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At least 595 records · Page 33
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Analysis of Dust and Corrosion Witness Samples Recovered from SNF Dry Storage Systems, Maine Yankee, 2023

This report documents the results of a long-term (5.79 year) exposure of 4-point bend corrosion test samples in the inlet and outlet vents of four spent nuclear fuel dry storage systems at the Maine Yankee Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation. The goal of the test was to evaluate the corrosiveness of salt aerosols in a realistic near-marine environment, providing a data set for improved understanding of stress corrosion cracking of spent nuclear fuel dry storage canisters. Examination of the samples after extraction showed minor corrosion was present, mostly on rough-ground surfaces. However, dye penetrant testing showed that no SCC cracks were present. Dust collected on coupons co-located with the corrosion specimens was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and leached to determine the soluble salts present. The dust was mostly organic material (pollen and stellate trichomes), with lesser detrital mineral grains. Salts present were a mix of sea-salts and continental salts, with chloride dominating the anions, but significant amounts of nitrate were also present. Both corrosion samples and dust samples showed evidence of wetting, indicating entry of water into the vents. The results of this field test suggest that the environment at Maine Yankee is not highly aggressive, although extrapolation from the periodically wetted vent samples to the hot, dry, canister surface may be difficult. No stress corrosion cracks were observed, but minor corrosion was present despite high nitrate concentrations in the salts. These observations may help address the ongoing question of the importance of nitrate in suppressing corrosion and SCC.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Reducing module soiling with scalable and robust photocatalytic coatings

The air-glass interface at the front of a photovoltaic (PV) module reflects approximately 4% of incident light, decreasing the potential power output of the module by the same amount. Today’s modules reduce this loss by adding a low-refractive-index (1.25-1.30) SiO2 coating to the sunward side of the module glass; this antireflection coating recovers approximately 3% of the 4% light that would otherwise be lost. While such antireflection coatings work very well on clean, new modules, they do not inhibit soiling—the accumulation of soilants such as dust, pollen, soot, or other foreign material—on the module glass, and soilants reflect and scatter incident light. An improved coating would serve provide not only an antireflection effect, but also an anti-soiling effect. The goal of this project was to develop such a coating and provide a path for it to be manufactured in the U.S. The project successfully designed and fabricated coatings that provided >3% transmittance gain compared to bare glass (matching the performance of commercial antireflection coatings) and displayed anti-soiling behavior in standard laboratory soiling effects. This was achieved by using a Swift Coat proprietary coating deposition technique, aerosol impact-driven assembly (AIDA), to control the porosity and thus refractive index of coatings of photocatalytic materials—such as TiO2—that would otherwise increase (instead of decrease) reflection. These combined antireflection/anti-soiling coatings passed PV industry standard module reliability tests as well as coating-specific abrasion tests, showing that they have the durability needed for decades in the field. Swift Coat scaled the AIDA hardware and deposition process to make mini-modules that were monitored for nearly two years during field tests administered by a third party, as well as demonstrated scaling to the widths of full-sized modules. The fielded mini-modules outperformed reference modules (with commercial antireflection coatings) in two locations, providing a 1% absolute average performance boost and larger increases during periods of heavier soiling. Swift Coat’s cost analysis indicated a coating manufacturing cost below the sales price of today’s antireflection coatings. More than five module manufacturers sampled and assessed the coatings, and three provided letters of support. The coating developed in this project increases the energy output of PV modules, thereby decreasing the cost per kilowatt-hour of solar energy generated. Cheaper solar electricity benefits the public by accelerating the transition to a stable, affordable, carbon-free energy economy. In addition, for select applications in which PV modules are highly visible—such as on residential rooftops—the coating provides an aesthetic benefit because it stays cleaner than today’s modules. Finally, Swift Coat and its prospective customers are U.S. companies, and successful commercialization of this technology will provide U.S. jobs and a secure solar supply chain.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Ultra-clear Aerogels for Insulated Glass in Refrigeration Doors (CRADA Final Report)

Display refrigerators commonly employ glass doors to provide product visibility; however, these doors exhibit significantly poorer thermal insulation than solid doors, resulting in increased heat transfer and higher energy consumption. To address this limitation, this project investigated the use of silica aerogel as a transparent insulating medium for refrigerator glass doors, with the objective of enhancing thermal performance without compromising visual clarity. In Phase I of the project, we assessed the feasibility of silica aerogel insulation through laboratory and full-scale studies, including material characterization, durability testing, and heat transfer measurements, along with the development and performance evaluation of prototype glass doors under realistic operating conditions. In Phase II, the project focused on scaling the technology toward practical deployment. This included scaling up the manufacturing process to achieve a surface area roughly 20 times larger for commercial applications, developing full-scale prototypes that integrated silica aerogel into standard display refrigerator doors, and conducting field evaluations to assess thermal performance, energy savings, and operational durability under real-world conditions.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2026

NLR CSP Optical Facilities: Illuminating the Path Forward Through Innovation and Impact: Agreement 38490

This initiative is a multi-faceted project at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) aimed at strengthening its Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Optical Facilities to advance the development of low-cost, high-performance materials for solar and other applications. The project's strategy is built on three pillars: strategic stakeholder engagement, diligent facility maintenance and utilization, and the development of new research capabilities. The overarching goal is to ensure the facilities remain state-of-the-art resources for industry and academia, thereby accelerating the conversion of concentrated sunlight into energy. A key driver of the project is an international Advisory Board, which provides critical guidance on research priorities and industry needs, leading to new collaborations and secured funding. This external engagement, combined with proactive outreach to industry partners, ensures the lab's work remains aligned with real-world challenges, including materials durability and performance certification. Significant efforts in facility maintenance have addressed challenges with aging infrastructure. Notable achievements include the complete refurbishment of the hail-damaged Ultra-Accelerated Weathering System (UAWS) and the successful replacement of a failing 15-year-old Lambda 1050 spectrophotometer with a new-generation model, substantially upgrading material characterization capabilities. These maintenance activities were complemented by achieving a prestigious ISO 9001:2015 certification for the Advanced Optical Materials Labs, formally recognizing the quality and reliability of NLR's measurement capabilities. Despite these successes, challenges remain, including high demand for the High Flux Solar Furnace (HFSF) and intermittent failures of other key instruments. The project has delivered major advancements in research techniques and capabilities. At the Flatirons campus, a new indoor laboratory, was established to house advanced deflectometry and photogrammetry systems for heliostat characterization. For on-sun testing, a novel, actively cooled turning mirror was developed for the HFSF, enabling more realistic testing of particle receivers and components. A collaboration with Virginia Tech successfully demonstrated the high-temperature durability of a new solar absorber coating through extensive cyclic testing. Concurrently, new modeling took place to better predict material degradation on rough, fractal surfaces. In summary, this project has systematically enhanced NLR's CSP Optical Facilities through strategic upgrades, rigorous maintenance, and stakeholder-guided research. By overcoming equipment failures, budgetary constraints, and logistical hurdles, the project has reinforced NLR's role as a central hub for CSP innovation and materials testing. Future work will focus on securing diverse funding, expanding collaborations, and continuing to provide the critical infrastructure needed to accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation technologies.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Molecular-Scale Considerations of Enhanced Oil Recovery in Shale

With only less than 10% recovery, the primary production of hydrocarbon from shale reservoirs has redefined the energy equation in the world. Similar to conventional reservoirs, Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) techniques could be devised to enhance the current recovery factors. However, shale reservoirs possess unique characteristics that significantly affect the fluid properties. Therefore, we are adopting a molecular simulation approach that is well-suited to account for these effects to evaluate the performance of three different gases, methane, carbon dioxide and nitrogen, to recover the hydrocarbons from rough pore surfaces. Our hydrocarbon systems consists of either a single component (decane) or more than one component (decane and pentane). We simulated cases where concurrent and countercurrent displacement is studied. For concurrent displacement (injected fluids displace hydrocarbons towards the production region), we found that nitrogen and methane yielded similar recovery; however nitrogen exhibited a faster breakthrough. On the other hand, carbon dioxide was more effective in extracting the hydrocarbons when sufficient pressure was maintained. For countercurrent displacement (gases are injected and hydrocarbons are produced from the same direction), methane was found to be more effective, followed by carbon dioxide and nitrogen. In all cases, confinement reduced the recovery factor of all gases. This work provides insights to devise strategies to improve the current recovery factors observed in shale reservoirs.

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

A structural analysis of ordered Cs3Sb films grown on single crystal graphene and silicon carbide substrates

Alkali antimonides are well established as high efficiency, low intrinsic emittance photocathodes for accelerators and photon detectors. However, conventionally grown alkali antimonide films are polycrystalline with surface disorder and roughness that can limit achievable beam brightness. Ordering the crystalline structure of alkali antimonides has the potential to deliver higher brightness electron beams by reducing surface disorder and enabling the engineering of material properties at the level of atomic layers. In this report, we demonstrate the growth of ordered Cs3Sb films on single crystal substrates 3C-SiC and graphene-coated 4H-SiC using pulsed laser deposition and conventional thermal evaporation growth techniques. The crystalline structures of the Cs3Sb films were examined using reflection high energy electron diffraction and x-ray diffraction diagnostics, while film thickness and roughness estimates were made using x-ray reflectivity. With these tools, we observed ordered domains in less than 10 nm thick films with quantum efficiencies greater than 1% at 530 nm. Moreover, we identify structural features such as Laue oscillations indicative of highly ordered films. We found that Cs3Sb films grew with flat, fiber-textured surfaces on 3C-SiC and with multiple ordered domains and sub-nanometer surface roughness on graphene-coated 4H-SiC under our growth conditions. We identify the crystallographic orientations of Cs3Sb grown on graphene-coated 4H-SiC substrates and discuss the significance of examining the crystal structure of these films for growing epitaxial heterostructures in future experiments.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Smoother Surfaces Enhance Diffusion of Nanorods in Entangled Polymer Melts

Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations are used to study the diffusion of thin nanorods in entangled polymer melts for varying nanorod length and roughness. While prior studies observed a nanorod parallel diffusion constant scaling inversely with rod length D ∥ ~ l –1 , here, we show that this scaling is not universal and depends sensitively on the nanorod surface roughness. We observe D ∥ ~ l –k , where k < 1 and decreases with decreasing surface roughness. The weaker scaling is driven by the non-Gaussian diffusion of nanorods due to the emergence of an intermittent hopping process that becomes more pronounced with decreasing roughness at the monomer scale. Analysis shows that the mean hop size grows for smoother rods but shows little to no variation with rod length. The mean hopping frequency shows no dependence on either rod length or roughness, suggesting it originates from the polymer melt environment. Further, our results show that the small-scale features of the nanorod surface strongly influence the large-scale and long-time transport of nanorods in polymer matrices, creating new material design opportunities for precisely engineered nanocomposites.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Topographic Characterization of Niobium Films on Copper for SRF Applications

Niobium films on copper substrates are being actively developed as a low-cost alternative to bulk niobium for superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities, offering superior thermal conductivity, reduced material cost, and the potential for scalable cavity fabrication. The performance of such films can be limited by imperfect surfaces that reduce the peak achievable magnetic field. Nb films deposited under varied electron cyclotron resonance conditions were characterized via atomic force microscopy. The films exhibit a corrugated surface morphology which can be characterized by the depth of the corrugation, slope angle, and standard roughness parameters. The influence of this surface roughness on field limitations is examined within the framework of London theory. These measurements and models aid in understanding how ECR deposition conditions influence the nanometer-scale roughness of Nb films on Cu and its impact on high-field SRF cavity performance.

Redman, Brandi [Old Dominion Univ., Norfolk, VA (U↗
DOE OSTI2024

Robust superlubricity with steel surfaces in sliding contacts

A low friction wear surface with a coefficient of friction in the superlubric regime under a sliding and rolling movement. The low friction wear surface includes molybdenum disulfide and graphene oxide on a first wear surface with a tribolayer formed on a rough steel counter surface during the sliding and rolling movement. Methods of producing the low friction wear surface are also provided.

Sumant, Anirudha V.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Method of printing and implementing refractive X-ray optical components

A method of fabricating a refractive optical element on a substrate may provide less expensive and more compact optics for an X-ray system. The method includes coating the substrate with a resin and providing radiation to a portion of the resin to cause two photon polymerization of the resin. The method further includes forming, by two photon polymerization, a first surface of a polymer refractive optical element from the resin. The first surface is disposed along an optical axis of the refractive optical element and the first surface has a roughness of less than 100 nanometers. Further, the method includes forming, by two photon polymerization, a second surface of the polymer refractive optical element. The second surface is disposed along the optical axis of the refractive optical element and the second surface has a roughness of less than 100 nanometers.

Jiang, Zhang↗
DOE OSTI2020

Enhancing the efficiency benefit of thermal barrier coatings for homogeneous charge compression ignition engines through application of a low-k oxide

Prior experiments reported by the authors have proven the hypothesis that achieving a dynamic temperature swing on the combustion chamber surface will lead to improved thermal and combustion efficiencies of the homogeneous charge compression ignition engine. A thin layer of yttria-stabilized zirconia, roughly 150 μm, was plasma sprayed on the piston top. It led to markedly advanced ignition and heat release in the gasoline homogeneous charge compression ignition engine, accompanied with reduced unburnt hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions, improved combustion efficiency, and a higher thermal efficiency. A related computational study highlighted the critical role of coating thermal conductivity in achieving a desired dynamic response; hence, the second phase of experimental investigations focused on introducing structured porosity in the yttria-stabilized zirconia coating, as a means of reducing effective conductivity. Indeed, additional incremental improvements were observed, as well as limitations related to adverse effects of the surface roughness and the fuel interactions with the surface roughness and open pores. Erosion can also be a problem in a direct injection engine. Therefore, the third round of investigations focused on a material with a natively low conductivity (low-k), sprayed on the top of an Al piston in a relatively dense form, and in a way that yields a smooth surface. The objective was to capitalize on the low conductivity, while avoiding the pitfalls accompanying high-porosity formulations. The heat-storage capacity was limited by keeping the thickness relatively low. The results verify the paramount importance of thermal conductivity in the context of high “temperature swing” behavior and indicate a potential to improve the homogeneous charge compression ignition engine’s combustion efficiency roughly 1.5%, with the overall indicated efficiency improvement on the order of 5%, on a relative basis. In addition, the low-k oxide thermal barrier applied to the piston extended significantly the low-load homogeneous charge compression ignition operability limit.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Calculated Roughness Changes due to Clear-Cutting At Savannah River Site

At the Savannah River Site (SRS), multiple facilities are routinely producing and working with radiological constituents which require safety basis modeling by the National Nuclear Safety Administration. The models used to determine the safety basis employ roughness length as an input parameter which describes the roughness of the ground surface which influences momentum exchange near the surface and the subsequent generation of mechanical turbulence. Because roughness length is dependent on surface characteristics, including vegetation, any changes to the surface would have a subsequent impact on the roughness length and require a new safety basis analysis to be performed. An analysis of measurements prior to and after the dear-cuts and thinning was performed and roughness lengths were calculated for each of sixteen wind sectors. Not all sectors contained dear-cuts, so this provides comparison of natural variations in roughness. Based on the results of the estimated changes, consideration will be given to how these changes may affect atmospheric dispersion modeling. It was found that clear-cutting activities generally led to a reduction in roughness. Reductions in roughness length also occurred in some of the wind sectors containing only undisturbed forest, but those in sectors with dear-cuts were found to be slightly greater in magnitude than natural variation. Only in one instance was the change in roughness length found to exceed a decrease of 10%, indicating that there is no significant safety basis to the site as a whole based on previous clear-cutting activities.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Large Eddy Simulations of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer Over Satellite‐Sensed Sea Ice Maps

Surface heterogeneity in the marginal ice zone (MIZ) causes multiscale secondary atmospheric circulations that are challenging to model or observe. The absence or inadequate representation of these circulations in ocean‐atmosphere exchange schemes in climate models is partially responsible for the underestimation of Arctic sea ice loss. Observationally, such circulations obfuscate the interpretation of polar atmospheric chemistry measurements, among others. To address this open challenge, large‐eddy simulations are conducted over real‐world satellite‐sensed sea ice maps with an ice‐sea temperature contrast, as well as over idealizations of these maps that alter the ice pattern but conserve its fraction, showing that the ice fraction of a surface is not sufficient to predict the surface heat flux. In a second suite of simulations, three other heterogeneity metrics (representing the surface fragmentation, patch edge tortuosity, and patch size variability) are introduced to complement the ice fraction in describing the surface. Simulations varying these parameters suggest that they also significantly impact surface‐air interactions. A roughness contrast is then added to the surface temperature contrast, indicating that the contribution of roughness changes to the resulting atmospheric circulations is less pronounced than that of thermal heterogeneity. Based on these results, we illustrate, using a multi‐linear regression on these map features, that MIZ surface parameterizations in Earth Systems Models can be improved if they account for these various characteristics of the sea‐ice patterns.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Onset dynamics of air-water menisci on rock fracture surfaces

Information on menisci dynamics and equilibrium contact angles, θ e , is needed for modeling multiphase flow of fluids in geologic formations. The wettability of fracture faces is relevant to applications such as waterflooding in enhanced oil recovery and evaluation of caprock integrity for geologic carbon sequestration. We investigated the vertical capillary rise of air-water menisci on exposed fracture faces for a sandstone, a shale, and three granites. The experimental design approximated that employed in the Wilhelmy plate method. Replicate fracture faces were prepared by fracturing cylindrical rock cores using the Brazilian method and splitting the fractured cores apart along their fracture planes. Meniscus onset was imaged from a cross-sectional perspective using dynamic neutron radiography, and quantified with change point analysis. An existing model for meniscus onset fitted the experimental data very well (median R 2 = 0.96). Capillary rise was typified by t 2/3 scaling (where t is time), followed by a constant equilibrium height, z e . The average time taken for the menisci to reach z e was 0.39 s, with no differences between rock types. The menisci achieved a greater vertical extent on the fracture faces of the sedimentary rocks as compared to those of the granites. Apparent θ e values were calculated from the best fit estimates of z e using the Wilhelmy plate equation for a smooth and planar vertical surface. Despite the fractal roughness of some of the fracture faces, there was a significant linear relationship (R 2 = 0.80) between the apparent θ e values and intrinsic θ e values measured on polished surfaces of the same rocks using the sessile drop method. The regression equation indicated the apparent θ e values were consistently greater than the intrinsic values. This overestimation may be due to averaging of pixels at the air-water-solid interface, a required step in the image analysis. Further exploration of the range of applicability and measurement accuracy of this proposed new technique would be valuable.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Laser Characterization of Optically Smooth BREAD parts

The Broadband Reflector Experiment for Axion Detection is a dish antenna experiment probing the axion and dark photon parameter space in the [1 μeV, 1 eV] mass range, or [.02, 200] THz frequency range. In the pilot design for the InfraBREAD model, the dish antenna includes an optically smooth coaxial parabolic reflector to focus incoming photons in the near Infrared spectrum, created by the spontaneous photoconversion of axions and dark photons, onto a Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detector at the focus point of the reflector. As the pilot begins as a dark photon detector, sensitivity estimates hypothesize that it could cover unprobed parameter space in the search for the dark photon. Because of this, it is of critical importance that the reflector and SNSPD be placed at the correct points in the dish antenna, as previous work has shown that in addition to the focal spot of the photons being smeared to an area larger than the SNSPD, detection efficiency is s ensitive to shifts on the millimeter scale. In order to constrain this barrier to efficiency, the reflector had its focal spot, roughness, and length of surface waves measured by lasers in an optical bench setup. Results show the focal point diverging slightly from its theorized position in the antenna, while uncertainty in the height at which the detector should be placed was constrained to 10s of microns, the uncertainty in radial position could not be constrained to smaller than the detector given the methods used. Results for the roughness and surface wavelength show that the reflector was uniformly machined in a diamond-turning process used to fabricate optically smooth parts, as well as support a roughly 90% detection efficiency, reinforcing the sensitivity estimates presented.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Impacts of irregularly-distributed acidified brine flow on geo-chemo-mechanical alteration in an artificial shale fracture under differential stress

The efficacy of geological carbon sequestration is reliant on the integrity of the caprock and its resistance to physical and chemical alteration. Caprocks with high abundance of reactive carbonates like calcite are susceptible to acid-promoted dissolution and can result in structural weakening. This work investigates the effect of acidified brine flow through an artificially fractured, high-carbonate (30 % by XRD) shale under differential compressive stress. Cylindrical samples were cut in half vertically and milled to create an artificial fracture with interlocking asperities and open channels. Samples were sheared with a single applied stress in a custom flow cell housed within an industrial CT scanner. Further, either acidic (pH 4) or reservoir-simulated (pH 9.5) brine was flowed through the artificial fracture for 7–8 days under reservoir pressure and room temperature. Model simulations indicate flow mainly occurred in open channels, with limited flow between overlapping asperities. Analysis of fracture surfaces by optical and scanning electron microscopy show increased surface alteration and roughness after exposure to pH 4 versus pH 9.5 brine indicating mineral dissolution/loss, and this effect is greater in areas that receive the highest brine flows. Similarly, surface analysis by scratch testing shows fracture toughness decreases more after exposure to acidic versus reservoir-simulated brine, with the greatest alteration in areas of highest acidic brine flows. Despite weakening, no shear slip occurred. Overall, the results indicate that acidified brine can result in significant physical and geomechanical alteration of irregular fracture surfaces in shale caprock, with greatest effects in preferential flow regions.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Creating Functional Oxynitride–Silicon Interfaces and SrNbO 2 N Thin Films for Photoelectrochemical Applications

Photoelectrochemical performance dependence upon absorption length, carrier diffusion length, and surface area of an oxynitride photoabsorber is investigated. How best to fabricate optical-quality thin films of bandgap-tunable oxynitrides is also discussed. We targeted the stoichiometric compound SrNbO 2 N as an optimal wide-bandgap photoabsorber (1.9 eV) for use with silicon (1.1 eV) in a tandem structure photoelectrochemical cell. Preparation of perovskite oxynitrides at high-temperature as isolated powders is often straightforward, but it is difficult to integrate them as thin films in tandem junction devices with low-temperature materials. Here we develop the first method to prepare optical-quality SrNbO 2 N thin-films of tunable thickness and roughness on single-crystal silicon substrate. This achievement required an interfacial layer of ultra-thin TaN to be used as a barrier to reduce the inter-diffusion of silicon and oxygen during oxynitride syn-thesis. We produced a variety of SrNbO 2 N film thicknesses (20-440 nm) on n + -Si(100) surfaces. Roughness factor (0.14-21) scaled with thickness. The intrinsic photoelectrochemical activity of these devices was evaluated using a low-barrier sacrificial electron donor. Photocurrent density and photovoltage revealed a significant (and non-linear) dependence on film thickness and roughness. Furthermore, absorption length, carrier diffusion length, and surface area were each found to play key roles. Balancing these is required for optimally performing devices.

08 HYDROGEN↗