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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Graphite Oxidation Rate Study on ET-10 and ETU-10 Grades - Task 4: QA Support and Testing for Structural Graphite Oxidation

INL performed targeted oxidation tests to measure oxidation rates for samples of ET-10 and ETU-10 graphite under CRADA No. 21CRA22 Mod. 3, Annex A, “Tritium Testing to Support Kairos Power Advanced Reactor Demonstration” (04/02/2024). All testing was conducted within INL’s Carbon Characterization Laboratory (CCL) using test standard ASTM D7542-21 "Standard Test Method for Air Oxidation of Carbon and Graphite in the Kinetic Regime" [ASTM International, 2021]. Kairos Power provided all test specimens through its graphite vendor Ibiden, Inc. to INL and ASTM specimen specified dimensions. Information within this report only provides the Arrhenius oxidation rate plots as a function of temperature for each graphite grade tested. The raw mass loss per time data will be provided on the Nuclear Data Management and Analysis System (NDMAS) portal located on the INL information system.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Single-Cell RNA-Seq Reveals Transcriptomic Heterogeneity and Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis-Associated Early Molecular Changes in Mouse Articular Chondrocytes

Articular cartilage is a connective tissue lining the surfaces of synovial joints. When the cartilage severely wears down, it leads to osteoarthritis (OA), a debilitating disease that affects millions of people globally. The articular cartilage is composed of a dense extracellular matrix (ECM) with a sparse distribution of chondrocytes with varying morphology and potentially different functions. Elucidating the molecular and functional profiles of various chondrocyte subtypes and understanding the interplay between these chondrocyte subtypes and other cell types in the joint will greatly expand our understanding of joint biology and OA pathology. Although recent advances in high-throughput OMICS technologies have enabled molecular-level characterization of tissues and organs at an unprecedented resolution, thorough molecular profiling of articular chondrocytes has not yet been undertaken, which may be in part due to the technical difficulties in isolating chondrocytes from dense cartilage ECM. In this study, we profiled articular cartilage from healthy and injured mouse knee joints at a single-cell resolution and identified nine chondrocyte subtypes with distinct molecular profiles and injury-induced early molecular changes in these chondrocytes. We also compared mouse chondrocyte subpopulations to human chondrocytes and evaluated the extent of molecular similarity between mice and humans. This work expands our view of chondrocyte heterogeneity and rapid molecular changes in chondrocyte populations in response to joint trauma and highlights potential mechanisms that trigger cartilage degeneration.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Decarbonizing the Building Sector: A Human-Centered Study Focused on Small/Light Commercial Building Energy Equity

Decarbonization of the building sector is no small feat; buildings account for 40% of primary energy consumption, and fossil-fuel combustion in buildings leads to roughly 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Energy efficiency, electrification and smart technologies are fundamental strategies to reduce consumption and shift away from fossil-fuel use in buildings. This energy transition carries significant societal risks unless the shift is carried out with equity and justice as a top priority. Low-income, vulnerable and communities of color have higher energy burdens compared to affluent populations. Furthermore, systemic racism and historic exclusionary policies have resulted in increased risks (environmental, climatic, economic, and social) to low-income and communities of color, and underserved communities often do not have financial resources for, or access to, advanced building technologies. The U.S. Department of Energy is funding research to characterize and develop solutions to the challenges of equity and justice that complicate the ability of communities to contribute to goals for decarbonization. Our project has a specific focus on small commercial buildings and the businesses that occupy them. Significantly less is known about the burdens and risks these businesses experience or the challenges they face in pursuing decarbonization, or how those are affected by income and race, in comparison to research on energy equity and justice for diverse households. The project team includes the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Arizona State University and Clark Atlanta University. Researchers are conducting semi-structured interviews with small business owners in underserved communities in Phoenix and Atlanta, followed by a survey distributed to the larger community to learn more about the equity and justice issues that communities with different racial, economic, and cultural backgrounds face. Results will help inform an actionable and replicable framework for engaging small commercial building owners/operators to catalyze the reduction of energy burdens and increase equity.

Antonopoulos, Chrissi A.↗
DOE OSTI2021

A High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium Fuel Transportation Concept

The uranium 235U enrichment commonly used in fuel production for U.S. light water nuclear reactors typically does not exceed 5 wt%. In contrast, many of the currently investigated advanced reactor concepts demand fuel with higher enrichments. This includes high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), characterized by a 235U enrichment of 5 to 20 wt%. The necessity of HALEU transportation in the fuel production cycle leads to new challenges caused by various technical and regulatory hurdles. Current U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission–approved transportation package designs for UF6 with enrichments above 5 wt% provide relatively small payloads [=116 kg (250 lb)]. Furthermore, in accordance with 10 CFR 71.55, package design activities for fissile material enriched above 5 wt% need to consider water infiltration in the containment as part of the criticality safety evaluations. This study presents a transportation package concept for HALEU advanced nuclear reactor fuel with a significantly higher payload of up to 376 kg (830 lb) of fissile material per package and up to 1881 kg (4149 lb) of HALEU per legal weight truck. The anticipated chemical form of the transported material is UO2 downblended from available highly enriched uranium. The concept utilizes a combination of existing transportation packaging, 18 inner canisters, and a novel basket design that includes a borated aluminum flux trap. Criticality and shielding evaluations; fundamental structural, confinement, and thermal assessments; and studies on package operations are presented. The results of this study build significant confidence in the technical feasibility of a high-capacity HALEU transportation package concept while demonstrating the concept’s potential to meet U.S. regulatory requirements.

Eidelpes, Elmar↗
DOE OSTI2021

Quantum Chemistry Calculations for Metabolomics

A primary goal of metabolomics and exposomics studies is to fully characterize the small molecule composition of complex biological and environmental samples. However, despite advances in analytical technologies over the past two decades, the majority of small molecules in complex samples are not readily identifiable due to the immense structural and chemical diversi-ty present within the metabolome and exposome. Current gold-standard identification methods rely on reference libraries built using authentic chemical materials (“standards”), which are not available for most molecules. Computational quantum chemis-try methods, which can be used to calculate chemical properties that are then measured by analytical platforms, offer an alter-native route for building reference libraries, i.e., in silico libraries for “standards-free” identification. In this review, we cover the major roadblocks currently facing metabolomics and discuss applications where quantum chemistry calculations offer a solu-tion. Several successful examples for nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, ion mobility spectrometry, infrared spectros-copy, and mass spectrometry methods are reviewed. Finally, we consider current best practices, sources of error, and provide an outlook for quantum chemistry calculations in metabolomics and exposomics studies. We expect this review will inspire researchers in the field of small molecule identification to accelerate adoption of in silico methods for generation of reference libraries and to add quantum chemistry calculations as another tool at their disposal to characterize complex samples.

Metabolism↗
DOE OSTI2021

Guest Editorial: Special Issue on recent advancements in electric power system planning with high-penetration of renewable energy resources and dynamic loads

The goal of this Special Issue is to present the state-of-the-art methodologies developed for expansion planning of all segments of the modern power systems, characterized by separated businesses, high penetration of renewable resources and new load types, as well as by application of technologically advanced solutions.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2020

In situ characterization of foreign object damage (FOD) in environmental-barrier-coated silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic

Environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) protect advanced ceramics and ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) from oxidation and corrosion in gas turbine engine environments. Foreign object damage (FOD), where debris impact the protective coatings, is a critical hazard which limits the turbine durability. Despite previous efforts to understand FOD in EBCs, a detailed understanding of the fundamental transient damage mechanisms is still lacking. In the current work, the real-time FOD behavior of a Mullite / Silicon EBC was visualized via a dynamic synchrotron X-ray source in phase contrast imaging (PCI) configuration. Prior to the in situ FOD experiments, the microstructure and composition of the coating were respectively characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The variation in the properties of the debris was modeled by ~ 1.5 mm diameter Partially Stabilized Zirconia (PSZ) and Silicon Nitride (Si 3 N 4 ) spheres. A modified light-gas gun setup, synchronized with the X-ray beam, was used to propel the projectiles at velocities ranging between 300 and 355 m·s -1 . Coated samples were impacted under a fully backed support configuration and at normal incidence. Coating penetration and delamination, as well as projectile deformation at the bond coat resulted for FOD by PSZ spheres. Comparatively, projectile fracture, with subsequent rebound of fragments, as well as complete coating penetration and delamination at the substrate interface occurred for FOD by Si 3 N 4 spheres. It should be noted that only cone cracking was observed for FOD by PSZ spheres while back surface cracking was present for both projectile types. Qualitative understanding of the driving forces for the observed damage mechanisms were provided.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

X-Ray Induced Chemical Reaction Revealed by In Situ X-Ray Diffraction and Scanning X-Ray Microscopy in 15 nm Resolution

The detection sensitivity of synchrotron-based X-ray techniques has been largely improved due to the ever-increasing source brightness, which has significantly advanced ex situ and in situ research for energy materials such as lithium-ion batteries. However, the strong beam–material interaction arising from the high beam flux can substantially modify the material structure. The beam-induced parasitic effect inevitably interferes with the intrinsic material property, making the interpretation of the experimental results difficult and requiring comprehensive assessments. Here, we present a quantitative study of the beam effect on an electrode material Ag 2 VO 2 PO 4 using four different X-ray characterization methods with different radiation dose rates. The material system exhibits interesting and reversible radiation-induced thermal and chemical reactions, further evaluated under electron microscopy to illustrate the underlying mechanism. Further, the work will provide a guideline for using synchrotron X-rays to distinguish the intrinsic behavior from extrinsic structure change of materials induced by X-rays.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Understanding the structure and composition of recalcitrant oligosaccharides in hydrolysate using high-throughput biotin-based glycome profiling and mass spectrometry

Novel Immunological and Mass Spectrometry Methods for Comprehensive Analysis of Recalcitrant Oligosaccharides in AFEX Pretreated Corn Stover. Lignocellulosic biomass is a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel and is extensively used for developing bio-based technologies to produce products such as food, feed, fuel, and chemicals. The key to these technologies is to develop cost competitive processes to convert complex carbohydrates present in plant cell wall to simple sugars such as glucose, xylose, and arabinose. Since lignocellulosic biomass is highly recalcitrant, it must undergo a combination of thermochemical treatment such as Ammonia Fiber Expansion (AFEX), dilute acid (DA), Ionic Liquid (IL) and biological treatment such as enzyme hydrolysis and microbial fermentation to produce desired products. However, when using commercial fungal enzymes during hydrolysis, only 75–85% of the soluble sugars generated are monomeric sugars, while the remaining 15–25% are soluble recalcitrant oligosaccharides that cannot be easily utilized by microorganisms. Previously, we successfully separated and purified the soluble recalcitrant oligosaccharides using a combination of charcoal and celite-based separation followed by size exclusion chromatography and studies their inhibitory properties on enzymes. We discovered that the oligosaccharides with higher degree of polymerization (DP) containing methylated uronic acid substitutions were more recalcitrant towards commercial enzyme mixtures than lower DP and neutral oligosaccharides. Here, we report the use of several complementary techniques that include glycome profiling using plant biomass glycan specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to characterize sugar linkages in plant cell walls and enzymatic hydrolysate, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) using structurally-informative diagnostic peaks offered by negative ion post-secondary decay spectra, gas chromatography followed by mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to characterize oligosaccharide sugar linkages with and without derivatization. Since oligosaccharides (DP 4–20) are small, it is challenging to mobilize these molecules for mAbs binding and characterization. To overcome this problem, we have applied a new biotin-coupling based oligosaccharide immobilization method that successfully tagged most of the low DP soluble oligosaccharides on to a micro-plate surface followed by specific linkage analysis using mAbs in a high-throughput system. This new approach will help develop more advanced versions of future high throughput glycome profiling methods that can be used to separate and characterize oligosaccharides present in biomarkers for diagnostic applications.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

In situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis of electrochemical interfaces in battery: Recent advances and remaining challenges

An in-depth understanding of charge transfer processes at the electrochemical interfaces is a critical knowledge gap impeding the design of energy storage materials. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy plays an important role in analyzing electronic structures of heterogeneous interfaces, such as electrode-electrolyte interphases. Correspondingly, ex situ studies based on postmortem analysis of electrode materials using x-ray techniques are widely reported in the literature but often fail to capture intermediate and transient species, which are critical for a predictive understanding of the charge transfer process. The lack of extensive in situ/operando x-ray analysis of buried interfaces in energy storage systems can be mainly attributed to technical limitations, such as the requirement of high vacuum conditions. However, in the past decade, considerable efforts have been devoted to overcoming these technical barriers and enable investigation of the solid/solid and solid/liquid interfaces. This review catalogs some of the recent progresses and new experimental designs in the application of in situ and operando x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy toward characterizing interfacial processes and emergent properties, which can help build the design strategy for advanced batteries. The remaining challenges and future research directions are also discussed, as potential paths forward in this field.

Wi, Sungun↗
DOE OSTI2025

Multiscale Characterization of Additive Manufacturing Components with Computed Tomography, 3D X-ray Microscopy, and Deep Learning

Additive manufacturing (AM) facilitates the creation of complex-geometry parts, driving advancements in lightweight aerospace components, high-efficiency engine cooling channels, and customized medical implants. However, ensuring the quality and reliability of AM parts remains challenging due to internal defects, surface irregularities, porosity, and residual trapped powder, which are often inaccessible to traditional inspection methods. Recent developments in X-ray computed tomography (XCT) and 3D X-ray microscopy (XRM), particularly systems equipped with resolution-at-a-distance (RaaD™) capabilities, enable high-resolution, non-destructive evaluation of AM components across multiple scales, from sub-micrometer to macroscopic levels. This paper explores modern XCT and XRM techniques for multiscale characterization of AM parts, focusing on their ability to detect and analyze defects such as porosity, cracks, inclusions, and surface roughness, while offering insights into defect formation mechanisms, material properties, and process-induced variations. The integration of deep learning (DL) frameworks, including Simurgh, DeepRecon, and DeepScout, enhances XCT/XRM workflows by reducing scan times, improving resolution recovery, and enabling accurate defect detection even with limited projection data. These DL-based methods overcome limitations of traditional reconstruction techniques, enabling faster, more reliable characterization of dense materials like Inconel 718 and novel alloys such as AlCe. Applications include process parameter optimization, high-throughput quality control, and multistage AM process evaluation, with DL-enhanced workflows accelerating analysis times from weeks to days. Correlative imaging approaches further validate XCT and XRM data against scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of physically sectioned samples, confirming the accuracy of DL-based reconstructions and enabling comprehensive defect analysis. While challenges remain in generalizing DL models to diverse materials and imaging conditions, improvements in resolution, noise reduction, and defect detection highlight the transformative potential of these methods. This multiscale and correlative approach enables precise identification and correlation of microstructural features with the overall performance of AM components. By integrating advanced XCT, XRM, and DL techniques, this paper demonstrates a significant leap forward in AM characterization, offering valuable insights into the relationships between processing parameters, microstructure, and part performance, and driving innovations that enhance the quality and reliability of AM products for demanding industrial applications.

Additive manufacturing↗
DOE OSTI2024

Integrated electro- and chemical characterization of sulfide-based solid-state electrolytes

Sulfide solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) represent a critical advancement towards enabling next-generation lithium metal batteries. However, a profound knowledge gap remains in understanding the structure–property relationships inherent to these sulfide SSEs. Electrochemical assessment and spectroscopic tools, such as Raman spectroscopy, offer bench-top ready, non-invasive, powerful avenues for operando and in situ analyses. Despite this potential, the integration of these methodologies, particularly for real-time interrogation, is markedly under-investigated. This review endeavors to catalog the use of diverse electrochemical techniques and spectroscopic tools in elucidating the structural and functional nuances of sulfide SSEs. Through the harmonization of these multifaceted evaluation strategies, our objective is to chart a course towards optimized sulfide SSEs, thereby aiding in the development of informed protocols for a deeper comprehension and understanding of the structure–property relationship and interfacial engineered design of solid-state batteries using sulfide-based SSEs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision for Cost-Effective Benthic Habitat Characterizations

Machine learning applied to computer vision and pattern recognition is a type of artificial intelligence that has advanced rapidly in the last 10 to 15 years, spurred forward by breakthroughs in deep convolutional neural networks. These state-of-the-art methods are poised to become widely used in environmental monitoring applications as a result of the increasing abundance of data available from different imaging platforms (e.g., fixed-point cameras, drone surveys, high-resolution satellite data) that can be analyzed to observe, model, and understand environmental conditions. Computer vision and pattern recognition (CVPR) tools advance our ability to use imagery and camera-based tools in cost-effective ways for environmental monitoring. Although these techniques offer great potential, some challenges remain, such as the need for large sets of labeled images for model training and validation and optimized hardware and software to ensure that the models can be trained effectively and in a reasonable amount of time. Here, we have overcome many of these rate-limiting challenges by using a diverse image library built across multiple projects coupled with staff expertise and onsite computing resources. We are working toward a fully automated SPI processing system and also are moving to develop CVPR analytical tools for other imaging platforms and data sets.

02 PETROLEUM↗
DOE OSTI2024

Update on Activities Related to the Library of Graphite Microstructures

This report provides an overview and update of the ongoing efforts to create a comprehensive library of microstructures for nuclear graphite and carbon-based materials under consideration for nuclear applications. The library includes data on microstructural characterization of unirradiated graphite materials, a guide to the techniques used to analyze graphite (which complements the ASME guidelines and ASTM standards), a summary of characterization data for neutron-irradiated or oxidized material, and a compendium of microstructural information for carbon-based materials. These efforts are being conducted at various length scales for the filler and binder phases in graphite to better understand graphite’s local structure and property relationships. This report is a follow-up to the previous milestone report titled Report on initial development of a database of nuclear graphite characteristics based on microstructural characterization, ORNL/TM/-2023/2992, published in July 2023.The effort to develop the library of microstructures supports the US Department of Energy Office of Advanced Reactor Technologies program objectives of aiding the material selection, licensing, management, and core assessments of a graphite core by documenting the unirradiated microstructure of relevant grades or characterizing the microstructure’s evolution under the reactor environment. Additionally, this project aims to provide (1) information and guidelines for the characterizing of graphite and (2) a protocol to assess a nuclear graphite grade.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Nuclide inventory characterization of EBR-II MOX fuel test pins

Characterization of 3 mixed oxide (MOX) fuel pins from the Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II) SPA-2/-2B experiment program was performed in support of the Advanced Reactor Experiments for Sodium Fast Reactor Fuels (ARES) joint project between Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). The characterization efforts were performed to enable transient testing in the Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) facility at INL and will include post irradiation examination (PIE) and other analyses. MOX fuel pins UW02009, 02011, and 06024 were historically irradiated from 1989 to 1994 for a total of 822.42 effective full power days (EFPDs) and peak burnup of approximately 14.3 at.% (atomic percent of heavy metal atoms, ∼134.4 GWd/t). They had since been placed in storage until a future use was identified. Characterization of the fission products and activation of each fuel pin was necessary to enable removal from storage and subsequent irradiation testing or PIE activities. The initial fuel pin geometry and composition were established using historical documentation. Irradiation history details were utilized to compute irradiated and decayed fuel pin masses, atomic densities, and activities. A pellet-wise axial neutron flux was also computed to assist in evaluation of the axial distribution of {sup 235}U and {sup 239}Pu, per pellet, within each of the test fuel pins. The results computed herein supported experiment design for advanced high-burnup MOX fuel designs under slow transient overpower (MOXTOP) conditions, which was Phase I of the ARES project. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Estimation of elastic properties of an additively manufactured lattice using resonant ultrasound spectroscopy

Development of improved approaches in the characterization of additively manufactured structures continues to be a topic of interest for the advanced manufacturing community. This article will investigate an approach using resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) to determine the effective elastic constants of an orthotropic lattice structure. The evaluation is performed on a cube shaped 316 L stainless steel test specimen, constructed using selective laser melting techniques. The approach uses RUS techniques in conjunction with the assumption that in the frequency regime of interest, the wavelength of the diagnostic ultrasound is greater than the discrete structural features of the unit cell of the lattice; thus, the AM structure can be treated as an anisotropic continuum with effective material properties and symmetry inherited from the unit cell. The RUS analysis estimates the nine elastic coefficients associated with orthotropic sample symmetry, which, in turn, are used to determine the elastic moduli and Poisson ratios. Current results show good agreement between experiments and modeled data. Comparisons to published results are also in good agreement, indicating the potential applicability of this characterization technique for estimating the linear elastic properties of innovative additive manufactured metal lattice structures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Quality Procedures for TCR Metal Core Structure Advanced Manufacturing Processes

The Transformational Challenge Reactor (TCR) Manufacturing WBS# 3.02.04.02 organization is responsible for the advanced manufacturing process, research, development, and implementation that supports the TCR program under the TCR Additive Manufacturing (AM) Thrust. Advanced manufacturing at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) includes the development and capabilities to use modern advanced manufacturing techniques, such as AM (e.g., 3D printing) and other novel methods, to rapidly design, develop, produce, finish, and characterize parts, samples, and components to support the nuclear and other high-quality standards industries. Deliverable # M2TC-20OR04020110 involved the development of TCR quality procedures for the TCR metal core structure by using the advanced manufacturing processes being developed at ORNL’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) and other ORNL locations. This report discusses the details of these procedures.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗