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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 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

Automatic Tuning Matching Cycler (ATMC) in situ NMR spectroscopy as a novel approach for real-time investigations of Li- and Na-ion batteries

We have developed and explored the use of a new Automatic Tuning Matching Cycler (ATMC) in situ NMR probe system to track the formation of intermediate phases and investigate electrolyte decomposition during electrochemical cycling of Li- and Na-ion batteries (LIBs and NIBs). The new approach addresses many of the issues arising during in situ NMR, e.g., significantly different shifts of the multi-component samples, changing sample conditions (such as the magnetic susceptibility and conductivity) during cycling, signal broadening due to paramagnetism as well as interferences between the NMR and external cycler circuit that might impair the experiments. We provide practical insight into how to conduct ATMC in situ NMR experiments and discuss applications of the methodology to LiFePO4 (LFP) and Na3V2(PO4)2F3 cathodes as well as Na metal anodes. Automatic frequency sweep 7Li in situ NMR reveals significant changes of the strongly paramagnetic broadened LFP line shape in agreement with the structural changes due to delithiation. Additionally, 31P in situ NMR shows a full separation of the electrolyte and cathode NMR signals and is a key feature for a deeper understanding of the processes occurring during charge/discharge on the local atomic scale of NMR. 31P in situ NMR with “on-the-fly” re-calibrated, varying carrier frequencies on Na3V2(PO4)2F3 as a cathode in a NIB enabled the detection of different P signals within a huge frequency range of 4000 ppm. The experiments show a significant shift and changes in the number as well as intensities of 31P signals during desodiation/sodiation of the cathode. The in situ experiments reveal changes of local P environments that in part have not been seen in ex situ NMR investigations. Furthermore, we applied ATMC 23Na in situ NMR on symmetrical Na–Na cells during galvanostatic plating. An automatic adjustment of the NMR carrier frequency during the in situ experiment ensured on-resonance conditions for the Na metal and electrolyte peak, respectively. Thus, interleaved measurements with different optimal NMR set-ups for the metal and electrolyte, respectively, became possible. This allowed the formation of different Na metal species as well as a quantification of electrolyte consumption during the electrochemical experiment to be monitored. The new approach is likely to benefit a further understanding of Na-ion battery chemistries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Tuning the Adsorption Properties of Metal–Organic Frameworks through Coadsorbed Ammonia

In this study, we report a novel strategy to increase the gas adsorption selectivity of metal organic framework materials by coadsorbing another molecular species. Specifically, we find that addition of tightly bound NH 3 molecules in the well-known metal–organic framework MOF-74 dramatically alters its adsorption behavior of C 2 H 2 and C 2 H 4 . Combining in situ infrared spectroscopy and ab initio calculations, we find that—as a result of coadsorbed NH 3 molecules attaching to the open metal sites—C 2 H 2 binds more strongly and diffuses much faster than C 2 H 4 , occupying the available space adjacent to metal-bound NH 3 molecules. Most remarkably, C 2 H 4 is now almost completely excluded from entering the MOF once C 2 H 2 has been loaded. This finding dispels the widespread belief that strongly coadsorbed species in nanoporous materials always undermine their performance in adsorbing or separating weakly bound target molecules. Furthermore, it suggests a new route to tune the adsorption behavior of MOF materials through harnessing the interactions among coadsorbed guests.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Tuning the Solvation Structure in Aqueous Zinc Batteries to Maximize Zn-Ion Intercalation and Optimize Dendrite-Free Zinc Plating

Aqueous zinc batteries are recognized to suffer from H + /Zn 2+ coinsertion in the cathode, but few approaches have been reported to suppress deleterious H + intercalation. We realize this goal by tuning the solvation structure, using LiV 2 (PO 4 ) 3 (LVP) as a model cathode. Phase conversion of LVP induced by H + intercalation is observed in 4 m Zn(OTf) 2 , whereas dominant Zn 2+ insertion is confirmed in a ZnCl 2 water-in-salt electrolyte (WiSE). This disparity is ascribed to the complete absence of free water and a strong Zn 2+ –H 2 O interaction in the latter that interrupts the H 2 O hydrogen bonding network, thus suppressing H + intercalation. On the basis of this strategy, a novel PEG-based hybrid electrolyte is designed to replace the corrosive ZnCl2 WiSE. This system exhibits an optimized Zn 2+ solvation sheath with a similar low free water content, showing not only much better suppression of H + intercalation but also highly reversible Zn plating/stripping with a CE of ~99.7% over 150 cycles.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2012

Role of support-nanoalloy interactions in the atomic-scale structural and chemical ordering for tuning catalytic sites

The understanding of the atomic-scale structural and chemical ordering in supported nanosized alloy particles is fundamental for achieving active catalysts by design. This report shows how such knowledge can be obtained by a combination of techniques including x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and synchrotron radiation based x-ray fine structure absorption spectroscopy and high-energy x-ray diffraction coupled to atomic pair distribution function analysis, and how the support-nanoalloy interaction influences the catalytic activity of a ternary nanoalloy (platinum-nickel-cobalt) particles on three different supports: carbon, silica and titania. The reaction of carbon monoxide with oxygen is employed as a probe of the catalytic activity. This ternary composition, in combination with the different support materials, is demonstrated to be capable of fine-tuning the catalytic activity and stability. The support-nanoalloy interaction is shown to influence structural and chemical ordering in the nanoparticles, leading to support-tunable active sites on the nanoalloys for oxygen activation in the catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide. A nickel/cobalt-tuned catalytic site on the surface of nanoalloy was revealed for oxygen activation, which differs from the traditional oxygen-activation sites known for oxide-supported noble metal catalysts. The discovery of such support-nanoalloy interaction enabled oxygen-activation sites introduces a very promising strategy for designing active catalysts in heterogeneous catalysis.

activation↗
DOE OSTI2024

Dual quantum spin Hall insulator by density-tuned correlations in TaIrTe 4

The convergence of topology and correlations represents a highly coveted realm in the pursuit of new quantum states of matter. Introducing electron correlations to a quantum spin Hall (QSH) insulator can lead to the emergence of a fractional topological insulator and other exotic time-reversal-symmetric topological order, not possible in quantum Hall and Chern insulator systems. Here, in this study, we report a new dual QSH insulator within the intrinsic monolayer crystal of TaIrTe 4 , arising from the interplay of its single-particle topology and density-tuned electron correlations. At charge neutrality, monolayer TaIrTe 4 demonstrates the QSH insulator, manifesting enhanced nonlocal transport and quantized helical edge conductance. After introducing electrons from charge neutrality, TaIrTe 4 shows metallic behaviour in only a small range of charge densities but quickly goes into a new insulating state, entirely unexpected on the basis of the single-particle band structure of TaIrTe 4 . This insulating state could arise from a strong electronic instability near the van Hove singularities, probably leading to a charge density wave (CDW). Remarkably, within this correlated insulating gap, we observe a resurgence of the QSH state. The observation of helical edge conduction in a CDW gap could bridge spin physics and charge orders. The discovery of a dual QSH insulator introduces a new method for creating topological flat minibands through CDW superlattices, which offer a promising platform for exploring time-reversal-symmetric fractional phases and electromagnetism.

electronic devices↗
DOE OSTI2022

Electronic structure manipulation via composition tuning for the development of highly conductive and acid-stable oxides

Exploring materials that simultaneously possess high conductivity and electrochemical stability is critical for various energy-conversion applications. In this study, our combined computations and experiments suggest the Mg–Ti–O chemical space for novel ternary oxide compounds offering high electrical conductivity and corrosion stability in acidic conditions to be potentially used as catalyst supporter of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. High electrical conductivity (6.09 × 10 -1 S cm -1 ) is achieved at room temperature by tuning the chemical composition of Mg 1-x Ti 2+x O 5 while still maintaining good corrosion stability (1.2 × 10 -4 mA cm -2 after six days) in acidic conditions. Furthermore, we discover that a reducing gas environment during the synthesis increases the Ti solubility in Mg 1-x Ti 2+x O 5 with a reduced valence state of Ti, thus resulting in high conductivity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2013

Tuning of the nucleation field in nanowires with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

We report on domain nucleation in nanowires consisting of Co/Pt multilayers with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy that are patterned by electron-beam lithography, sputter deposition, and lift-off processing. It is found that the nucleation field can be tuned by changing the geometry of the wire ends. A reduction of the nucleation field by up to 60% is achieved when the wire ends are designed as tips. This contrasts with the behavior of wires with in-plane anisotropy where the nucleation field increases when triangular-pointed ends are used. In order to clarify the origin of the reduction of the nucleation field, micromagnetic simulations are employed. The effect cannot be explained by the lateral geometrical variation but is attributable to a local reduction of the perpendicular anisotropy caused by shadowing effects due to the resist mask during sputter deposition of the multilayer.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Perspective: Extremely fine tuning of doping enabled by combinatorial molecular-beam epitaxy

Chemical doping provides an effective method to control the electric properties of complex oxides. However, the state-of-art accuracy in controlling doping is limited to about 1%. This hampers elucidation of the precise doping dependences of physical properties and phenomena of interest, such as quantum phase transitions. Using the combinatorial molecular beam epitaxy, we improve the accuracy in tuning the doping level by two orders of magnitude. We illustrate this novel method by two examples: a systematic investigation of the doping dependence of interface superconductivity, and a study of the competing ground states in the vicinity of the insulator-to-superconductor transition.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗