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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 847 records · Page 47
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Low-Temperature Plasma-Based Metrology of Lithium-Ion Battery Electrode Materials (CRADA Final Report)

As part of the Cyclotron Road program, SirenOpt Inc. evaluated its low-temperature plasma-based metrology sensor prototype for measuring multiple critical properties of lithium-ion battery electrode materials in parallel and in real-time. Cost-effective, minimal-waste manufacturing of high-performance battery electrode materials will be vital for achieving society’s net-zero carbon emission goals. Because existing electrode metrology sensors cannot operate within most sections of manufacturing lines, manufacturers often complete hundreds of processing steps before they can test their products and detect problems. When manufacturers perform these offline tests, they typically only test a small portion of the manufactured products. Current electrode manufacturing thus often yields many low-quality products, or off-spec products that must be thrown away all together. For example, at least 6% of the total lithium-ion battery manufacturing cost (i.e., over $250 million/year for the average gigafactory) is devoted to processing defective electrodes that are not scrapped until performance tests are failed during late-stage quality control checks. Electrode variability also leads manufacturers to build extra cells into battery packs to reduce the risk of poor performance. For example, many electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers include up to 10% more cells than needed, which substantially increases the cost and weight of the final EV product. The SirenOpt sensor can potentially enable early detection of poorly manufactured electrodes and allow them to be removed earlier from manufacturing lines, which can save battery manufacturers (hundreds of) millions of dollars per year. The sensor can further be used to improve product quality by accelerating R&D and process optimization, improving quality control, and enabling real-time process control. Overall, a real-time, in-situ metrology strategy can create unprecedented opportunities for implementation of smart manufacturing practices and advanced quality and process control solutions to realize higher battery electrode throughput and performance.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Preliminary Cryogenic Cold Test Results of the First 9-Cell LSF Shape Cavity

Following successful prototyping and testing of single- & 5-cell LSF shape cavities *, **, the first 9-cell LSF shape cavity LSF9-1 was successfully constructed using an innovative process at JLab with the in-house facilities. The cavity was then shipped to KEK for post-fabrication mechanical adjustment and ILC TDR style treatment and surface processing. Cold testing was carried out at the JLab VTA facility, instrumented with a suite of Kyoto instruments. Favorable values for the bath pressure detuning sensitivity and Lorentz force detuning coefficient were experimentally measured, validating the design improvement in cell stiffeners. Pass-band measurements indicate 4 out of 9 cells reaching gradient capability of > 45 MV/m, including 2 cells reaching 51 MV/m. Cornell OST detectors identified the cell and location responsible for the current hard quench limit. Multipacting-like barriers observed in end cells are investigated both analytically and numerically. The cavity was shipped to FNAL and received a light EP at the joint ANL/FNAL facility for further cold testing at Jlab. Two new 9-cell LSF cavities are being constructed including one made of large-grain niobium material.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
NASA NTRS1985

Cell Separations in Microgravity and Development of a Space Bioreactor

A bioreactor optimized for operations in space is now being developed. The current research is focused on determining the optimum cell-bead ratios, medium content and proper maintenance conditions required to keep living cell specimens alive and healthy for the entire flight. The bioreactor development project has recently added a microprocessor/computer to the JSC prototype for control and data analysis. Appropriate new technology is being combined with the current bioreactor designs and tested to determine what specific features must be included in the fabrication of a bioreactor designed to operate for STS demonstration tests. Considerations include: (1) circulation and resupply of culture media; (2) sensors required to monitor temperature, cell growth, mass transport, and oxygen consumption; and (3) inflight control of shear stress on cells, gas transfer in microgravity, diffusion, and intracellular transport. These data and results from the JSC prototype bioreactor test will be used for the design and construction of a small space bioreactor for the Orbiter middeck.

Morrison, D. R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Microstructure and stability of melt spun INCONEL 713 LC

The alloy IN-714LC was used in an investigation of the effect of process parameters on the microstructure of a rapidly solidified melt-spun material. The resultant ribbon microstructure consisted of several distinct regions, each of which corresponds to a different thermal history during processing. A chill zone of equiaxed randomly-oriented grains exists in a region of the foil which was in contact with the wheel during casting. This zone develops into a dendritic growth morphology with distance away from the lower ribbon surface. Dendrites inclined in the direction of wheel rotation result from growth into a flowing stream. TEM studies showed that a cell structure formed, the cell size decreasing with increasing wheel speed. Aging studies indicated that the cell structure plays an important role in gamma prime precipitation. Results relating to heat treatments (as would be encountered in compaction and use) and the stability of the melt-spun structure are considered.

Antolovich, S. D.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Peeled film GaAs solar cell development

Thin-film, single-crystal gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar cells could exhibit a specific power approaching 700 W/kg including coverglass. A simple process has been described whereby epitaxial GaAs layers are peeled from a reusable substrate. This process takes advantage of the extreme selectivity of the etching rate of aluminum arsenide (AlAs) over GaAs in dilute hydrofluoric acid. The feasibility of using the peeled film technique to fabricate high-efficiency, low-mass GaAs solar cells is presently demonstrated. A peeled film GaAs solar cell was successfully produced. The device, although fractured and missing the aluminum gallium arsenide window and antireflective coating, had a Voc of 874 mV and a fill factor of 68 percent under AM0 illumination.

Wilt, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Biologically Derived Nanoparticle Arrays via a Site-Specific Reconstitution of Ferritin and their Electrochemistry

Nanoparticle arrays biologically derived from an electrochemically-controlled site-specific biomineralization were fabricated on a gold substrate through the immobilization process of biomolecules. The work reported herein includes the immobilization of ferritin with various surface modifications, the electrochemical biomineralization of ferritins with different inorganic cores, the fabrication of self-assembled arrays with the immobilized ferritin, and the electrochemical characterization of various core materials. Protein immobilization on the substrate is achieved by anchoring ferritins with dithiobis-N-succinimidyl propionate (DTSP). A reconstitution process of electrochemical site-specific biomineralization with a protein cage loads ferritins with different core materials such as Pt, Co, Mn, and Ni. The ferritin acts as a nano-scale template, a biocompatible cage, and a separator between the nanoparticles. The nano-sized metalcored ferritins on a gold substrate displayed a good electrochemical activity for the electron transport and storage, which is suitable for bioelectronics applications such as biofuel cell, bionanobattery, biosensors, etc. Keywords: Ferritin, immobilization, site-specific reconstitution, biomineralization, and bioelectronics

Kim, Jae-Woo↗
NASA NTRS1994

Lifetimes of Electrodes for AMTEC Cells

The lifetime of an AMTEC electrode depends on the rate of grain growth, which in turn depends on the surface self-diffusion coefficient of the electrode material under AMTEC operating conditions. Grain growth rates for molybdenum and platinum-tungsten alloy electrodes have been determined, and have been used to predict operating lifetimes of AMTEC electrodes. For lifetimes of 10 years of more, Mo may be used in AMTEC cells only at operating temperatures under 1100 K. Pt(sub 2.5)W electrodes may be used at much higher temperatures, up to 1300 K.

lifetime surface self-diffusion coefficient↗
NASA NTRS1995

Second Order Angle of Incidence Corrections for GaAs /Ge Solar cells with Low Absorptance Coverglass

The objective of this paper was to determine any angle of incidence effects beyond the cosine and Fresnel reflection corrections. Two samples each of several GaAs /Ge cell assemblies were measured at incidence angles from 0 to 85o to provide a survey for possible second order corrections that would have to be applied to solar arrays with non-normal incident light.

angle of incidence effects↗
DOE OSTI2021

Two-dimensional overdamped fluctuations of the soft perovskite lattice in CsPbBr 3

Lead halide perovskites exhibit structural instabilities and large atomic fluctuations thought to impact their optical and thermal properties, yet detailed structural and temporal correlations of their atomic motions remain poorly understood. Here, these correlations are resolved in CsPbBr 3 crystals using momentum-resolved neutron and X-ray scattering measurements as a function of temperature, complemented with first-principles simulations. We uncover a striking network of diffuse scattering rods, arising from the liquid-like damping of low-energy Br-dominated phonons, reproduced in our simulations of the anharmonic phonon self-energy. Here, these overdamped modes cover a continuum of wave vectors along the edges of the cubic Brillouin zone, corresponding to two-dimensional sheets of correlated rotations in real space, and could represent precursors to proposed two-dimensional polarons. Further, these motions directly impact the electronic gap edge states, linking soft anharmonic lattice dynamics and optoelectronic properties. These results provide insights into the highly unusual atomic dynamics of halide perovskites, relevant to further optimization of their optical and thermal properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Stepping on the Gas to a Circular Economy: Accelerating Development of Carbon-Negative Chemical Production from Gas Fermentation

Owing to rising levels of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere and oceans, climate change poses significant environmental, economic, and social challenges globally. Technologies that enable carbon capture and conversion of greenhouse gases into useful products will help mitigate climate change by enabling a new circular carbon economy. Gas fermentation using carbon-fixing microorganisms offers an economically viable and scalable solution with unique feedstock and product flexibility that has been commercialized recently. Here, we review the state of the art of gas fermentation and discuss opportunities to accelerate future development and rollout. We discuss the current commercial process for conversion of waste gases to ethanol, including the underlying biology, challenges in process scale-up, and progress on genetic tool development and metabolic engineering to expand the product spectrum. We emphasize key enabling technologies to accelerate strain development for acetogens and other nonmodel organisms.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Batteries Annual Progress Report (FY2019)

The Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) of the Department of Energy (DOE) conducts research and development (R&D) on advanced transportation technologies that would reduce the nation’s use of imported oil and would also lead to reductions in harmful emissions. Technologies supported by VTO include electric drive components such as advanced energy storage devices (primarily batteries), power electronics and electric drive motors, advanced structural materials, energy efficient mobility systems, advanced combustion engines, and fuels. VTO is focused on funding early-stage high-reward/high-risk research to improve critical components needed for more fuel efficient (and cleaner-operating) vehicles. One of the major VTO objectives is to enable U.S. innovators to rapidly develop the next generation of technologies that achieve the cost, range, and charging infrastructure necessary for the widespread adoption of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). An important prerequisite for the electrification of the nation’s light duty transportation sector is development of more cost-effective, longer lasting, and more abuse-tolerant PEV batteries. One of the ultimate goals of this research, consistent with the current vehicle electrification trend, is an EV which can provide the full driving performance, convenience, and price of an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. To achieve this, VTO has established the following overarching goal (Source: FY2021 Congressional Budget Justification1): …identify new battery chemistry and cell technologies with the potential to reduce the cost of electric vehicle battery packs by more than half, to less than $100/kWh (ultimate goal is $60/kWh battery cell cost), increase range to 300 miles, and decrease charge time to 15 minutes or less by 2028. VTO works with key U.S. automakers through the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR) – an umbrella organization for collaborative research consisting of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), the Ford Motor Company, and General Motors. Collaboration with automakers through the partnership known as U.S. Driving Research and Innovation for Vehicle Efficiency and Energy Sustainability (U.S. DRIVE) attempts to enhance the relevance and the success potential of its research portfolio. VTO competitively selects projects for funding through funding opportunity announcements (FOAs). Directly-funded work at the national laboratories are awarded competitively through a lab-call process. During the past year, VTO continued R&D in support of PEVs. Stakeholders for VTO R&D include universities, national laboratories, other government agencies and industry (including automakers, battery manufacturers, material suppliers, component developers, private research firms, and small businesses). This document summarizes the progress of VTO battery R&D projects supported during the fiscal year 2019 (FY 2019).

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Scalings of laser-driven MeV electron sources with relativistic multi-picosecond laser pulses

We investigate the generation of MeV electrons in relativistic multi-picosecond laser–solid interactions, using two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. Scanning a parameter space of intensities from 10 18 to 10 20 W/cm 2 and pulse durations between 100 fs and 10 ps, we discuss scalings of the effective hot electron temperature and MeV electron dose relevant to applications, as well as the direct laser acceleration mechanism that drives electrons to energies much higher than the ponderomotive potential of the laser pulse.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS2011

Efficiency of Photosynthesis in a Chl d-Utilizing Cyanobacterium is Comparable to or Higher than that in Chl a-Utilizing Oxygenic Species

The cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina uses chlorophyll d to carry out oxygenic photosynthesis in environments depleted in visible and enhanced in lower-energy, far-red light. However, the extent to which low photon energies limit the efficiency of oxygenic photochemistry in A. marina is not known. Here, we report the first direct measurements of the energy-storage efficiency of the photosynthetic light reactions in A. marina whole cells,and find it is comparable to or higher than that in typical, chlorophyll a-utilizing oxygenic species. This finding indicates that oxygenic photosynthesis is not fundamentally limited at the photon energies employed by A. marina, and therefore is potentially viable in even longer-wavelength light environments.

Mielke, S. P.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Ferrotorryweiserite, Rh 5 Fe 10 S 16 , a New Mineral Species from the Sisim Placer Zone, Eastern Sayans, Russia, and the Torryweiserite–Ferrotorryweiserite Series

Ferrotorryweiserite, Rh 5 Fe 10 S 16 , occurs as small grains (≤20 µm) among droplet-like inclusions (up to 50 μm in diameter) of platinum-group minerals (PGM), in association with oberthürite or Rh-bearing pentlandite, laurite, and a Pt-Pd-Fe alloy (likely isoferroplatinum and Fe-Pd-enriched platinum), hosted by placer grains of Os-Ir alloy (≤0.5 mm) in the River Ko deposit. The latter is a part of the Sisim placer zone, which is likely derived from ultramafic units of the Lysanskiy layered complex, southern Krasnoyarskiy kray, Russia. The mineral is opaque, gray to brownish gray in reflected light, very weakly bireflectant, not pleochroic to weakly pleochroic (grayish to light brown tints), and weakly anisotropic. The calculated density is 5.93 g·cm –3 . Mean results (and ranges) of four WDS analyses are: Ir 18.68 (15.55–21.96), Rh 18.34 (16.32–20.32), Pt 0.64 (0.19–1.14), Ru 0.03 (0.00–0.13), Os 0.07 (0.02–0.17), Fe 14.14 (13.63–14.64), Ni 13.63 (12.58–14.66), Cu 4.97 (3.42–6.41), Co 0.09 (0.07–0.11), S 29.06 (28.48–29.44), and total 99.66 wt.%. They correspond to the following formula calculated for a total of 31 atoms per formula unit: (Rh 3.16 Ir 1.72 Pt 0.06 Ru 0.01 Os 0.01 ) Σ 4.95 (Fe 4.48 Ni 4.11 Cu 1.38 Co 0.03 ) Σ10.00 S 16.05 . The results of synchrotron micro-Laue diffraction studies indicate that ferrotorryweiserite is trigonal; its probable space group is $R\bar{3}m$ (#166) based on its Ni-analog, torryweiserite. The unit-cell parameters refined from 177 reflections are a = 7.069 (2) Å, c = 34.286 (11) Å, V = 1484 (1) Å 3 , and Z = 3. The c:a ratio is 4.8502. The strongest eight peaks in the X-ray diffraction pattern derived from results of micro-Laue diffraction study [d in Å(hkil)(I)] are 2.7950 ($20\bar{2}5$) (100); 5.7143 (0006) (60); 1.7671 ($22\bar{4}0$) (44.4); 3.0486 ($20\bar{2}1$) (39.4); 5.7650 ($10\bar{1}2$) (38.6); 2.5956 ($20\bar{2}7$) (37.8); 3.0058 ($11\bar{2}6$) (36.5); and 1.5029 ($4\bar{2}\bar{2}12$) (35.3). Ferrotorryweiserite and the associated PGM crystallized from microvolumes of residual melt at late stages of crystallization of grains of Os- and Ir-dominant alloys occurred in lode zones of chromitites of the Lysanskiy layered complex. In a particular case, the residual melt is disposed peripherally around a core containing a disequilibrium association of magnesian olivine (Fo 72.9–75.6 ) and albite (Ab 81.6–86.4 ), with the development of skeletal crystals of titaniferous augite: Wo 40.8–43.2 En 26.5–29.3 Fs 20.3–22.6 Aeg 6.9–9.5 (2.82–3.12 wt.% TiO 2 ). Ferrotorryweiserite represents the Fe-dominant analog of torryweiserite. We also report occurrences of ferrotorryweiserite in the Marathon deposit, Coldwell Complex, Ontario, Canada, and infer the existence of the torryweiserite–ferrotorryweiserite solid solution in other deposits and complexes.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

A concept for polarized 3 He targets for high luminosity scattering experiments in high magnetic field environments

In this work, we present the conceptual design of a polarized 3 He target to be used for high luminosity scattering experiments within high magnetic field environments. This two-cell target will take advantage of advancements in optical pumping techniques at high magnetic field to create 60% longitudinally polarized 3 He gas in a pumping cell within a uniform magnetic field above 1 T. By transferring the polarized gas to a cryogenic target cell, the gas density is increased to create a target thickness suitable for high luminosity applications. We discuss the general design of this scheme, and plans for its application in Jefferson Lab’s CLAS12 detector.

3He polarization↗
NASA NTRS1973

Evaluation of an electrochemical N2/H2 gas separator

A program was successfully completed to evaluate an electrochemical nitrogen/hydrogen (N2/H2) separator for use in a spacecraft nitrogen (N2) generator. Based on the technical data obtained a N2/H2 separator subsystem consisting of an organic polymer gas permeator first stage and an electrochemical second and third stage was estimated to have the lowest total spared equivalent weight, 257 kg (566 lb), for a 15 lb/day N2 generation rate. A pre-design analysis of the electrochemical N2/H2 separator revealed that its use as a first stage resulted in too high a power requirement to be competitive with the organic polymer membrane and the palladium-silver membrane separation methods. As a result, program emphasis was placed on evaluating the electrochemical. A parametric test program characterized cell performance and established second- and third-stage electrochemical N2/H2 separator operating conditions. A design verification test was completed on the second and third stages. The second stage was then successfully endurance tested for 200 hours.

Marshall, R. D.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Two-Stage Off-Axis Cylindrical Solar Concentrator

Concentrator uses off-axis geometry to achieve efficient uniform illumination of photovoltaic cells. Primary reflector is parabolic cylinder and therefore readily adaptable to rolling up for transport and unrolling for deployment. Foldable cylindrical structure has potiential for both terrestrial and space applications.

Winston, R.↗