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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 667 records · Page 37
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Energizing Robust Sulfur/Lithium Electrochemistry via Nanoscale-Asymmetric-Size Synergism

Sluggish redox kinetics and dendrite growth perplex the fulfillment of efficient electrochemistry in lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. The complicated sulfur phase transformation and sulfur/lithium diversity kinetics necessitate an all-inclusive approach in catalyst design. Herein, a compatible mediator with nanoscale-asymmetric-size configuration by integrating Co single atoms and defective CoTe 2–x (Co SA -CoTe 2–x @NHCF) is elaborately developed for regulating sulfur/lithium electrochemistry synchronously. Substantial electrochemistry and theoretical analyses reveal that CoTe 2–x exhibits higher catalytic activity in long-chain polysulfide transformation and Li 2 S decomposition, while monodispersed Co sites are more effective in boosting sulfur reduction kinetics to regulate Li 2 S deposition. Such cascade catalysis endows Co SA -CoTe 2–x @NHCF with the all-around service of “trapping-conversion-recuperation” for sulfur species during the whole redox reaction. Furthermore, it is demonstrated by in situ transmission electron microscopy that initially formed electronic-conductive Co and ionic-conductive Li 2 Te provide sufficient lithiophilic sites to regulate homogeneous Li plating and stripping with markedly suppressed dendrite growth. Consequently, by coupling the Co SA -CoTe 2–x @NHCF interlayer and Li@Co SA -CoTe 2–x @NHCF anode, the constructed Li–S full batteries deliver superior cycling stability and rate performance, and the flexible pouch cell exhibits stable cycling performance at 0.3 C. In conclusion, the gained insights into the synergistic effect of asymmetric-size structures pave the way for the integrated catalyst design in advanced Li–S systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

A bio-inspired memory device based on interfacing Physarum polycephalum with an organic semiconductor

The development of devices able to detect and record ion fluxes is a crucial point in order to understand the mechanisms that regulate communication and life of organisms. Here, we take advantage of the combined electronic and ionic conduction properties of a conducting polymer to develop a hybrid organic/living device with a three-terminal configuration, using the Physarum polycephalum Cell (PPC) slime mould as a living bio-electrolyte. An over-oxidation process induces a conductivity switch in the polymer, due to the ionic flux taking place at the PPC/polymer interface. This behaviour endows a current-depending memory effect to the device.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Local electrical degradations of solid-state electrolyte by nm-scale operando imaging of ionic and electronic transports

We report on degradation mechanisms of solid-state electrolyte (SSE) based on insights from nm-scale ionic conduction and electronic leakage for solid-state batteries. The significantly different local degradations revealed by nm-scale ionic and electronic transport imaging demonstrate the need for this nm-scale investigation. State-of-the-art lithium-ion conductive glass ceramic (Li 2 O–Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 –P 2 O5–TiO2-GeO2) SSE shows at least two types of degradations spatially separated within the SSE, namely: (1) ionic conduction blocking and slight electronic leaking and (2) highly electronic shunting. Degradation was significantly suppressed by application of a Li-containing polyacrylonitrile thin coating on both sides of the ceramic SSE. With this coating, the ionic conduction was not reduced by the extensive cycling; instead, it improved slightly, although accompanied by a slight increase in electronic leaking. Our nm-scale transport imaging was achieved using an atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based half-cell setup and a logarithmic-scale amplifier with current sensitivity down to the fA (10-15 A) range. This half-cell setup consisting of an AFM-probe/SSE/Li structure can distinguish the ionic from the electronic current by flipping the bias-voltage polarity. This nm-scale operando imaging opens up novel characterization of ionic and electronic transport in the field of solid-state batteries.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2019

Structure Control of a π-Conjugated Oligothiophene-Based Liquid Crystal for Enhanced Mixed Ion/Electron Transport Characteristics

Developing soft materials with both ion and electron transport functionalities is of broad interest for energy-storage and bioelectronics applications. Rational design of these materials requires a fundamental understanding of interactions between ion and electron conducting blocks along with the correlation between the microstructure and the conduction characteristics. Here, we investigate the structure and mixed ionic/electronic conduction in thin films of a liquid crystal (LC) 4T/PEO4, which consists of an electronically conducting quarterthiophene (4T) block terminated at both ends by ionically conducting oligoethylenoxide (PEO4) blocks. Using a combined experimental and simulation approach, 4T/PEO4 is shown to self-assemble into smectic, ordered, or disordered phases upon blending the materials with the ionic dopant bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide lithium (LiTFSI) under different LiTFSI concentrations. Interestingly, at intermediate LiTFSI concentration, ordered 4T/PEO4 exhibits an electronic conductivity as high as 3.1 × 10 –3 S/cm upon being infiltrated with vapor of the 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (F4TCNQ) molecular dopant while still maintaining its ionic conducting functionality. This electronic conductivity is superior by an order of magnitude to the previously reported electronic conductivity of vapor co-deposited 4T/F4TCNQ blends. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate that structure and electronic transport in mixed conduction materials could be modulated by the presence of the ion transporting component and will have important implications for other more complex mixed ionic/electronic conductors.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Demonstration of Temperature Compensation Techniques for SPNDs Operating in High Temperatures

This report presents the testing results of rhodium-based self-powered neutron detectors (Rh-SPND) irradiated in a furnace dry tube from ambient temperature to 850°C at the Ohio State University Research Reactor. The purpose of the experiment is to demonstrate the technique and application of a temperature compensation technique for the Rh-SPND. This is performed by characterizing the temperature effects observed in past experiments—a displacement current and a stabilized dark current—of the Rh-SPND as a function of temperature under the models of shifting space charges as a product of photoconductivity properties. Low-power irradiation at the OSURR was performed with stabilized temperatures of ambient, 550, 575, 600, 625, 650, 675, and 700°C were first performed to obtain the curve fit parameters that describes the temperature effects. The results provided further insight for the behavior of the SPND at high temperatures in accordance with available insulation conductivity models. Transition points from photoconductivity to ionic conductivity were identified in the range of 550–600°C. Additionally, transition points ionic to electric conductivity were observed in the range of 675–700°C, however, the data was not able to fully capture the transition and did not have enough resolution to provide predictive compensation based only on temperature readings.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

Highly Conductive Iodine and Fluorine Dual-Doped Argyrodite Solid Electrolyte for Lithium Metal Batteries

Sulfide-type argyrodite solid electrolytes (SEs) with halide doping have attracted serious interest. Although other halides such as Cl and Br have been found to enhance Li-ion transport in argyrodites, the direct synthesis of efficiently conductive Li 6 PS 5 I without postprocessing has rarely been investigated. In this work, we report the one-step synthesis of highly conductive Li 6 PS 5 I with an impressive ionic conductivity of 2.5 × 10 –4 S cm –1 at room temperature through a solvent-based method. Moreover, by introducing F – to partially replace I – , hybrid-doped argyrodites Li 6 PS 5 F x I 1–x (x = 0.25, 0.5, 0.75) have been synthesized. Li 6 PS 5 F 0.25 I 0.75 achieves the highest conductivity of 3.5 × 10 –4 S cm –1 due to the energetic preference for anion-disordering among F – /I – and S 2– , which facilitate faster Li transport as supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. With higher F content in argyrodites, Li 6 PS 5 F 0.75 I 0.25 displays the best electrochemical stability toward Li metal, as evidenced by long-term stable cycling in Li symmetric cells up to 1100 h. Solid-state Li metal batteries with an active cathode of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 (LTO) display an initial specific capacity of 140 mAh g –1 and remain at 105 mAh g –1 after 200 cycles, suggesting great battery cycling performance. Furthermore, this research has developed new compositions in the argyrodite SE family which could lead to advancements in the development of solid-state Li metal batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Dynamics and relaxation of charge carriers in poly(methylmethacrylate)-lithium salt based polymer electrolytes plasticized with ethylene carbonate

In this paper, we have studied the dynamics and relaxation of charge carriers in poly(methylmethacrylate)-lithium salt based polymer electrolytes plasticized with ethylene carbonate. Structural and thermal properties have been examined using X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. We have analyzed the complex conductivity spectra by using power law model coupled with the contribution of electrode polarization at low frequencies and high temperatures. The temperature dependence of the ionic conductivity and crossover frequency exhibits Vogel-Tammann-Fulcher type behavior indicating a strong coupling between the ionic and the polymer chain segmental motions. The scaling of the ac conductivity indicates that relaxation dynamics of charge carriers follows a common mechanism for all temperatures and ethylene carbonate concentrations. The analysis of the ac conductivity also shows the existence of a nearly constant loss in these polymer electrolytes at low temperatures and high frequencies. The fraction of free anions and ion pairs in polymer electrolyte have been obtained from the analysis of Fourier transform infrared spectra. It is observed that these quantities influence the behavior of the composition dependence of the ionic conductivity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Synthesis and electrochemical assessment of Ce{sub 0.5}Yb{sub 0.5}O{sub 1.75} ceramics and derived composite electrolytes

Highlights: • Ce{sub 0.5}Yb{sub 0.5}O{sub 1.75} prepared for the first time through solid state reaction. • High energy milling needed to assist the ceramic route. • Ce{sub 0.5}Yb{sub 0.5}O{sub 1.75} is oxide-ion conductor in air and n-type conductor at low pO{sub 2}. • Ce{sub 0.5}Yb{sub 0.5}O{sub 1.75} decomposes slightly when exposed to alkaline carbonates. • Composites based on Ce{sub 0.5}Yb{sub 0.5}O{sub 1.75} show standard electrical performance. - Abstract: Ce{sub 0.5}Yb{sub 0.5}O{sub 1.75} was prepared for the first time through high temperature (1600 °C for 5 h) solid state reaction, after high energy milling to enhance the mechano-chemical interaction of precursor oxides (CeO{sub 2} and Yb{sub 2}O{sub 3}). Single phase formation was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction. Impedance spectroscopy data obtained under wide temperature (300–800 °C) and oxygen partial pressure (0.21 to about 10{sup −25} atm) ranges indicates that this material exhibits predominant oxide-ion conductivity under oxidizing conditions while n-type electronic conductivity prevails at low oxygen partial pressure. The mixed oxide shows modest ionic conductivity (1.1 × 10{sup −3} S cm{sup −1} at 800 °C) with activation energy of 1.3 eV in the 600–800 °C temperature range. When combined with molten carbonates (Li{sub 2}CO{sub 3} + Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3}, 1:1 molar ratio) to produce composite electrolytes, Ce{sub 0.5}Yb{sub 0.5}O{sub 1.75} slightly decomposed. However, the composite electrical performance is still acceptable and closely matches the conductivity of similar materials (>0.1 S cm{sup −1} immediately above 500 °C)

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Synthesis and Characterization of Li4Ti5O12 Anode Materials with Enhanced High-Rate Performance in Lithium-Ion Batteries

ABSTRACT Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 (LTO) represents a promising anode material for lithium ion batteries, however, it suffers from limitations associated with poor intrinsic electron conductivity as well as moderate ionic conductivity. Hence, to achieve the goal of creating LTO anodes with improved high-rate performance, we have put forth a number of targeted fundamental strategies. Herein we discuss the roles of controllably tuning (i) morphology, (ii) attachment modalities of carbon, and (iii) ion doping of the LTO material. In addition, we also demonstrated in situ studies of lithiation-driven structural transformations in LTO via a combination of X-ray absorption spectroscopy and ab initio calculations, which have been proven to be powerful tools to probe the negligible volume change and extraordinary stability of LTO upon repeated charge/discharge cycles.

energy storage (including batteries and capacitors↗