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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
NASA NTRS2013

Improved Throughput with Cooperating Futuristic Airspace Management Components

An experiment was conducted to integrate airspace management tools that would typically be confined to either the en route or the terminal airspace to explore the potential benefits of their communication to improve arrival capacity. A NAS-wide simulation was configured with a new concept component that used the information to reconfigure the terminal airspace to the capacity benefit of the airport. Reconfiguration included a dynamically expanding and contracting TRACON area and a varying number of active arrival runways, both automatically selected to accommodate predicted volume of traffic. ATL and DFW were selected for the study. Results showed significant throughput increase for scenarios that are considered to be over-capacity for current day airport configurations. During periods of sustained demand for ATL 2018, throughput increased by 26 operations per hour (30%) and average delay was reduced from 18 minutes to 8 minutes per flight when using the dynamic TRACON. Similar results were obtained for DFW with 2018 traffic levels and for ATL with 2006 traffic levels, but with lower benefits due to lower demand.

Glaab, Patricia C.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Sub-Nanometer Nanoclusters of Copper Atop Single-Atom Copper Moieties toward Electrochemical CO 2 Hydrogenation to Methane

The electrochemical CO 2 reduction (eCO 2 R) offers a compelling route for converting CO 2 into value-added fuels and chemicals. Among CO 2 -derived products, methane (CH 4 ) occupies a distinct position, serving both as a key intermediate for emerging cascade electro-oxidation to oxygenates and as a strategically important extraterrestrial fuel that can be generated in situ from off-planet CO 2 resources. Although Cu-based catalysts capable of selectively producing CH 4 have been reported, they seldom sustain high selectivity at practically relevant current densities. Here, we created a single-step co-pyrolysis strategy toward generating and anchoring Cu sub-nanometer clusters (Cu SNC ) atop Cu-N x single-atom (SA) motifs embedded within N-doped carbon (NC), with controllable nanostructures through tuning of the synthesis parameters. Complementary spectroscopic analyses and density functional theory (DFT) calculations help reveal a structure−activity correlation that could guide the catalyst design. The Cu SNC @NC sample synthesized at 550 °C pyrolysis temperature (best described and modeled as Cu 3 -CuN 4 domains) represents the most effective combination of cluster size, metal-nitrogen coordination, and adsorption energetics needed to selectively promote CH 4 generation versus other eCO 2 R products. Incorporating pulsed electrolysis and hydrophobicity-modulated transport tuning at the triple-phase boundary (TPB) further enhanced CH 4 production achieving a partial CH 4 current density of ∼321 mA cm −2 , 53% Faradaic efficiency (FECH 4 ), and less than 4% combined FE for other eCO 2 R products, simplifying downstream CH 4 purification or upgrading. This work establishes generalizable principles for controlling Cu cluster atomicity and metal−nitrogen coordination, both of which are recognized determinants of CH 4 -efficient eCO 2 R.

CH4 production↗
DOE OSTI2020

Novel High Temperature Carbide and Boride Ceramics for Direct Power Extraction Electrode Applications. Final report

The current project aims to develop new carbide and boride ceramic materials that incorporate different metal elements (e.g., (Hf 1-x Zr x )B 2 , also called ceramic solid solutions) and understand the fundamental composition-processing-structure-property relationships for such materials. Specifically, nano powders and related nano-composites for selected mixed metal carbide and boride materials are synthesized from nano-scale mixed precursors obtained from solution-based processing via heat treatment in inert atmosphere. The obtained fine powders were then consolidated into dense ceramics via a novel flash sintering process. The mechanical properties and thermal oxidation resistance for the obtained materials were evaluated for these materials. It was found that different synthesis routes produced powders with somewhat different characteristics in terms of composition and microstructure, which then led to different properties for the final ceramics. The synthesis and processing methods demonstrated in this study might be adopted for developing other similar high temperature ceramics, while the mixed metal or solid solution ceramic materials obtained from this study might be used as hot electrodes for direction power extraction and other energy-related applications.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
NASA NTRS1989

Transportable telemetry workstation

The goal was to complete the design of a prototype for a Transportable Telemetry Workstation (TTW). The Macintosh 2 is used to provide a low-cost system which can house real-time cards mounted on the NuBus inside the Macintosh 2 plus provide a standardized user interface on the Macintosh 2 console. Prior to a telemetry run, the user will be able to configure his real-time telemetry processing functions from the Macintosh 2 console. During a telemetry run, the real-time cards will store the telemetry data directly on a hard disk while permitting viewing of the data cards on the Macintosh 2 console on various selectable formats. The user will view the cards in terms of the functions they perform and the selectable paths through the cards, it is not required to become involved directly in hardware issue except in terms of the functional configuration of the system components. The TTW will accept telemetry data from an RS422 serial input data bus, pass it through a frame synchronizer card and on to a real time controller card via a telemetry backplane bus. The controller card will then route the data to a hard disk through a SCSI interface, and/or to a user interface on the Macintosh 2 console by way of the Macintosh 2 NuBus. The three major components to be designed, therefore, are the TTW Controller Card, the TTW Synchronizer Card, and the NuBus/Macintosh 2 User Interface. Design and prototyping of this state-of-the-art, transportable, low-cost, easy-to-use multiprocessor telemetry system is continuing. Other functions are planned for the future.

Collins, Aaron S.↗
DOE OSTI2012

Experimental and Computational Methods for the Deconstruction and Valorization of Lignin

Lignin is among the most abundant natural heteropolymers on Earth. While lignin represents an abundant feedstock material for the production of renewable fuels and value-added chemicals, it is an underutilized value stream in current biomass conversion technologies because there exist no economic and technically feasible routes for lignin depolymerization and upgrading. My work at NREL has focused on elucidating deconstruction pathways of this recalcitrant polymer using homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts. This entails testing putative catalyst species against a library of model compounds as well as using computational modeling of the substrates and catalysts to determine thermodynamic and kinetic parameters. From these preliminary studies, I hope to develop strategies for the selective conversion of biomass to fuels and chemicals. Synthetic techniques applicable to a model compound library, synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of catalyst species, as well as DFT studies of all of the aforementioned will be presented.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2013

A Straight Forward Route for the Development of Metal-Organic Frameworks Functionalized with Aromatic -OH Groups: Synthesis, Characterization, and Gas (N 2 , Ar, H 2 , CO 2 , CH 4 , NH 3 ) Sorption Properties

A facile and general methodology for the development of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) functionalized with pendant, aromatic hydroxyl (-OH) groups is presented. Extensive gas-sorption studies in representative and important MOFs functionalized with free aromatic -OH groups such as the IRMOF-8 and DUT-6 (or MOF-205), denoted here as 1 and 2, revealed a high CO 2 /CH 4 selectivity for 1 (13.6 at 273 K and 1 bar) and a high NH 3 uptake of 16.4 mol kg –1 at 298 K and 1 bar for 2.

Spanopoulos, Ioannis↗
DOE OSTI2026

Comparing Synthetic Routes and Thermal Characteristics of Alternate APO Variants

Low density, high-strength, temperature-resistant foams see widespread application in the aerospace and weapons fields due to their excellent qualities as structural supports. In these demanding environments, the most common formulation is a three-phase syntactic foam containing APOCure-601, BMI, and carbon or glass microballoons. Of these, APOCure-601 and BMI form the polymer resin amino-poly(oxadiazole) bismaleimide (APO-BMI), also known as Legacy APO or S-1,2-Ethyl-APO. In manufacturing this foam, the selective laser sintering (SLS) additive manufacturing technique is quickly gaining prominence, over more traditional injection molding since SLS allows for 3D printing of materials and reduces overall cost and waste production. That said, SLS also requires a narrow window between the melt and cure temperatures for a successful print. SLS printing of APO-BMI is therefore difficult since the compound possesses a broad window between its melting and curing temperatures, and also requires several post-cure steps or complete polymerization. This work explores synthesis optimization and thermal characteristics for variant Apo-BMI structures by observing the effect that alternative heteroatoms in the APO linkages, geometries 0f the BMI groups, and bridge structure identities impart on the resultant material. Synthetic methods for these altered structures were established in batch, with some others further converted to continuous flow chemistry, a method that produces materials in a continuous stream and is highly reproducible and readily scaled. Additionally, each structural change significantly altered the melt and cure properties for each APO variant, which is advantageous for SLS manufacturing.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Multicriteria-Based Selection of Microalgae Biorefineries: Biomass Composition Defines the Most Suitable Product Portfolios

The supply of microalgae-derived biofuels and bioproducts will be vital in a global-scale bioeconomy. As the diversity of microalgae strains and their compositional plasticity may yield a wide array of products of market interest, the design of effective biorefineries is a central aspect in the path to making microalgae-based products available in the market. In this way, the conversion of microalgae biomass should be planned to employ mature technologies, while maximizing economic and environmental benefits obtained from a diverse product portfolio. This study applied sequential, hybrid Multicriteria Decision Analyses (MCDA) to aid the decision-making process of outlining the most suitable biorefining pathways for specific compositional profiles. For this, the methodology simultaneously considered multiple technical, economic, and environmental criteria, such as market aspects for the main algae-derived products, potential reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions provided by the biobased alternatives, and technology readiness level of conversion routes, among others. The framework was tested using productivity and compositional data for 13 high-productivity summer strains cultivated under varying nutrient availability. The analysis pointed to compositional profile being a key driver in defining the core biorefining strategy of algae biomass, with lipid-to-carbohydrate ratios higher than roughly 1 warranting the preferential processing of lipids into hydrocarbon fuels with the remainder of the algae biomass compounds being sent to higher-value applications, such as carboxylic acids and renewable thermoplastic substitutes. An in-depth process simulation, techno-economic assessment (TEA), and life-cycle analysis (LCA) effort was carried out as a closing step to corroborate the results stemming from the proposed framework. This study validates the use of MCDAs as a screening method prior to implementing more time-consuming analysis techniques and makes a compelling case for this approach as a product selection tool on a wide range of algae species, thus helping establish species-agnostic (but composition-driven) biorefineries.

biofuels↗
DOE OSTI2021

Microwave-Assisted Preparation of Luminescent Inorganic Materials: A Fast Route to Light Conversion and Storage Phosphors

Luminescent inorganic materials are used in several technological applications such as light-emitting displays, white LEDs for illumination, bioimaging, and photodynamic therapy. Usually, inorganic phosphors (e.g., complex oxides, silicates) need high temperatures and, in some cases, specific atmospheres to be formed or to obtain a homogeneous composition. Low ionic diffusion and high melting points of the precursors lead to long processing times in these solid-state syntheses with a cost in energy consumption when conventional heating methods are applied. Microwave-assisted synthesis relies on selective, volumetric heating attributed to the electromagnetic radiation interaction with the matter. The microwave heating allows for rapid heating rates and small temperature gradients yielding homogeneous, well-formed materials swiftly. Luminescent inorganic materials can benefit significantly from the microwave-assisted synthesis for high homogeneity, diverse morphology, and rapid screening of different compositions. The rapid screening allows for fast material investigation, whereas the benefits of enhanced homogeneity include improvement in the optical properties such as quantum yields and storage capacity.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Controllable conversion of quasi-freestanding polymer chains to graphene nanoribbons

In the bottom-up synthesis of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) from self-assembled linear polymer intermediates, surface-assisted cyclodehydrogenations usually take place on catalytic metal surfaces. Here we demonstrate the formation of GNRs from quasi-freestanding polymers assisted by hole injections from a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) tip. While catalytic cyclodehydrogenations typically occur in a domino-like conversion process during the thermal annealing, the hole-injection-assisted reactions happen at selective molecular sites controlled by the STM tip. The charge injections lower the cyclodehydrogenation barrier in the catalyst-free formation of graphitic lattices, and the orbital symmetry conservation rules favour hole rather than electron injections for the GNR formation. The created polymer–GNR intraribbon heterostructures have a type-I energy level alignment and strongly localized interfacial states. Lastly, this finding points to a new route towards controllable synthesis of freestanding graphitic layers, facilitating the design of on-surface reactions for GNR-based structures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Isolated and H 2 -reduced Anderson clusters catalyse low-temperature hydrogenation of CO 2 to methanol

CO 2 hydrogenation, especially to methanol, is crucial to establishing sustainable closed-loop systems for carbon utilization. However, the difficulties of CO 2 activation at low temperatures and the ambiguity of structure–activity correlations are obstacles to reducing the energy consumption of the hydrogenation process. Here we report that molecularly defined Anderson PtMo 6 O 24 clusters, sited within a robust metal–organic framework, are catalytic for low-temperature CO 2 hydrogenation. The performance of the cluster showed no signs of decay in either its activity or methanol selectivity over 3,600 h at 180 °C. It also achieves a per-pass yield exceeding that of state-of-the-art heterogeneous catalysts under similar conditions. Combined in situ spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations demonstrated that CH 3 OH formation is dominated by the reverse water–gas shift and subsequent CO* hydrogenation pathway, while the HCOO* pathway may serve as a supplementary route. The well-defined cluster structure offers an ideal model for elucidating structure–activity correlations and opens exciting avenues for the rational design of high-activity, low-temperature catalysts for CO 2 hydrogenation.

heterogeneous catalysis↗
DOE OSTI2016

Facile, ethylene glycol-promoted microwave-assisted solvothermal synthesis of high-performance LiCoPO 4 as a high-voltage cathode material for lithium-ion batteries

Olivine-type LiCoPO 4 is considered a promising high-voltage cathode material for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. However, preparing high-performance LiCoPO 4 by a simple approach has been challenging. Herein, we present a facile and rapid (30 min) one-step microwave-assisted solvothermal synthesis route using a 1 : 1 (v/v) water/ethylene glycol (EG) binary solvent mixture and a temperature of 250 °C. Here, the technique delivers high-performance LiCoPO4nanoparticles without additional post-annealing or carbon coating steps. The as-prepared powder consists of single crystalline LiCoPO 4 and features a hexagonal platelet-like morphology with dimensions of 700-800 nm × 400-600 nm × 100-220 nm. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) experiments reveal that the platelets show the smallest dimension along [010], which is the direction of the lithium diffusion pathways in the olivine crystal structure. Furthermore, the results indicate that the EG co-solvent plays an important role in tailoring the particle size, morphology, and crystal orientation of the material. Co L-edge soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) of LiCoPO 4 are presented for the first time and confirm that the material only consists of Co 2+ . Benefiting from the unique morphology, which facilitates Li-ion conduction, electrochemical measurements deliver an initial discharge capacity of 137 mA h g -1 at 0.1 C, a remarkably stable capacity retention of 68% after 100 cycles at 0.5 C, and a specific energy density of 658 W h kg -1 based on its capacity and voltage, which is the best performance of LiCoPO 4 obtained from microwave-assisted solvothermal synthesis to date.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Corn stover variability drives differences in bisabolene production by engineered Rhodotorula toruloides

Microbial conversion of lignocellulosic biomass represents an alternative route for production of biofuels and bioproducts. While researchers have mostly focused on engineering strains such as Rhodotorula toruloides for better bisabolene production as a sustainable aviation fuel, less is known about the impact of the feedstock heterogeneity on bisabolene production. Critical material attributes like feedstock composition, nutritional content, and inhibitory compounds can all influence bioconversion. Further, the given feedstocks can have a marked influence on selection of suitable pretreatment and hydrolysis technologies, optimizing the fermentation conditions, and possibly even modifying the microorganism's metabolic pathways, to better utilize the available feedstock. Here, this work aimed to examine and understand how variations in corn stover batches, anatomical fractions, and storage conditions impact the efficiency of bisabolene production by R. toruloides. All of these represent different facets of feedstock heterogeneity. Deacetylation, mechanical refining, and enzymatic hydrolysis of these variable feedstocks served as the basis of this research. The resulting hydrolysates were converted to bisabolene via fermentation, a sustainable aviation fuel precursor, using an engineered R. toruloides strain. This study showed that different sources of feedstock heterogeneity can influence microbial growth and product titer in counterintuitive ways, as revealed through global analysis of protein expression. The maximum bisabolene produced by R. toruloides was on the stalk fraction of corn stover hydrolysate (8.89 ± 0.47 g/L). Further, proteomics analysis comparing the protein expression between the anatomic fractions showed that proteins relating to carbohydrate metabolism, energy production, and conversion as well as inorganic ion transport metabolism were either significantly upregulated or downregulated. Specifically, downregulation of proteins related to the iron–sulfur cluster in stalk fraction suggests a coordinated response by R. toruloides to maintain overall metabolic balance, and this was corroborated by the concentration of iron in the feedstocks.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Detection of thermodynamic "valley noise" in monolayer semiconductors: access to intrinsic valley relaxation timescales

Together with charge and spin, many novel two-dimensional materials also permit information to be encoded in an electron’s valley degree of freedom—that is, in particular momentum states in the material’s Brillouin zone. With a view toward valley-based (opto)electronic technologies, the intrinsic time scales of valley scattering are therefore of fundamental interest. Here, we demonstrate an entirely noise-based approach for exploring valley dynamics in monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenide semiconductors. Exploiting their valley-specific optical selection rules, we use optical Faraday rotation to passively detect the thermodynamic fluctuations of valley polarization in a Fermi sea of resident carriers. This spontaneous “valley noise” reveals narrow Lorentzian line shapes and, therefore, long exponentially-decaying intrinsic valley relaxation. Moreover, the noise signatures validate both the relaxation times and the spectral dependence of conventional (perturbative) pump-probe measurements. These results provide a viable route toward quantitative measurements of intrinsic valley dynamics, free from any external perturbation, pumping, or excitation.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
NASA NTRS1987

Automatic routing module

Automatic Routing Module (ARM) is a tool to partially automate Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) routing. For any accessible launch point or target pair, ARM creates flyable routes that, within the fidelity of the models, are optimal in terms of threat avoidance, clobber avoidance, and adherence to vehicle and planning constraints. Although highly algorithmic, ARM is an expert system. Because of the heuristics applied, ARM generated routes closely resemble manually generated routes in routine cases. In more complex cases, ARM's ability to accumulate and assess threat danger in three dimensions and trade that danger off with the probability of ground clobber results in the safest path around or through difficult areas. The tools available prior to ARM did not provide the planner with enough information or present it in such a way that ensured he would select the safest path.

Malin, Janice A.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Data acquisition and path selection decision making for an autonomous roving vehicle

The feasibility of using range/pointing angle data such as might be obtained by a laser rangefinder for the purpose of terrain evaluation in the 10-40 meter range on which to base the guidance of an autonomous rover was investigated. The decision procedure of the rapid estimation scheme for the detection of discrete obstacles has been modified to reinforce the detection ability. With the introduction of the logarithmic scanning scheme and obstacle identification scheme, previously developed algorithms are combined to demonstrate the overall performance of the intergrated route designation system using laser rangefinder. In an attempt to cover a greater range, 30 m to 100 mm, the problem estimating gradients in the presence of positioning angle noise at middle range is investigated.

Shen, C. N.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Integrated Solar-Driven Device with a Front Surface Semitransparent Catalysts for Unassisted CO 2 Reduction

Monolithic integrated photovoltaic-driven electrochemical (PV-EC) artificial photosynthesis is reported for unassisted CO 2 reduction. The PV-EC structures employ triple junction photoelectrodes with a front mounted semitransparent catalyst layer as a photocathode. The catalyst layer is comprised of an array of microscale triangular metallic prisms that redirect incoming light toward open areas of the photoelectrode to reduce shadow losses. Full wave electromagnetic simulations of the prism array (PA) structure guide optimization of geometries and length scales. An integrated device is constructed with Ag catalyst prisms covering 35% of the surface area. The experimental device has close to 80% of the transmittance with a catalytic surface area equivalent 144% of the glass substrate area. Experimentally this photocathode demonstrates a direct solar-to-CO conversion efficiency of 5.9% with 50 h stability. Selective electrodeposition of Cu catalysts onto the surface of the Ag triangular prisms allows CO2 conversion to higher value products enabling demonstration of a solar-to-C 2+ product efficiency of 3.1%. This design featuring structures that have a semitransparent catalyst layer on a PV-EC cell is a general solution to light loss by shadowing for front surface mounted metal catalysts, and opens a route for the development of artificial photosynthesis based on this scalable design approach.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗