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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 739 records · Page 41
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

A Bayesian desmearing algorithm for Bonse–Hart USANS with anisotropic scattering

Ultra-small-angle neutron scattering (USANS) using Bonse–Hart optics provides micrometer-scale structural insights but suffers from severe slit-geometry smearing. While well-established for isotropic systems, quantitative desmearing of anisotropic data remains a challenge because conventional corrections break down for non-radial scattering. In this work, we address this by developing a resolution-aware Bayesian framework that explicitly incorporates anisotropy via an affine deformation to the scattering pattern, guided by the principle of parsimony. This results in orientation-resolved point-spread functions that enable a self-consistent determination of both the resolution and deformation parameters. Using Gaussian process regression with uncertainty quantification and a probabilistic correction for multiple scattering, we demonstrate the framework’s effectiveness through numerical benchmarks and experimental studies of a stretched polymer melt. Our approach enables the seamless integration of SANS and USANS data, facilitating quantitative structural analysis of deformed materials at nanometer to micrometer scales.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Engineering integration in elementary science classrooms: Effects of disciplinary language scaffolds on English learners' content learning and engineering identity

Abstract Background Limited research examines the effects of integrated science and engineering (SE) instruction emphasizing disciplinary literacy and language activities on engineering identity and content understanding. Far fewer studies target English learners (ELs). Purpose The impact of an SE intervention on the development of science, engineering, and technology knowledge as well as engineering identity was examined. To address ELs' learning needs, the curricular design was built on a validated SE model by integrating (1) developmental, (2) language scaffolds, and (3) culturally based accommodations. Design/Method Separate analysis of variance examined the effects of the intervention on science, engineering, and technology knowledge as well as engineering identity. The relationship among engineering identity and content outcomes was also examined. ELs from kindergarten to second grade classrooms were randomly assigned to the integrated SE group or control group. Results Integrated SE instruction significantly increased ELs' science, engineering, and technology knowledge as well as a substantially developed engineering identity. Overall, ELs' engineering identity is associated with an increase in science, engineering, and technology content knowledge. However, second grade girls' identity development was not associated with learning measures. These correlations suggest the context of the engineering activity may have reinforced gendered stereotypes and reduced the effects for girls' engineering attitudes. Conclusions Integrated SE instruction emphasizing disciplinary literacy and cultural accommodations increases early elementary ELs' learning and engineering identity. Future studies should examine the unique effects of language scaffolds and cultural modifications on student learning and the impact of gender stereotypes on girls' engineering attitudes.

Aguirre‐Muñoz, Zenaida↗
DOE OSTI2024

Engineering advancements in microfluidic systems for enhanced mixing at low Reynolds numbers

Mixing within micro- and millichannels is a pivotal element across various applications, ranging from chemical synthesis to biomedical diagnostics and environmental monitoring. The inherent low Reynolds number flow in these channels often results in a parabolic velocity profile, leading to a broad residence time distribution. Achieving efficient mixing at such small scales presents unique challenges and opportunities. This review encompasses various techniques and strategies to evaluate and enhance mixing efficiency in these confined environments. It explores the significance of mixing in micro- and millichannels, highlighting its relevance for enhanced reaction kinetics, homogeneity in mixed fluids, and analytical accuracy. We discuss various mixing methodologies that have been employed to get a narrower residence time distribution. The role of channel geometry, flow conditions, and mixing mechanisms in influencing the mixing performance are also discussed. Various emerging technologies and advancements in microfluidic devices and tools specifically designed to enhance mixing efficiency are highlighted. We emphasize the potential applications of micro- and millichannels in fields of nanoparticle synthesis, which can be utilized for biological applications. Additionally, the prospects of machine learning and artificial intelligence are offered toward incorporating better mixing to achieve precise control over nanoparticle synthesis, ultimately enhancing the potential for applications in these miniature fluidic systems.

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology↗
DOE OSTI2021

Combined EDS and EBSD dataset from TiB2 ceramic material

This is supplemental information to a paper to be submitted, tentatively titled Cluster analysis of combined EDS and EBSD data to solve ambiguous phase identifications. Data was acquired from a TiB2 ceramic provided by Missouri University of Science and Technology. Simultaneous EDS and EBSD were acquired on a Tescan MIRA3 GMH field-emission SEM equipped with Oxford Instruments Symmetry CMOS-based EBSD detector and Oxford Instruments UltimMax 170 mm2 silicon-drift detector EDS. Data was acquired using Oxford Instruments AZtec 4.0 software. Data was acquired at 20 keV, 70° tilt, and ≈1 nA probe current. An 80×60 pixel, 40×30 μm map (500 nm pixel pitch) was acquired. EBSD indexing was performed using TiB2, space group 191 P6/mmm, and TiC, space group 225 Fm \bar{3}m, crystal cards.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Passive Temperature Sensors for Nuclear Applications

In April 2007, the Department of Energy (DOE) designated the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) a National Scientific User Facility (NSUF) to advance US leadership in nuclear science and technology. By attracting new users from universities, laboratories, and industry, this program supports basic and applied nuclear research to help address the nation's energy security needs. In support of this program, the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) established in-house capabilities to develop, fabricate, test, and qualify new and enhanced temperature sensors for irradiation testing. This effort is continuing today through the DOE?s Advanced Sensors and Instrumentation (ASI) program. Although most efforts emphasize sensors capable of providing real-time data, selected tasks have been completed to enhance passive sensors for irradiations where instrumentation leads cannot be included. These sensors include silicon carbide (SiC) monitors, melt wires and the sublime temperature monitor. SiC monitors are available to detect peak irradiation temperatures between 200°C and 800°C in reactor locations where instrumentation leads cannot be used. SiC monitors may be evaluated using specialized equipment installed at INL?s Measurement Sciences Laboratory (MSL). A melt wire inventory is also maintained at MSL. This inventory contains wires for specific use in irradiation experiments ranging in temperatures from 30°C to 1500°C. Melt wires and SiC monitors have had decades of research and application. Recent research has produced a passive monitor known as the sublime temperature monitor. This passive sensor has the capability of recording temperature gradients. This paper will discuss passive temperature sensors currently being researched and implemented under the ASI program.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Desiccants enabling energy-efficient buildings: A review

Buildings account for about 39% of the total energy consumption in the United States. Developing highly energy-efficient and environmentally friendly systems that are either actively or passively integrated into buildings plays a crucial role in decarbonizing the building sector. Among various technologies, desiccant-based energy systems have received particular attention in recent years due to their unique advantages, such as being thermally driven using low-grade waste or solar energies and being reliable over a wide range of operating ranges. Extensive research efforts have been exerted on desiccant-enabled technologies at both material and system levels aiming to increase their performance and achieve high technological readiness levels. The present review paper comprehensively discusses research works made at the system level. It overviews desiccant-based air conditioning systems, desiccant-based humidity pumps, desiccant-based thermal energy storage systems, and desiccant-based appliances. The study identifies challenges and opportunities to accelerate the commercialization of desiccant-enabled technologies. It is found that desiccant materials offer great promise to improve energy efficiency and functionality of future buildings through decoupling the latent and sensible cooling loads in air conditioning systems, humidity pumps integrated into building facades, and next-generation appliances. However, commercial viability and widespread acceptance of desiccant-based systems have been hampered by several major obstacles, including liquid and air flow mal-distribution and inferior thermo-physical properties of desiccant materials resulting in low ab/adsorption and regeneration rates and bulky/costly systems.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Demonstration of active neutron interrogation of special nuclear materials using a high-intensity short-pulse-laser-driven neutron source

Detecting shielded special nuclear material, such as nuclear explosives, is a difficult challenge pursued by non-proliferation, anti-terrorism, and nuclear security programs worldwide. Interrogation with intense fast-neutron pulses is a promising method to characterize concealed nuclear material rapidly but is limited by suitable source availability and proven instrumentation. In this study we have pioneered a demonstration of such an interrogation method using a high-intensity, short-pulse, laser-driven neutron source that offers potential benefits compared to conventional neutron sources. The measurement results reported here represent the first experimental demonstration of this interrogation approach on enriched uranium items and demonstrate the feasibility of a precise measurement using realistic nuclear materials, representative of field scenarios, even with just a single laser-driven neutron pulse. Bright pulsed sources can overcome the nuisance background of items with strong internal neutron sources, improving analytical power, while single-shot assay is attractive in high-throughput situations where time is at a premium. The science and technology of this type of neutron production is developing rapidly, and we anticipate that practical mobile interrogation systems will become available based on the detection concepts demonstrated here to meet the growing measurement needs.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗
DOE OSTI2024

Supramolecular assembly of polycation/mRNA nanoparticles and in vivo monocyte programming

Size-dependent phagocytosis is a well-characterized phenomenon in monocytes and macrophages. However, this size effect for preferential gene delivery to these important cell targets has not been fully exploited because commonly adopted stabilization methods for electrostatically complexed nucleic acid nanoparticles, such as PEGylation and charge repulsion, typically arrest the vehicle size below 200 nm. Here, we bridge the technical gap in scalable synthesis of larger submicron gene delivery vehicles by electrostatic self-assembly of charged nanoparticles, facilitated by a polymer structurally designed to modulate internanoparticle Coulombic and van der Waals forces. Specifically, our strategy permits controlled assembly of small poly(β-amino ester)/messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) nanoparticles into particles with a size that is kinetically tunable between 200 and 1,000 nm with high colloidal stability in physiological media. We found that assembled particles with an average size of 400 nm safely and most efficiently transfect monocytes following intravenous administration and mediate their differentiation into macrophages in the periphery. When a CpG adjuvant is co-loaded into the particles with an antigen mRNA, the monocytes differentiate into inflammatory dendritic cells and prime adaptive anticancer immunity in the tumor-draining lymph node. This platform technology offers a unique ligand-independent, particle-size-mediated strategy for preferential mRNA delivery and enables therapeutic paradigmsviamonocyte programming.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2023

Advanced Mixed-Mode Pixel Array Detector for X-rays Above 20 keV (Final Report)

The objective of the work reported upon was to perform research and development and test advanced prototype imaging x-ray detectors needed to meet pressing scientific research needs at U.S. x-ray synchrotron user facilities. The high x-ray brightness of the Nation’s x-ray synchrotron sources in the DOE National Laboratories holds promise to advance science and technology in a broad range of fundamental and applied disciplines, including physics, chemistry, biomedical areas and engineering. At present, progress in many areas is being limited not by the x-ray source but by the lack of imaging x-ray detectors capable of meeting experimental needs. Specifically, there is pressing need for imaging detectors with high dynamic range, low noise, high frame rates and the ability to capture x-ray images with x-rays of energy > 20 keV. This Final Technical Report summarizes progress made at Cornell University on novel integrating x-ray detectors that address these characteristics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

A Multicopper Oxidase from Paenibacillus Polyethylenelyticus JNU01 Oxidizes Polyethylene

Polyethylene (PE) is a widely used plastic that persists in the environment and resists breakdown via microbial degradation. In this work, we discovered a new bacterium, Paenibacillus polyethylenelyticus JNU01, that grows on a PE-like wax (PELW, 4 kDa) as its sole carbon source, causing chemical modifications to the substrate and releasing small-molecule products. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses identified a multicopper oxidase (PpMmcO) as a key enzyme candidate for this observed activity. PpMmcO promoted surface oxidation, increased hydrophilicity, and the release of small-molecule products such as ketones, alkanes, and alkenoic acids. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed surface damage on both PELW and post-use greenhouse PE films. Weight loss analysis showed mass losses of 5.2% for the PELW powder and 1.6% for the greenhouse PE film after treatment with wild-type PpMmcO. We propose a radical-mediated pathway catalyzed by PpMmcO. These findings identify a new bacterium and enzyme capable of promoting partial PE oxidation and provide insight into biological processes that may act on polyethylene.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Best practices in catalysis: A perspective

Catalysis, from its roots in petrochemical refining and conversion, has emerged as a transdisciplinary field that now encompasses synthesis of materials and molecules that enable applications in energy conversion and storage, environmental remediation, medicine, plastics, and fertilizer production, among numerous others. A handful of disciplines can claim relevance and success over such an extended period of time and continue to claim a preeminent role in defining the state-of-the-art in science and technology. Syncretic and rapid advancements in formulation and spectroscopic characterization of materials and molecules useful as catalysts, high-level density functional and molecular orbital theory calculations, and a strong foundation in concepts of physical chemistry, thermodynamics, and chemical kinetics offer new and abundant opportunities at the present day for addressing the grand challenge of controlling chemical transformations using catalysis. Here, we examine what we have learned of concepts that underpin heterogeneous catalysis but more importantly, how we learned to archive our knowledge in context of a set of best practices and standards that have emerged in the course of our learnings—ones we seek to highlight herein. Our perspective emphasizes concepts in synthesis, characterization, kinetics, and theory, because these four elements combined enable description of molecular acts that happen on surfaces and how fast they occur. In revisiting best practices in heterogeneous catalysis in these sub-fields and in authorship and peer review we aspire to augment clarity, reproducibility, and rigor in the science and practice of catalysis.

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

Optimizing Deep Geothermal Drilling for Energy Sustainability in the Appalachian Basin

This study investigates the geological and geomechanical characteristics of the MIP 1S geothermal well in the Appalachian Basin to optimize drilling and address the wellbore stability issues encountered. Data from well logs, sidewall core analysis, and injection tests were used to derive elastic and rock strength properties, as well as stress and pore pressure profiles. A robust 1D-geomechanical model was developed and validated, correlating strongly with wellbore instability observations. This revealed significant wellbore breakout, widening the diameter from 12 ¼ inches to over 16 inches. Advanced technologies like Cerebro Force™ In-Bit Sensing were used to monitor drilling performance with high accuracy. This technology tracks critical metrics such as bit acceleration, vibration in the x, y, and z directions, Gyro RPM, stick-slip indicators, and bending on the bit. Cerebro Force™ readings identified hole drag caused by poor hole conditions, including friction between the drill string and wellbore walls and the presence of cuttings or debris. This led to higher torque and weight on bit (WOB) readings at the surface compared to downhole measurements, affecting drilling efficiency and wellbore stability. Optimal drilling parameters for future deep geothermal wells were determined based on these findings.

Environmental Sciences & Ecology↗
DOE OSTI2023

High-performance multimode elastocaloric cooling system

Developing zero–global warming potential refrigerants has emerged as one area that helps address global climate change concerns. Various high-efficiency caloric cooling techniques meet this goal, but scaling them up to technologically meaningful performance remains challenging. We have developed an elastocaloric cooling system with a maximum cooling power of 260 watts and a maximum temperature span of 22.5 kelvin. These values are among the highest reported for any caloric cooling system. Its key feature is the compression of fatigue-resistant elastocaloric nitinol (NiTi) tubes configured in a versatile multimode heat exchange architecture, which allows the harnessing of both high delivered cooling power and large temperature spans. Our system shows that elastocaloric cooling, which only emerged 8 years ago, is a promising direction for commercializing caloric cooling.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2020

3D-ReG: A 3D ReRAM-based Heterogeneous Architecture for Training Deep Neural Networks

Deep neural network (DNN) models are being expanded to a broader range of applications. The computational capability of traditional hardware platforms cannot accommodate the growth of model complexity. Among recent technologies to accelerate DNN, resistive memory (ReRAM)-based processing-in-memory (PIM) emerged as a promising solution for DNN inference due to its high efficiency for matrix-based computation. We face two major technical challenges in extending the use of ReRAM-based accelerators for training: (1) full-precision data is essential in back-propagation; (2) the need to support both feed-forward and back-propagation aggravates the data-movement burden. We propose a heterogeneous architecture named as 3D-ReG, which leverages full-precision GPU to ensure training accuracy and low-overhead 3D integration to provide low-cost data movements. Moreover, we introduce conservative and aggressive task-mapping schemes, which partition the computation phases in different ways to balance execution efficiency and training accuracy. We evaluate 3D-ReG implemented with two 3D integration technologies, through-silicon vias (TSVs) and monolithic inter-tier vias (MIVs), and compare them with GPU-only and PIM-only counterparts. Various GPU-only platforms using two main-memory technologies (DRAM, ReRAM) and three interconnect technologies (2D, TSV, MIV) are evaluated as well. Experimental results show that 3D-ReG can achieve on average 5.64× training speedup and 3.56× higher energy efficiency compared with the GPU with DRAM as main memory, at the cost of 0.05%–3.39% accuracy drop. We define a new metric, gain-loss ratio (GLR), which quantitatively evaluates the capability of a DNN training hardware in terms of the model accuracy and hardware efficiency. The results of our comparison show that the aggressive task-mapping scheme on MIV-based 3D-ReG outperforms the other methods.

Computer Science↗
DOE OSTI2020

Quality Assurance methodology for the ATLAS Inner Tracker strip sensor production

The production of the strip sensors for the ATLAS Inner Tracker (ITk) will start in 2020. Nearly 22,000 large area sensors will be produced over a period of about five years by Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. (HPK). The institutes involved in the sensor development and production are committed to deliver and maintain the highest quality sensors for the experiment. A Quality Assurance (QA) strategy has been prepared to be carried out during the whole production period. Once the process has been characterized as providing the required pre-irradiation specifications and the proper radiation hardness, the onus is on the manufacturer to rigidly stick to that qualified process. Still, sample testing with specific device-element structures and irradiation of devices should be implemented by the ITk sensor collaboration. A detailed irradiation and testing plan has been prepared by the ATLAS-ITk Collaboration, together with a newly designed test chip with specific structures to monitor different key technological and device parameters during the whole production. The tests and irradiations will be carried out on a sample basis. In order to have a practical methodology, samples from alternating batches will be sent for irradiations with protons, neutrons and gammas, and then tested in order to check that the characteristics remain within specifications. Here we present the detailed plan and the design and test methods for the structures in the test chip.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Semi-integral LOCA test of cold-spray chromium coated zircaloy-4 accident tolerant fuel cladding

Enhancing the accident tolerance of PWRs came under serious consideration following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant events. While the current nuclear fuels are based on mature technology and have an excellent operational record, further enhancing their strength through accident tolerant fuel (ATF) research and development continues to be of interest. Particularly, the chromium coated clad ATF technology represents an evolutionary change to improve the high temperature performance of existing Zircaloy claddings. Additionally, despite several years of investigation of coated cladding, the integral loss of coolant accident (LOCA) performance of chromium coated cladding has had little attention. In this work, cold-spray chromium coated zircaloy-4 claddings are evaluated using EDF's semi-integral LOCA test facility. Results show that the chromium coating induces a reduced ballooning and burst and an increased burst temperature in the investigated conditions. However, these tests exhibit limited benefits concerning the post-quench behavior of the coated specimens which occurs in the last stage of a prototypical LOCA scenario.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Second Harmonic Generation from a Single Plasmonic Nanorod Strongly Coupled to a WSe 2 Monolayer

Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides, coupled to metal plasmonic nanocavities, have recently emerged as new platforms for strong light–matter interactions. These systems are expected to have nonlinear-optical properties that will enable them to be used as entangled photon sources, compact wave-mixing devices, and other elements for classical and quantum photonic technologies. Here, we report the first experimental investigation of the nonlinear properties of these strongly coupled systems, by observing second harmonic generation from a WSe 2 monolayer strongly coupled to a single gold nanorod. In this work, the pump-frequency dependence of the second-harmonic signal displays a pronounced splitting that can be explained by a coupled-oscillator model with second-order nonlinearities. Rigorous numerical simulations utilizing a nonperturbative nonlinear hydrodynamic model of conduction electrons support this interpretation and reproduce experimental results. Our study thus lays the groundwork for understanding the nonlinear properties of strongly coupled nanoscale systems.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

All-silicon quantum light source by embedding an atomic emissive center in a nanophotonic cavity

Silicon is the most scalable optoelectronic material but has suffered from its inability to generate directly and efficiently classical or quantum light on-chip. Scaling and integration are the most fundamental challenges facing quantum science and technology. We report an all-silicon quantum light source based on a single atomic emissive center embedded in a silicon-based nanophotonic cavity. We observe a more than 30-fold enhancement of luminescence, a near-unity atom-cavity coupling efficiency, and an 8-fold acceleration of the emission from the all-silicon quantum emissive center. Our work opens immediate avenues for large-scale integrated cavity quantum electrodynamics and quantum light-matter interfaces with applications in quantum communication and networking, sensing, imaging, and computing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗