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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 919 records · Page 51
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2014

A magnetic particle time-of-flight (MagPTOF) diagnostic for measurements of shock- and compression-bang time at the NIF (invited)

A magnetic particle time-of-flight (MagPTOF) diagnostic has been designed to measure shock- and compression-bang time using D{sup 3}He-fusion protons and DD-fusion neutrons, respectively, at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). This capability, in combination with shock-burn weighted areal density measurements, will significantly constrain the modeling of the implosion dynamics. This design is an upgrade to the existing particle time-of-flight (pTOF) diagnostic, which records bang times using DD or DT neutrons with an accuracy better than ±70 ps [H. G. Rinderknecht et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 10D902 (2012)]. The inclusion of a deflecting magnet will increase D{sup 3}He-proton signal-to-background by a factor of 1000, allowing for the first time simultaneous measurements of shock- and compression-bang times in D{sup 3}He-filled surrogate implosions at the NIF.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS1992

Vestibular short latency responses to pulsed linear acceleration in unanesthetized animals

Linear acceleration transients were used to elicit vestibular compound action potentials in non-invasively prepared, unanesthetized animals for the first time (chicks, Gallus domesticus, n = 33). Responses were composed of a series of up to 8 dominant peaks occurring within 8 msec of the stimulus. Response amplitudes for 1.0 g stimulus ranged from 1 to 10 microV. A late, slow, triphasic, anesthesia-labile component was identified as a dominant response feature in unanesthetized animals. Amplitudes increased and latencies decreased as stimulus intensity was increased (MANOVA P less than 0.05). Linear regression slope ranges were: amplitudes = 1.0-5.0 microV/g; latencies = -300 to -1100 microseconds/g. Thresholds for single polarity stimuli (0.035 +/- 0.022 g, n = 11) were significantly lower than those of alternating polarity (0.074 +/- 0.028 g, n = 18, P less than 0.001). Bilateral labyrinthectomy eliminated responses whereas bilateral extirpation of cochleae did not significantly change response thresholds. Intense acoustic masking (100/104 dB SL) produced no effect in 2 animals, but did produce small to moderate effects on response amplitudes in 7 others. Changes were attributed to effects on vestibular end organs. Results of unilateral labyrinth blockade (tetrodotoxin) suggest that P1 and N1 preferentially reflect ipsilateral eighth nerve compound action potentials whereas components beyond approximately 2 msec reflect activity from vestibular neurons that depend on both labyrinths. The results demonstrate that short latency vestibular compound action potentials can be measured in unanesthetized, non-invasively prepared animals.

NASA Discipline Neuroscience↗
DOE OSTI2022

Challenges in Kinetic modeling of ammonia pyrolysis

Ammonia pyrolysis reactions have implications for its ignition and oxidation in engines and gas turbines. In the present work, the chemistry of ammonia pyrolysis is investigated by kinetic modeling and theory. Rate constants for key reactions are carefully evaluated based on available experimental and theoretical results. The high pressure limit k1,∞ for NH 2 + H (+M) ⇄ NH 3 (+M) (R1) is calculated to be essentially the collision frequency, indicating that dissociation of ammonia in combustion processes will be at or close to the low pressure limit even at engine and gas turbine conditions. The chemical kinetic model is validated against reported shock tube measurements of NH 3 , NH 2 , and NH in ammonia pyrolysis. Predictions are in good agreement with observations for dilute conditions (≤ 0.5% NH 3 ), but the model appears to underpredict the NH 3 consumption rate at longer times in less dilute mixtures. At short reaction times, thermal dissociation of NH3, together with the NH 3 + H reaction, controls conversion. At longer times, secondary reactions involving NH 2 and NH become important due to their impact on the radical pool. Predictions become sensitive to formation and consumption of diazene (tHNNH and cHNNH). Several of the key steps in the ammonia pyrolysis mechanism are radical-radical reactions that are difficult to measure accurately and challenging to calculate theoretically, and a more comprehensive experimental characterization is desirable to support further model development.

10 SYNTHETIC FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2015

The ignition design space of magnetized target fusion

The simple magnetized target implosion model of Lindemuth and Kirkpatrick [Nucl. Fusion 23, 263 (1983)] has been extended to survey the potential parameter space in which three types of magnetized targets—cylindrical with axial magnetic field, cylindrical with azimuthal magnetic field, and spherical with azimuthal magnetic field—might achieve ignition and produce large gain at achievable radial convergence ratios. The model has been used to compute the dynamic, time-dependent behavior of many initial parameter sets that have been based upon projected ignition conditions using the quasi-adiabatic and quasi-flux-conserving properties of magnetized target implosions. The time-dependent calculations have shown that energy gains greater than 30 can potentially be achieved for each type of target. By example, it is shown that high gain may be obtained at extremely low convergence ratios, e.g., less than 15, for appropriate initial conditions. It is also shown that reaching the ignition condition, i.e., when fusion deposition rates equal total loss rates, does not necessarily lead to high gain and high fuel burn-up. At the lower densities whereby fusion temperatures can be reached in magnetized targets, the fusion burn rate may be only comparable with the hydrodynamic heating/cooling rates. On the other hand, when the fusion burn rates significantly exceed the hydrodynamic rates, the calculations show a characteristic rapid increase in temperature due to alpha particle deposition with a subsequent increased burn rate and high gain. A major result of this paper is that each type of target operates in a different initial density-energy-velocity range. The results of this paper provide initial target plasma parameters and driver parameters that can be used to guide plasma formation and driver development for magnetized targets. The results indicate that plasmas for spherical, cylindrical with azimuthal field, and cylindrical with axial field targets must have an initial density greater than approximately 10{sup 17}/cm{sup 3}, 10{sup 18}/cm{sup 3}, and 10{sup 20}/cm{sup 3}, respectively, implying constraints on target plasma formation research.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS2001

Coriolis-force-induced trajectory and endpoint deviations in the reaching movements of labyrinthine-defective subjects

When reaching movements are made during passive constant velocity body rotation, inertial Coriolis accelerations are generated that displace both movement paths and endpoints in their direction. These findings directly contradict equilibrium point theories of movement control. However, it has been argued that these movement errors relate to subjects sensing their body rotation through continuing vestibular activity and making corrective movements. In the present study, we evaluated the reaching movements of five labyrinthine-defective subjects (lacking both semicircular canal and otolith function) who cannot sense passive body rotation in the dark and five age-matched, normal control subjects. Each pointed 40 times in complete darkness to the location of a just extinguished visual target before, during, and after constant velocity rotation at 10 rpm in the center of a fully enclosed slow rotation room. All subjects, including the normal controls, always felt completely stationary when making their movements. During rotation, both groups initially showed large deviations of their movement paths and endpoints in the direction of the transient Coriolis forces generated by their movements. With additional per-rotation movements, both groups showed complete adaptation of movement curvature (restoration of straight-line reaches) during rotation. The labyrinthine-defective subjects, however, failed to regain fully accurate movement endpoints after 40 reaches, unlike the control subjects who did so within 11 reaches. Postrotation, both groups' movements initially had mirror image curvatures to their initial per-rotation reaches; the endpoint aftereffects were significantly different from prerotation baseline for the control subjects but not for the labyrinthine-defective subjects reflecting the smaller amount of endpoint adaptation they achieved during rotation. The labyrinthine-defective subjects' movements had significantly lower peak velocity, higher peak elevation, lower terminal velocity, and a more vertical touchdown than those of the control subjects. Thus the way their reaches terminated denied them the somatosensory contact cues necessary for full endpoint adaptation. These findings fully contradict equilibrium point theories of movement control. They emphasize the importance of contact cues in adaptive movement control and indicate that movement errors generated by Coriolis perturbations of limb movements reveal characteristics of motor planning and adaptation in both healthy and clinical populations.

NASA Discipline Neuroscience↗
DOE OSTI2025

Cu‐Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative C─C Cleavage in Lignin‐Derived Oligomers and Biological Funneling of the Monomeric Products

Existing methods for lignin deconstruction to aromatic monomers primarily cleave carbon–oxygen bonds within the polymer, resulting in sub-optimal monomer yields and formation of oligomers that retain intact carbon–carbon bonds. Here, we demonstrate that copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidation under aqueous alkaline conditions promotes oxidative cleavage of carbon–carbon bonds in lignin oligomers derived from reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) of pine and poplar biomass. Fundamental insights are gained from reactions of model compounds that resemble subunits present in RCF oligomers. Optimal results are achieved in a flow reactor that provides precise control over O2 delivery, temperature, and reaction residence time. The Cu-catalyzed aerobic oxidation conditions access aromatic monomers in 19 and 34 wt% monomer yields, respectively, from pine- and poplar-derived RCF oligomers. Overall, the sequence consisting of biomass RCF into monomers and oligomers followed by oxidative deconstruction of the RCF oligomers generates substantially higher yields of aromatic monomers from lignin. Engineered strains of Pseudomonas putida support biological funneling of the oligomer-derived oxygenated aromatic compounds into cis,cis-muconic acid from pine or 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid from poplar.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Deep Eutectic Solvent Extraction of High-Purity Lignin from a Corn Stover Hydrolysate

Here, a lactic acid/chlorine chloride-based deep eutectic solvent (DES) was used for the extraction of high-purity lignin (up to 94.7%) in high yield (up to 75%) from the hydrolysis/fermentation residue corn stover hydrolysate (CSH), which was generated from a pilot-plant-scale biorefinery. A range of extraction conditions were investigated, which involved varying reaction temperature, time, and DES composition. The relationship between lignin yield, purity, and structural characteristics with DES treatment conditions was determined. The extraction of high-purity lignin from hydrolysis/fermentation residues presents a promising approach for enhancing the economic feasibility of a lignocellulose biorefinery. It was also determined that DES extraction can produce lignin with a controlled range of molecular weight and functional group content.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Application of Atmospheric Gases and Particulate Matter to the Assessment of Urban Heat Island

Background: Urban heat island (UHI), where built areas are warmer compared to non-urban regions, increases human related diseases and mortality. A key challenge in UHI analysis is the designation of sites as urban or suburban/rural; however, the growing complexity of green spaces in urban areas and the predominance of the transportation sector in nonurban areas creates a dilemma for distinct delineation. Objectives: This study aims to utilize the variability of atmospheric components such as particulate matter (PM), inorganic gases, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as direct tracers of the degree of urbanization for ground-based measurements to fully comprehend UHI in convoluted regions with indistinct delineation of urban and nonurban environments. Methods: Atmospheric gases and aerosols were used as direct tracers of urbanization for UHI analysis. Inorganic gases and particulate matter were monitored in two sites in a southeastern US city with varying degrees of urbanization. VOCs were analyzed using a proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Results: The more-urbanized site exhibited warmer night conditions and elevated total oxidant levels, leading to the formation of nanometer-sized particles. Machine learning analysis revealed similar atmospheric pollutant profiles for both sites, suggesting comparable sources and variability. Biogenic VOCs were enhanced at the less-urbanized site; however, levels of anthropogenic aromatic VOCs were comparable for both sites. A comprehensive mass spectra analysis revealed distinct molecular backbones per site that further affirmed the applicability of VOCs as indicators of urbanization. Conclusion: This study concludes that VOCs provide more direct and accurate information than typical inorganic gases and PM parameters for characterizing the degree of urbanization. Further exploration of VOCs can enhance our understanding of UHI dynamics and its interaction with vegetation in urban green spaces.

Air quality sensor↗
DOE OSTI2024

Spatially-resolved soot evolution and statistics in high-pressure diesel spray flames using two-color pyrometry

Previous studies of diesel spray flames have focused on details of the sooting behavior mainly during the quasi-steady period, but few have considered the spatially-resolved transient evolution in combination with injection-to-injection variations. In this study, a 500-injection data set is utilized to investigate the temporal evolution of a spray flame during auto-ignition, the premixed burn phase, and the quasi-steady period. Spatially-resolved OH* chemiluminescence data provide ignition delay times and reaction zone locations. Two-color pyrom-etry with a vastly improved optical system is used to quantify spatially-resolved soot evolution and its statistical variations. The ambient thermodynamic con-ditions are slightly below those in modern diesel engines, resulting in longer lift-off lengths and lower overall soot production. Spatially, soot formation in the lift-off region is small, but appreciable soot forms in the jet core and jet head regions, while it oxidizes gradually on the jet periphery. Total soot mass profiles indicate that regions with larger local soot mass take longer to form, but are the first to oxidize. Probability distributions of soot mass in localized regions indicate that a few injections with high soot mass bias the average soot mass data towards higher values. Altogether, results show good agreement with previous studies employing different diagnostic techniques while providing statistical details of transient and localized soot behavior in high pressure diesel spray flames in support of the related modeling efforts.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Preparation and neutron diffraction study of Dion-Jacobson type oxynitrides LiLaTa{sub 2}O{sub 7−3x}N{sub 2x} (x = 0.09, 0.29)

Highlights: ► Dion-Jacobson oxynitrides LiLaTa{sub 2}O{sub 7−3x}N{sub 2x}□{sub x} (x < 0.3) by ammonolysis of LiLaTa{sub 2}O{sub 7}. ► Enhanced thermal stability and band gap narrowing by the oxynitride modification. ► Locations of N and □ within LiLaTa{sub 2}O{sub 7−3x}N{sub 2x} by neutron diffraction and {sup 7}Li MAS NMR. -- Abstract: Ammonolytic heating of Dion-Jacobson type layered perovskite LiLaTa{sub 2}O{sub 7} produced oxynitride derivatives LiLaTa{sub 2}O{sub 7−3x}N{sub 2x}□{sub x}via the substitution, 3O{sup 2−} → 2N{sup 3−} + □. The nitridation level increased with raising the temperature and/or increasing the time of reaction, reaching the limit at x ≈ 0.3 by the ammonolysis at 650 °C for 48 h. Upon the nitridation, tetragonal pristine lattice underwent a axis expansion together with c axis contraction. Neutron Rietveld refinement of LiLaTa{sub 2}O{sub 7} and LiLaTa{sub 2}O{sub 7−3x}N{sub 2x} (x = 0.09, 0.29) revealed that the Li-centered tetrahedra are gradually compressed along the 2-fold rotation axis, with the increase of x. Solid state {sup 7}Li nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy suggested that the anion vacancy resides mostly on the interlayer surface of perovskite block. As measured from the diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy, the nitridation induced marked reduction in the band gap magnitude, from 4.11 eV (x = 0) to 3.35 eV (x = 0.09) to 2.76 eV (x = 0.29).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Uniform hollow magnetite spheres: Facile synthesis, growth mechanism, and their magnetic properties

Highlights: • Uniform Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} hollow spheres with high saturation magnetization were synthesized through a simple solvothermal process. • Without using any hard templates or external magnetic field. • The as-prepared magnetite hollow spheres exhibit a ferromagnetic behavior with high Ms of ca. 85.9 emu/g at room temperature. • The morphology of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} with nanoparticles, hollow, and irregular structures could be adjusted by changing the reactive conditions. - Abstract: Hierarchical porous Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} hollow spheres with high saturation magnetization were synthesized through a simple solvothermal process in ethylene glycol (EG) in the presence of Tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBAC) and urea. By investigating the effect of reaction temperature, time, the amount of urea, and concentration of iron ion on the formation of hollow spheres, it was proposed that the main formation mechanism of hollow spheres is Ostwald ripening process combined with assembly-then-inside-out evacuation process. Additionally, it is found that the morphology of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} with nanoparticles, hollow, and irregular structures could be adjusted by changing the above factors. The resulting products were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The hierarchical porous Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} hollow spheres exhibited enhanced saturation magnetization as compared with Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Nanocluster Rearrangement Forms a Family of Ordered Cerium–Titanium Bimetallic Metal–Organic Frameworks with Three Different Nodes, Nanocavities, and Thermal Stabilities

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) provide a versatile platform for incorporating multiple metal ions within a single crystalline framework, yet achieving spatial and stoichiometric order in heterometallic nodes remains a synthetic challenge. Building on our previously reported, highly thermally stable Ce/Ti bimetallic MOF NU-3000, we identified and isolated two additional crystalline phases, NU-2998 and NU-2999, that arise from the same Ce/Ti nanocluster precursor under modified solvothermal conditions. Systematic variation of reaction temperature, time, solvent ratio, and modulator concentration directs the assembly of these distinct frameworks. Structural analysis and comprehensive characterization studies reveal that these MOFs each feature an unreported nodal geometry with nanocavities of different sizes. NU-2998 even adopts an unreported topology, denoted nui , that features an elongated pore spanning 4 nm. Together, these findings establish a synthesis route that starts with a nanocluster and ends with a set of bimetallic MOFs, offering a glimpse into the pathway-dependent assembly of multimetallic porous materials. Finally, we evaluated the thermal stability of each additional analogue and compared them to NU-3000, providing further insight into material stability. NU-3000 maintained the highest thermal stability and was evaluated as a catalyst for CO oxidation at elevated temperatures.

bimetallic MOFs↗
DOE OSTI2016

Kinetic phase evolution of spinel cobalt oxide during lithiation

Spinel cobalt oxide has been proposed to undergo a multiple-step reaction during the electrochemical lithiation process. Understanding the kinetics of the lithiation process in this compound is crucial to optimize its performance and cyclability. In this work, we have utilized a low-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy method to visualize the dynamic reaction process in real time and study the reaction kinetics at different rates. We show that the particles undergo a two-step reaction at the single-particle level, which includes an initial intercalation reaction followed by a conversion reaction. At low rates, the conversion reaction starts after the intercalation reaction has fully finished, consistent with the prediction of density functional theoretical calculations. At high rates, the intercalation reaction is overwhelmed by the subsequently nucleated conversion reaction, and the reaction speeds of both the intercalation and conversion reactions are increased. Phase-field simulations show the crucial role of surface diffusion rates of lithium ions in controlling this process. Furthermore, this work provides microscopic insights into the reaction dynamics in non-equilibrium conditions and highlights the effect of lithium diffusion rates on the overall reaction homogeneity as well as the performance.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2013

Observations of Diurnal to Weekly Variations of Monoterpene-Dominated Fluxes of Volatile Organic Compounds from Mediterranean Forests: Implications for Regional Modeling

The Estate of Castelporziano (Rome, Italy) hosts many ecosystems representative of Mediterranean vegetation, especially holm oak and pine forests and dune vegetation. In this work, basal emission factors (BEFs) of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) obtained by Eddy Covariance in a field campaign using a proton transfer reaction–time-of-flight–mass spectrometer (PTR-TOF-MS) were compared to BEFs reported in previous studies that could not measure fluxes in real-time. Globally, broadleaf forests are dominated by isoprene emissions, but these Mediterranean ecosystems are dominated by strong monoterpene emitters, as shown by the new BEFs. The original and new BEFs were used to parametrize the model of emissions of gases and aerosols from nature (MEGAN v2.1), and model outputs were compared with measured fluxes. Results showed good agreement between modeled and measured fluxes when a model was used to predict radiative transfer and energy balance across the canopy. We then evaluated whether changes in BVOC emissions can affect the chemistry of the atmosphere and climate at a regional level. MEGAN was run together with the land surface model (community land model, CLM v4.0) of the community earth system model (CESM v1.0). Finally, results highlighted that tropospheric ozone concentration and air temperature predicted from the model are sensitive to the magnitude of BVOC emissions, thus demonstrating the importance of adopting the proper BEF values for model parametrization.

Fares, Silvano↗
DOE OSTI2024

Natural diversity screening, assay development, and characterization of nylon-6 enzymatic depolymerization

Successes in biocatalytic polyester recycling have raised the possibility of deconstructing alternative polymers enzymatically, with polyamide (PA) being a logical target due to the array of amide-cleaving enzymes present in nature. Here, we screen 40 potential natural and engineered nylon-hydrolyzing enzymes (nylonases), using mass spectrometry to quantify eight compounds resulting from enzymatic nylon-6 (PA6) hydrolysis. Comparative time-course reactions incubated at 40-70 °C showcase enzyme-dependent variations in product distributions and extent of PA6 film depolymerization, with significant nylon deconstruction activity appearing rare. The most active nylonase, a NylC K variant we rationally thermostabilized (an N-terminal nucleophile (Ntn) hydrolase, NylC K -TS, T m = 87.4 °C, 16.4 °C higher than the wild-type), hydrolyzes 0.67 wt% of a PA6 film. Reactions fail to restart after fresh enzyme addition, indicating that substrate-based limitations, such as restricted enzyme access to hydrolysable bonds, prohibit more extensive deconstruction. Overall, this study expands our understanding of nylonase activity distribution, indicates that Ntn hydrolases may have the greatest potential for further development, and identifies key targets for progressing PA6 enzymatic depolymerization, including improving enzyme activity, product selectivity, and enhancing polymer accessibility.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2022

A single-Pt-atom-on-Ru-nanoparticle electrocatalyst for CO-resilient methanol oxidation

Single Pt atom catalysts are key targets because a high exposure of Pt substantially enhances electrocatalytic activity. In addition, PtRu alloy nanoparticles are the most active catalysts for the methanol oxidation reaction. To combine the exceptional activity of single Pt atom catalysts with an active Ru support we must overcome the synthetic challenge of forming single Pt atoms on noble metal nanoparticles. In this report we demonstrate a process that grows and spreads Pt islands on Ru branched nanoparticles to create single-Pt-atom-on-Ru catalysts. By following the spreading process by in situ TEM, we found that the formation of a stable single atom structure is thermodynamically driven by the formation of strong Pt–Ru bonds and the lowering of the surface energy of the Pt islands. The stability of the single-Pt-atom-on-Ru structure and its resilience to CO poisoning result in a high current density and mass activity for the methanol oxidation reaction over time.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Potassium-chemical synthesis of 3D graphene from CO 2 and its excellent performance in HTM-free perovskite solar cells

The conversion of greenhouse gas CO 2 into novel materials is the most promising approach to solve greenhouse gas issues. In this paper, we report for the first time the reaction of potassium with CO 2 to synthesize three-dimensional honeycomb-like structured graphene (3DHG). Furthermore, 3DHG exhibited excellent performance as a counter electrode for hole transport material (HTM)-free perovskite solar cells, leading to a power conversion efficiency of 10.06%. Finally, this work constitutes a new aspect of potassium chemistry for material synthesis from a greenhouse gas and the generation of electrical energy from sunlight.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗