis shows the optimal ARCUS TLP system design minimizes LCOE through efficient material usage and increased energy capture to yield a competitive LCOE estimate of $\$$55/MWh. A comparison with a reference HAWT, having the same swept area, quantifies the advantages that helped to produce this improved LCOE for the ARCUS concept: (1) 30% reduction in total turbine mass, (2) 70% reduction in turbine center of gravity, and (3) 45% increase in energy production over what is optimal for a HAWT. Intellectual property has been generated through the ATLANTIS program providing opportunities to further reduce the LCOE and improve the performance of the ARCUS turbine and TLP system, expanding the list of innovations to support commercial development of the ARCUS concept.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Vertical Characterization of Flow and Contaminant Concentration in New Hanford Extraction Wells

Effective groundwater remediation should focus on high-concentration, low-permeability zones within the aquifer, as these areas often present significant challenges to contaminant removal. Characterizing the vertical distribution of contamination in an aquifer is therefore critical for optimizing and monitoring pump-and-treat (P&T) systems to meet target cleanup timelines. Flow patterns driven by hydraulic gradients and variations in permeability are described to provide insight into contaminant mass removal from long-screened wells. The objective of this multi-phase work is to provide actionable recommendations for improving remedy performance monitoring and P&T operations, which ongoing evaluations will address. This report summarizes the preliminary results of vertical flow and contaminant distribution monitoring in new extraction wells at the Hanford Site.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Antiproton background of the Mu2e experiment and the vertical misalignment of the Mu2e beamline

Mu2e experiment will search for the neutrinoless µ − → e − conversion in the field of an aluminum nucleus. The total expected background in Mu2e Run I is 0.11 ± 0.03 events, and the antiproton background, 0.01 ± 0.003(stat) ± 0.010(syst), is about 10% of the total. The report discusses the antiproton background of the Mu2e experiment. As it will be explained, the antiproton background is sensitive to the vertical misalignment of the Mu2e beamline. Therefore, it is important to measure the misalignment in situ. The report introduces a data-driven technique of measuring the beamline misalignment. The material is organized as follows. Section 2 describes the Mu2e experiment. Section 3 presents the antiproton background. Section 4 explains the alignment in the apparatus. Section 5 presents the vertical misalignment and a method to measure it from the data. Section 6 presents the initial simulations made and the discussion of the results.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Seasonal/Spatial Vertical New Particle Formation Variation Study (SSVNV) Field Campaign Report

The Seasonal/Spatial Vertical NPF Variation Study (SSVNV) campaign was conducted to investigate vertically resolved aerosol variability, boundary-layer structure, and new particle formation (NPF) processes across contrasting atmospheric environments through coordinated tethered balloon system (TBS) observations during U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility fixed-site measurements (Dexheimer et al. 2026). The campaign leveraged the overlapping deployments of the third ARM Mobile Facility (AMF3) at Bankhead National Forest (BNF; Kuang et al. 2023, 2026), Alabama, and the first ARM Mobile Facility 1 (AMF1) Coast-Urban-Rural Gradient Atmospheric Experiment (CoURAGE) in the Baltimore region. The campaign was operated by the TBS team led by Darielle Dexheimer from Sandia National Laboratories, in collaboration with the BNF site science team lead by Chongai Kuang from Brookhaven National Laboratory and the ARM team.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗