Measurements of plasma energy density and conductivity from 3 to 120 kbar.
Plasma energy density, conductivity and temperature measurements at various pressures
ENERGY DENSITY↗
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Measurements of plasma energy density and conductivity from 3 to 120 kilobars
Plasma energy density and conductivity measured at pressures from 3 to 120 kilobars
ENERGY DENSITY↗
Upcycling mixed cathode materials to high-energy-density LiFe 0.75 Mn 0.25 PO 4
To address the demand for next-generation cathode materials with high energy density, upcycling LiFePO 4 into LiFe 0.75 Mn 0.25 PO 4 has attracted considerable attention. Nevertheless, existing strategies have yet to achieve both morphology and full elemental recovery under mild ambient conditions. Here, we report an upcycling route that can address this issue by combining leaching and a high-temperature treatment process. The upcycled LiFe 0.75 Mn 0.25 PO 4 exhibits enlarged lattice spacing and a high discharge plateau, and it delivers an energy density of 563.7 Wh/kg, 40.3 Wh/kg higher than recycled LiFePO 4 , which indicates the high value of the proposed upcycling strategy. At 1 C, LiFe 0.75 Mn 0.25 PO 4 also exhibits excellent cycling stability of 91% over 700 cycles. Techno-economic analysis also indicates impressive economic and environmental benefits, including 10.4% less raw materials usage and 12.2% less energy consumption and wastewater generation. This work demonstrates a scalable and economic upcycling strategy and provides a promising pathway for sustainable battery upcycling compatible with industrial conditions.
LMFP↗
Transport Properties of Magnetized High-Energy Density Plasma (Final Project Report)
This report summarizes results of project DE-SC0016159 "Transport Properties of Magnetized High-Energy-Density Plasma,'' which ran from 7/15/2016 - 7/14/2021. The primary objectives of the work, as stated in the original proposal, were to develop a theory that describes transport coefficients in magnetized high energy density plasmas and to test the theory with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The science challenge is that strong ion coupling, strong magnetization of electrons, and partial degeneracy of electrons, cause the system to be in a regime that is not well described by current theory. The particular processes that were to be investigated include: ion stopping power, diffusion, electron-ion temperature relaxation, thermal conduction and viscosity. All of the primary research objectives were accomplished during the course of this work. In addition, some unexpected results were discovered along the way that led to new and productive research directions. This work resulted in 17 publications in well-respected peer-reviewed journals (primarily Physics of Plasmas and Physical Review E), and 2 more are being prepared for publication. A few of these were selected as Editor's Picks and one was published as a Rapid Communication. Highlights of the research results include: Transport phase space: The first identification of the parameter space that defines fundamental transport regimes in terms of the Coulomb coupling and magnetization parameters. Mean force kinetic theory: Systematic derivation of a kinetic theory for strongly coupled plasmas based on a new expansion parameter of the BBGKY hierarchy. This provided the derivation of a theory that we had previously posed phenomenologically, and also revealed a new term that captures the equation of state properties at all coupling strengths. Transverse friction force: Discovery that the friction force on a test charge in a strongly magnetized plasma includes a component that is perpendicular to the motion of the test charge in the plane defined by the velocity and magnetic field vectors. Gyrofriction force: Discovery that the friction force on a test charge in a plasma that is both strongly magnetized and strongly coupled includes a component of the force in the direction of the Lorentz force. Kinetic theory for warm dense matter: Extension of the mean force kinetic theory to include partial electron degeneracy, so that it applies to warm dense matter.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
A Flexible, Redox-Active, Aqueous Electrolyte-Based Asymmetric Supercapacitor with High Energy Density Based on Keratin-Derived Renewable Carbon
This work exploits the advantage of asymmetric configuration over symmetric supercapacitor in designing high energy density flexible devices from two active electrode materials–keratin-based renewable-resource hierarchically porous carbon and hydrous ruthenium oxide (RuO 2 ). Here, the asymmetric device exhibits significantly high capacitance. Conventional estimation of energy storage parameters, however, cannot be applied for devices with a Faradaic energy storage contribution via redox charge transfer mechanism. Therefore, this work applies a precise measurement of pseudocapacitance contribution at various scan rates to correct the device data that reveals effective capacitance of 120 F g –1 with the energy density of 37 W h kg –1 at 776 W kg –1 . It also retains excellent rate capability, >74% at high current density 25 A g –1 . The charge storage activity and device stability can be further enhanced by introducing redox-active electrolytes that improve specific capacitance, but the rate capabilities deteriorate at high current densities. Further, the principle of asymmetric electrode design is applied to fabricate a bending-tolerant, flexible device by depositing active electrode material on wire-shaped current collector followed by coupling those separated with polyvinyl alcohol gel containing redox electrolyte; it yields 36.8 mF cm –1 specific capacitance at a 0.2 mA cm –1 current density.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
Pulse Power Capability Of High Energy Density Capacitors Based on a New Dielectric Material
A new dielectric composite consisting of a polymer coated onto a high-density metallized Kraft has been developed for application in high energy density pulse power capacitors. The polymer coating is custom formulated for high dielectric constant and strength with minimum dielectric losses. The composite can be wound and processed using conventional wound film capacitor manufacturing equipment. This new system has the potential to achieve 2 to 3 J/cu cm whole capacitor energy density at voltage levels above 3.0 kV, and can maintain its mechanical properties to temperatures above 150 C. The technical and manufacturing development of the composite material and fabrication into capacitors are summarized in this paper. Energy discharge testing, including capacitance and charge-discharge efficiency at normal and elevated temperatures, as well as DC life testing were performed on capacitors manufactured using this material. TPL (Albuquerque, NM) has developed the material and Aerovox (New Bedford, MA) has used the material to build and test actual capacitors. The results of the testing will focus on pulse power applications specifically those found in electro-magnetic armor and guns, high power microwave sources and defibrillators.
Winsor, Paul↗
Ultra-high energy density relativistic plasmas from nanostructures: scaling to ultra-high intensities (Final Report)
This project investigated the ultra-high energy density (UHED) regime of matter found in the center of stars, using a compact PW-class laser. These extreme conditions are typically only obtained in the laboratory in the central hot-spot of spherically imploded capsules in inertial confinement fusion experiments driven by the world’s largest lasers. We have shown that near-solid density arrays of aligned nanostructures can be volumetrically heated to multi-keV temperatures by irradiation at relativistic intensity with ultrafast laser pulses of modest energy, opening a path for the generation of UHED plasmas with compact lasers. This new UHED plasma generation approach promises to create an environment with extreme energy densities and degrees of ionization, record conversion of optical laser light into ultrafast x-ray pulses, gigantic magnetic fields and pressures, and directed beams of high energy particles . In this project we achieved record degree of ionization in volumetric heating solid density and near-solid density plasmas. Gold plasmas which spectra is characterized by L shell transition emission from ions with charge up to the Ne-like state, Au+ 72 were generated using ultrafast laser pulses of less than 10 J of energy from a compact laser focused to an intensity of ~ 3x10 21 Wcm -2 . We also conducted measurements to determine the heat penetration depth in Ni nanowire arrays as compared to Ni foil targets by monitoring the line emission of a Co buried tracer underneath a variable amount of Ni. The measurements revealed that the nanowire plasmas are roughly six times larger in depth than the solid density target plasmas. A result of this increased plasma in nanowire arrays is a greatly increased conversion of optical laser light into > 1 KeV x-rays, a record conversion efficiency of 20 %. Critical to the realization of the proposed experiments was the generation of ultrafast laser pulses with ultra-high contrast that can deposit the energy deep into the nanowire arrays before the nanowires explode to create a continuous plasma. Supporting the proposed experiments was the recent demonstration at Colorado State University of a Petawatt-class laser that emits 30 fs pulses at high repetition rates. The experiments combined this unique laser tool with a variety of tailored nanowire arrays fabricated in house and with an extensive suite of diagnostics. The experiments were accompanied by 3-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations and detailed atomic physics simulations with transient kinetics and radiation transport. The proposed research allowed us to continue training Ph.D students and post-docs with broad experience in HEDP Science.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
Understanding implications of cathode architecture on energy density of solid-state batteries
Next generation solid-state batteries (SSB) will need to leverage high voltage cathodes, as well as metallic anodes to achieve the realistic performance targets necessary to replace liquid electrolyte-based batteries in cutting-edge applications including electric vehicles. However, limitations arising from mass and charge transports, kinetics and chemo-mechanical degradation at the electrode | electrolyte interface limit the performance of present day SSBs. Optimizing composite cathode architecture, which is an integral part of solid-state batteries, is vital to realize the high-energy density and high-performance goals for next-generation solid-state batteries. Additionally, cathode architecture needs to be optimized for high loadings of active material, well-percolated ion and electron transport pathways and increased resilience against electrochemical stresses. This paper provides a first report of framework for geometric modeling of composite cathode architectures and evaluates the impact of cathode architecture on cell-level energy density using hierarchical models. Packing around primary and secondary active material particles are simulated for a range of active material particle size and solid electrolyte size distributions in the composite cathode. Impact of packing architecture on processing parameters of a given cathode composition and thickness, as well as on achievable energy density is evaluated for a range of commonly used solid electrolyte and cathode materials. Overall, the proposed framework offers a facile exploratory methodology for establishing initial metrics for scalable processing of practical and competent SSBs.
25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
Plastic strains and energy density in cracked plates. ii - comparison with elastic theory.
Plastic strain and energy density data for cracked plates compared with elastic theory, establishing ductile fracture theory
PLASTIC DEFORMATION↗
Lithium-Based High Energy Density Flow Batteries
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement a lithium-based high energy density flow battery. In one embodiment, a lithium-based high energy density flow battery includes a first anodic conductive solution that includes a lithium polyaromatic hydrocarbon complex dissolved in a solvent, a second cathodic conductive solution that includes a cathodic complex dissolved in a solvent, a solid lithium ion conductor disposed so as to separate the first solution from the second solution, such that the first conductive solution, the second conductive solution, and the solid lithium ionic conductor define a circuit, where when the circuit is closed, lithium from the lithium polyaromatic hydrocarbon complex in the first conductive solution dissociates from the lithium polyaromatic hydrocarbon complex, migrates through the solid lithium ionic conductor, and associates with the cathodic complex of the second conductive solution, and a current is generated.
Bugga, Ratnakumar V.↗
Designing a hybrid electrode toward high energy density with a staged Li + and PF 6 - deintercalation/intercalation mechanism
Existing lithium-ion battery technology is struggling to meet our increasing requirements for high energy density, long lifetime, and low-cost energy storage. Here, a hybrid electrode design is developed by a straightforward reengineering of commercial electrode materials, which has revolutionized the “rocking chair” mechanism by unlocking the role of anions in the electrolyte. Our proof-of-concept hybrid LiFePO 4 (LFP)/graphite electrode works with a staged deintercalation/intercalation mechanism of Li + cations and PF 6 - anions in a broadened voltage range, which was thoroughly studied by ex situ X-ray diffraction, ex situ Raman spectroscopy, and operando neutron powder diffraction. Introducing graphite into the hybrid electrode accelerates its conductivity, facilitating the rapid extraction/insertion of Li + from/into the LFP phase in 2.5 to 4.0 V. This charge/discharge process, in turn, triggers the in situ formation of the cathode/electrolyte interphase (CEI) layer, reinforcing the structural integrity of the whole electrode at high voltage. Consequently, this hybrid LFP/graphite-20% electrode displays a high capacity and long-term cycling stability over 3,500 cycles at 10 C, superior to LFP and graphite cathodes. Importantly, the broadened voltage range and high capacity of the hybrid electrode enhance its energy density, which is leveraged further in a full-cell configuration.
25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
Solar modulation and the energy density of galactic cosmic rays.
Interstellar gas dynamics suggests that energy density of galactic cosmic rays places firm upper limit on undetermined constant of solar modulation
SOLAR COSMIC RAY↗
A theoretical approach for transient shock strengthening in high-energy-density laser compression experiments
In high-energy-density shock compression experiments, the desired state of compression is typically achieved by passing shock waves through a sequence of different materials. Here, a theoretical approach for transiently strengthening such shocks passing through interfaces of experimentally relevant impedance ratios is examined. A semi-analytical method based on characteristics analysis is used to solve the problem of a shock passing from one material to another through an intermediate region of non-uniform impedance; by appropriately designing this region, a greater shock strength can be achieved in the second material for a finite duration than in the absence of this region. When a shock passes into a material of higher impedance, the shock strengthening increases to a maximum before decreasing to an asymptotic value as the strength of the incident shock is increased. For shocks passing into materials of decreasing impedance, the shock strengthening increases monotonically as the strength of the incident shock is increased when the impedance ratio is above a critical threshold. Incorporating multiple intermediate materials can further increase the strength of the transmitted shock, with an exponential discretization of intermediate material impedances being the most effective distribution for strengthening strong shocks. The results suggest that up to 25% and 9% increases in pressure behind the leading shock can be achieved for materials of increasing and decreasing impedance, respectively. The technique is applied to the design of laser-driven dynamic compression experiments, and the results of the analysis are verified via comparison to simulations performed with the HYADES hydrodynamics code.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
X-ray imaging methods for high-energy density physics applications
Large scale high-energy density science facilities continue to grow in scale and complexity worldwide. The increase in driver capabilities, including pulsed-power and lasers, continue to push the boundaries of temperature, pressure, and densities, opening up new physics regimes. X-ray imaging is one of the many diagnostic techniques that are used to probe states of matter in these extreme conditions. Improved fabrication and polishing methods have provided improved x-ray microscope performance, while improving detector and x-ray sources now enable pico-second imaging with few micron resolutions. Here this Review will cover x-ray imaging methods, primarily absorption imaging, and their improvements over the last few decades.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
A high energy density lithium/ dichloroisocyanuric acid battery system.
High energy density lithium/dichloroisocyanuric acid battery system discharging under constant voltage and load conditions
Byrne, J. J.↗
Predicting the Cetane Number, Sooting Tendency, and Energy Density of Terpene Fuel Additives
Abstract Discovering renewable fuels and fuel additives is paramount in reducing carbon emissions from internal combustion engines. Terpenes, a group of compounds that can be synthesized from plant matter and microorganisms, have gained significant interest in recent years as promising candidates for fuels/additives. Terpenes are a diverse class of compounds that contain rings and methyl branches, resulting in high energy densities and optimal cold weather behavior. Their variation in bond order, carbon chains, and functional groups lead to varying degrees of soot formation and performance in existing engines. The present work leverages predictive models, namely artificial neural networks, to predict the cetane number (CN), sooting tendency (quantified with yield sooting index, YSI), and energy density (quantified with lower heating value, LHV) of terpenes and hydrogenated terpenes whose sooting propensities were previously determined through experimental means. Predicted sooting propensities of these terpenes are compared with experimental values, and predicted cetane numbers and energy densities are used to comment on the compounds’ ability to act as fuels/additives. Expected prediction errors for CN, YSI, and LHV, defined by blind test set median absolute error, are within 5.56 cetane units, 3.63 yield sooting index units, and 0.77 MJ/kg respectively. Additionally, the present work investigates a variety of correlation/dependence metrics for property-property relationships, furthering our understanding of how combustion-relevant properties are related.
09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
High energy density micro-fiber based nickel electrode for aerospace batteries
The nickel electrode is the specific energy limiting component in battery systems such as nickel-hydrogen, nickel-metal hydride and nickel-zinc. Lightweight, high energy density nickel electrodes have been developed which deliver in excess of 180 mAh/g at the one-hour discharge rate. These electrodes are based on a highly porous, nickel micro-fiber (less than 10 micron diameter) substrate, electrochemically impregnated with nickel-hydroxide active material. Electrodes are being tested both as a flooded half-cell and in full nickel-hydrogen and nickel-metal hydride cells. The electrode technology developed is applicable to commercial nickel-based batteries for applications such as electric vehicles, cellular telephones and laptop computers and for low-cost, high energy density military and aerospace applications.
Francisco, Jennifer↗
Bayesian model mixing with multireference energy density functional
Reliably predicting nuclear properties across the entire chart of isotopes is important for applications ranging from nuclear astrophysics to superheavy science to nuclear technology. To this day, however, all the theoretical models that can scale at the level of the chart of isotopes remain semiphenomenological. Because they are fitted locally, their predictive power can vary significantly; different versions of the same theory provide different predictions. Bayesian model mixing takes advantage of such imperfect models to build a local mixture of a set of models to make improved predictions. Earlier attempts to use Bayesian model mixing for mass table calculations relied on models treated at single-reference energy density functional level, which fail to capture some of the correlations caused by configuration mixing or the restoration of broken symmetries. In this study we have applied Bayesian model mixing techniques within a multireference energy density functional (MR-EDF) framework. We considered predictions of two-particle separation energies from particle number projection or angular momentum projection with four different energy density functionals—a total of eight different MR-EDF models. We used a hierarchical Bayesian stacking framework with a Dirichlet prior distribution over weights together with an inverse log-ratio transform to enable positive correlations between different models. We found that Bayesian model mixing provides significantly improved predictions compared to the participating models. Published by the American Physical Society 2025
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗